Themed Thursday (Car)

Become a regular participant and get your link to your gallery or blog in the blogroll, just e-mail me! To put the blogroll in your sidebar, get the code here!

This week's theme is "car." The theme starts today and runs for one week, but you can add your link at any time.

Future themes are in my sidebar!
Upload your layout to any gallery or blog and add the link to where you post your layout in Mr. Linky (in the box below). It may be a layout you already have or a new layout.

Take time to visit and comment on others.

I asked Mr. Linky himself if this would work and he said it should, so let's try it! Here is the code for the Mr. Linky above. Add it to your post on your on blog. You should be able to add your link from your own blog and see when others add links from there too.
<script src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/autolink.php?owner=Hummie&postid=31Jul2007&meme=73" type="text/javascript"></script>

If you do not have the necessary code in your html template on your blog yet, you will need to add it also, but just once. Put it directly after the code on a new line.
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/header.js"></script>

photo removed

I know I know, it's not a car. I had several car layouts to share, but wanted to get a new layout done! I used Sarah's template #8 and Jessica Bolton's Homelife kit.

These photos are from 2001. He's so goofy, as always!

Simply Sarah Templates for Rectangle Scrappers

Hi all! Having a great week?

My digibuddy Sarah is offering some awesome templates! However, she is a SquareScrapper and I am a RectangleScrapper. So, we are teaming up to offer you these templates in both sizes! If you are a SquareScrapper, then head over to her blog to download these great templates. If you are a RectangleScrapper, stay here and download.

Plus, Lisa is also converting the same templates for DIP users. So if you use DIP, head over to her blog to download the same templates!

Sarah cracks me up as she says: So to steal a bit from Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham," You can get them here, or there. Say! You can get them anywhere!

I think our Template Trio needs a fun nickname, don't you? Please leave me a comment as to any name suggestions!

Downloads removed.

Rockin' Girl Blogger Award

I have been wondering how long it would take until this one hit me. I've seen this going around for quite a while now. Thank you Lillian for nominating me. Roberta Ferguson started this meme.

I guess I'm supposed to blurb about why I am tagging who I'm tagging, but I'm tired! Yep, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. These girls already know I think they rock! Here's who I tag:


Lori
Sarah
Lisa
Tina
Gini
Connie
Technorati Tags: Rockin’ Girl Blogger

God's Art Kit

DSS has a challenge with a color swatch and an outdoor theme for digital scrapbooking freebies. You can watch the DSS blog for more links from others to matching pieces.

This kit is entitled "God's Art" and is intended to be used with all those activities spent out in God's great big world! I love to be out of doors and viewing all the art that God has provided to me to enjoy. One of my favorite things to do is to spend time watching and wondering the art which God has created for me to enjoy.

I would like to give credit to Atomic Cupcake for those wonderful actions again! Drop shadows added to previews.

Download from Fotki (read instructions to get full files)

Hummie's God's Art Kit Part 1 (2 papers and 9 tags)

GOD'S ART PART 2 (2 papers, 1 border, 5 stickers)

GOD'S ART PART 3 (2 Papers, 1 Brad, 1 Frame, 2 Labels (credit AC label maker), 2 mats)

GOD'S ART PART 4 (2 Papers, 3 frames, 2 brads, 1 sticker, 2 borders)



GOD'S ART KIT PART 5 (2 Papers, 4 ropes, 3 journal mats, 1 eyelet, 1 brad)

The Garden of Life

Each of us is but one flower in a many-coloured garden
Though each flower may be like others of its kind
All are unique and beautiful
Some stand straight and tall, swaying in the breezes that test their strength
They reach for the sun, spreading their petals for all to see
They bend but seldom break when the winds blow against them
Some cluster close to the ground where they are sheltered and safe
They are often shadowed by others but still their perfume is sweet and their colours clear and true
They endure and grow strong in the background yet also shade the tender roots of their towering neighbours
Some are delicate and bloom with swift fleeting beauty for but a moment in time
Other blooms last the season and give of their beauty each day until their time is spent
All are breathtaking to behold
Some are planted in the season of harvest, slumbering in the earth
Then with the coming of the warm spring sun they appear
Awakening our senses with the promise of new life
Others are planted when the danger of frost is past
Joining their early blooming comrades in ensuring
The continuous beauty and colour of the garden
Many seeds are planted
Some fall by the wayside, others are crowded out
But the strong survive to flourish and grow
Some need careful tending and care to prosper
Others seem to thrive on neglect and make the best of what they have
Still others endure seemingly endless obstacles in their stubborn will to live
Some open their petals in the early morning light then close as the day fades
Others wait until the end of day to come out, perfuming the night air
And then there are the blooms which once open continue to bare themselves to the world for as long as they are able to live
No bloom lasts forever
All living things are created with the absolute certainty that they will die
What matters is what each one makes of the life they have and how their presence on earth has affected those that are around them
The garden will eventually fade and die and perhaps be covered with a blanket of fresh snow
It will come again another season if the Universe is willing
But isn't a perfect blossom remembered with affection and sorely missed when gone
Cherish the blooms while they are ours to enjoy
Celebrate and nurture them for their time may be short
Understand that it takes many to make the beautiful garden of life
Separate, Unique, Unforgettable
Yet each is part of a glorious tapestry
Which bloom are you?

© Jan Boux (CELT) August 4, 1999

Jesus Loves Me-For Those Over 40

For those of us over 40 and you others, check out this version of "Jesus Loves Me":

JESUS LOVES ME!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in his I'll go.
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He's begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand his love

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does he know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love him every day.

(CHORUS)

100 Points to Get to Heaven

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works.

You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." "That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"

"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."

"Terrific!" says St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."

"One point!?!!"

"I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says. "Two points!?!!"

Exasperated, the man cries. "At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God."

"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"

Native American Prayer

Oh Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the wind,
Whose breath gives life to the world,
Hear me!
I come to you as one of your many children,
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom,
May I walk in beauty.
Make my eyes behold the red and purple sunset,
Make my hands respect the things that you have made,
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know the things
That you have taught your children--
The lessons that you have hidden in every leaf and rock,
Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers,
But to be able to fight my greatest enemy: myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes.
So that when life fades as the faded sunset,
My spirit will come to you without shame.

Something we could all learn a lesson from.

Bless my Friends

Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.
I know that everyone of us stand in the need of a blessing from the Lord right now, because it is not his desire that any man should perish but come unto repentance.
This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.

The prayer:
Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is a need, I ask you to fulfill their needs. Bless their homes, families,finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

The U in JesUs

Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God even stuck U in the name of His Son.

And each time U pray, you'll see it's true
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

"Go into the world and tell them it's true
That I love them all - Just like I love U."

So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do,
He'd like them to know,
But it all starts with U.

Always Look on the Inside

I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.

He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him.

He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousands, but he just threw it all away.

You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone,maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling,so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.

But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure hidden in every one of us. We are wonderfully made. Not just our physical bodies, our spiritual selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the *earthen vessel*

But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Spirit to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.

The Master's Card

By now you have probably seen the catchy television commercials for MasterCard. They start by identifying some things that people can buy with their MasterCard, then show a moment that is priceless and end by saying, "There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's MasterCard."

For example, in one such commercial there is a man and his young son headed to the baseball park. The commercial shows the dad buying his son a hot dog and you hear the words, "Hot dog at the big league game...$3.00."

The next scene shows the dad buying a game program and the words, "Program...$6.00." Then, one of those large, orange hands with the fingers forming a #1 is shown and you hear something like, "Large, orange hand...$15.00." The commercial finishes by showing the father explaining some important aspect of the game to his son, who is listening intently as he looks up at his father with excitement in his yes, "Meaningful conversation between a father and a son... priceless."

"There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's MasterCard."

Friends, I'm not unlike those agencies promoting their favorite credit card. I'm here to advertise. You see, my life is a commercial for others to see. I'm a card carrying representative for the Master's Card. That's right, the MASTER'S CARD. Let me tell you about it. There are no finance charges, no payments due. My bill has already been covered...it's a prepaid deal. I couldn't afford the price, so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me. My Name is written on the card for all to see. It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world. The MASTER'S CARD has so many benefits it's hard to list them all. Let me share some of them with you...you might want to apply for a personal card yourself. Just for starters there is UNLIMITED GRACE.

That's right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from the MASTER'S CARD. Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Then, look no farther than the MASTER'S CARD. It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered.

The MASTER'S CARD gives you access to many "members only" benefits. Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD.

Want real joy despite the difficulties of life? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Want a lasting peace? Apply for the MASTER'S CARD. Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam? The MASTER'S CARD is perfect for you.

Another great thing about the MASTER'S CARD is that it never expires. Once you're a member, you're a member for life...eternal life, that is. Membership has its privileges, you know.

How do you receive the MASTER'S CARD. Dial 1-800-ROMANS10:9 "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Jesus is standing by right now to take your call. Don't delay. This great offer won't last forever. Peace, joy and hope: Invaluable. Faith, contentment and assurance: Inestimable. Salvation: Priceless. There are some things money can't buy. For those, there's the Master's Card. Christian, why not be an advertisement for the MASTER'S CARD. Let your life be a commercial today for Jesus Christ.

Holiday-gate

Dear child,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of you're predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just,GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!! Now, having said that, let Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a "holiday tree" instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of
our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list.
Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know. They tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year- why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up - It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that's hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile It could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line. They talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary,especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which
believes in Me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian - Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let. people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do - I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and . get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love. And remember,
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Always There

Hello God, I called tonight
To talk a little while..
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial...

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.

So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!

Camera Filters Challenge

Does your camera have any filters? I understand that SLR cameras have some really cool filters as add-ons.

There are Polarizing Filters which works to reduce reflections on glossy surfaces.

There are UV or Skylight Filters, removing blue tints caused by UV rays. It can be left on all the time to protect the camera lens

There are Soft-focus Filters to provide a more flattering effect for portraits and even reminds me of the water photos at a slower shutter speed which looked softer.

We can also attain this same effect using filters in Photoshop….like Virtual Photographer. I have some other Photoshop Elements add ons that I downloaded a long time ago which I re-installed because of this challenge to see once again what they do. Should I share what they are and samples?

In addition, there are layer styles for sepia tone and such in my PSE.

What other filters in our software are available. Share links! Leave me a comment. I love comments!

The soft look can also be achieved by putting material over our lens, such as a fine mesh or scrunched up cellophane.

Do you have any built in Filters on your camera?

I have filters in my camera for black & white, sepia, red, pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow. I normally do not use them because I can get the same effect in PSE and would rather have an original in color, but I would like to see how these look in comparison.

Also, in my presets I have a “soft” mode and an Illustration preset which is kind of funny and I think would qualify for this.

Please play and then share with us in Mr. Linky below.






I took a few photos with my camera and I am anxious to see what yours does! Having done this, I think I'll stick with digitally editing my photos! I also think it would have been better for me to compare something with white in the photos. You have to do Art101 to calculate how the green leaves mix with the filters.


This is a photo of my subject without any special settings, not even macro, as a base for comparison









This was taken using the soft preset on my camera.











This is the same photo with the Illustration settings on my camera.














Here is another photo of my bedroom tv that I took a few weeks back with the Illustration preset on my camera. Isn't it goofy?











I did not have any cellophane, so I got creative and tested a plastic sandwich bag over my lens. I think it made for an interesting photo, don't you?











Black and White















Sepia













Red














Pink














Purple














Blue













Green














Yellow

Trackbacks

How funny that I just post about following my trackbacks directly before reading Connie's post about trackbacks. She's such a hoot and we have a lot in common cause we like studying all this techy stuff.

To answer your question, Connie, as to whether or not Blogger has trackbacks, see the image to the left.

You will note that your post about trackbacks has been tracked on Blogger. It is always at the end of the comments. Click on the title of any post to go to a single post page. At the bottom of that page are the comments, followed by the trackbacks.

I'm not sure what all that techy stuff by GreaseMonkey is about or why there is a need for what he shares, but isn't it fun that you and I have now both given him a trackback to follow? Giggle. Warm fuzzies abound!

By the way, the trackbacks I like to follow the most are in Sitemeter, under the "Referrals" link. Every time someone clicks on something to come to my blog, it shows me the link. This is how I followed the trackback in my previous post to see exactly what the person searched for.

Right now, the biggest search result that is hitting my blog is the post about Outlook Holiday Calendar dates.

These Sitemeter stats are how I know a Freebie Hunter has picked me up. It is how I can keep the list in my sidebar of Freebie Hunters current as the list seems to constantly change. As soon as there is a new one out there picking me up, I know about it and add it to the list. I am hoping that my readers are utilizing that list.

I do not find a valuable list such as this at Feedburner. I really much prefer Sitemeter's stats. As I analyze them (you know me, the analyzer), I can come to some very interesting conclusions. Do you want me to blog about that too?

Connie, oh Connie, she's going to get me sharing all my secrets! Giggle.

EDIT:

Meeyauw, to answer your question, go to the Settings Tab, then the Comments sub tab.

Under "Backlinks," Click "show"

In the next setting, choose "new posts have backlinks."

I hope this helps you.

Google "Gets It"

I was following the trackbacks in my stats to see what people were searching for to get to my blog when I was warmly suprised by this one. When searching for me, Google has highlighted the theme of my blog which is buried in the sidebar as the top ranked search result. It is nice to know that at least Google "gets it" ...and me.

Flying Away

Yesterday I drove the boys and some other's from our church to the airport to fly to Florida for the National Lutheran Youth Gathering.

It is no fair that they now have flown before I have!

I know they are in safe hands and having a good time, but I miss them terribly so.

This layout was done with a template of Sarah's and with my grey paper from the God's Art kit. The wavy borders are the same paper, just changed it to make it darker with PSE's wonderful sliders. Warm fuzzies to Sarah! To convert it to a rectangle page, I added the background and then I added a custom drop shadow layer (using the smudge tool per my tutorial) behind the entire template. I made a selection with of the square area, filled it with grey, ran the Guassian Blur Filter, then smudged away.

Photo Removed

Calendar Tutorial & Freebie Calendar Stickers

do I am excited to share with you my first tutorial for crafts with digital scrapbooking.

Please share with me if this tutorial is helpful to you! Feel free to leave me comments of other ideas you may have and I will edit the tutorial for future readers.

I know we keep seeing Christmas in July themes, but I thought this one really should be out early enough so that everyone could have time to make gifts before the big rush.

The Calendar Tutorial is Course 4, Lesson 4 on my Tutorials Page.

I decided that I needed a little freebie to go with it! So, with the help of Atomic Cupcake's Cutout Action and PSE shapes, I made 20 stickers to utilize on your calendar pages.

Go here to download from Fotki (expecially if you have arrived here late and 4shared is no longer available). Be sure to read the instructions or you may download thumbnails instead of original files.

Redirect to Feedburner Results

Yesterday, I posted about using the new redirect in Blogger for RSS subscription to Feedburner. I had said I would await a day and check the results.

I am excited! Wow! Look at my results! I had no idea!

Have I told you how much I love my readers lately?

Designer Technique (Barb Speck) - Greeting Card Template

Please allow me to introduce Barb Speck to the Designer Technique this week. Barb is sharing with us how to make a Greeting Card with a free template to download.

Barb's name is very familiar to me as she has been in the digicommunity the entire time I have been in it. She is always busy contributing to the community in some way or another, coming up with creative products for our pages.

She was formerly at Scrap Outside the Box, but has moved. You can find her at her site and where she now sells at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking and Commercial Use.com and Purple Paper Flowers (which seems to be down right now).

Barb has provided a freebie for us --Stop and Smell the Roses Greeting Card Template


To download Barb's freebie, go to my 4shared!

*******************

I have been making cards in one way or another for almost 15 years. In a former life I was a rubber stamper/cardmaker. Now I make my cards digitally and print them on a linen cardstock, fold in half, and cut down to size. I like making card templates to encourage others to make their own cards from their many kits they have already purchased.

I use Photoshop CS3 to design my cards, templates and kits and the templates are saved as PSD format so that it should work in any Photoshop program.

This greeting card template starts with the background first. Each layer is marked as to what the layer is to make it easier for others to know which layer they have open at any given time.

I make my templates 7 x 5 or 5 x 7 so that they can also be used by rectangular scrappers. You can take any of the layers and if you chose not to use something, you just click on the little eye to turn that layer off. So with this Template if you don’t want to use the word art but want that space to put a picture, it is so easy to add and delete.

On my cards I use gradients a lot as I find that on templates they look especially good. On the roses I made just the outlines and used Atomic Cupcake’s glitter action. I found a pattern that sort of matched the glitter for the word art and stitches. On the stitches I just lessened the opacity to get the texture from the pattern more then the pattern itself. The items in the upper right hand corner could be made all in one as a cluster but I have just added one item to each layer for my cluster. I see that I left one of my gems in it’s natural state! The background of this card was a pattern I made with embroidered fabric from one of my clipart books. In making so many layers I give my customers the option to use just what they want and move the items around to suit.

You’ll find one set of my card templates at my store here and I’m slowly working on new ones all the time. I like using things out of my kits to make my cards.

I used to give card crops every month and I’m hoping to start again in one of my new stores.

Faithful Fridays (and warm fuzzies!)

I want to share a layout I did for Lori's new Faithful Friday's challenge, as well as to give warm fuzzies to some ladies! The Bible verse wordart is a freebie with her challenge.

The background paper is from Susan and the ribbon and brown paper are from Claudette. The template is a freebie from Andrea Gold, whom I just learned shares rectangle template freebies! I did make the circles bigger as I like my photos to be what my printer ink cost goes towards. Giggle. I certainly enjoyed the text path in her freebie. I used blending modes and a low opacity on the flowers.

Okay, how did the camera get out of my hands and which son took that photo of me and hubby? What an interesting eye he has.

Deadline for Blog Carnival!

Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting articles for the next blog carnival!

You can find the link from the widget in my sidebar or read this post for more details.

Feel free to put the widget in your own sidebar so you do not need to come here to find the info!

Be on the look out for great posts and give others warm fuzzies by submitting theirs or write your own and submit it...that's okay!

Blogger in Draft

I recently discovered a cool tool in Blogger I must share! If you use Blogger to blog, you'll want to read this.

You can now test Blogger's upcoming features in your blog simply by signing into a different site. Of course, the features may not work properly and there is a risk, but it is a great way to stay ahead of the crowd!

For instance, you can see now in my sidebar a poll that I created, as well as a video upload feature in my previous post on shutter speed.

To sign into Draft Blogger, click here. To keep up with what is new and it's known issues, read the Draft Blogger Blog.

Making the Best of Feeds in Blogger

Having read about Feedburner previously, I was aware of their wonderful recommendation to have all feeds going through their services so as to know exactly how many subscribers are subscribed to your blog.

There were complicated instructions to follow. First, as I did long ago, I changed all my subscribe buttons in my sidebar to use Feedburner.

Second, as I attempted to do, it was necessary to remove the html code from my blog that allowed feed readers to automatically recognize the other feeds. Blogger offered two feeds automatically for everyone. When trying to remove these codes, it appeared to me that Blogger automatically reinserted them thereafter. I gave up.

Third, as was even too complicated for me, I was to redirect the two other feeds to Feedburner. I never even attempted that.

I am excited to learn that Blogger seems to really be trying to hard to "join the wave." Now, with a very uncomplicated feature, everyone can redirect their feeds quickly.

Under the Settings Tab, and then the Site Feed tab, just enter the url to your Feedburner feed! Click save and that's it!

You could also help me by unsubscribing to any old feeds of mine and re-subscribing to this feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/HummiesWorld

Within Feedburner, my stats for that feed currently show 35 subscribers of that particular feed.








I was aware that I had three feeds and subscribers in all of them. I am subscribed to my own feeds in Bloglines and it shares at the top of the reader how many are subscribed to that feed. There are 14 subscribed to one feed and 16 to the other.

Now, that I have changed my settings in Blogger, I am going to await a day to see if that number changes after the redirect so that I can have a complete picture of how many subscribers I actually have.

EDIT: To answer Lillian's question in the comments, Feedburner does recognize all the various readers available, including Internet Explorer 7 and Outlook 2007.

In the above stats from Bloglines, I am subscribed to a third feed also, which is the Feedburner feed. Only 2 people using Bloglines are subscribed to that feed (I did not show a screenshot of that). I am one of those 2 people. Therefore, of the 35 subscribes shown above, I know two of them are subscribed through Bloglines with the Feedburner feed.

The Bloglines stats are only those subscribers that are using Bloglines. There may be many more subscribed to those feeds using other readers and I have no idea how many that could be.

Also, I am aware I have yet another feed from the original blogspot ID of lifeanalyzed. So I often wonder how many subscribers I really have as they are all over the place! (and please, if you are still using that old link in your sidebar of www.lifeanalyzed.blogspot.com, please change it to this new one of http://blog.hummiesworld.com.)

I am excited about this new feature in Blogger and hopeful that I will soon know how many I really have, having them all redirected to the Feedburner feed. Thanks Blogger!

Using Shutter Speed Settings

My photography challenge for you is to share photos of moving things, whether it be water or a soccer ball!

In my point and shoot, this is the TV mode where I can choose the shutter speed and it automatically sets the aperture for me.

It was the shutter speed setting that we played with for the night settings. But this setting also is used for movement and action shots. There are some presets for these on most cameras too.

Enter a link in Mr. Linky below to your blog or other gallery sharing the results of your challenge



I headed out after work to play with my camera and found a beautiful fountain in a quiet area. I thought I would take some sort videos of it that I could play and relax to, similar to those fireplace videos for television that mimic the real thing, but my camera seems to pick up static noice.



I used my tripod and took a photo at each shutter speed setting to compare the results. The first setting with the longest shutter was completely white. As the settings progressed getting faster, the photos became darker. Rather than sharing them all with you, I have taken a screenshot of the thumbnails so that you can observe. I realized that it is not only important to consider the shutter speed, but also the available lighting as the longer the shutter is open, the more light it will let in.
This photo was taken at 1/9 sec. and has a soft look to the water.

This photo was taken at 1/150 sec. and has a defined look to the water.

Here are two examples of the soft and defined water with closer shots. This is a 1/7 sec. setting for a softer feel.
This is a 1/90 sec. setting for a more difined view. I have a lot more samples with different areas zoomed in I could share, but I do not want this post too long. I learned, however, that as the sun was going down, it seemed to change what was necessary on my settings to get enough light into the camera. I played with some other settings at this point to no avail.


I decided I needed a new subject, such as someone running, so I drove to a new location. However, I found it hard to be inconspicuous while taking photos of people, so I decided I needed to try to get some cars. I found an empty lot near a busy road and hid behind my van so those driving by might not notice me.

At first I had trouble timing the shots as I took many shots of an empty road!

This shot was taken at a speed of 1/7 sec, similar to the soft water photo settings. The car is barely visible and a streak of movement can be seen.


This shot taken at 1/850 is clear, but since I was fighting the sunset, and probably would even have happened during the daylight since such a fast shutter speed lets in so little light, the photo was very dark. I wondered if I could fix it in Photoshop Elements.



I decided to play with the other settings once again and discovered that when I changed the ISO in my camera to 400, with the same 1/850 sec., the photo was much better!
In my camera, the ISO settings are called "sensitivity" and I thought that weird.