July Pages - Sort Of

Many of the pages you see here were actually scrapped the last week in June. I went through a phase where I wanted to scrap without templates (shhh, don't tell anyone). Actually, I do it every once in a while just to get a fresh perspective....and because I really want to scrap but I feel like I should be working instead (aka making templates). So if I scrap without a template I get the best of both worlds. I get to scrap and then I can turn it into a template. Work=Scrapping, that sure does make me happy.

I usually work at least a month ahead of time. While I made these pages last month, I couldn't really share them with you because they hadn't been released yet. I guess I could have shared them but then you might have wanted to know where the template was and I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Bummer. That's why I waited.

Enough chatting. I think I've been cooped up with 4 girls way too long and just needed someone to talk to! Let's get to the pages. The first seven you see are some of my final pages of China. I haven't scrapped them in order so some of them are from the beginning of my trip and some from the end. I have officially finished Lydia's album....although I still have a few more pages to show you. Those will have to wait until next month when the templates are released. Yes, I actually have all of my August products ready! Woohoo!

Again, to the pages.

Just some scenic pictures to remember.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

First bathtime....probably ever. Just so you know (in case you don't read the journaling) she loves bath time now.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Splish Splash by Kristin Aagard

Airport pictures...because I wanted to remember everything.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

Our typical lunch while in China.

Double Monthly  Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Chinese Takeout by mle Card

I think these next two are my fave pages of all...or maybe it's just my favorite memory. 

Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Moment Like This by Sugary Fancy Designs

Together, finally!

Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Moment Like This by Sugary Fancy Designs

This was made with my new templates releasing tomorrow. I just love all the photo spots. I did scrap this first and then turned it into a template.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

Here's the left side. I just love the way it looks close up.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

And the right side close up.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

This photo was taken last year as Cheryl and I made our way to Vegas for Scrap Orchard's Convention.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

Here is my first Mother's Day with all 4 of my girls by my side.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 6 and Iron Scrapper Kit Week 1

Such a happy day.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 6 and Iron Scrapper Kit Week 2

And then 4th of July this year...actually, these were taken on the 6th, but who cares. We saw fireworks.

That's So Retro Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and American Made Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

There they are. How is your scrapping going?

-Liz

Tiff's AdoramaPix Album and Fireworks Photos

Today I'm going to link you up to a fellow digi-scrapper, friend and team member's blog. She's just posted pictures of her AdoramaPix Album and some of her fireworks photos.

I just LOVE her AdoramaPix Album. I've ordered a book through AdoramaPix too, and I really love the lay flat pages.

Tiff also recently practiced her firework photography skills and I think she did a great job! Go on over to this blog post to check out what she did to get some great shots.

I admire Tiff's pages and the projects she's accomplished. Do you have any favorite digi-scrappers that you look up to?

-Liz

July 4th....or July 6th!

Last week I shared some of my past July 4th pages and then some tips on photographing fireworks. I told you I would come back and let you know how my fireworks photos turned out. I was able to carry out 3 of 4 of the tips I gave on my blog post. Unfortunately, I brought the wrong tripod! So that was out. I was able to set my ISO, use manual mode to set the shutter speed to BULB mode, and I used no flash. I loved using BULB mode, definitely doing that again. I do believe my pictures were better than in past years. Next year I will remember the tripod...I think it'll make all the difference.

I did manage to scrap a few of the pictures from the fireworks show. It was such a crazy 4th. We were traveling last week. It ended up being rainy where we were and it was also rainy in our hometown. The fireworks had been postponed until the 6th and we were home just in time for them. I was so happy that Lydia was able to see her first fireworks show...even if it was on the 6th.

That's So Retro Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and American Made Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

-Liz

Fireworks - Photography and Pages!

Tomorrow is Independence Day in the States. That means a lot of fireworks and in my case, an opportunity to capture those fireworks with photography and eventually use them in my digital scrapbook pages.

I did a little research on the internet (I'll post blog links below) and here's a quick list of a few things I found that I'm going to try this year.

1. Use a tripod. I've actually never used one in past years and this is pretty much the number one

2. Get set up early. I know this is a good tip because last year all of my fireworks photos had a lovely McDonald's and Big Lots sign right smack dab in the middle of all of my photos. If I could have gotten there a little earlier and set up I could have avoided that! The picture above is actually from 2011...the only really good shot I have. See, I need to practice the art of taking fireworks photos!

3. Use Manual Mode. ISO will be set low to allow for clearer pictures. Aperture will be set between f/8 and f/16. For the shutter speed, I'm going to use the BULB setting. This will allow the shutter to stay open as long as the button is depressed. I've never used that setting before so I might have to practice before the fireworks show.

I read this tip over at Wiki-How:

A rule of thumb is to open the shutter as soon as you hear or see the rocket shooting into the sky and to leave it open until the burst is dissipating. This will usually take several seconds.

4. No Flash. The fireworks are already bright enough and they will be too far away for the flash to really do anything to enhance the photo.

I think those cover the basics. There's a lot more detailed info over at Wiki-How and Digital Photography School if you want to read more about capturing fireworks.

As I was searching for fireworks photos on my EHD for this blog post I spotted my 2010, 2011 and 2012 digital scrapbook page folder. I had to take a peek and see my pages from previous July 4th celebrations. I thought you might like to see them. There are a few fireworks photos in them.

This was 2010, 3 years ago! OH. MY. GOODNESS! Look at how little my girls are. Sparklers are always fun.

Traditional Temps 1 by Scrapping with Liz
Digi Files #25

This was 2011. See how I hid my fireworks photos behind the title....they must not have been that great.

Blocks, Blocks, Blocks Templates by Scrapping with Liz
Everyone Has a Story by Captivated Visions

This was last year. You can see a few peaks of fireworks. As you can see I made sure the McDonald's and Big Lots signs did not make it in the layout.

Tile Templates by Scrapping with Liz
American Pride by SuzyQ Scraps and Amanda Heimann

I'll be back next Wednesday to share with you all how my fireworks photo taking went...and maybe I'll share a 2013 Independence page with you!

Hope you all have a happy 4th!

-Liz