Ornaments

 

Still sewing Christmas

Ornaments!

I think I’m going for a

rustic cabin,

winterish feel with our main

Christmas tree this year.

Wendy, on facebook, once

again,

came to my rescue when I had

an

ornament making creative

block.

Now… I’m off to make some

canoes

and more snowmen…

maybe even a

twig cabin or two.

This is going to be the year

for a

homemade,

handmade

Christmas!

 Do you have a Christmas tree theme?

Weekend Getaway and Soup!

The hubs and I managed to getaway this past weekend to Gatlinburg, TN.

Such a fun place to visit.

(It’s funny… seems that every time he wears his LSU t-shirt,

I wear a Tennessee one… we never plan it this way!)

Anywho…

I really thought the color would already be gone from the trees here…

but I was pleasantly surprised and mistaken!

This is the view from our hotel balcony…

 

and this…

and this…

and this… gorgeous huh?

I could just stare at this all day!

Here is a picture from a scenic lookout that overlooks Gatlinburg.

Our hotel was the cylinder one in the distance.

So as we get back to our usual… it’s cold and rainy here…

perfect weather for making vegetable beef soup!

Where do you like to go for a quick getaway?

&

What is your favorite thing to eat on a rainy, cold day?

Thanks For Stoppin’  By!

 

My “Musical” Christmas Wreath

 Hey Y’all!Well… Christmas decorating is coming right along!So glad I’m getting an early start…feels good!Just wanted to share with you not only one of my favorite hymns but how I’m incorporating it this year with the wreath over the fireplace.This hymn is very special to me and I cherish the memory of singing it in church as a little girl.I still love to sing the old hymns… and I get all giddy when we sing one in church. They are truly generational.  

Just As I am

Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868
Tune: WOODWORTH, Meter: LM

Just as I am! without one plea,

 

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God!

 

I come!

 

I come!

God Bless

&

Thanks For Stoppin’ By!

Creating Artistic Photos On The Computer Part II

Funky Junk Interiors’ Saturday Night Special Theme: 

Twigs and Branches

So… on Monday I posted about creating art out of photos

using free photo enhancement software.

I use Windows Live Photo Gallery & Picasa.

Click Here to see post.

This was one example of an artistic enhancement made on a photo I created using an old Christmas tree and lantern.

Before:

After:

Love the way these turned out… may print and frame these!

And here is another before and after with just the pine tree…

Well… for this weekend’s theme I wanted to share with you

a few more artistically altered photos that I created using

twigs and branches.

I started out with a textured canvas painted off white for a backdrop.

Then, I simply held the branches up to the backdrop and took a picture.

Downloaded it to my computer…

And played around with the exposure & color settings

in Windows Live Photo Gallery. 

Here is the photo straightened, cropped, and color manipulated to create a subtle piece of art.

Here are a few more:

 

 

And a few more…

Instant Art I tell ya!

Another idea:

Add words to your art!  You can do this in Picasa.

This is what it would look like framed (done in another free software called Photobucket)

Pretty cool… huh?

And last but not LEAST…

For those who commented on my White Porch post…

and who told me to EMBRACE the muddy tracks…

((thank you ALL for the ideas and encouragement!))

these artistic photos were inspired by

YOU!

:) 

 

Who knew my muddy floor would turn out to be such a cool background?

For a few more ideas using twigs and branches…

Click Here and Here and Here!

The possibilities are endless!

Linking to:

The Old Christmas Tree Becomes My New Lantern Stand

Ha!

Talk about recycling…

Last week, I went on a hike in the woods behind my home…

to find my old Christmas tree(s).

There were two… one from last year and the year before.

So I grabbed one and cut the remaining branches off… (which makes good kindling)

but…

kept a few short branches on the tree.

Next, I sprayed it down (wanted to get all the critters off) and put it in an extra tree stand I have…

not ideal…

but sometimes it’s about using what you’ve got… right?

I used some scrap fabric to cover the base.

Burlap would be cute… but I didn’t have any…

again…

using what I’ve got!

I tied it with thick hemp string.

Next, (for this shot) I tucked the green fabric in and hung my collection of old lanterns on the tree.

I added an old wood frame for interest.

HOWEVER…

I told you I would be decorating early for Christmas this year.

So I grabbed some garland and wrapped it around the tree.

I think it looks good like this…

even looks like some of the trees I’ve seen in the stores!

But for right now…

it was made for the lanterns so…

Back on they went!

Oh Yeah…

 I forgot…

now where are those Christmas lights?

I found ‘em!

Thanks For Stoppin’ By!

Linking to: