Editing is a good thing:)

Today I edited some photos that I had sitting in my history folder at Picnik.com and I used to play around with my photos there quite a bit when I first signed up and I thought I should do something today with some of them so..I fixed up a couple with my cute girlies in them. I keep seeing all these photos that people are editing with their photos a lighter shade like they are faded and it has really caught my eye so maybe I kind of got that look I wanted and maybe not but I do love how they came out. The first one I put a frame on it-like the "older" polaroid frames-I loved that camera my Grandma had and the way the pictures came out right away and kind of appeared like magic on the frame:) and the second one is lightened and last photo has No editing-straight from the camera. Which one do you like the best?

 

My Goofy Girls-they make my days so bright with all their quirkiness..Love Em!!

Hooked on Digital

Have I said yet how much I love Digital scrapbooking? Ever since I got Storybook Creator 3+ I have been HOOKED-I never knew digital was so easy. All you have to do really is play around with papers, embellishments and words and the rest is pretty easy. I love that with digital you can Undo things if you don't like them whereas if you do paper scrapbooking whatever sticker or word you write on your page is pretty much there to stay.I have done a few pages in the last few weeks and the more I do it the more I like it. I just want to do more and more:) This is the most recent page I did of my Son. I am really liking B&W pictures/pages right now and I think it turned out pretty good.

This page was done with Creative Memories papers, embellishments and the font I used was called Sandals-I chose this font just as a challenge to use a font with the same letter that my sons name starts with.

Catching Up & New Camera

Wow!! It feels longer than a week since my last blog but that is probably cause I have Spring fever and I am feeling couped up and yes Dreaming of Spring but...I know it's on it's way:) it is finally March and a great month. March is the month that I celebrate my anniversary, birthday and Spring all in the same month. This weekend my two youngest kids are in the Spelling Bee-one of them is pretty excited and the other is more nervous than anything I think. Being a parent I am just excited all around for both of them that they are the two going from their school. Our oldest daughter is getting ready to start track and this will be her first year going out in High School-she didn't do track last year as a Freshman. I am looking forward to going and watch her compete :)

I got a new camera a couple weeks ago and Wow...I love it!! It's a Canon EOS Rebel T1i. The pictures it takes are amazing and clear. The manual to it is quite detailed and there is a lot to learn with it but I am sure looking forward to that especially seeing what this camera can do.My favorite setting on it so far is the Macro mode-I have always loved close up photos and with this camera it captures some great shots. Here are some that I have got within the last week.

Beautiful yellow flower that was in my daughters bouquet

Winter Blahs

I admit it-I am NOT a Winter girl...I don't like the cold and the slick roads but especially hate that the wind seems to blow constantly and then creates a white out where it's hard to see anything. I do love the look of the frost on the trees, fence posts, windows and etc. It makes for some really good photography but the rest of it I can do without.
This Winter has been so long too and I have cabin fever already and am ready for some warmth on my face from the welcoming sunshine. I keep telling myself, it is one day closer to Spring and that keeps me going-Yes, I am really an optimistic kind of girl even though most people don't really know that about me by some of the complaining I do at times. I always try to have something to look forward to and right now that is Spring:)
These are a few of the photos I have taken this Winter and looking forward to those beautiful new beginnings of Spring to capture behind my lens.

This is what Winter looks like in Montana!

A fiery Heart-it sounds so much like me.

<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center>
<font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'>
<strong>You Have a Fiery Heart</strong>
</font></td></tr>
<tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatkindofheartdoyouhavequiz/fiery-heart.png" height="100" width="100"></center>
<font color="#000000">
You believe that love is strong and powerful. Love rules your life, and it's really true that love conquers all.<br />
You love passionately and deeply. You can't stop loving someone just because they don't love you in return.<br />
<br />
Your heart is intense and unstoppable. You follow your heart freely, and your heart definitely rules you.<br />
Your love life is totally filled with ups and downs. You can't help but have some drama in your romantic relationships.
</font></td></tr></table>
<div align="center"><a href="http://blogthings.com/whatkindofheartdoyouhavequiz/">What Kind of Heart Do You Have?</a></div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com">Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity</a></div>       

My Scrappy To Do List:)

I realized today how long it has been that I actually sat down and worked in my scrapbooks and it has been quite awhile. I keep meaning to with good intention but then get side tracked so I am hoping if I make a list I will get some things accomplished and can mark them off as I go.

1. Finish Susan and Jays wedding album
2. work on Halloween pages from 2010, 2009 and 2008
3. get a Disney album to scrapbook all of our Disneyland photos
4. work on vacation album for our fair-coming up a month away
5. work on Christmas photos from 2009
6. keep working on organizing my craft room and put things together in themes so I can find them easier
7. make some cards for:Birthday, Anniversary, Thanks, Thinking of You, Get Well

keep practicing on the digital scrapbooking-I am really liking digital right now:)
   8. Prom 2010
   9. Skiing with the school 2010

That is my list so far--I am sure I will think of more but that's a pretty good start.

[Caption]

Caption.iT - Moon Glow Photo Frame Text Generator

Caption.iT - Moon Glow Photo Frame Text Generator

Christmas in My Heart

Here we are only a few weeks away from Christmas and usually I am not so into all of it this early-the music, thoughts of baking and spending time with friends at the mall just having coffee and seeing all the decorations up but I really am into Christmas this yr. I have been listening to Christmas music all week long at some of my favorite online radio stations and I don't know why but Christmas gives me just a different feeling that is so warm and cozy every yr. but for some reason this yr. even more.

I am not even that bothered by the snow like I usually am-don't get me wrong..I love snow in the mountains and where we live we get plenty of it. It is beautiful and makes for some awesome photos. It is the driving in the storms I can't stand.

The best part of Christmas is being with family and being close and snuggled in together near the warm wood stove sharing stories from Christmas past and watching a good Christmas movie like Miracle on 34th St. or something to make you laugh like Christmas Vacation--I love that movie:-)

I am thinking we are going to be getting our tree soon-the smell of a pine tree is one of the best smells there is and then when it is all decorated with love-and the lights-glorious!

The true meaning of Christmas to me though is where all this love and this "good" comes from is who it is all about--Jesus truly is the reason for the season and I am so thankful he has given me this love to share and the beauty of Christmas that will always and forever be in my heart.

Summer Challenge #14- from SB.com (a few things about me)

1. What are your other favourite things to do (other than blog or scrap)? I love, love photography and it shows..you should see all the photos on my computer that I say someday I am going to scrapbook-Right, I don't think I can scrapbook that many photos-um, i probably have about 2,000 atleast. I love to travel with my family and our vacations are something I look forward to every Summer even if it is just for 3 days away from home. If I had enough money and time I could just get in my car and drive and go wherever I ended up. I love to see different places and the way of life there but family time is the best. I love to read a good book -one that keeps me interested from the beginning to end. It is hard to keep up with it if it drags on or is just "so so". I love to watch our kids play sports, horseback ride and have fun. I love just hanging out with our kids and listening to them talk and grow physically and mentally. I must admit though, that I really do miss those "little kid" stages sometimes, they used to say the cutest things that just touched my heart. I love rubber stamping and making cards for people. I have been stamping since 1991 and when I saw it demonstrated at a craft fair I knew right away it'd be something I'd love since I have always had an "artsy" side to me. I really need to do it more often though. I have many new sets that are calling my name to be used on some cards:-)
2. Where or who do you gain inspiration from? I gain my inspiration in nature-sunsets, places I see in magazines, tv, music-this is a big one for me cause I love music so much and usually listen to it every day. That should of been in my first list above. I gain inspiration also from people-just kind words, smiles, even the unhappy times-all of life is a lesson and something to be praised. Makes me want to love those around me even more.
3. What do you like to do to relax? one word: Bubble baths-they are so relaxing to me..they help me unwind from a crazy, hectic day and the more bubbles the better. Scented candles are a great addition too. Take a bath at night and just have the glow from the candles and it is so nice.
4. What is your favourite kind of music? I love all kinds of music but my most fav. would have to be Country since it is the one I listen to the most and sing along with:-) some of my fav. singers are Tim McGraw, Sawyer Brown, Faith Hill, Sugarland and Toby Keith.
5. Do you have a scrap or creativity space - can you show us a picture? (This could also be a pic of a place you like to spend time in or at) I have an awesome scrapbook room-I just need some more shelves for all the stuff I have. When it is better organized I will have photos:-)
6. What's your favourite food? I love Shrimp Scampi and love to eat it any new restaurant I try. It is one of my fav. dishes to make at home-Yum!!
7. Are you afraid of anything? Oh yeah, don't get me started on this one..there are a few things. I really don't like snakes at all and I guess I am not really afraid of them but I am-does that make sense:-) I don't like heights but am not really afraid to fly on a plane. It is more like a close to the edge or on the ledge kind of thing looking over-don't like that at all.
8. Do you have a favourite tv show? Army Wives is a great show and love watching that. It makes me feel so patriotic-even more than I am already and it has a great story line.
9. Do you collect anything? I feel like I collect scented candles sometimes because I have so many and still find more that I like when I am shopping:-) Yankees are my fav. they have so many great scents.
10. If you were sent to a deser island, and you could take 3 things, what would they be? (it could be anything!!)My Bible, my family, a journal

Tomorrow is the Day

It has been a busy week and we are finally leaving tomorrow for our fair. We will be there for 4 nights and it will also be busy while we are there but lots of fun.
The kids are showing and selling their pigs and C will be taking her horse and she is so excited. He is her new horse that she bought in May at one of the horse sales and what a sweetheart he is. I am excited to see how they will do this yr on the horsemanship and her pattern, that isn't til Thursday morning.
They also show their pigs on Thursday night and they will be judged-man I hope they aren't over weight, they look heavy to me but they did last yr. too and it surprised me how well they did for weight.
We will see:-) I am still in the process of packing so of course I am running behind like usual and I better get going to finish it up along with my album that I am doing. I am going to post pics. when I get home of all the excitement from our Fair Fun:-)
Oh, and we are going to the rodeo too-I love rodeos, Summer isn't the same w/out going to atleast one rodeo and seeing all those bulls and broncs and the clown is pretty good too.