MY NEW FAVORITE...

Seriously? How freakin' cool is this?

Image transfer to wood..

I found this idea, where else of course, but on Pinterest.

After watching the Way Cute Tutorial Video, I knew I had to try it.

So I went and got my supplies...

Mod Podge and Gel Medium were found at Joann Fabrics.  

I had a 40% and 50% coupon, so I got both for a little under $10.

The wood came from Lowes - 16x36x21/32.  It's pine and was just under $7.

My husband cut the sizes I needed.

The photos are from Staples.  

Three 11x17 copies,which is their largest size, each $.98.

 The key to the photo is that they need to be on regular copy paper,

and done with a laser printer, not ink jet.

You should definitely watch the video and give this a try your self.

A simple piece of customized artwork like this would make 

the Perfect Christmas gift.

SMILE :)

I have been working on the wall space above my desk every since we moved in six months ago.  Well, not really working on it... but thinking, designing and planning it.  Then, due to the Incredible heat we've been experiencing here in Central Virginia, I had the perfect excuse to stay in my Craft Cave (which is in the basement) and finish up a bunch of projects I had started over the last couple of weeks.  I'm so glad I did, because after I got it all hung yesterday, I just LOVE it!!

One of the projects was the magnetic bulletin boards.  

There are two of them, and they started out looking like this...

I found, what I'm assuming are cookie trays, at Goodwill for $.50 each, a couple of months ago.  I loved their textured pattern, so I bought them not really knowing, at first, what I would do with them.  Then it dawned on me that they would make great magnetic bulletin boards for my "Office" Collage.  I spray painted them white, and then took some old magnets, I had from Ikea, and either covered them with fabric or added fabric/felt flower embellishments.  They work perfect!

Another project was inspired by something I had seen a Long time ago in a craft blog Linky party.  I had seen this cute way of displaying pictures, and the idea really stuck with me. I just had to find the perfect frame.

Then, I was lucky enough to find this one at Goodwill.

After a couple heavy coats of white spray paint, and a roll of way cute contact paper from the Dollar Tree, I had what I had envisioned from the original inspiration.

Now, I'm not usually one for Inspirational sayings, but when I saw this one on Pinterest, it really struck a chord with me.  I used an old photo canvas, primed and painted it, and then using my trusty Cricut, cut out the letters.  Now if only I can follow it's advice.

This cute little initial is actually from a friend's wedding invitation from back in 2000.  I've saved it for 12 years, knowing someday, I would eventually do something with it.  The frame, I made probably 15 or so years ago.  It's made out of miniature bricks, which when I decided to use it as part of my collage, I spray painted white.

This funky artwork is also from a wedding.  It was actually the envelope for their invitation to their wedding in Hawaii.  I think I've been saving it for about 3 years.  I just loved the design.

This artwork is a pencil drawing I did the summer after I graduated college some 20+ years ago.  It was from a black & white magazine ad, but I can't remember what it was advertising.  The paper is starting to yellow, but it's one of my most favorite things I've ever drawn.  It also hung in both my boy's nurseries.

And finally, my new Lamp!  I found the lamp, back in February, at a garage sale for $10.  I LOVE the big chunky base and the over sized shade.  I think the whole thing overall, stands like 3' tall.  In this picture, it is sitting on a filing cabinet next to the desk, which is 8" shorter.  When I got it, I knew eventually, I wanted to try my hand at covering the shade, I just had to find the right fabric first.  And I think I did!  It's fun, funky, graphic and colorful!!

I just LOVE how everything turned out, and how nothing matches.

Every time I come upstairs, I have to stop and look at it all.  It just makes me SMILE :)

DRUG STORE CANVASES

Did you know that you can get photo canvases at the Drug Store? Well I didn't, until recently when a friend mentioned to me that CVS now offers Gallery Wrapped Canvases. I didn't think much of it because I had been pretty loyal to an online company. But after having a recent issue with them, I thought I would give the Drug Store a try.

I just happened to go to the CVS website one day earlier this month, and they just happened to be running a 25% off special. I had recently taken a way cute pic of my boy's bare feet, and I thought it would be perfect for their bathroom. See...!!

With the 25% off special, I was able to get a 16x20 canvas for under $35. And since I had it shipped to my local store, the shipping was Free! When I went to pick them (yes, them - I ordered two) up today, I was pleasantly Impressed with what I got for the money.

First, the colors were spot on with the original pic (that was the issue I had with the other company).

Second, it was a nice 1.25" thick.

Third, the corners were wrapped Amazingly TIGHT!

And Fourth, the backing was Incredible!! Nicely finished with hangers already attached.

Here's the other one I ordered. I love it's odd size - 12x18 ($27 with special discount). It hangs above the commode.

So, if you are looking for a NICE Gallery Wrapped Canvas... Give CVS a Try!!

SOMETHING NEW...

This blog, if you noticed, has changed a little. The reason being you ask... well, I also want to share with my followers my new passion - Portrait Photography. I've posted about it here and there over the last year, but in 2012, I am really going to make a go of it.

So please be sure to visit the tMoOT Photography page to see my first session of the year. It actually happened on New Year's Day.

And Thank You for following me.

Stay tuned for a wreath I made for our New Front Door.

Update 2.17.12... if you've noticed still further, the blog has changed... again. I wanted to share my new adventures in photography here, but the page just wasn't working like I wanted it to. Soooo... I started another blog - tMoOTPhotography.com. Please be sure to visit and see what I've been up to.

UNASSUMING...

Can you recall, if a Simple Everyday Item has ever changed your life? We've all had those "Single Moments" that changed our lives... our Wedding Day, the Birth of our First Child, the Loss of a Loved One.

But what about an everyday item like a piece of Paper? A Simple, Single sheet of 8.5x11 Paper...

This is Mine. This is what Changed my Life! So Unassuming.

Back in March of this year, Luke's pre-school sent home this Order Form for the upcoming School Pictures. I don't recall how long it sat on my kitchen counter before I actually looked at it, but I do remember the day that I finally did. It was Thursday, March 24th, 2011.

Not really reading it, I filled out the information needed for the order. Then, when I went back to double check everything, I noticed that the person, who would be taking the pictures, had a website. Since I was all about craft and photography blogs at the time, I immediately got my laptop and went to her site. I was Blown away and Very Excited. This photographer's work was Amazing and So Beautiful, AND she was from right here in Central Virginia. I think that was what Excited me the most. Of all the blogs I follow (both Craft and Photography), they all seem to originate from out west. Up to that point, I had yet to find anyone on this side of the country. So when I saw she was right here, in my little town, well I just couldn't contain myself. I immediately sent her an email. Here's an excerpt from that first correspondence...

I don't mean to freak you out, but I can't even begin to express to you how Excited I am to find someone, with your talents, local. Your photography is INCREDIBLE. Most of the photography blogs I follow are located on the west coast. SOO excited to have found you!!

Amazingly, she wasn't Freaked out, and she responded...

You have totally made my day! I am sick in bed right now, but will write you back...

From that point on, and over the last seven months, Denise Feagans has become a Mentor and a Friend. She is just such an Inspiration. Not only is her work Incredible, she is also a Mother of Five (4 boys and 1 girl, ranging in age from 5-17), and her Faith in God is Strong. She has been there to answer every crazy question I've had. She met with me when I first got Photoshop and showed me some basics, and she even allowed me to tag along with her on one of her shoots. I will Never be able to Express or put into words, the amount of Gratitude I have for her Kindness and Support. Through her Help and Guidance, which has been Immeasurable, I have been able to start making a Dream of mine come True. Thank You Denise.

Who would have ever thought, that a Single Sheet of 8.5X11 white paper, could change one's life? That Single Sheet of paper found me a new Friend and started me on a journey that is hopefully leading me down a road to a new career as a Portrait Photographer.

So Unassuming...

Be sure to visit Denise's site, to see for yourself, what I am talking about.

PHOTOSHOP... FINALLY

As the post title states, I FINALLY got Photoshop... YEAH!!!!! I still have A LOT to learn, but after following a few on-line tutorials at The Pioneer Woman, using my "Photoshop for Dummies" book, and having a little learning session with my photography mentor, Denise Feagans, I felt somewhat confident that I could take on a client. And what better client than my oldest son Luke, who turned 4 last month.

Here's my photo session with him. We started at the Town Hall building, because of the stone and the red doors, and then went to my husband's Hunt Camp for a beautiful nature backdrop.

This next one has been a favorite of everyone who's seen it on FB, and I think it's one of my favs too. Just love the red door with his shirt.

I think this next one is my all time Favorite. I just LOVE his eyes. And don't you just love the band-aid? We had a little argument about it before we left because I wanted him to take it off - I didn't want it in the shots. But he insisted he still needed it for a week old Boo-Boo. I eventually gave in, figuring I could eliminate it during editing. But once I started the editing process, I decided to leave it alone because that's what he is all about at this age.

Luke did really well!! He's a great little Model. However, he is a REAL stinker when it comes to getting him to actually "Look" at the camera. Out of the approximately 150 shots I took, the 8 or 9 above shots were the only ones where he "Looked" at the camera.

KENDALL FAMILY

As I've been "practicing" my portrait photography, I've been posting the pics on Facebook. At some point, a childhood friend commented on a particular picture saying... "I wish you could practice here". "Here" being my home town. When I knew I would be going home for my class reunion, I contacted her to see if she would be interested in doing a family session with me. And boy was she!!!

This is my friend, Sharri. We've known each other since I was in the first grade and she in the third.

Funny story on how we first met... our mothers arranged a play date (did they even call it that back in the mid-seventies?). All Sharri had to do was walk up the street to our house - maybe 100 yds. But on the way... she got attacked by a dog. So she shows up at our house, having never met me or my mother, pounding on the door, crying and bleeding. Poor little thing. Regardless of that horrific first meeting, we still became fast friends.

I'm sure you're wondering about the "tunnel". This drainage culvert runs under the road behind Sharri's house. When we were kids, we LIVED in that tunnel, catching crawdads and tadpoles. The most fun thing to do in there, was run up and down the length of the tunnel, trying not to slip and fall in the creek and get wet. As soon as I scheduled this session, I knew I wanted to take a picture of her family in the tunnel. Little did I know her family are "City" folks. Getting them into the tunnel was HIL.AR.I.OUS!!!

But I was able to capture this great shot of Sharri's children, Kassie and Tyler. I'm sure every time she looks at this picture, it will bring back great memories from her childhood.

Now on to the rest of the session....

Another great shot of the kiddos.

Sharri and her husband of 23 years, Matt.

And of course some Great family shots...

I So need to get more creative with my group posing.

With all my clients, I provide a CD of about 15-25 edited photos from their session. Tomorrow, I will be mailing Sharri hers.

Thank You Sharri, Matt, Kassie and Tyler for a Fun night and a Great family session.

NEGLECT

I know, I know, I know, my poor little blog has been very neglected as of late. After my family was here back at the beginning of June, I just have not been able to get back into my normal swing of things. And now, the summer is almost over. My oldest starts preschool in four weeks... Yikes!!

But apart from what I just stated above, I've been working on other passions lately, so my crafting has taken a backseat. I've been trying my hand at portrait photography, hoping to start a little business. Here are a few shots from a couple of my recent sessions. Tell me what ya'll think.

Thanks for still following me, and I hope to become a little more diligent with my posts.