Lenses For Hire

Just posted on Deborah Jane Photography, please take a look.

Blue Moon

Hi all

Just posted on my photography blog.   Please take a look.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 53

Hi everyone.

It's time for another Truly Scrumptious challenge.  The theme this time is a TAG.  You can make a tag on its own, or incorporated into a card or other project. 

I've chosen to make a rather masculine card with a favourite leaf stamp.  I've spritzed the tag with different colours, including some mica powder based spray. 

Here's a close up of all the colours blended together.  If you want to have a go, then pop over to Truly Scrumptious and take a look at what the rest of the design team has done. 

Photography Session

Hi there.

Please take a look at my latest photography session on My Photography Blog.  I'm just starting up my business, and am hoping you will help me get the word out there.   

Thank you.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 50

Hi everyone....it's time for another challenge from Truly Scrumptious ....

We have a lovely sketch for you today, and a great prize.

I've used a pink and green theme for my card, with a rather lovely tree stamp and adding some pink gems for a little sparkle. 

 

I added flowers from Prima topped of with roses.  Why not have a look at what my team buddies have made, and get some inspiration to have a go yourself.

Take care and happy crafting.

First Official Newborn Shoot

Hi all.

Well here I am again with my latest project.  I still dabbling in the photographic area, and with a willing subject I'm having a great time. 

So today I got together with my Daughter-In-Law and little baby Grandson to do my first proper newborn shoot.  I have been patiently waiting for the opportunity to do a proper shoot, as it's something I'm really considering in branching out in on a more professional level. 

I've been doing a alot of research over the past few weeks, and think I'm ready to give it a 'shot' now.  I went over to my Daughter-In-Laws home with my camera, and a little equipment, and had a really productive session.  I'm really pleased with the outcome, and thought I'd share a couple of shots with you today. 

I'm so proud of these shots, and have another session booked on Sunday, this time to include Daddy...my very proud son. 

Thank you for visiting me today.  I would love to hear your comments.

Precious Baby

Hi all

I managed to take a few photo's of my Grandson Harry yesterday. It didn't quite go how I wanted it too, but I got a couple of nice ones.  I prefer to photograph in daylight, but didn't manage to do that, so I got that mean colour cast you get from tungston lights, on top of blurred images from a slow shutter speed.  However. I'm pleased with this shot I'm posting today. 

I used The Coffee Shop actions: Eye Bright and Creamy Chocolate B&W again.  I just love this action, it has a lovely warmth to it.  If you want to know more about The Coffee Shop, I have a link on my side bar.

Now I'm after doing a few more baby shoots in a more artistic style.  I might offer free sessions for newborns to get some practice.  Thanks for taking the time to visit me today. 

More Action

Hi all.

Today I'm showing a photo that I took of my Granddaughter, Nicole, a few months ago....It's another one that I've been experimenting with Actions from The Coffee Shop Blog.  I think the main thing with actions, like most things, is understanding how they work.  Once you've done that, then you can adjust the settings and layers to your liking.  Easy!!!!  Well not quite, but I understand more about them today, that yesterday.

So....The one I've used today is Creamy Chocolate B&W....It doesn't just convert your photo to black and white, but also adds a faint creamy/chocolate tint.  You probably can't see the difference on this shot alone, but against a simple black and white one you can.  I love it......

I used the Eye Bright action first, then the Creamy Chocolate B&W one.  I absolutely Love the result. 

Tomorrow I'm going to do a photo session with my newest Grandson....3 week old Harry.  I hope it's successful.

Getting Creative With Photoshop

Hi all hope you are well.

I'm starting to play around a bit more with Photoshop CS2.  I've seen so many lovely photos that have been successfully enhanced using lots of different techniques. 

Recently I came across a blog called The Coffee Shop.   It's run by a lovely and very talented lady called Rita.  Now Rita is also very generous....She writes actions for Photoshop and lets you download them for FREE...how good is that.

Anyway, as I'd seen so many beautiful shots using her actions I thought I'd try and work through one of them.  I downloaded and installed EYE BRIGHT.  Now I've never used actions before myself, and I can tell you it was not easy to get my head round it at first.  However, now I think I've got it, and can't wait to try more.  I do need a bit more practice with this one, but at least I'm on my way now.  Here's what I did:

As you can see, this action has made quite a dramatic difference to the eyes.  They really POP now.  I've still got a way to go before I really get the best out of it, but I think this is not bad for my first attempt.  If you love photography, and want to learn more about Photoshop, and actions, then check out Rita's blog.

Thanks for tuning in. 

Truky Scrumptious Challenge 48

Hi all. 

It's time for another challenge over at Truly Scrumptious, and we have another fabulous sketch for you, with the optional theme of 'Dreaming Of Summer' and a fabulous prize up for grabs too.

So get out your stash, and have a go. 

I turned the sketch round 90degrees and here is the result.

I've used this Magnolia image of Edwin riding his bike.  There's nothing quite like enjoying summer bicycle rides, I just love them.  I've used Edwin because I needed an image that would suit my grandson....it's a card for his birthday later this month....hope he likes it.  

I used a punch by Stampin' Up! for the leaves, and added some dots of liquid pearls to resemble simple flowers....don't want my grandson to think it's a girls card now do I?  He'll only be six, but you know how funny they can be even at that age.  I added a sun button that I've had ever since I started papercrafting, which adds that last touch of summer....lets hope we get lots of sun when summer eventually comes.

Thanks for looking

Bye for now....

Debbie xx

Baby Layout

Hiya

Hope you're all having a good day.

I've begun my spring cleaning after taking down the Christmas decorations...Hardly anyone keeps them up until the twelvth night anymore, we tend to want to get them down and start cleaning. 

Anyway, I've used my couple of days off to do a little crafting, and thought I'd try to get back into scrapbooking a bit more, especially as I love photography so much.  I have to say it's a short post, although you'll pehaps be glad of that....I'll let the photo's say the words. 

So here's what I did:

I'd be glad to receive your comments, and if there's anything you'd like to know, then please don't hesitate to ask.  Thanks for visiting me today.

Mojo Monday 171

Hi all

Well I'm back with my first card of 2011.  I've followed the Mojo Monday sketch challenge this week.  It's a great sketch as you get to choose a round or square design.

As my eldest daughter is celebrating her 30th (can't believe I have a daughter that old) birthday today, this one is for her.  And as her birthday is in the middle of winter, I thought I'd make it a wintery card using cold blue's with a touch of caramel. 

 I've used a mix of stamps for this one.  The lovely Miss Anya from The Greetings Farm for my main image.  She's coloured with Copic markers which I love.  Grunge stamps from Stempleglede form the borders, stamped with Creamy Caramel ink from Stampin' Up! 

The Prima flowers are decorated with some chunky Twinklets glitter from Hobbycraft just around the edges...almost as if they've caught a bit of frost.  The leaves are from a Sizzix die, and the flourish from a punch.  I added a little Glossy Accents to the edges of the leaves too.

Enjoy the rest of your day, and thanks for visiting.

Let Me Introduce You....

Hi everyone.

Well here he is....my brand new Grandson Harry George.  Born on 26th December 2010 at 8.59pm, weighing in at 8lb 10oz.  A perfectly healthy beautiful boy.  I'm so lucky.  That makes four grandchildren for me now.

When I first saw Harry I thought he looked just like his dad....My son Paul....so I dug out a photo of Paul so you could judge for yourselves....It's not that great a photo as it was taken by a very old basic camera, but I think you can see enough of a likeness.  It'll be interesting to see how Harry develops, and if he stays looking like his father.

Merry Christmas

Hi everyone.

Sorry it's been a while....I've been working so hard, I've hardly had a minute to think.  I'm going to make a conscious effort to be a better crafter/blogger in the new year.  I've let things take me away from what I really love doing, and I miss all you guys, so I'm coming back.

Anyway before I do I want to end this year on a high, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I am eagerly awaiting the birth of my fourth grandchild.  He's already ten days late, but it looks like it could be within the next 24 hours now, so I'm really excited.  I'm crossing my fingers for my lovely son and daughter-in-law, and praying that everything goes well for them.

I'll post some pics when the baby finally arrives, then I'll be starting some projects in the new year.  No doubt some of them will contain baby photos. 

The photo is from part of my Christmas tree this year.  It's only a small tree (3ft), but I love the decorations which were all new this year.

Take care

Hi there.

For the past year I've been attending a local dance class specialising in UK Smooth, and run by Mr Dave Plummer.  It's a most enjoyble pastime, and good excercise as well as great fun.

So when I had a recent house party, I invited along some of my dancing buddies, along with Mr P the choreographer.  Here's a little video of us at my house.  It's a bit close and you can't see a full length shot, but you can see how much fun we're having.

Enjoy.....

Thanks for watching

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 44

Hello everyone.

It's been a while since I posted a card, so apologies for that...I've been busy with non-crafty stuff, and then I was ill, so no crafting for a while.

BUT...

Now I'm back with a fantastic challenge from Truly Scrumptious.  We have a fab sketch with the optional challenge of including petals, pins or pearls.   So with this in mind, I've used pearls and petals, but alas no pins.

The photo's not that good as I took my shots after dark, but at least you can get the idea.

My gorgeous little image is by CC Designs, and I just love it.   This card is only 4" x 4" so it's quite small, but perfectly formed...I hope you'll agree.   All the papers, cardstock and inks are from Stampin' Up!, and the image is coloured with Copic's. 

If you want to have a go at our challenge, then pop on over to the Truly Scrumptious challenge blog where you find all the details. 

Final Note On Stampin' Up!

I do love Stampin' Up! products, but for now I had decided to step down from my demoship.  I have other things going on which means I don't have enough time to do everything I want to.  I may go back in the future, and I will still keep using SU products as I do believe in them.  Thank you to all those that supported me during the last year.