Kraftin' with Kathy has a new banner and watermark

This banner is for Kathy's new blog where she's off to a great start! This was one design that came together QUICKLY! Some just do, and there doesn't seem to be a reason why.

This design just seems so peaceful to me. I really enjoyed the colors and overall feeling of it. I used a similar swirl for her watermark.

Thanks, Kathy, for choosing to work with me. It was a real pleasure!

Just Give Me Stamps blog has a new banner and watermarks

I have admired Laurie's stamping for quite a while on her Just Give Me Stamps blog. She simply has an amazing stamping style. I was so pleased to be able to create a banner and watermarks for her, particularly after all the inspiration she's put out there for others.

Her colors were chosen not so much by any one company's colors, although she listed SU colors for reference, but additionally I went and looked at vintage paint samples for inspiration. I sent her a basic banner to preview, and then we pushed it further using her suggestion of tone-on-tone swirls and stepping up to a new font. This is the first time I've used this font (although I kept trying to work it in on other banners), and I think it looks great!

Because Laurie and I both liked the font so much, I wanted to feature it on her watermarks. She has two designs to choose from, one that's Stampin' Up! specific, and on that is for use with other company's designs.


I really enjoyed these projects. If you haven't already visited her blog, definitely stop in for a look.

Laurie thank you so much for choosing to work with me!

Changing your colors to match your banner on Blogger

If you really want to customize your blog, try changing your colors to match! For complete customization, you'll need to know your hex color codes (these are colors that are coded so that any website can recognize them).

If I've designed a banner for you previously, check with me and I can help you figure out codes. Otherwise, you can just click on close color matches from the color palette shown in the Fonts and Colors Tab. When I reference entering a hex code below, that's where you'd click on a color that you'd like used for each element.

1. Log in to Blogger.
2. Under Template, click on the Fonts and Colors Tab.
3. Down the left side, there will be a box with a vertical scroll bar listing all the things that you can pick a color for. You'll need to change the color of the hex code for each item using the following code and entering it in the box to the right that is labeled as "Edit color hex code" with a # and a six digit code. You'll follow the same steps for each item (Main Background Color, Text Color, Link Color, etc.).
4. Click and highlight Main Background Color. From your custom list of hex codes, copy the #______ code to match with each item on the list. Go to the box under Edit color hex code, double-click and highlight what's there and then paste in the new code copied from this email list. Scroll down through each item on the list of items and update the colors. After each time you enter the hex code, you need to hit the Enter key, and for what it's worth, when I used the Enter key on the number key pad, it didn't seem to work. You'll know it's taken the change if you see the sample color in the scroll list on the left change to what you were expecting. You'll still want to save using the Save Changes button, but without hitting Enter, it doesn't seem to "get it."

Good luck!

My first logo design

This is a logo that I've designed for a friend of a friend. She's starting a new business, and I'm excited to help her create her image! I think this turned out as a very dynamic presentation and I'm so pleased that she liked it too.

Making a watermark "brush" for use in Photoshop

These instructions are based on my version of Photoshop which is part of the CS3 package. This is my first attempt at instructions for Photoshop. If you need help with older versions, I have some experience and may be able to help if necessary, but I don't have access to an older version to reference while writing up instructions.

Making a watermark "brush" for photoshop:

1. Open Photoshop.
2. Open your dark watermark version.
3. Click on the paintbrush tool so that it is active.
   
4. Go to the menu at the top and choose "Edit." Scroll down to the option to "define brush preset."
   
5. Edit the name of your brush if you'd like in the name option box that should pop up. Click ok.
   
6. You should see an outline version of your watermark as you move the cursor around.
   
7. Open a photo that you'd like to put your watermark on.
8. In your color palette, pick a color that will look good over your photo (i.e., show up, but not overwhelm the image).
9. With your brush still using the watermark shape, click on your photo, and save as a new version of your photo referencing that it's a watermarked version.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have questions. :)

Adding your banner to your Blogger blog

To post your new blog banner to your Blogger blog:

1. Save banner where you can find it on your computer.


2. Login to Blogger.


3. Under the Template tab, click on the Page Elements tab. Click on the Edit link.
4. This will open a new window that should say "Configure Header" at the top of it.


5. Within that window, where it says "Image" to the right of it, click on the button next to "From your computer:" and click on the Browse button. Navigate to your saved banner file and double-click on it. This will select your banner and it should show up in the Configure Header window as a small preview of the image.


6. Click the button next to "Instead of title and Description."


7. Click the orange "save changes" button.

If this doesn't make sense, or if you have questions, please send me an email (using the link in the menu on the side). For my customers, if for some reason your banner doesn't fit the template you've chosen, please email me and I'd be happy to resize your banner to fit without losing quality.

Maria's Stamping Marathon blog has a new banner!

This is Maria's new banner for her blog. She knew the name of the blog for sure, but wondered if I could help with the subtitling. As I worked on it, I thought about it, and suggested "work your creativity" because I know that if I don't use my creativity, it tends to falter and doesn't seem as accessible when I really want it. This banner was truly a team effort, and I just couldn't seem to get it quite right to please myself, so I showed her variations, and different styles, and she patiently gave me feedback. :)

This is the final version, and I know we're both really happy with it! I love how calm and clean the design is. If you get the chance, stop by Maria's blog and check out her work and if you're there late in the week, you can leave a comment and be entered for her Friday Freebie drawing!