Mind Wide Open

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Votes and a Birthday

I only have one word to say today. Hot.

Our July Challenge winner of the $20.00 shopping spree to Shabby Cottage Studio is Cindy Adkins! Congratulations Cindy! And we have a tie this month so we have three runners up instead of two! So more congratulations to Debbi, Michelle Martinez and Angie who each won a free collage sheet of their choice. Ladies I will be in touch shortly.

Thank you to all who joined us this month! You certainly make it hard for our voters as they want you all to win! Your talent and creativity are an inspiration to us all and you make this challenge blog rock each and every month!!!

I can't believe that this month Mind Wide Open celebrated it's 2nd birthday! I totally blanked out on that one and just now realized it as I was finishing up this post. So I guess I had more than one word to say today. ;-)

We will be taking a hiatus from the challenge for August but come right back the first of September when we'll do it again!

I hope all of you are having a marvelous weekend and if you are in a hot zone, finding ways to stay cool!

Happy Arting!

Gail

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Entries are up for voting

Last night was one of those nights I sometimes deal with. No sleep. Go to bed, toss and turn, give up, get up, stay up, try again, still wide away, get up again, stay up for good this time. Not a good scenario for being sharp on the day after a sleepless night. Therefor, I give you your entries late this evening because my brain seemed ot shut down today and I wasn't even thinking it was time for entries. But you were. :-) So here you go ladies!

If I have missed anyone, spelled a name wrong or missed link please shoot me an email and I will fix it!

HOW TO VOTE:

1. Only one vote per person.

2. Voting must be contained to this post only or it will not be counted. The other way to vote is to send an email to shabby@lgschmidt.net. Artists may vote for themselves. Voting ends at midnight July 23, 2010 and winners will be posted July 24, 2010.

If you are not sure how to vote on the blog it is very easy: Scroll to the bottom of this post (not the page). Look for the tiny print after the last image and right under my sign off name... you will see a number in front of the word Comments (ie: 12 Comments) in tiny letters. Click on it and a dialog box will open where you can leave your comment/vote.

Entry with the most votes wins a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio and two runners up receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

If I was given a link I have linked it to the artists name. Please stop by and visit them!
And make sure you cast your vote! I know it's hard! It always is!

Gale

Lisa Tobin

Michelle Martinez

I hope you enjoyed this months larger images. :-)
Have fun, stay cool, enjoy the weekend coming up!
Gail

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Running a Little Late

If you've hung around MWO long enough you know that every now and then I get behind. I thought I was doing so well last week. I had the Challenge image created because I knew we'd be rushing around getting ready to go out of town. And then I simply got my days mixed up and we were out of town by the time I remembered I didn't put up the challenge. But I figured you all have big hearts and busy lives and you would understand and forgive me. :-)

If you haven't played along in our challenges before the rules are so so simple. You must use the image I provide. How you use it is up to you. What medium you use is up to you. It's all up to you except for the image. I also provide you with a word prompt and you can use the actual word in your entry or not.

Your entry must be sent in jpeg format to shabby@lgschmidt.net and no more than two photos please. I reserve the right to display one or both depending on what I feel is needed to properly show your creation. If you have a blog or gallery address you would like to send to me, I will add a link with your image.

You have until midnight (wherever you are) July 14, 2010 to send me your entry. Entries will be posted to the MWO blog on July 15 ready for voting.

The first place winner receives a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio. Second and third runners up will each receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

Don't forget to click on the image, it might be huge at first but then fall into it's proper size and then you can right click and save to your computer. I create the challenge images at 5x7 300 dpi so it should be a nice sharp image up to that size.

The word prompt this month is bliss. And here is your image.

Happy Creating and have FUN!

Gail

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Votes Are In

I'm know I'm not the only one who works at home and has a tendency to get days and dates mixed up. It's so easy to do if you are no longer truly tethered to a calender. And then add some out of town travelling to the mix and you really get your days mixed up. :-) Yesterday was Friday to me all day and this morning I woke up thinking it was Monday. Lord only knows what happened to Saturday and Sunday in my often convoluted brain! ;-) When I finally realized today was Sunday I also realized I missed posting the votes yesterday...which was Saturday for most people. LOL

So after that crazy explanation here are the results for the June Challenge. Our winner of the $20.00 shopping spree to Shabby Cottage Studio is Cindy Adkins! Congratulations Cindy! And we have a tie this month so we have three runners up instead of two! So more congratulations to Lisa Tobin, Linda Adams and Lou Ann Donahue who each won a free collage sheet of their choice. Ladies I will be in touch shortly.

Thank you to all who joined us this month, you make it hard for our voters as they want you all to win! Your talent and creativity are an inspiration to us all!!!

Happy Sunday and Happy Arting!

Gail

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

June Challenge Entries are Ready for Votes!

Our June Challenge entries are ready for your vote. I will be out of town for a short while next week so I am extending the voting time to cover my absence.

If I have missed anyone, or a link please shoot me an email and I will fix it!

HOW TO VOTE:

1. Only one vote per person.

2. Voting must be contained to this post only or it will not be counted. The other way to vote is to send an email to shabby@lgschmidt.net. Artists may vote for themselves. Voting ends at midnight June 18, 2010 and winners will be posted June 19, 2010.

If you are not sure how to vote on the blog it is very easy: Scroll to the bottom of this post (not the page). Look for the tiny print after the last image and right under my sign off name... you will see a number in front of the word Comments (ie: 12 Comments) in tiny letters. Click on it and a dialog box will open where you can leave your comment/vote.)

Entry with the most votes wins a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio and two runners up receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

If I was given a link I have linked it to the artists name. Please stop by and visit them!

Birgit

Cindy Adkins

Kathleen Holley

Lisa Tobin

Pam Marostica

Thank you to all our cradtive artists and their entries. And thank you to all of you who stop by to vote!

Happy Creating!

Gail

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June Challenge Now Open!

Hello artists! Are you ready for a new Challenge? This challenge is for anyone who wants to join in and play and you can work in any medium. The main thrust of the challenge is to hopefully offer up an image and word prompt that inspires you to want to take some time for yourself and create. Guilt free. Hopefully. :-) So if you've been putting it off...I know you're out there...then why don't you make June your month to jump in with both feet and get wet. We don't bite. Really.

You have until midnight (wherever you are) June 8, 2010 to send me your entry. Entries will be posted to the MWO blog on June 9 ready for voting.

The first place winner receives a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio. Second and third runners up will each receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

Don't forget to click on the image, it will be huge at first, and then right clickl and save to your computer. I create the challenge images at 5x7 300 dpi so it should be a nice sharp image up to that size.

Here is your image for June. The word prompt is Grow. Remember...Have Fun!

Thanks to The Graphics Fairy for the two images I worked with.

Happy Creating!

Gail

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Buy one Photoshop Elements Class Get the 2nd 50% Off!

Memorial Day is coming up and I decided to offer up a sale on my Photoshop Elements classes over at Creative Workshops! This is a first and a great deal. If you've been thinking about taking a Photoshop Elements digital class, now is the time. Buy two classes. I will then refund you 50% of the lesser valued class. It's that easy and a great savings! But hurry because this offer ends Midnight May 31, 2010.

Click on the link below the image to go directly to the store page, visit Shabby Cottage Studio or click Ongoing Classes.

Creating Custom Digital Brushes

Here's a summary of some of what you will find in the Brushes workshop:

* Tools and tasks overview

* Step by step via video as I work in Photoshop elements and you learn how to easily make any image into a digital brush, how to size and recolor them

* How to combine digital brushes with an image. Comes with images to get you started on the fun! Learn these valuable, easy steps

* Plus you receive a lot of free images so that you can work along with me step by step

* Before long you'll be working with your own images. Incorporate digital into your 3D work as your imagination takes you new places!

* My classes are ongoing so you have 24/7 access to the videos and access to me for questions when they arise...no stop date to worry about, work at your own pace!

* 4 Video segments jam packed with information (before I learned to make more segments and make them shorter LOL)

Creating A Digital Collage

Here's a summary of some of what you will find in the Digital Collage workshop:

* Tools and tasks overview

* Beginning to learn to work with layers

*Blending layers

* Learn how to combine multiple images into a collage...

or to move multiple images onto one document

* more than one way to re-color an image

* removing an image from the background

* learn to create a shadow for depth

* resize without distortion

* Plus you receive a lot of free images so that you can work along with me step by step

* Before long you'll be working with your own images. Incorporate digital into your 3D work as your imagination takes you new places!

* My classes are ongoing so you have 24/7 access to the videos and access to me for questions when they arise...no stop date to worry about, work at your own pace!

10 Video segments!

Layer Upon Layer

The Magic of Digital Art

Here's a summary of some of what you will find in the Magic of Digital Art workshop:

* Learn to create your own backgrounds using images, patterns and brushes

* Use blending modes to change your layers

* How to use the clone tool to remove unwanted parts of an image

** How to use the eraser tool as a "paper punch"

* Learn to create shapes and use as borders

* Creating text filled with color, pattern

* Adding depth with shadows and glows

* Getting started with filters and adding texture with filters

* Use the background eraser to remove a background and reveal the layer beneath

*Use a clipping mask to add color and texture

* Resources for free brushes, how to download and add them to your computer and using them in your PSE/PS

* Plus you receive a lot of free images so that you can work along with me step by step

* Before long you'll be working with your own images. Incorporate digital into your 3D work as your imagination takes you new places!

* My classes are ongoing so you have 24/7 access to the videos and access to me for questions when they arise...no stop date to worry about, work at your own pace!

* Jam packed with information...18 video segments!

And for a little shameless self-promotion this is some of the feedback I've received:

I took your digital collage class and can't thank you enough for it! From knowing absolutely nothing about photoshop elements, I was able to start creating digital collages almost immediately thanks to your clear instructions and screen shots on the video.

Just seemed that you were right there across the table from me!

Enjoyed the videos very much and you did a wonderful job teaching.

Thanks again,

Lucille

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have taken two of your classes and have on other occasions told you how much they

furthered my understanding of Elements and how to use it.

I took classes with many Elements Guru's and spent a small fortune and did not understand nor come away from the classes with as much knowledge and enthusiasm as I did yours.

The other classes SAID they were for beginners...but I guess no one was as much of a 'beginner' as I was because they assumed you knew way more than I did.

But your classes, Gail...'took me by the hand' and showed me step by step.

Thank you so much for taking the time to, first create these videos and then to be there for me when a question did arise.

GREAT JOB!

Hugs and Blessings,

Nancy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gail, I simply HAD to write to tell you that your digital workshops are AMAZING. I have taken both of them, and, as I have previously indicated, I was an addict after the first lesson of the first class. I couldn't get enough. I kept playing and discovering and creating and have yet to quit. Or get bored (which is quite a feat for my ADD! LOL).

Long story short, I have taken my digital work 'on the road,' so to speak, and was notified last week that three of my digital pieces were accepted into an art show in New York! I cannot thank you enough and thought you'd be happy to know that your teaching is not only effective, but sublime.

HUGS!

Kerri

Come on let's get Creative together!

Gail

Monday, May 17, 2010

My Apologies!!!!

There is a first time for everything they say. And today for the first time since I enabled my Blogger Comment Moderation years ago I actually rejected 4 comments I meant to publish!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO sorry. If you posted a comment on the voting thread and don't see it, you have my personal okay to beat me with a wet noodle, becuase it will be one of the four I inadvertently deleted!!!! Dang, dang and double dang!

Hanging my head in shame
Gail

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Votes Have Been Counted

I hope you all had as beautiful weekend weather as we did here in the mountains of Tennessee. Spring was in her glory!

I want to thank all our creative entries this month for playing along with us. I hope all of you had fun and enjoyed taking some time for yourselves. I haven't mentioned this in a while but that is part of what this challenge is all about...not so much who wins, but that as a creative person you allowed some guilt free time for yourself...which is one nice thing challenges, no matter who hosts them, allow us.

I changed up the voting rules this month. It was suggested to me and I always listen to what...though I don't always act on it...people say to me and since y'all are always saying how hard it is to vote for just one, I thought the suggestion was timely. So here was your opportunity to cast votes for your top three favs!

Our winner this month was Kathey Holley with her beautiful moving tribute to our 9/11 heroes of Shanksville PA and she wins a $20.00 shopping spree at Shabby Cottage Studio. Bunny Kourba and Kate Chappelow tied at 2nd and Lou Ann Donahue placed third and all three win a collage sheet of their choice.

Ladies I will be in touch with all of you shortly. Congratulations! In fact CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who entered!

See you the beginning of June for the next challenge!

Happy Arting

Gail

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Entries are ready for Voting!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! When I put this challenge up at the beginning of the month, I was focused on simply getting the challenge posted and my brain wasn't considering that May 9th was Mother's Day. This morning as I've been loading images and grabbing links it occurred to me that the prompt word I used this month is very appropriate for mom's all over the world...courage. As we all know Mom's are most often some of our biggest, bravest and most courageous heroes. Hat's off today to all our Mom's!

And please notice I changed the voting rules this month!! :-)

HOW TO VOTE:
1. I'm changing it up this month on the voting!! Usually it is one vote per person. But this month you may vote for THREE of your favorites. :-)

2. Voting must be contained to this post only or it will not be counted. The other way to vote is to send an email to shabby@lgschmidt.net. Artists may vote for themselves. Voting ends at midnight May, 15 2010 and winners will be posted May 16, 2010.

If you are not sure how to vote on the blog it is very easy: Scroll to the bottom of this post (not the page). Look for the tiny print after the last image and right under my sign off name... you will see a number in front of the word Comments (ie: 12 Comments) in tiny letters. Click on it and a dialog box will open where you can leave your comment.)

Winner with the most votes wins a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio and our two runners up receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

Don't forget to blog about your entry so your visitors can come see all the beautiful art! And click on the names under the artwork...if I was given a link you will be taken to the artist's site to learn more about them. It's always fun visiting new blogs!

So here we go! Vote for your top three favorites!

Birgit

Bunny Kouba

Danit Peleg

Ingrid Pomeroy

Kate Chappelow

Kathy Holley

WTC firefighter images courtesy of http://www.geekphilosopher.com/

Lisa Tobin

Pam Marostica

Happy Arting!

Gail

Saturday, May 1, 2010

May Challenge

Happy May 1st everyone! A little self promotion here. ;-) Stop by the Shabby Cottage Studio blog for a chance at 3 free giveaways! I'm celebrating my birthday and want to share it with you. And if you're up for a little shopping I'm having a 25% off sale in the store today (May1) thru midnight May 5. So come on by and take advantage of the savings!

Okay enough of that. If you haven't played along in our challenges before the rules are so so simple. You must use the image I provide. How you use it is up to you. What medium you use is up to you. It's all up to you except for the image. I also provide you with a word prompt and you can use the actual word in your entry or not.

You have until midnight (wherever you are) May 8, 2010 to send me your entry. Entries will be posted to the MWO blog on May 9, ready for voting.

The first place winner receives a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio. Second and third runners up will each receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

Your word prompt this month is Courage. And here is the image. Remember to right click on the image to get it full size before you save it to your computer. :-)

Happy Arting my friends!

Gail

Sunday, April 18, 2010

We have another Winner

Oooo my bad! I'd like to say that we had so many votes it took me all day yesterday to count them. But alas, it's just not true...the date simply slipped through that gray matter in my cranium that used to be a brain. But never fear here I am with our winner of the Magical April challenge!

Thanks to all who participated. I know from the emails that you enjoyed our little fairy child. :-) Our winner this month of the free $20.00 shopping spree at Shabby Cottage Studio is Pam Eyre! Congratulations Pam your seaside theme was a hit. Our runners up, who each win a collage sheet of their choice are Linda Adams and our wonderful Aussie friend Kate Chappelow! Congratulations Linda and Kate your creations were delectable. :-)

I will be in touch with all three of you! I hope you all come back next month and help spread the word to your friends, invite them to come join the fun! Also next month I'm going to make a little change that should make our voters happy.

Happy Arting!
Gail

Saturday, April 10, 2010

It's Voting Time!

A bit late in the day but I'm here with our entries. Thank all of you who joined us this month to play along. I love seeing familiar faces and I'm thrilled with our lovely new faces! Welcome one and all! Since it's late I'll cut right to the chase.

If I have missed anyone, or a link or mispelled a name, please shoot me an email and I will fix it!

HOW TO VOTE:
1. Only one vote per person.

2. Voting must be contained to this post only or it will not be counted. The other way to vote is to send an email to shabby@lgschmidt.net. Artists may vote for themselves. Voting ends at midnight April 16, and winners will be posted April 17, 2010.

If you are not sure how to vote on the blog it is very easy: Scroll to the bottom of this post (not the page). Look for the tiny print after the last image and right under my sign off name... you will see a number in front of the word Comments (ie: 12 Comments) in tiny letters. Click on it and a dialog box will open where you can leave your comment.)

Winner with the most votes wins a $20.00 shopping spree with free shipping at Shabby Cottage Studio and two runners up receive a free collage sheet of their choice.

Don't forget to blog about your entry, if I was given a link I post it with each image and you never know who will click on it to come visit to learn more about you.