Earth Hour Entertainment

Did you join me during Earth Hour on Saturday night? What did you get up to? As I mentioned previously, I was going to challenge myself to take pictures during that hour.

Low light photography is pretty difficult in any circumstance, let alone for an amateur photographer with no experience! But armed with a tripod and hubby's technical knowledge, I think I did pretty well.

All the photos I'm sharing with you today are SOC (Straight Out of the Camera), no post processing whatsoever except to add the watermark. The photos are a bit grainy, but that's because I used the maximum ISO setting in order to deal with the lack of lighting. The first two photos were taken by hubby and the other three were taken by me. Click on each photo to get a larger view (and they look much better than the preview that Blogger has inserted here in this post!).

This is our {fake} fireplace, roaring along nicely. Thankfully it was cold enough to have the heater on as it provided us with a bit more light.

The other light sources came from three tealights - two on the mantlepiece and one at the rear of the room. This was the tealight at the rear of the room. I wish I could remember where I got the gorgeous tealight holder from as I seem to only have one. :(

This was one of the tealights on the mantlepiece.

The next two photos are my favourites. I was experimenting with photographing the tealight and the Willowtree figurine in the background. Both times I managed to catch a flare of the tealight that looked like a heart, and so perfectly placed too!

So what do you think? Do you like my photos? It was certainly a great way to pass the hour. Wonder what I can do next year? :D

Oh, and yes, I do remember I said I'd scrap these photos too, but I'm waiting for some inspiration to hit. *grimace* Stay tuned!

*hugs*

Oh my, is that another layout?!?!

Shock horror, yes, I quite think it is!!! LOL

Credits: Blue Sonata Kit by Mindy Terasawa; Scallop Template #5 by Crystal Wilkerson
(from Tons of Scallops Template Kit); Title font - Cafe Rojo; Journalling font - Angelina. Made with Photoshop CS4.

Early last week, as I made my way along the Ella Publishing Blog Hop to launch their new eBook, Scrapbooking the Everyday, I noticed several layouts documenting the mundane task of doing the laundry.

I must admit I don't often think about documenting such mundane topics as housework, but I'm a scrapbooker, right? Therefore there is no subject in the world that is off limits to being documented on a scrapbook page!

Once the idea of scrapbooking the laundry took hold, it wouldn't let go. So after I loaded up the washing machine, I grabbed the camera and took a few shots. After several hours of digi element procrastination and Photoshop manipulation, the above layout was produced. I can't say that the journalling came easily and indeed, I'm not that happy with it, but my creative brain is struggling with anything interesting to say about laundry! If I do come up with something better, I'll change it. Or perhaps you have some suggestions? How would the journalling to your laundry layout read?

This was a very interesting exercise for me and it has certainly broadened my mind as to the things I can scrapbook. I suppose I've always known this, but to actually put it into practice is a totally different matter. Regardless of the fact that I'm not particularly keen on remembering how I did the laundry, perhaps future generations will be interested. Isn't that what scrapbooking is all about in the end - preserving memories for future generations?!? And perhaps in the end, that is all that matters. :D

*hugs*

Six (and a bit) Months

Wow. Can you believe it? It's been six months already. Well, a bit over six months as I've now just passed 25 weeks. I finally have a baby bump that makes me look pregnant instead of just overly fat! I've had to bite the bullet and buy some maternity wear as items in my wardrobe are becoming quite tight and uncomfortable. We've also been buying all sorts of items in preparation for the baby, and hopefully I'll fill you in on all this in another post.

It hasn't been the easiest journey to this point in time and I'm not optimistic about the next three months - emphasised by the fact that I'm feeling quite ill and exhausted as I'm typing this post. I'm impatient for things to return to normal even though part of me knows that once bubby arrives, NOTHING is going to be normal or ever the same again. In some ways I grieve that, even though I know I'm embarking on a whole new adventure which is going to take me waaaay out of my comfort zone! For reasons I don't want to share publically, I'm not looking forward to this new phase of life, but God knows what's He's doing even if I don't!

On a more positive note, baby has been VERY active and it makes me wonder if she's as impatient to be out in the world as I am for her to be?!? LOL So far all the signs have been good and I'm to present myself to the hospital next week for "booking in" - whatever that entails! If baby doing somersaults in my tummy isn't enough to enforce the reality of my pregnancy, I'm sure that the hospital visits and ante-natal classes will!

Now, is that a LO I spy?!? Oh my, it certainly is!! :D

Credits: Adorableness kit by Traci Reed; Template from Traditional Templates II by Scrapping with Liz;
Journalling font - Angelina. Made with Photoshop CS4.

This must be my first layout in about three months. I did manage a few digi layouts for the UKS Christmas Crop last year, which I didn't share on the blog, but you'll find them in my Flickr. I do prefer the touchy-feely aspect of physical scrapping, but in the absence of the energy and stamina needed to sit at my craft desk, digi scrapping is very handy indeed.

*hugs*

Monday Giggles

What would Noah have done AFTER the flood receded? This would have made an interesting eBay listing! LOL

Enjoy!!

*hugs*

Turn Off the Lights!!

Have you heard about Earth Hour?

It is a movement that started right here in Australia about four years ago, aimed at raising awareness of global climate change and what one can do to combat that change. What you do is very simple - at 8.30pm today (Saturday 26 March), turn off all the lights in your house for an hour. I tend to go that one step further and turn off all electrical equipment, which means TV, laptop, stereo etc. (except for the fridge of course!).

The mere action of turning off the lights is definitely not going to change anything drastically, but Earth Hour is more about the awareness of climate change and what one can do beyond this one hour.

My challenge tonight will be to try and take a picture of whatever we're going to do and to scrapbook that. This means definitely getting out the tripod and hoping that there will be enough ambient light (from our lovely gas fireplace and maybe a couple of candles) to light up whatever we will be doing.

Will you join me?

Photo courtesy of Pluca on Flickr, Creative Commons Licence

*hugs*

A Brief Soujourn into the Craft Room

I haven't ventured into my craft room for about six months (probably more), but a couple of weeks ago, necessity had me sitting at my craft desk assembling together a card for my FIL's birthday.

I saw this very simple and very cute card on a post about cardmaking on Write.Click.Scrapbook and knew I wanted to make something similar.

I printed out the hot air balloon and clouds from Crystal Wilkerson's digi version of Echo Park's Sweet Summertime (see blog header above!). It was perfect! For the background I used a Hero Arts shadow stamp with Memento Sky Blue dye ink. Some foam tape plus a Hero Arts sentiment stamped in black ink and voila!

I'll confess it's not the most creative card I've ever made, but under the circumstances, it was more than enough for my poor brain to handle! I wonder if this means the mojo is returning?!?

*hugs*

Are you a Disney fan?!?

I definitely am! Although I have to admit, I am much more of a fan of the old school hand drawn animation movies than I am of the current computer generated stuff. That special Disney magic seems to be missing from their movies lately and so I have no trouble avoiding them, preferring to sit down to an afternoon or evening with the DVDs (or even Videos!) of my favourite Classic Disney movies.

"What are your favourite Disney movies?" I hear you ask. Well, let me enlighten you!

1. The Little Mermaid. This is my favourite Disney movie of all time. I love the music, the storyline, the characters, the art. I will also admit to having a huge soft spot for Eric, the prince. *grin*

2. Fantasia. I still think that the animation in this movie is fantastic, especially for its time. Naturally I want a broom that I can command to clean the house too!

3. Beauty and the Beast. Who can ever forget watching a candlestick, a clock, a teapot and other kitchen items dancing around asking you to "Be Our Guest"? Love it!

4. Snow White. The very first Disney animated movie and still one of the best! I'm sure it was this movie that had me (and a million other girls) dreaming of being rescued by a handsome prince, right?!?! LOL

5. Aladdin. A good mix of action/adventure and romance in this one. Not to mention it has one of my favourite Disney songs! Yes, you're right, that would be A Whole New World. :D

So there you have it. Those are my favourite Disney movies. I don't think you can ever be too old to appreciate a good Disney movie - everyone needs to lose themselves in a good animated fairytale once in a while. :D Do you have a favourite Disney movie, Classic or Modern?

Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, here's a fantastic Disney Medley I saw today that prompted today's post (in addition to being an exercise in Shimelle's Blogging for Scrapbookers course!). Enjoy!



(And yes, that IS him singing all the parts. Absolutely amazing!)

*hugs*

True Scrap

Some of you may have heard of the awesome scrapbooking event coming up in April called True Scrap - three days of awesome classes and make-and-takes by some of the top names in the scrapbooking industry. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check this out (click on the image for more information):

Looks great, huh? Well, I'm ecstatic to say that yours truly managed to win herself a place in this awesome event! How cool is that?!? I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Now I just have to figure out what time I need to be up as the classes will be based on US Eastern time, which will be about 14 hours behind. That makes it sound more difficult and gruelling than a UKS Cybercrop!! LOL The fact that I've got other things planned for that weekend will make things interesting too. Never mind, I'm sure I'll figure a way around all these hurdles!! :D

Will I see you there in the classes too?!?

*hugs*

Blogging for Scrapbookers

OMG! Thank you so much dear blog friends for your lovely and encouraging comments on my last post. My sincere apologies for ignoring all of you lately. I must sheepishly admit that I have been wallowing a little in self-pity, so I really am very touched and honoured to have so many lovely, caring friends. Love you all! mwah!

Okay, so after that excessive pregnancy-induced-emotional-outburst, let's move on to today's post, shall we? :D

A little while ago I signed up for Shimelle's online class, Blogging for Scrapbookers. Like so many other classes I've signed up with, it remained untouched, let alone uncompleted!

Until now.

Shimelle is currently running this class again live for the next three weeks. Click here if you want to find out more information, or if you even want to join me in this class. Technically it started yesterday, but the first prompt only came through for me today (courtesy of the UK/Aus time difference :D ).

Today's prompt was mostly about reading blogs in a Reader, such as Google Reader, and how to set that all up, so there won't be much activity on this blog yet. :D But stay tuned to see what I can pick up from future prompts and let's see if I can make this blog a bit more exciting! :D (Subject to my health and bubby of course. LOL)

*hugs*

Still here . . . & a dose of Monday Giggles!

Hey blog friends! *waves* Long time no "see", huh? I'm still here, barely!

Let me fill you in a little on what's been happening. After starting to recover somewhat from morning sickness, I then was very kindly given a dose of the flu by my very sharing husband. That bout of flu turned into a chest infection which put me in hospital for a couple of hours as we thought it was something more serious! Thankfully the all clear was given after being wired up to a very loud beeping machine and subjected to x-ray vision (without a hunky superman *boooo* ) and I was sent home with nothing more than some paracetamol to help with the pain. Bubby was (and still is!) fine, although everytime I succumbed to a coughing fit she would do the equivalent of cartwheels to show her displeasure. Going to be an active one, this baby!

So that was about two weeks ago and I think I've pretty much recovered from that awful incident. Unfortunately, the morning sickness seems to have returned. Ugh.

But enough about that. I've decided in the light of my One Little Word for this year that I'm going to try and be positive this week. There are a lot of things I want to share with you, some good news and some other little bits and pieces so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a long awaited instalment of Monday Giggles.

Enjoy!



*hugs*