Monday, July 15, 2013

Explore

   Thanks to all for your comments last week and for your concerns about my finger. It's healing very well and I'll be down to just a bandaid tomorrow. You should see how both my hubby and son looked at me though when I got out the knives to prep for dinner yesterday :).

  First I want to share two photos I played around with in Photoshop for the Mandarin Orange Monday challenge. Lori shares her really fab PS photos and I wanted to learn how to play a bit too. My son was over and I had him explain a few things. This is my first play with effects, layers and opacity and oh my-the possibilities are endless! I squealed with delight like a child who got an extra scoop of her favorite ice cream!! (Son was just rolling his eyes).

Original photo:





 First PS play changing to "cut out" effect, changing color to orange, using the "multiply" layer and playing with opacity:


  And here's the second one I did continuing with the one above, adding another layer(not sure what it was though-I need to write these things all down!):

I really like this one! Thank you for your inspirational photos Lori-you gave me a jump start into something new! Linking this to Mandarin Orange Monday.

 Inspiration Monday's challenge this week is about birthdays so besides a card I made I want to share two vintage cards I thought were adorable. I was given several scrapbooks filled with cards someone had taped to the pages for various occasions over several years.They were going to be tossed-can you imagine???




 She's holding an actual little powder puff. This next card is also a pop up:






   Here is a birthday card I made (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") :


  Products Used: white and black card stock; patterned paper (KI Memories, Inc.); stiff green felt (Hobby Lobby); Jet Black, Forest Green Staz-On ink (Tsukineko); clear UM stamp -Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Grand Calibur die cut machine and Foliage dies (Spellbinders).

  The theme for this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge is "Good To Be Green". I t can be about the color or upcycling so I'm linking the above card and the next two projects for it also.

  Another card:


  Products Used: kraft note card (Canvas Corp); patterned paper scrap; striped washi tape (Gauche Alchemy); die cut tag (Colorbok); wander sticker (Design Originals); epoxy sticker(source unknown); Vintage Photo Distress ink (Ranger).  It's not just about cards-you should see all the creative inspiration on their blog!!!

 I'm also linking this last project for the SSS&S challenge but I made it primarily for the last :( Summer of Color Challenge at Twinkle,Twinkle. Thank you Kristin for a fabulous time and for hosting!! The last color combo voted in was Sepia and Sage. I chose to make a small canvas:

  I started by gluing  a napkin onto a 3" x 3" canvas . I then added a bit of upcycled dryer sheet to the lower left corner then added the image - Sand and Sea Squares collage sheet (Retro Café Art) on top. Typed and trimmed "sing", sponged with Vintage Photo distress Ink (Ranger) and glued on along with two paper flowers (Prima) and pearl stickers (Queen & Co.).

 Oh, I'm also linking to Artsyville's Glue It Tuesday hosted by Aimee. She creates such colorful, happy art and of course I LOVE it!!

  Hope you're taking time for some art this week. See you Friday at the party (Paint Party Friday)!

" To love what you do and feel that it matters- how could anything be more fun?"  Katharine Graham



























38 comments:

  1. I really like what you did with that foto...it looks great! Nice cards too. Happy Monday to you!

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  2. Wow, so much great stuff to see here! I a just adore those old birthday cards, especially the powder puff one. And your SOC piece is really lovely, love all the elements combined.

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  3. These all are just wonderful. Looks great. Very nice card. Your SOC pieces is awesome. Thanks Linda.:) Take care
    gloria

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  4. beautiful blog .. so much creativity. I really enjoyed my visit here :)
    warm wishes, Susanne

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  5. A lot of talent here! Great vintage cards and photos :)

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  6. Adore your little SOC canvas, the colours are so soft and enchanting. Reminds me of the "Rupert and the Frog Song"
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4xeidmjy6s
    BJ

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  7. All your projects are so inspiring, I love what you have done with the photo ... it is always great to play and see what happens (lol) and your canvas is absolutely delightful.

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  8. Your art and your comment on MoM made me smile:) The changes you made were very dramatic - i love what you ended up with - those colour combinations are really interesting and the flat, hard edged processing is great. It makes me think of the Australian outback actually:)
    Thanks for being part of Mandarin Orange Monday and I am SO pleased to have inspired you to try something new. We all are inspiring each other:))

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  9. I'm here from SOC and I love what you made. Has a bit of vintage feel, but also not really vintage. I love that you recycled a dryer sheet, too.

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  10. Beautiful artwork all your Sage and Sepia is soft and subtle and lovely.

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  11. Fabulous pieces, again, Linda! Love your cards and that wonderful canvas. Good to hear that your finger is almost healed. Be careful with those knives!!

    Very interesting what you did with the photo. I don't have the time (or inclination, to be honest) to do photo altering. But, many have done some very amazing things with it! Have fun with your new adventure. :))

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  12. I really like your card with all the post markings on it! what a wonderful creation!
    ~Dawn

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  13. Love your PS play, Linda - yummy!! :)

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  14. I love your vintage froggy!! How delightful Linda, this colour combo has suited you very well :)

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  15. Glad to hear your finger is better.
    Love the old cards. Yours are lovely as well.

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  16. I love the stamp and show challenge - what a neat idea. Need to check that out. Your cards and artwork includes so many fun vintage images! Coming by from Glue it Tuesday, {:-Deb

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  17. I loved seeing the transformation of the photo. Beautiful! Hope that finger is ok.

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  18. Hi Linda! I love your sage and sepia mini!!!!

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  19. Love your work, beautiful paper and interesting work with the photo.

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  20. Wow...Linda, all your projects are awesome! I especially love your green projects with felt leaves and beautiful stamps. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week. :)

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  21. Hi Linda

    It's always fun to stop by and see what you have been up to!

    Glad your finger is on the mend :)

    I love how you played with the photograph... my favourite is the really colourful one

    Your SOC is gorgeous.... I just love these colours.

    Karen x

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  22. Loooove the frog in the waterlilly, so cute. Beautiful interpretation of this weeks colors.
    xx

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  23. Great photoshop work, love it! Your greeting cards are just awesome!
    Thank you for visiting me!
    Cheers
    Gabriele 1

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  24. Such a poetic gem is your work!Beautiful!

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  25. I love all of your creations, especially the green (felt?) accents on the card. Thank you for sharing and joining in the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show this week!

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  26. great news about your finger and your men are funny ...

    such fun to learn new things and look at you with your new PS skills!

    so much to enjoy and what a great rescue the greeting card albums were...lots of classic images to be had

    your canvases are so special and each one is unique
    I adore my precious swan you made me and see it every day
    oxo

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  27. Love that little canvas! :) Perfect!
    Have a nice day!

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  28. Love your vintage cards. That small canvas looks gorgeous. Love the background color and that flower print pattern is so beautiful. I'm so glad to hear that your finger is so much better now.
    Susan

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  29. Lovely work this week, and what a beautiful canvas in the SOC 6 colours!

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  30. Gorgeous canvas, Linda!. Sad that this challenge ended so soon. I LOVE the work you did with PS, pssst I don't even know PS! :).

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  31. I love the "powder your nose" birthday card! It's very unique and lovely! :)

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  32. I love the cards! The vintage cards and the ones you created are all wonderful. Thanks for joining the birthday challenge at IA.

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  33. Hi Linda,I'm coming over from SOC- I love your little canvas it looks so darling and the colors work with all of the details you added. Very cool.

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  34. Lovely use of the colors this week, they perfectly suit the materials you used. Gorgeous. :)

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  35. LOVE your canvas done for Summer of Color!! First you got me hook, line, and sinker with the frog!.. But the layers of pretty details from there is something I'm still learning!.. Just LOVE it! Hope you're enjoying your weekend, and have a great week ahead! ~tina

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  36. Wonderful work Linda! I'm a new follower!

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!