What's going on

Hi,
I'm sorry I don't have the filter challenge ready. Infact i writing to let you know I won't be posting until Jan. But don't worry I plan on coming back full force! I just have too much going on right now, two birthday parties to plan and christmas. I also want to organize all my non digital pictures and convert them to digital. So if you have any suggestions on that i'd love to hear it.
Also have alot of decluttering to do in my home. I stayed up till 3am on thanksgiving cleaning and organizing my playroom! What a change! Its so nice to go in there now. I also went through my boys room and removed three laundry baskets of toys! They both have birthdays coming and christmas. We are begging friends and family not to get toys! They like bath bubbles and super hereo shirts which are alot easier to find a place for than toys. I don't have anything against toys just too many of them kwim?
My dh grandma has her 3rd chemo treatment next friday. She's been struggling but hanging in there. We are a little worried though because she said she's not sure she can handle one more treatment. On the same day the Dr's will be running a bunch of test to see how the cancer is doing. I guess the life expectancy with the type of cancer she has is 18-24 mos in good cases, so were pretty upset about that. But we are praying that God will give her strength to hang in there. Mostly that he will give her comfort. She has fibromyalgia on top of the cancer so she is in pain most days.
I will be going with my sister on sat for an all day scrap. Since I don't do traditional I will be using that time to organize my photos. I will also be working on a framing project. I love having more than one Christmas tree(usually do two). Last year I got an idea for tree #3, a heritage Christmas tree. I want to put framed black and white photos all over the tree of our ancestors then a photo of my kids from each year. I'll only be doing one tree this year though, between the dog and my nine month old one tree will be more than I can handle keeping an eye on. My dog will put anything in his mouth that doesn't move and well if my little girl is anything like her brothers at that age most of my ornaments will end up at the top of the tree. LOL.
Well enough rambling... I may stop back before the year ends and you may find me in a forum from time to time. I will still be checking my email so please feel free to drop me line.

Happy Holidays! See you next year!

FILTER FRIDAY CHALLENGE - CUTOUT And Layout

click on photos to enlarge

Filter Friday again! This week the filter is cutout. I think this filter is pretty cool. It gives photos a cartoon or artsy look.

You can find this filter under filters, artistic, cutout.

After clicking on cutout you have three adjustments to choose from, number of levels, edge simplicity and edge fidelity. You may need to play with these to get the desired effect.

My original photo

Here's a layout I created using my before and after photos.

Journaling reads:

Lilacs are one of my most favorite flowers.The color and fragrance invigorate me. When we moved into our house a little over three years ago I started collecting them.I currently have 9 different varieties and I’m adding more every year. Can’t wait til spring to see these beauties again!

Credits: Everything is created by me. The font is florabetic

Want to join the challenge? Jump in anywhere any time time. Try the filter out if you like to share your masterpieces leave us a link in the comment section for that filter.

Have a great weekend!

PSE FILTER FRIDAY CHALLENGE - EMBOSS

click on photos to enlarge

This week we are trying out our emboss filters. Here is a lo I made. I used the emboss filter on the pink and blue photos.

LO credits: paper and stitching from Emma part 5 by Amy W. Designs.

Journaling strips are from the harvest spice kit by Shabby Princess.

Fonts: Charlie, do i like stripes, eight fifteen

Before I start I just want to note I don't claim to be a filter expert. There are many different ways to use the filters this is one way to get you started.

You can find the emboss filter under filter, stylize, emboss.

Once there you can decide the angle, height and amount of embossing.

I'm not that crazy with what you end up with.

I removed all color. For those of you who don't know how to do this go to enhance, adjust color, remove color. It took me a few weeks to find that when I first got pse. I couldn't believe there was no way to make a photo black and white until i found that button. You can also do this by going to enhance, adjust color, color variations, then click the circle that says saturation, desaturate to your liking.

I then changed the color of my photo by adjusting the color. You do this the same way you would to remove color but click on midtones instead of saturation. You can also change the color by adjusting the hue and saturation. Find it under enhance, adjust color, adjust hue and saturation. You will need to make sure colorize is checked.

After I removed and added color I ended up with this.

The emboss filter can also be used for sharpening photos. Here is a link I found on that.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=20935431

Want to join the challenge? Its easy, just try the filter out for yourself then post a photo or lo using your photo on your blog or gallery. then simply leave us a comment with a link so we can check it out. There are no deadlines jump in whenever you'd like!

Hummie's Themed Thurday - Comfort

click on photo to enlarge

I wasn't sure what how to do my lo at first. I looked at Hummie's and hers was about the comfort of wine. Which made me realize I don't really do anything to comfort myself.

When I think of comfort the first thing that comes to my mind is my bed! lol But I couldn't take a picture of that because then I have to make it (something I rarely do...sad but true) and my husband was already in it. Before I had kids cups of tea and long soaks in the tub were so comforting to me. Now thats a luxury I can rarely afford. (time wise i mean).

Anyway I needed to dig a little deeper and that is how I came up the journaling.

Journaling reads:

I find great comfort in the truth of God’s word. Knowing that all my needs and my family’s will be met. In mark 6:25-34 he tells us not to worry about what we will eat or drink, or wear. He already knows what we need. And if we seek him first and his righteousness all these things will be given to us. He also says do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Isn’t that the truth! We have been greatly blessed by the Lord. I am so thankful for all he has given to me the good and the bad. All my experiences made me the person I am today. While I believe I am still a work in progress, it is comforting to know that God is always with me. If I should stumble and fall or should I fall flat on my face he is always there to hold my hand and lift me back up. Amen for that!

Fonts used: papyrus, georgia, missed your exit

Birthday Invites

Sorry I never got around to the filter challenge for last week. I got side tracked making invites for my son Joshua's birthday party. He is so into batman. I thought it would be fun to really personalize his cards so he did a little photo shoot for me in his costume. He is so excited! I used pse filter cutout to give him a cartoon look. For the background I used a coloring page found at http://www.coloring-book.info/coloring/coloring.php?id=4863 .

I created the bat from a font called batben and filled in the letter.

Other fonts used: Georgia, house sitter

I plan getting a photo cake made. I am working on a design now as soon as its on the cake I'll post a picture.

Thanks for stopping by!

Beware of the spider man web shooters

Spider man web shooters make great gifts...not so much.

I had to take myself and the kids to get flu shots today. I made a deal with my boys (2 and 4)if they did a good job I'd get them both the spider man web shooters they've been wanting. Well they did such a great job! I was so pleased. They wanted to give my two year old a shot in the leg because usually that is easiest for them at that age. But I had talked to him about it all week about getting it in the arm and he already decided which arm he wanted. So that's what they did and he didn't even flinch! what a tough guy. My oldest was very hesitant but he did it and needed a little hug and gave a little whimper when it was over. hehe

So back to the web shooters...first they cost more than I thought they would. I don't know why i thought they would be around $15. they weren't. One was $26.99 the other was $27.99. Not exactly what i was planning on spending...but i made a deal. They are pretty cool and the web is similar to silly string. I realized right away that this is a toy that must have adult supervision at all times. lol I gave them a special place to use it, one that would be easy to clean up. One came with a water squirter and a dart thrower, the other came with a reversible mask. My oldest used up his web string in about 5 mins flat. He then continued to beg and plead to use his brothers because he still had some left. I told him no. I leave the room for 5 mins to find out my oldest got a hold of his brothers web shooter and sprayed his entire bedroom and closet with it. If you've ever dealt with silly string you have some idea of what a mess this can be. I spent the next 45 mins give or take, trying to shake,sweep and scrape this stuff up. While the boys sure had fun with this toy. It's totally not worth the mess or money. the cans last 5 mins maybe a little longer if your kids aren't spraying it constantly. The refills are around $8. So unless you like throwing money in the garbage I wouldn't recommend it.

So after the doctor appointments and web shooter fiasco I've had no time to get the filter challenge in order. My niece (8) is coming for a visit tonite. we are having a beauty nite,manicures,pedicures and facials. I will do my best to get the filter challenge on tomorrow...
Have a great weekend!

Hummie's Themed Thurday - work

Here is my lo for Hummie's themed thursday's this week.

I also wanted to let you know that I probably won't be posting much for a while. I will still try to do hummie's themed thursdays and filter fridays. But other than that I won't be around much.

Life has just gotten too busy and I am so far behind. I have not been motivated to design at all. Partly from lack of sleep. Since my oldest started school it seems like someone is always sick and waking up all through the nite. Right now my littlest one is sick and her poor nose is running like a faucet. Lack of sleep usually doesn't bother me so I stay up til 1 or 2 in the morning to get stuff done. But I can only do that for so long before getting burned out. Well I'm burned out and the little ones are not sleeping at all So I'm taking a little break.

We also got some bad news about a month ago. My husband's grandma found out she has cancer (she's 80 something). The doctors are not sure what kind it is yet but it's pretty much through out her entire body and bones. So the outlook is not so good. Her daughter (dh's mom) will be flying in on Wednesday to see her and our family for at least three weeks...

I will be back tomorrow for Filter Fridays...

Hummie's Themed Thurday - Dots

This is my layout for Hummie's Themed Thursday this week. The theme is dots so I this layered template by ScrapTwelveCreations.

The super cute papers and elements are from Happy Scrap Girl! She has just completed her first kit called Little Pumpkin. You can find it in her shop at scrapmatters here.