(NFL kickoff is tonight! We had to write a blog post…who doesn’t love football!?)

It’s Sunday. It’s Gameday.

You’ve got your jersey on and now it’s time to get to work.

A few of your closest friends are coming over to participate in the thrill of competition and more importantly, to sink their teeth into the ribeye steaks you’ve been marinating since yesterday. You didn’t go the just-buy-a-pizza route because you wanted to be authentic. And, after all, it’s Gameday. It deserves your best efforts.

By the end of the day, hopefully your fanhood is satisfied. But if your team lost – no sweat. Everyone has won today because hunger is no longer a thought for the remainder of the day and probably won’t be for the next few – who doesn’t overeat on Sunday?!

It’s the perfect finish to the week. Many of us absolutely love Gameday Saturdays and Sundays.

At 3226 Online we’ve made it known a time or two how much we love the NFL and sports. Click here to see our latest Facebook NFL post.

We’re extremely grateful for the relationship we have with many NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons who’ve given us the opportunity to personalize books, journals, invitations, and more for their events. We are looking forward to continuing to create high-quality, uniquely personalized NFL products!

So football is finally here! We hope you enjoy your Saturdays and Sundays everyone. And in today’s case, enjoy your Thursday night. Football is here!

“Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world.” – Lawrence G. Lovasik

A word is an amazing thing. A group of them can forever change someone’s life – for better or worse. We often times remember great world leaders and heroes not only for their actions, but also for their words in times of great adversity and leadership. Certain phrases of historically significant speeches ring in our hearts forever, like Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream”  speech, Winston Churchill’s infamous “Never Give In” speech, and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.”

“Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

― Winston Churchill

It’s become clear throughout history that words have the capacity to uplift a nation – especially when they’re delivered the right away. They can combine to be so powerful that they have the potential to forever change the status quo; to turn what’s wrong into right. We see the magnificence of words at 3226 and we love printing them in creative and artistic ways that bring out their life, beauty, and power.

What words have you never forgotten?

3226 Online is thrilled to announce that we’ve specially created a new and incredible line of jewelry inspired by Hoʻōla Nā Pua (HNP), our favorite cause!

Our new line, called “The Pearl” is part of our popular Kala line and was inspired by our new partnership with Ho’ola Na Pua to provide hope, renewal, and a brighter future for sexually exploited children in Hawai’i.

Ho’ola Na Pua will receive 50% of all sales generated from “The Pearl.” Click here to check out our amazing new line!

About Ho’ola Na Pua (HNP website)

HNP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is committed to the renewal of trafficked girls through Health, Education, Advocacy and Reintegration. Hoʻōla NāPua, which means “new life for our children” in Hawaiian, is committed to meet the unique needs of underage female sex trafficking victims through individualized, comprehensive, and restorative therapies. Our vision is to provide girls who are rescued, or have escaped, with a home, a path to restoration & healing from their trauma, an increased sense of self-worth, and the confidence & ability to successfully reintegrate with their family & community.

We live and breathe photography at 3226 Online.  Here are four quick tips from us that might help you improve yours!

1. Lighting is key – and mid-day isn’t the only time to take photos

The importance of lighting in photography can never be overstated. It’s truly one of the most crucial components for an outstanding photo. Practical tip: whenever you’re taking a photo, always take a second to see if you’re using the light to your advantage. Avoid shadows when they take away from what you’re trying to capture. Also, taking photos in the morning and evening will lead to different pictures compared to those at noon. Experiment with taking photos at different times of the day to get a feel for how different times affect your images.

2. Avoiding complex backgrounds when they’re unnecessary

The right background for a photo isn’t just important – it’s absolutely vital. Complex backgrounds can often times be very distracting and can negatively take away from the object you’re trying to capture. A good tip is to take advantage of plain backgrounds.

3. Don’t always center your objects

Many people have a tendency to want to center the object they’re photographing. Think about it…have you ever seen a photo from someone’s trip to Mexico, and in it they’ve got a majestic, full-of-history Mayan ruin right smack dab in the middle of the photo? Nearly everyone does that. Instead, a great practice is to see if positioning the object more towards the edges of your frame can create a more telling and revealing photo of the moment.
Positioning an object this way will empower you to capture more of the scene.

4. Snap, Smile, Repeat.

It’s so cliché, but it’s our favorite tip. Any great photographer will tell you the key to creating not just great but absolutely incredible photography is to have a blast doing it. Having fun will foster your passion for capturing truly spectacular art and your results will show it!

Got a great tip you’d like to share? Leave a comment and let us know!

[This article relates to our Bound By Sara Collection, an array of fantastically hand-crafted, personalized, leather-bound books. You can check out the collection anytime at 3226 Online Bound By Sara Collection]

Does the book featured (below) look different than most books, particularly the spine? That’s because it is…and it’s created using a special binding method called coptic binding.

What is Coptic binding?

First, a quick history lesson – coptic binding was used by early Christians in Egypt (the Copts) dating way back to the second century AD. It’s actually tied to the early spread of Christianity (pun intended). Specifically, coptic bindings are books that have sections of paper that are sewn together through the folds of the book. The sections are attached to each other by a chain of stitch “linkings” that tie at the spine.

How is this book made?

This Coptic-bound book has two wooden covers that are made with walnut. The covers are planed down to very specific depths, and the wood is then covered with handmade paper that’s crafted using the finest fibers. To make the paper, fibers are loaded into a Hollander beater that’s equipped with a washer wheel. The wheel then uses its cycles to tense the fibers. To give the paper its unique coloring, natural pigments are used.

Once the paper has set, it’s utilized as both an internal cover (first and last sheet in book) as well as a cover for the spine. The paper is cut to the perfect size and is set to the wooden covers. Next, they are coated with multiple layers of colored milk paint.  The moment the paint has dried, the wooden covers are then sanded down to expose the creases in the paper, giving the wood a unique, crackled effect. Finally, the wooden covers are then hand-beveled, polished, and drilled.  Once all of this is done, the book is finally ready to be bound!

I want one! What do I do?

All of our Coptic bindings are personalized and made-to-order! If you’re interested in getting this amazing type of book or if you just want to learn more, feel free to give us a call at 770.715.2136! You can see more of our Bound By Sara Collection at 3226 Online Bound By Sara Collection

‘Tis the season to get your orders in early. Let us take care of your printing needs this holiday season, place your holiday card order by November 15 and receive 15% off your total order! Holidays can be hectic and we want to be sure you are not worrying about your holiday cards at the 11th hour.

Call us today to discuss your order!