My Favorite Things

what a great night!

This evening began with my husband offering to go to a "chick flick" with me when a friend of mine cancelled.  The movie he was committing to see was "He's Just Not That Into You".  It has been quite a while since my husband has accompanied me to this sort of movie because I usually go with girlfriends, so as to spare him the experience.  I do have to say, however, that most of the "chick flicks" that he has seen with me in the past, he has been able to find something he has enjoyed about them ... he is a good sport. 

I was a little nervous about taking him to this particular movie, because I had heard so many varying opinions of the movie.  I wasn't even sure whether I was going to like it.  Needless to say, we both loved it.  We laughed and cried throughout the movie.  I personally, would definitely recommend it.  And not that hubby was trying to score points with me, but he certainly did!!

To top the night off, I was just looking at a few blogs before I turned in for the night, when I came across a reference to the Picnik website.  It is a free site that you can edit your photos on.  Since I have the urge to lash out irrationally whenever I try to figure anything out on Photoshop Elements, I decided to give this site a try.  Oh my gosh ... IT IS AMAZING.  I love it.

For tonight, I played around with editing a photo I had previously taken of crocus growing in my yard. Here are some of the results.

The first photo is the original, the second was edited using a 60's exposure, and then framing it with a polaroid frame.  The last one I played with adding text and a frame.  If you are not familiar with Picnik, I encourage you to go try it out.  The site is very user friendly.

till next time,

melissa

fabulous swaps

I have to say, I just love participating in swaps.  As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I was partnered with Heather Rowely of Speckled Egg for a "Things That I Love" swap hosted by Artsy Mama.  Heather knew that I loved fabric, so she sent some amazing fabric that I am so excited to use.  She also sent a lovely heart wreath that she wrapped first in a satin ribbon, and then covered that with lace, and then finished it off with fun felt flowers ... love, love, love it.  Heather added into my amazing package spring dish towels, an easter ornament, a porcelain bird, and a quilted bag.  I was definitely spoiled!!!

Thanks so much Heather.

Heather told me that she really liked pillows, so I decided to make her a pillow for Spring.  I used an embroidery pattern for the bird that I downloaded from Craft Pudding.  I also made her a "love" banner. Heather has a much better picture of the banner over on her website.  I sent some items that for some unknown reason I did not get photographs of before I sent them off ... who knows why I do the things I do sometimes.  I packaged up a small embroidery kit, a small vintage looking valentine box filled with vintage ribbons, a yummy candle, and a little ceramic blue bird.

I truly had so much fun doing this swap.

Another swap that I recently participated in was one hosted by Sew, Mama, Sew.  The swappers were put into groups of 5, and then we each sent out a fat quarter to the other people in our group.  I, of course, signed up to be in 2 groups because I just cannot get enough fabric!   I started to photograph all of the fat quarters together, but they did not necessarily look good together.  I decided that in order for each of them to properly shine, each fat quarter(s) needed their own photo.  (Some people sent out 2 fat quarters to everyone)

As you can see, I received some really fun fabrics.  I can't wait to play.

I just signed up for a new swap hosted by a blog called A Year of Color, started by Kari of Artsy Mama. There is information about A Year of Color at Artsy Mama.  This new swap is a garland swap ... I can't wait.

Have a great weekend.

till next time,

melissa

inspiration

Recently, I was out shopping at one of my favorite places, Von Maur, and came across these absolutely adorable little shoes.  Sadly, my daughters are way too old to wear these beauties (my youngest is 12 years old).  Heck with my daughters wearing them ... I would like to wear them! Be honest, wouldn't you just love to put on a pair of these, even if just in the privacy of your house?!  These shoes gives me inspiration to be creative, a girly girl, and just down right silly.  I know, that is a lot to put onto one pair of shoes.  Oh well, since I have far exceeded the age limit for these, I will just have to settle for the inspiration I get from just gazing at the photograph.

I hope these bring a smile to your face today.

A little side note ... this is my first somewhat successful try at adding a frame around my photograph, using Photoshop Elements.  Over on Teresa McFayden's blog, My Minutia, she has given 4 tutorials so far on how to use Photoshop Elements to edit photos.  I have many books on the subject, but I can never seem to achieve my desired outcome.  That is, until I followed Teresa's instructions :)  

My editing is certainly not perfect, but it is the closest I have come yet.

till next time,

melissa