A Bit East-coast: stampin up

and i am sorry for taking a lifetime to update. thank you all for requesting for an update...nice to be wanted & missed!!! i have just been in a slump...and i have had deadlines to make...being in my slump is what really had me away for so long.

thank goodness for the mail!!! i have tons of new stamps that I have been dying to use...and this is my favorite time to scrap-VALENTINE....love it when new Valentine stuff comes out...I am dying for new MM...so to address this need I pulled out last years stuff & some of my new Hero Arts (floral background & always script & "just for you") & Stampin Up (definitions & words on tiny tags)) stamps to make this hearts. I am not sure if I will hang them with ribbons or attach thne to a blank canvas I have-hummm!!

I hope these hearts inspire you & makes up for the long wait to see something new!!!

so I need to add some photos..not only were you all looking for a new post...but my Mom was looking for new photos...so let me spoil her with her pride & joys...

the holidays were sweet...Mira received one of her top wishes from Santa-a Nintendo DS lite...and she even gave Kiela her gameboy-whoa!!

Miss Kiela was happy to get a Leapster LMax...it's cool like a DS or a gameboy...but all hers!!!

you gotta love this one...she is a goof...

she's trying to get out of photos...see she has the Wii control on her arm...

so my gift from Santa was a new lens-woohooo!!

my girls have a major love for littlest pets shop, polly pockes and my little pony...and Snata brought lots of it...

this is the girls today in Kiela's room...i struggle with finding the right settings for taking photos in her room...it gets tons of light...but since it's pink, it has a weird cast when i take photos...gets very yellow...but I am trying to find my settings...

so i printed off a few of my fave photos to take and have framed...i want a cool photo wall...very inspired by PB photo walls...

I had to do a MM Blog project using a MM tool...I used the Instant Setter/Slot tool...to make notches for the tag & journal strips...and to set the brads....

Ok, i think i have made Grandma very happy...hope you all enjoy the update too...i now need to scrap Garden stuff!!! thanks for all the commments....i'll answer questions next update...

i just wanted to take some photos today...am i asking them for too much???? these two are not my fave people when i am taking their picture, especially when they are TOGETHER.

you see i just upgraded to CS3....and I have been playing around with my camer in Raw-thanks to Laura! So I need to practice. you need to know-i really don't know what i am doing. i am a big faker, lol!!! i like to seem like i *know* what i am doing. i really just play with buttons & functions i hear real serious photographers talk about!!!! i hope to take classes when i am back in the states...til then i will continue to fake it-and hope for the best!!!

oh, and....three weeks...three weeks off...mira has three weeks off now...Christmas & winter break has started...pray for my sanity!!!! we will be baking cookies tonight...

sweet moment, yeah right...these two are fakers too

i needed new ones of her most of all!!!

new for the Garden...

hero arts snowflake stamps & joy definition stamps

Questions & Answers!!!!!!

I am glad you all enjoyed my Heidi story...it was killing me keeping that in!!

love the photos.

your garden projects, the cards from 1 sheet of 12x12, what are your measurements?

thanks

Posted by: stephanie | Monday, December 10, 2007 at 09:04 PM

hum, not real sure steph...i do cut it in half...one piece i fold down the longest side...then i might cut a bit off the bottom-that piece makes a cute mini card!! that's a big help, huh?!

the stampin up heat & stick powder is at the bottom of the page to the right!

I just love the way you take photos of your layouts ! Whould you share the secret ? Do you have so much natural light in your room and what settings on the camera do you use ?
Thank you very much and greetings from Germany
Barbara

Posted by: Barbara | Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 01:49 AM

hi barbara!!! i get so much light...even on cloudy days. i usually stay in manual mode...i like keeping my exposure at the lowest....and adjusting my iso as needed-lower if it's really sunny..remember i am lucky to have great light!!!

Oh my goodness.. "accidently" found this blog..
just clickerdieclickerdieclick and link by link... I found you
and GIRL..
I SOOO love what I see..
your pictures.. your art.. that way you comment on comments..
Super!
Mireille from Holland.

Posted by: mireille | Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 03:08 AM

i love it when people find me like that...welcome Mireille!!

girl, you know you ROCK!!!

How was meeting Heidi? Isnt she more down to earth than you thought?

Posted by: Charisse | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:17 PM

she really is!!!

Hi, Keisha!

Haven't been here in a while and wanted to pop in and say hi... I love what you did with the scarlet lime kits -- I got the November one, and it rocked! :-)

You really are a great photographer! The pics of your little one in the snow are amazing. We may be having snow this weekend, so maybe I'll get some kewl pics to scrap with.

Merry Christmas, and lots of love and hugs!

~Denise

Posted by: dhill | Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:42 PM

hey denise!! i shocked myself with the snow photos!!!

Oh Keisha, Did you make the frames? I know I bought some of yours in the past and I can't remember where? Help!! I want them and love them. Thanks so much! Mary Ann

Posted by: mary ann allen | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 02:34 PM

Hi,
I'm a friend of Heidi's, actually one of her 'students' from her AYTR class. {She has a link to your blog on her blog.} anyhoo! i love your little swirl-ie (brushes?) from the pictures of your cube. would you mind sharing where you got those.
thank you-
cj :D

Posted by: cj savage | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 10:32 PM

Oh Keisha,
love your house and holiday decorations. Everything is so pretty. Please, please tell us where you got your digital frames from cause i think we're all dying here to know...

Posted by: Carla | Friday, December 07, 2007 at 11:20 AM

hi cj & mary ann & carla...they are snap shot elements & snap shot frames by Rhonna!! enjoy them!!!

Hi, Keisha!
I was wondering when you were going to meet THE Heidi Swapp! I read the comments on her blog when she said she was going to do this crazy-fun-adventure and move to China...one of your Fans put a link to your blog and said "here is a fellow scrapbooker that already LIVES in China"...and I fell in love with your work-so beautiful...your girls are adorable, and you know how to create a workspace to die for, and besides being an elegant scrapper, you take amazing pictures! (Don't worry-not a girl-crush...just another "fan") lol...

Happy Holidays to you and Yours! Peace, Erin : )

Posted by: Erin Glee | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 04:06 PM

lol, erin...i'd rather you had a crush on me tooooo!! thanks for the sweet comments!!

Oh Keisha, thanks so much for showing us the Noteworthy glitter jigsaws! I'd seen them online but they look NOTHING like the real thing! I have to have some now. :)
I love your double layout too!

Posted by: Yvette Adams | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 06:07 PM

Yvette you will love them!!!

Hi there,
A gal on the Creating Keepsakes message board found your blog and shared it. You things are so beautiful! Are you published a lot? If so, in which publications? I'd love to further check out your work. I like how it is classic with a twist. Is that a good way to describe it? Please keep up the good work! I'm going to bookmark your blog! Take care and thanks for the inspiration!

Posted by: Julie Smith (Scrapperdays) | Friday, December 14, 2007 at 10:04 PM

hey julie!!! i am never sure what my style is...i try so many & mix them...but i like the way you described it!!

Hey I need some photoshop tips. What setting do yo use in Photoshop that gives your B&W photos the washed vintage look?

Do you lighten them or lower the contrast?

ChanelD

Posted by: ChanelD | Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 03:42 AM

hi chanel...in photoshop & paint shop pro i often in "channel mixer" with the red filter...i do that after i use the curve filter...then i usually won't add any contrast because it's pretty bright after the curves!! hope that helps!!

Beautiful... as always!!!

Just curious- what kind of camera do use to take all of your pictures? Everything always looks soooooo good!

Madisson

Posted by: Madisson | Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 04:42 AM

hi madisson...i have a rebel xti!!! then i play a lot in photoshop or paintshop pro!!!

Seriously, Keisha. the two page LO is beyond gorgeous!!! I love everything. Everytime I watched America's next Top Model I thought of you (they filmed that last part in China) How wonderful to be in such a beautiful country.
thanks for the inspiration - as usual
Karen (michigan)

Posted by: karen | Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 06:40 AM

oh karen....i was thinking the same thing...they were here & i missed them...i was in Shanghai last year....at the same spot by the water as they were...but i stop watching it after heather was voted off-argh...i liked her quirkiness!!

oh my heck everything you got is magical..so so amazing. LOVE the stroy of how you got an awesome price on everything...hooray!

Posted by: nia | Monday, December 17, 2007 at 01:27 AM

hi nia...glad you stopped by...shopping here is an adventure everytime!!!

Hey Keisha,

I couldn't find a way to leave a comment on your blog, so I'll ask via email. What adhesive did you use to make the Martha Stewart glitter stick onto the chipboard words in your "Believe" layout? I love it!

Chrissy

hello chrissy...martha also makes a glitter glue that i love...i used that...sometimes i use stampin up heat & stick powder!!

Thanks to all of you who stopped by....wondered over from heidi's spot...thanks for all the amazing comments-i love reading them all....Merry Christmas!!!!