JULIEANN photography

Specials!

2012-01-31T11:19:00.001-06:00

* Free session fee includes 1-8x10, 2-5x7 and wallets. Additional prints can be purchased ala carte or you can get your whole digital session for a flat fee!

**Newborns under 14 days old

Studio Love

2012-01-31T11:14:00.000-06:00

I feel like this is a milestone worth celebrating... my first clients in the new studio! Even typing this I can hardly believe that it is true and am so thankful for the amazing opportunity to follow my dream.

Here is a little sampling of some of the amazing families I had a chance to photograph this month.

Sunshine

2012-01-15T23:03:00.002-06:00

Knowing Heidi is like knowing a little piece of sunshine. She is the kind of person that just seeing her can cheer you up on a gloomy day.

Today I had the opportunity to meet and photograph her beautiful family. I loved how they interacted with each other and just relaxed, let loose and had some fun.

Big Announcements!

2012-01-04T11:22:00.001-06:00

I can hardly believe it myself, but I am following my dreams and now have studio space for my photography! I never imagined that having a studio would be on the agenda for 2012, but I am so thankful for surprise opportunities.

Here is a little sampling of the studio space with my favorite little subject.

I of course would LOVE to photograph you and your family and would greatly appreciate your referrals. Please "like" me on facebook (I'll love ya for it!)

I will be offering a few mini sessions for Valentines day (pictures taken in January) so let me know if you are interested and I will get you on the schedule right away.

Thank you all for your support.

Sincerely, Julie

Miss Millie

2011-11-13T21:08:00.000-06:00

Here she is!

One Year Older

2011-10-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

I can't believe these cuties are a year older already! Aren't they fabulous?

I love the out-takes sometimes as much as the "perfect" pictures. These seem to sum up the sibling relationship quite well. LOL.

A beautiful family

2011-10-24T16:59:00.001-05:00

Mr. R is a lucky little guy to be a part of this family filled with love and togetherness. I loved getting to know the whole fam and snuggling such a sweet little one. Congratulations James and Kylie!

Photoshop and Baby Love

2011-10-06T14:19:00.001-05:00

This is the place where all my true loves coincide - photography, Photoshop and babies.

My baby sis is about to have a baby of her own. To celebrate we went out and took a few pictures to capture the miracle taking place in her body right now. I have been thinking about doing a post about photoshop and some of the amazing tricks you can do to spice up your pics. So, for a bit of fun, mouse over the picture to see the "befores." (note: it might take a few seconds for the before pictures to load)

Love at First Sight

2011-08-19T21:29:00.000-05:00

The first moment I saw Miss N I thought she was adorable and would look fabulous in pictures. Turns out I was right! It was so amazing to work with Miss N and get to know the family better. I'm looking forward to the beginning of a great new friendship.

A Big Thanks!

2011-08-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!

Just a quick shout out to say thank you to so many of you that have encouraged me every step of the way in my journey to pursue my dream of professional photography. You have been wonderful.

Over the next few days and weeks I am hoping to make some changes to my site, including pricing and package information. If you have any questions before then, feel free to contact me at notesforjulie at gmail dot com

Thanks so much!

for Joy - a couple more...

2011-07-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

A couple more for you....

The next Princess Bride

2011-07-17T00:34:00.004-05:00

At first she needed a little convincing and some intervention by a well meaning friend, but it wasn't long before she realized he had worked himself into the deepest places in her heart without her even knowing; until there wasn't a shadow of a doubt - she didn't want to spend her life without him ever again.

Their mutual love for literature let them back to their favorite bookstore on April 29th where he guided her towards a bookshelf in the back of the store, pulled out The Princess Diaries and read her his favorite line.

Little did she know the adventure that awaited her, beginning in that seemingly insignificant moment.

You want us to do what?

2011-06-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

I love when a family is open to unusual ideas for pictures. This beautiful family was so wonderful when I said "How about we put a sofa in the middle of a field and take pictures there." Talk about trusting in the unknown! They were spectacular and so fun to shoot. I've said it before, but with a job this fun, you can hardly call it "work."

I hope you love your pics "L" family.

Digital Scrapbooking 101

2011-04-25T21:30:00.001-05:00

Recently I ventured into the amazing world of digital scrapbooking. As you know, I love pictures. I adore capturing those moments that you want to remember forever. The only problem is, scrapbooking is just too overwhelming for me. All the different scissors, cutting pictures into shapes, gluing with special glue, knowing exactly what papers I would need before I went to the store, etc. was just too much for me. I figured I would never scrapbook my memories, and they would probably forever live in the rubbermaid tub in my basement, hoping beyond hope that someday their status would change.

Then an amazing thing happened. I found digital scrapbooking.

I have been in love with Photoshop for ages. I adore the amazing things I can do with pictures. I love making custom Christmas cards and birth announcements. But, it wasn't until last year that a friend told me about her digital scrapbooking.

I am totally hooked.

There are several different ways to scrapbook your pictures digitally. You can use an online site like Shutterfly, Snapfish, Picaboo, Winkflash, Blurb, or Mixbook or you can create your own using programs like Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, GIMP (get it free), Paint.net (also free), or from software provided by companies like Creative Memories (download software for free), Heritage Builders, etc.

Different companies have many different options, so try out a couple different ones. For example, some companies have software that you download onto your computer, make your pages, then upload the pages to the company website to print. If you are scrapbooking a lot of pictures, this is a great option so you don't have to spend as much time uploading every picture. Also, if you have limited internet access, this is also a fantastic way to get your books done.

On the flip side, if you use multiple computers, using a company such as Mixbook or Shutterfly can allow you to work on your book no matter what computer you are on, or create a book that several people can contribute to (great for working on a family history book, recipe book, etc.)

Most internet based books have an option to make an easy book. Basically their software will take your pictures and place them on the book pages for you by sorting them according to the date and time they were taken. You get to pick the style, colors and fonts that you want, but the pictures will be added for you. Then all you have to do to finish it is add text and double check that the pictures are where you want them. This is a great way to start your first book.

If you want to go a little deeper but still keep it simple, start with a pre-designed book that you drag and drop your pictures into. Shutterfly has a few options of pre-designed books, and Mixbook has many options of pre-designed books that you can then do some simple editing to, such as move picture boxes, add/remove stickers, change the size of the photo frames, etc.

Some companies (such as Creative Memories) has options for books where the pages lay flat. Their books also have a stitched binding, so they are more durable and have a longer rating for how many years they are expected to last without fading, etc. As you can imagine, their books can be more expensive to order.

Mixbook is the only company that I know of right now that has an option to upload your own digital papers, stickers, borders, ribbons, etc. and use them with their book making software. Their book making software is great, but can be slightly more complicated that using Shutterfly (for example.)

There can be a big variety of prices when it comes to purchasing your completed digital scrapbook. All companies run sales and promotions and frequently have coupons. Winkflash often has a "Flat Rate" book sale, meaning there is no charge for extra pages. This can be a HUGE savings if you have multiple pages.

Other ways to save are to check for coupons, groupons, and company promotions. Groupon has had a promotion for Shutterfly, Picaboo, and Mixbook in the past. Also, since Groupon is all over the nation, sometimes they are running a promotion for a Groupon in a different city. That is where google comes in; just google the name of the company and Groupon and it will tell you if there is any special in any other cities. I am signed up to receive emails from companies (Shutterfly, Snapfish and Mixbook) and periodically they have a free 20 page book code. These are usually for a very short time, so I try to have a book ready in my account, then wait for a special offer. Emails frequently have an additional savings coupon code within them that can be stacked with other offers from time to time. It can take time and patience, but it is totally worth it!

There are 2 ways to do your digital pages. If you use an internet based software company (Shutterfly, Mixbook, Snapfish, etc.) you can only get your pages done as a printed "coffee table" type book. If you design your pages using software on your computer you can either print individual pages (12x12 for example to add to your traditional scrapbook) or you can upload your pages to a web based company be printed into a coffee table book.

I am a photoshop girl myself, so this tutorial will be using photoshop elements. (Get a free 30 day trial by clicking on the link above)

For this tutorial I will start with a layout. Click here to get my layout for free! For information on how to "unpack" a zipped file, check out this tutorial here.

I will use the great free kit "Spontaneous Delight" from Shabby Princess. Go Here to download it for free.
*all the kits on this page are free!

If you need more info about downloading, check out Shabby Princess' faq.

To begin with, go to >file>open and navigate to the place you saved your newly downloaded layout.

Make sure you are on the >Move tool (keyboard shortcut v).

Pick 3 photos that you would like to scrapbook. Open those in PS (Photoshop) too.

Next, open the papers and elements you want to use*. For me this is always somewhat of a work in progress. Often the papers I start with originally are tweaked until I find what works best with my pictures.

*(I like to just open the folder in a separate windows explorer window. That way I can see all the papers and elements in the kit, but don't have to open them all. As I find what I think might work, I drag the element into the PS window. )

PS can be a hard program to learn. Before you start, think of digital scrapbooking just like traditional scrapbooking- each thing you put on the page has its own layer (ie. a button is a different layer than the paper, and the picture is a layer on top of the paper, etc.) Make a new layer for each item.

To create a new layer, click the icon that looks like a post-it note, or go to >layer>new layer keyboard shortcut ctrl+shift+n.

Your layers will show up on the right side of your page. In the layout I created for you, several layers are already created.

Ok, on to the fun stuff.

Start by finding the layer that says "Layer 1" and click on it to select it.

Navigate to the bottom of the page where your open files are (as seen above) and open the paper you want to use for the background of your scrapbook page in the main editing area by double-clicking on the icon at the bottom. Click on the paper, hold and drag the file onto your layout.

tip: hold down the shift key when you drop the paper onto your layout to center the file on your layout.

Your layout should now look like this.

If your layout looks like something like this instead....

find the layer your paper is on and drag it down to the layer right above layer 1.

tip: to rename your layers to make them easier to identify, double click on the name of the layer.

If you forgot to hold down the shift key (happens to me all the time) and your layout looks like this:
then just make sure you are using the move tool, and have selected the correct layer, then click and drag the layer until it is positioned correctly.

Next, click on the "main paper" layer.

Open the paper you want to use for the center circle, click on it and drag it to your layout file. (remember to hold down the shift key to center the paper on your layout file.)

Your page will look like this:

This is one of the MOST HELPFUL TIPS! "Clip" your layer to the shape of the layer underneath. Somewhat like cutting your paper into a shape. To do this go to >Layer>Group with Previous. Keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G.

At this point you could also pick a paper and add/clip it to the brown circle "Paper Layer Background." I liked the brown, so I am going to leave it. Another option would be to change the color of the circle. I will do a separate tutorial on that in the future. (remind me :-)

I am going to add a different paper to the "frame" layers. Repeat the steps above to add your paper, and clip it to the right layer.

tip:You can clip a paper to any shape. This makes your possibilities unlimited!

On to adding your photos!

Select the "large picture" layer. Open your main photo and drag and drop it into your scrapbook so the photo layer is directly above the "large picture" layer. Clip your photo to the large picture layer using the keyboard shortcut ctrl+g.

Once you clip your photo to the layer, you may need to resize it to fit correctly. To do this, make sure you have selected your photo's layer, then go to >Image>Transform>Free Transform, or ctrl+T keyboard shortcut.

Drag the picture using only the corners of the boxes to keep the proportions correct on your picture. To rotate it (I tipped the center picture just a little) place your pointer over the round circle or at the corners and tip until you like the look.

Click the green check mark when you are finished making adjustments. If you don't like the outcome, just transform it again using the same steps! (Don't you love the digital age?)

Repeat these steps for "Right Picture" layer and the "Left Picture" layers.

Now that your pictures are set, it's time to decorate your page with elements!

I added the "mesh strip" from the Spontaneous Delight Kit as a ribbon. I wanted the ribbon to be below the pictures and frames. Remember that digital scrapbooking is the same as traditional in the way you "stack" your items. If you want something to be on top, move the layer up. If you want it to be behind, move your layer down in the list.

Next I added the "glitter-swirl" from the kit. I wanted 2 of them- one on each side of the picture, so after I opened the first swirl I went to >Layer>Duplicate Layer.

Make sure you are on the >Move tool (keyboard shortcut v). Select the new layer and drag it to its new home. Transform it if you want to resize or rotate the element.

Next I added a flower element, then added Text.

To add text, select the text tool. (Looks like a big T)

Up at the top of the screen, select your font, text size, text color, etc. I used "Eccentric Std" for my font on this page.

Click anywhere on the page to add text. Click on the green checkmark at the top of the page when you are done writing. (you can also make a text box by clicking and dragging an area, then writing your text inside)

Adjust it until you are happy with the look.

Save your creation! Then go to >File>SaveAs and save your photoshop file into a .jpg

Don't be afraid to play around until you are happy with the results. Here is what I came up with!

Here is another glimpse of a page made using the same layout.

Get creative!

I would LOVE to see your creations. If you use my layout, will you send me an email with a .jpg of your photo? Send your files to decemberdreamer@gmail.com .

Digital Scrapbooking Resource Guide

2011-04-24T21:59:00.000-05:00

I frequently get questions about digital scrapbooking: how to get started, where to get freebies and kits, and how to make layouts in Photoshop. Since these questions can take weeks to answer, I have compiled a list of resources to make it a bit easier!

GETTING STARTED

Keep it simple!
There are several ways to get started with digital scrapbooking. To start, pick one event or theme to make a book. (ideas: Faithbook, Affirmation, Welcome Baby, Vacation!, Christmas, ABC's, etc.) Don't worry about trying to backtrack and scrapbook the last 47 years worth of pictures, in fact, you may not even want to worry about trying to even do 1 year. Just get started to see what you like and what works for you. I listed several web-based companies in this post to get started, as well as information on getting software to create your own pages.

Learn the language
When I first started I felt like I was lost with all the terminology. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had no idea how to get there, or even how to ask a question! This post from The Daily Digi is fantastic for learning the language. Design House Digital has weighed in with their glossary too. Each post has listed some different terms, so skim through both lists to get a good feel for Digi-scrapping.

FINDING FREEBIES

To utilize most digital scrapbooking kits you have to create your pages using Photoshop, Gimp, or Paint.net, however, Mixbooks has an option to upload your papers, stickers, elements, etc into their program to create your pages. Currently they are the only company I know of that allows you to do that.

Google is an excellent source for finding Digital scrapbook resources. Of course as with anything, be cautious about what you download from the internet.

Here are some others I have found.

Shabby Princess - this is where I started. SP has some wonderful kits for free, as well as beautiful items in her store, great tutorials, and fantastic info on her blog. She is doing the "Project Scrap" challenge, complete with 2 free templates every month, and encouragement to keep going.
Simply Yin - I use almost exclusively templates from Yin. I love getting a lot of pictures on a page, and also adore the fact that Yin designs in 2 page layouts so that my pages flow well throughout my book.
Suddenly Artistic - mostly wordart and inspiration
Simply Tiffany - tutorials, templates
Craft Cave Free Digi Search Engine
oScraps
Simple Inspirations - Allison Kimball
Weeds & Wildflowers
Design House Digital
Everyday Mom Ideas
Shabby Miss Jenn
mscraps
StudioGirls
Digital Scrap Cafe
blogtrainblog.blogspot.com
The Daily Digi
Hand Picked Freebies
Fonts for Peas - Free Scrapbooking fonts
Sugar Frog Fonts - more free fonts
Additional Resource links

These sites do not always have giveaways, but frequently they do, or they are a site to buy kits that you need. Each blog is PACKED with information, so click around to the store, other links within their blogs, to the galleries, etc. to find inspiration, designers you like, tutorials, and of course, FREEBIES!

DISCOVER YOUR STYLE

When I first started digital scrapbooking I saw a lot of "cluster" scrapbooking styles. Although I thought the pages were pretty, I was frustrated that I just couldn't make it work. My style is very driven by the photo, not the design around it, and it took me a while to realize that I really liked a simple clean-line design that focused on the pictures, not the elements. As soon as I figured that out, I started looking for stores and designers that shared my style, and recently I have been much more happy with the end result of my pages.

TUTORIALS

GET INSPIRED!

Check out the Gallery section on each store's page for ideas for your next layouts. These have been tremendously inspirational to me in the past. For a little sneak peak, check out Gallery Standouts.

Getting Started with Faithbooking

2011-04-24T20:57:00.001-05:00

Last November I went to a Creative Memories party with my cousin, expecting to learn about Creative Memories new digital products, but instead I learned about Faithbooking, and I was inspired and compelled to share what I learned. Rhonda Anderson, Co-founder of Creative Memories shared some of her personal experience, then passed around some of her own books. I have never felt more encouraged in my journey to scrapbook than I did at that moment.

What is Faithbooking?

Faithbooking is an opportunity to create a testimony in words and pictures of your own personal faith journey.

Amazing things happen when you take the time to record what God has done in your life. Think about the large and small miracles you have witnessed, the hard times and hard decisions you've faced, the people who have helped you along the way. You may not think your story is all that important. But personal stories, told simply and shared honestly from the heart, have the power to change lives.

If you doubt the power of storytelling, open your Bible. In Joshua 4, God tells the children of Israel to set up stones as a signpost for future generations of how He dried up the river to give them safe passage. In Exodus 16:32, He instructs them to put manna in a quart jar and carry it with them as a reminder of His faithfulness in providing for their needs.

We are commanded by the Lord to remember the significant events of our lives, and yet we forget the details so easily. That's why we need to write them down. As an old proverb reminds us, the palest ink is better than the best memory.

Journaling is often a challenging part of scrapbooking. Rhonda created a book called 10 Questions to help you get started on your book. Here are her questions for Faithbooking for your children and creating a book of affirmations. (You can find out more about Rhonda and Faithbooking here.)

This may feel overwhelming as you look down the page, but I encourage you to just get started! Plan to take 10-15 minutes and journal your answers to 1 page per day. You will be amazed at how easy it is to do and how quickly you complete all your journaling for the book. An amazing side effect is how it helps reshape your day as a mommy when you are taking a few minutes to focus on the wonderful attributes of your child. In no time at all you will be able to put your book together and your child will cherish it for the rest of their life.

Questions to help create a God Made You Special Faithbook for your children

Page 1 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

Write a statement about how special your child is to you and to the Lord. This scripture verse can serve as a guideline.

Example: I praise and thank the Lord for you, Ravi. You are a masterpiece that God brought into this world. Your life is a miracle and each day when I look at you, I marvel at how unique and special you are. Our lives are blessed because the Lord gave us the gift of YOU!

Optional: Write a few details about the child’s birth and how the Lord protected his/her arrival into the world.

Page 2 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:6

Write about the talents and giftings you see growing in your child. Are they showing leadership, perhaps they are musical or artistic, organized, good at serving and helping, etc.

Example: Sylas, you are such a good helper. Grandpa and I are so impressed with your willingness to serve others and do hard jobs. One day, you helped us pull weeds, pick carrots and beets - then you cleaned all the mud from the vegetables. Next you swept the patio and asked for more jobs. You also do so well helping your mother with your baby brother Ravi. She really appreciates that you listen and obey. We are so proud of you!

Optional: There will be many stories of how the Lord’s gifts and talents are growing in your children. Make as many comments as possible in this category. Our son Joel makes friends easily; our daughter Julia is neat and organized. Janetta has a gift for listening and giving wise advice; Jacob is disciplined and has the heart of a servant.

Page 3 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Write the details of how your child accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. If the child is too young to have made that decision yet, write about the child’s prayers and comments he/she has made about Jesus.

Example: Julia receives Christ at age six! While reading at the kitchen counter on April 10th, 1993, our book was about three children praying to receive Jesus into their heart. You turned to us and said, “I want to pray right now to ask Jesus into my heart – can I do that.” We were so excited that I cried tears of joy. You then prayed and asked Jesus to come into your heart and be with you forever. The angels in heaven rejoiced that night as your name was written in the Lambs book of life. Dad and I are filled with joy to know that we will share our life on earth with you AND we will spend eternity together. Praise the Lord!

Example: Even though you are only two years old Laila, you are already demonstrating your love for the Lord. Several times a day you say, “God made me special.” You will also frequently say, “Jesus is with me.”

Optional: Write YOUR own testimony to include for your child. It is important for them to see the circumstances of your salvation. Psalm 145:4 says, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.”

Page 4 – “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in your ways;” Psalm 91:11

Write a story about how the Lord has protected your child through an illness, accident or other challenging events.

Example: The Lord is so faithful to protect you, Sylas. I remember the day you fell into our swimming pool and the Lord alerted Grandma Rhonda so she could find you within seconds of you falling. We thank the Lord for rescuing you from drowning that day. The Lord has a special plan for your life and we thank Him for keeping you safe.

Optional: Write about the time the Lord protected you and your family. This will increase the faith of your child and encourage you as well.

Page 5 – “And so we celebrated because the Lord had indeed worked miracles for us.” Psalm 126:3

Write a story about an accomplishment of your child’s that you have celebrated. Depending on their age this could be finishing a grade of school (including pre-school), learning a special game or activity, excelling at a sport, music recital, learning verses at Awana, etc.

Example: We are so proud of you Laila. You have memorized two scripture verses! You are a girl after God’s own heart and He loves you so much and we do to! And you can sing Jesus Loves Me by heart! That is sooooooo good!

Optional: The celebration could include anytime your family has had a victory. Perhaps you received a windfall blessing or an extraordinary answer to prayer.

Page 6 – “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

Write about your child’s experience with music. Do they love to sing? Do they play an instrument yet? What are some of their favorite praise songs? We can both affirm our children through words of a song AND teach them the importance of giving praise to the Lord throughout their life.

Example: Sylas - When I was praying for your mother before your birth, I felt the Lord saying to me that you would be a mighty man of praise and worship. Shortly after your birth I heard of a new singing group called, Something like Silas. Wow, praising the Lord will be an important part of your life.

Optional: Write the words of a favorite song that express how you feel about your child. Bill Gaither’s song, I am a Promise has very meaningful words to share with your kids.

Page 7 - “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

I Peter 3:21

Write about your child’s dedication. If the child is older and has made the decision to be baptized, write the details of the experience and your thoughts towards the child.

Example: What a joyous day it was Joel, when you told us that you wanted to be baptized so everyone would know that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. You were so excited as you waited for the evening church service. At eight years old, you were one of the younger ones being baptized. When the microphone was in your hand, you proudly declared you loved Jesus. Your first response when emerging from the tank was, “Mom - that water wanted me to swim in it.” Indeed, the water was warm and inviting for a young man who loved to swim. I’m sure the Lord got a chuckle from that comment.

Optional: Write the details of your baptism (both parents).

Page 8 –“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Write – Grandparents, siblings, relatives, teachers, friends will have encouraging words to say about your child. Words of affirmation from a variety of others, is another way to show your child how much the Lord loves them.

Example: Jacob – we are so proud of you. We received an amazing letter from one of the nurses who is assisting you during your hospital stay. This is what she said about you. “As Jacob’s parents, I want you to know what a special son you have. Even though he is stuck in traction and experiencing great discomfort, he has the best attitude. All of us nurses compete for the right to be on call for his room. He shares his faith in such a gentle and effective way. You must be so proud to have a 12-year old son like Jacob."

Optional: You may include cards, letters, reports or anything that has affirming words to your child.

Page 9 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Write about the fruits of the spirit and character qualities maturing in your child. Are they responsible, friendly, honest, loyal, etc.

Example: Joel, we see the fruit of faithfulness growing in your life. Every day you have attended 6:00am swim practice with consistency and a great attitude. You have been so faithful to receive instruction and advice with graciousness. You are giving honor to the Lord with your demonstration of faithfulness.

Page 10 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Write about a favorite scripture verse that your child has memorized or that speaks about your child. Do you have a verse that is special to you regarding this child? Write the verse and why it is meaningful.

Example: Proverbs 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. While reading my Bible on September 3, 1985 I read that verse. Instantly the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “Your baby arriving from India is good news from a distant land.” We had been patiently waiting for seven weeks for news of your arrival, Janetta. Later that day, we received a phone call from the adoption agency saying that you would arrive tomorrow! Yes, indeed – we received good news from a distant land!

Tips to keep in mind:

1) Do not feel obligated to use every question – select the ones that are most meaningful to you

2) Find pictures (perhaps only one) that go with the questions. Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact picture for the occasion…

3) Do not worry about writing complete sentences or paragraphs. Bullet journaling a few statements is very acceptable.

4) Also do not worry about spelling or grammar. To feel intimidation about your writing skill is succumbing to a lie from Satan who does not want you or your child to succeed.

5) You may hand write or type this book. Remember, your hand writing is an important part of history, so do not be shy about the “look” of your handwriting.

6) Creativity is not the goal so don’t be concerned about the appearance of your finished work. The most important component is your heartfelt words! Kids only want to know, “What did you say about me?” Stickers and paper are not what they value.

7) www.faithbooking.com is a website with a free concordance and TEN more questions to help you create an Adult Faithbook. Our FAITH will be increased when we look back and see the Lord’s faithfulness. Our stories will help our kids trust Him in the future.

8) If you are already an album maker you can weave some of these questions into your “regular “ photo albums.

9) Free Software at www.creativememories.com – the select digital center

10) Please feel free to email me at: randerson@creativememories.com with any questions. – Group workshops are an option.

11) Try Planned Neglect to get this book done (skip doing dishes, beds, makeup, Facebook, emails, laundry, cooking, etc) Focus most of your daily time on the book (or carve out an hour a few times a week and you’ll be amazed at how much you can complete)!

Scripture verses that demonstrate the importance of sharing faith stories with the next generation:

Ps 145:4 NIV “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.”

Deuteronomy 4:9 CEV “You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well.”

Psalm 22:30-31 LB “Future generations will also serve Him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything He has done.”

I Chronicles 16:23-24 LB “Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deed among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He has does.”

Psalm 78:4 NIV “..we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.”

Isaiah 38:19b LB “Each generation can make known your faithfulness to the next.”

Joel 1:3 NIV “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”

Psalm 102:18 NLV “Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a nation yet to be created will praise the Lord.”

Psalm 107:43 NLV “Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.”

Exodus 16:32 NIV - Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' " (A book is easier to carry around than a jar of manna). J

Joshua 4:4-7 ⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, ⁶ to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' ⁷ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." (They had stones to remind them of the Lord’s faithfulness – we can use the book we create).

Happy Scraping!

ABC Scrapbooking

2011-04-23T21:14:00.002-05:00

A variation of an Affirmation book for your children is an ABC's of Scripture book. Carrie M. shared this as a resource to help you get started.

1. All Have Sinned - Romans 3:23
2. Believe In The Lord Jesus - Acts 16:31
3. Children Obey - Colossians 3:20
4. Do To Others - Matthew 7:12
5. Even A Child - Proverbs 20:11
6. Fear Not - Isaiah 43:1
7. Give Thanks In All Circumstances - 1 Thes. 5:18
8. Honor Your Father And Mother - Exodus 20:12
9. I Am The Vine - John 15:5
10. Jesus Christ Is The Same - Hebrews 13:8
11. Keep Your Tongue From Evil - Psalm 34:13
12. Look To Me And Be Saved - Isaiah 45:22
13. Marvel Not You Must Be Born Again - John 3:7
14. No Man Can Serve Two Masters -Matthew 6:24
15. O Lord God Almighty - Psalm 89:8
16. Put On The Full Armor - Ephesians 6:11, 14-17
17. Quench Not The Spirit - I Thessalonians 5:19
18. Remember The Sabbath Day - Exodus 20:8-10
19. Seek Ye First The Kingdom - Matthew 6:33
20. Trust In The Lord - Proverbs 3:5-6
21. Unto Us A Child Is Born - Isaiah 9:6-7
22. Vengeance Is Mine - Romans 12:19-21
23. Wait For The Lord - Psalms 27:14
24. eXcept Ye Be Converted - Matthew 18:3
25. You Are The Light Of The World - Matthew 5:14,16
26. Zion Hears And Is Glad - Psalm 97:8-9

In order to prepare for her book, Carrie shared that she is planning to take a picture of Emily with each of her show and tell items for the year. At the end of the school year she should have at least one picture for each letter. What a great idea!

Here are a couple more helpful links to spur your creativity when you are having trouble with certain letters.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/character-traits-list.html

Afirmations:
http://www.abundancetapestry.com/101-affirmations-for-children/
http://inspirationformothers.blogspot.com/2009/05/affirmations-for-your-children.html

Baby Bumps

2011-03-03T14:09:00.001-06:00

I feel like I should put a disclaimer on these pictures for B's sake... these were taken with Miss E (No announcements here!)

Isn't she lovely?

Custom Design

2011-02-10T15:47:00.000-06:00

I didn't want to post some of this until after my clients had a chance to send out their cards/announcements, but here is a little sample of some custom design work from our photography studio!

Silhouette Tutorial

2011-01-04T23:37:00.002-06:00

If you have been following my blog for a while you know that I am on a mission to live what I love. To no longer be driven by fear, and to be intentional about creating the spaces around me, and to go for it when it comes to my dreams. Two-thousand-Eleven is about positive change for me. I'm not gonna lie- 2010 was rough. I am ready for a fresh start and a happy year.

So, to start it out well, I've just completed my first "I'm-gonna-get-around-to-that-someday" project.

For a long time I have loved the beautiful silhouettes that Holly Mathis has of her kiddos on her interior design site. There is something so special about the way a silhouette brings out special elements and features of a little body that are sometimes missed in pictures. It shows the little double chin; the rooster tail; the curve of the cute little nose. However, even though I would say I am a creative person, I am NO artist.

Fortunately for me there is a little thing called Photoshop.

LOVE. PHOTOSHOP.

To try it out for yourself, start by taking some pictures of your child in front of a light background. I took T's pictures in front of our window, but a solid colored wall should work too. Make sure the flash is OFF for your pictures.

Here is the original picture I started off with.

As you can see, it isn't a completely solid background, so I am going to change it to black and white.

To change your photo to black and white go to Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation or Ctrl+U .

When the dialog bar comes up, slide the Saturation bar all the way to the left.

Next, add some contrast to the picture to make it easier to select your shape. To do that go to Image>Adjustments>Curves or Ctrl+M . (note: Ctrl + L in Photoshop Elements. You cannot get to curves from the Image menu. You will have a slider bar rather than a graph like below.)

Photoshop Elements example. To change to black and white click on the icon (top arrow) and select Hue/Saturation from the drop down menu. Then, to add contrast, in the levels dialog box use the little arrows and move them toward the center in each direction.

When your final product has a clear definition around it, you are ready to start selecting the image. I chose to select the background first.

Use the wand tool (w) to click on an area. Then to add more to your selection, hold the shift key down while you click the areas to select. If you accidentally select more than you planned, hold down the Alt key and click to unselect. You may also need to use the lasso (l) tool to complete the selection, but your end result should look something like the above picture.

Next go to Select>Inverse so that just your subject is selected instead of the background.

Next, click on the bucket tool, create a new layer (make a new layer by going to Layer>New>Layer) then fill the selected area with black "paint" by clicking in the selected area.

To change the color of "paint" click on the small box (the lower arrow is pointing to) and select the color you want. I wanted black of course.

After you make your new layer and fill it with black paint, your picture will looking something like this.

Now, we are going to take that black layer and put it on a fresh canvas.

Create a new file by going to File>New. Next select the size you want. For this project I made my canvas as an 8x10 with a print resolution of 300 (very important if you want it to print well).

You should have a new blank canvas that comes up. Next select the black silhouette layer (layer is blue on my screen when selected) and drag and drop the layer on the new canvas.

To make sure your picture is clean in the selection, add a layer of white below your silhouette, zoom in and use the eraser tool to clean up any edges.

Next, save all your hard work. Make sure to save a copy in photoshop (.psd) as well as in JPG format (.jpg) in case you need to make any edits in to the file.

So here it is. My finished product. It needs a new frame, but I am so excited to have it completed.

family

2010-11-17T23:55:00.002-06:00

2010-10-30T19:23:00.003-05:00

This has been such a fun journey, meeting new people, checking out fun new places to take pictures, and seeing adorable smiles.

Here are a few of the latest.

Miss M was adorable. Everytime she went to tell her Daddy a secret, she rubbed his head. Loved it!

Miss A is a big sister!

2010-10-28T12:45:00.003-05:00

Congratulations Adam & Bekah!

Those Eyes

2010-10-28T12:35:00.003-05:00

It's been a little busy here the last week or 2, but when you get to take pictures of little guys with eyes and a smile like this, it doesn't even feel like work! Isn't he darling?

Ode to Black and White

2010-10-25T22:26:00.004-05:00

I adore the black and white photos. There is something about the true emotion and personality of a person that shows up so effectively in black and white. There is nothing quite like it.

Here is a little sneak peek of a recent photoshoot with some of my favorite candids of the day. So, are you feeling the emotion.

Another cutie

2010-10-23T21:12:00.002-05:00

I love my job. Who else gets to looks at faces this sweet all day?

Isaac - Class of 2011!

2010-10-16T09:18:00.004-05:00

remember?

2010-09-26T17:30:00.003-05:00

remember this?

Here's the updated version.

Young Love

2010-09-25T20:37:00.002-05:00

There's nothing quite like young love. Can you believe my baby brother is in love? He came down with his super sweet girl and took pics today. Here are a few of my favorites.

Princess of the Tea Party

2010-09-21T13:23:00.005-05:00

Today I got to take this little princess' pictures. Remember Miss A? Anyway, she is growing up so quickly and is just about to eat cake for real as she celebrates 2 years of life!

2010-09-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

My little man is growing up so fast. I haven't had time to keep up with anything but just enjoying him, but in the midst of a busy autumn, we did have a chance to take a few pictures. He absolutely loves music and seems to feel it way down in his soul. So, we set out to capture a moment of his love for music to remember forever.

Mr. T

2010-09-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

Friends

2010-09-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Brian and Becky have been friends for years. I was so excited to get to photograph their little miracle. Isn't he a cutie!

Mr. H

2010-09-13T07:30:00.004-05:00

Mr. H was a blast to take photos of. We had quite a memorable day. JH looked like a little model in all his pictures, then we had a playdate in the Old Market, followed by JH breaking his arm! Anyway, all's well that ends well, and isn't he gorgeous?

Little Man S

2010-09-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

I adore babies. When they are this cute, what's not to love? Doesn't Mr. S look like such a little man?

Family

2010-09-09T14:17:00.001-05:00

sneak peek

2010-08-11T16:03:00.003-05:00

2010-08-06T17:02:00.006-05:00

I love pregnancy. I loved being pregnant. I love pregnant bellies. I love the special little gift after being pregnant. There is something so organically beautiful and feminine about pregnancy. My friend J is 33 weeks and looks fabulous, don't you think?

Laughter

2010-08-02T13:32:00.006-05:00

With every photo shoot there is often 1 picture that jumps out at me. Several things cause a picture to pop, but most often for me it is the emotion of the photo that often gets me.

Today I took some pictures of my cutie-patootie niece, Miss K (aka, Princess K). Miss K and Mr. T are only 4 months apart and are great playmates. Usually when I have a photo shoot I line something up for Mr. T, but today he came along to "help." His job was to tickle Miss K and get her to smile. He did a pretty good job, don't you think?

Bliss

2010-01-25T16:23:00.002-06:00

Ever have those moments where you feel like you are standing back and just watching a moment happen? This was one of those times for me.

I was at Katie's wedding (a different photographer was doing the bulk of the photographing) but I was waiting for my turn in the pictures and looked over and saw this. It was so sweet! I grabbed my camera and snapped a few candids. They are some of my favorite of the day.

Ah, sweet innocence.

To Serve - To Protect - To Defend

2009-11-18T16:28:00.005-06:00

I know it is a little late for Veterans Day, but I didn't get a chance to photograph my little bro until Sunday.

I love you Perry.

Mr P Smiles at Camp

2009-10-31T13:08:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I took Mr. P's pics. Isn't he a cutie? I think he has a future in modeling.

What a contagious smile!

Miss K

2009-10-18T22:04:00.005-05:00

Remember these eyes?

Miss K (AKA Princess) is growing so fast. Saturday I got to update her pictures and share with you all how big she has gotten. We had a great time, but I do have to say she was much more interested in playing with Mr. T than she was with me.

Little Cuties

2009-10-16T15:09:00.002-05:00

A sneak peak for Carrie

For Amy

2009-10-07T22:25:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday I got the chance to photograph this beautiful family. It was a breeze! The kids were so sweet and happy that it made taking pictures a piece of cake.

Aren't they gorgeous?

Ava's 1!

2009-10-05T20:15:00.007-05:00

I can't believe that Ava is almost 1 already. It seems like just a month or 2 ago that we took this picture.

On a side note, I have been trying to figure out the best way to host my pictures and post them on the blog. I have tried picasa and photobucket. Any ideas? Are these pictures too big? Should I resize them so you can see the whole picture on the screen at the same time? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Fall pictures

2009-10-05T00:04:00.006-05:00

Fall is a beautiful time of year for pictures and a busy season around here. Yesterday I got to take pictures of this beautiful family.

More to come soon!

Tom & Katie's Wedding - The continuing saga!

2009-09-25T20:52:00.005-05:00

Katie and Tom had 2 other great photographers for their wedding. Dave Standley has been a friend of the family for more years than I am old! His wife Laurie was a bridesmaid in my mom's wedding and has helped all of us girls with our wedding flowers and decorations.

Katie's second photographer is Kendra DeFord. More of her work later.

Anyway, since I am a part of the family, and was a part of the wedding, it was impossible for me to be in the pictures and take them at the same time.

Here is a sampling of some of Dave's photography art.

Making the Most of it

2009-09-24T07:00:00.004-05:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love photography, but I really love Photoshop! It always amazes me the things you can do to spice up your photographs. Here is just one example for you. This first one is SOOC (straight out of camera).

It is a really pretty picture, but doesn't quite stand out. I like the composition quite a bit, but the picture isn't for a magazine cover, it is of my lovely sis and her wonderful new husband. Also, the clouds that were so cool in the background are a little bit blown out in this picture.

So, I started out by finding another picture that was similar with a slightly different exposure. The sky was blue and beautiful! I dropped the new sky picture onto the original, automatically creating another layer. The sky layer was placed below the original, then using a mask, I "cut" out the top of this picture so what you would see was the new sky. (Sorry this is a bit confusing)

Using the burn tool, I made parts of the sky a little more dramatic and added depth to the picture while keeping the look of sunshine on the bride and groom. I added a "warmer" action from the Pioneer Woman Actions for some additional color in the field and a sunny appearance overall.

I cropped it so you can clearly see the beautiful couple, and tada! Done.

So, what do you think?

Fairytale Wedding Part 2

2009-09-23T12:31:00.008-05:00

As I promised, here are some more pictures of Katie's wedding.

This picture was taken after the ceremony. I love how content they both look.

I don't even have words for this next one.

Above picture photographed by Kendra DeFord

I am still trying to work out all the bugs on my new blog site, so please forgive me if things aren't working quite right.

I will post more tomorrow!

Katie & Tom - I Do!

2009-09-22T15:03:00.007-05:00

My baby sister got married last weekend in what I would consider a fairy tale wedding. It was absolutely beautiful. Most weddings have things that go wrong, but there was almost nothing that went wrong for Katie. She was beautiful and relaxed.

I didn't take all the pictures for the wedding, but here are I few that I did take. Hopefully I will have more posted later this week.

Enjoy!

check back tomorrow for more pictures!

Creative Outlet

2009-09-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

I have had my digital SLR for 8 months now. I cannot begin to express how much I love it! My camera is a window into my soul; the way I express myself without words; my emotions; my memories. Thinking about pictures makes me happy.

I love when I download all my pictures from my camera and open one up to see this.

It makes you happy too, huh.

Mr. T

2009-09-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

Katie

2009-09-05T15:30:00.001-05:00

I got my camera this week so I was finally able to get pictures of T's little friend. Their birthdays are less than a week apart. She's a cutie, huh?

Katie & Tom

2009-09-05T15:27:00.000-05:00

You may have heard........
Our baby sister is getting married

Ok, so maybe she's not really a baby any more, but she'll always be our baby sister.

Congratulations Brad & Amy

2009-09-01T19:29:00.001-05:00

Adorable

2009-09-01T19:26:00.000-05:00

3 Little Flowers

2009-09-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy summer of both work and play so far. Right now I am in Kentucky doing a little bit of both. Here are some pictures of my friends gorgeous little ones. I can't believe how big they are getting. (I know that makes me sound really old... believe me, I feel it!)

Nathan

2009-09-01T19:23:00.002-05:00

Ava 9 Months

2009-08-30T23:08:00.004-05:00

I Love you This Much!

What song do you want to sing?

2009-08-30T13:39:00.000-05:00

Tucker loves it when I sing to him. He always has! Ever since he was tiny he would snuggle in nice and cozy whenever I would sing to him. His love for singing has continued, and he often asks us to sing him this song. Can you guess what it is?