A Collage of pictures from the 70s and 80s

Years ago we had a real life collage hanging on the wall.   Some of these pictures were in that one.  The template I used here is by One Little Bird.   There were many frames to fill so I gave it a try using scanned pictures from my files.  It's quite a challenge to take this many assorted pictures and try to restore them all more or less equally!   Today I decided enough was enough so here is my finished product!

Something Different

I have never made anything from Sussie M's kits so today I made up my mind to try one.   This was called Sweet November.   When I was almost finished I decided to turn it into a Thanksgiving Card of sorts!   I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

To Warren's home for the evening

Warren and family had been in Wichita for the day so we met them in Madison for dinner.  The Madison team did well at the Robotics competition.   Tristan has been involved in that for several years.  Piper is now going to Lawrence each week for a girls choir of some sort.  I find it hard to keep up with what those two are doing, of course!  You'll see our first hint of snow in some of these pictures.....November 16....it was pretty;  fluffy gentle flakes that didn't stay around long enough to accumulate.   Just a hint of what's to come later on! The background here is by Leslie Nitschke and the instamatic frames are from Katie Pertiet.

A Visit from Joni

It was wonderful to have company for the weekend!  Joni brought a truckload of planters,  mostly blue ones, for me to store for the winter.  She planted some tulips,  which I have not had in the garden in all these years!  The pump is now out of the lake for the winter...that's a good thing.  I had been reluctant to walk out there; the walkway tips just enough to make me uneasy,  and it seems like a long ways down to the water!  I have had an "atomic clock" for years which I couldn't get set right and had given up on.   It took Joni no time at all to fix that problem...!  These instamatic frames are by Katie Pertiet;  the background is by Elisa Salazar.

Pictures from November 15

Making a layout using a wire frame is one of the things I've been wanting to do so here it is!  The frame is by Katie Pertiet.  These areas in the garden are getting snowed on today....I must say I enjoyed being out there in those big fluffy flakes!   It's supposed to be over soon and warm weather will come back for the rest of the week.   I wonder...

As The Eagle Flies...

Joni got several pictures of this young bald eagle before he took off towards the west end of the lake. He sat still for quite a long time but a vehicle came along and that was more than he could stand!  For this page I used Anna's Artsy Layered Template #33.

Deer Family

Joni and I went on a drive while she was here.  She spotted these deer at the west end of the lake.  This is the way we prefer to hunt!   Anna's Fall Sampler #1 was just what I needed to put them on display!   I'm still using the Bamboo tablet and liking it better each day!

Indoor Plants

These pots were brought to me by Joni to keep in the house this winter....they are giving me a lot of pleasure!  This is the first time I've made a layout using a Wacom Bamboo tablet.....I love it!   I had tried to use it before and for some reason it wouldn't work.  I put it away for weeks and just recently decided to give it another chance.....I must have been doing something wrong before because it certainly gave me no problems today!  The kit I used is by Anna Aspnes for a pen scrappers group.

Ed and Nettie Griffith

These are my paternal grandparents;  I lived with them in Burlington, Kansas, from the age of 2 to the age of 16 when I started college in Emporia.   I have no pictures of my maternal grandparents; they lived in Arkansas,  where my brother and I were born.

Winterizing

Warren had a day off so he came to the lake to winterize the big boat and put away the paddle boat.  I did my best to think of other things I could ask him to do while he was here!  You can see by his truck that we had just enough rain to make the gravel roads muddy.  The turtle picture is from Joni...she stopped to take the picture on her way home to Iowa.

The Mulberry Tree

Joni brought Chase,  Charley,  and the Chainsaws to the lake.  Our main project was the removal of an old mulberry tree.  Next we went to Council Grove to check out the end of season sales;  then we met Dacia,  Piper and Tristan in Emporia for dinner.   It was a great weekend!

Replacing Windows

This layout is the left side of a 2 page spread using a template by Anna Aspnes and her stitched overlays.

September at Kahola Lake

For a long time I've been meaning to use Anna's stitched overlays on one of her templates;   today I did it!  These pictures are meant to show the colors that show up this time of year. This is the right side of a 2 page spread. Left side coming up next!

Wedding Picture 1979

This picture was taken by Joni's husband, Rich,  in Emporia, Kansas at Peter Pan Park.  They were actually married in Healy,  Alaska, where they had gone on a backpacking trip!   I made the layout from a scan of the original picture,  using Anna Aspnes' Sampler #1.   Cassie Jones has a custom brush tutorial;  I used it to make my first brush in Photoshop...the small image of Joni on the left.  This could be the start of a whole new hobby!   

Wedding Picture 1954

This layout was put together with elements from Anna Aspnes' Artplay palettes.  Also I "lifted" the general idea from "whatnext" in O'scraps!   I'm not sure who took these pictures,  but I scanned them years ago and have been saving them carefully.   It's time for me to get busy and do something with them!

My Grungy Garden

This was made with Anna Aspnes doublewide Template #12. The pictures were taken in August....I was meaning to show how grungy my rock garden looks after all the things it's been through this hot summer. Seems like there are still spots of beauty to be found just the same. I'm glad!

August Second Week

It was so nice there were times when I turned off the air conditioning! How wonderful! Anna Aspnes Template No. 6 inspired this doublewide layout. It's the first time I played with cardboard! Tutorial was by Cassie Jones with elements by Katie Pertiet. Text paths were from Patty Knox. I'm loving all these new things!

More Learning Adventures

I followed another Cassie Jones tutorial with elements by Katie Pertiet.   The picture is one of Joni's from last March when we went to Padre Island.  I meant to use a pelican but couldn't resist this picture-perfect gull!

Saffron Sunset

Another sunset layout,   this time featuring a yellow-orange look to the sky and water.  It was amazing.  The elements used here were from Anna Aspnes again.   I'm getting so I prefer to use Photoshop all the way rather than switching back and forth from Paint Shop Pro....earlier I was sure that would never happen.!  I went to Wikipedia to learn a little about saffron...it seemed to me that it was part of the fruit in fruitcake but I couldn't remember.   It was fascinating learning about its history and uses.   The snip of a definition is a scan from my collegiate edition of Webster's dictionary...copyright 1951!

Learning Adventure

I followed a tutorial by Cassie Jones this afternoon....it taught me things I didn't know about Photoshop.  The elements are by Katie Pertiet,  except for the picture,  of course.   That is a sunset from a year ago that I had been itching to use.   So here it is!  Thank you,  Cassie and Katie!

Earlier This Summer

So soon we forget.....June was not so hot that we had to stay indoors,  but the grass was growing so fast it was hard to keep up with!  I was delighted that my neighbor Shane and a couple of his buddies wanted to help mow!  There's little or no mowing this month;  everything is turning brown and the trees are shedding their leaves.  This is one of the first layouts I made with Anna Aspnes' magic fotoblendz effects.

Four days in Kansas

I spend most of my time indoors in this kind of weather but these four days I had to venture out there to take pictures of the roofing project.  The temperature was said to be as high as 111 degrees during this time period.  Thank goodness for air conditioning!  For this layout I modified one of Anna's templates...No. 12 doublewide.

I've been seeing stars....

Here's one more page made with the July pictures.  Anna Aspnes has a really cool StarStitched Template that was begging to be used!  Loved it!   Loved using pictures of Tristan and Piper again also!

Back to the 4th of July

I wanted to make another page with the boat parade pictures.  Most of these are from my "Joni Files"...meaning pictures taken with her camera!  The elements and the template are from Anna Aspnes.

Vintage Photos

My greatgrandmother is the subject in this layout.  I have not very many pictures of her.  It is really a fun challenge,  mixing photo restoration with artsy styling in scrapbook pages! This template is Anna Aspnes' Number 29.  Thank you,  Anna!

My Kind of Sunset

This was made from a picture I took the 4th of July weekend.   Used an Artsy Template by Anna Aspnes...#28.

Independence Day Celebration

Here are more pictures from the weekend of the 4th of July.  I didn't realize how few actual fireworks photos we took this year;  there was a display put on by the owners association,  as always.  Speaking for myself,  I rarely get a good fireworks picture so was not even trying!   I used another Anna Aspnes template....thank you,  Anna!

In Remembrance

The big picture was taken by my daughter Joni;  the small one was taken by me.   These people were my nextdoor neighbors for years.  They definitely would have loved the quote....they lived by it!  Wonderful kit by Anna Aspnes.

Project 2011 Kahola Pictures

The project is from Anna Aspnes,  emphasis is on telling a story with pictures and journaling!

Another Doublewide Post

These are flower pictures from early April;  some in the yard and some from Joni's and my annual trip to Council Grove Gardens. Instead of combining two pages I started with one very wide page.  I believe it looks better this way.   Anna Aspnes Fotoblendz templates were used.

Doublewide Iris Pictures

These are the best Iris pictures for this year.  I am combining two pages to see how it will work!  Anna Aspnes template again;  the background paper is from Jeri Ingalls.

Burning of the Pastures

This is an annual event in the area.   Controlled burning clears the way for new growth; it's amazing how fast the hills are green again!  I used another  Anna Aspnes fotoblendz template.

Early Plants

These are a welcome sight each spring.....Hosta.   I started a collection years ago because they are "forgiving" plants.    Love this "wonky" stitched template by Anna Aspnes.

Stormy Sky

May was a dangerous month in many parts of the country.   Anna Aspnes has an Art Play Palette "Mist" that seemed just right for these pictures.

Kahola Rocks!

Kahola is in the Flint Hills of Kansas,  on the edge of the Tall Grass Prairie.   In the spring we can see the sizes and shapes of the rocks.  Soon that Tall Grass will hide them;   it grows fast and puts down deep roots.   This template is one of my favorites from Anna Aspnes.

Sierra waiting to catch a wave!

This is from a template inspiration by Katie Pertiet.

Pelicans in a Tree

I used a template by Lorilei Murphy for this image.

Sierra and Chase

Sierra and Chase have played on this beach many times since he was a puppy.   I believe he's 13 years old now.   The page was made from elements by Anna Aspnes and Katie Pertiet.  Joni Siebenlist is the photographer!

Birds Watch Birdwatchers

This is a bird viewing area where we saw many beautiful and interesting birds.  I didn't know these people but I was fascinated by the way they didn't realize that they were being watched by a feathered friend!  The page was made from a template by Anna Aspnes.

Trip to Texas

I used a blendable layered template by Katie Pertiet for this.

Today was cold but clear.   Joni and I went to Des Moines for picture taking..   After going to the river for bird pictures (eagles and ducks) we went to the Arboretum for flower pictures,   The arboretum is a wonderful place to see healthy beautiful plants and also a perfect place for Joni to use her new Nikon lens .   I asked her to take a picture of me when we were ready to leave.    Our last stop was Starbucks for our favorite coffees.  

Today, Joni came to take me to her house so I can go with her to Indianapolis next week. The new bridge on I-35 over the Mighty 'Mo is open. You can see the old bridge next to it, I'm wondering if they are going to tear it down.

2011 has arrived! Today, Joni drove down and brought me Christmas gifts! Before dinner, we decided to make some fake margaritas. By fake I mean, we took Bartels & James bottled margaritas and placed them in our salt rimmed wine glasses. Not quite the real thing but tasty!