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Dec 17 2010

Fix-It-Friday | I Heart Faces

Love this gorgeous photo by Michelle Johnson. Could this couple be any cuter?! They could easily be in a magazine doing a gorgeous ad.

Are you all surviving the Craziness that December often brings?:)I hope so!

Don’t forget to check out other edits at I Heart Faces

Hugs~Y

The 1st Edit I did…
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What I did…

  • Played with the Color Balance until I liked:)
  • Ran a Boost.
  • Ran Florabella’s Sweet Sunshine at 26%
  • Florabella’s Center Fill at 23%
  • Played with the Color Balance again
  • Ran TRA’s Boutwell Magic Glasses at 80% – This is one of the free demos.

The 2nd Edit
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What I did…

  • Using the first edit-
  • I played with the Color again
  • Then I added a texture from Florabella – Mimosa I think. I wanted to give it that really warm tone…because I’m dreaming of warm sunny days now that its so white and snowy and COLD here!

And the original version…
I did do a black and white cropped version but…truth be told…I’m just to darn tired to post it! Something about waking up at 4:30 a.m. that does that to you!:)
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9 comments

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Catherine

Great job with the edits! I did a warmer version, too, for the same reason that you did — dreaming of warm weather! :)

Alicia Jones

Love all the colors! Aren't these things just irresistable sometimes?

citygirl - Stacey

I really love the warmth of your second edit!!

photobyholly

I like them both, but I think I like the first edit the best – the colors and tones are so bold and sharp. Good job!!

Ritsumei

I really like that 2nd edit. And I totally understand about being tired!

Amy Henderson

Gorgeous edits! Dreaming of warmer weather to. Hope you get some sleep ;)

Elizabeth

Love both you edits Catherine, great job!
I am having to take a break for a couple of days, my computer is failing me. I can only hope I get all my files off, what a nightmare:(

Tiffany

Beautifull edits!!

Catherine Grace Life Photography

Thank you so much everyone!

Dec 12 2010

Project 365|Tradition..A simple act of Kindness

Meet Merry Berry Christmas Bear. He’s our Do Good Bear. My neighbor Patty shared this tradition with us a few years ago. I loved it so much that I had to incorporate it into our Christmas. I had the perfect bear to use…one that I had given to my grandma and then taken back when she was gone. You can use any stuffed animal and make up a Christmas name for it. Patty uses a Merry Moose.

The tradition goes like this:

  • I start off by doing something nice for the whole family (make/buy cookies, etc)
  • Then I pick someone in our family to go next by placing the Christmas Bear on the selected person’s bed.
  • That person than has one day to do something nice for anyone in the house.
  • After the “act of kindness” is done, they get to choose a new person and place the bear on that persons bed. We continue this each day until Christmas is over.
I love that its a little extra nudge to remind everyone in our family that its important to think about what we can do for others.
The kindness can be as simple as making someones bed, sharing a treat you got or giving a short back rub. Anything that makes someone else smile.

What are your favorite Christmas Traditions? I’d love to hear. I’m always on the lookout for something new to add:)Photobucket
Don’t forget to document your traditions! I would love to have known what my grandmothers traditions were.:)

1 comment

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Elizabeth

That is great idea. We may have to try Do Good Bear after Isabelle has outgrown the Elf. We are still doing Elf on the Shelf and she loves searching for him each morning! Thanks for sharing.

Dec 10 2010

fix-it-friday | i heart faces

I woke up way to early this morning so I decided to play with this awesome photo by Jessica Paige before heading out to Christmas shop. I should be done shopping but I’ve decided its way to hard to buy for older kids! I did get laundry started, breakfast made and the dishes washing this morning. Guess that’s a plus for being up at the crack of dawn.:)

Love this photo and frame idea. Aren’t these girls adorable!

I’ve decided that my computer hates me this morning! Right about the time that I was 75 percent done with the first edit it decided to freeze…completely…and make me start over from square one again! Just rude I tell you…rude!:)

Okay, enough whining from me!:)Here’s the awesome original Photo!

Check out other edits at I Heart Faces

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My First edit
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K…lets see if I can remember what I did on the first edit…since its so early and all.:)

  • Sharpened the eyes
  • Brightened the whole photo
  • Used the clone and healing tool to smooth out the hot spot on her cute face…I know there’s better ways, just not sure how to do them.:)
  • Then I used Lolly’s Skin so soft to try and make it look nicer and a little smoother.
  • Ran Pioneer Woman’s Boost at 50ish percent
  • Warmed up the photo
  • Used the Dodge and Burn
  • Played with the color balance
  • Then added a few clouds

My Second Edit

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What I did…

  • Using my first edit I then ran Florabella’s Vintage Wine at 40 percent.

And the last Edit
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Happy Friday! Don’t forget to take lots of Holiday photos!:)

14 comments

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Sarah

I really like the added cloud effects. Nice touch!

Alicia Jones

love them!

Sylvia Cook Photography

like that 2nd edit, I recognized the hint of Florabella:)

Kristin

Best edits ive seen, hands down!!

ArtsyCanvasGirl

They're all so wonderful! Absolutely beautiful!

Eileen

Love them all, but I think my fav is the B&W;.

Jessica

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your edits!

Sereina

I love the warm colors you brought out on your edits! I love the black and white as well.

Jeni

Great edits. The cloning on the face is perfect.

Catherine Grace Life Photography

You guys are so awesome! Thank you so much for your kind words and making my day even better! Thank you, Thank you!!

borne . image . photography

Can I add mine?! Lol! You did such an amazing job on this image, Catherine! I've had the same problem before with the 'freeze' and you lose your work … totally rude, I agree!! Lol! But all these turned out great! I love the tones, and the softness you've achieved here! We had the same idea with the clouds, only I like the way yours turned out better! The b/w is amazing, too … I'm partial to b/w, totally, and yours is so creamy soft! Absolutely love it! You have a wonderful weekend!

Vicki

I love the sky in your first one – totally makes the photo!!! and I also love the sepia one!!! Great photos – just added you to my never ending list of photographers blogs to stop by!!!! :)

Elizabeth

These are all great Catherine. I especially love the first with the clouds in the sky.

Catherine Grace Life Photography

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and for making me smile!! :)

Dec 07 2010

Project 365 and a few things I think pretty much Rock

  1. Let’s Dish…I recently found this site and might I say that I will be visiting it often! Pretty pictures, great recipes…just plain good stuff in my book. It rocks! Definitely worth checking out!
  2. I love this place! It makes my life so.much.easier. I hate matching socks and searching for socks in the morning…nevermind the fact that the washer eats them! At LittleMissMatched my socks don’t have to match, they are completely fun and adorable and I get three to a pair! Awesome…LittleMissMatched…I love you!
  3. I’ve been scoping out those adorable headbands with the rolled flowers for awhile. And then it dawned on me…Hey, you’re crafty sometimes, why don’t you do a search and see if you can find a pattern to make them! Wah La! I found this awesome site with instructions and pictures to make the flowers…Hello! So Cool. Go see for yourself…Check out Brown Paper Packages.
  4. Check out this rockin list of books that the great Brooke Snow posted yesterday. If you’re looking for books for your photography wish-list, her list is definitely worth checking out at Brooke Snow Photography. And if books aren’t your thing her site is just plain awesome to check out! Just Do It!:)Really. Thanks for sharing Brooke!
  5. And last but not least, check out the photography wish-list at Alicia Jones Photography. That Crab Lens Pet is seriously awesome (I need it) Such fun stuff! Great list! Thanks for sharing the list Alicia!

And now I’ll leave you with this silly picture from my boys bathroom. Totally cracked me up when I walked past!

Happy Day! The sun is shining! Make it a great one!
PhotobucketDon’t forget to notice the silly stuff…or even better don’t forget to add a little silly to your day!

2 comments

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Alicia Jones

Thanks for linking to me and for sharing all these! Fun stuff!

Catherine Grace Life Photography

You are so welcome!! Thank you for sharing your fun list!!

Dec 06 2010

Project 365 | Gratitude

I’ll be honest…Life has been challenging lately. In sorting things out and listening for answers I am reminded that my focus needs to change.:)Hence gratitude.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melodie Beattie – motivational author

Such a good reminder for me. I typically consider myself upbeat and positive but its so easy to get wrapped up in the hard stuff and forgot for a minute or two or three…to get it in gear and remember to look for the good and be grateful!

Photo from the first snow fall of the season. November 20th, 2010.
Every time I look out my kitchen window and see these mountains I feel blessed. I am beyond amazed at the miracles that surround me.

What are you grateful for today?


4 comments

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Chelsea Lewis

Beautiful!

I'm grateful for the opportunity to take a step back and see things this way even if only from time to time! And grateful for the talent to be able to capture stuff like this similar to you!

=) It's a blessing!

Chelsea Lewis

PS. I am liking the frames =) I know they've been on a couple posts before this, but I thought I'd mention that!

Catherine Grace Life Photography

I know…I love that photography and scrapbooking help you see life in a whole new way.

Thanks! :)

Barbara Photography

wonderful!!!
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