Happy Thanksgiving

This card is a complete design by Sandy Osborn...I just love her work and purchase as much of it as I can afford. I made up two of these...the other one says 'Thank You" on the front. I left the inside blank so they can write what they want to. I cut the leaves out separately and attached them with pop dots and the added glitter. I really like this card the best of all of them..Now I can't wait to have another free weekend to make some more.

Baby Girl Card

Did a super lousy job of photographing this card but I already have it wrapped up when I sat down to check the images on the card.

Thank You Card

These were such fun to make...made me realize how much I miss crafting and designing. I didn't design any of these...I have subscribed to a Card magazine for a couple years now and I just searched till I found some that I thought I could make up and had the supplies for. Makes me really wish I had spent more time learning how to use my Expression. I got things done with it but knowledge would have been a good assistant...LOL. The only thing I really used the computer for was to make my papers and to print out the sentiments. I ended up with 5 cards, so that's not bad for one days work...really I made up 6 but sending one to Tori for her new baby that was born last week. I probably could have got another one done but knew it would take me a couple hours to clean the house back up. I'm a neat freak until it comes to crafting and then I have it spread in every room. I'd give anything to have one big room with all my stuff in it. Right now, my computer and printer are in the family room (lap top is in the living room), the Expression, cutting board, binder and laminator are in the laundry room and most of my supplies are in the hall closet.
I've got a couple more to post and then need to get some supper started and packing done.

Baby Boy Card

This took me over 5 hours to make...LOL....lots of trial and error...don't look too close! My macro lens really shows the glue that I messed up on...the inside is just white with the words:
On the birth of your baby boy. I'm going to make a girl one in the morning. I was planning on making about a half dozen to add to the greeting card house that I bought for the women's gift at mom's but doubt if I get more than 2 more made. We leave early Friday morning and I still have to box it and wrap it, plus pack for the trip. I should have got off my dead butt on Mon. and Tues. but just didn't have the energy to get up.

Christmas 2009

Another of my Santa's . I have quite a collection but I don't put all them out anymore. Some of them were bought for me and not exactly ones I would have picked out. I like the old world looking ones or wood carved. The tree is by Katie Pertiet and the bow is by Claudi Designs. Did you know we now have 4 followers?

Old Santa's

These have been in my possession for as long as I can remember. I believe my mother bought them for me when I first got married. The grands love stacking them.

Vintage Bokeh

Ok...This is the last of my playing around have to get busy and do something even if I don't want to. Used Pioneer Woman's vintage action on this image also staple from SP and tag from DDE.
Still no steam.

Icy Trees

I've had this collection of crystal trees for years and I have always wanted more but I can't find any. This year I bought a couple of mercury glass trees trying to make my collection grow. I should have bought more of them, by next year I probably won't be able to find them either.
Used one of Florabella's overlays to make it a little more icy looking.

Christmas Bokeh

Trying to get some good Christmas Bokeh.

This is post # 352 for me.

Holiday Memories

Just might use this for my Christmas card next year....took it this afternoon when I was putting decorations away. I never did get a photo of the house all lit up. Just too tired to do it at night when I got home. One more Christmas...then I'm calling it quits! I'll work next Christmas and then retire the end of November of 2011. (I hope!)

Playing with some textures and overlays

Just playing around with some textures and overlays.

Christmas Eve Mosaic

A few shots of our Christmas Eve this year.
Jessi and her cousins got these adorable hats and scarves from Aunt Pam and Uncle Randy and of course they had to model them.
I think Jason needed some new socks. I had to darn the ones he had on with the clone brush.
Zach was so excited this year he could hardly stand still, but that really isn't anything different he never stands still.
Don't you just love the shot of the trash that was left behind.

Just playing around

The images are from last year. Haven't taken any shots of the tree yet this year.
Was working on tutorial from DD on layers mask. Background papers and frame from DD. The
staple from DDE. The rest mine.

Winter Begins 2009

It's no wonder I get nothing done on my days off. This was going to be a quick post and wanted to frame and shadow it....could I find my damn instructions for doing that? No! @(*$&*$@
I have them buried somewhere on one of these two computers and can't locate it anywhere. Course, it would help if I could just remember something for a change. So...here it is...un-adored!

Silent Victors

Just another image I've been working up for a B/W...still not good enough to send in. I can't seem to get them sharp enough and I'm using my tripod but according to Peter, I focus to close but he doesn't explain how to change that. I really like these foggy shots....especially in B/W. We got tons of snow...its been a real challenge to walk out the door each morning. I'm so far behind now that I could leave the left over deliveries on my truck and have a full day of work and not load a single new delivery. The boss is saying no help till next week...ugh!

First Snowfall - 1

No playing around with this one. Just did a crop and resize.

Snowflakes from DDE.

First Snowfall - 2

This is the first snowfall for this winter. Didn't amount to much which makes me happy.
I have been wanting to use some of Florabbella's textures and overlays and thought this would be as good a time as any to play around some.

November Mosaic

A few of the images that got caught in front of my camera this month.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Just a shot out the back door. Wish I could walk out in the yard without scaring him away,but I can't yet. I'll keep trying. Neal said I could use his deer blind and set out there and wait but I didn't like that idea......lol

Red Knock Out Rose

I forgot that I promised to post the color version of this beauty. I can't wait to see if they all survive the winter. They have really bloomed pretty this summer.

Another Vignette

With the elliptical marquee click in center of image hold the control and ault keys as you drag the selection into the shape you want. Inverse....Feather ( I did 20 depends on size of image) on a new layer fill selection with black or color you want. You can also do a levels adjustment on the selection to make darker on the image layer. I tried that but I didn't like it.

Vignette my way

This is the only way I have done a vignette. Don't really use them much.
Select photo....Contract around 35.......Feather around 20......Inverse selection.....New layer above photo........Fill selection with black.......Select photo again.......On Vignette layer hit delete.......Lower opacity.
Another way I can't help you but I'm sure you will find something if you do a search.

Poor Man's HDR...LOL

Playing around here...do love this image but not necessarily the processing...LOL..just liked how it made the fog look like blue smoke! Got to get off here...all for today...work to be done!

Solitude

My favorite image of the day...I'd like to have stayed and took a few more but it was early and the dogs were raising a ruckus! Didn't want anyone to call the cops on a prowler! LOL

And, yes, the sun is a bit blown....can't figure out how to avoid it.

Foggy Saturday Morning

Christmas lights are up, going to put on the finishing touches this am and then pick up the last of the leaves in the yard. It was 'smack in your face' foggy this morning and I got out with the camera again. I'm going to post a few that I do like. This one, I know the light is blown but I still like it.

After the Rain

A shot I got this morning. The fog lifted before I got out there, so this shot isn't as good as I imagined. I'm going to send it in for my assignment and if it gets a bad grade, I'm giving up and moving on. I'm tired of not getting images that are 'correct'...I'm going back to shooting images for my pleasure only!

Eastern Hemlock

At least I'm pretty sure it's an Eastern Hemlock. Took this one out front this afternoon while waiting on Zack to get off the bus.
Button, ribbon, and tags from DDE.

Last of the Fall Colors

One of the shots I got last week on my photo walk. I'm about ready to put my camera's up on Ebay....I get so frustrated and wish I'd stuck with my point and shoot and never read a single photo book....at least then I was clueless as to how bad my shots were. Now, I continually critic my own photos and feel like I've lost the joy of my hobby. I want to get back to taking shots and loving them....just for myself! I'm just getting depressed now....winter is setting in and I'm not ready! LOL

My Jessi Girl

Love this girl. She's just as sweet as her Mom.

Pioneer Women Cooks

This arrived last week and I'm still looking it over but its an awesome cook book! I love her writing and her recipes. She gives you insight into her life on the ranch and her family plus includes tons of photos of her recipes. Best cookbook I've ever purchased!

The "Grands" having fun

The images are from Labor Day and not very good but wanted to do something with them.
This is a tutorial from Designer Digital.

Stepping back in Time

Found this image on my last quest to take a B/W image that would qualify for the assignment. Didn't get anything else to send it but liked how this turned out.

Purple Beauy

I took this at a greenhouse in Lexington. Not sure what it is but it sure is pretty.

Jack

Jack just hanging out in my tree in the front yard.

Used several textures on the image.

Most everything by Sue Cummings except for the grid.

Black & White Halloween

Decorated a little different this year in spots. I really like this look.
Still used some of the old stand by orange & black too. Maybe next year I can find more black & white and I can forget the orange.

Halloween Treats 2009

Here they are....I didn't get a very good image and I've already dropped them all off at Jerri Ann's. They did turn out cute through. The bluish ribbon is really purple but it looks blue in this photo. The graphics are by Daisy CO. and the kit was made by Sandy Osborn. I really like these little boxes but which they had fit the candy bars better. I miss that about Lucille's templates. If she said the box was to fit 8 mini bars, they would have fit in it perfectly. The bars have lots of extra room in this box. Maybe if I'd used just the snack size bars, it would have been a better fit but I didn't have any.

End of the Season

These are from last nights game. It's over for this year for Zach. Jason still has one more game this week end that I HOPE to get to see and snap a few.

I have used this layout before just change the date and images. Some of it's from DDE and SP and me.

Trick or Treat

Had the sorority weiner roast here Sunday evening and I found this adorable bowl on my kitchen table from my Secret Sister. I love it!

I think these staples are from DDE and the rest mine.

Need to go fix Zach his grilled cheese.......LOL.......I hope he sleeps better tonight.

Fall 2009

Can you believe it? The first time we have seen the sun in almost a week and I'm stuck in the house working on Halloween stuff for Gavin's classmates! It was a perfect fall day...60 degrees, calm wind and full sunshine. Our foliage was starting to get absolutely stunning on Tuesday and then we got 3 inches of rain on Wed. and Thurs. Took care of most of those colorful leaves! Bill bagged leaves for about 2 hours and I worked on boxes. On Sat. night we went to a Halloween party. We had lots of fun and stayed out way too late. It was 1:30 when we got to bed and my internal clock went off at 6:30...ugh...

Black and White Rose

This is the last of the Knock Out roses. If I remember, I'll post a color version of it tonight. Got to get out the door now. It's a gloomy, rainy day...ugh.

Fall Tree

I go by this tree every time I go down the road. Wish I had stop to get this image before we got
all the rain but I still love the colors with the green grass and blue sky.

Zach......Flag Football

I haven't worked up a scrapbook page for so long that I about forgot how. This is a shot that I took a couple of weeks ago at Zach's flag football game. Doesn't he look like he is having fun?

I hope to see Jessi and Jason in the next week or so. I need some snaps of them to scrap.

The papers,staple,button and letters are from Shabby Princess. Photo frame-Designer Digital.
Dotted frame on image-Sweet Shoppe-Misty Cato. Paper sack paper-Degital Design Essentials.
I hope that's all.

Fall...My favorite time of the year

Just a shot of a Maple leaf laying in the yard.

Oak leaf

Went to a park for a walk today and had to snap this. I didn't do anything to this image except crop to fit my frame. The way the sun was filtering through the trees made it look like a spot light was shinning on the leaf.

More of Lexington

Just another view of the Lexington courthouse. I'm trying to do the B/W adjustment myself but I'm not really liking the look yet. It seems to be missing the mark but I can't figure out where or what.

Early Fall Sunrise in Black & White

I shot this a few weeks ago...I pass this old house every morning on my way to work and keep thinking I will capture it with the light shining through it but I'm too afraid to climb over the fence and capture it with the sun to my back. There are cows in this pasture and I'm a little leery about a bull being with them. I don't run too fast anymore....LOL.. Anyway, wondering what you think of this and if you think it would work for my B/W assignment.

Mums

Just a quick snap of my Mums.

Apple Festival Lexington

I think this is my favorite image out of those I got at the festival. I love the bright colors. There was a mother and her daughter spinning these beauties and I got one image of the girl but can't post it cause I didn't get her permission.

The tag is by Katie Pertiet and the swirls are from Rhonna Farrer.

October in Missouri

Another image from my trip to Lexington. I picked up one of these white pumpkins and its outside with my mums. I'll try and get a photo of it this weekend. It's raining today!

October moon

I have been trying to get this image for the last 3 or 4 evenings and this is the best I can get. A couple of nights it was to cloudy for me to even see the moon let alone get a shot. I would have liked it to have been bigger and golden but by the time it gets high enough for me to see above the hill that it comes up behind this is all I can get. Maybe I should drive someplace and get a better shot. Would that be called chasing the moon?