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

My mum about 1968
I arrived in England with Linda and Lauren after a couple of years in Turkey to find my Mum had left to visit my two sisters in Chicago and this was taken on that visit. I caught up with them later which was to be my last time with Mum.

Credits:
Katie Pertiet: paper strip from La Cremerie Myrtille (slightly colored)
jewelry Tag, Flossy Stitches, Posted Valentines.

Chris (me) Background paper, frame.
Brushes: Jason Gaylor

We had a lovely visit from Ray, Lauren and Ally over the weekend and went out for supper - first time Howard and I ate beef in a long time! I think Linda, Jim and family were having too much fun in their boat on the Bay To join us!


Katie Pertiet: PinUp Vintage Frames at Designer Digitals- love those!
Gina Marie Huff: Believing in you at Weeds and Wildflowers
Chris (me) A gradient orange overlay for the bg paper.
" " Flower clusters that I had fun making in Photoshop.

A nice match for my couch!

Daughter Lauren wearing the perfect match for my couch!

I'm having a great time with these frames. This one's a little different in that I usually "paste into" the photo to the frame in Photoshop, but since this acts more like an overlay and blends into the photo, I place the frame on top and erase the rest of the photo. I'm going to try to insert cracks and tears so instead of a frame it will look like an old photo!
I wish I could figure this blogging stuff as well as I do Photoshop!

Credits:
The frame, page edging and paint splatter overlay by Chris (me)
Katie Pertiet, Black frame edgers
All the rest from
Lynn Greiveson, Amelie kit.

Never Forgotten

I have no other photos of my mum, brother and dad's sister from this era so used this old torn and cracked pic that cried out for a grunge layout!

I've restored this photo before, but recently decided that I like tears and folds in old photos. I loved a layout by Nevache (will link to DST later) It reminded me of an old worn 1890 magazine I had on the computer so decided to use it to fold around Katie's frame.

Credits: Chris Shoop (me): Grunge and folded frame, flowers and leaves, flag, cord. Katie Pertiet: LetterBox papers, FlossyStitches_yellow, Tiny PostageFrames, FiledPhotoFramesNo2 paperclip Kelley Mize: measured edges

Joey's Birthday Treat

I'm trying to link to credits on these, will learn this blogging one of these days!! The tear is mine and the paper is Katie Pertiet's Botanist 3

Our annual "Take grandson out for a Birthday treat" day!
This year it was off to buy a skateboard - not any old skateboard, mind you, this had to be the "pro" kind instead of the toy one from Target he'd been using. Ours came from Dick's and we had two very helpful young men get Joey fitted up with the best one for him but wouldn't break the bank for Pappy!

My daughter, Linda when we lived in Guam for a couple of years in the early seventies. I need to write down memories before they're forgotten!

After living in Turkey for two years we were returning to the United States for a short visit before our next stop in Japan.

The photos were taken not long after we encountered an angry anti-American mob! Click on picture to read journaling!

After journaling this event I realized the subject was way too serious for the style below!

Glow

Granddaughter Ally - This layout was for a Quote Circle Journal

Knitted Wedding

A hip young club called Cast off meet at a variety of places that has included a "knit-in" on Brighton beach (U.K.) during one of the town's festivals, and were also once thrown out of the London's posh Savoy hotel "because knitting just isn't done in public". A couple of years ago they held a Knitted Wedding. Everything at this wedding was knitted, from the cameras, to the dress, the food and decorations.

Knitted Wedding

Brandie and Randall

Our Granddaughter recently had a Daughter..... and that makes us Great Grandparents!