Day 240 – Slow Sync Flash

In our photo challenge at jessiccasprague.com we are using a technique called slow sync flash.  It’s where you use a slow shutter speed…and the flash goes off toward the end of taking the photo.  It gives some really cool background effect while keeping the main subject in focus.  Here is a website with some neat examples.  http://www.digital-photography-school.com/13-great-slow-sync-flash-images  And here is my attempt at this earlier today in the late afternoon/early evening when the sun was going down.  I am spinning as I am taking the picture.  CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO

Day 224 – Mini Gift Bags You Can Make!

Here are some of the cutest little gift bags that are really easy to make.  The paper bag is made from your decorative paper cut from a rectangle 15.5 in wide  x 8.25 in tall. The finished size is 5 inches tall by 4.5 inches wide by 3 inches deep. You will need scissors, craft tape(sticky on both sides), decorative paper, thicker cardstock for inside top flap of bag to make it stronger, rivets, rivet punch like the BIG SHOT and ribbons or cording.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Make pattern: Cut plain paper 15.5 inches wide x 8.25 inches tall.  This will be your guide.   Make markings as shown in picture.   Horizontal lines….1.25 inches from top, 2 inches from bottom. Verticle lines starting from left edge…4.5 inches, 3 inches, 4.5 inches, 3 inches and 1/2 inch from right hand edge.

Cut your patterned paper 15.5 inches wide x 8.25 inches tall.  Fold bottom edge up 2 inches and top edge down 1.25 inches.  Place on pattern making left and right edges even with pattern. Make your folds at 4.5 inches…….

Then a 3 inch fold…………

Then another 4.5 inch fold………..

Then another 3 inch fold……………

Then fold up the last 1/2 inch.

Open up and unfold top and bottom flaps and adhere outside edges with double sticky tape or glue.  The 4.5 inch end will overlap 1/2 inch and meet at that 1/2 inch fold.

Make sure all four edges have a good crease.

Fold bottom flap like you would do if you were wrapping a package.

Adhere with double sticky tape or glue.  Make sure you don’t put the tape on the white part…or when you fold the bottom up…you will have a sticky section on the inside of your bag.

It should look like this when you have it taped down.

Cut 2 pieces of thicker cardstock(I used the dividers from my box of Lipton tea bags) at 4.25 inches x 1 inch.  You will adhere these with tape inside so that when you fold down the top edge, you’ll have a stiffer thicker top which will make the bag more sturdy when you add the rivets and ribbon.

Adhere to the inside of both 4.5 inch front and back with double sticky tape or glue.

Put double sticky tape on the inside and fold down to create finished top of bag.

Crease and fold your bag like you would a lunch bag.

Now you are ready to put the rivets and the ribbon handles on.  I used the BIG SHOT rivet tool and the larger rivets.

Cut a piece of paper 3 inches wide, or use a ruler and mark where you will put your rivets with a marker or pencil.  For the picture below, I cut a paper 3 inches wide and marked on the outside edges on the paper bag with a black marker about 1/2 inch from the top edge(denoted by arrows in the picture below).  This is where I will punch the holes for the rivets.

Line up your hole punch for the rivets………

And punch your holes.

Now add the rivets

Cut 2 ribbons or cording 14 inches long each.  Make a knot in one end of each ribbon and thread it from the inside to the outside and back through the second rivet to the inside again.

Tie another knot on the end of the ribbon and repeat for the second handle.

Voila!  Here is your finished gift bag!  You could add a little scalloped tag or rectangle tag to the handle to customize for birthday, thank you or whatever occasion.

Day 219 – A Fun Day Yesterday!

Yesterday Tony and I put the top down on the car and drove up the hill to Chukchansi Resort for a nice buffet lunch.  It was really good….we had mostly Chinese food….I threw an enchilada on my plate too….Tony added some Mexican corn to his plate of Chinese food.  The hot and spicy soup was REALLY good!  After lunch we drove a few miles down the road to Bass Lake and had about an hour to kill before we needed to take off for the melodrama.  We thought we might go on a boat ride, but found out when we got there that they only have one ride on Saturdays….at 11 a.m.  So we missed that.  We decided to go to the patio bar and grill and have a couple of margharitas and daquiries and just relax for a little bit.  The patio is on the 2nd floor overlooking the lake.  We watched a momma duck and her 6 babies swimming around the edge of the lake in front of us.  Those little ducks were so cute.  I was hoping to see an eagle…..but we didn’t see one this time.  Here’s a pic of Tony and I on the patio enjoying our drinks!

We had fun and did a lot of laughing at the melodrama too.  The villain was really funny and if we didn’t boo or hiss loud enough, he would face his palms toward us and wiggle his fingers egging us to cheer louder right then and there….or he would say something like.  “Aren’t I EVIL enough for you?!”  Making everyone boo and hiss louder, amidst lots of laughter!  After the show we put the top down on the car again and drove home in the cool evening air with the stars right there with a glance toward the skies.  It was a heavenly day!!!