Ooh La La - Bridal Shower Invitations

A few months ago I had a customer order some bridal shower invitations.  Yes, I am just now posting these... (I'm terrible at blogging lately).  These invites were a challenge - which I am always up for. 

She told me that the color scheme had to incorporate navy, but the other color was my choice.  She also asked me to incorporate some kind of lingerie theme - but in a sexy (not slutty) way.  We agreed on pink as the second color, and I searched and ultimately decided on this pretty corset image.  

I laid everything out, but still felt like the design was lacking something.  It needed more pink and...LACE.  Yes, lace.

I told my client that I would design two comps for her to choose from.  I felt like this was the clear winner, and she agreed.  I think this may be one of my favorite designs to date!

Just a glimpse into what I've been up to lately.  Hope you are all doing well!! 

XOXO

Where I've Been - Part II

At the end of July, I took the kids on our annual summer trip to NJ to visit my family.  I look forward to this trip all year long - there is nothing better then the Jersey Shore in the summertime!  This was Morgan's first ride on an airplane, and although I was extremely nervous, he did great!  We arrived on a Tuesday evening and left on Sunday afternoon - it was a quick trip for us as we usually stay for a week and a half.  We squeezed a lot in in a short amount of time - these pics are only a portion of our trip!

Naturally, our first stop was the beach - we were blessed with some great weather on our first day.  I love Long Beach Island!  The kids had a blast and got to spend some time with their Mimi, Aunt Nicole and cousin Brooklyn.

We attempted the beach again on Thursday, but by the time we carted everything onto the beach and sat down, we were being whipped with sand and decided it was too miserable to stay.  Not for loss though since I really wanted to take Addison down to the Barnegat Lighthouse (aka Old Barney).  It turned out to be the best idea - she loved it!  So, I was nominated to take her up to the top - all 207 steps of a winding old staircase.  Not gonna lie, my knees were knocking and about half way up I asked Addie if she was SURE she wanted to go to the top.  Of course she was - so up we went! 

They have a lookout pier, so once we were back on the ground (I was relieved), we took a little stroll.

Just down the road, there's a little shopping area - complete with souvenier shops, beachy decor and clothing, and a pretty amazing antique store.

This boat (which appeared to be from an old boardwalk ride) was sitting outide of the antique store.  We took some pics of the kids in it, as we got STARED down by one of the employees.  I guess they didn't want us in the boat, whoops!

One night we loaded into a few cars and drove on down to Beach Haven to go to a children's amusement park - Fantasy Island.  I love taking the kids there - it was one of my favorite places to go growing up.  So awesome that my kids and I will share some of the same summer memories.  When we arrived, the sky opened up and there was a pretty big storm.  We just hunkered down in the arcade until it passed.  Addison hit the jackpot on the faux slot machines - enough to win herself a prize!

There are many more photos to show, but I will spare you the rest.  You're probably sick of seeing my family vacations.  I will, however, leave you with this.  We went up to visit my older sisters and their kids in North Jersey - they all got to meet Morgan for the first time.  His aunts and cousins loved him, and dressed him up in a Mickey Mouse outfit that they bought for him.  We have his Halloween costume!

All in all, it was a great trip - looking forward to next year!!  Once we got back, it was time to get Addison ready to go back to school.  She started last Friday.  That brings us to now.  That's where I've been over the past month.  Relaxing, and getting things back on a schedule around here.  Looking forward to fall, and some projects and orders that I am dying to share with you.  Coming soon...

XOXO

Where I've Been - Part I

As you may have noticed, I have been a wee bit absent lately.  I have spent the last month traveling and spending some quality time with the family.  We took a few quick, but much needed vacations.  I finally got my beach time in for the summer - yay!  Addison started school yesterday, so I am hoping (fingers crossed) that things will return to somewhat normal around here.  Aren't schedules wonderful things?

First, we took a weekend trip to Hilton Head, SC for a weekend. Addison decided this year that in lieu of a birthday party, she wanted to go to the beach for the weekend instead - music to my ears!  So, the four of us and my sis-in-law and her three kiddos drove to Hilton Head a few weekends ago for one fast and furious vacation.  We had a great time though.  I had never been there before - boy is it beautiful!  I think I may have found my retirement destination.  The kids had a blast!

Get ready to be bombarded with photos - I had some fun with the camera! 

The Birthday Girl in her Glory on the Beach
 

Addie and her Sister Cousin Rowan

Addie and her cousin Rowan like to tell everyone they are sisters.  Don't tell them otherwise or you may have a huge debate on your hands!  :)

Addison had a field day playing in the sand.  Since she was a baby (when she actually ate fistfuls of it), she just seems so at peace and happy when we're at the beach.  Like mother like daughter I guess!

Little Morgan wasn't as happy as his sister that day.  I think all of the traveling wore him out.

 

On our last day we took a ride on a dolphin cruise.  We say some dolphins AND Addie got to take a turn as Captain!

All in all, it was a fabulous trip.  Next time we stay for a week.

In other news, I entered my Paint Chip Pumpkin Garland into a Talent Scouting party over at WhisperWood Cottage.  The winner gets a feature in Cottages & Bungalows Magazine, and guess what?!?!  I am a finalist!!  The winner is announced on Monday - wish me luck!

XOXO

Pinterest Challenge #2 - Photoshop Actions

Time to report on my next Pinterest project completed!  (This really does feel good)!  Just to give you a little background...

 I have been using Photoshop for awhile now to design all of my stationery.  I have never taken a graphic design class in my life and taught myself everything i know through many painstaking hours of trial and error and online tutorials.  Editing photos, however, is not something I have really dabbled in... like at all.  I have always just relied on my camera and iPhoto for everything (plus a wish and a prayer).  Sometimes that has worked out for me, and well, sometimes it hasn't.  Photoshop is like a treasure box.  It has so many hidden gems, but I know I haven't even begun to scrape the surface to really see what it can do.

This brings me to today's challenge.  Last fall I pinned some free Photoshop Actions that Jenn from Dear Lillie blogged about.  Her post featured an absolutely GORGEOUS picture of her daughter and it was then that I vowed to learn how to do that myself...someday.  Well, that someday is now! 

This is the original photo I took of my little peanut, Morgan - with no editing at all:

The original Photoshop Action downloads that Jenn spoke about and used in her editing, came from another blog,  The Pioneer Woman (who you may know from The Food Network)!  Within the last month or so, I hopped on over there and downloaded them, but had still yet to try it.  In the image below, I ran the "Bring on the Eyes" action, and followed all of the tips and tutorials that Jenn gave to use it.  I also brightened up the image a bit and ran the "Lovely and Ethereal" action, but felt like Morgan ended up resembling a character from Twilight.  Those eyes are just too much, and his skin seemed to have that vampire glow.  I since went back and re-read Jenn's post and realized that I needed to reduce the opacity of the action in order to make his eyes look not so fake.  Come to think of it, I probably could have done that with the other one as well.  Hindsight, right?

Then, last week, I did a search on Pinterest looking for some more Photoshop goodies.  It was then that I found these Free Photoshop Actions via Jenn B.  The downloads are available at MCP Actions.
I downloaded each and every single one of what was free and got to work.  I decided to remove the previous "Lovely and Ethereal"  action and reduce the opacity on the "Bring on the Eyes".  Then I ran a new one from MCP Actions, "Pop and Sharpen".  This gave me just the pop that the photo needed, and I was able to slightly sharpen around his eyes and features.  It also offers a layer that really evens out the skin tone - which my little Edward, I mean Morgan, really needed.  In the end, I was really happy with the way this photo came out.  He still looks like my little man - just as cute as in person, and much better than the original photo suggested.

So there you have it.  Me just tipping the Photoshop iceberg.  I still have a ton to learn, but at least now I know how to use a little more than I did a week ago.  Let me know if you have any tips or suggestions, we can learn together!!

XOXO

Linking Up To:

Pinterest Challenge #1

Last week, Kate from Censational Girl posted about an upcoming Linky Party (which starts tomorrow) that she and a few other bloggers are hosting called The Pinterest Challenge - Summer Edition.  I was immediately inspired to get off my lazy butt and start tackling some projects from my Pinterest To-Do List.  I love this challenge because it applies to anything you may have pinned, from recipes you would like to try, to cleaning tips, crafts, home projects - you name it.  Even though the party is only going on this week, I think I may just have to continue the challenge on my own.  I got a head start this weekend and already knocked 4 things off my ever growing list!

The first project I tackled was one that I had been planning to do anyway.  At the beginning of the summer I went to a Tupperware Party (yes, they still sell the stuff)!  I purchased some of those popcicle holders - you know, the same ones they had when we were kids.  Since then, Addie and I have had some fun finding and trying a plethora of recipes.  Awhile back I pinned a recipe for Watermelon Yogurt Popcicles via Jamielyn {iheartnaptime.net}

The original recipe can be found at Family Fresh Cooking. 

Image via Family Fresh Cooking

I followed the directions, and they came out pretty good.  They are super refreshing.  I used honey as my sweetener though, and I probably either should have used splenda or added extra sweetener to the recipe.  They needed just a bit more and I wasn't sure how much honey I should use.  The mixture tasted good, but once I froze them the water of the popcicle kind of diluted it a bit I think.

In any case - I let Addie try them out the morning after we made them.  Yes, she is in her PJs in these pictures, LOL.  She couldn't wait to try them, although I made her eat breakfast first.  Even though I guess watermelon and yogurt wouldn't have been a bad breakfast at all!

It feels so good to be getting some of this stuff done.  Can't wait to share the rest of my projects with you!

XOXO

Linking Up To: