Day 257

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Day 256

This is Zach's early Christmas present. Niki.

Day 255

Zach stayed here for awhile yesterday evening and we took time out from doing homework to take this shot.

Day 254

We have 3 or 4 inches of snow today so I'm just playing around.
Everthing in this layout is from DDE except the stamp frame and I did that myself. I bought one something like this the other day and was very disappointed with the quality of it. Some of the holes were squashed and out of shape so I just made my own. I like how I could make the bottom right opening larger to fit the picture.
Some of my pictures aren't the best but that's ok.

Day 251

All my presents are wrapped and under the tree...except for the one to my MIL and it has to been programed first. I bought her a digital frame and will add the pictures to it. Then I have to get Jerri Ann's calendar done. Still need to decorate too! Oh, my....so much to do and so little time to do it in.

Background by Jessica Sprague. Frame from Something Blue Studios and the star is from Holiday Fancy at Scrap Artist.

Day 250

Had to set this up...Jerri Ann needed some letters cut. It is so much fun. I can't wait till I have more time to play with it. I'm trying to wrap gifts today and get packages ready to send north. So...I put it away as soon as I got her letters printed out. The beautiful you see and the swirl were the first two things I cut. I can see this stuff being used on lots of cards and such.
This kit is Holiday Sparkle by Michelle Shefveland of Scrappers Guide.

Day 253

This is the tree in the sunroom. It didn't turn out as good as the one in the LR. The room is darker that the LR with all the white in there. Also the ornaments on this tree are darker. I decorate this tree more country and a lot of the ornaments are home made.
I cheated and used the same layout as yesterday just a different pic.

Day 249

Well...after working on this for over 2 hours, this is as good as it gets. I was more pleased with the photos this year then I've been in the past but they still aren't as good as I would like. I upped the ISO clear up to 1600 so the noise was horrible but Neat Image took care of most of it. I wouldn't want to print these out over a 4 x 6 as the noise would be terribly noticeable in anything larger. I still have trouble with adding journal spots. I could not find anything that suited me so I gave up and just put the date.
I believe all this is from NitWit Collections except the tag and I'm not sure where that is from...too tired to search. I think its probably a Gina Cabrera.

Day 252

Took this shot last night with all the lights turned off except the tree at ss 2.5 f/22. How do you like the starburst on the lights? I want to try again tonight on the other tree.
Everthing from Degitial Design Essentials.

Day 251

A few shots around the house. Had to use the flash so they aren't the best.
Used Digital Design Essentials kit Holiday Charm.

Day 250

I think I'm finally finished. This is a quick shot of a ornament. I'm beat.....going to put my PJ's on get myself something to eat and watch a little TV. We have an inch or so of snow and it is going to be in the teens tonight. Should be a good evening to spend in front of the fire.
Everthing from Digital Design Essentials.
I'll take and post more Christmas pictures later.

Day 248

Well, here they are...I really like how they turned out. The hat was a pain in the butt to figure out. I don't know how many patterns I cut before I finally got it right. LOL...I used a Santa face by Kate Hadfield from The Lily Pad. I hope this was ok for me to erase the body and just use the face. I liked the beard in this one. The background is by Jesse Edwards of Digital Designs and the rest is from the NitWit Collections.

Day 249

From Halloween to Christmas it just keeps going in circles.....The Grands had these cute Coke bottles with them when they came for Thanksgiving. I had to take a shot of one, the sun was
so bright I should have had some one block it some. I was just playing around with Digital Design Essentials new Merry Little Christmas Coll. kit. Sure is a cute kit. I change the background paper from green to this off white.

Day 247

I forgot to post these so you could see the finished product. They were fun to make but next time, I'll try and find the takeout boxes in green so I don't have to make them. Since the holiday is over, I found the green takeout boxes but they were over a buck a piece and that was more than I like to spend. I got the cardstock for 25 cents each, so I was able to make 4 for a buck.
All the stuff is from 3Scrapateers except for the bat and that is from NitWit Collections.

Day 248

I was practicing. I should have stopped down a little or moved back some to get more of him
in focus but I was trying to get his eyes sharp. He had been sick and yes his lips are that red and sore. Neal was standing on my left and behind me to block all the sun coming in the windows.

Day 247

Don't laugh at all the tilt. I just wanted you to see this tray.

Day 246

Isn't his butt cute....LOL....another of Kristen's images. I was too busy with the girls that day. I love this image. Mom and Dad forgot his heavy coat, so he has his mom's coat on and it was dragging the ground. She tucked it in his pants so he could 'run' ....too cute!
All stuff by Shabby Princess.

Day 246

This is a Weight Watchers recipe. Angel Food cake mix (one that you only add water to,I use Betty Crocker) a 20oz. can of crushed pineapple. Just mix the two together with a spoon pour into a 9 x 13 pan bake at 350° for about 30 minutes. Cut into 12 pieces 3 points each. Add a
drop of fat free cool whip. It's pretty good. The middle always falls some but it's still good.

Day 245

Another shot of the leaves. The background from DDE and mailing label from OScraps.

Day 245

This is the last of our color. The maples are done and the oaks are ugly brown but the Bradford is still hanging in there and when the sun is setting in the west, it makes the leaves look like they are on fire. Course, the wind has been blowing for the past week so getting a sharp photo is next to impossible.

The background is from a free kit my Anne Langpap. The swirl is by Rhonna Farrer and the inked overlay is by Alicia Hansen.

Day 244

Yep, we are on the Wii Wagon now...we had such a blast with the kids game in Chicago that we just had to get one for here. I picked up the Get Fit mat and hope to use it this winter for exercise. Also picked up one game and will be looking for more when we get used to it. We loved the bowling game and had such a blast with the rock band. We didn't get all that, too much money but Bill does want to get a golf game soon. Maybe after the holidays.

Vintage Memories by Kanelas Expressions.

Day 244

Took this shot out back this morning. I'll be glad when all the leaves are gone. Brent spent all day yesterday trying to get them cleaned up and you can't tell it today of course the rain really brought them down. I have used all of this scrapbook stuff before so I'm not going to give credit again.

Post 243

Zack was out back yesterday and I got this one before he started being silly. This layout only took a few minutes since I used a quicki page from Vinnie Pearce and ran the soft & faded action from Pioneer Woman on the picture.

Day 243

I was playing around with my camera this morning...trying to figure out how to lock my exposure and then up it by one stop. I'm still not sure I understand the concept but at least I know how I'm suppose to do it...LOL..anyway. I was taking photos of my stained glass and when I opened them in my photo viewer program, I notice how orange the flowers were and how yellow the fence was. The first image on the left is the jpg image, straight out of camera except for cropping and downsizing. The right image is my raw file after I processed it. I chose to use the auto process and then used my medium contrast and sharpened by 25. After processing into PS, all I did was crop, downsize and then used the smart sharpened to enhance it a bit more. The raw file is almost exactly the same color as my subject other than its a bit duller and should be brighten up a bit more. This was quite an eye-opener for me as I didn't realize my colors were off this much in the jpg files. So...I'll continue to shot in raw+jpg until I get much better at processing the raw files and then I'll probably switch to all raw. I'm headed outside to pick up leaves before the rains move in tomorrow. I miss you but understand that you are busy!

Day 242

Just something I learned how to do today. I like this effect and it can be done with tons of different ways. It's just a way to pop your subject out of the image. I tried it using all the effects and desaturated it, changed the levels, etc...it was fun experimenting. This was taken the first year I had my camera and its my great nephew, Tracer. It's funny now, but at the time I took it, I thought it turned out awesome. Now, I see where it would have been a much better photo if I'd had my external flash to light up his face. I think I'm not learning much about photography, but when I look back, I see that I am learning....slowly!

Day 242

I made this sucker cover and treat tent the other day.
Everything from Shabby Princess for the layout and Trick or Treat goodies.

Day 241

I think this little fellow is awfully cute and I didn't have anything else to take a picture of. I'm tired of Halloween shots but haven't had time for much else.
Everything is from Digital Design Essentials except the eyelets and photo frame they are mine.
I played around some with this by cutting the ribbon up and using the warp to make it look like it's treaded through the eyelets. Changed the scrap of paper some too.

Day 241

Just a few of the images I got at the Missouri Day parade. I was pretty pleased with most of them images but still not excited about them. I wish I could get them a lot clearer but since they were moving and I was standing still, I guess they aren't too bad.

All stuff from the Amber Clegg from ScrapArtist.

Day 240

Night and Day....On and Off....Whatever.

Mail label frames from OScraps everything else from Digital Design Essentials. I change the color

of the orange background paper and I cut the spooky curly border out of a different green so it would match the way I wanted it to. I also took a piece of tape from Shabby Princess and cut it out of the green to use.

Day 239

More Halloween decorations. I love this time of year.
Everything is from Digital Design Essentials. I changed the little chipboard pumpkin a little.
Aren't those little eye balls cute?
The Halloween poem is from Poems and quotes for scrapbookers.

Day 238

Isn't this just the cutest thing. One of my sorority sisters got this as a little Halloween gift at our meeting and I just had to run out and get one for myself. I will probably never use the peppers but I like to look at it. Off to see Vick. Later.

Everything from Shabby Princess except the mailing label frame and that from OScraps.

Day 237

The wonderfully good Pumpkin Roll that I always have to make for the October Sorority meeting. We tend to get in a rut and each of us sign up for the same meetings every year. Maybe next year I need to sign up for June and then I won't have to make it. I would hate to disappoint them though, because they seem to really look forward to having it every year or at least they make me think so.....LOL

Everything is from Digital Design Essentials Boo To You kit except the background and that is in Sept Idea Book and I used the stitching action from ScrapGirls again. I can't make up my mind if I like it or not.

On the layout (the 3 squares) I did the tutorial for hand cut paper from Scrapbook Bytes.

I'm still 8 days behind but I think this is all you are going to get today. I've had a busy week so I took today off to play but I think 2 is enough.

We are going to Vick's tomorrow so hope to get a few fall shots.

Day 236

I may do this one in B&W and use it for my class.
The photo frame from The lily Pad everything else from Digital Design Essentials except for the stitching and I did that with an action from Scrapgirls.

Day 235

More of the garden.
The green and white paper and the scallop edge template is from Scrap Artists Nance Rowe Janetz. They may have been free just can't remember. The frames frome The Lily Pad and the stitching from Shabby Princess Harvest Spice kit.
I'm now 9 days behind....

Day 234

Another rose from the Elizabethan Gardens. I have a few more shots from vacation and then I have to move on to other stuff.
Background paper by Taylor Made at Oscraps. The orange paper and the eyelet design from Digital Design Essentials Snapshots of Spring kit. The paper tear is a free one from Scrapbook bytes by Steph. I've had that one for a long time.

Day 233

An old fashion rose and rose hip from the Elizabethan Gardens.
Everything from Digital Design Essentials new kit Hello Fall except the mailing labels and they are from OScraps.

Day 240

On the way to the pumpkin patch. It was a very warm, super dusty ride. My camera was covered with dust and I had it under my shirt most of the time. I'm sure I'll have to take it for a sensor cleaning again. I'm still not sure I have the courage to do it myself.
This was a free quick page by Anne Langpap. I changed the center section to a blue paper from the white that she had done. The trouble sign and the button comes from the O Boy kit by Amy Wolff from the Lily Pad.
I'm still 3 days behind!

Day 239

Some more images from the pumpkin patch. This is a combination of kits. The backgrounds are from Shabby Princess. The film strip, tags, and journal strip is from DDE.

Day 232

Brent & I went to the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo,NC. It was a beautiful place even in October. I would love to see it at other times of the year. This is a large bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth I. The small stamp insert is just a close up of the gown detail. I have a few more photo that I took to post later.

Used papers by Mindy Terasawa. The stamp is a PS shape. The stitching from Shabby Princess.

Day 231

The title tells the story. This shot was taken from the deck of the condo where we stayed. I wanted to get a sun set but I had to go to the sound side to do that and I never made it at the right time. We had dinner at a restaurant on that side one evening but it was to cloudy. Everything is from Shabby Princess except the corner of the mat and the file name for it is
DMI_Serene_corner_SPECIAL not sure where I got it but it worked perfect for this look.
I have seen this done on layouts before and always wanted to try it. I think it worked out good.

Day 238

The Pumpkin Queen. She was dressed all in orange. She really stood out in the crowd.
All kit is by DDE. I changed the color of the ribbon, pumpkin and tag to more black. I added the jump rings to the pumpkin. Not too bad for my first time. I'm not sure where I got the jump rings...

Day 230

Just a shot of the sea oats along the beach. Everything from Shabby Princess except the frame and the grid background. I did those and I forget where I got the stamp that looks like a letter.
If I remember I will post.

Day 237

We stopped at the Texas Roadhouse for lunch before the trip to the pumpkin patch and had to wait for about 20 minutes on Grandma Carol to arrive. The boys played 'fort' in the outdoor eating area. They were full of energy!

All stuff by DDE.

Day 229

This is not much but just don't have the time today. A shot from the deck of the condo. This is the view we had from the living room and the bed room. I love to hear the ocean but by the end of the week it was getting on my nerves.
I used the Vintage Postcard tutorial by Jessica Sprague from Designer Digital. I changed a few things. The destination label if from Shabby Princess.
I think I have forgotten how to do everything.

Day 236

I had a busy weekend, except for today, and it was spent relaxing and resting. I took Gavin and two of his friends from school to Liberty to the Pumpkin Patch. They all spent the night on Friday and I had them until 6 pm on Sat. night. It wore me completely out but I had fun with them. I'll be posting some images this week. Nothing good but passable. I'm about to give up on my DSL and go back to a point and shoot.

All stuff for Scrappers Guide. I used Harvest1912 by Joanne Brisebois.

Day 235

I love this time of year! I was sitting at the computer and noticed this warm glow outside. It was a cloudy day but the setting sun was shining bright beneath the clouds. It cast this warm, golden glow on the Bradford pear.

Forgot to add that this is from the Harvest 1912 kit by Joanne Brisebois too.

Day 234

Some of my pretty red mums. They are fading fast now....I doubt if they are around much longer. The yellow mums are beginning to bloom bright now...too bad they weren't both blooming at the same time.

All stuff is from Scrappers Guide.

Day 233

Don't even ask! I must have been desperate for a photo! LOL....it was a pretty shade of green and yellow but didn't work well with this layout. So....its now B/W. I guess I should have made it chocolate, at least....

Let's see....all stuff by The Lily Pad, I think!

Day 232

Whew...caught up just in time to head for bed. I was hoping to get a few done up ahead of time but it didn't happen. Love the cattails this time of year but it was super windy so they aren't as clear as I'd like. I'm sure I have more opportunities to capture them before winter sets in.

All stuff is by DDE. A mix of her kits.