So much to catch up on, AUTOSHIP, and getting a LOT of pages done utilizing kits!

      (This is one of many catch-up posts that I am completing, after FINALLY finding a program which works with both my laptop & blogger.  It has been over a year since I began the struggle of posting, needing to load my photos onto a memory card from my laptop and load them into blogger with our old pc upstairs.  For some reason I was only able to add text to my blog with my laptop.
Now, from this fall...)
      I was lucky enough to obtain the AUTOSHIP of Inspired Inc's (Lisa Bearnson's collaborative kits) Top Page Layout kits!  After going through a 'dry spell' of not creating many layouts or other papercrafting projects, I have gotten several done in the past few months. 
http://www.hsn.com/products/inspired-inc-top-page-layouts-kit/7310252
    ( The single shipment of the Christmas/holiday order is still available at:
http://www.hsn.com/products/inspired-inc-holiday-happenings-top-layout-kit/7604970 )
     I was even featured on the 3 BIRDS DESIGN blog, with a page created using 3 Birds Design lines!

http://3birdsdesign.com/2014/09/03/august-scrapbook-sketch-feature/

  

     Utilizing the Inspired Inc layout kits, I was able to document several of our summer activities, such as our (almost) daily walks with Dakota.
   I have a ton of layout photos to post, as well as our Halloween adventures and other fall activities!

DT fail, but I'll probably keep trying

    I recently submitted my 2nd Design Team (DT) application projects, but did not receive the message or phone call that I had hoped for.  I may have taken this as a sign that this is not meant to be part of my path, but I have heard others discussing design teams on podcasts or their blogs, having had to apply several times before being accepted by any company.  This also holds true for having their work printed in our dearly missed scrapbook magazines.

After we hosted Gleason Christmas in our new home, 2005, 23 month old Wesley decided to have another taste of alcohol-free wine, St. Julian's, which we love!  I caught him in the act, even getting one photo before he realized that he had been caught in the act.

I do NOT claim to be a card maker, but again, I included a card project.

      The link to the entire "Oh Christmas Tree" mini album that I created recently:

http://www.pineconesandroses.blogspot.com/2014/12/oh-christmas-tree-mini-album-displays.html

    We were required to submit 3 projects, preferably showing variety.  I had completed all three of these projects 2 weeks before the due date, but was still contemplating the submission of a Christmas display that I wanted to create to sit on top of my zero-clearance pellet stove which we installed in my studio this past spring.  I wanted something mounted onto a sheet of plywood or white board, so that I can lift the entire display in one easy step, since I have to load the pellets by lifting the lid on TOP of the fireplace.  I never decided on a design, so I broke down and submitted the above projects on the final day of submission.  I'm sure that my error of trying to send high-quality (large) files was not in my favor either.  After sending in a message stating that I would be sending in my submissions in two messages, Chasity was kind enough to agree that I needed to downsize my files.  Thanks AGAIN to my favorite little birdy!
    I will continue to 'play', creating scrapbook pages or other projects at my own pace and free will, but will keep in mind the possibility of reapplying, continuing to both admire and sometimes drool in envy of the talents in others, ever hoping that I would some day create something nearly as beautiful or painstakingly detailed.
     This, the first day of our new year, 2015, marks a few altered plans or anticipations, but I will try to 'go with the flow', hoping to grow and evolve my interests, and possibly my skills, in many ways. 
     I will, once again, choose "Better" as my 'word of the year', & pray that I can continue to learn something new or do a good deed each and every day.

NEW PRODUCTS from 3 Birds Design!

     Two new products are available at HSN.COM and will be on air on Tuesday, September 2nd (just 4 days away)!
     Perfect for traditional or POCKET scrapbooking, the Seasons Themed Card Kit

http://www.hsn.com/products/3-birds-studio-for-all-seasons-themed-card-kit/7426366?query=7426366&isSuggested=True&

     Perfect for year-round scrapbooking and paper crafting, another GOODIE BOX YEY!!!
http://www.hsn.com/products/3-birds-studios-pearlescent-and-foil-goodie-box/7426364?query=7426364&isSuggested=True&
 
     As many of you already know, the color ways of all 3 Birds products coordinate back to their awesome kits, so get out your stash and create something new, and PROGRAM YOUR VCR/DVR for 10 am and 4 pm on Tuesday!

Step by step photos for my most recent two-page layouts.

   Here is the link to my folder of step by step photos I took while creating "Just Saying Hello" 2 page layout.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=oa.863878460308215&type=1

    Photos of step by step progress for my "Reach for the sky" 2 page layout

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.863832516979476&type=1

Following a sketch, learning Lightroom 5, and more...

     Recently, 3 Birds Design posted an August sketch and asked for their followers to post their 'takes' on it.  My first project that I had in mind did not work well with the diagonal portions of their sketch, but two of the following 4 pages that I created (each a part of a 2 page spread), worked rather well.
                      http://3birdsdesign.com/2014/08/04/august-scrapbook-sketch/

     Love...through the lens.  I often take photos of Dakota interacting with the plants, floral arrangements, bugs, and critters that we see during our walks.  I love to make pages using black and white to highlight her gorgeous, fluffy coat.  Since this layout didn't work as well with the sketch as I had hoped, I tried again.

     Reach for the sky....Up, up & away.  The first page above works fairly well with the sketch, but since I had other shots that I knew I wanted to use, I turned this into a two page spread.  I worked in some older 3 Birds products, specifically the chipboard "Up, up & away" and hot air balloon, from an older Sticky Sparkly kit or two.  I have been 'collecting' 3 Birds scrapbooking and paper crafting products for at least 5 years.

     

     Just saying hello...  These next pages are reflections of our experiences during the local fair this year.  We all enjoy the 4H animals as well as any time that a wildlife/petting zoo exhibit attends.

 

     

       I used the diagonal item in the beginning of the first page, but that's the only aspect I really used here.  I felt the urge to distress the matting below the 2nd photo, and raise it slightly, along with several other items throughout the two pages.  I knew I could use parts of the Farmhouse Collection for these interaction photos.  You can't go wrong with photos of kids and/or animals!

 

    On another topic, I've been learning Lightroom, specifically Lightroom 5, after learning that we can RENT Photoshop & Lightroom TOGETHER for only $9.99 per month.  That means that I can be using the latest version with all current upgrades of both programs for about HALF the cost of buying it.  The cost of purchasing Photoshop is why I have only upgraded every few years in the past.  Lightroom is SO much faster than Photoshop and allows us to BATCH PROCESS several photos at the same time!  What a time saver for me.



     The other day I told my husband that I can't believe that our son will be back in school in less than two weeks.  His response was 'the summer that never happened'... very appropriate.  School ran an extra 10 days into summer this year because we had 13 snow days this past winter.  Add to that the fact that our summer has been much colder than normal, approximately 10 degrees colder in fact. PLUS because of Labor Day falling on a Monday, Wesley goes back to school on Tuesday, September 2nd this year... wow!

        I am hopeful that I can manage to continue blogging here, once again working out the kinks of our computers' versions of Windows and Java, and working with Blogger.  Keep your fingers crossed for me. 

More studio progress.... Documenting it with 3 Birds Graceful Seasons collection, &....I have HEAT!!!

    
     Wesley helped Michael install the venting for my stove recently.  Michael and Wesley built the stove pedestal frame, Michael and I tiled it, then we were finally able to place the stove on the pedestal (photo 1). Wesley always enjoys some good bubble wrap, and after adding the doors and lid to the stove, I knew he'd want to play with it, but I didn't expect him to WEAR it like a cape or robe! LOL. 
    The 2nd photo is of Wesley and Dakota's 1st cuddling opportunity in front of the stove after Michael and Wesley installed the venting and I was able to FIRE IT UP WOO HOO!
    Now I am able to walk down to my studio, turn the stove on, and within a few minutes the room is warming up, with myself enjoying the cozy warmth of wood heat in the upper 70s within an hour!  I could heat it more quickly, but we are still burning off the new paint and ceramic log smell, which increases greatly when it's run at the higher heat outputs, so I run it on the lower 2 settings most of the time, otherwise the odor gives me a headache and makes me nautious.  I just turn on the furnace fan or open my door and the odor dissipates quickly.
  AHHH warmth!