Maybe it's just how the pictures look on my computer, but with them being out of focus like that, I can't really tell what you did to them.
A tripod would sure help with your pictures. If you don't have a tripod, you might just take something like a yard stick and hold it and the camera with the end of the yard stick on the floor. This may help to steady your camera hand. Also, check your camera and see if it has a macro setting for close ups.
Please don't take this post the wrong way. I really would like to see what you did with those grips.