Donna Tomlin

Pet Challenge

Donna Tomlin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:52:50 +0000

The iheartfaces Challenge this week is pets. It was hard to pick just one for this challenge, but finally settled on this picture of my Jojo.

Fix it Friday

Donna Tomlin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:45:13 +0000

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another Fix it Friday photo from Iheartfaces.These are so fun.

Original Photo

My fix – I loved all the dirt and tried drawing the eye there first.

Zoom Zoom

All about Ray’s

Donna Tomlin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:32:03 +0000

So, last week I was surfing around on my newest, favorite website Iheartfaces and signed up for a chance to win some really cool textures and overlays from Kaleidoscope . After looking through her photoshop goodies. I had decided that whether I won the give away from iheartfaces or not, I was going to own some of Patti Browns stuff. It was unlike anything that anyone else was offering. Her “lite” overlays are truly amazing. So, NO, I did not win any of the give aways, but I did purchase a couple of her sets. I have had a blast trying these out on different photos.

A couple of pictures I started off with were of my dad. I used texture from the “gallery collection” and overlay from “Lite Flare”

The next picture I worked on is one of Rock Island Park here in Tn. A lot more was involved to creating this photo than just a quick texture added. Showing you a before and after. Even the crappiest pictures can be turned around….Sometimes.

While I absolutely love all of the new goodies I got to play around with in photoshop. I did do a quick google to see if I could make my own sun rays. I did find a simple tutorial and tried it out here. To do this, you duplicate your background layer. Go to filter Render~ Difference Cloud. Then back to filer Blur~ Radial Blur select “spin” and then clicking on the grid to change the center of your spin/ray, boost amount of spin about 3/4 of the slider. Select okay and then apply and “overlay” blending mode.

I actually used a texture I had instead of the difference clouds. I kind of like it on this picture of the skyline. Cosmic comes to mind when I look at this one.

There you have it. A litte bit of the fun I have been having this week. Feeling a little inspired now to get out and shoot something new so I can come home and turn it into something totally different.

Photoshop Creations

Donna Tomlin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:00:03 +0000

I love creating art in Photoshop. I am always working on pictures, but here lately I have enjoyed starting with a blank canvas and making my own templates. With a little help from Da Font and Devianart for some Christmas PS Brushes and Fonts the possibilities are endless at what you can come up with. These cards were all made for fun.

The picture in this first card is the Red Barn down at Rutledge Falls in Tullahoma, Tn. I kind of had an idea of a painting/sketch. Mostly black and white with a little color. While I liked the end result, it still wasn’t quite what I had visioned in my head. I’m thinking I need some Photoshop classes to be able to create what I in vision!

Card number 2 is of my friend Wendy and her family. They let me follow them around the Christmas Tree farm so that I could capture some family Holiday photos of them. This card reminds me of a Country Christmas.

Last Card is one of me and my wonderful hubby down at Rutledge Falls around Thanksgiving. It’s simple and I love it.

Funny thing…. I didn’t create my own Christmas Cards from scratch this year. We did however choose a family pictures and used a ready-made template from a photo printing company. Some that get them will LOVE IT, while others I am thinking some may not. ha ha ha

FIX IT FRIDAY

Donna Tomlin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:29:03 +0000

“I heart faces FIX IT FRIDAY” what a great website. I found this site not long ago, and just in the last couple of weeks have started participating more in the contest and challenges. If you enjoy photography and haven’t visited the www.iheartfaces.com web site, then get your tail over there soon! I have found this site to be a valuable place for some awesome information.

Here is my Fix It Friday. Photo provided by the I Heart Faces.

My Tools – CS3 ~ Florabella actions ~ Kaleidoscopes Lite Flare ~ Pioneer Womans action to brighten the eyes.

Original Photo

My FIX

I heart Tooshies

Donna Tomlin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:31:09 +0000

It’s not often that the backside is the focus in a portrait.

SUN FLARE

Donna Tomlin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:47:43 +0000

Sun Flare – Gotta love Sun Flare. I ♥ Faces weekly contest this week is Sun Flare and Faces and I just had to enter.

Thanksgiving 1986

Donna Tomlin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:48:10 +0000

Thanksgiving or Christmas? It would be hard to choose which one is my favorite holiday. Both are dear to my heart as it means treasured time spent with my family and friends! One of the most special Thanksgivings I ever had was in 1986. This was the year that Rick and I lived in San Pedro, California while Rick finished out his last year of his 4 year term in the Navy. It was also the first year I would not be with my family for the holidays. Thank God for our Navy family/friends Gary and Nacole. They would not be able to go back home for the holiday either. We decided to tackle the job of cooking our first Thanksgiving and spending it together. Nacole was a GREAT cook, while I on the other hand, got by cooking hamburger helper and spaghetti, so this was going to be interesting. If I remember correctly, we did have boneless Ham and boneless Turkey and the dressing was Stove top Stuffing. Nacole brought over her candles which did help distract from the burnt pots “I” used as serving dishes.

Sending “Thanks” to our dear friends Gary, Nacole and family in Idaho. We are blessed to call you friends and I wouldn’t trade the year we spent together as a Navy family for anything!

Gary and Nacole in April 1986 in a trip we took to Marine Land

Our son Brandon was just a little over a month old for his 1st Thanksgiving.

Funny thing… Rick and I only had 2 plates. So Nacole and Gary had to bring their own. I still have those 2 plates. Can’t bring myself to part with them. Everyone thinks they are ugly and won’t eat off them but me.

Miss. H

Donna Tomlin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:37:17 +0000

It was such a pleasure to be asked by a friend to do a portrait session for his daughter that is in college. We started out doing her pictures in her band and competion uniforms. She’s a twirler This girl is muti talented. Not only can she twirl 3 batons at once she can change clothes in the back of a SUV faster than anybody I know. She claims it because of years of practice at her competions! I had a lot of fun hanging out with Miss H and her mom Mrs. H down at the bi-centennial mall one gorgeous Autumn afternoon. Editing Miss. H’s pictures was awesome. She’s got the most amazing eyes and the hottest pair of black boots. Here’s some of my favorites from this session.

Easy as 10 dollar Grilled Cheese

Donna Tomlin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:32:05 +0000

So, I was at work Friday the 13th and I am day dreaming of my camera, clouds and sunsets over the Nashville skyline, when it dawned on me that my hubby’s birthday is just 2 days away. The crappy part is he is working on his birthday and Friday was the only day I would have to plan anything. Talk about instant stress. A quick call to the inlaws for a dinner invite and a suggestion for the best ready made cake from a friend on Facebook got me started in the right direction….Now, what to cook thats quick and easy. I had remembered a couple of new simple recipes that I had seen just a few days before I wanted to try.Hmmm, maybe now would be a good time to try them out.

Rick’s Birthday dinner.

Big pot of Chili
10 dollar Grilled Cheese
Spiced Apples
Cookie and Cream Cake (from Publix)
Homemade Vanilla Ice cream (Purity brand homemade)

Gonna give you all the recipes I used for the the most expensive Grilled Cheese I have ever made and Spiced Apples.

10 Dollar Grilled Cheese

1 loaf Texas Toast 2.79

Parkay Margarine 1.29

Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices 1.99

Shredded Parmesan Cheese 4.49

Preheat over to 400. Butter one side of all bread. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and kind of pat it down into the butter. Add your cheddar cheese , layer sandwich style. Bake in the oven for around 6-7 minutes and serve.

*Everyone LOVED this and not a one left over.

Spiced Apples

6 granny smith apples (peeled , cored, sliced)

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Melt butter in large skillet. Add apples and pour in the rest of the ingredients. Stir often! Cook for around 15-20 minutes or until tender.

*Again, everyone loved this. No leftovers!

I love trying new recipes. But I have some of the PICKIEST eaters in my family and it can be totally frustrating trying new dishes. It’s good when I can find something that is simple and that everybody enjoys. Now on to figuring out my Thanksgiving menu… Any suggestions?