A dreary, rainy Sunday...

...not that I mind since I don't have to go out but I don't like rain. Actually, I love rain! The sound it makes is so soothing, well, unless it is a raging storm. But, my joints aren't real crazy about it!

Not much going on in my little world so I will try to answer some questions that have been posted.

Jo Ann...

I hope you read this. Try this link. http://get-winrar.com/en/ I have used WinRar for years and wouldn't change since this one program handles both .rar and .zip files and I find it so much easier than WinZip. It is only a pay program if you want all the bells and whistles but I have never paid anything nor do I think anyone else has. Most of the blogs and scrapping sites I go to use it so it would be well worth your time to add it to your computer. Let me know if you still have problems and don't worry, for right now I am keeping the freebies active since I am too lazy, or uninspired, to delete and then have to go update each post!

Thank you, thank you to NinaJo! I was trying to think of a name for my new dream man. His badge just said R. and his last name...but he is now to be known as Officer Goodbody! (and, oh, gee, did I mention that he was...never mind, I digress, yet again!)

Pins that look like they are going through the paper? I use several methods depending what kind of mood I am in, I guess, and what they are going through. Let me try to explain briefly, and maybe I will get ambitious (but don't count on it) and write up a little Janni-tut about it. I use PSP and do not have a clue about PS so for you PS users, I am sorry!

• Pin, just sticking in...decide where you want it, erase what you don't need of the pin part and I always add a little dot of black where the pin is going in on a new layer then Gaussian blur it. I add the drop shadow as a separate layer so I can manipulate it separately from the pin. Use this same method for staples, stitches, anything that pierces material...adds more realism.


• Pin sliding through a material...method 1...place where you want it, erase a middle section. On a new layer select an area with your lasso selecting tool just where the material would be humped up a little and bevel it. It will be a clear bevel with a little bit of a shadow. If it looks too harsh, you can use your softening brush and blend it a little. And, again add a little spot of black where the pin pierces the material.


• Pin sliding through material...method 2...follow above for pin placement and erasure but on the material layer use your burn brush to darken either side of the hump and then use your dodge brush to highlight a line down the center.


• Going through a transparent material, like vellum...I duplicate the pin layer before doing anything to it. Move this layer down below the vellum layer then go back to top pin layer and follow one of the methods above.

Once you use your dodge and burn brushes, you can find a million uses for them, to add shadows where you want, highlights... And, little short cut tip...if you are using your burn brush and you left click, it becomes the dodge brush and vice versa...saves time.

Now, is that clear as mud? I duplicate layers a lot when I am going for a layering look then you don't have to be so precise with you erasing. Just be careful about your drop shadow though since it can throw it off if you get too careless! Anyway, there is always the undo button! (Thank, God!)

Download no longer available...sorry!

Have a good day and remember to leave a little love where ever you go!