DH's military album ...& re-photographed 12x12 (UPDATE PG1)

SplshMtn99

<font color=blue>She talks to me in pretty <font c
Joined
Jun 11, 2000
Messages
10,148
UPDATED POST 4/13/03: USING EVERYONE'S TIPS.... I TOOK NEW PICTURES OF LAYOUTS since the sun was finally out today. And I photographed each page separately this time. Colors are better. THANKS FOR EVERYONES HELP!!!!!!!!!
*******************************************

I've got about 12 pages done so far of DH's 20 year (plus) Army National Guard (full time) career. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM, FOLLOW LINK IN MY SIGGY.

These are my first 12x12 pages...and I think I'm liking it.
Only thing I DON'T like.... is I can't scan them. I could...but I don't want to take the time to stitch & still cut off 1/2" from top & bottom.

My digital camera is pretty good...but it's taking pretty crappy pictures of layouts. What are your tips for photographing your layouts to post on-line --- rather than scanning? Lighting? Shadows? Colors are off.

thanks.
 
The digital camera I use is OLD and takes bad pictures (well the photographer may also be a contributing factor...) but I do use it to take my pics for ebay and I just uploaded a few layouts to imagestation the other day. I can only take a picture of one page at a time, I zoom in as much as I can without cutting anything off. The other thing I have found is that I need lots of light...it has to be a sunny day and all the lights on in the room otherwise it is just to dark. I also leave the flash off as it always mess's up the photo somehow. Hope that helps a bit..Here is a link to the layouts I just took pics of...
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290400561
Grover in Winnipeg:)
 
Ohh and just click on the picture if you want to see it bigger
Grover :)
 
Your layouts are great! I made my DH an album of his AF career several years ago for his birthday. At the time he didn't seem to look at it much, but seems like we have looked through it a lot lately, and he has really enjoyed it. For me, it was a nice break from DD's "girly" albums to work on something masculine.

Good Job,
Candi
 

This is great! I bought the K & C Air Force album to start DH's --- Right after I finish our wedding (married 9 years! LOL!) DH only has 9 years in though in the USAF, not 20 yet---gosh I wish!

You have inspired me and given me some good ideas. Where did you find the military stickers? For the name tag, did you just take a photo of the name tag?

The awards, are they the originals? How did you mount them? These are things I have been thinking about and not sure.

DH also has his commissioning certificates that are bigger than 12X12, so I am at a loss, any thoughts?
 
If you have Adobe Photoshop Elements it is very easy to scan each half of the page and bring it back together. It takes seconds to do and works very well. Much better looking than taking a picture. I demonstrate this to people all the time. You don't need to be skilled to do this.
 
Poohbear (& anyone else), this is how I went about his album.

First, I bought album & just about all contents from www.gonescrappin.com Their site is neat. If you buy the album for example...it also lists what other people who also bought the album purchased with it. Ex: cardstock, stickers. So from them, I got 40 12x12 black cardstock; a bunch of 8.5 x 11 evergreen cardstock; about 6 antique tan 12x12 paper; about 6 camoflauge 12x12 paper; and 1 set of every Army type sticker sheet they had. I think down the left side of website, where they list products...it lists a catergory of "Military".

Next, I told DH I bought everything to make him an album...and I would need his help. :teeth: He would have to help...or it would be a waste of $, right?

To make it not so painful on him.... I broke his help into parts (to be encouraged by me...when I could see he was in the mood) :teeth:.

One day, I had him pull out everything I could think of to go in album. Certificates, photos, medals, ribbons, dogtags, pins, name tapes, patches....... Then I divided it into lumpy & non-lumpy. I took lumpy stuff to Staples to be color copied onto acid free photo paper. Just about everything fit on one sheet. I also had Staples color copy a few LARGE group photos he had ---reducing them to 8.5 x 11. If I needed multiple copies of items, I told the girl ahead of time. Their copier lets them make multiple copies....and prints them out on 1 page.

On another day when he was in the mood to help, I got him to sit with me....and I jotted down a few notes about:
Pg 1 -- title
Pg 2&3 Basic Training
Pg 3&4 AIT
Pg 5&6 Germany
and so on.

On yet another day.... I took those notes....and got DETAILS out of him..... like dates, ranks, any journalling.....and to tell me of all the lumpy & non-lumpy stuff ---what went on what page. (I'm still learning all this military stuff after 20 years. LOL)

As I do a page, I pick out the "military embellishments" he told me that go on the page. I sketch out the page. My journalling is done on the computer. He checks it all before I print it for correct military terminology..... then I assemble the page. That's my area. :D

I actually ended up putting in the original patches & name tapes (US ARMY... last name). I put in original certificates -- USING clear triangular photo corners. He didn't want me mounting them.
Lumpy items like pins that were color copied... I carefully cut out & then darken the edges with a black marker for depth. I don't normally like stickers... but the ones I got are ok.

He has even helped by finding some websites...and printing a GOOD clipart of the ribbon that comes with the certificates...since I couldn't put the ribbons in the book. I just printed it...then carefully cut it & darken the edge again. That's what's above the certificates on a strip of green cardstock.

After showing it to some non-military people....and having to explain ranks & some other military things.... I'm going to include a small chart at the beginning with basic military info -- found on a good website.

You can get other military layout ideas at:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=category
Click MILITARY category. Or search the web.

This is just the beginning of book. I've got lots to do.... but NOT many pictures to work with. (Guess he didn't know he would marry a scrapper. LOL) And I KNOW I can't get real journalling out of him. Just thoughts here & there. One thing I noticed....he gives me details & journaling one day....and the next day or even the next....he remembers more. SO....I don't rush to do the page. I wait for him to remember it all...then do it. It is 20 yrs ago, afterall. LOL

Sorry for the novel. Check back often for more layouts!
 
/
Poohbear...I thought of more. (Can you believe it? LOL)

Since his career is still ongoing....and some things are subject to changing...like rank... we came up with the following idea.

One page will be RANKS (or promotions). It will simply be computer printed onto 8.5 x 11 paper with dates & promotions & rank.... But rather than mounting it to a page... I will use those clear triangular photo corners again. If I ever need to update the page, I 'll just reprint a whole new page with the new info & slip it into the existing clear photo corners. :D (That I idea took us a while to come up with. LOL)

Same thing for all those award ribbons that go on their dress uniforms. I'm printing the clipart (from good website), the award name, and date earned --- sort of in a chart form.....and adhering to page with clear photo corners.....so it can be updated as needed.

He also has some missing Army Achievement certificates. I'm making a page that shows the clipart of the Army Achievement & Army Commendation MEDALS & RIBBONS -- & their significance. On the same page....we will list the missing ones & dates & why he earned them. This entire page will be the beginning of the certificate section of album.

OK..... now I think that's everything. LOL
 
I like the really clean lines of these pages (ok, what I can see of them - my computer at school wouldn't bring it up at all and now at home just getting tiny views :( me and computers).

Anyway...gives me some ideas for son's Scout album. Thinking...thinking...

Love the opportunity to scraplift. Again really cool looking pages.

Deb
 
Memories In Uniform

Amy is a military wife, and she designs some of her diecuts herself.

I now have a home-based business doing military scrapbooks, so I can give you a few hints.

For reducing 12X12 pages, I make reduced size color photocopies on the Canon Copier at my local Mailboxes Store. 8X8s fit in my sample album nicely. Then I scan in the color copy.

For Ribbons and medals, I take individual photographs with my digital camera. Flat things like nametags, rank insignia and unit patches are scanned.

Each one of the services has a web page loaded with pictures that can be used freely.

If you're scrapping black and white pictures and you want to use copies - use color copies! B & W are not always black and white.

Think about also using paycheck stubs, reenlistment papers, unit citations and so forth as well as photographs.

Happy Scrapping.
 
Deb, if you are on the thumbnail page (layouts about 1" x 1"), click on them for larger view.

And you can even click on that view AGAIN for even a closer view.
In this album, you really can't read much of the journalling well.....but in my other albums, this method works well for details.

Hope that helps you.
 
Great Album Splsh! I will be checking for more layouts every couple of days!

Something else that might help with your photos that I do all the time: When you crop them, also sharpen them. Usually there will be a "sharpen" option in the "adjust" section of your photo editor. This makes them a little clearer and makes the journaling easier to read sometimes. Just don't sharpen them too often cus then it looks weird :)
 
Cass, "every couple of days". ??? You're funny! You should know me by now. Actually, DH is going away next week...so his layouts will need to be "on hold" till he gets back to help me, I guess.

I've decided to maybe try either scanning them OR taking the pictures again....when we finally get a sunny day. Then I'll apply everyones tips. They've got to look better than they do now! LOL

Normally our digital pics look TONS better!
Actually, that black background paper was giving me the hardest time. It scans green or blue rather than black. ???
 
Thank you so much for all your notes and tips! I am going to print them up and assemble a list of things that I want to do!! That is a good idea about asking DH to come up with things for journalling, etc. I have been married to him since he went on active duty at 22 yo, but there is so much I don't know! He has awesome pictures of the Middle East went he was stationed there, and I was at home. And all the training he has had to go to......( BTW- I think everytime they send the DH on training, they should send the wives on a tropical vacation -- LOL!!)

I will check out the websites and get working on this -- you have inspired me!!! DH is TDY for the month of May, for -- you guessed it --- training! LOL!! Maybe I will use that time to "surprise" him with a few pages. When the K & Company album came in the mail from dmariedirect.com he was so elated to think that I would dedicate a scrapbook just to him! If I'm going to indulge his military "passions", I might as well get some good scrappin' out of it!! ;)

I'll keep you posted on how the album goes! Thank you again for your generous posts with all your valuable notes.
 
LOL Splsh,

a girl can dream can't she? :teeth: :earsboy:
 
I tried clicking on them but my screen just went white. I chalk it up to me and computers. :rolleyes: Every now and then they need to act up just to prove who is boss I guess.

Deb
 














Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top