A Bit of a Laugh

While at Redland Bay recently we were in the shopping mall and Santa was sitting there with no visitors and he was looking very bored, so I went up and asked for a photo with him, he was thrilled said business was slow and many of the children were too young,scared and tired and in general they were all crying and or screaming. He said he was happy for me to sit on his knee however I said on no I will just crouch, he was happy to have someone to chat to for 5mins. The photo of him waving he is waving to Rory over in Christchurch and he said as these photo's were being sent to Rory they would not charge me for the photos.

 

Something a Bit Different

Our friends have just recently been to Europe arriving home about 5days before the dreadful bombing in Paris where they had just been before heading back home, counting their blessings every day. While in the UK they made a visit out to the castle where parts YES only parts of the programme for Downton Abby were filmed. It is not all filmed in the castle at all, Mrs Patmore's kitchen is not on site and there is NO village nearby when they say they are and you see them in the town village it is not anywhere near Downton. Also according to our friends the house is very scruffy and not as it appears on TV.  Just thought I would share these photos as I loved the show.

 

Birthday Boy

Nov 29th:

 

Birthday Boy

2011

Ginger Snaps:

SKOL paper #17

Flowershop Collection > papers #3 & #6

Welcome Kit > Star

Font: Times New Roman

Text strips I did myself.

4th Birthday Party

Nov 29th:

 

4^th Birthday Party

Ginger Snaps:

Welcome Kit > Banner

Scrapgirls:

Window Frame

Digi Designers:

ColorInspitation Paper #1

Misc:

Paper 05-06 > #2

Font: Times New Roman

Text Strips I did myself

Christchurch Visit 2014

Yasmine, Adam and Rory had to have their beloved Harley Dog put to sleep just after our trip in 2014, I did this page for them as it was his last Christmas - he has now safely crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

 

Harley's Last Christmas

2014

Studio Girls

MZIM> Vintage Christmas> Brown background paper

> Merry Bright > Quick Page & Sparkling

Overlay

Font

Old English

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can
run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm
and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and
vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly
stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager
body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over
the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally
meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the
beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your
pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...

November 29th:

 

Christchurch Tram

Studio Girls – Scrapbook Graphics:

Manu – Beautiful Past > Quick Page

Cathedral Square

Digital Designer Paper Kits :> #39

Color inspired papers, #1 & 2

Pickleberry Pop > Indigo Designs:

Envelope, Day to Remember Stamp – Word Art

Pickleberry Pop > Armina Designs:

Black Beauty > Bracket

Raspberry Road: >

Great Outdoors > Chevron Paper Yellow #2

Gypsy Soul > Element #1> colored beads

Misc:

Notepaper page off the internet.

Flower Cluster

Merry Christmas 2011

Nov 29th:

 

Merry Christmas 2011

Raspberry Road:

Christmas Spirit Paper > #3

Christmas Spirit Cluster > D

Woodland Christmas > Tree

Pickleberry Pop: > Fayettes Design

Word Art > Merry Christmas

Pirate Ahoy

November 29th - 2015

I have been making a real effort to continue with pages for Rory's Album. I even take my computer to  the hospital when Brian is in either for surgery or day treatments. It is a long day when you have nothing to do and as I only need power no internet it gives me plenty of time to play.
Here are some of the latest pages I have done - enjoy.
I had this photo of Rory dressed as a pirate and have always wanted to do a page, I found a Quick Page of a Pirate page but didn't want to do a QP - I wanted to do my own and based mine on this one, I am really happy with the way it turned out. The below photo is the QP from Pickleberry Pop -  Indigo Designs.

Below my page is how I went about creating the Pirate page, again using some of the new ideas and techniques I have learnt from my digi tutorials.

 This is my Pirate Page

 

PIRATE

Scrapgirls:

Picturesque Paper > Sunflower

Scrapbook Graphics: > Manu

Old Outdated Frame #12

Catch A Wave > Sand Overlay

Touch of Spring > Alphas

The Wine Barrels, PalmTrees, Boat and Flag were images that I erased the backgrounds and cleaned up the edges before turning them into PNGs.

The background paper with the Pirate Skulls on I used underneath the Sunflower paper that I reduced the opacity so the skulls paper showed through.

This page is my take on a Pickleberry Pop – Quick Page, by Indigo Designs.

I Have Been

October 2015:

So very spoilt and lucky to have this amazing piece of Digital Art done for me by the most amazingly talented lady Ann Lavin.  Ann made this work of art for me without me even knowing. Last Monday week Oct 19th, Brian and I met up with Ann and Mick for lunch at Mt Tambourine, up on Tambourine Mountain.

Tamborine Mountain is a 28 square kilometres plateau in the Scenic Rim local government area of South East Queensland, Australia. The name is of Aboriginal origin and has nothing to do with the musical instrument.

Elevation: 525 m

Range: Great Dividing Range

Age of rock: Aquitanian

 

As Ann and I were walking along in and out of shops, browsing, we chatted about all things craft, lumpy bumpy craft did she miss doing it - yes she does. However we talked Digital and got onto talking techniques etc. I again told Ann how very talented she is and said she should at least frame her last piece of art work, a picture of a girl with butterflies over her back, Ann has colored this piece like you would not believe - it just looks so so real. However we all had lunch then another walk and ended with a coffee before heading back to our cars and heading home. It truly was a great day to forget about all other stuff that is going on in our life. WELL  two days later Ann sent me this piece that she had done for me, I was stunned and actually it made me very emotional. I will treasure this forever and feel so lucky to have a piece of Ann's art that I will get printed and have it hanging on my wall.

Oh I forgot to tell you Brian and I got lost trying to find our way to the meeting place where we were to meet up with Ann and Mick - and yes they came and found us, hahahahahaha, we will never live this down I am sure and Ann won't let us forget either.

Cool Kid

October 2015:

This is the final page for the year 2008, so now it's onto the start of a whole new year, slowly I am getting there but what is the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" slow and steady as she goes. Using and putting to practise the digital tutorials and new techniques that I have learnt so far. I am now ready to start on the last set of tutorials and videos - ADVANCED here I come - nothing is holding me back now all I need is time. Even though I do not work I just don't seem to have enough hours in a day, I always find things to do -  I guess I could sit all day and do nothing other than play on my computer but that is not me. Thanks for looking at my blog and seeing what I have done/achieved.

Cool Kid

This page was created using another of the techniques I have learnt on my digital course. The technique was how to create a circle matt from a paper using the cookie cutter, I positioned the photo and then clipped it to the matt. I deleted the photo that was not required that was hanging over the matt. I added a ring around the matt to give it some definition, I really like how this shows off the photo. I used 3 papers and added a paper over the main background paper which I lowered the opacity to make it more see through,I also reduced the opacity on the circular matt. The T Bucket belongs to my daughter and Rory's dad, Adam built the T Bucket and it was on show in a large car firm in Christchurch.

I Used:

Papers from Digital Designers,

Kpertiet color 42812 - #2,5,6

Type Font – Vintage

Black Wow Plastic - used on the title

Rory and Pooh

September 2015

Another page completed for Rory's album, this one I love and who doesn't love Pooh Bear.

Pooh Bear - 2008

Armina - The Big Wheels Kit:

Patterned Paper #6 - Spotty

Karen Bellamy - Just Begun Kit:

Frame, Ribbon and Curled Edge

Misc Pattern Paper: Unknown

For this page it was really just practising some techniques that I had learnt, I used the Opacity to reduce the brightness of the Spotty paper, and added a curled edge placing this across both papers.

With the frames I duplicated the frame and added the ribbon to make it look like it was hanging.

I found a picture of Pooh Bear and extracted Pooh from the picture,I then turned the part I wanted to use into a PNG file and used a brush to clean the edge. I used Pooh as the main background and a smaller pooh to look like he wanted Rory to play ball. The main focus of this page was Rory's ball

as you can see it has Pooh Bear on it, that's why I wanted the page to look like Rory and Pooh were playing with the ball.

Dream

October 2015

Yep another page done, this one was done with my take on layer's, I had been chatting with a friend all about layers and thought I would try my hand. I really love the way this has turned out and what layering I have done I am really happy with it. I have taken a photo of Rory's dad's Harley Davison motor bike and turned it into a PNG file, the same was done the to outline of the crash helmet, Rory is wearing his dad's helmet so I turned a picture into a PNG and used it as the background, I love the look and will be trying more of this.

DREAM

Ginger Snaps: > Man Oh Man Kit

Paper #11

Metal Frame

Duct Tape Arrows #3 & #4

I used the ARC tool to curve the title DREAM around the crash helmet.

I have always loved this photo of Rory sitting with his dad's crash helmet on,I extracted Rory from the original photo then turned the photo into a PNG file.

I took an image of a Harley Davidson Sports Motor Bike (this is what Rory's dad has) I turned it into a PNG file and rotated the image as Rory is facing to the left.

I then found an image of the identical Crash Helmet (FFM) that Rory has on, I also turned this image into a PNG file and then used the opacity to leave just the outline.

Below is the latest Thank You card I have created for the home owners of the adorable dogs and house that we looked after at Bahrs Scrub - Qld. The owners loved the card. It seems they like to receive a card that has meaning to them.

Another Page Complete - Never Too Young

October 9th:

Another done feeling pretty happy actually as this one almost completes 2008 - hahahaha. I counted up the other day the years I have to do and I have done nothing for 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 so I now have to focus on getting these done I try to do at least 12pages per year, so getting there slowly. I want to make sure that I have pages with Rory and his dad not just mum, and the next few years I want to ensure that there are pages with his grandparents - one of my friends said the other day I need to continue with this until he is 18yrs old as this is now the start of adult hood!!!!!!!!!!!! heavens that's still alot of years hahahaaa. I used the blending mode in the layers pallet on this one blending the checker plate paper and a teal blue one together with changing the opacity so the color shows through the checker plate.

NEVER TOO YOUNG

Ginger Snaps: - Man Oh Kit

Checkplate Paper #12

Gauges

Journal Stamp

Raspberry Road: - Easy Rider

Cluster

Digital Designers: - KPertiet

Teal Paper #42

Font: - Trajan Pro – size 36pt

Digital Card Fronts

I have decided when we do a house sit  that I want to create a card to say thank you from their own surroundings,gardens,pets etc. Here are two that I have done, the homeowners love them. I have a set of templates using different positions for the photos, I think they look great.

Photo Collage

This was the practise to see if I could get the curve and achieve the white border.

This is a collage I created by using another technique using the lasso tool and taking a part of a photo and incorporating the photos into a collage - I love this technique and it makes such a great page. This page also used another technique where I had to create a curve and then adding another paper overtop allowed me to make a small curve to separate the two papers

Fun Times With Nana

Digital Designers – Color Inspiration:

Paper kit #38 – paper 1 & 2

Word Art – Quote Inspiration - #070712

Parts of photos that I removed using the Lasso Tool and using the eraser tool then choosing a naturals brush to give the photo edges a more blended/feathered edge, I then adding them onto my page and possitioned them where I thought they looked best.

Yep I'm Back!!!!!

You might think I have been a bit slack however I have silently been creating - hope you enjoy what I have been up to. I have been putting into practise some of the new techniques that I have learnt.

Beach Fun At Cottontree

Pickleberry Pop:

Indigo Des – Unforgettable Time

Element #45- bubbles scatter

Jas O Dreams – About The Sea Freebie

Paper#2, Sand02, Stones 01, Shell 07

Hand Drawn Outline Doodle:

Photo is part of a photo that I extracted using the lasso tool.

The title font was Vandi, size 120

I used the warp to shape the text and chose to use wave in keeping with the beach feel.

Yandina 2008

Just Begun: – Journal Tag

Armina – Big Wheels Kit: Arrow Border #2, PP #6

Nothing But Freebies: Papers #03-03 (2) & 03-03, String Bow

Janine Stamp: Journey

Pickleberry Pop - Deb Fisher : All About Me – Journal Tag

Today Circle Stamp

Someday Scatter

Scrap Matters – Date Tags: March & 2008

Misc Stuff Wordart: - Explore, Inspire

Font: - Sergeo Script

Excitment

27 August 2015:

Tonight is the night I become an Aussie - yeah well ok so they let anyone in now days. My ceremony is at the Redcliffe Cultural Centre at 7.00pm, you are only allowed 4 guests so naturally I am taking Brian and I have also asked Keryn and Graham Suthers and another special lady to come along to celebrate with me. As we are housesitting down at Calamvale near Logan we are leaving here at 4.30pm to get through the traffic in time before peak hour. I am really excited and it has been 2.5yr from the start of attaining Citizenship. Firstly I had to obtain Perm Residency at a cost of $345.00 for a visa which was valid for only 1year. I had to have PR (perm residency) for 2years before I could apply for Citizenship. To apply for Citizenship I had to pay $260.00 and you are not guaranteed being given Citizenship, if this was the case there is NO refund :-( when we went back to NZ last Christmas/New Year 2014) I had to once again apply for a new RRV (returning residents visa) as my previous visa expired in the Nov 2014, therefore I could leave AU as a PR but I could not re-enter as a PR, so I needed a new visa just to re - enter so once again another $345.00 but I had no choice if I did not do this I would lose my PR and I sure as hell was not going to be doing that. I will hold dual Citizenship. I am not sure if you are aware that the law changed in 2001 for NZders, we can no longer enter AU and get any form of benefit at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! however the reverse is not the case when any Aussie's leave AU for NZ they can get a benefit after a few weeks stand down. KIWIS here in AU get NOTHING, you have to be able to support yourself. So for me becoming a citizen with a husband who is X number of years older than I am and has health issues now, it was really important for me to do something will be peace of mind in the end if anything ever happens to Brian as I am not working and not yet retiring age (I can get a pension in Jan 2017) so I have a while to wait yet. Anyway I just wanted to give you an overview of how becoming a PR and or Citizen of AU is so important not only for myself but any other KIWIS.

 

With Dad

This photo of Rory and his dad was taken as you can see when Rory was only little, I am finally getting around to getting pages completed for his album, I loved the idea of this one - both of them are petrol heads.

Motorbike With Dad:

Easyrider Motorbike ClusterA – Raspberry Road

Man O Man – Paper1 – Ginger Snaps

Font – Postino Std

Waves pattern effect on the title

Cottontree 2008

When Yasmine and Rory came over we took him to the beach, his first time on the beach and in the sand  - he just loved it.

Tropical Vacation Cluster by Irene- Raspberry Road

Smell The Sea Quick Page by Manu Scrapbook Graphics

Caloundra 2008

Mother and daughter moment on the Caloundra Boardwalk

Nature Vision flower sprig – Manu Scrapbook Graphics

BG Happy paper 1

BMW Swirl Pearls2 – Scrapgirls Zoomba

Staple 4 – Scrapgirls Zoomba

Another Technique

Another technique I have managed to do is how to change the colour of an item/clothing. It is just amazing how much can be achieved digitally - loving it.

Below photo before altering my tee shirt color

Below same photo and I have changed my tee shirt color

Holiday Time 2008

The time had finally arrived for Yasmine and Rory to come for a holiday in 2008, look how little he was then, a real chubby boy, now he is 8yr old and a real string bean.

Circle Aircraft -Kpertiet Ad Inspiration Stamp – Digital Designers

Wording -Kpertiet Editorial Inspiration 02- Digital Designers

Dreaming paper3 – Manu Scrapbook Graphics

Memory Lane - EZ Page 1-Scrapgirls

Rory 1st Birthday 2008

I am sooooooooooo far behind in doing Rory's album, have decided to get myself into gear and get creating. On these house sits that we are now doing I have brought NO card making gear,stamps no nothing other than my pens and pencils for any colouring etc. All I have now to create is my computer for doing digi pages. Here are a few of the latest.

Rory  Birthday 1yr Old

Template2, used ABR – BWY

Creating a Background Paper From A Photo

August 26th 2015

Another technique I have learnt is how to take a photo and extract a part of that photo then turn it into a background for any page. I blended 2 papers,added an overlay and also added a rolled edge (haven't yet managed to change the color of the rolled edge - still working on that), I reduced the opacity on the left hand side to give a faded look.  I had to use the brush tool to select the area of the photo I wanted to be the focus and then used the Lasso Tool to clean up the area - love the effect it gives.

 The above photo shows how it was before I extracted Lyn and I from it

and the page below shows the use of the extraction - clever eh

Grids and Rulers in Photoshop

26 August 2015

Finally I have managed how to use the Rulers and Grids in Photoshop. Amazed at what it can do for your pages, no more un-even embellishments and or journalling. I also learnt if you use the 50% position when you choose vertical/horizontal you will get a definate center on the page.

 Below shows the use of the 50% getting a perfect center

This page was done with the use of the Ruler 

 

This page was done with the use of Grids it allows you to place multiple items

 

Orbs in Photoshop

I have Sharon to thank for this one, love love love the effect. I have been trying out various Orb with flowers I love the effect a flower gives, it says in the link the more busy the photo is the better the Orb is going to be as not all photos give great Orbs, you can also vary the shape of the Orb, but I love the 1inch x 1inch. Give it a go if I can do it so can you.

I've been playing

I have been going over some of the new stuff that I learnt in the digi scrapbook tutorials, just to make sure I can remember it!!!!!!!!!!!!! whew thankfully my notes were correct. I love the feather edge that you can add to photos. The photos below were taken when Yasmine and Rory were here last week.

 

Another tutorial was about warping text and cutting a shape out of paper, also make a great frame which is what I did to this photo of Jedda the dog (huge dog) that we are minding she is easier to care for than the sausage dog at Tocumwal that destroyed everything.