Feeling overwhelmed.

Today was not a good day. No patience, tired & a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. I'm staying so busy lately, but I feel like I'm running around getting nothing accomplished & my list of things to do keeps getting larger. So, I stayed home today. Did stuff & spent the time with my girls, all the while trying to maintain my patience. I really needed to.................spend the time with them:)

I did manage a few more cards the other day & I altered two Basic Grey bookplates as ornaments for a friend. I got this idea from Jenni Bowlin, last year. Loved it so much, I went ahead & bought more bookplates for this year. Glad I did.....they're hard to find now. I keep making the mistake of browsing people's blogs & I keep seeing even more beautiful ideas. Whether it's home-decor, presents or wrapping gift ideas...........I see so many things I want to try. Next on my list: alter a rolodex I've had for 2 years (no lie!!) & my 7Gypsies trading card holder thingy......you know the one. Really need to get these off my desk.

TFL & here's to a beautiful Sunday!!

3 more cards

Widdling away at my Christmas cards. Using Caardvarks & Card Maps to help me out. This one is from Day #2 & looks a tad crooked, but it's really not:

This one is from Day 5

And this one from Day 6

TFL!!!

More Cards & projects.

As promised, I'm posting my little Christmas tree I made. The pictures don't look very good. I tried taking pictures in several different settings & none turned out well, so you'll have to take my word that it's sparkly & cute. I used a ton of buttons, sequins, pom-poms & stick pins and over 6-hours to make.

This is a Making Memories Advent calendar I bought from Target. I've been wanting to make one, but knew I didn't have time to make it from scratch. This came with all the precut papers, rub-ons & poinsetta flowers. I added a few things of my own & it's good to go.

Here are some cards I've also made. Still trying to get them finished to mail next week!! The first card is using a sketch from Sketch This #34.

This is using a sketch from Card Studio Designs #5.

This card is made using Card Positioning Sketch #42

Thanks for looking & remember, if you know anything about cameras, please see my previous post!!

So I'm needing some camera lense help!!

I own a Canon Digi Rebel XT SLR. It came with an 18-55 mm lense & I bought an EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lense.

First, let me say I know nothing about my camera. I've tried reading the manual, going to Canon's website & reading all about apeture & such, but it really is Greek to me. My husband reads it, explains what it all means, I understand for a fleeting moment & then it's out of my head.

So, with the 2 lenses I have, should I be able to take really good "portrait" shots? I love the blurred background, close-up, but stand at a distance shots. I also take a lot of action shots. I like my pics to be candid, though a lot of them will look "posed," they are not. At one point in my camera buying phase, I was told my next lense would need to be a 55mm for my portrait shots, but I've been on Canon's website for 2 days now & I'm beginning to think that's not my answer either. My husband is convinced I don't need a new lense at all.....I just need to understand the ones I have & he's probably right.

Can anyone help? PLEASE?

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Things have been hectic around my house. With Ashlyn being on the dance team, it seems they're always doing something, aside from practice. Had we realized just how much they would be doing, I'm not sure we would have agreed to the venture, but she does seem to be enjoying herself. I haven't even had time to scrap, but I've been okay with that. Seems I haven't really been in the mood to be upstairs in my scrap room.

I love this time of year. I've got my house decorated & it's pretty. I'm a minimalist when it comes to decor. I like the clean & simple look......something I also like with my scrapping but don't do as often anymore. I finally finished my foam Christmas tree I started & it's gorgeous. I went with Pink, Red, Green & white & it's so sparkly & pretty. It took me 6-hours to complete, but I love it enough I'm making a smaller one. I'll upload pictures tomorrow. Because of this little tree, I had to dig out my Pink Christmas ornaments to add to the tree this year. Now if I can find a pink Christmas stocking, it will be complete.

I did manage a few cards tonight.....3 in fact. I'm only posting 2 because I used some glittery paint on one & it's not dry. I'm using CardMap sketches from the Caardvarks blog.

TFL & I hope you have a blessed Tuesday!!