Brrrr........

We haven't had much snow at all, just what came last Friday, but same as everywhere, it is jolly cold, and what snow is left is truly frosted.
This is a view of part of my back garden, obviously taken from the patio ...

and this is it given a few layers of textures etc. What about that signature then - I've managed to make a new brush/stamp of my own signature!!!

To warm things up a bit, this is a view up the lane from my front porch, of a sunset earlier in the year .......

considerably warmed up with lots of red and yellow layers - over the top a bit I think? Ne'er mind, it looks a lot warmer in this pic than it does from my front door at the moment, I can tell you. You can see a name brush I made here as well, but that was using a font. The one above is the one I will stick with because I actually wrote it. I just need to remember how I change the colour of it now - black doesn't always show up!

Bye for now .......

A bit of 'nostalgia' .......

I know this isn't very nostalgic, I took this photo in my dining room this morning, BUT if you think old oak instead of G Plan and peely walls instead of the wallpaper, and an old cottage somewhere, a 100 years ago ...........
what do you think? As you can see, I am enjoying playing in Photoshop Elements and actually looking forward to the winter, so I can spend all the time I want on the computer, with a completely clear conscience!

It has started snowing here this afternoon, and they promise the cold snap will last at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully not sounding too selfish, I hope they are right - I shan't have to move from this spot....

This is the view from my studio window overlooking the field next door. I took it early one morning when the low early sun was on the trees. I just used one layer of texture which was a scan of a kitchen paper I had used to mop up red and yellow paint - Constable eat your heart out!!!

Be back soon ......

Having fun in Photoshop Elements

Back in June, this delightful creature decided to pay our garden a visit, and stayed for a couple of months. He got quite used to us popping in and out, and we became very friendly, that was until he ate all the tops off my rudbekia plants!! Anyway, I reckon there's enough for everyone in my garden .....

I thought I would play with the photo, and started off by making it black and white and gradually adding back some colour ........ After layer upon layer upon layer, I have finished up with this.

I am quite pleased with the result - looks like a painting, which was what I was trying to achieve. I even managed to put back the light in his eye and paint in his foot, which got lost somewhere along the line! I've just noticed his foot is the wrong shape - Ah well! Back to the drawing board!

Following on from yesterday ....

Just thought I would show you this. It is a picture of an orchid that is flowering indoors and sits by my front door. I used it to play in PhotoShop Elements last week at the beginning of the free Online Course with Kim Klassen. Following instructions, I cropped it, then put the word in and coloured the word. I then saved it (as instructed) as a Photoshop Elements File. This morning I went back to it and put more layers of texture over it, having had more tuition from Kim. I'm thrilled to bits and feel I am now getting somewhere ......
Where I started ........

Now I'm done (I think!) .....

I'm off to do my Homework for today - watch this space!

Don't forget, if you want to take Kim's free PSE Tuition click on the button on the right and register.

Be back soon ......

An interesting Summer

During the summer months I took a couple of online classes, and met some very creative and talented ladies. It really is amazing how new horizons open up! During one such class on Shabby Chic Journalling (see my blog post of July 11th) I met Linda Vincent, who not only does fabulous journalling, but is also an amazing digital artist. Of course, I wanted to have a go, and Linda introduced me to a FREE course coming up and run by Kim Klassen on Photoshop Elements. This started last Monday the 8th November and continues until the coming Friday.
I've been playing like crazy until my brain hurts, but I think I am getting there, albeit slowly!
Anyway, I thought I would blog my first effort I am reasonably pleased with, although I appreciate I have a heluva lot to learn ........
This is a picture of the view I have across the lane from where I live...
BEFORE ............ and AFTER

Hopefully, I will learn during the week how to erase the telegraph lines!!

If you would like to register for Kim's class the next time she does it, go to the button on the right. Do visit Linda Vincent's blog - you won't be sorry. You can click on her link from the list of the places I like to visit, also on the right.

Bye for now .....