CoffeeShop Frame 1!

I had some "free" time (instead of cleaning I decided to work on the computer!)

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

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

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CoffeeShop Group It Action!

Clipping masks are really confusing. They are simply cutouts in storyboards, but you have to group your image to them. Like layer masks, they are a wonderful editing tool, but they are difficult to understand unless you read a really good tutorial or book or have someone show you how to use them. I have two tutorials (tutorial 1, tutorial 2) already posted on my blog, but I still get so many questions.

So I finally decided to make this easy on you.  I wrote this really simple action

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How I don't do it all and can live with that.

We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend.  There was a sea of pumpkins and happy children in cute little black and orange fall costumes.  Their smiling parents followed them around with cameras to capture the momentous event.

Then you had our family.  We looked like we just dragged ourselves out of a trash-bag full of unsold rejects from a garage sale.  That is actually not my husband in the photo, he was taking the picture.  ;-)

A wise man once told me that it was true that women could do everything. But he stared in my eyes and then said "But not at the same time". This wise man was my husband.

I get emails and comments all of the time asking me how I have time to do it all. After all, I blog here,

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CoffeeShop WebBoards: Rounded Corners 1

I am going to be coming out with more WebBoard actions and templates.  You can find all of my older ones here.

This action I am posting today automatically build the storyboard,

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I am now on Facebook!

I have to confess I am a Facebook newbie.  Well, I finally decided to try to figure it out (is it me or is Facebook a bit confusing at first???), and I now have a fan page!  I am going to use this page to announce goodies I am going to be posting on my blog and answer questions.  And perhaps even other things once I figure out what people do on their Facebook page!  ;-)

And if there is something you are interested in seeing me post on my blog (like actions or storyboards), just drop by there and leave me a note.

If you have some hints on keeping a boisterous lab puppy from chasing your chickens and giving those chickens near heart-attacks I would love to read them!

Oh, and if you love editing challenges please check out Amanda's (of Coffee with Amanda) fun Show your Skills! You can see my version here.  It took maybe a minute to edit, and I know it shows!!!  ;-)

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

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

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The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Eat Shades

Imagine for a moment you are Imp, walking around the backyard, enjoying the nice fall weather. You are relaxed, comfortably dirty, and you have your shades on. Life is good.

Then suddenly, ATTACK!


Maple: 10 points. Imp: 0 points. Sunglasses: Beyond repair.

"Imp, don't let the dog eat your sunglasses! That was your last pair."

"Mommy, don't worry, the stores have plenty of sunglasses. We can buy some new ones".

Oh dear, here goes the lecture AGAIN that money AND sunglasses do not grow on trees...

That darn smug dog.

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If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action. ~Douglas Adams

Don't you love Douglas Adams?  I  know he died a few years ago, but I read and reread The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in college.  I hung out with the cool crowd as you might well imagine. We read all types of science fiction, wore penny loafers with our sweatpants, and were in the Genetics Club. I believe I was even an officer. We made these t-shirts for our club that we thought were really clever.  They showed some fruit flies meeting in a bar with the slogan "Increase the gene pool, practice random mating!"  Yes, we were not the "The Far Side"...  We were all t-shirt slogan and no action, but it made us feel cool.  ;-) 

Like most mothers out there, I try to do the best job I can raising my children. And that includes not wearing t-shirts that say "Increase the gene pool, practice random mating" around them.   But sometimes, as much as you try to protect them from the bad things in the "real world", they manage to shock you.  This is a cautionary tale of the risk of reading your favorite classic children books to your children.  ;-)

Here you can see little Imp (who is three) sucking on his homemade "pipe" made of aptly-named pipe cleaners and a straw.

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Color Inc. Giveaway, Gallery Wrapped Panel Split!!! CLOSED!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!!

I am excited to announce the newest ColorInc. giveaway for my readers! They now offer a a new product called the Gallery Wrapped Panel Split and you can read all about it below.

New Product: Gallery Wrapped Panel Split

Longing for a new and improved, eye-catching look for your home? Or are you just tired of that bare- spaced wall you have no clue how to decorate? Well search no more! Try our new Gallery Wrapped Panel Splits for your home or clientele as a great way to achieve that modern and edgy look you've been waiting for. Our Gallery Wrapped Panel Splits are a great way to present and display a single image over multiple Gallery Wrapped Canvas Prints and will enhance any wall space, no problem!

Each canvas is hand wrapped

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CoffeeShop's New Look!

Today the kids were "napping" in the back room (actually they were reading/playing/fighting quietly/picking their noses but staying out of my hair) so I had a few minutes to myself. I just started this new book but instead of reading I decided to tweak my blog design.  I actually do all of the design/html work on my own blog because I really enjoy it!

I know, you are supposed to pick a design and stick with it, but I can't do that. I am a tweaker... I had to teach myself some html and blog design just so I could make these constant changes (and thus my sister's and my small part-time blog/logo design business).

Not like I have real things to do (as I look over my living room and shudder). ;-) I am truly a geek.

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

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

I wish I could say this was an outtake or I told Duke to make a funny face.

Duke, didn't your mother ever tell you that your face could get stuck???

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Coffee With Morgan: Cloning, Spot Healing, and Patch Tool Tutorial

Morgan sent this tutorial my way and I couldn't wait to post it. Thank you so much Morgan, this is an amazing tutorial!  And please go check out Morgan's workshops, they are worth every penny and then some.

This has probably been the most requested tutorial, and I have finally done it!

 Keep reading for the tutorial.

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CoffeeShop Perfect Portrait 2 Action - FINALLY!

To celebrate my new domain name (CoffeeShop's new address is http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/  but the old one will still work) and to also show how much I appreciate you, my reader, I want to present my new updated Perfect Portrait  PS/PSE action (you can find the old version here, the download link for this new updated version is at the bottom of this post).

This is as close as you can get to a one-stop portrait action.

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

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

Imp often insists on putting his shoes on the wrong feet. Funny how kids will find something they can control!

A couple of weeks I blogged about this great book I had read; Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids. This book helped confirm how I wanted to raise my children is this crazy busy world.

Well, last week the Outreach Coordinator for Kim John Payne (the author of the book) contacted me and mentioned that they wanted to "reprint" my post over on their website. As you can imagine I was very honored. Please visit the Simplicity blog if you have some time, it is a great resource and very inspirational. I think every parent can work in a little bit of simplicity parenting and doing Nothing!

And guess what, Perfect Portrait 2 is coming out this weekend! 

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"That nauseating, foul, unclean, repulsive television screen!"

So far so good in homeschooling Duke (wiping the sweat off my brow).  I realized the first few weeks I was being too ambitious with the basic three "R's" and science, history, art and music.  Goodness gracious, he is only 5 and would be in Kindergarten!

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CoffeeShop Vintage Damask Frame 2!

Guess what! I finally decided to spend the $10/year to buy my domain name through Blogger. Back when I started this blog I thought I would call it Coffee, Tea, Photography!, but I decided after a while that the name was too long and cutsie. And of course I was too busy (lazy) to do anything about it.

Well, today I sat down and registered as The CoffeeShop Blog! New name, but the same old blog. ;-) It is so much easier to type in www.thecoffeeshopblog.com rather than www.coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com . Welcome to my new old blog!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! The weather here has been perfect

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{Friday Photo Bliss}

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

My two little photographers-in-training.

Oh, check out this tutorial on KevinandAmanda on sewing your own camera strap slipcover!  I am going to  pull out the sewing machine for this one.  I think I will make it sans ruffle so it won't scare away my husband.  ;-)

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