photoshop rocks!

i borrowed "the photoshop book for digital photographers" from a friend for the holidays and yesterday had great fun learning some techniques and being somewhat succesfull and i must say i am defintiely going to get this book for myself. here are a few shots i "fixed up". too much fun.

My munchkins

well i took lots of pictures but again i am not totally happy with very many of them, ugh, i need lessons (or a new camera hehe) but here is my fave of Lindsey and Mitchell together in their Santa gear. Also a picture of them in front of the tree and the best family shot i got, (needs some cropping but you get the idea).

Love being Organized!!!

THanks to some help from Lindsey and these awesome ribbon wraps from Magistical Memories i reorganized all my ribbon collection into this nice neat color coordinated, spacesaving method. I LOVE it. The spools were donated to the school art stash cause i couldn't bare to toss em in the trash and I'm sure the teachers will find something cool to create with those "wheels".

I added a "before" picture of my storage wall and the ribbon shelves which i am now using for small tins and boxes and cans of letters etc.

Happy Birthday Jessica

when this poem "Christmas in Heaven" was posted on Love2Scrap i knew i had to use it to create a special tribute layout to remember our precious Jessica Joy on what would have been her 16th birthday, today! Dec. 22 2006. December 22, 1990 was a special Christmas, having our first child, and although she was in the hospital with serious health issues we were thankful for her none the less. So Happy 16th Birthday my sweet Jess, and Merry Christmas in Heaven.

"CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below
with tiny lights, like Heaven's stars
reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
for I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
the people hold so dear
but the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart,
but I am not so far away,
we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones,
you know I hold you dear.
and be glad I'm spending Christmas,
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my Heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory,
of my undying love.

After all LOVE is a gift
more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important
in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
As my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessings or love
He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
wipe away that tear,
Remember, I'm spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year."

here are a few more pics and did I say it was HARD work getting the real tree from the bush by myself, yikes, deep deep snow and a heavier than i thought tree made for a real workout, love the smell but i still think i prefer the "artificial" variety. I bought the candlestick at a garage sale last month, gave it a new paint job (the creme is crackled but the photo doesn't show or do it justice) and added pretty new "bling" to make a new candydish/centrepiece for the table for fun!

Decked the Halls

Well, no updates here lately is because I have busy getting ready for CHristmas as well as planning a surprise party for Greg who's 40 in just a couple days. I, along with lots of help from my kiddoes, got the house all decorated and trimmed the trees, hung the lites, did a few fun extra projects (these window frames were so much fun and i LOVE the results)and have officialy Decked out our house so its feeling very festive. Shopping, well i haven't done much of that yet but soon. Here are a few pics from my Country CHristmas Home, stop by for some treats and coffee anytime over the holidays.

Oh and I decided to go with a bit of a glamorous tree for a change this year, inspired by the K and Co twinkle type glitter chipboard alphas which i LOVE in that awesome pale green color, i started hunting for anything in that shade to decorate with, so so pretty. Still have my snowman collection, a country quaint "real" tree down in the family room with all the ornaments from many years past which i enjoy, etc etc, i just love decorating for Christmas.