Mustache Bookmarks

I recently got Photoshop and I've been trying to learn how to work its magic. Inspired by these Valentines from Plum Adorable, I decided to make mustache bookmarks for my little sister's birthday. I started with photos of my baby nephew in Photoshop and then ran with it. It was worth it for the sheer amusement; I laughed out loud so many times (Ryan gave me the "you're weird" eyebrow lift). My nephew is just too cute, especially with a Mario Brothers' mustache.

I made the bookmarks to accompany the first two books of The Hunger Games trilogy in her birthday package. If you haven't yet, you should must read these books! They're pretty addicting.

To start, I used my sister's instagram photos of the baby, but any photo cropped down to a square will work. Then I googled "free mustache clip art." Here's a 'stache that I used. I used Photoshop to add the mustaches to the photos. If you don't have Photoshop, I'm pretty sure you can do the same thing with Pixlr for free!

I then came up with mustache-related sayings. Only one is actually related to reading...oh well! After printing the bookmarks off, I cut 'em out and glued 'em to cardstock in a contrasting color.

Butte 52: Week One - The Lookout

I've lived in Paradise for a few months now and I think it's time, for my new home and I, to get to know each other a little better. So I've decided to start a project, more of a mission. For each week in 2012, I'm going to photograph something from Paradise, Chico, or some other place in Butte County (in case you were wondering, Butte County is in the Sacramento Valley in Northern California). There are a lot of things that make this area special: beautiful parks, one of a kind eateries, local events, historical landmarks, unique shops, and incredible agriculture. I'm going to explore them all while learning to use my new camera.

I saw this under the big sign. I love that this club exists in my town. Maybe they can give me some pointers.

Paradise sits up on a hill, above the town of Chico. To get from Chico to Paradise you have to take the Skyway, a road that winds and turns as you make the slow climb up the hill.

Whenever I drive up and down the Skyway, I pass this lookout point. Well I finally stopped to look and snap some photos.

The sign calls it the "Little Grand Canyon" of Butte Creek.

There are a lot of interesting looking trees reaching out into the sky.

I got a new camera!

Ryan got me a Canon Rebel T3i for Christmas and I am in love! My man is so good to me. It's amazing how much better the photographs look with this camera. I now find myself wanting to take my camera with me everywhere I go (you never know when there's gonna be a photo op).

Around here it's tradition, the day after Christmas, for all the guys to go duck hunting up on our friend's ranch. So of course, I brought my camera. I wanted to play with my new toy. The ladies, the babes, and the dogs all decided to go for a walk around the ranch. We were on the hunt for "diamonds." Mostly quartz hidden among the rocks around the ranch, although diamonds have been found and mined in the little town of Cherokee. Real or not, it's fun for the little girls (and the big girls, I got into it).

Here's a few pics from that day. Now don't go judging the photos too harshly. I'm still learning.

My friend Karla's daughter, Donna. Even if the camera wasn't pointed directly at her, I could hear her saying "cheeeeeeese."

December 26 and the skies are clear and crystal blue. What a beautiful day!

Karla and her son, Jake. I adore this photo.

The birds hoard their acorns in the bark of the trees. Storing up for winter I guess. Those suckers are really wedged in there; it's impossible to get them out!