THE SETUP
In my last post, I asked for help selecting a picture for some Heritage Makers jewelry I was making for Mother's Day gifts. I also spiked the punch a little bit with a contest. So...I'll show you the picture you chose for me to use in my necklaces, and I'll reveal the lucky voter who gets to create and publish a 12 x 12 HM scrapbook page FREE!
THE PICTURE
THE STORY
Thanks to all of you who voted, this was the clear-cut winner! Some of your reasons:
So I made the pendant, and was I ever surprised--each necklace pendant has space for TWO pictures--one for the front, and one for the back! What a bonus for me! So I had a lot of fun finding another picture that might be expressive--in this one she has a bit of bedhead and a petulant expression, but it's so Kalaiya! I decided to use the back to identify her, since everybody doesn't know this face. It would be sad for some descendant to acquire this heirloom and not know the ancestor who was pictured. This is what I came up with (no last name, to protect the innocent):
The resolution is poor because this is a blow-up of a very small image. I can show you a view of the finished charm, but remember, in these viewing windows the resolution is also grainy. Knowing that, would you like to see a facsimile of what it should look like?
THE CONTEST
Everyone who voted got to go into my hopper. That's not what I originally said I would do, but I asked for help, and you gave it, and since you answered my call, you all deserved a chance to win the scrapbook page.
DRUMROLL########AND THE WINNER IS########### fellow blogger,
Cool.
IN CASE YOU'RE CURIOUS
These are the two pictures I used for Keeleigh's pendant:
And this is how they should look in her charm, (but clearer), when the necklaces are delivered.
UNDER PRESSURE
Do you spring to action under a deadline? Well, I have one for you. April 22 is the deadline for Heritage Makers projects to be shipped at the best rate in time for Mother's Day. That's Thursday! So if I can help you finish or create a project for your mother/sister/daughter/grandmother/aunt/stepmother/other?/ just holler through my email, donna@sharefamilystories.com or open a free account at my website, www.sharefamilystories.com. I get really excited when pictures and stories converge in a project that's destined to last for generations!
P + S IS BEST! ~Donna
THE SETUP
I NEED YOUR HELP! I'm hoping you will help me choose the right picture for one of my Mother's Day gifts. Mother's Day is coming up May 9, and I'm making a necklace with pendants of my granddaughters for my daughter, my mother, and the other grandma. (I'm also treating myself to one!) It may seem early to be doing this, but it's not too soon to shop when you're making personalized gifts; my deadline is April 22.
The 21" necklace will look like this, except it will have two pendants instead of one.
THE PICTURES
THE STORY
I love both of these pictures of 7-month-old Kalaiya because
But now I can't decide which one I want to make into the necklace pendant. You see, I'm only using crops of her face. First, let me show you what Keeleigh's pendant looks like: you'll have to go to the link.
Now, here are the two pendants I've made of Kalaiya:
Which one do you think I should make? K1 or K2? It will hang next to Keeleigh's on the necklace.
You can let me know by going to the end of this post and clicking on COMMENT to comment on the blog. You can also email me at donna@sharefamilystories.com to vote.
BONUS #1
I know you didn't say, "What's in it for me?", but guess what? There's something in this for you!
My deadline to order these gifts in time for Mother's Day is April 22, but I can't wait that long. I'll choose the winning pendant by Friday, April 16 from all of your votes.
Then...I'll pool all of the contact addresses who voted for the winning image, and I'll pick one to receive a free 12x12 poster credit from Heritage Makers! There's so much you can do with a 12x12! That's a great size for a hanging OR standing 12x12 frame, or a decoupaged 12x12 or larger ceramic tile. Even simpler, it can go into a photo album sleeve.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MAKING HM JEWELRY FOR MOTHER'S DAY?
Here are 2 ways:
THANKS FOR VOTING! I appreciate it.
P + S IS BEST! for Mother's Day ~Donna
THE SETUP
I love Easter. It just blows my mind that God loves you and me SO MUCH that He sent His Son to Earth to be the sacrificial lamb that takes away the sins of the world and purifies us so we can be in a relationship with God, our Holy Father.
(I am eating Easter candy right now, but) I'm sending you an Easter card that eschews images of the Easter Bunny, candy baskets, Easter eggs and baby chicks because I'm celebrating Christ's resurrection today, and His triumph over death. Because Jesus overcame death, we can have eternal life with Him, if we believe in His power to save us, too. What an amazing and reassuring promise! Truly a reason to celebrate!
(Max Lucado has put out two fantastic and easy to follow books about God's gifts of grace and salvation. They're "In the Grip of Grace", and "3:16, the Numbers of Hope". He writes with a lot of entertaining metaphors and parables, and makes tough-to-understand topics clear.)
THE PICTURE
True Hope Christian Fellowship, Forest Grove, OR, awash in sunlight!
THE STORY
This photo was a total accident--or should I say surprise? I only saw the front of my church in my viewfinder; I didn't see all those rays shining down!
Whenever I see a painting or a landscape photo with the vibrant sun pouring out of the clouds, I'll call it a "God picture" because it reminds me of art I've seen of the Ascension or the Second Coming of Christ. I used this photo in my card because It looks like a WONDERFUL, bright, God picture, full of promise!
THE DETAILS
I whipped this card up in less than 30 minutes. This time I used my St. Patrick's Day card as a template, and I swapped out the paper, put braid in place of the lace, changed the angle of my drop shadow, and used a different font for the Bible verse. I used a picture frame this time to enclose the picture, too. I could print this out with my printer, but I only need an e-card again today. My Heritage Makers online Premier account has 45,000 pieces of digital art and amazing effects tools that helped me change my St. Patrick's Day card to an Easter card.
I'd be glad to send you a FREE video tutorial for this Easter postcard if you email me at donna@sharefamilystories.com. Just put EASTER CARD in the subject line, and I'll also give you my template, which is the completed St. Patrick's Day card. This tutorial is much shorter, because the design was already developed, so you're just swapping out elements. If you sign up for a free Heritage Makers account, I'll put an invitation (2-sided postcard) in your account! Invitations are better than postcards, because the company will address your envelopes and mail them out for you!
I hope your Easter was wonderful!!
P + S IS BEST! ~Donna
THE SETUP
Why do we say, "Happy St. Patrick's Day" on March 17? Please forgive me; I'm not Irish, and I think he chased the snakes from Ireland, or something, but what are we celebrating? Is the significance of this day (holiday?) in your family history? You could put your story in a book so your progeny can know and celebrate that history, but that's a blog for another day.
I decided to get into the spirit today and send out a card.
THE PICTURE
THE STORY
I chose this picture because today the weather is beautifully sunny, if windy, and a little chilly, but the people are having a good time. To MY knowledge, St. Patrick's Day is just an excuse to gather with friends and have a good time in the bleak, tail end of winter.
(The characters enjoying the day are my mom, my sister, and me, in 1959.)
By itself, the picture doesn't evoke a St. Patrick's Day celebration, but I've worked a little Heritage Makers magic with the picture to bring you my wishes for a fun day!
THE DETAILS
I whipped this card up in 30 minutes. It's a downloaded image of a card that I could publish, if I wanted to, but I didn't plan ahead. I could print this out with my printer, but I only need an e-card today. My Heritage Makers online Premier account has 45,000 pieces of digital art and amazing effects tools that enabled me to transform a blank "postcard" into this shamrock-happy, lace-trimmed and labeled card for YOU!
It's almost 5:00 p.m. in my neck of the woods, because I didn't even get this brainstorm until late this afternoon. Which just goes to show you, that you can wow your family and friends with a custom-made e-card or self-printed card late in the day, if you've forgotten to prepare for a special occasion!
I'd be glad to send you a FREE video tutorial for this postcard if you email me at donna@sharefamilystories.com. Just put SP CARD in the subject line. If you sign up for a free Heritage Makers account, I'll put an invitation (2-sided postcard) in your account! Invitations are better than postcards, because the company will address your envelopes and mail them out for you!
NOW, GO AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE DAY ya Laddies and Lassies!!
P + S IS BEST! ~Donna
Will you be unhappy? In this age of Facebook and cell phone cameras, it's likely that the photos you obtain from others will have poor resolution when you decide to use them in projects.
THE PICTALE
Illustration #2: I must sound like a broken record when I whine about being so far away from my granddaughters. Sorry! But until I can visit them in Las Vegas, I have to rely on my daughter to update me with pictures, which she usually does with her camera. A few of those pictures made their way into an 8x8 storybook I made about the two sisters, A Sister is a Forever Friend. I didn't have to use them, but they told a little story, and they were the best pictures I had (the only pictures) of their first Trick-or-Treat together.
This is one unhappy little bee! Her costume itched and she wanted OUT!
Mommy hugged her, Daddy made her smile, and she became a happy bee-girl!
I'm glad Allie shared the moment with me--she's actually better about sending these spontaneous moments to me than I was about mailing a second set of developed prints to MY parents, back in the day.
The convenience of phone cameras is a real boon, but I'm sure you can relate to my frustration at the lack of clarity in some multimedia messages.
Allie captured her 6-month old looking fantastical in her elephant costume, and I'm grateful she thought to send it, too. These memories mean the world to me! (For some reason, this phone-photo came out sharper--my guess is that everyone was sitting still for the shot, and the photographer had more time to utilize recommended distance and light.)
Facebook thumbnails pose the same kind of problem--When you download a thumbnail, it won't be at the same resolution your camera took the picture at. When you make a digital project using a thumbnail, the image will be blurry unless you can keep it small for your project. The "Sisters" book contains some shots lifted from Facebook, and you can see that they're grainy. Specifically, this family pose, when they were just three:
Kept tiny, it's clear, but I knew that my mom, if not others, would need to see a larger view in the book.
I'm pretty sure I made the wrong decision about using this picture. I probably could have been more diligent about obtaining good pictures from Allie. My excuse is that I was under an end-of-the-year deadline, but procrastination could be a whole other post!
LESSONS LEARNED
What's your experience with online photo storage and cell phone pictures? I'm not experienced with Blackberries or iPhones. Do they take/send better photos than what I'm used to? Are there other companies that offer high resolution photo storage?
What's your favorite cell-phone photo?
Do share! (Click on Comments at the end of this post to upgrade MY knowledge base, or share your own cell phone/Facebook-photo moments!)
P + S is best! ~Donna
THE SETUP
Sometimes a bad photo is the best photo for your purpose.
THE PICTALE
Illustration #1: My 100 year-old house is always ready for a new home-improvement project. I can't keep my hands off of it! So I take lots of pictures, and I'm making a storybook online to document the projects. I took a picture of my mom with my latest fix--a tile backsplash, because she IS the biggest fan* of my DIY artistry! She glowed in the picture, but there was a problem: I didn't use a flash, and it came out blurry.
A few days later, I asked her to pose with my backsplash again. She did it, even though it was a silly request. The resolution came out sharp, and I wish I could feature one, but they're not flattering and Mom would kill me!
I'm not going to ask her to stand with the tiles, yet again; that first picture was spontaneous; after that, the moment is contrived. I like this photo for my DIY storybook, even if it's fuzzy, because this shot reminds me that she's proud of me. XOXO, Mom.
(You can see a few storybook pages in progress, here.)
*I must give credit where credit is due. My husband is a big fan of my DIY handiwork, too.
LESSONS LEARNED
I'm not finished with this topic; my next post will defend another bad photo.
Can anyone else share an experience where a lousy picture was still the best choice to preserve a memory? Click on "Comments" below the post to add your recollection. I can't be the only one!
P + S is best! ~Donna
A few posts ago I introduced you to the lone crocus that had already emerged in my yard. It's not alone any more! When I went out to get a closer look at my early spring blooms, I couldn't help seeing them as people! Crocuses are just so perky, they looked active.
THE PICTURES
If you were just flipping through a stack of my photos and you came upon these, would they spark your imagination? Would you instinctively know how they sparked mine? I don't think you could read my mind.
You don't need my story, especially if these pictures are a visual metaphor for you. But if these are "just a pretty/dull sequence" of floral photos to you, maybe I can tweak the way you see them with a few lines of text. Ready to see if you see what I see?
THE STORIES
TOP: I see these as A trio of vocalists with their backup singers. The Supremes backed by a Gospel choir. The Andrews Sisters accompanied by USO singers. The "3 Tenors" with an operatic choir. Carol, Marsha, and Jan Brady entertaining the geriatric crowd, backed by Alice, Mike Brady, and the boys. Mama Mia's 3 aging divas performing while the village folk all chime in. Can you see it? They're swaying; harmonizing at a climactic part of the song...
RIGHT: The Featured Trio. Crooners. Soulfully singing their hearts out. Blending their voices. Howling at the moon.
BOTTOM: The chorus. Rock concert audience. Partiers: "Happy Birthday to You...". Revelers: "To auld acquaintance be forgot.." The Osmonds. Crowding around, up on tiptoe, trying to see, singing out to be heard, mouths wide open, uvulas quavering, holding that last note...
Isn't it fun personifying flowers? Here's one more:
BUDDING DAFFODILS ON PARADE
"They're on the way..."
"WHY WOULD I DO THIS?"
It's just another way to make your scrapbooks, digital storybooks, garden journals, vacation photojournals, greeting cards, calendars, coasters, etc. FUN. Gardeners take pride in their gardens; homeowners take pride in their property; nature photographers delight in the details of their subjects. Sometimes the photos evoke a reaction that has us personifying nature--for instance, describing plants like people. SO USE THAT!
Email me to get help making one of those projects. I will sign you up for a free Heritage Makers account if you email me.
When you document your life with P + S, there are no rules--IMAGINATION RULES!
P + S IS BEST! ~Donna
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you enjoy the cookies my mom and I made last night. We wanted to share some of them with you. I'm sorry we can only do that figuratively. (2:18 p.m. Surprise! You can get my Valentine's Day Sugar Cookie recipe here!) We had a goofy time decorating them with Cake Mate Writing Icing and Decorator Candies --Mom actually called one of her cookies a "loser"!
It's always special when my mom and I do something fun together. I hope your day is a fun one with your sweetheart or loved ones. Make it special, and share a picture + story of your Valentine's Day or weekend with Picturetelling! readers through my email, donna@sharefamilystories.com so I can post it here.
THE SETUP
My friend mentioned a storybook she wants to make about family members, but she expressed doubt about her writing style. If she's feeling that way, then she's not alone. I'm going to try to relieve your anxiety about picturetelling your own memory book.
THE PICTURE
How would you describe this picture if you were telling the story to someone?
THE STORY-- NATURALLY
1. In a family storybook, people will be comfortable with your conversational tone as the text. Imagine you are telling Aunt Gladys about this picture--help her experience the event:
"We had the most wonderful carrot cake for Ryan's first birthday, with loads of creamy frosting, but do you see any of it in his mouth? He just had a blast smooshing it between his fingers! He's about to cry because he's gonna lose his birthday hat--he's trying to keep it on his head." You might change "gonna" to "going to"...or you might not.
2. Are you a jokester? :
"COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP AND SURRENDER THE BIRTHDAY CAKE!"
3. It's OK if you take a less animated tone:
"June 8, 1985 was a miserably hot and humid day in Columbus, but I think Ryan was just glad we didn't make him wear his special birthday outfit. Grandma and Grandpa and his favorite uncle were here to celebrate his first birthday (and help him finish that cake)!
4. Sometimes a quote evokes the moment quite nicely:
"Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world." ~Unknown
5. You can use remarks by the subject instead of your own narration (which in this case would probably just be "Mommie?")
6. Emote:
"Honey, you were SOOO cute at your first birthday! Just as "SWEET" as ever!"
My point is, when you're preserving a special (or even an ordinary) event in a custom storybook that will be enjoyed by family and loved by the subject, the story needs to sound like you. Push all pretense out the door and don't stress! Just talk your text, tell your picture, write with YOUR voice.
WHY BOTHER TO WRITE THE STORY?
Well, when you take the picture, you must want to preserve the memory for someone--yourself, the subject, absent friends and family, to use in an embarrassing video montage someday.... Do you want your FB friends to supply their own details? Do you really trust yourself to remember the small stuff years from now?
Pictures alone invite speculation; imagine finding a box of your grandmother's pictures. Your heritage is a precious gift that you have the power to convey to your descendents. Maybe the rich details of your ancestors' pictures will remain mysteries, but you can make sure that your children and their children know all about their roots in YOU, and you can make their experiences more memorable by using pictures and stories. P and S.
YOUR TURN!
I'm offering up this picture to all of you to write your own pictale.
You weren't there, so of course, you'll have to make something up! No rules--except write with your own voice. I think the statute of limitations has run out on this picture--he's 25 now and shouldn't mind!
Write your pictale or caption as a comment and I'll give you a free Heritage Makers invitation(2-sided postcard) to create! Have fun! Tell your friends to contribute a tale!
P + S is best! ~Donna
THE SETUP
Here in the Portland area we're all craving signs of better weather, since this is the rainy season. I'm excited because I saw my preview of Spring yesterday morning!
THE PICTURES
Can you tell why I took this picture?
This one?
HERE'S THE PICTALE
I spotted a happy sight when I let the cat out and walked past the porch railing. Through the branches of a naked shrub, there it was--a single crocus sprouting out of the soil! It's the first flower I've seen in my yard, and at this time, it's the only one--I circled the house to check!
I had to see it up close. It wasn't in bloom yet, but would be soon! This was a flower after my own heart! An impatient, impulsive sort; a rebel with plans of its own! It wasn't going to be part of the crowd, but a groundbreaker! And to me, it was announcing the approach of Spring. For the past two days we've had some beautiful sunshine, so I'm encouraged!
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN PRESERVE A MOOD?
Since I was so excited that I noticed this flower, I chose to preserve the thrill in a Heritage Makers family fold. That's a multi-paneled card that can show several pictures, and stand on its own because it's folded accordion style. With pictures AND a little story, I'll have a permanent record of this moment that I can display for a daily reminder of the scents and lush landscapes, warmer temps and sunshine to come.
Although I have to wait to receive my family fold in the mail, I made a mock-up of one so you can see how it will look--I don't want to have to wait 10 days to show it to you! (Don't be distracted by the red fold lines--those don't appear on the actual printed card.)
The yellow text says, "The first crocus of 2010!" I decided I'd better highlight that with an outline before I published the actual card, because it doesn't show up well in the sample.
Isn't this a great quote by Audra Foveo? Sorry the artwork (it's a crocus!) is obscured by glare.
Do you know if other companies make multi-paneled cards? I'd love to know if any do. Please email me if you know of any, OK?
You can make 3-, 5-, or 7-paneled Family Folds at www.sharefamilystories.com. Set up your free account today, and I'll send you a free tutorial that shows you how to make a family fold from a template. I'll also give you this original template that you can make about any memorable event. There's so much artwork in your Heritage Makers account that you can change the digital paper, the text, the photo borders; there's even a quote library, so you can change the quote!
P + S is best for preserving a mood! ~Donna
Sure, a picture is worth a thousand words--but pictures alone are up for interpretation. Story is essential to understanding your pictures! I can show you how to tell your pictures with the stories that bring them to life!
THE SETUP
I miss my granddaughters something awful! We live 1100 miles apart, but we travel to see them about 4 times a year. I take LOTS of pictures of them when I'm there, and load them directly onto my computer where they stay until I decide which ones to print. My mom doesn't have a computer, so I take my computer to her home and show her slide shows every time we get back from a trip, but I have to orally explain what each picture is about. Even though my daughter has a computer, I know she doesn't order her own prints of my pictures to frame or scrapbook. I've had to use other creative ways to give the good pictures to them.
THE PICTURES
So, obviously, these are my granddaughters as infants, snapped being cute. I'm not sure why the resolution of the second picture is so bad, but I love it anyway. That happens, doesn't it? Sometimes our favorite pictures are not the most perfect compositions--Life's a lot like that!
What can I say about them? My firstborn granddaughter was blowing bubbles. (Any new grandparent can relate--we're easy to entertain!) Our younger granddaughter (they're 2 years apart) was only 4 weeks old and laughing. Gotta freeze that moment!
But there's more storytelling that can be done with pictures, and you don't have to keep explaining them to people...
THE PICTALES
I really love these pictures of the girls, and I wanted to showcase each of them as part of a whimsical landscape.
The idea started when I only had the one grandchild, and I had a blast creating a "lullabye landscape" to hang in her room. I love the song In My Arms by Plumb, because the lyrics convey a mother's promise of safety and unconditional love, so it was incorporated into her poster. The lyrics mention "your baby blues", and "curlycues", so I found those images to decorate the landscape. She sings about castles, so I added castle and fairytale images--lots of sparkle, silver, and gold. I added the protective images of angels, and moved everything around in my digital studio until the composition was balanced.
There's a lot going on in the poster, but as a child, I liked looking at busy pictures to see what I could pick out, and I hope my granddaughter will be entertained by the picture, too.
When my second granddaughter arrived, I made her a similar poster. For hers I chose the Beatles song Golden Slumbers, and embellished her poster with lots of gold. She also has some glitter and curlycues and angels and symbols of love, but her poster is unique, too.
Finishing touch: they were framed using (reusing?) frames and mats from Goodwill. It's just a thrill to stumble upon the perfect framing supplies at Goodwill and other resale shops! (A little shimmery ribbon will bridge the gap under a mat that's not quite the right size.)
You can make this sort of fantasy landscape with traditional scrapbooking embellishments--it's probably a great way to use up scrappy leftovers. You can also make this kind of poster or scrapbook page with Photoshop and Scrapgirls.com tools. I create in Heritage Makers online Studio because I have access to over 40,000 pieces of digital artwork and complete freedom to place my elements anywhere I want, and to position and resize them and give them special effects.
If you've done this through other digital services or websites, I'd love to hear about those companies. I'm sure my other readers would like to have some variety to choose from.
THE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE
It's not obvious, but I used the first poster as a template for the second poster. In my Heritage Makers Studio, every project I've ever finished, and every project I've ever started are saved until I delete them. I can go back and recreate or tweak old projects and update them into something fresh. I can use elements from other projects and put them in the creation I'm working on. You've really gotta try it! If you're game,
If you want a little more one-to-one instruction, email me at donna@sharefamilystories.com.
In a visual lullaby, P+S is best! ~Donna
Sure, a picture is worth a thousand words--but pictures alone are up for interpretation. Story is essential to understanding your pictures! I can show you how to tell your pictures with the stories that bring them to life!
THE SETUP
Since my husband and I retired, we've been able to schedule visits to our kids and grandkids about every three months. We make almost every trip by rail now; we don't fly anymore. The Coast Starlight is our usual route from Portland into California.
THE STORY
This is why we love Amtrak:
1. You don't have to take off your shoes to get on the train.
2. You don't have to be at the station 2 hours before departure.
3. Your luggage gets sent through AT NO CHARGE--even when it's marked HEAVY.
4. Your seats are like chaise lounges with lots of leg room and elevated footrests.
5. You don't need permission to get out of your seat.
6. The Observation Car is a social mixer with a view!
7. The Coast Starlight train offers wine and cheese tastings!
8. It's a leisurely trip, considerably longer than a plane trip, but an instant stress-reducer.
9. The restored dining car on the Coast Starlight makes us feel like Hollywood contract stars from the 50's!
10. The points from our Amtrak credit card have REALLY gotten us a free ticket every trip since our first.
THE PICTURES
< This dining car from the original El Capitan route was restored to its 1950's glory and relaunched in 2008. The elegance of this car sends you back in time.
Scenery can be photographed up close from the Observation Car. These dense evergreens were clothed in heavy snow. v
SHARE THE EXPERIENCE
This was my first time on the train and I was pretty entertained by the scenery and the various cars, so I featured it on my postcard sent at the start of our vacation. The other side shared the latest pics of a proud grandma! With Heritage Makers you can make a 2-sided postcard (called an invitation) and Heritage Makers will address your envelopes and ship them for $.60!
It's a great way to give your pictures some narration, and feature YOUR special moments instead of stock scenery. You can check out my postcard here.
You can make your own if you go to www.sharefamilystories.com and open up a free account. I will send you a tutorial if you email me, or if you open up a free account and identify my blog as your referral to the site.I'd love to see your travel postcard when you make one! Email it to me and I'll post it here.
P + S is best! ~Donna
Read more about the Coast Starlight at www.trainweb.com/coaststarlight/index.html Some of the articles are pretty old, and, honestly, we had access to this dining car even though we were traveling Coach, but this link has a lot of descriptive travelogs.
THE SETUP
Huge doves in the park, wings flapping! A beautiful, crisp day in Forest Grove, Oregon, and my husband and I returned home from our morning exercise to see these huge doves in the neighborhood park! We thought they probably had something to do with the MLK holiday.
THE PICTURES
There was a nice crowd in the park, made up of all ages. I actually took my pictures so that the people were featured,too, but I cropped this one so I could focus the eye on the doves. In a photo for the organization's newletter, or for parent pride, you would probably want the people involved to be more prominent, as in the photo below.
THE STORY
When I asked one of the adults about the assembly, I learned that they were participating in a Peace March that would end at Pacific University, where a program was being held in remembrance of Martin Luther King.
The crowd was enthusiastic, but small, so these adults and children need to be commended for taking a stand for peace, and making a visible presence in the heart of our little town. They easily could have taken their day off from work and school to play and relax, but they chose to take action to promote peace, on this holiday that's set to remind us of Dr. Martin Luther King's principles of peaceful activism and due respect and opportunity for all people.
I ran into a mom whose daughter was manipulating one of the poles, and when she asked me if I was marching, I declined. But when I got home, I realized, sadly, that I had been offered an opportunity to take some overt action for an important value, and I squandered it. Shame on me, for my apathy.
A NICE REMEMBRANCE/ REMINDER OF VALUES
Participation in this kind of event is something to be proud of. A poster is an inexpensive way to commemorate the moment, or a postcard mailed to the grandparents lets the grandkids boast about being social activists for a positive cause. Click here to look at a postcard of this event that even a child can make! They actually have fun rounding photo corners, adding colored borders, and finding embellishments. This project is a 2-sided postcard and the company will address the envelope and mail the postcard for you! You can e-mail me to learn how to make one yourself.
Were you part of a Peace March today, or ever? Click on the comment box, below, to share your experience! I'll give a 2-sided postcard to the first 5 commenters. That could be you!
P + S is best! ~Donna
THE SET UP
I asked my facebook friends if they made resolutions for this year and got 2 responses--"Absolutely NOT!" and "uh, no!" That surprised me, even though at my age, I was feeling the same way--my efforts at change rarely last more than a month. Unexpectedly and serendipitously, I decided to take a new approach to my goals for 2010, and this is what it looked like.
THE PICTURE
Not a flattering picture, and I would probably discard it, except what I'm doing turned out to be important. What's the pictale?
THE STORY
My Bible passage January 1st was Psalm 84, and it was very pointed in its implications for me. So loud and clear, in fact that I realized my goals for improvement in 2010 were laid out right there:
1. Obey God more. vs 1-2: "...my heart and my soul cry out for the living God." God lives in me and I need to be obedient.
2. Praise God more. v 4: "Blessed are those who dwell in your house, they are ever praising you."
3. Recognize that my strength is in God. v 5: "Blessed are those whose strength is in you..."
4. Pray more. v 8: "Hear my prayer, O Lord Almighty; listen to me O God of Jacob."
5. Trust God more. v 12: "O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."
Why are these MY goals? I'm God's child who he looks after, and He makes sure that all my needs are met. Where is my responsibility in these goals? Remembering to honor my Father by following them daily. What do I think will result from adopting these actions daily? I think my life will be focused on correct priorities.
REMEMBERING YOUR RESOLUTIONS.
I have 5 goals, which is probably too many for traditional resolutions. But since mine are all related to one another, my action on one actually can support them all. But just in case, because I 'm so easily distracted, I made a poster at www.sharefamilystories.com to remind me. You can look at the poster here. The project viewer is not HD; it looks best at the full size view. You can make one, too. email me to start your own.
SHARE! Whether you're a digital pictureteller, traditional scrapbooker, journaler, or you just listed your new goals for a better year in 2010 on a scrap of paper, I'll post them here, if you share. Here's a doodle from Ro at Scrapgirls.com--reminds me of my facebook friends!
THE PHOTOS
THE SET-UP
Oregon residents are ecstatic that the University of Oregon Ducks made it to the Rose Bowl this year! Everyone, where I live, is behind Oregon today! ...And I'm an Ohio State graduate, and fan.
THE STORY
It may look like I'm wussing-out by hanging my OSU sweatshirt and UO colors together--afraid that my house would be egged if show my allegiance to the Buckeyes--but the truth is, I'm interested in this game, and I'll be happy for the team that wins as long as it's a good game. I'm always excited by Ohio State football, and this year I'm also caught up in the local frenzy of Oregon pride. So, GO BUCKS! GO DUCKS! Play well and take it down to the wire--make it a good game!
Why tell the story? It's a snapshot of a special day in Oregon sports history, which could be misinterpreted by my friends and neighbors today, and mean nothing when my grandchildren find it. Is it important? Probably not to preserve; my grandchildren don't need to know that I didn't care who won the Rose Bowl in 2010. But I'm sharing it on my facebook page today so people understand that I'm rooting for a good game, and I'm excited for BOTH TEAMS!
Happy New Year! Be safe. And when you take your pictures today or you upload your pictures from last night's festivities, consider making a digital scrapbook storybook so you can give the pictures some personality with details about the people, places, and events you felt like capturing in photos. Heritage Makers has several ways you can document your New Years celebrations, as do Snapfish, Shutterfly, My Publisher, Walgreens.com, and other sites. I can help you decide how to showcase your pictales if you email me.
P + S is BEST!
~Donna
(Sorry, this is a belated post that I just couldn't get up when I started it. It's got no Christmas sentiment at all, but there is a contest at the end that only runs till Dec. 31. So I've put it up anyway...)
THE SETUP
Our vacation last week to visit our daughter, her boyfriend, and the granddaughters coincided with the Grand Opening of the Aria Resort at Las Vegas CityCenter. Although we couldn't make it to the fireworks on opening night, we went last Saturday to check out the designer shops and highly touted architecture and artwork. I was mostly impressed by the exterior!
THE PICTURE
Aria: The newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip is more than a casino, more than a hotel, it's literally a multi-faceted lifestyle hub, in the most vibrant part of the entertainment center of LV.
That's one description of Aria; it uses the picture to give the caption a memorable image. But what about the story behind THIS picture? When you use your camera, the image you take has personal meaning, and people care about your connection to a photo. I can link you to facts and articles about Aria, but how else will you get the story about THIS picture if I don't share it?
THE STORY (Let's call it a Pic-tale!)
My view of the skyscrapers was amazing, and I felt privileged to enjoy this exclusive treat! I had the best vantage point, after I sought parking simplicity.
Understand, it was an ordeal for the kids in their car, and me in mine, to find the right gateway into the City Center--we repeatedly lined up behind other drivers like lemmings, in the wrong turn lanes, on the wrong streets, and we followed taxis into closed-off areas. We kept in contact by cell phone so we could at least get lost together! Once we found self-parking, our phones went dead inside the garage, so we were on our own to park. I was SO READY to find a good parking spot, without having to search for IT, too, so I shot straight to the top--7th Floor. That's where I saw a mere handful of other smart visitors and just a few maintenance vehicles, so I lucked-out with my choice of parking spots right next to the elevators. And I discovered this fantastic photo op!! This structure sparkles! Can you imagine it on a bright summer day? It'll glisten like smooth-chested Edward Cullen on a rare day in Forks!
WHAT TO DO WITH ARCHITECTURAL P+S
It doesn't seem to make much sense to take these wonderful photos of the NEWEST part of Las Vegas if I don't share them. So let me share my postcard with you--made with Heritage Makers online digital tools. Custom-designed (by YOU), 2-sided postcards can be mailed directly from the company, or just e-mailed to save time and money! Ask me how to make your own before your next vacation! See my LV postcard here. (The pictures of Aria are on the back)
A really fascinating landscape or architectural shot might be just the right image to feature on a framed poster, perhaps with an inspiring or funny quote. I can help you do that, too. Here's one I made of a tree near my house that represents the rebel in me--it stands alone and proud, as tall as it will ever get, among a whole bunch of bigger trees that are established and the same. This landscape poster inspires me every time I look at it!
Any location that has special meaning for you could be an incredible focal point for your wall if it's broken up into 4-9 pieces and then reassembled on a wall. 8x8 or 12x12 scrapbook pages are an inexpensive way to get that effect; any of Heritage Makers' mounted canvas sizes would create an artistic and classy mosaic. Imagine this image of Aria as a 9-panel installation with the power to motivate! I can help you make this, too.
SHORT AND SWEET: WHY IS A PARTICULAR PLACE SPECIAL TO YOU?
Post a picture and share the place's significance to you in two paragraphs or less. I'll do a random drawing December 31, and one contributor will have the opportunity to make a free 12x12 poster with the location's P + S! Send your picture and story to donna@sharefamilystories.com and I'll enter you in the drawing. I'll post as many pic-tales as I can on the blog before December 31 comes to a close--I'd love to post yours!
P + S is best!
THE SET UP
This year was a milestone year for my mom. She turned 75! My sister was right on it. She sent Mom a gorgeous fashion scarf, which Mom wore out to dinner and a movie with my stepdad. On her birthday. In March.
I had my own good idea for a present. I make books in my home-based business, and I decided I would make a storybook with lots of p+s about my mom. I enlisted my sister for her input, and while she was caught off-guard by the little amount of time we had, she agreed to participate. You see, I made this decision two weeks before Mom's milestone birthday. In March.
THE STORY
It is actually possible to whip out a book in a day, or even faster, with the online program I use, but I didn't do that, and the book was not quite ready by Mom's birthday. My new plan was to hold her off for a week with a birthday card that promised something special through the mail, soon.
Well, a week became a few months, and then more, and my mom graciously ignored the fact that I had recognized her milestone birthday with a card that promised a surprise that hadn't materialized in her mailbox YET.
Finally, the storybook called OUR MOTHER was published. In October. I had it shipped to me, because by this time, Mom deserved another birthday party, not just a mail-order box!
We followed up dinner at Rose's in Beaverton (where the servers serenaded her) with a fire-hazard of a birthday cake back home.
The March calendar was prominently posted, with Mom's birthdate boldly circled in red. My sister called from California with birthday wishes, which my Mom thought was wacky, but wonderful. She opened her first gift--a monster bag of M&M's, her favorite, and then...the book.
THE PHOTO
Look at her face! She was astounded! She was enthralled. She saw pictures of herself as a young mother as she read about her influence on our mothering skills. She saw pictures of herself playing with the grandkids while she read about how much fun they had with her. She read about feelings that neither my sister nor I had ever expressed face-to-face, and her reactions were priceless. View my mom's book here.
DON'T WAIT
It's not too late to whip off a book or other kinds of p+s for holiday gifts that will be treasured and loved. When your parent, or spouse, or child receives a gift you've written about them, it's not going to be returned, ignored, or regifted. Instead it will be read and reread, held and shown to others. Here's a 5x5 book that's easy to carry around, and could be made for any family member with just a few changes. Here's a sweet book for a spouse. In fact, you can check out over 2,000 projects that can be duplicated and customized by just inserting your own pictures and words--make sure you search for the size or category you want!!
With the company I use, you have until Dec. 2 to publish books in time for Christmas. Posters, calendars, and cards can be published until December 11 for Christmas delivery. Contact me to get started, and to have access to endless help!
P + S is best!
SHARE YOUR PROJECT HERE
After the holidays, if it's not too personal, I'd love to post your holiday gift book so others can view it! Email a view to donna@sharefamilystories.com and I'll put it on this blog. Don't know how to send a view? Email me for help. Did you make a present through Snapfish, Shutterfly, Walgreens.com or some other company? Send the preview: as long as it has p + s I'd like to share it!
THE SET-UP
It's been a joy to play with my granddaughter on my vacation! I've only experienced this luxury a few times, since we live 1100 miles apart.
Saturday morning's temperature was hot--but not scorching--and a breeze made the summer weather comfortable. I thought a visit to a park would be fun and entertaining, so I took her to one that I remembered from my son's little league days.
This park is a very nice park in a residential neighborhood. The playground area is huge and can accommodate lots of kids. It's been upgraded since my kids were small: the ground's surface is a recycled rubber "sport floor" that really protects tender skin from boo-boos. The play equipment's bright enamel paint and plastic parts aren't supposed to burn the skin like metal swingsets of past eras. Next to the playground there's still a large covered picnic area that can seat several parties at once and there's a long green expanse of lush grass to run around on.
THE PICTURE
THE STORY
My granddaughter is still young enough that parallel play is her style, but she loves to watch other kids and she'll do the delightful dance of approach & retreat with a shreik and a giggle if she makes eye contact. I expected her to have fun watching and copying the neighborhood kids.
So how many kids do you see in this idyllic play area?
Pleasant weather? Check. Kid-friendly playground? Check. Family-oriented park? Check. Residential neighborhood? Check. Upkeep? Neat, litter-free, well-tended. Atmosphere? Right out of The Twilight Zone. Like a ghost town.
We still had fun, the two of us, my granddaughter and me, as she led me on a toddler's "underground" exploration of the maze below the structure's floor. I observed her with wonder and did the dance of approach & retreat with a shreik and a giggle when we made eye contact. I held her on my lap so she could try the little slides without fear, since she couldn't gain confidence by watching any other children.
PHOTO ALBUM vs STORYBOOK
In a photo album this picture has some geometric visual interest, and it's obviously a little girl in a playground. It's the frozen-frame of a captured moment that demands your interpretation.
But I'll be putting together an 8x8 storybook about this trip, and when I pair this photo with its story, the image acquires time, place, personality, and mood. The details of the event turn this picture into an action photo that pulls you, the reader, into the movement of the memory and beckons you to become a participant.
P + S is best!
GET CREDITED IN MY STORYBOOK
How would you caption this photo in only 3 to 5 sentences? If I like your caption better than the one I have planned, I'll use it in my storybook, with your permission (and credited to you). You may call my granddaughter 'K' if you want to use her name.
It's been a beautiful Memorial Day weekend so far, in Forest Grove, OR, and this seems like the right picture to feature as we honor all the servicemen and women who are no longer living. The picture seems obvious, but wouldn't it be nice to know the backstory?
I'd like to know the backstory, and guess what?
That's my firstborn!
He'll be 25 in a few weeks, and I just found this picture in a box of old miscellaneous photos.
I took the picture so long ago, that I can't remember what led to it.
Oh, there are clues to the backstory:
Does it matter? Maybe not, but it can be, at best, boring to keep making the same observation through a stack of pictures--"Awwwww, so cute...", and at worst, frustrating to be the mom, for heaven's sake, unable to recall a son's special action or the day that spawned such a touching picture.
"Pictures without stories are memories lost" ~ Sharon Murdoch, Heritage Makers founder
I'm living proof of that.
But I'm doing something about that in my household...and you can too.
Pictures are good. They capture a moment; freeze an image in time. But not only can the memory be lost, it can be reconstructed...inaccurately...to mythic proportions, (which I was tempted to do.)
Pictures + Story are better. Story doesn't just explain a long forgotten picture, but it can help us relive a whole event, day, even season.
P and S is best!
We can all avoid this kind of sad situation by jotting down the events that trigger our enthusiasm to preserve an image.
One idea is to get a notebook or a memo pad and literally jot down just a few details, names, and the date as you snap a set of pics. Then include your notes or an expanded write-up in your scrapbook, brag book, or label (on the computer). Here's one example of a journal created just for the purpose of remembering to tell family stories.
However you do it, don't get caught 24 years later with a great picture to show your child and no related story to share. P + S is best!
~Donna
Sure, a picture is worth a thousand words--but pictures alone are up for interpretation. Story is essential to understanding your pictures! I can show you how to tell your pictures with the stories that bring them to life
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