ColorInc Spiral Bound Books Sale, Just in Time for Valentine's Day!!!

ColorInc Pro Labs was my first sponsor, back when I just started out and didn't have many readers. They have always been very supportive of my blog and they are also my own personal photo lab. So I am always excited to announce when they have special promotions.  This week their spiral bound books are 20% off with coupon code SPIRAL20.  Just click on any ad below to go to their site.

ColorInc has great products, prices and excellent customer service.  Please visit them today!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22!

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Here is another vintage frame!  CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22 is high resolution and comes in both a layered psd file with a clipping mask and a png, so you should be able to use it in any editing program.  If you are new to clipping masks you can use my Group-It action or follow the tutorials listed on that post.

Use frames for posting your images on your blog, website, facebook, or flickr account.  You can also use them to decorate website/blog headers, greeting cards, or use them for print.

I also wanted to mention that Pretty Presets has some beautiful valentine storyboards posted for download today.

Download the CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22!  You can also download it on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures (including this frame).

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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Pretty Presets Dreamy Baby Collection Giveaway!

I want to welcome Laura of Pretty Presets to the CoffeeShop today.  I personally don't find a need to create many of my own LightRoom Presets because I love using the ones from Pretty Presets.  Imagine how happy I was when she emailed me with this wonderful giveaway opportunity for my readers.  Thank you Laura!

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One of our best selling collections right now is our Dreamy Baby Collection for RAW images and we would love to give away a set to one of you! Want to enter? It's easy!!

We're huge fans of Rita and the Coffeeshop Blog we would love to know what three words come to mind when you think of her website. Personally, I think of the three words "Fun, Friendly and Informative". Rita is one of the friendliest ladies I know and always offers so much information on her blog and makes it fun to learn!

Leave a comment with your three words on this post along with an email address we can use to contact you.  The winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified before I send out this collection. Be sure to let me know if you shoot jpeg and we will get you another collection. Thank you and I look forward to reading your responses. To view more from this collection you can click here.  These presets are for LightRoom and will not work in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.


Contest ends on this Friday and winner will be contacted by Laura from Pretty Presets on Saturday!

The Dreamy Baby Collection was created specially for editing newborn sessions. The presets range from basic color, to dreamy hazes, and soft pastel tones. There are also classic and vintage inspired B&W Presets to complete the collection. The set contains 12 Original Presets + 4 Bonus Posts for a total of 16 Presets. These presets are perfect for your newborn photography, as well as children’s portraiture, and work best on RAW images and natural lighting.

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CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar Photoshop/PSE Action!

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I love using color palettes for design inspiration.  It all started when I discovered the beautiful photography and color palettes at Design  Seeds and decided to create and share my own layered ColorBar templates.

I have had quite a few readers ask me what you are supposed to do with them.  Other than creating really  cool looking storyboards from your favorite images, they are also a brilliant way to pick colors for all types of design.  I use them to pick colors for website/blog design, logos, storyboards and even to select colors for rooms in my house.  Open any image and select colors out of it and you can use one color to paint your walls, one for pillows, and one for a rug.  If you are a quilt designer it would be a neat way to pick fabric colors that look great together.

I am sure you can think of many ways to use these nifty little color palettes and they are fun to make. However, I love using actions whenever possible to save time, so I wrote the CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar action to make it simple to create custom colorbar palettes in under a minute.

CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar Action Instructions:

1.  If you are new to actions, you can find instructions on loading them on my Action Install page.  I like to capture colors with the eyedropper using the 3 by 3 average setting rather than point sample.  To set this as your standard setting, click on the eye dropper tool (I) and then select "3 by 3 Average".

2. Open the image and make sure it is a 8 bit flattened jpg and start the action.  Crop bars will come up, so drag them to taste. If you can't see them completely,  click Ctrl-0 (zero) to zoom out (use Ctrl-0 again to zoom in).  Once you are happy with the crop, click on the check on the bottom in PSE or the check on top in Photoshop.

3.  The action will crop the image and add a white canvas and 5 gray squares.  The "Pick a solid color" pane will come up, so simply click on a color  in the image you wish to capture and click OK.  Don't get too particular at this step, you can always change the colors at the end of the action.

4.  The "Pick a solid color" pane will come up four more times, so each time click on the image to capture a color and Click OK.

5.  Once the action is finished, you will see all of the layers and color fill adjustment boxes.  If you want to change any of the colors, click to select the little color box in the layer pane and then click on your image.  Easy, right?

I hope you have as much fun with this action as I do!

Download the free CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements!  You can also download the action on here.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action!) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures. 

For complete instructions on installing all of my actions, click here.

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CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Action UnWrapped Tutorial!

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If you have been following my blog, you know that as much as I love writing and posting actions, I also love to teach editing techniques.  Every action is simply recorded editing steps, and if one takes apart an action they can learn all types of editing tricks and tips.  Today I want to take apart the CoffeeShop  Velvet Peach action.

1.  Open an image and Ctrl-J (Command-J in Mac) to make a copy of the background.

2.  Desaturate the new layer (Layer 1).
Photoshop:  Image, Adjustments,  Desaturate
PSE: Enhance, Adjust Color, Remove Color

3.  Put this layer in Screen blending mode.
 

4.  Make sure Layer 1 is selected and add a Solid Color Adjustment Layer (this should be the top layer).

5.  I used hex#eed8cb in this action.

6.  Put the Color Fill layer in Multiply blending mode and adjust all layer opacities to taste.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  I am excited to announce I have two new actions coming out!  One is called Luminous Color Burst and it is the best color pop/enhancement action I have ever written.  It is completely customizable and if you like rich saturated colors you will love this action.  I also wrote an automatic colorbar action for those of you that would rather use an action than my ColorBar template.

And of course I have more storyboards, editing tutorials and design elements coming out.  So please bookmark me and tell your photography/scrapbooking friends about all of my free stuff!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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CoffeeShop TearDrop Cluster Paper and Brush Set!

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I recently posted a set of TearDrop Cluster digital paper, but I wanted to also post the original layered psd file.  You can open the paper and then customize all of the colors.  I love going to Design Seed and picking colors from her beautiful palettes.  This download also includes the brushes I made and used on the papers.

This is not an action!  You can open the layered file in Photoshop or PSE like any other image.

Download the free CoffeeShop Tear Drop Cluster Paper and Brush Set!  You can also download them on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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Cat's In The Cradle and Why I Am a Stay-At-Home Mom

Music matters.  I see little girls singing and shaking their hips to Lady Gaga and Nickie Manaj around my town and it makes me sad.  What are these songs teaching our young children?

My early childhood was spent listening mostly to classical, jazz, and easy-listening instrumental music.  I didn't even know Beatle songs had words until I was in my preteens.  However, my grandparents were big fans of folk music and they introduced me to the records of Harry Chapin when I was about eight or nine.  My favorite song was Cat's in the Cradle and I wore that record down playing it over and over again and I memorized every word.

This song is one of the main reasons I became a stay-at-home mom.  Our children aren't parrots, they actually listen to music lyrics and these lyrics help shape them as future adults.  Please take some time and listen to your children's music, even it it makes you want to throw up.  ;-)

I would love to know which songs that you listened to as a child that helped shape your adult self, so please leave a comment below!

By the way, one of my other favorite songs from Harry Chapin was 30,000 Pounds of Bananas (Warning, you might not want to watch this if you are easily offended or if there are kids in the room!). Based on a true story and not inspiring, a bit disgusting, and not child appropriate in any way; this song had us rolling around on the floor cracking up.  To this day when I see a pile of ripe bananas I can't stop myself from singing "all those 30,000 pounds of mashed bananas".

No parent or grandparent is perfect (I just told my kids to get out of my face right now because I am trying to finish this post!) and I suppose everyone needs some comic relief after listening to "Let it Be" without any lyrics.  ;-)

Cat's in the Cradle, Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

♥ Read more!

CoffeeShop Channels Photoshop/PSE Action!

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I have found that PSE has many hidden "talents".  PSE is a basically a limited version of Photoshop, but I can unlock many editing techniques (only found in Photoshop) in PSE simply by writing an action. Even though you can't do the steps yourself in PSE, you can run the action and PSE will act just like Photoshop.  Of course, there are limitations, but I love discovering the power of PSE.

In the CoffeeShop Lomo Action UnWrapped Tutorial I have some steps where I adjust the contrast of the  Red and Green Channels for color tinting.  PSE users can't follow along that part of the tutorial, but I wrote this nifty little action to do it for them.

CoffeeShop Channels allows adjustment of the brightness/contrast of the Red, Green and Blue Channels, and this action can be used in Photoshop or PSE.  By adjusting the contrast of the different color Channels you can get interesting and sometimes beautiful color effects.  This action also allows you to follow Photoshop tutorials that  use Channels.

Unlock the powers of PSE and download this action!

1.  Open the image and start the action.  The action will make a duplicate of your background layer.

2.  You can adjust the Red, Green, and Blue channels (in that order).  Prompts will come up telling you which Channel you will adjusting, just press "continue".  Then adjust the contrast (or brightness) to taste for each channel.

3.  I adjusted the contrast to 100 for the Red and Green Channels and 0 for the Blue Channel.  Once the action finishes running you will see a Channels layer with a built in layer mask.

You can download the free CoffeeShop Channels PS/PSE action!  It can also be downloaded from Mediafire.


Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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CoffeeShop Action UnWrapped Tutorial: Lomo Effect!

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I have been going through my older actions and seeing which ones I haven't written Action UnWrapped Tutorials on yet (where I take apart my actions and show you how I wrote them).  CoffeeShop Lomo has been a popular download on my site, so I decided to write the tutorial today.

NOTE:  This tutorial is written for Photoshop since PSE users can't access Channels. However, I wrote a Channel Action that PSE users can use for Steps 2-4.   Photoshop and PSE users can also download my nifty CoffeeShop Lomo action and get the exact same results without having to do it manually.  :-)

1.  Open your image and duplicate the background.  This is a SOOC image.

2.  Click on the Channels tab and then click on Red.  Image, Adjustment, Brightness/Contrast and set the contrast to 100.  (Note:  PSE users can download my CoffeeShop  Channels Action, for Steps 2-4.)

3.  Click on the Green Channel and go to Image, Adjustment, Brightness/Contrast and set the contrast to 100.

4.  Click on RGB and then on the Layers tab.

5.  Add a black  Color Fill adjustment layer and put the layer in Hue blending mode, 20% opacity.  This mutes colors.

6.  Add a Gradient  Fill layer, transparent to black, Radial, Angle 90, Scale 150%, and click on Reverse and Align with Layer.  Then click on the Gradient.

7.  Move the white slider (circled) to the middle of the scale (50%).  Click on OK, then OK.

8. Put this layer in Multiply blending mode, approx. 50% opacity and you are finished!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  I will post the CoffeeShop Velvet Peach UnWrapped tutorial next.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes the lomo action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Photoshop and PSE Action!

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I wrote this action the other day and loved it so much I wanted to post it up here for my readers.  CoffeeShop Velvet Peach is a high contrast peachy action that looks really nice on many types of images, but I especially love using it on still life and portraits.

I added a layer mask on the Velvet Peach layer, so you can paint out the effect selectively or even adjust the opacity of the layer.  On the portrait above I used the Velvet Peach layer at 80%.  I will post an action unwrapped tutorial in a day or so for those of you who want to see what is going on in this action.

Download the free CoffeeShop Velvet Peach action for Photoshop or PSE.  You can also download the action at MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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You Know You Are a RedNeck When...

I try to feed my family healthy simple foods that my great-grandmother (if alive) would recognize.  We buy local/organic fruits and veggies as often as we can and I will admit to paying $6-8/pound for grass-fed organic beef.  Expensive, but my kids are worth it.

I grew up with an avid deer hunter father. He brought home a deer or two or three every year and I remember my mother carving them up in the kitchen.  At least until she wised up and made him bring them to a deer processing plant.  But whether we ate venison sausage or roasted backstrap, we always enjoyed eating those healthy lean deer.

My husband and I aren't hunters ourselves, mainly because the idea of getting up before dawn and sitting in a freezing deer blind has no appeal to us.  And as much as we love meat, I still have issues looking it in the eyes before killing it.  I have a few rooster stories about that...  But I do want my boys to know that the hamburger they eat comes from a cow and not from the grocery store.  And who knows, if the boys show an interest in hunting when they get older, I might drag my lazy rear out there to be with them.

Now, on to my "Christmas Story."

We were supposed to spend Christmas Day with my family and I could already taste that melt-in-your-mouth lamb roast.  Hours before we were supposed to show up, my father calls and starts the conversation with "I had a horrible accident."

Of course I panicked--until I heard the whole story.  See, my father was dog-watching my sister's chocolate lab.  Dad and Charlie (the dog) were going for a morning walk in the woods when a doe burst out in front of them.  Charlie freaked out and started barking, and the deer then freaked out and turned tail and ran smack into a wooden fencepost and broke her neck, dying instantly.

My father, at other times the manly deer hunter, considers all deer on his property his personal friends whom he feeds and waters like pets; so he was really upset.  He called the game warden who said that Dad could have the deer for meat, but he could not bring it to the deer processor because my father did not have a deer tag.  So this is why we received the morning call.

My father has been ill and it was freezing that day so he could not butcher the deer alone.  But I started thinking about those pounds of organic grass-fed meat and I convinced my husband (who had a bad cold) to go early and cut the deer up.   He was not happy, but thankfully he loves me and puts up with things like this.  We googled "deer processing," printed out a few sets of instructions, and headed out.

I won't go into great gory detail, but I will say my father the deer hunter laughed out loud when we showed up with our Wikipedia deer processing instructions...  It was a cold, rainy, blood and guts day.  After a few hours, we had a large beer cooler full of cleaned and quartered venison.  The boys  saw where meat comes from (and they frighteningly didn't seem to be bothered one bit) and I found plenty of excuses to check on Grandma back in the warm dry house.

Later at dinner we mentioned that this was not our best Christmas, and Imp piped up and said "I think that the deer had a worse Christmas!"  From the mouth of a four-year-old.

A few days later my mom and dad cut all the meat off the bones and I brought my meat grinder and we had a fun grinding party and ended up with 20 bags of ground venison.

I made my homemade organic grass-fed venison veggie lasagna.  Yummy!

I took some pics on my husband's phone of him cutting up the deer so he could show his friends his "manly" side.  The other day I was talking to one of those friends and he mentioned the deer pics. He knows we have been looking to buy a new house and he said "You know, your new neighbors might not like living next to rednecks who eat roadkill."  Technically it is not roadkill and more like fencekill, but he still cracked me up.


Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

Attic Bliss - Finding Daddy's almost 40 year old train in the attic and it still works.

Inspired by the SouleMama blog's {this moment}, I am posting one image every Friday, taken recently, that really makes me happy. If you end up doing the same I would love to see your photo linked in my comments!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures. 

♥ Read more!