Jovia’s First Christmas
Posted on | December 29, 2009 | 9 Comments
I just want to share a little page of our little angel on Christmas day. Santa’s hat and Christmas jammies. I used more stuff from the ‘08 Scarlet Lime kit, Prima paper from Studio Calico (‘08 kit) and my stash of AC alphas. I have a goal of using my ‘08 stuff before digging into more of the ‘09 kits. I’m telling you, I’ve got enough scrapbook schtuff to last me for years but I keep buying. Terrible habit!!! Very against green living and tight-wadness. But I guess everybody’s got an Achilles heel.
We’re spending time with my in-laws now. We haven’t seen hubby’s sister in years and so it’s nice to visit before our move across the big pond. Laters folks! Jovie’s trying to take over my keyboard. She LOVES sitting here with me while I type. Have a great Tuesday!
Photography Tip: The Details
Posted on | December 23, 2009 | 10 Comments
I’m not a pro at photography but I love to learn anything in this area in order to improve my own skills. A few weeks ago I read Scott Kelby’s The Digital Photography Book, and learned lots (I love that my work’s library has access to full blown e-books now… new release books too… I’ve been reading a bunch!!). One thing that caught my attention was this: Instead of trying to capture the whole thing take photos of the details. Even though Kelby’s suggestion was for travel photography the concept can be used for anything. Here’s an excerpt:
“I’ve heard a lot of photographers complain about the results of their urban shooting, and much of the time it’s because they try to capture too much. What I mean by that is that they try to capture the entirety of a majestic building or the grandeur of a magnifcent cathedral, but even with an ultra-wide-angle lens this is very, very hard to pull of . That’s why the pros shoot details instead. For example, instead of shooting to capture the entire cathedral at Notre Dame in Paris, instead capture details that suggest the whole—shoot the doors, a window, a spire, a gargoyle, the pigeons gathered on the steps, or an interesting architectural element of the church, rather than trying to capture the entire structure at once. Let your photo suggest the height, or suggest the craftsmanship, and the mind’s eye will f ll in the blanks. By shooting just the details, you can engage in some very compelling storytelling, where a piece is often stronger than the whole. After all, if you want a photo of the entire cathedral, you can just buy one from the dozen or so gift shops just steps away. Instead, show your impression, your view, and your take on Notre Dame.” (pg. 166)
So the other day I went and put his words into practice when I took these ornament photos. Instead of taking a picture of the whole tree I took photos of my favorite parts of the tree.
In a way this is how I like to scrapbook too — the details or have a focus on one thing. There are different styles of scrapbooking and the one that fits me best is where my page shows one or a few similar/related photos that tells one story. This way I am also forced to choose the best photo(s) — digital photography has made it so easy to take 100 photos of the same event and you don’t need them all to scrapbook or even put into an album.
For the page I used some Nov & Dec’08 Scarlet Lime goodies and new My Mind’s Eyes pattern paper (the base) and Christmas die-cuts + American Craft alpha.
Have a great one and I hope you get a chance this holiday season to grab some awesome photos of the event.
Our Homemade Christmas
Posted on | December 20, 2009 | 5 Comments
Five more days until Christmas!!!! Tomorrow I’ll be sending out my Christmas cards + my sister’s package. About time, huh? But ya know, I think it’s not just us. So far we’ve only gotten two cards this year. It must be a crazy year for many!
Today, while M and dad’s away, I managed to do this:
I made the tag myself in Illustrator and saved it as always to use in my KNK but I don’t know what happened my KNK couldn’t recognize the SVG file and when I imported the image into my software the file got all crazy and didn’t cut right. I got this tag but I had to trim a part that wasn’t suppose to be cut but it did. So I can’t share the tag file until I figure this out. The rest of the tag was done using some My Mind’s Eyes die-cuts. Really easy!
Check out that wrapping paper. Isn’t it pretty? I got it at the dollar store! I love looking for wrapping paper there because the last few years I’ve been finding huge rolls of pretty paper AND they’re made in the U.S.A.!!!
Before I go I want to share this…
I was able to craft while Jovie’s awake because she’s been sitting on her own. Still a tad wobbly but she’s doing well. She didn’t fall one bit while I made the tag!
Then a few of our ornaments… once upon a time the Christmas tree used to be mine. I decorated, I purchased whatever’s on it, etc. Every year, after Christmas, I’d buy a new ornament and it’s usually from World Market. Now it’s not mine anymore and I couldn’t be happier and every year we add on to the tree and they’ve been handmade.
The below starts with hubby’s ornament. Back home he’s called Andy. Then M’s and then Jovie’s little hand print.
I hope your holiday preparation is wonderful!
Happy Holidays
Posted on | December 3, 2009 | 6 Comments
M and I are almost done looking at sketch #4’s submissions. The break really made us lazy!! Oh, I want to share this too:
There are eight photos that I uploaded last night to Flickr. Half were us playing with the timer and the other half M took. Click on the photo above and you should get to the rest of them. They crack me up!
Last night I also made this card. Very quick card, just layers of paper with embellishments here and there. Another holiday card using leftover paper from Zoe Pearn + My Mind’s Eye, My Mind’s Eye die-cut, and some ribbon that Quirky sent me from Malaysia for my birthday. So very nice of her to think of me! Thanks, girl!
Oh, yesterday we updated our wills. Have you made one up for yourself? If you haven’t you should! Even if you have no children you should do it. If nothing else get yourself a living will. I love life, a productive life that is, and living in a vegetative state will not be for me. I hope somebody will pull that machine off me so that I can go home to my Creator. Now, I did think that funeral arrangements were written out in the will but I guess not – the will’s usually read after one’s long gone they told me. The lawyer said that I just need to make it known to all how I want it done. I will, again, let my family know but I want to also shout it out here… please cremate me after they get all the organs they need out of me and somebody please take my ashes (in a pretty and simple white urn) to southern France and dump me somewhere nice. Preferably after a delicious meal. You think that’s legal? Probably not but hey, one can wish, right? {::SMILE}. I do want to be cremated though and if Europe isn’t possible the Oregon coast will do.
Any hoot, nuff about death. More later!
Not Bright Here!
Posted on | December 1, 2009 | 7 Comments
NONE of our Christmas lights work. NICE, huh? I’d hate to buy new ones cause we’re moving to a 220v country soon. Aaaah…
Something did brighten my evening though! I’m glad I sat down to go through our pile of mail!! Amy Tsuruta is just awesome. Out of the blue she sent me some goodies… oh and for Miss M too! I haven’t taken a snapshot of them or dug through her blog to find these gifties but they’re just beautiful and the contents are so delish! Thanks, Amy! Even Jovie loved them… the plastic had just the right amount of noise. The pics will be the gifts out of the plastic cause the plastic’s full of drools ha ha ha…
I did make another card. Another hybrid card using a kit by Zoe Pearns from Sweet Shoppe: Little Joy.
You know I LOVE Zoe Pearn’s work, right? You SHOULD check out her store! Her papers especially are very paper crafter friendly. Zoe knows what we like because she’s a paper crafter herself and a designer for My Mind’s Eyes. The kit below is what I used for the card. See all the other goodness that I didn’t even touch?
Then this, if you want to update your blog but you’re not very good with graphic design, or like me just don’t have the time, check out her blog in a box. This one is using the same items as the kit above:
Well, not too chatty today. I really need a few more days of off time after the holidays, ha ha!
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