Week 7: Freebie Card

This Week's Freebie Card:

The Download Link

The Story Behind the Card:
I've been bummin' a little today.  I wanted to a card design today that was a combined effort of my son S, who was my inspiration this week, and myself.  But in his typical 14 year old attitude, he didn't feel like helping his mother out today.

So now I've got to go with Plan B.  Plan B??  I don't have a plan B....time to get thinking!

Have you noticed that I say "So..." a lot?  That something I've noticed from reading back through my blog. And I keep typing it and erasing it because now I've noticed it and it's really annoying!

Plan B...
I found this photo of S from our vacation last year.  We were at the beach (duh) and not long after the picture, it started to pour!  Have you ever been caught in the rain at the beach?  It's cold and it stings.  It was one of the few pictures I have of S.  He's been a little photo shy lately.

Then I played with the image in photoshop and created some new layers and used some of the effects I learned from Thursday's post.

First I added a few rain drops in the foreground.

Then I added background rain.

For the final image, I play a little with the Color Balance tool.  It added a cooler/bluer tone to the photo.  I like how that brightened the photo up, but still has a feeling of rain.

Next Week....who knows?

Week 6, Day 7: It's a Wrap

Recap of Week 6:
This week has been an off week for me.  I have a part time job that was on a hiatus for the winter and I started back last week.  Between adjusting to a working schedule and a couple other things that are going on, I have really been thrown off, or gone wonky.  It's one of those times that when life gives me lemons, I gotta make some lemonade, the only problem is I just haven't gotten it quite as sweet as I like it yet.

Day 1:  My darling daughter K went uptown with her dad and took photos for me to use as my inspiration.

Day 2: It's a Bit Sketchy

Day 3: Getting Creative Part 1










                                             Day 4: One of those days and there are no photos!
                                             But I did post that I had a bad day.

Day 5: Getting Creative, Part 2

Day 6: Freebie Friday Card













Something still to come:  my t-shirt design.  I'm still helping S get his shirt done.  Once that one is done, I can make mine!  I've decided to use the Visual Tapestry Logo on one side, and a graphic on the other.  I can't wait to do it.  I may do 2 color version of the polymer clay inspired design (See Week 3 Card).  If I like them I may take orders!

Week 6, Day 6: Freebie Friday Card

This week's final card image:

The Download Link

My Process:

Since I didn't do a Graphic Day this week – part of my process – I had a longer process for the card. And my final image does not look anything close to my starting image.

Working in Adobe Illustrator, I had decided to use one of my sketches as inspiration for my card design. 

Then I added color.  I tried a complementary color palette, and, trying to go out of my comfort zone, it's not a palette that I would normally pick.

It's looking a little flat.  So I added a drop shadow to add depth.  I still wasn't satisfied so I also added some texture too.

And although the colors are not that bad, I just wasn't feeling it (my theme for the week).  So I changed the colors.

Still not happy, I started all over and changed everything, including programs. So I went into photoshop and started with a textured background, and added layers of lines at different opacity, and with different effects and ended up with this:

TShirt Status

I am still working on the t-shirt.  We are finding out that it's not as simple as it seemed.  

We were doing good with S's shirt until we got to the screening part.  I expected a thicker paint (yellow), and it just soaked right into the shirt (red).  So we are letting it dry , then we will re-screen with a white base coat, and then try the yellow over it.  Hopefully that will help!  If anyone has experience with screening, let me know what kind of ink is best!

Week 6, Day 5: Getting Creative

This morning I got up and checked FB.  One of my friends posted this video, and I was rolling on the floor laughing...

So, I started the day in a good mood! I have always loved Tom Hanks, since his days of "Bosom Buddies" (yes, I know I'm dating myself, but just look a couple of posts back and you'll see my age on my birthday cake....although it is wrong, sorry Don!)

Well I worked on my creative 3-d art piece.  I'm not really excited about it, and really don't like it.  I would have loved to work bigger, and with wood and metal (adding to my list for things to revisit next year!). Here it is:

I think the photo looks better than the actual piece!

But, this afternoon, my son, S,  finally decided to get out his silk screen set he got for Christmas and make a t-shirt.  He's still working on it, but I will so you a photo after he gets it finished. It's a chemical free process that my sister found online.  It was so much fun to see it work. What I am really excited about is that I am going to make a set of t-shirts for my family with my graphic image from this week on it tomorrow!!  I will also post the Freebie Friday card.

Lagniappe.....cajun for a little something extra
Tonight is the Muse Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.  Have fun ladies!!!!  I hope that one day soon I'll be able to get back down for Mardi Gras and show my kids what it is all about!

Week 5, Day 6: Freebie Friday Card

Freebie Friday, Saturday, OK, FREEBIE SUNDAY.  I've been working on the card this afternoon.  This week's card is a typography design of my favorite quote.  Enjoy!

The Image:

 

The Card:

The Download Link

The original greyscale image was created in Adobe Illustrator, and then I took it into Adobe Photoshop to add the effects and finish it up.  I can't say exactly how long it took me because I tend to work on it for a little while, put it down, and then come back and work on it again.  I was finished with it about 5 times before I was decided to say....Done, Really!

Thanks to arbent.net for the freebie background downloads!

Week 4, Day 6: Freebie Friday, Part 2

It's Freebie Friday Saturday and I have to say I really enjoyed creating this art today.  I used Adobe Illustrator and found some tools that I had never used, and tried them out.  I learned so many new tricks and processes...see, you can teach an old dog new tricks!

This week I made 2 cards.  One card has "HaitiMedicalMission.org" as part of the art. I would love if you use this one to send to friends.  Let's spread the word about the wonderful work that they do for the Haitian people. If you are interested in learning more about them,to see photos of their trips, the surgeries they perform visit their website.

Haiti Tap-tap inspired card art for
HaitiMedicalMission.org

Click to go to the download link for this card.

The other card is all art, with the Haiti Medical Mission.org information on the back of the card.

Haiti Tap-tap inspired card art

Click to go to the download link for this file.

I hope you enjoy!

Week 3, Day 7: It's a Wrap

What a week!  It's been busy, but I've loved it all!  I had forgotten how much I enjoy playing with color, making color schemes and seeing what looks good together, and what just does not work!

New this week on the side bar is a link to a page where you can download each card.  Since I'm still learning web design -- I been in print design for years -- I haven't figured out exactly how to do it, so it goes through another site.  The main thing is that you can get them now!  YAY!

To recap Week 3:


Sunday, Day 1: Inspiration from Another Artist

Monday, Day 2: It's a Little Sketchy!

Tuesday, Day 3: Creative Tuesday, Playing Clay<

Wednesday, Day 4: Color Scheming        

Thursday, Day 5: Going Graphic, Part 1 and Part 2

Friday: Day 6: Freebie Friday

If you want to take this challenge with me, or even just parts of the challenge, please post your photos to the Visual Tapestry: Creative Journey group on Flickr.  I love seeing what you can do.

Three weeks down, forty-nine left.  What do you think?  Have you been inspired to find your creative side? 

Do you have any photos you would like me to use for my weekly inspiration?  You can post them to the flickr group.  Then, let me know the story behind the photos.  

Week 3, Day 6: Freebie Friday

For the card today, I took the graphic pattern from yesterday and added a little something to create a little pop to the card.

Click here to go to the download page to get your card!

Here's a are the 2 images for comparison....

original graphic pattern

revised graphic pattern

 ....can you spot the difference between them?

Tomorrow: Weekly Wrap Up!