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Community > Articles & Projects > Thena's Article
Thena's Article
Thena Smith
Thena Smith

Is it Really June?

This year is flying by. So much is happening in my life. It is a good thing that I am retired! I have three new books coming out, am working as staff on a new magazine, have been writing some articles for a photo book company and have attended a trade show or two for my publisher. And eventually I hope to find time to do spring (summer) cleaning! So, please forgive me if I cannot believe that it is already JUNE!

We are still enjoying Taffy, our newest member of the family and she continues to get attention from every passerby when we take our fur kids for our walks. She met a cute little boy yesterday and did not quite understand how a person could be so low to the ground. She was intrigued and wanted to be friends but he did not understand the rambunctiousness of a pup either. I think it was the first time she saw someone cry (especially when she was showering love on them!)

Our older doggie, Cozy took a liking to a man we met on our walk and when we told him that she was named after Cozette from Les Miserables he related a story to us about how his best friend from childhood was the one who translated the musical lyrics into English from French. It really is a small world!

As I looked over the new Creatables in pcCrafter Shopping I was pulled to “Now and Forever” by Marie Cole and “Flights of Fancy” by Carolyn Shores Wright. Now I’m not planning to be a bride (or even to play one on TV) but with the soft colors and gentle drawings, some of those images can be used for subjects other than weddings and I love Carolyn’s bird images in the soft gentle colors.

And of course I want to share something with you that you can create on your own with the image editing program whether it is Microsoft or Adobe.

It’s time now to do some projects:

A Simple Card
  1. Create a 8.5 x 11 portrait page and add images from Now and Forever at the top and bottom.
  2. Write a little note or sentiment for your card or use mine.
  3. Print as a single scrapbook page or print as a double fold card, leaving the inside for personal note or photo.
or
  1. Create the front of the card with one daisy and “I Love You” and put the verse on the inside.
click image for larger preview
Project 2: Unique Designs from Alphabet Font
  1. Create a new page and add a font. I’m using the T (for Thena)
  2. Use the Medhi kaleidoscope plugin in DIP, Adobe Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements.
    *You can download it free online.
  3. Use varying degrees to create designs to use as page elements or overlays.
  4. Yours won’t look exactly like mine but keep apply the effect until you find one that is interesting. The gold font makes a really fun overlay, especially on dark rich colors or over black.
Project 2
click image for larger preview
Project 3: Creating a Scrapbook Page
  1. Create a new page 12 x 12 at 300 dpi.
  2. Add the stripe paper from “Now and Forever.”
  3. Add the dots paper and use the even transparency tool to blend them together.
  4. Add images from Now and Forever in opposite corners of the page.
  5. Add photos, mats and shadows to finish off.
Project 3

Project 4: Flights of Fancy Creation
When it comes to “Flights of Fancy,” I am content to just print out the images and look at them! They are so beautiful to look at. But fortunately, we can also use them to create crafts and scrapbooking projects.
  1. Create a new 12 x 12 page at 300 dpi; add shape (square) and fill with color, then resize the square to fill the page.
  2. Add image in top corner and in lower corner, then add shadow and a bit of texture using the effects filter.
  3. Add photo and then add JOY in the corner.
Project 4
Everyone Loves Hearts. (Here's a simple way without using a mask.)
  1. In adobe Photoshop open a new 12 x 12 page. Chose a goldish color for your foreground color.
  2. Draw a heart shape. (Use custom shapes).
  3. Make foreground color white and add another layer.
  4. Draw a white heart inside the gold one.
  5. Use the transform tool and make the heart in the top layer smaller.
  6. Go to Merge all visible layers and merge. Click on background layer to make it a regular layer (otherwise this won’t work).
  7. Use magic wand to take out the white middle and the white background.
  8. Use dodge and burn tools to add depth and shadow.
  9. Use emboss effect, pillow emboss to make it puffy.
  10. Save. Duplicate the layer and play around with various styles to see all of the fun things you can do!
Project 5

There you have it! A few fun and simple things to do with DIP and Adobe Photoshop. I hope you will check out all of the new Creatables.

Your assignment, should you decide to accept it:

  1. Be a little kinder than you have to be.
  2. Determine to enjoy where you are right now.
  3. Make family a priority.
  4. Pray for our country every day.
    and
  5. Meet me back here next month.

Hugs,
Thena
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