Spring has finally sprung. Yes, I know many of you are already experiencing summer-like weather. But here in the bitter cold North..we like to take our time. Just sort of "ease" into things.
When we ventured out on our great adventure 2 weeks ago, my tulips were just beginning to open. Tulips are my all time favorite flower. They are such happy flowers. These tulips were particularly close to my heart, because J-boy was my gardening apprentice and helped to lay each one of these bulbs into their earthen beds. We both suffered a small case of frostbite in the process, but our fingers eventually thawed out. It was well worth the pain. These little lovelies make me smile every time I see them.
Here is the before shot.
I love it.
However, because I am Laura Ingalls Wilder.
And I live in the "little house in the big woods", I thought my tulips should match my heart.
O.K..that might have been a bit of an overstatement.
I am in NO way Laura Ingalls Wilder at heart.
Did I mention I just got my very first smart phone??
That being said, if I was Laura...these would be my tulips!
Now, if you'll excuse me...
I must go brush my long hair 100 times, don my nightgown, and cuddle up with my new phone. It's been calling my name all day and I haven't had a chance to answer!
Good night!
Now, hop on your horse and go out yonder and pay Monica, over at Pixel Perfect a visit. I'm sure she's got the coffee on the fire and some fresh bread in the oven.
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This picture was taken with a Nikon D5000 and edited in Photoshop Elements. My step by step procedure is as follows.
1.Created a duplicate copy
2.Added a gradient map in adjustment layer. I chose a dark brown to cream gradient and adjusted the opacity to about 30%.
3. Added this texture from Boccaccino with a layer mask to brush out some of the texture. Then I set it to hard light with 60% opacity.
4. Duplicated the texture layer and set it to screen at 35% opacity.
5. And that's all, friends!
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31 comments:
we have two things in common! First, tulips are my absolute most favorite flower in the world (and much to my disappointment, my bulbs did not do as well this year) and secondly, I LOVED the Little House books when I was younger. I still have them all :) And my real bonnet I bought at a craft fair so I could be just like Laura!
You always do such great things with texture! Love it!
I love this. I so have to try it. Thanks for sharing your step by step procedure. I need to download some of those actions. Help.
Awesome as always, Julie! I love the step-by-step procedure for us amateurs. :) The Tulips are truly lovely, "Laura".
lovely flowers! Our tulips are now almost done. Sad. And weirdly enough, we have roses starting to bloom! That's a June thing, so everything is in overdrive this year.
Hey Half-Pint! Have fun with that phone. Love your pictures--both before and after!!
You rock! One, tulips are my favorite flower. Two, those tips are fabulous. Can't wait to try them!! I'm book marking this now.
alicia
I love how you edited this picture! so pretty!
Tulips are my fave, too! I love both the pictures!
Looks like I am not the only one to say this...but tulips are my favorite flower ever. Had them and cala lilies in my bridal bouquet. I'll have to share a picture with you.
Also, I used to watch Little House on the Prarie all the time. No, I didn't read the books. Which is crazy since I am a big reader. But I loved the shows. Always made me want to live in a place like that.
Now, I just want to live in a place like yours! ;)
P.S. I don't even know what a smart phone does. Like, at all.
Oh, I have a nickname for you now...Half Pint!
I'm absolutely, positively NOT a photographer, but I adore both pics! I don't know what you did or how you did it, but it's really cool!
Must be the week for flowers!
Love your edit, so pretty!
LOVE the edit!
LOVE the edit!
Oh my gosh you are so funny! Love the after of the tulips! Do you ever go to the tulip festival up north? We miss it every year :-(
My son is reading about Wisconsin right now... the birth place of Laura Ingalls Wilder! he he!
Love the tulips! love the before and after pic!! *sigh* so hard to please aren't I?!! =)
I love tulips! That picture is beautiful...it looks like a drawing now!
love the original and the edit is lovely too. We Little house here. I have read the entire series to the kids. =0) Even hubby enjoyed them.
When my youngest heard the name of the flower was tulips ("two lips") he replied that he wanted to call them two tongues. hahaha. =0) too funny!
Luv your edits! Tulips are my fav flower as well! Your textures are great.
The first picture was so beautiful on its own, but I appreciate the classic, vintage look of the 'after'. and i laughed out loud at you donning a nightgown, and brushing out your hair 100 times!
"My heart is in rapture"... over your tulips. Lovely. Heads up though Julie: Pa wouldn't have let Half Pint have a cell phone. ; )
Wow!
I had such high hopes for my tulip bulbs but deer or something else must love 'em.
Love your photoshop tricks! Unfortunately I lack the skills and camera to take decent photos, but that doesn't stop me from doing a lot of digital scrapbooking with my point and shoots!
so love that! But I have a question... I have elements7 and I am VERY new at the playing with editing part of photos...how do you get this texture as an adjustment layer on top of another photo? I downloaed it as a jpeg...now have no idea what to do...could you help? so much appreciated :)
Robyn
Love, love, love your edit. What a beautiful use of texture!!
I heart flower photos and texture.
:)
That is a beautiful flower pic, Julie!! I love the first one, too ... so smooth!
AWESOME! Nicely done!!
OK I'll admit it, I love both your shots!
Good job:)
Beautifully processed!!! I love the texture on the tulips!!! So pretty!
Great job! Textures are new to me, but something I look forward to working with!
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