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Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category
Paperclipping 138 – How to Pull Photos from Video Clips
Monday, March 1st, 2010December Daily Day 5 & Xmas Photos
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Can you tell I’m behind on my December Daily Album? Day 5. Ouch. I’m keeping track and making notes for all my pages, though. I just need to get the photos printed. I’m loving the process of putting this album together, even if I do only have a few pages completed.
And by the way, yes, I’ve skipped Day 4 because I need to scan something.
Random Xmas Photos
I decided to upload a handful of recent photos from the holiday season…
I bought a new set of ornaments this year. They remind me of pomegranates, which remind me of being a kid in my L.A. neighborhood where there was a pomegranate tree. We raided that tree all the time, smashing the round fruit on the street to break them open and expose the red ruby berries…and permanently stain our clothes.
Izzy and I are doing lots of cooking and baking together. So far it’s mostly been cakes, but we did do a batch of amazing Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies from The Vegan Table cookbook.
We’ve been entertaining friends the last few evenings and having so much fun.
I said, “Let’s take a picture of us with our presents in front of the trees…you know, like kids.” Larry totally got into that idea. See? He’s also super happy we gave him the Roku player he’s been dying for. But next time he decides to put on his enthusiastic face he needs to tell us so we can match it.
And by the way, my Tami-Lamb girlie and I are NOT drunk. We’re able to make those faces totally sober. Seriously. 
That’s one of my five favorite gifts right there. Love that boy.
Paperclipping 126 – Make a Subject Pop in Photoshop Elements
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009Get the Flash Player to see this video.
Download the Quicktime video here.
This week’s episode has been released for the Paperclipping Members. If you’re not a member, you can watch a trailer of the tutorial by clicking on the video above.
In this in-depth video I show you step-by-step in Photoshop Elements how to…
- Isolate a subject in your photo so you can give it/him/her special attention.
- Boost the color of your subject while making everything else black and white.
- Make your subject stand out more by darkening your background and boosting the highlights in your subject.
- Make your subject stand out by blurring the background.
- Smooth the edges of your isolated subject so it doesn’t have that yucky “cut-out” look.
You’ll be able to do the above with your own Halloween zombies, their bloody sores, or with cute little girls at tea parties (below)–whatever you think needs special attention above its background. Check out this Before/After example where I left Blake’s sores and tongue a subtle red and brought him forward from his background, then see the layouts below for two examples:
To see what it takes to become a Paperclipping Member so you can watch episodes like this one, please visit the Membership Information Page.
Below are the layouts I featured in the episode…
The Making Of A Zombie
Journaling to Blake reads: Your makeup is on and you have no problem getting your act together, getting into character. I love how you love playing the part.
Girly Tea Time
Journaling to Trinity reads: I had such a fun day with you at this tea party. We looked at art on the street, shopped a cute gift shop and tried hats and teas. Fun girly day.
Want to try it? Once you do it you’ll want to do it all the time. It’s fun. Enjoy!
Paperclipping 115 – Minibooks from Authentic Items
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009Get the Flash Player to see this video.
Today’s episode is for the Paperclipping Members. If you want to commemorate the culture of a place you’ve visited or plan to visit, you might want to consider the topic of this episode: create a book with an authentic item that portrays the place and culture. Below are a few pictures of my own book, which I made to showcase photos and items from Rocky Point, Mexico…
Mexico Minibook From A Punched Tin Frame
Scrapbooking supplies I used: Tim Holtz Distress Emboss Powder in Scattered Straw. Versamark Ink. Old Olive and Creamy Caramel by Stampin’ Up. Book Binding Tape by 7 Gypsies. Epoxy sticker by s.e.i. Letter stickers by Creative Memories. Eyelets by American Crafts.
Do you wish you could watch this video? Get access to this and all the others after checking out the Membership Information Page.
Paperclipping 112 – Summer Photography Tips
Monday, July 13th, 2009Get the Flash Player to see this video.
Need some tips for the outdoor family photography you’re doing this summer? We took today’s episode outside so I could share some simple tips with you. This one is for the Paperclipping Members so if you’d like to have access to it and all the other videos in the archives, please head over to the Membership Information Page to find out what it means to be a member and how you can become one.
You can download the trailer here.
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We’ve announced the winner of the June Paperclipping Challenge. Congratulations KristynG! See her and her page get highlighted here.
Paperclipping 108 – How to Make a Frame with Rounded Corners in Photoshop Elements
Monday, June 15th, 2009
Do you remember the collage of heritage photos I made for a layout about my dad’s crazy 1940’s baby stroller? There was a request for me to make a tutorial on how to wrap a collage of photos with a frame like I did on that layout. Today’s episode for the Paperclipping Members will walk you through it step-by-step using Photoshop Elements. The good news is it’s very easy!
Below is the one I made in today’s tutorial…
Not a Member? Wish you could watch this and all the other archived videos? Please click here to see why it’s so worth it to get a Membership.
Related tutorials:
Digital Word Art
Make A Grid Collage In Photoshop
Paperclipping 101- Digital Word Art
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009Get the Flash Player to see this player.
In this free episode of Paperclipping, you’ll learn how to position, resize, and recolor digital word art in Photoshop Elements. You’ll also see why Ali Edwards’s digital products are just as perfect for heritage photos and projects as they is for modern ones. You’ll find The Story Word Art + Hand Drawn Brushes by Ali Edwards, featured in the tutorial, at Designer Digitals, and they’re 30% off right now!
You can watch the video above or download the high-quality version instead.
To learn more about this layout and the hidden tag that contains historical information watch episode 99. If you liked today’s tutorial, follow the link to see why you’ll probably enjoy a Paperclipping Membership.
Layouts From A Previous Paperclipping Live
I haven’t had a chance to share the scrapbook pages from Dedra Long’s visit to Paperclipping Live a while ago. Here they are below…
Hello Kitty
two 12×12 pages
The photo on the left is myself around 4th grade–just a little older than my daughter, Trinity, in the photo on the right. I chose pictures of us in similarly shaped outfits and poses to emphasize the theme of commonality. Journaling reads: I adored Hello Kitty as a little girl and still do at age 36. I love her oval round face and the simplicity of her design. As a kid I didn’t get enough of her to feel satisfied so I love getting to enjoy her again through Trinity, who loves her too.
Layout By Dedra Long
Journaling to her daughter reads: You and me spending time together…these are some of the times I cherish most…I always love to walk in the studio to see the newest setup you have put together…It usually look something like this…the princess laptop, crayons, paper and scissors…you usually have the princesses singing the alphabet and you join then…then it’s math…in the end you show me your latest work of art…I will never forget.
The Details
Almost all of the scrapbooking items on both layouts are from Theresa Collins. I salvaged all the Hello Kitty items from actual H.K. stuff–a backpack, a watch, party invitations, plus there are a few pictures. The spinner arrow underneath the tiny H.K. on the clock is a Tim Holtz spinner that I painted pink.
Want help layering embellishments the way you see them layered in the center circle? If you have a Paperclipping Membership, I recommend watching Paperclipping 94 where I showed the techniques and principles of layers that lead in a “crescendo” toward a climactic point.
Paperclipping 100 – A Collage Formula
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Wow, we’ve now released our 100th tutorial! You can help us celebrate 100 helpful Paperclipping Tutorials by becoming an Affiliate so you can start making money from your blog or website. Our new affiliate program will pay you a 25% commission for anyone who comes over through your badge and becomes a Paperclipping Member within 30 days. You can sign up here.
Today’s episode is for our Members. If you’ve ever struggled to make a rectangular collage using different-sized photos, you’ll appreciate this one. I’ve come up with a very simple formula to make that often frustrating task very easy! If you’d like to watch today’s episode, as well as the other 99 waiting for you in the archives, but don’t have a Membership, please visit the Membership Information Page.
Below are the layouts I shared in the episode…
Easter 08
You see that pink egg over on the far right? That was a tag from one of the goodies I bought the kids last year. I got a kick out of the fact that last year’s Easter came so early, the product manufacturers posted the date on all the tags…I guess to make sure we were ready!
Journaling on layout reads: We’ve been adjusting our Easter tradition a bit over the last few years. We moved the early morning hunt and breakfast outdoors last year. This year we hid plastic eggs instead of our colored eggs (we still color eggs, though). Blake has played Easter Bunny with Dad and I before waking up the kids for the last few years. And this year they got more stuff and less candy. One thing remains the same, though…total fun and the enjoyment of Spring.
The circular tag and title arch are the Memory Makers Noteworthy Glitter Die Cuts. The swirly flourish is from Bazzill.
Wonderful Beautiful Amazing
The overall up-and-down placement of the 2 large photo blocks, as well as the shape and placement of the two paper journaling blocks were inspired by a layout by Ali Edwards that appeared in Creating Keepsakes Magazine a year or two ago.
Journaling reads: We’ve been taking day-trips through the canyons near Superstition Mountain and Canyon Lake a lot lately. It’s only minutes from our home–one of the reasons I am so happy with where we live. We all love the scenic drive, looking at the cacti, cliffs, and joking about how Blake convinced Aiden that the winter moss on the rock walls is called, “souvenir” because Aiden wanted to collect some to bring home during this particular trip.
Today–Jan. 4, 2009–we took advantage of the rare overcast weather for great lighting and color saturation. Israel and I each brought our cameras and tripods and caught some fun memories while you kids climbed and played. I love this.
Typed journaling on photo: Trinity was having a hard time getting through the thorny path to join you on the butte. You went down and carefully led her, just like a gentleman. Later I thanked you and you said, “That’s okay. I enjoyed it.” What a cool dude…you make your mama so proud.
The digital text that I layered onto my photos (except for the journaling) are all from Ali Edwards’s Loving Life Word Art and her 12×12 Life text frames. I will demonstrate how to do this in Photoshop Elements in a future episode.
The butterflies and folliage rub-on’s are new from My Mind’s Eye. The more subtle rub-ons that add texture to the page are older ones from Chatterbox.
Paperclipping 96 – Filtering the Photo Flood
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Alright, Paperclipping Members, your most recent episode was released last night. If you struggle to wade through all your digital photos–if you have a hard time choosing which ones to scrapbook–this is your episode.
Having received a cd of childhood pictures of my siblings, myself and my dad from my parents for Christmas this year, I cannot imagine what it would have been like had they taken the number of photos/per event that we take these days! No matter what type of photo manager you use, the steps I share will make your choices so much easier.
Don’t have a Membership?
You can find free tutorials in the right-hand column or by scrolling through the blog postings.
Want to watch ALL of the Paperclipping Tutorials? $42 gets you in for 6 months and then it’s only $15 to renew after that. With almost 100 episodes in the archives and new weekly releases, that’s a whole lot of classes for the price of one or two. Click here to see why it’s so worth it.
Paperclipping 82 – Fix Bad Photo Lighting
Monday, January 5th, 2009
Now that the holidays are over, you’re probably looking through your photos and preparing to scrapbook them. Some of you are doing the Photo-A-Day project for 2009–Project 365 (you can join the group for this project in our new community, The Crop Circle)–which means that you’re taking, and possibly editing, at least one photo daily. I think it’s a great time for a tutorial on editing photos.
About This Episode
Today’s free episode will help you deal with photos that have lighting problems. It demonstrates the use of the Level Adjustment Function that you’ll find on any good photo editing system. There is detailed general instruction on how to use levels and why they are so important for good photo editing in Episode 34 – Working With Levels. Paperclipping Members can find this episode in the archives. Today we’re dealing specifically with lighting issues, though, and I think you’ll find this an invaluable tool for getting better photos.
This video is for members only. If you would like to find out how to get a membership so that you can have access to the archives to watch previous episodes like #34, please check out the Membership Information Page.
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Update
If you’re not signed up for our newsletter, The Paperclipping Insider, then you don’t know about our new community area, The Crop Circle. You can find the community at http://people.paperclipping.com where you can share pictures of your layouts and projects, participate in discussions, and join groups based on your scrapbooking interests.
In the upcoming weeks we will be redesigning the Paperclipping website and adding a link to the new community (we’ll also take down the links to the old layout gallery and forums and make some other vital changes). For now, you can head over to The Crop Circle when you’re done with today’s episode by following this link.
Paperclipping 72 QT – Vignettes
Monday, November 17th, 2008
We released today’s Quick Tip on adding vignettes to your photos. In this video, I show how to do it in in two different types of editing software: Aperture and Photoshop. So, even if you have totally different editing software, you should be able to figure out how to do it, having seen it in Aperture and Photoshop.
Today’s Quick Tip is for Members, so if you would like to have access to this video, and all the others, click here to find out how other people are watching them. 
3 Ways To Scrap Your Daily Life
Thursday, September 25th, 2008Are some of you still struggling with the idea of scrapbooking about yourself? If so, I have an easy topic to start you off: make an account of your day. Here are three very different versions of this concept…
1) Record Your Activities For The Day
Over-Inflated
12×12
I took my camera around with me one day and snapped just a few pictures. I also recorded all of my activities and their times.
A grid-type layout is a simple solution for this type of page, but if you’re feeling artsy, consider a free-style approach. I gave a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this background to the Premium Subscribers.
Main journaling reads: I must have an over-inflated sense of how much I can accomplish in 24 hours. My to-do list is always too long and I never come close to checking all the items off, even though I really pack it all in as tight as I can.
Journaling in the cloud-like spots: (a schedule of everything I did one day–same day as the pictures).
***A note on acidity: I am pretty sure tissue paper is highly acidic. I would never use it on a layout with old photos, or any I can’t reprint. On the other hand, I have no problem using modern photos, such as the ones on this layout. Since there are so many pictures of myself and my children that are on safer papers, and since I back up my digital photos, I won’t mind if photos like these reach an early demise.
2) Summarize A Typical Day
5am To 5pm
12×12
Whether you work full time or stay at home, some of us have a typical schedule. This was my regular Monday schedule last year. Instead of listing the schedule with words and times, I placed pictures (and a few words) onto the clock according to the time I did them.
The day starts at 5am and circles all the way around and ends at 5pm.
Note: I elevated some of the circles with foam dots and some with a double layer of foam dots. This is great for dimension.
3) Take A Photo An Hour
Semi-Transparent Acrylic Mini-book
2-28-08
Some of you may remember when I took the challenge from Illustrating Stories to take a photo every hour for one day. I decided to turn this project into a minibook. Each hour and it’s picture gets their own page. The tabs tell what time it was when I snapped the photo. I will share the entire minibook soon. This is a sneak peek.
There are so many ways to document an average or typical (or even an atypical) day: lots of words, lots of photos, on a layout or in a mini-book. If you struggle to get comfortable scrapbooking about yourself, this concept is an easy non-threatening one. What are you waiting for?
This Week At Paperclipping
Monday, September 15th, 2008This Week’s Video Tutorial
We have a free episode that is almost ready to post and it will be up soon!
Back-To-School
Is there anyone else that still hasn’t started or finished their back-to-school layouts? We’ll end the series this week after a few more posts. I hope this series has helped you identify how to make pages repeating events more meaningful and more enjoyable.
New series: Reclaim Yourself
I am someone who loves, adores–thrives on–having lots of time alone. Yes, I am very social, but I have also always needed to have a lot of time to myself and my attention-demanding thoughts.
When I was younger I could shut away the world and go to my room for hours at a time. When I got my first car I loved to take long rides down winding Kansas roads and fed off the eerie feeling of being totally isolated with a horizon that seemed to stretch to eternity.
Then I had kids.
Almost eleven years later, all three of my children are in full-day school, and I am once again enjoying long stretches of quiet, wonderful, alone time. Last week I took advantage of the chance to tell some of my own stories and explore my more artistic side. And that will be the focus of the next series.
Toward the end of the week, we will begin a “Reclaim Yourself” series. Not only will we scrapbooking layouts about ourselves, but we’ll dig into some art, as well. I am so excited for this and I have enough content that we could take it way into October, so I’ll probably have to save some of it for a different focus-on-the-self week.
Are you ready to pay attention to you?
Paperclipping Live
Even though we are technically still in the Back-To-School series, we’re going to kick off the Reclaim Yourself series on Tuesday night for Paperclipping Live. I will lead you through the beginning of a layout about YOU. To participate with me, you need to identify a story about yourself that you want to scrap. Be ready with a picture or a set of pictures. The photo(s) does not necessarily have to have you in it.
If you don’t already have any photos to work with, you might want to try one of the following:
1. Take a picture of yourself in your bathroom mirror.
2. Take a picture of your {insert modest body part here}.
3. Crop yourself out of a group photo.
4. If your story is about something you typically do or enjoy, take a picture of an object with which you do that activity.
5. Set your camera up with the timer and take a picture of yourself in action. This involves some trial and error, but it’s fun.
Here is an example of each of those (in the same order)…
For our live event, you do not need to choose paper ahead of time because choosing will be part of our process during the show. Just have your papers and products easily accessible, if possible. You will probably also need scratch paper and a pencil or pen to make notes.
We will not take a layout to completion. The point of this Paperclipping Live is to get you to go inside yourself and analyze what colors, patterns, or other visuals, will help you create the feeling you have about your story or layout theme. We’ll be focusing on the process of preparing the layout, but won’t necessarily finish it during the show.
We’ll also be depending a lot on chat-participation, so please register and be ready to share! The show starts at 6:30 pm, PST, on Tuesday night. Click here at that time to participate.
The Paperclipping Challenge
Don’t forget that we now have monthly challenges to help you use the principles and techniques we discussed the month before. Some of you have uploaded your layouts and projects to our Flickr gallery. Others of you are still working. If you haven’t started anything, there is still time. You must post your layout by the end of the day on September 23. That’s a whole week away.
I will choose one person who I think most exemplified their chosen topic and highlight them on the Paperclipping blog. Maybe that will be you? =)
You can read the details of the challenge by clicking here.
