Textured Tuesday: Tea Time

Happy Texture Tuesday! I love this week's challenge to include a tea or coffee cup in our image.  Sunday morning, I was just itching to take some photos and play with the light streaming into my very white kitchen.  I have a collection of depression glass that I truly love.  Some pieces date back to the early 1910s.  I went through an obsession period of collecting back in the mid 90's.  One of my most favorite patterns is Pink Miss America. I pulled out a little saucer and teacup along with some other pretty things I have hanging around.  You see only a little bit of the saucer and teacup in the first photo.  I overlaid on of my most favorite Kim Klassen textures: Warmly Vintage.  I love the swirls in this texture.  It did just what it's called -- made this soft-lit photo take on a warmly vintage feel.

Kim Klassen texture: Warmly Vintage

I took this photo as a tribute to my mother.  The little card nestled under the saucer is a beautiful card I received from her years ago.  Everything japanese just oozes with creativity.  I love not only the colors, but the texture and the symbols.  So pretty!  By the way, my mother is very ill so I will be going to Japan this week to spend time with her.  I'm so excited to see her and the rest of my family in Japan...I just wish it was under better circumstances.  Please put her in your hearts and prayers.

Two layers of Kim Klassen's texture, SweetTreat (lighten blend mode @ 20%; screen blend mode @ 15%)

Here she is... Miss America in all her glory.  Just love the pretty pink glass and diamond-cut texture.

Kim Klassen's textures: SweetTart (3 layers - Hue @ 100%; Soft Light @ 45%; Screen @ 38%) and Love (Multiply @ 18%)

Can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to...

Wishing everyone much joy and love today and everyday!

Love and gratitude,

Kathy

MommyB Knows Best Birthday Bash - Artsy Canvas Girl Giveaway

Happy Monday!  Starting the week off with a giveaway!

I have partnered up with Jennifer over at MommyB Knows Best.  She will be introducing you to some great party ideas every day for the month of May as part of her Month of May Birthday Bash. In honor of the first day of the Birthday Bash, Artsy Canvas Girl (that's me) would like to give one lucky MommyB Knows Best reader a portrait (12×12 or 11×14 format) professionally printed with a choice of glossy, lustre or metallic finish mounted on mat board ready to frame. (retail value $49.95).  To enter, head on over to MommyB Knows Best for all the details.

Inspiration photo

Recently, I befriended Jennifer at MommyB Knows Best via twitter -- a really fun and great way to meet the most interesting people.  Jennifer is doing a birthday party for her youngest daughter who is turning one and asked if I could help with a photo banner.  What a darling idea!  Her inspiration came from this photo...

Jennifer had decided on a party theme -- a cute little owl theme done in chocolate brown, hot pink and polka dots!  Kudos to Rachel at HET Designs.

Design by Rachel at HET Designs

Next, Jennifer sent me a dozen or more photos of her darling daughter (photos taken through the first year -- all so very sweet).  I went to work creating some frame designs that would compliment her party theme.  Then I began editing her photos to make them look festive and nostalgic.  Here are a few of my favorites!  We completed 12 in all.  I had these printed as 5x5 photo cards that can be whole-punched and linked together with ribbon.  Here are a few of the before and after results...

5x5 photo cards used for birthday party photo banner.

MommyB Knows Best is a family friendly website that features fun tips and tricks for parents, fresh segments you won't see on other websites, honest in-depth product reviews, and great giveaways.

   

Jennifer, I really enjoyed working with you on this project.  Hope the birthday bash was a blast! xoxo

Good luck everyone!

Love and gratitude!

Kathy

Graduation Time

It's that time of year again.  Graduations always make me feel inspired. A celebration of an accomplishment and the excitement of starting something new emits an emotion of hope and dreams.  I've been busy making "beach-themed" graduation announcements from photos.  They really turned out pretty nice...Here are some 'before' and 'after' transformations.  Have I said I really, really love photoshop?

Client's Photo

Graduation Announcement Sample #1

Client's Photo

Graduation Announcement Sample #2

Client's Photo

Graduation Announcement

After working on these photos, I am so ready for some beach time!  Wishing everyone a beautiful sunshiny day!

Love and gratitude,
Kathy

Happy Texture Tuesday!

Did a couple of versions of the most beautiful and romantic city -- Serrenissima! I was lucky enough to visit back in 2005.  I'm disappointed because I was still learning how to use my new DSLR when I went on this trip.  So most of my photos were set to a low resolution setting because I wanted to fit as many photos on to my digital card -- what was I thinking?  Oh well, I guess I will just have to visit once again.  Hopefully, one day soon I will return and have the most romantic trip ever!

Which version do you like best? Can't wait to see all the great textured photos today!

Wishing everyone much joy and love today and everyday!

Love and gratitude,

Kathy

Textured Tuesday

Happy Textured Tuesday!

Recipe:

1. Duplicate layer set to multiply at 100% opacity
2. Kim Klassen texture: Sweet Treat set to multiply at 98% opacity
3. Kim Klassen texture - Silence set to luminosity at 71% opacity
4. Adjustment Level - set to color burn at 100% opacity
5. Created layer with brush strokes around edge of photo

Wishing everyone an amazing day!

Love and gratitude,
Kathy

Letter Fashionista

I love typography...not sure why.  Just have always have.  I see them as art.  I have always loved drawing letters...doodling.  I would write characters and words a zillion times in a zillion different styles.  Just doodling.  There is something interesting in how one can express a word in a certain style that creates it own special meaning.  I've always been attracted to books and academia style.

Letter Fashionista

Have you discovered Spoonflower?  Such a cool and fun site!  Any design you create can be printed onto fabric.  So cool!  It means you have total freedom to create anything!  Even the fabric you choose to use!  The potential is endless.  Spoonflower also creates a great environment to share.  You can view other people's design and make comments and send messages.  So it's a totally social and inspiring site.  They also have contests each week.  This week's contest is "Alphabet."  Take a peek at all the great designs!  If you like my design, I would love your vote!

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Love and gratitude,
Kathy
xoxo

Textured Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Worked on a few pieces this week...I liked the scratchy texture and the color palette of this one.  But my favorite one I posted yesterday to wish everyone a happy Monday. Let me know what you think...

Thank you Kim for another Texture Tuesday!

Wishing everyone an amazing day!

Love and gratitude,
Kathy