Hello Fall! ~A beautiful note from Britta Swiderski

I read today's post over at Britta Swiderski's blog.  She addresses Fall like it is a dear friend, and indeed it is!  So fun... and she also shares with you the #4 card entry to a 10 Minute Craft Dash. Be sure to click on the links too~ Enjoy.

"Hello Fall.

Dear Fall,
You’re my favorite time of the year. Hands down, when you roll around each year, I greet you with open arms. Your sweatshirt weather, your brisk winds and yellow sun and your changing leaves make my heart happy. If I could have you all year around, I would. But we both know then I would take you for granted, and we can’t have that. Thanks for visiting again this year. You’re the best in Minnesota, I think, and I’m happy to be with you again.
So much love,
Britta
Seriously, fall is my favorite time of year. October is my favorite month. So it’s natural that when I tried out the 10 Minute Craft Dash yesterday, fall was my true inspiration.

The challenge is to use the three above colors to create a card in under 10 minutes. Mine took me a little over 15 minutes, but I hope that still counts! I felt the pressure for sure. :) It was a lot of fun, though! Here’s what I came up with:
"


Have a wonderful Fall day!

~Shelly 

A Bit More of PicMonkey {Officially Example #3}

One of the effects that I seem to really be enamored with is Orten. I used the standard settings in combination with Cross Process, in Red mode.  I started out with the wonderful moment of the team win (Yahoo!!) and amped it up with a soft boost of "brightness."
I started out with this image~

Already pretty cool on it's own, right?


Now, what do you think?

It feels dream-like... "We won, we won!!!"  Love it, if I do say so myself... :)


So great of you to visit~
~Shelly

Summer Days & My Baby Girl

Were you expecting a human child?  Although we have two teens in the house, we still have my baby girl.  We were just visiting a friend and enjoying a cup of coffee.

Due to it being summer-time, you can even see sand on Staxie's face as proof. :)

~Shelly

PicMonkey.com {Example #2}

Here's a quick example of some basic "fixes" that you may want to add to a photo.  I chose an old photo from a group, so it is not the best quality, but that is the point, right? :)

I wish I had kept better notes.... thought I would remember, as I did this only 2 days ago!  (Just right before I got sick... good excuse?)
On the After, I added mascara, and it looks like I only used "bright eyes" on my right eye, ha ha!  Oh well.  I used Cloning to remove some of my hair that I did not clear away from my neck, and to reduce the "big" hair I was experiencing on my left.  Gave myself a tan, and it appears that I also used the Weight Loss feature -although I do not remember for sure...  My favorite was the Wrinkle Remover -for my t-shirt.  I think it makes me look like I am sitting up straighter.  A good look. :) Then, I just headed over to the "P" section to add in the Text, and for the last step I popped over to Collage to drag my pictures in.

This is a great photo to use, because it has so many nooks and crannies.  Some alternate looks available... {Please click on the photo collages to see larger, and more clearly.}

  

The Warhol effect can be kinda creepy, hence the barely altered look I chose.  I did not want to look at a creepy photo of my son!  Another gruesome effect is the Focal Black & White, in reverse.  Just check the (reverse) box, and you get that alive-dead look really well.  Just click on the collage if you want to enlarge it. 

Want to make your masterpiece look a lot older than the 10 years or so than it was taken?  Try these~

I will leave you with one final "effect" which looks more like a frame to me. It is called:  ~Cinerama~ (Note: This photo was taken with black and white film, no alteration there!)

Hope you have fun checking this out!  Come back soon. :)

~Shelly

 

PicMonkey.com is a Wonderful Place to Hang Out! {Example #1}

Are you sad to see Picnik(dot)com leave? It had so many great digital photo effects for free, and for a small fee, enhanced membership.  WELL... Cheer up!  PicMonkey.com is here to save you!  I have been playing around a bit and am posting a cool picture of none other than... Peanut. :)

Peanut was the driver in this shot.  From the Basic Edit's Menu,  I chose the Crop feature to cut out some of the bottom which was showing the center cup holders, and cut off some of the right side to place him in a more flattering position.  Then I used the Clone feature to "delete" the papers in the side-door-pocket.  I also used Cloning to work on his eyes a bit -taking some of the glare out.  I zoomed way in to work on his eyes using my mouse wheel.

From the Effect's Menu, Camera Look, I chose "Daguerreotype." Then I added "Brady" and "Shiro" effects before saving.

The site is set up with the Categories listed on the left.  Top left is the Category by title, and side left is Category by icon.  Basic Edit = small molecule structure.  Effects = science flask. Textures = square grid turned on point.   There are of course, MANY MORE features to peruse.

I will continue posting pics this week as examples of what this site can do for you.  I will try and show some practical uses for enhancing photos, not just the artsy effects that look so good on Peanut. :) 

P.S. It is great to be back!! Sorry I have been away so long. ;)


Sharing here: Beyond the Picket Fence

~Shelly

Are You A Tim Holtz Distress Ink Fan? Check out these markers!!

Looking for a little Distress fun?  As in Tim Holtz Distress Markers?
The best price I have seen for these is at Oh My Crafts!  On sale here for $99.00; then use the SAVE20 coupon code & receive 20% off, plus FREE SHIPPING -for a grand total of $79.99. {Delivery in late March.}

Tim Holtz Distress Markers are water-based inks for coloring, journaling, stamping and more. The dual tip markers are ideal for many coloring techniques.

Distress Markers are available to match the Distress palette of 36 color and White Picket Fence.

Canister contains 37 markers, 1 of each color

• Acid free, non-toxic
• Available in Distress 37 color palette
• Available open stock or in canister set
• Use brush tip for coloring, stamping and shading

Note: Individual markers are on sale for $3.25 each (regular price $3.49); these are available "late February"  -so any day now. :)

"Mr. Holz" gives a great demonstration using these fabulous markers at the CHA 2012.  Noell Hyman of Paper Clipping 4 U (YouTube Channel) caught an exclusive early morning demo before opening, and there are no other interfering sounds in the background -really easy to hear!  Tim shows how they blend well very well, do not fade, and yet will not "smear" and actually resist when distress ink is added on top of the marker ink.  There is a special white marker, Picket Fence, which is on opaque marker.  On dark paper -it goes on invisible and dries seconds later to white.  You can go over your already colored images to add the frosty look too.  He mentioned that this marker can be used on all colors as well.  The video is about 10 minutes, but it was so fun to watch all that color, and how easy it was, that I just could not stop watching!  Now go and take a look -you will be inspired!

~Shelly

A Collage-Collective Blog

Gotta give a shout-out to Three Muses  blog for their place where others can exhibit their creations as well. {Self description: We are three friends who have NEVER met, yet share a good sense of humor, and a common interest in art in all its forms.  We are Ann from the UK, Marie from Western Australia, and Bev from Indiana in the US.}

Digital collages are definitely in my future!  I am working on sooner, rather than later.  Step one:  Load Photoshop onto computer: Check.

One Contributor, Ann of Taluula's, really entertained me & made me smile today.  Take a look: 

Love the bit about never telling lies... 

Who doesn't love Johnny Depp? (I actually got side-tracked by this one...)

The Queen, keeping up with fashion.

And some tattered wings, must get a lot of use...  Sorry, I was distracted, forgot to warn you about the non-PG thing.

While we are on the subject of wings, this next image is not actually a collage per se.  Although, it has an aged look to it, some teeny tiny, very useful I am sure, wings to look at.  And, it does have a bit in common with the above collage of Ann's.  I am sure you will enjoy it too.

Brendan Fraser, looking very fast

Another blog favorite of mine who also completes the 3 Muses challenges is Tania: Wild @ Heart.

 This one is titled, "She's a Handful" 

Another in a series of alphabet cards.  Isn't he handsome?

This one reminds me so much of the poem books I loved as a child!

Tania whips up fun images for Freebie Fridays too!  Here is her latest: 

and a previous offering~

So much inspiration, what's one to do? Utterly enjoy, that's what!

Good to see you!

~Shelly