Gavin's First Christmas

Boy, oh boy, are we having fun!  Everything that was old is new again! 

All kinds of "baby's first Christmas" activity going on over here.

Spoiler alert:  I got to be the official photographer for my DD's first Christmas card.  We had planned for a day at the park, but December weather in Colorado is just too unpredictable. Very windy.  We went inside by the nice warm fire.

I got 77 pictures, but I'm only sharing one photo...my fav.

On the 5th, we took our little peanut for his very first visit to Santa.  He didn't cry!  Nor did he pull Santa's beard (good thing, too; as this Santa had a real beard!).

And on the 7th, our dear sweet Grandson celebrated his "1/2" birthday.  He was in a really good mood for his (six month) photo shoot. 

As you can see, I'm really loving the "animation" feature of Photoshop.  Can't stop myself!

Later that same afternoon, we kidnapped the "little kid" for our own Christmas Card photo shoot.  As he gets older, he gets harder-and-harder to photograph.  Besides the never-ending drool, his two new six-month tricks are blowing raspberries and shaking his head (with not much coordination yet).  On any other given day, this Grandma finds those antics hilarious, but not on Christmas photo day! 

"Hey Santa, Grandma needs a wireless shutter remote, please!" 

I won't be sharing spoilers.  Sorry.

1-23 Sketch @ Let's Scrap!

Once again, I'm honored to have one of my original layout designs published today @ Let's Scrap.  Do you remember the sketch contest? My very first attempts at scrapbook layout design not only produced a winner, I had several "non-winners" losers, and this is the second runner up.  (Pssst...there might be some more coming over the next few months.)

I created this sketch based on an older layout I did about a magical White Christmas morn not too long ago. 

Can't believe I'm sharing these photos.
Gosh, I'm a beauty on Christmas morn!

I wanted the focus of the layout to be the date, but equally as important is the White Christmas subtitle.  Even though we live in Colorado, it is very rare that we wake up to a Christmas snow storm and truly one of the most memorable of Christmas mornings past.

Technical notes:

• Paper & chipboard embellishments:  Little Yellow Bicycle
• Snowflake diecut paper: KI Memories
• White Shimmer Alpha:  Making Memories
• Cardstock:  Creative Memories White & American Crafts Red
• Title cut with the Cricut

Some close-up detail:

I hope you can see how awesome the glitter is on all of the white accent pieces, alphas, and embellishments.  It's frosty!

Thanks again to Let's Scrap for publishing my layout!

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to all of my "virtual" friends.  I feel very fortunate to have you drop in now and again and visit my blog, leave a comment, share a craft or two, a recipe or three, and general life craziness.  I hope you gather an ounce of inspirateion after a visit here...I really do love to share! 

If you've been here before, you know I love to share the "technical" notes:

• This is not an original photo idea.  I stole it.  If you've ever seen the opening segment of the Modern Family TV show you will know where this comes from. 
• I bought a white 11" x 14" open back frame from Hobby Lobby.
• Bill and I each posed in front of the Christmas tree holding the frame.
• Getting a good photo of Gracie was the hardest part.  She HATED her Christmas hat and would NOT close her mouth!
• I then worked some Photoshop Elements magic with the three photos.
• I first opened the photo of me, "magic erased" the part of my shirt inside the frame.  Once you erase part a photo, it acts just like a picture frame.
• Then, I "placed" the photo of Gracie under the "erased" part just so and then flattened and saved a new image of the two of us.
• I  then opened the photo of Bill and did the same "magic erasing" inside the frame area.  I then "placed" the picture of me and Gracie underneath Bill's photo. 
• Once again, I flattened the image and saved it as a new .jpg.
• The finished card is a 6" x 7 1/2" Costco card, the entire "chalkboard" sentiment is theirs.  I just uploaded my finished "altered" photo of the three of us and added our Christmas message.
• Here's a commercial for Costco and a personal testiment:  Costco's cards are awesome!  They are extra large and 50 cards is only $14.99 with silved lined envelopes.  What a deal!

I do hope you enjoy the card and a mini Photoshop lesson.

May your Christmas holiday be blessed with friends and family.  Here's hoping that you take as many photos as I do and that we have lots to scrap in 2013!

Blowing my own horn!

Woot!  Woot!

My gift for the recent handmade gift exchange was highlighted today over @ Craftaholic's Anonymous! 

Check it out:

I'm feelin a bit "celebrity-ish."

Dear Santa

I know it's early, but I wanted to make darn sure Santa gets my letter.  Pronto!

I realize that it's hard to read.  I'm gonna devote some time to blog design come January.  Just click on it to read it full size.  I know Santa had absolutely zero trouble reading it ;-)

The Halls are Decked

Whew...what a weekend.  Seems like all I did was work.  Climb stairs. Squat. Lift. Bend. Descend Stairs. Repeat 1,000 times.

Sunday morning.  Wake up.  Pull a muscle in your back and still repeat the above 1,000 times (but WAY slower and moan EVERY SINGLE TIME).

The older I get, the harder this gets and the longer it takes! It was a lot of work, but I am glad that it is all done in one weekend.  I can sit and admire my handiwork for the next 19 days.  Seriously, only 19 days?  Seems like a lot of work for only 19 days!

I really do enjoy our holiday decorations.  Some belonged to my mom and some I can remember from our Christmas trees when I was little.  I've collected ornaments for a long time ever since I had my own Christmas tree in my very own apartment.  Each of them holds a very special, very dear memory.  Which explains why I was so weepy this weekend.  Starting with Hershey's peronalized stocking out of the box, every ornament evoked some kind of response from me. Truth is, I am simply not over losing her yet.  All of her ornaments, her stocking, and her Christmas apparel were just waiting to be unboxed and enjoyed again this year.  Well, that started the waterworks, and I was teary eyed all day and let me tell you, Bill got a rolling charge out of that!  I felt hormonal.  Bill assured me that was NOT the case.

Our Family Tree

The Kitchen Tree

Thanks to Nate Berkus, we took a trip to a Christmas tree lot/nursery.  There's nothing like a fresh Christmas tree lot to get you in the holiday spirit.  The smell alone can make the grinch happy.  Upon entering, we were served hot apple cider. I shopped and Bill pestered every single one of the ladies of the nursery. Poor ladies.

How cute is this place?

My first "fresh" floral design

My newest creation is some fresh pine grenery and a beautifull hallway arrangement (if I do say so myself).  Thank you Nate!