Blah,Blah,Blahg

SUNSHINE FLORAL CARD DOWNLOAD

I know I haven't done a free download in awhile.  It's not because I have gotten greedy or lazy, but I suppose I do have a bit of both of those qualities sometimes. I haven't done a download in awhile because I thought months ago I would have the new improved Blahg up and running already and wanted to wait to add new downloads until then.  In fact, if you my dear reader are a Wordpress guru and work within slim budgets we need to talk.  I have the new design all ready to rock 'n roll.  I thought the web developer that is working on Besotted Brand would implement the new Blahg design (btw, I will have a new name as well!) but as we are inching closer to June without any progress (it shall happen right?) I just want the new Blahg/Blog to come into frution already.  Who knows?  Maybe I won't have time to Blahg anymore after the site launches. Besotted will have its own blog but that's necessary for all the D.I.Y. projects that can be done with the new offerings (yes I am going to implode if I can't talk about it soon). So, in the interim here is a little download, it's two 4bar foldover cards (or you can use them as flats instead), set up on a standard letter size page (8.5" x 11") just print out on cardstock.  I tried to make the design subtle so you would'nt waste a bunch of ink. Either way they are free for you to use (for personal use only though). Click here to get your download.

P.S. Frr those having trouble with the download it's all good now:)

CHALKBOARD SNOWFLAKE PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES

 

Phew!  I wasn't sure if I could get these in.  These are some snowflakes I doodled for you last night while trying to go to sleep.  My mind was stuck on a botched printing job, in fact my mind is still there as the printer hasn't called me back and this may be my 5th frantic call in to him.  Smoke signals are up next, very attention getting. The set includes 2 snowflakes and a hand lettered 'happy holidays' brush. I did doodle a reindeer and some frames but I need to clean them up a little but I may just be adding on to this here post.  I showed the samples above so you can see the endless variations you can come up with to make tags, cards, patterns.  I heart brushes so much! Download your brushes HERE.  As always, I will link to the fab Rhonna Farrer where you will find a tute on what the heck these are and how to load them.

OLIVE YOU!

{download your labels here}

Natalie Jost of Olive Manna was inspired by the talent of photographer MandyLynne of Skippy Designs to create these patterns.  In turn Natalie the talented designer was kind enough to let me use some of the designs to create a wrap label for you! Now we all can be one big, happy, inspired family! Enjoy!

CHALKBOARD DOODLE DIGITAL STAMPS

 {download chalkboard doodle digital stamps here}

I was thinking yesterday that I hadn't done a freebie in a while.  Okay, who am I kidding?  I got several hundred emails demanding a freebie. Yes, I know my 'blahgging' life is unique because most of my emails sound like they are from family members-- "Hey toots, when are you gonna get off your rump and fix me some freebie?" Don't you worry your pretty little heads, I am so absolutely codependent that I will do anything to please you, so freebies you want freebies it is. I have been wanting to put up some doodle digital stamps (photoshop brushes for the purist) for a while because I spend an awful lot of time doodling.  In fact most of my notes are filled with doodles.  My being the type A personality that I am I do not let my doodles run amok, nope.  I have designed a special place for them on my  to-do list because I am neurotic like that.  If you like them I will add more but for now you have the latest conversation with NYC doodles. 

Also, if you really want to make my day (besides forwarding me cute, squishy, fluffy, yummy baby animal links) I  absolutely LOVE to see what you have done with elements and downloads from the Blahg and I am happy to show off your work.  Like this absolutely wonderful take on animal silhouette brushes, too, too cute. Thank you Aprile!

{image via apricot avenue}

Let me know if you would like anything in particular. Who knows? I may just be open to doodling it for you whilst on my next conference call...

Psst, if you are feeling stuck on the whole digital stamp/photoshop brush thingy, please visit Rhonna, she will both school you and inspire the heck outta ya....

FRENCH POSTCARD ENVELOPE LABEL WRAP + BUTTERFLY BOOKPLATE DOWNLOAD

{download your french postcard envelope label wrap here}

I was thinking this design was seriously dipping my toe into old lady country.  It just seemed this side of Shabby Chic but NOT in a cool way, in the 'Uhm, I think you've gone overboard' way. Maybe I am self conscious, but I always want to offer you something that is cool and not frumpy.  I wanted to put it up the other day and thought nah.  Then today I figured why not?  Maybe you'd like it better than I do.  Maybe it fits something you are working on? Maybe it's perfect for your gas co. bill?  Whatever the reason may be, it is yours for the downloading--FREE!  I got the gorgeous postcard ephemera from my friend Karen at The Graphics Fairy.  Karen has an incredible collection of ephemera that she GENEROUSLY shares with the whole wide world--for FREE (my fave price)!  Today she also started a special new section on her site and since I am all about supporting my pals, I decided to add my little offering.

If this label isn't your cup of tea, no worries, I have many more ideas up my sleeve and of course if you are really needing this for your special occasion we are offering custom pdf labels at The Bella Bella co. plus the option to have your return address added to your pdf.

I have some more goodies I came up with this weekend (at least I hope you think they are goodies and not baddies) that I will try to add today, tomorrow?  I'm not quite sure but I will be adding--promise!

Update:: Okay here's another goodie.  Just some sweet antique butterfly bookplates.  Print on a textured, linen paper to make them extra special, use glue stick like this beauty to add to your books...

{download your butterfly bookplates here}

ANTIQUE LEDGER PAPER ENVELOPE WRAP LABEL PDF + FREE ART

I have been eyeballing this bit of antique ledger paper ephemera for a little while, trying to figure out what the heck to do with it.  I found it on The Vintage Moth a great lil' site for free downloadable ephemera goodies. Yesterday it came to me that it would make a perfectly lovely background for an envelope label wrap. This would be so clever for a couple that loves vintage and perhaps accounting? Speaking of accounting, did I mention I nearly got canned the other day for nada? (that's nothing, rien, zip).  Really.  Sheesh.  It scared the mascara off my lashes!  Totally can't afford the old heave ho anytime soon.  It got me thinking though about how much I don't really like my job because of the precarious mood swings I am privy to.  Not mine, but the ol' head honcho's.  I guess I was feeling comfortable with my uncomfortableness in this j.o.b..  I really like having a job though, just not this one any longer.  So, I am on a 'Free Miss B.' exit plan.  Baby steps.  We opened up The Bella Bella co. again and will be offering the envelope wrap labels as pdf downloads while we are putting our finishing touches on our Besotted Brand offerings.  We only started adding so there are only three designs as of today but let me tell ya by the end of the weekend I shall have that shop stocked! We decided on the pdf because it would be easier on me while I am under fluorescent lights all day in my utility closet/office with no access to the outside world.  The pdf is immediate, we know all about the desire for instant gratification 'round these parts. The pdf's in the shop (we believe) are reasonably priced ($5 USD) and for a small additonal fee can be customized with your return address, color changes or a specialty size.  We are trying to cover  designs from mod to traditonal.  So if you have any suggestions for designs, colors combo's, etc. let me know, I will need some creative boosts so I can get this party started.  If you don't wanna see me blahg'ing from the side of the road tell your friends, family members and complete strangers to get their label download on!  

And for your patience and allowing me this forum to ramble on aimlesslessly here is your link to download the ledger labels for NADA!

{antique ledger label wrap download}

On another note but stil in the 'something for nothing realm'.  I got sooooo many kind emails about the pastel ferris wheel photograph below (thank you) and questions if I sold the photo and could it be put on canvas etc.  I have to say I was REALLY flattered because the whole photo thingy is so new to me and that anyone would want a photograph by moi had be all choked up (in the best way possible). I decided that I don't have the time at this moment to print this photo and make sure the color is right and the papers are just so BUT maybe you do?  So I am offering a link for the hi-res version you can download and print to the cows come home. There's lot's of great places where you just have to upload the jpg and they will print on pretty much anything. Like Zazzle (I know horrible, horrible name). I will try to add the image to our Zazzle (cringe) account so you won't have to do much if you wanna go that route.  If you click on the image it will take you to the download link and you can print it out at the office home or where ever you like...

Wishing you a happy weekend!!!!

LIL' PRETTIE MAILING LABEL DOWNLOAD

This week has been astonishingly hectic. I have two designer books due for work (at the same time?! Try doing one book, it's enough to make you wanna play in traffic) and when I come home all I want to do is sit with my eyes rolled back in my head and rock back and forth in the corner BUT I have more work to do because I need to do my share for The Bright Side Project or else it would be only partly cloudy over there and not very sunshiney. I mean you'd have Miss K's prose so it wouldn't be a total lost but..

I have also been working on the comps for a rush CUSTOM wedding suite for Besotted Brand LLC (yes, we are obviously not in our right minds).  I have to tell you initially I wanted to say no after we had said yes because I really, really have had the WORSE luck with bride's (they have been kinda mean and made me cry) and so I am really gun shy.  Jules was convinced this would be different and well I am usually buying what Jules is selling so we plowed ahead.  So far it has been DREAMY.  Yesterday I sent a comp for the RSVP and blow me over with a flippin' feather, the bride (and groom) LOVED the comp no design tweaks just an addition of copy.  For those designers out there, this is like a Lotto win, it just never pans out like that--ever. If you couldn't tell by my tag line, I am prone to procrastination and while I was hoping the RSVP would be designed by osmosis I started digitally 'doodling' and came up with this label sheet for you.  It had nothing to do with the invite (although it did give me a good idea) and well this is my long winded way of letting you know I have a download for ya.  Enjoy!  And yes, if when the printing comes out as good as the design I will totally share with you our little rush wedding masterpiece...

{LIL PRETTY LABELS DOWNLOAD}

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TEXTURE TUTORIAL ::KINDA + FREE TEXTURE DOWNLOAD

I say this is kinda of a tutorial because I kinda suck at writing tutorials and well, explaining things in general. With the upcoming launch of our creative tool kit for digital post processing your images I think it might be necessary (or at the very least nice) to have some how-to on well how to use the tools in the kit.  I want to make it clear here that there's only a bajillion and one ways to work in Photoshop, this is one way.  I am open to feedback and requests and any pointers and of course if you would like to write a tutorial for the Blahg I am pretty sure that I won't object.  Our kit will have larger size textures of course, I made these as free 5" x 5" squares because I thought it would be easy if you just wanted to do a quickie on a blog image or just to play around with.  When we launch I also promise to have perfected my tute skills so you may actually be able to follow me.

I found the 'original' image on a free photo stock site.  It's cute but well it's nothing to write home about. I am sure you, like myself have collected a lot of snaps that are just sort of hanging out on your hard drive because they bring happy memories but aren't 'hey mom look what I did worthy'.  Right? I think I have a bunch just like this. The sky is sort of not a real special blue but not too dark or light.  I really wanted to show you the type of photo and colors that work best with the 'grass' colored textured square to achieve a nice, vintage aqua sky.  That's where I am pulling my hair out with other texture sets, PLEASE tell me what kind of images will look good with your texture, give me large enough examples that I don't have to take out the Hubble or whatever to see. I really would love to see MORE 'before and afters' if you are selling textures (or actions/presets) because I am so easily persuaded that I probably would buy.  Okay, enough of my rant. This 'tute' (using the term loosely) assumes you are familiar with Photoshop/Photoshop Elements.

This type of photo (color wise, with lot's of blue sky) looks fab when paired with the Souvenir Foto textured square in 'grass'.

• In Photoshop/PSE place the texture above the photo in the layers palette.
• Once you have the texture on top of the image go to the layer blending modes and choose "overlay'.  I set this to 100% opacity, you could lower this setting of course but I wanted a beautiful aqua sky a sort of cross processed look. I added a layer mask to take the texture off the birds but I don't wanna go into masks here today that's a whole 'nother can of worms/tute but because I love you here's a tute from someone more competent than myself.
  
• I liked the look so I stopped there and cmd 'e' (Mac) ctrl 'e' on PC to merge layers and I was done with that one.

For the second sample I did the first two steps as outlined above, once I got to the super saturated aqua:

• I added a hue/saturation adjustment layer above the texture (it's that half black/white circle at the bottom of your layers palette, here's a shot from another tute)
• I slid the saturation layer to the left about mid way to take away some of that crazy color.
• I then added another adjustment layer but this one was called 'photo filter', I chose 'deep yellow. As you can see from the last image it made the blues more green and the yellow on the birdies is a little more pronounced.  The color is very muted because of that nice slide to the left on the saturation slider. It makes for a totally different look than the first sample and I like them both ways and probably could keep going if I didn't need to get back to work.

Here's a color chart for the texture download, I hope this makes sense and you can have fun right away!

 {SOUVENIR FOTO TEXTURED SQUARES DOWNLOAD}

SCHOOL HOUSE ENVELOPE WRAP LABEL DOWNLOAD

Just because I don't like to go more than a day without Blahging here's another wrap.  When I was doing The Bella Bella co. the wraps were the most requested item.  For some reason they were impossible for me to print  professionally and even more impossible for bride's to print on.  Yes, of course there were the resourceful brides that created templates but I just think I am  printing challenged.  I actually really enjoy designing them but don't like printing them for other people so making them for you here let's me design and you print and right now the price is just right....

 { DOWNLOAD SCHOOL HOUSE ENVELOPE WRAP LABEL}

MING WRAP LABEL DOWNLOAD + BONUS MINI MING LABEL

It is quite a feat that this label download is here today.  I had some serious computer problemo's yesterday and lost the downloads I was working on.  Truth be told, I would ordinarily scrap the project, 'it wasn't meant to be' I would reason, where's the remote? But alas, you have a pull on me...I had an email yesterday that a download link wasn't working and since I couldn't find the right file to match the download I thought I would make up for it by creating these pretty 'Ming' vase inspired labels.  I am quite happy.  All together they look very Lilly Pulitzer to me. I hope you likey too.

I want you to know I really, really, really, want to make these editable pdf's so you can put your info in the right place and print (convenient for bride's or a big mailing) but I can't afford the Professional version of Adobe Acrobat 9 just now and can't justify buying it when I would only be doing it to make free downloads for you.  So maybe I will start a fund for those that keep emailing and asking for editable pdf's for the labels, throw your buck in the hat and I'll see what I can do.  I think it would be a heck of a lot easier but for now you can play with your printer settings or hand address to your hearts content...

 {DOWNLOAD MING LABELS HERE}