a few days off ...

forgive me if I am missing in action for a few days. i have a bit of an issue to sort out at work (think chicken entering pie factory!) and then i'll be back. I'd love to share the most fabulous photo sites I found though. don't these blokes just make you feel SO jealous? their landscapes are to die for:

Toby Keller

Eric Lafforgue

catch up ...

a bit late with a couple this week - reflection and spoon:

this is the mirror above our fireplace

I found this fab old spoon when clearing out my Dad's house. Just knew it would come in handy lol!

toes ...

one photo of the toes and one photo of the extremely long suffering owner of said toes lol!

latest art ...

don't know where this came from - just thought this photo needed a story. papers by Maya @scrapbookgraphics.com; labelmaker alphabet by Two Sisters @scrapartist.com; inked edge by Nancie Rowe Janitz @scrapartist.com; photo from 100 yr old photo group @flickr.com; brushed edge overlay by Lemonaid Lucy

photos ...

Todays word is path. This is on the way to the park where Rosie goes walking most days - we know it as 'dog poo alley' lol!

I've been really trying to improve my photography and photoshop skills. I have a Nikon D50 which Mike REALLY surprised me with for Xmas last year, and I've never had the time to really get to grips with it. So I'm forcing everyone around me to have portraits taken. Here are the first few:

cookie ...

todays word is card ...

the secret is out. I am a BIG Tintin fan which is why the only playing cards in our house have Tintin all over them!

large vintage frame by Katie Pertiet @designerdigitals.com

random acts of kindness...

i was extremely lucky to be RAK'ed this fabulous new kit by Lynne Grieveson @designerdigitals.com. Thank you Lynne.

Heres a layout I've done with it:

Paper and elements Elizabeth kit by Lynne Grieveson @designerdigitals.com; paper frame is by Holly McCaig @mydigitalmuse.com; poetry by Michael Strange

thank god for scrapbooking for keeping me sane lol! here's a layout of little Taylor Rae - one of the photos I took today:

papers and elements by created by Miriam Lima of Limabean Designs 'Spunkdidlydumptious' blog freebie (thank you!); template by Angela Niehaus (thank you!)

beads...

ribbons

too tired to be clever with todays challenge so just plain old ribbons today. i must admit i was stunned at how many ribbons i actually have in my stash lol!

latest layout and photo challenge ...

the challenge for today was 'strap':

using Linda Gil Bildal corrugated edges @scrapartist.com (yes, I am addicted); Anna Aspnes dots from Wander kit @designerdigital.com; butterfly sticker freebie by Dana Zarling @designerdigitals.com; label maker alpha by Two Sisters designs @scrapartist.com; Nancie Row Janitz inked overlay (yet again lol!); ledger paper by Meredith Fenwick @scrapbookgraphics.com

have been taking loads of photos this week and learning about using actions in PhotoShop. this is my latest scrapbook layout. also spent some time taking photos of my neighbour and her little chap and got some really good shots. will play around in photoshop with them today if I get time.

have to see neurologist about my migraines again today ... hopefully he can recommend another anti-convulsant to help me prevent them a bit ... the last anti-convulsant I tried gave me cracking headaches, which sort of defeated the purpose lol. you couldn't make it up, could ya? at least I'm not getting them daily - I've just had 8 weeks off work because I was getting them daily which was just shite.

shoes ...

this shoe belongs to my sister in laws fat old nag Splash. I used platinotype from atncentral.com action by and vintage background by Andrea Rascaglia:

tassels...

todays challenge. thank god for tassley scarves. used a fab freebie frame i found on atncentral.com. they have great free actions too

chocolate...

I was going to put a photo of my chocolate labrador but decided to photograph some of that scrummy Green & Black milk chocolate instead:

jelly babies

todays photo challenge was 'snack':

jelly babies are my favourite!

saturday, saturday ...

have been doing another layout for the Scrap Artist birthday celebrations. Raining stair rods outside so good day to be indoors

todays herspace:myspace prompt is 'sky'. this is a slide I took in Moorea about 7 years ago using old olympus SLR and fuji velvia slide film. was worth all the hassle that goes with using such slow film.

ScrapArtist birthday celebrations have started!

I managed to get over to Scrap Artist before the stampede and download their gorgeous free kit. Its HUGE and full of fabulousness!
One of their birthday challenges is an altered doll. I made a hybrid doll using a old wooden peg and printed digital clothes. I actually are not very keen on altered dolls at all and found this a real challenge to do.I don't like it very much but cutting and pasting is always fun.

I am hoping to link up with the daily photography challenges over at herspace-myspace.blogspot.com. I hope this is OK and they don't think I'm a stalker? the challenge for today was a triangle. I looked all over the house and couldn't find anything triangular so thought I'd make myself a cup of tea while I thought about it .... and there you have it - a pyramid tea bag!

finally a blog...

I've made this blog specifically so I can take part in some photo and art challenges and improve both my photography and altered art
what a bizarre thing to have to come up with a title for your blog. almost as bad as naming a child. For those who don't know, pukeko's are a native New Zealand swamp hen - and I love them! Me and my friend Mandy are also VERY keen on pies....mmm, wonder what a pukeko pie would be like?