Tea time challenge at IAE

Tea cup image courtesy of the Graphics Fairy
Yay, My blog tools are back up in the tool bar. It seems somehow my blog was switched to the New Editor version. Maybe when one of my teammates changed another blog in which I co author that affected this one too, since it says this will affect all of your blogs, do you wish to switch.
Above is my entry for this weeks IAE challenge which was Tea Time. I tweaked a free image from The Graphics Fairy, making it look like needlework and added a textured background and type to the saucer. I imagined a group of ladies sitting around in comfy chairs near a fireplace, their needlework in hand and a cup of tea at their sides, sharing personal stories of a bygone era.
Go check out the other entries, when you get a chance.

Colors of the Bahamas

A recent trip to the Bahamas, Nassau, proved to be a colorful experience. I love color as you may know. Apparently they do too. When I lived in Florida I noticed that they have a love affair with color too. Many of the coastal cities have colorful homes and buildings. Fun stuff! 

My favorite is the Police officer in the middle of the street directing traffic. Did you see him? Brave or crazy I do not know. The Bahamians drive worse than New Yorkers. I promise. My life flashed before my eyes several times while there. ;) Enjoy your day.

Hello Hello

I was just playing around with some different Photoshop techniques. I wanted to move the text down but for some darn reason every time I tried tomove it something kept freezing it so I said forget about it and just accept it for what it is. I am a newbie to Photoshop and it shows I know but I am going to keep trying. I have seen some amazing digital art on the web and I really want to beable to layer photos on top of one another. I love the ghostly look some of them have. What have you tried that is new to you recently?

I bought an 7-1/2 to 8 ft tall bookcase at the Habitiat Rebuild store for $20. What a deal, huh?! It came from the Charleston Day School library. It needs some TLC but that's the stuff I love to do. I am also working on my Before and After shots of my Art area. So far I only have the Before. lol I'm working on it though. Finding a nice place for everything without it looking cluttered is a challenge but one I am willing to face and overcome. I hope to have it done this coming weekend. It feels so good to unpack all of my supplies. It's like Christmas because 1/2 of them were packed for the last year. There was not enough room in the apt. to unpack everything.

Coming from 2000 sq ft house to a 1128 sq ft one is a challenge in itself. We have been selling excess furnishings and donating other household items. We are making sure that what we do keep is the best of the best and functional. There's no room for clutter, period. I am still in my jams, and it is 11am. Lazy bum, I know. I am off to visit some of your blogs. At least until I feel too guilty to lounge around anymore. Hope you all have a great day!

Take a chance

Photoshop Express is a free version of Adobe Photoshop and it's fun!

Here you see I took a picture of a tree frog in the back yard and I used the Pop art tool in Photoshop Express, (the free version) and changed him from green to orange with one click. How fun! You have to try it.

For those of you that love taking photos and would like to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop but don't want to pay the hefty price until you are sure you like it, there is a free version. I just found out about it in a class. It is a simpler version, but it is a fun way to learn and it is free, and don't we all love that! I have tried my hand at the expensive version, but I am intimidated by the whole layers bit and all of the tools.  I do not know how to use it so it is frustrating. I bought a book a long time ago and like so many things I want to play with, it is sitting on a shelf collecting dust.  I wish there were more hours in the day sometimes.You can literally get sucked in and spend hours playing around. That's the part I shy away from because I feel guilty sitting at the computer for that long, knowing there are dust bunnies or dishes or goodness know what other 100 things staring at my back.lol 

I took a photo of a red door while in the Bahamas and this is the Pop art tool that you can play with. You can see the choices I had to play with. It picks up the reds, blues or makes the main image black and white and the surrounding color. It's a fun tool to play with

Anyway, after reading all of this you are asking where the heck is the link she's talking about. Well here it is Adobe Photoshop Express. On the right hand side of the toolbar you will see Online tools,click on it. Then scroll down to Photoshop Express Editor, upload your photo and let the fun begin! They also offer the good stuff like CS5 for a 30 day trial so if you get good at the free version and you want a lot more fun things to play with then that just might be the ticket.

Pablo Picasso challenge

 

Pablo Picasso's above, mine below

For the Inspiration Avenue Weekly art challenge "Pablo Picasso". My sad interpretation of one of his gorgeous sketches. Oh well, I did it in 5 minutes. Always late for these entries. Had to hustle since I was the hostess this week. Wouldn't look too good not participating, now would it? Gotta hop into the shower. Pop over and see all the entries. They are way better than this. I promise. Love and hugs to you all.