For Love of Art

Tea Love 

 
 

 I love this image.  Just two small loves holding hands underneath an umbrella.  This is part of my tea cup collection.  You may have noticed for several works that I have done recently I have put them all in tea cups.  These two little love birds are in a tea cup while it rains harts.  Reminiscent of some part of Alice in Wonderland and definitely inspired by Alice and her mad tea party.

The Images Used

This was the original image used (available at the Graphic Fairy) I removed the background and then created a basic background from textures and some handy work with shapes to form a floor or base to ground the image.  I created a digital cup to hold the little sweeties and then placed hart shapes around the cup and used the liquefy filter to drizzle the bottom points down the sides.  I also put an emboss and inner shadow to these harts and the children.  I did the same with the cup.  This adds depth and creates a treat for the eyes.   I played around with color on the children by applying another layer above the original photograph and then darkening to get a luminescent skin effect.  I can usually work with the original photo and lessen the increase the brightness or contrast and remove or highlight certain lighting on the photo to give this effect.  There is NO RIGHT or WRONG way to do things you just have to PLAY around with it and get to know your tool (or program) of choice.  Mine is PhotoShop, But yours could be something different.

Art Should Be Versatile

 

How many times have you seen a design done and done well and thought I wish I could have it in this or that.  If you start thinking like a buyer and start designing things for what you would like then your items become much more useful and desirable for purchasers to see how your art could be viable for their companies products.  One way to do this is to design repeats.  Repeats are used in a multitude of products.  Scrubs, wrapping paper, wall paper, sheets, quilting  comes that much easier.  material.  The list is astounding.  So with a few elements of your original image and careful placement you can design a great little print.  This was done in photoshop with just careful placement and then define the pattern option.  I keep the background transparent while working that way I can place it over a wide variety of colors to show how the design reacts to different colors.  With this image I used a 4x4 seed.  That is to say I designed the repeat on a 4"x4" square.  The seed has to match on all 4 sides so when the repeat is repeated it will work with all the sides.  I'll go into designing a working repeat on my next post so stay tuned.
Even if you are not desiring to create working repeats for the market place you can create your own ground work.  Imagine creating your own grounds finally getting the correct colors and little illustrations that would make your digital or paper creations unique to your self. 

Like this little animated gif. but would like to have it personalized just let me know and it could be yours for a small donation. I have several images that are animated and are adding more every week.  Just visit my photobucket for your code today!

For more of my art work you can visit my Flickr photo stream.

Whoops She Fell In

 

"Bottoms Up"  For this little witch.  She fell into her own brew.  But what a brew it must have been for her to want every drop.  As you can see by the name on the cauldron "Bottoms Up" Tea Co. must be supreme.  I thought she is was such a sweetie I created a git to give her some movement. 

 
 I love this.  I kept if fast moving so she would appear to really struggle.

This was the image that I used for the little "Bottoms Up Witch"  She is available at the Graphic Fairy.  I simply inverted her and then desaturated her then applied the color that I was using such as the red striped stockings and the black shoes.  I also applied color to the dress and then used a special brush and applied some more crinoline.  For the swirls behind her I used another brush that I created from another image

 

Also available via the Graphic Fairy

The background is another creation that I used some free textures and then I placed the diamonds and used the perspective to create the effect of a room. I totally desaturated the background (originally it was red white and black) (I'll post the image that that background was from later this week.  The banner was another vector image that I created and then created a brush from that.  I used the liquefy filter and just distorted it.

This is a great image with very few elements.  I have played around with some fonts at the top to break up the space and it works both ways.  With or with out the text/font. 

As A Repeat

This worked up great as a repeat.  Shown here with a white background it would look fantastic on Ivory with some sort of light texture or burn. 

This image looks just fantastic framed up.  I think that I will take my Halloween witch series and create a fun little collage on my wall to add to the fall feeling.  

Practical Magic

Welcome! Welcome!  All my fellow witches. Please do come in and gather round.
Grab a Margarita glass and toast to another wonderful year of "Practical Magic" blog party.  I have already been flying around to each of you,  to see your blogs and leave my witches greetings.  Please take time to join my blog I would love to have you around my cauldron all year! Since we are meeting in the magical realm of the Internet I shall give you a few spells that will delight your senses.

First a magical brew that will enhance your seasonal experience.  Remember Ladies this is not for consumption just for your nose:

Now to find the spell in my Book of Shadows 

 

Ahhhh here it is. "Bad Bonne Humeur" (Bad to Good Humor) This is sure to get your season off to a wonderful start. 

  Just in case you can read my handwriting here is a typed version:
1 Fresh ginger root split
3 Pieces stick of cinimmon
10 whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
put all the ingreadents in a calico bag and place in a quart of water.
Heat to simmering in your favorite couldren
This wonderful smell will fill your kitchens and homes and will bring out the festive best in all who smell it.

Please do stay a bit longer and have a cuppa with me.  I do so love company and fall does come but once a year.

What you simply must go?  You have other witches to visit!  Well thank you for dropping in. 

Its been a pleasure to have you here.  Hope to see you again!  Have a good flight.
All of my wonderful animated gifs here on my web are yours for the taking.  I work spells on the art to make them giggle and wiggle you can collect them in different sizes at my photo cauldron  or just click on the image you would like .  Like magic you will be transported to my photo cauldron There you will find the spells (html codes) to put on your blog.  Just cut and past the code in your blog area or in the side in your special gadget for html for side posting.  Be sure to look at all the sizes there is one for thumb size (that will would best on side posting)  If you have any questions just let me know. Thank you so much for stopping by and having a cup of my special tea. 


So take care and fly, fly my pretties......

 

Good day to all of you creative witches and a good day to all you muggles (or non magical folks).  I just thought that I would post this sweet little witch, you will note that the name matches my own and that no coincidence.  Feel free to take her to your blog. If you would like her personalized i.e with you name or blog name on her then feel free to contact me.  I do accept donations for work commissioned.  

Have a wonderful day and check back I will be posting lots more twinkling and moving images for your blog decor.  

A Few More Days

Good evening,  I have been burning the midnight oil these past few days.  With just a few more days left  until the "Practical Magic" blog party I  must get it in gear.  I have been working on a few little give aways to offer to my magical friends that will pop in to my blog so be sure to sign up over at "Practical Magic blog party" hosted by "Frosted Petunias.

I am sure you will love her blog it is simply magical.

In the Studio

Just a little bit of work before I play in the fields of enchantments.  I had to create this fantastic repeat.   You may remember me doing this wonderful little gal with her spoon rising up out of her rose decorated tea cup.  Well I got to thinking this would look great in wrapping paper or on scrubs or even some type of material.  Who knows.  I would love to see it on oil cloth underneath a tea part set.  Lovely reds and yellows and blues.  Ralph  Lauren did some colors like that a few years back and I don't believe I ever got over the combinations.  One of the best things that inspire me is to visit the paint and finishes on some of my favorite designers.  That is their job to see and inturpret the curves.  These are the artist that have made it to the top and now set the bar for what will be in.  The only problems are that when you see the colors its already last years choice.  But you can learn to see what has worked and what will work.  The paint section is the best way to see pure color. 

 These two seeds differ slightly.  I like the yellow one but the white has a wonderful effect.

Shown in a completed form and a totally different color (I think the color could be improved upon but then that would be up to whom ever purchases the license on this one. 

All worked in PhotoShop Cs2 with my own brushes Special thanks goes to the Graphic Fairy for some of the images used in this art work. 

Well here is another day in front of me.  I think that I shall clean a bit.  Whats going on in your studio this morning?  Leave me a comment and let me know what inspires your choices in color.

Something In The Air

Yes, (I hold my nose high in the air, sniffing )  its here!  FALL.  I smell it and no feel it's cool caress on my skin.  There is nothing like it.  The smell of leaves and fall fires.   That unmistakable odor.  Pumpkins and spices float through my mind.  I find myself pulling out recipe books and looking for fall breads and stews.  Its about now that I start getting together the essences of felt and fabric to create another witches hat for Halloween.  I revisit my Harry Potter books and dream of what it would look like to have candles and jack-o-lanterns floating above my table.  I put on my purples and lavenders and sit sipping tea thinking of all the things that await.  Spooky stories, books by the fire and hot chocolate when you are not supposed to be having hot chocolate.

 Coming Soon Practical Magic

The 24th of this month this Saturday there will be a fantastic blog party.  Practical Magic Blog Party.  Now I don't know about you guys by I can tell you it is one of my favorite movies.  I think it is the set and the costumes, the wonderful quotes.  It is just a great way that I start off these magical few months.
I am still holding out for this type of kitchen 

What are your favorite thoughts or remembrances on this movie.  

Join Me Here  

Just come back an visit me on 23rd to see my art for this movie or if you would like to participate just sign up at Practical Magic Blog Party.  I look forward to having you back.  

Winner

We have a winner in the MyMemories give away.  A big thank you to all those who checked out there wonderful program.  Thank you to all my tumbler followers for the fantastic reblog that you guys did. woot woot.  The post that won was from Shamartist who was chosen by random.  Thank you so much for participating.  For those who are still interested in the program here is another chance to save STMMMS16995

It provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!)
Thanks again for all those who participated!! If you would like to see another give away by My Memories just leave your comment on this entry and I will be glad to offer it again in a few months.

My Memories Give Away

I love working with digital images and when I was contacted by my friends at MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking about hosting a giveaway here on my blog with their fantastic program,  well I jumped on it.  I thought how easy was this?  As I opened this wonderful little program and took a look at all the possibilities and all the ease that MyMemories offers in their program I was suddenly thinking OMG the only thing hard is just trying to figure out where to start first.  Even if you are concerned about a "lack" of computer skills or creative sight you can work with this product with ease.  They have some wonderful backgrounds and fantastic little (and endless) embellishments even a photo edit control so that you can always have the best image with the best color and adjustments, right down to red eye removal.  Whooooa, great huh!! If you are the kind of creative person that needs a bit of a push they have templates that have perfect placement for that special image in a WIDE range of themes and colors and styles.
Here are some examples

Now this image that I created here is basic.  I have used one of my own backgrounds and I used MyMemories template for the placement of the photos.  I choose the border (this is great for separating your images and keeping them distinct from the background image) I also chose the drop shadow option to create a 3D effect.  For a finishing touch I pick the flourishing that you see behind the center image.
MyMemories give you loads of bells and whistles so that you can create beautiful images right after your downloading the program no matter what your skill set is.

This image was crated using another template of MyMemories and then I chose some paper edging and notebook edging along with some paper clips to give it that business like feel.  I placed this over another one of my backgrounds but MyMemories will supply you with some wonderful backgrounds including some fantastic digital paper images so you can get that vintage feel.

Simple effects for your creative  journal/ scrapbook ideas sometimes is all you need.  In this example here you can imagine this as the cover or the ending page of a summer scrapbook or journal.

Use it as a working catalog

In the above sample I have put some of my samples of my art work used as bags.  This give the perspective client a visual on how the art looks on a bag.  You can also make "interactive CD/DVD" for clients to use.  If you have a place on the web you need to link to the image then just link it up in MyMemories and presto you have a hot spot.  Your image will show that it is live and when clicked on your client will be linked up to your web or on line store.


Here is a recap of some of the perks that I found with this program.

1. No matter what your creative ability is you can create beautiful scrapbook/ journaling pages to share with friends and loved ones. The ability to use it as a catalog with professional results. 
2. Hundreds of embellishments and backgrounds available.
3. Share video as well with ipod compatible format as well as MOVIE, DVD-Video and INTERACTIVE ALBUM
4. Create calenders, print, share on the web with family or clients. 

Loads of Artist to choose from 

 Embellishments included in and the colors are endless

  So here are the rules:

• You must be following this blog 

• Go to MyMemories and pick out your favorite designer pack then come back here and post a comment with a link to your choice. 

Extra Entries

• If you want extra entries you can tweet with a link to this post and @jeweledfrog (so I can track it) come back and post another comment that you tweeted 
• Follow MyMemories blog come back and post another comment that you tweeted
• Follow MyMemories Twitter come back and post another comment that you tweeted

What you will win
One full version that you can download from MyMemories Suite software.
If you don't win here is a code for some fantastic savings.
To Sweeten the giveaway 
use this code 

STMMMS16995
It provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!)

The winner will be chosen by a random name picker.  

Winner will be announced Friday September 16, 2011
Please make sure that your email address is on your post or available on your profile so that I may contact you.

Magic is on its way

happyhauntspracticalmagic090611, a photo by Jeweledfrogcreations on Flickr.

There is a coolness in the air that can only mean one thing. HALLOWEEN is on it's way. Yes that wonderful time of the year when pumpkins are gracing the entrance way to our homes. Our kitchens smell like some magical place. The air runs it's cool fingers through our hair and gives us a spring in our step. Dogs seem to perk up and kids seem to have endless fun kicking leaves.
I enjoy a ghost story or mystery (anytime really) this time of year. Yes I am the cowardly lion stroking my tail chanting "I do believe in ghost, I do believe in ghost" So with friendly spooks in mind and witches mounting their brooms and finding their places in my fall time collages I shall begin to post them for your enjoyment.

Below is a brief description on some of the steps I took to get this look.

Here's How

Via Flickr:
Working with some elements that I have gleamed from several images. I have taken the original images apart and then reworked them into something totally new. The pumpkin was from a label with text on the front of it. I removed the text and then with a clone tool reworked the pumpkin to give a seamless repair. I added a window that I had taken from a photograph that I took of an old cabin. The little fairy came from a vintage image and her wings from some insect that I scanned in. The moon was a creation of my own using a vector circle and then positioning a vintage image of a little girls face over it to create a clipping mask. I combined a line drawn umbrella with this vintage photograph of a pirate girl. For the back ground I placed n photograph of the beach (in Perdido Key Fla) and played around with the colors. For aging I scanned in a cookie sheet pan that had a lot of use, It provided just the right grunge. I desaturated it and then played with the layering selections. Darkening it and then reducing the opacity. The background was created with overlaying gradient colors and brushes I created again from the label of the with the pumpkin. All of the photographs i have reworked the skin colors.
This image was inspired by the movie "Practical Magic"
Special Thanks to the Graphic Fairy some of the images used in this Collage.

Up Up and away

up up and away, a photo by Jeweledfrogcreations on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
High in the sky these lovely ladies (I like to think of them as mother and daughter) glide high above the most desirable views of Paris (or where ever your dreams take you) Created in PhotoShop CS2 using my own brushes and some great images from my special resource the Graphic Fairy and Dover Victorian Goods royalty free images. Layering with the choice of darkening and the reduction of transparent effects gives this image the appearance of shadowing.

Daisy

Daisychildincup2011jfc, a photo by Jeweledfrogcreations on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I saw this little black and white Victorian child and could just see her with a daisy hat.
The first step I did was to desaturate the photo and then play with the color until I got the perfect lighting that I needed to start to add the color to the child. I want the color to look luminescent and dewy.
Heres what I did
Using the layering pallet I created a new layer and then started to apply the color of the skin above the original photo. That way if I don't like it I can simply start over. I then start to play with the layer choices like color burn or overlay or darken etc. Once I get that then the rest all falls into place. I apply white to the eyes and keep any light reflection I add color to the iris so she really looks like a color photo. A little burn tool to the cheeks and and around the face and its done. At this time I will also work on the clothing. After all the color has been added and it looks great, I'll save this little angle to a tiff. (tiff files hold more information and have better color than jpg. or png. you can also save layers in a tif file. but warning that will increase the file size. If I want to continue to work on it I will just save it as a psd. ) now to file and log it in my iphoto to keep track of my arsenal of elements and retouched photos. I can always desaturate the image again if I need to but I save it two ways black and white and colored.
The Chickens are also retouched in the same manner and so is the cup.
What was one images that had no color now they are bursting with color.
So until next time......

Special Thanks goes to the Graphic Fairy for some of the images used in this collage
Dover Victorian Goods.