Color Splash Sunday - Pool Deck

<center><a href="http://purple-hippie.blogspot.com/p/color-splash-sunday.html"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/prin367cess/colorsplashsunday.jpg"></a></center>Welcome to Color Splash Sunday!

Color splash photos are those that have been converted to black and white, but one object has been left colored. Sometimes, it's easy to just isolate your colored object and you're done. Other times, more editing is required, such as adjusting color levels/light/shadow/etc.

This is an open themed link-up, so there won't be any specific themes for your photos. Any photo is fine, as long it was taken or setup by you, has selective color, and you haven't posted it before. You can read more about CSS guidelines by clicking here.

I'm sorry I didn't get to visit anyone last week. I am almost done traveling for work, so I have been trying to wrap up all that my "travel season" entails. Transitioning back to being in the office is just as difficult as going back on the road. Additionally, we were given cell phones this year to keep in touch with our prospective students, which means I am "on call" much more often than in the past.

Anyway, my selective coloring photo for today is another one from our honeymoon cruise. (I had posted one photo from our cruise HERE. That happens to be the only photo I've posted so far.) The pool deck on our ship was huge! There was 2 pools, a waterslide, several hot tubs, a bar, a cafe, a stage, and a poolside casino. Honestly, though, we didn't spend too much time on that deck because there were so many kids running around.

Your turn to link up!

Texture Tuesday - Inspire in B&W

I know I haven't been around here much lately. I have been incredibly busy with work, and then I like to hang out with my husband occasionally.

Luckily, I managed to edit a photo for Kim Klassen's challenge because, well, let's be real here... Texture Tuesday is my favorite link-up. Ever.

So, the theme today is '2 textures.' I used canvas magic and 2 layers of just stitched.

I was feeling rather uninspired when editing this photo, until I remembered KK's beautiful brushes. I used the Inspire brush to finish this off, and I feel like it really pulls it all together. Here are my layers:

Color Splash Sunday - More Bling!

<center><a href="http://purple-hippie.blogspot.com/p/color-splash-sunday.html"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/prin367cess/colorsplashsunday.jpg"></a></center>Welcome to Color Splash Sunday!

Color splash photos are those that have been converted to black and white, but one object has been left colored. Sometimes, it's easy to just isolate your colored object and you're done. Other times, more editing is required, such as adjusting color levels/light/shadow/etc.

This is an open themed link-up, so there won't be any specific themes for your photos. Any photo is fine, as long it was taken or setup by you, has selective color, and you haven't posted it before. You can read more about CSS guidelines by clicking here.

I have a selective coloring photo for you all today! Now, I know I already showed off a photo of my bachelorette bling here, but I found another pretty shot when I was editing self-shot photos of my rings. (I say 'self-shot' because I am not a professional, and probably never will be. So they are not high-quality. I also didn't want anyone to think I was illegally editing photos from the professional photog who shot my wedding.)

Anyway, here is my photo for this week:

Even though the subject -my bachelorette bling- is the same, there are two major differences between this photo and my previous one: This one was shot with my dad's Nikon D80 (which I borrow constantly... I want my own.) and edited with LR3 (which I got as a gift just after Jon and I were debating buying it for me during their sale a couple weeks ago). The previous one was shot with my Samsung point and shoot camera, and edited with pse8. I seriously love this photo SO. MUCH. MORE!

Before you all link up, I want to thank the 6 of you who participated last week! It was so great to see all of your selective coloring photos. I know I said that I would pick a Top 3 anytime we had 6 or more participants, but I can't leave anyone out! I really tried, but it's too difficult. No one minds, right?!

And one more thing... I have a giveaway going on right now over at my book blog. I am giving away a finished copy of Traci Houston's debut novel, Blood Drive. It's a vampire novel, and it's not for kids/teens. It's got blood, gore, and adult activities. My husband and I both read it, though, and loved it! Click HERE for more info. Low entries, high chances of winning!

Okay, now you can link up. :)

Color Splash Sunday - 10.16.11

<center><a href="http://purple-hippie.blogspot.com/p/color-splash-sunday.html"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/prin367cess/colorsplashsunday.jpg"></a></center>Welcome to Color Splash Sunday!

Color splash photos are those that have been converted to black and white, but one object has been left colored. Sometimes, it's easy to just isolate your colored object and you're done. Other times, more editing is required, such as adjusting color levels/light/shadow/etc.

This is an open themed link-up, so there won't be any specific themes for your photos. Any photo is fine, as long it was taken or setup by you, has selective color, and you haven't posted it before. You can read more about CSS guidelines by clicking here.

Again, I don't have a selective coloring photo to show off this week. Blogging has taken a backseat to everything else in my life at this point. I hope you all understand, and know that this isn't a permanent thing. I'll be back in action soon enough!

Texture Tuesday - Red Wagons

The theme for Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday challenge today is Red. I took this photo of some red wagons when I went apple-picking.

And my layers:

Sorry, no time to stick around today. I forgot to schedule this post ahead of time like I usually do, so I had to pop over here quick to get my photo up. Back to work tasks now!

Dreamy Stream

Last week, I was able to be a guest judge for Branson and Kathryn's Edit Me challenge! It was tons of fun, but oh, so difficult! Picking only 3 of my favorite edits, out of all the amazing entries... There are some very talented photoshoppers in this group!

I couldn't help but do my own edit. Here is the SOOC again:

And here is my edit, called Dreamy Stream:

Ooh, I love this one so much. I didn't write down my steps like I normally do; however, I do remember that I used a combination of the Orton effect (Rita's tut) and Coffeeshop's Sunkissed action, plus some tweaking of my own.

Remember to head to either Branson's blog or Kathryn's blog tomorrow to see who I picked as the winners!

Color Splash Sunday - Pink Sash

<center><a href="http://purple-hippie.blogspot.com/p/color-splash-sunday.html"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/prin367cess/colorsplashsunday.jpg"></a></center>Welcome to Color Splash Sunday!

Color splash photos are those that have been converted to black and white, but one object has been left colored. Sometimes, it's easy to just isolate your colored object and you're done. Other times, more editing is required, such as adjusting color levels/light/shadow/etc.

This is an open themed link-up, so there won't be any specific themes for your photos. Any photo is fine, as long it was taken or setup by you, has selective color, and you haven't posted it before. You can read more about CSS guidelines by clicking here.

My photo for today is another bachelorette party accessory:

It's hanging on my dresser mirror. My dresser has my jewelry box plus some trinkets on it. You can also see my husband's dresser in the mirror.

My TOMS shoes

I love my red TOMS shoes so much! My mom bought them for me as a wedding present because I wanted them for the reception. I knew I wanted a flat, comfy shoe for dancing, red was one of our theme colors, and I fully support their cause. There is a child somewhere on this planet that needed shoes, and that child was given a free pair when my mom purchased my pair. Awesomesauce.

Moving on, I mentioned last week that I had photographed my TOMS at the beach.

Well, I put together a little collage of my favorite photos from that mini beach photo shoot:

Here is a fun Before & After collage for Kelly's link-up:

Here's a shot that could be so much better, if not for my point and shoot camera's limitations:

And here's one that I decided to use for Laura's link-up:

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Quotography - Simple Things

Just a quick post to share a photo I recently edited, and fell in love with!

Linking up with Nicolasa and Deb Duty.

Edit Me - 10.5.11

I won't be participating in the Edit Me challenge this week....


Because I am guest judging!

Click on either Branson's button or Kathryn's button above to go to their blogs and read all the details. Here's the basic timeline: the linky is open now, it closes on Saturday, I'll post my own edit of the photo on Monday, and then the winners will be posted on both Branson and Kathryn's blogs on Tuesday. Now go do some fabulous editing!

Texture Tuesday - Children's Books

The theme for Kim Klassen's texture challenge today is Gratitude. Just after I read the theme last Tuesday, I had a brief conversation (on facebook) with my husband's SIL about her local library. At the end, I stated how thankful I am that years ago, I started collecting children's books for my personal library. Going to college first for elementary education and then for literacy meant that I spent more on children's books than I did on textbooks or clothes. In my college dorm room, I had children's books strewn everywhere! They were stacked up in laundry baskets, interspersed with my YA and adult novels on my bookshelf, and usually scattered on my bed, as well.

With the price of print books going up, libraries charging membership fees, brick & mortar bookstores disappearing every day, and e-readers becoming the new fad, I'm always grateful for my personal collection of children's books. I am so excited about the days (WAY off in the future) when I'll be reading these books with my children. My parents, especially my mom, instilled me with a deep love for reading, and I hope I can do the same for my kids.

After adjusting sliders in ACR, I added a haze and a gentle vintage look. Here are my layers with KK's texture love:

EDIT: So, when I was reading Kim's blog just now to see next week's challenge, I realized that I didn't add 2 layers of texture to my photo, as instructed. I only have 1 layer. Oops. I was going to try to add another layer on top of my saved photo, but I kinda feel like it might ruin it. I am going to leave it. Just don't tell Kim!

Color Splash Sunday - Pink Beads

<center><a href="http://purple-hippie.blogspot.com/p/color-splash-sunday.html"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/prin367cess/colorsplashsunday.jpg"></a></center>Welcome to Color Splash Sunday!

Color splash photos are those that have been converted to black and white, but one object has been left colored. Sometimes, it's easy to just isolate your colored object and you're done. Other times, more editing is required, such as adjusting color levels/light/shadow/etc.

This is an open themed link-up, so there won't be any specific themes for your photos. Any photo is fine, as long it was taken or setup by you, has selective color, and you haven't posted it before. You can read more about CSS guidelines by clicking here.

My photo for today is a bracelet and some beads that my bridesmaids made me wear when they took me out for a bachelorette party. My girls know me well enough to know that I am not into that whole "crazy-drunk, male-strippers, cakes-shaped-like-body-parts" scene. So, we went to a dinner theatre, just a small group of us, and I loved it! I couldn't have had a better bachelorette party.