I took these photos with the Hipstamatic Camera on my Iphone.  Using the Dahli DreamCanvas film, the results look more like a painting than a photo.   

They make me want to paint. 

I have a great dog!  

We gave up not allowing her to be on the couch... I mean how can you wake THIS to get it off?  

Camille has wanted her name on her Wall for years. I finally got around to keeping my promise. 

When I was at Hobby Lobby this weekend, I came across these whimsical letters for a mere $2.99 each!

Any flat letter will work.   

I learned how to do this years ago when I took a workshop by Donna Downey.

You will need :

Letters

 Scrapbook paper

Mod Podge and sandpaper

Paint the letter with a layer of Mod podge making sure it is painted on evenly. 

Lay a piece of scrapbook paper over the letter and press the paper down quickly.

 I used a bone folder to smooth out any bumps from the Mod Podge.  Make sure the edged are glued down.  

I glued them all so they could dry while I sanded the first one.  

You don't cut the paper, you sand the paper around the letter... Did that make sense?  

Sand the edges until the paper sort of falls off... takes a little bit of work.  lol 

But with perseverance... you will eventually get this... It really doesn't take that long... just watch some Downton Abby and the time will fly by! ;) 

You can sand the paper a little on the edge to give it that worn look. 

The last step is to give each letter a couple or three coats of the Mod Podge.  Of course let each layer dry before applying the next. :) 

Now you have a set of Letters that can spell just about anything!  I have some letters that I have had for years that spell CREATE. of course I have not finished them yet.. They were supposed to go into that studio I am going to have one day.  

I hope this inspires someone to make their own letters.  Let me know if you do ! :) 

Photos taken with my iphone

Today is the 2nd day we woke up with a chill in the air.  Campers come to breakfast in their footy PJ's, Sweaters and sweatshirts. They are worn until the day wakes up and layers are shed.  Just the way camp should be... in the Mountains.  

So there is something about January 1st that screams NEW BEGINNING.  I know every ad and talk show throws it in our face "New Years Resolution"  "what will you change" etc... but January 1st has always had that sort of effect on me. 

For me, after all the craziness, clutter, stress and gluttony of the Holidays, in order to stay sane a clean slate has to be made.

Since I can remember the Christmas tree has been taken down on January 1st.  All the Christmas decorations are taken down and packed up to wait another year to be seen again.  After all the craziness of the Holidays... after all the mess of opening presents... after all the food has been made and leftovers eaten... I clean it all up.  Clean living space... clean mind.  Clean mind... happy thoughts.

Another good thing about the new year is I know that after the Winter solstice the days are going to get longer.  I always start to get depressed in September. I love the Fall weather but I hate the shorter days.  January means it is only going to get better because in 2 months Spring will arrive.  And oh how Spring make me HAPPY! 

Clean Slate does not mean forget the mistakes of the past year... all mistakes were made for a reason, they help me become a better person so I can handle the mistakes I will inevitably make this year.  I do not think of mistakes as a bad thing... (this is good since I have made more mistakes in my past than I care to name.)

All of this makes me excited to start new.  This year I am putting together a studio . We have an extra room and I am making it mine.  I need a place to play, create and be inspired.   (I will be posting photos on the progression of my studio.)  This year I am also going to continue to think positive (thoughts become things) and being thankful everyday no matter what and making my dreams come true...

So I raise my glass for the start of a clean slate.. a new year.. a new decade and all the great things that are about to happen!!   *click*

 Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens.. Bring in Luck for the new year!

After seeing a friend's status update, I started thinking about this past decade.  (Wow  d e c a d e = 10 freak'in years!!)  In the last 10 years I have birthed two babies (now amazing kids) started a fairly  s u c c e s s f u l  business that I  L O V E D , owned my first house, got a divorce, lost my best friend (not to death), lost my business, lost my home that I owned, moved to a new place and became a single mother.   I saw my highest h i g h s and my lowest of lows. 

I also l e a r n e d  that I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I learned that every negative would eventually turn into a positive. I learned that I can make way better friends! I learned how important family is(even though I don't say                    T h a n k  Y o u  nearly enough)  I am learning to really like who I am.  I learned that I am Not  P e r f e c t  and that is O K ! (with me anyway) And I learned that I am a    g o o d  mother (because I have two fabulous kids).  

So would I go back and do the last 10 years again?   A B S O L U T L Y!  

Here is to an exciting, scary, sad, happy,  p r o s p e r o u s  next 10 years!!

Happy New Year!!

She is so tiny...

Sweet Annie...

Had to put her in the flowers..

 Now there are four! What great kids!

Watch the slide show to see some of the others from the photo shoot.

Book your photo shoot soon.. May is filling up fast!

 So sweet... she was only around a week old here

Now look at her.  At 5 months old she is full of smiles and personality.

this shot was easy back then...all a sleep and little.

Now she is busy and rolling.. this was not as easy of a shot as before..

Here is a slide show of some of my favorite shots from Alice's 5 month session.

Thank you Cramer family I can't wait for the next session.