Did my homework!

As soon as I came home I went to work on my homework. I have to say that at least I have fun doing my homework and yet I still seem to learn things. This evening I did my Kimi Boo Homework #54 - 3D Effect. What this lesson does is take a flat image and give it a 3D effect. You can find this lesson on Photoshop Creative Elements http://www.photoshopcreativeelements.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5575&st=0&sk=t&sd=a.

Happy Birthday . . . Fergie Jane

Happy Birthday Fergie!

Just a year ago my sister lost her Labrador, Maggie Lauder after 13 sweet years. Maggie will always be in our hearts. Yes, I do miss the goose sounds Maggie use to make. Last May my sister decided that she wanted another Labrador, along came Fergie Jane. Yesterday was Fergie's 1st birthday and she came over to celebrate her puppy cake with us. My sister mentioned that she would like to have a photo of Fergie like a Andy Warhol. No problem! I just whipped up her request, I had an action from http://www.graficalicus.com/ called graffi warhol. I think it came out pretty neat, now to figure out how to get some color to it.

Think Small . . .

That’s right, think small. What? Haven’t we always been told to think BIG and reach for the stars? I was reading Lee Cockerell’s blog the other day and was inspired by a statement that he made. “If we all would think small, then we would worry about one transaction at a time to make it special for our customers.” Boy is he right. I think we often get so busy trying to fit everything into each day that we don’t take the time to make someone feel special. When it comes to setting goals, think BIG, like Lee mentioned when you are performing your role, think small.

It’s Your Lucky Day

I dug down in my Pot o’ Gold and designed a freebie to share with all you leprechauns. If you want your digital designs to be wearing of the green then scurry on over and click on this link Lucky Me.zip be sure and kiss the blarney stone and leave me some love!

May the leprechauns be near you
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels
Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Grunging It Up

I have been working on this photo since January, well not really. Actually, I started this project when Kimi of http://kimikreations.blogspot.com posted her challenge on Photoshop Creative Elements forum, Homework #44 back in January. I jumped right in at knew the photo I wanted to use. It was a photo that I had taken this fall of my sister's Yellow Labrador puppy Ferguson Jane at 7 months old. Kimi provided us with a free grungy overlay and the directions, it was a personal choice on what I was going to erase and anything I might add to this project. When I started this project in January I went thru the motions and I was never really satisfied with the results, so I set it aside and today it hit me. Get back to work on this photo. I am all about accomplishments and what can I get off my plate, but I have to be totally happy with the end results or I just keep at it until I get there. Whew, I got there today! In the original photo there where a few distractions in the background, but by adding the texture and changing the opacity I basically made everything but Fergie disappear, I love it. Just for that extra touch I added some brushwork and Fergie's name and date. After I printed this photo I framed it and gave it to my sister; she was thrill and I am sure she will be gazing at it on her desk.

Gettin' Some Action

Yes, I have been gettin' some action, I really mean some Actions. There is just so much to learn in Photoshop and I guess I just never really devoted much to playing around with the Action function until the other day, now I'm hooked!

My niece Nicole http://www.nicolehaleyblog.com , sent me a link for her favorite Action website http://mcpactions.com/blog, check it out alot of cool actions and information. You can bet that I bookmarked this one and I will be following MCP Actions Blog from now on. I, of course had my own favorite Freebie Action website http://coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com. Rita the owner of Coffeteaphotography creates all of the Actions and shares them with everyone for Free, of course donations are always welcome. I think Rita does a great job with her actions and the information on her site, be sure download some of her freebies.

This is one of Rita's actions, the Perfect Portrait. I think the name says it all. This photo is now brighter and Ryleigh is glowing. You know I'll be using this action again.

Here is another one of Rita's actions. I think is kind of gave this photo an Orton effect, by softening the photo. At the end of the action there were a few different glazes to choose from, I chose the Strawberry Glaze, doesn't it sound yummy!

Thanks Niki for getting me some Action, I'm hooked. Let me know what you think of these photos that I played around with.