Edge Tutorial

For those of you with Photoshop Elements

here's a little tutorial on how to get these edges.  Those with Photoshop can get this effect with layer masks.  This is an easier way for PSE users.  The

possibilities are endless with various filters.

I used a layer fill with color so it would show better on my white blog background.

To Bokeh or Not?

I've been experimenting.....

with bokeh textures.  The painting features a transfer of a woman's face in prayer/contemplation.  The only processing I did was add the bokeh texture.  While they are not effective on everything I think they are a nice addition to this art.

I keep trying them on lots of images, so there will probably be a rash of my images that have been bokeh'd in the future.  

DO YOU BOKEH?

Digital Collage

So many projects - not enough time.  I played with this one until it squeaked.  I can't even remember all the filters I used.  I know I used the texturizer "canvas". I also used "plastic wrap".  I had to extract the gladiolas from a journal page.  I tried several frames, none of which I really like on this.  

I really think it needs something but I'll have to contemplate what.  If it were an acrylic painting, I would just paint over it.  I think this is a victim of over processing!!

Photoshop Revisited

Okay, I've had my fun changing my blog so.....

today I'm back to creating in Photoshop.  i've incorporated a piece of art as background, some freebie images of daisies and butterflies, one of my photos used as a texture.  I also played with filters and settled on "ink outline".

Big Eyes

I change my wallpaper on my desktop every week or so with the magnificent National Geographic photos.  I had to share this one because it is an incredible display of my favorite colors -- purple and green.  I love tree frogs with their beautiful green bodies and big eyes.

 "This is the wind what blows, he said, & it lives in a jar in my bed & his eyes were big with the knowing of all that."

~ Brian Andreas

Go and have a beautiful day! 

Where to Find Class for Blog Design

If you want to learn how to put a new dress on your blog, I'm taking an online class from Jessica Sprague called "Blog Design Basics for Blogger".

It's very inexpensive and self paced.  All the videos are there for you forever if you wish. You can access them 24/7 so you can take the class in your pajamas

with your cuppa if you wish.  There is a forum where questions are answered.  So what are you waiting for?    

Today I finally added some "happy art" in a frame to my sidebar.  I also fixed signature.  Not sure if I'm going to use the signature, but I wanted to go through the exercise to be sure I know how to do it.   

Too Cutesy?

After all this work I'm wondering to myself if this is a bit too cutesy.  I wanted a fun look -- more playful but not homespun or cute.  The good  news is that I now know how to change things around, so I can design to my heart's content.  I still don't have this signature where I want it, so I need to do a bit more work.  It is centered when I view the blog, but now I have too much space between signature and post divider.  And I think that flower in my signature needs to be deleted since the post divider has enough flowers.  I'm beginning to feel like the flower child.  I don't want to tell you that I was around back in the days of the "flower children" but I was....   Back to the design board.  See you soon.

Bits and Pieces

   I thought I would show what I used for my background.  I'm going to redo my banner but haven't decided what to use yet.  I want it to have a fun feeling but not "cutesy".  I used part of the image on the left for the background side panels and part of the image on the right for the border of the side panels.

I love the class I'm taking through Jessica Sprague.  I'm just so delighted to feel okay with editing HTML -- not worried about destroying my blog.  Whew!!! I still need to work on the sidebar and signature.  But we're getting there.

Note to Self

I must work on this background. It lost its polka dot border.

  I must change the title picture or the background because they sure don't go

 together.  Figuring out how to make these changes happen is really

 challenging my brain!!!  Oh, and the post divider

 is ending up in the wrong spot.  Funny, I never see anyone else's blog

 displaying its underwear for all to see.  How do they make these changes look so

 seamless?  I wonder.....

Changes Happening!

Apologies for the crazy look here.  I'm working on a new dress for my blog and I need to either go on a diet or get a diffferent "size" dress.  So bear with me while I play with this thing.