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Community > Articles & Projects > Thena's Article

Thena's Article

Thena Smith

Thena's Bio

Thena's Archives

And Suddenly it’s APRIL!

Hopefully, most of you are out from under the snow and can see budding trees and blossoms. Here in California, I tend to lose touch with where we are as far as Spring is concerned. We had a few cool days here but my daughter back east just chuckles at my idea of “cold”. She especially gets a laugh over the fact that our car has seat warmers. Ok, I know we don’t really need that, but hey, it came with the car!

With all that is going on in our world today, it is nice to be able to sit down at the computer and create something. Just looking through the shopping area at all the beautiful artwork brings a smile to my face. I like to start with “What’s new?” and then browse by subject or season. Sometimes I click on the new collection and then go back through each selection by that artist. I find things that I had forgotten about and enjoy them all over again!

New things that caught my eye were You Take the Cake by Andrea Tachiera, Debbie Mumm's Hannah's Honey Farm and Winter Pines, and Bake Sale by Joy Hall.

Bless this Child by Janie Dawson brought a smile to my face as I looked at those adorable babies. What a perfect collection to use for baby shower invitations, etc. (along with her Belly Button Babies). Of course for dog lovers like me, Janie’s Westies and Scotties is a must have! Once I started browsing through her artwork I couldn’t stop!

For something entirely different but appropriate for California, I love Dwight Kirkland’s Tropical Birds. This is especially a treat for me since I have a flock of pink flamingos that live in front of a nearby hotel.

I also find myself smitten with Hug a Friend 2 by Tina Ledbetter. Be sure to check out Hug a Friend 1 when you check out the new collection.

Project 1: Friendship Card

Hug a Friend 2

Create a new page at 300DPI (I used Digital Image Suite 2006).
Add imageart.
Add your text.
Add verse to inside. If you are going to do a half fold card, check out how your printer prints before printing card. You might want to print verse on an insert and add to the finished card.

click image for larger preview

Project 2: Thinking of You

Create a new page at 300 DPI.
Add background from Hug a Friend 2.
Use perspective effect or plug in. (You can download from online. Just do a search for "perspective plugin").
Add image from Hug a Friend 2.
Add thought bubble from shapes.
Add photo by using fill with photo and then highlighting the edge of bubble.

click image for larger preview

Project 3: Create a Birdhouse

Use the simple shapes shown on the layout to create your own birdhouse.
Once you create your basic shape you can fill it with wood or pattern of your choice.
It’s easier to fill with a pattern while you have the birdhouse in several pieces. After you have the color or wood that you desire, group the objects and then flatten them.

click image for larger preview

Project 4: How About a Cupcake?

Use the shapes in your program for the top and the bottom.
Add the stamp edge in DIP to get the curve around the bottom of the icing.
Use the distortion tool to pull out the top of the icing.
Add stripes to the bottom to represent the paper.
Add a circle as a cherry or pull the shape out a bit to be a strawberry or a kiss.
Add shadows and shading.

click image for larger preview

How easy is that! Isn’t it amazing how many things you can create just using shapes and shadows? Now go have some fun and make something.

That’s your assignment and oh, yes, meet me back here next month (or have a note from your mom!)

Hugs,
Thena

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