THE ARTISTIC AVENUES

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MORE!

Ever hear of Bokeh? Bokeh lights, or the' way a lens renders out of focus lights'. How about blurred lights?? Fun making your own, fun photographing your own... These are some of mine from Christmas tree lights around town.

Totally missed here. These could've been car lights..

 

If  you drive around, move the camera at the same time you can get intresting effects. Then you can pretend to be a good photographer!

For the record I used a download from the lucky nine. http://theluckynine.deviantart.com/art/color-bokeh-textures-pack-106393407?q=boost:popular+in:resources/textures+bokeh&qo=76 I am hoping this works for you. There are lots of brushes, textures and art at Deviant art. Take a look!

So this is what you do in photoshop with a Bokeh effect. Pretty cool & not bad for a lady with a patch over one eye!

This is Diana, my daughter and we both wish you the happiest holiday. Remember our Lord and Savior was born this day and give thanks for his supreme gift.

Thanks to all

       Mary S

These were awesome! Down the street from us, so festive. The whole block was decorated.

 

It is looking like Christmas!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

I decided to post a couple of photos of Christmas cards that I made or the especially cute ones at the top were made by Linda Elliott.

 

I probably could make Christmas cards all year!  The Red and Green combo was done in strips of decorative papers with a label with greeting across the middle. I embellished with Spellbinders new Poinsetta die, ribbons and glitter. Easy and nice to use up your paper bits!

 The gold cards are 2 variations using Just Rite Rejoice stamp set, and the larger card features the new scroll background stamp. Both are bordered by the Spellbinder Beaded Oval die. I am addicted to die cuts! I think I mentioned that before.

These little 'jolly guys somehow got stuck inbetween . Both have embellishments made from punched 1" circles. Talk about mindless entertainment. Punch away! The 'string of lights' die is from http://allthatscraps.com/  I also like her balloon dies!

Who says pink and green can't be for Christmas? This was a glittery 4x6 card stack I got from Em for Christmas. In case I missed the point, these are the 'strip' cards too.

 

 

Here we go....... These are just a few that we took to the nursing home Friday.

Just had to do the backs!

 

Thanks for visiting........

Mary S

Not a food blog... but....

 YUMMY!

Potato Soup....

Not big on potato soup, but it was cold and this was sooo good.

The original recpie calls for 1 16 oz. bag of hash browns. Pretty easy and good... BUT this time I had potatoes that needed to be used.. So I peeled either 4 or 5  medium sized ones. I cut them up in about 1/4's.  Put them in a pot of water to boil. About 25 minutes.

NOT a food blog. Remember that.

Won't make you watch me peel potatoes either...

Cut up about 1/2 an onion and fry in butter. yum. Set aside.

Wait for potatoes.  Okay.... drain potatoes. Mash alittle...like, leave some little chunkies. I didn't want baby food or mush. Add 2 Cups of milk.. I added in stages so that it wouldn't get runny. Add a can of cream of celery soup (yeah really), add a 3/4 can chicken broth (more if you like a thin soup.) Last add 3/4 cup of velveeta cheese.  No  I didn't measure, yes, their could be more. Cheddar or the mexi-cheese blend would work too. Oh be brave, use 2 cheeses.... Dont forget the onions, some salt and pepper. Let it cook about 10 minutes.  Stay close and stir often!    

 Crescent rolls from a tube, easy peasy.   Pre-heat your oven and put this in  while  stirring your soup .

 

 

 

 

 

I Keep Putting this off!

Yes I do keep avoiding this post. I have been 'pinning'. Gosh, that opens a whole new world! The Friday Girls have 230 cards ready for the nursing home. Here is just a sample. Linda E brought over 2 extra tables, stickers, cut out pieces for the center step cards, etc;. It was awesome!

Emily brought punches, and I had Spellbinders. Sometimes everyone brings a cutting machine and their dies.  I guess I have it easy, (except for cleaning the house beforehand), as I don't have to transport anything!

This shows even more cards. Of course, we had to recount and rebag after we took the pictures!

 

 

 

 

Who would post this???