I find scrapbooking is a great way to unwind, reflect and feel creative and have something to share with others at the end of the project. I often reflect back to my scrapbooks with great fondness and am always happy I put in that extra effort!

Creative Memories is a great line of scrapbooking products that can help you get started, get organized and have fun!
For years I did things the hard way, with a scaple knife and ruler, and eyeballed the circle cuts… well, the Creative memories products from their cropping tools line left my jaw dragging to the floor. How fast, easy and precise they are with little effort. Take the custom cutting system, mat and blades ( product detail ),

You get the cutting mat and three blades and you can use the circle patterns, oval patterns gemstone patterns etc (all sold separately) and in second you have a circle cut, and your surface is protected from the matt!

This is just one of the things that makes scrapbooking easier, they also have packages of papers and stickers to make it that much more easier.

To view, look at and order, go to: http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/catherinerobertson/

This is my dear friend Catherine’s site, she is a Creative Memories consultant, she is so talented with scrapbooking and knows her stuff for sure! So, please support her I’m a huge believer in supporting friends and family, Catherine is both to me!

If your looking for yourself or gift Ideas, this is defenatly the product line for you!

Cheers, and happy Scrapbooking

I’ve always had people ask me, how do you make the one color black and white photos?

Well, here it is! I’ve created the Tutorial with the assumption that knowledge of Photoshop is greater than beginner.

This is one of my favourite processes for editing and enhancing digital photographs enjoy!

Begin:

Choose a photograph that would suit this technique, something predominate in the photo, Ie: a flower.
Open the selected photo in Photoshop, I’m using version CS3 Extended.

Once open, double click on the background layer in the layers panel, which automatically changes the locked background into layer0.

I’m labelling layer0, as ‘Base Layer’, duplicate this layer by dragging the layer icon over the ‘new’ layer button at the bottom of the layers panel.

This will automatically create a ‘duplicate’ layer of ‘Base Layer’. Name the duplicated layer ‘Desaturate Layer’.

So, now we have two identical layers, one named ‘Base Layer’ and the other ‘Desaturate Layer’.

Select the ‘Desaturate Layer’, and choose Image > Adjustments > Desaturate from the top menu, or Shift+Ctrl+U (on windows).

Select the ‘Desaturate Layer’ and from the tools panel select the eraser tool.

Set the eraser tool with an opacity of 10%, and a soft round brush, whatever size you feel comfortable using.

Erase the part that you want the color to show through, I do mine in layers so I can make the edging soft and flow nicely from the b/w to color.

Voila!

For the picture I chose, I’m also going to delete some of the flower so the purple shows through.

Happy photo editing!

After an uncalled-for negative experience with freecycle Guelph, my friend created a Facebook group that is similar but adds community, politeness and creativity!

The Information:

She defines it as “A local group dedicated to reducing, reusing and recycling good household items!”.
I believe in recycling and in community. I think this is a great idea, a great ‘positive’ out of a negative situation.

She shows me that when someone gives you nothing but lemons, you can make lemonaid, decorate the glass and drink it with a smile.

Are you on facebook and would like to join?

Go here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15387245910

See you there!

Spring cleaning is a great time to overhaul a room while you clean!

For me recent thinking about renovations and spring cleaning has led to much investigation into these topics and undecided on where to start?

Tasks:

1. Cleaning the house
2. Painting the walls and ceilings in the upstairs.

I divided this huge task into lists from room to room. Then in each room I include everything on a check list that I have to accomplish. My list for the kitchen looks like this:

1. Clear out Cupboards
2. Wash inside and out of cupboards
3. clear out refrigerator
4. properly dispose of food, compost and recycle containers
5. wash inside and out of refrigerator
6. wash inside and out of all appliances
7. wash windows and ‘gutters’ of windows
8. wash floor boards
9. sweep and scrub floors ‘moving appliances to sweep and wash behind’
10. scrub down counters
11. scrub and shine sinks

*I’ve left out washing the walls as I want to re-paint*

I use spring as the ‘big clean’ and then its easier to up-keep throughout the year. Now that the kitchen is clean, I want to re-paint!

Inspiration:

I’ve looked for colors that exist in the kitchen and that would be present throughout the house, as the kitchen walls progress into the hallways.

I’m looking at creme, brown and neutral colors.

I’m going to use a photo I took of a butterfly to pull from, as they match the floor and the cupboard color scheme.

I choose to go with a lighter brown/creme, as this will keep the light reflecting and add a warmth to the house. I will use the darker brown for curtain color.

As a finishing touch, new hardware for the kitchen cupboards. As an accent color I can pull in a nice green (taken from the photo) vase for the table, and bottles on the counter. Adding a bit of color here and there.

Conclusion:

Lists make cleaning easier and help to stay on task and organized.

When painting, look at your surroundings and find a palette that will work for you.

Find favourite photos, magazines or gadgets to pull colors from for inspiration.

Have fun!

The rule of thirds, basically is dividing your shot into 9 sections; three sections vertical and three sections horizontal.
If you’d like to learn more about this rule see the wiki page.

My tip for you is pushing this rule. The accepted practice is to place your subject matter at one of the intersecting points of that grid.

My suggestion is actually placing the subject a little bit further past those connection points.

This creates additional tension and rhythm, leaving the eye with a distinct focal point. The end result, a spectacular photo that is sure to win you some compliments.

In search of some leaner forms of protein, I discovered for myself a ‘new to me’ product; TVP, or Textured Vegetable Protein.
I figured, hey this stuff would be great in Taco’s, and I tried it. Wow, it didn’t have the same greasy feeling that beef did, but tasted much the same, if not better. I had to try it in chili!
The following recipe came out of my quest for more organic, yeast free, sugar free ideas for meals.

You will need:

1 can - PC Organics Primavera Sauce
1 can - PC Organics Bean Medley
1 can - PC Organics Kidney Beans
1 cup - TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein)
1/2 cup - Filtered Water
2 tbs - Organic Chili Poweder
1 tbs - Curry Powder
2 garlic pieces chopped
1/2 - Cooking Onion

Method:

Combine all ingredients into crockpot. Stir together. Place on low heat all day (8 hours), or on high for at least 2 hours.
Stir occasionally. Spice to taste

Tips:

Serve with cut up sugar free, yeast free, rye bread for dipping.

Enjoy!

The story behind the sauce:

Suffering from stomach problems for over a month initiated me to ‘grace with my presence’ the dreaded local walk-in Clinic (as I like thousands of others in this area, do not have a doctor). 25 lbs, three doctors, and countless tests later, I was told ‘there’s nothing more we can do.’ Now what do I do?
After talking with my family, one aunt suggested I find a local naturopathic doctor. She explained that medical doctors these days are so over worked they can’t give the proper care.
Having nothing to loose, I googled ‘naturopathy’ in our local area.
To my surprise I found Doctor Robin Walsh, ND. Who after a brief ‘help me’ email, explained she could help.
After my first appointment, Robin put me on a Candida diet. For those of you who don’t know, this is pretty much eliminating every bad, synthetic, food in my diet.
No more milk products, sugar of any kind, no yeast, no peanut butter, no alcohol, no preservatives, and so on.
She gave me a list of yes foods, and a plan of what to eat.
No more Kraft Dinner!
After my second visit, I had stuck to my diet, but was lacking variety. I asked her if there was a cheese I could have.

‘Amanda there is soy cheese’…

Hence, leading us into the recipe.

You will need:

(all organic)
½ Cup cubed Soya Yeast Free Cheese - Okanagan’s is a brand I found
1 tbsp Green Curry Paste
½ Cup Soya Milk - Unsweetened
2 tbsp Coconut Oil
1tsp Natural Tamari
2 tbsp Sea Salt
1 dash crushed peppercorn
2 tbsp Cajun Spice Flakes
2-3 cups uncooked Yeast Free Gluten Free Rice Pasta

Method:

Boil Water for rice pasta , and start to cook.
Place all ingredients but cheese in a pot. Stir together on med/high, until the mixture starts to bubble.
Turn to medium heat, and slowly stir in cheese.
Wait until cheese is melted and turn on lowest heat.
When rice pasta is done, pour over and mix!
Voila.

Tips:

I liked mine a little on the Cajun side, so you’ll have to play a little with the seasonings to your taste!

You might have some sauce left over, this is great for eating with veggies!