More from the Crop

First up - the layout contest. We were given the black paper and chipboard accents. This is actually 12x12 - I got closer with the camera to catch the detail. I added the blue paper, ribbon, and blue and black brads framing the photo all from my stash! Yes, major stash busting happening today. I have not bought anything from the vendors!

A Junque Journal page - using up some bits and pieces of ephemera I had from my scrapbook biz days and busting my stash of prima flowers, ribbon, buttons, and stickers.

Another Junque Journal page. I crumpled up the patterned paper and then inked it for the background.  Used the leftover butterfly from my flower girls layout, some prima flowers, and a bookplate.  I'm not sure what it is about this particular self-portrait that I took for the Picture Spring class (catchlights prompt) but it really feels so... ME.

Something for Nothing Revisited

Some of you may recall this background paper that I created last month as part of the Something for Nothing class:

Well... it has finally become a layout!

This is much truer to actual color than the photo above.  It is all shades of cream and tan with a hint of yellow.  The wedding took place in 1998 just before Rachel and Becca turned five. Becca took her role as a flower girl quite seriously and stood dutifully next to her Aunt Elizabeth.  Rachel, on the other hand, was unimpressed and having none it - she chose to sit with the guests!

All the elements of this layout are from my stash (ribbon border, ribbon roses, buttons, cardstock and pattern papers) with the exception of the butterflies which were purchased for the layout.

Here's a couple of close-ups:

Friday Five

Five Things Inspiring Me Today:

1. My bloggy friend Kai is walking a 5K on May 15 for breast cancer.  Great cause and I applaud Kai for doing it.  Check out her blog for the link to make a donation! (In the right hand panel).

2. Shimelle is having a virtual crop party all weekend long!  Projects and challenges in the forums. Since I'll be at a real-life crop tomorrow (yeah!) I'll definitely be checking out the action.

3. Ali Edwards Week in the Life project starts on Monday. There are multiple posts on her blog to get your ideas going and new product being released at Designer Digitals tomorrow.  I'll be in line to buy Ali's templates! Anyone joining me?

4. Cheryl has turned off the comments on her blog and directed you to a number of friends' blogs.  Definitely some worthwhile links and thanks for the shout out Cheryl!

5. Picture Spring class continues to be a huge source of inspiration! And I learned that a "Picture Summer" class will be coming up!  I'll definitely be taking that one and may end up with a "seasons" album before this is over.  I love Tracey's prompts and it has really gotten me looking at my world in a new way.

The prompt for the 14th was to purposely shoot out of focus to create a "painterly" feel.  Bed of tulips at Conference Center where I was for meeting on Wednesday. No post-processing actions - this was just out of focus!

The 15th we had a break.

Today's prompt was to capture shadows. I see this shadow from my bedroom window frequently and love the lacey effect on the lawn. Getting the shot from ground level (can't take it from the window because of the screen) was a bit more challenging but if you look close you can see the accidental rainbow captured on the right!

Art Journal

Both of these are a little less "artsy" than what I've been trying to do with the art journal, but I'm happy with them anyway! (The prompt for Week 15 was "nature").

Weekly Gratitude

More of Picture Spring

Blue skies. Happened to catch a plane trail right behind the sun.

Refreshing rain on a newly planted dahlia.

Water drop coming off electric meter. Did I mention it rained today?

Awakening leaf bud (one of the last trees that hasn't leafed out yet).

The front of our mailbox. We have no idea of the origin of this hole.  A woodpecker? BB gun?  Everyday beauty category.

Definitely an oddity. This is actually a knot in the tree in our front yard from where a lower branch was taken off years ago.  Doesn't it look like an eye, complete with catchlight?

Picture Spring - Day 13 - Perspective

Today's prompt was to see things from the perspective of a pet or family member. So...

Meet Ashley. Ashley is one of the two felines that owns this family.  Today I'm shooting from Ashley's point of view and I'm allowing her to borrow my blog to tell you the story of her typical morning.

After my mommies leave for school in the morning, I hop up on the kitchen counter and get a drink from the fish bowl. I know I don't belong on the counter and my humans are always chasing me off, but I just keep on doing it anyway.  There is just something about the taste of fish water in the morning. Yum.  My silly humans tried to stop me by putting a strainer over the top of the fish bowl. HA! I just knock it off!  Anyway, here's what I see when I look in the fish bowl ... or at least what I would see if I could see in color!

After quenching my thirst, I usually go take a look out the window....

I love to sit on the window seat in the living room and stare out at the front yard. Sometimes I get lucky and see birdies or squirrels.  My humans made this window seat just for me.  When I get bored of the view I head upstairs for a nap.

One of my favorite places to nap is on Becca's bed. She's the youngest human in my house and the one I love the best. Unfortunately, my sister Kira likes to nap here too.  This view would be awesome if Kira would go nap elsewhere.  She's a bit bi-polar and likes to smack me for no good reason. 

Okay, you can go now. I'm settling in for my nap.