Tag: Christmas

Digital Layouts From a Challenge

December 10, 2021

I had contemplated doing almost a month of digital scrapbooking after seeing a challenge on the Oscraps.com website, and after NaNoWriMo, I felt I could totally do this. I also needed a break from writing. I wanted to work on my Photoshop skills, mainly digital scrapbooking. It can be hard to get motivated sometimes with not being a full-time scrapper these days. The Oscraps.com 12 Days of December Challenge was tempting even though I and wasn’t sure I’d be up to it. However, somehow, I got into it and got my digi-scrap mojo back. Let’s hope I can keep up with it until the very end.

Here’s my first layout. It’s my Oscraps Avatar. This one didn’t count and wasn’t required as part of the challenge. At the end of the challenge, there will be prizes (digital scrapbooking discounts, etc.), but I’m not doing this for the prizes. It’d be nice to win something, but the real fun is in just seeing what others create and creating myself.

Credits:
Winter Walk by Emeto; Greymouse Manor and Through the Snow We Go by Lorie Davision.

Day one was to use the following template:

This was my layout.

Credits: Template by Sandrine (aka Timounette); Home for the Holidays Oscraps Designers Collab

Day two was a scavenger hunt. We had to match clips of kits to the appropriate designer. It was pretty difficult for me since I haven’t been scrapbooking for awhile. But, I think I did all right.

Day three was a scraplift. This is my layout. The image I lifted is here.

Credits: Trick or Treat Collection by Palvinka

Day four was to include at least four lines of journaling of a Christmas memory.

Credits: Winter Walk kit by Emeto Designs

Day 5 was a game day. We had to search the gallery for layouts that the previous poster in the forums requested. Then, post a request for the next person to search for.

Day 6 was a cookie recipe.

Credits: Home for the Holidays Oscraps Designers Collab

I’ll be posting layouts as I get them done. Let’s hope I can do this and December Daily as well (which I haven’t started…but I’ve been taking photos every day!).

Blossoms of Light

December 18, 2017

The family went to the Botanic Garden over the weekend to see the Blossoms of Light for the first time.  I believe the display has been around for awhile.  It was beautiful but there were so many people.  We bought tickets in advance to be on the safe side and I’m glad we did because it was sold out.

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Got the Tree Up

December 20, 2013

It’s five days ’til Christmas and we’ve just decorated our Christmas tree last night.  Husband also decorated the front door.  This is the first year at this house that we’ve put the pillar lights out.  Now we just need a sparkly bow in the center.

CHRISTMASTREE0012_600CHRISTMASTREE20130025_600CHRISTMASTREE0019_500

 

Long Awaited Snow & Tree Lights

December 19, 2012

snow12192012_0072_600It finally snowed this month.  We were supposed to get blizzard-like snow but instead, we got lots of wind and a nice dusting of flaky snow.  It’s pretty and peaceful (as always) but extremely cold.  The temperature outside is 17.8°F.

I am pretty happy this morning.  I’ve got all my work done and I can blog freely with no other stress!  It feels amazing!  Of course, this never lasts so I’m going to make the best of it before I have to get busy again.

The Christmas tree went up a week ago.  I have such a hard time decorating it.  It could be that I just don’t have enough ornaments but it always looks as though there’s something missing.

christmastree20120052_500And, it’s lopsided too.  Not sure how to fix that.  Husband and I tried whatever we could to hold it upright but we’ve agreed that it’s just the tree.  That’s the thing that annoy me with real trees + the spiders and maybe other bugs.  Btw, the red and gold baubles were gifts from my friend, Sunflowerslady.

bauble0044_600Here is a bokeh shot of the image above and a couple of others.

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25 Days of Christmas & Holiday Cards for Heroes

December 4, 2012

I’ve been extremely busy lately.  I was supposed to take things slow but there’s so much that has to be done.

Last year, I started a 24 Days of Christmas gift-a-day countdown with my kids.  They really enjoyed getting a gift a day so this year I am doing it again.  But, instead of all gifts I’m also having them do things that don’t cost a thing.  And, it’s going to be 25 days instead of 24.  I’m going to have them take a photo on the 25th day.

25DAYSOFCHRISTMAS_125DAYSOFCHRISTMAS_2The first envelope enclosed a note to draw the Nativity.  I had the family participate.  My oldest threw a big fit initially.  She refused to draw but then eventually gave in and actually enjoyed it.  My youngest threw a fit too.  She was set on drawing 3 angels (besides the drummer boy and the sheep).  She had her colors picked out and everything.  Then, my oldest started to draw an angel and my youngest just screamed and cried.  After the angel was drawn she attempted to erase it and fussed and cried when husband and I didn’t let her.  Then my oldest decided she’d turn her angel into a candle and my youngest was able to get her 3 angels in.  Not the best 1st day of Christmas I  tell ya!

25DAYSOFCHRISTMAS_3I will probably do one long post with pictures about this 25 Days of Christmas after Christmas like I did last year.

Holiday Cards for Heroes

About 6 years ago (wow…that was a long a time ago) when I taught Catechism, I had my students write letters to our military troops.  It was fun and they all enjoyed writing their letters.  This year, via Facebook, someone I follow (sorry, I can’t remember whom!) mentioned something about making cards for our military.  I don’t teach Catechism anymore but my siblings do so I asked if they’d like to have their kids make cards and I’d mail them out for them.  We all had a great time.  Everyone made at least 2 cards and I believe one little girl made 4!

CardsForTroops_0030christmascardsfortroops12_2_2012_600I think I’ll print extras of this collage and give them to the students and their teachers as a thank you for their time.

You Had Me At Holga

January 6, 2012

I got a Holga from my secret santa (my sister) and was the happiest person on earth.  I’ve been wanting one for a very long time.  It is a very light plastic camera.  I think even lighter than the 110 camera I used to have back in the 80’s.

Holga’s are supposed to produce dreamy distorted photos, or as worded here:

My sister even included a couple of medium format rolls of film.  This one is the black and white one:

I was so excited to use this camera but later learned that it was harder to have the film developed than expected.  I went to Mike’s Camera because it was the closest one to my house but I don’t know if that was the best place to go.  I heard Wolf Camera also develops medium format so I’ll have to give them a try next time.

I first used the black and white film because it was 400 speed and I was taking it indoors (my Holga is flashless).  Out of the 16 exposures, only 7 were developed because the others were probably exposed to light when I loaded and unloaded (I forgot I was supposed to do this in the dark), and out of the 7 photos, there was only one I would call decent.  Two other were not bad.

These are the photos:

The photos were scanned in black and white by my husband.  The actual photos have a tint to them, similar to this:

I added the the yellow/brown in photoshop to make it look as close to the actual picture as possible.  The photo is actually a little more bluish but I had a hard time trying to pull that color out.  Also, the graininess on the photos is from the dust on the flatbed scanner.

For some better Holga photos, visit my “Altered Lens” board at Pinterest.com.  These images were repinned from other pinners who’ve pinned them from bloggers and websites.

And, before I end this post, I wanted to share a song I still love by Bruce Springsteen called, “Secret Garden” from, Jerry Maguire, a movie I also still love.

The Rest…

December 28, 2011

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I sure did.  I know I’ve fallen behind with posting my girls’ 24-day-of-Christmas gifts.  Here are the things they received starting from day 4.  To see anything before day 4, just scroll through the blog.

The girls enjoyed the gifts that required putting together like the cards and angels.  They want to do more crafty things.  They also liked their dresses.