VU Week Two, Homework

My homework for week two can viewed on the previous posts and also the column to the left. The image at the left was created the same as the flowers, adding layers, drop shadows, borders..... As you can see my mind is definitely on vacation - which begins in 17 days.

VU Week Two, Part 4 & 5 - Layered Images, Con't

This was created the same as the purple flower using a red flower with a rainbow background and a butterfly. The message goes along with the other class I'm taking on VU - Self-Help for Stress. {insert heavy sigh here *}

VU Week Two, Part 4 & 5 - Layered Images

I have nothing to post for part 3 so I will move on to Part 4. The purple flower was created in seven layers (actually 8 if I count the original trans layer) - oh what fun. The layers, from the bottom to top are:

1) White background
2) Rainbow Pastel Gradient
3) Purple Flower with a Mosiac Antique Effect
4) A 3D shadow of the purple flower
5) The purple flower
6) A Picture Frame (by going to Image/Picture Frame on the tool bar)
7) The Text: Take time to stop and smell the flowers

Turned out kinda pretty - even though I dislike the color purple. Hmmm, maybe I'll do this again with another flower.....

VU Week Two, Part Two {B}

Another flower, using the same techniques as the previous post - except I used a black background and I accidently figured out how to make my text go on an angle. Hopefully, I will be able to finish this lesson tomorrow.

VU Week Two, Part Two {A}

The roses were created using a picture tube. The shadow is created by using the Adjust/Blur/Motion Blur and then adding a 2nd rose image over the blurred image. Both roses were pink until I used the Hue Up/Down found in the "Sharpen Brush" tool. I used the left mouse button for the bottom rose color (hue down) and the right mouse button (hue up) for the top rose. The outline of the rose petals are sharpened by using the Sharpen tool. Text was added using Kristen ITC font, Size 36, the colors picked from the center of the pink rose. A drop shadow effect was added using color picked from the shadow of the leaves.

I'm heading back to play some more.

VU WeekTwo, Part One

The four pictures above show the vegetable picture tube, scale = 20, step = 125. The pictures show placement using 1) Random, 2) Incremental, 3) Continuous and 4) Angular

In each one of the pictures I drew separate lines - starting at top/left, I went left to right, top to bottom, right to left, bottom to top. Then on the diagonal, top left to bottom right, bottom right to top left, top right to bottom left and finally, bottom left to top right. On the incremental picture, I randomly placed vegetables in open spots. On all four pictures I clicked at the beginning of a line then placed my pointer where I wanted my line to end, held the shift key & clicked - thereby getting a straight line. I think these pictures show a good comparison of the differences between the four placements: Random, Incremental, Continuous & Angular.

I am not showing the differences between
scale (which determines the size of each image, the bigger the number the bigger image) or
step (which determines the placement of the image, bigger numbers mean more pixels between images-from center of one image to center of another) or
placement (how the image is placed - continuous=even, random=step size varies between 1 pixel & chosen step size)

Week 1 - homework

This truly looks like the work of a four or five year old. Oh well, this is some of the things I learned in PSP my first week - 2nd time around. I learned how to use the paint brush, size, step, rotation, opacity. The final lesson was buttonize. As I've said before, these are works of art worthy of being posted on the refrigerator.

I spent the day with the two guys in my life. First we went out for breakfast/lunch, to the grocery store, library and then to see the movie, Get Smart. The movie didn't get very good ratings for the reviewer but it was good for a few laughs. I guess the reviewers don't have a very good sense of humor. I walked into the bedroom a few minutes ago and couldn't resist taking this picture. So cute. Can't believe this is the same critter that used to run and hide whenever anyone walked in the room.

Summertime

DD sent this cartoon as a suggestion for making our travel a little easier. It gave me quite a chuckle.

Earlier this week, I got up bright and early. I puttered around the house, doing a little cleaning, sewing, sat outside & drank my coffee & read a book. Then I decided to make a strawberry pie. I made the homemade pie crust, popped it in the oven and proceeded to clean & hull the berries. I took the beautiful crust out of the oven and started the pie filling. As I stood at the stove stirring, I realized I had left the oven on so I turned it off. I was shocked to see the time was already after 1:00. DH would be home from work shortly after 2:00 and here I was still in my PJ's. I finished making the pie filling, popped the pie in the fridge and then hopped in the shower. After getting dressed, I glanced at the clock in the bedroom. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was just a little after 9:00 am. Apparently, after a power outage last week, nobody bothered to reset the clock on the stove.

Well, I was in the craft/fabric store today when zap, the power went off. Fortunately they had emergency generator that kicked in and we were not left completely in the dark. Unfortunately, the generator didn't power the cash registers so we were asked politely to leave the store. Funny thing is the music continued playing over the sound system. Well, once I left the store, I found shoppers leaving other stores in the area too. Unfortunately, there were no traffic lights. Apparently people don't know the rule about four-way-stops. The worst offenders were the trucks leaving the home improvement store next door to the craft store. I went home and stayed home for the rest of the day. Save a bunch of money too!

Before:


After:


Isn't it sweet!

Second Hand Loot

I was in a 2nd had store the other day, looking for dominoes when I spotted several great buys. One was an old sewing machine complete with cabinet, chair and a bunch of accessories. I have no idea what some of the accessories are but it looks like a bunch of fun. Even if the machine doesn't work, the cabinet will make a great work surface.

Right by the sewing machine was a tall narrow cupboard. I'm sure the paint job was somebody's pride & joy once but it kinda made me chuckle. I looked at the cupboard and the price tag saig $5.99. What a deal, look past the paint & it would make a very useful cabinet in the craft room. I paid the nice man and slapped two sold signs on the sewing machine & cupboard. We went home & swapped vehicles and went back to pick my items up. This morning, I moved the cupboard outside and spent the day painting & waiting for paint to dry. I've got some before & after pictures but they are not loading properly - technical difficulties. Perhaps another day...

Ramblings

Well, the effects of bronchitis are finally leaving. I'm still tired - I think it's the result of the medication. I have two more days of steroids and several more of the antibiotic. I actually slept well last night, using my CPAP and woke refreshed at 6:00 am.

I love the fact that the weather is finally nice. Of course I shouldn't say that too soon, this is Michigan, weather can change quickly. Anyway, with the nice weather, I love taking a cup of coffee, a book and the dog outside in the morning. I sit on the deck among my new container garden, read my book and keep a watchful eye on the dog. The birds are singing and the neighborhood is quiet - all the young-uns are still safely tucked into bed! It is so peaceful.

Only 15 more days until Summer Celebration begins. For some reason I am really looking forward to it this year! Crazy me, I signed up to volunteer every day this year. So far I haven't signed for double shifts but I'm sure I will. They always need volunteers on the main gate. I will be going to at least two concerts - REO Speedwagon and Kansas. I would like to see Steve Miller Band but we needed one more volunteer in the GR trailer. That's ok, I saw Steve Miller Band a couple of years ago & I will hear them loud & clear in two weeks.

Bronchitis

The last couple weeks of school are very busy. We spend time trying to track down students with overdue library books. The boss is obsessed with reading the shelves so all the books are in order. She prefers to read the shelves together because it's boring reading by herself. I prefer reading in absolute peace and quiet and would rather read my own shelves. I was not looking forward to reading shelves under her watchful eye. I spent Monday checking in books and sending out numerous overdue notices. The teachers kept telling me I looked terrible or sounded terrible. I had a horrible cough. I threatened to go home if one more person made a negative comment.

Tuesday morning we were supposed to meet to read shelves together. Well, Monday night I spent most of the night awake coughing & barking. Tuesday morning, I called in sick. Tuesday night I had trouble breathing, coughed so much I could catch my breath. Took a really hot shower hoping it would break things up - just made things worse so off we went to the medi-center. Diagnosis - bronchitis and do not return to work until June 6. I know the "boss" is mad and probably thinks I did this on purpose - ha! I would never get this sick on purpose. At least I didn't have to read her shelves.

Just came back from a follow-up visit to the doctor's office. More meds and instructions to change the timing of the other meds. She says I should be feeling like super-woman in a few days - but too late to read shelves. School it out for summer!