Writing with Sparklers

Finally getting around to uploading these photographs taken during my trip home to see my family over July 4th.  Decided to try my hand at photographing writing with sparklers.  Keep in mind this was my first time!!  I think I nailed the settings on the first try…the hardest part was doing the writing, especially the letters since they had to be backwards.  I had to time the writing correctly with the shutter speed, and keep the what I was drawing within the frame.  These were the 2 best shots I got!!  And I'm pretty proud of them!!  Can't wait to try it again next year!!

I hope you enjoyed these 2 photographs.  Maybe some more flowers to come later today or tomorrow!! And maybe some more craft projects.  Been working on quite a few cards lately.  Also working on a witch deco mesh wreath and some fall 2x4 crafts.  More to come soon, so stay tuned!!

Until next time...

July 4th Fireworks

Finally getting around to posting some of my fireworks photographs from my trip home earlier this month.  On July 3rd every year there is a concert and fireworks celebration at a local college.  The concert every year is put on by the River City Brass Band.  They always do a wonderful job.  The location is the same every year at Westminster College.  This was my first time experimenting taking photographs of fireworks, and I'm very pleased.  I of course used a tripod.  I alternated with some taken using the self timer in manual mode and some taken using bulb mode.  I wish I had a remote shutter release, but managed to get decent photos without one.  It's definitely on my wish list though!!  I researched online about specific settings for fireworks.  I hope you enjoy!!

I hope you enjoyed these photographs!!  I'm going to Disney World in September for a conference and am looking forward to photographing the fireworks displays that they have.  So this was some good practice.  I learned some good lessons and can't wait to get back at it again.  

Until next time...

Patriotic Tulle Wreath

I finally finished putting the stars on my patriotic tulle wreath that I made for July 4th.  Yeah I know I'm about 6 weeks late, but better late than never right?!?!

I've moved my crafting area from my extra bedroom on the main floor to the finished basement and am very happy with the change.  The lighting is much better, I have so much more space to spread out, and I have a sliding glass door to open along with a ceiling fan for ventilation.  I think I've done more crafting down there in the last month than in the last 2.5 years combined that I've lived in my current house!!  I've also been working on some re-organizing of my crafting supplies.  Maybe once I finish I'll post some pictures of my organizing ideas.  Enjoy the wreath!!

I think this may be one of my favorite tulle wreaths I've made so far!!

For the stars I cut out different sizes from glittery white craft foam.

I was hoping to find glittery dark blue tulle, but alas I couldn't.  :-(

I wish you could actually see that the stars are glittery.

I was surprised about how much red and white tulle I needed.  Thankfully I had some scraps left from other wreaths!!

Very patriotic if I do say so myself!!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures of this wreath.  Hoping to get around to posting some more recipes soon, including some more ice cream ones!!  Enjoy the last few weeks of summer.  Until next time...

Happy 4th of July!! (a couple of days late)...

So I meant to post this on July 4th, but didn't get around to it.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!!  Took some pictures over the weekend of my patriotic home decor, inside and out.  Hope you enjoy!!

Buntings on my deck railing.

Patriotic spinner and flag.

My front porch.

Close up of my front porch.

My deck with my patriotic kitty garden flag.

Another spinner in a flower pot on my deck.

Patriotic word stacker blocks I made on my end table.

Mantle (all the patriotic decor is from Pat Catans).

Little spinner in my spider plant (from Michaels).

My entertainment center with my 2x4 flag I made, a vase with a spinner my mom gave me, and a patriotic bell jar from Pat Catans.

I hope you enjoyed my patriotic decor pictures.  Today doesn't seem like Saturday since July 4th was on a Thursday and I had to work yesterday, but I'll take it.  So I'm going to enjoy relaxing this weekend.  It's too hot out to do anything else!!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!!  Until next time...

2x4 Patriotic Flag

I finished another Patriotic craft over the weekend I thought I would share since tomorrow is July 4th!!  I made a 2x4 flag.  Again thanks to my dad for cutting my wood.  I love the flag ribbon over the gold ribbon wrapped around the flag.

The star is made out of glittery white craft foam.

The long stripes are 7" I believe and the shorter ones 3.5".

The flag ribbon is just too cute and looks nice overlapped with gold ribbon.

The blue square is also 3.5" and here you can see that it stands on its end.

I ended up doubling the stars and like how it turned out.

Happy 4th of July!!

I hope everyone has a very happy and safe 4th of July!!  Happy Birthday America!!  Until next time...

Media, PA Memorial Day Parade 2013

So my parents came to visit me Memorial Day weekend, and since my father is a veteran, I tried to find a Memorial Day Parade for us to attend.  So we settled on the Media, PA parade.  It was a nice little parade.  We were all looking forward to the many fire trucks that were lined up since my dad is also a retired volunteer fire chief.  But of course right when the fire trucks were starting to move, they got called to a real emergency and all quickly exited the parade route.  :-(  But nonetheless we enjoyed ourselves.

Veterans starting the parade.

Some of the older veterans along for the ride...and handing out little flags.

I think this was the mayor.

Penn Crest Marching Band.

Penn Crest Marching Band.

I had to take a picture of the purple car since it's my favorite color!!

Nice red car.

Gotta love the bear in the back!!

One of the few fire trucks left after the mass exodus. 

Hope you enjoyed these pictures as much as we enjoyed the parade.  Until next time...