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PLUM PRETTY SUGAR ON THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT TODAY!

Thought you might like to know that we are doing our big finale for The Bright Side Project's Print + Pattern month--Plum Pretty Sugar by Charlotte Mills! We had Iomoi yesterday which I HEART big time and of course you know Amy Butler is participating, so if you haven't been by you should try your luck.  Like I said I have noticed a few readers that have won multiple times, one reader has one almost every single month if not every single month so your odds are awesome. Stop by today..

WHY THIS RECESSION SUCKS BY MISS B

I am basically a shut in.  I don't leave my flat except for work, grocery and dog walking. Okay, occasionally the Fancy and I will do something wild like take in a Matinee or dine (never fine). So it always amazes me that I still have friends.  M. one of my very best friends decided that after six  months of my excuses that I was to meet her on Sunday for croissants and coffee.  I am impervious to croissants they are my kryptonite, just planting the idea in my head had me jonesing.  I never eat croissants if I can help it that is because I have absolutely no self control when it comes to the real deal. We know of a perfect little place in the middle of the City of Angels that makes croissants that make your belly smile.  I could eat four in a 2.2 seconds and still want more, who has ever in the history of the world eaten just one and said, 'Gosh I am full from that flaky, buttery, airy lusciousness'--no one I tell you.  Not a single living breathing soul (unless they are a liar). Thank goodness the staff pissed me off.  No wonder I don't leave my abode.  I took this one shot before they nearly tackled me like I was some sort of pastry paparazzi.

I don't cuss but I found myself thinking really, really hard 'what a-holes!' Don't they know that A) my photo mojo is totally A OK right now? and B) if they allowed me to mojo away I would have bought and eaten every last one of those bad boys in the display?

But I digress, because this post has nothing to do with a-holes or croissants but haircuts.  You see M. has a gorgeous lil' pup and she mentioned that she had been grooming her herself.  The pup looked pretty darn good and since my G.G. is the same breed I prodded, 'Do tell'.  She told me what to do and I decided since we are trying to budget and save that doggie hair dressers are a thing of the past.  I could do this (with Aces's help) I know I could. Well, 2 hours later what we had on our hands was a face only a mother could love...

These pics are a little blurry because G.G. didn't want me near her.  I have no idea why...

And the moral of this story? There is none but Ace and I thankfully will not be opening a grooming salon anytime soon. The End.

Totally segue but I just got this link from Amy of Waxyhearts for a store aptly named Woo Hoo Croissant. I guess this post was about croissants after all, go figure?

FREE ANIMAL SILHOUETTE PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES

Some people do crossword puzzles, Sudoko or *gasp* physical exercise to relax and unwind.  I have taken to making Photoshop brushes.  I find the process awfully relaxing and gratifying.  I don't know how long this will last, one never knows with my gnat like attention span what I will be into next but today I am into making you Photoshop brushes.  I don't do a lot of baby type stuff but I know there are an awful lot of babies in the world that may need a graphic designer and since they are short on cash (damn labor laws) I figured I'd make some free baby type brushes.  Since babies don't have all their fine motor skills down until later in their life, I figured their parents can help a baby out and put together photo's of baby with their own 'logo' a little lamb perhaps with their name underneath? Maybe baby wants to do some redecorating so Mom and Dad can do some pattern overlays over their lamb cut them out and make a mobile?  I dunno, I am not fluent in baby but I think that's what a lot of babies want. Maybe baby wants to throw a little shin dig (and what baby doesn't?) and needs a quick e-vite or if Mama is feeling crafty she can mock up some invites for the soiree (b.y.o.b.).  Whatever baby wants baby should get.  So be a sport and download the freebie for baby because baby can't keep his/her head up just yet without your help and with the drooling it's kind of hard to work the keyboard and mouse. 

{download baby brushes here}

Again designer Rhonna Farrer has a most excellent tutorial on what the heck brushes are, how to upload them and how to use them.  I think if you are new to all this, Rhonna will be like finding a hidden treasure (and be forewarned it may deplete your bank account she has some pretty irrestible designs for sale)...

P.S. Just got a couple angry emails (those babies are demanding I tell ya) from people that just want their download.  I hear ya.  I am in that sort of mood as well.  So I made a download for those that have no desire to join me in my Photoshop depravity.

{lil lamb download}

CURE FOR MANIC MONDAY...

We already know how I feel about Monday's. They make me wish I was born rich or luckier or something like that.  I am both rich (in personality) and fairly lucky (in love) but Mondays cloud my ability to appreciate these things.  I was so despondent this Monday that I didn't want to write a post.  Maybe they can make an anti-depressant specifically designed for this day?  I know not everyone feels like this about this day (don't brag), but I think a lot of us corporate Americans do.  I say Americans because the rest of the world gets six weeks mandatory paid vacation while I have to grovel for my measly five days. Yes, I know, I am working be grateful, I am.  I am most days but Monday.  The only cure for the manic Monday is you guessed it baby animals, specifically panda's today (I had to call  in the big guns). How can I be sore about my lot in life whilst creatures like this inhabit the very same earth as I do? 

Take that Monday!

Gah! I think my spirits are lifting already and yours?

NOTE: I do apologize to the photographers because I have just been adding these to my desktop for a year without thought to giving credit and for that I am sorry (I need my panda's and I need them now).  If one of these images are yours let me know and I will add your name pronto and also hate you immediately for being in such close proximity to these bad boys.  I will feel like you are shoving your panda advantage in my face and then I might get sullen all over again, you wouldn't want that on your head now would you?

AMY BUTLER FEATURED ON THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT TODAY!!!

GAHHHHH! AMY FLIPPIN" BUTLER!!!!!  I thought I would share my joy, my thrill, my honor to have Ms. Butler grace the BSP today.  I am all but passed out from excitment.  I hope you have stopped by lately, the contributors have been outstanding and the more people the more the contributors feel all 21 kinds of special.  Seriously, who would have thunk that we started this nearly six months ago and now we have Amy Butler as a contributor? I am so overwhelmed (in the best way possible). The odds are on your side too, we've had lot's of readers win multiple times, I know you all are so smart, witty and just the greatest (or else you wouldn't be here reading this right?) so get on over there, you are always welcome and I am totally rooting for you!

xo,

Miss B

SOUVENIR FOTO SCHOOL::ASSIGNMENT NO.07::DOWN LOW

It's Friday so it's time for your new dose of weekly creativity via the Souvenir Foto School.  If you are interested in getting more creative with your camera (you don't need a fancy shmancy version) please feel free to join.  Right now the enrollment fee is your sweat equity, yes that's it--read the assignement, do it, upload to Flickr and comment away. Stop by the photo section of the Blahg and get more details on the assignment, inspiration images and links.

VINTAGE PHOTO FRAME DOWNLOAD

I often find myself at the flea market collecting vintage photo's and their frames.  I know it's weird to cherish the memories of strangers but I am weird so there.  These frames have been sitting in a shoe box and hadn't been loved for many moons.  I decided that it wouldn't be any fun to horde these for my lonesome so I am sharing.  They are png files and that means that if you are working in layers in Photoshop or Photoshop elements you just drag your image below the layer with the frame and your photo or artwork should appear in the opening.  I used a recent photo of my very naughty girl Bella, I ran Pioneer Woman's Vintage action and brought down the opacity to about 80%.  I think that it was a perfect post processing for this frame, looks like Bella sat for an actual old timey photographer. The ledger paper background I used to put the above image together was from a lovely lass Vintage Moth. She is uber generous with her downloads. Of course there's my fave Karen of the Graphics Fairy she always has such amazing ephemera, which is a delight to download or peruse (especially if you love antique type treatments you will go bananas!).  I have mentioned her prior but I think if you are feeling inspired by this post you may want to stroll on over to her place today as well. If you are wanting to bring your ephemera into the 21st century, Cathe Holden is another place that I admire for her graphics and goodies she has sooooo many fun and useful downloads and is a great resource if you want to spiff up your blog. So that my pretties should keep you occupied for a lil bit, hope you enjoy, if you know of other sites like the above let me know because I am always in search of new treasures....

 {fleamarket frame download}

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BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE PHOTOSHOP BRUSH DOWNLOAD

I am calling this Photoshop brush collection 'miscellanea' because well it is rather a hodgey podgy mix of items.  I've had so many random items on my computer and at the bottom of my craft closet that I have wanted to make into Photoshop brushes, or something creative and they have just sat there forlornly--but not anymore. I am sharing with you because you are my favorite but you knew that already.  The amazingly talented designer Rhonna Farrer was so gracious to include a link in the comments to how to use Photoshop brushes, load them etc and I am really grateful because we established that I am too lazy and easily frustrated to have done that for you prior but Rhonna is not. So thank you Rhonna.

What can you do with these brushes?  So much it's not even funny.  They are like virtual rubber stamps, really.  Just don't try to resell them because that would make me grumpy and I suck when I am grumpy. If you are one of my Souvenir Foto students (and if you are not you totally should be) you could use the camera stamp to watermark your assignment uploads like I did in this image (it's that thingamajig in the lower left corner):

Wow, that looks so professional right?  I stamped it in white because I like white and then I brought the transparency down, maybe a little much but it's a watermark so I didn't want it too in your face.  The beauty of the photoshop brush?  I could have stamped it in magenta, purple, royal blue, etcetra and if I hated it?  I could just cmd (ctrl) Z and start all over again. I love do-overs. You could use these for an invite, I did a custom dragonfly themed invite once, the bride hated me, so maybe if I would have given her her very own dragon fly stamp she could have made her own invites so much better than I ever could and could have saved me a melt down. Maybe.  The crown I use to use on a Bella Bella co. cardlette back when I got this party started.  I have other crowns I use now. This is a classic and I am sure you can use it for so many things like "We moved" take note H.R.H. Miss B sort of thing. Anyway, you get the picture, they are great, so are you, that is why I made them for you, enjoy!

{download miscellanea collection no. 01}

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OH LA LA, FRENCH DICTIONARY PAGE DOWNLOAD +PHOTOSHOP BRUSH

I actually had a full antique dictionary, but lucky for you I must of left it back at the old flat so you won't have days upon days of these dicitonary downloads but today you do.  For those that like these downloads, hooray!  For those that would prefer for me to blab about my arm fat, accelerated aging or my wish to win the Lotto don't worry I will be back with plenty of commentary soon enough.  I'm just in a cleaning mood/frenzy and I have to strike whilst the iron is hot or else as you may have deduced I am easily distracted and well, nothing would get done around these parts...

{download here}

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VINTAGE POSTCARD EPHEMERA + PHOTOSHOP BRUSH DOWNLOAD

With moving comes discovery of items that were long forgotten. I pulled some of the more interesting (at least to me) pieces of ephemera that were at the bottom of my closet and scanned them in for your crafty creativity.  I loved this since it was a blank postcard and I think this can be incorporated into all sorts of things such as an invite, scrap book, making your own photo postcards etc. If you do make something fabulous I would love an image and I will update this post with it.  For those that are a little more computer savvy, I made a Photoshop brush, it's just one but it'll be a work horse I promise.  The brush is like a virtual rubberstamp, just "stamp" it with any color in your Photoshop Pantone book.  I am too tired/lazy to go into how to use, upload Photoshop brushes, so if you know how and have a link to explain to those that don't just leave it in the comments and it will be greatly appreciated. As always, sharing is caring, these goodies are not for resale but for your personal pleasure, please don't spoil the fun because I so love doing this for those that play nice....

{vintage postcard download}

{postcard photoshop brush}

P.S. I will add these as I do them, so be sure to check in often because I have some more goodness coming down the information super highway shortly...

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