CoffeeShop Digital Designs: Graph Paper!

I wanted some digital scrapbooking graph paper to use in a design I was working on, so I decided to create a pack to post up here.  These are 1000x1250px .jpgs, and perfect for making cards, notes, blog backgrounds, etc.  I really enjoy making digital paper, so I am sure I will put together a few more packs.  These papers can be used in personal or commercial projects, no credit necessary. 

Download the free CoffeeShop Graph Paper from 4shared or Mediafire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for more information! For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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CoffeeShop Velvet Ash B&W Action UnWrapped

NOTE:  You can now download the free CoffeeShop Velvet Ash B&W action.  I wanted to post my newest tutorial for the CoffeeShop Velvet Ash B&W action. I love this effect and it is so easy to achieve on your own.  Today I am posting the tutorial and I will do a follow-up post with the free action in a day or two.  Just in case you are interested, this name was inspired by the many volcano books I have recently read to my boys.

CoffeeShop Velvet Ash B&W Action UnWrapped Tutorial

1.  Open your image.  The first step is a simple highlight boost.

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CoffeeShop Boost Action and Action UnWrapped Tutorial

I use a nifty trick to quickly select the highlights of an image so I can put them on a separate layer and then use different blending modes to get amazing effects. This tutorial can only be used in Photoshop, but Photoshop Elements users, don't fret! I wrote an action that does the exact same steps that runs perfectly in PSE. You can download it below at Step 3.

CoffeeShop Boost Instructions (PSE users start reading at Step 3.):

1. Steps 1-2 only work in Photoshop, so PSE users can skip down to Step 3 and download the action.  Open your image. Click

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How to make Tileable Wallpaper Tutorial!

We had a wonderful Easter party yesterday. The kids had their Easter egg hunt and the adults were able to relax under the shade trees and eat, drink and be merry. I hope you and your friends and family also had a wonderful holiday weekend.

I had a few minutes to check out some of my favorite blogs this morning when I came across this great video tutorial on making tileable wallpaper in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements on Pugly Pixel (not a sponsor of this blog, just a great website I enjoy visiting). I have read/seen many tutorials, but this is the first one that actually made sense to me and I wanted to share this link with you.

This is a great method to make web/blog backgrounds and custom digital paper and I hope you have as much fun playing with it as I have! Thank you Katrina for posting such great tutorials.  ♥ I love learning new things.

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Happy Easter!

I wanted to wish you and your family/friends a Happy Easter!  We are having a party in our backyard, so I am off to set up the picnic tables and chairs.  It has been a  stressful few weeks and we are looking forward to spending time with our loved ones (and eating Texas BBQ)!!!

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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 Desktop Background 2!

I am still addicted to making Desktop Backgrounds (here is my first set of CoffeeShop Desktop Backgrounds), and I wanted to share this new version. You can change the text on the labels and the background color. There are three photoframes with clipping masks (you can use my fun Group-It action to quickly load your images).   I used some design elements from Sassy Designs (brad, staples, labels).

I will be posting a tutorial on how to make these in the near future.  So many of my readers have posted their own desktop background creations on my Facebook page.  It is so fun seeing what you guys come up with, and how much better they are than mine!

Download the free CoffeeShop Desktop Background 2 at 4shared or MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for more information! For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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CoffeeShop Action Flashback: Attic Vintage

Over the years I have been blogging here on CoffeeShop, I have created a large number of actions and tutorials.  My new readers might not have had time to go back deep in the vault and dust off some of my older actions, so I have decided to post a new before/after sample done with old actions/tutorials.

Today I wanted to highlight the CoffeeShop Attic Vintage tutorial and action.  I posted

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I ♥ Free Fonts!

I am always excited to find new free fonts.  I won't download a font unless it is free for commercial use, so I have a few favorite places I go "font-hunting".

My two favorite sources of free amazing fonts are

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CoffeeShop Sweet 16 Storyboard!

I had fun putting together my newest storyboard, CoffeeShop Sweet 16.  This is a 12x12 inch layered .psd storyboard (open in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements) which can be printed or displayed on your blog.  There are 16 clipping masks, and I would suggest downloading my super fast and easy Group It action to make loading this storyboard a cinch.  This is not an action!

Download the free CoffeeShop Sweet 16 Storyboard at 4shared or Mediafire. 

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for more information!

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CoffeeShop Desktop Backgrounds 1!

Like most people out there, my computer desktop is a complete mess and I can't find anything. I saw this idea

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This and That

I have to confess I didn't take any photos this week, so no {Friday Photo  Bliss}.  But it will be back next Friday, I promise! I will also be posting some fun new scrapbooking/digital design freebies, storyboards, and  my new free B&W action and tutorial:

And check out the Pretty Preset's sale (good through tonight)

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CoffeeShop AutoH2 ColorBlock Web Action

I have been asked to make a version of the AutoH (horizontal) and AutoV (vertical) ColorBlock web actions that don't round the corners (esp. for posting images on Facebook), so here is the AutoH2 version! This action is for your horizontal images, and it does everything the the AutoH action does (crop, resize, add custom colorblock and text, sharpen), except no rounding of the corners.  I will make the vertical version next. 

CoffeeShop AutoH2 ColorBlock Web Action Instructions

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♥ Thank you! ♥

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CoffeeShop Frames 7!

I wanted to thank you so much for your prayers and kind comments on my last post.  Today my husband woke up with a smile on his face, quoting Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption:

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When Life Hands You Lemons...

I haven't been very motivated to work or play on the computer recently.  Everyone goes through times when life is scary and overwhelming, and this year has been tough on our family.  We lost

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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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Which Adobe Photo-Editing Program is Best for You?

People are always asking me whether they should buy Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, or LightRoom.  All three are great programs, but if you are a newbie to the editing world I will try to break it down for you.  Remember, this is just my opinion!

Photoshop Elements 10:



Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 is a very powerful editing program,

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The Adventures of Ricky the Raccoon

Having lost many chickens over the years to hungry raccoons, you can imagine how excited I was to find this dog toy for Maple. 

She loves Ricky Raccoon

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CoffeeShop Tutorial: Flower Art, Part 2 - Editing with Textures

This is the second part of my tutorial on making your own flower art.  You can read Part 1 where I discuss how to set up your own free studio using things you already have around the house and tips on photographing your flowers in this earlier post.  Today I am going to show you one way I edit my photos using textures and Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

I have a bit of a texture addiction.   There are some amazing textures out there

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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!

♥ Read more!