Peeking in....

     Thinking about the previous post, I remembered an odd photo I took of Brian through the window at Starbucks when I was meeting with James to inspect his 24-70 mm lens.  Brian had leaned over to look inside the shop and I just happened to be snapping sample pictures.  It is an odd angle, but since Brian was not in his gray sweatshirt, I decided to scrap it.  Plus, it tells a story of something that we did.  I used another Cinzia Loosemore kit.

 

 

Every[day]Life 3 by Cinzia Loosemore and Gina Huff
Font: Ask My Flashlight

 

     I'm thinking I maybe should have made the photo b/w so his t-shirt wouldn't compete with the colors of the kit.  Maybe I'll try it.  Wait a minute....    Okay, I'm back.  Tried it without the color and DID NOT like it at all.  The photo disappears into the gray background paper.  So this is it!

Duh.....!

     I realized as I was searching for photos to do the spread on Brian that I have VERY few pictures of him.  He is ALWAYS in that gray sweatshirt so I don't take pictures of him.  However, he's been with me on so many of my photography trips and I've not taken a single shot of HIM only the scenery.  I need to capture HIM more, sweatshirt or not. 

This one's for Brian....

     I've loved this designer's colors and prints for the longest time.  I decided to use one of her kits to showcase one of Brian's passions.

 

Every[day]Life 2 by Cinzia Loosemore and Gina Huff
Font: Ask My Flashlight

One for Vivian

     I tried the new technique on a picture of Vivian.  I altered it some by having the brushes cover more of the original photo.  I left off the splatters and added a photo and cluster.

 

ScriptTease Learn by Anna Aspnes

All About This, Authentic, Ordinary Moments, Romantic, Favorite Moment by Anita Designs

Miracle by Scrapyrus

Flower by AWall

Yes You Can by Captivated Visions

Truly Madly by J Kneipp

Be by Forever Joy

Destination by Shannon McNab

My Journey by The Daily Digi Collab

 

 

 

Changed opacity....

     I realized that the reduced opacity made my whole image lighter, so I made some adjustments and got more of the paper's texture.

Today is Your Day

     After spending HOURS pouring over tutorials yesterday, I tried a combination of techniques to create this layout.  I wanted to add a textured background paper, but couldn't keep the gradient from coloring it too.  While laying in bed this morning I decided to try merging all the gradient layers and putting the textured paper under that layer.  I had to duplicated the merged layers inorder to get one above the paper, then reduce the picture's opacity to see the paper under it.  I think it turned out pretty interesting.

Script Tease Learn; Dripped Stains; Golden Glory by Anna Aspnes
Summer Cottage by Laurie Ann HGD
Summer Fun by Cilenia Curtis
Favorite Moments by Anita Designs
Fonts: Janda Celebration Script, Kartika

Speed Scrap at Pixels and Co.

    I participated in my first speed scrap and chat (1st live chat ever) at P&C last night.  I did it mainly because Katherine Hansen  invited me on the forum.  I had posted about wanting help with clustering and she had been commenting and said the speed scrap would have some. 
     They do speed scraps differently than Jessica Sprague.  Katherine made a layout and then wrote the directions for the layout.  You picked your own supplies (she even told some of the kits she used) and followed the directions.  The layouts for the night should resemble each other to some degree, yet be different because everyone will follow the directions differently and of course pick different supplies.
     There were only 6 or 7 participants so it was easy to keep up on the chat.  That part was fun.  Here's my take on the speed scrap:

 

Scarlet Letter by Gennifer Bursett
New England Cottage; Off We Go; Currently; Easy Goin; Spread Your Wings by Mye De Leon
Daytripper; Golden Pears by Dawn by Design
Menagerie by Celeste Knight
Familiarity by Karla Dudley
Fonts: Bitty by Audacious Design, Just Coles Cursive, Janda Celebration Script

One More

     Here's another one I wanted to "mess up" a little more.  I had so much symmetry going on that it looked like my first layout ever.  I wanted to maintain the gist of the layout but stir it up.  I added some more splatter and some art strokes to give more texture.

 

First layout

 

Redo

 

Added elements:

Loop Da Loop by Anna Aspnes

52 Inspirations by Sue Cummings

 

Again with the redos!

     Here's another super dark layout I just wasn't thrilled about.  I added another highly textured paper under the background and with a blending mode I got the black paper to take on the texture and a grey color.  The grey is a little more restful on the eye and it goes with Vivi's dress.  The white and the black overlay both show up nicely.  I think the tags even show up better, too.  I did a little revamping on the white scrolls making them less symmetrical.  I added some dots to the "hello" WA (word art) and the word "I" to the "love this photo" WA.  I'm more pleased with it now. 
     It wouldn't qualify for a CT layout anymore because I added the textured paper from a different shop, but I'm not uploading it to the CT gallery so it doesn't matter.

 

Original CT layout

 

The redo

 

Additional supplies:

52 Inspirations Week 9 by Vicki Stegall

Font: Just Coles Cursive

Another redo

     I have been dissatisfied with this layout too.  I felt the original layout was rather stark looking, the black background was so flat looking.  The two blue doilies have bothered me since they didn't really compliment the blues in Vivi's dress.  I deleted the top doily and added a smear.  I had to recolor the smear a little since it had yellow and I didn't want to introduce another color into the layout.  I added a torn paper sack underneath the black background paper and used a blending mode to let the wrinkles show through.  I THINK I like it better.  I'm also not wild about the frame, but it was the one that came in the mdl kit, Easy Livin.

Added elements:

 

Smears by Mye De Leon

I Am Who I Am by Allison Pennington

Rechopped

     I have been bothered by my Chopped Contest entry ever since I saw the other entries.  I realized that I kept the required elements the same size and orientation essentially.  I misunderstood that the ideas was for the contestants to CHANGE the elements to be used in a new creative way.  I decided to change my layout making it a little more creative, but I would use ONLY the elements and colors that were in my original entry.  See what you think, better? or not?

The original entry

 

 

The rechopped layout

 



Night Photography

     I decided to scrap one of the MANY photos I've taken for my latest photography class.  I've dragged Brian down to the Cedar River twice for hours each time, trying to get a good night shot.  This is taken with my new 24-70mm lens.  We set up in two locations in the dark, waited, waited, and waited for buses to go over the roadway bridge.  This shot shows the light trails of a bus' lights with a little reflection in the water.  I made it an artsy layout because -- well, it was dark and creepy at times.
     Candice recommends that you always have a partner with you during night shoots for security reasons and I have to admit, she is very wise.  There were a couple of times I would have been down in the dark, alone with groups of young men passing by -- VERY glad Brian was with me.

 

 

ArtsyKardz Living Well by Anna Aspnes
Crème Caramel by Captivated Visions
Fonts: Sidewalk, Downcome, Special Elite

 

Canon 60D, 70mm, Manual mode

ss 1.6 seconds; f/2.8; ISO 200