This is so me.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/28/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
OK, so I'm going to make a crafty request of you for my Swell inspiration of the day!! Please support me and the company I work for, iLoveToCreate! I've been on a hard-working team for the past few weeks that have put together a 2 hour LIVE webcast called Let's Create LIVE! It's today, Thursday, April 28th, from 9AM to 11AM (Pacific Standard Time).
Hop on over to the iLoveToCreate Ustream and sign up to participate in the chat. Did I mention prizes? Yes, we are giving away over $300 worth of fabulous stuff, but the thing is this...you must be in the chat room in order to win!
There's going to be crafty celebrities, inspiration, projects, demos and laughs! My good friend Mr. Tacky Glue is even going to be there!
So go sign up on Ustream! It's going to be a lot of fun!
And please do me one more favor. Go LIKE the iLoveToCreate Facebook fan page. If you like the content posted on my blog, I'm pretty sure you're going to like the links and inspiration posted on that page!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
Behind the Lens with Tar'Lese
Tonight was a photo shoot night! I went out with my friend (and co-worker) Tar'Lese in downtown Clovis. I shot over 500 photos and these are just a few samplings of the ones I've process thus far. I think they turned out nice. She's so pretty and photogenic!
Yes, she totally used to be a cheerleader! Haha. Actually, we photographed this right outside the middle school she went to!
Were going to do some more fun photo shoots, maybe next time with balloons. She's going to put them on her FB page, so I wanted to put my little Swell stamp on them in case anyone was actually interested in my services. We will see.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/27/11
I Love Fonts Canvas
I wanted to create a modern canvas using fonts. The cool thing is the letters I used probably would be overlooked for not being modern! They're refrigerator magnets that I got from the toy section at CVS. Here's how you make this super simple canvas!!
I Love Fonts Canvas
Materials
– 12x12 canvas (I got mine at Michaels)
– Alphabet magnets
– Shiny black and white spray paint
– Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue®
First I laid all the magnets out on the canvas to make sure they fit and scattered properly!
I next spray painted the canvas. It took a couple coats.
Then I gave the letters a few coats. Admittedly, I had to go back in with a brush cause the plastic letters didn't take to the shiny spray paint as well as I had hoped.
I then used the Tacky Glue to attach the magnets to the canvas. Isn't this photo cool? The TV was flashing on the canvas :)
And there you have it! A super modern canvas on the cheap!
Here's a fun detail! Now I have to find a place to hang it!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
P.S. I linked this up at TaterTots and Jello's Weekly Wrapup Party!
4/25/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
Simple Things
I don't know about you, but I've been starting to think about my quest for simplicity. Now I don't think I'll ever be a poster child for Real Simple or Martha Stewart, but I do want to get back to basics. The clutter, stuff, clothes, plastic products, all of it is just getting on my nerves. I've noticed over the past several years that I've acquired more and more things and they don't necessarily make me happier, it's actually quite the opposite.
So I'm trying to clean and get rid of things I've been holding onto. For example, I put in the goodwill pile some speakers I'm never going to use. I think I'm also going to really pair down my craft supplies and give a lot of stuff away. I rarely craft these days and a lot of the reason why is cause I'm overwhelmed when I walk into my office filled of craft supplies. I have a hard time finding things and most of it I rarely use.
So, the simple things I would like to focus on? Things that make me feel good. A cup of tea, soap and candles that smell good, decor that makes me feel good (not plastic stuff).
I recently watched the documentary "Bag It" and the message really stuck with me. I recommend if you have the chance to watch it, you do. It focuses on how much plastic affects our lives. It really makes you stop and think.
Bag It Intro from Suzan Beraza on Vimeo.
I don't know...we'll see what happens. I hope I'm able to keep focused. I don't like feeling overwhelmed by stuff.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/24/11
4/22/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
Love this photo and processing! Can you imagine if flowers were really this color?
via SallyMatthewsArt's shop
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
My Dirty Little Laundry Secret
Oh, the difference 2 hours can make!
I was overwhelmed with clothing practically vomiting out of my dryer tonight (seriously, isn't this what it looks like?). Anyway, I decided enough is enough and I got on it. There really isn't much of an excuse for it...I just hate cleaning and folding clothes. And ironing, I don't even go there!
The sad thing is that this is just my stuff! I don't have kids to account for or a husband. I gotta get on top of this. It's bad!
I actually went through these clothes and some other clothes in my closet and got 2 full garbage bagfuls to give away to Salvation Army. I feel like I'm literally drowning in clothes, most I don't even wear or have outgrown. I have a lot of attachments to clothes for sentimental reasons too, and I decided that I needed to let go of those pieces. It's not worth the anxiety of having so much laundry to do!
I need to really key in on pieces that I can mix and match so I don't have to have so many clothes. I saw an article in this months Real Simple that hones in on just that. I'm going to really delve into it.
So are you horrified or do you have this same problem? I promise I won't be upset if you scold me for being so messy and lazy. I deserve it. My mom seriously didn't raise me this way!
And if you wonder why I find it so hard to clean up this mess, it's because I would rather be blogging, crafting, and taking photographs. LOL.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/21/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
Dude, you better believe I read all my books so I could get all the stars! If you got all the stars, you got a free personal pan. That was like gold as a kid! (Via I'm Remembering)
And I totally still have my button!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/20/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
4/19/11
My Photo Lightbox
I can't believe I never shared with you my new photography toy! My boyfriend William bought me a mini photo lightbox for Christmas and I've been using it for a lot of the recent photos I've taken! It makes it super easy to light things, something I've always had a problem with being consistent at!
Here I set the white balance to match the white background and this is the result. I had it manually set to 1/50 shutter speed at F/7.1.1 Looks great, huh? And pretty effortless. I love these magnet letters! A craft project is in the works!
I highly recommend a lightbox to anyone who is doing product photography! It can even be great for step by steps! You can use fabric and scrapbook papers in the background for interesting textures. You can find them all over the internet for anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
Swell Inspiration of the Day
How cute is this poster from ManMade DIY? Download this free printable on Chris's Site.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/18/11
Notebook Love
I'm not really a collector, but there are a few things that I would say I have an overabundance of. One of those things would be sketchbooks and notebooks.
I'm guilty, I always buy those cute $1 notebooks at Michaels and if I see a notebook on sale somewhere else I struggle so badly not to buy it! A cool notebook with a unique graphic (esp. vintage) gets me every time.
Notebooks, sketch, and drawing books are also one of those things I just can't get ri of. I have some from high school and college that have some pretty crappy drawings and notes from a random class inside, that I can't bear to part with.
So while some women collect nailpolish bottles, jewelry, or shoes, I collect notebooks. Go figure :)
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
Swell Inspiration of the Day
I have a thing for paper flowers and I love them mixed with this graphic ornate box. (via Scrapbooks Etc.)
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/17/11
A fun weekend purchase - Sierra Tumbled Glass!
This weekend I briefly went to an Earth Day Festival in Modesto. While I was there, I picked up these 2 cool Coca Cola drinking glasses made from a Coca-Cola bottle by Sierra Tumbled Glass. I always dig stuff like this (I have some plastic "paper plates"). I think it's really novel to play off something's shape or intended use.
Here's another cool Corona glass set they had (photo from their site), but I'm not a drinker so I wouldn't get as big of a kick out of these as others. They can cut off any bottle and turn it into a drinking glass! They sell their products online so if you are interested in any of these, you can buy and pay via Paypal.
They also had some really cool broken mirror mulch that I thought would fun to do a mosaic with. All the glass has been tumbled so it isn't sharp at all! One of these days, I'm going to have to contact them again to get some of that!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
Swell inspiration of the Day
I love this idea printable by artist Jessica Swift! I wish my doodles looked this good! Check out her blog for more amazing artwork and inspiration!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/16/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
Is this not one of the prettiest details of a dress you've ever laid eyes on? (via Flickr user Cinco_Mom)
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/15/11
4/14/11
I've been featured in the book Focus:Letters!
Woot! Woot! Today I got my advanced copy of Focus: Letters in the mail!! I'm so excited cause 7 of my photos have been featured in this amazing book by Lark Books. I was featured before in Focus: Love and was contacted again to participate in this book.
My pink SSSSSSSSSSSS photo was featured on the cover in the book.
A fun behind the scenes story...do you know how sometimes you see project samples in craft stores already painted? Well, usually craft companies make these projects and sends them to the stores. This is an example of one of those projects in the works (taken at my last job). They basecoated all these pink S's and then painted flowers on them. I happened to have my camera with me and immediately thought that it would make a great photo! So glad I did.
Here's a sneak peek of another photo in the book. It's so cool to see my name in print!
The Focus: Letters book is available on Amazon and can be pre-ordered for 9 bucks! What a great deal. It makes a great and thought-provoking coffee table book and also a great gift for yourself or a photography-loving friend!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/13/11
News from my world
Tonight I helped my friend with some graphics for her blog. Here is the results. It's not often that I pull up Illustrator to use at home (I use it all the time during the day), but these were fun little graphics to make and it felt good to help her out. In the near future, I'll send you a link to her blog, but it's not quite ready to go live just yet.
And in other random photo news, yesterday before I went to get my taxes done (this is the most last-minute I've been to do my taxes ever), I totally plopped down in the grass to take this picture. I know I look like a freak to my fellow apartment dwellers, but oh well! I am always a little bit afraid though when I do this kind of thing that I'm going to land in a big pile of dog crap!
And how cute is my Pixie cat? She is super skiddish and I find it incredibly funny when she gets inquisitive and out of the ordinary. Here she is trying to lift up the blinds to look out. She went at it quite a while. It was so adorable.
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
Swell inspiration of the Day
I <3 random circles! Wish I could more randomness like this in my art.
via Curioos-Arts Tumblr page
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/12/11
Swell inspiration of the Day
This wreath is so fun. Reminds me of the balloon hairbows I made as a kid! (Via HowDoesShe)
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/11/11
Gettin' my Cake Pops on
Yesterday, I made the popular cakey/candy treat popularized by Bakerella! Now I have made oreo balls/truffles in the past, but never cake pops on a stick. They are so yummy!
I plan to make more in the future and eventually I'll make them more fancy. Maybe I should ask my niece for help? She made these little owls to take to school a couple months ago. Adorable, huh?
Have you made cake pops or tried one yet? I guess you would consider them the "new" cupcake. Even Starbucks sells them now!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
4/10/11
Fun at the Fresno Digital Workshops Meetup
This weekend, I attended an event I had been looking forward to for a while! The local Fresno Digital Workshops Meetup Group had a photo shoot meetup with real live models! I have wanted to do more portraiture lately and this was a great opportunity for me. I also got meet some other local photographers and I plan on attending more meetups + workshops in the future (there's a great one on Creative Lighting I want to attend.)
Portraiture is my favorite type of photography! I don't get too much of a kick out of nature or action, but I love making a connection with my subject and capturing their essence.
I was bummed cause I left some weird lens on my telephoto lens and it made all my closeups. Boo! I was upset with myself, but I guess it's a lesson learned.
I am so inspired after my session that I bought a big reflector and stand. I can't wait to take more portraits. I have one with my friend Tar'lese coming up. If you are in Fresno and would like to work with me on a portraiture shoot, send me an e-mail!
I'm so excited. I'm inspired to take my photography to the next level!
Until next time Swellions!
Alexa
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