If Your Husband Runs Your PhotoShoot

And I thought it was difficult  getting my kids to look at my camera....

It would have been nice if he had reminded me to make sure my horizon was straight.  ;-)

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.

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 17!

I hope everyone on the East Coast is safe, dry, and with their family.  Here in Texas it was hot and dry and I had some time to put together another vintage digital frame.  The original frame scan was generously donated from Lori Peterson, I just converted it to digital.  I am still in awe that Lori has taken the time to send me all of these scanned vintage frames so I could convert them and share them with you. Please go visit and "Like" her Facebook page and let her know how much you love these frames.

You can easily customize the mat color on this frame, just click on the Color Mat color layer and use the eye dropper to select a color from your image, or select any color.  Group your image just above the clipping mask layer (you can use my nifty Group It action) and you are good to go.

Download the free CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 17!  If that download does not work, you can also download it here.  This frame is also included in my huge Digital Design Download pack.


Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets 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.

Thinking of those of you on the East Coast today

I hope everyone that lives on the East Coast is safe and sound and protected from Irene. We have been watching the news and saying our prayers for all of you.  

{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!

CoffeeShop Define Photoshop/PSE Action and Action UnWrapped Tutorial!

Many of my new actions have a layer called "Define" and I have had readers ask how it works. Well, it is a really easy editing technique that sharpens only the darker parts of your image, so it works great
 on eyes, hair and darker backgrounds. If you have PSE or want to save time, you can download the action below, but if you have Photoshop you can follow my tutorial below.

CoffeeShop Define Action UnWrapped (Photoshop only):

1. Open your image.

2.  Click on the Channels tab and click on the small button on the left side seen circled in red below.

3.  This selects the highlights in your image.  Click on Layers.

4.  Go to Select, Inverse.

5.  Ctrl-J to add the selection to a new layer.

6.  Filter, High Pass.

7.  Set the radius to 10.

8.  Put this layer in overlay, vivid light, or soft light blending mode and adjust the opacity to taste.  This is a subtle edit, but it can really add a nice pop to portraits.

Download the free CoffeeShop Define Action. You can also download it 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 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.

CoffeeShop WebBoards 2!

I had a nice long family weekend and I am back to work (well, my brain is still on vacation...).  I put together another fun little WebBoard and wanted to share it with you.  This one is 1000px by 1000px and you can adjust the frame and background colors and dropshadows. Make it really easy on yourself and use my Group-It action to quickly add your own images to this web board.

The top four layers are the clipping masks and click on the little colored squares to change the Frame and  Background colors.

Download the free CoffeeShop WebBoards 2! If that download does not work you can download it here. And this is included in the CoffeeShop Design Pack.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets 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.

CoffeeShop Toasted Coconut B&W Photoshop/PSE Action!

I love writing and using B&W actions.  There are so many ways to edit in B&W and sometimes I like to add a slight tint of color or haze.  This action, CoffeeShop Toasted Coconut B&W, adds a slight creamy tint and lightens and brightens your image.  Like most of my actions, all of the layers are adjustable.  This is the first of several new B&W actions I will be posting up here on my blog.

I have family in town this weekend so I am going to take a small computer break for a day or two and hang out with them.  I hope you are enjoying the weekend, and that your kids are ready to go back to school.  ;-)

Download the free CoffeeShop Toasted Coconut B&W Action. You can also download ithere.

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 Toasted Coconut B&W!) 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.

{Friday Photo Bliss}

Number 108, jeanellewrightphotography, won the Pamela Topping's Giveaway! Congratulations Jeanelle, I have emailed you. :-)

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!

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 16

Here is another fun vintage digital web frame.  Yes, I know, I am a bit addicted to these vintage frames, and I hope that you share my passion.  The original frame scan was generously donated from Lori Peterson, I just converted it to digital.    Group your image just above the clipping mask layer (you can use my nifty Group It action) and you are good to go.

I have many more vintage frames, storyboards, and actions coming out in the next days/weeks.  I can't wait to post them all and I hope you enjoy using them.  We are starting 1st grade homeschooling next week, but I still plan on spending plenty of time blogging here.

Download the free CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 16.  If that link does not work, you can download the frame here.  It is also included in the CoffeeShop Digital Design Pack.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets 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.

Army Guys - Gulp!

The Army Guys were hard at work protecting our great nation when disaster struck.

There seems to be no limit what my boys will put in their mouths...


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

CoffeeShop WebBoards 1!

I haven't posted many simple web storyboards in a while, so I sat down the last few days and created a few I think you will love! This one is 1000px wide and has 6 photo inserts with fully adjustable drop shadows and thin custom-colored border design. Make it really easy on yourself and use my Group-It action to quickly add your own images to this web board.

This board has 11 layers.  The bottom layer allows you to adjust the storyboard background color, and you can easily change the colors of the frames and tiny decorative border line using the frame and border color layers.  Adjust or turn off the drop shadow effect and add your images using the black clipping masks on the top of the layers.

I hope you enjoy playing with this new WebBoard! Download the free CoffeeShop WebBoard 1. If that link is not working, you can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets 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.

{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!

Cousins.

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 15!

I am so excited to post another beautiful vintage digital frame (the original image was from Lori Peterson, I converted it to digital).    Like Frames 12,  Frames 13, and Frames 14, this frame will instantly age your image without any extra editing on your part.  You can also turn off these layers if you don't want your original image changed.

The layered psd frame has six layers. Group your image just above the clipping mask layer (you can use my nifty Group It action), and adjust the Vintage Texture, Levels and B&W Conversion layers to taste.  You can get so many different effects with this frame.

For the main image in my "ad" above, I just lowered the Vintage Texture layer's blending mode to 71%.

 This is a sample with no changes to any of the layers.

I turned off the Vintage Texture layer and B&W Conversion layer.

I turned off the B&W Conversion layer and lowered the Vintage Texture layer a bit.

Finally, I turned off the Vintage Texture layer and left  everything else as is.

Download the  free CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 15!  If that link does not work, you can download it here.  This frame is also included in the CoffeeShop Digital Design download.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets 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.

Our Parents Were Better Than Us? In Some Ways!

I want to start this story with a disclaimer. My kids can be huge brats and I am not a "perfect" mom. The idea of a perfect mom is a myth, yet for some reason we all feel that we must live up to it.  And of course, that is setting us up for failure. So we just do our best.  And our best is almost always good enough  :-)  However, there are times when you see a parent so clueless that you want to smack them on the face with a wet noodle...

A few weeks ago my entire family was sick with some sort of disgusting gastrointestinal virus. Since I was the only one that could be away from the toilet for a short time, I was elected to make a medicine/sick food run to Walmart.

I have to confess I don't like going to Walmart at the best of times, but it was close, open late, and I knew it stocked everything we needed to get through this horror.

After picking up Pedialyte, Tylenol, applesauce, crackers, etc. I dragged myself to one of the long lines. Behind me was a mom and dad with two kids that looked about the same ages as my two; four and six. The girl was the older one and seemed very relaxed and well-behaved, the boy was acting like a typical four year old. By that I mean he was acting like Imp, my four year old.

However, the four year old starting screaming "Where my toy!" over and over again, frantically looking through their overflowing basket. I looked over at the parents and smiled a sympathetic smile, for what parent has not had a screaming little child while waiting in a long line at Walmart late at night. The mom smiled back, looking completely exhausted.

I assumed the four year old's toy was in the basket and he was trying to find it, but that was not the case, for suddenly he threw himself violently on the floor, screaming shrilly enough to break glass, "Where my toy, I want my toy!". Meanwhile his sweet sister was standing there quietly, rolling her eyes at her mom, probably thinking "Why didn't my parents stop at just one kid?".

Again, I smiled at the mom and said "Believe me, I know what you are going through, I have two kids about the same age as your two. And I personally am not enjoying this long line myself..."

We chatted for a minute or so, trying to hear each other over the little boy's frantic shrieks, when I notice the father lifting the little boy up and walking him to the candy/junk shelves next to the register. He picked up a few little cars and held them up to the little boy while the little boy continued to scream, at the top of his little lungs, "I want my toy".

His mother turned to me and said "He (the dad) is going to try to get him (the boy) to accept a dollar car, but there is no way that is going to work". She was right, because not only did the little boy's screams not stop, they only increased in volume and intensity. With an glare at his wife, the father took off across the store with his little boy screaming the entire way.

I turned to the mom, relieved that the father was finally going to discipline the little brat, when she said "It looks like they are going to go get his toy. It just doesn't seem fair that every time we come to Walmart he has to have a $40 toy and his sister doesn't get anything, but we can't afford a $40 toy for him and a $30 toy for her. And she never complains, so I guess I shouldn't feel bad about it."

I think my jaw might have dropped open at this point, and I can't remember what I responded, but I do know that shortly after that exchange the father returned with his son and a huge toy. And surprise, his son had a big smile on his face. That little boy runs that family...

We spend so much time making sure our children are safe these days, but it seems that so many parents don't worry about raising moral children.  That little boy might turn out fine, but I am afraid he is a "monster in the making" thanks to his parents.  I want to see him at 16 when he wants his own car.

I read the blog post Why Our Parents Were Better Than Us today and it made me reflect about this Walmart trip. Have you had similar experiences with parents who don't know how to parent? If so, I would love to hear about them in the 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.

Priceless Moments

This last Sunday my husband and I realized that we hadn't brought the boys to a movie in over a year.  We are really picky about what we allow our children to watch, and honestly there weren't any children movies since "Up" that interested me.  We have NetFlix and when we watch TV with the boys we stick to nature shows, Shaun the Sheep, and Mighty Machines.

However, we are huge fans of Winnie the Pooh (we read the original books all of the time), so we decided the Winnie the Pooh movie sounded perfect.  Sure, I am a bit annoyed with Disney's insane marketing of movie-related junk, but I wanted a movie with no fart or poop jokes, no dire warnings about "global warming" or the "big bad oil companies",  no Playboy bunny jokes (seriously, why is Hugh Hefner in any children's movie???),  no obnoxious ill-mannered characters, nothing too scary, and not two hours of "I rather I were dead or doing laundry because this movie is so boring and that kid behind me is kicking my seat".

Winnie the Pooh fit the bill and was cute, funny and sweet.  The boys loved it, my husband and I enjoyed it,  and I could sit through it since it was only 60 minutes.  All in all it was a perfect day out.

4 Movie Tickets to Winnie the Pooh:  $29
Large Popcorn:                                   $ 7
Photo Booth Fun:                               $ 5
__________________________________

Family Day Out at the Movies:           Priceless!


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

CoffeeShop Caramel Dreams PSE/Photoshop Action!

I have had so much fun creating my newest action, CoffeeShop Caramel Dreams.  This action looks great on everything from landscapes to florals to portraits.  And like most of my actions, it is completely adjustable.  I hope you enjoy playing with this action as much as I have!

CoffeeShop Caramel Dreams Instructions:

{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!

Pretty Presets Workshop winner!

Today I used Random.org  and it picked number 145 as the winner for the Pretty Presets Workshop To Go!

April, I just emailed you.  Congratulation!!!