i don't like my kids...

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!!!!

 

Comments

[paola norman]

1.

Keisha, that ivory/cream scalloped layout is absolutely gorgeous, such femeninity..
You are a great faker, becaue your photos turn out great!

[Carolyne]

2.

K....my mouth would still be on the floor if miss heidi came to my house. you are one lucky girl. OMG!!! that's a dream for some of us and you just lived it. love all your stuff girl, i am in the middle of packing to head to the USA for 4 weeks. wish you were still there because I would definitely be knocking your door down. miss ya. hugs.

[giniew]

3.

Grandiose !!!Awesome !!!
Joyeux Noël ! Merry Christmas !

[Anna Sigga]

4.

How awesome to have Heidi over for a visit - I guess life just couldn't be more fun! ;o)

Fake or not - I have always loved your photos and I am always trying to "snap like you girl". Your girls are absolutely adorable and I am sure Amira is turning into a beautiful young woman.

Happy Holidays ~ Anna Sigga, Iceland

[Pearl]

5.

I sometimes feel like giving up all this scrapbooking & papercrafting - especially recently. But all it takes is a visit to your blog & to see your latest creations to know that I'm not ready to do that yet !

Very inspiring you are Keisha !

Many thanks ! & God Bless this Christmas Season !

[jackie]

6.

I know what you mean on your kids. I was just hoping for a picture for the Christmas cards. Ha-not a chance, as soon as we got out the snowball fight began and soon after I just gave up and found a card that had 2 photos for us people the kids fight constantly!!

[Dana]

7.

Great pics and I love the layouts. Keisha, I was wondering, how do you like it in China? How long do you have to live there or is this a permanent thing. Also, you are one of my favorite scrappers in the world....LOL

[Dana]

8.

Great pics and I love the layouts. Keisha, I was wondering, how do you like it in China? How long do you have to live there or is this a permanent thing. Also, you are one of my favorite scrappers in the world....LOL

[tara pollard pakosta]

9.

KEISHA!
hi there girlie!
the pages are amazing! the snow shots are awesome!!!! and so are the new ones of the girls!!!
seriously your photos were always great, but they are REALLY super awesome now! i can tell you are learning more!!!!!!
miss ya!
tara

[Lisa Guidry]

10.

LOL, I know what happened in that second pic...You had the perfect shot, perfect pose and then one looks down away from the camera :) That always happens, but, that shows real life :) Great shots!

[Heather Prins]

11.

wow, your girls are stunning!!!

[lorna]

12.

Hello, after finding your blog this weekend I open up my scrapbook magazine today (UK SBook Inspirations) and your article is in it.
I just love the way you mix colours and patterns.
A great inspiration, thank you.

[Beatriz Jennings]

13.

beautiful projects as always Keisha!wishing you & your family a Merry Christmas! :)

[julie]

14.

lol at the comments about trying to get pics of your girls. I have trouble all the time and only have one. The pics are goreous and the pages are too.

[ohradiogirl]

15.

lovin your blog - as always. i tried to search it to locate the info about the type of sewing machine you use - no luck. so, what sewing machine do you use? i know that it is a brother, but what model? thanks.

[laura vegas]

16.

your photos have always been amazing keisha! i'm so jealous of all your natural light ... my house is so dark all the time! and good to know that other kids are the same way as mine ... i get so frustrated with them when all i want is a few good pics. you'd think after all these years of having a camera shoved in their faces ... they'd know to just give me what i want and then we'd be done quicker! lol!

[Brittany]

17.

Ok, let me just say how much I LOVE your work! I'm just sittin' here like "woooooowww!" I mean, do u ever make a bad layout? Cuz by what I'm seein' on here the answer is clearly NO! lol. Just droppin' by to say i luv your stuff and your girlies photograph well... even if they are "fakers". hehe.

[kristen hansen]

18.

Hi Keisha, I found this link off of Heidi's and I am glad I clicked. You are so amazing! I love your creativity and your daughters are GORGEOUS!!! I have never seen two more beautiful girls, fakers or not! They are keepers! You inspire me!

[Anne Alley]

19.

I feel the same way about my kids!! I actually love your pictures, they're beautifully done without looking "over-posed". It kind of freaks me out when kids look too perfect!! In my recent favorite picture of my daughter she has a spot of peanut butter on her face, but she usually does (I'm not sure how!) so I love that 30 years from now I will remember her toddler-hood exactly how it happened :)

Besides the light (which is great!), how do you get such great pic's of your layouts? I'm hopeless!

Thanks! Anne Alley

[Rach]

20.

Keisha

Promised myself I would leave you a comment amongst the madness of the silly season to say thank you for sharing your beautiful work!
I have checked your blog all through the year and it never fails to inspires me.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[Tina]

21.

OMG! You take amazing photos and do great layouts! I must bookmark this site!

[Tina]

22.

OMG! You take amazing photos and do great layouts! I must bookmark this site!

[Janelle in MT]

23.

can i just say that i absolutely LOVE your blog & your work is too die for! i love how you showcase them on your blog...so clean & beautiful! i'm not kidding...your blog is tops for inspiration!

[annaEdavison]

24.

HI K....YOUR Photos are Even MORE Glorious NOW & looks like your little cuties are cooperating to make those fun poses. LOVE LOVE the LO AND PHOTO of Keila in the snow--has a very vintage and Romantic feel--Beautiful WORK!!! SO Glad that you GOT to meet HS, and I bet she Had a BLAST Peeking at your STUDIO & your Creations--DID you get any pictures??? XOXOXO, :) Anna

[Belinda Venables (Aus)]

25.

Wow Keisha...for someone that doesn't know what they are doing, your doing a pretty good job! lol

Can I ask a silly question. What do you mean about using your camera 'raw' (where is the embarrassed emoticon when i need it?)

Also can I ask what camera you own? I LOVE your photos. They are always so sharp! I am looking into getting a new camera and I really love the Nikon DSLR's.
Have a great day.
Belinda
xx

[lainey]

26.

LOL at your girls - I have two of my own and I know how hard it is to get them smiling in the same direction without one of them pulling faces! You got them in the end so that's all that counts.

Absolutely love your inspirational work Keisha -always a joy to pop in and have a peek!

Lainey
Ireland

[Annette Scholtz]

27.

I know the feeling - I get the same level of co-operation from my kids..think they would be use to the camera by know.

Just wanted to let know know that you might just get a big South African following....added you to my typelist - so they can enjoy your wonderful work...if you want to have a look it is www.annettescholtz.typepad.com

[Annette Scholtz]

28.

I know the feeling - I get the same level of co-operation from my kids..think they would be use to the camera by know.

Just wanted to let know know that you might just get a big South African following....added you to my typelist - so they can enjoy your wonderful work...if you want to have a look it is www.annettescholtz.typepad.com

[Madisson]

29.

Thanks for answering my question!!

But I have one more! :)
What kind of lens do you use with your Rebel? I just got an XT, but I'm still trying to figure out which lens I need to get.

Thanks, Madisson

[Christina Witkowski]

30.

Love your stuff! Merry Christmas!

[Renee]

31.

Girl, you get better and better everytime I pop over. Have fun playing with raw. I took a class and we used raw for class. I really loved it, but the files are HUGE. I am getting an external hard drive before I fully convert. I use my laptop for processing files.

[karine Flores]

32.

Very beaultiful your wourks.

[Rachal]

33.

Hi Keisha, My only complaint about you is that you take too long between posts. hehehehe
Seriously, I'm still visiting your site regularly after all this time and still loving what I see. Was hoping you might now where to find some instructions for using the snap shop elements and snap shot frames from Rhonna Farrer, finally I'm getting them thanks to Natalie at Croppin Paradise, a recommended site for anyone wanting scrapbook stuff. If you know how to do add the frames and elements or know where to find some instructions I would be ever grateful. Hope you and the fam had a beautiful time over xmas together.

[Rachal]

34.

Hey Keisha hope you and the family had a happy xmas. Just thought I'd let you know that I finally got a blog and have posted my layouts on it. (I've been scared witless of doing this for so long but decided to just bite the bullet so to speak). So please have a look and let me know what you think. Be honest, I respect your work enough to know you know what you're talking about. Have a wonderful new year.

[LisaW]

35.

Hi Keisha - I pop into check out your blog from time to time and thought I should finally leave a comment. YOUR PAGES AND PHOTOS ROCK!! I always leave your blog feeling completely inspired.
Cheers, Lisa.
btw - lets trade kids - they may not have been cooperating, but they look gorgeous! My kiddies run when they see the camera come out.

[sylvia Klink]

36.

Wow Keisha, that's one great blog you have here! I found yours by just another link and I just love your work.
I myself have just found Paint shop por XI and i love it. I just want to ask you a question about the layout of the little one in the snow. How did you get the picture zo beautiful? Was it just the camera or did you do some adjustments in Photoshop or Paint shop pro? Love to here from you! Greetings from the Netherlands!!

[Jesskah]

37.

How about some new entries?

[Cinzia]

38.

Hi!
Your works are so gorgeous!
Happy new year from Italy
Cinzia

[Rayne]

39.

We need some new entires!!

Have you forgotten about us? LOL

[cathy]

40.

Hi Keisha, recently came across your blog and girl...you just blew my mind! You are one talented artist! I love every project you do. And you can decorate on top of it! I read back and someone asked about that totally sweet border you put around your photos and you had said you would post it so it can be downloaded but I haven't found it. Can you help a girl out? Thanks-you rock!

[Weee]

41.

Hello

[Carla]

42.

I miss you keisha...when are you coming back???

[marlo]

43.

haha! I'm glad I'm not the only one not liking my kids right now. LOL They need to be back in school!!

Love the photos...you continue to amaze me.

[Laura]

44.

wow...awesome photos.