Kit is Sweethearts {the kit} from SuzyQ Scraps
Monday, January 31, 2011
Cheer Layout
Just watched the Skinny Stick again...still cracking me up, LoL! Those girls are too cute. Anyway, I just wanted to post a layout from cheer that I finished up. So....yeah....here it is.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Skinny Stick
The Skinny Stick, LOL! It cracks me up. My daughter had to create a video commercial for class and I'm posting it below. A great time was had by all with lots of giggling and snorting! I thought I'd upload a copy of it here just for fun. (and a few outtakes she doesn't know I put in, tee hee)
And here are the outtakes. Other people laughing makes me laugh...so I like this set.
Well, that's all I've got for now. See y'all later!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Freebie Photo Pop Action
So, I obviously take...oh, about a million or so photos a year. Of those, maybe a tenth make it to my computer screen and a teensy-weensy fraction of those make it onto a CD to be saved. The point is, I edit A L O T of photos. A few need special work, but I do the same flipping things to most of them...over and over and over. I have fancy actions I've downloaded to pop, sharpen, and defog...but I end up doing it myself most of the time.
Okay, now here's the kicker...I scrap in Photoshop Elements...so I can't make my own action to automate the process. I know, right? Bummer!
For this reason (and about twenty others) I got Photoshop...I'm still gonna do most of my mojo in PSE, but some stuff just needs the real thing!
Here's my first action. It automates my standard photo prep that I do on every single pic: It saturates the color a wee bit (I have the opacity of the color pop layer turned down for pics of people, which is what most of mine are. I dial it up to 50% or so for landscapes and my dog, LoL! You can adjust it as you please.) It also has several levels of sharpen. They're all turned off, you just pick which one works best for your pic and flatten. I often add a vignette, but I didn't include it because I don't use it all the time.
So there ya go. If you don't know how to install actions, check out these instructions on the Coffeeshop Blog (Rita makes the best and most useful actions around, so check those out, too. Her perfect portrait action ROCKS. I also love her vignette action. Oh, and she has an action to let PSE users add layer masks to any layer, too. I use that one a lot. And they're FREE. Who doesn't love that?)
Okay, now here's the kicker...I scrap in Photoshop Elements...so I can't make my own action to automate the process. I know, right? Bummer!
For this reason (and about twenty others) I got Photoshop...I'm still gonna do most of my mojo in PSE, but some stuff just needs the real thing!
Here's my first action. It automates my standard photo prep that I do on every single pic: It saturates the color a wee bit (I have the opacity of the color pop layer turned down for pics of people, which is what most of mine are. I dial it up to 50% or so for landscapes and my dog, LoL! You can adjust it as you please.) It also has several levels of sharpen. They're all turned off, you just pick which one works best for your pic and flatten. I often add a vignette, but I didn't include it because I don't use it all the time.
So there ya go. If you don't know how to install actions, check out these instructions on the Coffeeshop Blog (Rita makes the best and most useful actions around, so check those out, too. Her perfect portrait action ROCKS. I also love her vignette action. Oh, and she has an action to let PSE users add layer masks to any layer, too. I use that one a lot. And they're FREE. Who doesn't love that?)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
New Layouts
It was a really long week last week. We had a death in the family that I will talk about some other time; I'm just not up to it yet. It's enough to say that the grief has been overwhelming and I've basically done nothing except wander through life and sleep. I'm trying to get back into my life, though I think the grief is going to be resident for awhile.
Here are two layouts I did a couple weeks ago and never posted. I noticed them just sitting there and thought I'd like to get them up. I'll be back soon, hopefully a little more upbeat, too.
The first is McKenzie and her friend Rancey at Speech contest. It was the first contest for both of them and I was so proud of them! They were awesome and ended up with a second place doing a piece about two sisters bickering while on a long vacation car ride.
Here are two layouts I did a couple weeks ago and never posted. I noticed them just sitting there and thought I'd like to get them up. I'll be back soon, hopefully a little more upbeat, too.
The first is McKenzie and her friend Rancey at Speech contest. It was the first contest for both of them and I was so proud of them! They were awesome and ended up with a second place doing a piece about two sisters bickering while on a long vacation car ride.
Kit: Sept 2009 Build-a-Kit from DigiScrapbookmania (now Scrapable.com)
This one is Jordan and Austin (Child one and Child two) from this Christmas.
Kit: My Christmas kit I posted in December.
The cluster frame is from someone named Jennifer, LOL! It was a freebie and I downloaded it without noting where I got it. If you know, tell me and I'll post it here.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January Color Challenge
I finally finished my kit for the January Color Challenge at DSO. I had made a kit previously for my own use that I thought would be nice with this color pallet. I couldn't find it and I was never happy with the layout anyway so, I decided to do a new kit and a new layout. Zoey was the daughter of my youngest niece. It's been about 3 1/2 years, and her mama is finally brave enough to have another baby. We are looking forward so much to a new little one! All of our babies have grown up and Christmas just isn't the same without littler ones to enjoy it.
Tea Party with Jesus
The painting is one by Greg Olsen, I photoshopped my niece into it. It is strictly for this layout for my personal scrapbook.
And here's the kit: Tea Party with Jesus
6 papers, 12 elements
Credits:
Designs by Jessica
Scrappin Cop
Gunhild Storeide
Midnight's Touch (Ivy)
Xe0s@Deviant Art (Floral Patterns)
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year!
2011. Twenty-Eleven. Wow. I'm speechless (which, we all know, means someone has LOTS to say).
I remember when I was in about sixth grade or so and a teacher had us figure out how old we would be at the turn of the century. 31. I remember wondering if I'd even live that long, LoL. It took forever to reach it and it's been barely a breath since then.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to 2011. Just like everyone else, I have a (cue echoing voice effect) RESOLUTION. Actually, I have several, but they all hinge on one, new frame of mind. Yes, I want to lose weight, eat healthier, control my tongue, be kinder and more generous, stamp out hunger and disease and usher in world peace. I think that shows the reason why resolutions fail...we're trying to change the effects of what we need to change, not what we need to change. I mean, WHY am I fat? Until I change my attitude, I will fail at weight loss. Why don't I exercise? Why can't I seem to shut my mouth? Why don't I share more? It's all in my attitude which affects the actions I take. And my attitude is built out of the whirling mess my life has become. I feel like I'm standing in one of those money booths...you know where the air flow comes on and dollars fly all around and the person is trying to grab as many as they can before the time is up....and I keep trying to grab what I need as it flies past my face, but I can't see it coming so I'm always guessing.
SO, this year, I am changing my attitude. I am spending the next couple weeks really considering what I want in the next year. What do I want to be like on January 1, 2012? What do I want to have accomplished? What is most important? So far, I'm seeing that I want to be more in control of my life, more intentional. I want to be the author of my story, instead of just a character.
Now, don't get me wrong. I recognize the sovereignty of God. I know he sits on the throne and holds my life in his hand. I know that every breath I take is by his willing it to be so. I find great comfort in knowing that no matter how I run around like a busy little bee, God has things well in hand and he never runs around. That being said, I also recognize that he expects me to use what he gives me, including my time, effort, and good sense, to build something worthwhile out of my life.
I am tired. I am tired of being unprepared. I am tired of procrastinating. I am tired of not being able to take advantage of moments because my schedule is too tight or because I haven't done what I should. This year I want to take control of my life. I want to decide what is my vision. What is my mission. Where is God moving me? Then I'm going to clear out my life. Does this activity, or board, or whatever fit in the direction of my life? I want to only do, say and be what moves me that direction. No more guessing. There are so many worthwhile things to do...but I can't do them all because I end up dried up and I gain nothing and I don't do justice to any of them. I have only so many resources, physical, mental and spiritual, to go around. And the open slots are very few, I'm telling you!
God help me, because he did not make me to naturally be a person of clarity. My brain is a cloud and I get caught up in many details and often miss the big picture until it smacks me in the face and I'm thinking I should have noticed that! Fortunately, the Hub is a lot more clear about stuff like that. He's a visionary. He can go right around all the details and focus on the real issues. Hmmmm...this could be the reason we drive each other nuts sometimes, huh?
So, I'm spending the first couple weeks on my knees. My first step in this search is to declare my Bible as my best friend. The first place I need to clean is my heart and the first and best support God has given me for this journey is my husband. So we begin together.
In that spirit, here is a word art for you. Carpe Diem. I know it's cliche, but it's exactly right. Seize the day. THIS day, this moment. Make it count. Use it well. Don't regret it when it's gone.
On December 31, 2011, may we all find 2011 to be the best, not easiest, year we've ever had and may we be the best we've ever been.
I remember when I was in about sixth grade or so and a teacher had us figure out how old we would be at the turn of the century. 31. I remember wondering if I'd even live that long, LoL. It took forever to reach it and it's been barely a breath since then.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to 2011. Just like everyone else, I have a (cue echoing voice effect) RESOLUTION. Actually, I have several, but they all hinge on one, new frame of mind. Yes, I want to lose weight, eat healthier, control my tongue, be kinder and more generous, stamp out hunger and disease and usher in world peace. I think that shows the reason why resolutions fail...we're trying to change the effects of what we need to change, not what we need to change. I mean, WHY am I fat? Until I change my attitude, I will fail at weight loss. Why don't I exercise? Why can't I seem to shut my mouth? Why don't I share more? It's all in my attitude which affects the actions I take. And my attitude is built out of the whirling mess my life has become. I feel like I'm standing in one of those money booths...you know where the air flow comes on and dollars fly all around and the person is trying to grab as many as they can before the time is up....and I keep trying to grab what I need as it flies past my face, but I can't see it coming so I'm always guessing.
SO, this year, I am changing my attitude. I am spending the next couple weeks really considering what I want in the next year. What do I want to be like on January 1, 2012? What do I want to have accomplished? What is most important? So far, I'm seeing that I want to be more in control of my life, more intentional. I want to be the author of my story, instead of just a character.
Now, don't get me wrong. I recognize the sovereignty of God. I know he sits on the throne and holds my life in his hand. I know that every breath I take is by his willing it to be so. I find great comfort in knowing that no matter how I run around like a busy little bee, God has things well in hand and he never runs around. That being said, I also recognize that he expects me to use what he gives me, including my time, effort, and good sense, to build something worthwhile out of my life.
I am tired. I am tired of being unprepared. I am tired of procrastinating. I am tired of not being able to take advantage of moments because my schedule is too tight or because I haven't done what I should. This year I want to take control of my life. I want to decide what is my vision. What is my mission. Where is God moving me? Then I'm going to clear out my life. Does this activity, or board, or whatever fit in the direction of my life? I want to only do, say and be what moves me that direction. No more guessing. There are so many worthwhile things to do...but I can't do them all because I end up dried up and I gain nothing and I don't do justice to any of them. I have only so many resources, physical, mental and spiritual, to go around. And the open slots are very few, I'm telling you!
God help me, because he did not make me to naturally be a person of clarity. My brain is a cloud and I get caught up in many details and often miss the big picture until it smacks me in the face and I'm thinking I should have noticed that! Fortunately, the Hub is a lot more clear about stuff like that. He's a visionary. He can go right around all the details and focus on the real issues. Hmmmm...this could be the reason we drive each other nuts sometimes, huh?
So, I'm spending the first couple weeks on my knees. My first step in this search is to declare my Bible as my best friend. The first place I need to clean is my heart and the first and best support God has given me for this journey is my husband. So we begin together.
In that spirit, here is a word art for you. Carpe Diem. I know it's cliche, but it's exactly right. Seize the day. THIS day, this moment. Make it count. Use it well. Don't regret it when it's gone.
On December 31, 2011, may we all find 2011 to be the best, not easiest, year we've ever had and may we be the best we've ever been.
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