Puppy Kisses

We've got a new addition!  Bunny, our baby Norwich Terrier.  What a
cutie!
I had a dog growing up, and Jim had several, but since we've been married (29 years), we've only had cats.  But our kitties passed on several years ago and I still really miss them.  We've been talking for some time about having a dog this time.  As much as we love large dogs (I'd love a Retriever or even a Newfoundland!), with us both working, we thought maybe something a bit smaller. 
After some searching, Jim found the Norwich Terriers.  And, then I did some searching and found a breeder in New York about two hours north of us.  There was one little pup still available in their last litter, born on January 16.
Jim wanted to name a puppy "Bunny".  Too funny!  The only pup available
was a male, but he's still "Bunny"!!  Kind of like "A boy named Sue",
haha!
He cried and barked and put up a fuss for the first 30 mins or so of the ride home, but then settled down.  He's been out a few times since and is starting to get used to the carrier and the car. 
The day before he came home was spent trying to get ready.  PETCO was soooo overwhelming!  Rather than a hard case or wire crate, we got a wire pen for him.  Although he'd rather hang out with us, he does like his pen.  Plenty of room for his carrier, potty patch, food/water and toys.
He's sleeping the whole night.  Probably because he plays so hard!  I know I'm getting my exercise running around with him and playing tug of war with toys!  He loves his little stuffed ferret.  Oh, and our sneakers.  We're working on breaking that habit.

Now I've got something new to Scrapbook!!!  So, my first BUNNY page.
I used a Scrap Girls template and added the photos.  I did a bit more journaling than I usually do.  The slight brick texture on the background paper was done with a digital brush.  I found a clip and a tag from my stash of elements.  To make it look more realistic, the clip and tag are shadowed to give them depth.
I layered the tag on top of the clip, then erased a small portion to make it look like the tag is hanging from the clip.  Same thing with the clip and the frame.  I placed the clip on top of the frame and then erased a small portion of the top of the clip to make it look like it was hanging from it.  Make sense?

I'm sure there will be more Bunny to come!

Diane

March Birthday

Kyle's birthday is Sunday.  I absolutely cannot believe I am old enough to have a 24 year old son!  Haha, I still have vivid memories of that pregnancy and delivery.  He came 5 weeks early, so when the contractions started, I wasn't quite sure if that's what they truly were.  Jim and I had only gone to 2 Lamaze classes.  After a quick call to the Dr. it was off to the hospital during the early morning rush hour traffic.  No worries, the contractions were still about 5 minutes apart. :)   Once there...he was born just over an hour later.  Very quick...no time for drugs.  He was so tiny, 5lbs 11oz.  Beautiful reddish blonde fuzzy hair and gorgeous blue eyes.
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When he was still very young, I decided I did not want years and years of bad pictures.  I had my Canon Ae-1 and took a photography class.  One of the best things I ever did!  Of course, now most photography is digital and that's much easier.  And, it's so easy to just select "AUTO" and start shooting.  I have to force myself to choose "MANUAL" and work with aperture and shutter speed.  Well worth the effort, though! 
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Here's one page I did from photos when the kids were a bit younger.  We were all at the Capital District Scottish Games near Albany, NY.  An annual favorite!   Here I was learning how to color paper templates and use metal styles.

Love the red in this one!  Kyle is with Reese Roper from the band "Five Iron Frenzy", a big favorite back then!

And here is a preview of the cover of a book I am in the process of doing for him with a mix of photos and scrapbook pages.  My Mom took Kyle to England as a graduation gift and I'm just now working with all the photos. Here's another double layout.  No seam in this one like I had in my wedding layout.  I have been working with using photo masking to get the photos in the block letters, and have learned how to get a dimensional look on the letters - more fun techniques!

I suspect this book will take quite some time to finish!

Happy Spring everyone!

Diane

March 19, 1983 - "I Do!"

It's almost 29 years ago Jim and I were married.  My how time flies - it seems like a lifetime ago!
We met March 16, 1981, had our first official date the next day, St. Patrick's Day, at the White House in Fishkill, NY, and were married two years later in Tampa, FL.  So much has been packed into all these years: fun with family, wild times with friends, vacations, work, business trips, KIDS!, moving, pets, schools, sports, Church.  Lots of ups and downs, fun times, ick times ~ marriage!
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I was looking through photos of our wedding.  The Album is falling apart and the pictures have some damage.  I got a new album for the pictures, so hopefully there won't be too much more deterioration.  I did scan them all and fixed them up a bit in PSE7.  Then, of course, had do some scrap pages of them! 

Love the look of the folded corner and the chain coming out of the flowers!  The chain was done using a dynamic brush and then an overlay of gold tone was added.  I also like the PSE style that lets me make the photo look like
a dimensional plaque.
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These next three are some "Easy Pages", meaning I did not assemble all the paper layers, fonts and elements.  These are from "Love Honor and Cherish" by Scrap Girls designer Brandy Murry.  I just added the photos...

 and

and

Marie Liberatore, Jim, Diane, Leo Ladaga

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This last one is a double page scrapbook page.  I did a left side and a right side and tried to erase the center seam.  I don't think I have it quite right and will need to keep practicing.

L-R: Earl and Kris Medeiros, Shari Hugo, Gretchen Schimmel, Alan and Charleen Don, Jim and Diane, Pam Turner, Beverly (Turner) Nuermberger, Bob Turner, Phyllis and Harry Heyworth

Just love looking at pictures from "back in the day"!   Brings back so many wonderful memories and feelings.

Enjoy!

Diane