A few things...

Just want to take a minute to thank our troops today (actually, I thank you every single day) and to answer a few questions.

1. I just design the artwork for the brushes that are posted over at Polkadot Potato and then they turn them into brushes that are available to purchase on their site.  To be quite honest, I just use my original artwork when I want to use one of the borders and therefore, am not familiar with how the brushes work.  If you are having any troubles loading or using the brushes, you'll want to contact Polkadot Potato via email.  I know they are working on getting some tutorials posted too.

2. I am not booking any weddings or professional shoots (sorry) - my schedule is just busting at the seams right now.

3. Here's my workflow for the photo I posted yesterday:

 

There was a forest fire near where we were, so even though the sun was bright, it was diffused by a lot of smoke (good for pictures but not so great for the lungs).  

In Adobe Camera RAW, I brightened the shot a little, corrected the orange-ish color cast (which was created by the smoke/sun) and increased the clarity a bit.

Once I had edited the photo in Adobe Camera RAW, I saved it as a JPEG and edited it further in Adobe Photoshop.  I did some dodging on each of the girls faces to brighten them up and then used Oh Snap at 25% opacity, Boutwell's Magic Glasses at 25% opacity, Vignette and Blur at 30% opacity and Lux (soft) at 50% opacity (all of which are actions from Totally Rad Actions I and II).

4. And I used a Random Number Generator to pick a winner for the All Moments Remembered kit that I am giving away and the winner is (congrats Bonnie and please email me with your mailing address @ [email protected]):

Love your BLOG and would love to win the kit. I have 2 girls...it would be PERFECT.

Posted by: Bonnie Fox | September 10, 2008 at 11:43 AM

And though you didn't win Sharon, I was rooting for you after reading your comment...

I would soooooo love to win this kit. At east it would bring me out of the depression of not getting into any of your classes this past Monday. Yes, I'm still hurting, and honestly have lost all hope of ever being able to get in since I'm number #60 on the waiting list! Oh how sad. My husband encouraged me to look into other classes (I had been talking about you and your class for weeks, so I guess he just wants me to shut up and start a class already! LOL), but I want YOURS! Love yours. Sigh. Anyways, I won't whine anymore, but this
K-Kit looks unbelievably cute.
A-A look at it just left me wondering about all I could do with it!
R-Really, please pick me because it would make me so happy, and
E-Even if I couldn't get in your class at least I would get something from you!
N-Now that would really make my whole week!
Thanks Karen!

Comments

[Heather Prins]

Congrats Bonnie! I hope you like my kit!

[Jennifer]

Karen - Thank you so much for remembering our troops today, Sept 11th. I even dressed the kids in red,white, and blue today. I hope America never forgets Sept 11th, 2001. It changed the world.

I have trouble with my brushes too sometimes...it seems like I have a problem with them when on my laptop using Windows Vista...if that helps anyone. They work fine on my machiine with XP. ( Both are Elements 6.0)

[Sharon]

I might have not won Karen, but you made me smile today :)

[The Stampin' Soldier]

Thank you so much!

[kat-in-texas]

I think my husband feels the same as Sharon's!

I talk about you and your class all the time, Karen Russell! smile.

I think we can all remember 9/11 and what we were doing at that exact time.

I appreciate our troops too. Sure, they voluntarily enlist, but to lay your life on the line everyday for complete strangers is the ultimate sacrifice. Real everyday heroes!

Thanks!!!

[Annie]

Hello Karen,

I have a photo editing question for you. This is not something I have done at all. What Adobe photoshop software do you use? I have adobe photoshop elements 6, but have not used it at all. Do you also us photoshop to organzie your pictures?

Thanks so much for all the advice that you give. I love reading your blog.

[MamaJayne]

Congrats Bonnie!
Thanks to all the troops, their families and all that sacrifice for our freedoms everyday!

:J

[Tina Benton]

oh I so love the little girl in back playing with her belly button, how cute is that

congrats Bonnie