5211-12

Peeking...

Week 12 is about looking out from my winter hiding place at the beautiful springtime that is awaiting.  It's also about not having any other real good ideas so since my fingernails were painted, which never happens, I decided to document the occasion! (the color is Sally Hansen Gray Area)

Also used the One Day action from the Hippy Dippy Trippy Collection from My Four Hens

5211-9

 Week 9 was one of those quick - I just needed to take a picture, pictures. Ya know?
I do like how it turned out though. This was pretty well the way it looked SOOC as far as the framing...very little cropping. 

I did run a Coffee Shop action (found here) called Velvet Cream.

This was also in conjunction with the perspective challenge on the 52WP site last weekend. 

Week 23 {true confessions}

I must admit a little something here on the blog today.

I LOVE SUN FLARE or LENS FLARE (whatever you want to call it).

I mean it is just so pretty...don't you agree?

I also love the beautiful golden glow of backlit portraits.

The way the light catches the edge of a silhouette - it's just breathtaking in my opinion.

AND here is where true confessions comes in.

Wait for it.

Okay, here is the scoop:

This Week 23 photo that I took today, had some nice backlit features (which is why this next part works so well).

I cheated just a wee little bit on the flare part.

I know, I know: Bad Kim!

I had downloaded this awesome free - YES, I said FREE action over at the CoffeeShop blog called Sun Kissed {I know, how appropriate, right?} awhile back which adds a nice flare onto your photos and I used it for the first time today on this photo.

Actually this was not the picture I intended to use for my selfie this week, but I decided to play around a little bit since I liked the angle and framing.  I rediscovered the sun kissed action that I had totally forgotten I'd downloaded.  That's really the only processing I did besides bumping the contrast a little and I totally loved the way it looked!

Some of the CoffeeShop actions have become my go to actions for post processing.
What I also love is the customization of each one and there are always wonderfully detailed tutorials which are nice to refer to.

I am not in anyway getting paid to endorse CoffeeShop, but I do encourage you to go over there and take a gander around.  They just give these actions away!  That amazes me!

There is a Paypal spot on the blog where you can donate if you like what they have.

How cool is that - it's like the honor system!

Week 13

Maybe it's the unlucky 13 or something, but I have felt a wee bit crazed the past few days!
That plus my crazy hair that was just plain wild on Sunday produced some crazy selfies for the week:
Enter exhibit A:

I call this one psycho*diptych

I decided I needed some lip color to brighten up my selfies but when I got a little "outside the line" I thought: "hey, I'll go with it and look really crazy!"
A straight jacket would have been a really cool prop for this one, but I'm afraid some people who know me might want to keep me in there!!! :)

Here is my take on Week 13:

Obvious use of some cool actions on both of these shots.

The psycho*diptych shot has an action found here: deviantART
On the latter shot I bumped up the levels and ran an action I've had for awhile (from parts unknown) which is an extreme lightening action.  Then I sharpened the shot using the sharpen action from one of Pioneer Woman's free sets.

I love actions!
Can you tell?

What does Spring plus Fall equal

These are some out of car window pics I took going down mom's driveway last Sunday.
I was doing a little editing on these in Photoshop and came across some actions I downloaded from deviantart. The one I decided to try was entitled "spring."
I thought it would be cool to see what it would be like to mix a spring action with a fall picture.
Here are the results.
Odd. But kind of pretty!


This dang week has absolutely flown by!
Where did it go?

So it is two weeks from Thanksgiving.
You know Christmas will be right behind...
If you are wanting to order any CountryText alpha-prints for gifts, please let me know as soon as possible. Especially for a custom frame job.
If you are local, drop me an email or call.
If not, go to my Etsy and shop away!

While you are there, do check out all the awesome eye candy that Etsy has to offer.
Make some Christmas purchases.
Etsy has the coolest search options.
Browse by color, location and a plethora of other ways.

I can promise that the individuals artists and crafters will appreciate it much more than Wal-Mart or the other big boxers. (disclaimer: I am not a Wal-Mart hater, I shop at Wal-Mart almost daily, my family works at Wal-Mart, they have rolled back prices...just sayin').

Plus, the quality will be fantastic.
That is one thing I've noticed about most artists or crafters who sell their own goods, they take great pride in their craftsmanship and want to make top notch items. There is gorgeous stuff on there. I have found a lot of jewelry I would love to have!

Anyway just a Handmade plug I suppose, but do consider at least buying local this year, our local economies need your dollars to thrive in these scary times.

okay, off to wash dishes.

fair weather

Couldn't have been more perfect weather for the fair and the other bazillion events that I was involved with last weekend. I love the fair and the weather that goes along with it...well, except our county fair which takes place in July when it's 100 degrees!

This was the North Central Arkansas District Fair and is our last "hurrah" for Alex's show season. It is a little sad, yet a relief to be done for another year.

Took these at sunset when we got to the fairground on Saturday evening. I have had fun playing around with these in PS and used some crazy action called "happy" I downloaded from deviantart.

Looks very retro....me likey!

I love everything about the fair:

• the weather
• the food
• the lights
• the activities
  
• the sounds
• the exhibits
• the people you see like one a year....at the fair.

Call me old-fashioned, but anywhere that celebrates homemade goods, fun for the kiddos, and good conversation with your neighbors is a good place to be!

cntry txt

I've been playing around with logos/banners/watermark ideas for Country Text.
I've had some friends ask about buying some of my photos so I thought today would be a good day to try to get something going.
It's been terribly busy this last week with district fair, Emerson Drive and Golf tourney so It's been hard to be motivated.
However, I started a couple of "to-do" lists and Country Text was at the top. I had some time this afternoon to be lazy and thought I would play around with some ideas.
I got prints ordered and did this:
I'm not completely convinced, but it is a start.
Hope to get something up this week.
I'm also happy to report that KimM's long overdue RAK will be going out to her this week. I sure hope it is worth the wait. I feel like such a heel for not getting this done sooner.
I'm a bad RAK'er I guess! :(

trapped & track

finally posted something from my space!

check it here

To be captured or help with no way out. Find something 'trapped' in your space today.

(also playing around with some cross process B&W actions I downloaded from deviantart)

A road beaten through the wilderness. Find a track in your space today.

off to a horseshow today...I'm sure there will be pictures!

How does my garden grow?

I love Love LOVE the idea of gardening, it just aligns with my creative nature and loving to do something productive and pretty on my own. I do not, however, nor have ever claimed to be a "gardener" or have a "green thumb" at all. My attempt at a small garden a few years back had a nice production of yellow squash and one or two tomatoes. Everything else? Pretty much a flop. I have over the years tried to keep a few flowers and love to grow zinnias. I have transplated several tulip and iris bulbs and they have done fairly well. These beauties I transplanted last fall and I am extremely thrilled with the results.

I'm also posting these twice as before and afters just because I want to share the difference in what a little photoshop action can do for a picture. I used some of the Pioneer Woman free actions she has on her blog. The results are so worth it I think.

Happy Weekend!

more fall love

completely breathtaking.

need I say more????

Hot Chicks!!!

and I mean hot like fire! We spent Saturday on the lake - and yes, we did use sunscreen! We all had some sunburn going on and by the time this photo was taken, we knew it! It was a great day with all the family. Alex, Brooke, me and Amy (in photo) + James, Cody & Rob. This was a trip in lieu of a canoe trip down Spring River {it's just gotten a little wild for us}. This was much more fun and we were able to relax and visit and laugh and all the good stuff you want to do with your family.

I dig this cross processing which I came across from Elsie Flannagin's blog. I started searching for an action that would have the same effect. What I found were several free actions here to *sort of* duplicate this and a plethora of others.

I love the way this picture turned out. The composition and feeling portrayed. Thought it made a great retro shot.

Angel Annie

I wanted to introduce Annie Grace - the beautiful daughter of Matt and Amber. She is also step- grandbaby to one of my dear "BFF's" Karla.

Welcome Annie Grace. You will be embraced by many who love you!

{If you want to download the angel wing brushes for photoshop I found them on another scrapbooker's blog here. I think they are so cool to use and seem to be a big trend among digi-scrappers.

the border is another jessica sprague freebie found on her blog under Photoshop Friday.
Many other tips and tricks are on there as well.}

Blog Begins Now

How does one begin a blog...I mean how do you come up with a clever, profound "first" post for your blog? I have not a clue, so I have decided to just type something. Anything. How about a great photo? I have something in mind for this later, but it is hush hush for now. I did use Jessica Sprague's "dream-i-fy " effect . Pretty cool I think.

My main reason for starting this blog is to record my crafting experiences and hopefully connect with others who enjoy this {this being scrapping, photography, etc} as much as I do. Also living in the "sticks" it is hard to meet scrapbookers face-to-face, and the web is a great outlet for that I think. I also hope my family and friends - you know who you are! - can enjoy catching up on my fun as well.

I hope to build on this blog from day-to-day.

Whew, glad I got that first post thing done...the pressure was killing me!