Learning new techniques....

Goes to show you are never too old to learn new things, I've actually had time to sit and watch a few Photoshop tutorials and tried my hand and some of them. Still trying to perfect, but here are a few samples of what I did on Monday! This is my "other sister" Nina's lovely granddaughter Brittany.
Here's the original photo!

Here I made a mask, then put her on a canvas!

Then I framed her in a freebie frame by Marijja! (This is lovely when not compressed so much)

Then I turned her into an oil painting and re framed in a frame from Miriam!

If you click on the photos to enlarge them, they are clearer!....Not sure which I prefer the best, but Nina loves the one on canvas in the antique frame by Marijja! Which one do you prefer? All I know is I had fun with trying out the new techniques.

Well, today is a work day, so must get busy. Thanks for stopping by! Chat more with y'all next time! Hugs, Mat :)

Just wasting time!

Hi y'all! I think our reprieve from the triple digit temperatures is over.  Our rain cooled days are gone and July in Texas is back with a vengeance!  Not only is it creeping back towards those triple digits, the humidity levels and bad air quality levels are rampantly increasing as well!  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. I hope all those NOT accustomed to the muggy excessive heat find relief real soon!All of you should really take extra care since you are not used to any of it! LOL!

I have been staying inside and trying to organize and clear out stuff...not really succeeding as once I stop and sit down at this computer....that is all I want to do....create pages and/or play games! The "girls" make me get up and move about every hour! LMBO!! Anyhow, here are some pages made with some photos I was sent by my sister and/or sister-in-law and/or nieces! (I hope you can keep all that straight!!)

First, here is photo of Amy and Maggie with their pregnant bellies.  I just adore these photos. Amy is due in September (girl) and Maggie is due in November (boy). They are not only friends but sisters-in-law! The page is from several different designers, Kyra (With A Russian Dutch Heart) Frame by Marijja at.fecnikek, extra flowers are from Miriam's Scraps and the wording is all mine.

Here is Maggie with her hubby Lance....isn't this the cutest? This is another cute frame from Marijja and a word art arrow from Raspberry Road Designs. (Lance is Amy's brother) !

Here's Maggie, Lance, Hayden and Chevy! That is the sweetest dog in the world and minds so well. Hayden is excited about her baby brother coming. This quick page is by Linda at Random Thoughts and another wordart arrow by Raspberry Road Designs.

Here's a photo of Jade that was taken at the zoo day before yesterday. She is really growing isn't she? Love her little smile in this one. The QP is by Arlene using With A Russian Dutch Heart kit More Than Words.

Here is Ruby made the same day as Jade's. Her QP is by Neli at Lugar Encantado de Neli

And just had to do one of Jayson too, made at the zoo.  He is really growing as well. They sure don't stay little long do they? He is in a page by Neli at Lugar Encantado de Neli as well

Here's Myrl (my sis-in-law) at the Flint River Park in Bainbridge, GA. The red vehicle has Penny sitting in it! No QP here, just the photo put on a colored background.

And one of Sebrina at the Big Oak Tree in Thomasville, GA.  She was fascinated by the size and the living moss on the tree. Look how big around the tree is, you cannot get a good photo of the whole tree since it covers a full city block. This too is just the photo with a smaller photo of the tree info set in it.

Well, enough for today, got to get moving before I get glued to this chair....LMBO....so will wish all of you a terrific weekend, make lots of memories to share and have lots and lots of fun doing so! Will chat with y'all more later! Hugs, Mat :)
(all the designers info is linked if you want to visit for some awesome freebies for scrapbooking)

My nieces.....

Here's Amy & Margaret....Amy is due with her first, a daughter Annabeth Lynn on the 7th of September and Margaret is due with her second, a son Calvin Turner on the 16th of November. My sister Penny will have 2 more grandchildren before Christmas...!  Hayden just can't wait for her little brother to come! LOL!

This is my niece Sebrina and her mother Myrl at the Big Oak Tree in Thomasville, GA. I so wish I could have been there for this photo. Sebrina sent these to me from her first visit to her dad's home since she was a small baby, she is now 30 yrs old.
I used kits by Russian Dutch Heart, Amy & Margaret are in Long Ago Childhood with the frame by Arlene of the same kit and the one of Sebrina & Myrl it the QP by Arlene using Ciao Bella kit.
I hope all of you had a great 4th of July celebration and enjoyed your family and friends making memories. Since I have been gone for 6 days, I am trying to play catch up, so this post is short! Chat more next time! Hugs to all! Luv, Mat

Have a Happy & Safe 4th y'all!

Wishing all of you a fun, happy and safe 4th of July celebration! Saying thanks to all our service personnel for the sacrifices they have made to protect and keep us free! I hope all of you have lots of family, friends and loved ones near to help make lots of memories to share! Enjoy you BBQ, fun in the sun and all your loved ones! Stay safe! Will chat more with all of you after this long weekend! Luv ya! Mat

(Thanks to Just So Scrappy for the free alpha and PandaDezigns for the Wiz Bang Fireworks. The frame is one I created and offered on Miriam's Scraps)

Prayer Request for Kathy!

I am requesting prayers for my sister Kathy this morning. She is scheduled for a heart catherization! The middle of heart is not working and they are trying to find the cause. If it is something that can be mended by stents...they will keep her in hospital a couple of days prior to surgery, if not, she will spend the night and go home and find out what will be next. She has been through so much this year and needs help by praying for a good outcome! Thanks y'all! Will keep you informed! Hugs for all! Luv, Mat

Update: They put in one stent and kept overnight, she went home yesterday about 1 p.m. and is resting as comfortably as she can. Thanks to all of you for the prayers! Have a beautiful weekend of making memories to share! Hugs, Mat

Hot, Hot, Hot!

It's too HOT & HUMID to be outside (at least for me) so I'm inside soaking up the AC!  Thought I might do a little scrapping and continue on some pages I am doing for Jayson's ABC book. Got to get it finished cause Anabeth will be here soon. Amy says it is definitely a girl with all her fingers and toes from the last ultrasound she had done. Guess all is on schedule for the early part of September. Praying all goes as planned for her and Michael, it is their first. Not sure yet what Maggie and Lance or Kayla and Marcus are expecting! Anyhow, I snitched some photos from this past Sunday off Christina's FB page of Kathy's grandkids and did these 2 using QPs by Neli! Aren't they just adorable?

 Jayson giving his Dad a kiss is just the sweetest I've seen in a while!

Jason took this of Christina and the kids at the Transportation Museum.

Well now, I have to find something else to watch since The Voice is over until fall! Can't believe BS actually did a 3peat and won on his birthday to boot! Happy 38th birthday Blake. Congratulations to Danielle Bradbery (TX) on your win! Blake will have a ball introducing her to Nashville!

Guess I will chat with y'all a little more later, I think I desperately need a nap (just cause I can!)! Y'all have fun making lots of memories to share...get ready for the WEEKEND again! Luv, Mat

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Daddy! Though you have been gone for 15 years, I still miss you! Thanks for watching over me! I love you! Happy Father's Day to my brother who left us 17 years ago too! Also to both my FANTASTIC brothers-in-law...Weymond and Jim, my nephews Jason & Lance and soon to be daddy, nephew-in-law Mike. I hope y'all have a fabulous day!

This is a plopper I made and offered on Miriam's Scraps. I used a combination of kits and the Father overlay is from a family collection of word art overlays I created a while back. I used a background paper from Miriam's Aged Wedding kit. Don't have too many photos of my dad so this is one I have used before.

It has been a very busy week and weekend so far! I think I will catch a nap, all the girls are asleep and I have been up since 3 a.m.! Did a favor for a dear friend by taking her to Plano this morning for Lasik surgery at 7:30. Lots of traffic coming home and I am tired from the trip over and back as well as the heat and it looks like we might get a couple little showers, so perfect for snoozing. Will catch up with y'all next time! Ladies, wish all your hubbies HFD for me! Enjoy making lots of memories tomorrow! Hugs, Mat