I've Been Tagged....TWICE!

CHA was AWESOME! so much walking and so much WORK, but oh so great. The best part was seeing online friends and having time to just be with them. to hug them IRL and tell them how fantastic they are. Pictures will be coming soon!!! *I was only home one day before I had to go back to work, and Tyler's birthday party is this weekend, so I've been SLAMMED*

Okay, It's about time that I get around to completing my TAGS from Kerryn and Michelle. (thanks girls!)

From Michelle and Kerryn:

What was I doing Ten Years Ago?...

*Just starting my new job at Standard Insurance (I'm still here!) and finding out that I was pregnant with my much anticipated second child Allison. :)

Five Things On Today's "To Do" List

*Take McKenna to Gymnastics
*Pay Bills (ugh!)
*Finish my LO that I've been working on for 2 days
* work. :(
*Order my Son's birthday cake

I'm addicted to:

*So you think you can dance
*Photography
*Monster Loca Moca energy drinks
*Shoes
*Scrapbooking/supplies

Things I Would Do If I Were a Millionaire...

*Take a month long trip around Europe
*pay off friends and families houses
*buy my DH a Harely
*build my dream house
*INVEST

Snacks I enjoy:

*sour cream and onion chips
*Jelly Belly jellybeans
*Jolly Ranchers
*pretzels and cream cheese
*Hummus and pita chips

Places I have Lived...

*Portland,OR
*Gresham, OR
*Canton, Ohio

Totally Fun! if you're up for a TAG answer the questions and leave me a comment that you completed the tag!!!

see you all in a few days with CHA photos and new LO's!

It's the 1st!! woo hoo!

I love the first of July. Not only is it my Husband's birthday (Happy 34th birthday Roy!) but it's also reveal day for the http://www.2croppincousinz/ kit! I adored this kit. everything about it was amazing!

This is my All Time favorite picture of my niece Kamryn. she's a tough one to catch, and she's just gorgeous. tfl!

These pictures were taken after the kids' dance compition just before a massive rain storm, it was warm and nice all day, and we came home to thunder and lightening and sky that was magnificent for a few minutes!

Allison's birthday was so fun this year, we gave her a surprise party, she loved every minute!!

these pictures of McKenna were taken after her spring recital. the cafeteria was too dark for pics really, but after we got some fun shots! she's a total goof. the flower embellishment is made by me, and I posted instructions and it's available in PDF form (thanks Alicia Barry!) on http://www.2croppincousinz.com/

forgotten...but not lost!

ugh. time. never. have. enough. I did these pages about 3 weeks ago..maybe longer. I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. my photography business is keeping me so busy that I rarely have time to scrap. or blog. or..well. or anything. I spend so much time editing pics! LOL! in the past three weeks I've done a CD/Album photo shoot and a Wedding. enough pictures to keep me busy for months! haha!

here's my LO's from the June 2CC's Kit, it was fun to work with, and SO DIFFERENT from what I would normally use. also..don't forget this weekend is http://www.2croppincousinz/ 's big BIRTHDAY BASH! woot woot! lots of fun challenges and activities, and games! come and join in the fun! the prizes are amazing!

Loving this kit!

Pink Paisley Spring fling ROCKS THE HOUSE! oh my! I was super excited when I saw my DT kit for www.2croppincouzins.com. this paper is gorgeous and so fun to work with!! how did I get so lucky? okay..first up. this is my kitty Kenai, loving him! Allison is growing up before my very eyes. such a sweet young lady, and the scallop paper really makes this LO fun!
I love capturing the silly moments between my kids and their dad. during these photos Allison and Roy were supposed to be watching McKenna's gymnastics meet, but decided that a game of hand slap would be more fun! I used the monthly sketch from my sketch world (Lucy does amazing sketches!) to creat this one!
Ugh. Mother and Daughter. this was a picture taken during Easter at my house. my Daughter snapped the picture. so I used this as an opportunity to write down a few differences between my mother and I. Love the result!
and finally, each month Alicia creates sketches at 2CC's and the DT uses them to work with the kit. I was assigned the tag (which I never make) but LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! and can't wait to use it on a LO!
if you haven't had time to check out the kit this month head on over there before they sell out! the 30 day photo challenge is in the first week and the girls are taking some AMAZING pictures and posting the weekly thread! I'll be back later to show my first days of pics! if you stop by say hi! miss you all!

I heart photoshop.

I posted this today at http://www.2croppincousinz.com/ but thought I'd share it on the blog for everyone as well....

I love photoshop, I run CS2. however, I'm guilty of using photoshop actions as a "crutch" for editing my pictures. I really don't know all that much about photoshop, or how to get the looks I want. I use ACTIONS all the time. I have a ton of them. I found a website that has changed my life though, http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/ although her blog is much much more than just photography, she has FANTASTIC step by step tutorials on photoshop. also, she has just released a KILLER set of FREE ACTIONS that will wow your photos.
while cruising through the tutorials on the site, I found one on how to make the eyes in your photos "pop" I have been playing with this and some of the actions all morning. Now don't get me wrong, getting great light and good composition straight out the camera makes things easier, however, sometimes it just isn't possible. anyway...this easy trick has made a fantastic difference with my pics. here's some examples.
this one is straight out of the camera (just an okay shot) it's really yellow and a little blurry.

I used actions to correct the tint (yellow correct from itty bitty actions) then used a quick burn action (pioneer woman free action) and used the tutorial on how to make her eyes pop. I love the result.

it turned a picture that I likely wouldn't scrap into one that I can wait to print.
here's another example:

I had already edited and printed this picture using several actions
(Lighten, cooled it down, vignette - totally rad actions) (yellow correct - ittybittyactions)

I decided to go back to an already good edit job and try the eyes. the change is subtle but effective and I like it so much more!

I did today's tutorial. and OMG so EASY....
what do you think?
straight out the camera picture of my magnolia tree during a hail storm last week:

and here's the same picture, using today's pioneer woman tutorial.

I love dramatic. so this is right up my alley!!

anyway. I hope the site is helpful. I love learning more about photoshop and what I can do. it takes my photos to the whole next level. download those free actions (they do NOT work with elements) and try them out, then check out all the AWESOME addictive tutorials. you'll be amazed!

30 Day Photo Challenge

Hello all! I have just started sign ups for a very fun 30-day photo challenge over at 2 croppin cousinz. the challenge is open to everyone, as long as you register on the board, and will begin on May 1st.

I hope to see you all there! the thread to sign up is here: http://2croppincousinz.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=81276#81276

something new...

the monthly challenges are up at http://www.2croppincousinz.com/ come on over and see what the DT has cooked up for you! I loved this LO I did using Alicia's challenge

and i don't want to forget the LO I did for the 12 x 12 sketch at my sketch world! (blog link on the side bar!) I loved Lucy's sketch this month and was really pleased to have a Peter Pan LO done!! woot woot!

I am working on a few other projects, but really I've been pretty uninspired despite the awesome papers and embellies I have on my table right now....I had all weekend to scrap and didn't. I have no idea why. and now that I go back to work tomorrow, I want to get stuff done, but I have a super full day today...isn't that how it happens though? I'll be back soon with some other new stuff! XOXO

Playlist..

Yes, I've done it. I love music I can't help it. so I have added a playlist of some songs that I'm loving right now, some new, some very old. Music is such a personal preference. not everyone loves the same things, and that's okay. you can always hit stop or pause on my playlist to turn off the music, or if you don't like the song you can browse for another. either way. I love it!

Word Cloud + LO's

Hellooo...my friends. as I was checking out my friend Emilie's blog I saw this word cloud. HOW COOL IS THIS IDEA?? these are the words I use most often on my blog, with the big ones being the most. how fun! get one here! http://snapshirts.com/index.php

well...today is the first of the month so I'm also able to share with you my creations with the http://www.2croppincousins.com/ April Kit. Papers this month are dreamstreet and super yummy! I'm totally happy with what came out of this, especially the frame. I never alter so this was a fun!!! thanks for stoppin by!

Page Plan by Alicia Barry for 2 croppin cousins.

Dr. Seuss Quote + got Mojo Challenge

I LOVE Dr. Seuss!! and this quote is perfect!