Snail Mail.....

You know, in this age of emails and text messaging, there's just something special about getting a card or note in the mail. Especially if it's homemade. It says you really care about that person and their feelings, and problems, and friendship. Snail mail may be slower, but I think it's a lot more personal...don't you? Why not take the time to make a special card for someone you love or care about?

Have a great day

Look who showed up for breakfast today!

For those of you have been reading my blog, you know that I have been working on attracting some beautiful birds to my backyard, not only because I love to watch birds interacting, but I'm wanting to practice photographing wildlife and birds, flowers etc. I've had an oriole feeder up for about a week and a half now because last year I had one lonely oriole hang around for a couple of days. Today my patience paid off....I couldn't believe it when I just happened to glance out of my scrapbook room window and spied some very welcome guests showing up for a fruity breakfast!
But to my surprise, not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 Baltimore Orioles were eating at the two feeders that I have up. I was SO EXCITED...grabbed my camera and started shooting. Of course I can't get too close without shooing them off, so once again I had to shoot out of my window, so the focus is not as great as I would like it to be. But at least I have proof that they are here!!
These birds love orange stuff. I mixed up some nectar that I had bought especially for Orioles, and also added a few real orange slices as a further enticement after reading on the net that they love orange slices.

I've also been trying to entice the cardinals up the the feeders, but haven't been able to get any too close even tho they supposedly love sunflower seeds the best. But I'll continue to try to get them close enough to photograph.

Hope all of you have a wonderful day!!!

Layout Contest Entries....

Here's the entries for this months layout and card challenge! Remember to cast your vote for the winner by leaving a comment at the end of this post! Just click on the word comment! The winner will receive a gift from me. So do your duty....go vote

by Sally Millis

by Lisa Morris

by Lisa Morris

Don't forget the layout and card contest!

Don't forget to send me pictures of your layout and card entries for this month's contest! I will post the entries tomorrow for everyone to vote on. You will vote by making a comment at the bottom of the post. If you need to refresh your memory of the card and sketch layout, just scroll down the page until you find it! Good luck!
Have a great day!

Workskhops for April & May

For my scrapbook club members, here's a sneak peek at April's layout. It's male themed!

I can't believe I actually have pictures on this one already! That's a first! Of course I added a few accessories (the pirate charms) that coordinated with my theme that you won't have for your layout, but this might give you an idea of some male themed pictures you have that you can bring with you the night of class!

Now, next month, (May) I will begin offering a kit that anyone can purchase to make the featured layouts of the month. You do not have to join the scrapbook club. I'll post the featured layouts of the month, and if you want to purchase the kit you can, but if you don't like the featured layouts, you don't have to get them! You are welcome to come to my class night and put your layout together with my club members, or you can order your kit and put it together at your home. If you choose to come to scrapbook club, the featured stamp set and inks will be available for your use. If you choose to do the layouts at your home, you will need to purchase the featured stamp set and inks if you don't have them, or feel free to subsitute something else that you have on hand. There will be 3 different levels that you can purchase, according to what you want to invest. Included in your kit will be what you need to make the featured layout, plus you will receive instructions to make an additional 2 more 2 page layouts featured in the Cherish or Imagine book. And, you'll still have plenty of paper and embellishments left over to make even more layouts, or maybe some cards. Below is May's featured layouts: These layouts use the new "Bella" papers featured in the new catalog (available May 1st)

Above is layout #1

Additional layouts.... #2

And the 3rd layout

BELLA WORKSHOP


o BASIC PACKAGE - ……………..$26.63 (Includes S&H & Tax)

Bella Level 2 Paper Pak
Bella Level 2 My Stickease
Foundry tabs
25” of Hollyhock ribbon
1 Workshop Guide



o BETTER PACKAGE…………….$35.75 (includes S&H & tax)

The Basic package + Mini-Medley Accents Autumn Garden Collection



o BEST PACKAGE………………..$57.50 (includes S&H & tax)

Includes Basic & Better package + “Buttoned Together” stamp set

If you choose to do these layouts at home you will need to have on hand or purchase the following:

Hollyhock ink pad

Smokey Plum inkpad

An alphabet set for your title
Cherish Book (cutting instructions for the other 2 sets of layouts)

I'm excited to offer my customers a monthly kit, and hope that you will enjoy the chance to make some great layouts using them! If you are interested in purchasing the above kit, just let me know which package you want. I accept checks, credit cards, or paypal. You can contact me at nanasmemoriesctmh@yahoo.com

Blue Bird of happiness!

I was finally able to upload some pictures to my photography teacher for the online photography class I'm taking. The assignment was to shoot totally in manual mode, with you having to set all of your own settings...exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. I took lots of shots, but these are the 2 that I sent to Maggie. I'm happy to say she liked them and said she could offer no critique as they were fabulous shots worthy of framing. I consider it sheer luck that they turned out so well, but Maggie truly does make the settings on my camera not so scary! Next weeks lesson is on focusing, so am hoping to learn how to get my pictures more crisp. In my defense however, the bluebird picture I shot through my scrapbook room window (the window could have used a washing first...) to me it seemed a little fuzzy on the focus. But all in all, I am very pleased in what I am learning and hoping that I'll have awesome pictures to scrapbook someday!!

I'll be posting pics of next weeks scrapbook club layout hopefully today when I get a picture of it taken.

I'll also be posting next month's layouts (I've got them done already....can you believe that?) along with the details of the new service I'm offering starting in May. Have a happy Saturday!

Photography 101

I've had a manual camera for years. Even before I changed over to a digital camera, I owned a 35mm SLR camera. You know, you're supposed to set your own exposure, shutter speed, and aperture? Yeah, Greek to me also. I dabbled a little in trying to learn, even took a college class, but it just never clicked. I came out more frustrated then ever before and continued to take pictures "point and shoot" style, totally unsatisfied with the results most generally, even tho my camera was capable of taking fantastic pictures. So I finally broke down and enrolled in an online photography class even tho I've been disappointed before with a class. Maggie (my teacher) is sooooo much easier to understand and has a wonderful way of breaking things down into understandable steps. With each week we have different assignments after reading our lesson. Then we upload photos to her for critiquing. Although I haven't had time to upload anything yet, (it's not mandatory), I did have time today to finally take a few pics with tips that she has taught in class over the last 3 weeks. Now mind you, these are pics totally with me setting all the settings myself. No automatic anything except focus of the lens. Tho I'm not there yet, I can already tell a difference in the pics I've taken. I was even able to take a few printable pictures from a concert in a dark auditorium when I was setting way up in the seats of course using no flash, as we all know flash does NOTHING in a dark big room unless you're right on top of your subject! I've hung alot of bird feeders outside my window, so am hoping I can lure some really beautiful birds up to pose for me. Of course that in itself poses a whole new set of challenges! But I'm encouraged finally that I WILL master this camera of mine and make it do what I want it to do! I'll keep you posted! In the meantime, enjoy a few pics I snapped this morning of our apple trees in bloom! Have a great day!

I'll be posting some layouts in a couple of days for upcoming workshops. I'm so loving some of the papers in the new summer catalog!

April Fun

I'm so excited this month! I have the new CTMH heart catalog in my hands...so fun! (The new catty will be available to order from starting May 1st) We have a fantastic special for April and May to celebrate National Scrapbook Month! I'm making some exciting changes to my scrapbook club....I'm on happiness overload!! I can't wait to share....but just one announcement at a time. Today's announcement....drumroll....the fantatstic special available starting April 15 - May 31 only, in honor of National Scrapbooking Month. It's a complete scrapbooking kit that includes paper ( some with glitter !!!), a D size stamp set, embellishments, a texturing tool, and complete step by step instructions to complete your layouts. The colors are gorgeous! And.....you have a chance to buy it outright for $34.95, or you can earn it free by purchasing a minimum of $60 in My Acrylix stamps (excluding personalized or stamp of the month stamps). You can see the full color flyer HERE!

I'm making some exciting changes to my scrapbook club! You girls are gonna love it I think!

For those of you who might be interested in attending my monthly workshops, now is the time! For less then $25 dollars, you'll be able to get several scrapbook layouts, and enough left to make a few cards too! All with detailed cutting and assembly instructions! Easy Peasy! And even if you can't attend the workshop nite, you'll still receive your kit complete with instructions for all the projects! We'll be learning all kinds of new techniques, and lots of stamping too! You can either come to my scrapbook pad, or if you have a commited group of at least 6 people at your place of choice, I can bring my workshop to you! You can contact me at nanasmemoriesctmh@yahoo.com