A Triple Decker...Heirloom Party, Show & Tell Friday, & Pink Saturday! Whew...

It's Time for a Party...An Heirloom Party!!!

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The day has arrived...the July 31st Heirloom Party!

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This fabulous party is being hosted by Marie over at Emma Calls Me Mama. Thank you Marie...for hosting this fun filled party...it gives us the perfect opportunity to share some of our most cherished family heirlooms!!!

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Well my friends...you won't want to miss Marie's family treasures...go pay her a little visit and check out all the other party-goers family heirlooms too!!!
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Ohhh myyy...and there is more to come!!!

It's Also "Show & Tell" Friday!

Hello my friends! TGIF!!! It's been another busy week at my place...just trying to get back into the swing of things after vacation time! I hope that you've had a wonderful week and you are looking forward to the weekend! I know that I am!!!

Today is Show & Tell Friday...hosted by Kelli over at There Is No Place Like Home! I always look forward to Show & Tell time...thank you, Kelli for hosting this fun filled Friday event!!! Why don't you pay Kelli a visit today and see what she has for Show & Tell...and while you're there you can visit all the other participants!!!
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It's Pink Saturday!!!

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It's time for "Pink Saturday"...hosted by our very own Beverly over at How Sweet The Sound! Thank you, Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday...it's always so sweet to see soooo much pink around Blogland on Saturday's! Why don't you go on over to Beverly's and see what pretty-n-pink that she has for you today and while you're there don't forget to check out all the other participants pretty pink!!!

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"Rose Faeries" Tablescape

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Pink Depression Glass

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For "Tablescape Thursday" this week I did a tablescape which I named "Rose Faeries". If you would like to see that tablescape...just click here. After I posted the tablescape, I went back to play some more! Hehe! Ohhhh...isn't it fun getting to play with dishes? Hehe!

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I recently received my Grandma's pink Depression Glass...a family heirloom that is such a precious treasure to me!!! In fact, I showed all the beautiful pieces that I received last week for Pink Saturday. If you would like to see all of my pink Depression Glass pieces...just click here.

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I received one piece in particular...a 12 in. salver plate...done in the "American Sweetheart" pattern. After looking it, I thought that it would be perfect to use as a charger plate for the "Rose Faeries" place setting! Ohhh...it worked perfectly! I only have one of these beautiful 12 in. salver plates though...maybe I'll be able to find more...enough that I could actually use them for chargers!

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"Rose Faeries" Tablescape...
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"Rose Faeries" centerpiece.


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I wanted to show you the place setting that I used for my "Rose Faeries" tablescape.
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This is a set of china that I recently found on ebay. It's called Norway Rose and was manufactured by Cunningham & Pickett. I just love the pretty pink band that is on this china and the single pink rose in the center of the plate! I have 4 dinner plates and 6 salad/dessert plates in this pretty pattern...all for the low price of $11.98...not to bad!
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The white salad/dessert plate comes from a set or ironstone dishes that I purchased with green stamps when I was 13 yrs. old. Yep...I've had a dish obsession for many years now! Hehe!
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I used my white embossed chargers called "Lace"...that I found at JC Penneys. The pink damask dinner napkin was another treasure find from ebay...the pretty porcelain napkin rings were a gift from my late father-in-law.
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Now It's Time to Play....
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Pink Depression Glass
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This is the 12 in. salver plate..."American Sweetheart" pattern. It was manufactured by Macbeth - Evans 1930-1937. I just love this pretty pink plate...the scrolled pattern looks so frenchy!!!
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I added the Norway Rose china dinner plate...using the pink Depression Glass plate as a charger! Ohhhh...I do like this look!!!
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I also received 5 pink Depression Glass tumblers. This pattern is called Mayfair Pink "Open Rose"...it was manufactured by Anchor Hocking in 1931-1937. I looked the tumblers up at China Replacements Ltd....and these little pink beauties sell for $53.99 each....WOWZER!!! But the real treasure is that they were my Grandma's!!!
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I placed the tumbler on top of the Norway Rose salad/dessert plate.
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The Norway Rose salad/dessert plate on top of the pink Depression Glass charger. Ohhhh...I was having so much fun playing!!!
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~~Rose Faeries~~
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Ahhh...here she is now! The little rose faerie made an appearance...do you see her resting upon the flowers?
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The two little faerie figurines were passed down to me...they belonged to my late mother-in-law Mary Alice! Someday I will give them to her granddaughter Danielle Alice! Such sweet memories and precious family treasures!!!

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Well my friends...thank you so much for coming by! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here! I would love to visit with you!!!

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Have a wonderful weekend!!!

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Love ya'll,

Chari

It's Tablescape Thursday!!!

Hello my friends...it's Thursday and we all know what that means...it's time for some tablescaping!!!

This fun filled Thursday event is hosted by our sweet friend Susan over at Between Naps On The Porch! So many of us in Blogland look forward to Tablescape Thursdays...it gives us an opportunity to play with our dishes! Hehe! Thank you so much Susan for all the time and effort you put into hosting this fun event...I sure do appreciate you, my friend!!!

~~~Rose Faeries~~~

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Shhhhh...if you're real quiet and look close...you'll see the little rose faeries!!!
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"Faeries Garden"

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This Rose Faerie tablescape is set in my French country dining room.
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The Centerpiece...
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For the table's centerpiece I used my apothecary jar with a little cherub inside. I placed a beaded floral wreath at the base of the apothecary jar. I just love this pretty wreath...I borrowed it from my Tea Rose bedroom where it was hanging on the wall! It goes perfectly with the colors of my tablescape...white babies breath, pink flowers, and little lavender glass beads! To each side of the wreath and apothecary jar...I used three silver candleholders with white taper candles.
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Shhh...what is that sound? Ahhhh...I think it's the sound of little faerie wings...
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If you look real close...you may just see one....
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Ohhh myyy...the faeries are sprinkling their faerie dust...this will be a magical evening indeed!!!
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The Place Setting...
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Today...for the first time...I am using my Norway Rose china. This beautiful china is manufactured by Cunningham & Pickett. I love the single pink rose in the center of the plate and the beautiful wide pink banding!!! I found this china on ebay...4 dinner plates and 6 salad/dessert plates for $11.98! It coordinates beautifully with my late mother-in-law's china, Roselet by Harmony House. I plan on using the two sets together once in awhile...just for a change!
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I am using a white salad/dessert plate from a set of dishes that I bought with green stamps when I was just 13 yrs. old. It is ironstone and called "Providence".
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Ohhh yes...I have lived with my dish fetish for a long, long time! Hehe!
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The embossed white charger plate is called "Lace" from JC Penneys. I just love the pattern on this charger...it resembles a fleur de lis!
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A close-up of the Norway Rose dinner plate.
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The Table Linens...
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This white lace tablecloth was a wedding gift from my Mother and Father. I just love it!!! It's reversible...on the side that I am using today there are pink roses. The other side is just plain white lace!
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The pink damask dinner napkins are new as well...my first time to use them! They are another treasure find from ebay...if I remember correctly I gave $9 for a set of 10. They really do go perfectly with this set of pink china! The porcelain napkin rings were a gift from my late father-in-law...he was always so sweet to me!!! I just love the delicate flowers, leaves and ribbon that is on top of the napkin ring!!!
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I used the Norway Rose salad/dessert plate as an underplate for the pink depression glass tumbler! I have a set of five of these pretty tumblers....a cherished gift from my dear sweet Grandma!!! Isn't it beautiful? The pattern of pink depression glass on this tumbler is called "Open Rose"...I just adore these!!!
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Ohhhh my...LOOK! There is one of those little rose faeries now!!! I wonder what she is thinking about?

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Ohhh...and there is another one! She's lying in the rose wreath...soooo sweet!!!
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Well my friends....I hope that you enjoyed my "Rose Faerie" tablescape! I must confess that I was a little displeased with my photos for this tablescape...it was a dreary day...no sunlight to light up the room so the lighting was just terrible! I worked and worked to get better photos and finally gave up! They're not my best by any means! We are experiencing really weird weather right now in colorful Colorado! Cool and rainy days...yesterday the temp only got up to 68 and today we are to have a high of 72 degrees! Now...how do you like those kind of temps for the end of July! Hehe! Really strange!!!
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Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!!!
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Love ya'll,
Chari

It's "Three or More Tuesday"!!!

Hello my friends!!! I'm so happy to be participating in "Three or More Tuesday" today...it's my very first time! This fun filled Tuesday event is hosted by Tam over at The Gypsy's Corner.

"Three or More Tuesday" gives us an opportunity to share a collection of any sort as long as there are three or more items! Please pay Tam a visit...you are in for a real treat and while you're there you can check out all of the other participant's posts.

Thank you, Tam...for hosting "Three or More Tuesday"!!!

White Ironstone

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I just love white English Ironstone!!! I have been collecting it for a couple of years now...dishes, pitchers, soup tureens...if it's ironstone I collect it! Well...I make it sound like I have a great collection but actually I have just a few pieces...but I'm working on it!!! Hehe!

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My love for ironstone started when I saw my dear friend Sue's great collection way back in the days of Rate My Space! Sue has a beautiful collection...cabinets and shelves just full of this delightful glassware! If you haven't ever been over to Sue's place...treat yourself and go! Sue has a delightful blog...A Stitch In Time. She's such a dear, sweet lady and I know that you'll make a friend!!!

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My Newest Ironstone Treasures

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Ahhhh...white ironstone pitchers!!!

*When I was down in Texas last month, my mama gave me these two ironstone pitchers! The larger pitcher is very heavy and stands about 7 in. tall...I think it's quite old...although my mama wasn't sure! The smaller little frenchy pitcher is used for cream! I just love my newest ironstone treasures!

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Thank you, Mama!!!

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Ironstone Covered Casserole Dish

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Ohhh my...not only do I love ironstone but I also love bunnies! So it just doesn't get any better than this!!! Hehe! I found this darling little covered casserole dish at the Antique Market a couple of weeks ago! It was true love as soon as I spotted it!!!

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I think I got a pretty good deal on it...$8.00! I hate to say it, but I would have probably paid more!
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Ahhh...just look at this sweet bunny!!!

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Ironstone Coffee/Tea Pot

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I found this little coffee/tea pot the same day that I found the bunny casserole at the Antique Market. This is the only piece that has a manufacturer's mark on it...JG Meakins. This is my very first coffee/tea pot...so it's kind of special! Hehe! Ohhh...I just love it!!!

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I really don't have any idea what these sell for...I gave $10.00 for it.
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My very first set of dishes...

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Do you see the white ironstone cups and saucers? These actually belong to a set of dishes that I bought with green stamps when I was just 13 yrs. old. As you can see...I've had a dish fetish for some time! Hehe! I gave this set to my oldest daughter a few years ago. When I was visiting with her in Texas last month, I asked about this set of dishes and she offered to let me bring them back home with me...on the agreement that she would get them back some day! I was really excited to have my very first set of dishes back home with me!!!
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Won't you have a cup of tea with me? Do you take cream & sugar...how about a little lemon? Nothing fancy...just a little hospitality for stopping by and letting me show you all my latest white ironstone treasures!!!

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Well my friends...thank you so much for coming by! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!!!

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Have a terrific Tuesday!

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Love ya'll,

Chari

It's Mosaic Monday

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Fantasies in White!!!

Hello my friends! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and that your Monday is off to a great start!

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I have recently found the fun of making photo "mosaics"! If you haven't ever tried your hand at it...you really should! It really is sooo much fun and the possibilities for photo mosaics are endless!!! I have been using Flickr and Big Huge Labs to do mine but I'm sure that there are several software programs out there that you can use!

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Mary over at Little Red House is hosting Mosaic Monday! I was just elated to find this fun filled Monday event...it gives us an outlet to show off some of the pretty photo mosaics that we've been experimenting with! Thank you, Mary!!! Please go on over to Mary's place when you're finished here...she always has the most beautiful mosaics...and while you're there you can visit the other participants!!!

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What is it about white???

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Lately, my mind has been wandering from the comfortable color palette of COLOR that I am so accustomed to! Yes...I love color! For those of you who know me...you know that I have surrounded myself in deep, rich color! The color palette of our home's living area consists of deep olives, reds, and golds. Our master bedroom is done in brown and seaside blue and our Tea Rose bedroom (guest room) dresses in hues of garden green, pinks, and soft buttery yellow! Did I mention that I LOVE COLOR? Hehe!

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However...

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Lately I have found myself dreaming of white! Yes...cool, clean, crisp white!!! White rooms...white furniture...white dishes...and yes, even white linens!!!

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Maybe it's the summer heat...maybe it's my longing for that soft, sheer elegance that white so easily affords!!! Whatever the reason...I am in love with white!!! I wanted to share a few photos that I have found...that just makes me go "ahhhhhhh"!!!

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Ahhhhh....white!!! Cool, clean, crisp white!!! My latest fantasy in white!!!

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A White Mosaic Monday


Well my friends...thank you for letting me share my latest fantasy...fantasies in white!!!
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Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here! I would love to visit with you!!!
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Have a wonderful cool, clean, and crisp Monday!!!
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Love ya'll,
Chari

Welcome to the 14th "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click on the "Sunday Favorites" info photo in the sidebar of my blog.

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Hello my friends!

Welcome to the 14th run of "Sunday Favorites"!!!

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I hope that you're having a super Sunday! Is it just me or does it seem like summer is really "flying by" quickly? It's hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of July...it won't be to much longer and the kiddos will be going back to school! July has been a busy month for us with more vacation time and home improvement projects! I really do love "Sunday Favorites"!!! It really does offer a great opportunity to be able to post a little something over the weekend without having to spend alot of time or much work! I just love being able to "copy and paste" a previous blog post...it takes no time at all!!!

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I've noticed that there has been alot of "Christmas in July" going on in Blogland! Christmas is my favorite holiday!!! I'm so happy to be able to share a little something from last Christmas with you today!

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Oooh...there are only 156 days until Christmas!!! I'm already trying to get ready...hehe!!!

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

Sunday Favorites

My favorite post: December 9, 2008

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Can You Ever Have Too Much Fun???

No...no... a resounding NO!!! Hehehe!!!

Oh, I must explain...this morning my intentions were to post more of the Christmas decor in our little red French Country Dining Room, however when I went to take photos...my camera battery was dead....soooo...it's recharging! In the meantime, I decided to have a little fun this morning! Many of you in blogland probably already have a photo editing software but if you don't you can "google" a free online software called PHOTOBUCKET. I use it to edit some of my photos....for example you can resize a photo or work with the lighting of a photo...it comes in very handy! Photobucket is totally FREE...all you have to do is obtain a membership (which is very easy, believe me...I need easy...hehe!) and voila! It has all kinds of really neat tools....so without further ado....here are a few samples!!!

Oh yes...and don't forget to click on the photo to enlarge it...you can see the full effect much better!!!

This first photo is of the Christmas centerpiece I did on our dining room table....many of you may recognize my little masonary garden angel that I borrowed from my Tea Rose bedroom...just for the Christmas Holidays! The urns are also masonary (they weigh a ton...hehe!) I topped them off with little (cast iron) birdies...added a little Christmas greenery and voila!!! I found this beautiful tablerunner at Hobby Lobby...it's very Christmasy...don't you think?

Okay....now the fun begins!!! This next photo I used Photobuckets special effect called "Neon". After you've downloaded the photo that you would like to do a special effect on...just look at the top of the Photobucket page...there are tabs with several options. Just choose "Effects"....I think there are about 15 different effects that you can play with.



"Neon Effect"

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With the Neon effect you can choose all kinds of different colors to work with...on this photo I chose a dark red....if you look close you will see the dark red shadowy outlines!

Another photo using the "Neon" effect....only this time I changed the color....instead of using the dark red, I changed the color to gold! See the gold shadowy outlines?

"Painting Effect"

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The "Painting" effect is kind of unique...you could take any photo and make it look like an oil painting! While using many of these effects...another option is available...."Advanced Option". With the advanced option tool, you can choose just how strong you want the effect to be. So the masterpiece you creative is totally up to you...believe me, with all of the options available....your photo would really be "one of a kind"!!!

"Cartoon Effect"

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With the "Cartoon" effect option, you can take a photo and make it look like a cartoon...isn't this fun? I really liked this effect....it changes some of the original color a bit and adds an animated look!

"Pop Art Effect"

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Ooooh....this effect is sooooo much fun!!! This effect "tiles" the photo into four sectors....and as you can see....each tile is done in a bright, vibrant color! This effect has so many possibilities! Just think...you could do any photo...print it...frame it! Wouldn't it be great for a child's room, teen's room....or if you have a more contemporary decor...wall art!!!

"Old Photo Effect"

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Do you have "Old World" decor? Just think what you could do with a photo...make it look "Old World"! Keep in mind...not only is Photobucket's effects great for changing a photo for a special look on your blog...but you can use this tool to change a photo...have it printed off and use it for wall art!!!

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"Color Rotate Effect"

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The "Color Rotate" effect is a bit more subtle...I just love the purpley hues that it added to this photo! This is really one of my favorite effects...at least for this particular photo!!!

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"Duo Tone Effect"

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Ooooh...just look at this one!!! With the "Duo Tone" effect you have different color options....you can choose one color for the background objects....here I chose GOLD! Then you can choose a second color for the photo objects....I chose dark red!!! It almost looks like a photo negative...don't you think? Only in color!!! How cool is that?

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"Sketch Effect"

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Oh boy....can you tell I'm getting excited? I'm tellin' ya...I've really had fun this morning!!! hehe!!! This "Sketch" effect is sooooo awesome!!! Just think...you can take any photo and make it look like a drawing!!! Okay, my mind is rolling here...but for those of you who like black & white art....why not make your own....frame it...and voila!!! You have your very own masterpiece!!!

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"Color Sketch Effect"

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Here is another "Sketch" effect....only with color! Doesn't it look like the picture has been sketched then colored with colored pencils? I love this!!!

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"Stickers Effect"

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Hehehehe....Ohhhhh my, I did have fun doing this one!!! With the "Stickers" effect, you can add stickers to your photo. I didn't count...but there were many, many stickers to choose from! They were all so much fun!!! I added each sticker....one at a time...so you can build and build upon a photo! They have award stickers...goofy saying stickers...a little bit of everything!!! I just loved dressing my angel....of course he had to have a Santa's cap and scarf...and check out those cool glasses...I bet I have the "raddest" Christmas angel ever...hehe!!!

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"Thought Effect"

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With the "Thought" effect you can add thought or speech bubbles....there are even all kinds of different shaped bubbles etc. You can write anything you would like inside of the bubbles....there are several different fonts and color options available! Photobucket recently added a "Glitter Text" option...so you can even make your text "glittery"!!! Hehe!!!

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"Glitter Text Effect"

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I love the "Glitter Text" effect! This effect can be really uselful in creating your blog headliner!!! Most of you probably already know but just in case you don't....when creating your blog headliner....you can choose any photo and there is a "standard" title option that you get on your blog dashboard. If you want to be a bit more creative....take your photo over to Photobucket and with the tools they offer....you can make your own "title lettering"....they offer so many different fonts and colors that you just can't get with your "standard" blog dashboard!!! I used the "Glitter Text" effect on this photo!!!

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"Poster Effect"

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With the "Poster" effect you can take your photo and make it look like a poster! In fact, Photobucket will actually make your poster/photo into a life-size poster...of course, you would have to order it! But once again, I can see your poster/photo used as wall art....hmmmm, endless possibilities!!! Hehe!!!

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Well my friends....as you can see....I really, really did have fun this morning playing with special effects!!! Hehehe!!! There are many more to experiment with!!! You know they say that "A Picture Paints a Thousand Words".....it's really true and with a photo editing software you can do just that! Well....I hope that I gave you a few ideas and if I can be of any help just let me know! Not that I'm an expert by any means....but I do love to play!!! Hehe!!! My camera battery is almost charged so maybe tomorrow I'll post some more of my Christmas decor!

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Merry Christmas!!!

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Love ya'll,

Chari