Kodak EasyShare Software

Reported by Carolyn King


I didn't even realize what I was buying when I purchased my Kodak EasyShare Camera/Software. I just wanted a simple digital camera---one that would not take me days to learn how to use and one that included software so that I could manipulate my (poor) photographs and make them look a bit better!


After doing minimal research, I purchased my first Kodak EasyShare camera and I am now on my third one (FYI--I am on my third one because of my own mistakes----I left one outside in the rain and I dropped one at CHA!) Currently, I have the Kodak EasyShareC633. I like the camera because it is lightweight and easy to use but for this review--I am going to focus on the software.


The Kodak EasyShare software is designed so that you can upload your photos and create an easy tagging system that enables you to organize your pictures by date or event. This makes finding your photos very easy. What I am most impressed about is the super-simple editing features it has. You do not have to be very technologically advanced to understand the software and get great results. Love that!

I use this camera/software for all of my cardmaking uploads. After uploading my pictures I can click on the Edit button and the software will enable me to perform the following functions:

Crop (Using the arrow you adjust the picture box to create the borders of the photo); Rotate; Red Eye reduction; Enhance (instantly enhances the photo for you); Scene balance (You adjust the exposure, shadow and highlights to get the look you want); Color Balance; Scene Effects (Black & White, Sepia, Forest, Scenic, Portrait, Sunset); Fun Effects (Spotlight, Coloring Book, Cartoon, Fisheye).

Here are a few of the fun effects. I used my daughter's picture from Halloween last year. Note: this picture was taken outside so there is plenty of light. On pictures I take inside (ie. cards), I often have to lighten up the pictures manually to get the results I want. You can do that with this software.


Here is the same photo, but I cropped it:

Here is the same photo, but I used the Scene Balance function and adjusted the exposure, shadows and highlights. I use the Scene Balance functions often on my photos of cards/projects.

Here is one of the fun effects--Cartoon! I had to include this because it is just fun. You can print these out so your children can color themselves. (Or, you can start a family feud by giving each child their sibling's photo to color!)

Here is the same photo with the Black and White enhancement:

PROS:

• I like the Kodak EasyShare Camera and Software because it is affordable and very easy to use and install.
• I can upload and edit photos very quickly.
• The Software is user friendly and does include a lot of fun editing features.

CONS:

• The Software is basic so there are a lot of functions it cannot do.
• You cannot apply a watermark on your photos using this software so I actually have to use another program to do that if I want to put my name on my photos.

You can find the Kodak EasyShare Camera/Software at stores like Walmart, Best Buy and most stores that have a camera section. The camera and software retails for about $100 but you can spend a lot more if you want more zoom or features on your camera. I always go with the basic model because I tend to break things and I don't have to feel as bad if I am spending less money.

In conclusion, if you do not want to spend a lot of money for your camera and software, this is a great camera for you. Additionally, the software is so user friendly that you don't have to have much computer knowledge to use it.

If you have the Kodak EasyShare Camera and Software, I would love to hear your opinion.

And now, I have to say goodbye. This is my last article with Craft Critique as my term is up this month. Thanks so much for warmly welcoming me. It was such a fun experience. Hopefully I am invited to write some guest articles in the future.

Fiskars Stamp Press

Reported by Carolyn King


Since I recently won a Fiskars Stamp Press, I thought it would be the perfect tool to review for Craft Critique.


The Fiskars Stamp Press is a tool that enables you to create custom layouts using clear stamps. The clear plastic material has a grey grid printed on it allows for perfect stamp placement. Each corner of the stamp press features a squishy orange foot, which allows you to align the press over your cardstock perfectly before you push down and create the impression.


The Stamp Press is 6' by 8' and the grid covers a 4" by 6" area of it. I have the Compact Stamp Press and the only difference between this one and the original is the surface area. The Compact Stamp Press grid measures 3" by 5".


Here is an illustrated version of how the press works:

1. Flip the press over (orange feet up) and lay out the clear stamps. Use the grid lines to ensure straight placement of the images.



2. Flip the press over and see if you like the placement. You can even hold it over the paper you will be stamping on to ensure you have enough room or that the layout is right. (I used a pre-cut tag for my project.)



3. If you are satisfied with the placement, flip the press over and ink the stamps. Flip it over and place it over the paper and push down. The images will transfer to the paper and you can re-ink and stamp again and again!


Tada! Here is the stamped tag:

It would be easy for me to mass produce these because the images are already lined up...just re-ink and stamp!

Here is the tag after I colored it and completed it. It seriously took no time at all to do!

Stamp Credit: Winter Blast (My Favorite Things)

PROS: I really like this product. The plastic is very durable and I love the grid markings--they allow for perfectly aligned images every time! I think that this product would be perfect for ATC swaps and creating Christmas and birthday tags. It is very convenient--You can put the press away with stamps on it to continue your cardmaking at another time. You can even purchase additional plates so you can work on numerous projects at one time (without having to remove your design). Another perk of this product is that you can use the press as your mounting block for all of your clear stamps, which essentially eliminates the need for clear stamping blocks. Finally, this product is not very expensive, so it is pretty easy to justify the investment, especially if you own a lot of clear stamps.

CONS: The stamp press is great for doing simple tags or creating swap cards, but if you like to mask and layer images, the press cannot be used for overlapping images (you would have to stamp one image at a time). The other thing that I did not like about the press is that there is this warning label on the back of it: This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. (This warning does not alarm me as many items in the craft industry have similar warnings on them but......I always have to question when I do see this--Why is California the only state who has this knowledge??)

The product retails for about $16.50 (prices vary according to store). You can find this product in many local stamping stores and also at these online stores: Scrapbook.com and Amazon.

In conclusion, I think that the Fiskars Stamp Press is a worthwhile investment. It is easy to use, affordable and a fantastic tool for for aligning a group of clear stamps for quick stamping. Additionally, you can also use the press as a stamping block for all your clear stamps. If you own the Fiskars Stamp Press, I would love to hear your opinion. Leave me a comment and let me know if you found this review helpful!

CHA FAVS!

Reported by: Carolyn King


I had so much fun at CHA--the first one I ever attended. Since I pretty much roamed around the rooms gawking at the cool new products I saw, I figured I would just show you a few of the things that caught my eye during the two days I was there.


Clear Scraps has a very cool Build-a-Book idea that features either chipboard or clear letters that you can use to make your own book. Below is a soccer album using clear letters:

Cosmo Cricket is one of my favorite lines and did not disappoint. Their paper is fabulous and I love all the new blackboard albums and boxes they now have (see Julie's post for a look at them!)

Graphic 45 had a gorgeous booth filled with fun paper and altered items.

Here is a look at their coordinating paper and tag accents:

Maya Road has fun chipboard books and fold out albums that are just adorable:

October Afternoon has some great fun and whimsical designer paper and clear stamps. This was one of my favorites:

Pink Paislee glitter Pixee Stix look like a lot of fun, especially for those who love to add a bit of sparkle to their projects:

Spellbinders had tons of new products to see. This wall shows the new packaging for the dies.

Demonstrators showed off how to use the new Pierceabilities:

Spellbinders Shapeabilities:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology booth - I loved all the new fun embellishments that I saw:

Tinkering Ink showed off their new paper beads concept...featuring pre-cut paper strips that you roll around any object (pencil, marker), adhere with a bit of glue and then you roll it in UTEE that has been heated in a melting pot. After rolling them through twice, you use a heat tool smooth out any rough patches. Very fun!

Unity Stamp Company-I had to stop by the Unity booth to check out how these stamps work. I did see the video from the last CHA coverage but was still wanting to try them out for myself. I was impressed. I loved having the wooden handles to hold and being able to see where the image stamps!

Here is their new hanging stand created to house a lot of the larger wood stamps:

Thanks for letting me share a few of my favorites with you. If you were able to attend the show, I would love to hear about YOUR favorites!

Stacy and Friends: 40 Techniques for Making Cards

Reported by Carolyn King

I love books, magazines and anything I can touch that shows me different card designs or ideas. So when I saw this book, Stacy and Friends: 40 Techniques for Making Cards, at my local stamping store, I was intrigued. I almost didn't purchase it because it was wrapped in clear cellophane and I couldn't look through it before buying it...but I am glad I did.

The author of this book, Stacy Croninger, is the Editor in Chief of PaperCrafts magazine, so I knew this would be a quality publication. The 180 page book features 120 cards using 40 different techniques and includes designs by many familiar names in the design industry. Although many of the techniques are basic, there are lots of fun out-of-the-box ideas that even more advanced card makers will enjoy. The book also includes a CD which features 40 additional projects.

The hard cover, spiral-bound book is designed to stand up like an easel, making this a great choice for beginning designers who want to create as they read. The book is divided into several chapters, divided by colorful separator tabs.


Here is a look at the book standing up. Note that the easel design makes it easy for you to work while watching the how-to photos.

The chapters include:

Chapter 1: Embossing (Features dry embossing, metal embossing, heat embossing, adhesive embossing, thick embossing)

Chapter 2: Stamping (Features masking, bleach, resist, markers, solvent ink, soot, brayers, stamping on ribbon)

Chapter 3: Aging & Inking (Features Walnut ink & washes, chalk, inking, sanding, tearing/fraying, other household items)

Chapter 4: Creative Backgrounds (Features monoprinting, marbling, collage, paper paint, textured backgrounds)

Chapter 5: Color & Shine (Features pearlized paint, pigment powder, watercolor, glitter)

Chapter 6: Do-It-Yourself Embellishments (Features hot glue, microscope slides, shrink plastic, transparencies, fonts & computer-generated items)

Chapter 7: Unique Additions (Features stitching, dimensional glaze, fasteners, tissue paper, vellum, run-ons, shaker boxes)

The back of the book includes an index which makes finding specific projects by designer or theme simple to locate.


Here is a project I created using a few concepts in this book:

Pros:

• This product is a great book for the money. In my opinion, the quality of the photos and instructions are well worth the price tag.
• I love that the book is covered in plastic. I was apprehensive to buy it because I could not see the inside of it but after purchasing it and seeing that the book was in pristine condition, I felt that it was a good idea.
• This is a great resource for both beginning card makers and more advanced ones. It is a nice refresher of a lot of techniques that you just forget about using. The directions for different techniques are very well described AND photographed (a plus for visual learners!)

Cons:

• I really like the innovative easel design of the book and can see that it would be a great feature for a new card maker or stamper who can follow along as they create. However, I would prefer if the book were more of a reference book and spiral bound without the easel.
• At times the pages are difficult to flip over when in easel position but it works fine if you get to the page you want to work with and then set it on the table for reference.

I purchased this book at my local Hobby Lobby for $19.95. You can also find the book at Amazon and Papercrafts.

Overall, I give this book a rating of 9 out of 10. The book is very nice and I would recommend it to someone looking for a good technique book with beautiful pictures.


If you own this book or find this review helpful, please leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing YOUR opinion!

EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit

Reported by Carolyn King


I am not too much of a rub-on girl--I have lots of them but seem to have a deep rooted rub-on phobia! So, when I saw this kit....I thought---THIS might be the answer for me. The EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit comes with one rub on tool that has a broad tip and a detail tip, one adhesive remover (in the photo it looks like a crayon), and six rub-ons. I purchased this kit at Hobby Lobby for $4.99!

The rub-on tool is made of a hard plastic. There is a nice softer area in the middle where you hold it. The adhesive remover is a shaped like a fat pencil to help with detail work. It is bendable and it feels like rubber.

I tested out the rub-on tool on buttons, glass and paper and found that the detailed side really does a good job at getting those tiny parts of the rub-on to transfer. The broad side is pretty comparable to the good ol' Popsicle stick that is included with most rub-on packages. It has a soft comfort grip in the center, which makes it particularly useful if you were working on a large project.

But, what really impressed me was the adhesive remover. I really thought this was awesome. Since I tend to be lazy when using rub-ons, I often will not cut out the rub-on before transferring it. The remover takes off any mistakes without damaging the paper.

For this demonstration, I used Stampin' Up! whisper white cardstock and transferred a portion of a rub-on design:

After using the adhesive remover, this is what was left:

It removed all of the rub-on without damaging the paper at all! And even better---it was simple to remove. The design came right off with minimal effort.

Here is a card I created using the rub-on tool from the kit:

Although this kit is great, I am not sure this kit is worth purchasing for those who do not use a lot of rub-ons. For occasional use, I still think the Popsicle stick works fine. Also, I think it would be great if the kit included another tool that had an even smaller edge for very detailed work.

However, I do feel that the EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit is a great deal. You get the tool, adhesive remover and rub-ons for just $4.99. I my opinion, the adhesive remover is worth it alone, but it is nice to have a cute tool to add to my collection. I think my rub-ons might be getting a lot more love from now on!

As I said before, I purchased my kit at Hobby Lobby but you can also find the EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit online at: EK Success, KraftyatKrafts, Scrapbooking Supplies Online

Let me know what you think of this review and if you have this kit, I would love to hear what you think of it!

Creative Memories Custom Cutting System

Reported by Carolyn King

No one can say that Spellbinders Nestabilities dies are not an incredible innovation in the craft industry; however, I want to show you another product that I have had for five years and still use all of the time.

The Creative Memories Cutting System, available at http://www.creativememories.com/ through a consultant, consists of a self-healing mat, three interchangeable blades and templates which allow you to cut circles, ovals, wavy frames or gemstone shapes.

The reason I have not abandoned this cutting system completely is because there are some projects that the Nestabilities dies still cannot do. For instance, for this project, I took a folded piece of cardstock and wanted to cut just a half circle at the fold mark.

The Creative Memories Cutting System enabled me to line up the template and cut just the portion of cardstock I wanted to remove.

The result is an inverted topper card.

PROS:

• The Creative Memories Cutting System is very affordable. The mat and blades can be purchased for $26.00 and the circle templates can be purchased for $14.00. There are also many other templates to be used with the system.
• The circle template pack includes a sizing template and three translucent patterns, which allow you to see where you are cutting. This particular template pack allows you to cut 18 different sizes of circles.
• Creative Memories sells refill blades for this system which allow an even longer life. (However, I have had my original blades for five years and they still work just fine.)
• The cutting templates feature non-slip feet, so you can cut out paper or photos without worrying about the template shifting.

CONS:

• The only downside I have found with this cutting system is that every once and awhile, a shape will not be completely cut when you run the blade around the template. To remedy this, simply run the blades twice around the template to ensure that the shape separates completely.

Overall, this is a really great cutting system that you will be using for years to come, no matter what innovations are made in the industry. Let us know what you think...leave a comment!