A couple OWH cards … co-created :D

Went over to Crickitt’s place yesterday and together we made a few Operation Write Home cards. What started as me playing with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists and stencils devolved rapidly into sorting a pound of confetti to make masks for background papers for cards. The results – a half dozen OWH Hanukkah cards, sharing a couple here we sort of “created” together.

New creations coming soon:

Spent the afternoon with my partner in creative crime, coming up with some designs for Operation Write Home cards, and in her genius she suggested I turn the papers into a digital scrapbook paper. So, expect some holiday papers to come soon. Also, I’ve been working diligently on my “Golden Goddess” digi stamp collection, based on the pin ups of the Golden Age of Hollywood (1930s). Should be launching an ETSY store next week with them, but will have a preview freebie up soon!

First card …

still working on my card-making skills. This lacks some pizzaz and alteration, I’m sure but I used a digital stamp from Create With TLC, created my own word art and colored the bunny with watercolor pencils. Papers are Club Scrap and Bazzill Basics. This is for the 700 followers challenge, and my first card for Operation Write Home. 😀

a bit of enabling …

I’m in the process of turning the utility room into my creation studio, and while researching per-gallon paint prices came across this nifty little deal at Home Depot online. Get a 14-color sampler of Martha Stewart paint for under $10.

Now, why is this “enabling?” It’s acrylic wall paint. Essentially a similar type paint to “craft paint” and it ships to you free. The colors are nice, would look good on altered canvases or wood projects. Or heck, if you’re playing with what color to paint a room this could help a bit too! 😀

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Testing mobile uploads.

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Dream Your Wishes

A few digital tricks, nothing new or inventive, just tinkering a bit with things. I turned all but the baby into grayscale, and used her swimsuit to pick the color palette for the digital papers and elements (Club Scrap, Surf’s Up and Castaway kits). While chasing her down the beach with the camera, I took a second to snap the footprints before the surf washed them away.

Title design is Create With TLC.

Just a little bit of playing again …

This layout is using Club Scrap’s Naturally kit and another TLC sentiment. Photo was edited with a lomography effect and vignette.

Altered the photos of my daughter shadowdancing to be more of a neon effect. The sentiment from Create With TLC worked beautifully with the design, and the digital scrapbook elements and template are Club Scrap’s current Adobe digital kit.

New Design!

So, in the course of researching new photoshop techniques and designing a logo for my blog, I stumbled upon a couple great sites. Of course, Adobe’s photoshop exchange for some really neat styles and actions, and this great tutorial by Kevin & Amanda on creating custom blog templates (with blogger and wordpress instructions).

To create this design, I actually started with a feather “pick” of peacock and other feathers from JoAnn’s fabrics and a plaster Mardi Gras masque I picked up at a yard sale for a buck. I repainted the masque black, and had planned to decorate it by hand with beads, pearls, feathers and lace — but decided to play digitally instead with some of the elements. Scanning a three-inch thick masque just wasn’t going to cut it, and that was before embellishing. So I scanned half of the masque and the feathers, did a lot of clean up, then “hand beaded” the mask with brush techniques in photoshop. I hit the “stained glass” style I downloaded from Scrappin’ Cop to the teal and green backgrounds I color-picked from the feathers. I added feathers as “border embellishments” instead of the tutorial template’s stitches. I chose an art-deco font for the header because frankly, something about the peacock feathers, the masque and the stained glass look made me think of the Roaring 20’s and an art deco vibe.

I also want to give a special shout out to my cohorts at the Club Scrap forums who’ve helped me learn, relearn and tweak my skills to the point I’m ready to share it with the world! If you’re looking for inspiration, design ideas, amazing techniques or just some really cool crafters and designers, I encourage you to check them out!

A couple digital layouts …

These use Club Scrap papers and embellishments, sentiments are digital stamps from Create With TLC and the photos are of my daughter. Just a few on the fly creations using new photoshop techniques that I’ve been playing with of late.

About Altered Ego Designs

Ever looked at something completely out of the realm of crafting or art and thought … “I have an idea for that” ? If so, you’ve found the right spot. I’ve been a scrapper and crafter, photographer and painter since I could hold a camera or fingerpaint. Thanks to the economy I’ve got more time on my hands to experiment, alter, and design. One of my cohorts in artistry has recently started her blog about fantastic, yet frugal designs and projects and inspired me to share my slightly out-of-the-box creations.