FREE Owl Lover 2013 Calendar

Yes, that's right, free printable calendar again this year!

 All you have to do is pop over to My Owl Barn and choose from all of the wonderful artwork. This is the 3rd year that Shivani has worked with artists from all over the world on her calendar project. Over 40 artists have contributed and there are 43 images for you to build your calendar with.  You just might have to print more than one -seriously!  Someone on your Christmas list would surely enjoy such a creation!

Gorgeous, see what I mean?  And, since I would love a cup of tea right now, I will leave you with one more...

While you are there printing, choosing and sighing with pleasure -leave a comment and say Hello to Shivani. :)

Thanks for stopping by!
~S

Homecoming Heels

It has been quite a while since I went to a Homecoming dance. Striking suits & ties, sparkly dresses, and oh... those high heeled shoes!  For privacy purposes, I cannot really show you the faces that go with the shoes... The shoes however, want to be famous!
{via Posterize option in PicMonkey}

Silvery Curving Sparkles~

Blurry?  Doesn't matter here~

Hot Pink Satin Bows~

Love how the black accents the heel~

 

 Golden Strappiness~

Sandy Tan and accents of white~

Muted Pinks on tippy toes~

Even looks comfortable, doesn't it?~

Lovely Mochas~

Lined up and ready for the dance~ {a few pictures first...}

Silvery Smooth~

Golden Light w/that fabulous pop of pink~

There you have it, Homecoming Heels with a Posterize feel~

If you want to learn more about PicMonkey.com visit my earlier posts, here, here & here. {Guess I went a little crazy with it!}

Thanks for stopping by!

~Shelly

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