I just got a new digital camera as well over the Xmas, and couldn't figure out how to take good pics with it for the life of me. Then I read a great FAQ over at hg420.com that gave me some basic tips, and others I figured out on my own that were really simple.
As others have said, use the macro setting, it's a must to take high quality closeups. You also want your light source to be over your right or left shoulder, not in front of you or beside you. Use a background on your buds that will not reflect a lot of light, so nothing metal and no white paper. I just put mine on my coffee table, as it's stained a dark brown. Next, make sure your whiteness setting is on "cloudy." Results in more vibrant colors for some reason...Flash setting should be "fill in flash." Zoom and shoot!
Great thread from one of the masters:
http://www.hg420.com/showthread.php?t=22942