Marie Antoinette Digital Collage

During our last Creative Workshops class, I created this digital collage. Gail Schmidt taught me so much and then some! I was a bit overwhelmed in the beginning, but eventually started to really get into it! Just learning all the tools was a bit scary, but it started getting much easier as we moved along. It is absolutely incredible what Photoshop can do. As the weeks go by, I will definitely share what I come with. Now, to start digging into my photo stash files. Thank you so much, Gail, for your expertise. What a great class!

Quite A Productive Day

I got my "act" together early this morning, had breakfast with my hubby, and made a dash over to my friend Deb's house before Noon. It rained like the monsoons today, including thunder and lightning. Driving over to her house was just a blur due to my slow driving, drinking my coffee, and the usual Dodge Ram truck, that always seems to be following me when I am notoriously overcautious in bad weather. I wanted to check out her newly completed art studio (which I must say is just beautiful), and to just plain socialize. She had just posted her latest photo for "Pink Saturday," and we spoiled ourselves with some pink frosted sugar cookies and coffee. What a delightful treat for me!

Later we walked over to the neatest yarn shop right on her street. I was in heaven touching all the silken fibers, thinking about new knitting projects, and maybe even taking a needle felting class in the future. It seems like we are always finding ways to inspire ourselves in new directions.

I have been also dreaming of making myself a "Apron-ology" style apron. If you haven't picked up this new Somerset magazine, it is pure eye candy. Choosing the fabric is my biggest dilemma. Last Wednesday, I browsed our local thrift store, and purchased a used wedding dress. Just thought to myself, why not make something wonderful out of someones special day? Or maybe it wasn't, if it was hanging on the bargain rack! It is encrusted with a sequined and beaded lace border, so you can just imagine what I might come up with. Maybe a short little hostess apron!


I have been taking the latest digital collage class with Creative Workshops. Here is my second photo of the collage we were taught. I know I need a lot of practice. I haven't quite got the hang of the correct brush size to erase unwanted edges of layers in Photoshop Elements. I guess, with any type of artwork, there is always the repetitive motion that you have to perfect. I am imagining all kinds of ways to manipulate my hoarded vintage images into new artwork! I can hardly wait for next week for the final phase of our class. I wonder if she may even teach a intermediate class after this one? It is so addictive.

Excited About Tomorrow

Check out my finished digital collage created during Lesson One of Creative Workshops. I love the misty ghost image of the horse and lady as shown in this photo. And the sparkles! Love those.... I have played for hours since our first class, and have experimented with what I can do and can't do with all those tools on the left side of the Photoshop Elements page. Especially, the "can't do" part that seems to occur whether I want it to or not. Yesterday, I ended up with photos that were completely black and white. It took me quite some time to figure out what I did to do that! Can't wait for tomorrow's class to start again.