THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. ANY ENTRIES MADE AFTER 11 pm EST WILL BE DELETED.
Winner was Holly, comment #298!
I love textures. Let me say that again….I love textures. Love them. Love. β₯
The very first textures I ever paid money for were from Florabella. I bought both her sets (that she had available at the time) and was extremely pleased with the purchase. They were unique, gorgeous, addictive. I could not find enough pictures to use the textures on. My sister finally had to say something to the extent of “I’m doing an intervention…Step away from the textures.” π
Over time I learned moderation, unwillingly. Still, I love textures. I have textures from many designers and have never been disappointed (yet). I have tried making them, but alas, mine all tend to look the same. So, instead of trying to make them, I will teach others how to use and love them. Shana from Florabella has the gift of making them, and I have the gift of getting others addicted. In other words, she needs me (please don’t burst my bubble).
Alright, let’s get down to the business of me showing you my infatuation with her recent texture set that just came out yesterday. I *heart* them more than I could have imagined. If you can buy only one of her texture sets, get set III. Seriously.
Here is picture I took yesterday of a bush while my kids were at Karate (I’m tired of photographing kids). Seriously drab but had potential, I thought.
To edit, I decide that textures are going to be what I use to enhance this photograph. I did ONE levels adjustment, bringing in the black slider a good bit, and the white just a tad. Then I flattened and brought in THREE textures from Florabella’s texture set III.
I changed the blend modes, trying various ones to see what effect it would have. If you are unsure about blend modes, here are some I enjoy using with textures:
- Multiply
- Color Dodge
- Overlay
- Soft Light
- Hard Light
When adding textures I go through the following process:
- Size it to fit the picture
- Change the blend mode until I find what I am looking for
- Lower the layer opacity to suit the image
- Add a layer mask and use soft, black brush at low opacity and brush texture off some areas
- Add a blur to the texture if I want to keep the hues but lose some of the texture
After adding three textures, playing with blend modes and tweaking as I listed above, here is the resulting image:
If you would like to see a before and after side-by-side, here you go:
Is that not an amazing transformation, just by adding a few texture layers? I love textures (no, I have not said it enough yet).
Oh, hey, did you notice in the post title that I mentioned something about a giveaway? Shana is graciously and very generously allowing me to giveaway a $100 gift card to her shop. Yes, that was $100! What an awesome spending spree someone is going to enjoy! Oh, the actions (drooling over her Luxe sets) and the textures. You really cannot go wrong with anything she offers.
Giveaway Specifics:
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment telling me how you heard about this giveaway (Facebook, blog reader, Twitter, Clickin Moms, Rock the Shot, etc.).
Extra entries can be earned by doing one or more of the following:
- “Like” Florabella on Facebook
- “Like” Everyday Elements on Facebook
If you are already fans of one or both of those pages, be sure to leave a comment stating such. To recap, you can earn up to three entries: one with your answer, one for Florabella’s page, one for liking Everyday Elements’ page.
Giveaway ends on Friday, February 25th at 11 PM EST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have one week to claim the prize, after which another winner will be chosen.
About Amanda
I have liked both Everyday Elements and Florabella on FB.
I herd about this giveaway because I’m a fan
I have you in my blog reader. I love her actions and haven’t seen her textures yet. I actually don’t have anything of hers yet, but would love to get her latest action set.
I already like you on fb
I already like florabella on fb too!
Saw the post on ‘Coffeeshop’ FB.
Already a huge fan of ‘Coffeeshop’!
‘Liked’ Everyday Elements on FB!
Misread the instructions…
I am already a big fan of Floabella on FB!
I found out about this on FB (coffeeshop). I have already liked both florabella and everyday elements! I am about to venture into the photography world and have been admiring Florabella’s work for a while now!!
π I have your blog in my reader, so that’s where I learned of the contest.
LOVE your edit!!! I struggle with using textures effectively — I need to try it again…
I “like” you on facebook, too!
Well, I like you here and there, too! lol!!
I love your website and have learned a lot from it so I was very sad that you have decided to limit your RSS feed. I can understand that you would rather we visit your site but for some of us who have very bad internet connection, google reader is the only way we can blog hop, it would take far too long to wait for each site (especially photo heavy ones) to load.
I’m already a Florabella fan!!
I learned of this awesome giveaway from the Coffeeshop!! So generous, and so kind!! Just bought my first set of Florabella actions and love them!! Would love me some textures too!!
I heard about the giveaway on you facebook page. I am laready a friend of both Everyday Elements and Florabella on facebook.
I heard about this give away from Rita (Coffeeshop blog)! Thanks for the chance!!!!!
I already like you on FB π
I heard about the giveaway via EE RSS feed.
I like Florabella on FB.
I like EE on FB π
I already like you.
I already like Florabella.
Serendipity! I just discovered Florabella earlier today and drooled over her selection while my baby boy, who drools even better than mama, danced to the French music. π You both have fantastic sites!!! So much so that I also “like” them on facebook! You can thank the Coffee Shop Blog for directing me to the contest. Thanks for the chance to win some pretties!
I heard about the give-away on your facebook page. Thanks for this chance!
I heard about the giveaway on FB : )
Already Γ’β¬ΕLikeΓ’β¬Β Florabella on Facebook : )
Already Γ’β¬ΕLikeΓ’β¬Β Everyday Elements on Facebook : )
Reading your blog. I love all the information you share. Love, Love, Love Textures……I seriously need to get some Florabella Actions……i just love what they do to a photo.
I heard about this giveaway (and you originally) from the Coffeeshop blog’s blog roll. I love your tutorials! And I would love to win this. π
I liked Everyday Elements on FB
I liked Florabella on FB
I have always liked your blog and read it whenever I can. Hootnonny on Flickr told me about the FB giveaway. I love her actions and textures!!
Your blog is looking better than ever!
I heard about the giveaway from Everyday Elements facebook page.
I am a fan of Everyday Elements!
I am a BIG fan of Florabella! I really would love to win these. I love textures too and was actually just drooling over these new textures this morning.
I found this special offer on Facebook, where I already liked both of your sites!
Wow! Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance!!
I heard about by your blog(found you threw pretty presets π )
I liked you on FB
I liked Florabella on FB.
Thanks again for the chance!
I like both thanks
I heard about this giveaway on Facebook and I check the Everyday Elements blog at least once a day (ok maybe two or three times!)
I already “like” Florabella…I actually LOVE Florabella on Facebook
I am already a “liker” on Facebook for Everyday Elements
I heard about this contest from the CoffeeShop Blog on Facebook.
I already like Florabella on Facebook.
I liked Everyday Elements on Facebook.
I love Florabella Actions/Textures! I heard about the giveaway through Coffeeshop π
I’m already a fan of Florabella on Facebook!
I heard about the giveaway on my blog reader.
I dream of Florabella textures….She does some amazing work, thank you x
‘liked’ and commented everyday elements, already fan of florabella x