A. Christmas Card

I can't believe it is so near Christmas. Imagine I only started to make so Christmas cards last night. For this card I cut out a template of mittens. I used some paper from last years stash or was it the year before! I glued the first mitten on and use pop dots on the second mitten. I then used bakers twine, tied it in a bow and then stuck on a pearl to make it look as if the mittens were hanging up.





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A Long Time

It has been quite a while now since I last posted on this blog. Life just gets in the way sometimes!


Loving the Instagram App at the moment. Can you figure out what this photo is of?



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A Recent Card

I have never blogged from an iPhone so just trying this out. Anyway this is a recent wedding card I made.





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Explore

This prompt for Explore was all about Maps .... finding them, being inspired by them and creating with them.  So for this prompt I printed off a circular map, covered it in cardstock, stuck some photos of the family on the back of it ( and yes 'Bruce' is family) and embellishments. 

On the next page I printed off a few quotes and scrapbooked a photo of my son winning a football final.  That was his journey with his team, who had their ups and downs, fought hard and eventually they got to their destination!

Explore

It has been a while since I posted anything on the blog - but I have been busy - very busy.  September I always find can be quite chaotic, kids back at school and trying to get back into some type of a routine.  I have been busy playing along with Explore and now Learn Something New Every Day with Shimelle.  I also took part in Big Picture Classes and 'Words to Live by'.    Anyway here are a couple of pages from my Explore playbook:

This page included a few prompts - Adventure,  and sending a postcard to yourself.  For Aventure I used a photo of myself and Chloe on a rollercoaster ride when we were in Disneyland.  I just don't do Rollercoasters!!  But Chloe wanted to go on it so much but wouldn't go without me - so off I had to go.  And you know it wasn't too bad.  Loved the idea of sending a postcard to yourself.  Shimelle talks about "I want to remember this - like going on a holiday, experiencing a land part event in Life or something noteworthy is happening on a golbal scale, grab a postcard and write it down.  Then by posting it, you'll get a postmark with the date and location".



A Scrapbook Challenge

Over at Shimelle's Blog there are 3 days of scrapbooking challenges, giveaways, mini-lessons, special guests and free downloads on 12th, 13th and 14th August.

This is a layout I based on a sketch from Shimelle's Blog - one of the first challenges.

Instead of one 6 x 4 photo, I used two 6 x 4 photos and I eliminated the photo strip at the top of the page and added the title there instead.  Also as part of the Explore class I was more aware of matching the colours of the papers to the photos.  When I picked out the photos first, the colours that sprang to mind were greens, blues, teals and red.  When I looked through my stash I found this kit I had never used - I must have had it for a least 2 or 3 years!  The papers are Chatterbox Inc. - Together which I found were ideal for this layout.

EXPLORE

For the first prompt we had to take a self-portrait - which I dread so I'm afraid I cheated and used a self-portrait I recently took, for a photography challenge.  The camera I have in the photo is an old Canon film camera which belonged to my Uncle, who has sadly passed away.  So I hope to start learning how to use it properly and take some more photos with it.  Also as part of the first prompt we had to do a 'Note to Self'.  I printed off a quote and journaled on the back of it.  Here's a few pictures:

EXPLORE

Imagine I have done 4 weeks of explore and I am only sharing it with you now!

First up my "Playbook" - "a place to record our little steps on our journey of explore".  This is a place to record the smaller activities rather than full scrapbook pages or albums. 

Cover of Playbook

I used an old manilla folder as the cover where I cut down the width to 7 inches and left the length.  I then added a sheet of acetate and added embellishments to it.  I saw the idea for this over Shimelle's blog.  Then for the inside pages I used 12 x 12 folded in half - so each page measures 12 x 6.

Explore

I've just finished an on-line photography course, Beautiful People with Cheryl over at Feelgood Photos (I will do a blog post later on it) and I am now starting an on-line course with Shimelle called Explore.

Explore, is a new on-line scrapbooking class which starts today and runs for 4 weeks with prmpts Monday through Friday.

Explore includes:

• 20 full colour PDF prompts
• 4 tutorial videos
• a printable workbook
• a bonus printable minibook
• a private message board
• full, permanent access to all class materials.

Really looking forward to getting started on this project, here's hoping I will finish it!

10 things on the 10th........

So over on Shimelle's Blog today is 10 things on the 10th.  When the New Year started this year I vowed not to make any New Year resolutions, instead I set a few 'goals'!  I just feel goals are bit more flexible.   Resolutions are made and then broken, goals I feel are ongoing - you can't really fail.  So my goals for this year included the usual stuff - being healthy and losing some weight, getting fit, spending more time with family and friends, learning more about photography, more time to scrapbook, to enjoy life and to start a blog.  So I felt this was an appropriate post after reading Katie the Scrapbook Lady's post where she talked about July being halfway through the year.  So what better time to focus on these goals again.  So here are my 10 goals for the rest of the year:

• focus on the good things
• being healthy
• getting fit
• spending time with family
• spending time with Friends
• learning more about photography
• more time to scrapbook
• learning to slow down and relax
• keep developing blog
• not to sweat the small stuff!

So there are my 10 things on the 10th this month.  What are your 10 things this month?

Crazy Days of Summer

Light

The theme over at Project Alicia this week is Light.  I took this picture a few weeks ago and I loved the light, does it fall into the category of Backlight and/or Sunflare?  Anyway I also used this for another challenge, so I'm getting a bit lazy.  Anyway have a look at everybody else's pictures, some of them are stunning.



30 Day Photography Challenge ......Day 30

Self Portrait

Ok this in the final prompt of the 30 Day Photography Challenge over at White Peach Photography and of course I am late with it.  Oh how I hate self portraits but it is one good way of learning.  I took it holding an old film Canon camera belonged to my Uncle who has passed away and a laminated copy of the 30 Day Challange.  Can't believe I have actually taken part in a photography challenge and went on to complete it.  O.k. I ran out of steam near the end of it but better late than never.  When starting out I felt well I'll give it a go - I'm great for starting things but when it comes to completing them, now that's a different story.  Anyway thoroughly enjoyed this challenge run by Mary over at White Peach Photography.  Why don't you have a look at everybody else's Self Portraits.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 29

Black and White!



Today's challenge over at White Peach Photography is for a black and white photo.  This is a very rare photograph I am able to capture of my son - he hates, hates having his picture taken.  I also had to include this one of my daughter as I liked it too.  Is it the mother in me can't leave one out - have to have a picture of both my kids.  Anyway have a look at everybody else's 'black and white' over at White Peach Photography .

Black and White

Crazy Days of Summer .....Yellow



Yellow!

The theme over at Project Alicia's Crazy Days of Summer for this week is Yellow.  I had taken a few yellow themed photos but when I saw this bunch of yellow roses in Tescos, I had to get them.







30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 28

Flowers!

Today's challenge over on White Peach Photography is a photograph of 'flowers'.  Love these flowers and would love to have them in the garden but I don't know what they are called.  I find that I am taking more photos of flowers that I would like in the garden as I am the world's worst for remembering names of flowers and plants.  So next time I'm at a garden centre I will have an idea as to what I am looking for.  Anyway why don't you have look at everybody's 'flowers' over at White Peach Photography.



30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 27

From a distance!



Ooops I am falling behind on the 30 Day Photography Challenge over on White Peach Photography.  Anyway today's challenge is a photograph 'from a distance'.  I captured this photo on the way home from my son's football match (they won!!!).  Why don't you head on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's 'from a distance'.

30 day Photography Challenge.....Day 26

Close Up



Over on White Peach Photography the challenge today is 'Close Up'.  Today's photo is a close up of darling Hubby, who is a very accommodating model!!!  I think I caught him off guard.  Have a look at everybody else's 'Close Up' on White Peach Photography.

30 Day Photography Challenge Day.....25

Pink Tutu!



Over on White Peach Photography the challenge today is for something 'pink'.  My photo today is of Chloe's Tutu when she was small and I had to include this second one as it is one of her favourite 'Chloe' bags.  One day it is tutu's and the next it is bags!  Where has my little girl gone?  Why don't you pop on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's 'pinks'.

A Chloe Bag!



30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 24

Too Cute!

Today's challenge over on White Peach Photography is a photograph of an 'animal'.  I don't know if Swans fall into this category but I just had to include these pictures.  I was out on the River Shannon with my hubby, he was fishing while I was just chillin when I saw this nest with a Swan and her goslings.  But when we got closer I noticed that one of the little goslings was on her mother's back - Mother Nature at it's best.  How cute is that!  Head on over to see everybody else's 'animals'.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 23

Sun Flare

Today's Challenge over at White Peach Photography is a photo of Sunflare.  I took this a couple of days ago when the sun was shinning one evening - not having great weather here so when the sun shines we have to take advantage of it.  Why don't you head on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody's Sunflares.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 22

Today's challenge over at White Peach Photography is a picture of hands.  This is a photo of my daughter holding a cup of tea.  I used this photo as this cup is one of my favourites and I love the colour of Chloe's nail varnish.  I'm heading on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's hands.

Crazy Days of Summer....

The theme over at Project Alicia this week is 'water'.  I took this picture at Bloom 2011, Ireland's largest Gardening, Food and Family event - Purple Water!

The schedule for the month of June and July includes:

June

Week 1, 3rd June - Flowers

Week 2, 10th June - Refreshing

Week 3, 17th June - Water

Week 4, 24th June - Yellow

July

Week 5, 1st - Light

Week 6, 8th - Patriotism

Week 7, 15th - Critters

Week 8, 22nd - Motion

Week 9, 29th - Bubbles

So for week 3, Water - here is my favourite image:

Water!

30 Day Photography Challenge......Day 21

Faceless Self Portrait

Today's challenge over at White Peach Photography is a photo of a faceless self portrait.  I took this photo while I was waiting for Chloe, my daughter, who was at music classes.   The old green door caught my eye.  Have a look at everybody else's 'faceless self portraits'  over at  White Peach Photography.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 20



Boken!




This is a photograph I of took of an Iris, I think, I am not great with names of flowers and shrubs.  Anyway I took this picture beside the pond - the background is the water in the pond and also a sprinkler.  As I took the photo the sun was shinning on the water and the sprinkler creating some boken.  Have a look at everybody else's 'boken' over at White Peach Photography.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 19

Something orange!



Today's challenge over on White Peach Photography is to shoot something orange, so I took a picture of these flowers in my sister's garden.  Why don't you head on over to White Peach Photography to check out everybody's 'something orange'.

Happy Father's Day.....

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 18

My Shoes!

Today's challenge over at White Peach Photography is a photo of  'Your Shoes'.  These are shoes I bought recently at Next.  Because they are 'yellow' or 'mustard', I decided to take a picture outside (between the showers of rain!) in the lawn beside a lone buttercup.  Why don't you hop on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody else's shoes.

30 Day Photo Challenge....Day 17

Technology!



Today's 30 Day Photo Challenge over on White Peach Photography is Technology.  I decided to take a photo of my iphone, so I brought it outside and placed it on the grass and started to take a few photos, when I discovered this shot - it is my iphone placed on the grass and the relection of the trees above it.  Head on over to White Peach Photography to have a look at everybody's Technology shots.

Getting off Auto.....



Here's a cheat sheet I found over on Paper Heart Camera.  Isn't it brillant!  At the moment I am trying to figure out all the settings on my camera.  This is great, it summarises all the settings just on one sheet.

I've also found a tutorial on sunflare over on this blog, so I'm off to read up on it and hopefully produce something half decent for the Sunflare Challenge.  All I need now is a bit of sunshine - but it is not looking good!



You Rock......

Here's a recent Birthday card I made where I used Taylored Expressions kit which included stamps, papers, ribbons and embellishments.  'You're My Hero' is a set of 15 stamps which includes Guitars, Silhouettes of Singers and various Sentiments.  I find them great for teenage cards, especailly if they are into music.

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 15

A Silhouette!



This a silhouette of my daughter sitting on a fence.  I'm afraid I'm cheating as this is a photo I took a while ago.  Unfortunately the weather here isn't that great at the moment for taking silhouettes outside.  No sign of the summer yet!  Have a look at everybody else's 'Silhouettes' over at White Peach Photography

30 Day Photography Challenge.....Day 14

Eyes!



Ooops!  I'm a day late with this challenge - Eyes and my daughter is going to kill me!  Anyway here she is getting ready for a disco and trying out false eyelashes - they didn't work out.  She was dissappointed, needles to say I wasn't.  Not a great photo but I can't wait to have it in years to come to show her.  Why don't you head on over to White Peach Photography  to have a look at everybody else's 'eyes'.