How to Use Clipping Mask and Gradient Tool in Photoshop

In this post, I will be giving step by step instructions on how to use a clip mask, gradient tool, and a little about layers in Photoshop. I have an older version (CS2), so some of the following may not be found in the exact same locations if you are using a newer version (or a Mac) ;)

First, here is my finished page (Bonus addition at end of post!):

 And here’s how I got there….


Step 1:

Open Photoshop. Go to File and select New:

A pop up screen will appear. I set the size to ‘Letter’, which is a normal paper size, but you can use whatever size page you want!

After choosing your size, resolution (the higher, the better), and Naming your masterpiece, hit OK. A blank canvas will now appear:

Step 2:

Select the Text tool (T) and draw a box however big you want it, choose your font style and size, and type your text:

Step 3:
Make a new layer. You can do this by going up to Layer at the top of the screen and selecting new:

This is where I put a picture to use as background color for my text.

Step 4:

Then, to make the picture in the beginning of this post, I used a photo that I had taken down in the Caribbean. Go to File--Place and select a picture:

The picture will be placed on the canvas like so:

I then scaled the image by dragging the edges out to make it big enough to cover my text, and use the colors I wanted within the picture. Since I only wanted this picture for the colors, it didn’t matter that it ended up being skewed:

Step 5:

With this new photo layer active, go up to Layer again and select Create Clipping Mask:

This will make it so only a portion of the photo will be displayed through the text:

Make sure the layers are in proper order, like this, or it won’t work:

(picture on top (which in this screenshot is the active layer), then the text layer, above the background)

Step 6 (optional):

Now, the picture above looks good as it is, but I decided to add a little more color to it by using the gradient tool. Click on the Background layer, so the gradient will be behind everything else.
Select the gradient tool, and choose your color(s). I used both a blue and green color to make my gradient (and also changed the Opacity to around half, because I found if I used 100% it didn’t look as good). Then, use the cursor to draw a line in the direction you want the gradient to go, this may take some experimenting! You can always go to Edit and Undo if you don’t like it:)

BONUS Step 7:
At first, I was happy with this. Then I got to thinking: “That photo is too good to hide!!”. So I added it back in above the text (by creating a new layer above all the other layers) :

I think it turned out pretty well!

Always make sure to save your work periodically!

Have fun!

Rachael

#Photoshop #clipmask #tutorial #creativity

Memorial Day

May we never forget freedom isn't free--Unknown

As we celebrate another Memorial Day, let us remember all those who have laid down their lives for this country. Being a daughter of a veteran, it reminds me even more of the cost some families pay so we can remain a free nation. Thank God my dad is still living, but for all those who are suffering the loss of a loved one who served in the armed forces, today is also for you. Not only should we remember the fallen, but also the living...the ones who remain to keep up the fight, both in the field and at home!

And with those thoughts in mind, I scoured the internet to find some craft ideas to help remember the reason for today. As you can imagine, I found quite a lot!

Here are some crafts I uncovered in my search:

I stumbled upon this site first, full of 47 different patriotic crafts, some look easier to make than others. I love when people reuse items, like this flag picture made from buttons:

On Pinterest there are always tons of craft ideas! I searched Memorial day crafts and found many for kids to do as well, such as this popsicle stick flag:

 

 And check out these patriotic pinwheels:

 How about making a patriotic wreath, like this:

 So many different ways to creatively remember this Memorial day!
I have done a few myself over the years, most  recently I made a couple quilled pieces in honor of today:

quilled patriotic heart I made using beehive technique

quilled American Eagle

What kinds of crafts have you tried to remember and honor the fallen on Memorial Day? Please share in the comments below!

May God bless everyone affect by war, and help us all remember that freedom isn't free! Let us enjoy this life we have been given!

Rachael

#memorialday #alwaysremember #neverforget #memorialdaycrafts

Latchhooking 101

Today I would like to talk about latchhooking. An enjoyable craft most people can do! They sell all sorts of kits that come with the proper colors and amounts of yarn and the mesh with the pattern printed on it. All you need to buy besides the kits is a latchhook tool like this one:

latchhook tool

You can find latch hooks at stores like Michael's, Walmart, Joann, Herrschners and online at Amazon.  If you're feeling extra creative, they also sell blank mesh so you can make your own design, you'll just need to make sure you have the right size yarn.  They do sell precut yarn, but if you have some yarn you want to use that is not cut, this is about the size it needs to be (approx. 2.5 inches):

Yarn length, about 2.5 inches

I shall use a kit in order to display the steps needed to create your very own latchhooking masterpiece.

My mom got me this hummingbird latch hook kit for Christmas last year, and I just finished it not too long ago! Here's what the finished design looks like:

Finished hummingbird and flower latch hook kit

How did I get there?

One piece of yarn at a time!

First, you will need to wrap a piece of yarn around the latch hook tool like so:

Then, take your mesh, and put the tool through one of the squares. If you are using a kit with printed color designs on it, make sure you have the correct color:

Then, open the thin piece of metal on the hook and wrap the yarn around that:

Then close the latch, the yarn is now locked into the tool, and gently pull through the mesh:

The tool should then come free of the yarn. Then you can pull on the yarn to make sure it is secured to the mesh:

Then repeat until you are completely finished with the design!

I usually like to do 1 row at a time, which take between 15-20 minutes. It is a time consuming craft, but if you keep at it, doing a little at a time, you too can create a latch hook masterpiece!

Finishing Off

Most of the time I make my latch hook designs into wall hangings, but you can also put them on pillows and make rugs!

In order to finish off your project, you must sew the remaining mesh to the back of the design.

Fold over the remaining mesh behind the design, and using heavy thread and a needle, tack it onto the back. Make sure none of the blank mesh shows in front. Then you can decide whether to make it into a  wall hanging, which is probably the easiest, or a rug or pillow.

Once you tack on the remaining mesh to the back, you can attach a rug binding to the back to hide the yarn. I like to just leave it as is, since the backside will be facing a wall if you make it a wall hanging!

For a closer look at how to finish a latch hook project, check out this site here!

Happy latch hooking!

Rachael

#latchhooking

Celebrating Easter with crafts and song!

As Holy Week approaches, I remember all the Easters past and reminisce about the traditions I grew up with...

Starting on Palm Sunday, we always had (and still do) Palm fronds at church to remember when people lined up along the road and welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with Palm fronds, singing 'Hosanna!'


We would also sometimes make crosses out of the palm fronds. There are instructions on how to make your own palm frond cross here.

Then, in between Palm Sunday and Easter, we would make jello eggs, using real eggshells as the mold! My mom would make a small hole on top of the egg and take the insides out, then gently wash it in water and pour in the jello mix and let it set in the fridge. Then we would peel off the eggshell, and voila! Yummy jello eggs to enjoy:)  Here's how to make your own, using a mold.

We also used to dye eggs, and sometimes paint on eggs as well! Here's one that my sister made when she was a kid:

 And we would decorate styrofoam eggs with pins and sequins, like the ones pictured below:



On Thursday that week we sometimes went to a Maundy Thursday service, which is to remember the Last Supper, when Jesus and his disciples ate together before Judas betrayed Jesus and had him arrested.

Good Friday remembrances were next, when Jesus was beaten, mocked and killed on a Roman cross...dying for us all so we might have eternal life through him! All who accept Jesus' free gift of his own life for theirs will be saved from eternal death, and have eternal life with him in heaven! A life far better than this one could ever be:)

Here's Old Rugged Cross, one of my fav Easter songs, take a listen:



Then, early on Easter morning, we would get our Easter baskets, full of tasty treats like chocolates and jelly beans:)

Then we would go to the 'Sonrise' service to celebrate Jesus' resurrection, when he conquered death once and for all! We would have a skit about the morning when the women and disciples found that Jesus' tomb was empty, and later seeing Jesus before them with the wounds in his hands and feet and side that he took for us.

We would also sing several songs, like Because He Lives:



After this, we would have a big Easter breakfast at the church. Then we would go home for a couple hours and have a jelly bean hunt before going back to the regular morning service.

In the afternoon, we would have an Easter dinner with family before going on an Easter egg hunt. My mom also used to give us kids clues, which we had to follow until we found our present!

Easter is a good time to remember all the things Jesus has done for us, and to spend time with family and friends!

What are some of your Easter traditions? Please share in the comments below!

Happy Easter!

Rachael

#Eastertraditions #Eastercrafts

Sing! The Power of Music

I love to sing!

In this post I'm talking about music and the way it plays an important role in all our lives.

 “Music is life itself.”--Louis Armstrong, jazz trumpeter (1901-1971)

Every culture around the world has some form of music. One could say that it is a universal language. It can bring us all together, make us cry, laugh, or want to go to war. Wherever you go, music exists, whether man-made or in nature.


Regardless of what style of music you enjoy listening to, all music has the power to affect our lives in both positive and negative ways. According to Harvard Health,  "The neurobiology of music is a highly specialized field...music also has major effects on many aspects of health, ranging from memory and mood to cardiovascular function and athletic performance." For more on the possible effects of music on your health, read the full Harvard Health article here.

And here's an interesting story on the power of music and how it helps relax and heal us, from NPR.

There have been many world events that have used music to further their message. During many wars throughout time, there have been different forms of music involved. Instruments like horns, trumpets, and drums have been used to call soldiers to arms and keep morale up in the midst of battle. And back on the home front music has been used to both show approval of the war and resistance to it.

For a fascinating look into the use of music during wartime, read HistoryNet's article here.

Music has also played an important role in cultural revolutions and political movements. From the cultural revolution in China to the Civil Rights Movement in America in the 1960s, many people turned to music either for or against the current regimes and ideologies of the day.

"In every era, music has reflected—and shaped—social and cultural change, political choices, and mass protest and support for government policies." Read more about this idea on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History site here.

Besides being used for wars and revolutions, and effecting our health, music can also be a powerful way to bring people together in peaceful ways. People the world over, regardless of what language they speak, often recognize melodies and can sing along to songs not in their own language. Music transcends words, and while words are important, sometimes the music itself is the most powerful thing.

" There is something about music that seems to bring us closer to each other and help us come together as a community" For more on how music helps us bond together as people, read the article found on The Greater Good Magazine website written by people at the University of California Berkeley here.

Music is also a great way to worship the God who created us all. All the major world religions have shared music that people recognize wherever they go. Music is a way we can join together and praise God for all the many blessings we experience in this life, as well as to cry out to God for help during times of trouble. For an overview on music and worship in America throughout time and cultures, go here.

It's not just people who make music, but many other creatures on this planet we share do as well!
From songbirds to whales, many animals make musical sounds. For a cool article about some of them, go here!

If one listens closely, you can also hear music in the wind blowing through the trees and the grass, and in the sound of rain hitting the roof or ground, and even the musical sound of water flowing down a stream or roaring in the ocean!

The world is full of music, if one has an ear to hear!

And lastly, here are a few of my own contributions to the world of music:

First, a Celtic worship song, In Christ Alone:





 I also love the melody to this old medieval folk song, Scarborough Fair:

Learn more about the history of this song here!

Even just practicing some vocal acrobatics from time to time is fun!



I encourage everyone, regardless of musical ability, to try singing and playing music from time to time! As we have seen, music is a powerful way to draw us closer together and helps us share this experience of life:)

Creative Ways to Destress

 It's not stress that kills us, it's our reaction to it--Hans Selye

Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. Hans Selye
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/hans_selye_381380?src=t_stress

Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. Hans Selye
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/hans_selye_381380?src=t_stress

Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. Hans Selye
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/hans_selye_381380?src=t_stress

These days it seems like pretty much everyone is stressed out! I've been feeling it myself lately, to the extent that it is starting to negatively affect my health. So I've been thinking of different ways to alleviate the stress and help get back to proper health.

I'm sure many of you have tried the popular suggestions, such as, meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises, which are good ways to reduce stress for some people. However, not everything works the same for everyone!

I've compiled a list of other creative ways to help us feel more relaxed and less stressed:

Craft! Making things with your hands, whether it be things like quilling, crocheting, or carving, there are many crafts to choose from!

Be Artsy Draw, paint , sculpt, photography, like crafting, there are many ways to enjoy the arts!

Get Your Hands Dirty! grow a garden, or find other ways to play in the dirt!

Spend time with animals whether playing with your pet(s), volunteering at an animal shelter, or going to the zoo, spending time with animals often has a soothing and feel good effect on people!

Embrace Your Inner Child! hop, skip and jump down the sidewalk or a path in the woods, play with your kids, if you have any, or with nieces and nephews or kids you know!

Take a Walk or ride a bike preferably in the woods or other natural spot

Take a Nap, or lie down and rest sometimes we just need a little more sleep!

Sit in the Sun! or under a natural lamp if there isn't any sun, soaking up those rays helps relieve stress and helps you feel better!

Read a book! Grab a cup of warm or iced tea or hot cocoa and escape to another world, or into someone else's story for awhile

Watch a movie or show same idea as a book, they provide a temporary escape from our everyday lives

Listen to Music! whether it be more relaxing, slower music, or rock, music is a proven way to help you feel better!

Make your own Music! whether playing a musical instrument or singing, there's just something about music that lifts your mood!

Pray talking with God in a quiet place helps us refocus on more important matters

"Be Still and Know that I AM (is) God" (Psalm 46:10) equally important is listening for God's will for your life, and knowing that, whatever happens, God is in control and has good things planned for us! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Hang Out with Family and Friends talking, laughing, doing fun things and sharing each others' burdens helps to reduce stress and make us feel better!

Play Games! Cards, puzzles, board games, video games...there are lots to choose from!

Journal, or write a story/blog many people find that writing, no matter its form, helps them relieve stress. Sometimes it's good to get it all out on paper!

Practice an Attitude of Gratitude! when we focus more on all the good in our lives instead of the bad, it helps us gain perspective and feel more thankful and less stressful!

Get a Foot Rub/Massage soothing physical touch also helps reduce stress

Travel! sometimes just getting away, whether it be down the road, out of the state, or out of the country, removing yourself from a stressful situation for a while helps you destress

Clean  some people find cleaning cathartic as well!

And last but not least, Get Enough Sleep! easier said than done sometimes, I know! But getting at least 7-8 hours of restful sleep a night definitely helps us feel better and more able to deal with stress!

Destressing is a process, and sometimes we have to try several things before we find ones that help us feel more relaxed, but in order to properly heal and feel better, it is worth the effort to discover which methods work best for you!

What creative ways have you explored to help relieve your stress?

Quilling Basics

In this post I will be sharing a little about how to quill. If you are unfamiliar with what quilling is, a short history compiled by the North American Quilling Guild can be found here.

According to their website, quilling has been around for hundreds of years, and was used for decorating religious texts, and taught to women during the Victorian era along with embroidery!

My adventure in quilling began about 2 and a half years ago when one of my friends let me have her quilling starter kit. It was Fall, so the perfect time to start making Christmas presents!

 Some of the 1st things I made were quilled cards for my parents and some Christmas tree ornaments for myself. But my very first attempt at quilling was just practicing the basics, and after making several pieces, I ended up finding a way to put them all together in a nice little picture:

My 1st quilling practice

Quilled Cards

Here are the basic tools and supplies you will need to start your own adventures in quilling:

Colorful paper strips of varying sizes (ie. 3mm, 7mm); slotted tool; quilling comb (a regular wide toothed comb works too!); needle tool, or something to apply glue with; glue; scissors; tweezers for the trickier designs; and an imagination! Some people also find a quilling board, like in the above picture, to help them make different shapes. I have tried using one, but prefer to just manually manipulate the paper:)

There are other tools you can use to add texture and help guide the slotted tool more easily. There's also a 3D mold I've tried:

Crimping tool, slotted tool guide, 3D mold, and 3D flower I made using these tools

So let's get down to the basics.

First, there are 2 main tools you can use to quill: the slotted tool and the comb. Each makes different kinds of designs with the paper.

The slotted tool makes a more spiral design, while the comb has a more complex inner structure.

When I first started quilling, I used the slotted tool.

The slotted tool has a small slot between the piece of metal where you insert the paper strip into:

I'm left handed so I like to hold the tool in my left hand and the paper strip in my right, but if it is more comfortable for you to hold them in your opposite hands then do so:)

Once the paper has been inserted, use your fingers to gently start rolling the strip around the tool:

You may have to make some small adjustments to make sure the paper is wrapping over itself and not going all over the place!

Once the paper is completely rolled up, it will look like this:

At this point, you can either choose to glue the end down, or to take it off the tool and allow it to uncoil some, depending on what size and shape you want. You can keep it tightly coiled like this, or let it open up and keep it round, or open it some and shape it into a rectangle, square, triangle, tear drop, or pretty much anything!

Examples of several sizes and shapes are at the beginning of this post in the picture of my 1st quilling practice:) As you can see in the picture, I chose to keep some tightly coiled and opened some others up into bigger circles, flower petals, and rounded triangle shapes.

The other main tool used in quilling is the comb. As mentioned before, you can either use a quilling comb or a regular wide toothed comb.

In order to begin, wrap the strip of paper around at least one of the teeth, or more for different patterns.

Continue wrapping the paper around more teeth of the comb:

Once all the paper has been wrapped around the comb teeth, put a dot of glue on the end to stick it down. You can also put some glue on the beginning end to help hold the middle together.

This is an example of the type of pattern you can create using the comb:

These make more intricate patterns for flower petals and whatever else you design!


Here are a few designs I have made to help get your creative juices flowing:

Owl, using both slotted tool (eyes,beak,feet) and comb (body, wings)

Flower using comb (leaves) and slotted tool with beehive technique (petals)

Roses- didn't use any tool, just my hands, very tricky!

Snowflake Ornament made with slotted tool

Snowflakes (or stars) made with 2 paper strips glued together to make more sturdy, with comb

As you can see, there are many ways to quill! I recommend trying out several different methods and seeing which ones you like the best. Although this is just a beginners guide, I hope you've found it helpful on your new journey into the land of quilling!

Happy quilling:)

Rachael

Worship Creatively

We are made in the image of God, the Master Creator of all! Therefore, we are made to create. What better way to say thank you than to worship God creatively!

There are many ways to worship. One of my favorite ways is to sing. There's something about music that transcends normal speech. It helps me feel closer to God.

My second favorite way to worship is enjoying God's awesome creation! Either by going for a walk in the woods down the road, or taking a trip further afield, there are many places in nature where you can feel closer to God and worship.

Another way to worship God and show appreciation for this life we have been given is to help each other out. Whether a continual act of service, or spontaneous acts of kindness, helping people makes both you and them feel better, and closer to the One who created us all.

We can also worship God by praying. Communing with God as you would spend time with a trusted friend is a good way to worship:)

Some enjoy dancing and other forms of movement, which can be an act of worship as well.

Making art and otherwise being creative helps some people feel closer to God too.

Having an attitude of gratitude is another great way to worship God! 

There are so many ways to worship God and be thankful for this gift of life we have been given! What are some of the ways you worship?

Dreams--Subconscious Creativity

Dream moon pic I took in 2017

I'm the kind of person who almost always remembers at least one dream every night. I know some people don't usually remember any dreams, or have lots of nightmares instead of good dreams, and I feel sorry for them:(

Most of my dreams are either weird or fascinating, full of adventure and exploration!
I believe dreams are our subconscious mind being creative, and sometimes are symbolic of what's going on in our waking life.

When I was a kid, I used to have flying dreams, then when I got a little older I started having more levitating dreams. More recently I have not had either, but hopefully will have some again soon!

Nowadays I mostly dream of exploring different buildings and cities, as well as walking on the beach and being in or near some form of water. I also have a lot of animals show up in my dreams. Sometimes they are a calming and pleasant presence, and sometimes they are either chasing me or biting me!

I often visit the same city many times, either the same location or a different one within the same city. I think of it as my dream city, and it sometimes reminds me of Scotland, which I love! I have been to Scotland twice now, and plan to go back soon:) (more on that in future travel posts! )

I have several reoccurring dreams, some of which are darker and involve going with a group of people down stairs to a basement level, or through a dark corridor, and trying to find our way through. Sometimes we run across zombies or other monsters or aliens, but we always make it out! It reminds me of the movies! Most of these dreams don't make me feel scared, but every once in a while one will surprise me awake!

Sometimes I look through the eyes of other people, and change views during a dream.

I find it very fascinating the way our minds work!

What kinds of dreams do you have?

Sometimes it's fun to try interpreting dreams, although I mostly just enjoy having them:) One site I like to use is http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/  It has several possible meanings for different items or activities you may have in your dreams. Well worth checking out!