New Face - New Year

I am excited to reveal the new face of Life-n-Reflection...

Catered to fan favorite topics (and mine too of course) - Natural Bath and Body, Handmade Home, and Naturalist Photography

Finding Beauty In Simplicity

Welcome to Life-n-Reflection a journey to look at our lives in reflection. Rooted in the natural beauty and simplicity of seasons. Savoring the aromas, colors, fresh herbs and flowers, and rural lifestyle. May you be inspired to take a deeper look into life's ever changing seasons. 

Come see what it's all about at www.lifenreflection.com 

Fall Farmers Market: Photoshop Before and After

Farmers markets in the Fall bewitch me! I could stare into a buckets of crisp apples or curvy squash long enough to make any farmer nervous. Piles of pumpkins and dried sunflower heads call out to me. Luckily I always bring at least two cameras along, so I can savor their enchanted. 

 

Reduce harsh sunlight and apply a vintage photo finish with texture.

Before and After Photoshop Tutorial:

Apply an Exposure layer adjustment to reduce the exposure
Antique Warm Texture / Multiply Blending Mode / 20%

Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories:  Image-in-ing / Our World Tues  Communal Global / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday / Today’s Flowers

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

Stamped Linen Bags

This week I'm sharing with you lovely little stamped linen bags from Bittersweet Walnut Grove book series. Add a colorful handmade touch to linen drawstring bags with just a few supplies. Then fill each hand stamped bag with homemade treats from the kitchen or craft table!

SUPPLIES:

• basic linen or canvas bags
• dyed based stamping inks
• chipboard or card stock
• polymer clear stamps
• clear stamping block

DIRECTIONS:

Cut chipboard or card stock to fit inside each bag to avoid ink dying the inside of bags. Select your stamps, here we have chosen bow stamps from American Crafts. Next, select the colors of stamping ink to be applied. Slip cut board inside each bag and place stamps onto clear blocks. Stamp in a row beginning at the top of the bag to create a pattern. Repeat for each bag. Let dry 10 minutes before removing chipboard.

Optional: Add a vintage tag and tie on a lace bow to dress it up.

Find more handmade projects and recipes in Bittersweet Walnut Grove: Farm Fresh Spring

Share your projects too: Create Link Inspire / Made by You Mon / Project Inspired / Creative Gallery / Wow Me Wed/ Homesteader  /   Inspirational Gallery /  I'm Lovin' It / Party Palooza

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In the Studio: Tiger Lily

On our Wedding Anniversary this summer my husband brought me home 7 vases of flowers. Yes, seven. I spent hours the next day photographing all the unique beauties. This Tiger Lily was one of the most unique his picked. The yellow was so bright and I just had to see it softened up. What do you think?

Photoshop Tutorial:

White Washed #2 Texture / Soft Light / 70% Opacity  

Add a layer mask and brush away texture from your subject with soft brush at 75% opacity

 
Join me on Instagram and Share your Photo Stories: I Heart Macro / Image-in-ing / Communal Global / Our World Tues / Garden Tues / Life Thru the Lens /  Through My Lens / Maple Hill Hop / Little Things /  Photo Journal / Photo Friday /

The Texture Twist Photo Challenge

Scroll down to link up your photos with a Texture Twist

- natural or enhanced

An InLinkz Link-up

The Inspired Notebook: Garden Tag Tin

Spring Thyme Project

You know I LOVE creating little gifts of gratitude! This one is for all my besties here!! To get started download the FREE Garden Tags that coordinate with Spring Thyme the second edition of Bittersweet Walnut Grove.

Tag Tin

• Adhere scrapbook paper to the front of your tin
• Trim excess and ink edges with gesso
• Embellish the front of the tin with a tag, bakers twine, butterfly, and button

Spring Thyme Tags

• Print on sheet of Spring Thyme tags on letter size white card stock 
• Add borders, paper strips, and blooms to embellish
• Hole punch the top of each tag and add twine or ribbon to hang tags

Supplies:

Mini Tin

Scrapbook Paper

Paper Blooms

Borders

Gesso

Hole punch
Ribbon
Bakers Twine
 

 

  


 I can't wait to see what you are creating this week! Please share a link with me to your project on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

Find more daily inspiration:
Whatever Goes Wed / Wow Me Wed / Create n Share / The Girl Creative / The 36th Ave / Somewhat Simple / Keep Calm / Crafty Soiree / Happy Hour /  I'm Lovin' It / Weekend Wrap Up / Overflowing with Creativity / Made by You Mon / Motivate Me Mon / Make the Scene / Get Your Craft On / 

The Texture Touch: Sweet Hearts

Before and After Edition

texture.ology:

1. layer the cinnamon texture on top of your photograph
2. set the blending mode of the texture to darken
3. lower the opacity of the texture to 60%
4. add fading script as the 2nd texture layer
5. set the blending of this layer to overlay
6. reduce the opacity of the 2nd texture to 50%

I was stirring my hot cocoa made with Mom's recipe the other day and fell in love with the sweet heart shapes of the cinnamon sticks. Have you ever noticed that?

Join me in photo challenge:
P52 / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed / WW / 

The Texture Touch

It's a Love Spell

texture.ology:

1. layer the heirloom No.4 texture on top of your photograph
2. set the blending mode of the texture to darker color
3. add the love spell overlay as the top layer (P.S. It's a Goodie!)
4. Using the Clone/Stamp Tool stamp hearts around your subject
5. Clip the overlay to the texture with a clipping mask

What are your ingredients for a Love Spell? Happy Valentine's Day!

Join me in photo challenge:
Project Rewind / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW / This or That /

The Texture Touch: XOXO

XOXO

texture.ology: Quick & Easy

1. layer the legacy No.1 texture on top of your photograph
2. set the blending mode of the texture to overlay
3. add the champagne No. 4 overlay as the top layer

I love the French Subway Art edge of the legacy texture and with the champagne overlay it really steams things up. Don't you think?

Join me in photo challenge:
P52 / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW 

The Texture Touch: The Details

It's in the DETAILS

This is another gem I found around our home.  I just adore the wild sprigs sticking out ready to attach to something that will take it to a new home.  And of course that touch of green is a treasure during the winter.

texture.ology:

1. add the chiffon overlay #3 to your photograph
2. set the blending of the overlay to soft light
3. add the secrets texture for the look of this second photograph
4. set the blending mode to darker color
5. reduce the opacity of the texture to 50%

Join me in photo challenge:
Photo Show Off  / Project Rewind / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW / This or That / 

The Texture Touch: Winter Berry

Winter Berry

texture.ology:

1. add the enchanted overlay #4 over your photograph
2. set the blending mode of the overlay to softlight
3. add the champagne overlay #4 to the top
4. set the blending mode of this layer to color burn

I snipped these winter berry sprigs from my front garden. I am always grateful to find even the smallest amount of color during the muted winter season. Have you found any berries growing near you this winter too?

Join me in photo challenge:
Photo Show Off  / Project Rewind / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Barn Charm /  Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW / This or That / Rural Thursday /

The Texture Touch: New Beginnings

New Beginnings

The pine cones represent the new beginnings the New year brings. What seeds will you be planting in the new year for growth in your life, family, business, or hobby? 



texture.ology: 

1. layer the seventeen warm texture on top of your photograph
2. set the blending mode the texture to soft light
3. reduce the opacity of the texture to 55%
4. add heirloom texture #8 over the first texture
5. set the blending mode to darken at 50% opacity   

Join me in photo challenge:
Photo Show Off  / Project Rewind / The Happiness Project / Communal Global / Barn Charm /  Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW / This or That / Rural Thursday /

The Inspired Notebook: Cherished Christmas

Does your home ever feel empty after the Holidays? Whether you're missing your family or the decorations this is a great project to fill that gap! When decorating our home I often incorporate photos and sentiments from our life. Each photo brings back favorite memories and surrounds us with the ones we love. 

These cuties happen to be our nieces who make our lives full of Love and Joy. Follow the steps below to create your own Cherished Christmas Memorabilia. 

Cherished Christmas Project

1. Prepare your photos - I clipped my photos into the Reindeer Games Photo Wallets in Photoshop - watch this easy video tutorial

2. Print your photos - I placed each photo wallet onto a blank letter size base in Photoshop and printed it out on photo paper

3. Embellish your photos - I added each photo wallet to card stock or scrapbook paper base. Then I add photo corners and paper tabs to mix it up

Ready to step up this project? Visit The 36th Avenue for steps I shared this month for making a Christmas Photo Wreath! I can't wait to see what you are creating this Christmas! Please share a link with me to your project on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

Find more daily inspiration:

Whatever Goes Wed / Wow Me Wed / Create n Share / The 36th Ave / Somewhat Simple
/ Happy Hour /  I'm Lovin' It / Pomp Party / Weekend Wrap Up / Show n Tell Sat / Overflowing with Creativity / Made by You Mon / Motivate Me Mon / Make the Scene / Craft n Tell / Get Your Craft On / Lil Luna /

The Inspired Notebook

Holiday Gift Wrap

If you have been a reader here for a long time, you probably remember me mentioning how I almost enjoy wrapping gifts more than I enjoy making them. Today, I'm sharing quick tips from my inspired notebook to make wrapping all those holiday gifts fun and easy!

In my opinion the smaller the packaging the sweeter it is! I used the match box technique with my scoring board and an adorable mason jar die cut to create the mini holiday treats gifts. The top left photo is a Christmas Countdown in Box project I taught at my Holly Days Workshop. You can make the little compartment box with this video! It's filled with little cards, ornaments, and ribbons to make a countdown tree!

The snowflake box is part of the Christmas Countdown Planner. I simply printed the gift box, cut it out, scored it with my bone folder and taped it together. Then I filled the gift box with my favorite Christmas mints!

Download a Free Snowy Owl Gift Box to wrap a little box of goodies for your friends!

I can't wait to see how you are wrapping your gifts this Christmas! Please share a link with me to your project on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

Find more daily inspiration:
Whatever Goes Wed / Wow Me Wed / Create n Share / The 36th Ave / Somewhat Simple
/ Happy Hour /  I'm Lovin' It / Pomp Party / Weekend Wrap Up / Show n Tell Sat / Overflowing with Creativity / Made by You Mon / Motivate Me Mon / Make the Scene / Craft n Tell / Get Your Craft On / Lil Luna /

The Texture Touch

Christmas Around The Square

 texture.ology:

1. Add wanderlust texture #4 over your photograph
2. Set the blending of the texture to darken
3. Reduce the opacity of the texture to 80% 
4. Add Georgian peach as the second texture layer
5. Set the blending of this texture to softlight
6. Reduce the opacity to 70% 

 

These photographs are from a recent weekend spent at my favorite Southern Square. The cheerful shop keepers, charming decorations and live music make for a splendid Christmas Outing.


Join me in photo challenge:
Photo Show Off  / Project Rewind / The Happiness Project / Communal Global /  Wordless Wed / Wordful Wed /  WW / This or That / Rural Thursday /

The Inspired Notebook: Deck the Halls

We have been busy decking the halls in our home! We started the the weekend after Halloween and continued over the following weekends.  I love to make Christmas crafts and find it hard to stop creating decorations. How about you, when did you start decorating for Christmas?

I grew up in a household with a Christmas tree in every room, in fact my parents still hold this tradition. They start decorating before Halloween! So, planning it all is obviously important. This the little tinsel tree I decorated for my studio.  I made the simple ornaments and reindeer crossing sign from the printables in the Christmas Countdown Planner. Just simple, sweet, and easy change as I think up new decorations!

I can't wait to see what you are creating this Christmas! Please share a link with me to your project on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

Find more daily inspiration:

Whatever Goes Wed / Wow Me Wed / Create n Share / The 36th Ave / Somewhat Simple
/ Happy Hour /  I'm Lovin' It / Pomp Party / Weekend Wrap Up / Show n Tell Sat / Overflowing with Creativity / Made by You Mon / Motivate Me Mon / Make the Scene / Craft n Tell / Get Your Craft On / Lil Luna /