Jessica Sprague ROCKS!

I signed up for Jessica Sprague's new free class Photo Editing: Frame-Ups and Special Effects. The first 2 days, I was just a tad disappointed, thinking well gosh, I know this. So today, I went and watched the first videos and then after a reference in one of them to the set-up video, (which I truly did not think I needed to watch, hehehe), I went and watched that one too, and I learned something from each and every one! OK, so far so good, and I am feeling a little sheepish. I am pleased I learned something and ready to tackle the next one. If I learn nothing else, lesson 3 was enough to keep me happy for weeks! I totally loved it and not only made an awesome photo, but I used it for something a little different to. So, after this class is over, and I have saved for a couple of weeks, I am now going to sign up for the other class she offers on photo editing. I LOVE learning these things and being able to make my photos do what I want. Let me show you what I did today.

Here is my first photo, before and after. I just love the new look!

Now for this other photo. Outside our apartment is this sign. And one night, when I couldn't sleep, and I was sitting outside all by myself, it just reminded me of all those scary movies with the vacancy signs out front. And I kinda got a little chill, because truly, it could be used for just such a movie. But you know, just taking a picture of it, in broad daylight doesn't convey what I was seeing in my mind. Well, after this tut and a frame from Paislee Press, and viola! I think it gets the feeling across perfectly! And now I can almost start work on a page about this sign out front. All I need is to find some kits from my stash to work with, lol. So, anyway, here is the before and after of this one. I felt so good to be able to take something I had learned and use it for something else.

I have added a link to her site on the side bar. Check it out, it's a fabulous place to learn. She also posts on her blog every Friday with tuts in Photoshop and has lots of free tuts and items to go along with it.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!

Long Distance House Hunting

I am house hunting. Not for myself, but for my daughter and her husband. They are in Iraq right now, and they were planning on waiting until they returned next February to buy a house, but they want the tax credit and we aren't sure if it will still be available when they return. I am still not sure if I am really all into this. I don't mind doing it, I have been to a few houses now and I kind of like looking and doing the leg work for them. The thing that makes me a little leery is telling them that yes, I think you will like this house, put an offer in for it. I mean, what if they come home and totally hate it? I would feel horrible!

Don't get me wrong, it's not like they have no idea what I am looking at. They look online and find ones they think they might like, then I go and look at it. I take tons of photos, ask tons of questions, and then go home, upload the photos, and wait to hear back from them. I think by the time we are finished, the realtor is going to hate hearing from me, lol. And then, if I can, I get my sister to go back and look at it with me, and sometimes even my Mom if she is here in town. And then I IM with my daughter and I go back with a ton more questions and another list of photos to take. I am thinking at this point that maybe I should make sure the place they eventually get as a mother-in law place. After all, I am doing all the work, I should get something out of it don't you think?

I hope everyone in the States had a great 4th. Me, I did absolutely nothing. Stayed in pretty much, and I didn't even go out for the fireworks. I just wasn't in the mood to deal with all those people. I did however get some pages scrapped. I surfed around the different sites and had fun creating pages for challenges I liked and using non CT items. Sometimes, it's just good to scrap. Of course, I scrap for myself even with the designs from the CTs I am on. That is what it is about for me. I have never understood why people create pages using stock photos, unless it's for something you are creating a page about that you don't have a photo for, like a thing...not a person. Don't get me wrong, I think those pages are stunning, but when it starts to make me feel insuperior, I just remind myself that my pages are just great and I get enough satisfaction using my own photos. And I am forever trying to better my photography skills, but I still feel mediocre sometimes when I see these other pages.

Which brings me to my next thought. I am thinking about maybe taking some photography classes. But they are hard to find unless you are working on a degree. Do I want to do that? Will all that other knowledge in all the other classes really help me in the long run? Because really, all I want to know is how to take better candid shots. I have always told myself that it's all in just taking the photos, LOTS of them, to get those good shots. But, I sometimes forget to just keep shooting. Will these classes improve me in anything I really want improvement in? I don't plan on going into the business of photography. At least not at this moment. It sometimes crosses my mind though. And I am starting to take photos in RAW format now. My family thinks I am good. I see photographer's photos, the ones that get paid for it, and mine are not even in the same class. Sigh, must be an introspective day today.

I had my second interview today for a job. I think it went pretty well. Now all I have to do is wait for the phone call. Which I hate. What happened to the days of going in, them liking you, and saying, ok, you have a job you start tomorrow? Things like that makes yearn for the simpler times. But then, I would have this cool thing called the internet!

Today I leave you with the pages I did this weekend. And my desktop for the month. Have a great week everyone! and remember, to see credits, just click on the number under each one.

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A little story...

I posted a page the other day that I had done about a pose I get from my daughter when she is tired of me taking photos and I got a few comments about how familiar that is, or how they usually get an arm or hand in front of the face, or even a whole body turn. So let me tell you a little story.

All kids get to that age I think, when they start doing this. And back in the day, when my daughter was younger, we only had film cameras, and I got tired of wasting my film on these horrible photos. So, I stopped taking pictures of her.

And one day, as we are looking through photos, she says to me, "How come there are none of me?" To which I replied, "You always cover your face when I try and take a pic, so I stopped trying to take them of you."

Would you believe that suddenly there was no more of that?? Yes, I still get the tongue sticking out, or goofy faces, or whatever she has planned for me, but now, and specially since digital, I can just keep snapping away and eventually I will get a good one. And I also scrap those not so great ones too!

And really, I do believe they grow out of that faze...until they become adults that is, and we never like our photos taken do we?? Which, if you think about it...if you set a good example and put yourself in front of the camera more often maybe they wont mind so much, plus...your family will get to see you without the camera in front of your face!

Just some food for thought...

Have a great weekend!

It's the Middle of June...

...and it still is not summer around here! My daughter keeps telling me not to complain. She is in heat that melts...her words, lol. And she says to me, "and if you were in this hot of weather, you would be grumpy. I seem to recall a trip to South Carolina....mean mom!" Hahaha...I guess I have to agree with her, up to a point. When she graduated boot camp, we drove down to South Carolina for the ceremony. Yes, it was hot and humid and I was a tad bit grumpy. We went to her barracks, which was not air conditioned, and she was stopping every time we turned around to say goodbye to the people she had made friends with. I finally said, can we please just go?? That is why she called me a mean mom, I wouldn't let her say goodbye to all her friends. But that was a horrible time in my life, I was 8 years younger, my body had done an about face on me...I was a total bitch when I got hot, and I had on the most uncomfortable shoes! She will never let me forget that, lol. Plus earlier that day at the ungodly hour of 6 AM, we were at the stands waiting for the ceremony to begin and I fell going up the bleachers. Yes, you read that right. I am not one who falls DOWN the stairs or whatever, I always fall going up!

Anyway, I am a little older now, my body seems to be changing again, and I am wanting it to be sunny and in the 80s or 90s. I can do without the humidity, but that comes with it around here. As long as I have air, I am good to go! You know, even just a couple years ago, as soon as it hit 50 degrees in the spring, I was opening up windows and heading outside without a jacket. This year? I am cold when it is only in the 60's, lol. And I am NOT opening windows or going outside without a light jacket. So, I am either getting old...not possible, hehehe...or my body is just going through a change again, just because it can! I mean really, I was only 35 when it went through that first change. And I am craving warmer weather. Florida is looking better and better to me...and don't ask my daughter about the family trip we had down there, oh...close to the same time she graduated boot camp...can we say bug-eyed, sweaty monster?? And lesson learned...never share a hotel room with my sister. I do like to think that I have grown some since then...I can share a suite with her now, lol.

Hmmm, let's see, project 365...not doing so great on that lately. However, I am not going to let that stop me. I will be plugging along and not berating myself for days missed. But some days it is hard to think of something to take a pic of. I was happily taking photos of the 5 cats that allow us to live with them, when someone (who shall remain nameless) said to me, you need to stop taking pics of the cats, or people are going to think you are an old cat lady. Pffft!! I happen to think the antics of said cats are hilarious sometimes and I like to get that down. But I really don't want people to see me as a cat lady....so I am trying to take other things too. But what is a person to do when you live mostly alone with 5 cats? My sister is here, but she works like 60 hours a week and soooo hates me to take pictures of her..like anyone does really. So most of the time, it is just me and the cats. Hmmm, maybe I need to get out more?

I have actually been doing pretty good with my layouts and stuff. I was getting behind, so I decided to quit quite a few of my CTs. And that was prompted by actually being let go from one of my favorite sites because I wasn't doing as much as I should. I was on the hybrid team there, and just couldn't keep up. So it was a good thing really, and I am feeling less stressed and having more fun making my pages. I did however get on the CT of The Daily Scrapper and had my first items and instructions published this month! You can see them here, I did the boy party stuff and the birthday board book. What a thrill that was! There are tons of other things in this issue, so check out the whole thing while you are there.

I will end things here with a few layouts I have done recently. As usual, you can click the number under each one for credits.

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Thanks for stopping by!! Have a great week!

{inter}national Scrapbook Day!!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! You are aboard the Scrapmatters Blog train and should have come from Kari's blog and after you pick up your freebie here you will head on over to Heather's blog.

Our theme is My Idea of Paradise and for me that one is easy! It doesn't matter where it is as long as I am surrounded by family. That puts me in paradise. It can be just one family member or the whole brood with extended family. We always have fun, laugh, giggle, cry, and love one another. We get on these giggling jags when something strikes any one of us as funny and we all start in and can't stop. Sometimes we giggle and laugh so hard we cry. And the men in our lives just look at us and smile. And sometimes they get in on the fun, like when there is THE pile up!

Whenever I see these layouts, I see love, fun, and laughter.

We all love to go and see places and sometimes takes trips together which is even better. There is ribbing on each other, jokes, lots of walking together and swimming, and whatever else we all decide to do while away from home. My Mom, sisters, nieces, and daughter all live relatively close still and we get together as often as possible. Sometimes it's just a day out shopping around town, but to me it is paradise!

OK, enough of my rambling, I could go on and on about this, lol. But you came here for a freebie and here it is! Just click on the image to get the download. And have a great weekend! And don't forget all the sales and speed scraps going at Scrapmatters today! See ya there!

And now for the reason

I couldn't say before why I was so sad because my daughter and son in law were traveling with their unit to Iraq and we aren't supposed to advertise the fact that they are traveling there. But they are safely down on the ground now and starting their year there. I am not sure exactly why it is hitting me so much, they have been in Texas preparing to leave since late February. I guess it is the fact that I won't be able to talk to her on the phone as much and just knowing that they are no longer in the states and could run into trouble at any time. I have been through this before as this is their second tour, but the first days are always hard for me. I get through them, but right now inside, I am just so sad. I am keeping myself busy and that puts it at bay until a stray thought pops in, and then I do my best and pray, and it passes.

It also saddens me that for a whole year I won't have any pics to scrap of them. Weird thought process I know, but its just one of the many little every day things that pops into my head. But I am hoping that this tour they send me more photos while they are there and I won't have to wait till they get home. She seems to have a block when it comes to sending me photos. Just this past week I finally got her to send me a photo I took for my project 365 using her camera, from February. I forgot to put it on my computer before she left. I asked her quite a few times to please send it to me and finally last week she finally did, and this was the subject title...Here woman....now leave me alone. Gotta love her! And remembering the little things like that, always puts a smile on my face and makes me feel better. So, onto other things.

My Mom returned yesterday from her trip to Florida. She had a great time and is thinking of buying a house and moving there. Her Mom, my grandma, and two of her sisters live there and she loved seeing them and doing things with them. She also loved being able to just sit outside and read or whatever. It's still too cold to do that here except for the occasional warm one that comes around to tease us. Then we open all the windows and let the fresh breeze come in and blow out winter. I will be following my Mom down there sometime in the not too distant future. I don't mind the winter, I just hate that it is 9 freakin months long! And as much as I don't really enjoy the thought of her being so far away, I know she will like it so much better. But give me a couple years and I will be there with her!

The festivities have started at Scrapmatters! It's {inter}NSD weekend! I am so excited to check out all the challenges and goodies and sales going on! Here is the link to take you to the forum where a couple challenges and games ahve already started. And don't forget about all the speed scraps going on this weekend. OH, and be sure to come back tomorrow for the blog train!! You won't want to miss this one!

My picture from yesterday. The photo prompt challenge #14 at Weeds and Wildflowers was to snap a photo that represents love to you. Something that shows how love is expressed. I thought about this and the first thing that popped into my mind was AIM. With AIM, you can put a little message that shows up along with your name. And in our family, it has become just one of the ways I see love being expressed. We go back and forth, changing the sentences and ribbing each other, or sending out bday messages or just have a little fun with each other. No one else knows what the heck is going on, but we do, lol. And I LOVE it! Even my Mom is online and some days, the little barbs going back and forth between her and my daughter have me rolling. Then there is the added plus of being able to chat with each other daily. So it's not really a photo, but a screen shot of what that looks like.

And a few pages I can post now. This first one I did for the Grand Theft challenge at SM. It was so much fun lifting Christy and the subject I chose to scrap was just as fun!

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This next one I did for Akiloune Designs. She had a one kit call and allowed me to play with this fantastic kit, Coccinelles. It was the perfect colors to do another wedding page for my daughter. The photo was taken by Luann Dibbs.

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And this last one I did because I was feeling blue and I found this fun pic to scrap of my daughter.

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With that I am off to do some scrapping and surfing for some great deals. Have a fantabulous weekend!

Sad Today

I am really bumming today, but I really can't say the reason right now. But those of you that know what is going on, can probably guess the reason. I just needed to get that out there. I will touch more on that in a couple days. So, lets get my mind off this and onto something else.

I did 2 weeks of pages for my project 365, woohoo!! I found out that Weeds and Wildflowers does a bimonthly incentive to help you stay on track and get your pages done, so I will hopefully continue with them now and get caught up with past weeks. Gina is just awesome for doing that! As I do the weeks I haven't done yet, I will post them. Here are the ones I just got done.

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And lets see, I am behind on posting my daily pics, so here are the past few days of those.

Part of my daughter's DVD collection

We had a couple warmer days, and then some rain. Then POOF! we had green all around.


I finally got a MP3 player. Not an Ipod, but I decided for what I would use it for, this was just fine.

As I said, a few days of rain, and today the sun came out.

Now I am also caught up on that, lol. Last post, I mentioned Scrapmatters and the sale for NSD and promised I would link you up to things going on this weekend. First, make sure you sign up for the Queen of Scrap challenge that will be going on all month, starting May first. You could win a guest spot on the SM CT!! How cool is that? Go here to check it out and sign up. Then there is a TON of speed scraps going on all weekend. With the amount they have planned, you should be able to attend at least one. Go here to see the schedule and put them down on your calendar. I plan on checking out at least a couple of them, so I hope to see you there!

I am sure my niece will just kill me for this, but she got her first period this week! That is always such a milestone in a young girls life. We wait patiently for it to happen, and then once it does, we wait patiently for them to stop. Or in my case, I waited rather INpatiently, lol. Then she also got her braces on yesterday. Remember those times?? I do, barely, lol. She is growing up so fast! I will surely miss all these little and big milestones once Mantha reaches them and we are done with those kinds of things. We have a few years to wait on her, thank goodness! And as I write this, I am thinking I bet my daughter is so happy that I wasn't a blogger when these things happened to her! I think I will close today's post with a couple more layouts I finished. I hope you are all having a great week so far!!

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