The West Country, England

We've been looking at our photos taken on our last visit to England and it's getting me a bit homesick. When we do our month long visit, we love to visit one of the West counties; Devon or Cornwall, then on to Wales for a week, up to the Lake District and down again to London for a visit with my family. Devon has many tourist spots along the coast and it's a nice visit after all the children go back to school and free of all the crowds. A raincoat and rain hat are always on hand, umbrellas are cumbersome and too easily left behind as we have our Cornish Pasty and chips along with our ale in one of the pubs for lunch.

If we have a large breakfast and skip lunch, a cream tea at one of the tiny tea shops or Patisserie is a must for later in the afternoon. In England supper extends to midnight in some areas.

Freebie Shabby Chic papers (Devon Cottage)

Our grt granddaughter, Brooke

Granddaughter, Ally

Brooke

Our daughter and grand daughter.

I've been re-visiting photos of our summer visits to Devon, England and am working on some shabby chic worn cottage-looking papers. These are a few of them and I hope to get the rest by next week. I'll also be adding a few elements (star spray, butterfly etc.) and some clipping masks.
The Word Quotes in the 2 lower L/O's are from PhotographyWordArt by Ali Edwards at Designer Digital.com
The Disney Land L/O is much paler than in Photoshop. I'll check a printed version and may have to modify it.
I'm using some word art (smile) "mod-quotes2" by Fei-fei's Stuff at Oscraps.com and in the L/O with 3 pictures "You" is from taylormade-signature3-alpha also at Oscraps.com. This last one was a lift and I have to go search who's it was lifted from.



Sorry, the Digital Paper Freebies are no longer available. 
~~ chris

Free pp in two links please scroll down

My great granddaughters, Brooke and Bria last December.
This is more of the King's Rd, Chelsea Papers that I'm offering as a freebie pack.

Chelsea was the home of many famous people: Shelley, Sir Thomas More and J W Turner. Oscar Wilde, George Eliot,and later Mick Jagger have all had homes there. It's most famous street, King's Road, is part of the long promenade that runs from the Royal Mews through Sloane Square. It was laid out by Charles II as a link between the Palace of Westminster and Hampton Court. In the fifties there were many boutiques and art galleries along this road, but now it's filled with the same shops as is found on most high streets.


Sorry, the Digital Paper Freebies are no longer available. 
~~ chris

"Dylan slept here" Chelsea in the 1950's

This paper and ribbon is offered as a freebie along with some other jeweled toned papers. Arty Chelsea in in the 50's was my inspiration.

Dylan Thomas slept here

London's Chelsea was once the place of writers and artists and a bit of Bohemia. My sister, Marie and her husband fit well as they made their home here before they moved to Rio de Janeiro in the fifties. Marie told me a story of the time she woke up one morning after Bill, her husband, had left for work and discovered one of his drinking buddies asleep on the couch. When he got up he wanted to make conversation, but being pretty upset with Bill, she made him leave. A few days later he arrived at her doorstep with a bunch of flowers that looked like they'd been picked from someone's garden, and they were tied with a shoelace. She said if she's known he was the famed poet, she'd have kept the lace, I told her I would have kept the couch and labeled it "Dylan slept here"


Sorry, the Digital Paper Freebies are no longer available. 
~~ chris

Kings Rd, Chelsea - Freebie Papers

I placed these in two packages so there are 2 download links.
There are the papers shown and 2 ribbons - one is translucent to take on the color beneath. I also included an extra red paper that's a little brighter for those of you without the program to do this yourself. I did the Butterfly at a very low resolution so it didn't look too good at close-up. I'll try to make one for my next pack later on. Hope you enjoy these, Chris

BTW the lower papers are a bit plain looking, but go will with the upper ones.


Sorry, the Digital Paper Freebies are no longer available. 
~~ chris

Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park

The paper from my paper pack giveaway below.
Tags are from KPertiet at Designer Digitals
Couldn't resist lifting PeppermintG's page at

PeppermintG 

Springtime Hyde Park

FREE PAPER PACK
I finally finished my first freebie. It's amazing how fiddly it is trying to get the final papers done. I have another 100 or so papers on my desktop all waiting to be processed.
When doing papers for my own pages it was simple and didn't matter if there were imperfections or didn't have the perfect texture, because I could fix as needed. Giving them to other people though - even if it's only a couple of folks, I had to make sure the design was centered and correct, the texture was subtle and not like a rocky beach when viewed at full view, the overlap was trimmed etc, etc.
I have to admit these are a little safe and sedate and not the wild grunge I usually like, but at least it's a start. Now to find out how to zip, name and upload to the proper place. Advice is invited.

Well duh!! After searching the web,and even asking on twitter where to get a zip program on my Mac (I used to have one on Windows) A kindly gentleman told me it w as already on my mac but called the archive!


Sorry, the Digital Paper Freebies are no longer available. 
~~ chris

Dance little lady

Ally's dance lesson.
The background paper and dancing dolls are by chris (me), the clipping mask is from Annna Aspnes kit : 12X12PageHPFotoBlendz2_.

There's this British paper cutting artist that does wonderful paper sculptures coming out of books. Seeing them was an inspiration for doing my - more stylized paper dolls.

Su Blackwell: http://sublackwell.blogspot.com/

George

My brother George.

I saw a movie-star grid like this on the net so made one for my brother's photos.
I need to give credit for the texture background - will hunt it down.

Maybe I wont delete this blog after all.

Except for the occasional visitor, I thought I was pretty much alone here posting pages for my family to see. They have busy lives and only look if I show them, so I gradually started to neglect my two blogs. I finally decided to get rid of both of them and just keep my stuff on my computer.

I was shocked when I discovered Picasa, and found out the number of views I was getting. Some of my layouts have over a thousand hits, I realize this is not many to some active blogs, but when you think no one is watching, it is! I now feel guilty that I haven't been posting the credits for my layouts. Most are from designerdigitals.com, or made by me.

My original intent for blogging was to use it to give away freebies of the many papers and elements I was making in Photoshop. Now I know I have visitors, I might just try to learn how to do that.

Life on Silver Lake

We sit and watch nature do its thing as people play in their party boats
and the camp children maneuver their bright blue kayaks out of the way.
The occasional seaplane disrupts the quiet as it positions itself to span the breadth of the lake.
We watch an eagle scoop its supper with a single plunge as the camera gets ready to open its eye. . . .not soon enough.
The ducks also sense the click and so dance a little ditty as they scamper on their way.
Yes we watch while the heron. . . .or is that a crane? sweeps down to find a spot amongst the reeds.
We sit, we wait, and we watch. . . .


I've used my words about our visits to Silver Lake before, also the photo but Anna Aspnes Fun Play kit brought them together in a different way.

Joey skateboard

Christmas Decorations

Meeting Santa

Meeting up with my daughter and two of her children and her two grandchildren at the mall. It was over an hour wait the little ones did well in line until we were almost at the end. The little one, Bria, spilled her drink all over her tights and Brooke, who was so excited before, decided she didn't want to meet Santa. Fortunately there was a Gymboree close by so I rushed and bought an overall and Linda just changed her in time. Couldn't get a smile from them!

I made the bubbles from a web tutorial

Ally, our Granddaughter has this expression every time I ask her what she's thinking about!

Our Great granddaughter, Bria, as she was when we left for our trip.

Bria no longer a baby!

Bria
We haven't seen you since before we left for our trip and what surprise to see you have grown so much - from a baby to a toddler. Where did that baby nose and those big saucer eyes go?

Everything from DesignerDigitals.com except the glass balls and the background papers. Oh, and the stitching holes that I scanned a number of years ago from real stitching holes.
.......................................................................................

The glass balls: (This isn't a tutorial, just the steps I took)
for the ball cover I used Filters: Render > Lens Flare and Distort >Polar Coordinates
then used the tools: Transform, Radial Gradient, and Color Burn.

Underneath with Katie's ornament brush, I took it into styles and played around with stripes and a couple of other styles (turned off the shadows because it would flatten the ball. A real hanging ball would send a cast shadow if close to a wall or such)

Then tweaked with the Burn and Dodge tools, and set the transparency for the glass cover so the underneath pattern would show through (had to add more highlights because of this)
Katie's ornament brush was great because it already had a pattern, top, and hanger.

Yokohama Festival

I've been sorting through the slides I scanned a couple of years ago. These go all the way back to the fifties.



On this particular Sunday, our best friends were having their son Baptized, so I fortunately popped the camera in my purse. I'm almost sure the slides were bright and clear once upon a time, but they're dark with many mold spots now. Lots of Photoshop work! Japan, 1970

Yokohama Festival

We had just left the Chapel one Sunday morning after the Baptism of Caroline and Paul's son, and found ourselves in the midst of crowds of people waiting for something to happen. There wasn't anything for us to do but join the crowd, since our car was blocked in by theirs and them! At first we heard a faint sound of music that got louder and louder and suddenly the street was filled with lines of colorfully kimonoed ladies, and some guys carrying a very long dragon and having so much fun as they laughed and ran down the street with it! Japan 1970

Fishing in England

A long time since I posted!
I found these slides but couldn't make out what was on them until I scanned them into Photoshop and lightened them.

This is my Brother and his son, I think it might be the Devon or Cornwall coast, I can see the sea in other slides - I'll have to write and ask him. I have the twin to the jacket he's wearing. Eileen, his wife, gave it to me on my way to Turkey and it really saved me from the bitter winds from the Sea of Marmara, while I stood and waited for my bus that took me to Karamürsel several times a week.

A Very British Cream Tea

Three of my brother George's children.

Trafalgar Square, London, 1981

I'm doing an album for my two daughters from slides of all the places they've been. Credits later

This was a trip to England to meet their relatives. They were so surprised to find so many cousins their same age!
They were climbing the lions in Trafalgar Square when these two lads came by. They were fascinated by Linda's accent and wanted to know more about America. Cousin Joanne is looking on.

Guam

Lucille's daughter, Lauren, Linda and Lucille with her son.
This is the area where a Japanese soldier held out from WW2. He was discovered in his hiding cave in 1972.

Skyline Drive, Virginia 1965

Linda with her dad.

Linda with me. This was a lift of Christina's page on Designer Digitals website

Japan 1970

On a trip to the five grand Lakes of Japan. I'm looking in the direction of Mount Fuji, but Howard didn't capture it in the photo so I added a later pic.





My two little girls, Linda and Lauren. Yokohama, Japan

Lauren

Grandson, Mikey on the boat to Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod.

Linda Contentment

Granddaughter, Brandy.

Our great grand daughter, Brooke.
Credits from Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals
The paper curl is mine

Trader Joe's missing recipe!

I got a bit fed up with my other, unfinished layout so put it aside for a while!!
Trader Joe's recently opened a store close by and of course we had to go see what the buzz was all about. I love their tasting bar for testing new foods before I buy, and so far I've loved their spinach salad with cranberries, pecans and cheese.
In spite of the green tinge caused by the pesto, I also really like the Pesto Orzo with pine nuts and parmesan cheese. I put the recipe and ingredients somewhere, and can't find it - darn!

Credits:
All from Designer Digitals -
Jackie Eckles
je_big_quirky_stitches_1.
je_10amFontChat_paper1

KPertiet_CurledNotePaper
KPertiet Sunday Ad Challenge
je_10amFontChat_paper1

Ikebana Lesson 1970

Although I spent a number of years studying the art of Japanese flower arranging, there were rarely, if any photos of me arranging because I was always the one behind the camera!

Journaling:
Edosan, showing the lines of soe to a friend.

Once a week our teacher would travel all the way
from Tokyo just for us five girls!

Our lesson was always such a treat. Besides talk
of flowers, there was always good conversation on
Japanese philosophy and art

Credits:
Doris Castle:BG paper:CreamBordered, LeJardin
Frame: ARafaello_tattered_n_torn_sample
C Renee_AlphaBits
Gina Cabrera: Bow_Floral, Ribbon_OrangeFlower_Brown
Paper_Sweet_Blooms
RME_oriental_stamp6. RME_oriental_fan RME_oriental_paper8
Ztampf PhotoTurn_Arrow2, Soul Searching kit
Font: urura

Oh Christmas Tree

Our grandson about four years ago!

all from Jofia's Warm Christmas kit

Getting all Nostalgic!

I've been looking at all the warm and inviting Christmas pages at Designer Digitals, and seeing the one that Mollie posted, with her tree filled with ornaments collected from all over the world, and each with a special memory attached, makes me a bit nostalgic for my "big tree" with the ornaments that are packed in numerous boxes in the garage!

For the past few years we've enjoyed fewer decorations and a smaller, thinner tree that doesn't take so many weeks to put up. It can only handle my lighter ornaments that are mostly a collection of artist's designs. I never realized I'd been choosing angel ornaments when I bought or bartered with other artists and craftspeople, until I gathered them all together, so now I call this my "angel" tree!

I had planned to give up on the "big tree", but reading Mollie's page makes me want to get mine out at least one more time before sharing them with Linda and Lauren.

"Christmas Dinner Menu, 2007"

Click pics to enlarge.

THE MENU:
While waiting for the rest of the family, Lauren lights the
candles to warm the table for Christmas Dinner. Prime rib,
roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding are keeping warm,
while Lauren’s chocolate fondue with strawberries, chocolate
cake balls, and other delicacies to dip, wait until after we’ve
opened our gifts. Linda and family are on their way with
the vegetables and an apple pie for dessert.
In the hustle of finishing the dinner, I forget the bread
and spinach salad, but because of all the other foods these
aren’t missed!

Credits:
Jessica Sprague template
From Designer Digitals:
Dana Zarling Paper: Grungy Christmas
Katie Pertiet: Old Time Christmas Kit
Doodle Do Title Borders
Lil Metal Charms_Christmas Collection

"Christmas Day"

Linda, our oldest daughter in front of the tree on her first Christmas. I remember the toys well. The tall plastic sailor toy went missing while we were visiting New York the following year. She'd thrown it out of the car window!
Everything by Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals.

Faces of Christmas

Jessica Sprague template
from Designer Digitals:
Dana Zarling: Grungy Christmas
Pattie Knox: FeltFriends_Reindeer Dudes

Remember

Christina Rennee frame

I did manage to get one useable photo of granddaughter Ally at our family Thanksgiving dinner!



I used Jofia Devoe's Happy Island kit - so much fun to play with!

Ally

Granddaughter Ally at the playground. Most all the shots that day turned out blurry! Ally was so active and didn't stay still for a minute so that didn't help, plus I need some sort of tripod. Maybe I should stick to trees and flowers that don't move!


I had a hard time concentrating on this and ended up lifting part (the left side) from wildchild
Plus Inspiration from Lynns gallery at Designer Digitals

designerdigitals.com

Lynn Grieveson: Amelie Kit
Katie Pertiet: Curled Note Paper

My great granddaughter Brooke, fascinated by the sound of wind chimes, reaches up to try and grab them.



4 frames were slightly enlarged and arranged around the edge. Pink paper on top and edges selected with lasso tool and cleared (deleted). A lightened version of the pink paper was chosen with the picker to be used as a stroke around the edge (1 pixel stroke). A drop shadow was given to the pink paper - the color was a very dark version of the pink.
Her hand was selected and cut out and a soft eraser cleaned it up. The photo was cropped below the hand and placed into a frame, The cut out hand was then positioned in place.

All items from Vera Lim of Vera Lim of Vera Design

They really did wear dresses that short back then!
My daughters outside our home in Yokohama, Japan about 1970


I used De Anna's (Rubia) wonderful outline technique she shared at Designer Digitals

Paper from KPertiet_VintageWinter
Frame - KPertiet_SunPrintFrames-3.png
Butterfly from Katie Pertiet
Rhonna Farrer bird
IOD papers apron strings
Chris (me) tears and brushes
font :earwig factory, CK Double Mou

Guam very early 70's
Lynn Grieveson: Island Blues kit found at Designer Digitals
Christine Renee_WildflowerStamps_FloralFrame

Jen wilson Meaning 1