Tut: Create a Pattern Paper, Part I

Posted on | March 27, 2008 | 8 Comments

I say part I because this is the easiest pattern you can do — stripes. For the second time I’m using ColourLovers for this tutorial. There are so many cool things that you can do on that site. I’ll show you more later if you haven’t figure them out yourselves yet.

Those who has PSE will also be able to go through this tutorial. You have the pattern and fill option. TFW — thanks for watching!

EDIT: If this is your first visit, don’t forget to check out creating pattern using the pattern sample from ColourLovers. Oh, also, don’t think that you can only pick colors from the swatch. You can use whatever color. I just want to show you how you can incorporate color pallets that you find online — in case you’re stumped or need some visual help.

Tut: Using Patterns From ColourLovers.com and Freebies

Posted on | March 20, 2008 | 4 Comments

Before I forget… have you visited Shabby Princess lately? They have a new freebie kit. Check it out, very nice!! Also, Weeds and Wildflowers are having their 1st year anniversary celebration. On their blog they have a mini kit freebie (very nice looking) and it’s only going to be up for 24 hrs. There will be a new giveaway until Sunday, so bookmark them, add them to your rss or subscribe via email. Whatever… but W&W is one of my favorite stores. I’d love to be Gina’s CT/guest {::SMILES}.

Last week I posted some Kuler info and also a one liner on ColourLovers.com. Well, I got to exploring ColourLovers a bit and it’s a really cool place. I found out that it was created way before Kuler and even though Kuler is very nice, CL has a better community and also this thing called patterns. YES, FREE patterns!! This isn’t great new just for digi scrappers, but those who has Photoshop (Elements included), you can create your own background/pattern paper with premade AND free patterns. Once you have your pattern paper, you can either go digital or print it out and use it for your cards, layouts, altered, and more — do whatever you do with pattern paper.

CL isn’t the only place to get patterns. There are many other free ones but this is my newest find and I want to share it with you. Watch the video and see how easy it is to create your own pattern paper from a sample pattern. Keep in mind that if you want bigger patterns, you need a higher ppi pattern sample or in other word a bigger sample. We’ll get to that later. For now, enjoy this.

Tut: Weathering and Antiquing

Posted on | March 14, 2008 | 1 Comment

This is a super easy technique using your eraser and burning tool. Once you’re done with the process, you’ll have something that will look worn. I did this in Photoshop CS3 but I think any software that has an eraser and burning tool will be able to give you the same effect. I haven’t used this technique in a while but I think I’ll try to do something with it this weekend at my crop. If you want to download the image on the left to use in your layout. Please feel free too. Just use the Creative Commons copyright rules when modifying and sharing.

I have nothing new to tell. M was not too happy when I dropped her off at school. She was crying and clinging on to me. Poor baby. Thank goodness it’s Friday.

Happy Friday everybody! Most likely I’ll check back in on Monday. I need to give my family some attention this weekend {::SMILES}.

Tut: Texture Overlay

Posted on | March 7, 2008 | 2 Comments

I think this is a fun technique. You can use it on your photo as my video shows, or you can use this on your paper, alpha, etc. Give your work a dirty/grungy look. Incorporate your dirty/grungy brush for some cool visual (and easy) visual effect. I am almost sure you can use this technique from PSE 4 to PS CS3 on a PC/Mac. On my Mac’s PSE 4, look at your layer palette. Right under the word layer there is a drop down that probably says normal. Next to that is the opacaity. Change normal to overlay and move the opacity and you have it. You can do this in PS too but I like going into the blending mode just because there are more stuff to play with.

Credits:

Texture image: Darknews
Brush: Misprinted Type

Again, all I did was show you the basics. Play around and you might be amazed at the end result. Don’t forget to keep adding layers when you play with the brushes, that way you can easily delete a stroke that you don’t like. Yes you can undo (or delete a step from the history) but there is a limit to history and you can freely move the brush if need be.

My Studio Calico kit came today. I am so happy with it. I think I got a great deal in many ways. The kit is beautiful and I feel like I saved $$ in time. I don’t have to go to the store, stare, not find coordinating items, and leave with stuff I didn’t work. Now I have this coordinating set and by looking at it, I can make about five pages (or more but I don’t like using the same – obvious – stuff over again) and a few cards and/or altered stuff. The downside… the kit is so pretty I am afraid to cut it. Ahhhhh!

It’s 1 a.m. I should go to bed. This post will be available when my video is approved by Revver. Isn’t technology amazing? You push a few buttons and it just works without you being there.

Tut: Create a Your Own Brad

Posted on | February 29, 2008 | 3 Comments

Finally, a tutorial! {::SMILES}

It’s just been a crazy week. Being sick, all of us, and then trying to catch up is always a no fun thing to do. M is still down. Her flu-like illness is gone but now she’s left with an ear infection. Her ear drums, or something minor, in there broke due to her coughs, sneezes, and nose blowing. She said her ear, left, hurt and for the 2nd time today we had to take her to the doctor — the ear wasn’t filled with goop or blood earlier this morning. Poor baby. She should feel a lot better by tomorrow — the Amoxycillin stuff works pretty well on her.

But here’s a video and hope it’ll be beneficial for you. I used a brad for my example but really, you can use this same technique to create chipboard like alphas and more. Try it out!

Also, if you hear some crazy noise in the background, blame it on the dogs. It’s pass their dinner time — they were really trying to tell me by being rambunctious.