Remodeling Stinks and the Wisdom of Young Children

I haven't been around blogging much the last week or two and I have missed it.  We have unfortunately had to do some unexpected remodeling on our house.

We noticed recently that one side of our front porch/balcony was sagging quite a bit.  The former owners had apparently added some new trim and repainted the front porch to hide the fact that the porch was rotting off the house.  And our inspector, once again, missed a very obvious major issue that involved costly repairs that should have been negotiated during the purchase of the house.

Luckily he did catch that the water heater needed to be raised a few inches...   What a champ.

What we initially thought would be a minor repair of replacing a few boards on the deck turned out to a complete ripping out and replacing of the entire bottom deck/supports.  The supports and bottom of the posts were completely wet and rotten and everything had to go.

After replacing the entire bottom deck we noticed that some trim on the top balcony was falling off too, and that involved tearing out the entire support on the sides and front of the top balcony to make it safe. We wanted to delay a full balcony replacement at this time (and I hope we made the right decision).

All of these unexpected but needed repairs stressed me out quite a bit (sticker shock), so I took a computer break and I hung out with the boys and their visiting cousin Mattie.

Here is my sweet husband with the boys and my niece Mattie at my mother's house.   (I used the Pretty Preset Matte B&W on this edit.)

Here I found all three of them cuddled together a few mornings ago.  I needed to see this to remind myself that though there will always be unexpected expenses and stresses in life; life is good.

I keep on reminding myself I need to live life more like a six or eight year old; appreciate and enjoy each day and not stress too much about the future.  Children are born wise.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

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CoffeeShop Graphic Art Photoshop/PSE Action!

I love using vintage design elements in my designs, and one of my favorite sources of free ones are from The Graphics Fairy.  Her downloads have a white background which I usually want to remove.

She has this great tutorial posted, but I decided to write my own version in an action so I could save time and also have the option to instantly change the color of the design element.

The design elements used in this tutorial are from her site.

Once you remove the white background you can drag the design elements on your work or save it as a png for later use.

Note:  There are two actions, one that only works in Photoshop and one that works in both Photoshop and PSE.  They are both labeled (PS-Photoshop, PSE-Photoshop Elements).

CoffeeShop Graphic Art Action Tutorial:

Step 1:

Photoshop action only (PSE users read below)!  Open the image and start the action.  Click on the white area of the design element when prompted (see above) and click OK.  This selects all of the white in the image.

PSE action only!  Open your image and make sure it is flat.  Then use the magic wand tool to select the white area (see image with bee above).  Adjust the tolerance and uncheck Contiguous.  Once the white is selected start the action.

Step 2:

PSE and Photoshop Action:  The action will run making a new document with your design element isolated without the white background on the bottom layer.  Please ignore the fact I called that layer Black Design.  I was supposed to update this part of the action and did not realize I hadn't until I uploaded everything.  So needless to say it is staying for now.

Turn on the middle layer if you want your image to be white or colored.

Step 3:

If you want a color other than white, simply click on the Color Fill 1 layer to pick a color.

Merge Visible and save as a png to keep the background transparent.

Your original image will also have a new layer with the original design element "cut-out" on the top.  You can save this one also as a png if you change the new version's color and want the original version.

Download the CoffeeShop Graphic Art action. You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

♥ Read more!

CoffeeShop Photo Brad Digital Freebie!

I designed little "metal" photo brads for this Facebook cover and wanted to share the brad with you today. It is a simple png file on a transparent background, so simply drag it on your digital designs and Ctrl-T (free transform) it to fit.  I love little scrapbooking creations, they can really add quite a bit to digital designs.

NOTE:  The frame does not come in this download, you can find it here.

Download the free CoffeeShop Photo Brad.  You can also download it here.  This is not an action!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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!

40% Mother's Day Sale at Hazy Skies Designs!!!

Roxanne at Hazy Skies Designs sent me this post on their amazing Mother's Day Sale.  She has some really beautiful templates on her site, so please check it out.

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Missed out on our magazine template intro price? You're in luck! Our 40% OFF Mother's Day Sale starts now! It's one of our largest sales of the year!

Enjoy 40% off our Etsy store and website now until Sunday! Prices already reduced at hazyskiesdesigns.com Please use coupon code MDAY2013 at our Etsy store.

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CoffeeShop Facebook Cover 8!

I made this little simple Facebook cover/header today and wanted to share it with you.  I created the little photo brads in photoshop and will post them tomorrow for download.  This is a simple png file which you should be able to open in any photo editing program.  Simply slip your images behind the frame and flatten.

Download the free CoffeeShop Facebook Cover 8.  You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

♥ Read more!

CoffeeShop Aphrodite B&W PSE/Photoshop Action!

I am going to release at least one new action every week this month, and today I wanted to post CoffeeShop  Aphrodite B&W.  This action is a B&W twist on one of my favorite actions, Aphrodite, and is fully adjustable.

The beautiful image I used in this tutorial is not my own, but sent to me by Jenny Lynn Photography (Facebook).  Thank you Jenny!

Run this action on a flattened image.  I usually play around with the Color Tint layer's opacity, but you can adjust any of the layers to taste.  

Download the free CoffeeShop Aphrodite B&W PSE/Photoshop action. You can also download it here.  This is a instant direct download, so be sure to download it to your desktop and then unzip the file.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

♥ Read more!

{Friday Photo Bliss}

Every Friday I like to post one image that I took recently that makes me happy.  If you do the same please link your image in my comments!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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!

Creative Ways to Capture Your Kids and Free Kindle Photography Book!

I am always having fun thinking of creative ways to photography my kids, and reflections are always fun.  I processed this image in LR4 using Pretty Presets (Spring Color Flare and Haze, Vignette).

We went to a classic car show the other weekend and the cars were absolutely amazing.  If I had a disposable income source I would have a garage full of classic cars.  Not that I don't love my Granny Mobile, purchased from my mother-in-law (a 2000 Grand Marquis with a tape deck).  OK, maybe love is not the correct word, but I have to confess it is a great car for long car trips.  My bum never gets sore from those luxurious  leather seats.

I was looking for free Kindle books last night and downloaded this one.  I haven't read it, but if you have a Kindle app it might be worth checking out since it is free (at this posting).




Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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 Express Eye Bright PSE/Photoshop Action!

I have a personal goal of posting a free action here every week in May.  Today I was frantically working on the computer while Duke was doing his math downstairs and Imp was playing in my "office" with me.  

We went to the circus this weekend so he was doing some "circus tricks" to impress me.  He kept on saying "Mommy, look over here" and I would glance over, distracted, and say "Wow, that is neat" and go back to work.

After twenty minutes of this, Imp says to me, "Mommy, you don't like me".  I turned to him and asked him why he would say that.  He then goes on to say, "You never look at me and smile".  Oh boy, talk about Mommy Guilt.  Even though "never" to a small child is five minutes.  :-)  Needless to say I pulled him on my lap, cuddled him, and then read him his favorite book.  And then finished this post.  I might have Mommy Guilt but I also have to help pay our bills.  :-)

I have a huge pile of really amazing actions that I need to finalize and post, but I decided to release this practical one today.  CoffeeShop Express Eye Bright is perfect for a quick eye enhancement.  Simply click on the background layer (or the layer with the eyes you want to sharpen), run the action, and paint on the layer mask to sharpen and brighten the eyes.  If you want more control please check out CoffeeShop Eye Bright.

I am  using a beautiful image from Amy Mize Photography for this tutorial.  I ran my Dandelion Wine action on the image, and then clicked on the background and ran Express Eye Bright.

Zoom in on the eyes and use a soft white brush at 100% opacity to brush over the pupils and whites.  The eyes will look freaky, but don't worry.

Zoom out and adjust the opacity to taste.  Normally I would only use an opacity of 10-20%, but I added more effect in this tutorial so you could see the difference.  Please use this in moderation so you don't have crazy alien eyes in your photos!  :-)

Mouse over to see the before (does not work on phones).

Download the free CoffeeShop Express Eye Bright action. You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

♥ Read more!

CoffeeShop Romantic Designs!

Today I wanted to share some digital vintage design overlays.  I modified these from some design elements from The Graphics Fairy using this great tutorial.  I actually wrote an action to isolate design elements this way and I will post that later.

These designs are transparent white pngs, so you can drag and drop them on your images.

I used a few of them on this lovely wedding photo by Today Everlasting Photography (Facebook).

You can adjust the color by grouping a color adjustment layer over the design.

Hope you enjoy playing with these! Download the free CoffeeShop Romantic Designs.  You can also download them here.  Note: These are not actions!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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!

{Friday Photo Bliss} and Free Kindle Photography Books Weekly Wrap-Up!

"The Chick Whisperer"

On Friday I like to post one photo I took this week that makes me happy.  We ordered some chicks by mail this week.  My mom inherited our  chickens when we moved and we are keeping these new ones until they feather out and will send them to her.  I have 15 peeping/pooping chicks in my laundry room...

We are huge fans of fresh free-range eggs.  My husband promises to build a small coop for us in the backyard, but it is down on his list of "Honey-Do's".  The joys of homeownership.  :-)

Here is my weekly list of free (at time of posting) Kindle photography books! I haven't read all of them but they might be worth checking out.

Newborn Photography Made Easy
50 Keys To Better Photography! (On Target Photo Training)
How to take GREAT pictures (How to harness your inner talents)
Snapping Shelter Dogs: Using Your Camera to help Shelter Animals find Loving Homes
Experiments In Impressionism - A Photographic Study - Volume 7 (Art)
Compose Better Pictures: A Beginners Guide on How to Improve Your Digital Photography with Better Composition 2013

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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 Glorious Light PSE/Photoshop Action!

If you enjoyed my post on the Glorious Light edit, but wanted to save some time by using an action, here it is!  The CoffeeShop Glorious Light action adds a wonderful warm glow to your image and you simply have to add the CoffeeShop Sunburst brush and adjust the layers to taste to get a beautiful edit.

A special thanks to Vanilla Sky Photography for donating this stunning image I used in this before/after.

NOTE:   Please refer to the  Glorious Light tutorial before using this action.  You must be able to use layer masks if you are running this action on a portrait.

These are the layers you will see after running this action.  Please refer to this tutorial for step-by-step instructions.

Use a soft low opacity white brush to add brightness to skin on the Brighten layer.  Adjust the Black to White gradient mask on the Dark to Light Gradient layer to add a dark to light gradient.  Use one of my Sunburst brushes in white on the Add Sunburst Brush layer.  Finally, mask out skin with a low opacity black brush on the Glorious Sun Tint layer.  Then adjust all of the layer opacities to taste.

Download the free CoffeeShop Glorious Light PSE/Photoshop action. You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file 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.

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

♥ Read more!