Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Butterfly Kisses

I saw this sketch earlier while blog surfing and envisioned this card. The stamps were still on my desk from last night. Once again, I embossed my butterflies on vellum. While I love the look of vellum, I don't use it that often. Butterflies are the exception. To me, they go together like peanut butter and jelly. Other than than, I applied same color ink to the edges of the Buttercup and Sweet Leaf cardstock and the Petal patterned paper to add some depth - a good idea, I think, against the bold background paper.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Petal, and Buttercup cardstock; Sweet Leaf textured cardstock; Chocolate, Pansy Purple, Petal, Sweet Leaf, and Buttercup ink pads; Butterfly Kisses stamp set; Clear embossing powder; Embossing gun; Piercing tool; Stampin' Up piercing guide and mat; Corner rounder; Stampin' Up Ticket punch; Antiqued Copper brads.

Yes, for the first time, I watermarked my photograph, having been reminded recently that there are people out there who simply do not understand that photographs belong to the person who took them. There's no copyright symbol, however. There's a ton of people, too, who think adding the symbol makes it so. Wrong. As a writer and one who has taken photographs which have been published, the whole subject frustrates me. Those who don't know any better, should. It's called common sense. As for the unscrupulous ones, I won't comment.

As for how I did the watermark, I used the text tool in Photo Elements and just typed it on to my photograph. I've been working on figuring out how to create a permanent watermark that I can save and then add to my photos, but I'm not there yet. It's kind of like the header on my blog. I've got a new one but because of the template I use, have to go into it (I call it Blogger guts) and take out some HTML code. Thus far, I'm not so brave. Perhaps when my tech-savvy son comes around . . . then I can blame him if my blog disappears or something . . .

So, a little rant and discussion of my technical ineptness. What more can I say? I think I'll go make another card and stop back . . . Later!

3 comments:

Jeanne said...

Oh this is just gorgeous, Kathi!! Love what you have shared here. I'm definitely going to have to try this technique the next time I head out to my craft room.

As for adding the watermark...if you create a transparent file, you can save what you create as a png and then you can add it to any picture you want. Open a new file, make the background transparent, add what you want, name, an image, then save as a png file.

If you save as a jpeg you won't be able to see through it. You'll have a white background.

If you create your header a specific size (varies depending on the template you use, but I think mine is 638 pixels by 136 pixels), you can save that as a jpeg and add it like you do a picture.

I can try to walk you through it if you like...email me!

scrappernic said...

You're killing me with the butterflies! These are so GORGEOUS!! I am going to have to buy some now! I have the Flutter set, but they aren't really fabulous, realistic ones, like you're using. Just when I said I wasn't going to order more stamps...

Anonymous said...

I hate you lol!
Really I love you!
I love your stuff and have
scraplifted from you!
I did one of your cards and
it turned out so well
I used it in a swap-but I gave your blog and you full credit!
Ok color me dumb-but people copy your photos of cards and do what?Why do people need the water? Was it wrong for me to scrap lift from you? Even though I gave you credit? If so I am soooooo sorry.
Ok thanks again for all the beautiful work you do and the funny family stories-I check you daily cuz I am the cyber stalker your son warned you about!-Not really I feel like you are my friend and I have to check on you to see how you are-one sided friendship that it is! Thanks for all you share!
Gay Masterson
(fellow CTMH consultant)