An Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Tutorial

I love the look of textures on photographs.  The first time I saw an image texturized with Kim Klassen's textures I literally gasped with pleasure at the sight.  I began collecting textures from Kim (she is one generous lady) and across Flickr land using them in many of my images.  Last week over at Ashley Sisk's Tutorial Tuesday she shared with us how to change the background in an image.  Great information.  So today I decided I would give the tutorial a go.....this is where the teeny weeny tutorial comes in.

I began digital scrapbooking a couple of years ago....went head-over-heels in love with it in fact.  Started collecting papers, elements, kits etc etc.  So needless to say I have a stash of the digital papers just like I have downstairs in my piles and piles of the real stuff.  After taking pictures of my latest red tulip purchase I decided to try the new back-drop idea.

One of the best purchases I have made for less than $10 is some white foam core in various sizes purchased from Michaels & Hobby Lobby.  I have set up a mini studio on the dining room table with my foam core, one piece to put the object on and the 2nd one as a backdrop.  There have been various tutorials lately about making your own light-box and one day I will give it a try, but this works for me right now, even at night.  Since I use Elements 9 obviously these instructions are for users of Photoshop or  Photoshop Elements.   After choosing the image you want, crop it, lighten it more light than dark, tweek it the way you like and lastly flatten the image, and now comes the magic.  I chose a light colored digital paper from my stash that I thought would enhance the image, dragging it into elements and placing it on top of my original image, sizing it appropriately. (If you want more detailed instructions on applying layers please be sure and visit Kim Klassen's web site)  In the layers tab with your digital paper highlighted, chose "darker color" at 100%.  And voila....your image is still nice and clear and your digital paper is now your background.  I tried several different papers and the more neutral and light the better.  The third image with the red & blue stripes had stripes that showed on top of the tulips, so I just used the erase tool and erased those.  But the other 2 images had no signs of the papers on the image.  Magic??!!  I think so. I am sure that the neutral backdrop was definitely part of the magic, don't think this would work if you had a lot of things going on in the background.  You need to stick to the original tutorial for that magic.  I think these would make great greeting cards or prints...what do you think?  Give it a try.  And PS after all was complete I used my favorite action from the Coffee Shop blog, Velvet Truffle.

Original

After adding digital paper at "darker color" 100%

Joining Deb at This or That Thursday

"The trouble with life is, you're halfway through it before you realize it's a "do it yourself" thing."  ~  Annie Zadra

Until next time......

Six Syllables and Seven Vowels

Reconciliation, a rather long word with 6 syllables and 7 vowels with a rather simple meaning....to make oneself no longer opposed.  Synonyms of harmony and agreement, good vibes and okay are all positive words associated with reconciliation.  Antagonism, denial, refusal and opposition are antonyms (a word opposite in meaning) for this same word.  I pause to ask myself on this Ash Wednesday, would I rather be in harmony, have good vibes or be in a state of denial and opposition?

Ever since my husband began to obviously decline as Alzheimer's took over his life he had to step away from the activities he loved.  Working and studying for over 4 years to become ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic church and to begin his life as a Deacon, assisting at Masses, leading Communion Services, performing baptisms, visiting the ill, all to come to a way too early halt due to the disease.  I was angry, angry at God, angry at the Church, angry at some people from the Church.  I told God I was angry with Him (more than once I might add), He understood and He waited for me.

I have decided that I would rather live with good vibes, harmony & agreement rather than denial and opposition.  It may take me longer than the 40 days of Lent to come to this reconciliation, but I am resolved to try.  There are people I need to forgive which is difficult because when we needed them the most they were not there, but with the strength that God continues to give me I will.

Like the petals on the daffodils opening gradually, I too will open myself to reconciliation, have good vibes and be okay during these 40 days of Lent.

Please visit me today as I am musing on our senses at our collaborative blog Focusing on Life.

"God loves you whether you like it or not."  ~  A bumper sticker

Until next time......

If Life Is A Bowl Of Cherries......

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of our greatest American humorist's, Erma Louise Bombeck, born in 1927.  Erma was best known for her newspaper column, "At Wits End" that was syndicated across America and Canada in 900 newspapers, delivering laughter to the breakfast table three times a week .  Erma had a means of describing everyday life, children, housework, and husbands with an amazing sense of humor.  She spread her wit to television, appearing weekly on Good Morning America as her popularity continued to rise.   Erma found there was lots of money to be made making people laugh, she began her weekly columns at the Dayton Herald for $50 a week and at her peak was laughing her way to the bank making over a million a year.  Unfortunately Erma died after receiving a kidney transplant due to polycystic kidney disease, a congenital defect on April 22, 1996 at the age of 69.  Too young, and too many more columns to write.  If she were alive today I am sure we would be reading her hilarious comments about cell phones, texting and the latest fashion craze, skinny jeans.   Here are just a few of my favorite's from Erma:

• Ironed sheets are a health hazard.
• Seize the moment, think of all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.
• When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I do not have one single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything You gave me."
• How come anything you buy goes on sale next week?
• No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed.  I have known Mother's who remake the bed because there is a wrinkle in the spread, or the blanket is on crooked.  This is sick.
• Who in their infinite wisdom decreed that Little League uniforms should be white?  Certainly not a Mother. 
• There is something wrong with a Mother who washes a measuring cup with soap and water after she's only measured water in it.
• A friend never defends a husband who gets his wife an electric skillet for her birthday.
• Someone once threw me a small, brown, hairy kiwi fruit, I threw a wastebasket over it until it was dead.
• The odds of going to the grocery store for only a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. 
• If life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits?

In honor of Erma, here is a small bowl of cherries, not full, ripe, juicy cherries (not in season yet) but a bowl of cherry jam with whole cherries....Happy Birthday, Erma!!

Please visit me tomorrow, Wednesday, at our collaborative blog, Focusing on Life where I will be musing on ??

Until next time.....