Spring and a guitar photo

Can you believe this weather? It would be really nice a month from now. Somehow I haven't been out shooting the daffodils, but I did get to take a couple of shots of Dick on Friday. The guitar and ukulele group's teacher was scheduled for a sing-along at the senior center. She asked members of the group to join her during it for a medley (and to promote the group.) Dick with his guitar and two others with ukuleles joined her for it. We had a really fun time and kept having to bring in more chairs for late arrivals. This week's AnnaLift inspiration looked perfect to me for one of the photos and I love the result.

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Designer Credits:
all Anna Aspnes
-background: KardStock Winter No. 1
-transfer (recolored), butterflies, overlay lines: ArtPlay Palette Vitality
-design: Multimedia Leaves No. 2
-speckles brush: Different Strokes 7
-frame: Torn FotoFrames No. 2
-photo mask: ArtPlay Vitality FotoBlendz
font: DejaVu Sans Condensed

Family Photos, Now and Then

I've recently done pages for two photos I consider "family". The first is of Dick on Christmas Eve when all was ready for Santa to come. I love the peaceful photo. It was for a challenge requiring the use of seven of ten items, a heart required. I just used the minimum seven and really like the result which I titled "Love Is the Key." Next was this week's AnnaLift featuring a totally fantastic layout using a photo of the artist's grandmother as a girl in 1930. I used another photo of my mother as a child in a four generation picture. I don't think I've done this one before, but even so, this would be better, I think. There are layers and blending to achieve the look. The photos are probably a little over one hundred years apart.

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Designer Credits:
-background, frame: Fresh Start by Ashalee Wall
-paint, button: Terra Toni by Maya de Groot
-love word art, stitching: Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-bird, spray design: Let Love Be Your Energy by ZuzannaH Designs
-key: Take me to the Old World by Lotta Designs
font: BlacklightD

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Designer Credits:
all Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Autumn Haze
-edging (used as frame): ArtPlay Palette Ablaze
-gold leaf: Gold Leaves No. 1
fonts: Lithograph, Loosie Days

A Portrait Series

Three different challenges this month have drawn me to scrap what amounts to a series of portraits. One was for a self-portrait, so you know who is in that one. The web inspiration challenge is based on a fantastic Life Magazine photo of Clark Gable seated in a car reading Gone With the Wind. I think that influenced a photo I took of Dick which then had to be used in my response. Third, I took a photo of my sister last month on her birthday and used it in the last week's AnnaLift. It was surprising to see them all together as it is not my usual style. So here we are.

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Designer Credits:
-papers, stamp, circular element: Oscraps Collab Winter Wonderland
-frame, flower, fern, tag: Santangles by Maya de Groot
fonts: Sybil Green, Freeport

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Designer Credits:
Recollection by Joanne Brisebois
fonts: Angel Tears, Hurry Up, 1942 report, CrayonE

Journaling reads:
We have furniture and jewelry, tools and kitchen items from the houses of grandparents, parents, even aunts and uncles. Many of them are things we really use. Sometimes it feels like living in a museum. Sometimes it is hard not to feel like another of the antiques! The lion's head rocking chair came from my maternal grandmother. My father had it and refinished it beautifully. Now it is mine.

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Designer Credits:
lift of "Last Days of Summer" by marnie333
designs by Anna Aspnes:
-paper: ArtPlay Palette Encapsulate
-photo mask and transfer used as photo mask: ArtPlay Palette Barren Sunrise
-transfers, frame (altered): ArtPlay Palette Ablaze
-stitching, clock: ArtPlay Palette No. 10
font: Hurry Up

Another Year's Holiday Concert

Dick is still playing with the guitar and ukulele group at the senior center. They are called the Hum and Strum Group and have their own opening song. Last week was their annual holiday concert. Like last year it was done following (well before dessert actually) the monthly potluck lunch. Each year I've done a page for this delightful event, so here is year three. I used the monthly copycat challenge template for it.

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Designer Credits:
-template: Dec. Copycat Challenge by Elisa (EHStudios) based on "Crush" by Kym 
-background: Oscraps Collab Family
-paper for frame: Photographed in Black & White by Sue Cummings
-overlay (blended): Snowy Overlays No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-brad: ArtPlay Palette Santa Nicholas Add-On No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
fonts: Hurry Up, Pea Anderson, Corbel

Painting the Living Room

Dick has gradually been working on and painting the living room. An interesting quote and photo resulted one day last week. I sure have to smile every time I look at it!

In addition, one of his nicknames for ages has been "the old goat." His father was a painting contractor who had to retire at age 65. He started painting for his church and at home then. We even learned of his having been up on his roof at an advanced age. We took a pretty dim view of all that, but here is his son climbing around at 71.

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Designer Credits:
-background: Subdue by Creations by TinaMarie
-gray paper: Photographed in Black and White by Sue Cummings
-leaves: Gold Leaves No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-journal strips: Composition by One Little Bird
-doodle: Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-brush: ArtPlay Autumn Haze by Anna Aspnes
-ribbon: Whispering Trees by Creations by TinaMarie
-frame: Dorma by Lydia Designs
fonts: Enchanted Prairie Dog, Dali, Boopee

"Our Song" and a photo of The Other One

For a recent Digi Dare I did another page on "our" song with a photo I took of Dick in Tulsa recently. I really like the photo a lot and tried to bring the feel of sunshine into it to go with the song (Sunshine of Your Love by Cream). If you look at his sunglasses carefully you might catch a glimpse of his brother, a friend and me.

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Designer Credits:
-background paper, leaf stamp, photo mask: Fallen Sun by TaylorMade Designs
-stitching, splat: I Remember You by Biograffiti
-heart: Primavera by Maya de Groot
fonts: Pea Anderson, Boopee, Blue Highway


The requirements of Digi Dare #247 were:

-use at least one photo – have it serve as the background for your layout
-include the lyrics for the song that is providing your inspiration (in full or part) – this is considered your   journaling…you can have just one line or twenty. If you want to add additional journaling that is your choice.
-have your title give us a glimpse as to why this song was chosen
-use a photo mask
-use stitching
-use at least one brush
-the use of selective coloring on your photo would be a fun option!