annamarie's: let's inspire each other

Freebies: Two Colorful Artist's Grunge Background Papers

Hi Everyone, it's been a busy past week at work, including saturday, as well as working on my goals both at work and for myself.

I opened my first e-bay account, yahoo, which was part of my goals for myself.

I'm still thinking about an artella store, but still not sure what I could offer there that would be of interest to you, so I'm still working on that idea.

Anyway, I did make several artist's colorful grunge papers yesterday, here are two of them, I hope some of you talented designers can make something with them.

 I am starting to make the size's 8 x 8 so people can print them out without losing anything.

Here is the first one:

Here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/45652256/a4a882d0/annamaries_colorful_grunge_1.html

Here is the second one:

and here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/45652398/ee678aec/annamarie_colorful_grunge_2.html

thanks everyone, have a great monday!

Freebies: 2 passion for orange background papers

If you like orange, than these are for you. Two backgrounds for your digital projects.

Here is what the first one looks like:

Here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/44928873/61df141e/primary-orange.html

Here is the second one:

Here is the second link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/44928992/89996331/orange-circle-1.html

Enjoy!

Freebie: .gif glitter background page

Hi Everyone,

I'm still in a glitter mode right now so Monday's freebie is a .gif file to add movement to your projects. You can use this as a background anywhere, in your blog, etc.

Here is what it looks like:

 

http://www.4shared.com/file/44785814/2b318737/blue-striped-background.html

Enjoy and Thanks for visiting my blog.

Freebies: 3 Neon Kaleidoscope Backgrounds

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Today I am trying something different with my downloads (again? I know!). I'm trying to address my goal of trying to find out what is being downloaded and popular and what is not, so I know what to focus on.

There is no way to tell currently who is actually downloading vs. just looking. I see Ratmomma and others are using 4shared which does allow you to view how many have been downloaded, so I am going to start sending my download links there. Thanks for your patience while I am working out my bugs, but I do always want to keep improving my blog.

Today's Freebies are Neon Kaleidoscope backgrounds, one was given earlier, so you can skip that one if you already have it, but I set it up in a kit of 3.

Here is what the 3 backgrounds looks like:

Here is the link to down load them:

Freebies: 2 luau theme papers

Hi Everyone, with spring in the air, I am continuing with a flower look, here are two luau type kaleidoscope papers to have fun with. The first is a starter page:

Here is a link to the full size version of the photo above

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/Kaleidoscopes/annamariesluaupage1fullsize.jpg

The second is just a plain page to work with:

Here is the link to the full size version.

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/Kaleidoscopes/luaupage2.jpg

Sparkle and Bling Bling - Thursdays Inspiration!

Hi Everyone, it was time to give another practice to the blinkie, bling, bling lesson that I am teaching myself.

It was fun to do and I personally always love a little sparkle to things.

Here is my starter page to view:

Julie, glitter girl, this one is with you in mind.

Watercolor tutorial & Freebie Background Paper

Here is a really quick version to get a watercolor background look, only a couple of steps compared to the other watercolor papers I did, I can do one of those for a tutorial as well, but today is the quick step version.

One base can ultimately create several background pages when you are done.

1. Layer one: Make a square to cover the whole area and go to Layer, Layer Style, Gradient Overlay. Pick any gradient that you want and play with the options, angle, radial, linear, etc. It doesn't matter, just pick one that appeals to you.

2. Layer two: Bring in a grunge type of background, full coverage is best with lots of grunge. Now on your layers palette with layer 2 highlighted, change the mode from normal to Luminosity. This will give you more of a pastel watercolor.

3. Layer three: Duplicate layer 2, but change this to Color Burn instead, it will give your more intense color. You can stop here, or keep going.

4. Layer 4: Bring in another type of decorative background and change it to from normal to overlay in the layers palette.

5. Layer 5: Make a copy of layer 4 four and turn off layer 4. Change it to Luminosity.

6. Copy layer 5 to make layer 6, turn off layer 5. Now take the new layer and use the magic eraser or wand and punch away some of the white background from the new layer. Then go to Layer, Layer Styles, Bevel and Embross and add some dimension.

You can go on and on, adding more features, changing the modes from normal, color burn, add a pattern and so much more, experiment and mostly just have fun! That's it!

I hope you found this tutorial helpful and easy to follow!

Here is what today's Watercolor Swirl Freebie looks like:

Here is the link to the full size version, Enjoy, and have a great afternoon:

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/Watercolor%20tutorial%201/annamarie%20watercolor%201%20full%20size.jpg

Asian Kit Tutorial & Freebies

Today let's do some inspiration with photoshop on 2 of the items we received in the November Asian Kit (but use any picture you want if you do not get the kits).

Here are those 2 original photos:

1. First open photoshop and add 2 layers right away and bring in a photo of your choice. I used the floating flutter background page as my starting point (above right). This photo is now on layer 2.

2. Use the eye dropper and touch the dark pink of the flower (or any color you like in your image). This will load the color into your foreground color square in your tool bar. On layer 1, now draw a box that will be filled with this matching color, this will become your base page.

3. If you want some texture on your colored background on layer 1, go to Layer, Layer Styles, Texture and/or Pattern Overlay and play and pick what you like. Experiment with sizes also.

4. Now go to layer 2 (your photo). In the layer palette box, change from Normal to Overlay (this is what is on my sample) (but play now with all the different looks and pick something that appeals to you). Also do Layer, Layer Styles, bevel and emboss or drop shadow if you want to add depth to this layer, otherwise leave it flat if you prefer that look.

5. Make a new layer above your photo and open your brush palette. I have used ODSIDIANDAWN brush set butterflies and trails. Check out the blog, there are dozens of freebies there, just be sure to give credit if you use them and do not claim them as your own. Now add a couple of butterflies and trails towards your outer edges on this new blank layer. You can pick a color again from your eye dropper or you can add a style. I picked my dark pink again, but then I went to Layer, Layer Styles, Bevel and Embross to give a little dimension.

6. Another example with the butterfly layer duplicated and new features checked: Layer, Layer Styles, Bevel & Emboss, Inner Bevel, size 25, depth 150. Also, A gradient overlay added for the color. (have fun and try different things, it's all about experimenting with what you like.)

Or add several layers for even more dimension.

7. Now let's make a frame: Make another blank layer above the butterflies. Bring in the blossombudding background from your kit, (or any other image you want). Resize it smaller and center on your page in a position you like. Lock all of your other layers right now so you don't accidently move things as we begin adding more and more layers. You can unlock them as you need to work on them again.

8. Now on a new blank layer, above the blossombudding photo, make a colored box again, slightly smaller than the photo you just added. Now Merge these two layers together. With your magic eraser, tap on the color box within your photo, this will remove the inside to create a custom frame. Don't worry that you still see the background paper, we will remove that part later.

9. Touch your new frame layer and go to Layer, Layer Styles, Bevel & Emboss and add some dimension to your new frame. I did size 40, depth 200.

10. On your frame layer, you can leave it as is, or change the feature from Normal. I used Luminosity because I wanted the frame to take on the colors of the paper below it. (see sample on 11.)

11. Now let's add some more dimension, add another blank layer above layer 2  (that's right, above layer 2). Now open up your brush again and open the brush library (again from ODSIDIANDAWN brush set handwriting) Pick a asian text and select your color to be black. Stamp on this new blank layer where ever you want, all of the text, part of the text, lg., small, whatever you want.

12. Were almost done, our final element for this tutorial (or you can keep going) will be to add a tag for personalized text. Go back up to your very top layer and add another blank layer. A tag is made the same way as the frame, Make a shape, put a tiny white circle on top of it, merge the layers together and with the magical eraser, punch out the white circle.

13. Using your eyedropper again, pick a color from your image, then use the paint bucket to pour it into the layer with your tag on it, it will now match exactly that color. To add dimension, go to Layer, Layer Styles, Drop Shadow/or Bevel & Emboss, etc.

14. Our final step is to connect the tag to the frame. This can be done in many ways, with a brad, bow, string, chain, flower, whatever you like. Again make a new layer, add that element and you are done.

 15. We're all done, except punching out the back of the photo frame to insert a picture in from behind. Make a blank layer, above the background paper on layer 2. Make a box a little bigger than the opening of the frame. Merge that layer with the background layers (remember there are 2 background layers, the color and the photo) highlight all three of these layers and merge them, and punch out the color with the magical eraser. That's it!

 I hope this was easy to follow, let me know if you would like to see more tutorials and/or suggestions for improvement opportunities.

 Here is a oriental freebie for today, a beautiful woman frame:

and a digital paper:

Have a great day everyone, thanks for visiting my blog.

Link to frame:

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/asian%20kit%20tutorial%20files/400%20black-bird-frame%20(2).jpg

Link to pink paper

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/asian%20kit%20tutorial%20files/400-pink-plants.jpg

Freebie Quick Page: Flowers & Butterflies Spring Blue Page

Hi Everyone, today's freebie is a quick starter page for you to add photos and text. I am on vacation this upcoming week so that should give me lots of time to play, relax and probably create some kits, and play on artella.

Here is what the page looks like: It's under the spring vitality category at the bottom.

Enjoy and have a great Sunday!

FREE Spring Vitality Digital Kit - 13 items, papers, brads, tags, flower - enjoy!

Hi Everyone, here is my first mini kit that I mentioned I wanted to start applying in my blog.

Here is what the overall kit includes and looks like: 4 papers (2 plain, 2 patterned) 4 brads, 4 plates, 1 flower.

Here is a better view of the 2 patterned papers:

 I am testing to see if I can just put a zipped file into the left hand list or if I need to list them separately.

Right now only the zipped file is there for the test. Please let me know if you experience problems.

I am also testing a link right here:

http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/freebies/Spring%20Vitality%20Series/Freebie%20Kit%201.zip

If someone can also test the link, I would really appreciate it and the feedback, thanks!

Freebies: A Touch of GLASS, 4 background patterns with Glass Overlays, Enjoy!

Hi Everyone, today I am experimenting with glass, here are 4 backgrounds with a glass feature to them.

Background 1, Glass windowpanes over flowers:

Background 2, a checker board pattern with a swirl glass overlay 

Background 3, a green watercolor pattern with a funky glass cutout overlay 

Background 4, a yellow watercolor pattern with a swirl glass overlay 

Have fun and I hope you like them! Obviously by now, you can tell I am very eclectic and am growing and developing my skills. I am having fun just trying different things to see what people like and respond to. I do plan on doing whole series as I get a feel for what people like and don't like.

Any feedback or suggestions of themes, etc. that you would like to see, please feel free to post. Thanks Everyone!