Experimenting in Black and White

Hello People!  Can you believe that we are already nearing the end of July?!! Summer is just flying by and before I know it, the Kiddos will be back in school!

This summer has not lent itself to a lot of creative time.  In addition to summer league basketball and cross country for the Kiddos, I joined in on a challenge that one of my cousins dangled in front of the rest of us: a goal for exercise miles for the year.  It started out with the goal of 1500 bicycling miles then morphed into a 2000 (or 2013) mile challenge that could be met by biking, walking/hiking, running, tennis (30 min= 1 mile), kayaking or what ever other activity we could convert to miles.

Did I happen to mention that the challenge was given at the END of May?!! And that while I had been walking/running some, I had not been keeping track of any miles prior to that time?!!  So, not only did I accept this challenge in the negative, I started with not having ridden my bike seriously for a couple of years and a nagging chronic plantar fasciitis foot pain.

But, I'm chipping away at it!! The foot pain is now tolerating up to 7 miles of walking with some very short distance jogging started this past week.  I'm slowly getting back my biking legs. Basically, I have to average a minimum of 60 miles a week to reach my goal of 2000 miles by December 31. As of this writing, I have knocked out 673.02 miles, only 1,326.98 to go!!

But, those miles also mean that 2-3 hours a day is spent away from the possibility of any creativity.  And right now, that's okay.  I miss the creating, but I'm starting to feel better physically, which is a plus.

It's a give and take.

On the creativity bright side, I "won" a spot from Linda's (Studio L3)  blog for Claudine Hellmuth's Technique Toolbox Class!  (There is still time to sign up for the class if you are interested!! While the class has officially started, registration does not close until July 24th!!  QUICK!  Go sign up!!).  I was so excited to have the chance to give my creative mojo a swift kick in the rear to get back into gear!! This week one of the techniques is tinting photos with acrylic paint.  While out on one of my walks, I came across some wild sunflowers (weeds) that I immediately thought would be the perfect subject for this technique.  So this morning I dragged the Toad out for a little walk so that I could take some black and white photos of the sunflowers.

Go figure that this morning the wind was blowing in a summer storm!  Despite the flowers literally blowing every which way, I managed to get a few photos (with the Toad literally having to try and hold some of the flower stems still!). This is the first time I actually have set up my camera to take black and white photos.  I'm hoping that this storm system will pass this weekend so that I can experiment some more with this setting.  In the mean time, I had a bit of fun attempting some photo editing (which I have very limited skills in!).

I have to tell you that I was amazed that any of these photos came out somewhat in focus as I was having a hard time just trying to focus on a spot where I hoped the flowers would "blow" into!! LOL!!  Now to get these printed up and photo tinted!!

Stayed tuned!  

The Process of Creating

The Oldest Kiddo has been invited to a classmate's 16th birthday bash this weekend, which resulted in a swift kick in the rear to clear off enough space on my desk to make a card.  To make it more of a challenge, the party is in honor of a lovely young lady.  

Eeeaaak.  A sweet 16 card that can't be so girly that my son is uncomfortable in giving her the card.  

During the process of creating this card, I made an enlightening discovery.

It is now understandable as to how I can take HOURS creating a simple card and have a huge mess made in the process.

I thought I share just a teeny tiny behind the scene look as to how my brain functions when I create. I will spare you the complete process, as I'd hate to put anyone's creative mojo into shock.

The Sweet 16 celebration is to take place at the beach and the invitation had a wonderful color combination of soft sea green and a blue/teal, which I used as my starting point.  Went through all my "beach" stamps and decided that they were either too cutesy or not what I envisioned for a 16 year old.  Pulled out a couple of old SU retired stamps and had the idea to go a bit more trendy with a more geometric type look.

I then pulled out some distress inks and smooshed (technical term) them randomly on my craft sheet and spritzed with some glimmer mist.

Nope. Didn't like the look today.

Then I took Glimmer Mists in Honey Dew and Patina and spritzed on my craft sheet.  Smooshed (that technical term again) my paper in the mist and came up with a background that I liked.

PERFECT soft, sea foam look I was going for!! 

Then I stamped the sketchy circles from SU's retired So Much set using Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  Added the circle dot stamp with Distressed Tumbled Glass.

And here is the final project

Did your head spin 360 degrees?!!

Yeah.  This is how my brain works.  I start out with one idea, then I go off on a completely different path!  

After I got the first basic background done, I die cut the numbers and wasn't feeling the groove. Dragged out several different paper packs and nothing was bringing that background to life. Mind you, this is after cutting SEVERAL different colors of card stock for the base and matting layer thinking that would help the creative flow.  Nothing was flipping that "OH YEAH" trigger.  I think the background had turned out too grungy or masculine for this particular young lady.  So, I started messing with different ideas on scratch paper (I'm a slow learner). I liked the sketchy circle, I just had to find a way to use it in a more feminine way.  Finally, the idea to use SU markers in Rose Red and Old Olive randomly on the stamp clicked with the die cut numbers. First tried making the flower in a solid red, but didn't like that.  Went with the basic white with a bit of Rose Red sponging on the edges.  Stamped the sentiment in Old Olive, cut the flag banner by hand and sponged the edges and curled it.  Got everything all layered for Oldest Kiddo's approval before final taping was done.

Oldest Kiddo;"Oh. That's cool. Thanks Mom."

Showed him the original background.

Oldest Kiddo; makes weird face. "Nah. I don't like that one as much. It doesn't fit *L and I think it is too busy.  I like the white better."

Smacking my head.

Details:  Card base and white layers:  Gina K pure luxury card stock. DP:  Basic Grey Sweet Threads. Stamps:  SU (retired) So Much and Celebrate Everything. Inks:  SU Rose Red, Old Olive.  Dies:  Spellbinder's/Donna Salazar Rose Creations.  Tim Holtz/Sizzix Word Play.  

'Till next time.........let the creative path lead where it may!

Busy as a Bee

Hey there Peoples!!  It would appear that the three digit summer temperatures have finally hit our neck of the woods.  While taking the pooch out for a quick morning game of catch, I happened to notice that the bees were busy gathering pollen before the temperatures rose above tolerable levels.  I grabbed my camera and snapped off a few photos before retreating back inside.

  Notice the pollen sack on this photo! 

Let me just say that taking such close up pictures of bees is a bit unnerving, LOL!  I only let loose a couple of panicked squeals in the process of taking these photos!I found it very fascinating to watch them work.  They move around in a complete circle, clockwise then counterclockwise, to gather the pollen.  I love the photo I caught of the pollen sack and the detail on the wings.  

Baby steps in figuring out this photography genre!!  

I'm thinking that I need to change the format of my blog to better showcase photos.  Any suggestions as to what format are welcome!!

That's about it for me today.  I have a house full of neglected chores from a week of working the paying job last week!! Need to get busy like my little bee friends!

'Till next time............

The Lazy Days of Summer

The Lazy Days of Summer are nothing but a myth!!  Summer league basketball started for the Newest and Oldest Kiddos the week after school got out.  Beginning with daily practices, they moved into a week of 12 hour days of tournament.  While they did not play the entire 12 hours, their school was the host, so they got to work door, books and clock between their own games.  This week begins the actual summer league games.

And just to prove that I'm the meanest mom in the world, I make all the boys get up and go run before the temperature starts to climb.

'Ain't no rest for the wicked, hehe!!

During the tournament, I had grand aspirations of spending my time between games sketching, doodling, coloring.

Hmmm.  Someone forgot to take into account that any spare time would be spent working the snack bar booth and taking kids to be fed!!

Never the less, I did manage to do a little bit of doodling in my small 9x6" sketch book.  I would say that this was inspired by the popular Zentangle craze, but I would label it doodling.

I used various sized ink pens with some light pencil shading here and there.  I'm still toying with the idea of erasing the pencil shading and adding some color.  Maybe I will just have to doodle another page this weekend while at yet another tournament and add some color!

That's about it for me today! Oldest Kiddo is needing a learn to drive session before he heads to practice and his evening game!! 

'Till next time........

The Road of Photography

This past week another one of my favorite bloggers, Gail of Louisiana Bella announced that she will be taking an extended, possibly permanent hiatus from blogging.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!

First it was Joan B.  Now Gail.  A gal can only take so much internet heart ache!!

I love Gail's blog.  Her photos are incredible.  I always come away from my visits with a sense of peace and calm after gazing at the nature she has captured with her lens.

I also have this secret wish that I'll be able to take photographs like her when I become a grown up photographer.

Sigh.

While I could babble on and on regarding my waging inner war of understanding  and accepting as to the reasons why two of my favorite bloggers left blogland and feeling abruptly deserted at the same time, I will spare you.

Instead, I will share a few more of the photos I took while capturing the roadrunner nabbing hummingbirds at the neighbors feeder.  All the photos of the birds were all HORRIBLY over exposed, but thanks to the wonders of very basic  digital editing skills, they are somewhat presentable.

Lesson number one in basic photography: Check your settings once in a while, preferably at the beginning of your photography session.  It will save innocent children's ears of words they should never hear from their mother's saintly mouth!! 

I'm still learning.  But the sometimes the journey is more treasured than the destination!

Nature is always Beautiful....

....But it's not always pretty!!

The Toad was outside doing some yard work this morning and I caught him staring intently at the neighbors house.  It would seem that a roadrunner had found a favorite restaurant at the hummingbird feeder! The cagey fellow perched himself on the decorative house trim and patiently waited for his prey to come to the feeder.  I missed the actual "nabbing" of the poor little guy who became lunch, but managed to catch a couple of photos of the "before" and "after".

Remember, you can click on any of the photos for a larger view.

Waiting....waiting.....

ewwww....got 'im!!

"Excuse me....I'm trying to enjoy my lunch here"

"Fine.  I'll just take it to go"

I actually took over 150 pictures of about 4 different species of hummingbirds at the feeder.  It would seem that my nature photography needs a bit of work!! Over exposed all of the pictures!  That will teach me not to check to see if my settings are right!!  I think I can salvage some of them with the wonders of photo editing. What in the world did one do before Photoshop?!!  I'll be back later with more photos!!

'Till next time....remember, to enjoy the moment!!

Are You Sitting Down?!!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you.  It is really yours truly, come back from the land of No Time for Creating!!

I always have to fight the urge to apologize and over explain my prolonged absences from posting on my blog.  Why do we busy mom's feel we have to apologize for putting Life before creativity or blog posting? I guess it is that secret compartment inside that holds that ugly word comparison.  We (okay, I ) see other creative mom's posting daily and it is hard not to think "well, so & so posted her six cards, the homemade 8 layer cake with step by step instructions, the final pictures of her living make over and her finish of the half marathon this week.  Why can't YOU make one measly card  and post it, say every other week????!!

I think I'm about to digress.

Let's just move onto the ACTUAL card I did manage to create, shall we?!!

School is finally out for our little school and with that I was in need of a graduation card for a senior girl.  Now, I am obviously SOOOO out of practice in making cards (just in case you missed the significant time lapse between posting dates) and this card went in a TOTALLY different direction than I had planned.  This particular senior girl, while all girl, is, was our little school's top female athlete.  I wanted a touch of feminine with a coating of athleticism.

I failed.  Miserably.  Somehow my vague idea of what I wanted turned into a girly girl card.  Which, is okay.  Just not what I had planned.

Sometimes, it is just best to go with the flow!! I really do like how this card turned out and while not what I had envisioned, it was still a touch of feminine without being over the top girly girl.

Before I share the card, I do have to giggle at how rusty my card making skills have become.  First,: it took me all day to make the card.  I will give myself credit for the fact that I spent quite a bit of time experimenting with the background technique until I got the look I wanted.

Second: may I strongly suggest that when making cards, one FIRST verifies that one has an envelope that FITS the card dimensions PRIOR to completing the card?!! Let's just say that the card was tucked into the envelope, but in no way, shape or form, was the enveloped sealed.  And the card was hand delivered. 

Finally: THE CARD

I made the background paper by stamping Cornish Heritage Farms 6x6 Vintage Text onto a 5x5 piece of Gina K's Pure Luxury card stock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  I then stamped the swirls (old set I've had in my stash fo-evah!) using Versamark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  Distress Inks in Barn Door and Fired Brick were sponged over the entire background.  Distress Vintage photo ink was lightly sponged along the edges.

I then die cut two flowers from three different sizes from  Rose Creations by Donna Salazar for Spellbinders from textured white card stock (I believe it is SU, but don't quote me.  I'm using my stash!!) and sponged only one side along the edges and partially down the petals.  

The petals were then shaped using a large stylus and a foam mat.

Beginning with the smallest flowers, the flowers were glued using a hot glue gun. Shaping of the petals were done by hand and a small stylus (you could use tweezers also, but I couldn't find mine!!)

The smaller flowers were made the same way, except I used smaller variations of the dies and sponged only the edges of the petals. 

The leaves were die cut using Spellbinder's Foliage.  They were then embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.  

The numbers were die cut using Cuttlebug's Olivia alphabet dies.  

Well, that is about it for me today! I will make no promises that I'll be around more frequently this summer, as our schedule seems to be jammed packed and just as crazy as the school year was, BUT!! I will be back!! said in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice!! 

'Till then, enjoy the creativity!!