Hi Jam,
I always take my pics with the highest resolution on the camera. The pictures are huge when I transfer them for uploading/cropping, but it's worth it to me. I just resize how I need them.
Also, it really helps to have a tripod. Despite how you try to hold a camera steady, even with image stabilization features...there's going to be camera shake. Especially with close up pictures. The closer you are the more that camera has to be steady. If you are a coffee drinker, such as myself, this causes issues. LOL
Tripods are really cheap these days, you can find them at Goodwill and Salvation army places all the time.
Even if you have to prop your camera up with something in the meantime, a bean bag or something that it will sit securely on is really helpful.
When you take the picture, don't push that button with a hard snap...push it down gently to prevent camera shake. I have a remote trigger for my large digital camera. That prevents camera shake all together. Back in the day, there used to be a cable that you could screw into the shutter button that you press at the end of the cable for that, but they don't offer that feature on point and shoot digi-cameras.
That's all I can think of for now.
Oh, keep the lens clean with a soft cloth. A dirty lens will give you what appears to be unfocused pictures. Don't ever use windex or any other solvent cleaners on a camera lens. It destroys the coatings on the lenses. A soft cloth dampened, or a q-tip dampened works well.
Hope that helps!
simply looking Devine! 
you always take such nice photos.
