Kristy's Photo A Day

Stamping Over Layers

2009-09-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

Being a former paper scrapper/stamper I longed for a way to make my stamped titles and journaling look more 'real' on my digital scrapbooking pages. I played around for a while and came up with this little method. There may be an easier way, but this works for me. I use PSE 5.0, so your key strokes may differ.

First stamp your title/journaling on a new layer(s) and copy (CTRL-J) the layer(s) (I made two copies since I was layering over both the blue paper and the photo). Drag your duplicate layer behind the paper /object layer you are stamping over and move the original stamped layer to just above the paper/object layer. Group the top stamped layer with the paper layer (CRTL-G).

Select the bottom stamped layer and zoom in closely. Erase along the edges of the paper/object layer above (I use a pretty large round eraser brush and try not to make it completely uniform and even so it looks more 'real'.)

Here is how the title looks when complete.

Here is the finished LO:

Please feel free to leave any questions in the comments. Thanks!

Fresh

2009-07-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

I decided to change things up here, a fresh new look for a fresh blogging start. I have discovered how to post photos in the middle of my posts (I think) so I am gonna give this blogging thing another try.

Not much is going on around Casa Mensch. Toys are everywhere, baseball (the Home Run Derby) is on, and I am procrastinating online. I should be cleaning, ironing, baking, scrapping, or tending to the two screeching monsters..er...I mean children, but here I am making a new blog header and trying to blog. I hope you like the new header. I am excited to have a refreshed scrapping/family life blog!!

Oh and I love peanutbutter/marshmallow sandwiches:

All digital elements available at {we are} storytellers

Neglect

2009-06-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

Oh...my poor neglected little blog (of which I am sure I am the only reader). I wish I had more time, more cleverness, more style, and more interesting things to write about. I fell off the Project 365 wagon a long time ago--I will blame it on the camera working only intermittently and not my lack of fortitude. I have some hobbies and a couple of home redecorating projects and am hoping to keep up with general life from now on here.

I am a little bit obsessed with digital scrapbooking and will add those layouts when I can figure out how to put pictures in the middle of a post.

A Whole Lotta Nothing - and Win!

2009-02-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

I know I have been a neglectful blogger. I have been sticking with my photo a day project, just not posting anything. I promise to update with my photos soon.

In the mean time head over to a sister for bean and enter their Super Huge Adoption Raffle Raiser! You could win a great Canon prize package!!! I know I entered!

Day 11 (01/12/09)

2009-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

I am and always will be obsessed with monkey socks.

Day 10 (01/11/09)

2009-01-13T12:30:00.001-08:00

Here's to us! Sunday was a great day here. We played hooky from church and spent a much needed day as a family of four. Adam and I made a delicious dinner of pork tacos and spicy coleslaw (thanks to my grocery shopping done on Friday). Grace got to spend the afternoon outside shoveling snow with Daddy and after baths and Carrie's bedtime we played a couple of fun rounds of Ned's Head and Bingo! I hope you had a great day as well!

Day 9 (01/10/09)

2009-01-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

We all made it back from sledding in one piece, though Ad and his mom tried their very hardest to break themselves while 'snowboarding' down the hill on the sleds. Both took a hard fall (or two) but lived to tell the tale. Ad is microseconds from wiping out in the above photo. I am actually not sure how I caught him not wiping out. The girls (and adults) had tons of fun sledding down the small, yet steep and slippery, hill across the street from Ad's parents house. Both loved going down the 'bumpy' side and trying to land in a small ditch the neighborhood kids had built. The each took a couple of minor spills and laughed off the snow (I think I was more freaked out than they were). It is bitter cold here now, but we are looking forward to another trip on the blue boats (as Caroline calls them) when this cold snap breaks.

Day Eight (01/09/09)

2009-01-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

This girl loves the snow. She was probably the happiest person in the state to hear the prediction of about 10'' of snow. We spent the afternoon (Caroline's nap) outside--me shoveling and her playing Ryan the Snow Lion (a game she invented). Ryan usually plays pretty well, using snow piles as his 'roarie,' but today he spent the afternoon digging out lookouts all along the driveway (funny how I was the only one who minded all the hand-shoveled snow being thrown back over the clear driveway). We are planning a sledding expedition tomorrow, pray nobody gets broken.

PS: This photo is so much warmer in tone (not so gray) before I upload it. I have to figure what I am doing wrong.

Day Seven (01/08/09) and other ramblings

2009-01-08T11:22:00.001-08:00

My grocery list making supplies.

I 'think' I planned a tasty cilantro centered menu for the up coming week for the family...now all we have to do is shop, which is easier said than done. It is days like this that I wish I was one of those rise and shine kind of people who get up at 5:00am, work out, shower, make homemade waffles with fresh fruit for their family, and pack wholesome lunches for their husband all before 7am--but that isn't me. We probably won't make it to the store today due to my general laziness and bad planning. Caroline is now down for a nap (read here: banging about her crib and yelling she doesn't want to take a nap for 20 minutes before she actually falls asleep) and will be until the late afternoon, so shopping isn't going to happen...maybe we'll get there tomorrow.

Day Six (01/07/09)

2009-01-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

Me today. I was outside shoveling with Grace and got this photo of my reflection in the side-lights of our front door.

Day Five (01/06/09)

2009-01-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

Caroline in the closet playing 'Courage' with a flashlight and goldfish. Grace was in there too, but wouldn't scoot closer so I could get her in the frame. These girls have the greatest imaginations.

Day Four (01/05/09)

2009-01-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

My lovely (and favorite) cocoa mug. A gift from Adam when he went to Pittsburgh on business a couple of years ago. It also usually hold a bit of peppermint schnapps with the cocoa after the girls are in bed.

Day Three (01/04/09)

2009-01-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

Adam playing GTA 4 (the girls were in bed so no psyche's were damaged in the making of this photo).

Day Two (01/03/09)

2009-01-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

In remembrance of Caroline's diarrhea leakage at the local office supply store (at least I was able to pick up the planner I wanted).

Day One (01/02/09)

2009-01-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

My One Little Word for 2009 (written by me on the H2ODoodle board on our wall).

Photo A Day Backlog

2009-01-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

Wow, not even a week into the new year and this new project and I am already falling behind. I have a good reason though - we are changing our internet provider and need to change our email addresses because they are tied to said provider. I have been waiting for Adam to get the new addresses set up (correctly) to start the blog and he finally did (yay on him) and here I am! I aim to take a photo a day, but am sure I will only end up with 365-ish photos. I have already missed two days and hope that is a fluke.

(Okay, so I have to do these in all separate posts cause I can't figure blogger out tonight. I will pick the brains of my blogging friends tomorrow).

So without further ado...

I'm Blogging, I'm Blogging

2009-01-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

'nuff said.