New Feature: Before & Afters

  After going through my iphoto folders this past weekend I decided that I thought it might be fun to share with you all my DIY's I've worked on over the past few years and ones that I am currently working on in a new feature I'm simply calling Before & Afters.  I'm making it a permanent addition to my sidebar to make it easy to find and browse through too!  I'd love to see some before and afters that you are working on!  Send me a link or photo to evphotogal@gmail.com, I'd love to see the transformation, whether it be an interior space, furniture, or and object you tweaked to work for you!

 

Free Design Download: Photo Frames

Happy Friday to you! I had a crazy fun filled prop styling week at work. I'll be glad to share the photos with you next week, but for today I'm excited to share another free design download!  As a photographer, I can never get enough photo frames to download. Sometimes they just add that perfect touch to digital photographs, you know what I'm saying? Well here they are in all 3 of my favorite formats. 4x5, medium, and polaroid!  Be sure to check out my other free digital downloads here too. These are for personal use only, thank you. Enjoy and have a lovely weekend!

Hex Background & Glitter Dots: Pugly Pixel

Photos: EV Photography

My Memories Suite- Giveaway!!

  I couldn’t think of a better way to start the week then to be hosting my first giveaway!  My Memories Suite, a digital scrap booking software is up for grabs for one very lucky winner today!  I have to honestly say that as much as I love getting crafty, I’ve really never been drawn to traditional scrap booking mainly because the thought of planning all the details, papers, and
embellishments gives me a headache. After using this product for over a week now, I can truly say that digital scrap booking is way more up my alley! 
   This smart digital scrap booking software is intuitive, easy to use, fun, and let’s you truly be creative.  With plenty of templates for you to drag and drop your photos into you really have full creative control to make each page your own- with My Memories Suite. Create scrapbook layouts, photo books, cards, calenders, slide shows,videos, you name it! If you’re looking to create a traditional album once you’re finished editing, print each page on your home printer to add to an existing album or create a hardbound book to share with family and friends. Looking for a quick way to share your albums fast? Your just a click away from turning your albums into a movie to play as a DVD or on your iPod. 

After taking time to create some pages of my own here are a few of my favorite features included in My Memories Suite:

* huge collection of photo layout templates
* simple drag and drop photo feature
* wide range of colored background papers and textures
* great collection of embellishments including buttons, ribbons, stiches, and dots
* ability to color correct photos including red eye reduction.
* fun photo filters to give your photos a vintage feel or a classic in black and white
* ability to change the opacity on any element (including background paper) to help make your
  photos take center stage and shine on every page!
* And best of all- No messy glue and paper scraps to pick up after!  

Contest entry details:

(1.) Visit  www.MyMemories.com, choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then come back here (to my blog ) and leave a comment telling me which ones you would love to create with.

(2.) Please include your name and email address in your comment entry. 

(3.) Contest ends midnight Sept 25th.  The winner will be drawn at random and will be announced and contacted on Monday Sept 26th.  Good luck to all!
 
**As a special to all my readers My Memories Suite is offering a special promo code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!) Just enter this special code at checkout: STMMMS47265

* Please note:  This unique code is ONLY good for My Memories Suite v2

Pages created using My Memories Suite software.

Photography: EV Photo Gal

Blogging Your Way e-course

 

Photo: Holly Becker 

Happy Friday to you!  I'm so excited to be joining the group of ladies over at decor8 for the Blogging Your Way e-course seminar starting early next month.  I hope to learn more about the ins and outs of the blogging lifestyle, work on creating more of a niche and style for this blog, and to meet new blog friends in the process.  I had the chance to meet and greet Holly when she was on her book tour through Chicago last month, so joining her class this year will be such a treat!  It's not to late to sign up, hurry over and check out the exciting outline Holly has lined up for this years seminar!  Can't wait to get the creative gears turning!

Two Years & Many Many More!

Today i'm happily sharing 2 years of living life with my best friend.  It was only 2 years ago when we met up for a game of tennis, had lunch at Sultans Market, and strolled through the Renegade Handmade craft fair. We ended the long day by sharing a bottle of wine while lol-ing at The Office. I knew after our first date that I had found someone special. Fast forward to today and I'm still the happiest girl in the Midwest :)

 Coach House Pictures

Friday Fancies: Fashion Forward

I could get used to this shorter work week!  Couldn't you?!  Alas, it's Friday and time for another fun Friday Fancies post. In honor of NY Fashion week, AV of Long Distance Loving picked the theme of fashion forward for this weeks post.  Coming up with this weeks post was really fun and quite self-indulgent, if I do say so myself.  For anyone who knows me, my everyday style is pretty casual and laid back. A mix between preppy and bohemian (or at least I like to imagine so). Which is why I had fun picking out these pieces. I love the emerald green pop of color against the textured nude one shoulder dress.  Earthy gold/emerald earrings bring color to the face and this leopard clutch is a fine unexpected touch of pattern to finish off this look. Thanks for stopping by this week. Have a comforting weekend.

One. One Shoulder Dress $45

Two. Louboutin $945

Three. Starburst Earrings $95

Four. Leopard Clutch $415

Farmer's Market

Joe went to the farmers early this week.  This bounty of beauties were calling my name.

So I gave myself up for the challenge and decided to shoot them as soon as I came home from work.

Working with natural window light is very fleeting, so I knew I had to work efficiently.  I was happy with what I came up with too!  I love the crispness of shooting against the black chalkboard surface. I think it really makes the produce shine!  In other news Joe and I recently joined a local CSA. I can't wait to stage the next impromptu photo shoot of the seasonal produce we'll be getting each week. Yum!!

Post Details: Manilla tape by Pugly Pixel

Introducing: Coach House Pictures

Happy holiday to you today on this beautiful (fallish feeling) Chicago day!  I have exciting news that I can finally share with you.  Joe and I are taking on a new creative adventure together known as Coach House Pictures.  I just wrapped editing photos from our first couples photo shoot last weekend.  Below are a few of my favorite photos from the shoot, to view the complete session and to learn more about our business stop by our blog :)  We are open for business and would love to capture your story.

Friday Fancies: Labor Day Chic

TGIF, it's a long weekend!!  Yay :)  For this weeks Friday Fancies theme I created a special Labor Day Chic- Chicago style!!  Since this weekends forecast is going to be B-utiful a few of us girls are kicking the weekend off by spending the afternoon at Oak Street Beach.  I'm so excited to lay in the sun with a cold drink and girly magazines. The perfect way to salute a long summer weekend!  Cheers and enjoy your long weekend too!

Post Design Details: Shipping Tag by Pugly Pixel
Outfit: Found using Pintrest, Reads: Amazon, Lives: Desire To Inspire, Shops: Riley, Pitaya, Scout, Brooklyn Industries, Sprout Home, Dines: The Bristol