The theme for the Creative Every Day challenge for January 2012 is “New”.
I have to be honest. I didn’t put a whole lot of thought into it. I seem to be in hibernation mode or just wanting to “chillax” as they say.
Yet…
niggling in the back of my head was the desire to work on something different. A respite from the chilly Lair.
What could I do that I call “working” while resting my buttocks on the couch under the blankies with a cat warmer and still feel like I was showing up for my dream.
Photoshop!
Oh Photoshop… you continue to delight, frustrate and stretch me to no end. I become like a dog with a bone, tenaciousness bordering on bull-headed stubbornness in the desire to conquer the damn program.
How does this fit in with the “New” theme?
I learned some new things!
I want to make a 2013 calendar featuring my gourd dolls. For Christmas I received The Print Shop Deluxe and found the perfect template to use.
The first step is to change the background of the gourd doll’s picture from white to transparent. This allows me to place her on whatever background I wish. I’ve done this many times, yet the particular doll I chose to start with has lots of feathery floofy hair. Sure, I’ve done things with floofy stuff before and wasn’t perfectly happy with the results.
Off to Google I sauntered to find tutorials. I found two and my friend Greg Krynen from Purple Dragon Gifts, offered up a third. Here are links to them in case this is something you’d like to try.
http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/color-range/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3hoDihxH7E
This site offers various services for $5. I was seriously considering using this until my dog-with-a-bone attitude kicked in.
http://fiverr.com/gigs/search?query=photoshop&x=0&y=0
Between all three tutorials, an evening, a day, and a night’s worth of blood, sweat, and tears of frustration, I got’r done. I couldn’t use just one tutorial. It was a bit of this and that from each one and a few hissy fits when it didn’t work. Now that the learning curve is over, I can zoom through changing backgrounds on other pictures like nobody’s business.
The first picture below is using the calendar template from Photo Shop Deluxe. I discovered that if I want to sell these, I can’t use it.
First Draft
Heck Fire! I had gotten this far, I wasn’t going to give up easily. Off to Google and files on my computer to find royalty free and common-use pictures. I discovered this site, http://karenswhimsy.com/vintage-clipart.htm in my search. PERFECT!
It was back to Photoshop and now armed with more know-how, changing the background on the flowers was easy-peasy. I also changed them from color to black and white. Here’s the new design:
Tada!
My plan is to work on these at night (have laptop will travel about the house) while the Fam is watching TV. I’ll have to change which end of the couch I sit on though. Bunnola likes to curl up next to my right arm which is the one I use the most.
If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it is to honor the creative flow. Following the desire and nudge to play in Photoshop has had a battery re-charge effect. I’m ready to hit the Lair and let the hootenany flow!
Have a Wonder-Filled day and enjoy YOUR creativity!
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