The CoffeeShop Blog

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 24

2012-02-25T12:55:00.001-06:00

First, I wanted to mention that I am taking a few days off from the computer to spend time with my family to recover from the insanity of moving. I temporarily closed my CoffeeShop Facebook page because I will not be monitoring it, but I will open it in a day or two. If I don't do this I will feel that I have to check and see if anyone needs help or make sure no one has posted anything that will turn more of my hair gray. So don't freak out if you go there and you can't find it!!!

Second, I am excited to post a new vintage frame that was sent to me by the always generous Lori Peterson. This frame download includes a layered psd with a clipping mask and a simple png where you drag the image behind the frame. This frames is pretty large and can be used on the web or print. I hope you enjoy these vintage frames as much as I do.

Download the free CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 24! You can also download it here. These are image files, not actions!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

{Friday Photo Bliss}

2012-02-24T09:06:00.000-06:00

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

Pretty Presets Lightroom Brushes

2012-02-21T09:44:00.001-06:00

Laura of Pretty Presets just sent me her newest set of Lightroom Brushes and I have spent part of the morning playing. I have never used Lightroom brushes and graduated filters (other than the few included with LightRoom), and the ones from Pretty Preset are amazing. And they are only $20!!! Editing with brushes in LightRoom is similar to using adjustment layers and layer masks in Photoshop and allows you to spot edit parts of your image. I am going to let Laura tell you all about them.

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I would like to introduce you to our new Custom Lightroom Brushes and Graduated Filters. These brushes and filters will make your job in Lightroom easier. They give you the ability to edit specific parts of your photo instead of applying a preset over the entire image. These have become our best selling collections pretty quickly. These can be used in all the current Lightroom versions 1, 2 and 3 and can be applied to RAW and jpeg pictures. This set is amazing on babies too! Click here to view more about the brushes including a video on how they can be used in Lightroom.

Brushes used: Brighten the Face, Soften the Skin, Fix the Red, then Baby Feet and under eyes. Thank you JAS Photography for sharing this beautiful edit with us!

Brushes Used: Blue Eyes and Rose Filter. Thanks to Reminisce Studio Photography by Chiante Black for sharing this beautiful edit.

Brushes used: BR Fix Red all over the baby, Fix Baby Feet on the lower eye and then Brighten and Soften Skin. Thank you JAS Photography for sharing this beautiful edit.

Brushes used: BR Blue Eyes and Warm Haze. Thanks to Reminisce Studio Photography by Chiante Black for sharing this beautiful edit.

What Photographers are saying about our brushes...

"♥ LOVE ♥LOVE ♥LOVE the new brushes. I had a blast playing with them this evening! Thanks so much your presets are the bomb!!!"

"Your brushes saved my bacon again today!! The newest shot I was working on had sunlight filtering through little boy fingers making it appear as though he had red nail polish on....not really what I was going for!! Enter in a few brushes and voila all fixed quick and easy like!"

"Can I say easy....I use Lightroom and Photoshop normally but with these new brushes I can do all edits in Lightroom in Raw no less"

"So happy I got your new brushes set today! I just love how they helped reduce the redness of "stork bites" on this little one! Thanks for your amazing products!!"

"Good news is the brushes and filters are so easy in Lightroom. I had never used the brushes until I bought these ones learned in 15 minutes"

"At $20.00, this is a steal!! Not even a dollar a brush!! What will you waste 20 bucks on this week, which you could instead invest into your business/craft to make work flow easier and less time consuming? Yeah...I am a believer!!"

Would you like to learn more about our lightroom brushes or presets? We would love share more with you! Please come visit us at www.lightroompresets.com. We look forward to working with you!

CoffeeShop Action Flashback - Golden Vintage Action!

2012-02-17T20:46:00.008-06:00

We are still trying to get completely moved and settled in our new house. I haven't had much energy to post because I am still unpacking and arranging, but I promise I will be back posting regularly as soon as possible.

I like to go through my older actions and "rediscover" them. I wrote CoffeeShop Golden Vintage in April 2009, and it was one of my first actions. I still like to use it, especially on flowers/scenery. If you haven't tried it out, go check out the post and download it. It is a fun little adjustable action.

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 23!

2012-02-15T09:56:00.002-06:00

Still moving junk from the old house to the new (it is going to take at least a month since I can only work on it part-time) and unpacking, but my kitchen is almost completely set up. A house is not a home until you can start cooking. Today we are going to take a break and go visit the library. I love that we live in a small town with a great library and many wonderful parks. I just need to get used to more street noise (we live pretty close to a busy road), but it is already becoming almost soothing, like the ocean. ;-)

I completely freaked out this morning because I woke up and realized I hadn't seen my camera/lens bag since the move. I frantically search everywhere and couldn't find it, so I ran to my husband and told him the movers must have stolen all of my camera equipment. My husband is a rock and tried to calm me down and told me worst case scenario I could buy another camera, which didn't help much because even my Canon Rebel does not come cheap. Of course, a few minutes later I found everything in a cabinet and felt like a total fool. Moving really messes with you and makes your evil crazy twin come out.

I wanted to post another vintage frame that can be used for digital scrapbooking, greeting cards/storyboards for print or web, blog headers/buttons, or to display your favorite images on your blogs/websites. This frame is a simple png file, so you can open it in any photo-editing program. Simply drag your image behind the cutout and save as a jpg. To keep the background transparent, save as a png.

Hope you enjoy this new vintage frame! NOTE: This is not an action! Open like any other image.

Download the free CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 23! You can also download it here.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Whimsical Trees Design Pack

2012-02-12T21:34:00.000-06:00

We are still in the process of moving, but at least we are in the new house now. The large item furniture move was horrible (it was raining and the movers were three hours late, their lift broke and they couldn't move our piano, and they brought too small a truck so they couldn't pack all of our stuff!) and I still have a significant amount of junk to move at the old house. But we are unpacking and getting used to the new place. It always takes me a few days to feel at home after a move, but I know I am going to love living here.

I really forgot how stressful moving can be (I have done nothing but gripe) and I have been medicating myself with a large glass of wine every night to make it through it. And lots of coffee in the morning of course. ;-) Plus tons of cuddles with the kids and husband. They don't get as stressed as me, so it is a comfort to have them around keeping me partially sane.

And we have internet and I just set up my computer!!! Nothing is organized yet, but I love my new office space. It is a combo play room for the kids and office space for me, so when they are playing with their legos, blocks, and lincoln logs I can get some work done and keep an eye on them. Thank goodness I am pretty good at multi-tasking.

So on to today's freebie.

I don't often create this type of whimsical design elements, but I was working on a blog design and wanted to make some whimsical trees. These were so easy, I just used shapes and brushes (I made a custom tear-drop brush I will share later) and the pen tool.

I put together a fully adjustable design pack for you. Everything is a psd file in layers, so you can adjust the colors. The pack includes four whimsical tree clip-art and two 10in by 10in digital papers. Just click on the color fill adjustment layers to change colors and then flatten.

Download the free CoffeeShop Whimsical Trees Design Pack. You can also download it on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

Where did all of this junk come from???

2012-02-09T09:37:00.002-06:00

I wanted to thank you for your encouragement and kind comments here and on Facebook about my move. Everyone has to deal with moving, and I don't think anyone really enjoys the extra work involved. Except maybe my middle sister.

I called her with my "poor me, I have to move, waa waa waa" and she reminding me that she had just moved last year. And she went on to say "I really like to move because I can get rid of stuff I don't need." Darn pollyanna sister. ;-)

Who knew I had so much junk? We are going to have the movers move the big stuff (furniture). But this time I am not going to just throw everything in boxes and bring it with me. I decided to move everything else room-by-room, and I am making a keep, donate, throw pile for each area.

This sounded really great in theory (like so many of my "brilliant" ideas), but now I have piles of stuff EVERYWHERE! So today I am shifting the piles to the edges so the movers can move the furniture. I spend most of my time shifting my junk which does not seem so productive. I need my sisters to come down and help me toss stuff. It is going to take weeks for us to move everything.

And why in the world do I have so many books??? They are heavy! And what do you do with old computers/hard drives that you aren't using anymore? Is there anyway to really delete everything off the drives?

To keep things in perspective I have been rereading one of my favorite books, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. It was written in the 40's, but it has some of the best quotes and it really helps me when I am feeling stressed. I actually bought a few copies for some of my family members, it is that good.

So hopefully in a week or so we will be settled and I can get back to homeschooling and blogging. I love my normal boring life. The first action I hope to release is the one I have named Luminous Color Burst. I just need to finish writing the action instructions. I really love this action and can't wait to post it up here.

I wrote this post today just to avoid working on the move. But I am going to grab one more coffee and help the kids pack up their toys now. Or watch the last bit of Downton Abby I taped on Sunday. That is one of the best shows I have ever seen and a great way to avoid packing. Just don't tell my husband. ;-)

New Beginnings with Loved Ones

2012-02-07T22:52:00.006-06:00

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France

After years of renting (16?), we finally decided it was time to buy our own house. For the last seven years we have been renting my husband's childhood home, a 1970's ranch on 17 acres. The boys and I have loved living here, but my husband (who works 6 days a week) has been feeling like the house and the land owns him. Last month we were relaxing in the den when he turned to me and said "I am not going to have time to really take care of this place until I retire, and then I will be too old to take care of it."

That really opened my eyes to his feelings about living in the suburban country. I look around and see a field of green grass, fences full of juicy blackberries, chickens scratching around happily in the dirt, and a pond full of catfish ready to be caught and thrown back. My husband sees high grass that needs to be cut for hay, fences overgrown with weeds, a chicken coop full of rat snakes and black widow spiders, and a pond that is not only drying up, but full of water lilies that need to be removed.

My nature retreat has become a nature nightmare to my husband. And the house is well-built and a great size, but very outdated and constantly needing repairs (which we handle since it is part of our rent). And I must mention that this land is close to town and incredibly expensive, completely out of our price range for the foreseeable future.

So this Christmas we decided it was time to find our own place (preferably without green shag carpeting and flocked wallpaper, they are a pain to remove) and we fell in love with a cute house (pictured above) that will be perfect for our family. It was built only 30 years ago but looks vintage, is only 10 minutes from my husband's work, is located in the town where my husband and I grew up in and met for the very first time, is close to both our families, and has a large yard with trees and plenty of room for my little boys to run and play.

So the chickens have been divided among neighbors, friends, and my parents (they have a baker's dozen so that we can share the fresh eggs) and I am sitting typing in a room covered in half-filled (or half-empty, however you want to see it) boxes of books, toys, albums, etc. And right now I am reminded how much I really hate moving. It is a bit overwhelming.

I will be hit or miss on the computer the next week until we settle in our new home. But I am really excited about our new adventure and will be taking plenty of photos. The boys aren't bittersweet at all about the move because the new house has dirt and stairs, two of their favorite things.

My husband is not going to miss those chicken snakes. He really hates snakes. ;-)

I think I am going to turn off the computer and drink a glass of red wine with my husband. And take a bubble bath. It is going to be a long week...

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Covers 3!

2012-02-04T10:25:00.002-06:00

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I put together a new set of Facebook covers. Click here to see my entire set. I included two versions of each storyboard in this download. The layered psd file has clipping masks and is fully adjustable and can be opened in Photoshop or PSE. The png can be opened in any editing program and has photo cutouts so you can drag and free transform your images to fit.

You can also use these as blog/website headers or storyboards. I hope you enjoy them!

Download the CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Cover 3 set! You can also download it here. Note: These are image files, not actions! Please open like any other image.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures (includes Facebook Timeline Cover Set 1, 2, and 3!).

{Friday Photo Bliss}

2012-02-03T08:40:00.000-06:00

Inspired by the SouleMama blog's {this moment}, I am posting one image every Friday, taken recently, that really makes me happy. If you end up doing the same I would love to see your photo linked in my comments!

Most women have pretty flowerbeds in their backyard. I have a custom-designed pond, perfect for army guys and the dog. Thanks boys...

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

ColorInc Spiral Bound Books Sale, Just in Time for Valentine's Day!!!

2012-02-02T09:11:00.000-06:00

ColorInc Pro Labs was my first sponsor, back when I just started out and didn't have many readers. They have always been very supportive of my blog and they are also my own personal photo lab. So I am always excited to announce when they have special promotions. This week their spiral bound books are 20% off with coupon code SPIRAL20. Just click on any ad below to go to their site.

ColorInc has great products, prices and excellent customer service. Please visit them today!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22!

2012-02-01T08:36:00.003-06:00

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Here is another vintage frame! CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22 is high resolution and comes in both a layered psd file with a clipping mask and a png, so you should be able to use it in any editing program. If you are new to clipping masks you can use my Group-It action or follow the tutorials listed on that post.

Use frames for posting your images on your blog, website, facebook, or flickr account. You can also use them to decorate website/blog headers, greeting cards, or use them for print.

I also wanted to mention that Pretty Presets has some beautiful valentine storyboards posted for download today.

Download the CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22! You can also download it on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures (including this frame).

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

Pretty Presets Dreamy Baby Collection Giveaway! Closed

2012-01-31T08:52:00.003-06:00

Giveaway closed! Mary (number 25) was selected by Random.org as the winner. I sent a email to you Mary!

I want to welcome Laura of Pretty Presets to the CoffeeShop today. I personally don't find a need to create many of my own LightRoom Presets because I love using the ones from Pretty Presets. Imagine how happy I was when she emailed me with this wonderful giveaway opportunity for my readers. Thank you Laura!

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One of our best selling collections right now is our Dreamy Baby Collection for RAW images and we would love to give away a set to one of you! Want to enter? It's easy!!

We're huge fans of Rita and the Coffeeshop Blog we would love to know what three words come to mind when you think of her website. Personally, I think of the three words "Fun, Friendly and Informative". Rita is one of the friendliest ladies I know and always offers so much information on her blog and makes it fun to learn!

Leave a comment with your three words on this post along with an email address we can use to contact you. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified before I send out this collection. Be sure to let me know if you shoot jpeg and we will get you another collection. Thank you and I look forward to reading your responses. To view more from this collection you can click here. These presets are for LightRoom and will not work in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Contest ends on this Friday and winner will be contacted by Laura from Pretty Presets on Saturday!

The Dreamy Baby Collection was created specially for editing newborn sessions. The presets range from basic color, to dreamy hazes, and soft pastel tones. There are also classic and vintage inspired B&W Presets to complete the collection. The set contains 12 Original Presets + 4 Bonus Posts for a total of 16 Presets. These presets are perfect for your newborn photography, as well as children’s portraiture, and work best on RAW images and natural lighting.

CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar Photoshop/PSE Action!

2012-01-28T10:43:00.001-06:00

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I love using color palettes for design inspiration. It all started when I discovered the beautiful photography and color palettes at Design Seeds and decided to create and share my own layered ColorBar templates.

I have had quite a few readers ask me what you are supposed to do with them. Other than creating really cool looking storyboards from your favorite images, they are also a brilliant way to pick colors for all types of design. I use them to pick colors for website/blog design, logos, storyboards and even to select colors for rooms in my house. Open any image and select colors out of it and you can use one color to paint your walls, one for pillows, and one for a rug. If you are a quilt designer it would be a neat way to pick fabric colors that look great together.

I am sure you can think of many ways to use these nifty little color palettes and they are fun to make. However, I love using actions whenever possible to save time, so I wrote the CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar action to make it simple to create custom colorbar palettes in under a minute.

CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar Action Instructions:

1. If you are new to actions, you can find instructions on loading them on my Action Install page. I like to capture colors with the eyedropper using the 3 by 3 average setting rather than point sample. To set this as your standard setting, click on the eye dropper tool (I) and then select "3 by 3 Average".

2. Open the image and make sure it is a 8 bit flattened jpg and start the action. Crop bars will come up, so drag them to taste. If you can't see them completely, click Ctrl-0 (zero) to zoom out (use Ctrl-0 again to zoom in). Once you are happy with the crop, click on the check on the bottom in PSE or the check on top in Photoshop.

3. The action will crop the image and add a white canvas and 5 gray squares. The "Pick a solid color" pane will come up, so simply click on a color in the image you wish to capture and click OK. Don't get too particular at this step, you can always change the colors at the end of the action.

4. The "Pick a solid color" pane will come up four more times, so each time click on the image to capture a color and Click OK.

5. Once the action is finished, you will see all of the layers and color fill adjustment boxes. If you want to change any of the colors, click to select the little color box in the layer pane and then click on your image. Easy, right?

I hope you have as much fun with this action as I do!

Download the free CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar action for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements! You can also download the action on here.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action!) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete instructions on installing all of my actions, click here.

CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Action UnWrapped Tutorial!

2012-01-26T09:23:00.001-06:00

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If you have been following my blog, you know that as much as I love writing and posting actions, I also love to teach editing techniques. Every action is simply recorded editing steps, and if one takes apart an action they can learn all types of editing tricks and tips. Today I want to take apart the CoffeeShop Velvet Peach action.

1. Open an image and Ctrl-J (Command-J in Mac) to make a copy of the background.

2. Desaturate the new layer (Layer 1).
Photoshop: Image, Adjustments, Desaturate
PSE: Enhance, Adjust Color, Remove Color

3. Put this layer in Screen blending mode.

4. Make sure Layer 1 is selected and add a Solid Color Adjustment Layer (this should be the top layer).

5. I used hex#eed8cb in this action.

6. Put the Color Fill layer in Multiply blending mode and adjust all layer opacities to taste.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I am excited to announce I have two new actions coming out! One is called Luminous Color Burst and it is the best color pop/enhancement action I have ever written. It is completely customizable and if you like rich saturated colors you will love this action. I also wrote an automatic colorbar action for those of you that would rather use an action than my ColorBar template.

And of course I have more storyboards, editing tutorials and design elements coming out. So please bookmark me and tell your photography/scrapbooking friends about all of my free stuff!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop TearDrop Cluster Paper and Brush Set!

2012-01-24T08:52:00.003-06:00

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I recently posted a set of TearDrop Cluster digital paper, but I wanted to also post the original layered psd file. You can open the paper and then customize all of the colors. I love going to Design Seed and picking colors from her beautiful palettes. This download also includes the brushes I made and used on the papers.

This is not an action! You can open the layered file in Photoshop or PSE like any other image.

Download the free CoffeeShop Tear Drop Cluster Paper and Brush Set! You can also download them on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

Cat's In The Cradle and Why I Am a Stay-At-Home Mom

2012-01-21T11:05:00.012-06:00

Music matters. I see little girls singing and shaking their hips to Lady Gaga and Nickie Manaj around my town and it makes me sad. What are these songs teaching our young children?

My early childhood was spent listening mostly to classical, jazz, and easy-listening instrumental music. I didn't even know Beatle songs had words until I was in my preteens. However, my grandparents were big fans of folk music and they introduced me to the records of Harry Chapin when I was about eight or nine. My favorite song was Cat's in the Cradle and I wore that record down playing it over and over again and I memorized every word.

This song is one of the main reasons I became a stay-at-home mom. Our children aren't parrots, they actually listen to music lyrics and these lyrics help shape them as future adults. Please take some time and listen to your children's music, even it it makes you want to throw up. ;-)

I would love to know which songs that you listened to as a child that helped shape your adult self, so please leave a comment below!

By the way, one of my other favorite songs from Harry Chapin was 30,000 Pounds of Bananas (Warning, you might not want to watch this if you are easily offended or if there are kids in the room!). Based on a true story and not inspiring, a bit disgusting, and not child appropriate in any way; this song had us rolling around on the floor cracking up. To this day when I see a pile of ripe bananas I can't stop myself from singing "all those 30,000 pounds of mashed bananas".

No parent or grandparent is perfect (I just told my kids to get out of my face right now because I am trying to finish this post!) and I suppose everyone needs some comic relief after listening to "Let it Be" without any lyrics. ;-)

Cat's in the Cradle, Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Channels Photoshop/PSE Action!

2012-01-19T14:14:00.003-06:00

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I have found that PSE has many hidden "talents". PSE is a basically a limited version of Photoshop, but I can unlock many editing techniques (only found in Photoshop) in PSE simply by writing an action. Even though you can't do the steps yourself in PSE, you can run the action and PSE will act just like Photoshop. Of course, there are limitations, but I love discovering the power of PSE.

In the CoffeeShop Lomo Action UnWrapped Tutorial I have some steps where I adjust the contrast of the Red and Green Channels for color tinting. PSE users can't follow along that part of the tutorial, but I wrote this nifty little action to do it for them.

CoffeeShop Channels allows adjustment of the brightness/contrast of the Red, Green and Blue Channels, and this action can be used in Photoshop or PSE. By adjusting the contrast of the different color Channels you can get interesting and sometimes beautiful color effects. This action also allows you to follow Photoshop tutorials that use Channels.

Unlock the powers of PSE and download this action!

1. Open the image and start the action. The action will make a duplicate of your background layer.

2. You can adjust the Red, Green, and Blue channels (in that order). Prompts will come up telling you which Channel you will adjusting, just press "continue". Then adjust the contrast (or brightness) to taste for each channel.

3. I adjusted the contrast to 100 for the Red and Green Channels and 0 for the Blue Channel. Once the action finishes running you will see a Channels layer with a built in layer mask.

You can download the free CoffeeShop Channels PS/PSE action! It can also be downloaded from Mediafire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

CoffeeShop Action UnWrapped Tutorial: Lomo Effect!

2012-01-18T08:50:00.002-06:00

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I have been going through my older actions and seeing which ones I haven't written Action UnWrapped Tutorials on yet (where I take apart my actions and show you how I wrote them). CoffeeShop Lomo has been a popular download on my site, so I decided to write the tutorial today.

NOTE: This tutorial is written for Photoshop since PSE users can't access Channels. However, I wrote a Channel Action that PSE users can use for Steps 2-4. Photoshop and PSE users can also download my nifty CoffeeShop Lomo action and get the exact same results without having to do it manually. :-)

1. Open your image and duplicate the background. This is a SOOC image.

2. Click on the Channels tab and then click on Red. Image, Adjustment, Brightness/Contrast and set the contrast to 100. (Note: PSE users can download my CoffeeShop Channels Action, for Steps 2-4.)

3. Click on the Green Channel and go to Image, Adjustment, Brightness/Contrast and set the contrast to 100.

4. Click on RGB and then on the Layers tab.

5. Add a black Color Fill adjustment layer and put the layer in Hue blending mode, 20% opacity. This mutes colors.

6. Add a Gradient Fill layer, transparent to black, Radial, Angle 90, Scale 150%, and click on Reverse and Align with Layer. Then click on the Gradient.

7. Move the white slider (circled) to the middle of the scale (50%). Click on OK, then OK.

8. Put this layer in Multiply blending mode, approx. 50% opacity and you are finished!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I will post the CoffeeShop Velvet Peach UnWrapped tutorial next.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes the lomo action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Photoshop and PSE Action!

2012-01-16T14:00:00.001-06:00

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I wrote this action the other day and loved it so much I wanted to post it up here for my readers. CoffeeShop Velvet Peach is a high contrast peachy action that looks really nice on many types of images, but I especially love using it on still life and portraits.

I added a layer mask on the Velvet Peach layer, so you can paint out the effect selectively or even adjust the opacity of the layer. On the portrait above I used the Velvet Peach layer at 80%. I will post an action unwrapped tutorial in a day or so for those of you who want to see what is going on in this action.

Download the free CoffeeShop Velvet Peach action for Photoshop or PSE. You can also download the action at MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack (includes this action) or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

You Know You Are a RedNeck When...

2012-01-15T10:31:00.001-06:00

I try to feed my family healthy simple foods that my great-grandmother (if alive) would recognize. We buy local/organic fruits and veggies as often as we can and I will admit to paying $6-8/pound for grass-fed organic beef. Expensive, but my kids are worth it.

I grew up with an avid deer hunter father. He brought home a deer or two or three every year and I remember my mother carving them up in the kitchen. At least until she wised up and made him bring them to a deer processing plant. But whether we ate venison sausage or roasted backstrap, we always enjoyed eating those healthy lean deer.

My husband and I aren't hunters ourselves, mainly because the idea of getting up before dawn and sitting in a freezing deer blind has no appeal to us. And as much as we love meat, I still have issues looking it in the eyes before killing it. I have a few rooster stories about that... But I do want my boys to know that the hamburger they eat comes from a cow and not from the grocery store. And who knows, if the boys show an interest in hunting when they get older, I might drag my lazy rear out there to be with them.

Now, on to my "Christmas Story."

We were supposed to spend Christmas Day with my family and I could already taste that melt-in-your-mouth lamb roast. Hours before we were supposed to show up, my father calls and starts the conversation with "I had a horrible accident."

Of course I panicked--until I heard the whole story. See, my father was dog-watching my sister's chocolate lab. Dad and Charlie (the dog) were going for a morning walk in the woods when a doe burst out in front of them. Charlie freaked out and started barking, and the deer then freaked out and turned tail and ran smack into a wooden fencepost and broke her neck, dying instantly.

My father, at other times the manly deer hunter, considers all deer on his property his personal friends whom he feeds and waters like pets; so he was really upset. He called the game warden who said that Dad could have the deer for meat, but he could not bring it to the deer processor because my father did not have a deer tag. So this is why we received the morning call.

My father has been ill and it was freezing that day so he could not butcher the deer alone. But I started thinking about those pounds of organic grass-fed meat and I convinced my husband (who had a bad cold) to go early and cut the deer up. He was not happy, but thankfully he loves me and puts up with things like this. We googled "deer processing," printed out a few sets of instructions, and headed out.

I won't go into great gory detail, but I will say my father the deer hunter laughed out loud when we showed up with our Wikipedia deer processing instructions... It was a cold, rainy, blood and guts day. After a few hours, we had a large beer cooler full of cleaned and quartered venison. The boys saw where meat comes from (and they frighteningly didn't seem to be bothered one bit) and I found plenty of excuses to check on Grandma back in the warm dry house.

Later at dinner we mentioned that this was not our best Christmas, and Imp piped up and said "I think that the deer had a worse Christmas!" From the mouth of a four-year-old.

A few days later my mom and dad cut all the meat off the bones and I brought my meat grinder and we had a fun grinding party and ended up with 20 bags of ground venison.

I made my homemade organic grass-fed venison veggie lasagna. Yummy!

I took some pics on my husband's phone of him cutting up the deer so he could show his friends his "manly" side. The other day I was talking to one of those friends and he mentioned the deer pics. He knows we have been looking to buy a new house and he said "You know, your new neighbors might not like living next to rednecks who eat roadkill." Technically it is not roadkill and more like fencekill, but he still cracked me up.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

{Friday Photo Bliss}

2012-01-13T20:34:00.000-06:00

Attic Bliss - Finding Daddy's almost 40 year old train in the attic and it still works.

Inspired by the SouleMama blog's {this moment}, I am posting one image every Friday, taken recently, that really makes me happy. If you end up doing the same I would love to see your photo linked in my comments!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop WebBoards 6!

2012-01-11T14:03:00.001-06:00

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Recently I did a unscientific poll on Facebook to find out what you, my reader, wanted to see me post on my blog. The top requests were more actions, storyboards/frames, and tutorials. So today I am posting the CoffeeShop WebBoards 6 Storyboard! I have five other web storyboards in this series, you can find them all here or in my Digital Design download pack.

This storyboard is a layered psd file that you open in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Add pictures using the clipping masks (tutorial, free Group-It action). Click on the Background or Frame color fill adjustment layers to change colors, or add a texture/digital paper for the background. You can even adjust or remove the drop-shadow effect.

And if you want to use this storyboard for print you can enlarge it, but be sure to do this BEFORE adding any images.

Download the free CoffeeShop WebBoards 6! You can also download it on MediaFire. NOTE: This is an image file, not an action!!!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 21!

2012-01-08T22:01:00.001-06:00

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I made some new vintage frames! The CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 21 set contains 3 frames; and this time I included both a layered psd file with clipping masks for Photoshop/PSE users and also a png version where you just drop your image below the frame. The png version can be used in any editing program.

If you use the layered version, you can add your own custom papers/colors to the frames, and adjust the drop-shadow. I also wanted to share a little trick I use with you. When I make a black clipping mask for vintage frames, I drag it on top of the frame and then gaussian blur it (3 or so). That way the edges are a bit soft and the image looks like it was printed on the paper.

I made these frames using the { symbol. I picked a font (I can't remember which one, sorry!) and then added the pointed edge with the arrow shape, and then used the warp tool to adjust it. I then made a brush set which I included in the download.

To get a similar effect, make a new white document, add a new layer, and use the marquee tool to make a black box in the middle. I included a brush to do the top and side, just copy them and flip them to use them on the other two sides. Make a new layer for each brush side.

You are going to have to change the spacing on the brush to get this effect. I have screenshots of both PhotoShop and PSE below to show you where you make this adjustment. Adjust the spacing, and then click on one end of the frame with the frame edge brush, and then hold shift and click on the other end of the black frame and you will get the frame effect seen in the image above.

Download the CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 21 Set! You can also download it on MediaFire.

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures (including this frame set!).

{Friday Photo Bliss}

2012-01-06T23:44:00.000-06:00

Inspired by the SouleMama blog's {this moment}, I am posting one image every Friday, taken that week, that really makes me happy. If you end up doing the same I would love to see your photo linked in my comments!

Want all of my favorite CoffeeShop Actions or Design Elements in one simple download AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

The CoffeeShop Blog

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 24

{Friday Photo Bliss}

Pretty Presets Lightroom Brushes

What Photographers are saying about our brushes...

CoffeeShop Action Flashback - Golden Vintage Action!

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 23!

CoffeeShop Whimsical Trees Design Pack

Where did all of this junk come from???

New Beginnings with Loved Ones

CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Covers 3!

{Friday Photo Bliss}

ColorInc Spiral Bound Books Sale, Just in Time for Valentine's Day!!!

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 22!

Pretty Presets Dreamy Baby Collection Giveaway! **Closed**

CoffeeShop Instant ColorBar Photoshop/PSE Action!

CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Action UnWrapped Tutorial!

CoffeeShop TearDrop Cluster Paper and Brush Set!

Cat's In The Cradle and Why I Am a Stay-At-Home Mom

CoffeeShop Channels Photoshop/PSE Action!

CoffeeShop Action UnWrapped Tutorial: Lomo Effect!

CoffeeShop Velvet Peach Photoshop and PSE Action!

You Know You Are a RedNeck When...

{Friday Photo Bliss}

CoffeeShop WebBoards 6!

CoffeeShop Vintage Frames 21!

{Friday Photo Bliss}

Pretty Presets Dreamy Baby Collection Giveaway! Closed