Day 5: Lincoln Road Mall PLUS Quick Photoshop Tutorial

 Lincoln Road Mall in SoBe goes on and on forever! Today, a shopping spree occurred, and I didn't even have time to walk the full length of the mall and visit all the stores. However, my favorite of them all.....

....I sure visited.

 

I thought it would be a good time for an easy Photshop tutorial, seeing as though I did not bring any jewelry making supplies with me on vacation. This tutorial is a really easy, less than 5 minute tutorial which can really help you become more familiar with Photoshop and what it can do. We will be creating the "Juicy" text image seen 3 pictures above this paragraph.

This is customizable, customize the text and image to create all different graphics!

Step 1: Open up your background image. Textures are good here, and we don't want white areas in the image because it will make the text somehwhat invisible. This image of gems I took while on my shopping spree.

Step 2: Click on the Type tool; the left-hand side of Photoshop in that vertical menu bar, the big "T' button. Type your font here. I used Juicy Couture's font. To make the font bigger to fill the screen, I use the direct selection tool (the first button in the left-hand menu bar, the first button with the black arrow) and hold shift while dragging a corner of the box out to enlarge the font.

Step 3: Double-click on the Background layer. Click the OK button. This will unlock this layer (background layers are always locked, meaning we can't move the layer at all).

Step 4: Drag the background layer, now called Layer 0, above the Text layer (in my case named Juicy) and then release the mouse. The text layer will disappear! But don't worry......

Step 5: Right click on Layer 0. Click on the "Create Clipping Mask" in the dropdown menu.

Your background image will now only be covering the text! Go to file, save as, and save as a JPEG (or standard image file). There you have it!

Like I said, this technique is limitless. Make your background image related to your text to keep the look cohesive!

Day 4: A Beach Animation and a Wallpaper!

Today, a beach animation!

Animations are so cool to make, especially to capture a certain mood. Here, I couldn't pass up the rainbow umbrella sitting idle on the beach!

Plus, a wallpaper. I loved this photo of the beach I took because of the simplicity. I mixed it with modern font but a vintage photo filter; summer should always last forever!

Free to download, just click the image below and set as your background!

Day 3: Photo Journaling and Photo Tips

Today was a day of sightseeing.

Of course that included some cool shades.

And palm trees, AGAIN.

Some glitz (here, rings from Generation Bliss) and of course, Chanel shoes.

And as always, coffee; here is a latte with soy milk!

Some tips for taking travel photography:

1. Focus on the small things. Instead of trying to get the WHOLE scene, focus on one item that's the most interesting. Your photos will be unique. Anyone can take a picture of a beach coastline. Try to find a unique spin in your image, maybe by tilting the horizon, or using bokeh (see tip 3)

2. Set the mood with the color. It's easy to use Photoshop to change colors; me changing the color on the coffee picture from the dull brown it was to pure black and white makes for a more sophisticated picture. Think about the mood you want to convey.

3. Bokeh images. Like the palm tree image above, I love bokeh photography. It really gives all your photos an artistic vibe, and makes them more interesting to look at. Some great tutorials are on the net, but I've found that they make the technique seem harder than it is. All you have to do is put your hand about a foot in front of your camera lens, press the shutter halfway down to focus (on a Canon, or focus however your camera does if other brand), and then point your camera at your subject; it should be blurry in the viewfinder. Take the picture! If it is too blurry, try to focus on something a couple feet away, say like a tree trunk or light post. Then find the subject and take the picture. The amount of blur will depend on how far you are away from your first focusing subject, then the real subject you take your image of. The best way to judge is to just practice!

4. Document specific things. Specific outfits, accessories, places, things that are unique to that place or your situation. I love posting a mix of what I am wearing, eating/drinking, and seeing to form a full snapshot of the time!

There you have it, some simple tips!

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling. DO NOT use these images without linking back or giving credit to me! 

Day 2: Simple Miami-cure!

I have for you a quick and easy Miami-cure! Get it, manicure from Miami?! For this I used only two colors of nail polish, plus clear coat, and nail gems.

This was inspired by palm trees; I obviously abstracted the "palm" part and used bright colors to compliment the beach! I finished it off with a stack of neon bracelets (the second from the top is my own creation, the tutorial might be coming...) and a midi ring from my tutorial here.

I'm giving you an easier way to do the tutorial by using graphics, instead of photos. It's easier to see!

Start with a blank nail. Paint two coats of a bright blue. Take a bright pink, and carefully paint three "palms" from the corner of your nail. If you have a thin nail brush or those nail polishes with the "art brush",  use these because it will make it easier. Finish off by adding a gem to where the palms meet, using the clear coat as "glue". Do not paint over the gem, or it will lose sparkle!

Stacks of neon bracelets are huge this summer, and compliment any manicure! The ones seen here are from Claire's (the infinity), Ebay (the top and bottom bracelet). You can find these anywhere these days, or look at my tutorial here for macrame bracelets, or here for cool recycled braided bracelets. Make a bunch and enjoy!

Leather-Wrapped Stone Necklace: Men's Jewelry Tutorial

The second of my Men's Jewelry Tutorials, this tutorial features leather-wrapped gemstones on chain. I was inspired to make these from my pile of gemstones I had been collecting; they were just laying around. I was looking for a more unique way to wrap them then the ordinary wire wrap. Much like my Painted Leather Bracelets, these use recycled leather and metallic paint. These are very chic yet still have detailing from the painted leather, and if you choose a textured stone, the unique pattern of the stone. You can also leave the leather unpainted if you wish! 

I do not recommend using transparent stones here, just opaque ones. Using a metallic stone such as hematite here contrasts the matte leather nicely. Stones such as obsidian (the red one) have cool patterns that make the piece more unique! Don't use a large heavy stone here, it will weigh the design down too much.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed is a piece of leather (or flat leather string), a stone, glue (E-6000), and ball chain. Also, you will need acrylic metallic paint if you wish to paint the leather.

Step 2: Take your leather, and cut it into a thin strip. Place a coat of glue on one side of the strip. Place the end of the strip on the backside of the stone, then wrap around the front of the stone, until the strip ends meet; cut to fit as needed (second pic). Once the ends are cut, place glue on top of the ends to adhere more. 

Step 3: To make the loop, take another strip of leather (or the excess you cut off) and glue it right above your previous wrap of leather on the backside. Bend it backwards to make a loop, and glue this yet again to hold (pic 2). Place even more glue over all the edges to adhere. Let this dry. If you would like to paint this, feel free to use metallic acrylic paint (I use brand Folk Art). If you want the leather to remain plain, that's cool too!

String the loop through the ball chain. Finished!

Don't use any heavy stones here. Small ones are best!

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated! Don't use my photos without crediting me please!

UO Wire Heart Necklace/Bracelet Tutorial

This is yet another super easy, super quick tutorial. This dainty wire heart bracelet from Urban Outfitters is great for summer; the gold and silver tones look great against tans! Plus, it's lightweight and you can layer them with other necklaces. The original is a bracelet, but in the tutorial I make both a bracelet and necklace. You can make whatever you want, just cut the chain accordingly.

The copper heart is my bracelet, while the silver heart is the necklace. Mixed metals are really cool, and they are more interesting than just the same tone. Feel free to try any combinations!

You can also vary the shape of the heart by using different forms to bend the wire around. My one heart is shorter and rounded, while the other is longer and thinner.

I am not a "heart" person; I was thinking of making these to wear myself in lightning bolts, diamonds, half moons or any other cool symbol! The technique is the same, just the shape you bend it in can vary.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. All that's needed are pliers, a chain and clasp (make sure the links are not soldered shut), two jump rings, wire (different gauges will work, 18g to 20g is what I used. Do not use thinner than 20 though, and thicker gauges like 14 will be too thick to work with). Also, you will need glue like E-6000 glue.

Step 2: Cut a length of wire, 1 foot is plenty. Fold it in half. Use a pencil or pen and stick it in the fold to catch the wire. Hold the loose ends of wire with pliers, then twist your pencil, to twist the wire. Keep twisting, until the twists are tight and rope-like. Slide your pencil off, and cut off this loop. You should have a straight rope of wire. Fold this rope in half, into a "V". 

Step 3: Right next to the point in the "V", on the outside of the "V", place your pen/pencil. Loop the end of the wire towards yourself, making one side of the heart. Flip the "V", and do the same to the other unbent piece of wire. It should look like this. The size of your pen/pencil and how tight you bend it will make the heart shape differ.

Step 4: Cut the ends of the heart to meet at a point, (make sure the wire pieces are touching) and glue these ends together. Let it dry.

Step 5: Find the center of your bracelet/necklace chain, and split it into two equal lengths. Take your two jumprings, attach one to each side of the wire. Attach your jumprings to opposite sides of your heart. Close the jumprings. Attach your clasp to the ends of your chain.

Finished!

Like I said, different shapes can be made. Maybe try to bend around small cookie cutters like in my By Boe Star Earrings.  

Make some for your friends and relatives! As you can see, these come together quick so they would make a great gift.

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated! Don't use my photos without crediting me please!

Color Monday: Petal Play Palette

Inspired by tropical flowers, this palette has contrasting greens and red/pink hues, set off by black. Very sophisticated yet feminine! Feel free to use this palette in any of your art projects.