Loni Leah

Photography

I've been editing sessions like crazy lately, which is great, it just seems I lack the time lately to keep it all updated on my blog so last night I decided to start a special Facebook Page for Loni Leah Photography; just for quick updates. There is now a link on the sidebar to the right if you want to become my FB friend! I hope you'll follow it and "like me". I really am a somewhat like-able gal! ;)

 
  

    



 

Doing what girls do best...

Shopping! :)

Pics of me and two of my cutest friends, Maggie and her daughter Emily, at Quincee's Boutique last weekend for the grand opening. Maggie was in town for the week visiting family and doing photo shoots so we were able to get together for a couple hours Friday morning. So happy whenever we get the opportunity to play! Only wish it were longer. (Hmm... Phoenix sounds pretty great right now though. Maybe it's time to book a ticket and visit her...)

 

A little off subject, but that yellow shirt behind my head... I want it. I'm in love with it. 

Picture snapped by Emily...

Again, if your a local, go check out Quincee's Boutique in Provo! :)

Quincee's Boutique! Join us!

My sister-in-law, Kylee, is opening the most darling new boutique in Provo, Utah this weekend! Clothes, Shoes, Accessories, Jewelry, Purses, etc. I've seen inventory as it's come in and everything is so dang cute! So, if you're local, come check it out!  

A couple quick snapshots I took late at night this week before the stores opening...

You can print off the coupon below and receive 20% off one item between October 15th-23rd! Or you can down the PDF and print that off:  Download QuinceeBoutique_Coupon

Cute little family of 4.

So, I promised to start sharing more photo shoots in my last post, and this one being the most recent with my new camera (which i am very much in love with, by the way!), I'm sharing it before others. Not that any of my other sessions were less loved! This camera just makes me happy, so I'm posting my first session using it.  

Now let me introduce the cutest little family...

 
  
 
 

At second glance...

I did a photo shoot last week and I was going through them later I almost overlooked this one. At second glance I fell in love with it. I don't know why, I just did. It was right at sunset, out in the middle of country, next to a field of horses. A location we "kinda" stumbled upon after getting stuck in traffic and having to turn around and go in a completely different direction. 

 

I have several shoots I need to start sharing. I've been doing more and more in the last year, which has been cool. I use to get really nervous before each shoot and want to completely back out, but now it's fun to give each family something a little different and scout out different locations that fit their personalities.  

The most beautiful girls...

My two fun nieces, who are also sisters, spent a good chunk of Tuesday evening hanging out with me. They came along as I was scouting new locations for a photo shoot the following day and ended up as my subjects. The little one just got back from dance class and the older just wanted to come over to my house and play in my make-up for a couple hours so they weren't quite prepared for a photo shoot, but hello! They're naturals! They ended up front & center without any resistance. We had fun. They really are strikingly beautiful girls. 

  

Being an Aunt is the best.

Took these two little ones to the Snow Shack for shaved ice cream over the weekend. Yummmm. We could make this a DAILY tradition. Easily. 

 

 

    Jazz hands out of nowhere. Haha.

  

The protective big sister. They are so sweet together. 

   
They ditched the straws at one point and ended up with bright red, stained hands.
  

Sunday.

 Came home from church today around 5 PM (spent about 45 minutes afterward talking to my lovely friend Karalee outside on the church steps about boys & life. Nothing new.) Came home. Plopped down on my bed in my Sunday clothes and snuck in the last 20 minutes of work I needed to get done this week... shhh, don't tell. Downloaded a couple new songs from itunes. Ate dinner. Answered "Nope. Nada. Ain't happenin'." to the twenty-fifth time I was asked if Mr. Eleven Year Old Nephew could be on my computer (which is a record low to his normal 50 times a day). Took silly pictures with that same nephew in Photo Booth- where red soda pop was then spilled all over my floor because it was tucked under the edge of my bed without my knowledge. Argh. Felt bad for scolding young child. Cleaned up red soda. Encouraged child to go to bed. EARLY. Cleaned & organized my office a little. Went through photos of my recent trip to the Oregon Coast. Made a noble goal to start working on Project 365 album. What? It's only July. Read a little. Blogged this most exciting post. Bed. 

 A most pleasant Sunday spent at home.

I've missed my Maggie...

Do you have one of those friends that just makes you so dang happy to be around? Me too! One I haven't seen in way too long is my absolutely gorgeous, fashionista friend, Maggie. If you're a scrapbooker, you'll recognize her as one of the super-stars of the industry. That's actually how we first met, over seven years ago. We were both contributing artists at  Making Memories at the time; working on special publications and their design team. We hit it off immediately and have been friends ever since! 

Today she was in town visiting from Phoenix so we met up and hung out for a couple hours. I've missed my Maggie! We shouldn't be apart this long. It ain't cool. I think the last time we got to hang out and play was when I spent a week staying with her in Arizona two years ago. Now I want to pick up and move back to Arizona so I can be her next door neighbor and play everyday! Is that too much to ask?

She brought her Instax camera today (which is the size of an adult head!) so we had a little fun... 

I think I need one of these now!

A special day...

I went to the Temple yesterday for the first time, which was so wonderful and special! I loved it. Several of my family members and closest friends came and supported me, which meant so much. It amazes me sometimes how many wonderful people I have in my life. I am really blessed.

 

This is me and my mom before leaving my house. Yesterday was one of the windiest days we've had in a while so I'm actually shocked in these pictures that my hair isn't pulling an "it" and draped across my entire face. It was insane. I came home late to see that the vines growing against the house were completely ripped from the wall. 

Hello.

Anyone still checking in on this thing? I didn't realize it had been as long as it has since I last blogged. Four months apparently. Such a crazy four months it's been too.  

Anyway, not much to blog at this very second, but I figured I'd pop in an say hello. Start the blogging process again. I obviously go through cycles and am back in the blogging mood again. We'll see how that goes. Right?

The weather is so beautiful here today. It's about dang time! Utah weather drives me crazy sometimes. I hope it's sunny wherever you're reading from too.

Wow... I am a really good blogger.

Right? 

I have good intentions, I really do. Some weeks are just better than others. 

Not much on the brain today that is blog worthy so I thought I'd just share a photo shoot I did last month instead. I haven't shared many of those in recent months.

I wanted this shoot to be traditional & timeless so we keep it pretty simple. I shot indoor with natural lighting and a reflector.

This baby girl weighed only 4.7lbs. when she was born. A real life baby doll! So sweet.

 

 The foot idea with the text was something I first saw on Becky Higgins blog, so that's not my original idea. I ended up using that photo as the focal point on the announcement I made and added 'introducing our new' text in Photoshop above the word 'Love'.  Very simple.

Another tip... pull out your border punches! I love using them to add a custom touch to announcements or invitations I make for others. My favorite is the one I've used below by Martha Stewart. (Just make sure to leave space on the sides you want to punch when designing it. I generally make 5x7 prints.)  

  

Snapped these quickly in photo booth. The photo quality isn't the best, but it gives you an idea.

Cute little gift boxes

Okay, so I may not have a chance to take photos of my completed projects until sometime next week, but I'll share what I'm playing with! Some of my new 3-D gift boxes that have been, or will be shortly be, added to the Silhouette Store. (The titles are included in the top three.)  

Just add a transparency, or vellum, to cover the opening, embellish it a little and then fill it with treats or a gift and give it away. :)  

scalloped_lace_gift_box_C00140_19547
02/01/2010

loopy_lace_gift_box_C00151_19547
02/05/2010
 
horizontal_heart_gift_box_C00152_19547

02/05/2010

The holes at the top are to add ribbon or string through and present ornament-style, if you'd like. They can also be removed. The notches on the back are to secure a little note to the recipient. These aren't just for Valentine's either. They work for any occasion.
    

Blue skies!!!

Shut the front door!!! We have blue skies!!!

January  had so many ugly air days that I've relished in every blue, sunny sky I've seen this year. Today I drove with the window rolled down. It was so nice and pretty. I had to pull over to snap this photo. I took it a step further when I got home and cracked the window in my office to get some fresh air circulating... then shut it about 5 minutes later when I started to lose feeling in my feet from the cold.  I am definitely grateful for the sun & blue skies though. Makes me SO happy.

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I just added this decorative box with the scalloped window to the Silhouette store this week. It includes a 'Love You' title as well. A really cute candy/gift box for Valentine's Day. I'll dress it up and share it with you before the week is over so check back!

scalloped_lace_gift_box_C00140_19547
02/01/2010
 

Hope you have blue skies wherever you are! 

Random thoughts...

(I should probably keep to myself)

• The other night I sat at a stop sign waiting for the red light a block ahead of me to turn green. One might assume I am a stoner. I am not. It actually reminded me of a time as a teenager though when one of my best friends made a rather sudden stop because she saw a red light in her rear view mirror. If you knew how hard I am laughing at that memory right now. Made me feel a little better. 

• I have recently learned that "rag-a-muffin" is a dated term and that many kids today have not even heard of it. Shocking. Sadly, I think I have a list of outdated verbiage I use on a regular basis. "Hell-a cool" is not one of them. Okay, I liked. But, only on occasion. I think there are a lot of things we say here in Utah too that are not used elsewhere, or as often. Like, "What the heck!". Guilty. I remember working with my sister-in-law when I lived in Kansas City and remember our co-workers being absolutely dumb-founded when she asked "where should I huck these?", referring to cardboard boxes. Being from Utah, I knew what she was saying. Translation: Where should I throw these? 

• I really hate public restrooms. I especially hate toilets in public restrooms with those stupid automatic flush sensors! I appreciate the idea of sanitation (I am 100% pro-sanitation), and not having to make contact with the handle (lets not let our mind drift on the grossness that inhabits that thing...), BUT, being one who believes in thoroughly coating the toilet seat with at least five layers of toilet paper or seat covers, I hate that every time I move to get more toilet paper for this purpose, the sensor goes off prematurely, violently sucks the toilet paper down the drain and I have to repeat the dumb process until I can slowly, and cautiously, trick the stupid sensor and literally jump on the seat before it steals the paper! This scenario is particularly frustrating in a small stall at an airport with two big bags of luggage. Has happened a time or two. 

• Why am I watching the Bachelor again? Haven't I made this mistake before? 

• If that stupid gray cat poops in the corner of the living room ONE MORE TIME, I'm donating the damn thing to Goodwill. She's gonna end up right next to the second-hand underwear if she's not careful. She'd be wise not to tempt fate. She's really pushin' it.

• The other night I pulled over during a snow storm, major lack of visibility, when I noticed a heart forming on my window.  Ahhhh. I took it as a sign that I am loved. Sadly, by a big, blue trash can spotlighted through the window. Hot guy would've been too much to ask for, right? 

I am taking more pictures each day as I am going to do Project Life this year. This is a snapshot from my home office today while working. Highlights a little message I tore out of a magazine several months ago and have lovingly displayed on my lamp ever since... "LONG LIVE HAPPY HOUR". Happy little sentiment, right? I like it. My happy hour generally includes Diet Coke + Lemonade, on the rocks. Pebbled, please. And sadly (cough)... making fun of the Bachelor on Monday's nights as I watch it with my BFF and her husband. 

  
 PS. I have another fun Valentine's project. Check back in the coming days for pictures.

Valentine's Blocks...

Here you go! Some of my little wood Valentine's blocks ready for that lovely day. I plan on making more in different designs. I promise to share them here when I do. These are so fun to make! You could do so much with them too. Stack them up, add eyelet hooks and ribbon at the top of each one (like the Christmas ornaments I did) and use as door hangers or hang on hooks, or use eyelet hooks to connect them to each other and hang on the wall. Or!... cut out wood blocks to form the shape of a heart and glue together. Hello, that would be really cute! 

I cut everything out of white vinyl. I used the vinyl designs as masks to paint on to the wood (because I didn't have any pink vinyl on hand) and then left all of the words white.  

The masking technique is super easy: I painted the base of the blocks dark pink (the color I wanted the designs to be, which you could customize), cut my design out of vinyl and applied to the wood where I wanted that design to be and then spray painted burgundy red over it (spray paint is faster and gives a cleaner and more consistent look each time). Once the red was dry I pealed off the vinyl to expose the pink design underneath. I saw that Silhouette has two different shades of pink vinyl available here though if you'd rather just cut the designs out of vinyl and apply right to the block without using the painting techniuqe. I wish I would've had the fuzzy white vinyl on hand for the words too. Wouldn't that be so cute? Next time! 

Phrases 'everything grows with love' and 'the sweetest thing' are rub-on's from Making Memories.

Silhouette Designs I used:

  

love_C00025_19547
12/07/2009

I used this love word, but replaced the snowflake with the cherry:

 

cherry_with_heart_C00086_19547
01/11/2010

  

heart_flowers_C00101_19547
01/15/2010

 

heart_vine_C00100_19547

01/15/2010

 

eyelet_lace_border_C00094_19547
01/13/2010
 

Used the flourish from my 'Sweetheart' card:

 3D_card_sweetheart_C00090_19547

01/13/2010

The houndstooth pattern is from Silhouette. One of my favorite backgrounds!

houndstooth_square_med_1294
04/09/2009

PS. Some of the words I've used will be added to the store shortly.  

What a great day...

One of my favorite people is in town visiting from Michigan. Jessi! 

We met up this morning for lunch at Cafe Rio and spent at least 2 to 3 hours just sitting there laughing & playing catch up. I've missed her. I'm trying to find a way to get her back here, but I have a feeling my work is cut out for me. I will not give up though! Among other things, I will work "The weather is great. You are awesome. Please move back." into every conversation we have until it's actually put into action. It will eventually work... I just know it.

I have been putting together some fun wood blocks for good Valentine's Day decorating this year using my Silhouette designs. Same idea as the Christmas ornaments from this post. I thought I'd leave a little teaser... they are going to be so dang cute when I'm finished. Check back on Monday and I'll share the finished project with you so you can create your own or just to get the creative wheels spinning for your own Valentine's projects!

Hope you have a great weekend! Gonna go check out a movie tonight with a friend.

3-D Cards...

These should be available for purchase in Silhouette's online store today. 

HOW THEY WORK:

NOW, JUST DRESS IT UP A LITTLE AND GIVE IT TO YOUR SWEETHEART!

Why, Hello New Year!

2010... I should probably update this thing, don't you think? Good thinking. Posting a picture of me sitting here counts as an update too, right? It shows that I'm still alive & kicking, which is indeed, an update. 

Now, I'm off to play with some fun 3-D cards I designed this week for the Silhouette Store. Fun stuff! Here's a peek of one of them...

 

Oh, and on a side note... the very talented Nichol Magouirk did a scrapbook layout using my die-cut designs for Silhouette, which she's shared on her blog. Check it out here, or scroll down on the Silhouette Blog.  So fun to see my designs in action! Love it.

Holy cow!

I actually returned my Redbox (rent-to-own) movies on time! This is quite the feat for me. Last time I rented from that pretty-red-box, my balance was $13, for one movie, when I finally returned the stupid thing. Don't ask me why this is so difficult for me. I'm feeling rather impressed with myself this morning though. It's the simple things. 

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I'm sharing a sneak peak for Amber this morning of her fun family photo shoot last week in the snow. So beautiful shooting in the snow. but dang, it was cold.

 

PS. I've got new designs that were just added to the Silhouette Store.  Check em' out when you've got a second!

Ornament winner!

Thanks for all of your really sweet comments! They made me feel so nice and were so fun to read. 

After randomly drawing the winner from a bowl with everyone's names in it (very high tech), the winner of the ornament set it is...

Carrie Uhing "These are the MOST adorable little ornaments. I luv luv luv them. What a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing."

I just sent you an email Carrie!

Thanks again for entering everyone and leaving a comment. Now, it's time to create something new, huh?  

PS.I'm listening to my 11 year old nephew play and sing 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' on the guitar as I type. Totally makes me happy. He is such a little rock-star.

HoHoHo! Merry Christmas!

Ready to see what I've been creating this week? Cute little Christmas ornaments made of wood, as well as paper... fun, huh?

I designed the words and an ornament template for the Silhouette craft cutting machine, which can be purchased online through their store. The words are great on a scrapbook pages or other holiday projects too. This is just the beginning of designs to come from me for Silhouette. 

Do you want to win a set of ornaments I've made? I'm feeling quite jolly this morning, so I am going to do a drawing to win a set of 5 of these handmade ornaments I've created (I'll personalize one of those ornaments with your last name too). and 5 paper gift boxes. Just leave a comment under this post with your name & email for your chance to win and I'll randomly draw a winner on Monday. I'll close comments around 3pm and draw a winner sometime that evening. US residents only, for shipping reasons. Sorry.

Wood Designs:

     

 

Paper Gift Boxes:  It's all about presentation, right? This is a fun gift idea for teachers, neighbors, friends, etc. Fill them with a treat that can be opened after displaying the ornament on their tree through December. 

 

 

Here are instructions if you'd like to create your own:

Wood instructions:

Ornament gift box: The template can be purchased through Silhouette's online store, under my stuff. 

Most of the ribbon used on my ornaments are by American Crafts. If you are in Utah, they are having a warehouse sale til' December 24th. A great time to buy! I bought my ribbon at their last warehouse sale for a killer price! I think I need to go back and get some more. 

 

I've been creating stuff...

Check back soon and I'll share my project with you!  

 

so cute & cuddly.

My nephew and 3 nieces on Sunday...

 
  

They're laughing at ME. You catch that, right? I believe they think I'm crazy... WHICH I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT. ;)

Some sneak peeks for Rachel...

You can check out more on my photo blog here.