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!!

Photography Friday!! {Beautify It}

"Beautify It."

This is where you will take a sooc image (straight out of camera) from Stacie, I, or one of you and we all edit it in photoshop using whatever techniques we know/love. This can also be done at picnik.com for those who don't have photoshop. You will then come back and link your image so we can all enjoy/learn together!

Welcome back! Camilla here. Today we are going to link up using this photo from last week:
I'm excited to see everyone's versions!

Here is mine: 
I won't go into a lot of depth about what I did since I'll probably save some of the techniques for a photo shop lesson, but the main tools I used were: dodge, unsharp mask, and the b&w filter.

Here is Stacie's:

I used PSE7...first I cropped, bumped up the saturation, adjusted skin tone, defined eyes a little more, added a surface and edge blur, then lightly burned the edges.
And now your's! Link it up below! Be sure to link to your specific post...and if you'd like...let us know what program you used!  Also, check out other's work and tell them what you like! I will also be looking at everyone's, and answering any specific questions. Till next week!HAVE FUN and Beautify It!

<a border="0" href="http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/search/label/photog%20friday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab89/stacie004/photogbutton4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /> <br />

"Beautify It."

This is where you will take a sooc image (straight out of camera) from Stacie, I, or one of you and we all edit it in photoshop using whatever techniques we know/love. This can also be done at picnik.com for those who don't have photoshop. You will then come back and link your image so we can all enjoy/learn together!

Come join the LIVE chat TONIGHT about Christmas Goodies Crafts and Decor!!

Hi everyone!!

Just wanted to give a quick heads up on a LIVE chat going on at the the BlogFrog Frugal Living Community TONIGHT from 8 to 9 Mountain Time...where I will be joining the FaBuLouS gals at

 to talk about Christmas treats, crafts, and decor!!  Sooo come on over...and join in on the FuN!!

See ya there!!

Graham Cracker Goody-ness!

Every year my mother-in-law puts together a kit with everything needed to make these FuN graham cracker houses.  She puts graham crackers, candy,candy bars, cookies, powder sugar, 'just whites", cream of tarter, etc...and sends it to us.  I just make the frosting up...then put in baggies with decorative heads...and let the kids go at it!  They have a BLAST making and creating whatever they want.   It is so FuN to watch them!   I have listed the awesome GLUE frosting recipe below!

Frosting for Graham Cracker Houses:

First combine:

2 Tbsp. "Just Whites"

6 Tbsp. warm water

Stir gently for 2 min with wisk...then mix with mixer to soft peak stage

Then add:

3 3/4 C. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. cream of tarter

And mix for 10 min.

Then {if you don't have cake decorating bag} cut the corner off of a  large Ziploc bag...add cake decorating tips and add frosting. HAVE FUN!

{Darling} Play Kitchen!!

From this:

 To this!

Ok...THIS is what I want to make for my little girl for Christmas!  This play kitchen is from The Land of the Oz Fam...and I LOVE IT!!  We don't have a ton of room for a huge entertainment center kitchen...so this end table kitchen is perfect!

You can check out more info on this FaBuLouS project here!

Katie Oz...thanks so much for sharing!