You may have noticed on my layouts I created for Tarisota this month {scroll down to an earlier post if you didn't}, I used a few ttv frames as well as some overlays/textures on my photos. Everything I used on my photos I found mainly in various flickr groups. I love experimenting with textures, overlays and ttv frames in photoshop, the results can turn out amazing and give any every day photo just what it needs to SHINE ♡.  

The photo above was taken by accident when my family and I were on holidays in Coffs Harbour at a carnival just as the sun was about to set. I loved the silhouettes at the bottom of the photo and the look of the sky scattered with clouds as the sun was going down. I love photos that have large quantities of sky in them....with balloons.....and with water....and with birds......and carnivals...lol!! What was an average photo, is now dreamy! I went through loads of my photos looking for average looking ones that I thought could do with a little LOVE ♡, here are some of the results....
In all of these photos, I used the same ttv frame and the same overlays/textures so that the photos all had a similar look and hue. There are loads of photos circulating at the moment with soft hues which use gorgeous textures and photoshop actions. HERE is an example. {I recently purchased the Luxe, Vintage, B&W and Color & Haze.....AMAZING!} However......we can make soft ttv photos using what is available {without spending any money} from around the net. Have a look at how I constructed my little ttv photos...

Here is the list of what I used, in reverse order from photo {bottom} to ttv frame {top} and what settings I used in photoshop:

•  natural stock bokeh by stock-feele HERE  > Layer Style: overlay Opacity: 100%
•  heart bokeh by mifti-stock found HERE > Layer Style: screen Opacity: 78%
•  autumn gold bokeh by virtually supine HERE > Layer Style: overlay Opacity 51%
•  ttv frame by DLSDesigns found HERE > Layer Style: multiply Opacity 100%

Depending on the photo you use, you shouldn't need to edit it at all before you place the overlays/textures over the top of it. The overlays/textures should lighten any poorly lit or under-exposed photos. Have a play with the layer styles and the opacities to suit your own needs and likes! Even add some more layers such as a layer of texture to turn the above PRETTY ♡ flower photo to a slightly grungy one like this:

 Here is a link to the texture I used in the above photo. I placed the texture in between the ttv frame and the autumn gold bokeh:

• autumn gold bokeh by virtually supine HERE > Layer Style: overlay Opacity 51%
• INSERT TEXTURE HERE WITH THESE SETTINGS:  > Layer Style: multiply Opacity 48%   <<<<<<<<<<<<
•  ttv frame by DLSDesigns found HERE > Layer Style: multiply Opacity 100%

 I have put together a little list of some of my favorite flickr groups that have wonderful textures and overlays that you can use to experiment with. The possibilities are truly endless and so much fun to play around with. There are no wrong or rights with the amount of layers you use or how little, just as long as YOU like the end result! ENJOY ♡!!

• SophieG: HERE & HERE
• Nasos3: HERE
• Valerie Everrett: HERE
• Quality Textures & TTV's: HERE
• Textures by Cosima: HERE
• Bumblebee: HERE
• Birgit Engelhardt: HERE
• Brenda Star: HERE

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment or send me an email! I'd be happy to help ;) Happy hump day ♡!!

Look at this gorgeousness I purchased yesterday!!

After being offline for nearly 2 months, the amount of feeds I have had to go through has been staggering!! So far I have managed to get them down to 810. Still a little way to go but I wanted to share some linkage with you all that I thought was worth mentioning AND that caught my eye AND so I don't forget about them just yet.....

They are in no particular order either:

 ♥  via The Creative Mama: they are on blogcation {cute word} at the moment but they are posting some oldies but goodies from the last year and I found this one on A Daily Routine printout to come in handy.

 ♥  via Life Through the Lens: Kristi posted this one in her annual blog hunt post of photographer Mandy Lynne. I just fell in love with one of her prints in her etsy store called Shades of Yellow.....so dreamy!

 ♥  via 74 Lime Lane: Kellie posted some how to links and I found this one really interesting!!

 ♥  via Frankie Magazine: loving these wallpapers right now, makes me feel like the weather is about to warm up here......bbbrrrrrrr

 ♥  via vol.25: how sweet are these little cupcakes! And you can download them and make your own little sweetnesses, just don't eat them!

 ♥  via Kenner Road: the last sale for kenner road {sniff} 28th July 2010 @ 10am pacific on etsy. So sad :(

 ♥  via My Four Hens Photography: M4H's is about to have it's first birthday party and there's always something awesome going on over at Sarah's.

 ♥  via Art as Life: I am so excited about getting my kit and taking this class hosted by the amazingly talented Debee! If there's no kits left at least you can still take her class.

 ♥  via the Art House Co-op: I am seriously thinking about this.....

 ♥  via A Thing For: I have a thing for this blog.

Enjoy the weekend!!

I can't believe we have hit mid year already!! Christmas pressies have been discussed, put on layby and some already purchased. Yes, I had loads of time on my hands whilst I had no internet so what better time to organize Christmas presents 6 months ahead of time...lol. I left everything till the last minute, last year, so I thought I would get a head start.
Mind you I also read a few books, then a few more books, and finished off with another 4 books just for the fun of it. It's strange when you have too much time on your hands then all of a sudden you can barely put a book down to get anything done. Go figure....

I managed to step back into my creative space last week for the first time since I've been offline! Can you imagine that? It was wonderful to to sit down and start creating in a spotless room. Boy, I had some fun!!

I was invited by sweet Tamar from the awesome kit club Tarisota, to be a guest designer for the month and of course I said YES!! They just released a new kit called 'Paper Treasures', the colors combination's are simply gorgeous and I just love all the little embellishments that Tamar hand picks that go so well together with the rest of the kit. Be sure to check out what else they have in the store at the moment as Tarisota also stocks fabric packs {as well as other goodies that take's Tamar's fancy} that co-ordinates perfectly with this month's collection as well as the August Style Studio {find out more about that HERE} Check out these projects I created with this month's kit:


Be sure to check out the gallery for close up's and to see what the other designer's created using this month's kit!! Thanks Tamar for inviting me over for the month ;)

That's it for today.....I am surfing around the net checking the latest releases for CHA.....I am head over heals for new 7 Gypsies and Pink Paislee/House of 3!! What are you loving right now and can you share a link please? Happy Days!!

......is this thing on??

YES.....I am back online, finally!! So much to catch up on, new blog post coming soon!!