(seriously, I should not be allowed to make blog titles!  I am just getting cheezier and cheezier!)

So I learned how to use brushes in Photoshop and how to make a brush so I figured I better take the plunge and learn how to use Actions. 

But I was scared.  Seriously, PS can be intimidating without someone to hold your hand!  Then I met Kay last week.  Never spoke to her before and there she was offering to hold anyone's hand who needed PS help on the Scrapsupply message board.  AND she was offering some PS actions for people to download and try so they could learn.  How nice is that?

So I thought, now or never!

So I downloaded her actions and saved them to a file on my computer.  But then I got stuck.  I couldn't figure out how to install them.  But Kay was there to hold my hand.

See the little arrow thingys - that is what you press to find the file on your computer to install them.  To run an action on your image click on the action you want to use and press the play button.  Then sit back watch the magic.  Pretty easy.  I don't know what I was so scared about!  Thank you Kay!

And the good thing - these actions were made for a higher version of PS then what I have but I was still able to make it work.  Some of the steps were unavailable but it still worked for me.

Want to see?

ORIGINAL PHOTO

COLOR POP ACTION

another action called MORE COLOR POP

And for the LOMO lovers...

I think I will play with the layers to make some adjustments but I am really happy with the looks I got.  I also think it depends on the photo to decide which action looks best - I am leaning towards the MORE COLOR POP for this one but it might be a bit too much for me. Undecided still.

And remember you can run an action more than once on a photo or different actions together on one photo.

And since you are going to playing with actions (right???) why don't you download the new free digital kit from Memory Makers magazine.  They released it for NSD and would be a great backdrop for you new action-ed photos!

I am up to my eyeballs in scrappy supplies (I am making up kits for my workshops) but do I actually scrapbook?

Umm, no. 

Not right not at least.  My house has been taken over with boxes and there are only just so many hours in the day.  I mean, who has time to scrap?

But I am dying to!  I like to be creative everyday but it is just not going to happen.  Maybe tomorrow.

So today I thought I would share another project I am working on with Magnus.  I mean some of you have got to be mom's of little ones (Hope you had a great day yesterday.  I know I did!) and might like to do this with your little girl or guy.

So Magnus is facinated with all things growing.  So the other day while waiting in line at the grocery story he noticed a rack of vegetable seeds.  You know, those little packets full of seeds so you can grow your own veggie garden?  So I figured he would love to grow some plants from seed - it is just so satisfying!!

So after much deliberation he narrowed his choices down to peas and carrots.  Very original isn't he?

Well, when you are 4 years old waiting for seeds to sprout can be hard.  So this is what we did with the peas.

We took an old clear jar and put about 3 paper towels in it.  We then placed a few seeds down the sides near the outer edges.  Next we poured in some water - enough to make the paper towels wet.  And that was it.

We placed it by a window and within a few days they had sprouted.  The great thing about this is because the jar is clear he can see them growing right away.  Good for an impatient 4 year old!  If these were in dirt he still wouldn't see anything yet and would probably loose interest.  Right now he runs to check their progress daily (some days more like five times daily!)

So this is them at 5 days.

This works well with beans and peas but not veggies like carrots that will not take transplanting well.  When they get bigger we will transplant them out into the garden (no, I do not have a veggie garden - plan on putting them in with the flowers).

So that is it.  A 99 cent investment and a whole lot of entertainment!  And some peas later this summer...

Just thought you might want to try it.  Back to scrappy stuff tomorrow I promise :)

Not I bumped my head, banged it on something or even fell and then bumped my head.  No, it was more like - Go straight to falling on head; do not pass Go, do not collect $200!

Want to see whose fault it was?

I am pretty sure he is toying with going to the dark side.  Just look at him mocking me with what looks like a thumbs up!  Remember you heard it here first - Obi Wan Kenobi is thinking of going over to the dark side!

So this is how it went down.  I was innocently walking through my bedroom and was unaware of Obi Wan's evil plan.  You see he was laying waiting in the middle of said floor and I was barefoot.  As any parent knows stepping on a toy such as this will cause weirdly strange pain (especially if contact with the bare arch happens!) So I stepped, Obi Wan got my arch, and I tried to make a strange hoppy movement to stop the crazy, weird pain.  I, of course, lost my balance and instead of falling like a normal person I went directly down on my head.  Right in the middle of the forehead.  Now that is pain!  My hands did try to stop the fall but they were useless.  (I am pretty sure Obi Wan knew this would happen!)  I have to admit that even in the pain I laid there thinking - wow!  I wish someone had seen that ‘cause that was hilariously funny.  I mean movie funny.  Like that could only happen in a movie and no real person falls that way.

Again, I am pretty sure this was Obi Wan's plan all along.  He is going to be one evil dude if he converts to the dark side.

So, throbbing headache still, I am taking it easy today.  Was supposed to be making some scrappy stuff but my head is hurting too much.

So today I will share another sample for a class I am teaching.

This is from my class Paradise Point.  It is offered at all 4 GASCs but I believe both Arlington, TX and Chantilly, VA are sold out.  That leaves it open to the folks from Grand Rapids, MI and Chattanooga, TN.

Class is sponsored by Fiskars and Heidi Grace and we make a really fun mini album.  See for yourself.

Lots of fun texture, clear pages and easy to make - great for any photos.

The class is offered on the Friday of the above shows - 4:00-5:30pm.

OH and one more thing.  I have had some inquiries if I am going to be selling some class kits online to people who live too far away from the GASCs. 

I am looking into it.  Some of the products in these cl**** are donated so I obviously cannot sell any kits that have this but I am looking into getting everything figured out.  So if you are interested in any of the class kits you see posted, then shoot me an email.   I have started a list.  There is no commitment - if I can get it arranged I will email you and you can decide then.  If you change your mind I will just move to the next person on the list.  OK?  Questions? Email me.  I don't bite ;)

So yesterday I feel like I made a PSA (public service announcement)!!  I had no idea how much everyone was going to like the stapling/cutting idea for rub-ons!  I have so much positive feedback that it makes me want to go look through my scrappy stuff and see what else I do that you might like.   :)

So a couple quick things today.

First - registration for the Grand Rapids, MI Great American Scrapbook Conventions opened yesterday (July 25-26).  I have a bunch of cl**** that I am teaching there so if you live nearby check it out 'cause I'd love to see you.

Second - I have a new article up at takegreatpictures.com.

Obviously, it is about the supporting photos that you want to take for your scrapbook pages.  You know - the ones you take to highlight the details of your main event.  These photos play an important roll on your pages but sometimes we don't give them the attention they deserves.

As I was writing the article I felt like I kept saying "supporting" over and over.  There just wasn't another way to put it! 

So I have a deal for you - go read it and then the first person to report back here how many times I used the word "supporting" will win a prize.  I have one mini kit left from the other day - the sample that I made up to show you - that I will send you.

Go.  Read.  Report back here. :)

(the tally includes the titles, the intro and article - really any time you see "supporting" on the page!)