OOPPS! I totally missed the event!

Ok, so here was my day on Thursday. First, my DD had tech rehearsal for her dance recital. Then, we had to get dance recital gifts for all her little buddies (WHY did we start that 7 years ago?). Then I had a 4-H Treasurer's book that HAD TO BE FINISHED BY 3:00. Then I had the drama of getting hair perfectly slicked back and glittered to eternity along with makeup application for my DD (once again) dance recital. THEN we went to the dress rehearsal. Then we went to DD (AGAIN!) swim meet where she had a personal best in freestyle as she ran into the pool to join the heat (seriously, it was almost like that). THEN I went to pick up my DS (yes, I do have another child) and chatted with my sis in law from Ohio. THEN i took a shower and crashed with wet head, pjs, and no underwear. Too tired to find any!

So, with that being said, I totally missed out on the Secret Sister reveal. I've had the pleasure of spoiling the cutest secret sister. Is this picture not adorable or what? Yes, I stole it from the veggie site to post here. I'm sure she won't mind! Although i don't know her at all, she seems like a super sweet person who always makes nice comments on the veggie site. I joined this swap to make new friends and if appearances mean anything at all, she looks super sweet and someone I'd love to call my friend. Can't wait to get to know Sarah Kristiansen more.

On the other end . . . I've been spoiled by an AUSSIE! She totally rocks! Although I must announce that i hate her. She sent me these totally sinful chocolate Koala bears and yes, I um, ate them all in one day. Thank God there wer eonly 12 in the bag. I would have had to have my stomach pumped if there would have been anymore! LOL! She also sent this stuff called VeggieMite. Let's just say, it's interesting! I don't know that I'd walk across the street for it, but if she was holding it, then for sure I'd walk across the street just to have some of it with her! She also sent some fabulous other scrapbooking goodies, but for sure, the food really peeked my interest!!!!! Thanks so much Rachel Kelly! You ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DT work for Timeless Inspirations . . .more

We were given a sketch to create a LO. Here's what I did with the sketch. It's so fun to see how everyone does something different!!!! SUPER CUTE!!!!!!!!

Let's Expose . . .SHUTTER SPEED

1st lesson on shooting in Manual Mode. BEAR WITH ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!


The combination of shutter speed and aperture is exposure. In this lesson, we will focus on shutter speed.

Shutter Speeds are written as fractions of seconds - 1/x s(seconds). The shutter controls the amount of light that reaches the film (or digtal sensor) with the time it remains open. For instance, 1/16 s allows light to reach the sensor for 1/16th of a second.

1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/60, 1/30, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1,2, 1 full second

Shutter speed on the left of the spectrum let in very little light whereas the speeds to the right let in more light. As the fraction size increases, more light is let in.

For example, 1/250 of a second lets in half the amount of light that 1/125 of s second lets in. And simliarly, 1/125 lets in twice the amount of light as 1/250 lets in. See the relationship of halves and doubles?

With shutter speed, you control the amount of movement (blur) by choosing the appropriate speed.

So everytime you take a picture, you must decide which shutter speed to use based on wheter you want a sharp subject of a picture that shows movement or blur.


HOMEWORK: SHOOT OUT SIDE IN THE SUN. You will be taking 2 different pictures of a moving object. One picture will show an example of a moving object that is SHARP (use a fast shutter speed) and the second one will be BLURRY (use a slow shutter speed).

YOU MAY NEED TO REFER TO YOUR CAMERA"S MANUAL TO SET SOME SETTINGS. Set your camera to it's MANUAL mode. Set ISO to 100 (the digital equivalent to FILM SPEED). Set your F/stop (more about f/stops next lesson) to f/16. Now, change your shutter speeds to see what happens when you let more or less light in as you take each picture.

FYI, in case it's too hard to see, the shutter speeds go from 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, 1/400 and the f stop stays at 16.

This child . . .

Driving me BANANAS! He has been talking non-stop about WHO KNOWS WHAT! He just told me that "His country does not allow pictures of him because it destroys the Inner Possum of himself." QUE? And then he starts pointing to his nose and calls it a "food holder." WHAT? And now he is discussing the "hole in the bottom of your booty" that makes goofy noises. This child is totally nuts. The phone is ringing and he just started screaming, "WHAT IS THAT NOISE!?" This child is driving me IN SANE! He just looked at my blog title and said, "Officially nuts? Pretty much describes you! They nailed that one down didn't they?" This is like the POT calling the KETTLE black.

DT work for Timeless Inspirations

I'm so excited to be the guest designer for JUNE at Timeless Inspirations. The girls on this site are so sweet. Michelle, the owner, is so upbeat and positive. She really goes out of her way to make everyone feel welcome. And the DT coordinator, Share, is super organized and great at what she does. The DT is uber talented as well! This was the first DT I ever tried out for, so I have a special place for it in my heart, even if I was only asked to be a guest for a month. God had other plans in store for me and that was OK by me! I like this DT stuff because it stretches my creativity to try things I may have never tried before. For one thing, I wanted to make sure I used ALL the supplies I was sent from Michelle. Trust me, I have a few scraps left over and I'm hoarding them to maybe create a card or add to the mini album I'm making. I think it's really important that as a DT member, you utilize all the supplies to the max. After all, it's not MY money I'm playing with. The owner deserves quality examples of projects customers can complete with their store product. So without further aideu . . . I present to you my first guest DT LO for Timeless Inspirations. A mini album and a sketch LO is coming SOON!

alTER mAnIA

Good grief, I've been an altering fool this weekend. Here's another fun little project I engaged in. I must have been in the sewing mood during this project because I basically quilted with paper. I think it's kinda fun, but what a battle to make the paper look right. And then there's the drama of trying to get the painted sides to crackle. I pretty much tried 4 different crackling techniques on each side. I'm still not convinced I got it right so I don't really feel like I have a painting technique to share with you yet. I also obsessed over buttons this weekend. I've used them on EVERYTHING I've done this weekend. I haven't even posted some of the goodies I'm working on yet because they aren't done, such as the WILD AND CRAZY apron, the letters L-P-A for an altered letter swap, 4 circle journals, and an altered board book and a sketch LO for my guest DT spot this month. Boy, I'll be glad when these projects are done because I think I'm already tired thinking about them. CIAO!

just a lil somethin' somethin'

maybe for someone "secret", I mean special . . . .

Photoshop BARGAIN of the CENTURY!

At Scrapbooking Swede, I'm going to be leading discussion with other DT members on improving your photography for scrapbooking. One of the ways I like to play around with my photography is by using Adobe Photoshop Elements. There are so many FUN things you can do with your photos to give your scrapbook pages that extra WOW factor. I know that some of you might not have this program, so I wanted to supply you with an INCREDIBLE purchase opportunity! ::HIJACK::This program is not required because in reality, the only thing required in life is to (1.) die and (2.) pay taxes (if you live in USA, not sure about Canada). And, I might add, many people do a FINE job of eliminating step 2! I, on the other hand, haven't figured that art out yet. ::HIJACK OVER:: After rebates, the program is less than $20!!!! BUT . . . this special is only good until June 18 so HURRY!!!!!!!

Will I be the mother of an Olympian someday?

I often wonder this. REALLY! My daughter LOVES to swim. She is really good at it too! Swimming will take over my life until July 22. Today was a truly special day and could possibly be a turning point in Miss Mad's swimming career. She had the pleasure and joy of attending a swim clinic with Josh Davis, a four time Olympian and captain of the USA Men's Olympic Swim Team. This is TRULY a class act. This guy was very motivational for the kids and he had a great message for parents to hear too. So many times we get wrapped up in "helping" our child improve as soon as they finish a race and we forget to say, "I am so proud of you!" I don't usually forget this, but I'm quilty of being quick to point out what she did wrong or how she could've improved that swim. Funny thing is . . . do you see my butt out there racing my heart out? Nope. No way no how. So today, I've made a decision to only tell my daughter how incredibly proud I am of her when she comes out of the water. No more constructive criticism. By the way, he really is THAT good looking!

facelift?

How about a house facelift? This is what I've been up to for the last 4 days. House painting. OK, I admit, I'm not actually painting, but I'm cleaning out the garage to be painted. This, my friends, is a job only the brave should attempt. The garage. YIKES! But it is clean now. The best part about this whole home improvement project is my GORGEOUS red door! So inviting! Tim noticed it this evening as we were leaving to go out to dinner (to the most amazing restaurant EVER I might add). I think he has used that door 4 times since we've lived here. I didn't think he would ever notice it. Good news . . . he liked it.