Sore feet....but amazing results

Its late, I'm tired, have sore feet....but just so excited to share these new pics!! Today was my course with Martin Bonnici from Melbourne's Photography Made Easy. What a blast....I have discovered so much more to the world of photography, but to discover it all in the city I live...beyond words!!!

So many simple yet easy (hence the name of the course) techniques to capture amazing photos has given me a whole new world to explore. Simply by making a change to the ISO setting, switching from auto to manual, slowing the shutter speed and forcing the camera to do what you want left me speechless!!

So here is a handful of my favourite pics that I captured today. I have altered some of these pics using the camera and some using PSE Lightroom.

I hope that anyone given the opportunity to undertake the day course with Marty does...its well worth the time, effort and sore feet (lol) to learn all the aspects of your camera. Weather you own a simple point and shoot to a full on SLR, you can achieve amazing results....but it also allows you to unleash the photographer inside!!

Until next time, take care of you and happy scrapping.

Mwah Karen xxx

All growing up...

Just though I would share the latest pics of my beautiful kids. Since the purchase of my new Nikon SLR D60 camera, its turned into something more. I can't help myself, the kids are starting to become a little...enough with the camera Mum, but hey, they only little for so long!!

So snapping away and then playing with lightroom, here is what I have...

Caitlan (aged7)

Matilda (aged 6)

Kai (aged 5)

Ellie (aged 3)

Thats all for now....

Until next time take care of you and happy scrapping!!

Mwah Karen xxx

Moving Ahead....

Well another month has passed and here I am again, feeling terrible that I have not updated my poor neglected blog!!

There is so much to tell....

Firstly my beautiful boy Kai turned 5 on the 10th August....where has 5 years gone??? He is such a little man now and looking back at all the photographs I have, made me realise how lucky I am to have such an amazing boy. As troublesome as he is, I would not change a single thing.

Our littlest bubba Miss Ellie has been through the works with Doctors, Audiologists & Specialists...we finally got the diagnosis for her ever so loud voice and inability to speak clearly. My heart was broken to find out that she is moderately Deaf. I suppose for some time now I have known that something was just not right, but to find out the extent of what has to be done to hopefully try and correct her hearing is going to be a long road. But with the knowing of support that she has from Myself and Michael, she will be fine. There is so much on offer these days for kids with this sort of problem that once she starts the surgery round, then speech therapy and occupational therapy we should hopefully have our quiet little bubba back...fingers crossed hehehe!!!

Me....I am going back to school!! Yep you heard right, 10 years ago was the last time I stepped into a classroom. After some careful thinking and asking myself what I want to do with my life (apart from being a Mum) I have had this constant niggle of doing something more with my Photography skills. So September 7th is D-day, back to school to complete a basic course in Digital Photography at the local Tafe. Being night school allowed me to not have the hassle and worry of child care for the kids but also allows me the freedom to complete the course at times that suited my everyday life. I will update about this more once School has started.

I am also mega excited about tomorrow...I am going to do the one day course with Martin Bonnici of Melbournes Photography Made Easy. Will post more to this once I have completed the course.

Anyhow just got a call and have to fly out for a bit. Have some scrapping LO's to share and more OTP items that I made for a couple of babies. Will endeavour to be back later today to post (don't hold you breath though!!! ROFL).

Until then, take care of you and happy scrapping!!

Mwah Karen xxx

Update...

My goodness...where has almost 2 months gone??? I can not believe that I have neglected my blog so much over the last 7 weeks. I do however have an excuse...the big PC at home went in for some maintenance after we were the unfortunate victims of some very talented computer hackers. My life was turned upside down and the feeling of being so exposed to the world left me very cautious as to what I accessed on the Internet!! All is well now though thanks to my very talented BIL James who managed to fix the problem and get us back up and running.

Anyhow enough of the excuses, whats been happening???

On the scrapping front...not a lot but I do have some layouts and an OTP album that I did for a present.

Here is what I have completed. There may be some more that I have yet to scan back into the computer to share but will do that in the next week or two.

Coop - July 2009

Our Perfect Pic - July 2009

Portrait of a Painted Beauty - July 2009

The Beauty of Friendship - July 2009

Rebecca's Natural Found Talent - July 2009

Here is an OTP Album I completed for Caitlin Wilson's 8th Birthday. It was fun putting together an album for someone that appreciated it so much. Spunkalicious was so excited when she finally saw the finished project.

Front of album.

Close up front of album.

Inside page 1 & 2.

Inside page 3 & 4.

Inside page 5 & 6.

Side view of album - rather chunky!!

On the non scrapping side, things have been busy.

The kids have returned to School this morning after 2 weeks of holidays. The weather has been so cold that outside play for them proved a no go zone. We did however manage a few other activities.

I took the girls to see Disney Princesses on Ice - Princesses Wishes. It was so nice to have a girly day. We took the train into the city and walked down to Rod Laver Arena. Ellie loved the show and got so excited with Tinker Bell being the special guest...she is a huge Tinker Bell fan!! Cate and Tilly also loved the show and have asked if we can go again should the show return.
Here are two of the best pics I managed to get.

Belle - Beauty and the Beast

Final scene where all the princesses came out together with the Cinderella carriage carrying special guest Tinker Bell.

Mick had a great boys day with Kai. They went to the movies to see the new Transformers and apparently do boys things...what ever that may be!!!

The girls also went to the movies to see the new Hanna Montana movie. Apparently they loved it and are now eagerly awaiting the movie to come out on DVD.

My little mate Amy Jane spent the night in hospital after falling of her brothers scooter and breaking her arm. This kid is one tough cookie, surgery to set the arm in plaster and a night at the hospital and she just takes it all in her stride.

As you can see here, she is still full of cheek and allows me to take a pic for the record...well more for Selena to scrap and record her magical stunt ROFL!!!

Anyhow that's all I have time for to share at the moment. Need to run off and get the shopping done, get Kai organised for Kindy and try to restore some routine back into our daily life.

Until next time, take care of you and happy scrapping.

Mwah Karen M xxx

Soooo Neglected!!!

My poor blog...its been sooo neglected for the past few months, that I really need to give myself a big kick in the pants and keep it updated.

I have so much to share....everything from layouts, OTP items to whats been happening in my crazy world. But where to start is the next question.

Its a bit late (well only 2:15am) so I might leave the updating until tomorrow!!

Night all and watch this space for all that I have to share.

Mwah Karen M xxx

Month of May....madness

This month has proven to be total madness....with lots of birthday celebrations I thought I would share some pics.

I was so pleased to catch up with an old school friend for her 30th Birthday. Jodie and I go back as far as Primary School and have managed to keep in touch over the years since finishing year 12 together in 1996...OMG now I am showiing my age rofl!!!

A great night with plenty of drinking and walks down memory lane....

Birthday girl in centre.

My Cousin kay who happened to be at the pub on the night of Jodie's 30th.

My neice Rose who celebrated her 7th birthday this month.

Rose's amazing Cat birthday cake...decorated by her very talented Dad James.

A big milestone for Grace. Her 9th birthday.

My Favourite pic from Grace's 9th Birthday. She was just so happy and to catch this precious moment with her Dad just melts my heart. Grace has made amazing progress in her recovery and to see her on this day, so happy is the best present that she could have. Love you to bits Gracie Mac.

And now we are almost at the end of the month. Not a lot of scrapping to share, having major dramas with the big PC. I had the pleasure of being hacked and totally exposed to the cyber world, which has left me very dis-hearted. However in saying that I am not going to dwell on it, I will keep moving forward and should be back up and running again soon.

Until then take care of you and happy scrapping.

Mwah Karen xxx

Little update and some sharing!!

Hello all....my apologies for not updating here sooner, but every day life has been on the flat chat side of things....Mick has been away with work and having to do everything on my own has been a real handful.

So whats been happening?? Hmmm lots of nothing really, just the usual everyday routine of keeping up the kids and not a lot of scrapping {{sigh}}. My poor scrap desk has become the dumping ground for anything and everything and I really should get to finding it!!

Anyhow a little something to share with you. I have had these 4 layouts to share for a while now, but for some reason I have been flat out, although it feels like I have achieved nothing!! I have not scrapped in over a week and am starting to have withdrawals.....sad I know. But the whole "ME" time thing was put to the back burner. So here we go.....

Scrap Witch - Easter CC Layout

Scrap Witch - Easter CC Layout

Scrapbook 'n' Bits - April CC Layout

Scrapbook 'n' Bits - April CC Layout

Oh that's the other exciting news I have to share....I am off to see Billy Elliott The Musical on the 16th May. A night out with my Mum and Jim is something that I have not done in such a long time and what a better way to share a be-lated Mothers Day with my Mum!!

Until next time, take care of you and happy scrapping.

Mwah Karen xxx