More Editing Fun

Here are some more pictures that I have been playing with. All techniques were learned from a Free class by Jessica Sprague. Enjoy!

I know you have seen this picture before, but I couldn't help myself with the recoloring lesson. Her skirt is so colorful and fun, I had to play with it again.
This is my sweet little niece. I just love this shot on children. It is flattering and beautiful to see their little faces at this angle. This lesson was originally a texture lesson but I did not like the way it turned out. I'm going to try it again with another technique later.

This was a texture lesson. Did you know that you can put textures on your photos? Seriously. Any texture in the world. Here is a link of 50 free textures. I haven't downloaded any yet but there are a few on here that I must have. This photo is supposed to mimic and old fashioned daguerreotype. These were the old pictures that were exposed on a mirror like surface. One of the first images of Abraham Lincoln was taken this way. You may not get as excited about this as I do, but if you can imagine the endless possibilites of textures you can use on your photos...man, it's crazy. :)

B started swimming lessons and Sis had been feeling left out. If you look close, I put a texture on this one. I like how this one turned out.

This one is very textured. I think I added three. It is definately something you wouldn't want to do on every photo but it really gives some punch if you want to add some drama to a pic.

Nothing super exciting here. The lesson was on how to burn edges. What it does is darken the outside edges so it brings your eye to the focal point. It adds a little drama. Fun technique.

:)

Just for Fun

I have been taking a free editing class from JessicaSprague.com. I have been enjoying myself. These are the pictures I have been playing with. I will just tell you now that I love the digi world. I love that I can take a picture and play with it to either enhance it or to add motion or words. If you want to learn some of this stuff, this is the website to go to.

Time and Cake

Here we are in the second week of July. Can you believe it? I can't. June seemed to fly by, and I had so many intentions to do more. Life threw me a curve ball and I'm still trying to pick up the pieces. Losing someone you love is a mind boggling and heart wrenching experience. There are all the "what ifs" and "regrets" I have to deal with on a daily basis. I miss her everyday. She was my rock, my constant in life. Someone who loved me, faults and all. She took care of me. Made me breakfast, packed my lunch, came to all my ball games, and lifted me up with her pride in me. She made me feel special and most importantly, loved.

I truly believe we are here in this world to learn. We have our daily lessons, but then we have the hard lessons that we can only learn through trials. I am not a super religious type. I honestly have struggled with my testimony in the last couple of years. I think losing her has forced me to look at myself and find what I really believe in. Through this trial I have learned:

1. There is a loving Heavenly Father who cares about me.

2. There is a heaven or after life.

3. I have to choose to believe. If I choose this, then faith will follow.

4. Money isn't important. It is our family that we must always put first.

5. We are here to make memories with the people we love. Don't pass that up and make excuses.

6. Always say "I love you", it may be the last time.

7. Write in your journal, or write a personal history. Your children and grandchildren will cherish that piece of you.

I actually didn't intend on writing this. Sorry for being so personal.

Now onto the cake part of this post. (Not that one has to do with the other. It's just my usual randomness. It is just a sign that life moves on.) My cousin had a wedding (ring ceremony) last weekend and I had the opportunity to make her wedding cake. This is my fifth (I think) wedding cake and by far my tastiest. I haven't done one for awhile and forgot how much I enjoyed doing wedding cakes. My sister and I would actually love to start a bakery at one point. *sigh* Maybe someday. This is a White Almond Cake with Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse Filling. It is frosted in Buttercream. Flowers were done by Daisy Hollow in Idaho.

I hope everyone is having an awesome summer. Now that the sun has decided to shine, eh? :)