New Blog Design!

Hello All,
  I've got a new blog header thanks to Jessica Sprague!  Let me tell you how this all came about:

  My regular PC was giving me fits!  Jamie, my hubby, kept fixing her for me until she went "kaput".  So, a few weeks ago he took me to Best Buy and bought me the newest MAC!  Wow, I'm in love with it lol.  I think she does everything but the laundry kwim?  Well, I went to install my printer, an HP Photosmart C6280 ( had it forever ), and it wouldn't install for me.  So I went thru the process of installing updates and drivers and finally got her to work....or so it seemed.  I couldn't get her to scan and the wireless stopped working.
  So, I researched and knew I wanted an Epson Stylus R2000.  I love the idea of being able to print on a 12x12 format!  Plus, I'd been stalking lots of blogs ( Ali Edwards for one ) and it seemed this is the printer EVERYONE was using!  So, off to Office Depot and Best Buy we went.  We searched both stores and only came up with one printer close to the one I wanted. The one we chose was the Epson WF-7510 and she actually does everything that I was looking for in a printer and, she was $200 cheaper.  The added bonus is that I can also print off of my iPhone and iPad!
  So, while we were waiting on the printer to come from the back, Jamie started looking at all the photo software... He knows I've been having issues taking pictures with my P&S camera during low light conditions.  The only pictures I can get to turn out is in the daylight hours and he knows that I've been doing Project Life for my son in his last year of school.  So, he buys me PhotoShop Elements 11.
  PhotoShop Elements 11 is more than I bargained for lol.  Gosh, there is so much to that software!  I thought I could just dig in and figure everything out for myself....wrong.  I googled online classes for this software and found Jessica.  She has free classes to get a beginner started and I am so glad that I found her!  I've learned so much and learned also what I was doing wrong for so long.....1 tip:  Never alter your original photos.  Always make a copy and do your editing to the copy.  When you are done editing, name your photo then add "edited" at the end so you know which photo is the one you made changes to.  Is that not an awesome tip?
  So, today I'm waiting on the UPS man to bring me another goody.  My husband, as a surprise, bought me a Nikon D7000 camera with accessories.  I'm so excited!  I know I'm going to have to practice a lot!  It is not going to be like my P&S for sure.
  Well, I tried to upload a few pictures but for some reason it is not letting me.  I guess I'll have to try to post some later.
Hugs,
Carolyn

I've rejoined Close To My Heart Scrapbooking Company!
  I'm so glad that I rejoined CTMH!  I've missed my friends!  And I've missed their products!
  I had a meeting with my upline Christine Adams today and had a wonderful time with her learning my OBA and what I can do with it.  So glad I met with her today!
  I know that I've not wrote or Blogged for a while and I hope to keep up with this and let you know what is going on with me.
  God Bless,
Carolyn

Tilda with Car

Hello all,
  I'm going to make this very short and sweet.  I used the color combo from last weeks Magnolia Down Under challenge.  I started on it and never got around to finishing her up till today.
  I'm going to enter her into the new Midweek Magnolia challenge.
 Hugs,
Carolyn

1985

Hello all,
  This is a layout featuring my Dad.  I miss him so much.  He passed away Labor Day 2006.  I thought I'd bring out this picture of him and I in San Diego, CA in 1985.  I was pregnant with my first baby and thought I'd wash our truck and Dad came out and started taking over the task.  Him and Mom came out for vacation and anything I'd do, he'd take over.
  I need to start labeling my Layouts and to start journaling too.
Hugs, 
Carolyn

Tilda Tag

Hello all,
  Not much going on around here lately.  Last Sunday, we moved my youngest daughter back home.  She was trying to make it on her own with working full time and going to college full time and it just didn't work out.
  I'm struggling to go to work everyday.  On top of the depression and Bipolar, I'm dealing with what everyone deals with and that is the stress of the job.  I struggle with going in everyday now.  I know there are others out there like me and I wonder how they pull it off.  I'm tired of the old saying "Take it one day at a time".
  I found time today to make this tag.  I love this Tilda, but I found it hard to color her today and I don't think I did such a good job of coloring her either.  Oh well.  I can't wait to see the new Prince and Princess Tilda's at Diana's store.
  I am going to enter her into the following challenges:

• Magnolia Challenge Blog
• Just Magnolia

  Well, I think that is it for now.
Magnolia Hugs,
Carolyn

Smash Book Valentines

Hello All,
  Here is my Smash Book Valentines for the We R Smashbookin for Scrap bitz. 
  This picture is from Margaritaville in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.  We had such a good time there.  We went for a week and had a blast.  I so enjoy the beach!
  This weekend has been pretty busy.  I worked last night plus we are moving our youngest daughter back home this weekend.  I think she thinks of this as a failure but its not.  I've had to move back home before too.  It is just the way things are.
  My husband told me tonight that he wants me to quit work.  He is trying to come up with a game plan to pay all the bills and be able to pay off our house in 3-6 yrs and have me be home.  If I'd quit spending money like it grows on trees he probably can have me quit my job.  But I do like having spending money and I like buying stamps and all my other craft stuff.
  Well, that is it for now.
Hugs,
Carolyn

Vintage / Shabby Chic Magnolia

Hello All,
  This is my latest card.  I started on her last night.  My oldest daughter came over and we were playing in the studio until my husband came home from work to take me out to dinner.  I finished her up this afternoon.

 
  I used my new papers that I got from Diana over at Magnolia-Licious.  I think they are so pretty.  I also used my Spellbinders Heart Squares die.
  Also, Suzanne Dean is coming to town the 17th of March to teach her Copic Coloring Classes.  She will be at Almost Heaven Scrapbook Store in Charleston.  I've signed up for the Advanced class again.  I took a class from her last year in North Carolina and wanted to take her class again....I am so excited!  She is such a fun and talented lady.  So please sign up if you want to learn how to color with Copics.  She will be having a beginner class starting at 9am.
  Well, I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges

• Just Magnolia
• Magnolia-Licious Highlights

  Hugs,
Carolyn