A Year of Fortune Cookies

Yay! Soon we enter the Chinese Golden Rabbit Year and I'm inspired to...well...have something related to it on Amretasgraphics to share with you my lovely readers :-)

A little secret: I love what comes to my inbox daily. I subscribe to a few inspiring newsletters and tidbits and some of them, most of the time, made me smile and at least a few seconds of mood boosting that could last all day. Sometimes more. Isn't that great?

And yesterday, I just got a thought of opening a personal account on Facebook for Amretasgraphics... and I oh so love it! I can now connect with my readers personally. How wonderful it is to get to know my lovely graphic friends! :-))))

Once I opened the 'home' of Amretasgraphics personal account... I stumbled upon a fortune cookie application by a friend, and so I clicked and voila! An encouraging word popped up on the screen. It was "Believe in yourself and others will too"

Okay, so this is my intention: I'll pick some encouraging words I encounter that really shoot me to the soul each day. And post it on the blog and Facebook. And Twitter (my Facebook account and Twitter are interconnected). Of course, using various graphics of my very own creation (talking about sharing good energy, my friends! :-)). And this is intended (and now scheduled) for a year long, 365 days of fortune cookies.

If you like the idea, you can also use this as a fabulous 'excuse' to practice the Graphic Goodness Exercises ;-) The Chinese new years focus on prosperity, good fortune, overall wellbeing, health and luck. Love it. And I'd like to have a little adventure in that. Interested in coming along? ;-)

A grand journey always starts with a small first step. Here's mine:

from fortune cookie 110115

from fortune cookie 110116

Happy New Year and Love Bears Prints

Hello everyone! Happy New Year!!!

Now, I hope you are starting new year with a lot of good energy. It's going to be an amazing, creative year! (oh yes I believe that! :D)

What are your goals for 2011? I met my seniors at work, those whom I call 'mentors' on new year and we had an exciting talk about a fabulous year ahead of us and besides the dreams, they inspired me to plan. Does it sound so simple, or typical new year: dreaming, goals, and planning?

Oh well, probably. Only you have to know this: (ok, a confession) I used to have a lot of wishes on new years, but never a real plan *blush*. I was too afraid to make resolutions or to set goals, damn scared that I would never ever be able to keep my own words and would just then disappoint myself.

I learned to expect nothing, believing that good things would come when they come.

To be honest again, my friends, now I see I made a terrible mistake. I simply didn't know where to go with my business as I didn't set my own chart, and so life took me nowhere. Sure I had made some nice things and created some 'ups' such as overcoming the troubles with the server, trying out social media. But I felt like I was just wandering around the web world, took a taste of this and that with no further follow up. Was it the adventurer in me? Who knows, but I felt like a clueless wanderer ;-)

Sounds miserable? Hehe, I admit that's what I felt. So thankfully the right people came to rescue. I really love my mentors. They have such positive energy and didn't see my past 'mistakes' as 'mistakes', they are 'lessons'. And the more painful the 'mistakes', it means the bigger the 'lessons'. As long as you can see it. And take an immediate, inspired action to walk, or even run pass them. Armed with the learned-lessons, you're sure going to go ahead and further. That is the importance of planning. It's to determine the baby steps toward your goals. It's soo good to have a person (or many) who believes in you! :-)

One more thing, now I came to conclusion too, that enjoying the present doesn't always mean you just go with the flow and expect nothing. I have learned, you get what you expect. If you expect nothing, you tend to do nothing, and nothing is what you get. So I turned around my belief: I will always expect the best. That way, I will always do the best I can, and whatever the end-result will be, I have trust it's the best.

Wow, are you with me? :-))))) In short, I would like to do the business right in 2011, and still very enjoyable :-)))) Though first of all creating graphics and websites is only a hobby and after-work-hours thing, but I've decided to take my mentors' advice seriously: not take it like a hobby! It's business, honey, a very important part of your living.

Now I remember my dad... a contemporary artist who was very true to himself until his last moments on Earth. Never a single moment I remember that he took painting like a hobby. He gave it all his best. When he died in 2004, former students of his told the media that as a teacher, he used to assign his students to create 1000 sketches per day. And he would oversee the them. Talk about hard work and self discipline!

With such role model and in this case, I agree with choreographer Twyla Tharp, the author of "The Creative Habit". As the book title says: creativity is a habit, and habit requires hard work, perseverance, and self discipline. And guess what, there is not even one prominent artist who didn't work hard. I was particularly fascinated by one passage of the book where Twyla Tharp talked about Mozart. Everyone thought that his music just came out of his genius mind like a gift from Heaven (indeed it was) - but not everyone knows that he too, had to work so very hard, practice with incomparable self discipline that when he came to his thirty years old his hands were deformed (true, I didn't know that!).

Sure I don't want my hands to be deformed after so much practice...but I do admire the hard work and self discipline. By writing this I want to use this as a reminder to myself ;-)

Ok done now with the talk and let's go to the first Amretasgraphics goodies of the year 2011!!

I see my previous Happy Bears Prints are among the favorite download from the previous years so I decided now they come back by popular demands :-)

Love has always been a favorite subject so here they are the Love Bears Prints, to start 2011, with love <3

 I made two similar cards with two different polka dot background variations (one green and one pink), the same graphics for two A4 size prints, and A3. Aw, I think I need to run to a printing shop to print the A3 size poster...I want one to decorate my room :-))

 I hope you like them, too! Find below the download links. The files are in PDFs.

 XOXO Amreta


Love Bears Cards

Love Bears Print - A4 size:
- green polka dot background
- pink polka dot background

Love Bears Print - A3 size:
- green polka dot background
- pink polka dot background

Feel like lovin' these goodies? Do share it with your friends and give them a graphic goodness treat using the share buttons on the post-footer below :o) sweet thanks!

Kate Spade's Things We Love

Oh yay! I can't help. I just have to share this fabulous THINGS we LOVE at Kate Spade.

Browse and jump into Kate Spade's popsy world.. and if you're like me, it feels like serotonin booster, you know, the very thing that makes you feel happy from the inside your brain :-))

Graphic Goodness Exercises 1: Day 11

Hurraa! I hope you had a very nice Christmas!

I also hope you had good exercises with the graphic goodness and now we're going to talk about using 'eraser tool'. In the first part I include the PSD file for you to practice using the eraser tool, and I also uploaded the PSD file of the image above for your to play :-)

Download the files here:

The exercise
The image

So, let's start now :-)

Open the exercise file. Click on the eraser tool as shown in the screenshot above. The eraser features panel will appear at the top of the screen below the menu, and you can experiment yourself with the diameter, mode, opacity, etc. It's fun! :-)

Now make sure you are on the right layer. Click-and-hold your mouse and drag erasing the image. Ay, can you see it? Play again. As much as possible (...kidding...but a lot of practice will help :-))

Now I just pasted a red graphic to the working board, and I want to make a heart-shaped image.

so I clicked on the eraser tool again, and set the diameter to a small one. Then I use it to create a heart in the center of the red graphic.

Once I got the shape, I erase the outer area of the red graphic (I enlarge the diameter first to make it easier to erase), so, the red heart stands alone now.

Yippi! Now I got the brown and red graphics to create flowers. I added more elements that you have learned from the previous exercises. Open the PSD file of the image and you can play with it. It's another fun exercise :-)

Have a great week!

Auntie cooked for a special weekend lunch

Hello friends! How's your Graphic Goodness exercises going? Did you practice alot? ;-) It's been pretty busy around here..but here I'm back! Starting this week we'll catch up again with the Graphic Goodness Gratitude Cards Day 11 onward.

I'm just so happy that last weekend my aunt was visiting and she cooked for lunch the food my late grandma used to make. I don't how to say it in English, but it's kind of meatball...let's say it 'Javanese meatballs'. It's a mix of minced beef with finely chopped cabbage and carrot and egg, and cooked with tomato and spices.

In addition our cook prepared fried minced tofu, boiled spinach and soy bean, and spiced grated coconut (it's called 'Urap'). And of course we always have rice as staple. Love it. It was a special Sunday lunch at home with my aunts and cousins. A good energy to prepare a week with more graphics on the blog. I'm such a lucky niece of my wonderful aunts :-))

Graphic Goodness Exercises 1: Day 10

Download PSD file Day 10

Wow! Day 10. Let's wrap up a bit what we have learned until day 9:

• copy and paste the digital papers to the working board
• rectangular and elliptical marquee tools
• move tool
• lasso tools
• duplicate layer
• type tool (including coloring and changing sizes)
• arrange layers
• transform tools
• select and cut layer to create shapes

If  you missed the Graphic Goodness Exercises 1 -  Week 1, go here.

Today using the same image as day 9, we are going to practice:

• group or merge layers
• simple drop shadow tool
• using brush tool

Ok, let's start :-)

First, open the PSD file from Day 9.  You can see on the layers list that there are a lot of layers in the document.

Now, start experimenting. Take two or more layers that you want to put in one group, or, to merge into one image.

• click a layer on the layers list
• press Ctrl button and click another layer you want to put in one group or merge with the first layer 
• click "Layer" on the menu at the top, then "Group layers" if you want the images to still be individual only that they are 'together' - or "Merge layers" if you want to merge the images into one image.
• in the sample PSD file Day 10, I merged the entire small layers to make one doll image
• repeat the steps several times until you get the hang of it

Second, let's experimenting now with dropping shadow to the images / layers

• start the practice with one layer. For example the 'Thank You' text. Make sure you're on the right layer. Now click "Layer" on the menu at the top. On the sub-menu, click "Layer style" then "drop shadow" and the layer style box will pop up
• now it's time to play with the shadow box :-) you see in the picture below, on "drop shadow structure", I chose "multiply" on the 'blend mode' box, 35% opacity, 120 degree angle, distance 5px, spread 0px and size 5px 
• repeat these steps with other layers, and try to experiment with various blend mode, opacity, angle, distance, spread and size

Third, just a quick taste to brush tools, because I want to add pinky blush to the doll's cheeks (we'll talk more about brush tools in a few days):

• click on the brush tool on the tools menu as shown in the picture below

You see in the picture above:

• when the brush tool is selected, the brush menu appears at the top of the working board
• here I set the brush size to 32, mode normal, opacity 50%, flow 100%
• and on the toolbox, you see I already changed the color to pink
• if you still have other color there, double click the color box, and another color box will appear, and you can set the color of your choice
• click on the layer where you want to apply the brush tool (in the sample, it's the face or layer 2)
• now you can 'spray' the pink paint with the brush tool to the doll's face to create blushing cheeks
• repeat these exercises. you can always click on 'Step Backward' or 'Undo' by clicking first "Edit" on the menu at the top, whenever the result of your brush-painting is not yet satisfying, and then try again and again. have fun! :-)

to be continued....

Graphic Goodness Exercises 1: Day 9

Hello friends! Sorry for the absence.... I got sick and had difficult time staying for sometime in front of the computer ... learned something, though, next time I will use the scheduled post so there will be no interruption :-)

Download PSD file Day 9

So, before we start, I'd like to make sure that by now you have followed the tutorials and must be familiar with:

• copy and paste the digital papers to the working board
• rectangular and elliptical marquee tools
• move tool
• lasso tools
• duplicate layer
• type tool (including coloring and changing sizes)

And from week 2:

• arrange layers

If  you missed the Graphic Goodness Exercises 1 -  Week 1, go here.

Today we are going to learn about using more tools and functions that I mentioned in the previous post:

• transform tools
• more select and copy/cut functions

And tomorrow, using the same image as today's, we are going to talk about:

• group or merge layers
• simple drop shadow tool

Ok, let's start!

First, we are going to make a doll / girl image. On the step by step below, you will learn about transform tools and some variations on select tools. You will also use a lot of 'arrange layers' function so it's a good repetition from what you learned in the previous post. Anyway, you will always have to repeat most or all of the steps, which means you will get a lot of practice along the way :o)

• create a working board. Here I have the 640 x 480 pixels as usual, and copy-pasted the light blue paper
• make an ellips from the light-beige paper, for the head
• make three yellow ellips and arrange them around the bottom of the head. The light-beige head might be place under the yellow ellips, so put it forward using "arrange layer" function (see tutorial Day 8)
• make a purple ellips and put it under the yellows
• make a long dark blue ellips as shown here, for the dress

Second, to make a bell-shaped dress, use elliptical marquee tool on the dark blue ellips. Since you want to erase the outer area of the marquee, click "select" on the menu at the top, then click "inverse". When the inverse area is selected, push the "delete" button (on the keyboard) and then you will get the bell-shaped dark blue - as shown in the pictures below. Note: make sure that you work on the right layer (check with the layers list on the right).

Third, now we are going to start using the transform tools.

I want to make the sleeves which have the same shape as the dress, only smaller. So:

• make a duplicate of the blue dress
• on the menu at the top, click "edit" then "free transform"
• hold and drag your mouse to make the image smaller

Now I want the sleeve I just created to rotate a bit. So repeat the steps "edit" -> "free transform" and you'll see once again the blue sleeve is 'wrapped' by a box with 7 transform points as shown above. Place the cursor outside the transform box until the rotating cursor appears, then hold the mouse and rotate the sleeve. Apply the transformation.

Note: when you do the transformation, make sure that you are on the "move tool"

You now get the sleeve image...

• make a duplicate
• click "edit" -> "transform" -> "flip horizontal" ... and voila you've got two blue sleeves one for the right, one for the left side of the dress
•  use move tool to place them on the top-sides of the blue dress.

Fourth, now we are going to make the legs and shoes.

• using rectangular marquee tool, make the legs from the light-beige digital paper
• make a duplicate then place them behind the dress
• using elliptical marquee tool, make a small blue ellips
• almost similar to step two (on how to make the bell-shaped blue dress) - create a selection area with elliptical tool on the small blue ellips (check with the layer list that you are working on the right layer)
• press "delete" button and you'll get a half moon image. duplicate the image, then place them on top of the legs

Fifth, to create the hands

• I made a duplicate of the leg
• I wanted to make the image thinner, so I clicked on free transform tool (which means "edit" -> "free transform") and place the cursor to one of the middle-side points, and once the transform arrow cursor appear, hold and drag the mouse inward, to create a thinner rectangle. Apply the transformation.
• Now I wanted to rotate the image to suit the sleeve image. Repeat step 3 on how to rotate the image. Hints: free transform tool -> rotate
• Make a duplicate, click "edit" -> "transform" -> "flip horizontal"
• Using move tool and arrange-layer, place them behind the sleeves
• Make a small ellips from the light beige paper. Make a duplicate then place them on the hands

Sixth, to create the hair and the face

• repeat steps 2 on how to make the bell shaped dress, now with the black digital paper. Use free transform tool if you want to make it bigger or smaller
• place it behind the light beige head
• using elliptical marquee tool make an ellips from black paper. By now you know how to make it bigger or smaller :-) then use once again the free transform tool to rotate it. Place it on top of the head to make a side bang. Duplicate, flip horizontally, then place them on top of each other.
• make two tiny black ellips for the eyes
• repeat steps 4 on how to make the half moon images for the shoes, only now use a red paper

Voila! The girl graphics is done and now you are ready to add some more details as you like. Here you see I added hair ribbon (by now you know how to make them :-)) and the decorative bubbles and text.

Tomorrow we'll continue with dropping shadow to give a cutout and 3D-like effect to the image.

In the meantime, have a graphic goodness today! :o)

Graphic Goodness Exercises 1: Day 8

Download PSD file Day 8

Welcome to the first Graphic Goodness Gratitude Exercises  - Week 2!

Starting today to the next 7 days, set aside at least 30 minutes to repeat what you've learned in the GG exercises week 1, plus to get familiar with some more basic tools on Adobe Photoshop that I use most often to create my 'cutout' graphics. It is a very important step to exercise your "graphic goodness creative muscles", which means, the more you practice, the more you'll get creative... guaranteed!

And if you are already familiar with working on Photoshop, feel free to develop your own techniques later, and share it with us here, or on Facebook.

First, start with opening (in Adobe Photoshop) the digital papers I included in the f.r.e.e. goodiebag (if you haven't got one, get it here).

By now you must be familiar with:

• copy and paste the digital papers to the working board
• rectangular and elliptical marquee tools
• move tool
• lasso tools
• duplicate layer
• type tool (including coloring and changing sizes)

If  you missed the Graphic Goodness Exercises 1 -  Week 1, go here.

Second, now here are more tools and functions that you will learn in this tutorial week 2:

• arrange layers
• transform tools
• eraser tools
• group or merge layers

Third, now let's start! :o)

First, I will copy and paste the background, then blue and pink ellips, and then brown treebark to the working board.

You see above that the pink circle is on top of the blue and the brown treebarks on top of the circles.

Fourth, now I want to move the blue circle to the front, and the brown treebarks to the back.

I click my mouse to one of the treebark (see on the layer list: it's on layer 4). Then on the menu at the top, I click on "Layer" and on the submenu "Arrange". Four options pop-up: Bring to Front, Bring forward, Send backward, Send to back

Fifth, now you see the options. Click on 'Bring to front' if you want the image / layer to be on the very front (on top of other layers), and click on 'Bring forward' if you want the image to move one layer on top. The same with the opposite. Click on 'Send to back' if you want the image / layer to be on the very back and click on 'Send backward' if you want the image to move one layer behind.

Experiment with the images on the working board, practice until you really get the hang of it :-)

Notes:
Another way to move the layers is by moving / dragging the layer on the layers list. Click on one of the layer, the hold the click and drag the layer up or down. What you see on the layers list is actually where exactly the layers are placed.

And voilà! Congratulations! You've completed today's exercise! :o)

Tomorrow  we'll continue with some practices using transform tools

See you tomorrow!

Have a graphic goodness today!

Choosing authenticity

One of the things I learned from my Dad, an artist, was authenticity. It was the very word that deeply sinks into my pscyhe, and I don't know if actually I just inherited that from Dad without realising how it would have shaped my life, the way I live now. There were times in my school years I lamented why I was different from my classmates, but then coming home, Dad would give me encouragement that my 'differences' - if I stick to those - were the things that made everyone know it's "me", that made me 'stand out' and that I don't have to be ashamed that I was 'extra-ordinary'. Then I went on. I found my life, life found me. And the journey is still up and down. And I'm thankful that Life still gives me gentle reminders whenever needed. Like the video of Dr Brene Brown above. Watch it. Take notes. You'll love it.

GGE 1 Gratitude Cards Day 7

Download PSD file of the image above here

If  you haven't done so, read the "playnote" dan "do-it-your-way challenge" for this Graphic Goodness Exercises 1 - Gratitude Cards Week 1 - here.

How I created the image above on Adobe Photoshop:

• open the digital papers from my f.r.e.e. goodiebag
• copy and paste the teal background
• using elliptical marquee tool, copy and paste the blue circle, copy the layer to make 4 more, then use move tool to make the composition
• using elliptical marquee tool, copy and paste one big purple ellips, 
• using elliptical marquee tool, copy and paste the green circle, copy the layer to many and then use move tool to create a composition of tree leaves
• using lasso tool, create the brown tree bark, copy and paste
• using lasso tool, create the blue and yellow leaves, using elliptical marquee tool to create the dark brown and white circles, then use move tool to place them around the brown tree bark
• using the lasso tool, create the light blue rain drops, copy and paste and copy layer to many, then use move tool to place the rain drops images around
• using elliptical marquee tool, copy and paste the dark purple circle, copy layer to make 3 more, and then use move tool to create a composition of the four images.
• using type tool, create the text. Type on this sampler: Georgia. Use the move tool to place the text as you like.

Now you can play and create your own card with the PSD file that you can download above :o)

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