White Balance Challenge

So I was directed by a good friend to a photography tutorial on another site. Its time to actually learn what my camera can do - I've only had it almost a year!

So our first lesson was on White Balance.... the little WB button on the bottom of the camera. Neat effects.... here is the image

Posting Fool

Okay so some of my visitors (if there are indeed any!) don't visit me for my pretty pictures - they actually want to know what crafts I do and what I've been up to! Well!

My Christmas sweater did not get done in time for Christmas - so instead a different gift was given - so I will resume working on that.... I have 2 pairs of longies on the needles and 2 friends and one sort of sibling who have given birth or will be giving birth with in the next few weeks and a niece who will be having her 4th child in June.... so I'm busily at work on pretty sweaters! All while chasing after a newly walking 1 yr old. Yes folks, the little 7 month old in the picture below is now 13 months old and finally branching out on her own, I miss babyhood!

I have my first quilt on the go- both hand and machine sewing is taking place on that.... the colours aren't the greatest but the fabric was in my basket and my oldest loves the colours so if it makes her happy, then I'm happy and dh is happy that I didn't spend more money and am happily using up my growing stash!

I have a couple dozen new sewing patterns I want to try along with a gorgeous wrap skirt.... but I need said 1 yr old to sleep so I can figure it out! A couple pairs of flannel pants for the girls and myself, and we'll be all set in the sewing department....

Crochet, not much happening on that front.... I think I need to clear out and pare down some stuff before I venture on to too many projects !LOL! But check back, my crochet will be going again soon! :)

This all occurs in between my decluttering of course.... buried in here somewhere is my house! :)

Baby pictures

And with this bundle of pics we should be all up to date on what I've missed these last couple months! Between visitors, the holidays, trips and getting sick! Yipes!.... excuses, excuses!

Malassezia by Enableem; Flower Template by ShelleyRae

Malassezia by Enableem; Flower from Flower Template by ShelleyRae at Scrapbook-Bytes; Sketch by Tracy Blankenship; Stitches by Wendy Whitney (Patriotic Day Kit)

Toys, and Trips

A plane trip that should only have taken 3.5-4 hours took 7.... 3 hour ground delay! Well my little 1 yr old ran out of toys to play with..... so here she is playing with the seatbelt, which was the best toy for most of the flight! LOL!

Kit is Miss Mint's to My Mother

The template for this layout is one I fell in love with so I used it in a similar light to the way it was presented.... I love these pictures of Little 'newborn' Sarah, so don't be surprised you see them over and over again!

Papers from A Baby Story by Amanda RockwellWord Art by Maria LaFrance from the January 2007 Doodle Challenge - New Beginnings KitScraplift of Mateusz by Eri

Our recent trip to the beach! :)

Sailing Away Quickpage by Stacy Carlson and Kathryn Mhire

Goals, Snow and Visits!

What is January without a few goals?? Here are my Goals for 2007 (not resolutions - just simple goals!)

Michelle Swadlings Template #7, A New Day Surprise Crop by Paula Yagisawa

As February approaches I'm always reminded that there is that tiny possibility of snow! So here is the snow layout! :)

Papers by me; Snowflake by Michelle Pieters from December GottaPixel Group kit

Brenda Miller's Grape Juice kit

My oldest playing Heading & Shoulders with Granny!

Sketch Lovers Sketch #1; Miss Mint's Candy Fairway Kit

Spring Inspiration Kit by Valeri Brumfield

Long Time No Post

Things have been moving along pretty quickly and I've been a bad blogger. LOL! Sorry for any followers, not that there are many. January just took off running without me! Christmas was over and gone, we went on our family trip and then suddenly here we are less than 10 days til the end of January....

Enough excuses though!

Christmas was great, the kids had a great time, each getting something they will treasure for a while. Me, I got my Nano-IPod (how does one write that) and a flash drive, which I haven't put to use yet, and a ton of books... I'll be reading for the next millenia!
Layouts ah yes....... lets see!

Merry & Bright Crop Freebie by Lynne Simmons, Template by Michelle Swadling, Snowflake from Serenity Duet by Angela Sharrow and Jan Hosford
Merry & Bright Crop Freebie by Lynne Simmons; Snowflakes from Serenity Duet Freebie by Angela Sharrow and Jan Hosford
Fallin for You Party Pack by Irene Brown, December Blue Print Sketch by Brenda
Falling For You Party Pack by Irene Brown

Climbing with Tarzan Jane, and Birthday Cupcakes

All of these pages were created using Irene Brown (Enableem)'s Buttons Up Kit. I love the colours in this kit, I could play with it for hours....
Boundaries.... who needs them.
This is dd scaling the chair in the computer room. It would be sweet if she only did this once in a while but if you leave your chair for 2 secs she's on it.... the other part of the problem is she promptly falls off! The kicker.... she'll play on this chair but not its identical mate in the kitchen.... go figure.
She wasn't keen on the cake.... (so wait for the Pasta Sauce pics that will come soon!)
And this is the full year of little Sarah.
The pictures are laid out in months as follows:
1 2 3 4
5 B B 6
7 B B 8
9 10 11 12

New Slide

Kay so here is the new slider with some of my layouts on it.... once I figure out how to get it on the sidebar I'll do that.... but I'm not in the mood to muck about right now....

Obligatory Santa Post

The obligatory Santa pic.

Scrap: Ads and Challenges

Credits: Leaf by Kathryn Mhire, and the Pumpkin Cart Embroidery by Paula Yagisawa, from the GottaPixel October Group kit.
Font: Tahoma.

This is a photo of dh and M from the Pumpkin Patch in 2005. I fell in love with this photo and but had no idea what to do with it. I didn't want to lighten it up either. So when the November Ad-spiration Challenge came along at Gottapixel this was perfect the goal was to use / create a silhouette and make it look like an ad.


Credits: Leaf by Kathryn Mhire, and the Pumpkin Cart Embroidery by Paula Yagisawa, from the GottaPixel October Group kit.
Font: Bradley's Hand and Kristen.

I'm still trying to keep up with S and her 1st year photos. So here is the 10mos layout though I know I've missed the 9 month one - it'll come! :) This layout was done for the November a list Journalling challenge at Elemental Scraps I didn't want a page with just writing so I added 2 pics and all the milestones shes managed to meet so far. I've had a few people tell me that their kids at her age aren't doing these things... but take no mind, every child is different and she is my handful! :) but we love her!

Font: Tempus Sands and Times Roman (I think)

This one has taken the place of my NEW FAVOURITE! This cute little photo is one shortly after our trip to Toronto. M and S were playing on the floor with daddy's headset after daddy finished playing Flight Sim! The background is a sunset from out the window of the plane on our return trip from Toronto!

This one was done for an AD Inspiration layout challenge at Elemental Scraps

Scrap: LetterBoxing, Family Portraits and A Trip

Credits: Shabby Princess - Fall 2004, Sketch by Tracy Blankenship
Fonts: Bookman OldStyle

Photos from our first adventures in Letterboxing. While I was doing the stamping, dh was busily snapping photos of the girls. The large photo was taken moments before it decided to pour. It was a beautifully warm day (lacking sun) and we had a good time.



Credits: Shabby Princess - Fall 2004, Sketch by Tracy Blankenship
Fonts: Bookman OldStyle

This layout shows S enjoying her first romp in the leaves, when mummy and daddy actually let her get down and into them! She had a blast. Mental note: since any of my visitors here know that I knit too! From past experience don't let little kids in Wool pants crawl around in the leaves... its a pain to clean off the pants! LOL!




Credits: Forever word art from Miss Mint's To My Mother
Fonts: ?? (sadly I forget!)

What the heck? Has she lost her mind? Scrapping shoes? I mean really.

This one was done for a NSF (No Smiling Faces) Challenge at Elemental Scraps. SO I figured I'd do a Family Portrait inspired by an art class painting similar I had seen back in high school. Each child is represented by a pair of shoes. One of dd is no longer residing with us but she is represented here by the Butterfly on my shoelace and the vent hose that traces out of the picture.



Credits: Outerbanks Kit by Eva Kipler, Angled Template from Super Sketch Challenge at Elemental Scraps
Font: Harrington and Bradley's Hand

A collage of photos from our Toronto Trip in September 2006 In the bottom of right hand one is a little picture of my dd who was fascinated with the Mirrors in the bathroom of my MIL's new home. I need a special picture just for this one! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blogger was acting up while I was trying to get my latest layouts up! SO I thought I'd wish y'all a Happy American Thanksgiving! LOL! Even if you're not American (which I'm not) I figured I'd let y'all know that I'm thankful for visitors to my blog even if no one comments! LOL!

Kindergarten Resumes, 8 mos Already and A Birthday!

Credits: Kindergarten Bliss Crop Kit by Sarah Meyer
Fonts: Kristen ITC

A Back to School Crop at GottaPixel! While everyone else used pics of their dc going to school, I chose pics of M working on her daily work at home!


Credits: Colours from the Gotta Pixel Color My Pixel Challenge (Nov)
Fonts: Vivaldi and Minion Pro

GottaPixel did Color Challenge, where they give you the colours and you do the layout using the colours. So here is what I came up with. This is the second edition of this particular layout as I went back to this one the next day and made it more to my liking!

Credits: Celebrate Crop kit by Tara Forbes
Fonts: Tempus Sans

Photos from M's birthday in June. There was a Crop Chat on GottaPixel and this was the bonus kit that came from it. So here I used it to get out some pictures of M's Party!

Horoscope and Selling My Wares

I'm not usually a big believer in horoscopes but this one plays with my mind.... there are so many possibilities...

"You're building bridges and making new contacts Libra, thanks to Jupiter opening new doors in your communications sector. You're a social sign by nature, so you'll love the extra interaction. It's prime time to start advertising your wares, to get the word out about what you do, or what you want to do. It'll be people who will guide you toward your goal, so keep your ear to the ground and pay attention to things said in passing. You'll never be thought of as blunt, since you're usually the very essence of tact, but you may be more direct and honest in your delivery, thanks to say-it-like-it-is Jupiter. Ah well, you don't want to be too predictable, do you? Siblings will be a huge source of support this year, either financially or emotionally."

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favourite time of year. I love to dress the kids up and look for pumpkins and then check out all the decorations.... so here is our pumpkins


Gotta Pixel.com's Sketch #6 (?)All parts from Gotta Pixel's October Group Kit (Background paper by Michell Swadling, 2nd Background paper by Michelle Pieters, Ribbon by Wendy Whitney, Embroidered Pumpkin by Paula Yagisawa



Gotta Pixel.com's November Blue Prints SketchAll parts from Gotta Pixel's October Group Kit (Paper Matte by Michelle Swadling, Pumpkin Ribbon by Wendy Whitney, Bottle Cap by Brenda Miller)Fonts Chiller & Courier New



Gotta Pixel.com's November Blue Prints SketchAll parts from Gotta Pixel's October Group Kit (Paper Matte by Michelle Swadling, Pumpkin Ribbon by Wendy Whitney, Push-Pin by Christina Wall)Font Courier New

Tagged

Here are are the rules to play:

List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.
Tag 5 friends and list them. Those people then need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people.

Don’t forget to let the people you tagged know by posting a comment on their blog!

1. Halloween is my favourite time of year but I don't like to dress up, I just like to dress my kids up!!

2. When I grow up I want to be a children's author.

3. I didn't like kids until I had my own!

4. I refuse to babysit other's kids just because I don't know how to say no to them and feel guilty if they do something and I have to get mad at them...

5. I think I have a major crafting addiction.

Tagged - (anyone reading!)

I got tired of waiting for all the Alpha challenges to go through and have decided to plow through on my own. So here is the Letter D.
Fonts are Blackadder, Bradley's Hand, Elephant etc.
The duckies are from Rhonna Farrer's kit Splish Splash at 2Peas

Amanda Rockwell's A Baby Girl Kit - from Ele

mental Scraps.

Fonts are Bradley's Hand and Christie

Layout inspired by GottaPixel's Family album#18 Challenge

Photos, I couldn't resist the little one with the blankies! LOL!

M on Homeschool

I'm feeling inspired by the challenges on Gotta Pixel lately.... so I've been haunting their forums and picking up ideas and cool kits. I'm seriously in love with Paula Yagisawa's Embroidery elements. They are AWESOME

Page 1
Fonts are MaSexy, Bradley's Hand and Tahoma
Embroidery Elements by Paula Yagisawa from the September Gotta Pixel Group Kit
Blackboard and Pencil by Christina Wall from the September Gotta Pixel Group Kit
Picture Corners by Karen Wallace from Summer's Coming Kit
Text from Gotta Pixel's September Can I Quote You Challenge

Page 2
Embroidery Elements by Paula Yagisawa from the September Gotta Pixel Group Kit
Blackboard and Book by Christina Wall from the September Gotta Pixel Group Kit
Doodle by Gary Fryns from the September Gotta Pixel Group Kit

Long list of Credits! LOL! Which is unusual for me!

HAVE YOU EVER...

I got this from over at Susan Godfrey's Blog and thought it would be fun to do!

The idea is to copy and paste to your own blog and bold the things you have done. (You can copy by highlighting and then pressing CTRL and C at the same time).

HAVE YOU EVER...

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise (babies 'nuff said)
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life