Category: My Photography

My Front Porch…all decked out and ready for fall

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I thought I’d share with you today my Fall Front Porch that I did a few weeks ago.

In past years my Fall Decorating usually included sweeping off the porch, adding a pumpkin or two,

a mum and a wreath on the door.  That was it.  I was done.

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This year, thanks to my new “Instagram Obsession”, I was inspired to go all out.

Mind you…

going all out for me does not include 27 pumpkins, 15 mums, a $100 wreath and the most beautiful

looking dog you’d ever see.   Like a few of the amazing front porches I saw.  (trust me I counted)

I kept mine a little more simple, a little more doable, with out breaking the bank.

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I stared with things I had on hand.

A combination of things picked up at Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, Auctions, Estate Sales and a few items

I’ve had for over 20 years.

Sometimes I wonder, am I a collector or hoarder?

But…I always say “it’s not hoarding if you use them”.  (Right?)

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Since some of my summer flowers are still doing good, I had to add them to the mix.

I’ve had this poinsettia since last winter.  I hope I can make it turn red again.

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I love this old black chair.

I purchased it over 20 years ago at a antique store and hated to admit to my husband I paid $20 for it.

I’ve only repainted it once in all those years.

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Mums are a fairly cheap addition to the mix.  I purchased 7 mums at $4 dollars each.

The price of a really good pizza dinner.

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I replaced the scraggily summer plants with mums in pots I already had.

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I kept it simple with only one pumpkin which will be carved by next week-end.

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The Wood Crate was a new garage sale treasure this year for $1.50.

The lantern I believe I picked up for $1 and the little red chair was a Thrift Store find at $3.00.

You got to keep you eyes open to all the possibilities of these treasures offer.

My daughter-in-law told me “I never find these kind of things”.

The trick to good finds is you have to go and go often.  I love the hunt.

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When it comes to my front porch, the only complaint I have is the size.

I wish it was wider and didn’t have an aggregate floor.  (really hard on bare feet)

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I really enjoy how it turned out.

Who knows, maybe next year I’ll have 27 pumpkins and 15 mums.

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You can read about the post on how to make the Autumn Wreath and Boo Door Hanger here.

I actually made it to the ocean this year.

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Going to the Ocean is one of my favorite things to do…

and it had been three long years since we last visited.

It was long over due.  The beach was calling.

Long daily walks on the beach, soaking up the sun, ocean breezes, good food, reading and relaxing.

It was hard to come back.  I needed another week.  (I need another week!)

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During our week there, we allowed our teen-age son to visit and stay with his best friend who lives

an hour away from where we were staying.  Giving him those few days to re-connect also gave

my husband and I a few days to re-connect as well.

Charleston Collage

After we picked him up we headed to Charleston for the day.

Charleston is one of the most beautiful and one my all time favorite cities.

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Charleston is steeped in history and gorgeous homes.

I enjoy walking along the harbor, taking pictures and checking out the architecture.

Sweetgrass Baskets

Another favorite is visiting the Market Place where I am always fascinated by the Sweetgrass Baskets,

a true Charleston tradition.   (I’ve invested in a few baskets over the years.)

The baskets may seem a little pricey, but, when you consider the tedious hours of labor that goes into

each one, they’re probably underpriced.

Myrtle Beach

Luckily, we had a few more beautiful days of sunshine together before heading home.

It’s never enough time for me.

(If you’d like you can read last year’s post about not going to the beach here.)

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I created my beach layout using Paper House Productions

At the Beach Paper Crafting Kit and the New Beach Mixed Card Pack.

I layered three different patterned papers to mimic the color of the water on the horizon line

and the feel of the sandy beach.

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I love the New Beach Mixed Cards, the pack comes with a variety of pictures, overlays and frames.

(I added thin 3-D foam mounting squares to the back of the frame before attaching it to the picture.)

The Myrtle Beach Sticker (for decorating your phone) was found at a local beach shop.

 

Here is a list of the Paper House Productions products used:

My beach layout was created for and sponsored by Paper House Productions.

The Best of 2015

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You know what?  Looking back, 2015 was a pretty good year.

Nothing too big or too small.  Just a good year.

So, In 2016… I look forward to improving my photography and blogging skills

and to keep sharing my creative endeavors with you.

So here how last year shaped up for Sue’s Creative Workshop.

In 2015, I posted 136 times on my blog. (an average of 2.6 times per week)

I created lots of Projects, Tutorials, DIY Make-Overs, Cards, Mini Albums and more.

I shared recipes, family pictures and gave a little bit of myself.

 

To make sure you don’t miss anything in 2016…

Sign Up to follow my Blog (see “follow” button on the right⇒)

After Christmas Family Fun Day

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I love getting the chance to be with the family on Christmas.  That in itself is a gift.

But… after all the Christmas Craziness is over, we like to take a day and have a little family fun.

I almost enjoy it more than Christmas.  (it’s more relaxed)

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In my hometown we have a small town square and parked in the square was this cute decorated

wagon.  I knew it was the perfect spot for a family picture.  I just had to wait until everyone was home.

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The weather was good.  (a little sunshine and a light snow would of been perfect)

It didn’t take much coaxing for me to get them to go.

They’re all good sports.  (they knew I’d pout if they didn’t.)

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Nativity on the Square

After a few pictures, we headed to the local bowling alley for a Family Bowling Night.

It’d been exactly a year since I’d bowled.

Warren Bowling

The kids even got in on the action.

Nicholas Bowling

Justin Stephanie and Zach Bowling

Bonnie and Warren Bowling

After spending such a nice and perfect day with the family, we woke to a winter ice and sleet storm.

So… today I will be staying in, relaxing and hopefully reading the new book I picked up.

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing start to the New Year.

 

 

 

Together is my Favorite Place to be…

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Together is my Favorite Place to be

We took this photo a couple of months ago, the last time we were all together.

I always make them do a group picture.  (it’s what I do)

My youngest son had the idea to take the picture in front of the old barn.

So we set up the tri-pod and self timer and I got this fun shot.

I am so Thankful for my Family.

After we got this picture, the real run began.

The boys started kicking the soccer ball around.

There were foot races, push ups and a lot of good family fun.

Echo Park Family Album

I found The Story of Family Collection by Echo Park and knew it was perfect for these pictures.

Echo Park Family Album Inside

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

I ain’t afraid of no Ghost…

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My daughter in law brought the boys over today to show me their Halloween costumes…

(and a little early Trick or Treating.)

I just had to share the pictures with you.

She made Warren’s “Stay Puft” costume and even crocheted his hat.

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Who you going to call?  Ghostbusters!

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Isn’t he just the cutest Stay Puft Marshmallow guy?

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Have a Safe and Happy Halloween.

Tie Dying for the 4th of July

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This may be the last Tie Dye Post from me.  (or not?)

On Father’s Day we tie dyed shirts with the kids.  It turned out to be a really great group activity.

Because we had to let the shirts set, rinse and then be washed….

I was not able to get pictures of all the kids and their shirts.  (you know…the big kids)

Last Wednesday my sister brought my niece over for a play date with my grandsons and

I was able to get a few cute ones.

You may be wondering why only one kid got the last red white and blue popsicle.

Well…. the really cute and innocent looking littlest one had just recently taken a good hard

bite on the tip of his big brothers nose.  “Ouch!”

It didn’t take long before he forgave his little brother and was sharing his popsicle.

Little brother wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Isn’t she adorable?

On her shirt, the dye was painted directly onto the shirt with a paintbrush.

 

What do you treasure?

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I gave Nicholas an old cigar box to use while he was working on one of “his projects”.

As I was getting ready to put away all his treasures, I was struck by all the bright colors

and the little trinkets in the box.  (So I took this picture.)

When you’re four you need to collect a lot of things.

I’m a few years older than four and I still collect a lot of things.

I’ve often thought, if I only had 20 minutes to grab my most valuable possessions,

what would my treasures be?

Besides my family of course, I’d grab the clock that my parents gave us as a wedding present,

a few pieces of sentimental jewelry and my photo’s and photo albums.

Oh…and maybe the baby books.  (but, I wasn’t too good at filling those things out.)

You see, all those other things are just stuff.

Clothes, furniture, etc…they can all be replaced.

My photo’s are a different thing, they are my treasures, my memories.

So why do I have most of the photo’s from the last several years still on my computer?

Good question.

With my digital camera’s I easily take 25 times more pictures than I took before.

Instead of taking one more picture for good measure, I take 12.

The more pictures you take the better chances of getting that perfect shot. Right?

The problem:

Once I received my first digital camera, I stopped regularly printing pictures.

Unless I was working on a special project or giving them away as a gift,

I never seemed to get around to it.

I currently live in fear of my laptop crashing and losing all my precious photos.

I should back them up on my external hard-drive.  (and I do, sometimes)

So here’s my goal for 2015:

To go through the last few years of pictures and print them out.  (maybe even put them in an album)

I don’t want to risk the chance of losing them forever.

So if you’re in the same place as me…

Print them out!

I use Shutterfly* a lot for printing and photo books and they always have a deal going.

New Customers get 50 free 4″ x 6″ prints for just opening up an account.

Shutterfly Free Stuff

But I should let you know…

If you decide to click on the above picture and just happen to place an order,

I will receive a very small commission.

So… wherever you decide to take your pictures, it really doesn’t matter.

Just as long as we print them out.

Disclosure:  I am a Shutterfly Affiliate.