a whole new world...

I have discovered a whole new world of things I had no idea about...digital scrapbooking. Now, I've known for awhile about digital scrapbooking -- that it existed. But I had no idea that there were so many websites out there that offer "freebies" -- elements you can download, free of charge, that allow you to create a scrapbook page/layout using Photoshop or some other comparable software program just like if you sat down at your craft table with a blank album. You would take your items/elements that you bought at AC Moore or Michael's and lay them out on your blank page in your album and create your scrapbook page/layout. It's the same thing with these "freebies". The possibilities are ENDLESS!

It is, in fact, how I created this particular blog -- the header at the top, the circular pattern background with the torn edges...it was all created with freebies that I found online. And since my friend, Holly, had a birthday this past Wednesday and she already has her gift, I can (finally) show you this little project I've had in the works for a while:

This is Holly's brand new baby girl, Caitlin Grayce Byrd, and I thought it would be special to try my hand at digital scrapbooking, to a certain extent, with this project. The actual photo itself was one I took at the hospital right after Caitlin was born and I edited it in Photoshop using a technique I recently learned (the black & white photo with just a bit of color -- love that effect!). I was going to just give Holly the photo framed, but then when I discovered this whole new world of digital elements, I thought I'd do something a little more for her. Happy birthday, Holly!

keeping with the theme...

In keeping with the fall theme from my last post, these are some photos I took at my mom's parent's house (my Gram & Buppa :) when we last visited. They live in a secluded area in a quaint little home that's perfect for them. They live on a fair amount of property that includes some old barns and structures. I thought they would make for some pretty cool photos...

In the first two, you can see that I did some editing with some textures I found online -- that's something I've been experimenting with recently. I love how it will change the look and even the era of a photo instantly. See for yourself...

This last photo turned out so cool, I didn't think I needed to do anything to it:

a tribute to fall...

Since fall is my all-time favorite season (and we're less than 2 weeks from Thanksgiving!), I thought I'd share a few photos I took last Thanksgiving (2007) at my parents' home in Lexington, NC.

These photos were not edited in any way -- I find that God's creation usually doesn't need to be...

My poor parents...they have a tree in their backyard that is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s in the fall until it drops its leaves. And guess who gets to rake them all up??

I was actually really trying for a new skill with my camera here. I was trying to focus on one particular leaf while blurring everything else in the background. Got it! I was so excited, considering the wind that day... :)

The photo on the left was taken in my parents backyard; the photo on the right was taken on our yearly "day-after-Thanksgiving" trip to Seagrove, NC.

a place for projects...

I've been blogging for over a year now with the blog I created about the building and purchase of our first home. It has been a lot of fun! Addicting, really, and for awhile now, I've been looking for other things to blog about. Well, I'm not boring, people! :) I do have LOTS of things I could blog about, but I've finally decided that I need a place for my "projects" -- photography projects, to be more specific.

I have always been intrigued with photography and all the cool things you can do with it (I think if I went back to start my college career/adult life over again, I might seriously consider photography as an option). My dad was/is really into photography and his dad was, as well. That must be where I got my love of all things photography.

As I get older and keep taking photos, I learn more and more about photography and what you can do with those photos AFTER you've taken them, in software programs like Adobe Photoshop or Sony Vegas Movie Studio. Recently, I've been working with both of these programs, learning so much and really developing some cool skills. But what do you do with that cool stuff? Well, up to now, I haven't done anything with most of what I'm learning.

But that changes today. That's why I started this blog -- to showcase some of my "stuff". I don't know who will be interested, if anyone, but I thought it would be a good place to "store" some of projects anyway. And when I say projects, I mean stuff like this:

Cora Beth McAfee, Aug 2008