Home for the Holidays Returns!

[Barbara Eckhardt]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Jane, come on you did a great job. Did you use like the background from a postcard? Then insert the home?

[Barbara Eckhardt]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Yes I did do the icicles back then. Around me they still do them. I don't, I am lucky if I get 3 huge red bows on the canister lights outside by the garage. And now you say six yrs.? Now I feel old.

[Jane Frazier]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

I found an image online then inserted the house. I actually covered up a beautiful old barn and silo. I tried putting some carolers in but couldn't get the proportions right. I also wanted snow on my bushes but finally had to give up. I had fun but was supposed to be working on deadlines. Hopefully we will see some more.

[Debbie Green Sutherland]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

As promised, I am posting photos of the lights on our house. Thanks for the inspiration Merlyn! I can't believe it! I have outdoor Christmas lights on our house for the first time ever!!

Here is a teaser photo of our lights. To see "The rest of the story" and more photos visit my Dandelion Blog.

Christmas Lights (our House).jpg

[Anna Davis]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

I had to go straight to the blog it looks great, Johnny is just saying don't get any ideas.

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Love what you've done, Jerry! Now for next year.... you could turn your home into a Gingerbread Wonderland....
while you sing along with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdaT7Gwrk28

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

404980884.jpgNo snow, non-traditional colors, but isn't that plum door pretty against the stone and gray trim. We even have purple eucalyptus in the planter! The gable end is the perfect place to proclaim our holiday message.

Anne Murray performs Joy to the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91brmsKeqcQ

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Holiday House Carolers.jpg
Greenery under the windows lighted with candles and stockings hung with care from the balcony, along with a traditional wreath on the door, brightens up this gray brick with a different style shutter -- a wintry backdrop for our carolers.

Enjoy The New Horizons' rendition of Here We Come A-Caroling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dGMu37xHvw

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Candy canes decorate the shutters and line the snow-covered path, and gumdrop trees fill the urns.

Darius Rucker sings Candy Cane Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi3fBIk1PVk

[Debbie Green Sutherland]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Love the big peppermint candy on the door.

[Connie Valente]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

I remember when we did this way back when- what fun-...sorry I just saw this...not sure if I'll have time to "play", but so enjoyable to "see"
Happy Holidays to all!

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

today I have de-constructed our original house a bit, downsized it and turned it into a country farmhouse with siding materials to match the buildings on this charming Christmas card scene artist unknown. The only decoration is the oversized wreath on the barn. Can you tell which is "real" and which is Studio?

Ever wonder why barns are painted red? Aside from looking so pretty in the snow, there is another reason:

Hundreds of years ago, many farmers would seal their barns with linseed oil, which is an orange-colored oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant. To this oil, they would add a variety of things, most often milk and lime, but also ferrous oxide, or rust. Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color.

One of my favorite singers Johnny Mathis promises I'll Be Home for Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud4zErNtL5Q

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

The Nautica commercial inspired me to really go all out with the white lights on this one, even the drive is lined with them! All done with the straight line and bezier line, changed to a white dotted line of 2 or 3 pixel width, and Bead 04 from the Trim folder for the icicles. It's not too discernible in the dark but we now have a half-Tudor with stone on the lower portion.

The moon will be nearly full on Christmas night. What is the probability that you will have snow in your neighborhood?
white_christmas.jpg

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas by Rascal Flatts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBXXS2SXxtg

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Holiday House Santa diffuse glow photoshop.jpg this would be a cool technique to use on a greeting card - create your rendering in Studio, export to a jpeg and then open in Photoshop. Use the Filter called "Diffuse Glow" to give that snowy effect. Windows are decorated with rope cording, rosettes and tassels for the true drapery maven!

Enjoy Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band romping through Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSgEDKjmT5o

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

Today's drawing uses a beautiful painting by John Sloan - we've substituted our house, revised to look more like a weathered wood shingle farm house, and photoclipped some sky and trees to fill in the gaps, and also the horse to position him in front of the Studio house.

Sing along with Jingle Bells (if you can keep up with Barbra!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX4RRcXvfrE

[Debbie Green Sutherland]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

I absolutely love red doors!

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

do I sense a new project for Jerry???? Your house would look great with a red door, Debbie!

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

The Storyboard Module makes a great backdrop for a greeting card for any holiday. Just add your photo or rendering and customize the colors to coordinate.

Holiday House Storyboard.jpg

John Williams composed this music for the movie Home Alone. I never cared much for the movie but this piece is very beautiful:
Christmas Star
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx3a0u0C9IA

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

A departure from our semi-realistic scenes - this is a reverse silhouette of our house on a bright blue background with fantasy snowflakes

for your listening pleasure, a rockin' Feliz Navidad

[Merlyn]

Re: Home for the Holidays Returns!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJGi682Fb30
Tony Bennett -- he's a classic and so is The Christmas Song