Playing with Photos!

A while back Jessica Sprague offered a free class in using frame-ups and special effects to edit photos in Photoshop Elements. I went through a couple of the lessons, but didn't get very far. I don't think I had any pictures at the time that were inspiring me. But, I just started looking through my pictures from my summer vacation to Estes Park, Colorado with my family. I love to take both landscape and flower photos. Sometimes I have to remind myself to add some people too! Anyway, here are a couple of flower pics in their before and after state. I hope you enjoy them!

What is your favorite subject to photograph?

Yellow Flowers Before:

Yellow Flowers After:

Accessories: Cottage Arts Nature Sketch Photo Art Blends 2

Purple Flowers Before:

Purple Flowers After:

Accessories: Cottage Arts Nature Sketch Photo Art Blends 1, Jen Wilson Beginnings Grunged Detail Starters

Recycle and Reuse

For September's PTI Blog Hop, the theme was to use the packaging from our orders in a creative way. For the first card, I used the clear plastic that the stamp sets are attached to, and cut flower shapes with my Sizzix dies. Then, I painted them with Making Memories paints, and embellished them with buttons and brads before adding them to my card. Details of the other supplies are listed below the photo.

Stamps: PTI Polka Dot Basics, Around and About

Ink: PTI Spring Moss, Aqua Mist

Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, WU Whisper White, PTI Bitty Dot Basics

Accessories: Quickutz Silhouette scalloped border, SU Blossom Party Die, PTI Lemon Tart Button, SU Neutrals 5/8" brads, MM paints, PTI clear plastic sheet

 

For creation number two, I used the tissue paper that wraps the stamp boxes for a Christmas Tree Skirt. I stamped it with the Fancy Flourishes set in Scarlet Jewel, folded it in half, taped the ends together and then gathered it at the top. I can't wait to see what other creations people came up with for this challenge!

 

Stamps: PTI Tree Trimming Trio, Background Basics Text Style, Fancy Flourishes

 

Ink: PTI Lemon Tart, Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss, SU Chocolate Chip

Paper: PTI Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel, Bitty Dot Basics, US Whisper White

Accessories: PTI Scarlet Jewel satin ribbon, SU Baskets & Blooms Die, PTI tissue paper, MM Page Pebbles

Wishing You Sunshine!

I can't believe how warm and sunny it has been in September! I spent the extended Labor Day weekend in Minnesota visiting my friends Carla and Mike and their dog Cassie. I took Monty with me. The weather was gorgeous that weekend also...dry, not too humid and warm but not hot. Where was this weather in June, July and August? Anyway, here is a pic of Monty and I in the water at the Mississippi Head Water State Park on Labor Day. He wouldn't get in the water until I went first!

And, here is a card full of sunshine as well. I used the Scattered Showers Additions set (borrowed it from my friend Tiffany) for the greeting. The small tree is a 2x2 Quickutz double die that I used for the first time. I also used a QK scalloped circle and Nestabilities Pinking Edge circles for additional tree tops to go along with the same trunk. The sunshine is a scrap of a punched border usng an EK Success border punch. Also, I hand cut the clouds from a pattern I drew free-hand.  I hope you enjoy the card, and the warm weather in your neck of the woods.

Stamps: Scattered Showers Additions

Ink: Stampin' Up Classic Chocolate Chip

Paper: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, SU Kiwi Kiss, SU Summer Sunshine, SU Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP; Papertrey Ink Bitty Dots Basics Aqua Mist, SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories: EK Success border punch, Quickutz Tree die, QK scalloped circle dies, Nestabilities Pinking Edge Circle dies

It's My Birthday!

Just a short post tonight before I go to bed. I had a nice birthday today, complete with e-mails from friends, and cards and gifts from friends and family. I'll detail more later, but here is a picture of me with my gifts from my parents. They sent some great smaller non-stick pans...perfect for eggs in the morning! Hope you had a great day also.

More Halloween Cards...and still ahead of schedule!

I shared yesterday that I was actually ahead of schedule in making some cards! Here is the rest of the batch that I made using the Ghouls and Goblins set by Inkadinkado and some lovely retired Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up called Halloween Nights. I was happy to be able to pull out some of my stash of this Vintage Violet color.

So, what is your favorite Halloween stamp set or decoration?

FRIEND GOOD

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Everyday Flexible Phrases, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Markers Old Olive, More Mustard, Going Gray
Paper: Stampin' Up Vintage Violet, Basic Black, Whisper White, Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Nestabilities Dies Classic Squares Large, Stampin' Up Black Hemp, Stampin' Up Black Eyelets

EEK!

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Rough Edges Alphabet, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Markers Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Basic Black, Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Nestabilities Dies Classic Squares Large, Nestabilities Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares Large, black twill tape

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Teeny Tiny Wishes, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Stampin' Up Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Nestabilities Dies Classic Circles Large, Nestabilities Classic Pinking Circles Large, Fiskars zigzag edge scissors, Stampin' Up Basic Grey Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Up Fire Rhinestone Brads

Hey, I'm ahead of schedule...for Halloween cards!

Usually I'm skating in at the last minute to post something for a color challenge! Actually, I tend to be somewhat last minute in other aspects of my life as well. ;-) But, I found this set at a local craft store, and thought the animals were just too cute! I don't do a lot of decorating for or celebrating of Halloween, but I do like some of the cute images and projects. I avoid the scary stuff! This is a set called Ghouls and Goblins by Inkadinkado. I'll post a few of the projects tonight, and a few more tomorrow.

So, tell me...are you ahead of schedule for an upcoming holiday? Maybe Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas? Leave me a comment and share!

BOO!

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Rough Edges Alphabet, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Versamagic Midnight Black
Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive, More Mustard, Whisper White, Papertrey Smoky Shadow, SU Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Stampin' Up Scallop Edge Punch, Nestabilities Dies Classic Squares Large, Nestabilities Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares Large, Stampin' Up Small Oval Punch, black satin ribbon, Stampin' Up Black Eyelets

TRICK OR TWEET

*It's hard to see, but I colored over the birdie's masks with the Spica pen, and then covered the lenses with the Crystal Effects.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink-Birds of a Feather, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Vintage Violet, Whisper White, Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Stampin' Up Word Window Punch, Stampin' Up 1/16" Hole punch, Stampin' Up Vintage Violet ribbon, white thread, Spica Clear Pen, Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, white thread

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 

Stamps: Stampin' Up-Everyday Flexible Phrases, Inkadinkado-Ghouls and Goblins
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Markers Old Olive, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Stampin' Up Going Gray, Whisper White, Halloween Night Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Nestabilities Dies Classic Circles Large, Nestabilities Pinking Circles Large, Stampin' Up Black Hemp, SU Black Eyelets, yellow twill ribbon from my stash