Posts Tagged ‘sizzix’

Improving Photos with Photoshop Actions

Friday, August 7th, 2009

As mentioned yesterday I have been creating again. To clear off my desk I decided to finish up some pages that I have had “almost” done for awhile (they just needed journaling).

I love the way this one turned out.

puppet show by cjr

It is kind of hard to see the details so here are some up close photos.

puppet show - detail, left side

The stars were created by die cutting the shape with this star and then running it through my Big Shot with this Texturz plate (some are lifted off the page with black 3D foam squares).

(The title letters are by Cosmo Cricket and the journaling tag is by Cherry Arte.)

puppet show - detail, right side

Do you like how the photos look?  It was pretty easy to get this look using these Photoshop Actions.  I love using PS Actions to improve less than stellar photos.  This is what the photo looked like before I ran the PS Action.

original photo before running PS Action

The colors were all over the place and it lacked focus.  By running the PS Actions I love how instantly you focus on the kidlets and how it adds a dreamy quality to it.

Today I am working on Magnus’ album again.  printing the photos for the album

I printed off all the photos I need and I started arranging things on the album pages.

figuring out placement of front and back pages

The row of photos that you see above the album are for the back sides of the pages.  I spent a few minutes moving around embellishments so that I could be sure that the items were evenly spread through the album.  Next I started adhering things down (some of the embellishment placement changes as I was adhering).

Today I will finish up the journaling on it and figure out how I want to bind it all together and then it will be finished! :)

An Album for Magnus

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

I am back from the Summer Craft and Hobby Show in Orlando, of course, (it was great to see everyone – thanks for stopping by and saying hello!)  and I am now trying to get back into the routine of things again. Whenever I go away I come back tired and in need of cuddles from my kidlets. A few days pass and then I am itching to be creating again. 

But sometimes it is hard to get back into to the routine (and drag myself away from the cuddles).

For the last few days I have been creating and getting things on track again.  Some things created were for assignments and some things were just for me.  It is a balance that I always try to keep to make sure that I never feel like scrapbooking is “work”.  For the “just for me” scrapbooking I started a mini album for Magnus.  Not an album about Magnus but an album that is for him (to keep in his room).  It is part a decoration but it is meant for him to handle and look at and enjoy.  Of course it features his favorite subject – himself!  LOL

I am not done it but I thought I would show you my progress (+ the mess I have created while working – as you know I am not the neatest of people!)

Work-in-progress!  Magnus' new album featuring Cosmo Cricket Lil Man

It is going to be an accordion album – made with some chipboard sheets and this die from Sizzix.  I covered the chipboard with adhesive sheets and then placed the paper over the adhesive before die cutting so that the paper would stick edge to edge (and I would have no sanding or cutting with a craft knife).  Love how fast this is to get a beautifully covered album using album dies from Sizzix.

I am using a paper collection that I have been saving for awhile now – Lil Man by Cosmo Cricket.  I fell in love with this paper line that is SO perfect for boys and have been waiting until I had some time to really enjoy using it.

I have the chipboard embellishments laid out but non of them are stuck down.  I just couldn’t resist taking them out of their packing before I printed photos. :)

Now I am currently laying on the floor of my craft room editing photos.Editing photos of Magnus' funny face for his mini albumThis mini album for Magnus will consist only of photos of  him making funny faces.  He loves to make faces whenever he catches me snapping his photo (and then view them on my camera screen after) so I know he will enjoy an album showing these faces off.  Since this will be an accordion album that can be stood up we will place it on his window sill (he has deeply set in windows in his room) and he can enjoy it and play with it as much as he wants. 

When I print off all these photos I plan to print duplicates so that I can make a scrapbook page documenting his funny face trick so I do not need to worry if his little mini album stands the test of time.  I want him to be able to freely enjoy it without me having to tell him to be super careful with it.  I just know that at some point it will used to make a fort for his Star Wars figurines and the battles they have and I am perfectly OK with this.  :)

Hopefully I will have more to share on this album soon.  Happy Crafting everyone!

Which One is Your Fave? {baby shower invites}

Monday, July 20th, 2009

I am making shower invites for a friend of mine so I made up a few samples to give her a choice. These are the three that I showed her (based on an original design that she liked).

Which one is your fave?

Choice 1

Choice 1 - Bundle of Joy

Option 1 - detail photo

Choice 2

Option 2 - Baby Shower Invite

Option 2 - details

Option 3

You're Invited - Baby Shower Invite

Option 3 - details

To create the embossing I used my Big Shot with the baby themed Textured Impressions (this one and this one).  Love these – especially when I know I am going to need to make a lot of something.

(Want to see another baby shower invite I made recently?  click here)