Portrait Party Goodness

A few weeks ago a dear friend of mine hosted a Portrait Party for me. I had a full day of 5 sessions. Here are some of my favorite images from that day...





OK, if that doesn't make you laugh, then you have no soul....










Portrait Parties are fun! I have been really blessed that my hostess set up sessions with all women that I totally want to befriend. Good times!

(all of the above taken with my new 17-55mm 2.8 lens)

Big Swing Scaredy Cat

I admit it....

I am afraid of heights.

Or, rather, I am afraid of falling from high spaces, LOL!

So, a couple weekends ago at Youth Retreat, I couldn't help but try the Big Swing during free time. I walked past the tall pole, I went right on by the Ropes course, I laughed out loud at the rock climbing.... are these people crazy?!?!

But a swing? Why not?




Here is a close-in crop of the above picture... I think my face says it all...


On the way down....

And back up again.... Nels, you nut!



And here, for you viewing pleasure.... the video of it all....

And after that? I went and Zip lined into the lake. I was on a roll, I tell ya!

Mother's Day Goodness....

Pictures of my booth at the Art Show on Saturday..... I hope to have made some great contacts and potential clients.


I'm really proud with how our display turned out. Nate did a great job with taking my sketch and turning it into reality.


I plan to use it as more shows become available, set it up at future Portrait Parties/ Open Houses... even when clients come to my home for consultations or sessions.

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Mother's Day yesterday was just wonderful. If you remember last year my grandfather passed away, and, umm.... I was sort of forgotten.

This year the boys put their noggins together and really just made my whole day very special.


Here I am with my little Lights... the whole reason I can celebrate being a mother. These two are such gems and delights to me.

We went to Red Rock Canyon Grille for dinner, YUMM! They have such great rotisserie chicken. Delish! I also had their bread pudding... my thighs are feeling it today, LOL!

The boys got me a Lisa Leonard necklace I had pointed out to Nate one time.... the words on it really speak to me, really capture what motherhood is all about to me.


It is so gorgeous! I wore it all day, and just may put it on again for my foray to the Grocery store later.

Something else I am super proud of.... check out my very bright oldest son's signature on my Card......


Can you see it? I can! Isn't he just so smart?!?!

Happy Mother's Day to you lovely ladies out there......

Derwood Art Fair

There is an Art Fair at Derwood Alliance Church, in Rockville, MD.

It is tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, 10-2, where I have a Booth. Come on by to receive a coupon and enter a drawing for a free sitting.

There will be other booths as well, Watercolors, Handmade Cards, other Arts & Crafts, and Student Artwork for show. There will also be a Tea Shoppe with baked goods. Come on by for a good time!

All Sorts of New Stuff

All NEW!

Bead Alpha

This is a fabulous and fun alpha, where you can bead it yourself! Full alpha and number set, 21 styles of beads!

Get it HERE

Bracket Explosion 2


11 Sets of brand new brackets! Splatters, stained, cardboard.... even some overlays to grunge up your own papers!

Get it HERE

Glitter Brackets


12 Glittered brackets, all the colors of the rainbow! Colors to capture your fancy and add that perfect touch to your page! These match perfectly with my Watercolor Papers line.

Get it HERE

Watercolor Stripes


Watercolor Striped papers! A perfect companion to the whole Watercolor Solids Set. 16 papers in the Striped set. Make sure you check out the Glitter Brackets... they match!

Get it HERE

ALL 20% OFF Today!

An example by Novita.......



And... since I haven't shared a photo in a while, here is lovely Miss Elizabeth....




She did a little modeling for me a couple weeks ago. Be on the lookout... she is also my subject for my article on "Bokeh" in next month's Digital Artist Magazine.

Happy Thursday!

PSA 02

Another tip to store away....

Make sure to look BOTH ways when you come to a stop sign... lest you run into a jogger.

***like I was... yesterday. Yup... I got hit by a car. LOL!

I had already stepped off the curb, when a car comes zooming up to the stop. He was looking right the whole time, and then started to drive and turn left, thus clipping me in my right thigh. I looked him straight in the eye and said "What the HECK is Wrong with YOU?!?!" He asked if I was OK, I waved him off, and he sped away. Two men were waiting at the Bus Stop at the opposite corner, and were just looking at me with their jaws to the ground, asking if I was OK. Scared me more than anything, and I am perfectly fine... but I swear, some people! And Nate wants me to run with Pepper Spray... LOL! Like that would have helped here, HA!

PSA 01

Here is a tip worth its weight in gold.

The goo on the inside of a Glow Stick WILL absolutely melt and scar plastic.

***Especially if it hung on your car mirror and then dripped all over the gear shift console.

A Boy Kit, 2 Collections, and a Grab Bag, Oh My!

All New by Andrea Burns at TDC~

Love, Seth



Love, Seth is the sixth kit in a series of kits made with love for family members. Seth is my first son, so this kit is very bright and boyish, just for him.

Included in Love, Seth are 6 boyish papers, 4 buttons, 3 shoelaces, 2 frames, 2 circle elements, 2 gear elements, 2 journal spots, 2 curly stitches, 2 splatters, and 1 hinge.

Get it here

A couple CT samples, plus a Grab Bag sneak peek




Love Boys Collection


Love, Boys is collection of kits made with love for the boys in my family. This collection is chock full of masculine charm and mischief.

Included in this collection are Love, Lucas; Love, Nathaniel; and Love, Seth. Also included is a BONUS of 6 solid papers and a full alpha featured on torn tape.

Get it HERE

Love Girls Collection



Love, Girls is collection of kits made with love for the ladies in my family. This collection is filled with feminine beauty and unique touches.

Included in this collection are Love, Alicia; Love, Amelia; and Love, Genevieve. Also included is a BONUS of 6 solid papers and a full alpha featured on cardboard.

Get it HERE

$3 Grab Bag




This is an Amazing Grab Bag! Chock full of Creative Goodness! And for this low price you don't want to miss out! Get it now, get it FAST!

Get it HERE

****And those of you with boys... be sure to check out Karah Frederick's 3 new kits for boys as well!!!

Coffee Debacle......

Remember the scene in A Christmas Story, where Ralph's mother hated, I mean really just abhorred his father's leg lamp? And one night as they are going out and piling into the car, the lamp mysteriously breaks. Mom claims it was an accident (with a smirk on her face) while dad wails?

I'm pretty sure that has played out in real life here in our house....

When we bought our house in October, I wanted all new counter top appliances in stainless steel to match the new stainless appliances. What we had was old white counter top appliances. So, I went to Target and picked out a few. I even matched brands.

Now... we love our coffee. We always enjoy a good cup of it for breakfast, and very often on Sunday afternoons Nate is whipping together lattes or expressos. Our old Mr. Coffee coffee maker did a GREAT job with coffee. It really was outstanding in taste. So of course the new stainless steel coffee maker was a Mr. Coffee as well.

It just did not create coffee up to par as usual. There was a considerable taste difference, and Nate took every chance he could to grimace and complain about it.

So imagine to my surprise yesterday morning when Nate is about to leave for work, and he comes and sits on the edge of the bed to wake me.

"Andrea.... I broke the coffee maker."

"mghdgakls (more indistinct morning muffles)... what?"

"I broke the coffee maker. It was an accident. Would you like me to get you a Starbuck's for breakfast?"

HA!

Later that night I got the full story (or what Nate swears is the full story). He was filling his travel mug, and as he turned, he bumped the carafe into the side of the sink, thus putting a HUGE crack in the glass.

Hmmm......

Now this morning I had coffee from his French Press, and it was "OK." Now Nate is all starry eyed over a Starbuck's Coffee Maker or a nice one from Crate and Barrel.

I still think he did it on purpose. ;)

LOL!

Bright & Fun!

New! By me at The Digi Chick~ Love, Genevieve



Love, Genevieve is the fifth kit in a series of kits made with love for family members. Genevieve is my sister by marriage, so this kit is made with doodly love for her.

Included in Love, Genevieve are 6 fabulous papers, 4 buttons, 3 ribbons, 3 stickers, 2 journal spaces, 2 flowers, 2 frames, 1 glittered edge overlay, 1 lace panel, 1 swirl clip, 1 paper bird, and 1 paper butterfly.

Get it HERE for 20% OFF today only

Some CT examples~



Have a great Thursday! Thanks for stopping by!

Master C.

Meet Master C......

what a sweetheart he was!





C is just a little ball of fire and was always on the go-go-go! The top photo was the briefest rest. Mom is a fellow Digi Scrapper! It is always a slight out of body experience when I meet someone who understands digi.

New Gear....

It's been a crazy long and busy weekend....

1. I finished a new kit
2. a trip to the mall
3. worship team practice
4. Suessical the Musical play
5. prepared Sunday dinner for some guests
6. battled Lucas' 103* fever for 24 hours
7. ordered some new, really great photo gear!

Phew! So what did I get? I got the 85mm 1.8 lens, the 17-55 2.8 lens, and a Sekonic L-358 Light Meter. Goodness!

I have already received the 85mm lens, and have put it to work... wow, such GREAT bokeh on this lens!




I'm still waiting on the other lens, and that one is a beast! It takes a 77mm UV filter!

Meet Miss L....

I borrowed my friend's little girl for a few shots on Saturday, to take advantage of the weather and flowers.....


Meet Miss L~

Pizza Anyone?

Do you like pizza? Does your family partake in a pizza pie every now and then?

Well... if you do, you could be way across the country, and yet still be able help support our Youth Group.

As you know, Nate is a Christian and Missionary Alliance Youth Pastor. Our denomination does alot with Missions and partnerships with other missionaries around the world. We just had a team return from North Africa. We have another team leaving for the Dominican Republic later this summer.

Nate is just starting to put together a Youth Group specific missions trip, and right now we are thinking Taiwan next summer. But that means fundraising NOW, LOL!

So our kids (and us adults!!) are at the moment selling Joe Corbi Pizzas.

Did you know that you could order online, and they will deliver to your door, and our Youth Group will still recieve the fundraising share? How cool is that?

On their site, just go to Order Online/ Consumer Orders and fill your cart.

During checkout on the customer information page there is a "Shopping For" box. Hit the set change and fill out the info as follows:

Derwood Alliance Church

Nate Burns

16105 Redland Rd

Derwood, MD 20855

301. 963. 9200

And there you have it!! THANK YOU SO MUCH if you decide to help our our teens.... and eat a yummy dinner!

live. shoot. scrapbook

Have you seen the cool scrapbook t-shirts at YellowFence.com?

I got the "live. shoot. scrapbook" Tee.

How could I resist? I got it in Sangria. Sassy! I also read at Tara Whitney's Blog that she has a special design over there... and about her 10% Off coupon for any item in the store. Just use TARAROCKS to save.

****************

Yesterday I finally finished proofing about 300 photos. Yep, 300... and it only took 3 weeks, LOL! I also updated my website with a new Online Proofing and Cart system. Exciting!

I have emailed all parties letting them know their proofs are done! I don't think I'll quite do a Portrait Party AND a day of Headshots at a Realtor's office back to back like that again.

My bum and brain are sore.... and not in that particular order either! LOL!

Love, Amelia

NEW by me~


Love, Amelia is the fourth kit in a series of kits made with love for family members. Amelia is my youngest sister, so this kit is very spunky and sassy, like her.

Included in Love, Amelia are 6 fabulous papers, 4 buttons, 3 ribbons, 2 journal spaces, 2 beaded wires, 2 flowers, 2 frames, 2 stitched flowers, 1 glitter-glue swirl, 1 leaf, and 1 glitter-glue dot.

Get it HERE! 20% OFF today only!

Kresta's example~

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Just a little bit new stuff happening over here.... Lucas has taken his first few steps in the last couple days. Its only back and forth between Nate and I, and he thinks its a game and totally dives after 2 or 3 steps. Big Man! He has also popped out his first molar, and I can feel 2 more working through. Can deffinitely explain his recent crankiness and needyness, LOL!

I am also very stressed at the moment. I just had a lot of work pile up, and while I have been doing my absolute best to stay on top of it and work on it, I still find that I am running out of time. I also really struggle with my confidence, and whether people will like the final result.

Yesterday I had a bridal consult for a wedding in August. I sat for an hour loading up pictures into Power Point for a nice slideshow. And wouldn't you know... as the bride-to-be's appointment started, I hit a button and the whole slideshow was GONE. It ended up being OK, she was really more interested in going over planning and technical details, rather than photos, BUT that still made me sweat for a few minutes.

And It Starts....

45 minutes ago, I literally pulled my running shoes out of the closet and dusted them off.

Nate came home, and I power walked a mile to our grocery store, and just jogged back most of the 2nd mile.

Now we'll just have to see how my foot feels later tonight. It was stiff and the first couple jogs, the pounding into the sidewalk, was uncomfortable.

Charllliiiieeeee....

I have a pretty weird sense of humor. Nate came home yesterday and shared this YouTube video with me... and it well.... you have to see it for yourself.

watch this.... multiple times.

Shun the non believer Shuuuuuuuun ...... love the magical Leoplurodon.

Random...

1) Did you know that Seth is really Italian? He's started adding "-uh" at the end of every sentence ending word. "Mommy-uh!" "Are we going to the store-uh?" "I don't like Beef Stew-uh!"

2) Lucas ate a green crayon yesterday. You should have seen the diaper I just changed. Wow. I have never seen that color green come out that end before.

3) I am admitting that I like my new Almay make-up. It works so well that my make-up remover doesn't quite foam the way it used to, but hey, it stays in place!!

4) I am in love with my lunch food. It's kinda funny that I had to move from NW Penn to fall in love with Wedding Soup. It was such a staple up there, but I never really had it till a couple weeks ago. Campbell's Select makes a GREAT Wedding soup!

5) Seth is completely p.o.t.t.y trained now. Night and day. Its great. So liberating! However I did just learn that I will still have to buy plastic pants (for Lucas at least) for the pool this summer. It doesn't matter if he is in a Swimmy Diaper, they must have a plastic cover over top.

6) Did I say "pool?" Is it finally going to be warm enough? Should I start researching Mumu's for a coverup?

;)