The CoffeeShop Blog

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.

Thanks posting on my Facebook Page!

2012-01-05T11:50:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love to see what you do with the freebies posted on my blog. I wanted to show you a sample of Facebook Timeline Covers that readers have posted recently over at my CoffeeShop Facebook Page. These are created using Timeline Cover 1 and Timeline Cover 2. Aren't they amazing! I really appreciate that you posted them.

I love my Facebook page because I can chat with you one-on-one, answer questions, and see what you have done with my actions, storyboards, and design elements. So thank you so much for visiting me over there.

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.

CoffeShop TearDrop Cluster Digital Paper!

2012-01-03T12:01:00.002-06:00

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I created some new digital paper I wanted to share with you. The CoffeeShop Tear Drop Cluster Digital Paper set has 14 high resolution jpgs. These papers were created with a simple tear-drop brush of my design and the colors were picked from Design Seeds palettes.

These digital papers would be great as blog/website backgrounds or on storyboards, greeting cards or any type of digital design. I hope you enjoy playing with them. Here are a few samples:

Download the free CoffeeShop Tear Drop Cluster Digital paper set. You can also download them on Mediafire. And like all of my design freebies, these papers can be used commercially, no attribution necessary.

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 Action Flashback - Lomo!

2012-01-02T12:41:00.003-06:00

I have posted well over a 100 actions on my blog, and I thought it would be fun to go back and revisit some of the older ones that my new readers might not be aware of. CoffeeShop Lomo has been a favorite of mine and many of my readers and is a really fun editing technique.

I edited this image with the lomo action without any further adjustments. Wow, how much Imp as grown...

If you use this action and have some before/after images, I would love to see them posted on my Facebook page.

You can download CoffeeShop Lomo on my old post. And I noticed I forgot to write an Action UnWrapped tutorial for this action, so I will write and post it in the next day or two. I love taking apart my actions and explaining what is going on as they run.

BTW, I used my new Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 lens on this photo. It has really lovely bokeh.

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.

Happy 2012!!!

2012-01-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! We are riding into 2012 with unbridled excitement and a quest for adventure.

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.

Welcome to Pinterest: Beginners Guide

2011-12-31T11:31:00.007-06:00

I have to confess I am always behind in the greatest, newest internet trends. Luckily I have Amanda as a friend, because she insists I embrace new technology. Like Pinterest.

When I first started seeing these little red "Pin It" buttons on people's blogs, I just ignored them. But after Amanda twisted my arm (figuratively of course) and insisted I would love it, I decided to check it out. And she is right (of course), Pinterest is great!

Pinterest is perfect for bookmarking with a picture those sites/tutorials/inspiration pics/craft ideas/etc. that you want to go revisit when you have a free moment. If you are like me, you bookmark a great article or picture and later can't remember why you ever bookmarked www.iloveshoelaces/19981 and never visit it again. But Pinterest is brilliant because you can pin a link with a photo on a virtual bulletin board, and share it with others! Or visit other people's boards for inspiration.

See a great craft idea, just pin the picture to your Craft board and you can easily find it later. Read a great PSE editing tutorial, pin it to your PSE board. Plus, people can follow your boards and see what you love and repin it on their boards. Or even pin something they think you would love on your board (if you set it up that way).

You can see my boards in the image above. I just started, so expect to see them fill up! You can follow me at CoffeeShop. Also, check out Amanda's Pinterest site too!

I wanted to introduce newbies to Pinterest, but please remember I am a newbie myself, so please keep that in mind when you read this tutorial.

Go visit the Pinterest website. You have to request an invite to start using Pinterest. I was afraid of rejection, so I went through the second option and emailed Amanda and begged her to add me. If you have a friend who uses Pinterest they can invite you. This is a great way to see if your "friend" really cares about you. ;-)

Once you have an account just Login and then click on Account on the right side and you can start adding boards; like Photo Editing, Crafts, Design, Favorite Books, etc. You can also add new boards as you pin new links to your site.

Now how do you start pinning your favorite links? Easy! If the post already has a Pin It button, just click on it, select the board where you want to pin it, and if there is not a description, add one. Click on Pin It and it is instantly on your virtual bulletin board.

But what do you do if you don't see a Pin It Button? Easy!

Go visit Pinterest Goodies and add a little Pin It button on your browser menubar.

I read this great Editing Teenagers in PSE post at Amanda's site, and I decided to Pin It to my Photoshop board. So I clicked on the Pin It button on my menubar.

All of the pictures on that post/website will come up, so just click on the one that you want to pin. I clicked on the one with the before/after of the young man.

I added the pin to my Photoshop Board, and then added a brief description and clicked on Pin It. If you want to add a new board for this pin, just click on the little upside down triangle by the Board name and scroll down until you see "Add a new Board".

Success!!!!

But how do you add a Pin It button to your own post?

Bookmark Pinterest Goodies and scroll down to "Pin It" Button for Websites. Add the URL of the post you want pinned, and the URL of the image (if you don't know, just right click on the image in your post you want pinned and then select "copy image address" or something to that effect).

Finally, add a Description of the pin. Then copy the html code.

Go to your html post editor (Blogger in my screenshot) and then paste the code in your post. I paste it under the image I want my readers to pin.

Easy, right!

I hope this encourages you to check out Pinterest. It is a great way to organize your favorite links and share them with others. And thanks Amanda, you are the best!

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}

2011-12-30T09:07:00.000-06:00

CoffeeShop Editing 101: Easy Editing with Levels

2011-12-29T10:27:00.004-06:00

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If you are new to Photoshop or PSE, you might not be aware of the editing power of the simple Levels adjustment layer. You can use this one editing layer to brighten, darken, or add contrast to your image; simply by adjusting the blending mode.

CoffeeShop Editing 101: Easy Editing with Levels

1. Open your image. Add a levels adjustment layer and don't touch the sliders or make any adjustments.

2. Need to brighten/lighten your image? Just put the levels layer in Screen blending mode.

3. Too bright? Just adjust the opacity.

4. Need to darken your image? Put the level layer in Multiply mode and adjust the opacity.

5. Want some contrast? Put the levels layer in Soft Light and adjust the opacity.

6. Need more contrast? Try Overlay blending mode.

Advanced Level Editing with Layer Masks

Add more than one levels adjustment layer to brighten skin, add contrast and even burn in a vignette. You have to be comfortable with using layer masks to follow this tutorial. I have a Editing 101 Layer Mask tutorial for new Photoshop/PSE users.

1. Brighten Skin: Add a levels adjustment layer, put it in screen blending mode, and click on the layer mask and edit, fill with black. Use a soft white brush at 100% and paint over skin. I put this layer at 46% opacity.

Note: Alt-shift (Option-shift in Mac) and click on the layer mask to see a red tint where you are painting for accuracy.

2. Add Contrast: Copy the Screen (Brighten) layer (layer, duplicate layer or drag that layer to the "create a new layer" icon on the bottom left of the action pane). Then put this layer in Soft Light or Overlay blending mode.

Then click on the layer mask and Ctrl-I (Command-I in Mac) to invert it. This adds contrast to everything but the skin. I put this layer in Overlay, 38% opacity.

3. Add a Vignette: Add a new levels adjustment layer in Multiple blending mode. Then select a soft black brush at 100% opacity, click on the layer mask, and paint over the center of the image. This will add a darkened vignette around the edges.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

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 Snowy Day Action and Texture!!!

2011-12-28T11:24:00.003-06:00

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Today I posted on my CoffeeShop Facebook page, asking readers what they wanted to see more of on my blog. I have had a great response, and it seems that actions, tutorials, and storyboards are big on the list. So this new year I am going to try to post at least one new action & tutorial a week, and keep on adding storyboards, digital papers, textures and design elements on top of that. So hopefully I can keep my photographers AND digital scrapbookers happy!!!

Lara specifically requested a snow action, and I thought that was a brilliant idea. So I googled and found this amazing tutorial and decided to write an action inspired by it. This action
has three layers of snow; light, regular and blizzard and you can run it on high or low resolution images.

I also created and included a simple snow texture for those of you who don't have Photoshop or PSE or prefer using textures. Just drag it on your image and put it in screen mode and presto - instant snow.

And if you have any suggestions for future posts/freebies on my blog, please leave a comment. I really value my readers and want to design things you can actually use. And thank you for visiting my site, making donations, and purchasing my action/design elements download packs. Thanks to you I can afford to take the time to sit down on my computer and design and post new freebies and tutorials and be able to stay at home with my children. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all.

Running the Action:

Run the action on a flat image. A levels adjustment layer will pop up in the beginning. This is where you adjust the amount of snow on the light snow layer. Move the white slider to the beginning of the curve on the right side, and then adjust the black and gray sliders until you see some snow, but not a blizzard. If you have more snow on this step, your image will have more snow.

Turn on the Light Snow layer for a subtle effect.

Turn on Light Snow and Snow for a snowy day.

Turn on Light Snow, Snow and Blizzard for a snow storm. :-)

Download the free CoffeeShop Snowy Day action and texture! 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 (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 Facebook Timeline Cover 2!

2011-12-27T17:44:00.004-06:00

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I had so much fun designing the Facebook Timeline Cover 1, I decided to post a Facebook Timeline Cover 2. This is the maximum size you can load to Facebook. You can also use this as a blog/website header or even a storyboard.

Add your images using the clipping mask layers and add text to the middle piece of paper where it says "add text". Change the background color by clicking on the Color Fill 1 layer or add your own background. Note: I used the Pea Marsha font for this ad.

Download the free CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Cover 2! 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.

CoffeeShop Damask Fabric Digital Paper!

2011-12-26T18:19:00.002-06:00

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I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and I will post more about it this week, but tonight I wanted to post my newest digital paper set, Damask Fabric. I used a beautiful pattern from the Renaissance Spring set on Pixels & IceCream and added a linen texture overlay layer. These are high resolution and can be used on websites or in print.

These papers would be beautiful on storyboards and frames, greeting cards, and blog/website backgrounds. I hope you enjoy using them!

Download the free CoffeeShop Damask Fabric Digital Paper Set. You can also download it 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 or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Cover 1!!!

2011-12-23T15:35:00.006-06:00

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OK, I know I said I wasn't going to post until Monday, but I noticed the new Facebook Timelines were out, and I wanted to design a fun cover. The CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Cover 1 is 850 x 315 px (the maximum size) and everything is in layers so it can all be customized. And this is not just for Facebook. You can use this template as a blog header or even a storyboard for your blog.

Add your image to the clipping mask layers (use my Group It action to make it easy!). You can click on the color fill adjustment layers on the bottom to change the background and chevron colors, or click on the color fill layers on top to change the bunting and string colors.

You can also add a digital paper or texture as the background, or simply use a simple color. Select the matching frame and clipping mask and Ctrl-T and move them around if you want. Turn off the bunting and add your own design elements. I made this cover storyboard completely adjustable, so have some fun!

And I am really really really going to take a blogging break until Monday. I need someone to hide my computer. :-) I need to start cooking and baking for tomorrow. Merry Christmas!!!!

Download the free CoffeeShop Facebook Timeline Cover 1! 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.

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-21T09:21:00.001-06:00

It is one of my favorite times of year. Not because of the presents or decorations, but because we get to spend this joyous time relaxing with our friends and family. My shopping is long finished (thank you so much Amazon), the kids have finished decorating the many trees we have around our house, and we are working on gaining our winter hibernation weight making and eating homemade Christmas cookies and bread.

I want to wish all of you Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah! I am going to take the rest of the week off from blogging, but I will be back on Monday with new tutorials, actions, and digital design elements. May you have a blessed time with your loved ones this holiday season.

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.

Check out Rock the Shot!

2011-12-20T15:45:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of Rock the Shot Forum? Rock the Shot Forum is a fun and friendly community of photography enthusiasts, ranging from moms wanting to take better pictures of their kids, to seasoned professionals willing to teach you all the tips and tricks of the trade. Have you ever wanted feedback on your images? Rock the Shot members and Mentors are there to offer critique. Need an opinion on a product or vendors? The forum is the perfect place to ask for recommendations and testimonials to make sure your money is well spent. Looking for more intensive or specialized education? Rock the Shot offers amazing workshops to help you achieve your photography goals. Plus, the forum offers exclusive discounts and incredible freebie packets with products from all your favorite vendors.

Remember, you can also sign-up as an affiliate and earn 20% off of each friend you refer to the forum for the lifetime of their membership. This membership pays for itself and then starts to pay you. How can you go wrong? Don’t wait any longer to start enjoying all the benefits of membership at Rock the Shot Forum, click on the ad below to get started!!!

I also wanted to link some great LightRoom tutorials I just read at the Pretty Presets blog. I learned something completely new in the Correcting Color tutorial, I had never realized it was so easy to selectively correct color casts in LightRoom.

How Lightroom's Spot Healing Tool Changed My Life

Playing Favorites in Lightroom

How to Restore Old Photos in Photoshop and Lightroom

Correcting Color - Just Where you want it

Reducing Noise in Lightroom

Bokeh Tips and Tricks

CoffeeShop Christmas Tree Digital Paper

2011-12-18T18:41:00.000-06:00

I created some little tree clip-art for a design I was working on, and I decided to put together some 10in by 10in digital Christmas paper. I will also post the clip-art and layered files on a future post, I just need to get it all together.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy playing with these new digital papers, even though I posted them a little late this year. That ribbon seen in my ad will be posted for download soon also. I have so much to get up on my blog - including some new actions, tutorials, papers, digital design elements, you name it. I just need time to sit down and get the posts written and the freebie uploaded. :-)

Download the free CoffeeShop Christmas Tree Digital Paper 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.