Mar 23 2014

Memory-Making: Truprint Canvas Review

Posted on March 23, 2014 by admin

Dexter is set to be a big brother very soon, and then I’ll have two babies to spoil, nurture, worry about, cry over… I honestly don’t know how I’ll cope. Given Dexter is approaching two, the need for a second set of eyes is becoming increasingly apparent. From the second he gets up in the morning, to the second the screaming stops at night, it’s hard work. He wants to help me with everything yet somehow manages to mess everything up. From ‘helping’ mummy unload the dishwasher (aka smashing-all-our-crockery) to ‘helping’ with the washing (aka change-the-setting-when-mummy’s-not-looking) I feel like I spend the entire time reprimanding him on my hands and knees.

But Dexter still has this unique ability to melt me. When I’ve said ‘No’ a little too aggressively and that bottom lip trembles, I always manage to find that little bit of forgiveness that eluded me just seconds before. His beautiful baby curls, tiny milk teeth, chubby cheeks, insistence on sucking his fingers then smearing their wetness over every surface… he’s just perfect.

But it’s very true, sometimes you need reminding.

Having canvasses dotted around the home definitely makes you appreciate the fun times. As a blogger, I’ve been lucky enough to review dozens of these, yet each delivery is as exciting as the last. There’s something really exhilarating about ripping open the packaging and seeing your grinning child twice his normal size. So naturally I was thrilled when Truprint asked me to review a canvas for them.

With 30 years in the trade, Truprint are long-time masters of printing. They’ve built a solid reputation in this time and have worked their magic in the heyday of film in the late 80s right through to today’s Instagram and Facebook prints from mobile devices. It’s true, the website could use a little updating with its tiny font and faffy menus, but this shouldn’t put you off.

For a canvas project, uploading a photo is simple and there are even pop-up tips to help you get the best out of the experience. The project screen is far easier to navigate than the homepage too with all your core options in drop downs on your left hand side. Handily, your project sub total is always displayed top left too so you can see what your creation will set you back.

Hovering over the photo, you’ll also be given the opportunity to further edit it - you can zoom in, change the effect of your image (sepia, black and white, tint etc), the brightness, enhance the colour, flip it and apply red-eye removal. It’s a very simplistic editing suite compared to some others I’ve come across, but perfectly adequate and easy-to-use.

There are some minor niggles. I opted for a sold wrap canvas rather than a gallery wrap (e.g. my canvas images would be a block colour rather than having my photo wrap around the edges). This was necessary as the image I had selected was a close-up of Dexter and I didn’t want to lose some of his head. Although my image is really bright and colourful, the solid wrap is only available in black which is kind of disappointing. It would have been nice to have picked out a colour contained within the image to make the edges less of a contrast, but hey ho.

This leads me on perfectly to my biggest tip when selecting a profile photo for canvas. If you can, try selecting an image with ample dead space around the head so you can opt for gallery wrapping - this makes for a much nicer print.

My canvas at 20″ by 24″ (approx 51cm x 61cm) is the largest size available at £69.99 which is reasonable for such a statement canvas (note that you can get much bigger canvases from competitors but this was the perfect size for us). It arrived well packaged in a matter of days. I was also pleased to see that it came with free wall fittings too which isn’t as common as you might think.

The canvas itself is nice and taut and well secured with heavy duty staples on the reverse. A quick feel around the edges revealed no lumps and bumps that could scrape paintwork (a pet hate of mine) so it was instantly ready for hanging. The colours were bright and vibrant (as per the original) and there was minimal blurring despite me picking a slightly out-of-focus photo. I love the super chunky pine frame (37mm deep) which looks so much nicer on the wall than some of the thinner frames we’ve received from rival printers in the past.

We’ve popped ours up in the lounge above where Dexter sits at the dining table. Here’s hoping it works its magic and helps us stay calm and cheerful during Dexter’s daily dinnertime tantrum!

In conclusion, I’d happily recommend Truprint if you’ve got a canvas project in mind. Naturally I’d always advise you shop around for the best deal but can it’s always worth reading reviews too as the quality really does vary from printer to printer. As for Truprint, the best way to keep informed about special offers and deals is via Facebook and Twitter and you can check out all their other photo gift ideas on their website.

Disclaimer: I received this lovely canvas free of charge in exchange for my thoughts.

Mar 22 2014

GUEST POST: What is going on in the kitchen?

Posted on March 22, 2014 by admin

For those looking to create the perfect kitchen, it can be difficult to generate ideas that will help to create something functional, which also looks fabulous. Checking out the current trends for kitchens in the UK can help to provide some inspiration with what to do in the busiest room in the house.

Using colour contrast to accentuate the look

The features of a black-and-white kitchen may have undergone a considerable evolution over time but the appeal of this style is enduring. The high contrast can be developed through the use of lacquer paint on the cabinets with matt finish granite countertops. The tension can be heightened with the juxtaposition of modern features and country elements such as rustic hardwood floors.

Taking the kitchen to the country

Regardless of the location of a building, the concept of a farmhouse kitchen is evident in many homes. This traditional kitchen design requires a few staple features, but is also incredibly flexible and robust. The use of cast iron, apron fronted sinks is consistently popular. These can be included in a wide array of shades that will work as an excellent complement to granite worktops. The deep surface area they have provides an excellent practical space for large pots and plates. They will work as an excellent focal point in a medium or large sized kitchen.

The chef’s kitchen

With the advent of the television chef, and the raft of prime time cookery programmes that follow in their wake, it is no surprise to find that many people have tried to emulate the marvellous environments presented on screen in their homes. With this style of kitchen functionality is the key, with the objective being to provide the maximum space for cooking preparation. Visually the spaciousness can be emphasised through the use of a variety of textures between the counter, the island and the backsplash areas.

Creating the continental kitchen

The variety of styles encountered across mainland Europe make a nonsense of the term. This is a word coined to cover a very popular style of kitchen which is not traditionally associated with the UK. The look can be achieved through the use of neutral features designed to combine functionality with chic. The deployment of a variety of lighting can help to create depth in an area where the appliances are integrated seamlessly into the units. The use of grey and brown tones through the countertops and flooring will further enhance the texture of the appearance.

Playing in the shadows

Mixing colour is not the only way to generate a different ambience. This can also be done through the use of a carefully structured lighting system. Big shades can be used to transform the appearance of a small kitchen and tech lights can help to create that all important ‘wow factor’. Lighting in the backsplash and counter areas can develop a sense of drama and will work especially well with dark cabinets or surfaces.

Author bio:

Maria Stefano is a regular contributor to variety of home style blogs and has written articles for several websites. She uses websites such as http://www.josephkingsley.co.uk/ and the latest publications in home styling to help produce informed content about issues related to home and garden.

TalkTalk PictureBox Boost

Posted on March 21, 2014 by admin

I’ve said it before, but Craig is massive film buff. His idea of a lazy Sunday is to watch film after film then hop onto IMDB and look for bloopers and other critic’s reviews. He once told me that his biggest regret was not going to university and studying film. Infuriatingly, this means he’s always pointing out plot inconsistencies and bad cinematography to me when I’m trying to concentrate on a tricky storyline.

Me? Despite the fact I actually went to university to study media (of which a large percentage was spent analysing film, and for some reason naughty ones at that) my idea of hell is the cinema and I rarely watch anything over an hour long. I get distracted very easily and can’t follow the simplest of plots. I still get laughed at to this day for spending 5 hours watching one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and writing notes to keep up. Don’t believe me…? Oh yes - I take OCD to a whole new level!

So when TalkTalk asked me to review the TalkTalk PictureBox Boost - I thought I’d leave this one to the bloke.

Before I start, I should point out that this review is based on an offer that isn’t exclusive to us ambassadors. If you’re a TalkTalk TV customer with no current active Boosts on your account, then you can take advantage of this PictureBox Boost offer too. Basically, you get it for free for a month. Normally priced at a tiny £4.99 per month, this gives you access to some 60 on demand films at anytime - with seven new titles added every week. The offers ends on the 2nd of April, and there’s 11 days left to take advantage if you want to opt in.

Right, over to Craig…

Me: So what’s on there?

Craig: A surprising number of quality watches. You won’t find many new releases as these are usually pay per view (also available on TalkTalk) but they have chosen well. There’s something for everyone too with thrillers (Cape Fear and The Interpreter), action movies (The Chronicles of Riddick and Death Race Inferno), comedy (The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Big Lebowski, The Boat that Rocked), drama offerings (Elizabeth The Golden Age, Frost/Nixon and 8 Mile) and much more besides.

Me: In your opinion, is this good value for money?

Craig: There are tons of options available to the film addict nowadays. Netflix is £5.99 and offers a comparable service (maybe even a little better), LOVEFiLM Instant (now Amazon Prime Instant Video) starts from around £5 but their streaming option was woeful - although I’m yet to check out the rebranded service. But as far as convenience goes, if you’re a TalkTalk customer anyway and you don’t want to take on subscription after subscription, I’d recommend it to family and friends. It’s very easy to navigate, there’s plenty on there, and it’s literally all there at the touch of a button. What’s more, you can opt in and out at any time by logging into My Account. It’s therefore very easy to control your expenditure.

So there you have it. My first ever interview with Craig, and no expletives! In all seriousness, I must admit that TalkTalk’s PictureBox Boost has been a hit in this house and provided him with some much needed chill-out time as this pregnancy continues to turn me into a hormonal wreck.

Disclaimer: We’re TalkTalk ambassadors and are currently receiving a phone, broadband and TV package for free. This post is part of a series of reviews of their services - more can be found here if you’re considering making the switch yourselves.