At CCC we see it all the time: albums of beautiful photos from customers' weddings, birthday parties, showers and all sorts of other special occasions. And while there are often outstanding pictures taken by professional photographers, we've noticed that some of the most personal, whimsical, romantic and charming photos are taken by friends, family and other guests at the occasions!

And that's why digital photography has caused a kind of revolution when it comes to celebrations. Even before the world went digital, savvy brides and other party people were handing out single-use cameras so everyone could gather snaps of those special moments. Now that digital cameras are cheaper, easier to use, and available just about everywhere, it's no surprise that they're showing up at parties and gatherings worldwide.

Some of the tips we've heard from CCC customers about event photography:

• At weddings, be sure your professional photographer is capturing those must-have shots. Guests may be cheering, or teary, or just not technically able to grab your most crucial photos.
• Consider allocating a digital (or single-use) camera to each table at a reception. Conventional photos can be processed and saved onto a CD for you to use in digital format later.
• Digital photo albums, also saved on CD, are another budget-conscious and modern way to send a visual record of your celebration. Those who are to receive a printed version can have something beautiful produced from the digital files.
• Consider video! Smart phones, iPads and other devices are everywhere, and the ability to podcast a live stream of an event to remote family and friends can bring them closer to those special times - plus having a record to save on your website, YouTube, or send by email.

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Children are delighted by the colours and variety of butterflies, and these glamorous winged creatures are such accessible examples when teaching about migration, natural adaptation and other subjects in a science curriculum.

But of course real preserved butterflies can be distressing to young children - it can be hard for them to deal with the idea that these beauties have been killed to be framed - as well as being very delicate when handled by little hands, and expensive too.

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I just re-read an interview that LadyCCC, the founder of Clear Cut Crafts, did a couple of years ago, and found some inspiring advice for would-be entrepreneurs.

She talks about how, in the early days, there were some setbacks after she began designing and making butterflies. For example: "After seeing how great they looked I thought maybe I could sell these so I started designing more and creating more uses; testing them on different surfaces and using different adhesive products. I sold them at a few markets to see how consumers would take to them and to my surprise they were a hit. I gave my mother some and she had a spill on them then ran off to wash it and OH Heavens!!! Sorry to all those that bought them prior, but the ink ran."

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I'll admit it, of all the 150+ critters to choose from at CCC, these are not my favourites. But then, we have customers who are rascally boys, practical jokesters, science teachers, and budding entomologists who think they're the best thing ever!

This multi-legged collection was the creepy highlight of a Halloween wedding too (although I'm trying VERY hard to avoid thinking of that particular wedding cake!).
Sure, I'll always be drawn to the beautiful and colourful butterflies and dragonflies in the collection, but these realistic crawlers are made and hand-cut with the same care and attention, and of course they have their place. Just don't make it my place, okay? :-)

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In nature we find some of the most intense and vibrant colours, exotic shapes that dazzle the eye, and extraordinary adaptation to habitat. In many of our CCC butterflies and dragonflies, you can see these wonders of nature in all their variety, and they're favourites with teachers, brides, and anyone who wants to include some of their charm and beauty in decor, scrapbooking, crafts and so many other uses.

But sometimes what's needed just can't be found in nature. That's where fantasy designs can be perfect for your needs. Some examples:

• Heart-themed red butterflies for Valentine's Day or to embellish a scrapbook page about a romantic event.
• Rainbow-colour ladybugs, just for fun, or to make a subtle statement.
• Flower-lovers' butterflies with roses on their wings.
• Patriotic "Stars and Stripes" butterflies, for our American friends' July 4, or welcome-home celebrations for returning service personnel.

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