:d.i.why
D.I - why?
As more and more crafts adopt a digital platform creatives
everywhere are forced to decide… scissors and glue or a
click of a mouse or two
When it comes to 'good old-fashioned,
roll your sleeves up and make things happen'
work there's an immense sense of satisfaction
that comes from a creating your own crafts.
While there will always be a preference
for the physical craft of arranging a bouquet
of flowers, things like screenprinting and
photography are now being overtaken by a
digital procedure.
So overall, what is better?
Physical or digital?
Cards vs. e-cards
Cards have long been the way to send best
wishes for birthday, Christmas and wedding
celebrations. As postage costs continue to
soar, alternatives to your standard Hallmark
card have become more appealing.
VISTA PRINT
There is nothing better than sending out
your own personalised card. Take your fa-
108 | www. h e rmagaz i n e . c o. n z
vourite family photo and get 10 personalised
cards for as little as $4.99.
www.vistaprint.co.nz
JIBJAB
Jibjab have an e-card for every occasion.
Whether you're looking for a static image or
animated card, these guys have you covered.
You can even cast friends and family as characters in your personalised card… check it
out. E-cards also make it easier to follow up/
rsvp but it is also easier for people to ignore
the email or for it to wind up in junk mail.
www.jibjab.com
Books vs. e-book
For many writers getting a publisher to
look at their work used to be the challenge.
Now the digital world has changed that, allowing authors to electronically publish and
sell their masterpieces directly to readers. But
for many authors, a book isn't truly published until you can hold that collection of
bound papers in your hands.
STRETTON PUBLISHING
As well as publishing Her Magazine, Pink
magazine and Who's Who, Stretton Publishing offers an in-house publishing service.
We can take your words, lay them up to
your specifications and oversee the printing
process. It really is as easy as bringing your
words to us and our rates are great.
www.hermagazine.co.nz
PHOTO BOOK
There are also companies out there that
can print as little as one book for you. All
you need to do is download the software
onto your computer – design your book (it's
very easy) and click send.
I love the idea collecting all your mum's
favourite recipes and of using this service to
create her own recipe book.
www.photobook.co.nz
SMASHWORDS
Smashwords offers the fastest and easiest
option for distributing an e-book to the
world's largest e-book retailers. Smashwords
is ideal for publishing novels, short fiction,
poetry, personal memoirs, monographs,
non-fiction, research reports, essays, or
other written forms that haven't even been
invented yet.
www.smashwords.com
