Sparkle, Sparkle

I was putting the decorations away as you do (did!) and nearby was one of those plastic lenses that you can use to see multiple images so I used it to snap this. Loving all those sparkly rainbow colours!

..And then I added an effect to this same picture using Picnik:

Wow!

It's been strange not being on here every day but I haven't been resting, oh, no.  I've been trying to learn to knit! I've got nothing to show you because knitting and me are poles apart despite using this children's knit book (75p charity shop) and youtube lessons, I still can't do it!  Grrr! (my language whilst practicing was a bit stronger than that!)  I am in need of some personal tuition from a kindly Shreddies granny I think.

The book itself has got some great illustrations:

..and these look wacky:

Such a shame I can't do it!

Finally, I had a bit of doodling fun whilst watching TV last night:

It almost looks like a journal page!

Thanks for looking and for any comments

qwiksave

Retro Look Christmas Card

Happy Christmas!

Despite starting my christmas cards way back in April on this blog, :-O  I have still ended up finishing off my cards today - when the last day for posting is tomorow!  Resolution for next year - get more organised!

Loving the retro look of this card made by pressing just a few buttons on Picnik - it really is simple to use, love it. 

It's also simple to add a few fun effects too.  Same pic, different look:

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Frames like this stamp effect are fun too.

Hope all your christmas plans are working out.  I'll feel a bit more comfortable when my husband is safely back home from Germany.

Thanks for looking and for any comments,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Let It Snow - Photographs

Today my craft is photography.

Colourful umbrellas make great photos in snow!

We had masses of snow today - we woke up to loads and then it kept on coming for most of the day.

Luckily I've done most of my christmas shopping, but I did have to pop out (walking) with my boys to the supermarket.  They loved it of course and were snowball fighting all the way.

This was in our neighbour's garden:

..and this is the robin that my son made at school:

It looks like a giant robin is coming down our path! :-O

The snow is so lovely to look at, but it has its problems.  My husband has been stuck in Germany this weekend because his flight was cancelled :-(  He's hoping to come back on Wednesday now, fingers crossed.

Thanks for looking and for any comments,

Keep yourselves warm,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Free Digital Christmas Cards

Despite making some christmas cards throughout the year on this blog, I have still got quite a few left to do.  I have found a quick alternative way of making them that makes them personalised too.  It's probably no surprise to my regular followers but I would like to recommend Picnik.  There is  a section there that is completely free, although you can pay for more effects.

Today I have used this year's school photo of my boys as I know some of my relatives would love this type.

I added the snowflake frame effect to the original picture.

I was a bit disappointed in some of the selection because there were a lot that said 'Happy Holidays' on them, here in the UK we don't tend to use that phrase, but it is an american site.

Here was another with a pencil effect:

You can also modify cards you have made using craft materials both before and after they have been printed too.  You may recognise this button tree I made recently:

The same card can look so different.

I'm not sure I'll be on tomorrow, I have come down with something nasty.  My boys have got better and I have caught something.  Today one minute I have been sweating and the next minute freezing, my throat feels like sandpaper and I haven't managed to eat anything.   Fortunately my husband has come back from Germany for the weekend, but he's going back on Monday - I'm  not looking forward to the school week!  

 Thanks for looking and any comments,

May see you tomorrow,

qwiksave



More Horror Pix

I've been doing some more horror activity using Picnik tonight and I think one particular picture might be a little too much for young eyes so I have modified it.  I still wouldn't recommend letting young children see this post, I wouldn't want to give them nightmares. 

This picture is still a little spooky, but its not really when you realise...

That 'thing' in the background is just a Lego Star Wars Model, lol.

This is the one that looked pretty bad until I put this canvas texture on it and lightened it.  The original is what I consider may not have been suitable for youngsters:

But its only my husband! lol.

Sorry I've been a bit indulgent with this, the same craft activity two days in a row?!  This is not what I do normally, as my regular followers will know.  I won't do it again tomorrow, honest!  In fact I am hoping to show you pictures of lots of crafting goodies from the Stamping & Beading Show, Artisan, where I am going tomorrow, yay!   I'm just off now to make my 'Must Buy' list! :-)

Thanks for reading and for any comments you may leave,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Ghoulish Pics

Regular followers to my blog will know that I am very keen on the free photo-editing program called Picnik - I've mentioned it stacks once or twice!  Well there is even more reason to like it now, because they've got these fab Halloween effects that you can put on your pics at the click of a button.

I've only had chance to do one pic so far tonight but will be returning to do more just as soon as I've put this blog post on.

I tried to do more grizzly stuff like adding fangs, but Picnik must be having some teething problems (groan!) because they wouldn't resize.

This was the original:

Aaaaah! (No, only joking)

I didn't know this feature (the Halloween theme) was on Picnik until I went on it tonight, otherwise I'd have hunted out a better picture to work on. 'Better' meaning us not looking quite so 'nice'. 

I should mention that some of the features aren't free, they are subscription only and some of the horror effects are really scary! I was so scared I didn't dare add some of them!  Ooooh!

I'm off to go and have some more ghoulish fun,

Thanks for looking and for any comments,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

* * *

PS. This is as scary as I dared go tonight!:

I best get my beauty sleep or I'll be a monster in the morning!  (lol)

 

Picniking with Music

I've been Picniking again! As I've got a subscription I may as well make the most of it (it would be rude not to) - so I do many times over :-) and today, my theme was MUSIC. I got a music book from a charity shop recently which has the piano music and words to 'The Gondoliers' by Gilbert & Sullivan.*

Today I scanned some of the music pieces into my computer and did some more photo magic, courtesy of Picnik. First up we have this:

and I was really pleased with the 3d effect I (accidently!) created.

Next we have this:

 ..where I have modernised the old music with bright colours

...I also used the same original image to create this:

These two I just used because the words amused me (click to enlarge):

On this one I like the graphic quality of the image, and the transparency/velum look:

This one I did for fun!:

and this one! :-)

*According to the blurb, it was first performed at the Savoy Theatre in London in 1889.

*****
I decided to finish off the tye dying I started yesterday and very bravely decided to OVERLAP the circles.  Here is the finished bag, front:

Close-up:

and then I did one 'circle' on the back using all the colours:

 

Just so you know, the colours do dry paler.  This is how this pattern looked when I made it: 

Thanks for looking,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Household Creativity

It's back to my creative posts again now after my bit of fun the weekend! 

You can never tell what it will be that can give you inspiration for your art.  You can be inspired by bits and pieces you have around you at home, in the garden, right where you are sitting now.

I was inspired to make this picture by a table we have in our hallway that we keep our post on!:

The table doesn't look like this normally, I've been doing some of my Picnik (free photo editing program) jiggery pokery.

It is just a normal antiquey looking table that I inherited and it has my favourite arty motif carved into its surface.  I am talking about Swirls! :-)

This is what part of it normally looks like:

It's really lovely as it is, but it also has such creative potential!

I've had fun with changing the images I've taken of this table tonight, all with just a few clicks of the mouse!:

 

Which turned out great! (Some of these effects may be 'Subscription Only' features of Picnik) 

I did a couple without writing too

(click to enlarge):

So many different looks!  Wish I could master Photoshop, then there would be no stopping me!

Thanks for reading,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

WOYWF

What's Out Your Window Friday?  Yeah, I know that's a bit naughty (taking a well known acronym), but the question I'm really asking today is 'what type of view can you see from your main room(s)? 

Today's project was mainly a photographic one as I have been taking pictures looking out from the large bay window in our front room.  It's quite surprising how different an everyday scene you see so often can look when you take the trouble to see it from various different angles or highlight a specific detail.  They can also look very different when you change them using photo manipulation software (such as the free one I use called Picnik).

(These pictures aren't really framed, the frames were created using Picnik)

(Click to enlarge)

We have a lot of old telephone wires going across our road which helps the picture look even more graphic.  (The sky was blue today, but not quite that blue!)

But digitally framing them like this does make me want to frame them for real.

***

I also did some crafting with my eldest son today.  We created some outer space characters to put on greetings cards using my Cuttlebug:

He loved turning the handle!

The pieces were so small though, we couldn't even breathe over them in case they blew away!

But here are our finished space pictures that are waiting to be stuck onto cards:

(With a touch of Picnik!)

Lots of people seem to be going away for the school holidays so blogsphere is going to be a bit quiet over the next week.  We as a family aren't going away, but my sons are going to their grandparents for a few days starting tomorrow (which may mean I'll be able to do more crafting! Yay!)

Have a great weekend or week if you are away,

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Pizza Party

Phew! That pizza party was just as I thought, mischief and mayhem - but my son still thought 'it was the best party ever!' 

I've made him a quick digital card tonight (for his birthday tomorrow!) using a photo of him and his friends on the walk to Pizza Express:

They were all so excited, running off as quickly as they could and not always in the same direction.  Me & my husband had to 'disown them' ocassionally. 

But they all enjoyed making their own pizzas - this is the one the birthday boy made:

Can you  spot the smiley face? :-)

Memories are made of moments like this:

You could (almost) forget the St Trinian's style dough and flour flinging that went on!  lol

See you tomorrow,

qwiksave

Document the Ordinary

A bonus extra post today.  When I took the pictures yesterday of artwork around my house, I also took pictures of other things that were around.  I thought it was quite a good idea really, to document the 'everyday things' you have around you at different times.  For example my children's toys have changed over the years and it will be interesting to see in years to come, 'yes, I remember having that when I was 10.' 

This is a jacket belonging to my 8 year old.  Its not quite as bright as this, but almost! We bought this from the Philippines a couple of years ago.  (He's quite a mild natured boy normally but changes to a 'punk' (his words!) when he puts this on! :-)

Lego. I have bought the boys sets of basic bricks (+ oddments of sets) from charity shops when I see them because I prefer them to the Star Wars sets that they have already got. I like to see them make up their own designs and of course its much more creative!

I had fun altering this pic.  Its a baby toy that plays a tune.  We still like the tune (its very restful) so don't want to part with it.  The fluffy kitch baby photo holder was a present given to us.

This psychedelic light hasn't been modified.  Its the light in our bedroom.  I love the effect but its not very restful for sleeping!

Sorry for this, should have put a warning above it! (Tee Hee)  Very me though, this mug.

Finally, I thought I'd show you what that bicycle wheel I showed you yesterday really looks like:

(without modification)

Maybe you might like to go around your place and document the 'ordinary' things you have around?

My regular craft post will follow later,

qwiksave

[Sorry regular readers, no additional post tonight, I 've been craft shopping instead! :-O  (SShh!)  I've treated myself to a Bind-It-All and some Promarkers! ]