Arts Variety Blog

Daily Download

2008-11-16T14:10:00.001-05:00

The new Daily Download started yesterday, but the two links are still available, so go to the site and start downloading it. You will love the kit.

The Daily Download

2008-09-01T22:35:00.003-05:00

The Daily Download starts September 2nd. As usual, it will be on the website. So don't forget to check the Digital Scrapbooking section at http://www.artsvariety.com. I'm sure you will like this one. But warning, it will be big, and I'm not done designing it yet. Hope to see you tomorrow.

The site is back

2008-08-15T19:15:00.000-05:00

I have just finished editing and uploading the website. You might not notice too many changes, because most of the changes were done to the html. The good news is that the Daily Download will resume on September 2. I had a great Summer since we were on vacation for about 5 weeks, otherwise the rest of the time since March until today, I have been working on redoing the website. I'm ready for another vacation. Hope you all are having a good Summer. Don't forget to go to the site for the Daily Download on the 2nd. To all the Americans, have a great Labor Day weekend. We are going camping.

A Freebie

2008-01-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

I have a new year's gift for you. Check out this Templates and Papers free kit. Hope you enjoy it.

New Daily Download

2007-10-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Remember to visit http://www.artsvariety.com for a new Daily Download. Hope you all enjoy it.

Colorizing Papers

2007-08-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

Colorizing papers that have texture and designs is much easier than it seems. So lets give it a try. This tutorial is for Photoshop Elements.

Open your paper. Here I opened one of the cupcake papers similar to the one's in this month's Birthday kit, but not with the same background. In this tutorial, I'm going to colorize the paper with it's texture and also the top of the cupcakes. Duplicate the layer by pressing ctrl+j or drag the layer up to the new file icon. From the colors palette, choose the foreground and a background colors that you want for your new paper.

Use the magic wand to select the pink background with it's texture. To be able to select the whole background, you will have to increase the tolerance in the options bar. Zoom in to actual pixels and experiment by starting with a small number (ex. 10 px). If that didn't select everything you want to include, delete the step in your undo history palette and increase the tolerance a little more. Keep doing this until you are able to select everything but the cupcakes with the candles.

On top of the layers palette, click on the half black/half white circle and from the menu select "Solid Color". Your paper might change to the foreground color, but will not have the texture. Then go to the the blending modes (drop down menu below the word "levels" in the Layers Palette). Click the down arrow and go all the way down to "Color". Most of the time it will show the correct foreground color and the texture. If it doesn't, toggle through the different blending modes with your up and down keyboard arrows and very likely you will find one with the right color.

Now I want to change the color of the cupcakes frosting, so that they are all blue. In the original paper some are blue and others purple. Use the magic wand to select the blue ones from the top copy of the paper. Change the tolerance, as previously described, to select all the blue ones. If purple ones are also selected, it doesn't matter, so leave it like that. A tolerance of 30 worked for me.

Make sure that you have a foreground color of your choice selected (look at the bottom of the tool bar). As with the paper, choose "Solid color" adjustment layer. Make sure the adjustment layer is above the copy of the original paper. Then in the blending modes menu select "Color". If necessary, toggle through the other blending modes.

If you only choose "Solid Color", you won't get the texture, that is why you need to choose a blending mode.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and learned something new. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. Sorry for the small images and any typos.

2007-03-30T10:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks a lot to Sarah E. for letting me post her layout in the website. You can view it at http://www.artsvariety.com. Please leave your comments for Sarah here. Also thanks a lot to http://rubysthoughtsonthat.blogspot.com for a fun challenge and beautiful freebie kit.

2007-03-30T10:24:00.000-05:00

These quick pages were created by Candie and she is so generous to share them with us. The frames in the second quick page are from Doxie Designs www.dapperdoxie.com. You can download these QP's at www.artsvariety.com. Please leave your comments for Candie here.

2007-02-28T17:15:00.000-05:00

Just want to remind you all to visit our website tomorrow March 1. Not only will you be able to get a beautiful kit, but also you can join http://rubysthoughtsonthat.blogspot.com for a challenge with this kit and a posting price by ruby.

2007-02-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

The links for February 13, 14 and 15 have been posted. Just a few more days to finish this kit.

2007-02-11T22:25:00.000-05:00

Due to snow predicted for Michigan on 2/12 and 2/13, our vacation has been extended. The daily download will most likely resume on 2/15. Sorry for the inconvenience.

2007-01-22T09:33:00.000-05:00

Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments, you may post them here. Because of spammers, your post will not appear immediately. I will review it first. It might take up to 24 hrs to show in the blog.

2007-01-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

Glitter Tutorial

This is how I create glitter in PS and PSE.

1. Open a new document with white background.
2. Create a new layer.
3. You may add a custom shape, text or just a letter to the new layer. Text or letters need to be simplified (rasterized).
4. Filter>Distort>Diffuse glow and play with the settings until you get something you like. I used: Grainness 6, Glow amount 10 and clear amount 15.
5. Layer>new adjustment layer>hue and saturation. Click colorize and change the setting to get the color you want. (I usually first go to the color palette and find a color I like, then I copy its HSB numbers. Then Hue and saturation/colorize and type the numbers and make changes until I get something I like.)
6. If saving as a png, first delete the white background layer.

Please leave comments or suggestions.

2007-01-05T15:53:00.000-05:00

Anonymous,

Thanks for letting me know. I fixed it yesterday, but forgot to upload it. It is now fixed.

2007-01-01T15:32:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to all!

2006-12-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

Tandrea and Judy, thanks for your comments. Please e-mail me at customerservice@artsvariety.com . I have something for you.

2006-12-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

I would appreciate your comments and questions about The Christmas Gift Kit.
Thanks to all of you who have subscribed to our Newsletter. The next issue will be sent in mid December. Our newsletters are short (don't want to bore you) and the links for the free kit will be included. I'm doing my best to keep the files small for those of you who have dial-up connections.
Enjoy The Christmas gift.
Next week you will receive some good news.

2006-11-12T20:04:00.000-05:00

The freebie kit is still available here.

2006-11-12T19:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I changed to a different file hosting service, so downloading the files should be much easier. I'm planning to start working on the Christmas kit tomorrow. Also have to start working on some jewelry. It makes great Christmas gifts. I hope you all had a great weekend.

2006-11-08T11:50:00.000-05:00

If you have not downloaded the freebie kit, it is still available here. I have been busy lately trying to make space in my computer to install Photoshop Elements 5. It is amazing how much stuff I put in the computer and then never look at it again. I try to be organize, but sometimes I can't do it right away and then I forget. Also need to continue labeling my pictures. Seems like it never ends.

2006-11-04T22:40:00.000-05:00

I have a Freebie for you. The files are small for the benefit of those who have dial-up internet and also because the file transfer host is a little slow lately. The best time to download is in the early afternoon and evening. It's late now, so it's time to go to bed. We are going to a party tomorrow in Hammond, Indiana. Have to get up early. Have a good weekend and enjoy the freebie. You can find the freebie here.

2006-11-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

Daily Download and a free mini kit

I've been busy this afternoon working on a mini kit that I will post in a couple of days. It is a my gift to you for just looking at the new blog. I hope you'll enjoy it. The new Daily download started today. The title is Give Thanks, so go to Arts Variety and take a look at it.

2006-10-31T18:12:00.000-05:00

November's free daily download starts tomorrow November 1 at Arts Variety. This Give Thanks kit has 43 pieces. Obviously it is a great kit for your Thnksgiving Day pictures, but it is also great for Autumn layouts. Enjoy it.

2006-10-31T17:57:00.000-05:00

Hello,

This posting was suppossed to show up 2 days ago, but for some unknown reason, it didn't make it (maybe because I'm new to blogs). I love the arts and crafts and decided that it was time to do something with all the stuff I make. That's how Arts Variety was created. I did my first traditional scrapbook about 3 years ago for my mom's 65th. birthday. Two years ago discovered digital scrapbooking and just love it. It is a lot of fun. That is why this blog was started. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think.

2006-10-31T17:18:00.000-05:00

Digital Scrapbooking

Falling in love with Autumn

October Daily Download kit

Got to love flowers

September Daily Download kit

Mama, I'm going for a ride

Mom

I love you Dad