Thursday, September 10, 2009

Why We Love Camping (?) :)

Is it Wedensday? NO! It's Thursday!
Anyone STILL messed up??

We went camping last weekend.
I have to admit-it has been over a year and a half.
It's fun, but there are a few factors that have to work out.
I have to ask off of work. (I work a day most weekends.)
It can't be beastly hot (I don't do hot camping).
And honestly, school has to be out OR there has to be a long weekend for me to feel like it is worth the effort.

So on the holiday weekend, we went camping.
The running joke.
Why is going to a little patch of land with a bunch of strangers (except my in-laws. They aren't strangers, just strange. LOL!) sleeping in a tent and getting really dirty fun?
It just is!

The kids had a blast!

So HERE is why camping is fun. :) Smith Style.
(By the way, we ALWAYS get a spot with electric-so we can plug in our fan, and heater, and charge our video games... you get the idea. :) )

Napping:

New Friends:
Old Friends:
Hangin' out:Fun Games:
Good Eats:
Campfires:
AND while we were gone camping, lil' man lost his FIRST tooth!!
And though they were just a MESS, I got them to stand together for a fun shot! :)
We were on an adventure... see the map in Gabriel's hands? He was leading the way. :)
The first night, Gavin could not sleep!
He had horrid allergy reaction. He has allergies, but he never needed medication before.
We left the campsite at 4:30am, went to Walmart (this is when I realize I am wearing PJ pants... oh well. All the cool kids are doin' it!)
And then we went home to sleep for a couple hours before heading back. (They lock ya out of the campground once you leave via gate-we also didn't want to wake everyone else up at 5:30am coming back.)
On the way back to the house, there was this BEAUTIFUL sunrise!

I thought this picture would be fun to show different affects.
I like to use Picnik.com
While trying to master photoshop is great, 99% of the time, this fits my needs.

So here is the original. I adjusted the exposure just a TAD:
Orton-ish
You can fade out an effect, so this is Orton-ish faded some to get some detail back in the foilage on the left:
Lomo-ish (more dramatic):
Vibrance: (pops the color without affecting the contrast as much)Vintage (1960's):
And a layout!
Loved that NYOBC at Scrapaganza how has kits with very current papers!
My challenge, use the Halloween paper line (My Mind's Eye) to make a non-Halloween page.
So this is what I did with 1/2 of the kit that I took (Kim has the other half!). :)
Instead of sewing, I just punched the holes...
Speaking of punches. :) I used a giant flower punch (which isn't that giant) a large flower punch, and the butterfly punch.
The ledger is actually a budget tablet/book. It is somewhat vintage. Maybe 20 years?
The buttons and things were LaDeDa by KI memories... I think I got them from a Studio Calico kit.
I traced the die cut shape from these Clear Scraps Die Cut acrylic (XL Deco) that I bought just to trace my own die cut shapes! I have used them several times as templates already!
It was a fun and easy LO to create!

I got some stamping layouts to show soon too!!
FINALLY getting done with some Suasen Designs product!
They are SO yummy-I am sorry I didn't get it done before!
I NEED deadlines!!!!

Be Blessed !!

7 comments:

Alicia said...

Good idea on the template. I need to do that, since I don't have the design for my cricut, but love the shape. Hmmm...? Looks like you guys had fun. We definielty have to plan for next year.

Candi Ladwig said...

Beautiful layout, glad you're back from your camping adventure :)

Christine said...

Looks like you had a great time....that picture with the kids and the map screams "Christmas photo"....with a note "Hope you find good times and warm memories on your search for the most magical of Christmases".... :) I know, I am a dork.

Tina said...

camping is the BEST, its my favorite thing to do with my family. Love the pic of the kids in the lane of trees!

sausan said...

Well..I must admit that I am not into camping...but your pics look good :) I especially love the one with the kids and the trees! Too cute! And Piknik is a cool little tool!

Michele said...

Looks like you had fun! I like camping too but like you, don't like the heat! and showers are a must have. lol...

My favorite part of camping are the naps. and campfires.

that layout is GORGEOUS!

Lindsey said...

The Layout is beautiful, but honestly...Those pictures are so amazing, they would have looked good on anything! You are a brilliant photographer. I wish I had that talent!

Thanks for sharing!

Lindsey
http://www.insidestoop.com/