Photography Trials and Tribulations

I read a great blog post this morning from Debby on the Simon Says Stamp blog. She gave some excellent advice about photographing cards.  Since I have the space in the guest bedroom, I decided to take the plunge and set up in there; I won't have to knock down the setup until we have a guest and need the space.

Here are my first attempts.  I shot in RAW and then did some editing.  I can't figure out why the colors came out differently, especially since I didn't change anything except for changing out the different cards.  (That's why I added Tribulations to the title.)

You'll notice that the next two cards are the same layout.  I used a sketch that I found on Operation Write Home.  What a project that was ... trying to align everything perfectly!

This card is based on an old Mojo Monday sketch.  I've had it in my stash for a couple of months.

Finally, here's another simple card that is in my stash. My camera doesn't sit too straight on the tripod, which is another tribulation.  I think I might ask Santa for a new tripod.

The Runner and the Pumpkin

A few months ago, sister gifted me with one of her fantastic creations.  She made me a pumpkin!  (See the post here.)

Apparently, the Runner (sister's DH) liked it so much that he wanted to keep it. When I heard that I decided to make one for his birthday on November 21.  I wanted it to be the most fantasy-inspired pumpkin you've ever seen.  I think this fits the bill, don't you?

I started with a papier mache pumpkin from Michael's.  I gessoed and painted it and then did the whimsical checkerboard pattern.  Then I turned it upside down and sprayed it with a number of colors of Dyan Reavely's sprays, allowing the paint to drip down toward the top of the pumpkin. Then I added different glitters to add even more zing!

Don't you just love the top?

Hmmm ... now I know how the Runner felt ... I want to keep this!