Watermarking Your Photos

There is a chance when you publish your images online that your images will be stolen, or used without your permission.  Don't think because you are not a published professional your images don't deserve the same protection.  When images are taken from your small business, or personal blog it is a huge violation of your rights.  It will also ruin your day.  One simple way to protect yourself is to watermark your photos.  It depends on your logo..but you don't need a traditional "watermark" for your image.  Meaning it doesn't need to be see through unless it your particular logo doesn't work unless it is.  There are no rules.  JUST PROTECT YOUR PHOTO.

When most folks think watermark they think the need this super special graphic image for their photos, and that is a huge process.  But it is not.  It can be as simple as just typing your website or name on your photographs.  I just used Photoshop and added text to my image.  It was easy.  I have to crop my image anyway so it was no big deal.

This is my submission to an online Design Team for Scrapbooking.
This is my little girl if someone took this image and passed it off as theirs I would be PISSED.  

There are a few FREE online places that you can use to watermark your image.  Here are two. 

http://www.watermark.ws/  super easy.  You might want to have an account don't worry about going pro unless it is something you really need.

http:/picmarkr.com/  also super easy.  Works well with your Flicker account.  You can add an image or a text to your image.  You can also do multiple photos at once.  Perfect if you are doing old photos from your album.  It also allows you to do tiled text, which mean the entire photo is covered in your watermark or copywright.

Next, is if I have designed a logo for you use that on your photo as a watermark.  Just place or insert your logo on top of your product photo.

Here is an old logo of mine on one of my crafts.  

Here is an old logo of mine on one of my crafts.
I have change d the opacity of my logo to 70%

THE BEST ADVICE!!
To watermark your photos with a more permanent and easy solution I recommend investing in a photo-editing software program called Photoshop elements.  It is just like the professional photoshop I use but so much easier to use.  There are tons of FREEBIES on line for you to download for future projects, and it has a watermark button function. HERE IS A HOW TO

It is $99 for a new version 11 but I know lots of folks who just purchase older unopened verisons.  Ebay is the best place.  Just search photoshop elements.  I have had about 20 customers follow my advice...and so far everyone is happy.  You can find an older unopened box for $99 cents - $20.  Make sure you look at the seller and see if there are any complaints.  You can find some on AMAZON as well.  Here is one..  It is not as cheap...but...

I used a version 3.0 for many years until I earned enough money to purchase photoshop about 2 years ago.  Any version is great.  The newer ones have the fun tools.

You can download a free trial...just google photoshop elements to check it out.  And if you need any help once you get it uploaded...just ask and I will be happy to help.

There are free photoediting software but they are not as easy as having one of your own.
Here are two
http://www.picmonkey.com/ (I like this one the best)
http://www.gimp.org/

QUICK TIP:  Save your images no higher than 150dpi.  There is no need to do any higher for the internet.  It makes it so much harder to alter your images, and pass as theirs   Anything below 150 dpi is just for looking.  Keep it on your desktop for your records as a higher file. This is how I protect my graphics.  The look great on your screen but when you try to save them and alter them on your desktop....IT DOESN'T WORK...  HaHa... Here is my etsy shop.  It is a little fuzzy, but worth it to protect my hard work....  http://www.etsy.com/shop/VampireCraftin

CREATE a product photo prop

You have worked really hard on your handmade items, you have paid for a professional logo (if you don't you should contact me), and now it is time to sell it.  So you take your product photo and you wait for the sales to roll in.

It is my option that if you don't take GREAT product photos then you are missing a key factor in your business.  GREAT photos SELL your products.  I would love make a post where I show you product photos that are horibble and ask you....Would you buy this?  but I can't do that...I don't want to embarrass anyone.

1.  Make a photo PROP  Each of your photo backgrounds and props should be EXACTLY the same.  It is part of your SHOP BRANDING.  I want to look at your photo and know it is from your shop.  It is super easy.  You don't need to purchase anything I bet you have everything right in your home.  HINT this will set you and your products apart from the competition...This hint will really help you with PINTREST.

Here is one of my fav stores....SEE what I mean her backgrounds are all the same.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/shavingkitsuppplies

See how the box is in front of the well lit window.  

                                   

                                   

                               This is my baby's diaper box.  I cut the top flaps and one of the sides off

see how the beans prop it up

Now the first photo is what my photo prop looks like.  I took the photo outdoors.
The second photo is the acutal photo I took.
The 3rd photo is cropped.

Now the first photo is what my photo prop looks like.  I took the inside by the window.  

The second photo is the acutal photo I took.  

The 3rd photo is cropped.

As you see they are both great but the one outside is better.

Black Beans

                                    

                                   Popcorn

You can also make a bean bag to use to prop up your images...but any loose matrieal would work great here are some ideas.  popcorn, pasta, beans of any kind, rocks (fish tank rocks would be neat), beads, those plant marbles, feathers, Spanish moss,.....you will have to come up with the rest....

Here is a prop idea.  Go to the hardware store...Did you know if you just want 1 tile piece or 1 plank of wood....or any other matrial you can just purchase one.  You are only limited by your imagination .  You can spend less than $10 for something that will last.

here is a tile and old fence plank

 Here is the image of the necklace on the fence plank.
I propped the plank up by putting a  bottle cap underneath the plank

Here is the necklace propped on the sided of the plank

Here is another idea perfect if you want to use different backgrounds to celebrate the holidays but you still want to be NOTICED...I used a frame I purchased from Micheal's $1 bins.  It is about 2x3.  Then I cut a piece of scrap fabric out  and used it as a textrue for the frame background.  I propped the frame up slightly with a bottle cap.  and then just used some scrapbook paper I liked and had on hand.

Now the last thing you need to do is add your logo....and watermark your images.  I didn't bother to do the images above because they are not real.  The necklace is made in China I am sure.  LOL..
I did not do ANY photo editing.  All you need is a decent camera, and a well lit area.  If you can use a regular camera over a cell phone then do so.  I know it takes a bit more time but you have worked so hard on your handmade product....Do it justice with a better photo.  My second piece of advice is to try and use as good of a camera as you can.  I used a NIKON COOL PIX L26 camera.  I got it on sale for 39.99 on a black friday sale last year.  It is a great little camera.  It has a CLOSE UP setting that I used on all of these photos... Try not to zoom....Each time you zoom with a point and shoot camera you loose pixels.  It is better to take a photo a little farther away and crop.

Before you get started think long and hard about your business....Who you are? Who is your audience and what PROP would elevate your product.  Keep it simple...nothing to busy that will take away from your product...And INNOVATE do not DUPLICATE.  and I AM HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY ADVICE.  vampirecraftin at gmail 

Blog TIP.....

I was blog hopping this morning completely annoyed at folks who are not setting the widths on there blogs...It is driving me CRAZY....so here is my post to help...

I have been designing blogs for quite sometime.  There are lots of fabulous folks out there who do the same but they make things so complicated   My goals is to HELP YOU, make your blog fabulous   The reason is it is much less of a headache if you can do it for yourself.  One of the most common mistakes I see on blogs is soooo easy to fix.  When I see blog buttons on your side bars and images on your side bars that are hanging of your mat   I would attach examples but I don't want to embarrass anyone.  This is done by adjusting the width of those columns or sidebars.  Log on to your blog ....look on your side bar

Click on Templates

Then click on Adjust Widths.  

You can move the left side bar, and right side bar.  I suggest 250 this will fix all buttons. 

I also recommend a width of at least 950-1000 pixels wide.

Happy blogging.
Here is a note.  You header needs to be about 20 pixels less than the width of your blog.

How to Add Custom Social Media Buttons to Your Blogger

When I design blogs for customers I always include social media icons.  One of the most important elements to include on any website is a set of branded social media icons.  I think the icons work best when posted on your page near the top or as close as you can get.


1.  The first step is to find social media icons you like or create your own...FOR my customers I have already created them for you.  Here are some neat sites to find icons...
http://webdesignledger.com/freebies/the-best-social-media-icons-all-in-one-place
http://icondock.com/free/vector-social-media-icons
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/free-social-media-icon-sets-best-of/

2.  Upload your files to a site like Photobucket, flicker, gmail photos or your WordPress media library.  Whatever you have will do

3.  Locate the image URLs of your new icons before advancing to the next step. You’ll need to include the URLs for each social media icon you plan to add to your site.

4.  Now it is time to write the button code.  Log on to blogger....Go to your LAYOUT page.  and on the side bar add a HTML gadet and write the following code.

Now just repeat over and over in your code box for each button your have.  If your media buttons are weird sizes...you can resize by addeing the following wording after the (") marks and before the / in the above code. (see how it is toward the end....  I think the icons shoud be set at 50x50.  It keeps your icons in a neat little line...but you decide...check out mine at the top of my page on the left side.


......"width="50" height="50".....

This same HOW to works for ANY image you uwant to add to your blog....

HOW TO Change your Blog Background

In order to make a fangtastic blog you will need to do just a few simple things…A Great start would be your background.  Here is where to start:  You need to either upload an image or use or customize one of the backgrounds that blogger has for you...

Here is how to upload an image.

If I have designed an image for you then just upload that image...

You can find backgrounds online but be careful there are lots of scams out there....

1.   Log on to your blogger account

2.   Pick a template.  I really like the simple banner with a book background…. When you set up your tabs and pages it has the most features and looks the most like a PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE and everything is set up easy for your user to find.  

Go to Template…Then click on Customize.  

This is the screen you will now see....Click on Background...and then click on the actual image that appears.....(see the white arrow) Then you will see yet another window POP up.

Here is the screen you will see...

To upload an image Click on the UPLOAD button....and choose a image from your desktop...Don't forget to click DONE and Save the changes...It is that easy..

Here is how to Customize a blogger background.

1.   Log on to your blogger account

2.   Pick a template.  I really like the simple banner with a book background…. When you set up your tabs and pages it has the most features and looks the most like a PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE and everything is set up easy for your user to find.  

Go to Template…Then click on Customize.  Choose a template any one will do but I love the simple template...with the book background.  but choose the one you like. 

After you have selected your template you will want to get started on your background customization...

Click on ADVANCED...then BACKGROUNDS and then set the color for your outer background color...you can also change the section in the middle of the blog...and the other is for your header...

Not sure what color... HERE is a link to a color picker...it allows you to upload an image so you can get a color to match your any of your other blog elements.

Now Click on background....and this is the screen you will see... 

Scroll threw all the preset backgrounds and choose one that may work for your blog OR click on PATTERNS....There are about 9 different ones if you scroll to the last few options...and it uses the color you have already preset in the previous steps...

That is it....don't forget to SAVE all Changes and always apply changes to the blog that you make...that is the most common mistake...SAVE SAVE SAVE

I hope you enjoy this HOW TO...If you use it please post a comment below....and a link to your blog...I would love to see it.  If you need some professional help please see my ETSY SHOP...

Crystal's Creations

I was so excited when Crystal with Crystal's Creations purchased one of my favorite one of a kind bridal shops.  I love the classy but simple look that is perfect for any business.

I love some of her creations here are a few.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91811949/formal-clutch-purse-flower-of-spring

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86305868/sparkling-flower-brooch

Made by Mightymom

I have been MIA on my blog and in my etsy shop for a few weeks.  I just welcomed my new baby boy, and I am trying to get back into the swing of things.

I was contacted by Sarah who was refered by another customer to design a new logo for her shop.  Made by Mightymom.  I had so much fun with this design.  She ordered a complete branding package complete with etsy shop set, business cards, facebook timeline, twitter background and icon, and a matching blogger.
CHECK out her blog HERE..