tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38953575778799711322024-03-13T11:01:43.190-07:00Dusting in PearlsCindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-84886244138116595042010-02-05T19:42:00.001-08:002010-02-05T19:45:36.569-08:00Dusting in Pearls on hiatusIn an attempt to consolidate my blogging life, the Dusting in Pearls blog is on an indeterminate hiatus. I will continue to post about my creative adventures at <a href="http://rosehavencottage.blogspot.com/">Rosehaven Cottage</a> and would love to have you visit me there.Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-49033253460567421952010-01-02T15:57:00.001-08:002010-01-02T16:18:21.802-08:00NEW COLLECTION! The Lure of Fishing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=144"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3T8dgWHyX_6pUTclNf3B1_aiRSVgaWrLyt34WKYLVN1YyaD-a8FeAikPCf0Wzx_qOtqPrRqyvr-ufEH8lo2ltcn-HjbQL4ROYKvRl-VBs7umERiUMR5ha45jdO3ClyF6HbXyvijdhtQ/s320/BCK3001212-00009.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422296449645022194" border="0" /></a><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=144">The Lure of Fishing Digital Paper</a><br /></div><br />I am really excited to announce the release of a new collection of authentic vintage art and graphics at the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop</a>--"The Lure of Fishing". <br /><br />A few years ago, I acquired a collection of travel brochures that was compiled by a young girl back in the the 1950's. She had written to different boards of tourism in the various states and territories of the U.S. and received standard tourism packets in return. Each packet had been carefully preserved and untouched for over 50 years when they were given to me by the all-grown-up collector. <br /><br />As an artist and graphic designer with a love of vintage illustration, I have treasured the collection as a treasure trove of inspiration and irreplaceable vintage photographs (many in color!). But for a long time, I've tried to figure out a way to share them with others in a format that would inspire others' creativity as they had inspired mine. Last month, the solution finally came to me! I could share the images in collections as digital downloads!<br /><br />I carefully scan each graphic image using my high-resolution art scanner. Then I take each graphic into Photoshop CS3 and digitally restore it. Once that is done, each graphic is compiled with other coordinating graphics onto a 300 dpi digital sheet with 12"x12" physical dimensions for printing. Each coordinate sheet can each be purchased separately to mix and match. The sheets can be printed and cut apart by hand or cut apart digitally and used for a variety of creative projects. <br /><br />"The Lure of Fishing" is the first of a number collections I plan to release. Click on any of the images below to read more about that particular set.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=141"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsslvc8a8hjfvCT6ch3SEi0vrISQzSzKSdMn0Uq9NZq6ceDc4X-kokPLNy5zS4Rr4IU_rwXPqhnejXltI8fBglvGXScGztlD0xeecsZrmo5x_WNJN8wcbgoL0E2KLFT6Xr-QzwSylVGbo/s320/CLIPFISH-00001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422296420350603458" border="0" /></a><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=141">The Lure of Fishing Vintage Graphics Set 1</a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=142"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqETwW5C_hyhYe1HsYHuchUD5vySkYIa2VAwHtBmunkkDlfmdnd2mrqO9lXQ_9faXKLVEJi2cB0OrCnZTm7o96FQnD9RmvmJLTcJX1r6b1CIXsyuGvKVd1_QLZ8hAFPLr_yCfZXjwQx6Q/s320/CLIPFISH-00002.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422296428140281314" border="0" /></a><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=142">The Lure of Fishing Vintage Graphics Set 2</a><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=143"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoK0MFR5Q9zGnln_wgR2UD7We5pvJx8Yxl4LF3SH_XzLNJ6MmFhFsOjTUmG-lD5z7S_nd526XFcAEqmh9o_psWI8Og0TEcNR5wgZFkv6w_UCukP-9I6OTVsXcqYbS622mphGtcJU2h9c/s320/CLIPFISH-00003.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422296442316811042" border="0" /></a><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=143">The Lure of Fishing Vintage Graphics Set 3</a><br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-72451215261347134712009-12-22T18:13:00.001-08:002009-12-22T18:19:10.510-08:00Print-Your-Own Gift Tags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3n2RfRVsvBc7UT-r_ZG52SQHYmRC1SEkCmuxlNK7nysq9BwI3jF8UuerX0Js5tcZseM_J6O3MHT7pqXh9vLLZvjf9YYuc3xuPv1Kqy4jKgLqUAg3NuaslkaL4gCVHp8-CntfTKq1Ja8A/s1600-h/PYOGFTG-001_C.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3n2RfRVsvBc7UT-r_ZG52SQHYmRC1SEkCmuxlNK7nysq9BwI3jF8UuerX0Js5tcZseM_J6O3MHT7pqXh9vLLZvjf9YYuc3xuPv1Kqy4jKgLqUAg3NuaslkaL4gCVHp8-CntfTKq1Ja8A/s320/PYOGFTG-001_C.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418249300058772754" border="0" /></a>Do you have the same problem I do every year? I get around to wrapping all my Christmas gifts and then realize I don't have enough gift tags. Or I don't like the ones I have on hand. Well, if you're feeling a little creative and need a solution to the same problem, here it is!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI1AnTKHbB0F85GMmGKRilCBpxPnOrHtYTpna-cECCDrPm60LLjeEGttNMI5SJzwvCa-R2ZD-ZRLmoUA9H7IkqyriRb1_2cVotnMAUotccSWLsHpvWeeKImhAEbVFWBafdEDxnS5lVws/s1600-h/PYOGFTG-001_B.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI1AnTKHbB0F85GMmGKRilCBpxPnOrHtYTpna-cECCDrPm60LLjeEGttNMI5SJzwvCa-R2ZD-ZRLmoUA9H7IkqyriRb1_2cVotnMAUotccSWLsHpvWeeKImhAEbVFWBafdEDxnS5lVws/s320/PYOGFTG-001_B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418249976718868834" border="0" /></a>Featuring my own original watercolor illustration "Santa's Sleigh", this print-your-own PDF file lets you enjoy creating something while you're enjoying the spirit of giving at Christmas. <span style="font-weight: bold;">And it's only 50 cents!</span><br /><br />Print as many as you wish (for your personal use) on your own printer, on the paper you want, and even embellish them to your heart's content!<br /><br />Delivered in a digital PDF file that you print. When you purchase this item, a download file will be made available to you IMMEDIATELY after you checkout. You will need a free copy of Adobe Reader to view and print the file, but that's it! This file is compatible with every computer and doesn't need any special software to use.<br /><br />The high-resolution full-color PDF file prints on 8.5"x11" with three large 4.75"W x 2.75"H gift tags on each page you print. Instructions and fun ideas are included on each page you print too. Once you've printed, simply cut around the dotted lines, and you have three gift tags!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_127_130&products_id=250"><span style="font-size:130%;">Click here to download the file now!</span></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmG6Pw0TkazOLQlAl45TJBbRBrosQNFPwUk6_pEuRuX2TcgavKfwL0D-5_O1GZp-9k3aeGTIdhDl9r6zNQhJJPjX7OfnO9R0Rz1Znr1eqqSUkuNrkY1Ao5JRds39_f4lb6_EVGSh31Lc/s1600-h/PYOGFTG-001.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmG6Pw0TkazOLQlAl45TJBbRBrosQNFPwUk6_pEuRuX2TcgavKfwL0D-5_O1GZp-9k3aeGTIdhDl9r6zNQhJJPjX7OfnO9R0Rz1Znr1eqqSUkuNrkY1Ao5JRds39_f4lb6_EVGSh31Lc/s320/PYOGFTG-001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418249707138133298" border="0" /></a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-45600648128917424562009-12-18T14:57:00.000-08:002009-12-18T15:19:50.563-08:00Take-Out Twinkler<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Since November 2009, I've had the pleasure of being a part of a design team designing projects for </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/">Aqua-Gems</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> using their products--</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. I've been given permission to share my craft designs here on my blog. To see all craft designs I've featured, click on the label "craft design" at the end of this post.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Click on image to view larger</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdh4TwognkHVz2s8xirYeuS0kTiKeI4YAIB-_D30FaC6PI-GRGyHy18JaEOvdsqDD5PH3U7diiCHBWMTIw2xsmFH5JbpTCYwMOs4-z5mVC3_hw_IioqDaOIXE07PsHluQ6IWP5YDPB9A/s1600-h/Take-out+Twinkler+crop.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdh4TwognkHVz2s8xirYeuS0kTiKeI4YAIB-_D30FaC6PI-GRGyHy18JaEOvdsqDD5PH3U7diiCHBWMTIw2xsmFH5JbpTCYwMOs4-z5mVC3_hw_IioqDaOIXE07PsHluQ6IWP5YDPB9A/s320/Take-out+Twinkler+crop.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416715238397593794" border="0" /></a><br />This project is so fun to make because it's really easy and very inexpensive. It's a versatile project that has a lot of possible applications (see "Ideas" section below).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Materials:</span><br /><ul><li>1 translucent plastic take-out container (Dollar Tree has this pre-decorated one or you could buy a plain on and draw your design on with Sharpie markers)</li><li>3 BrightSPOT submersible LED accent lights (I used blue, red and pink)</li><li>Aqua Gems (I used clear)</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</span><br /><ol><li>Put a 1 inch layer of Aqua Gems in the bottom of take-out container</li><li>Set one BrightSPOT on top of Aqua Gems with bulb facing out about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in from sides of container</li><li>Put another 1-2 inch layer of Aqua Gems burying light</li><li>Set one BrightSPOT on top of second layer of Aqua Gems on opposite side than first BrightSPOT </li><li>Put another 1-2 inch layer of Aqua Gems in burying light</li><li>Set last BrightSPOT on top of third layer in line with first</li><li>Fill container full with Aqua Gems burying last light</li><li>Close flaps of container and your done!</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ideas:</span><br /><ul><li>String together multiple Take-Out Twinklers as a lighted “garland” and hang for a party</li><li>Place multiple Take-Out Twinklers along a walkway leading up to the door to welcome guests to a nighttime party</li><li>Tie helium-filled balloons to handle and use as a centerpiece on a table or make multiple ones for a larger room with many tables</li><li>Jazz up the top by putting the stem of a single big showy flower through the small space in the top between the flaps. The Aqua Gems will keep it hydrated. A gerbera daisy would look great.<br /> </li></ul> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Click here to visit the </a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Aqua Gems website</a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok"> for more information<br />or to buy Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles<br />and BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights for this project</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Disclosure: I was paid to design the featured project. I AM NOT being paid to feature this project or product(s) on my blog </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >and WILL NOT receive compensation for clicks through to the company website featuring the product(s)</span><br /></div></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-8879152296421257202009-12-03T18:11:00.000-08:002009-12-04T13:00:10.650-08:00Dancing Dear Abigail Girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy82TOquXFhJ3_6cs9EZYwLVQA71vmCmr5nwih0i6W-ztFLitPCPxv_X-m8A41wU_z_siBiZeNkpvuSrJWEh6w9hRNdxD3h19DqNV5QOGvP31pdPh2lH51MCzhUlN4QopRbpTV4XjY04/s1600-h/1000x1000px+Dancing+Abigail+Girl.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy82TOquXFhJ3_6cs9EZYwLVQA71vmCmr5nwih0i6W-ztFLitPCPxv_X-m8A41wU_z_siBiZeNkpvuSrJWEh6w9hRNdxD3h19DqNV5QOGvP31pdPh2lH51MCzhUlN4QopRbpTV4XjY04/s320/1000x1000px+Dancing+Abigail+Girl.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411198243273669410" border="0" /></a><br />After finishing up the design work on the Dear Abigail Girl for <a href="http://dearabigail.net/">DearAbigail.net</a>, Abby wanted me to come up with an excited dancing version of our little gal. She wanted to pair the art with one of her favorite Marilyn Monroe quotes so she could use it as a Facebook button.<br /><br />Here's the exciting news...<br /><br />Abby wants this art to be available to <span style="font-style: italic;">anyone</span> that wants to buy it for only $0.99 at the Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop (<a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=60_62&products_id=136">click here to download it</a>). It is also available without the DearAbigail.net lettering at the bottom (<a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=57_63&products_id=136">click here to download that version</a>). <br /><br />I can also add custom lettering to the bottom if you drop me a note at dustinginpearls at yahoo dot com with a special request--and it will still cost only $0.99.Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-12218740863816134222009-11-20T15:13:00.000-08:002009-11-20T15:21:08.107-08:00Dear Abigail Girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVLQsfiq6Gjt5Clz-PLKneO-H3oKjBiCSN_ArvoHgxm3RRgG1krOuczzDe0EK9_IU_mVT5oS93YIVmRsJO7y4dnfzucwamYoJL2yD6TbHmN0Egh13RDMXnEfaHkl3Occ7-2M2sY4MDUM/s1600/Dear+Abigail+Girl+comp+sketch.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVLQsfiq6Gjt5Clz-PLKneO-H3oKjBiCSN_ArvoHgxm3RRgG1krOuczzDe0EK9_IU_mVT5oS93YIVmRsJO7y4dnfzucwamYoJL2yD6TbHmN0Egh13RDMXnEfaHkl3Occ7-2M2sY4MDUM/s320/Dear+Abigail+Girl+comp+sketch.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406328237121246178" border="0" /></a><br />Over the past few weeks, I've had the privilege of working with Abigail at <a href="http://dearabigail.net/">Dear Abigail</a> to design and illustrate the "Dear Abigail Girl" to appear on a sidebar button on Abigail's newly burgeoning website for girls. Abigail had a great vision and articulated it so clearly. She wanted a curly-haired girl playing dress-up in colors that coordinated with her website's color palette. Because Abigail's website looks like a bulletin board, she wanted the illustration to look like it was taped up to the "bulletin board". So I was able to create that for her too. The Dear Abigail Girl is now being incorporated into the website by Abigail's coders and should make her debut soon. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Click here to visit <a href="http://dearabigail.net/">Dear Abigail</a> <br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-37718242423099605062009-11-18T16:36:00.000-08:002009-12-18T15:09:56.890-08:00Lighted Kissing Ball<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMArWfHMfrFomLUZh9g0ZE9LWwOmX0DHZUyFCDKTgRY6ofCXoW5AgaDA00o-c_KZRxtMOD8KLtqQluB27Gc8QbNfcn8yotlOAvD_HfAm142FgSmtX_XKAiB33FkDTOMLiHJ8-VLrsXkRI/s1600/Lighted+Kissing+Ball.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMArWfHMfrFomLUZh9g0ZE9LWwOmX0DHZUyFCDKTgRY6ofCXoW5AgaDA00o-c_KZRxtMOD8KLtqQluB27Gc8QbNfcn8yotlOAvD_HfAm142FgSmtX_XKAiB33FkDTOMLiHJ8-VLrsXkRI/s320/Lighted+Kissing+Ball.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405607799256343490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click image above to view larger</span><br /></div><br />The above arrangement is another of the design projects I've been working on for <a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/">Aqua-Gems</a> using their products--<a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles</a> and <a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights</a>.<br /><br />I've named this design "Lighted Kissing Ball". The above arrangement is made with fresh roses and lemon leaf leaves for greens, but I also made it up in a silk sample. Here are the steps on how to assemble one for yourself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Materials list:</span><br /><br />1 Gala Bouquet Holder by FloraCraft (from craft store)<br />1 Bright Spot light (used white)<br />Aqua Gems (any color--I used purple)<br />48 fresh roses (as shown) or 24 silk roses<br />Ribbon<br />Green leaves for filler (for silks use green leaves from stems)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</span><br /><ol><li>Carefully open bouquet holder at middle seam and remove floral foam (slide a dull knife around the middle if necessary)</li><li>Using a butter knife or flathead screwdriver, remove plastic plug separating globe from bouquet handle</li><li>Fill hollow handle with Aqua Gems</li><li>Turn on Bright Spot and push up into the bottom of the floral foam (cut out foam material if necessary)</li><li>Replace floral foam in holder with light shining down</li><li>Snap holder back together</li><li>Arrange flowers in floral foam so the edges touch and all foam is covered<br /></li><li>String ribbon through hole in bottom of holder to hang</li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Click here to visit the </a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Aqua Gems website</a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok"> for more information<br />or to buy Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles<br />and BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights for this project</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Disclosure: I was paid to design the featured project. I AM NOT being paid to feature this project or product(s) on my blog </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >and WILL NOT receive compensation for clicks through to the company website featuring the product(s)</span><br /></div></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-14418279474221161452009-11-13T14:33:00.000-08:002009-12-18T15:10:13.679-08:00Lighted Carnation Parfait Centerpiece<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on any image in this post to view larger</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR36Q0HDVnBlHs-bDIiX90OTreNj6yy70jOHiOHrHNSrc9dxo9SdFtzdUU1XHa1DB2qMV5_dAs6NeMVoselVybn0VQMLgkN_N9tQYnIVbEzA56yO33HnL2ypIIfgXgMInZQKga6whHF_M/s1600-h/Carnation+Parfait+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR36Q0HDVnBlHs-bDIiX90OTreNj6yy70jOHiOHrHNSrc9dxo9SdFtzdUU1XHa1DB2qMV5_dAs6NeMVoselVybn0VQMLgkN_N9tQYnIVbEzA56yO33HnL2ypIIfgXgMInZQKga6whHF_M/s320/Carnation+Parfait+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403724224212241778" border="0" /></a><br />The past two weeks I've been working on a confidential design job that I can finally write about. I've been designing projects for <a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/">Aqua-Gems</a> using their products--<a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles</a> and <a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/-strse-Catalogue/Categories.bok">BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights</a>. A number of the design projects I've created will be used in a large retail craft/fabric store account that Aqua-Gems has, but I've been given the green light to showcase them on my blog too!<br /><br />The first is a lighted centerpiece I've named "Carnation Parfait". Here are the steps on how to assembly one for yourself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Materials list:</span><br /><br />1 parfait or sundae glass (I got mine at a restaurant supply store)<br />1 drinking straw<br />1 BrightSPOT light (I used pink)<br />1 package of Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles (I used pink)<br />6 standard carnations in a color matching the Aqua Gems you use<br />2 white standard carnations<br />1 artificial red cherry or cranberry on a pick wire (from craft store)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Directions:</span><br /><br />1) Turn on the BrightSPOT and slide the drinking straw over the bulb of the light (see photos below)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw5HKu4ScF3gGeh9iOggfv7a__eTWsp20IUhAzTqMR9-b-YogFjrItL6u2LsiaKYzGs7iCEq6SDIudGK7h87yvXOOtF4Ls2mPBrGRpfTqQqY8Y5eQXAAmASH8138tF2OVBDrfzV-DaHg/s1600-h/Carnation+Parfait+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw5HKu4ScF3gGeh9iOggfv7a__eTWsp20IUhAzTqMR9-b-YogFjrItL6u2LsiaKYzGs7iCEq6SDIudGK7h87yvXOOtF4Ls2mPBrGRpfTqQqY8Y5eQXAAmASH8138tF2OVBDrfzV-DaHg/s320/Carnation+Parfait+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403724235852596258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fsrh-R_Ql6yYJFH8dvk1bEt3D9tXsTGvzCCASVwZ5TLYKh10RXXv3jSQSncrJN8oVcd2731J9KJkAJgJxR_KJ3EBgCVLeGmOEnDWc_6S8sj5IcV9geJBPxO8HGiNhIUGOmRmANxz3rA/s1600-h/Carnation+Parfait+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fsrh-R_Ql6yYJFH8dvk1bEt3D9tXsTGvzCCASVwZ5TLYKh10RXXv3jSQSncrJN8oVcd2731J9KJkAJgJxR_KJ3EBgCVLeGmOEnDWc_6S8sj5IcV9geJBPxO8HGiNhIUGOmRmANxz3rA/s320/Carnation+Parfait+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403724237029381474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2) Place a small amount of hydrated Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles in bottom of parfait glass and nest BrightSPOT in Aqua Gems (see photo below)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBde7XNw2YPFvAe5kIGjIOKdEi6ImFHLmx1f_Tn7dw2V1TXwicOt_jdgysq9KObA9BvaxrCNcsAQoIcA7E5K2wg1fzaGlZlb-HpchTGkGR6OETwpu9O2bvm8rcEzEQhBA38bTrXaEmbw/s1600-h/Carnation+Parfait+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBde7XNw2YPFvAe5kIGjIOKdEi6ImFHLmx1f_Tn7dw2V1TXwicOt_jdgysq9KObA9BvaxrCNcsAQoIcA7E5K2wg1fzaGlZlb-HpchTGkGR6OETwpu9O2bvm8rcEzEQhBA38bTrXaEmbw/s320/Carnation+Parfait+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403724246527748562" border="0" /></a><br />3) Fill the parfait glass full of Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles<br /><br />4) Position straw just to the right or left of center<br /><br />5) Cut the carnation stems to 3-4 inches in length<br /><br />6) Arrange 6 colored carnations in a circle around entire rim of parfait glass (let edges of carnations hang over the edge of glass)<br /><br />7) Place 2 white carnations in top center (re-position straw if needed)<br /><br />8) Place cherry on top by sliding pick wire down into center<br /><br />And you're ready to "serve"!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Click here to visit the </a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok">Aqua Gems website</a><a href="http://stores.aqua-gems.com/StoreFront.bok"> for more information<br />or to buy Aqua Gems Liquid Marbles<br />and BrightSPOT Submersible LED Accent Lights for this project</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Disclosure: I was paid to design the featured project. I AM NOT being paid to feature this project or product(s) on my blog </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >and WILL NOT receive compensation for clicks through to the company website featuring the product(s)</span><br /></div></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-24598439581043911912009-11-05T15:12:00.000-08:002009-11-05T15:29:09.893-08:00One-of-a-Kind Vintage Doilie Corsages<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=254"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1vsNoBiZFsfGTw_8k11Dw34UILQM1PmvZvzgIviZnoUR3i5W6ol7V2TvYjdW7fUM0_yoNkQPg89Rx_MdLEm6Hp9_h4HPVFbaTexACWuo-fIzSxvM5EWz9Y0Y6j7dEaVVa0zm3sEx5cg/s320/VDCP-0001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400761856038981250" border="0" /></a><br />I love wearing flower brooches on my retro-looking button-up sweaters. So I came up with a way to make flower corsage brooches from vintage doilies and mismatched or disassembled vintage jewelery. I've just released the first collection in the <a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=99_133">"One-of-a-Kind Wearable Art"</a> section at the <a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/">Dusting in Pearls</a> online store.<br /><br />Each of the vintage doilies are from my favorite local antique store with each one being unique and special. I found the vintage mismatched jewelery during my thrifting trips and thought they needed a new life as something special and pretty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on any of the images in this post to see details and a larger image</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=255"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkJ-Qlsv1x0_vPWmcRQC1uKo6K9vhY055qMJIC2rRlu054QwzJ8Tw1qGOPkw277n8AM2c6NuHllw_UVvOo6N-0WPFz94g13SHlMT7z4i9RskLj9P5nIRwdtkNNt8Z5krtRvIlIML9JWE/s320/VDCP-0002_B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400761868051053170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=258"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDbAmy1G3NO-GFT84xoCC12vRt4Jk_YxTH3N9ZNUEVi4aiHprJNWDmQBxpBjxpfHX8PMLUVsJCU8kHEXt7XtHJS0VvSrkx1A9kg5wUhxchhQOROwL0VsRpMsXoeNt_NYaz4piRSPi6sk/s320/VDCP-0005.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400761891411471682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=260"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BPN2qY2dH1NLIM6SRKVqdRSBc5F-CyLv_kIMlJO0cS7-HARMnavAx7oCwvA8-zs-MI25iFpDaEIHrWFr_WZFTvTdRrrK70ybbw2g_UYHINWcYfT8NYRnN-cApgyAtRuev6gMkHB13Qo/s320/VDCP-0006.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400763345078766194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=256"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULyL76CM8tnZoqS-8Qs-aI0T8I25OQJCw-9RliiSvigpP-UBGqhF1PLj39tLjmFbLuCho-AcG3A-3vgEVBg9XD0JUd9BuKq0pFcn070vl__9o0Sc2rvd7yreWGFZF7KhFfAc3eOxRFAM/s320/VDCP-0003.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400761868815548786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_133&products_id=257"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8Wvabs_O4NHIIs1gHl5xFLh9Ju9p7iGq5WXu5k961S96MW0omFvZN24c3zDwjVim74wBp_imCzpmNWLRvkHQ6pEvYK76_oIoMIHH3k-v-Xo9i_9iCLLO4YcRvFoHhfTnhG4keN2nwTM/s320/VDCP-0004.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400761878304060226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=99_133">The One-of-a-Kind Vintage<br />Doilie Corsage Pin Collection<br />at Dusting in Pearls<br /></a></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-66713902049232788332009-11-02T14:45:00.000-08:002009-11-02T15:45:51.556-08:00Print-Your-Own Thanksgiving Invitations<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuYGBHrV2h5P8ZTMvLZVba5rP58NuXFx5N5Z0D8Vklovrh7ae5kaTn-rzJlnOaVuAXN4Voh13NZXwRBVHmImG5nbA83dMuVbxoaKZEkZQ_KChyphenhyphenEXLRHMDBmo-kKTe5LsrrXkhw7TcflU/s1600-h/PYO046-002_C.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuYGBHrV2h5P8ZTMvLZVba5rP58NuXFx5N5Z0D8Vklovrh7ae5kaTn-rzJlnOaVuAXN4Voh13NZXwRBVHmImG5nbA83dMuVbxoaKZEkZQ_KChyphenhyphenEXLRHMDBmo-kKTe5LsrrXkhw7TcflU/s320/PYO046-002_C.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399654996350250994" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on any of the images in this post to view larger</span><br /></div><br />I've just released a new design for print-your-own Thanksgiving themed stationery that is very versatile and can be used in a lot of ways. There are some pretty cool reasons for buying a PDF digital file download:<br /><ul><li>You can print as many as you need for your personal use without any fancy software--all you need is a free downloaded copy of <a href="http://get.adobe.com/reader/">Adobe Reader</a><br /></li><li>If you remember someone at the last minute, just print out another one</li><li>Once you've printed out the stationery, you can embellish it with glitter and lots of other fun things or just leave it as-is</li><li>You can use the same file for multiple uses such as invitations, map/directions inserts in the invitations, AND place cards<br /></li><li>If you want to customize the stationery before you print it, you can do it easily by following the instructions below<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Customizing Your Print-Your-Own Stationery</span><br /><br />You can always print out the PDF file just as you receive it and then hand-write on the stationery. But if you want to save yourself time and turn the PDF file into your own customized invitations, this is how!<br /><br />I used MS Word to do these (because most people have that program), but this can also be done using Photoshop Elements, Photoshop CS, or many other programs that allow you to insert or place a graphic into a document as an independent layer.<br /><br />In MS Word, open a new document that is 8.5"x11" (letter-sized). Go up to the "Insert" menu at the top of your document so it expands like this...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7udmEJe5-INsejfijBhjOxosrW8MJNJbGJEEHPMJhBZngGAOjXe8fqZqurg5x6nRVnT_vEQWa72JKy7paJ7_-uX20qkxQqCdjOMC8gwRSmWNeZ7VK_-wx71gbxTJPS4TtVUGN0MVbUrk/s1600-h/Insert+to+Word.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7udmEJe5-INsejfijBhjOxosrW8MJNJbGJEEHPMJhBZngGAOjXe8fqZqurg5x6nRVnT_vEQWa72JKy7paJ7_-uX20qkxQqCdjOMC8gwRSmWNeZ7VK_-wx71gbxTJPS4TtVUGN0MVbUrk/s320/Insert+to+Word.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641318633757938" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Move your cursor down to the "Picture" sub-menu and hover over the right-facing arrow to the right of the title "Picture" to bring up the pull-down menu you'll need to insert a picture.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbra_AMry2G70Ar7LwjM87wU-JgTFJAvas5zXn98efpuJILx3U89P3Nse3ZjImO8qVrT7-rT7owmjUE22wg18vdxmsBXOCpHrbFGymuLUjs4EmH5MG0M1wUTExKNfsJ7VOHzMn1Bcsr_M/s1600-h/From+file.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbra_AMry2G70Ar7LwjM87wU-JgTFJAvas5zXn98efpuJILx3U89P3Nse3ZjImO8qVrT7-rT7owmjUE22wg18vdxmsBXOCpHrbFGymuLUjs4EmH5MG0M1wUTExKNfsJ7VOHzMn1Bcsr_M/s320/From+file.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641307058749570" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Within that sub-menu you'll have some choices. Choose "From File..." so you can navigate through your file directories to the PDF file that you've downloaded and stored on your hard drive. Once you've found the PDF file, select it and click OK.<br /><br />The PDF file will now appear within your Word document as a graphic. It will probably be slightly smaller than its actual size, so you'll need to resize it larger. <br /><br />To resize without distorting the correct proportions of a graphic, hold down the Shift key while dragging one of the corners of the graphic. Continue to drag until the graphic is as large as your document page.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8LTQ9HUy7-FE29mOXst01FbDKYtkqmhWQoImNburJglBmoG2xd_G0T9a5cOjYNTXKOt1cJ87jgKbXJoUtNlTPBcL2CR4JxLylsdUbW_mO9QgK9VnYaeFMNLiOxtyRkMnJRm1O2apDMM/s1600-h/Resize.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8LTQ9HUy7-FE29mOXst01FbDKYtkqmhWQoImNburJglBmoG2xd_G0T9a5cOjYNTXKOt1cJ87jgKbXJoUtNlTPBcL2CR4JxLylsdUbW_mO9QgK9VnYaeFMNLiOxtyRkMnJRm1O2apDMM/s320/Resize.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641320459909346" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The next step is <span style="font-weight: bold;">really important</span>. <br /><br />Double-click on the graphic itself and define the "Wrapping Style" of the graphic as "Behind Text". What you are doing is telling the program that you want the graphic to act like a piece of paper behind what you are going to type. You want them to act independently of each other with the text sitting on top of the graphic.<br /><br />Now go back to your "Insert" menu and select "Text box" to create a text box. Size the box to fit inside the graphics by dragging on any corner of the box, then start typing just as you would type a regular text-only document. Using a text box allows you to drag the entire block of text around on top of the other graphic as if the text is it's own editable graphic.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXnke2YTin7hm9u6l94C6dEGX5oqKoOa-4QrhX-i0qJpuMAZDnpVLv3Y71Sb08QouaWOQLkqWyLKqxcS-ROBHx6C-xIStyuVBLWwRs6wW6ueXhDT_c_iSgd9-0gg4o96XTQlmTXEFfAc/s1600-h/Text+box.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXnke2YTin7hm9u6l94C6dEGX5oqKoOa-4QrhX-i0qJpuMAZDnpVLv3Y71Sb08QouaWOQLkqWyLKqxcS-ROBHx6C-xIStyuVBLWwRs6wW6ueXhDT_c_iSgd9-0gg4o96XTQlmTXEFfAc/s320/Text+box.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641327830872434" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Once you've typed all the text that you need in the text box, select the text box (if it isn't already selected) by clicking on it once. <br /><br />Now go to the "Edit" menu at the top of your document and select "Copy". An invisible copy of that text box will be copied to an invisible clipboard in your computer's memory. <br /><br />Now go to the Edit menu again and select "Paste". A duplicate text box will appear in the center of your document. It will float on top of everything just like your other text box. <br /><br />To drag and position it on the lower invitation graphic, click on top of the text and continue to hold down your mouse button without releasing. Then drag the text box into place.<br /><br />Another way to reposition a text box or graphic is to make sure the object is selected and then use the direction arrows to maneuver it around your screen (this works well for finely adjusting a position).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwyZYEhggsdQElV7YebhXthj2S6apuZK2STmoHYmF4DsubBxsRRZS2wubi80HQwWm5QPhGwYM0lrAIlGswpD78NJwXbnMoCrmsnTEdmdfW29jAi1JO8Tt1YpEyFdzGuSnAXAcYCk9Qg0/s1600-h/+Ready+to+print.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwyZYEhggsdQElV7YebhXthj2S6apuZK2STmoHYmF4DsubBxsRRZS2wubi80HQwWm5QPhGwYM0lrAIlGswpD78NJwXbnMoCrmsnTEdmdfW29jAi1JO8Tt1YpEyFdzGuSnAXAcYCk9Qg0/s320/+Ready+to+print.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399641303248642642" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once you're happy with how everything lines up, it's time to print out your document. <br /><br />Set your printer the highest quality print settings to get the best results. You can print on cardstock (Wal-Mart has some nice cardstock that's inexpensive) or on some other nice paper you have. <br /><br />Print out as many copies as you need and you're set to begin embellishing and/or cutting them out! Easy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_127_132&products_id=252">Click here to download the "Thanks" postcards featured in this post</a><br /></div></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-32881569619595911282009-10-22T18:00:00.000-07:002009-10-22T18:02:39.699-07:00Print-Your-Own Halloween Invitations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg1BNjW7QOGPkFl_ISiqdNxYhaYlToyyFNqns8XQ6mu5kdNURIwkraD9E49kUQN0imUZFQ4088RWewDZUW1HaGJ5O5qYy6FxN5uqXVSXpGoNqlavUuBng7ZYU0onhMEBeO9b9szl6xks/s1600-h/PYO057-001_A.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg1BNjW7QOGPkFl_ISiqdNxYhaYlToyyFNqns8XQ6mu5kdNURIwkraD9E49kUQN0imUZFQ4088RWewDZUW1HaGJ5O5qYy6FxN5uqXVSXpGoNqlavUuBng7ZYU0onhMEBeO9b9szl6xks/s320/PYO057-001_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395594232391946194" border="0" /></a>Invite all your friends to a Halloween gathering with these sweet print-your-own invitations. Print as many as you wish (for your personal use) on your own printer, on the paper you want, and even embellish them to your heart's content!<br /><br />Invitations are delivered in a digital PDF file that you print. When you purchase this item, a download file will be made available to you IMMEDIATELY after you checkout.<br /><br />The PDF file prints on 8.5"x11" and has two flat postcard-style 7"W x 5"H invitations on each page you print. Once you've printed, simply cut around the dotted lines, fill out the invitation by hand, and send them out!<br /><br />Each invitation will fit in a standard A7 envelope.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcecQg6k7RJHVcSsXmoBWF5a5_rFjQmnBRTTseyMZrs-hOdBVmhKxKmNu2rAkBs-ahMPvoDj_UvuVSNcuIwWFkz49eYa5F4JPJsQnVx8Owiy5kEsylGxhykO0333NM7wIfnB5YLZL7MOk/s1600-h/PYO057-001_B.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcecQg6k7RJHVcSsXmoBWF5a5_rFjQmnBRTTseyMZrs-hOdBVmhKxKmNu2rAkBs-ahMPvoDj_UvuVSNcuIwWFkz49eYa5F4JPJsQnVx8Owiy5kEsylGxhykO0333NM7wIfnB5YLZL7MOk/s320/PYO057-001_B.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395594239802805186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_127_128&products_id=248"><span style="font-size:180%;">Click here to download!</span></a></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-13745046017152218482009-10-16T14:32:00.000-07:002009-10-16T14:59:59.698-07:00Behind the Scenes: Mum Dreams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaB6yPtn9kQHwlZCjP2YzSbiRkr7bW5wxKO-EEEktq1xxuR3KfjzZ2L1yL4g8oJLlfAX6ksphuy8oyDAv-YE3aeS555DjoYy0kQZHY4Y9oMesY0CvVEcNdUSH8tVoLwoctbgMafPYhKk/s1600-h/Mums+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaB6yPtn9kQHwlZCjP2YzSbiRkr7bW5wxKO-EEEktq1xxuR3KfjzZ2L1yL4g8oJLlfAX6ksphuy8oyDAv-YE3aeS555DjoYy0kQZHY4Y9oMesY0CvVEcNdUSH8tVoLwoctbgMafPYhKk/s320/Mums+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393314442350316130" border="0" /></a><br />I love to take macro shots (close-ups) of flowers. Sometimes the shot looks great just as it is, but sometimes I like to tweak it a bit to make it into an art photo. Here's a quick way that I do that.<br /><br />I open the photo in Photoshop (I use CS3 but this will also work in Elements and other versions). The photo becomes the first layer in the file.<br /><br />Using the "Place" command (under the "File" menu), I place a texture file as a new layer. In this case, I placed my texture <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=120">"Lilac Dream"</a>. I then resize the texture layer so it completely covers the photo layer underneath it. It ends up looking like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif89sGTJFgNYmuat6oZXwvvv16CPnIa2YMiemp_7XI0ciSFzdxX4AhnVDlU-IY_BmYgw4bnAhyphenhyphenQnhk62S-s0Lq29KGa1JP92CRdNYrK7PG_Z6MTzm9YUSVRuFm6bOlNejK9mwvCS2o8Nc/s1600-h/Mums+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif89sGTJFgNYmuat6oZXwvvv16CPnIa2YMiemp_7XI0ciSFzdxX4AhnVDlU-IY_BmYgw4bnAhyphenhyphenQnhk62S-s0Lq29KGa1JP92CRdNYrK7PG_Z6MTzm9YUSVRuFm6bOlNejK9mwvCS2o8Nc/s320/Mums+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393314429480684402" border="0" /></a><br />The next step is to make the texture layer "transparent" so you can see the photo through it and get the effect of the texture mixed with the original photo.<br /><br />In this case, with the texture layer selected I went to the "Layers" menu (in CS3 you can see it in the right hand side of your workspace) and in the pull-down menu under "Normal" I chose "Screen". It made the image look like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGThnS_ZU_DPFrSQj_juc6RDgRBae7gvwe-bzt2SbD-HzxyTOaSW1lCF-BKI5x_nXgdZhodzU2_OxPqq7d5Btg21y5Be7J47woyN3gAKzoAxCAeE7qiAKS4vkFlhPHQFIaHEhCxY818g/s1600-h/Mums+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGThnS_ZU_DPFrSQj_juc6RDgRBae7gvwe-bzt2SbD-HzxyTOaSW1lCF-BKI5x_nXgdZhodzU2_OxPqq7d5Btg21y5Be7J47woyN3gAKzoAxCAeE7qiAKS4vkFlhPHQFIaHEhCxY818g/s320/Mums+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393314413997719298" border="0" /></a><br />You can also experiment by choosing any of the options in the "Layers" menu to see if you like those effects better. Remember, "undo" is your friend. If you don't like the effect just "undo" and try something else. Nothing is permanent.<br /><br />I liked the "Screen" effect for this texture and photo pairing. It worked very nicely. At this point, I could actually leave the photo the way it is, save it, and I'm done. But I like to tweak things a bit more after this step by accentuating certain elements in the photograph that only I can determine by hand.<br /><br />First, I rasterize the texture layer so Photoshop allows me to edit it. Then, I select the eraser tool and set the opacity to 5-10%. I choose a soft-edged brush at about 45. Then with the <span style="font-style: italic;">texture layer selected,</span> I start strategically erasing certain shadows around the center petals of the main mum. I use a digital tablet and stylus so it feels like I'm "drawing", but you can do the same thing with your mouse. Gentle strokes from the darkest shadows out toward the lighter areas mimic brush or pencil strokes. With the opacity set very low I only take away a little at bit at a time and feather out from the darker shadows. I only erase just a little here and there to draw out some of the detail in the focal points of the photo.<br /><br />This is what the final product looks like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3DpMqtlB3X4NaFHYwAMkMwDhHJFnKCxqZ6m4RKYWChrsSR7-cPQR4seAcum_1iL04vZL2QSoH7oIzxRL18sgukLi-NVPISKDRtoynvCJYpO1Q1tQXCfaDsAr37Dj5u3NrIBaKX1hCKE/s1600-h/Mums+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3DpMqtlB3X4NaFHYwAMkMwDhHJFnKCxqZ6m4RKYWChrsSR7-cPQR4seAcum_1iL04vZL2QSoH7oIzxRL18sgukLi-NVPISKDRtoynvCJYpO1Q1tQXCfaDsAr37Dj5u3NrIBaKX1hCKE/s320/Mums+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393314407209244018" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=123">Click here to download a free copy of this image to use as a desktop, wallpaper, or to print out at home</a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-65237382382831745542009-10-09T18:13:00.001-07:002009-10-09T18:45:36.061-07:00Behind the Scenes: Constance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignnUxlspt8oweiOEdQHuKqkAZeryxHbPNC0jgPgbE5Mrz8KuJnijlTcCfrE6LncTpFxd3zA4PzveU1y3wGP0PZSczmRcqdgWXHu57Rkd7V44l-TYgcKkG3G1u1hyphenhyphentq1sAWxkCWk-pb7k/s1600-h/Original+sketch.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignnUxlspt8oweiOEdQHuKqkAZeryxHbPNC0jgPgbE5Mrz8KuJnijlTcCfrE6LncTpFxd3zA4PzveU1y3wGP0PZSczmRcqdgWXHu57Rkd7V44l-TYgcKkG3G1u1hyphenhyphentq1sAWxkCWk-pb7k/s320/Original+sketch.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390775039258701202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've had a sketch in my sketchbook for quite some time (I called her "Constance") but have been stumped as to how to finish the dress.<br /><br />As I was playing with some textures yesterday, I ran across one that is the scan of the outside of a beautiful antique botanical print portfolio. I named the texture <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=107">"Library Paisley"</a>. Then I started playing with it to see if I could get it to change colors, and my experiments worked! I got a great red version that I called <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=108">"Library Paisley--Red"</a> (along with some other cool color versions like <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=109">peacock</a>, <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=110">violet blue</a>, and <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=111">kelly green</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=108"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZjIUvrydvzCzDHWn0x_5Uic43PMkJMLci6tO67XtuoP0v5doPoTeWJDi-kCeDjr4QAQmZV5eeYO52cpCDuSL58c3imfK_MZ5akx0yVTOk4QI6sGrK5ZDbgDzTgPX-GriSToGx5JZcHg/s320/TXT3001117-00025_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390775203701104834" border="0" /></a><br />Today, it dawned on me that it was the perfect pattern I had been waiting for to use as the dress for my "Constance". I cleaned up the line drawing and elongated her legs in the process. Then I used the "linear burn" method that I wrote about in the <a href="http://dusting-in-pearls.blogspot.com/2009/09/behind-scenes-downward-dog.html">"Downward Dog" post</a>.<br /><br />To apply the pattern to her dress, I used the masking technique in Photoshop straight from my copy of <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20/detail/0321492021">Photoshop CS3 Classroom in a Book</a> (I couldn't have done it without my book because for some reason I have a mental block when using masks and it isn't intuitive for me). The cool thing about using a mask layer is that I can change the dress to be any other pattern I want with just a few clicks.<br /><br />Then I set my brush on "Watercolor Heavy Pigments" and went to work adding color to the drawing that would coordinate with the dress.<br /><br />Finally, I put the fully colored "Constance" onto a background of a scanned piece of old sheet music with the opacity dialed way down. I added type with the font <a href="http://www.dafont.com/jellyka-saint-andrews-queen.font">Jellyka Saint Andrew's Queen (free at dafont.com)</a> and skewed it to make it look like an autographed "photo".<br /><br />Here is the final art (click on the image to view larger):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAtPGf4AA8TrSL5qD-4-1rp5sZwpplqKg_kuF5KfhSaS51b3DRmNbZkwW-ecnooFycMtQJlSmi-YoF5O9w3n4vVuWblxTGcnx2ZEUYJErkl5dYKissz45_WJCOeOP_L9U1WZMa1BrX-M/s1600-h/Constance.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAtPGf4AA8TrSL5qD-4-1rp5sZwpplqKg_kuF5KfhSaS51b3DRmNbZkwW-ecnooFycMtQJlSmi-YoF5O9w3n4vVuWblxTGcnx2ZEUYJErkl5dYKissz45_WJCOeOP_L9U1WZMa1BrX-M/s320/Constance.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390781472646194210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PCqtCknHNGCrfFE_75N9ePF8c0uD8X0-WFUCVno0gXKkxk9b5U6dnalwm3D58jUo-YEtaCpLuSovmdJwTjCudQz8ZbPu7CxT6R9MRCUqR47CxRwWp94LQQ_ZaNXnT21hbwpNel1-GV0/s1600-h/Constance.png"><br /></a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-27008531963137555532009-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:002009-10-07T17:23:07.423-07:00Bellhop<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on image to view larger</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurW7rjN-c1UYoKegBo81aAlLgsBeloVLIANUV2tWQy8GevknS-7gER7ifX76B_2vzIWNP8TOmUuYwD79VU3fU1-0W9ZzYW39NMjWJBtaH0gu3yRyhDOFZZBNhGKY1SIuz5XOeoJfAc24/s1600-h/Bellhop+with+background.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurW7rjN-c1UYoKegBo81aAlLgsBeloVLIANUV2tWQy8GevknS-7gER7ifX76B_2vzIWNP8TOmUuYwD79VU3fU1-0W9ZzYW39NMjWJBtaH0gu3yRyhDOFZZBNhGKY1SIuz5XOeoJfAc24/s320/Bellhop+with+background.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390015583193567714" border="0" /></a><br />I felt like "playing" today with one of my sketches that I've had in my sketchbook for quite some time. I brought the bellhop pencil sketch into Photoshop for the digital coloring using the same technique I did for <a href="http://dusting-in-pearls.blogspot.com/2009/09/behind-scenes-downward-dog.html">"Downward Dog"</a>. Once the bellhop was done, I put him into a composition using one of my own photographs, a couple of my textures, and a fun new font I found at <a href="http://www.dafont.com/">dafont.com</a>.<br /><br />Font: <a href="http://www.dafont.com/fontdinerdotcom-sparkly.font">Fontdinerdotcom Sparkly</a><br />Textures: <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=96">Autumn Haze</a> and an old paper texture I scanned in (if you want it ask me)<br />Photo: <a href="http://rosehavencottagephotography.blogspot.com/2009/10/vintage-sierra-motel-sign.html">Vintage Sierra Motel Sign</a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-21410074155212530582009-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:002009-10-06T00:21:57.940-07:00Behind the Scenes: The Beaded Chick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgOLNc6OSXkFiwquJ-GcC_tJoQtu7BtobQYN9EpQDnd3sFA9-zLISitaklDzmn86qK0LPWY3tPbOaV51390gBUeQbc9Ce3BXYjiSS6cHNYe7a-gFq_gi2huYB83is-x4kljzYtSVAMc/s1600-h/The+Beaded+Chick+watermarked+sample.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgOLNc6OSXkFiwquJ-GcC_tJoQtu7BtobQYN9EpQDnd3sFA9-zLISitaklDzmn86qK0LPWY3tPbOaV51390gBUeQbc9Ce3BXYjiSS6cHNYe7a-gFq_gi2huYB83is-x4kljzYtSVAMc/s320/The+Beaded+Chick+watermarked+sample.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389374369860959026" border="0" /></a>The past couple of weeks, I've had the immense pleasure of doing a design job for Kimberly over at <a href="http://thebeadedchick.blogspot.com/">The Beaded Chick</a>. She contacted me after seeing my work at the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop</a>. She needed a custom-designed logo for her sterling silver and Swarovski crystal jewelry business and wondered if I could create one for her.<br /><br />Since Kimberly and I live on separate coasts of the U.S., all our communications were via email (and Flickr). Kimberly gave me a wonderful description of what her vision for the logo was. My job was to interpret it into a little chick that she would love. So the first thing I needed to do was some pencil sketching. This is the pencil sketch that I started out with...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kt4Z4i6zXQ0bMcWORXaBtz7Wg6Y4blqie6TIc03kKlJWcCbign4BgOGDONBAS234mnDaM9IOYiyMmqTWziI42G34uyn9EvmOZoOjJ6HKjqaiPiF5mUIyL5_ZGNVWcGRDw3MnGVjJsTo/s1600-h/Beaded+Chick+sketch.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kt4Z4i6zXQ0bMcWORXaBtz7Wg6Y4blqie6TIc03kKlJWcCbign4BgOGDONBAS234mnDaM9IOYiyMmqTWziI42G34uyn9EvmOZoOjJ6HKjqaiPiF5mUIyL5_ZGNVWcGRDw3MnGVjJsTo/s320/Beaded+Chick+sketch.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389376644840787250" border="0" /></a>I scanned the pencil sketch into the computer and opened it in Adobe Illustrator CS3 to do the "inking" (back in school I really used pen and ink for this step). I use Illustrator because it will create a vector graphic that will resize to any size without losing quality (no pixelated and jagged edges). I like to used a brush set on "charcoal" at various stroke widths to get the art marker look I like.<br /><br />After the initial pencil sketch, Kimberly communicated an additional piece of her vision--that the little chick would be wearing a ring and a bracelet. So with those additions, the finished "inking" ended up looking like this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGdfVnIZwdxj4hGIhGw5YxQahlzivh84KuZ6wcTktwLDNM1v1qFZYSSyUnuaJ4J75MzriQHTGpR7imRIUp5n4rzmh9q0iK9MbMU64wShvKr9sgekZ0zwF_53OD_VeS81dKESvE5e0-CQ/s1600-h/Beaded+Chick+inked.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGdfVnIZwdxj4hGIhGw5YxQahlzivh84KuZ6wcTktwLDNM1v1qFZYSSyUnuaJ4J75MzriQHTGpR7imRIUp5n4rzmh9q0iK9MbMU64wShvKr9sgekZ0zwF_53OD_VeS81dKESvE5e0-CQ/s320/Beaded+Chick+inked.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389377865552394066" border="0" /></a>Then it was time to add some color. At this point, I switched over to Adobe Photoshop CS3 and placed the image into a Photoshop document (Illustrator files are compatible with Photoshop). Then I started creating layer after layer of color by "drawing" the color on using my digital tablet and a stylus. Every time I changed colors, I made a new layer (in case I wanted to make any adjustments along the way). The "inking" layer always stayed as the top layer over the colors. Doing this part is always a lot of fun and feels like coloring in a coloring book to me.<br /><br />When I was done, I had this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgOLNc6OSXkFiwquJ-GcC_tJoQtu7BtobQYN9EpQDnd3sFA9-zLISitaklDzmn86qK0LPWY3tPbOaV51390gBUeQbc9Ce3BXYjiSS6cHNYe7a-gFq_gi2huYB83is-x4kljzYtSVAMc/s1600-h/The+Beaded+Chick+watermarked+sample.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgOLNc6OSXkFiwquJ-GcC_tJoQtu7BtobQYN9EpQDnd3sFA9-zLISitaklDzmn86qK0LPWY3tPbOaV51390gBUeQbc9Ce3BXYjiSS6cHNYe7a-gFq_gi2huYB83is-x4kljzYtSVAMc/s320/The+Beaded+Chick+watermarked+sample.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389374369860959026" border="0" /></a><br />Once I had the little chick completed, I was also able to design Kimberly's blog header for her. Kimberly hadn't settled on any font type yet, so I hunted around over at <a href="http://www.dafont.com/">dafont.com</a> to find a free font that would convey a jeweled or beaded quality. I found <a href="http://www.dafont.com/search.php?psize=m&q=razzle+dazzle">Razzle Dazzle</a> and knew it was the perfect fit! I already had <a href="http://www.dafont.com/search.php?psize=m&q=ma+sexy">MA Sexy</a> for the pretty hot pink cursive writing. Using Kimberly's blog template as a color guide, I built the header to match her beautiful color palette. And this is what the finished header looks like...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMKtOkW7e4vVDxwue3rTJeR7umOSavRRIRxK888yrnPd5HrkhzWhiVfNIwMzKgMy5pHvenfugC3UZV2K71KkY00b2bNTZ4NL4y47MQx-cE0jJTlR59bKrof31eWxN17wrGSTY2_YurBk/s1600-h/Blog+header+watermarked+sample.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMKtOkW7e4vVDxwue3rTJeR7umOSavRRIRxK888yrnPd5HrkhzWhiVfNIwMzKgMy5pHvenfugC3UZV2K71KkY00b2bNTZ4NL4y47MQx-cE0jJTlR59bKrof31eWxN17wrGSTY2_YurBk/s320/Blog+header+watermarked+sample.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389374379286874466" border="0" /></a><br />Hubby loves the little "Beaded Chick". And I have to humbly admit that I do too and it's all because of Kimberly vision. Thank you, Kimberly, for this wonderful opportunity to create her for you! I am excited to see her write about her own creative journey on <a href="http://thebeadedchick.blogspot.com/">"The Beaded Chick"</a> blog.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">All bold words in this post are click-able links</span><br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-12870637135867655932009-09-26T17:37:00.000-07:002009-10-01T19:50:57.585-07:00Uncharted waters ahead<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMXtUPAReEbFRNSx77ZI-kjT4v42F8ZGwS-ow1x2o8MM8ktqrG2mBeBDZHS-cKJ1xi8yqiCfLfMo-oMqyrWfQLLTBgw3IIK9KO6UrxknRHuXI1Zfqwa8mnbJnzd7a4y_QncWzDtqlixU/s1600-h/Shoreline.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMXtUPAReEbFRNSx77ZI-kjT4v42F8ZGwS-ow1x2o8MM8ktqrG2mBeBDZHS-cKJ1xi8yqiCfLfMo-oMqyrWfQLLTBgw3IIK9KO6UrxknRHuXI1Zfqwa8mnbJnzd7a4y_QncWzDtqlixU/s400/Shoreline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229018727864983186" border="0" /></a><br />Because the summer heat around here is so oppressive, I spend the summer months indoors staying cool with the air conditioner. It isn't until sometime in October that I venture back out into the garden for the next 8-9 months until the heat drives me back inside again. So during the summer months, I do an awful lot of soul-searching and pondering. I do a lot of pondering while I garden the rest of the year, but it is often a different kind of pondering that is more spiritual in nature. My summer pondering is that of a woman in "hibernation" and often has a "cocoon effect" on me so that by the end of summer I'm ready to burst forth like a butterfly ready to take wing.<br /><br />This summer, I've done a great deal of soul-searching and self-evaluation during my months of hibernation. And in counsel with my best friend (who is also my sweet spouse), I felt brave enough to take a step into uncharted waters in my creative journey. So I applied to the <a href="http://academyart.edu/">Academy of Art University in San Francisco</a> to the Master of Fine Arts program in Illustration. A large part of me expected to not get in, but I knew I needed to at least go through the process of taking the risk.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64qQnQxXSKBMqi213OC98OjgkeFYLDAlcMNburMEzP15uHj5DVL0eGgwkOhJRZ2k_UaHneXpzr8rMyX3gnN9i9RqntzbnCwniFdvzwtm76OSzWWdPl5T7ll5HTzjukR5w1x_lT5MrimQ/s1600-h/Martinez+skyline.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64qQnQxXSKBMqi213OC98OjgkeFYLDAlcMNburMEzP15uHj5DVL0eGgwkOhJRZ2k_UaHneXpzr8rMyX3gnN9i9RqntzbnCwniFdvzwtm76OSzWWdPl5T7ll5HTzjukR5w1x_lT5MrimQ/s400/Martinez+skyline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229019426634322402" border="0" /></a><br />My creative journey has been a circuitous one. I've been creating with a pencil in my hand since I was old enough to hold one (my mom has the home movies to prove it). Through some wonderful serendipitous circumstances, I was able to attend a public school in first grade that had an art program with a dedicated art teacher who taught her students (me included) how to draw still life at age 7! Now that I reflect back on it, I realize was an amazing and rare experience that was. As I got older, I plugged along through various public schools (we moved frequently during my childhood). By junior high and high school I was choosing to take art as an elective no matter what. I learned sculpture, pottery, drawing, painting, and just about every other medium you can imagine.<br /><br />After high school, I dabbled in a few college majors before settling on Commercial Art and earned my Associates of Arts degree at a community college. I walked out of that program with the training to be a graphic artist and the portfolio to prove it. I went to interview after interview for creative positions. But no jobs materialized. My dream had been to work for Disney, so I even trekked down to L.A. for a couple of months trying to get a job there. It didn't happen. It seemed I was not destined to be a professional graphic artist. I ended up working in secretarial and data entry capacities in order to earn money (good thing my mom had strongly encouraged me to take typing and 10-key in high school).<br /><br />After a few unfulfilling years working in administrative jobs, I decided to go back to school and earn my Bachelor's degree. I was drawn to Mills College and ended up in their Art History program. My two years there were an awakening for me as a 26-28 year old woman. I gained a lot of confidence and self-assurance there. I did a lot of writing for Art History and enjoyed it immensely. My professors said I showed promise and hoped that I would go on to get my graduate degrees in Art History as well. But I didn't. I had to go back into the workforce and earn money again.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ex1z72q_0X6-o4YSH6URnxmPfexqilBSsWJ5Sah1JFQ4MMIs4b7V5Ch7Ttd2fg2DAhhKpL6QvuYEFgztslFH-1-yNh0sHRrHPlABU6huIJ7Dao9XPA-iDmdIpyqTbDUIceaGLrZafhA/s1600-h/Shoreline+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ex1z72q_0X6-o4YSH6URnxmPfexqilBSsWJ5Sah1JFQ4MMIs4b7V5Ch7Ttd2fg2DAhhKpL6QvuYEFgztslFH-1-yNh0sHRrHPlABU6huIJ7Dao9XPA-iDmdIpyqTbDUIceaGLrZafhA/s400/Shoreline+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229019150320685634" border="0" /></a><br />"Corporate America" was a bit kinder to me after I had my Bachelor's degree. I was able to get work in project administration capacities. I tried to carve out "creative" niches in my work as a technical writer and computer trainer. I was always the one that got to do the office newsletters and flyers.<br /><br />But my "real" art still remained in a portfolio and in a secret place in my heart. My creativity found outlets in the privacy of my own home. I never earned a living creating art. And it always seemed like a very sad disappointment that I felt I needed to hide. Sometimes I'd get brave and send a set of slides to a greeting card publisher. I even invested in having some cards printed up professionally but couldn't sell them to retailers. I let my inner artist slowly go to sleep in a place deep inside me.<br /><br />I got married when I was 31 years old. Within months of getting married, my physical health deteriorated rapidly. I had been burdened with chronic pain since I was 15 years old, but no doctor was able to diagnose anything other than PMS. By the time I was 31, I became completely incapacitated. So my husband became the soul breadwinner in our home. I stayed home and thought it was a good opportunity to try to get creative again. I tried my hand at cross-stitching. Once (at the prompting of my brother when he gave me a beautiful wooden easel as a gift) I brought out my paints and a canvas and painted one painting. I gave away most of my art supplies to my brother who was in art classes at the time. I figured I was passing the torch on for good. All my creative pursuits were limited and very "safe" like embroidery and sewing. I couldn't venture to the place where I had taken risks a decade before. That was too scary.<br /><br />A couple of years after I got married, we bought our house and I delved into the adventures of remodeling and renovation. My creativity found an outlet in home construction as I tiled, sheet-rocked, taped, textured, laid hardwood floors, and installed trim. It also found an outlet in the garden as I took our dried up lot and made it bloom into a drought-tolerant cottage-style garden.<br /><br />After a few years of working on the house despite my chronic pain, I finally found a doctor that listened. A month after my 39th birthday, I underwent the surgery that revealed I had been plagued with a crippling case of <a href="http://rosehavencottagehealth.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-is-endometriosis.html">endometriosis</a> for over 20 years. I was given my life back. For me, life really did begin at 40. I spent the next 1-2 years healing my physical body. But my inner artist was still fast asleep.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxkY-NmU_HPLRW9X54NMneLjRUJm1yDKSiOz4ZipJ9bTDj3o3wjVdAe-CRVflUP6Sta1NSq2B3j_5jrF6ghk0PpcOWAWVpvfCsQflmrQjxyRsXtBZZn3QzqbJDNb-wjofUqe-KhUMb1Cc/s1600-h/Tread+Lightly+-+Tide+Pool+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097619253448329298" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxkY-NmU_HPLRW9X54NMneLjRUJm1yDKSiOz4ZipJ9bTDj3o3wjVdAe-CRVflUP6Sta1NSq2B3j_5jrF6ghk0PpcOWAWVpvfCsQflmrQjxyRsXtBZZn3QzqbJDNb-wjofUqe-KhUMb1Cc/s400/Tread+Lightly+-+Tide+Pool+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQghtpDsFLgWxQ5GJTnZGO7zEJY5-PoaluYItE84mDQvlx_CU0NIzWmIAP6poLaNnBPTNTM3OvdiJyHIXYvh9t2P1xpt3jH7YoFy7ok8xsEww1n0t8T8eADrGU73s0pwgdnIE1MTm3ALbh/s1600-h/Tread+Lightly+-+Tide+Pool+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097618553368660018" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQghtpDsFLgWxQ5GJTnZGO7zEJY5-PoaluYItE84mDQvlx_CU0NIzWmIAP6poLaNnBPTNTM3OvdiJyHIXYvh9t2P1xpt3jH7YoFy7ok8xsEww1n0t8T8eADrGU73s0pwgdnIE1MTm3ALbh/s400/Tread+Lightly+-+Tide+Pool+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />It wasn't until the spring of 2007 on a vacation, when I started shooting photos on the beach that I realized there was a creative artist in me that, like Sleeping Beauty, was ready to wake up. However, because I have to allow myself to be slightly vulnerable when I create, I had to take things slowly and ease into it again. The more involved the creative method is (like painting), the more vulnerable I have to be to create. I had to take baby steps. I couldn't just jump back in with both feet. It was too scary.<br /><br />First, I ventured into photography again because that was the safest place to start. I could shoot what I saw. With a digital camera, I didn't even have to worry about wasting film. If a shot didn't turn out, I hadn't taken a huge creative risk. I could just delete the image. I started dabbling in some post-processing techniques using Photoshop to get a little more creative with the photographs. But things still remained pretty safe. And it helped that I shot a lot of my images in my gardens and places that I loved.<br /><br />Then after about a year of that, I started playing with some digitally produced art. I doodled using my computer and a newly acquired digital tablet. Creating that way was pretty safe too, because I could always hit "undo" or erase something. Nothing was really permanent.<br /><br />I did that for a while, until I felt safe enough to get my sketchbooks back out and started sketching in them. One sketchbook hadn't been touched in over 10 years. This step was pretty hard. I found myself wanting to make every sketch be perfect. Sometimes, I would find myself paralyzed and unable to sketch anything because of the fear of sketching something wrong and not creating a "masterpiece" every time. It was very hard to make myself take risks in that sketchbook (it still is).<br /><br />I also invested in a new set of watercolors (my original tubes from 20 years ago had dried up). I brought out my unused watercolor paper from 15 years before and started painting in watercolors again. I successfully took that step into a more vulnerable place.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM23x9legvXGNnHpLnNfYNevCmXgiXx2Z-TweguRRT_9BxXcokWm6OxWbs6Jyn9GXBh0LEmoqh9fMMp7MdwaGT4PPHk3eQfE3MaCMyn6mj-vTrOZvFp6dz8L1Qp5Ba52Z1_lRlkak9QzHE/s1600-h/First+Tur-Ducky+Sketch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105135400125615410" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM23x9legvXGNnHpLnNfYNevCmXgiXx2Z-TweguRRT_9BxXcokWm6OxWbs6Jyn9GXBh0LEmoqh9fMMp7MdwaGT4PPHk3eQfE3MaCMyn6mj-vTrOZvFp6dz8L1Qp5Ba52Z1_lRlkak9QzHE/s200/First+Tur-Ducky+Sketch.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyFf_bOu8E3qTMIgNPPoMI31gnY80kxO04RqjcYOvkLI-7udCXNnQVFdEYGDAtQt4JQ-0gG3vOyu012dhk74PqXvx3Mhg_HfnLere2RuddvDf4jDJ3RLwib1HUYGwl_Jo7tXOmCFd4zWA/s1600-h/Second+Tur-Ducky+Sketch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105135954176396610" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyFf_bOu8E3qTMIgNPPoMI31gnY80kxO04RqjcYOvkLI-7udCXNnQVFdEYGDAtQt4JQ-0gG3vOyu012dhk74PqXvx3Mhg_HfnLere2RuddvDf4jDJ3RLwib1HUYGwl_Jo7tXOmCFd4zWA/s200/Second+Tur-Ducky+Sketch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx1JXLLBNMZMPJMBWKFppCFwGvnCPC0_lg2Pej68SB_dnpYk5rqVguSfmEzg8cyhofuRdYNYkjN3l2r61r63O10U1uE4dS6-w53MAmHG-JO2Hw7ZxpPRoG4rCBbADu8ZREnWrLPZqkVd7/s1600-h/Tur-ducky+in+progress.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104992004052503746" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx1JXLLBNMZMPJMBWKFppCFwGvnCPC0_lg2Pej68SB_dnpYk5rqVguSfmEzg8cyhofuRdYNYkjN3l2r61r63O10U1uE4dS6-w53MAmHG-JO2Hw7ZxpPRoG4rCBbADu8ZREnWrLPZqkVd7/s400/Tur-ducky+in+progress.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Then my father-in-law passed away in April 2009. In his spare time, Dad was a very talented painter in acrylics and oils. After the funeral, my mother-in-law gave me all Dad's blank canvases, his vast collection of exquisite brushes, and his entire set of paints. I drove home with a mini art supply store in the back of our vehicle. I let the canvases sit for a couple of days, but they kept "calling out to me". In the midst of my grief, I knew Dad wanted me to paint something with everything I'd been given. I brushed the dust off that wooden easel my brother had given me 10 years before (it still looked brand new), and I made myself put a paint-laden brush to canvas. That was really hard. I couldn't hit the "undo" command when I was painting. It was just me, the brush, the acrylic paint and the canvas... and Dad, who I could feel quietly prodding me on. But once I got into the groove, boy, did it feel good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheNoF2RZdfTJF2gUvDOMqMGK4eIqRrbOOfr_l-nDsWbiyK7Tw1QF5Si9cYr18yfzS_ZAwaE1OdqP5xLBXQlJ6BmV-hxbIzUI2kRJ2CCGLqwYSoB4Jez9yOLONNUqjvjanvM1R6W3Z8sY/s1600-h/ORG0404-001500x500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheNoF2RZdfTJF2gUvDOMqMGK4eIqRrbOOfr_l-nDsWbiyK7Tw1QF5Si9cYr18yfzS_ZAwaE1OdqP5xLBXQlJ6BmV-hxbIzUI2kRJ2CCGLqwYSoB4Jez9yOLONNUqjvjanvM1R6W3Z8sY/s320/ORG0404-001500x500.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343947452814908674" border="0" /></a><br />Every step of the way, I felt myself getting closer to my artistic core--the place where I had to be willing to be vulnerable in order to create.<br /><br />At the same time as I was taking up painting again, I also started taking floral design classes at our local adult education center. I am an introvert with some social anxiety, so going back into a classroom setting again with strangers was a huge step for me in my creative journey. I had to learn all over again how to allow my creative work to be critiqued; how to create in the midst of others observing my creative process; and how to make mistakes in front of an instructor and classmates. It was hard at first. But I persevered and can honestly say that I welcome those aspects of the creative process now. I actually thrive off of it.<br /><br />It seemed inevitable that my next step would be to revisit the idea of pursuing my graduate degree after I had put that goal on hold for 15 years. I chose the Academy of Art University in San Francisco mainly because of it's online degree programs. Only a few years ago, the idea of being able to get an MFA in Illustration completely online was unheard of, and now the <a href="http://academyart.edu/">Academy of Art University</a> is the pioneer in making it happen so an artist can earn an art degree and live anywhere in the world.<br /><br />After I sent in my application, I braced myself for rejection, because rejection is what I've known when it came to the art that came from my core.<br /><br />To my pleasant surprise, I received my acceptance letter to the Master of Fine Arts in Illustration last week! I will start the program the Summer semester of 2010 (just after I've completed my floral design certification program). This past week has been a week of letting it really sink in that this is real. The artist in me is finally fully awake again.<br /><br />And now I'm taking a maiden voyage on uncharted waters. I hope you'll join me as I do. I'll continue to chronicle my artistic journey here at the <a href="http://dusting-in-pearls.blogspot.com/">Dusting in Pearls blog</a>. And I hope that somehow as I share, my experiences will benefit someone that needs to awake their inner Sleeping Beauty as I did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0sgrH8fxVEPlQqc9n2MRJdUCJsrk93PMCWwhN6GNxJU3KW_1KUM8rL7lpaXtKn0GDs4NnSEAbzCP49qVGW94CvcodKBryJ5pioiuI0VCJLLvkNMNW1EgbkeM4m6VuHKN06nOpm6_ilk/s1600-h/Sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0sgrH8fxVEPlQqc9n2MRJdUCJsrk93PMCWwhN6GNxJU3KW_1KUM8rL7lpaXtKn0GDs4NnSEAbzCP49qVGW94CvcodKBryJ5pioiuI0VCJLLvkNMNW1EgbkeM4m6VuHKN06nOpm6_ilk/s400/Sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229019534807511234" border="0" /></a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-37069929724841452612009-09-25T22:18:00.000-07:002009-09-25T22:44:37.568-07:00Behind the Scenes: Autumnal Bouquet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvzOmApnpnzwh7pX4I6y_N53mH3RT4i-3EzzV9tAGLbi0NKxwYdOXL5Jt1abqXpe_4JDV0DOi8fVIxsOT50__K5Y2o3qyejKWSy2eSizcg_jDX5ol06AaL3gcg2ov7SQDf2iJM53QJiQ/s1600-h/Autumnal+bouquet.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvzOmApnpnzwh7pX4I6y_N53mH3RT4i-3EzzV9tAGLbi0NKxwYdOXL5Jt1abqXpe_4JDV0DOi8fVIxsOT50__K5Y2o3qyejKWSy2eSizcg_jDX5ol06AaL3gcg2ov7SQDf2iJM53QJiQ/s320/Autumnal+bouquet.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385642849854190530" border="0" /></a><br />For this post, I thought it would be fun to share how I go about digitally altering a photograph to make it look like a chalk or pastel drawing like "Autumnal Bouquet" (above).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgHpGnJjzmQV5L9kBdsl5rxe78h70Wc4aTfQ5dH5Ziw_NobJ4Lji3wuNZiY5JS1DEtxmCpuyldGc48GMofMaRJ2rmudLqSuL704U-8GeEciwBKQwNO6cDy8nvOuoz7TojXSnDJWufw2U/s1600-h/Original+Autumnal+Bouquet.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgHpGnJjzmQV5L9kBdsl5rxe78h70Wc4aTfQ5dH5Ziw_NobJ4Lji3wuNZiY5JS1DEtxmCpuyldGc48GMofMaRJ2rmudLqSuL704U-8GeEciwBKQwNO6cDy8nvOuoz7TojXSnDJWufw2U/s320/Original+Autumnal+Bouquet.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385642792476435042" border="0" /></a><br />The first thing I do is find a promising photograph that I've taken of a flower arrangement. I find that the best floral photos are taken in indirect natural light. That means that if the object I'm shooting is being lit by sun come in a nearby window without directly shining on the object, it'll be great lighting. I like to use auto-focus when I shoot so that I get a crisp focus. I aim at the central object in the arrangement (in this case the yellow mum) and then shoot. I take multiple shots just to be sure I've gotten one really good sharp shot.<br /><br />After I take it back to my computer and bring it into Photoshop (I use CS3, but Photoshop Elements will work too), I make the photograph the first layer in a file.<br /><br />Then I use the "Place" command to place a texture from a separate file into my current file as a new layer. In this instance, I used my own texture "<a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=49">Toasted Marshmallow</a>".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvEYnqK9ZUQhDlhan375HLhufxj0gWuqXbUyKuHA1uy5QpXUGBYyPwsi2xfQAMD2sTl8f18iEl172XbcIBlwJ2fGfk3RvFP50czTUXtX40si-YpPyvS0K92cha44RzOMNA-88avhuWQw/s1600-h/TXT721117-00003_A.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvEYnqK9ZUQhDlhan375HLhufxj0gWuqXbUyKuHA1uy5QpXUGBYyPwsi2xfQAMD2sTl8f18iEl172XbcIBlwJ2fGfk3RvFP50czTUXtX40si-YpPyvS0K92cha44RzOMNA-88avhuWQw/s320/TXT721117-00003_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385644370749277826" border="0" /></a><br />I enlarge the texture so that it covers the original photo layer completely (don't worry, the other layer is just underneath like one piece of paper on top of another). Then with the new texture layer selected I go to my "Layers" menu and select "Screen". Then I reduce the opacity of the texture layer to 60%. And it looks like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufkOt1bAdQKkURAm-ZYC5PDWzFTL-5EZ8u-CLvnG8xHJZDHRshCLRde4PA51XyWb26RD9xabB2RiYE2J8tOPO7a_-Q10G2vhzgUGuMpt7MJvdRu8iL3XNFtLlcBvBtrb2QY6llx4cj1M/s1600-h/First+texture.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufkOt1bAdQKkURAm-ZYC5PDWzFTL-5EZ8u-CLvnG8xHJZDHRshCLRde4PA51XyWb26RD9xabB2RiYE2J8tOPO7a_-Q10G2vhzgUGuMpt7MJvdRu8iL3XNFtLlcBvBtrb2QY6llx4cj1M/s320/First+texture.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385642814415715426" border="0" /></a><br />Next, I use the "Place" command again to add another texture layer. This time it's my own texture "<a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=96">Autumn Haze</a>".<br /><br /><a onblur="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=96"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjZlZyfbcA7IjmD43yY1g1go5YX47mxj4G3TRe_erYOpm_DIpGXJrVpHpoHm8c2iGvvf9Zl796ywt5zonNsb6cF7XHxHRpy1oa8q0LCXiCJBfneWPg6xQZ4MSeZZRBXfvcYVyw_X_74s/s320/TXT3001117-00016_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385645859751353010" border="0" /></a><br />I rotate and resize the texture so it covers the other two beneath it completely. Then I select the texture layer and reduce the opacity to 70% so it looks like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmLRH5ea0WYYDPYKgLMlbzsMGclgeCXn1t0ACxyWEuoADtjRXQjOzwFWC3JmQcDijTYGRuHd4u6nrrNDkDjeAaDiYAQV3_Zr1IZH_h9QW_QqyOIuyGzmFe-Fmyz26y_bnBm3AGvy4iPs/s1600-h/Second+texture.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmLRH5ea0WYYDPYKgLMlbzsMGclgeCXn1t0ACxyWEuoADtjRXQjOzwFWC3JmQcDijTYGRuHd4u6nrrNDkDjeAaDiYAQV3_Zr1IZH_h9QW_QqyOIuyGzmFe-Fmyz26y_bnBm3AGvy4iPs/s320/Second+texture.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385642832369513810" border="0" /></a>See how it's starting to look like a faint drawing? At this point, with the top texture still selected, I change to the eraser tool and choose a soft edged brush at 10% opacity. Using my digital tablet and stylus (you can do it with a mouse too although it's easier with the tablet and stylus). I "draw" on the edges of the petals to erase away the edges where the light highlights them. I erase away in shadows too. I change the size of my eraser depending on the detail I'm erasing. For the petals, I use a small eraser and for the background I use a large eraser.<br /><br />Then if I want to enhance some of the shadows and highlights even more, I select the original photograph layer and with the dodge and burn tool set at 10%, I "draw" over a few of the highlights and shadows to really accentuate them as if I was going in with white or dark chalk and deepening those areas.<br /><br />And the final result looks like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvzOmApnpnzwh7pX4I6y_N53mH3RT4i-3EzzV9tAGLbi0NKxwYdOXL5Jt1abqXpe_4JDV0DOi8fVIxsOT50__K5Y2o3qyejKWSy2eSizcg_jDX5ol06AaL3gcg2ov7SQDf2iJM53QJiQ/s1600-h/Autumnal+bouquet.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvzOmApnpnzwh7pX4I6y_N53mH3RT4i-3EzzV9tAGLbi0NKxwYdOXL5Jt1abqXpe_4JDV0DOi8fVIxsOT50__K5Y2o3qyejKWSy2eSizcg_jDX5ol06AaL3gcg2ov7SQDf2iJM53QJiQ/s320/Autumnal+bouquet.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385642849854190530" border="0" /></a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-45866421275061471222009-09-15T16:50:00.000-07:002009-09-15T17:12:51.935-07:00Dusting in Pearls Bookstore<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20/detail/0811858367"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZRtcQ138oaW7fDWotomgWdnIf3QuL73C7pJZxvmifvEzq8coEw60GjtBZ3X0jOIt-2e9ShkSajsWDDpKyKANseRJY1iN94y68DiBYH75vidfs9HdJyyiAlp-E0Zt_UmwfLj8p60LS0c/s400/Craft+Inc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381847339567186754" border="0" /></a><br />The book above is just one of my treasured references that I use in my studio for creating. I also have books that have become cherished favorites for other reasons. That's why I decided to open the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Dusting in Pearls Bookstore (powered by Amazon)</a>. I've only put books in the bookstore that I've read and/or own and that I highly recommend. You'll notice that I now have a link up in the header of this blog that says "<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Bookstore</a>" and also a link box in the right-hand column on the blog that links to books featured in the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Dusting in Pearls Bookstore</a>.<br /><br />The departments in the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Dusting in Pearls Bookstore</a> are:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=1">Pearly Creating</a>--filled with books that I reference regularly for creating in my studio<br /> </li><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=3">Pearly Living</a>--all books that are part of my arsenal of essential books for living<br /> </li><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=4">Pearly Dreaming</a>--features books (fiction and non-fiction) that have been instrumental in helping me to dream of what I want to be now and in the future</li><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=6">Pearly Gardening</a>--my collection of gardening books that I use in my adventures in the garden<br /> </li><li><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=7">Pearly Home Improvement</a>--the books here are the critical references my husband and I used to restore and renovate our little home, <a href="http://www.rosehavencottage.com/">Rosehaven Cottage</a><br /> </li></ul> When you order a book through the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Dusting in Pearls Bookstore</a>, the order for new books is taken, filled, and shipped by Amazon. You get a beautiful new copy of the book shipped directly to you!<br /><br />So have fun virtually snooping through my library! Click on any of the bold words in this post to go directly to the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/dustinpear0a-20">Dusting in Pearls Bookstore</a>.Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-43098893902653798302009-09-10T15:37:00.000-07:002009-09-10T17:12:08.083-07:00Behind the Scenes: Downward Dog<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Click on any of the images in this post to view larger</span><br /></div><br />For this week's "Behind the Scenes" post, I thought it would be fun to share with you how I create an illustration piece from start to finish.<br /><br />I did a rough sketch of a little dog on the back of some scratch paper when I was sitting in a meeting (it keeps me focused). I sketched it with the ballpoint pen that I had with me and didn't worry about the scratchy sketch lines that always happen when I sketch. I wanted the dog to be in a stretching "play with me" pose so I roughed out the basic shapes of its body lightly and then sketched in the details over the top with heavier strokes. If I make a mistake, I don't worry about it. Afterall, it's a sketch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCNKNafhbeNoOkNme-YOAhv88Fp2ZPjzpyooSmDwsX6IQTswseUBexR9pCyILP0Z1PqIXDoagbsyRgwZaw92HlbawVgt16MjDxMWl8ncjZSCcXRNOEDYKfd2tES8Po8rpYlF6FIqe_JM/s1600-h/Dog+sketch.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCNKNafhbeNoOkNme-YOAhv88Fp2ZPjzpyooSmDwsX6IQTswseUBexR9pCyILP0Z1PqIXDoagbsyRgwZaw92HlbawVgt16MjDxMWl8ncjZSCcXRNOEDYKfd2tES8Po8rpYlF6FIqe_JM/s320/Dog+sketch.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379995606504908770" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>This sketch sat on one of my idea boards for months. My "idea boards" are a white board and a bulletin board I have behind my computer workspace with lots of sketches, clippings and ideas on them. That's where it sat until I had the inspiration to move on further with it.<br /><br />Once I was in the mood to start playing with it more, I scanned it on my flatbed scanner so I had it in my computer as a TIFF file. Then I opened the TIFF file in Photoshop and started cleaning it up. For clean-up work, I use a Wacom digital tablet and digital pen on the eraser setting with a crisp edged brush at various diameters. I liked some of the sketchy lines, so I was careful to not erase those.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjBXvqvWgVOWO4U4di2ASDsQsv4xtVSYTVHMXFR9PLud7z0Q2QJOsXK1kRY7by5jvuTr42nKppqzKNcGvLBWRW1wcLeZfli_W8DRfCkZlzZS4Js9zvw3Gugca-Srf5Bh3QCcE4K7Pk0M/s1600-h/Dog+sketch+cleanup.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjBXvqvWgVOWO4U4di2ASDsQsv4xtVSYTVHMXFR9PLud7z0Q2QJOsXK1kRY7by5jvuTr42nKppqzKNcGvLBWRW1wcLeZfli_W8DRfCkZlzZS4Js9zvw3Gugca-Srf5Bh3QCcE4K7Pk0M/s320/Dog+sketch+cleanup.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379971987160891394" border="0" /></a>After the little dog was cleaned up to my satisfaction, I opened another Photoshop file and placed the cleaned up sketch as one layer and a scan of an old page of a book as another layer. To change the color of the blue ballpoint sketch, I went into "Curves" to adjust the RGB levels on the sketch layer and tweaked them until the sketch lines were a warm brown. I just eyeball it as I go and don't worry about specific numbers. Then I made the sketch layer a "Linear Burn" over the old page layer to make them more cohesive like I'd sketched the dog on the old paper.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xKkjMSAGnsaA8AVy4T05oyreLSmA1Bwik4FZwKgBzvd3Qoe4yL4Pw24Q49r8-s75GaBo1-UyZGYlJWkCdum01uVJjljDOm8-VUpWuZw934oC0afKggfqzxuOZum-N4pPqwmGdFKR7Oc/s1600-h/Dog+sketch+linear+burn.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xKkjMSAGnsaA8AVy4T05oyreLSmA1Bwik4FZwKgBzvd3Qoe4yL4Pw24Q49r8-s75GaBo1-UyZGYlJWkCdum01uVJjljDOm8-VUpWuZw934oC0afKggfqzxuOZum-N4pPqwmGdFKR7Oc/s320/Dog+sketch+linear+burn.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379971999505031842" border="0" /></a><br />The coloring part was next and that's always fun. I used my Wacom tablet and digital pen again. I almost always set my brush to 20% opacity or less so I can get a washy effect similar to art markers or watercolors. Everytime I changed colors, I made a new layer so I can always go back and remove a layer I don't like without destroying the rest of my work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPD3SDU2LMC6uWO-QXEZ7K1nrQ0ozsi5tSaNoPeN9DgNMdNPAUH6IrfsmrreM7EyhgQVJmSXA68AdhcXP1r-QCyEpgHrNgPocANo0xYwWPPCJef7pxkCfXvX8d6Pj_GkT-727AXG5lWE/s1600-h/Downward+Dog.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPD3SDU2LMC6uWO-QXEZ7K1nrQ0ozsi5tSaNoPeN9DgNMdNPAUH6IrfsmrreM7EyhgQVJmSXA68AdhcXP1r-QCyEpgHrNgPocANo0xYwWPPCJef7pxkCfXvX8d6Pj_GkT-727AXG5lWE/s320/Downward+Dog.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379972015547454482" border="0" /></a><br />Once the illustration is all colored, it's done! Then I can take it and put it into composition like the one below. To make the composition below, I scanned the inside of an old library book that happened to have a fun title that worked with the illustration. I placed that scan as one layer and then placed the dog as another layer. I added a drop shadow on the dog layer to accent it. Then I added a text layer with the "Downward Dog" text down the left-hand side and reduced the opacity so it wouldn't distract the eye from the illustration of the dog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqO5dZ-qEPYugIdgWU51kdenW5yXTn9uiTd3tvdeDudpxz-6k5oxAlpbrrN7JIwJ-jUIZXlSidW483q-Ih6VPnrBxeku643yy_e6LU4t5stiQxV-ER4ub9nyNyf9XYIuJRIulm8Z8ShQ/s1600-h/Downward+Dog+composite.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqO5dZ-qEPYugIdgWU51kdenW5yXTn9uiTd3tvdeDudpxz-6k5oxAlpbrrN7JIwJ-jUIZXlSidW483q-Ih6VPnrBxeku643yy_e6LU4t5stiQxV-ER4ub9nyNyf9XYIuJRIulm8Z8ShQ/s320/Downward+Dog+composite.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379972039112234770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=88&zenid=a1d87ca644312f54fffc983e84df1e6b">Click here to download your own free copy of </a><br /><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=88&zenid=a1d87ca644312f54fffc983e84df1e6b">the "Rollo at Play" texture layer</a><br /><br /><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=89">Click here to download clip art of </a><br /><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=89">the "Downward Dog" for 99 cents</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_102&products_id=246"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaXoTx-iR3pfbEWBVpoteHMj16LV7T1yrLb-2No14ulsUenh2UNTX3gksoGCTX-Qu587XMmwFH_4tWHpV20cLVHgQZB4mh9-zkcFVR7otzkDL0pWasDbqrLAPno_RQWGLPldNyaf6PIg/s200/HJR056-001_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379994439042801298" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_102&products_id=246">Click here to see the new journal/sketchbook<br />available now at Dusting in Pearls</a><br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-42909470454158183612009-08-31T11:44:00.000-07:002009-08-31T12:33:49.336-07:00Sharing creative inspirationMore than anything else, I like to see others get so inspired by something that they create something new--a dessert, a garden, a painting, or even a memorable moment. Over the past summer, I've reflected a lot on how much joy it brings me to watch someone else go through that precious and very rewarding creative experience. This reflection has caused me to have my own creative epiphanies. One epiphany I had was that with my own work, I would rather inspire people more than having a profit reflected on a spreadsheet.<br /><br />That huge epiphany led to another one... I could create a digital download shop where everything was free or nearly free. And the big plus with having it be a download shop is that someone has immediate access to the file instead of having to wait for an order to arrive.<br /><br />As soon as I created the shop, <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop</a>, ideas started pouring in with all the different things I could share. Here are some ideas I came up with...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10">Textures & Overlays</a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=71"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-V0M-l1q4OGoM_UtlpCmv1VhQKMYhcU234u5NOewH710xNaGpqbk8sqYfV9eEtZ2KUL9Wt7ji49COkANfe-2b6rPN-hmiLi3o6nAdrbqjyMBUckxTWRPMKTkVFRJ6-60wrtC5gypMAw/s320/TXT3001117-00021_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376203784254562290" border="0" /></a><br />Textures and overlays are the secret weapon of digital artists and are really easy to use in programs like Photoshop Elements (or the more robust CS3 or CS4) as well as any other graphic software that works in layers. Just like putting a photograph under a piece of gauzy transparent tracing paper or vellum, you can put a digital photograph under a texture or overlay layer to give it a soft look.<br /><br />Here's a quick example... I took this photograph of some flowers in a vase on my mantle:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-w1q_k2iH5YXXSaXqlWzJH1BxUHXkpCsW3WCxzQryoP30AgszFkTXhXZb6U5bGHjbS73fiD8klV7Qa_cJOhAqP8Uh7BbFDpsGvSw2kRva88L151lnbbRXOSlukk96ySdmsIb3T7L0tk/s1600-h/DSC06092.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-w1q_k2iH5YXXSaXqlWzJH1BxUHXkpCsW3WCxzQryoP30AgszFkTXhXZb6U5bGHjbS73fiD8klV7Qa_cJOhAqP8Uh7BbFDpsGvSw2kRva88L151lnbbRXOSlukk96ySdmsIb3T7L0tk/s320/DSC06092.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376206062956695570" border="0" /></a><br />Then in Photoshop, I placed the texture <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=71">Spring Dew</a> (see above) as a new layer over the top of the photograph at a setting of 60% Screen. After a little strategic erasing with a soft-edged eraser set at 10-20%, I got an image that looks like a colored pencil or pastel drawing. Here it is...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" com="" digdownloadshop="" main_page="product_info&cPath=9&products_id=70""><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhqiNzT6hIuGjBhIok3gZq7uPUdm0GZmYeZb565HCYHKxSlfFGMQudcF1-wC1d3Xh_0pYVPpgZfV37Lqn2pL5-ZJkyZBVyi6U_ev2gElhB8FlBc24oRz1R0C6bTV1MQIwx8Hpt7hoMLY/s320/DSK-00063_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376204915664003314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=70">The above photographic art is available for free download by clicking here</a></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=55">Backgrounds</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55&products_id=59"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDiWP6MPH72pptX0CJdGa4Jmh63EyRZ7_mTzlJXyMaI_NajcU6WLi1mSq1F46SlAwdppgReyxOe7xXdxTfvNZCY_sBqFkOFaAkIjKvRWh4NzkNOjGmpOEQElN_NgEGljJfCPk29ucOBI/s320/BCK3001212-00005.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376203005910697026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For some people creating photographic art isn't their thing. Some people prefer to work with their hands with something tangible. That's where a "background" can be used. Over the past few years, I've created various different backgrounds for lots of projects. I decided I should make them available for download so others could print them off on their printers with their own paper so they could create whatever they wanted with them--scrapbook pages, origami, invitations, whatever. Or someone can also use the background in its digital form to create something like a digital scrapbook page.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11">Clip Art & Embellishments</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=62"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtITTscb8LoTBkgXGED27RPC-y3U4Ypezm5nYPyQUYv2vzG3SHMQR-tI9DsAKr0Eo8YLUwBmidziHpNR2PgG8Tg94PDPYvKE_5_-z6Yhu1By9z6fFZEQ4PpSt1qbeT-wS2ZjbDJZCuKWw/s320/CLIPBEAUTY-00001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376202994934714434" border="0" /></a>I also have sketchbooks with lots of doodles and sketches in them that I realized would be great as clip art or embellishments for someone's blog, scrapbook, posters, artist trading cards, greeting cards, and more. So as I've gone through my sketchbooks, I've finalized some of my favorite sketches and made them available for download too. I've still got lots more to come.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=57">Blog Graphics</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=57_58&products_id=80"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf1s7xlACjLl377tAJ0xeToIS-2Od4OPxcKUCSdfV55mmHKPGAQu-zXpt5TFx4MWqM7PZsXwL3dBA2apzNNSrLDPQetqZt1LDCsdSDWD_mOR_CgXCG8pAP9-9RTtDVeNvrlBahkmYGms/s320/BLOG-CHERRYHEADER_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376202999392305970" border="0" /></a>I came up with the idea of blog graphics just last week. Every so often I'll get a really neat design idea for a blog. But I don't want to change up my entire blog just so I can see the new design I thought up. The solution is to simply make the blog design elements (header and sidebar graphics) available for download at the shop for anyone that wants to use them on their own blog. And I was even able to make this header customizable so someone can change the title to whatever they choose. The <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=57_58">"Cheery Cherry" design</a> is the first one I've made available, and I'm certain there will be many more to come.<br /><br />My <a href="http://dustinginpearls.com/store/">Dusting in Pearls online shop</a> is still there for those that want to order fine stationery and art that is already done. But for those that want to do some creating of their own, please visit the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop</a>. Then drop me a note with your feedback, ideas, suggestions and creative stories. I'd love to hear from you because it makes my own creative process even richer and more rewarding to know that I've inspired you to create something!<br /></div></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-66876369664724807302009-08-12T10:59:00.000-07:002009-08-12T11:07:21.859-07:00Latest releases at Dusting in PearlsAlong with sharing the latest releases at the Dusting in Pearls online store, I wanted to let everyone know that if you order a single card with nothing else in your order it is shipped FREE. Your card will be packaged in a rigid mailer so it reaches you in perfect condition. Now you don't even have to hustle down to Wal-Mart or Target to get a card. You can do it from your computer.<br /><br />Click on any of the images below to read more:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_124&products_id=242">"Little Boy Clown" Happy Halloween postcard with envelope</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_124&products_id=242"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuifCyqV-rWGgxRynTu1ozGDITkhAI1Ey-_a6PsAFLOEWlgXEoyk6Y9nWiUS6s9p_w0XaI_3LTxBri8l_-2hdZv6tmX4blg5IEW5iSYMZquVDl5TPYgDLwpaSBqagWcqO7tiHQZQrSMf8/s320/SEC046-002.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369138840795071474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_122&products_id=243">"Sisters"</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_122&products_id=243"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW3f5ztgOAnAOoYKKOqS_pfCTSCzE5xmGWpxsuYPgBnp2__uowIe52K0qCROtj_73qLJP1jnrmcAhO2HT-XzTLCnvqQyRqyTNFirynBWqi154MDKzsEqezPJWATr4WJIDl_vRGPvXzOA/s320/SEC0A8-001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369138834011371730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_122&products_id=244">"Little Elsie Halloween Witch"</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dustinginpearls.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_122&products_id=244"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz01SdbbFNuqb-3RYDgGxF7BxEzIIQvOhOx7goTAW3wCdTfZ0JqvBxZFCyGRoj6QH6tghbCcqjuiwrIhzWFoBruxOjEekd6uDbGLdgLzbbxp-TVxRPLyNwqpOGTppSPJqKcE3VHMBqBM/s320/SEC0A8-002.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369138819982183090" border="0" /></a>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-89925663737975405972009-08-10T17:45:00.000-07:002009-08-10T17:50:23.611-07:00Pink layer cake with black bow ties<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTOEXeQeNcEyNRXYJlwTZPpF6oemCZEMnSchrzlumtFHglqIZpS5hZuJsg5cJIqexWQKAREaQHX5JHAz1B4HnYv45ke4tUTdc9IFYjmkVCFkQ08Znxk8s4UOtparSKi__cM3LvKwu1q4/s1600-h/CLIPCAKE-00001.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTOEXeQeNcEyNRXYJlwTZPpF6oemCZEMnSchrzlumtFHglqIZpS5hZuJsg5cJIqexWQKAREaQHX5JHAz1B4HnYv45ke4tUTdc9IFYjmkVCFkQ08Znxk8s4UOtparSKi__cM3LvKwu1q4/s320/CLIPCAKE-00001.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368501015537280194" border="0" /></a>I was watching the film "Nanny McPhee" a while back and was so intrigued by the cakes in one of the scenes later in the movie. Luckily, I had my sketchbook in hand and sketched a cake inspired by that scene. Then I went and inked it so I had a clean and crisp ink line-art version. Once I had that done, I scanned it into the computer and used Photoshop to color it digitally. <br /><br />This hi-resolution <span style="font-weight: bold;">non-watermarked</span> digital clip art file is available to <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=61">download for FREE by clicking here</a>. I've also made the drawing available without color (ink line only) so you can color it yourself if you wish (and that's FREE too!).Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-55225708640922755772009-08-07T20:39:00.000-07:002009-08-07T20:42:58.751-07:00A really fun announcement!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB1FMG3dcBBrhavXJPqQo418KeBem_OSYE6xxnInuCiBjJZaU8ZDuAP4qmRPFVhsbfi95wkaBo14lNsCN75uZb4OFOZiRrK2LcW1RdO7kuiUUOlhAnFOrE1Cp87oAqot37gSoYtsH2go/s1600-h/DSK-00009_A.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNB1FMG3dcBBrhavXJPqQo418KeBem_OSYE6xxnInuCiBjJZaU8ZDuAP4qmRPFVhsbfi95wkaBo14lNsCN75uZb4OFOZiRrK2LcW1RdO7kuiUUOlhAnFOrE1Cp87oAqot37gSoYtsH2go/s320/DSK-00009_A.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367433027087866546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">"Gerberas and Pink Tulips" Digital Desktop/Wallpaper</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_32_33&products_id=14">Click here to download the desktop above </a></span><br /></div><br />I am so excited to finally announce to everyone what I've been up to for the past couple of weeks. I've been sitting here at my computer coding and designing a new website called <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop</a> where all downloads are FREE to 99 cents.<br /><br />This idea was born out of my desire to share many of my photographs as free desktops/wallpaper for people to download whenever they felt like a "change of scenery". But I also wanted some security for myself so that I didn't have problems with "poachers". I realized that if I created a shop of my own where people signed in before they downloaded, it would make my desires a reality.<br /><br />I started building the site with the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=9">free desktops</a> in mind and then realized that I had a lot of other <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10">textures</a>, <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11">clip art</a>, and <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=55">backgrounds</a> I've created (or drawn) that I wanted to share too that would appeal to scrapbookers, crafters, artists, and bloggers. I also realized that I am constantly doodling, sketching and creating things so that the inventory would always be growing.<br /><br />Over the past couple of weeks, I've been hard at work building the shop site so that all these goodies are available to download. To make it even more fun, the inventory can be viewed by <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4">color palette</a> or <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6">season</a> of the year as well as the basic product types. You can browse only the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_13">FREE stuff</a> if you want. I've tried to make it really easy to find just what you're looking for.<br /><br />I hope you'll go over there and download some of free desktops to decorate your computer. There are some nice ones perfect for August in the <a href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_32">Summer section</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can get to the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://rosehavencottage.dustinginpearls.com/digdownloadshop/">Rosehaven Cottage Digital Download Shop by clicking here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">or by visiting </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.rosehavencottage.com/">www.RosehavenCottage.com</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">clicking on the Digital Download Shop button.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If you have problems downloading from the new shop,<br />please email me at rosehaven_cottage@yahoo.com so I can fix it right away.</span></span><br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-44988315663824901682009-07-24T23:43:00.001-07:002009-07-24T23:44:08.458-07:00Creating...<p></p><object width="400" height="324"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RhLlnq5yY7k&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" name="movie"><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen"><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"><embed allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RhLlnq5yY7k&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" allowfullscreen="true" height="324" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3895357577879971132.post-5110519346694249342009-07-17T17:18:00.000-07:002009-07-17T17:55:49.549-07:00SummerThis time of year always has me in the mood for pink lemonade, a big floppy-brimmed hat, cool aqua waters to float in and a place in the shade to dry off after a dip.<br /><br />Recently, I've been fortunate to become acquainted with the work of some wonderfully creative women whose creative pieces "feel" like all those things that I think about in July. These are the things of summer...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on any of the images or their titles<br />to read more and discover more work by that artist.</span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22028375"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22028375">Handmade Pink Whimsical Abstract Shapes Linocut<br />from Karyna at Paper Squid Inc.</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22028375"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIoII3OBVMdcbbk0rdi5YaGGTqmt-FrjSc9bmjLL49gXxG9nOlcXeVFYwOJqhjOnDnXMoG9gTEpwAuDyjBznmO5geMnoVGhIO_ktepe3gjRjnPZeGDjYxizM2uvdCIUZQ_lryCmlQKhQ/s320/Papersquid+Lino+print.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359588729812396882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27862046">Sassy Orange Slices (Earrings)<br />by Lori at Dirt Road South<br /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27862046"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-QIGHgvcMoFt3IgXJZ4Tisuty66ILSM-2c5slvT3OSnAVNVEthPbGgpcPRZV_TgCCeXJLJVdaUpP4pBEnVo_yD8ALDuyMlRO7Ccp-3T76C03JNGlqlIXjCxVUt4CYuFkaeAh7NaUtPQ/s320/Dirt+Road+South+Sassy+Orange+Slice+Earrings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359594324571782370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27468843">Parasols (ACEO)<br />by Robin Maria Pedrero</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27468843"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYss-ZOhsjSi6mTSaaF4yvJZeRB4lGA1f0RRrArez5Ig1k8t5fMNmAFp_SZ6i74D6aFubqCe_Jl7cZQjskhHzUTrVKb3Hk4k0LljGb9M-tRJfd-WZa-lLymxVDcVWwxKTB1_-aJ9j2Wc/s320/Parasols+Robin+Maria+Pedrero.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359590085245585842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15886481"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15886481">Blue Hawaii (necklace)<br />from the Danse de la Fleur Collection<br />by Karen at JMJ Creations</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15886481"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyp3YxRj_ly2oHxC9qWe-7XVlvFBN0HqBTitsuW592rOnwWmzvUw3E2MQ2ZxeHbMhqrcZS1Lr2KsF8t4LqNwTAd283_vb9sYTJ6i267ry3QU4t8_usr64YVmaHinA259TIei8Ijcvd48/s320/JMJ+Creations+Danse+de+la+Fleur+Hawaii.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359595466111393730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22494989">Crimson Haze (giclee)<br />by Robin Maria Pedrero</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22494989"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyLNE1IaAeiBtnzDbinz3CJcwtbLBfs7KKxM2aoxYTPIpUi9tTQDSDZP7zsmNYbLWpnF_WLzRr_2Fe1a5phKWWuGgUNCjlOLJoHHpU4I_7ReEqeZhyl4JNZkDIX-RQc2SFj_QtWJQDQM/s320/Crimson+Haze+Robin+Maria+Pedrero.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359590922944887090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12468122">Handmade cell phone charms<br />by Birgitte at Sew Danish: Scandinavian Textile Art</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12468122"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6SfYimgMt_Ajrpty9CueMh9U1pNbV8iQnKo_iPdJURdyTikokZqCFLoeAXeJSa98et2K-MfoZlDqmVyvo3hsgUX6JlGCCk52CIch0y_a4bosi8TWdxiuzosSIsTcbuq10RP4g91oJnI/s320/SewDanish+green+cell+phone+charms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359592362627177410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">All these amazingly talented women are part of the group Unique Women in Business. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.uniquewomeninbusiness.blogspot.com/">Click here to read more about UWIB...</a><br /></div>Cindy Garber Iversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543940998038589239noreply@blogger.com7