My favorite Digi LO yet!

I found a freebie kit called Autumn Leaves.. you can download it here if you are interested! So I started a LO, then had to find a picture to go with the colors. I went through some of our photos from Scotland that I haven't scrapped yet and found one with similar colors. I really like the way this turned out and the kit is too cute!

Digi Scrapping While I Wait

Still waiting ever so impatiently for orders so I've been practicing my Digi Layouts. They aren't great and I don't find them quite as fun as paper SBing, but I'm enjoying trying anyway! These are the three I've done in the past couple of weeks. It's one way to use some of the pictures I have hanging around, and best of all.. it doesn't cost anything!

Lots O' Cards..and a cat.

Ok, I didn't take photos of EVERY card that I made, I made a lot of duplicates, so I grouped some together. I did succeed in using ALL of last years Holiday Designer Series Paper (Holiday Thyme). I told myself I would not buy anymore until I used up what I had, and I did it! Of course now my Christmas cards are done so I wont need any until next year! We'll see what cool stuff they come out with then!

This first card is going to be our We've moved card! Once we have a new address, I'll mail them out to our family so they can know where we're at!

Stamps: Boatloads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Flannel Plaid BG
Paper: Bayou Blue, Soft Sky, Sage Shadow, Whisper White
Ink: Same, plus Ruby Red, River Rock, Really Rust and Creamy Caramel, Black Stazon
Accessories: Brads, Eyelets, Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon, Oval Punch, Designer Tag Punch, Eyelets

A lot of babies being born in my pregnancy group this month! This is one of the congrats on the baby girl cards I made! For the mane of the giraffe I cut the edge off one side of pink grosgrain ribbon and frayed it, then adhered it to the card.

Stamps: Bundle of Joy, Hugs and Wishes,
Paper: Basic Grey PP, Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, Watercolor Paper, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Black Stazon, Versamark
Accessories: Pink Gingham, MM Brads, Signo White Gel Pen



The following 4 photos are of Christmas cards, many of the ideas or layouts were cased or inspired from SCS. I made a lot of duplicates, and a few more that I didn't photograph but ended up with almost 50 Christmas Cards just in the last week! I'll send them with our express shipment so we'll have them in time to send for Christmas (I hope!)
These are made from recycled tags that were on Christmas Gifts last year. They were too cute to throw away so I knew I had to reuse them!
And something funny (obviously before I packed up my stamp room). I noticed the cat hadn't been running around like usual and wasn't crying for her breakfast one morning and thought I better go check on her. Since she shares my stamp room as her place where the dog isn't allowed, I do worry that she might get in trouble since she's known for eating plastic, ribbon and anything else that isn't tied down.

So I popped upstairs, and open the door to find this:



Now, I've always known to cut your plastic soda can rings before throwing them away because you never know what animal might get stuck in it, but it never occurred to me to make sure I didn't leave any complete circles cut in paper lying around! I'm not exactly sure HOW she managed this, but she did, and luckily I was able to get it off without any issues (though she's now on a strict diet!) So be warned!! Leave no whole holes lying around your house, your pet might get trapped!

Also, for those of you who have never had the opportunity to meet Eibach (the cat), and are wondering about her strange appearance (aside from the piece of paper around her middle). That is indeed the full length of her legs. She's a breed called a Munchkin. They carry a gene similar to that of a dachshund, only in cats, so her body is standard size, but her legs are extremely short. That's as tall as she gets!

That's my update for now! It will be a while before I post more cards as my stamp room is just about fully packed. All the essentials are in boxes ready for shipment. I maybe working on more digital layouts in the meantime though, so keep an eye out for those!

Quick update..

Just wanted to pop in and post a quick update since I haven't posted much lately! We're preparing to move back to the US sometime this month so it's been busy around here! Since my stamp stuff will take 2-3 months to arrive at our next base I've been trying to make the next 3 months worth of Birthday, Christmas and We've moved cards! I've successfully made them, but BOY was that a lot of stamping!

After that I started packing my stamp room and it's almost complete. I've never realized exactly how much stuff I have! I have inventoried each box to put in an excel document, printed one out to tape on the outside of the box, and photographed EVERYTHING going into each box just to make sure it all makes it to the other side of the pond. So once I finish, I'll unload the photos off my camera and post the ones of my cards I have made!

It already seems kind of boring around our house since most of my stamp room is packed, when evening comes my normal routine of listening to music or an audio book while I stamp has been disrupted. Hopefully we will see orders this week so we can get things moving quickly and get back home.. once the ball starts rolling, it will roll fast and I can't wait! In the meantime... back to organizing and cleaning!

I'll post more later!

P.S. In case some of you that regularly follow my blog are unaware, I am 26 weeks pregnant with a baby girl! I do have a second blog following my pregnancy that I try and update at least once a week, it can be found here! If it gets really quiet on this one, you can always pop in and see if there's something going on on that side. :)

First Digital Scrapbook Page!

I attempted my first Digital SB page today, I wont even tell you how long it took. I used BG "paper" from a free digikit called Phat Splat, and elements from another kit called Twinkle Toes along with some Photoshop brushes and fonts. I had a lot of fun, but I sure hope it gets quicker to do these! I might try and do more and more of them and see about making a whole 8.5 x 11 album to print up (someday). So here's my first go at it!

Paparazzi Day 2

Well, today was less than exciting. I didn't get any faces today either! I did catch a glimpse of Scarlett Johansson, and Natalie Portman again, but even the extras only came out twice! It was still fun, and I got another lesson from Jason the photographer about what metering mode to use for this kind of stuff, and a bit of a fill flash lesson (not for this stuff). Too cool!

Here's Natalie Portman, out of costume and headed back to her trailer.

Scarlett Johansson. She passed by one more time while I was there, but she was too quick and I missed it, doh!!
Here's some extras, but I liked the photo anyway... The dress is beautiful, and check out the guys shoes!!

I took some more, I'll post them when I get around to processing them.

Jen Goes Paparazzi!

So they are filming at Ely Cathedral for a movie called The Other Boleyn Girl. It stars Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Kristen Scott Thomas. They are here for 3 days doing some last minute scenes for the film, so after work Jennifer (my neighbor) and I went over to the Cathedral to see if we could catch a glimpse of some stars!

While I was there, there was a couple of freelance photographers (read: paparazzi) that were hanging out trying to do the same. I was admiring their camera equipment and started chatting with them. One of them was very nice and even gave me a bit of a lesson in this kind of photography! We also were chatting with security who told us tomorrow will be the best day to be there, yeah! I plan on going back at least tomorrow to check it out and see if I can't get some good shots. Scarlett Johansson wasn't actually there today, but I hear she will be tomorrow!

So, I here's some of the shots I DID get. I took about 50, but most of them were of extras and nothing very exciting.

Natalie Portman hiding behind an umbrella (or brolly as they are called here).

Kristen Scott Thomas leaving the area.

I call these the 3 amigos, wrong country, wrong era, I know. But they looked cool in costume anyway.
More extras.
The Scene from where I was standing.
This is Jason, the photographer that was giving me some pointers. Look at that lens!! : )

Upcoming Workshop

Well, I have one last workshop scheduled for the rest of my time in the UK (1 month? 2?) It's a 3 project workshop and I'm doing a Halloween Treat Box, a Christmas/Winter card, and a 6x6 SB page!

Here's the page and the supplies. The Vanilla square is where the photo will go.

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Define Your Life
Paper: Sage Shadow, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla, Outlaw DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponges

This card was inspired by the wrapping paper in the Holiday Mini, as a well as a card found on JanTink's Blog.

Stamps: The Snowflake Spot
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Accessories: Satin Ribbon, Versamark, Iridescent Ice EP, Ticket Corner Punch

Here's the Halloween Fry Box. It's got a cello bag filled with Reese's Pieces, my favorite Halloween colored candy! I also used some basic black scraps and cut them to 1/4" strips, and ran them through my crimper to make box stuffing!

Stamps: Autumn Apparaitions
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Black Stazon
Accessories: Crimper, Cello Bag

I've been busy!

Between cleaning out closets and sorting through stuff getting ready for our move back to the states, I've been crafting like crazy. All of a sudden I decided to finish my projects I had lying
around, and the pictures I meant to scrap ages ago. So, here's what I've been up to!

This wall hanging is made out of chipboard coasters covered with Basic Grey PP, and SU Pretty in Pink matted behind it, cut with scalloped scissors. I adhered ribbon down the back to hold it all together leaving a loop at the top to put a ring trhough so I could hang it on the wall.

These photos are of the roses we had in our front garden just after it rained. I started with white bazzill CS, and used Basic Grey Gypsy pp on top of it. You can't tell, but there is crystal effects on the water droplets to make them have a raised appearance. The butterflies were made with a Heidi Swapp mask, and I painted with pearlescent MM paint. The letters are painted chipboard as well.


I can't get enough of Bronc Buster!! It's large and hard to work with, but I love everything that is made with it! The first card was for a Splitcoast Color Challenge using Bayou Blue, Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand CS. I stamped the images in Chocolate Chip ink, and sponged around the edges. Weathered BG was used on the Bayou Blue pieces and I attached Sahara Sand eyelets with a crop o dile.

Again, using the Bronc Buster set, and the Thank U sentiment from True Friend out of the Holiday Mini. I layered Outlaw PP on Chocolate Chip CS and again used Chocolate chip Ink on Very Vanilla CS for the main image. I also double stamped Linen over the main image. I distressed and sponged the edges and wrapped linen thread under the main image.

It's that time again!

I'm having a Pampered Chef catalog/online party. I just couldn't resist the discount on forged cutlery this month!! So if any of you readers are interested in some new good stuff, just follow this link to the Pampered Chef Online Catalog, featuring me as the hostess! Orders can be shipped directly to your door. I'm aiming to reach a $300 party this time around , so outside orders are much appreciated!

Happy cooking!!

Help Deciding!

Alright, I did that mini-photo shoot at work today for the man that wanted pictures of his cat for his family. I was a bit limited for back drops, so I just used our vet beds that we put in the kennels for the animals. Anyway, I narrowed it down to these 3, but I can't decide which one to use!
He wants them printed out for him when he gets back from vacation so I can't ask him which one he likes best! What do you think??

Another negative space post

Was going through some photos and came across this one. Thought it fit the challenge so I'm sharing it!

Negative Space

I'm going through a bunch of older photos that I hadn't processed yet to look for some negative space examples. I was surprised to come across quite a few!

This photo of the duck was taken at about 3pm, it was daylight, but for some reason the water came out really dark, so I processed it for the water to be completely blacked out, it looks to me like the duck is staring off into the unknown. EXIF: 126mm, 1/320 @ f/4, ISO 200, no flash.
Seagull in flight, taken in the south of England last summer. This photo was actually extremely underexposed. I managed to save it for the most part, thank goodness for RAW! I wont share the EXIF since it wasn't correct for conditions.
Seagull in the sand, same beach. 113mm, 1/500 @ f/8.0 ISO 200, no flash.
This is my brother Shawn at Corfe Castle in England. There was a steep grassy hill with ledges that the kids were jumping and rolling down. Shawn took his turn jumping and it looks like he's about 40 feet in the air as he jumped off each ledge particularly with the first one because you can't really see his shadow. These were a lot of fun. He made it down safely. EXIF for both photos: 78mm, 1/250 @ f/8. ISO 100, No Flash.
Coming in for the landing.

Frame in Frame

I'm a little late for this photo challenge, but thought I would upload it anyway. It's a shot from when we went to Scotland. A canons eye view!
17mm, 1/320 @ f/10, ISO 200, No Flash

More cards today.

I'm still sick today, but I managed to drag myself off the couch long enough to make a few cards. Drew and I celebrate our 3rd Anniversary on Monday, so I made this card for him. I hope it's not too girly looking! I used Doodle That, and the sentiment is from the new Hugs and Wishes set.
I have a ton of scraps lying around so I tried to use some of them in cards. I could probably make 100 cards using patterned paper and STILL have scraps left! It's a never ending pile! The first is using the new In Color: Sky Blue, and Double Line Doodles!

The following was for SCS challenges SC133 and CC122. I loved these colors together and the sketch was lots of fun! Again I used a Hugs and Wishes sentiment along with Love It behind the sentiment. This is some of the new chipboard as well!

Fill The Frame

I looked through my photos and picked some older ones for the Fill the Frame challenge. The first is my DH in Cambridge last summer. I love his smile!


This is my friends daughter. She has the biggest dimples I've ever seen on a kid when she has her full smile on. This pic has a few hot spots as it was a bright sunny day last summer. I was across the street shooting with my 70-200 f/4L.
This is my bass guitar, I was experimenting with shallow DOF after I got my 50mm f/1.8 lens last year.
Ahh, baby Dominik! This is the same kid that's in the BDU cap for the childhood challenge! He was 2 months old in this photo.

Riley is Dominik's big brother. His head is being held at a funny angle here, but his big eyes captivate me, making it one of my favorite photos of him. I can't wait until my munchkin' is born so I have a "model" to take lots of pics of! :)

I was Blog Tagged!

Kristy at The Stamp Garage tagged me, I feel so special! Thanks for thinking of me to tag! The rules say I have to share 7 things about myself and tag 7 other bloggers. So here goes:

1. I'm a California native, currently stationed in England with my hubby Drew, for the USAF.
2. I'm 15 weeks pregnant with our first child, due Jan 7th, 2008!
3. I have a spoiled rotten Great Dane named Cosworth, and a Munchkin Cat named Eibach.
4. I love to modify and work on cars.
5. I can play flute, piano, oboe, bass guitar, and mallets (xylophone, marimba, etc.).
6. I want to be a Veterinarian when I grow up.
7. I'm 83lbs lighter than I was 2 years ago, 61lbs lighter than last September.

Alright, that was fun!! Now if I can only find another 7 people that haven't been tagged yet. Sorry if you have been already!

Cherie @ Capture The Memory
Lynn @ Lynn's Random Ramblings
Heather @ Heather Taylor Photography
Michelle @ Just A Thought
Jamie @ Photos By DJ
Monica @ Evan's Daily Journal
Michelle @ Confessions of a Scrapoholic

I made stuff!

I've been slacking in the craft department lately.. so I finally sat down with some of my new stuff and made some things! I just LOVE the Baroque Motifs set and matching paper . It's gorgeous!
So bummed they got rid of the organdy ribbon, but that's okay. I still have a lot left to use, for my own pleasure of course!
I made this clipboard to keep tabs of consumables I need to order. I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to order Barely Banana cardstock!

I made this for a color challenge on SCS, and I can't for the life of me find which number it was now. I also cant believe Roses in Winter is gone, it's one of my favorite sets ever. I don't think you can make a bad card with it!
I saw the idea of using the flower punches to create faux primas on SCS. I have a friend/customer who buys a lot from me, so I try and give her little gifts of appreciation with each order. This jar came from Ikea and I filled it with flowers punched with the threes for you punch, daisy punch, and spring flower bouquet punch out of my rich regals scraps. Good way to thin out the scrap pile!