have been doing some crafting...

I joined an ATC swap at Scrapbooks.com. My intention was to make 2 ATC's of my Stamping Up Stamps as a way to catalog them and to exchange...wow, did I make a mess!!

For most of them, I used alcohol inks on glossy cardstock for the background, then stamped the sentiment with Memento inks...then the image with embossing...messy, messy. All but one were done that way in the pic.

Then the last few were done with distress ink 'painting'. ( a class I took at the last expo). Also included stamping the sentiment with memento ink and embossing ...the sample in the pic is the one about 'never being more than a thought away'. Talk about messy, the embossing was a words type background stamp, used emboss with glitter combo. (Stamping Ups Heat and Stick Powder with their Silver Shine) pretty, but not for the light hearted. I'm still cleaning my desk of residue.

When my friend Michele was over, we started discussing organizing my stamps. Wow. and I can say that backwards, woW. I have quite a few, Stamping Up and Acrylics. Guess the thing to do is to take them all out, place in piles on the floor and go for it. She suggested I mark my cabinets, 1a, 1b and then organize my binder the same way.

But, that is a project for ...I don't know when. But, yeah, someday.

I do need surgery

the mass I mentioned last month, is an 8 oz tumor. Dh said that is the size of a filet, so, my co-worker and I named it Mignon. So, I am going to need a hysterectomy. I have another ultrasound appt at the end of this month, the dr. cannot see my ovaries in the first set. So, we're gonna look for them and then set a date.

If it is all 'elective', I'm thinking of setting it for mid-May. That way I can still go to my son in law's graduation (its becoming quite the family reunion), and then I can spend the hot days of summer recovering in my air conditioned home! ha!

Also, gives work plenty of time to figure out if they are gonna replace me or redistribute my work. AND for the gal who is out on maternity leave to come back.

OF COURSE, I plan to scrapbook! as soon as I am able. I understand I will probably be in quite a bit of pain the first week or so, then the remaining weeks will be spent not bending, reaching, picking things up...right? Scrapbooking should be an okay activity.

AND read! AND ya'll know me, I told dh (who is also my boss) that if the dr says I need 6-8 weeks to recover, I'm taking 8-10!! (I am a slow healer) (Okay, I hate work)

And I've already requested Flan from Betsy and Quinaa Cookies from Connie...who else makes the foods I love??? hmmmmmmmmm

HOME!

I was gone on a 'super secret mission' the past week. Feels good to be home, But in between my duties, I did get to scrapbook a li'l bit. And got to an Archivers. I used to be able to spend a couple hundred dollars there, but this visit...hmmmmm, they just did not have the selection/bargains that I remember. I was a li'l disappointed.

Worked on my Shimelle Christmas album, had access to my sis's supplies. Though, I tried to make sure I did not use anything that was consumable, unless she gave it to me. BUT this girl has quite the punch collection; she was going to give me one that a friend gave her, a fiskers round punch, until I used it and she saw how pretty it was...ha!! That is also how I lost the chance to get her quickcutz tool. oh well! from now on, when she is thinking of giving me something, I will not use it in front of her!! and teach her how to use it!! ha!

Why am I up at 4 am?

Ugh, that's why. I need to get some things done, but here I am...rambling at the computer. I have not done my part 2 of lesson 2 on the camera, as I've had NO LIGHT (its been cloudy and rainy) and I've been working more days. End of December means end of month, quarter and year close. Which means Census forms and Taxes for both companies.

My weight loss is sloooow, I did step on the scale this morning, 2 more pounds! So, I'm almost at a grand total of 5...Exercise is the fun part. I got Gold's Gym Cardio for the Wii...boxing!! (Amazon was having a New Year, New You sale, and got it for @$12. BUT, the one I'm doing most frequently is Zumba. I look like Frankenstein's monster trying to do those moves...but it is fun, and I sweat!! As long as dh doesn't set up a hidden camera...I'm fine.

Watching my food is harder. I think I've only been within calorie range, one day!
I do pretty good, then that last choice...sends my numbers over. Gotta 'tweak' so the higher cals are earlier...then I'm not so hungry at the end of the day.

I joined a Biggest Loser challenge on Spark. Hopefully, that will keep me motivated.

Oh! if you are interested in the Photography Class at 2peas, they are re-starting it.
Here is the thread

Lesson 2 part 1: shutter speed

I was planning to scrap this morning, but my printer is out of ink, so, out comes my handy dandy binder with the 2 Peas photo class. Why not?

Today it is shutter speed, the higher the speed, the longer shutter speeds cause subject to blur, while faster speeds stop motion.

The lesson was to do running water in an indoor sink...BUT all my shutter speeds inside said 'subject too dark', so I had to go outside. Yes, outside where it is cold. My first round, I used a frog statue, that did not cause enough splash. 2nd round is the pig, but the 2 pipes in the background made the water flow difficult to see, so 3rd round is what I am posting. My camera and I may start sneezing from stepping outside so many times.

speed of 1/40 (auto mode goes to 1/60)




speed of 1/120 (125 is macro)




speed of 1/160



speed of 1/200 (as high as my S mode would let me go)







then I put the auto dial on Sports, got a speed of 1/500:



so, what do you think? can you see the action of the water being stopped?

think this is an important lesson for me, as my fave subject is a constantly moving toddler!!!

but the 2peas lesson 2 part 2 is about bringing balance between aperture and speed.

Aperture!

Been looking at the 12 weeks to Better Photography at 2peas.

the first 'lesson' is on aperture..so, went out and took these..these were taken at the same time, from the same angle, just different apertures. I did crop the white pot out of all but the 22 pic...
the higher the aperture #, the smaller the opening, therefore the less light.

the highest aperture setting on my camera is 22:



I experimented with 16, 12, 11...but the highest you can actually see something is 8:






and the class said to go for 5:


then I thought, this is a 'smart' camera, why not see the auto settings, you don't always have to 'reinvent the wheel' afterall. right?

'macro' 5.6:






"landscape" 6.3:



now, from what I understand, the lower the aperture, the more focused the opening, the more detail in your subject and the background fades. So, the lower my aperture, the more 'rust detail' you should see, the less of the weeds and the shed.

So, can you see the differences..?? Personally, I like the colors in the last the best.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

though in many ways, 2011 looks kinda 'dire'. That's why I dislike watching the news. Can't understand dh's daily 'need' for it.

May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding fill you with a joy that transcends all circumstances. okay, my vesion of Phillipians...but you 'get' it.


On a personal note, the new year is always a time to create new perspective and yes, resolutions. I have never been able to keep any resolutions...but thru Sparkpeople, I have learned to set workable goals.

2011

Long Term:
5k with dh in 2011
(a gal at church is starting up a Couch to 5k type program)


Health and Fitness:
Have more energy, Bring down my cholesterol
(the exercise, cutting fats from diet, and taking that Lipitor)

Friends, Family and Social Life:
Do More!!! I tend to be reclusive
(can start tonight with an Open House)

Everyday:
morning yoga, count calories on Spark, read/scrap/learn photog instead of tv sluggin'

Appearance:
fit into a sheath dress, wear a swimsuit



Spiritual:
morning Bible Reading (been in the book of Matthew for months)
so, finish the Gospels and read a couple of books I have set aside
about Jesus...my 'spiritual' concentration will be to ask and answer
"Who is this man?" As Pastor Dusty challenged us to a few months ago.