Time to Update!

I have always been a frugal person. We didn't have much money growing up and most of my adult years we have had to watch our pennies. I actually don't mind this at all because I believe money is not necessary for happiness as long as you have enough to meet your basic needs (medical care, food, place to live, etc.) and I really don't like to shop.  We might not be rich but we have everything we need.  ♥ 

Because of my frugal nature I try to not spend much money on my hobbies or work. So I don't buy every new camera/lens or graphic program update out there and just wait until I feel it is necessary to spend the money. I still use PSE6, LR2 (I never had LR1), and until a few years ago had Photoshop 7.

Sunday I turned on my computer and opened an image in Windows PhotoViewer and it looked like this:

It was supposed to look like

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CoffeeShop Tutorial: Flower Art, Part 1 - The Studio

It is finally Spring and I have an urge to create some of my own wildflower wall art. And since I am a geek and love to write tutorials, I am going to show you how I make flower "art" at my house using natural light, simple props that I have lying around, and textures.

Studio

I always invest

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CoffeeShop CutOuts 10: Double Border!

Often when I make digital frames or cards I like to have a pretty border on the bottom. I decided to create a few that I could share with you. This one is a layered .psd file

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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 March Special!

UPDATE:  I have extended this special through April!

March Special because it is Spring and I adore my amazing readers! This month, if you purchase the CoffeeShop Action Pack (I packaged over 90 of my favorite actions in one convenient instant download) I will include the CoffeeShop Watermarking Action Kit (the only actions I don't post for free on this blog). Just enter the coupon code COFFEE if you want it.  If you already purchased the download this month, just email me and I will send the kit out to you.  :-) 

Note:  Other than the Watermarking Action Kit, every action in the download can be downloaded individually for free here.  Your purchase saves hours of downloading time and also supports CoffeeShop!

And thank you so much for your incredible support.  I have plenty of amazing freebies heading your way in the next weeks.  ♥  Thank you for making this blog (my labor of love) possible.

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CoffeeShop Action Flashback: ButterScotch Vintage

I wanted to just mention that my good friend Amanda from EveryDay Elements has a new Texture Mini Workshop on her site that you should go check out.  Just click on her button below and click on Blog and read her post from March 21st for more info.  She also offers PSE workshops.  If you are a PSE newbie or want to use PSE more effectively, I would highly suggest taking one or more of her classes!  Then come back here and play!!! 

I just realized the other day I have created well over 100 free actions for my blog.  I thought it would be fun to occasionally post about some my older actions, using them on more current images, so new readers can find them.  And maybe remind some of my loyal readers about actions they haven't used in a while and might miss.  If you have a personal favorite CoffeeShop action or freebie from the past you think I should revisit, please leave a comment!

Today I am revisiting CoffeeShop ButterScotch Vintage, one of my personal favorites.  I used it 100% with no changes on two of the images below, and on the portrait of Imp I made a new layer on top, did Stamp Visible (makes a copy of the image with all layers merged on it, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-e) and turned down the effect to 75%.

You can download the free CoffeeShop ButterScotch Vintage action on this post!

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CoffeeShop Perfect Portrait 3!!!

First, some business. :-)  You ask, I deliver! Don’t want to bother downloading each CoffeeShop free action individually and want to help support this blog? I went through and compiled over 90 of my most popular actions for Photoshop and PS Elements into one zipped file for purchase. These are the exact same actions you can download for free on my CoffeeShop blog (click here to see actions included in this download), but all in one convenient zipped file. Click on the button to read all about it, and thank you for your support. ♥


Now, on to the meat of this post!!!

I am so excited to present to you my newest free retouching action, CoffeeShop Perfect Portrait 3!  This action is a one-stop portrait action and works on all skin tones.   I have spent

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Oh, Boys and the Never Ending Pile of Laundry

My kids love to play in the dirt. At least twice a day. I just walked out and found Duke's socks, muddy and "hung" out to dry.  Lovely...

Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it. ~Not Your Average Dictionary

Perfect Portrait 3 coming out tomorrow!!!

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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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Chasing Dreams Texture Sale!

I am so excited that Colleen is not only a new sponsor on my blog, but that she is offering a special discount (coupon code below) on her textures for my readers. I have a texture addiction (along with the coffee one) and I have all of her textures and they are simply beautiful.   Colleen is not only a talented artist, but a friend.

Check out the Chasing Dreams Facebook page and be sure to "Like" it for freebies and announcements. 

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I always get excited when Rita ask me to put together a little post for her amazing blog. First because I adore her so very much and second because I'm beyond flattered that Rita would even allow me to be a part of one of her post...who wouldn't be?

I am Colleen...I have been married to my best friend for almost 27 years. We have 4 grown sons (Christopher 28, Justin 26, Kenny 23 and Tyler 20) and 2 little girls (Olivia 8 and Addison 6). I have been a stay at home mom forever!!!!

My mother worked part time as a hair stylist

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Perfect Portrait 3 Preview!!!

I love to tinker and I wanted to update Perfect Portrait 2 and I am finally almost finished! This version has an improved Vivid Color layer, doesn't have as much harsh contrast, has a really nice boost layer, and has automatic skin smoothing (so you don't have to paint on a layer mask). I also am removing the Skin Repair layer (this should be done before starting the action) and the B&W conversion layer (not necessary).

I am really excited about this update. Perfect Portrait 3 can actually replace Perfect Portrait 1 and 2 (however, the original versions still work great). I will be posting the action with a detailed tutorial in the next few days. I will also have a small auto skin smoothing action following it.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I ♥ you.

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Ordinary Days

I was just sitting in the den, the news on low; listening to the thunder outside and the boys happily playing in their bedroom.  Words can't express how I feel about what is happening in Japan right now.  Life can be so beautiful, and also so incredibly horrific. 

I am reminded of that Yiddish proverb, "Man plans, God laughs".   All we can do is live each day knowing that it could be our last, and remember what is most important to us.  There can be so much joy in ordinary days.

"And as for our ordinary days: they are quicked with silver, bright and brief - and if you are snug as a beetle and free as a leaf - then shout thanks to heaven, and breathe relief, for: our happiness is sewn in delicate threads.  Use a thimble and sew, sew, sew."

Exit the Actress, Priya Parmar

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Prayers for Japan and the US Coast

No {Friday Photo Bliss} today.  We are horrified about the quake and tsunami in Japan and are praying for them and the safety of all of the people in the path of the tsunami.

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CoffeeShop 2020 PS/PSE Action!

I have so many actions on my computer that I have written and just haven't had the time to post, and this action is one of them and also a favorite.  CoffeeShop 2020

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CoffeeShop Thinking of Spring Textured Papers!

I had some fun putting together a new pack of textures/digital papers and wanted to share them with you. I used my fabric texture action and also some patterns from Pixels & IceCream.

I made 12 different papers and also included a fabric overlay with a vignette.  If you want a vignette on any of the papers, just add this overlay on top and put it in soft light or blending mode and flatten.

I hope you enjoy these new textures!

Download the CoffeeShop Thinking of Spring textured papers at 4shared or Mediafire.

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Color Inc. Giveaway, 16x20 size Framed Gallery Wrapped Canvas-CLOSED!

I finished painting my living room this winter (well, it is almost finished, I need to touch-up the trim) and I needed some original art on my empty walls.  So of course, Color Inc. , my goto for printing artwork, helped me out.  Look at my new baby!

This is a 16x16 Framed Gallery Wrapped Canvas print of a really cool frozen weed growing on my fence.

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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 AutoV ColorBlock PS/PSE Action!

Here is the sister vertical image action for CoffeeShop AutoH ColorBlock. This version makes your vertical images web-ready. It crops, sharpens, adds custom colorblock and text and rounds the corners. I will make a version without rounded corners next.

CoffeeShop AutoV ColorBlock Web Action Instructions

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5 Random Things

5 Random Things About Me:

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CoffeeShop ColorBar Color Palette Templates!

Here is my newest freebie, the CoffeeShop ColorBar custom color palette templates! This set includes

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