My Kind of Crafts

Shoot and Edit: Holiday Traditions Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:35:00 +0000

Not only did I participate again finally but I have my photo edited a day ahead of time! Maybe I'm getting back into the swing of things which is good considering Christmas is in a few days and there will be plenty of photo ops. I'm really behind and not sure what all I missed lately. I wanted to brighten it up a tad since Raggedy Ann was a little dark.

SOOC

Final

Adjusted levels, Pioneer Womans' Seventies at 32% and edge burn at 16%.

If you'd like to read about the tradition behind Raggedy Ann and Andy at our home you can read my entry here from Monday.

Linking to Ashley's blog. Check out the other Holiday Traditions!

Shoot and Edit: Holiday Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Gosh, it's been months since I've participated in this. I haven't even logged on to blogger in what seems like forever. I can't even find the time to update our family blog. Maybe that's because I haven't even taken many pictures this fall. This morning I was scrolling through my newsfeed on facebook and saw Ashley's post for this week's challenge and thought, "go take a picture and do this."

We have many traditions in our family. Some we have started with our kids and some have been passed down from generations. This picture is an example of one passed down from generations. My dad's parents might have started it on his side or maybe my great-grandparents...not too sure. Anyhow, every year Raggedy Ann and Andy come out with the Christmas tree decorations and they sit on the tree. They can move around the tree and the story is that when Santa comes they get off the tree and help him deliver the presents under the tree. Then on Christmas morning they are on the floor, too worn out to get back on the tree. Once a grandchild moves out on their own my grandparents send a small set of Raggedy Ann and Andy and then when I got married my dad sent us a traditional bigger set. It's fun a little different from other traditions.

She's obviously dark so hopefully I can brighten her up a tad.

Linked to Jill's blog.

Shoot and Edit - Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:00:00 +0000

I know that fall is coming because it officially arrives the day after my daughter's birthday. Two things I love: my sweet daughter and fall! Thankfully the temps have finally dropped a bit around here to feel a little like fall, at least at night. The night before my daughter's birthday we walked over to the park and took a few pictures. The sun was starting to set behind us. I got some neat photos with sunflare and some really cute shots of my daughter. I'm picking two that I haven't already edited.

Check out more SOOC shots of fall here.

Shoot and Edit - Back to School edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:07:00 +0000

Here are my edits for this week. I thought about filling in the dead grass on the bottom picture like we learned earlier in the year but I forgot how to do it! I'm running short on time or else I would have looked it up.

Before

After

cropped & PW fresh color

Before

After

Nice & Easy & Mud Pies

For some reason the box won't appear, so to see more edits click here.

Shoot and Edit - Back to School

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0000

This was a big year for us in terms of "Back to School". Our daughter started kindergarten! It's hard to believe she's growing up so fast. She started two weeks ago and our son started pre-school on Friday. He went to MDO last year at the same school but he's an official pre-schooler this year. Thank goodness he walked walk right with a wave. No tears!! Here's a SOOC of each of them on their first day.

My daughter is on the right with two of her friends.

Our 3 year old!

Shoot and Edit - Beach Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:39:00 +0000

I didn't really know what to do when I sat down to edit this photo. I tried to do a couple different things to it but nothing was sparking my interest.

SOOC

ACR

Final #1

For this one I ran Nice & Easy and then applied a texture at maybe 25-30% and then took it off his skin.

Final #2

Then I thought I'd try a Florbella action because I wasn't loving any others I tried. This is Angel.

Shoot and Edit - Ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:48:00 +0000

After a taking a break for a few weeks I decided I'd try to give this a try again! The last few weeks of summer sure got busy and my kids wanted every bit of my attention. In fact, the last entry I did I never even edited my picture. :) Now with my daughter in kindergarten and my son starting pre-school I have a few minutes here and there again. I actually haven't really even picked up my camera much lately. I did find a SOOC from our vacation back in June. This was taken at sunset in Long Beach, CA of my son playing on the shoreline. The evening didn't go as planned but things happen. :) I had taken a bunch of cute pictures earlier that day on the beach but I didn't feel like I should use one because I didn't shoot in RAW until the evening.

Shoot and Edit - Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:53:00 +0000

I took this picture on our family vacation in June. I attempted to take sunset pictures on the beach of the kids in their coordinating outfits. The evening didn't go as planned. I won't go into details but I did get a few cute pictures.

This is a SOOC shot of the marina in Long Beach, CA.

Shoot and Edit - Laughter Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:08:00 +0000

I did a simple edit this week.

SOOC

ACR

Edited with Nice and Easy and Color Me Happy

Shoot and Edit - Laughter

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:42:00 +0000

I was about to skip this week because I hadn't taken any pictures that captured laughter. However, I put in my memory stick and scrolled down and discovered this picture of my daughter slip 'n sliding and low and behold she's laughing! I actually really like this shot even though there's a shadow on her.

SOOC

Shoot and Edit - Summer Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:21:00 +0000

In case anyone was wondering, it's still hot here in Texas. Things haven't changed here. My little one had surgery yesterday so we're taking things easy today. He's fine but we're staying in the a/c which gives me a few minutes to edit a few pictures.

Here are my edits this week.

SOOC

BJ the cow's sweaty nose edited with PW Seventies and Edge Burn

SOOC

My daughter edited with Everyday Elements Florida

SOOC

My son and a cow edited with Coffeeshop Golden Vintage

Shoot and Edit - Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:07:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've participated in Shoot and Edit. It's actually been so long since I logged into Blogger that I didn't even recognize the new format. It's all very new and weird. I need to figure it all out. I just got back from a trip with my kids. We went down to San Antonio to visit my mom and stepdad for 8 or 9 days and I snuck in a girls trip down to the coast, too. However, I only took pictures one day when we went to their ranch! After looking through my pictures and seeing the prompt for this week I couldn't pass up this sweet cow at the ranch. I mean even the sweet cow is sweating profusely (check out her nose!). It's so hot here in Texas is disgusting! I'm so over summer.

And, because I like to post a picture of my kids. I took these on the same day. We stopped at a park on the way to the ranch and believe it or not it wasn't too hot to play.

My son just loved seeing the cows. He really wanted to feed them but he didn't. My daughter did pat one though!

Hope you are are having a cooler summer than we are!

Happy shooting and editing. :)

Shoot and Edit - Bubbles

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:47:00 +0000

This week the theme is bubbles. As much as I'd like to stay outside long enough to play bubbles with the kids it's too hot! It's already 100 here. YUCK! I thought about trying to teach my daughter how to blow bubbles with her gum but decided she doesn't need to know that trick yet. At least not the week of her recital! So, I took a picture of water while they were on the slip n slide. It's close enough to bubbles for me. :)

We leave for vacation this weekend so I won't be able to participate for a couple weeks. I'll be busy taking lots of pictures in cooler California though!

Shoot and Edit - Looking Up Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:18:00 +0000

I just read Ashley's post but I haven't watched the videos yet. I will though! I must admit I use PW edge burn action when I'm looking for a little something extra for a photo. I love it. It's so easy to apply and adjust. I just added it quickly to my second photo here that I had edited earlier this week.

Crop, Nice & Easy, Florida, Florabella Highlight Protection & PW Edge Burn

Nice & Easy, PW Lovely & Ethereal, Highlight Protection & Edge Burn

Florabella ShiShi

Shoot and Edit - Looking Up

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:33:00 +0000

I never got around to editing last week! It was so busy around here. My kiddos finished school, we had field day which I volunteered at and then there was the holiday with friends over for a fish fry. GO, go go. Fun times. Summer is in full swing here.

So, this week the theme for Good to Wow is "Looking Up". Here are my interpretations SOOC:

This is my daughter looking up towards the sky while the kids were slip 'n sliding away.

Here she is again with her buddy.

This time I was the one looking up. Sweet Wy's mommy was holding her up towards the sky and I got down and aimed up to take a picture of her sweet face.

Shoot and Edit - Chalk Drawings

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:45:00 +0000

So, I know I'm really late in posting this week but I had some issues with Blogger. I have a separate account for my stationery business and it wouldn't let me log out. It's a little difficult to post on this blog when I can't log in! Anyways, here is my SOOC for chalk drawing:

On Sunday we were at a birthday party and part of the favors were chalk so first thing the kids did Monday morning while getting ready for school was go out back and draw! Perfect for the theme this week. :)

Shoot and Edit - Rain Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:46:00 +0000

This week my edits are pretty simple.

SOOC

ACR

Final

Layered with soft light at 50% then added a KK texture and removed it from the flower.

SOOC

ACR

Final

Florida Action

SOOC

ACR

Final

Mudpies

Shoot and Edit - Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:45:00 +0000

Yea! I'm finally with it this week and posting ahead of schedule! I looked up the theme last week so I could be ready to snap away, but when I saw the theme "rain/umbrella" I was a bit discouraged. We've been in such a dry spell here in Texas. But, Wednesday evening the rain came. I had no idea what to photograph though. I walked outside and saw a potted petunia sitting on the patio under the roofline and the rain was just trickling onto it. It looked so pretty so I snapped a few photos. Then my two year old saw me out back so he followed me and started playing in the rain. I took quite a few pictures of him but I couldn't get the settings right. They're mostly blurry. :( He had a ball though. My daughter thought he was nuts!

SOOC:

My 18-200mm lens was on so I started with that but then I ran in and switched to the 50mm 1.4...

I just think the picture is funny. He thought he'd be able to climb up the slide in the rain. Not so much!

See you Thursday for edits!

shoot and Edit - Mother's Day Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 12 May 2011 19:38:00 +0000

I've actually always wondered about those gradient maps so thank you, Ashley, for this informative tutorial today! I think I'll definitely keep this in the hopper for days when I'm lazy or maybe in a hurry. :) I do actually like the feel they give the photos.

Cropped, Nice & Easy and 1 gradient map

Cropped, Florabella Highlight Protection, 2 Gradient Maps

Shoot and Edit - Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:46:00 +0000

I hope all the mommies out there had a wonderful Mothers's Day! I had a nice day although it was busy busy. My daughter is in the choir at church. She performed in the 8:30 service so no breakfast in bed for the mommy! Then their end of the year musical was at 3:00 so there was so afternoon nap or pedicure either. But, I got to spend it with my kids and watch my sweet girl sing on stage with her friends. What blessings they are!

Here are my SOOC shots:

shoot and Edit - Growth Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:35:00 +0000

Happy Thursday to you! Today I just did a quick edit and followed Ashley's steps then added a texture and took it off the jalapeno.

SOOC

ACR

Final

Shoot and Edit - Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Tue, 03 May 2011 01:49:00 +0000

The prompt actually stumped me this week. I was busy over the weekend that I didn't even pick up my camera with the exception of a few shots at my daughter's soccer game so when today rolled around I thought what am I going to snap for growth. I thought of the jalapeno pepper growing out back. It's my first time to try growing one and my husband told me over the weekend that the pepper looks good! But, today not only was it a high of like 49 degrees but it rained ALL day. 49 degrees in Dallas in May?!? I waited and waited for the rain to stop and finally around 6:30 it stopped but it was so cloudy and gloomy. Not the best for picture taking.

Here's my SOOC of my first jalapeno pepper!

shoot and Edit - Friends/Family Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:10:00 +0000

I had fun editing the pictures this week. I had cute little faces to work with so that made things easy to play around with. I'll have to try out the presets for ACR in Elements. I actually tried them a couple months ago but I couldn't get them to work. I took it as a Mac thing. :) Anytime I can't figure something out I blame it on my Mac. Ha! Anyways, as for editing I ran them all in ACR and then Nice & Easy on all. I'm still trying to figure out Florabella actions so I played around with some actions I hadn't used yet; however, since Ashley discussed selective color last week I went ahead and used that method on one picture this week. I actually used Coffeshop's action Moody Pop and then painted the color back on. Even though I don't love it I think it might work for this picture.

Florabella Swoon

Coffeeshop Moody Pop

Florabella Trixie

Florabella Shi Shi

Pioneer Woman Fresh Color

Have a great week! Be sure to pop over and check out the other great edits.

Shoot and Edit - Friends/Family

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Happy Easter, my friends!

The theme for the next edition of Shoot and Edit is Friends/Family. Last weekend one of my best friends and her two kiddos were visiting for the weekend. We had so much fun visiting and catching up! Just like me, she loves to take pictures and her kids are adorable so they are captured all the time. We took our other friend and newborn up to downtown McKinney and found some alleys and neat spots to take pictures of the kids and tiny baby! I haven't edited any of my pictures yet so thought I'd use this week. I couldn't pick just one though...

My SOOC for this week:

shoot and Edit - Easter Edited

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 15:08:00 +0000

This week I just did a simple edit to my picture. I saw that Ashley was going to discuss selective color. It's funny, back when my daughter was a baby we hired someone to take pictures of her and he used selective color on some of the pictures. When we were at the location he mentioned it and I thought, "Oh, yeah that sounds great." But, then I printed a few and framed one but didn't really love it. I just thought it was trendy so I better do it while it was a fad! A few years ago I played around with it when I was trying to teach myself Photoshop...back when I only had one child...just a girl that didn't keep my on my toes like my two year boy!! :) Now I only have Elements and I'm really taking the time to learn everything and maybe one day I'll be allowed to upgrade to Photoshop. I have a Mac now and Photoshop was on a PC. I digress. Here is my edit of my daughter's sweet Easter's shoes that she is dying to wear tomorrow!

I hope you all have a blessed Easter!

SOOC

Edit

Nice & Easy, Florabella Swoon & Jane then added a texture (Not sure who it's by) removing it from legs and shoes