Photography Friday!!

Camilla from CioCo here! Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas and have fun plans for the New Year! We will be spending it rather quietly this year because getting up and traveling around in my ninth month of pregnancy sounds....FUN. So we'll jut skip that. :)

Last week I posted about the photography challenge being from the word 'New' in honor of the new year. This challenge will go over this week and possibly into the next. I may be a little sporadic this month because of the baby being due in the next few weeks but keep checking back. Here is my take on 'New':


I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with this little guy and his mom. He was a little under two weeks and just completely new to the world. I loved seeing how he interacted with his mom; the expressions in his face were priceless. Maybe its because I have Baby on the mind, but new babies embody this 'New' for me. New opportunity, new life, new wonder. What is 'New' to you??

The link will be up this week and possibly into the next, so go take those pictures! If you don't have photoshop, piknic.com is a great site! Happy Shooting!

HaPpy HoLiDaYs!!

Photography Friday!!

Wishing you a VERY Merry Christmas from Camilla and Stacie! We'll postpone photography Friday till next week for Christmas, but you'll have two weeks to work on the photography challenge. The challenge is.... "New" in honor of the New Year. So take a picture of whatever speaks 'new' to you and we'll have the link up beginning next week. Happy Holidays!!

{CuTe} Holiday Hair!

Need FuN hair tips and ideas for the holidays??  Check out this  video that I came across  made by Becky Higgins and Becki of Whippy Cake!  LoVe BOTH of thier FaB blogs!

Soooo CUTE!!

For more info on these FuN tips...go HERE!

{CuTe} Necklace Gift Idea!

Check out this very CUTE {last minute} gift idea from Little Miss Momma!

Pom Pom Bib Necklace

LOVE IT!!!

Wouldn't this make a great gift for a friend, daughter, mother, grandmother etc???

Check out a complete how-to HERE!

Ashley...thanks so much for sharing!

{Photography Friday} Making those eyes PoP!

Hi all...Stacie here and today I was going to show you a quick and FuN way that I found to make eyes PoP without using actions!  Here is my before/after:

I love this technique because it just adds to the beauty of her natural eye without making it look fake.  Here is the awesome video that I found on YouTube...that gives the complete how-to using Photoshop Elements 7!  Check it out!

Now it's your turn!!!  Link up your before/afters...and let us know if you used this technique...or another!  Can't wait to see them!!

{DIY} Ribbon Necklace {great gift idea!}

Check out this FuN necklace idea that I came across at Happy Together!

Soooo CUTE...and imagine all the colors you could do!!

I think I am definitely going to have to give this a try! :)

Hmmm...wouldn't this make a fab gift?!!

For more info...and a complete tutorial...go HERE!

Jessica...thanks so much for sharing!

{Groopdealz} $4 Ring from Love Stitched!

Here is another HoT deal going on today at GroopDealz:

$4 Rosette Ring from Love Stitched ($7 Value)

CuTe!!!

The Details

One size fits most - adjustable band

Your choice of 5 colors

• Pink
• Cream
• Grey
• Tiffany Blue
• Floral
• Will arrive before Christmas

For more info...and to buy this deal...go HERE!

Photography Friday!! {Photography Tidbits}

Thanks to everyone who participated last week in "Beautify It"! It was fun to see everyone's take on the same picture and all the tones and crops that were used. This was one of my favorite edits by Leesa:

Just LOVE the tone and blending used on the one on the left. Great job all!

Today is time for a "Photography Tidbit"! I had planned on writing up a little lesson, but because its Christmas time I wanted to share with you one of my favorite techniques in photography which is called Bokeh. For those who are unfamiliar with this technique, it allows for the quality of 'the blur' that is unfocused behind your subject, or rather the light points that are in this unfocused area. I took this photo this morning:

The reason I love bokeh during Christmas is because of all the lights, especially on christmas trees! They are just beautiful. I shot with a Canon 50mm lens with aperature at 1.8, ISO 640, and 1/60 s. Typically at a lower shutter speed you will need a tripod, but I was able to hand hold this one with my elbow resting on the table. Image is straight out of the camera, with a slight curves adjustment done in PS4. (We'll get to those types of things in later lessons) Rather than try to write up an entire lesson on how to do this and 'beat a dead horse' figuratively, this week I'm going to refer you to this lesson:
"Holiday Lights Tutorial" by the very talented Darcy. She explains the step by step brilliantly, and there is even a link for custom bokeh, where you can make the lights into hearts, starts, etc. Sweet!

Have fun this week creating bokeh! I apologize that because aperature is very important in bokeh, a lot of the 'point and shoot' cameras won't do it, or do it as well. (I could be wrong, please correct me if I am :) Maybe its time to finally bug your neighbor to borrow their camera for an hour... :) Feel free to link up your creations, we'd love to see them!

Another take on my {$3 Frame Makeover} and Great Gift Idea!

Ok...sooo do you remember this:

{my $3 frame makeover}

 Well... for our Super Saturday...we wanted to make these dry-erase calendars...but wanted a simpler way of doing the grids instead of drawing them on with a permanent marker.  Sooo...I asked my awesome sis-in-law {owner of Daisy Dot Design and Decor} if she could make the whole calendar out of vinyl. 

 And...this is how it turned out:

LoVe it!!!

 

 I  just bought a 11x14 frame @ Walmart...and stuck the vinyl on the inside of the glass...then added scrapbook paper behind the glass.  The paper just sat in there {just like a photo would} so that I can change it out each season etc.

It was as easy as sticking a big sticker on the glass...and you're DONE! 

Wouldn't this make a great neighbor, sister, friend, co-worker Gift??!!

For more info...or if you would like to purchase this vinyl...go HERE...and  tell my sis-in-law...HI!   :)

Lil' Hand Warmers!

Hi All!!   First of all  I just wanted to THANK all of you who have added your links to my "It's a Creative Christmas" Party going on right now!  You guys are AWESOME!!!  If you haven't checked it out yet...you have to...you will definitely be inspired!

This next gift idea is one that I shared at Someday Crafts...but in case you missed it...here it is:  

Lil' Hand Warmers:

You just warm them up in the microwave...then place them in your kiddos pockets to keep their lil' fingers nice and toasty on those chilly days.

 Here's how I made mine:

 First I started with 4 pieces of scrap flannel ...and cut to the size I wanted... (I think mine was about 4"x6")

 Then I cut a heart shape in 2 of the pieces of flannel...

 Then found some green and white scrap fabric and cut 2 pieces the same size as the flannel...and placed behind the 2 pieces of flannel with the hearts...

Then stitched around all four edges...

 Then stitched around the heart...

 Then placed the heart piece of flannel and the blank piece of flannel wrong sides together and stitched all the way around  leaving a small opening...then turned it inside out...and poked the corners with a pencil making sure the corners were all out...

 Then filled with rice...

 Then hand-stitched the hole closed...

 And there ya have it!!!

A very SIMPLE and {inexpensive} project!

 Hmmmm....Wouldn't these make great stocking stuffers?!!

{FYI:  Speaking from experience...only microwave them for 1 minute.  I accidentally nuked one of mine for way too long {I think 3 min}.....and completely burnt the rice and my house smelled like it to. :) }  Other than that...my kids LoVe them! 

It's a {CrEaTiVe} CHRISTMAS!! Link-up PARTY!!!

Welcome to...

This is a chance for YOU to link-up Any or ALL of your FABULOUS Christmas Crafts, Projects, Decor, Recipes, Gift Ideas...OK...pretty much ANYTHING you want... that has to do with Christmas!!  I'm excited to see ALL of YOUR FuN ideas!!!

HaPpY HoLidays!!

Grab a button if you'd like! :)

<a border="0" href="http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-creative-christmas-link-up-party.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab89/stacie004/creativechristmasbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /> <br />

{CuTe} Neighbor Gift Idea!

Check out this FaB deal going on NOW at GroopDealz:

$4 Decorative Notes and Scroll Vinyl from Wonderfully Wordy {vinyl only}

{LoVe Shelley's  FuN blog:  House of Smiths!}

 

What a CuTe neighbor gift idea!!

Here are the Details:

These decals, are fabulous for putting on a plate, along with a dry erase marker and stand or for neighbor gifts this Holiday season, that will last for years to come! Jotting down quick notes in the kitchen has become fun! Adorable decor & Note taker, in one! Making a grocery list or simply scribbling down an "I love you" to kids or a significant someone, has become a cinch, with these chic vinyl decals and a simple plate!

Sooo...head on over to GroopDealz to buy this deal!!  

Another FaBuLous Play Kitchen!

Ok...can't you tell I just LoVe entertainment and side table transformations?!!

Well...check this one out!

From this:

 To this!!

I LOVE IT!! 

And... that chandelier is AdoRaBle!

You can check out more info on this Fun transformation...HERE!

Twice Lovely...thanks so much for sharing!!