Love making others happy!

[Shari]

Just a little story about how this programme can bring pleasure to others as well as ourselves. As most of you know I am still doing pretty simple stuff but with the help of all the tutorials and lessons and this forum what I do seems very professional to people who know nothing about digital except sharing photos by e-mail. Our neighbours across the street are Italian - they have some young relatives visiting from Venice. Yesterday I went over with my camera and took photos in their garden. I came home and printed some on note cards and put "Vancouver Canada" on some and used my Wacom pen and faded backgrounds - but simple simple things. I left them on their doorstep. I just got home today and get this message on the phone about the magnificient work - words cannot express - what an artist - how talented!!!. All of them had to have a turn on the phone. You know doing these simple things give me a lot of pleasure and others too. So I want to thank all the helpful people on the forum and those involved on the subscriber area - because I know if it were left to me figuring this out on my own or using books - I would not enjoy this the way I do. I did go on - but I am sure others feel the same way.
Shari

[skstarkiller]

Thank Shari for sharing the story. I was able to make baby announcements for a friend and he really appreciated them.

[Wendy]

Hi Shari ...

Oh that is such a nice story ... and they really loved your work :)

Wendy

[kimi_boo]

Shari, you are such a nice peson!!

I feel the same way you do. I would not know any of this if it were not for the helpful people here on the forum. :D

[karen donnybrook]

Shari,

That is wonderful. I know the feeling - my "boss" at the Telecentre has been telling clients I am a "graphic artist" :eek: :eek: and like you I am only doing simple things to the images.

Karen

[kayser]

I love these kinds of stories! It may seem simple to you, but it's definitely appreciated by others!

I recently did a quick 20-minute collage from a bachelorette party of a friend of a friend, and the collage ended up being a gift for each of the girls in the bridal party and presented at the rehearsal dinner! And I made a collage for my husband's gradmother- she turned 90 this year- of several of the quilts she's made over the years. It ended up being THE gift from the family, and she said, "You couldn't have given me anything nicer!" Even with simple designs and techniques, you can make someone's day!

[rmartin]

Be very very careful :cool:

Something simular happened to me. I did some pictures for my sister, and she loved them, but now, she wants me to design a web site for her business. I mean really, that's like work or something! :D :D

[mhughes]

Shari,

What a great story. I understand how you feel. I am so flabbergasted when neighbors or other friends rave over my own simple, simple efforts.

I don't have the time I used to have but still gain so very much from this forum & the unselfish way everyone is a mentor & constructive critic.

Thanks for sharing. It gives us all a boost.

Mary

[NMarti]

Shari
I think it's a great story. I love doing them as gifts. That's how I ended being a volunteer for Big Cat Rescue. I sent them my poster and next think I knew I was designing all sorts of things and running her online store. Yes - be very careful.:D

[snooze]

Could not have said it any better Shari. All the help that we get here is fantastic.

Dennis

[NRiceDesigns]

Thanks for sharing that story Shari. Once you begin designing cards & gifts, there's no turning back. I used to spend hours in card shops, but now I can't imagine ever purchasing a generic card.

[TonyW]

Shari: Great story and I know how you feel. I did a simple "replace the background" picture for someone I know with her new granddaughter last week. It took no time at all as I already had a suitable background and she was so happy. Now she's bought a copy of Elements, got it installed and wants lessons :eek: . Not so sure about that.

Tony

[apasskey]

Hi Shari - I agree that it is fun to give people photo gifts. They seem to appreciate them so much and rave about how wonderful they are.
I put together a very simple collage of my daughter's puppy and showed it to friends at work. A science teacher wondered if I would make a similar one of her dog who had recently died. I made the collage and she gave me a huge hug and kiss on the cheek and offered to pay me $100. (which I refused, but wow!!)

I would still be sitting and staring at the computer screen, wondering where to start with Elements, if the wonderful friends on the forum had not been here to coach me.
Thanks again!! Andie

[Caroleen]

Shari, this is my first reply. What beautiful work you did. Would you mind sharing with me how you did the notecards. I have some beautiful personal photos of hawaii. Would like to make them for a gift to a young couple that spent their honeymoon in Hawaii. Great gift idea. Caroleen

[Carbone]

Two years ago, I made a prom book for the daughter of my best friend. 50+ pages, all unique with distinctive backgrounds and framed images. Not to mention the retouching and sometimes "miracle work" done on some images to salvage the passage of time. It was wonderful!

Ray

[mottcru]

Shari - What a great place you have made here for everyone to share their stories! I think it's wonderful how your creative work made others so happy, and so pleased with your generosity.

I find the very same thing. In fact, here's my story. Whenever I feel like I'm becoming a PSE junkie, or a forum junkie, I'll print up something I've done for a family member or friend. Something that seems simple to me, but does take thoughtful creativity...I think that's what people see, the personal touch. They know you're thinking about them. And, in this giving I get back to what's really important, which is the connection with others through my 'craft'. As soon as I give someone a piece of what I love to do here, it feels like I'm sharing the wealth! And, a piece of everyone in the forum goes with it!!! All the generosity of others sharing their experience is shared many times over.

To me, this is what it's really all about!

[mottcru]

Oh, one more thing. Nita - I know exactly what you mean! I feel guilty sending a store bought card. It almost seems impersonal. My mother and father in law RAVE about the cards I make them. They're better than any gift I could ever buy them!

[karen donnybrook]

Caroleen,

Welcome to the forum. I am sure Shari will catch up with your question sooner or later :)

Karen

[Wendy]

Hi Caroleen ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Making notecards for the couple sounds a great idea and I am sure that they will appreciate it ..

Wendy

[Mary]

for the grandparents/great grandparents - create a small image of you and/or your husband and insert that next to your signature in your cards for your little ones. We live a fair distance from our little ones so we don't see them very often and this helps them know who we are.:)

[Shari]

Hi Caroleen - welcome. You are going to love this forum and all the things you learn. OK - I buy my paper at Staples or somewhere similar. You can get note cards (2 to a page) 8 1/2 x 11 quite reasonably. $16.00 for 100. I buy sticker squares at Michaels (acid free photo mounts 250 -$3.00). I have print shop and make a template for the back of my cards on that - but I have also made a template in elements for an odd sized paper. On the back of the card I print what is on the front (sometimes) and Photography and design by Shari. I have fun doing this with different fonts I find on da font website. Then I work on my photo and if the photo takes it I add text. I like simple things so often I will write on the back of the card "flower from Smith's Garden - August 2006". Then I print my card 3 x 5 or 4 x 6. The 4 x 6 have to be trimmed a bit. I also bought a paper cutter from Staples - Not too expensive - a small one. I stick the photo on the card and there you are. I am presently waiting to find a place to get small bags so I can put each card in that individually. We are going to a party tonight where I am taking a set of eight notecards I made from photos taken in their parklike garden. With the cards being blank inside they can be used for any occasion. I think I have done nearly every dog in our neighbourhood and everybody loves them. The thing to do is take your camera whereever and get photos but don't make a big deal of them or e-mail them to the person. Then they forget and you have a surprise for them. I have taken some wonderful photos of my friend's dog and the river she swims in and plan to do a framed collage for Christmas. She has forgotten all about the fact I took my camera that day. I hope this helps Caroleen. Let me see something you do - and be sure to ask for any help here. I got all my info on the supplies I use from others on these forums.
Shari

[JRR]

What fun to read everyone's stories. Of course, I've got one, too. a friend of mine was diagnosed with ovarian cancer recently, so we had a "hat" party for her since she is starting chemo soon. I took pictures of her trying on the hats and jazzed them up a bit. We'll be giving her the book very soon. I'll put some of the photos in my gallery.

Everyone in this forum is wonderful-I've never seen a group that is so eager to help others!

[kayser]

Shari- THanks for the details on the cards you make. I am definitely going to start doing more of this! I've been making thank you notes for a while with pictures I take, often of my daughter with the person we're thanking, but I need to do more scenery cards.

[mom to 4]

Shari:

What a wonderful story! You must feel so good! Isn't it wonderful when you do something that you enjoy that brings so much enjoyment to someone else????? I brought up three collages to friends while on vacation (they are in my gallery.....) and everyone one was hung on their walls within days! Wow, did I feel good!

Thanks for the info on how you did it......I may have missed it....did you post an image of the card????

[Shari]

Thank you Kay and Colleen. Colleen I didn't post the images because they were just very simple with some text and some fading with my wacom pen. They were good photographs though. It is hard to get a good one of a whole group. It was how pleased they were that was so nice. I really do love making the cards. I have just this minute finished making some more for my Dad. I do images of where he lives on Bowen Island and make cards for him to give as thank-yous or to send to his friends. He loves saying "my daughter made these"!!! And as you say Colleen it is wonderful doing something I enjoy for someone else to enjoy.
Shari

[graficalicus]

[...I saw "Love Making.." as part of the title of this thread and immediately had to see what this was about.....]

:D :o :eek: http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/graffidude-mini.gif

[karen donnybrook]

Gra.f.f.i.i.

:D :rolleyes: :o

Karen

[kimh]

For the first time in years I am actually looking forward to Christmas--usually buying things for people (kids) who don't need anything, already have everything they need. That is so depressing and stressful. This year am looking forward to doing pictures/montages for everyone. Hope I can pull it off! Am already getting my ideas together. I'm sure will be asking for help!
Kim

[Gigi]

I also make note cards and have just started to sell them at the local craft fairs - while most have been very plain and simple - now that I have been learning so much here with PSE - I have had so many more requests for my cards. Prior to that (I have 7 sales representatives that work for me) I would always buy the a gift for their birthdays and holidays........you know how expensive and impersonal that can get - now they all get personalized note cards from "gigi's creations"

Most of my supplies comes from Staples or Office Max - usually I purchase the Wausau Stardust White -(it has tiny flecks of color in it) and either cut them down to the smaller note cards - or have my pictures printed and put on the front of them. All have been pretty successful.

[Wendy]

Hi Gigi ...

Oh your cards sound really nice ... do post some images as you make new ones :)

Wendy

[Wags374]

We are friends with a large family (8 kids) that "have nothing against photos, we just forget to take them." When their 8th child was born I told them I was going to make a photobook for them. I got them together for a group picture (first group shot that has been taken of them since they only had 5 kids) and then took individaul pictures of the kids on a couple of different days. I did a page for each child and I had the older kids write up a short paragraph about themselves and included that on their page.

They were absolutely thrilled with the little 16 page book I had printed for them (viovio.com) and ordered copies for the grandmothers for mother's day. Both grandma's were in tears when they got them, and both have repeatedly thanked me.

For the mom's birthday this month, I took pictures of all her kids and then put them in a simple ($5) collage frame from Walmart. She loved it!

I just got through scrapping a 20 page photobook for the family reunion my dad's side of the family had last month. Not much to it really, corrected some pictures, and included a couple of pictures of them from the 40's that I had restored. It is a big hit, especailly with the over 70 crowd that "just can't imagine how you do that!"

Making people happy is the best part of doing this. :)

[Wendy]

Hi Jane ...

Oh that was such a lovely thing to do :) ... no wonder they were so pleased.

Wendy

[mom to 4]

It really is so nice to bring a smile to someones face by giving them a gift that they just can't buy! Things that we consider simple can make jaws drop. I just love it! It feels so good to make someone special feel that they are special!

[nolanc]

Your Message is why I to this day (coming up on 17 years) still love working in the industry. I realy love makeing people happy with what I can produce in the quality of work I do and sometimes as you say it is so simple sometimes.
Thanks again.
Nolan

[Wendy]

Hi Nolan ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Wendy

[Caroleen]

Shari, I haven't really gotten started yet but I'm really interested in what you're saying. My husband is a Baptist preacher and I'm always looking for ways to make gifts. Nothing would be better than to make gifts of their own pictures. My head is spinning I'm so excited about learning the Photoshop elements #4 program. Your pictures are beautiful and I can't wait to get started. I babysit so I don't have a lot of time to work on these things but I want to. I have been staying up everynight for the last week till about 12:00 midnight. Thanks for your email. I'll probably be talking to you and asking some questions. By the way, Vancouver must be beautiful. Carol from NC

[Shari]

Caroleen, if I were you I would subscribe and take the layers course. I am just finishing it. You have about two months to work with it and it really gives a good basis for the whole programme. You just have to keep at it and try to find the time. The last few days I am going to bed cross-eyed. I usually spend the morning at the gym and a long walk home, do a few things and come to the computer in the afternoon. My gym is closed for renos and the past few days I have been getting on the computer at 8 AM and staying most of the day. And darn - I just realized I missed the sunset again. Tomorrow night I will put the stove timer on as a reminder. That is what I have to do these days to get me away from the computer. You should be well on your way in time for Christmas gifts. Just ask any questions - there are lots of helpful people here to help you.
Shari

[Storm1]

Hi Shari -I have to get to bed its late. :) Have not been here very long but always look at your posts. Feel a kinship in a way because I'm just over the Straits from you on Vancouver Island. :)) Enjoy seeing your local photos.
Storm

[mel]

Shari it's great that you started this thread because from what I've been reading we all seem to have the same kind of joy that PSE gives us, especially when it's the joy we see in others when we make/create something for them :)

The stories that I've been reading here are similar to my own. I just love making things for others just to see a smile on their face. And I too, could not have done it without the help from all the great people here giving their advice and expertise and sharing their knowledge of PSE ;)

It's this forum and people like all of you here that make using elements even more fun, and I am so grateful that I 'stumbled' across this website because it sure made my life more joyful :) :)

[Shari]

Thanks Mel and Storm. Storm (name reminds me that we must get over to Long Beach this winter to see and photo the storms). Where are you from on the island? Here is another one of Vancouver - Yaletown walk. Lovely seawall walk that I did for a bit on Monday.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ggeYVgtuzlVyBrMlOoDkAD3CgcPk0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ggeYVgtuzlVyBrMlOoDkAD3CgcPk0)
Shari

[Caroleen]

Shari, Are you saying that you don't PRINT the photos on the cards. You actually print a photo on photo paper and then glue it onto the card. Do you take all your own pictures or do you ever get any pictures on the internet?

[Shari]

Caroleen, Yes I print out a photo on my printer and then attach that to the card. I used to print right on the cards when I used Print Shop but I prefer the glossy look of the actual photos. Now I can do text right on the photo and all the different techniques here before I print the photo. Yes, I do all my own photos. I actually have way too many in my opinion but not many compared a lot of others on this forum. I take my little pocket Fuji everywhere with me - just in case - and other days I take my S5200 Fuji with the zoom and go looking for shots. I love it.