Mini Ink Christmas range

Check out our new Christmas card designs!
Totally customisable, change the words, change the number of photos, change the layout, swap colours, anything you want!
Make your Christmas card the one everyone keeps forever!

Order flat mounted cards before 22/11/10 and receive a FREE upgrade to our new folded card option.

Spell with Flicker

This is fun!!
http://metaatem.net/words/
Write anything you like and the letters are pulled from Flickr's archives to create your word.

Photo Collage Maker

Here is quite a cool free Automatic Photo Collage Maker that produces shape collages out of your favorite pics!
http://www.shapecollage.com/ 
You can use a standard shape to turn your collage into, or draw your own custom shape. 
Customise the background with any colour or add an image of your own.
Here is a quick sample I whipped up in a few minutes. 
I could even drag and drop images out of iPhoto. 
The quality is high enough to print out at a photo lab onto photo archive paper - even use as a poster to decorate a room!

If you upgrade to pay version, you don't have to look at the darn watermark (which sometimes moves to the bottom of the design but wouldn't for me today!)
Give it a try, its really an amazing and well thought out little application that is a lot of fun!

Origami butterfies

Check out these gorgeous origami butterflies.  They would look great made from coloured wrapping paper, double sided scrapbooking paper or any type of paper that takes your fancy!
How about using your newborns wrapping paper saved from all of those gorgeous pressies?!
They look great on walls or made into a mobile to hang above babe's cot.
Even make them out of paint swatches for a nice tonal effect!
Try following these instructions I found off YouTube: origami butterfly video

Etsy shop Roundhouse Designs

Etsy shop Laylalou Studio

Photo tip #3 - When to take the perfect pic...

Here are a few timing tips to think about when you are considering your 'baby photo shoot'

• Taking first photos in hospitals can work really well. Most babies sleep a lot during the first few days and its easy to move them around without disturbing them, but don't rush to try and get the perfect shot, even the most beautiful babies have temporary imperfections right after they are born. It may be better to wait until those little spots have cleared up and their personality starts to shine through.
  
• Make sure baby is not tired, hungry and cranky. Its really hard to get a good photo when they are restless. A rested, fed and content baby is much easier to work with.
  
• Sometimes pacifying your model with their dummy can calm them for a little while, then you can gently remove it, take a few pics before they gaet cranky again, and repeat the whole procedure. (it takes time and patience!)
  
• As an alternative, photograph while asleep. They are surprisingly durable and resilient to being moved about and a calm relaxed face is beautiful. Its also a lot easier to take photos of hands and feet while asleep.
  
• Don't forget to do a last minute model check for stray bits of food or dribble!
  
• You may need to try several times over the week especially if you wish to try different outfits and positions.
  
• Try to minimize distractions such as other people, the t.v, bright movements etc; so baby can stay focused on your face.

Cool party idea! Candy Sushi!

Visit: http://mommyknows.com/birthday-party-candy-sushi/

Photographing babies: Tip # 2 Keep it simple

If you are after a photo of your newborn to use as a photographic keepsake for birth announcements and baby thank you cards, here are some tips to make it a success. 

Today we are considering babies clothes and the background setting.

• Dress baby in something simple - or nothing at all. If you are planning on having Mini Ink design a birth announcement for you, what colours do you like best from our gallery?  What are the babies wearing in our samples and what is in the background of these photos? 

• Plain white singlets or snuggly onsies are great. Birthday suits are always gorgeous! Try and avoid bright and busy prints and let your babies face speak for itself. Don't forget it is lovely to see the babies hands and feet so un wrap any swaddling.

• If your baby loves a dummy (don't they all) use it to calm baby down and once they are relaxed, try removing it and then shoot a few pics, you may need to be patient and put it back in several times to keep them calm.

•  Consider the background you are photographing baby on. Couches, bead spreads and cots are great spots but the fabrics can often be busy and distracting. I always drape a white blanket or throw over the couch, (sheets are ok but can be creased, and creases show up gloriously in photos!)

• Try to avoid too many objects in the background - different coloured walls, chair legs and textured carpet. I like to make a mountain of pillows on my bead and then drape the rug over the lot. (excluding the baby) It creates a cosy spot and gives you a consistent background to your shot as well.

• Photographing your baby in someone's arms can also be very effective.  It helps to position baby.  Don't forget to get the 'holdee' to dress in a neutral un-fussy colour too.

• In saying that, some outfits can enhance a photo - beanies, head bands, and even dresses and shirts can speak volumes about your babies personality.

Delicious Delicious Delicious: Chocolate Party Spoons!

Delicious Delicious Delicious: Chocolate Party Spoons!

Seriously awesome idea! I love it when people come up with ideas that are different to anything I have thought of! So easy. Such a shame my youngest just had his party last weekend because this would have been great. Just think of the possibilities - turn them into spiders, beetles, anything!

Photo Tips - Episode 1

Mini Inks tips for great photos -part 1

If you are anything like me, taking photos of your newborn baby is compulsory! Blurry, over exposed, taken on a mobile phone, in the dark because you were worried about using a flash.... it doesn't matter because they all represent a special moment like the first bath, smile, hold by grand parents or little brother.

But if you want to take photos specifically to share with everyone for birth announcements, baby thank you cards or baby keepsake cards, perhaps even baptism or christening invitations, and you want them to look the best, its easy to create a 'studio look' photo in your own home.

Here are some tips to making a 'photo session' work for you. (I know I have chosen the easy option of using a doll that doesn't squirm, wriggle and is always placid but you can get the general idea!)

NB: I am not a professional photographer - I don't have a studio but I love taking photos of my kids. None of these photos have been edited and they are all taken using 'dummy mode' on my camera no fancy tricks, just helpful tips!

1. LIGHTING, lighting, lighting - tip number 1

Great lighting creates clean crisp photos that are more likely to be in focus, less grainy and aren't wrecked by harsh shadows.

• Turn the flash off - flash lights can startle a new born and make them cranky. They also can cast hard shadows on babies face and around their body.

• Natural lighting - is the best. Open all of the curtains/blinds, turn all of the indoor lights on.  I have even used an empty bathtub filled with blankets! - It's nice and white and many bathrooms have sky lights and good sunny lighting. This creates softer shadows and a more natural skin colour.  

• Position of light source- try not to pose baby with an open bright sunny window directly behind them.  This will make your subject dark with the light behind being over exposed. Instead, position yourself between the window and your baby so that baby is bathed in the light, but you are pointing the camera away from the window.

• Go outside- I think photos look best outside. Try taking photos on a sunny day outside under a pergola, sail or well shaded tree. Direct sunlight is harsh on a newborns skin and can also cast hard shadows. If you are under a tree, make sure the dappled shade isn't dappling your babies face as well. In full shade, shadows are soft, skin tones are natural, dewy and soft - just like a babies bottom!