Photo mania et al

So this past couple of weeks, besides completing all of the prompts for the "Tell Your Story" class, I have been taking tons of pictures.  Instax, film, digital and on my iphone.  I have been particularly enjoying the Lo-mob app (thanks Elsie!).  Here's a few:

I am totally loving my iphone!  For those of you looking for a creative boost and some ideas for a travelling art kit, read Elaine's post here.  While you're there check out her other posts for instant inspiration.  

Getting ready for our Canadian May long weekend.  Monday is Victoria Day.  Most of my crazy buddies are going camping even though it never fails to snow on May long.  Good luck kids!  Stay warm! I am going to Grande Prairie, AB to hit the malls and Michaels.  Yay me!  Now hopefully I can talk mom into eating at the Wok Box, super yum!

For all of you who are taking the TYS class, I'll see you at tomorrow's chat! 

NB:  I just realized how much I have been using the exclamation mark in this post.  I'd apologize but I'm just super cheery and happy to be blogging again.  Yay!

Messin' Around

Hey guys!  I have been busy this past week.  Schlepping my nephew to soccer games, helping my niece plant flowers and this weekend I have agreed to watch them (all 4) for four days while my SIL goes to Abbotsford.  Call me crazy but I think I can do it.  It's their myriad of pets I am unsure about (3 rats, a hamster, two gerbils, a bearded dragon, various fish and a puppy)  the puppy is fine, as are the fish, it's the rodents that scare me.

The picture above is a result of me messing around on http://www.picnik.com/.  It's a pretty cool website and you can create all kinds of great pics that you would need a special camera for.  Any of you who are taking Elsie and Rachel's class, you should check this site out for sure.  You can even make polaroid type photos.

I am currently working on more prompts from class but I promise I will upload pics soon!

Happy Monday!

P.S.  Check out this sweet bag Kara re-modeled.  Love it!

Monday

So I activated my Postcrossing account again today.  I didn't ever really deactivate it, just stopped sending postcards when I got too busy and after I got a really creepy letter from an inmate (a story for another post!)  I am so excited.  If you hadn't already noticed, I LOVE MAIL (thats not bills).  So I am spending my evening writing out postcards and dreaming of stamps, envelopes and other mail supplies. If you guys love mail as much as I do, you should totally check this girl out:

Her name is Bianca Jagoe and she can be found at Good Night Little Spoon.  I just recently discovered her site and am still going through her archives.  She's totally cool and her mail art is unbelieveable.  She also has great links to other mail artists and mail related items.  Her etsy shop is ahhmazing.  I think I'll write her a letter.

Finally!!

I finished my introductory art journal pages for Rachel and Elsie's class, Tell Your Story.  I am so excited because the class actually starts tomorrow.  Yipeeee!!!  So here are my pages:

page 1- bookplate downloaded from Emily Martin of The Black Apple

page 2

If anyone has any tips on taking better pics of these, please leave me a comment.  I have a dslr and should be able to get a good shot but these feel a little out of focus even though I used a pre-set on my camera.  I had a bit of a hard time doing these pages.  Totally overthought them and it took me weeks to finally finish them.  I need to relax before the class starts or I`ll never get anything done!!!

Glitch and Beautiful Blogger Award!

So I just realized a major glitch in my blog and fixed it.  I haven't been getting notified when people have left comments and therefore have not commented back.  Ooops!  I changed this in my settings but just wanted to let you know and apologize for my lack of commenting back.  I love to hear what you have to say and try to comment back or post about things that have been mentioned.
I just found out that the lovely Stephanie of Mrs. Caruso has nominated me for a Beatiful Blogger Award.  Thank you so much Stephanie!  Go check out her sweet blog.

As part of accepting the award, I have to share seven little known facts about myself.  Here goes:

1.  I love to play chess.  I am not that great at it but my dad taught me how when I was in grade 3 and we used to play a lot.  I miss playing.  Must find new partner:)

2.  I go through stages where I am completely obsessed with hobbies and then I'll let them drop off and pick them up again when I am interested.  I go through crafty phases.  Right now I am really into letter writing and art journaling.  Last year at this time I was a hard core scrapbooker!

3.  I go through phases with foods.  If I am really liking something I will eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner and snack on it a lot without getting sick of it. Until I do. Most recently this was a brand of cereal from the Wholesale club with vanilla flavoured bran flakes and dried strawberries.  I was eating it for breakfast and snacking on it throughout the day and evening for like 3 weeks!!! 

4.  I hate long fingernails.  I like to keep mine super short and clean.  I don't mind long fingernails on other people, if they're clean!

5.  I was obsessed with the New Kids on the Block when I was twelve/thirteen.  I had shirts, buttons, video tapes of their concerts and posters all over my room.  My friends and I even learned all of their choreography and practiced, like, all the time.  Total geek!

6.  I love old school country music.  'nuff said.

7.  l am a total sugar addict.  Even if I am super full, I cannot pass up something deliciously sweet!

Now pass the award on to ten wonderful bloggers.  Will you accept?

Katherine from Paper Pocket

Stephanie from My life is so ...

Sarah from Sweetest Nest

Chelseabird from Tea Talk

Sabrina from The Little Owl

Mathilde from Mon Carnet Rouge

Amy from Tea and Toast

Holly Sarah from Create Loves

Janel from Run With Scissors

Elisha from Inspirations Scrap

If you choose to accept the award you must:

- Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.

- Copy the award and paste it to your blog.

- Tell us seven interesting facts about yourself.

- Pass this award on to 10 fantastic bloggers you have discovered.

- Contact your nominations and let them know they’ve won.

Weekend Fun

So firstly, I have to tell you the reason behind my lack of posting.  I got one of these:

I am soooooo excited!  I have been busy taking pics and buying apps and researching the best apps and finding the best cases. And since I now have a phone that does virtually everything, I have been surfing the net and messaging like a crazy woman.

Anyhow, we used my iphone to help us geocache this weekend.  It was my first time and my mom and my neice came along on Friday night to see what we could find.  It was tons of fun and we found the two caches that we chose.  Today we went out again and found two but could not find two others.  Later in the afternoon, we decided that we had so much fun that we had to show my other neice and nephew how to do it.  It took us awhile but we found two more caches.  I think we're all addicted! 

taken with my iphone (hipstamatic app)

Happy Saturday!!!

Hiatus

Hello friends.  My haitus lasted a little longer than I thought it would (or should) but I don't want to post just for the sake of posting.  I want to post when something inpires me and I want to share that inspiration too.  Lately I have been testing out new ways to take cool pics.  I ordered these last week:

redscale film (ebay)

Diana SLR Lens Adaptor

I am beyond excited to get started taking more pics with these.  Plus I have been reading tutorials on how to re-load a one time use camera with new film and take more than one shot on each frame.  I haven't tried it yet but when I do, I will post the results here.
In other news, I signed up to take this class and I am really super ecstatic about it.  Cannot wait to begin.  I have started the first two page prompts and will post when they are complete.

Look here for more info:  .http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/tell-your-story-online-art-journal-class-full-details.html

More to come soon~Ms. Doe