Conquer Your Computer

I've moved the blog...

For the past few years, I've been keeping 3 blogs.  One for family & friends, one for Bazzill events and of course, this blog, my Conquer Your Computer blog.  Sometimes, the information was copied and pasted to each of the other blogs.  Because it takes time, I would neglect each of the blogs at different times.  Now, I have combined all 3 blogs into one-stop reading.  Please follow this new link to www.joeyotlo.typepad.com and bookmark it for future reference.  I will no long post to this blog.  Come see me at my new address.

Woo hoo!!! The new Bazzill app is here!!

Okay, so you know how crazy I am about Bazzill.  You also know how crazy I am about using the RGB codes to create the font colors to match my favorite Bazzill colors.  Now I'm crazy about Bazzill's new app available in the iTunes store at http://tinyurl.com/bazzillapp.

Paul, Bazzill's IT guy developed the greatest application.  Remember the Color Index book?  Remember paying $29.99 and not finding the exact color you needed.  Well, here's the best news.  The new Bazzill app is only $9.99 and you get the RGB and CMYK codes for over 500 Bazzill colors.  I've been playing with it for a couple of weeks while it's been in the development stages and I'm so glad it's finally here.  Check out the main screen.  It's got the coolest icons. 

Browse over 500 colors alphabetically by name.   Search by typing the name of the color and it will pop right up.  Scroll on the right side of the screen to the first letter of the color name.   The app makes it easy to find your favorite colors!

Browse visually by color family.  Choose color family from the top of the screen and then choose the color you want. 

Browse by Texture family.  All the textures are represented.

Once you find the color you want, you'll get easy access to the RGB and CMYK values.  Create the perfect color palette with monochromatic, complementary, triadic, analogous and split-complementary color combinations.  Save your your favorite color combinations as palettes for later use.  This is great if you want the app to come up with some great color combos for your layouts.

   

Match your favorite photos to Bazzill cardstock.  Create and save palettes based on colors picked from your photos.  This also works if you scan your patterned paper and open it as a photo.  Get 5 cardstock color choices to design your layouts.  It takes all the guesswork out of designing!!

I'm sure you're going to love it!!  Buy it at the iTunes store at http://tinyurl.com/bazzillapp

You can also follow the Bazzill app on Twitter. 
 

Memories In A Moment - April 8th

We all face truths in our lives that make us stronger people. By journaling these truths as a reminder, we can discover some amazing things about ourselves. Create a 5×7 album using chipboard, acrylic, embellishments and more. Based on the book, “50 Truths Worth Knowing,” this interactive book helps you capture your memories in a moment. Stop by Scrapbooks Etc to see the original book.

 
Join me Thursday, April 8th from 6:30 to 8:30pm.   
Register today by calling (480) 854-2303

Supplies to bring with you...
- Scissors
- Adhesive (glue stick, tape adhesive, glue dots)
- Corner Rounder
- 12" trimmer
- Crop-a-dile
- Brayer(optional)

Conquer 2 and 3 are coming this weekend. Don't miss out!

Coming to class this weekend?  Thinking of coming to class this weekend?  I'd love to see you!!

Here's what I've got planned for you in Conquer 2...
It's time to get with the program, if you know what I mean.  Photoshop Elements 8 has been out in the marketplace for a while now and if you've been nervous about upgrading, here are some great reasons you'll want to.

*  It's FREE to try it.  Go to the Adobe website at www.adobe.com and get your free 30-day download.

* They've got some great new tools that make life as a digital photographer so much easier.  You can recompose 2 photos, merging them to bring out the best exposures.  For this example, I used a photo of a friend and her family on the beach in Hawaii.  They were picture perfect.  The sunset was amazing but when I darkened the photo, the sun became radiant.  I saved the dark version of the photo as a separate file and merged the light and dark photos together to enhance the color using the Guided Edit mode.  Using the Smart Brush, I lightened the family in just a few simple steps.  Check it out!

Using the Photo Merge for Exposure feature, I merged the 2 photos together to get this...

Then, I added some text and a border to complete the photo.

With the Smart Brush, you can also enhance selected areas of a photo without affecting the entire photo.  In this next photo, the exposure of the camera caught all of the surroundings but didn't enhance the sky.  If you'll notice, there is a green mountain on the left side of the photo.  I used the Smart Brush to bring out the greenery, to make it seem like the sun was reflecting on it as well.  Check out the before and after, paying close attention to the sky and greenery. 

Here's the before...

And after...

  

See how much more blue the sky is and how much green the mountain is?  Love it!!  And so simple to do. 

With Elements 8, recolor a photo has never been easier. Check out the before & after...

  

So if you like the first few sneak peeks, you'll want to check back for more.  Here's more of what's in store for you in Conquer 2...

*  Use the Guided Edit to complete some simple editing techniques 
*  Restore an old photo using the Clone Stamp Tool and Spot Healing Brush
*  Use brushes to create some quick and easy titles for cards
*  and most importantly, we'll be reviewing the changes that make Photoshop Elements 8 so easy to use!

In Conquer 3, we'll take some of our techniques to the next level.  
*  Create a reflective photo, making the image seem like it is mirrored
*  Use texture effects to dress up a photo.  Add grunge and text and you've got a simple greeting card.  Just mount the photo on cardstock, add a few embellishments and the card is complete.
*  Manipulate a photo using the Magic Extractor Tool
*  Play with masks
*  Learn to recompose a photo in seconds
*  Got digital kits and not sure what to do with them?  Let me show you how! 

Here are some of the examples...
The first 2 examples are the same photo but by using different techniques, you get different results and therefore a different look.

 

By duplicating, inverting and adding a gradient layer to this next photo, I was able to make it look reflective.

For the next example, it's the same flower photo as above but this time, I added a canvas texture.

And last but not least, I downloaded some free digital papers from www.littledreamerdesigns.com and created my own simple digital layouts.

 
 
Don't forget, if you register for both Conquer 2 and Conquer 3 on February 27th, lunch is on me!  No need to leave the store to find something.  I'll be bringing my crockpots filled with Green Chili Chicken, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans and all the trimmings to make a Mexican fiesta.  Ole!!

Join me for Conquer 2 from 10:30 to 1pm and Conquer 2 from 2-4:30pm.  See you then. 

Conquer Class Schedule for Spring

 
 

Another Sneak Peek for Tuesday's Class

This photo was just a little bit bright so rather than adjusting the lighting too much, I made some minor adjustments and then brought down the saturation of color to give it an "antique" look.  After adding some eyelet borders and a scalloped circle with text, this photo is ready to print.

Join me Tuesday, January 5th from 6-8:30pm at Scrapbooks, Etc.  Call to register (480) 854-2303.  See you then! 

Tuesday's Conquer 2 Class...Have you registered yet?

Hi all,
With the holidays now behind us, it's time to start thinking about downloading all those photos from the camera and getting them ready to print.  In this week's Conquer 2 class, I'll show you some easy photo editing techniques that will take your photos from "so-so" to "so, so great!!"  Join me from 6-8:30pm this Tuesday, January 5th. 

Here's a couple of sneak peeks of the projects we'll work on and the techniques you'll walk away with...

 
This first photo was an impromptu photo shoot on a kitchen table.  As you can see, when the photo was taken, the right side of the photo had part of the kitchen in view.  Using the Magic Extractor Tool, I was able to remove the kitchen.  Then, with the Clone Tool and Spot Healing Brush, I was able to duplicate the left portion of the photo and place it on the right side.  After adding a slight vignette and some text with a drop shadow, the photo is complete and ready to share!  Click on the photos for a larger view.

The 2nd project is a birth announcement.  We'll talk about how you add multiple photos to a project to create a collage.  We'll add brushes to the photos to make them stand out more and we'll add texture to a smooth background to make it look like it has a canvas finish.  Check it out!  Click on the photo to enlarge it for a better view.

And the final sneak peek for today is a card that will be kitted and ready for you to create.  The technique in this card is creating text in a circle.  Receive a template so you can create your own text in a circle for future projects.  Add fun patterend paper and my favorite Bazzill cardstock and embellishments and it's ready to deliver!

Check back again tomorrow to see more of what's in store for you on Tuesday night.  And if you like what you see, call Scrapbooks, Etc. at (480) 854-2303 to register. 
 

 
 

Memories In A Moment - December 30th

The Christmas holiday is right around the corner.  I can't believe it's here already!  I know you'll be taking tons of pictures to remember this special time. 

Join me on Wednesday, December 30th for this fun and festive holiday class. With Christmas passed and memories made, you'll be able tuck your special moments safely away.  Create a 5x7 mini album using Bazzill Board and Plastic Paper along with tons of other Bazzill products.  And if that's not enough, we're coordinating it all with the Let it Snow line from Three Bugs in A Rug.  This 2-hour class will have you walking out the door with a completed album and tons of ideas to create additional albums!

Here's a sneak peek at what's in store for you!  There are 2 sessions to choose from; 10:30am -12:30pm or 6:30 - 8:30pm.  Call (480) 854-2303 to reserve your spot today.  Stop by the store to see the completed album.  The class fee is $24. 

 

Thursday, December 17 Conquer 1

With the days counting down until Christmas, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of the ideas I had for tags, cards & gifts for the holiday.  Let me show you how to create fun projects using your Microsoft Word and Powerpoint programs.  Here's just a sneak peek at some of the things we'll be working on.

  

 

 

       

See you Thursday from 6-8:30pm!
  

Fiskars TV

While I was in Orlando this summer for the CHA show, I was asked to film an episode of Fiskars TV using Bazzill products.  I was so thrilled to be asked.  Slowly, my thrill became panic when I realized that I had no idea what I was doing.  After arriving, I was "mic'd" (they attached a microphone to me) and told to stay close to the filming area.  Of course, my brain heard but my body didn't listen and I accidentally became detached.  The nice guy put it on again and I was ready to film.   Since I hadn't done this before, I didn't have any way to practice what I was going to say.  Suzanne was great at leading me along.  I was soooo nervous.  Once the cameras started rolling, I realized I had never asked where I was supposed to look.  I decided that down was a good place, looking at the project almost the entire time.  WRONG IDEA!  I looked like I was talking to my chest.  When it came time to put the jewels on the project, I used a nifty Fiskars Craft Knife and proceeded to fling jewels all over the place.  Thank God for editing because they took that part out.  All in all, it was a fun experience and I now know what questions to ask if ever approached again. 

Here is the link to the episode.  Enjoy.
www.fiskarscrafts.com/tv