clickclickcreate

tweeny-bopper

2010-03-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

so happy that at least Jacqueline will humour me and let me take pics of her as I fine-tune my studio 'knowledge' :) She is 10 - but sometimes she seems so much older.....and she is such a good kid!

and for fun I gave one an textured overlay on the background :)

a few of my first tries in my 'studio' :)

2010-03-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

had to include this shot of Milo we got...he is our surviving guinea pig - his cagemate died a few weeks ago while we were on holidays :(

some great stuff in the shop today

2010-03-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

at DESIGN HOUSE DIGITAL - check it out!! New releases are 30% off too, but only on release day.

my seamless paper arrived!

2010-03-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

these colours make me so happy! (the orange and tangelo are very similar - not sure why I ordered both?)

hmmm....my post divider pic

2010-03-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

that was being linked from flickr disappeared....I am going to have re-upload and put it back into the html here...but not tonight - ugh. [FIXED]

first flash shots!

2010-03-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

My cyber cyncs came today so I was finally able to fire my strobe!! After we got back J's swimming (and she ate) I plopped her in front to test them out....I just guessed on my settings tonight as I have not yet figured out my light meter (mostly how to fire the strobe and get a reading at the same time?)...but I am really pleased so far.

I didn't spend anytime really worrying about posing - I was more concerned with testing the light....and I did not edit these (only resized)....can't wait to get me meter figured out, and my reflector and seamless to arrive (I think Wednesday)....

easy come, easy (easier) go

2010-03-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

My plan was to use the money I got from selling my neglected camera bags towards some simple studio light equipment (I had wanted to for a very long time but just never could let myself do it). It was fortuitous (?) that someone on ILP posted an alien bee strobe and giant softbox in great condition for sale (and within Canada even) - I jumped on it....and that's where the idea of 'experimenting with studio lights ' has been a slippery slope quickly draining my bank account ...I quicky discovered I needed (and wanted) some other equipment to 'do it right, and do it easier)...resulting in me spending far more than I got from the sale of my bags - I don't even want to do the math - yikes!)

I have received (or will be receiving very shortly):

1 Alien Bee 400 Strobe, 1 Alien Bee giant foldable softbox (received)
1 heavy duty light stand with castors (received)
1 set of Alien Bee Cyber Cyncs wireless strobe transmitter/receivers (missed their delivery on Friday :( )
1 L-358 sekonic light meter (bought locally off of craigslist)
10 (yes ten!) rolls of seamless background paper
1 lastolite reflector and stand

I am going to Home Depot probably Tuesday (I have to stay home for the re-delivery of my cyber cyncs tomorrow) to get some sort of fake wood floor, and a strip of baseboard....

then I am going start the process of learning simple studio lighting (which may involve some bribery to get my kids to cooperate)...I cannot wait for my new neice/nephew to be born in the summer :) - someone to really practice on!

lots of people have asked me

2010-03-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

if those are the bags that I am NOT keeping, which bags ARE you keeping? So here they are:

first is the olive jotote that I bought at the same time as the scarlett, I found no need to use the scarlett since I like the olive so much.

I also recently bought the grey Kelly Moore bag. Well, actually I preordered it as soon as I saw it, I just got it about a month or so ago though. It is the bag that I am using 'right now' as my everyday bag/purse with my camera (d700 and 24-70 attached) to have on hand.

I also just received (also preordered it a few months ago) the Ginger epiphanie bag. I have not used it yet as it just came the other day...but it clearly is a great bag. I would have gotten it sooner, but it was due to be shipped right before we left on holidays so I asked them wait to after we got back to ship it.

(and here the compulsive shopper in me shows itself again). One of the buyers of my old bags asked me how the canvas emeras I was selling compared to the quilted one...(I wasn't aware there WAS a quilted emera so I had to check it out...and fell in love with that bag too - and ordered it - even as I was selling all these other bags - 2 of which were emeras). So I now have this bag on it's way to me too!

I also have and am keeping a boring Lowepro Orion trekker back pack that is not glamorous, but sometimes given the circumstances and environment is more practical than any of the above.

So there you have it, my new camera bag collection as it stands - at least until something new catches my eye!

perhaps this is why Andrew is upset with my camera bag fetish?

2010-03-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

finally got around to taking pics of my camera bags that I am going to let go! (I have 7 of them to sell!). I am going to only post them here for about a week so if you want any let me know because I am going to post them at ILP, craigslist, and 2peas most likely after that. Prices are still being determined (I will update this post once I figure out what these are going for). Updated with prices - includes shipping and paypal fees. Most of the bags are in new or near new condition.

1. crumpler 7mdh (near new - small stain in circle on top of bag) sold

2. medium black jill-e (near new - hardly used) sold

3. grey emera (near new - hardly used) sold

4. circles emera (brand new - never used) sold

5. scarlet jotote (brand new - never used) sold

6. small custom wicked stitch (etsy) messenger (used once) sold

7. large wicked stitch (etsy) messenger (moderate use) - small (nickle sized) white mark on end of bag - will probably come of with damp cloth but have not tried. sold pending payment

a tiny bieber fan

2010-03-13T21:48:00.001-08:00

my 10 year old showed me this today - so cute!

so behind!

2010-03-13T18:18:00.000-08:00

sorry guys - haven't posted anything new here for a bit! Lots of excuses that I won't bore you with....but while I try to get back into the habit of more regular updates....here are 2 storyboards I made with some picsfrom our recent trip to Akumal Mexico.

I processed these first pics a little 'vintagey'....

PB's for the girls at their swim meet :)

2010-02-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

Was at the pool all day friday for an ISEA swim meet. Delaney in the morning and Jacqueline in the afternoon. There were a LOT of swimmers for the gr 3/4's in the morning so each kid only got to swim in one event (bummer) and a relay. Delaney (gr. 3) swam the 50m freestyle with a time of 52:10 (previous pb was 53:23). (and for comparison - when Delaney started swim club just over a year ago - her 50m free time was 1:18.89)

By the time the kids are in grade 5-7 pretty much the only kids on the school swim teams are kids who are on swim teams outside of school too - so the numbers decrease a bit. Unfortunately by gr.5 if you aren't practicing outside of school you just can't be competitive in the water (there are a couple of kids who are the exception - but they HAD been on a swim team previously). Jacqueline swam 3 events plus a relay. She swam the 50m butterfly with a time of 55:83 (previous pb 1:03.51 - she knocked almost 8 seconds off her time since she last raced that event in November!). She also swam 50m back - 51:20 (53:20) and 50m free - 42:21 (43:95). (Jacqueline's 50m free time when she started last year was 55:19)

Very proud of them! Jacqueline is the fastest female gr. 5 swimmer (in all events) at her school, and Delaney is either first or second fastest (depending on event) for gr.3 girls at her school.

February dollar days at DHD

2010-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

Every day at DESIGN HOUSE DIGITAL a new kit will be released for only $1!!! It will remain just $1 for the entire month too!! Regular releases on Mondays/Thurs with a sale of 30% off on release days will continue. Be sure to check back often to see what's new!

Escaping to the sun again!

2010-01-29T22:06:00.000-08:00

In just over 2 weeks we are going to be here again! The Grand Sirenis in the Mayan Riviera. We were there 2 years ago in 2008 (when these pics were taken). This the first time we have returned to a resort - so that says something! I am sooo looking forward to another break - these past few weeks with Andrew being away, and everyone at home kindly sharing illnesses - have been rough. I am ready to 'forget' all of our responsibilities and put our feet up!

latest creations for Michelle Underwood

2010-01-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Kit: you make me shine

Kit: you picked me

Kit: Sunday kind of love

latest Design House Digital layouts...

2010-01-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

I love having two new release days/week - I only have to wait a few days before grabbing some new goodies! Here is what I have created lately:

template - tiffany tillman, paper - spencer nugent and carina gardner

just be you kit - audrey neal

mask - carina gardner,paper and date stamps - deena rutter

Re-did this one (decided to do 12x12's for this album),

paper and stamps and template - deena rutter

template- audrey neal, paper - jen allyson, scribbles - jen allyson, stamp - deena rutter, title alpha - meredith fenwick

smitten kit - jen allyson

Template -deena rutter, paper - melissa esplin, mask - deena rutter

our house has been a 'hospital' lately!

2010-01-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

at least a couple of people sick at any given time - now it's my oldest son and my turn! I have not gotten around to taking pics of my camera bags - so my apologies if you've been waiting for them!

I do want to take this opportunity though and send out props to my husband on the completion of his first music CD - he worked on this last year when the economy dived and he had a bunch of time on his hands. It has been a labour of love - something he has had in him forever that he 'needed' to do and finally had the time to do it!

These songs are all 100% written and partially produced by him, he performs in the intstrumentation, and they are sung by some friends of his.

check them out! (double click on the song names on the right to hear short clips)

www.southernstarmusic.com

stay tuned for my 'camera bag sale'

2010-01-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

(also known as 'MUST get rid of some bags before the two new ones I ordered arrive....or hubby will have a cow sale') ;-p

I am going to be taking pics of the bags I will selling and posting them in the next few days....stay tuned for first dibs... before I post them at ILP.

back and finally catching my breath!

2010-01-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

We had a great time in Maui - so beautiful and the weather was perfect. 9 days wasn't long enough :(
Upon returning home (to the RAIN!) I have been overwhelmed with getting the kids back to school and caught up on homework (they missed the first 4 days back to school), laundry (six suitcases full!) and caught up with things at Design House Digital. The site went live on January first (while we were away). I believe they had a pretty successful opening weekend sale! There are new releases there every Monday and Thursday which are always 30% off on release days! There are so many fabulous designers - I am finding it hard to decide what to work with!

Now that things are settling down (and the hubby left for work) I have some time to CREATE!!! Here are my first few pages I have designed for DHD (and a glimpse at some of our Maui pics).

Things will only be 'normal' for a few weeks though - we booked our next trip to Mexico yesterday - we will be in the Mayan Riviera (Akumal) from Feb 15-March 1. This is the first year we have taken holidays so close together - (and probably the last) - but the kids all get 2 weeks off of school during the Olympics - and we don't have tickets to any events, parking and driving in the city will be a nightmare, so we decided to FLEE!

30% off at design house digital!!

2009-12-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

I just received word that between Jan 1-3 all products at Design house digital will be 30% off! Make sure you take advantage...I have seen some of the products and they are fabulous!!! design house digital

design house digital

2009-12-27T15:52:00.000-08:00

so excited about this new adventure. I was invited to be a part of this amazing group of scrapbookers and designers on this brand new site that launches January first. The list of designers is top-notch - check out the blog to see who is already signed on to share their creations! DESIGN HOUSE DIGITAL BLOG

I will unfortunately be away during the site launch (well - I will be in Maui so I can only be sooo sad).....but be sure to check it out - it is going to incredible! Check out the place holder site and grab a fabulous freebie http://www.designhousedigital.com/

one week from tomorrow and

2009-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

I (well we) will be here!

honua kai maui resort and spa

too trendy

2009-12-20T15:20:00.000-08:00

love the colours in this kit by Michelle Underwood :) TOO TRENDY

I admit it - I have a weakness for bags....

2009-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

particularly camera bags (I think I have 8+ right now!)....and I am about to order another! (I will be thinning my collection out in the new year as even I think a person doesn't need 9 camera bags!).

I came across these one mentioned on ILP and just cannot resist!! I immediately fell in love and could not wait....but sadly they weren't ready for order yet - but NOW THEY ARE!!

look at these - camera bags for women have come a LONG way! You can find them here (they are pre-ordering now for shipment in the new year I believe) www.kellymoorebag.com

****AND if you post this info on your blog (link to her site and the photo below) and let her know she will send you a code for $50 off of a bag****

baby it's cold outside

2009-12-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

finally had a few moments to scrap something that wasn't 'gift' related!

Used the latest kit from Michelle Underwood available HERE

even better!

2009-12-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

gallery top 10

2009-12-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

and I think this is the first time this has happened....I don't always check so I am not sure....but this made me happy (silly things like this often do LOL!)

eta: I have moved up now (most likely in thanks to being the featured layout for the day - see post above)

calendars finished!

2009-12-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am actually a little bummed - I made a change to the photo in the march page and I forgot to adjust the yellow swirl :( but overall I am really happy with them....I also changed the lettering a bit in April, and the papers placement in May....they are sent off to Shutterfly now (thanks Heather) with an anticipated arrival date of D.18-29 (hopefully earlier than later!).

and here is the cover:

a sneak peek

2009-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

I am making calendars this year for a few gifts...I made them 2 years ago and people loved them - they asked if they were getting any last year (but I didn't make them last year)...so I decided to make some again this year. I looked for some pre-made calendar kits to make things simple but didn't find a single kit that I *loved* so decided to just make my own calendar toppers. I have done Jan-June...so here is a sneak peek:

I printed them at shutterfly when I did them before - but I cannot seem to see a way to upload my OWN designs for their calendars this year (ANYONE KNOW? OR KNOW WHERE TO PRINT THESE OFF?)

props to my two little fishies

2009-12-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

They've had several swim meets lately....and have been doing quite well....especially in their strongest strokes - which for both of them are free style and backstroke. They both need to work on breast and butterfly...

But here are few of the results sheets from their most recent meet....

she only lost by .01 seconds in this one!

okay...so we're not traditonal

2009-12-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

my kids are beyond the stage of letting me take their pics with cute matchy sweaters, etc....I realized that the only way I was going to get my boys to pose for any type of 'holiday' pic was if it was going to be on their terms...

Yesterday after my post I had the idea to do 'rockband' photos for the cards - hardly traditional - lol. I designed the card last night and took the pics today. They gave me no more than about 3 minutes in the 3 degree weather today to get the pics - but at least I got some....and my cards are finished and sent to be printed....It looks like I will be sending cards this year after all :) Although by the time I get them and send them off - it may well be after Christmas before anyone receives them...but oh well - at least they are getting done!

I've got a confession to make...

2009-12-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

I am sooooo behind on pretty much everything....I am feeling a tad bit overwhelmed. Andrew has been away sooo much lately (like 7 out of the past 9 weeks) and it is all I can do just to make sure my kids get to school/their activities, fed, clothed, and homework done....and add in that it's December and it puts me pretty much over the top. I have four Christmas concerts to go to (2 down), a science fair project to assist with (who plans a science fair on December 16th - isn't December busy enough!?!?)....not to mention Christmas shopping - I haven't bought a single gift yet! And I think this may just be the first year I don't send out Christmas cards - I usually do photo cards - but I have not had an opportunity (or willing kids) to take a photo of them - and the boys need haircuts first anyway! If anyone gets cards from us this year they will likely only be store-bought ones (sorry).

I sure wish December didn't have to be so darn hectic - so I could actually ENJOY this time of year...but everyday I have a frantic to-do list about a mile long and I can barely catch my breath, only for it start over the next day.

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to our 10 days in Maui at the end of the month - I so need a holiday!

I have some exciting news regarding my digital creative teams that I will update very shortly too - so excited to share the news with you.

And to show you how behind on things I am - I only re-did my desktop today - and it's the 5th of the month already (this pic is 3 years old - I couldn't bother to search for a better more recent one anyway).

KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD

2009-11-24T12:57:00.000-08:00

I meant to get to this yesterday....but some days just have a way of running away on me (today almost did the same - I will post about that later)....but here goes:

Kerry from Kerry'd Away Designs nominated me for this cool little award yesterday - after being nominated first herself. I was quite honoured especially since my blog is only in it's infancy (not even a month old yet!) and has already gone through a couple of 'remodels'.....

The expectations upon receiving this award are as follows (cut and pasted from Kerry's blog):

Thank the sender for nominating you.
make sure you link to the person who nominated you.
Copy the logo onto your blog
List seven interesting things about yourself.
Nominate Seven Kreative Bloggers
Post links to their Blog
Leave a comment for each letting them know of their nomination.

NOW FOR MY SEVEN 'INTERESTING' THINGS (that's pretty subjective isn't it? lol!) that you may not know about me:

1. I was adopted at age 10. I was in 14 different foster homes between the ages of 8-9, and was adopted by the family that fostered me from age 9+. Sadly - it turned out to be not a match made in heaven....I left that home when I was still in grade 12. I have no relationship with them 20 years later, and they have not even met my children.

2. My oldest son (now 16) had open-heart surgery when he was 5 months old. He is doing well now, but will require more surgeries as a young adult I am told. He is doing better than we were told though - he can play a 90 minute soccer game!

3. My second son (now 12) has Aspergers, ADHD, and Tourettes. Days can be pretty challenging - but his random "I love you mom"s make it all worthwhile.

4. Between November 2006 and November 2007 I lost 80 pounds!

5. I did two sprint distance (750m swim/20k bike/5k run) triathlons in May and June of 2008. I only began learning to swim in February of 2008 - and I came 3rd in my age group in my first one!! I actually had the 7th fastest time for the bike split out of the whole race:) Unfortunately I have been battling with knee issues since then and have not been able to consistently run - although it is improving.

6. I met my husband at a bus stop!

7. My husband travels a lot for work (on average at least 50% of the year)....

AND NOW I PASS THE HONORS TO: (this is really hard!)

Jennifer at Jennifer Hignite

Katherine at Katherine Bley

Heather at heathers digital creations

Joy at scrappy solano

Lucy at hedgehogs and ladybirds

Jaime at three paper peonies

Megan at designs by meganturnidge.

had a busy weekend!

2009-11-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

the girls had a swim meet yesterday morning....Riley had a soccer game yesterday evening - his games are at 6:15 in the evening! (in the WORST weather EVER - a cold rain that was blowing in your face due to wind). Then today I went on a wild goose hunt all over the city trying to find a piece of styrofoam large enough for Stuart to build a model of the skytrain with!! Easier said then done.....finally found a piece (that was actually 6 times bigger than needed and cost $21)...and 24 magnets (cost $40).....helped him with said project (painting, glue gunning, xacto knifing) only to find out that the magnets weren't strong enough to make the model train car 'hover' (which was his goal) - ugh!

To help calm my frazzled nerves.....scrapbooking to the rescue!

thanks to some of my CT pals.....

2009-11-20T22:24:00.000-08:00

I learned a new digi scrapping technique - how to layer elements both ABOVE and BELOW another element - have an element go THROUGH another.

I did it with this layout with the string - it is above and below the the waves....and the string runs through the tag (that always stumped me!). And it is really simple - basically you just duplicate the element layer (bring to the top of layer palette) and erase where you want the element to appear below the other element (in this case the waves).

also thought I would share

2009-11-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

these two videos/montages I made in imovie when I first got my imac in the summer....I loved making these and need to make more! There are some 'newbie' mistakes in these...and I can't claim to know imovie inside and out...but it wasn't too hard to get the basics down.

Osoyoos 2006 from Jill Beamer on Vimeo.

our first triathlons - slideshow from Jill Beamer on Vimeo.

memolio

2009-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

came across an ad in an in-flight magazine recently for a little album by MEMOLIO and had to give them a try....they are just sooo darn cute!

I just ordered a few (for Christmas gifts) to give them a try....I realized too late that after I moved some pictures around (front of album to the back or vice versa that the grommet is not in the ideal spot for a couple of the pics) but live and learn I guess.

here is a link to the album I made :)

did a page!

2009-11-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

don't know where my mojo has gone this past week or two? I just got overwhelmed with 'everyday' stuff that I couldn't seem to 'create' in what little time I have had lately....but i did do this one page today....hopefully it will spark something.... It is a quick page by taylormade (bottom right in the sample page below) that I cropped to 8.5 by 11 and added a few things to finish it off.

DSBD - sale and freebies!

2009-11-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

If you're like me and can't pass up a sale then head on over to 2peas - many of the designers (including some of the ones whose CT I am on - Jen Allyson, Carina Gardner, and Michelle Underwood) are having a 25% off sale for Digital Scrapbooking Day. And there are some great FREEBIES to be had as well!

you can see what's on sale here!

I'm a happy girl

2009-11-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

picking up my husband at the airport tomorrow afternoon.....he's been in Bolivia for the past 3.5 weeks!

awwww....MAN!

2009-11-05T21:32:00.000-08:00

since I have started scrapping digitally I have become obsessed with the 'stuff' you can buy.....it's like Candy to me!! I have spent a small fortune as I have explored some wonderful e-stores (I am still learning what's out there).....In the past week alone I think I spent about $150.....and then today I started getting a bunch of Sale notices for DSD! Many of them are 30-50% off! If I had only known I would have waited a few days!

some blogger questions....

2009-11-05T14:40:00.001-08:00

I think I am going to be one of 'those people' who are never quite satisfied with the state of their blog lol....and will likely be updating it frequently. I saw this mini kit (it was meant for a hybrid project - a mini album) but fell in love with it and thought it would work perfectly for my blog...only there was no font/alpha to match so I couldn't match the word 'create' to her 'click click' which I love!

my blogwear was created with this kit by mushy:

Anyhow, I still have lots more questions in my quest to get this blog to a state where I will be happy for at least a week:)

I'll start with 2, and if you know the answers it would make me very happy!

1. See how my text is VERY close to the left edge of my center paper? Where in the html do I move my text over a bit more to the right?

2. You can see that I have SPACE for a second sidebar (the empty strip in the middle), but for some reason when I go to edit page elements, it doesn't give me the option to move/add anything there? Any ideas?

Too Trendy Kit

2009-11-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

made this with mostly the things in Michelle Underwood's TOO TRENDY KIT

I love how it turned out.

first layout for Michelle Underwood

2009-11-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

I made this with her newest kit Vintage Holiday Memories

I recoloured the brown leaf by adding a colour overlay and reducing the opacity to get the other fall colours.

new month...new desktop calendar

2009-11-01T19:49:00.001-08:00

Introducing my brand new blog!

2009-10-31T23:09:00.000-07:00

Blogger is very new to me - and I have spent countless hours over the past day to get this blog to even this point! I like it so far but still have a lot of kinks to work out - like how to put my 'tabs' (like fave blogs, photos, etc) on the side with their accompanying lists....

Anyway - this is where you will find updates about my personal photography and scrapbooking. Speaking of which - As of 5 weeks ago I began to scrapbook again (after a 4 year hiatus) - only digitally this time. I am loving digital, I am learning something new everyday. I am also pleased that in this short timespan of creating digitally I find myself on the creative teams for several talented Designers - namely Mary Ann Wise, Carina Gardner, Jen Allyson, and Michelle Underwood. Life is good!