December Newsletter

Happy December!

Photography Tip of the Month

This is a big month for photos and so I thought I would give you all some tips on how to better organize your photos. There are so many opportunities to capture memories with family and friends this time of the year. My biggest piece of advice is to try to keep your photos as natural as possible . Constantly interrupting conversations, gift openings or meal time to make everyone set up for a picture is a little rude in my opinion. I think it is great to set up a photo of the entire family or grandpa and grandma with the grandkids but, make sure that you find a convenient time for everyone involved. I like to find a time at the beginning of the event. The kids are still clean and put together and you will not interrupting meal time, game time or a conversation. Organize your photos: Put your photos into your computer ASAP and format your memory card so that you have plenty of room to take more photos at your next event. Immediately delete blurry or non desirable photos, only keep the photos that you really love. Organize your photos in your computer by date or event. This makes it so much easier to find your photos when you want to print or share them on line. Print your favorite photos and display them proudly! Photography makes a beautiful work of art for your walls or book shelves. Surround yourself with your favorite family memories and you will be so happy you did. Every time I look at my photo of the "Painted Ladies" my memories of my trip to San Francisco with my Mom come flooding back, and it always makes me smile. Make your very own coffee table book. We took a trip to South Dakota last summer and we had all these great photos from our trip. It was so hard for me to choose just a couple to frame and hang on the wall, so I decided to make a coffee table book, that way I can display all of my favorites rather than choosing just a couple. These coffee table books also make great gifts for the friends or family who took the trip with you.

Family Activity

I can not ever get over how quickly the weeks fly by this time of year. I was thinking about what kind of project I wanted to do this month, and I thought I would give you some fun homemade gift ideas your kids can make for their friends and family.

Natural Play Dough Gift Pack Supplies: 3 cups flour 3 tablespoons cooking oil 1 1/2 cups salt 6 teaspoons cream of tartar 3 cups of water Cook all ingredients over low heat until it forms a ball. Use natural food color or spinach, beet, carrot or blueberry juice to color your dough. We love to add an essential oil to scent our play dough for a little aroma therapy fun. *Place a small ball of homemade play dough and a cookie cutter in a clear plastic bag and tie it with a cute bow. Little Artists Art Cards Make a custom set of note cards with your child. Supplies: card stock markers, crayons, paints glue scissors envelopes Cut an 8 1/2 by 6 rectangle out of white card stock, fold in 1/2 so you have a 4 1/4 by 6 card, (this will fit nicely into a store bought envelope). Let your child decorate each card with markers, crayons or paint. You could also choose to scan and copy drawings and glue them onto the front of each card. If you choose to glue an image onto the front of the cards feel free to use colored card stock for the cards. Original Work of Art Give your kids paints and let them create their very own work of art to hang on the wall. You can choose to inspire them by introducing a famous work of art or, you can let them find their own style. You will need: a simple, inexpensive frame (we love ikea frames) paints and brushes paper Happy Holidays!