omg sandra

The lichen shot is outstanding. You really have nailed it with this one.

The orchid? is beautiful.

You are so loving your camera aren't you.

Faves from Lisa.

I can understand why Lisa couldn't pick just one. Loving the T monogram. The metallic butterfly and the word treasure in the same tones are perfect.

And Puppy Love. Just aaaawwwwww. Did u use a heart punch. Love chocolate tones. And the little puppy on the ribbon on the left side. so cute.

A couple from Sue

Well i am back from a week in Cairns, and you have all been busy on the blog!! - it took me all night to read what you been doing, great work everyone and you have all made me keen as to get to the scrapping table again!!

Looking at challenge 12 and my photos from Cairns i have some that can fit into the categories and i would like to share with you... no fancy camera here, just a point and shoot but using different settings etc...

The colours of the butterflies in FNQ are just brilliant, waiting for one to sit still for a photo is one hell of a challenge, but i was quite pleased with how this shot turned out...and using the macro setting blurs the background, focusing in on the subject nicely.



I love sunsets!! This one, is the boatshed at the wharf at Port Douglas, and i have used the giant fig tree to hide the glaring sun but captured the reflection across the water. One of my fav photos!


And the Zillie waterfalls, i love how the sun peeping through the top of the photo, giving the photo that misty look that you get at waterfalls.

Janice and Sarah are here

Photos coming in thick and fast now. So Fan-bloody-tastic.

Janice says.

Scrappin challenge 12. From Janice and Sarah. Take your pick at the free choice ones..really doesn’t matter.

I couldnt pick any favourites (maybe the fire one and the rose) ladies so have put them all on. awesome. who took what. and love the one of Matthew holding Sarah in his hand. Looks a bit familiar ;) was the frost one from this morning (Monday)

karen's all time favourite

Explore by karen.

She says.

Me again, thought Id send in one of my favourite LOs. This is a digi one I did a couple of years ago, when I first started. I still love it, not too much taking away from the pic.

I love it. Esp the stamp.(Brush if using Photoshop) Just a hint, so not overpowering the page.

hints for photos

Find the issue of Scrapbooking Memories Vol 10 No 4. It's last months. On page 58 to 63 there is a great article by Sarah Pearcy called Point and Shoot. Have a read. It make this challenge easier if u are finding it a bit daunting.

Also in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 10 No 3 there is another informative article by Rachel Greig called Macro Moments.

get snappin'
:D

Karen's answer to the hunt

Karen says

Here are some pics for your great photography challenge. Sunrise of the pet lambs in the front paddock. Frost on leaves at Bright (a couple of weeks ago) I loved this photo couldnt resist showing. My personal choice of a purple flower, flowers a bit hard to find amoungst the weeds at the moment. Action, I couldnt resist showing this one either, you see I took it at the MotoGP, and it soo hard to take photos of them unless you have a u-beaut flash-o camera, as they are going at minimum around a corner at 120+, most of them turn out blurry, this one was a gem and one of my all time favourite pics. I will keep clicking away....

Well done Karen. My favourite is the frost one. I heard we had a frost here this morning. I didn't know, was too chicken to go outside so early to find out. Damn it. I really want to capture the beautiful crystals. Our farming hubbies will hate it of course.

swept away by Sandra

WOW. and i mean WOW. Sandra is seriously on the ball. she and her family had a retreat away for themselves this weekend. Sandra has been furiously snapping for the photo scavenger hunt.

she says:

Well we had a great weekend!
I took lots of photos... and I learnt so much from your challenge... the main thing I learn't is that I take crappy photos!!!!
I tried that third rule thingy and found it hard.. but I reckon I'll get it with practice..
I have sent two in for action.. hoping to get the sense of him whizzing by on the flying fox..
Also had probs with the sunrise photo... no idea how I kept on getting that reflective spot on ALL the sunrise shots... hmmm
close up of fungi..
and the personal choice is of the farmhouse where we stayed.. I really tried to go for a shot where the subject was 'framed'... loved that kerosine lamp so used it...and the tree..
Well I learn't HEAPS about my camera.. and ISO and exposure...etc
WIll now endeavour to learn more

Sandra I am so impressed. on the ball so quick and so enthused. I LOVE it that you learnt a bit and now not so intimidated by your camera manual settings. Dont stop now. Keep snapping personal choice stuff during the week and I'll keep posting it.

karen's lift

Wow! I got these images from Karen in my inbox today!!



Her lift is fantastic - and a great example of how something may start off as a lift and then totally progress into your own work. Her basic elements are the same as the original by Annie from pencillines.com but the page has evolved into her own work.
here is Annie's -

and here is Karen's -

I love the torn edges on the cardstock - i haven't seen that before (as in the backing sheet with torn long edges) and wow at that photo of your son...what a great shot!



How is everyone going with Tiff's photography challenges? I took a couple the other day but haven't had much time to get out and about snapping (also too cold!!)

Hope to see some up in here soon!

another lift from Marika :)

i have recieved another page from Marika who says

I have been doing some quick pages using some scraplifting a good way to try and catch up. I have enclosed another page fits the criteria but I haven't enclosed the journalling as it only tells where the photo was taken not that fantastic.

The top one is Marika's and the bottom one is what it is lifted from (not sure who from pencillines sorry!)

Fantastic work Marika...glad to see your beautiful work in here. Thanks for sharing.

best ever

Rito. Just to keep things ticking along on the blog, email me your most favourite creation - be it a LO, minibook, OTP (off the page), bookmark, card, whatever tickles your fancy the most.

This is your chance to strut your stuff. This blog is yours so have some input into it.Cant wait to see what comes thru the inbox......!!!!

This is my thread box. I like to be practical and make things that has a use....most of the time. Anyway this wooden box was rescued from my Grandpa's bin as he had finished all the chocs in it. (no I didn't have any). It was stained really dark brown and had gold embossed writing on it. After I sanded that off, painted a pink base coat, I cracked the white top coat with Jo Sonya's decor crackle. Just LOVE that stuff. Embellished and ta da. I have a 12x12 wooden box cracked the same and I have converted and strengthened a dolls cot into my magazine holder with the same cracking too. Gotta love matching furnishings (anal isn't it).

Lisa's lift

here is my LO for challenge 11. Sorry it is a bit late - this is take2 for this challenge - tried using a different LO for the lift and absolutely hated it - this one is much better! Very plain for me, but it's like the original! Had to take the pic inside too, so not the best quality, hopefully clear enough.
The journalling says: "This is a lovely photo of Nana Sue's grandkids with Nana and Grandpa Mike - but every time I look at it, I want to cry. Uncle Rowdy passed away on 18th October 2007, and we were together for his funeral. A very sad time for everyone.
Christopher, Amber, Matthew, Nana Sue, Tyla, Grandpa Mike, Halle and Jazmyn. Photo taken 29th October 2007".
The one I lifted from is the sketch is by Anna and the LO was done by Yuko. (I think)

those tiny little white flowers in the corner cluster are gorgeous. Lovely lace. Well done Lisa. Happy snapping for challenge 12.

check out the latest SM

not only is Meredith published in there (woohoo) with a fantabulous LO but Tiff has been busy sending in our retreat details!!

Well done to her, as she wrote a great little piece (which was edited to bits and doesn't really flow as well as the original written work) and sent in a couple of photos.

One is the group shot we took on Sunday and the other is one i took (YAY) of Meredith's back (YAY) with her t-shirt logo on it.

Great work Tiff - i would never have thought to send it all in so brilliant work chook!

here is a scan in all it's glory!

photo scavanger hunt - challenge 12

Hiya Lady and Gent scrappers :)

Time to put down the tools, papers and adhesives and push your chair away from your scrap space. Pick up the camera, check the memory card and batteries and lets get some creative shots done.

This challenge is get you to try something different with your camera. It doesn't matter what sort of camera you have, you can give this a go.

Wherever you go this week try to take your camera to get some shots to fill the challenge.

Try to work with the rule of thirds. Imagine your photo divided into three sections across and down. Each is a third. For balance and harmony balance your shot in the thirds. For drama and attention leave one third empty of your subject. Eg off center, angle, up, down. The empty third is great space for journalling or the title. Esp those with photo software!!

Think of what's in the background before you take your shot. Busy backgrounds can be distracting.

Remember your light. Back to the sun if you can, watch your shadow, early morning or later arvo. don't get too cold.

Rito. With all this in mind (dont worry its only 3 things and the more you play with your camera the more these will become habit and you dont even think of them at all. It all just happens.)

Challenge 1.
FROST (if we have one) FLOWERS if we dont.
for the early morning risers (brrrr) try out macro on your camera (flower symbol) or zoom in as close as you can to catch the frost crystals on the leaves. Beware of camera shake. Put the camera onto something will be great for this one.

Challenge 2.
SUN.
Sunrise, sunset, or sun rays thru a cloud. Catch the moment of colour. Use the landscape (mountains) setting. check your manual for manual setting for aperture and shutter speed for SLRs

Challenge 3.
ACTION
Footy, netball, kids running away from you because you have that camera in your hand again ;) animals, cars, anything that moves
Running person on the dial. SLR's try shutter speeds. Open shutter blurs the movement. Can get some REALLY good looks with this.

Challenge 4
PERSONAL CHOICE
You take a shot and tell me what how and why.

Your camera manual will be handy for these challenges. Get off auto and go manual. The more you fiddle the more you learn.

Send your 4 shots (if you get them all) to Tiff in a small file size please, say reduce to 5 by 7.5cm at 72ppi.
or save your photos on the computer in a file. Right click each shot, send to, mail recipient, make pictures smaller....... that should do the trick too.

Be creative, Lie down, squat, tilt the camera, go for the different shot.
Be done by Friday 15th Aug.

Ready

Set

Shoot!!!

Sandra has lifted!

OMG this girl is amazing!





Had to look very very hard at which one was the original here - they are just so similar!





The original is by Krista based on sketch no 91.




Sandra has hand journalled on her page which instantly adds that warm, personal touch. I just love the subject - omg how cute is that photo, and your words are perfectly perfect.

The journalling says -

My heart did a little flip when I saw you sitting so close together.
I LOVE these moments.
I hope with all my heart that no matter what life may bring your way,
you will always be as close as you are now.

wow wow wow.

Tracey is in on the lift....

woohoo the pages are pouring in.

Now Tracey thought that she might challenge ME by not telling me where her original one was on pencil lines. I looked, and looked but damned if i could find it.

I will be so curious to see who the lift was from!

Trace said she felt most uncertain about this one. Well i can tell you with 110% certainty that I LOVE IT! awwwwwwwwwwwww at the journalling and fantastic colours - i just love what you have done.

thanks for joining in :)

Jenny's lift

Oh my goodness at Jenny's journalling here! What honest, straight from the heart words you have popped onto this page! I felt like you were talking straight to me - which is EXACTLY the effect i was asking for!

Love how you have done a collage of all the photos of the time too - so meaningful.

The original was a layout in sketch 96 by Tracie

and here is Jenny's wonderful lift.

Births can be such tricky times. Wonderful....but full of emotion. Some of these you really struggle to overcome and never do. (I have many many issues still with the time Georgia and Kelsey were born and were in NICU.)

Jenny's journalling says -

To be honest, i was not really looking forward to your birth. I couldn't walk from pain. I had a blood virus that wiped me out and i desperately wanted a girl. The eveneing before you were born at Loxton we had a huge hail storm that broke some windows, punched a hole in the side of the house, wrote off Grandma and Pop's car adn van and really made a mess of things. When we were flown to Adelaide, because of your jaundice, Pop helped Dad burn off the yard a bit, except Pop forgot where our fence line was, hence the burnt paddocks around the house.

The outward signs were not really good but when you were born God truly BLESSED us with YOU. I could suddenly walk again, insurance covered the other problems, Tiger Hammerstein next door had saved our house and his, with his grader and we were safe in Adelaide. You didn't have jaundice either, just a little yellowing, there was a mistake with the tests. Through all this, and after you were the happiest and easiest child to look after. You slept about 20 hours a day and were always so calm and happy. You were our little miracle and a true blessing.

Thanks for sharing Jenny.

my apologies

I do really apologise for not having done Challenge 11 yet.

While Amanda has stormed in with a couple already, I feel as if I have let the team down a bit.

You see I actually did a LO for this last weekend but I fluffed up and didnt read all the criteria when I skimmed it. (got too excited). So my LO wasn't really within the bounds of the challenge.

Since then I have been working on a mini book that I had to finish this week. Glad to say this is now done.... (have put some pics on my blog)(click on my name down on the right and look for shmee)

The office intray is calling me to do the accounts and reconcile last month but I reckon if I turn up the volume on Media Player and start shuffling PP and Cardstock around with pics and embellishments to enhance, I should be able to drown it out.......????!!!!!!!!!!

woohoo! Congrats Maryanne!!!

check this out -

http://escape2create.blogspot.com/2008/07/orange-digi.html

a bit of clarification...

I just wanted to ensure that i didn't offend anyone in my last challenge post about matching photos to paper.

As i quoted from the one and only Ali Edwards in one of the first posts on this blog 'THERE ARE NO RULES!'

While i still stand by this, i was going to scrap today and was looking through my stash to find *the paper* (as you do) and found that i could illustrate my point of losing the photo in the matching paper.

I have taken some photos to demonstrate but if you scrap this way you need not read on. Everyone does things differently and that is A-OK :)

This first image is a direct match of the pink of the shoes to the pink in this Basic Grey paper. Very similar tones, it all matches in and nothing really pops out. The photo is almost lost in the 'pink-ness' of it all.

The second image is with teal paper (i am loving teal at the moment!!) and is a direct contrast to the pink. In actual fact NOTHING matches with the teal and yet the photo is popping right off the page! You could do the 60:30:10 rule here and put a splash of pink and black and i think that page would totally ROCK!

The last image is showing how i have used green paper (again Basic Grey) which has a few tinges of pink through it. I really love how this is kinda matching the photo and yet isn't overwhelming it.

I am not a big fan of using colour picking tools (my eyes are my tools but again whatever works for you!) but i have included the colour wheel here to demonstrate the bottom two background colours are COMPLETE OPPOSITE to the pink colour in the sneakers.

It is all very interesting isn't it?

You dont need to get tied down with all the technicalities of it all - in fact nothing is worse than getting bogged down with rules and double guessing yourself and your choices.

Pick the colours that you love, the papers that you love, see how it all works with your photos and go from there.