Be Creative #74

[Bamagirl]

Welcome to Be Creative #74

Wow! The Be Creatives for the last month have been fantastic. They are a hard act to follow. Since this is a holiday week-end, let's try something simple- Border Brushes.

I went to Deviant Art and typed in border brushes and there were pages of different brushes. I chose this brush set:

http://wantingtobreakfree.deviantart.com/art/Border-Brush-3-28805820

but there are so many more.

Here are a few links:
http://dark-dragon-stock.deviantart.com/art/border-and-corner-brushes-2-79797261

http://shoe-fly.deviantart.com/art/Grungy-border-brush-set-59511442

http://psydoxart.deviantart.com/art/Border-Corner-Frame-PACK-79949093

You get the idea. You can use one of these or pick your own. I have noticed that we have quite a few new people playing with us, so here is a tutorial on how to download free brushes into Photoshop or Elements.
http://www.scrapgirls.com/how_to_use_brushes_in_Photoshop_Elements_PSE.htm

If you have ANY questions, please feel free to post the question and someone will be glad to help you.

The great thing about using brushes for borders is that you can choose your own color and use different layers and different opacities for the different layers.

The small print for the challenge is ……

Everyone is invited to participate.
Please join in, share your images, ideas, imagination and inspiration. There are no rules - feel free to experiment and, if you can remember tell us what you did so others can benefit from your experiments.

Please post your images (as many as you like) below in this thread.

If you would like to comment or have a question, please post here. (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46265)

I'm looking forward to seeing some very interesting images!! Have fun playing!!

[Bamagirl]

I chose to make a subtle border. When I finished, I merged the layers of my border and added a slight drop shadow.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1hubRrAGjg95ddvMMJGYyfIbWTS5O81_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hubRrAGjg95ddvMMJGYyfIbWTS5O81)

[BJ!]

Since it's spring & Easter, I decided to use a butterfly brush that I've had & never used.

Happy Easter Weekend!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1ImhmTZcrAZNVkm1VwtzeCor7G3Y_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ImhmTZcrAZNVkm1VwtzeCor7G3Y)

Thanks for all the links, Clara. I'll sure be checking them out!

[pacfam]

Here's a shot at it. Large leaf brush and pinecone brush are my own.

[Aussie Nan]

Thank you Clara, it's really good to be reminded about using brushes again, and the links are much appreciated. I used the shoe-fly one.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sXPce6Udh8svDNCLlameQAUFPULdS_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sXPce6Udh8svDNCLlameQAUFPULdS)

[swalkr]

Granddaughter - her favorite color is pink.

[swalkr]

Actually, here is a better one. I just kept clicking around Deviant Art and blew my whole afternoon. What a way to go :D:D

[dspec01]

Used a Shoefly Grungyborder - #84



http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/10g9SNdVl5qo3aoSUezZL3hcQajkx_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=10g9SNdVl5qo3aoSUezZL3hcQajkx)

[billz]

I used a homemade brush.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1SrqMnirK6mmhiWbr3FMcHSbNZEfWP1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1SrqMnirK6mmhiWbr3FMcHSbNZEfWP1)

Thanks for the inspiration Clara, that was a good challenge.

Bill

[Deborah]

I also made my frame. Using a animal print brush, then applying multiply blending mode.
Thank you Clara for bringing this tutorial.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/2/0/7/4/bird_199101_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=11668&c=5)

[SharLamb]

I wanted to use the Shoefly border, but it is a .rar file and won't open in PSE. At least I can't figure out how to do so. Suggestions?

[dspec01]

Grungy_border_image_pack_by_shoe_fly

This is the file I downloaded. Not sure if this is the one you wanted, but it is a zip file.

[SharLamb]

That's exactly what I downloaded. But it has a .rar extension, which cannot be used in PSE. We need .abr extensions for our brushes. When I did a search of Deviant Art, all they came up with was the .rar group. Are you using something other than PSE?

[swalkr]

I had the same problem Shar. From what I read, that extension only works with Photoshop 7 and above, not Elements. I did find a few on Deviant Art that had the ABR extension.

[SharLamb]

Okay...never mind. I found a link to "other files" that I was able to use because it is .jpg...So it's not a brush, but I can use them as overlays if I select out the white and delete it, or I can define my own brush directly from the .jpg file. Not sure if these are worth the effort!

[SharLamb]

Glad I'm not crazy (or at least that this issue isn't proof thereof!!), Suzanne. I am always distressed when, in THIS forum, stuff is tossed out for us that is not for ELEMENTS! This is the ELEMENTS Village. On my other forums I pick and choose based on what the writer is offering (PS or PSE), but here I just expect it to be for ELEMENTS ONLY. So it is frustrating to spend a lot of time thrashing around with no success. But as we all know, there are usually ways around everything.

I did also find some other grunge borders with an abr extension, and I may fiddle with at least a couple of these (see my previous post).

[SharLamb]

Just a funny aside for the newbies: A little over a year ago I wouldn't have understood a thing I just wrote in my last several postings. SEE!! There is hope. Once you climb up Half Dome, it's not so steep on top! ;)

[swalkr]

Shar, I agree that the poster should state whether it is for Elements or Photoshop. I've started many a tutorial only to find out after several steps that it was written for Photoshop. I know there are work arounds, but I sure don't know them all. I've also posted a request that those who write tutorials, that they state what dpi they've used. It sure saves a lot of time if we know ahead how to adjust for a different pixels size. JMHO. :D

[boblemon]

Shar, .rar files are compressed files similar to .zip files. You need an extractor program (I use WinRAR) to get at the files in them. The same way you use WinZIP to extract the files in a .zip file.

[SharLamb]

Well, by cracky, this is why I show up here everyday....always something new to learn!
Thanks!

[SharLamb]

Okay...finally, here's (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=11684&c=5) my entry. I made brushes out of several of the .jpg files from Shoe-fly's grungy frames at Deviant Art.

We have a saying in Seattle:

If you can't see Mt. Rainier, it's raining.

If you CAN see Mt. Rainier, it will be raining soon.

hehehe

:D :D :D

Sorry...guess I should have used Pixentral:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1KtFwFc0hcJJJaOoJUrqhrMBcrDKk1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1KtFwFc0hcJJJaOoJUrqhrMBcrDKk1)

[swalkr]

I, too am glad someone comes along with an answer. Never ceases to amaze me, the talent and knowledge on this forum.

Well, by cracky, this is why I show up here everyday....always something new to learn!
Thanks!

[dspec01]

Well to use a phrase my son uses - my bad. They were .jpg files I used, not brushes

[Bamagirl]

I just want to make it very clear that I am very careful about picking out tutorials and actions that you can use in Photoshop Elements. I do not have PE7, but I do have PE5 and I usually try out tuts in PE5 before I post them. I apologize because I do have .rar on my computer and I guess that I did not notice that the zips were in .rar form.

I want to answer questions and help people all that I can, but I am also a person here with feelings.

[SharLamb]

So sorry, Clara. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings and apologize for doing so. My comment was not directed at you particularly. There have been many times when we have been tempted by wonderful-looking add-ons and/or tutorials here, but come to find out they are for PS and won't work with PSE. That totally confuses me since this Village is specifically for PSE. All the PS-ers seem to have many places to live!

And BTW, I just downloaded a program that is supposed to let me "unzip" RAR files. The video showing how to use it didn't have any sound, so I don't know if I'll be able to figure it out, but as it turns out, the .rar extention is comparable to .zip, and just needs a way to be set free.

So I will have my DH stand in as your proxy and give me 21 lashes with a wet noodle if you will forgive me. :o

[SharLamb]

Well, I've had 2 "by cracky" moments today. This is the second one. I tried opening all those shoefly brushes (.rar) using Zipeg: http://www.zipeg.com/

and had no trouble at all...it was faster than whatever it is I use to unzip .zip files. So now I have a new tool in my box, thanks to Clara, and here is one of the borders to prove it:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Mqr885kHwoOT07UlXW6mq4v8VsMCS_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Mqr885kHwoOT07UlXW6mq4v8VsMCS)

Thank you so much Clara, for directing me to a bunch of very fun brushes.

[dspec01]

Being creative is definitely addictive.


[/URL][URL="http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1V5WTEM6YuF7aKmODliFII5oTX2wQ5"]http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1V5WTEM6YuF7aKmODliFII5oTX2wQ5_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1hbNxkWb255u4BaglahbJPQ67g0)

[SharLamb]

It certainly is addictive. Here is the photo I had in mind when I saw the shoefly brush frame that first intrigued me so. I think you will agree, it has been worth all the grief to make this work.
(It's my DGD, btw.)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1dQgtbvBHu9NiszFOLOJqKPZAv4kN1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dQgtbvBHu9NiszFOLOJqKPZAv4kN1)

[swalkr]

Nor were my comments directed to you Clara, or this particular tutorial. It was a general comment on things I've run into while trying out tutorials, only to find it was written to Photoshop and not Elements. So if I hurt your feelings, please believe me it was not intentional. Please accept my apology.

[victry1]

This was a great one- as Toni said, I forget about brushes and really don't know all that can be done with them. When I bought Elements, the guy at the Apple store said that from then on I wouldn't leave my house. Well, I've left my home on occasion, but do go to bed way too late cause I'm playing with it! :D

Not so happy with my attempt, but too tired to do more. I do LOVE those textures though - I find I use them more and more lately. ;)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sdgE8t4iz7HpC9qjxk2LJMbUK7n20_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sdgE8t4iz7HpC9qjxk2LJMbUK7n20)

[SharLamb]

Hello. My name is Shar, and I'm a Brush-Frame-aholic.....

So many of Dennis' fabo rusty cars and trucks inspired me to do a little PSE magic with the headlight of an ancient jalopy my DBIL has been working on for about 20 years. I may not be able to do what Dennis does with his camera, but I think I figured out a pretty close solution. And of course, it screamed for a grungy Shoefly frame.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1PqrMUeEJmPlRT00UghXA1CzOssQk6_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1PqrMUeEJmPlRT00UghXA1CzOssQk6)

Honest. I can quit any time. Really.

[Bamagirl]

I tried the shoe-fly frames and I love them.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Z25MDMtU8WWAKYI3tMxcTmryo7K6U_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Z25MDMtU8WWAKYI3tMxcTmryo7K6U)

[SharLamb]

adorable, Clara. That picture is magazine quality and the frame is perfect for it.

[swalkr]

How cute Clara! Good job!

[bekster]

What a great idea - I hadn't thought of something like this. I'm fairly new to playing with PE. Here's my shot - I'd been playing with doing a b&w with color and thought this snowflake border looked good on there.. I got the snowflake brush set from http://www.easyelements.com/free-photoshop-brushes.htm

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1mpZrm8xoZupllpDbgMOgg4vOceBct_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1mpZrm8xoZupllpDbgMOgg4vOceBct)

[Martha]

I'm not sure what the thing is that Emma is holding or what exactly she's looking at. I used a brush that I allready had and applied layer styles to it.
Martha
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1axbH2GErrpAk2XHqLyUX8B4Dzk290_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1axbH2GErrpAk2XHqLyUX8B4Dzk290)

[billz]

Clara -

That image is so much fun I want to put on a polka dot outfit and join her.:D Beautifully captured ... and finished!

Bill

[SharLamb]

I believe it is a sprinklerhead. Cute LO and frame.

[Aussie Nan]

Had to try another one. This little cutie just spontaneously posed for me when I was shooting at the beach one evening.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1jUVurx3xNtSiQ9TET0QsCXvx7jw0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1jUVurx3xNtSiQ9TET0QsCXvx7jw0)

[SharLamb]

Perfect driftwood-looking frame for adorable shot.

[boblemon]

Here's a couple of bad boys from he old west.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1APwdjRh5FDQxYwr3xQQFcSVm1amu_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1APwdjRh5FDQxYwr3xQQFcSVm1amu)

[SharLamb]

Perfect frame for a very phun photo.

[Martha]

I did another one using floral swirl brushes in each corner. I used the emboss filter on the image and duplicated the emboss layer.
Martha
http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/8/3/4/0/week-74_blossoms-img_2580_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=11781&c=5)

[djkaraok]

Did my first last week for Be Creative #73 - Now I have to find each week the newfile:///C:/Users/djkaraok/Desktop/CreativeLesson74%20copy.jpg fun thing to do. Here is my attempt at Creative #74.

[Chesney]

Sorry I am so late, time slipped away from me this week. I made my own brush for this frame and then beveled it. fun, great tutorial, Clara!!
http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/8/7/4/9/cupcakelogan_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=11794&c=5)

[rmc0302]

Awesome photos everyone. I have learned a lot just the two days I have been on this site.

[victry1]

Didn't quite make the deadline.......:o I used the shoefly and some star brushes by Mindy. Of course, after I finished I found some brushes that might have worked a little better, but somehow I lost my layers......must have forgotten to go backwards after I merged...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1lTfH8txJjoIyooYbbpPdcta5SM7l_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1lTfH8txJjoIyooYbbpPdcta5SM7l)

Thanks for the challenge. I really haven't thought about brushes so much so this was real good for me.

[kimmer]

Clara,

Thanks for your help, I finally was home long enough to do it. I love all the brushes and they uploaded just fine. Now, to see if I have uploaded to the Gallery correctly.

I did this with two of the brush sites that you suggested. The main is from 500ML Pre-Raphaelite set and the other is one of the corner frames from MS Border Brushes.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/3/7/4/5/creative_74_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=11865&c=5)