Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Light of My Life


I am Sooooo proud of myself! Normally I use my Creative Memories Storybook Creator (and all its fun features) to create my digital art, but I have this nice graphics program (Paint Shop Pro Photo X2) that I paid good money for and yet, I have barely used half the features it offers! So today, (as if my Christmas tree is going to take itself down) I started playing around with my PSP and explored some of the features that I've seen others use (and have drooled over) and lo and behold! I DID IT! :-)

It took me all...day...long, literally - I think my butt is molded into this chair - but the above is the result. I used vector layer, and rastor layers, and beveled (which I've done before but I love the effect it gives!), and finally but finally figured out how you use shadows in this program, the only one of which I actually kept in the finished product is the text, but at least I know how to do it now!! I played with the paint brushes and textures, and I think I have a good handle now on "layers"! YIPPEE!

Anywhos...the original pic is one I got from Ava's mama in a photo session they did at home. This was one of my favorites - gotta love that smile of pure joy in the lights! She truly does light up MY life! :-)

NOW I can go to bed! :-)

Sunday, December 21, 2008

My Mantel-less Mantel

Not to mention I have no fireplace either, but that doesn't stop me from decorating the shelf above the TV like I would as if I had a mantel! (I had considered buying one of those DVDs that show a fireplace burning...:-)

The framed pictures showcase my family through the years - these were all pics used in Christmas cards/letters - starting with the first Christmas we spent in this house way back in 1986, when my baby girl was just over a year old. Ending with my grandbaby's first Christmas pic from last year. And this year, with Ava just over a year old, it feels like we've gone full circle! Not that we're stopping! Oh no! We'll just have to start that circle all over again!

12 Days Diva Tree


My little fiber optic Diva Tree is happy, happy now that all the "12 Days of Christmas" gifts are hanging in and around its branches! I couldn't resist arranging some of the artsy tags and gift-wrappings as well! This has been the most fun swap! Can't wait to do it again next year. But I may have to get a bigger tree!!! :-)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

On the 6th Day of Christmas

And here are the Gifties that were my contribution to the Altered Art Divas "12 Days of Christmas Swap." I mixed them up when I packaged them so who got what colors is a total surprise to me, too!

The tags that were attached to the packages...


The ornaments...






Second image is the backs of all the ornaments...

It's been GREAT fun opening amazing gift after amazing gift each day! I can't believe I didn't do this last year, but count me in NEXT year! :-)