Category Archives: Links

Scrapbooking and Digital Resources: Sites with Links

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It’s done!  From now on, all my downloads will be direct downloads!  Yay!  I shouldn’t have to host my files on Minus anymore, though, of all the hosting sites, they were awesome!  I learned how to use the FTP and put the files in to my site’s files for direct download.  Thanks to my friend, J. and the folks at Hosting Bonanza!  All files are ‘on site’!  Woo-hoo!  I hope to, eventually, move the bulk of my goodies in to my own site, so, I don’t have to rely on the hosting sites anymore.  Then, I won’t have to put up with the scams (see last post), pop-ups, and constant waiting that come with some of those sites! Yay!

If you are in to digital scrapbooking, there is an entire community of scrappers online.  There are hundreds of shops, forums and articles, with tips and tutorials, that make up one huge community.  Everything I have learned in scrapping, I learned from other scrappers, either by asking, reading posts, or from tutorials.  This is probably the case with many of my fellow scrappers.  You seek out and find a site, possibly with a forum and a good group of folks, with fun challenges and helpful members, and you’re set!  Everyone seems to find their niche quite easily as the members are a friendly bunch.  That’s what I have noticed about scrapbooking.  Everyone is so helpful and friendly!

I will venture a guess and say that over half, at least, the scrappers use Photoshop.  Learning PS is the biggest hurdle!  So, along with learning digi-scrapping, you must learn how to use Photoshop, or some other editing program.  It is in trying to learn PS that I have discovered another huge community of folks – the PS design blogs/sites.  These are the sites where you can read anything at all on the topic of using Photoshop.  You can find a plethora of presets: textures, patterns, brushes, actions, you name it!  If it works in PS, it is offered!  Additionally, there are scads of tutorials that are there to teach old and new techniques and offer inspiration.  Some sites have Premium areas where members have access to certain tutorials and PS goodies for a minimal fee.  Most are under 10 dollars a month, with even better deals for 6 or 12 month memberships.  Several of the larger sites are a part of a network of related sites, all included under one membership and all geared to help you with design!  But, the bulk of these sites are there for your perusal of free goodies.  I sign up for the RSS feed on most of them and have their frequent updates and newsletters sent right to my inbox so I don’t miss a thing.  Over time, I have learned which ones are better than others and have adjusted my e-mail intake accordingly.

I bring all this up as the scrapbooking community, as huge at it is, is not the end all of obtaining resources and learning Photoshop.  While these PS design blogs/sites may not have blinkies to collect and display on our blogs, and they may not have the challenges and communal events so popular in scrapping sites, they offer some serious PS help!  Over the past 4 years, I have learned a great deal from subscribing to these design sites.  I’ve also learned which ones are preferable.  I want to share with you all what I have found.  I promise you won’t be disappointed in any of them!

I want to note that some of these sites have ‘vectors’, either in their name or as a feature.  DO NOT ignore these sites!  Vectors work in PS!  If you don’t know this, you do now.  Look at the file format – .ai (Adobe Illustrator).  Adobe is the key word here.  But, .eps (Encapsulated Post Script) files open in PS, too.  Try to open either one in PS and see for yourself.  There is a box that pops up that will guide you through opening the image.  As PS is a raster program, the .ai and .eps files will be converted into rasters once opened.  To maintain the ‘vector’ status, though, they must be opened in Illustrator or another vector program.

Ready?  Alrighty!  In no particular order:

WebTreats – This site is well-known for their wonderful patterns with liberal terms.  But, they do offer other PS presets, such as brushes, textures, shapes, styles, etc.  I know you’ve seen these around the web!

crimson_red_patterns_preview

Image Linked to Item

PSDFanExtra – This is a large network of sites offering all kinds of presets, for free, as well as their Premium section’s offerings.  They feature a weekly set of textures that I always love!  Here’s a set of mixed textures from a recent offering:

Image Linked to Item

I tend to fancy this site as the folks there are wonderful help!  On their BlogsFanExtra site, you can ask for and receive a redesign of your blog – free.  Tom will evaluate your current blog/site and make recommendations.  He includes a .PSD file of his recommended suggestions.  He did my previous blog and I took his advice, carrying over to this blog, his ideas and suggestions.  My content is what I want featured, not necessarily other scrappers blogs.  He’s evaluated some popular sites since it’s inception.

PSDTuts –  This site is also a part of a large network with a Premium section.  They’re very well known for thier tutorials and their ‘mini-courses’ in all sort of Photoshop training.  Their Basix series, featured by Martin Perhiniak, is wonderful for a beginner learning PS.

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They also offer many free resources such as the previously mentioned presets.

PSDDude –  This site has some of the coolest offerings, in my opinion.  As they don’t have a Premium section, that I know of, all of their offerings are free.  Just in the past week, I have obtained an action that gives paper a folded look

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and a set of styles that create both Letterpress and embossed effects for your designs.

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 CreativeNerds – Another good site, featuring similar free resources and tutorials.  They often feature goodies from other sites that one might miss if they didn’t.  They have a really good Premium section and, get this, their membership is $15.99 for A YEAR!

Their most recent free offering:

freepaintspaltterbrushpreview High Resolution Free Paint Splatter Photoshop Brush Set

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VectorPatterns – Don’t let the name mislead you!  These folks come out with the most awesome free patterns!  I think I have downloaded all of them!  Their latest offering:

flowerbannerpreview thumb A Great Simple Seamless Flower Pattern Set

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Each download comes with a scalable vector and a PS .PAT file.  They have some cute designs, perfect for scrapbooking!

Fuzzimo –  I saved the best for last!  This site seems to cater to the needs of us scrappers.  They offer some fantastic freebies, many of which I have used, myself, and have seen others use.

Image Linked to Item

Image Linked to Item

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Obviously, there are a gazillion more web sites, many that are similar to these.  And, there are even more design sites that aren’t strictly PS sites.  Many are specializing in web design, or, in a particular aspect of PS and/or design.  For that, many of their resources work for scrapbooking.  I only mention these few sites as I find they are tops in providing goodies that scrappers might be able to use.  While I absolutely love the scrapbooking community, I only want to suggest that there are other communities of resource providers and folks who are eager and willing to help available.  Hey, the scrapbooking community has some fantastic designers, but, sometimes, free is what we need.  A good deal of these sites have liberal terms, as well!  I hope you have found something among these sites I’ve listed!  That would make me

Smile Graphic #22

Hugs,

Su

Links for Design Goodies

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Greetings!  I have been promising some links for you and now I am here to deliver!  LOL  These are sites I stumble upon or hear about that offer something good for scrappers and digital artists.  As a Photoshop user, too, I pay attention to those resources that are offered.  So, are you ready!

This first place is DigiTee Designs.  Shiela is into scrapbooking, it looks like.  She creates little goodies and gives them away, such as Layer Styles for PS, labels, strings and alphas.  I spotted a cute kit, too!  A couple of ’em!

Do you like ‘Layer Styles’?  JC Sweetpea Designs offers a slew of really nice styles for Photoshop.  They are free and for CU use, too.

Next, is ScrapKado Brushes.  Though the title says ‘Brushes’, Sylvaine has Patterns, Styles and Templates.  On this page, after the first post for Ballet Brushes, she gives links to all of her sites, and there are lots more that you may enjoy!

Now, about DeviantArt.  I spend a lot of time over there since I also do digital art and painting.  My favorite photo-manipulation is anything fantasy.  Thus, I have found a few artists who provide stock for art use.  I have compiled the links into one page at my old blog.  I just haven’t moved it yet.

http://www.suruha-freespirit.com/p/deviantart-stock-providers.html

I have noted after each link what type of goodies each primarily offers to help you narrow down your search.  Also, be sure to pay heed to each individual artist’s terms.  Some are fairly detailed whereas others – not so much.

I saved the best for last.  My friend, Jodiann.  I know I wrote about Jodiann before, but, if you haven’t been to her site, lately, you are missing out!  She is on a roll!  Jodiann is a natural-born designer.  She makes some of the nicest goodies.  Coincidentally, one of her specialties is Layer Styles.  But, she does elements and overlays and all kinds of neat things.

For those of you who design your own, she even offers a year-long CU Pass, allowing you to sell what you make with her goodies.  It is the most reasonable rate I have ever seen!  5 Bucks!  Yep!  For a whole year!  Even if you have no need for this, you really must read some of Jodiann’s posts.  She is a HOOT!  She’s an ol’ hippie chick, herself, so, we have a lot in common.

This isn’t all I have.  It’s just all the time I have.  LOL  I have a tutorial that I will post soon that will, hopefully, help you to save time doing your scrapping/art/designs.  Look for it!  Meanwhile, I will see what needs to be done about my RSS Feed.  I don’t know if it works or not.   The benefit of a ‘feed’ is every time I post something, you get it in your e-mail.  LOL  I use them all the time for sites I want to keep up with.  You can also have the feed go to a ‘reader’ of your choice.  I use Google Reader.  It would take me a year to view each of them, but…  LOL  I subscribe to a lot of places!  I just skim over them and hit on the stuff that stands out to me.  Seeing what all I have downloaded, it is probably a good thing that I can’t read all of them on a regular basis!  I have 2 External Hard Drives full of resources!  My brushes alone weigh in at over 50 gigabytes.  LOL

So, as usual, until next time…

Moving Smile Graphic

 Hugs,

Su

New Blog – Finally! Freebies and Links

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Hiya!  I made it!  Welcome to my new blog!  This one is mine!  LOL  I am using the WP plug-in, but, the hosting is done right here.  No more going to Minus or Box!  I am new to this concept, so, be patient with me, as you have already done.  I appreciate it!  Be sure to check out Hosting Bonanza if you would like to have your own site!  My friend, J, did all the set up for me and I couldn’t be more pleased!  I still need to transfer over my ‘resource’ pages, but, I will.  Every one of my posts from both, Blogger and WordPress, have been added to this blog, so, this one is complete!

I have lots for you today.  First off, I have been promising you some new links for good things.  I have some for you!  If you love pretty and colourful patterns, check out InkBite.  Here is quite the selection!  Here is just one of these gorgeous designs:

See what I mean?  It’s a nice site, so, do give it a click!

Next up is Animus.  There, you will find some of everything – design-wise, anyway.  At first look, it seemed that there was not that much content.  Then, when I clicked on the menu items, patterns, then, floral, in particular, it took me to a page like this:

Each of the circle previews can be clicked to see a larger preview and to download.  You can see the list of patterns offered.  It is about the same for brushes, fonts, even clip-art.  Go give it a whirl!  I think you’ll like!

This next site is one on DeviantArt, The Strawberry Tree.  This site is aimed at providing stock images for manipulations.  It has some great images!  If you do any kind of art or image-manipulating, this one is a jewel!  I’ll let you check it out.  Do follow any TOU’s, of course.

This one, e-Scape and Scrap, is for scrapping.  I had never seen it before!  There is a great selection of designers here!  I don’t know what it is about this site, but, I loved everything!  LOL  That doesn’t happen often, either.  I picked just one of the offered freebies to show you, but, there is a lot more!

See?  Check it out!

The last link today is SDWHaven.  This site is a design-oriented website which leans towards illustration.  It has been around a while.  There are some wonderful brushes, patterns, styles, etc, here.  Here is just one brush preview:

The offerings are good quality!  Give it a try, too!

Alrighty, then!  Those should keep ya busy for a little while.  Onward!

Did You Know…?

that in some versions of Photoshop, you can change the brush size and the opacity by holding down the ‘Alt’ key, then, clicking and dragging the mouse?  Click and drag right and left to change the size, up and down to change the opacity.  I know this feature is available in CS5 and CS6. I am not sure about PS Elements.  It won’t hurt to try if you have another version!  I like it as it keep my hands on the keyboard around the area where I do the most key-strokes – the lower left-hand corner of the keyboard.  To me, that is nice!  LOL   I hope someone can find this useful!

Keystroke Shortcut

For our keystroke shortcut of the week, let’s use all of our fingers!  LOL  By depressing all three modifier keys, ‘Alt’, ‘Shift’ and ‘Ctrl’, then, ‘E’, while on the top-most layer of your layers panel, it will create and place a composite image of every layer on top of them all.  This is best explained with an image.  Say you have several layers created.  You don’t want to merge them or flatten them as you may have to make some changes.  However, you really want to add an effect to the finished design.  This is where this shortcut comes in handy.  I threw together an image to illustrate this:

Looking at the Layers Palette, we see the layers we have:

Now, I want to clip a texture to the entire image, but, I don’t want to merge.  So, I hold down all three modifiers and click ‘E’.  You must be on the top-most layer to do this and get the entire image.  If you only have one layer, for some reason, you can just add a new layer, select it, then apply this feature.  There just has to be more than one layer and you have to be on the the top layer.  If there is a layer you don’t want included, just turn it off!  Easy-peasy!  Here is the Layers Palette after applying this step:

Now, I can go ahead and do whatever I want to the image and the layers aren’t affected.  It is a bit of a trick clicking on all three keys plus the ‘E’, but, it is worth it.  I use this almost every time I am on Photoshop.  I find lots of reasons I want various layers combined, yet still separate.

So, that is a gonna do it for this post!  I have a surprise for you!  Call it a ‘Welcome Gift’ if you like, but, I have some element sheets I forgot to give you from ‘Summer Fun’.  Oops! Click on each image for larger sizes, then, right-click and save!

Citrus Slices

Summer Signs

Tropical Fruits

Whew!  LOL  I hope you have found something useful here today!  I am so excited to have all of my blog together in one place!  Woo-hoo!  LOL

I am out of here!  There is another afternoon thunderstorm brewing.  I have to turn off everything.  I’m not replacing all that stuff again!  Cha-ching!(Sound of cash register)  So, until next time,

Smile Pretty!

Hugs,

Su

Final Parts Freebie and Links

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Greetings, All!  I hope my post today finds you in good health and good spirits.  Busy, busy, busy!  LOL  There is so much going on right now.  Changes!  I don’t handle changes very well.  I like to be in my own comfort zone and change intimidates me.  But, I manage, as does everyone.

The first big change is my new blog/site.  It’s coming along and  I could have probably posted this there.  I still am unsure of too many thing, though, to feel comfortable doing that yet.  My friend is helping me as well as a couple of dear friends online.  Every bit of help they have given has been so wonderful!  I’m one of those people who has to understand the concept of something before I get it ‘down’.  LOL  In my mind, it has to make sense.  Of course, this isn’t always possible.  There are lots of things we do that don’t make sense!  LOL  Anyway, I am working on the new site and will definitely have a notice prepared when I do get moved.

The next big change is my group, Digital Whisper.  Well, it isn’t my group, but, it is my ‘home’.  There have been some changes there, but, now, it has been decided that DW will merge with her ‘sister’ site, Creative Souls.  Creative Souls is a wonderful place!  The talent there is awesome!  DW was actually a group that was derived from CS.  Where CS is all about any kind of art, DW was more about Digital art.  By merging in together, we hope to corner the market.  LOL  Nah!  Just kidding.  But, we should have a little bit of something for all artists!

On the personal front, more changes.  I started back on treatments, ditched some excess ‘baggage’ and there have been some changes with the grandchildren.  It’s all good.  Just tedious!  When things get like this, I have to stop and tell myself, “One foot in front of the other…”  Life goes on.  It would be nice if I could just find a nice, quiet place to hide, but, it isn’t going to happen!  LOL

It has been such a long time since I posted any links for you all.  I have a list going so I thought I would share a couple here, then, I can do another post with the rest.  The first one is for one download.  The site, Vectorian, offers a mega set of vectors for a small fee.  There is also a ‘sampler’ pack and it is free.  For you Photoshop users, vectors can be used!  They will open in PS, then, as you will see when you open one, you’ll be given a chance to ‘rasterize’ it so PS can work with it.   Vectors really open up a ton of possibilities for design!  Check out the freebie here, then, if so decided, you can pick up the entire set.

Next is Brenda’s Scrap Designs.  Brenda is so talented!  Have a look at her blog and all the pretties!  What I enjoy most, though, is her ‘Styles’.  Though there isn’t a ‘search’ box, her blog only goes back to January of this year, so, it isn’t too difficult to go back through the posts to find them all.  On your way, you can see all the pretty kits and other items she makes.  I think you will be impressed!  I sure am!

One more, Background Labs.  Obviously, this site is devoted to backgrounds one can use for their sites, blogs and designs.  What I found unique about this site is their way of organizing the designs.  You can visit each page by colour or theme.  There are both the image and the ‘Pattern’ file.  The ‘.pat’ files can be used directly by loading them into the ‘Patterns’ File Manager in Photoshop.  The selection of patterns is phenomenal!  Check it out!

Finally, what you’ve patiently awaited.  I have the last two ‘parts’ of “Monkey See, Monkey Do” for you, plus, some extras that I made and didn’t put in with the other files.  In other words, I made too much – again!  LOL   If you missed previous links, they are all still available.

Click on the first preview, the ‘elements’, for Part 5, and, then, the second preview, the ‘papers’ for Part 6.  Then, if you haven’t visited Miss Edna’s Place, click on her preview to go to her blog for her two parts.

Part 5

Part 6

Miss Edna’s Place

I have put these into Minus.com so you can download them.  Each image is linked.

Circus Banners

Circus Parade

Circus Tickets

That’s a gonna do it for this month’s freebie!  I hope to be sending you an anouncement soon for my new site!  Until then,

Hugs,

Su

Final Parts “Monet’s Garden” Freebie and Links

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Hello, there!  Another fine Monday morning, here in sunny Florida.  I do hope it is lovely where you are.  Who could ask for more?  It’s beautiful outside my window!  I may even have to walk the pooch just to enjoy it better!  LOL

One day last week, my granddaughter, who is 5 and just the perfect specimen of a little girl – dress-up, princesses and la-de-dah – had our pup, Sasha, out on the leash.  I was keeping watch on her, from my desk in my room, through my window, but, had not realized yet that she had the dog outside.  I looked up and saw my Granddaughter running full-tilt-boogie towards the main street.  We live in the third house in from a rather busy avenue!  I started yelling for her as I ran to the door.  I still did not know she had the dog outside at this point.  I flew out the door just in time to see her round the corner at the avenue and out of my site.  I had no clue as to why she just suddenly took off!

There happened to be a couple in the yard of the church across the street from my house.  They could see her from where they were, but, I could not.  They realized this and were reporting to me until I got where I could see.  “She stopped!”   “It’s okay!”  I was going as fast as I could with my bum back and all.  I could see cars slowing down, but, not what they were slowing for, other than the child and the dog, which were out of my view.  I was so scared!  I fully expected to find an accident with the dog when I got to where I could see.

When I rounded the corner, finally, there was a truck stopped, with flashers on, in the right-hand lane, blocking traffic.  The driver was out of his truck, holding the dog’s leash and comforting my granddaughter – up on the sidewalk.  Whew!  I took the child’s hand and the driver, after much gratitude from me, handed the leash over to me and I took the dog and my granddaughter home.  It was so rewarding to see that a community was helping me look out for my loved ones.  This guy had stopped to help.  Other cars had slowed way down.  Thank goodness!  Human nature can be so wonderful sometimes!

What tickled me so much, if anything about this situation was ticklish, was seeing that tiny little girl, in her long, dress-up dress, running for all she was worth, after her pup!  The dog had pulled loose from my granddaughter, but, she was right behind her!  I applauded her responsibility to the situation, but, told her she needed to tell an adult next time.  I was very proud of her – just cautious!  That scenario could have ended much worse!  I never knew those short little-girl legs could run so fast!  LOL  It was a sight I won’t soon forget!  LOL

Alrighty, then!  LOL  I have promised you some links for a while now.  I am going to slip them in here, before I give you the last parts to ‘Monet’s Garden’.  The links I offer you are to sites I have found in my visits around the internet that I think you may like.  Most of them are for design-related resources and/or images that one can use for scrapbooking pages and journals.  Ready?  M’kay!

First, I offer you  “EKDuncan:  My Fanciful Muse”, a vintage image and design site where you can snag some really sweet goodies.  Evelyn has the vintage touch, even with her blog design.  She posts some very nice vintage fashion images and some wonderful inspiration.  Check out these ladies in the latest vintage fashions:

Check it out!

Next is a DeviantArt artist who keeps the world supplied with every imaginable accessory to living – in .png format!  LOL  Bluesse.DeviantArt is a wonderful site to visit!  A good majority of the offerings are vintage or retro.  There are sets of Steampunk, floral, Victorian and antique, to name but a few styles of objects.  Here is one set, birdcages:

Each individual image is on a transparent background and all of them range in size from around 500-1000 pxs in size, or larger.  Plan on spending an afternoon there as she has just so much!  But, it will be an afternoon well spent!

This one, PicGifs, is a ‘clip-art’ site much like so many of the rest of those sites.   There are loads of ‘.gifs’, animated emoticons, in addition to a plethora of graphics for any occasion.  But, what really caught my eye was their alphabets!  I thought they’d be nice for the blog.

Click here for more graphics and gifs! Click here for more graphics and gifs! Click here for more graphics and gifs! Click here for more graphics and gifs!

Some of the gifs are animated; some are not.  Their images are cute, either way.  Creating the ‘table’ to show an entire word was a bit of a trick, but, I wanted you to see the possibilities.  I got the ‘how-to’ from ‘Lissa Explains It All’ website.  LEIA is a site that offers directions for almost everything in HTML.  Written by a teen, at the time, I can understand her language!  Anyhow, go to PicGifs and see what all there is – I think you’ll enjoy it!

The last link for today’s post is ‘Mel Stampz’.  From the title, you may see that this is a ‘stamping’ site.   What I enjoy is all of the great patterns this lady has made and shares on her Flick’r pages.  I’m just going to show you this from her blog and leave it up to you!  I am sure you know what to do!  LOL  Check it out!

Mel is very liberal with her terms, too!

Okay!  That is about all I have for today.  There are more – I just don’t want to ramble on too much in one post.  I’ll share others soon!

Now, for the final parts to ‘Monet’s Garden’.  Be sure to go back to previous posts to collect the rest of this kit.  All of my goodies are still available for download in fact.  Just scroll through and have fun!

Click on the first preview, the elements, to download Part 5, and the second preview, the papers, for Part 6.  Then, click on Miss Edna’s preview to go to her blog to download her two parts, if you haven’t already.

Part 5

Part 6

Miss Edna’s Preview

And, that is it!  Be sure to return as each and every month, Miss Edna and I make a freebie kit for you.  We give it away, two parts at a time, each, for three Mondays of each month, until you have it all – a total of 12 parts.

I hope you can use something of the information and links I give you today.  As always, if  you have any questions, just ask and I will do my best to answer quickly.

Until then,

Smile!

Hugs,

Su