A Forever Student

Do you love learning as much as I do?  I am "A Forever Student".  I will use any chance to learn new things.  Learning calms me, makes me happy.  And in the scrapbooking arena there's much opportunity to learn.  Take Jessica Sprague's free Photoshop class that starts today.  I've already learned so much from just the first day of lessons.    Today's class demonstrated some photo editing techniques - so useful!

This is a free class!  And you'll have it in your class list to refer to over and over.

I practiced today on this photo - here's how it looked straight out of the camera:

Here it is looking so much better using techniques from Jessica's first class:

and here it is again, using some of Jessica's hints to change the photo to a gorgeous black and white:

Ahhh!  Beautiful, right?!

And more fun happening this week at Jenni Bowlin Studio Inspiration Blog!  Challenges all week long culminating in an online crop this weekend.  Did you see the awesome grand prize?

So challenge yourself, learn something new and have FUN with this wonderful hobby of ours!

So yesterday was a great day ...

... and I started it off by working in the Secret Garden.  WISH I had my camera - but then I wouldn't have gotten much done.

... and the sun was shining today (finally) and it wasn't *too* hot - beautiful

... and at one point in the afternoon, I looked around and all my little chickies were asleep:  the 2 ducks in their pen, the dog in the driveway, ds#1 taking a nap in his room, ds#2 on the couch ... and all was good in the world.

... and then to end the day, I got to host a Speed Scrap at JessicaSprague.com .  I've never done this before and I have to say - it.was.a.blast!   Hmmm - might be interesting to try this with traditional supplies - maybe not ... LOL!

I played along with the Speed Scrap and made this one with the following instructions given every 10 minutes (and then you get another hour and 15 minutes to post):

1. Use at least 2 photos that were taken outside!
2. Keep one photo in color and change at least one photo to black and white!
3. You can use any patterned paper at all, but one must have some yellow in it!
4. Use at least 5 stars somewhere on the layout!
5. Use some bling! (something shiny or with sparkle, sequins, glitter, sparkly button, rhinestone, etc)
6. Journal in a typewriter style font!
7. Make a title that uses multiple fonts!

Now I was lucky because I knew the instructions beforehand!  But I tried very hard not to get anything ready ahead of time. LOL!

Supplies:

Queen of Quirk Template (altered)
Jenni Bowlin Studio Homespun
Jenni Bowlin Studio Soda Water Paper
Jenni Bowlin Studio Rub On Frames
Jenni Bowlin Studio Trendy

The Trendy Paper Collection and Patriotic Bingo Cards are new - and until Sunday, everything in the JBS Digi Shoppe is 40% off!

The new kits are perfect for summer and July 4th, aren't they?

Irish Dancers Kick Butt

Growing up Italian and Polish and holding those traditions as a 2nd generation kid, the ethnic dances that I was familiar with consisted of the Tarentella and the Polka.  My cousins and I danced tap and jazz. My only experience with Irish step dancing was seeing my friend Theresa O'Meara in her elaborate costume from time to time.  Other than that, Irish step dance was basically a mystery to me. As I grew up, and had kids of my own, I would listen to my friends, the Doyle family, talk about their daughter Bridget and her Irish Dance career, complete with hours of practice, necessary wigs, and waiting for that special dress to get to the US from Ireland in time for an important competition.

That was the closest Irish dance got to my family.  So who better to bring Irish dance into our lives, but my Mexican sister-in-law.

Both of my uber adorable nieces are in Irish dance and loving it.  This weekend I went to their outdoor Feis and was truly amazed at all the aspects that make up Irish dancing and competition.

First, the dresses:

... and the wigs which I hear are absolutely necessary!

Unless you're lucky enough to have natural Feis-worthy hair ...

and BLING!  yes, there's so much BLING!

These two American/Mexican/Italian/Polish cuties had so much fun ... and yes ... they kicked Irish Dance butt!