More photoshop fun.

It's a bit addictive this adding texture lark.
In fact - every time I go past my actual computer I am tempted to ignore the dishwasher and laundry and have a play on Adobe elements!
Which... I did when Finlay had a nap.
The photo, I know, is the cheesiest fake smile your eyes will ever see...
BUT - I kinda like that fact -sometimes Finlay can seem somber in photos - but here he is as cheesey as they come!

I started off by opening in PSE - then I added a digi scrap paper as a new layer - increased it opacity and then ran the eraser tool over Finlay's face/body etc to reveal him and erase the pattern that was covering him... cute huh!?

I also ran a vintage photo shop action over the photo - which I will explain more about in a second.
I literally want to do it to every photo I ever take again lol!
*ok... I went to far - but still cute!

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PSE ACTIONS information:
I adore actions - and if you are experimenting with some for the first time, then your first port of call should be the Coffee shop Actions site..
they do tons of actions - for free!
Amazing.
They also have some clear instructions of how to install the said actions to your pc.. as they can be tricky to do.... I think this site rocks, and I adore the ones I have downloaded.

I love actions!

So - we have been having some poor weather in the UK at the moment - the sun has literally packed up and gone - and that means testing out my new Canon outside is a giant waste of time.
To placate my mind, I have been taking approx one million indoor photos - today I read a cute photography blog about adding texture to photos, and really fancied giving it a go.
So I took a pic of Finlay - which is cute in itself - but I wanted to play around in PSE with it.
*note to self - be mindful of background in the camera, and remove random white cloth from back of sofa next time.

First up - I added a layer of digi scrapbook paper - and used the opacity tool to almost wipe it out.... but leave enough to add interest.
Then I took the eraser tool and rubbed out the pattern from his face/head etc.

I literally like to try out around 5 actions before I settle on one - so I reopened the photo and ran a colour pop and lomo action over it...

But my 3rd attempt is by far my favourite- I opened it, ran the textured background technique again with a different paper (larger pattern)
I then increased the contrast and brightness over eyes, and then ran a chocolate black and white photo action over it before cropping and saving...

There is something pretty magical about his eyes... (biased mummy moment here!)
I am all photo shopped out for today....
but happy :-)

Sunday round up. Maisy, LSNED & Figures! Photo heavy!

Morning, happy Sunday all.
I am typing to you from the bay window of the new/old flat again. Our Internet won't be sorted out till the 5th of October (*thank you BT.. grrr*)
So till then, I balance on the edge of the table picking up the wireless router from the flat we were living in (directly opposite us)
It makes me chuckle that this is possible - but also very grateful.
Anyway - Sunday round up!
This is picture heavy blog, so I apologise if you are looking at this entry on your iPhone, as it will take some scrolling lol!
Firstly - here are two more little projects I made using the
FRIDAY MUSING "let them eat...."
first up is an envelope.
I used the pre-coloured muffin decoupage sheet to create a "topper" for the envelope. I also jazzed up the colour with some pro-markers. Which - I love.
This would be cool if you were giving a gift voucher or money to someone as a present - rather than the usual gift card envelopes that are dull, white and pictureless!

Secondly I knocked up a card for a very special little lady who's birthday party we attended yesterday. I printed the outline decoupage sheet off onto matte photo paper before colouring in with pro-markers. Pro-markers on photo paper work like alcohol ink pens, probably because they are lol. BUT I didn't know that till yesterday - and now I am hooked.. the way the colour swims on the surface and blends is awesome! I used the clear marker to remove colour from certain areas *polka dots on the cupcake case* and to add highlights.
I love it!
You can still purchase my cupcake printables by clicking here

Sunday was a cool day- we started off by going to Hastings to collect the Camera that the insurance people had sorted out for me - I will do a separate blog post about that later - but I can safely say that I am in love with Canon and my love affair with Nikon is fading fast!
*Sorry Nikon, you were my first love, but how often do first loves last?*
Anyway - they had this AWESOME exhibition at the Delawarr Pavilion, of statues. They were all laid out on the roof top, and made for an awesome and erie sight!
They were all different positions, and it turned out the artist had modelled for them all himself in a plaster cast before casting them in metal.

It gave me a chance to work with the new camera, playing with depth of field and focal points...

So odd right!? There must have been at least 40 statues laying around... like some bizarre battle field... apparently this guy also has some statues in London atop the buildings, which must look crazy!

Sunday was also the start of the Children's book festival at the Delawarr - they have some pretty amazing stuff going on down there a the moment, October is "art" month - and there will be "the big draw" where the floor of the Delawarr becomes a GIANT drawing pad - covered in tough paper and the public are encouraged to come down and contribute to one giant doodle.
Obviously I will be there, drawing as many musings as my pencil will manage!
Maisy Mouse was there yesterday, and we bought tickets to go to one of her book readings - it was held in the main auditorium.
It was so cute and weird... the whole time I was sitting there thinking "yup.. SJ you are a mother now, and this just confirms it" as I was doing all the actions to the story...
Finlay is normally painfully shy - but he seemed keen and happy to pose with Maisy.

before I go further - I just need to vent my frustration at the person in the Maisy costume. Because you see that giant frill of neck? That is meant to be tucked inside her red jumper!!!!
I caused me to physically stop myself stopping the entire show and tucking it in myself! OCD much? I bet some of you would have felt the same!
Anyway - I need to work on setting the camera to cope with "show lighting" but I don't think I did too badly!

awwwwwwwww - the children loved it!
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LSNED catch up...
I am still on track, despite my month being a crazy one!!!
I am pretty impressed with myself *I know for a fact if I had done it with paper I would have given up on day 5. Digi was the right way to go!
Here is missing page 18..

And I think, I'm gonna get today's done TODAY too!
*yay*

Friday Musing "Let them eat............."

Boo!

Hello! I am typing this to you tonight, from the new/old flat.
It is going out earlier than usual - because I have limited internet access and don't want to wake up and realise that I hadn't got the Musing out!!
We moved today - and despite all the chaos, packing boxes, mess and craziness, I still remembered to blog the Musing! (I think I deserve a piece of cake) Which is perfect considering this weeks Musing...
"Let them eat........"
Let me tell you what you get in the musing file (should you purchase) this week.
You get:

1 OUTLINE CUPCAKE PAGE
1 OUTLINE BUNTING PAGE
1 COLOUR CUPCAKE PAGE
1 COLOUR BUNTING PAGE
1 OUTLINE PRINT & LAYER DECOUPAGE PAGE
1 COLOUR PRINT & LAYER DECOUPAGE PAGE

You will also get 2 Decoupage sheets, which are designed to print at A4 = but if you are talented with a pair of scissors then print A5 and you could have more than one on a card / tag- mini layered cakes! Cute. As well as the outline version - you also get a FULL COLOUR version - ready to go!
The Decoupage sheets would be perfect to print out for craft groups etc ...
I think I am in love with the sheets best of all...
They make the child in me who adored colouring very excited!
(and if you are short of time, as I said - there is a colour version too!)

All this for just
£1.50
"LET THEM EAT....cake!"

Anyway - onto the CUTE examples
From Leanne this week...we have the "Love heart" cake - and the birthday bunting.
You could add a name to the banner if you were doing a personalised card - of if you make and sell cards, you could offer a bespoke service at craft fairs to add a name while they wait (if you have good handwriting!!)

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Caroline Sears made this adorable decoupage bookmark using the muffin Check out the glittered chocolate chips... divine!
I love the chocolate chip muffin top... literally makes me want to make chocolate muffins!
(ps: Did anyone else read the page of Carolines book to see if they
recognised which novel it is? lol... )
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I made a tag too, BUT It's photographed with my Iphone on a dull grey morning... so please excuse the terrible photo!!!!
I have also made two cards - which I will upload later when I find and unpack the camera.
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Thank you to all of you who have purchased the Musings so far, I know I didn't do a freebie one this week, and I am sorry for that - but I moved today and yesterday and today is the first day in the flat, and if I am honest - I just ran out of time.
Packing and moving is crazy!
I promise next week there will be a freebie!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

LSNED catch up

I finally managed to catch up with LSNED.

I was panicking that I'd left it too late - but I manage to sit back and work out what I had done on certain days etc - and finally - I beat my last year album by 3 days!

I am so determined to finish it this year you would not believe!

I will post a photo of the album itself in progress at the weekend - It's a 7x5 Bind it all album - with envelopes bound in which contain journalling for the pages that require it.

Today I learned that, despite feeling pretty "homeless" (dramatic term... but this is a temporary move again and I that's the part I am struggling with!) That "Home is where my pretty stuff is"

Yesterday I learned that I am in "packing denial"

The 20th is a page that I will be adding a heap of journalling to - it was the day we finally decided after conversing with the cat trust we rescued Lola from, that she will be going back there :-(

she is an out door cat - and the move back to the flat throws up a whole plethora of problems that we can't work past with her. She needs a garden, its in her nature to be outside - and to force her into a flat where she can physically sit and stare out the window at her old 'hunting ground' but not go out, would be cruel and a move that she wouldn't deal well with.

I can't really expand on that at the mo - still a bit raw.

On Sunday, I was a bit nervous about the two classes I was teaching - but they went well *I think* and I really shouldn't worry so much.

I had to include this last one in my album - it's my fav picture at the moment.

Page 18 is missing - it will feature a photo Laura took of me at the weekend when she went through all she has learned about camera settings.

A double learning curve -

1: Camera settings

2:Holding my face in my hands hides my multiple chins lol!

Are you up to date with LSNED?

catching up.

Well - I had quite an eventful weekend!

Firstly - it was Diana's (Ben's mum's birthday) and the same day, The Cardinal Colours retreat started!

The hotel was a lovely classic seaside hotel - and there was something quite lovely about being able to hear the sea as you scrap. As you looked out the front door - you were looking at the sea.

I was honoured to have been asked by Jill to teach - My classes were as follows:

"Truly madly deeply"

"Say it with flowers"

"Away with the butterflies"

Everyone who went seemed to have a fab time - I can't wait to see some of the photos popping up on people's blogs. If you were there - please leave me a comment so I can follow you too :-)

I will take away some fab memories with me - including the historic and beautiful lift in the foyer, the lovely ladies who made teaching a real pleasure, the fab shop Jill set up and the pecan pie from Saturday night which I can still taste in my dreams. mmmmmmmmmm.

It was also a good weekend weather wise for Laura to play with her new camera.

She is rocking out learning all about her camera - and shot it on Manual all weekend.

I am envious of her dedication to understand her camera - and she is fully inspiring me to want to be a better photographer too.

If you have a DSLR and shoot on Auto - follow her blog - It's bound to make you want to be shooting on Manual very soon!

-This weekend also saw the sad end to "national cupcake week"

I made a few batches this week, mostly for friends - but these were for us...

check out Finlay's little frosted lip...*kiss kiss*

This weekend though, I have also noticed Finlay go through a fairly visible growth spurt, it seems to have been a very sudden one - and just takes him one step further away from being my baby boy. Sometimes I am scared that I will blink and he will be 18 and living in London and not need me anymore. Wahhh - Till then I will grasp every second I have of his youth and keep it close to my heart.

And that - I think - is all I have to say!

xxxxxxxxx

Miso & Noodles Panda Digi stamp & Friday Freebie

This weeks Buyit is "Miso and Noodles" a pair of pandas waiting for you to love.

They look so cuddly that I just want to pick them up for a hug!

For £1.50 you get 7 files

1 full colour panda

2 half colours

1 outline

2 papers

and a "fun" panda image.

£1.50

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Lisa Hines shows you here how cool the pandas can look when teamed with a monochromatic background, with some cute pink and blue butterflies.

I think this card is fab- I love the flowers too! lush.

And fear not freebie fans - I have a freebie for you this week...

Meet Angel cat - she is waiting for your most heavenly creations, be it Christmas or cute!

I hope you like her - she is based on my cat Lola.

You can download Angel cat for free

HERE

* footnote = All images shown on this blog are hand drawn by myself - Sj Dowsett. They are not replicated from any other images and are the product of my own imagination.

Please note - if you have reason to believe this to be false - please contact me directly.

park time out and LSNED pages....

Morning all.

The day before yesterday - we took Finlay to the cafe in the park - so he could run around.

My Nikon has died - so Laura lent me her Canon, which meant I could actually take some photos in my hour of need.

Being without a camera would be the end!

It was a dull day - so forgive the lack lustre of the photos - I am still learning on the Canon!

All I was aiming for was "blurred background" lol.

(there is a technical name for that somewhere)

Anyway .

Ben contemplating on the bridge.

and Finlay defacing a local map leaflet in the cafe.

And whilst I am here - here are my latest LSNED pages....