Happy Christmas and New Year

DSC # 119

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the theme is 

Anything Goes with a twist - 

snowflakes

Stitchy Bear

I have coloured this in PS and used a PS brush to make the snowflake cut out around the centre rectangle, to do this I used a snowflake brush and then selected the eraser tool, you can use ANY brush to achieve this. I added a drop shadow and an inner glow to the same layer, then duplicated the layer and used an outer glow. I also used a PS snowflake brush to go over the snowflakes in the image to add a bit of colour.

                                    

DP's by Panda Bear Designs at Stitchy Bear

Image Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps

DSC # 118

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Christmas -
using non traditional colours

sponsored by  Lunagirl

Hi Everyone, my offering today is something that I would not normally do, however this is a challenge right? and in the end I am quite happy I had this challenge to do, as it made me think of the true meaning of Christmas and it doesn't matter what colour is traditional as long as the message gets across. So here is my offering, I used a few blending options, brushes and layers and effects in PS to get the effect near enough to what I envisaged. (I really have a lot of learning to do in PS).

The image is from Lunagirl
Digital Paper by  A Pennington at Pixel Scrapper
Snowflakes by Mommyish at The Digital Press



http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/friday-challenge-holiday-project.html  Holiday without red and green - Yep!

http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.ca/2014/12/jingle-belles-rock.html  Anything Goes

http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.ca/2014/12/aloha-friday-challenge-38-unusual.html  Unusual coloured Christmas

http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/angels.html  Angels - Yep!

http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/challenge-145-non-traditional-holiday.html  Non traditional Christmas - Yep!

Snowman friends

Hi Everyone, thought I would let you see one of my Christmas cards. VERY CAS for me, but I love those happy snowmen and seeing as I had to do 80 cards VERY quickly, it had to be CAS.  Coloured digitally in PS, I followed the "Merry Christmas" Design Seeds colours.

I layered the framed top with 3D tape and added lots of sparkle. Not a good photo, it's difficult on these Winter days.

Digi by The Stamping Boutque
frame by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrappers
font is Tropicali script BTN Bamboo

I'm entering it into the FB challenge at The Digistamp Boutique

http://a-crafty-mess.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-2_5.html  Anything Goes/Christmas colours

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/crafty-catz-challenge-258-snowmen.html Snowmen

A visit from me for DSC 117

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Use a Sentiment as the main focus

sponsored by  Lacy Sunshine

My fabby image is Holly's Garland, another cutie from Lacy Sunshine and a different shape for me too. 

DP's and bow from ADB Designs 

Sentiment DSB

sketch #3 from 613 Ave

Hope you will have a looky at the other DT posts HERE

See you next time.

On a break!

Hi Everyone, I am going to take a bit of time away from the computer.

I hope to see you in the not too distant future. 

In the meantime here are a few photos I took this week of Llansteffan Beach and Llansteffan Castle, the castle is overlooking the River Tywi as it enters Carmarthen Bay near the village of Llansteffan in Carmarthenshire.
It was 10C with a stiff breeze, but as you can see beautifully sunny.

Click on each picture to enlarge to see the beauty of the area.

Looking out to sea 

The Castle and it's placement on the coast

The Castle framed

The Castle in silhouette 

Looking across the Estuary to Ferryside

Looking further inland across the Estuary

Looking out to see from the car park

Looking inland from the beach

The coastal train

Closeup of the train 

Rolled seaweed left by the tide

I believe this is a sedum, below tide level

DSC # 113 Sparkle N Sprinkle

Firstly today I want to welcome back to Digitally Sweet Challenges Denise Pustelniak, she was such a great help in my very first DT post with DSC, thank you again Denise.

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Cosy Winter Moments

sponsored by  Sparkle N Sprinkle

I chose this image as my cosy moments, as it reminds me of a cheese and wine party we had with friends. that really was cosy winter moments! Especially towards the end of the evening LOL.

I coloured the image "Wine Tableau" from Sparkle N Sprinkle in PS, I am so happy with my colouring, as I am understanding more about the way to use brushes and layers.  

Tips on colouring in PS as I did, with trepidation, originally.  (Especially for a great blog friend Mary H)

1. right click and duplicate the main image twice, hide the original layer by clicking on the "eye" to the left of the image in the layer column. 
2. right click choose blending options, change the top layer to "multiply"
3. start painting with a basic brush on the 1st copy layer. I would magnify the image for this to make it easier.

You will be able to colour without having to worry about painting over the lines as the "multiply layer" is on top with the lines intact. You'll see this if you hide the painting layer. I hope that will help you start your colouring.

It is possible to just use the 2 layers to colour the complete image, professionals use different layers for different colours and blending options. I am not a professional so have found a way to do it without making it very complicated. I'm not saying it is the correct way, but it gives a bit of confidence and if you go really wrong, you still have your original image and you multiple layers to start again, (just remember to make another duplicate layer from your original to start again.) You can progress to more layers as you feel more confident with this way.

I've used a few techniques in this, i.e. dodge & burn to add shadows, brushes for the snow in the window, blur for the wine in the bottle, stainless steel style for the knife, embossing for the holly swirl overlay.  It did take me a few hours to complete, but I am very happy with it.

I laid out the images I wanted on the page in PS, printed and added them to the card. I decided to add a tag and lots and lots of sparkle and it does too, shame it can't be picked up in the photo, hopefully you will see I added it to all the frosty part of the card in the closeup. 

Wine Tableau Sparkle N Sprinkle

Holly overlay by Brooke Gazarek at Pixel Scrappers

Frost overlay, sorry no file name.

Green and red papers are shapes in PS.

http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/november-2014-challenge.html Anything Goes