There's Hope in March

Now that February is finally over

I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Is that sunshine??

Winter time in South Dakota

has a tendency to drag on.

I wouldn't recommend it to

Californians or Floridians!

It's strictly for those

of us who like to hide out in our sweatpants

and pajamas 6 months out of the year!

The best part about that is the time

you get to spend indoors 

binge-watching television

or 

in my case,

getting back in touch with

my creative side!

Oh, I've had my moments, It's not 

been easy being cooped up in a rental house

that's garnished with teacups, doilies, and pictures

of someone else's grandchildren.

(Hey, it's warm and a roof over our heads,

I'll never complain!)

It really is a good lesson in empathy if nothing else.

My guests will get the royal treatment

from now on!

Anyway, I digress...

Today on March 1st, the sun has come out

and I'm finally feeling the hope and contentment

that spring is just around the corner and

we'll be getting back to the comforts of home

in just a couple more weeks!!

This morning on Instagram, I see Magnolia is selling

tulips at the Silos in Waco!!

(note to self: pick up some nice faux tulips at Hobby Lobby!)

Now where was I going before tip-toeing in  the tulips??

Oh yeah,

So, yesterday I sat down at my computer

and revisited my digital files...

Cottage Arts

 Escape and Scraps

oh yes,  and Oscraps

I found these websites years ago

when I was doing Make-and-Take Craft Classes

at my store "The Prairie Preservationist"

Well, that was in my days before I found INSTAGRAM...

IG has taken me not only away from my blog

but to a whole other galaxy if you know what I mean

(and if you are on Instagram, YOU KNOW what I mean)

Our kids kept telling us how popular Instagram is...

then when my sister got hooked,

well then I had to jump

on the bandwagon as well.

Now I have 4 accounts and have to admit

am overwhelmed most of the time,

but what a joy to be overwhelmed by so

much inspiration and so many positive posts.

(I tend to follow artists, conservationists, and dog-lovers

you know, the GOOD SOULS on this earth!!)

Alright enough rambling about Instagram...

Until yesterday, I've been a little perplexed!

 I just don't have any new and exciting photography

to share on my instagram accounts...

10 Degrees and blowing snow just don't

lend themselves to quality photography...

There's no birds to watch in the rental backyard.

The dogs chasing a squirrel or two I suppose would

make an entertaining video, but then there's that problem

of me in my pajamas! 

The neighbors in town don't need to see that!!

My hard drive runneth over with 1000's 

of pics. So why not pull them out, dust them off

and pair them with some new digital elements and backgrounds?

Do you have some time to learn something fun and 

not so new??

Click on over to Photoshop and download you

some happiness.

Photoshop Elements is how I create these fancy

little collages I call "Sanity Savers"

and now I just send them to my phone so I can share them

with my Instagram followers!

this is 4:4 (4:5 is best)

to post on my feed...

Or 16:9 size is perfect to share on my story...

I've even been toying with making my

own frames in PNG format,

all done in PS Elements, SO FUN!!

 Remember Sully, our rooster?  Gosh he was a beauty!!

Now he's ready to put into some digital art,  

Cock-a-Doodle-DOOO!

So now you know that I am over the moon with

digital graphics and making eye-candy to share on

INSTAGRAM

and remember IG is linked to FaceBook

so it's easy to share on both 

with just one click of the SHARE button!

 If you have any questions about what I've

shown in this post, please don't hesitate to ask questions

in the comment section.

Oh and one more tip, check out the graphics fairy

for fun and FREE downloadable graphics like

the lady on the moon, the tulips,
and the teacups all shown above.

Hoping the Sun is shining in your part of the world.

Have a Peaceful Sunday,

Lisa