YES! You Can Change Your World (one pixel at a time!)

Don't you sometimes wish that you could change your world? With all of the things going on around us, most of us have had the desire at one time or another to make changes. We feel helpless when we see things that beg to be changed and we are only one person.

Well, cheer up! You can change your world! At least with digital photography and the right photo manipulation software! A tree need not stay a tree, clouds can become backgrounds and even people are not exempt from morphing into something else! (Personally, I like to turn them into swirls of color (see last month's article) or lovely plaids!

There are so many programs on the market now to help us be more creative that you could ever image with our photos and our scrapbook pages.

Let's create some pages!!

Project 1: Friendship page

I think the cute and friendly dragonfly from Sun & Sand by gifted artist Laurie Furnell adds just the touch of whimsy I wanted.

1. I added my photo to a plain background and then used the color picker to add color to match.
2. I added shadow to photo and used cut out tool to cut out one bird.
3. I added that bird to the page and made it almost transparent using gradual transparency tool.
4. I added a poem and the dragonfly image art from Laurie Furnell's Sun & Sand.

Project 2: Come and Play Plaque for nursery

Once you see the cute Animal Alphabet by the talented KaeLynn Winn you will be making everything from light switch holders to curtains to use it. For some good ideas on creative things to do from lamps to books, be sure to visit the PCC message board.

1. I created a new page and added image from Animal Alphabet.
2. I added a little jingle and then beveled the edges using a filter down loaded from the internet to give it the look of a plaque.
3. This would be cute to do on a tile. Just make sure to hang the tile safely so that if it should fall ( in CA we have earthquakes) that it is away from the baby and the crib. It would also be cute on one of those glass block lights. As with anything you create for baby be sure to exercise the proper caution in choice of materials!

Project 3: Play Ball!

1. I used the transparency brush and brushed away the back ground on the photo. I copied the photo, pasted it and flipped it to let him play ball with himself. I added shadows to each.
2. I took a photo of our yard for the grass background. It would have been best to have taken a photo of the grass from further away in order to have the perspective correct.
   

Project 4: Play Ball Embellishment

1. I used the same cutout and added the metal effect in Digital Image Pro. If you do this be use to experiment with the various lighting selections it gives you for the effect you desire.
   

Project 5: Changing Your World step by step

1. I used the photo of the grass and went into effects and used the chalking effect. With it I created a frame. You can also use it to add fill to shapes, etc.
   

Project 6: Turkey Boo

1. Using a turkey by Laurie Furnell (in Autumn Days), I added it to a white background and we can use it to hang on doors in the neighborhood.
   



 

Now for your assignments should you decide to accept them: :

1. Remember that it’s flu season so be particularly careful around those who are ill.
2. Use what you have learned to do in your crafts to share with your friends and family.
3. Hug someone!
4. Take lots of photos.
5. If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.
6. Send an email to people and companies that you like and respect and tell them so.
7. Hug someone else and make their day.
8. Speak only positive things today and keep a positive attitude.

Meet me back here next month.
Hugs,
Thena