Pink in High-Resolution

I woke up Saturday morning and thought to myself "Girl, you just need to learn how to do your own photography". Off I went to my local camera store and came home with a technology-induced headache and a new best friend, a Canon Rebel XSi. Photoshoots for my website have always been the hold-up in the process, it's just plain tense and way too picky for most professional photographers. I see my product, but conveying that picture (in my head) is too time-consuming and expensive. And it's ongoing with new product, so at 55 yrs. old I am determined to learn how to do more styling, and shoot my own photos. Yesterday I absorbed impressive words like aperture, ISO, white balance, macro, and telephoto. My hand is sore from carrying this hefty friend around all day shooting everything in sight and these mature neurons are firing off like crazy. This Princess Pink photo is one of my baby gift ensembles that is being re-styled for the website and I think it is the most precious pink present to send to a new princess. It comes with the most feminine pink Daisy sun hat since it's never too early for a girl to worry about sun protection.

When you ask for help from your fellow blogger friends, they always come through for you. A few weeks ago, blogger Mandy from A La Parisienne emailed with some advice on white balance when I apologized to blog viewers for my tinted photo backgrounds. She got the wheels turning and from there I emailed Alice at the photographically-superior blog Thoughts from Alice W, who's blog and website photos are some of the loveliest I've seen. Within ten minutes, she graciously emailed her camera spec's and off I went into a whole other learning curve. I also noticed this is the same Canon camera used by the book-worthy blog photos at Cannelle Vanille and we all know her food photography is something to see. My Paris Pink file folders, Paris Rubber Stamp Set, and Eiffel eraser are always on my desk.....if I have to work I'm going to make it as pretty and pleasant as possible. Now wouldn't this lovely gift perk up those pesky desk chores?

This photo actually has some great resolution, but when it downloads to blogger it loses some of it's clarity. A quick, 7 am email to my web guy with the question "why are these photos losing their resolution in the transfer from file to blogger and how can I fix it?" still hasn't been answered (he's obviously a late-sleeper or hiding from me) but I'm dying to know. This Cote Bastide Giroflee Bath Gel and Soap is one of my favorite gift products, makes me think I'm in a sophisticated Paris bathroom. I think I might use these tonight in a good, long soak after a good, long bike ride. My other best friend who I am ashamed to admit I have been ignoring the last few days.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Mama Mia!

Lots of wrapping going on around here, new gift wrap, ribbons, and embellishments to add to a Wrap Room section of the website mean long hours, lots of experimenting, and Mama Mia! I like this new paper alot. The vintage Italian labels are visually busy, so I kept the ribbon thin and simple so it wouldn't obscure the images, quite happy with the orange and purple result. These thin saddlestitch ribbons are quite affordable and sometimes it's best to keep it simple. This paper flower added some saucy flavour and thank heavens for 2nd Cup.............those Grande Lattes are keeping me alert. This one is a wrap! Only 20 more to go, more lattes bella.

Italian theme paper to wrap a gorgeous Fiorentina photo frame, perfectly-themed and colourful. Each of these gilt and coral-coloured frames are made by one of the last Florentine artisans that employ this type of medieval craft. Each frame is made by hand and etched using the graffito process.....and no two are alike. It holds a 4 X 6 photo but I like it's inside fleur de lis pattern to show, so I would use a smaller photo, about the size of the product label. The rear is covered in this same pattern so it looks good from any view. The mark of a good gift frame. We rarely buy ourselves good photo frames so I think they are a lovely keepsake gift. $59.00 at Oooh la la Cadeau {click here}.

There's a bit of a bonus with this paper that I like. The leftover side strip can be used for matching (or in this case, wonderfully unmatched) gift labels. Affix label cuttings with a glue stick to some heavier weight paper, punch a hole, a narrow ribbon, write your message on the back and your gift is ready to go. One strip gave me 5 fabulously colourful gift tags. These would look good on the plain black gift wrap I always recommend as a wrapping staple.

Here's a few examples of my homemade Mama Mia! gift labels.

All photos by Sande Chase for Oooh la la Cadeau