Tutorial- Bokeh lens filter

Hi! (go past this post to see the christmas book post! Sorry tempremental blogger! Lol!) Tutorial time again. This one came about from a lot of experimenting. I had seen instructions on how to make a lens filter so that you could turn this: (bokeh)

into something like this: well. I had a go and it worked alright but then I discovered something much more interesting. How by creating a lens filter with a small circle in the middle, you can focus in on the object and make the background solid black.

so.. here's how you do it:
1. cut a strip of BLACK paper a couple of inches wide. It doesn't need to be neat. It just needs to be long enough to fit around the lens of your camera.

2.

Fold a third of it down.

on the bit that you just folded over, cut into. As above.

4.

Now make into a circle, big enough to fit around your lens and staple in place.
5.

It should look something like this. Draw around it and cut out the circle again in black paper. This should fit in the middle.
6.

It should now look like this. cut a small circle in the middle. All of my pictures below used a circle about the size of one you would get if you whole punched it, but experiement with different sizes or shapes as below:

This lens filter should now fit snugly on the lens of your camera, and you are ready to take some pictures. As a rule of thumb, the clsoer you zoom, the larger the hole will become, so the less black background you will get. The trick really is just to experiment. Below are a few of my piccys with the filter:

Thanks for reading! Loves xxxx

Christmas book Blog Train.

Hi. Today me and several other lovely ladies are linking up to showcase some of our favourite christmas books. please come join and get into the christmas spirit! You never know, you may find something to sneakily add to your christmas list! He he!

Ok, lets get the ball rolling..

My book is: Mary's first Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr.

I recieved this book for christmas when I was ten from my Godparents and have loved it since then. It is the story of christmas told through Mary who is narating it to the young Jesus who she calles Yeshi. What makes it incredible for me, is the accuracy. It is illustrated beautifully and the images of Bethlehem are just wonderful. It is also very true to the Bible accounts with the three kings arriving two years after Jesus is born. It also includes Mary telling Jesus about the prophesy made by Simeon; that he will suffer many things.

To me what makes the book memorable is the illustrations, that really are incredible. It is also incredibly moving as we see Jesus in a new light, as a young boy discovering the story of his birth.

sorry the pictures aren't that good but you get the feel of it!

I would recomend this to any boy or girl aged about 5 years and up. It's one of those beautiful books you will have for life! For a review check out this site

So..on with the train to discover more books. Hop over to lizzie's blog to see what she has to show us..

Thanks for reading

Loves xxxxx

P.S If you get derailed on the train, the full list of ladies taking part is here:

Me, Lizzie, Mel, Jo, Amy, Kate and Sian (Thanks for joining ladies!)

I love my family..

Today I woke up and the snow was several inches deep. So excited was I that I was out of bed by 8.30! (this does not happen.ever. except christmas day!) My family love walking so by 10 we were walking in the beautiful forest that is literally in our back garden...As a family we are all really close...

I love the above piccy, it turned out great!

we had a lot of fun...

I love the fact that we can all just act like children every now and again! Lol!

I really do love my family.

Thanks for reading

Loves xxxxx

reflections

Wow, two posts in one day! must be a first! ha ha!

A few simple pictures that really capture the magic, the comfort and the excitement of this season at home...

These pictures were a result of a very happy coincident when my brother was happily looking out of the window without being posed...

Thanks for stopping by

Loves xxxxx

It's snowing

Got home last night, fell into bed and this morning looked out of the window to see snow falling! Flip, isn't God awesome, could I have had a better welcome home present!? he he! My Daddy and I went out for our traditional christmas tree hunt. A load harder than last year. I know we are always later than most people in getting our tree, but the garden centre was literally all there was. A huge selection but also a huge price tag! thankfully the 25% off label cheered us up!

Anyway, a few piccys of decorating the tree...

The cat helped too! he he!

Thanks for reading, oh n yeah I will still blog over christmas!

Loves xxxxxx

End of a term

Another end of term. I am actually so happy, this term has been crazily busy, so tiring but at the same time great fun. There have been many laughs and a few tears as well as a lot of work but in the end it has been the most rewarding learning curve.Loves xxxxxx

clothes show live

Again life has been hectic with the end of term approaching fast..woooh!But as promised, another photo story! Last weekend my school organised the bi annual trip to the clothes show held at the NEC in Birmingham...

we looked around the hundreds of stalls, shopped a lot, spent far to much momey and saw GOK WAN. Then we went to see the fashion show...

Gok and fearne cotton...

the smoke and lighting were amazing...

The best bit was that it wasn't just models strutting their stuff but proffesional dancers as well..

these wings are crying out to be scrapped....

some of the clothes really were incredible...

even here the scrapping mind was not turned off, just look at that colour scheme!

just a little piece of what I get up to, hope you enjoyed the trip, thanks for reading!

Loves xxxxxxx