How to convert S.U. digital images into Outlines (and/or Colourize)

A little bit of digital trickiness...

...
...some printing on patterned paper...
and a solid image can become
paper piecing:

as well as an image to stick those paper pieces onto
or simply one to colour in. :o)

...make solid Stampin' Up digital images into Outline images
...convert Stampin' Up digital image PNGs into colour (using Photoshop)

If you've been checking out the Stampin Up salebration catalogue,

you might recognize this image
(or it's Mommy the solid image version)...

This image comes in a stamp as well, but this post is all about
how it comes in the saleabration digital freebie
(along with digi files of all the sets in the SAB catty)
and how you can do LOTs of thing with all that stuff...

Little note: I don't sell S.U. and this obviously isn't a finished card, but since saleabration only goes until the 31st of March, I thought I'd post this digital tutorial right away--in case it might help some people decide whether they want that digital image kit with all the images in the Salebration catty or not.

Here's some more of that set altered in a few different ways:

make Solid Stampin' Up Digital Images
into Outline images
(in Photoshop):

This tutorial uses the flourish from
the digital version of the Bliss set:

Step 1) Open your file in Photoshop & choose the Filter tab:

Step 2) Select Stylize then choose Find Edges:

This is what Find Edges will do for you:

...at least it will do with these Stampin' Up solid images;
it doesn't always work with every image out there).

Step 3) If you want to make your image darker or lighter,
you can alter the brightness or contrast.

Click the Image tab, then select Adjustments and choose Brightness/Contrast:

Then slide the scale to where you would like it.
I made the lines darker here by reducing the brightness:

You can also make the image into a Photoshop brush
and make a patterned paper with it
(There's a tutorial for how to do that in this older post of mine).

Here's one patterned digital paper I made:

I lightened the Photoshop brush that I made by reducing the opacity
It made a grey pattern that takes very little ink to print & is nice and soft...

You can also change the size of the brush (smaller or larger):

If you want you can even make coloured papers.
However, these S.U. images seem to require converting before they will
make coloured patterns (or let you change the colours of them at all).

Here's one way to do that...

convert black & white digi into colour
(again using Photoshop):

Step 1) Open your file in Photoshop & choose the Edit tab
then choose Convert to Profile:

It will open up a box. Select the profile you like.
I wasn't exactly sure which one to use, but
ColorMatch RGB worked just dandy...

...click okay to select the color profile:

It won't seem like much has happened since your image still appears black but...

if you go up to the Image tab, then choose Adjustments
and select Hue/Saturation you can lighten the image

(to allow the colour to show up):

Just slide the Lightness scale to the right to make
the image less saturated or lighter:

You could print the image gray, if that tickles your fancy or...

You can colour it.
Go up to the Image tab again and select Adjustments, then chose Colour Balance:

Slide the scales to get the colours you want:

It is such a blast to slide the scales around
and change the colours! :o)

And this may be stating the obvious, but you
could colour the outline in the same way as I coloured this
solid version of the flourish.

If you want to use a photoshop brush in colour,
simply convert it to colour before you make it.

Happy Crafting!


P.S. No photoshop? Here's another method of recolouring

P.P.S. Gimp is a great free/open source alternative to Photoshop (I use Photoshop since I have it I find it easy to try & fuddle my way through.) ;o)

P.P.S.This post is unsolicited & I'm not affiliated with Stampin Up, or any company here, in any way. I just thought this would be something nifty to share with ya.

C.A.S. Vintage Style Button Card (with circle punch paper buttons)

A while back, the fabulous Graphics Fairy, Karen, shared a gorgeous (and free) vintage button card graphic. I thought it'd be nice to make some fake vintage buttons to go on it as a little all-in-one crafter's gift: a card with removable paper buttons as a little built-in embellishment present.

[Confession: If my mojo was intact, I'd have made a dozen of these faux buttons to put on the card in 3 rows of 4, but I figured rather than posting nothing at all, I'd simply post a project that was C.A.S. (Clad Almost Scantily or is that Clean And Simple?)] teeheehee ;o)

The buttons are paper buttons made with fairly standard supplies
(hopefully found in the average crafter's stash)...
Gotta love making things that are nearly free, no?

Make a vintage style button card
with removable
faux button embellishments:

(Sorry this is not a pictorial. I've been wiped out lately,
so I just wrote out the steps to make them, in case
you might like to try something similar).

for the card:
-neutral cardstock
-computer & printer
-button card graphic from The Graphics Fairy here
-wax paper
-paper piercer (or a needle/pin)
-needle & thread
-scissors (to round corners & distress)

for the buttons:
-watercolour paper
-5/8" circle punch
-scissors
-stylus or the rounded end of a pen/paintbrush
-pearlescent paint & paintbrush
-1/4" square punch
-Alene's Tack it Over & Over


To make the card:
(with a bit of wax paper to make the
button embellishments removable)

1) Adjust the colour of the graphic (I added a little more blue tint)

2) Print it on neutral cardstock (this is speckled white) I printed the image out of Photoshop at 25% (Karen shares her images in BIG beautiful sizes for great quality). If you like you can round the corners (using scissors or a punch) and distress the edge of the card. I sanded some of the printer ink off which was fun.

3) Cut a piece of wax paper to fit (just larger than the black outline on the card)

4) To adhere the wax paper without any unsightly adhesive (and add a bit of sewing). Use a machine or stitch by hand: I added hand stitching: pierce along the outline; hold or temporarily tape the wax paper over that piercing and use the holes as guide to pierce it as well. Stitch the wax paper on. (I used black thread).

To make the faux buttons:

1) Take a scrap of watercolour paper & punch several circles out of it with a 5/8" inch circle punch--or whatever size you like.

2) Cut little triangular shaped divots into the outer edge of the circle with scissors. I didn't worry about making them perfect, since irregularity is more shabby chic, right?

3) Shape the circles, so they are concave (or dented-in bowl style, for non-scientific types like me) ;) by impressing them with a stylus or the end of a pen/paintbrush. (I like to use a piece of funfoam or a soft mouse pad underneath them to cushion things & make shaping easier).

4) Paint the shaped circles with shimmery paint (or lumiere, perfect pearls, shimmerz, or spray with glimmer mist or whatnot...)

5) Reshape them a little again (if necessary after getting them wet with the shimmery stuff) & let them dry.


To get an antique-y crackle finish on the buttons:
(and a vintage rhinestone look)

1) Add a layer of distress crackle paint-Rock Candy (which is clear) or a glaze of lacquer glue like Judikin's diamond glaze/crystal effects) if you prefer.

2) Adhere a swarovski crystal gem in the center of the button.

3) Let the buttons dry. While they are still slightly malleable, check to make sure they are still the shape you want them to be.

To give them 'button backs' for dimension:
(and make them removable):

1) Punch some more scraps of watercolour or thicker paper using a small 1/4" square punch (or in whatever size matches your button size). You could use circles instead of squares, if you like, and/or cut them freehand, of course.

2) Glue several together of the backing squares atop one another--until they will make the buttons are the height you like. I used 4 squares layered on each other. (You could use foam dimensional adhesive pieces if you prefer. I ran out of them).

3) Adhere the backs to the back of your rounded buttons & let them dry.

4) To make them repositionable (so they'll come off of the waxpaper panel and be sticky for use): Add a bit of Alene's Tack it Over & Over on the back and let dry in a safe spot until clear. (Once dry Tack it Over & Over will maintain stickiness and they'll be removable from the wax paper). Tombow monomulti is an alternative since it will stay sticky as well, but I find Alene's more affordable and very similarly priced.

Clickable blogger thumbnails:

Thanks so much for having a look
Hope you're having a lovely week,


P.S. This is an unsolicited post. :o)

P.P.S. On a more personal note: Charles is healing nicely. Unfortunately, he had a bit of a set-back and the surgeon was quite worried his knee wasn't getting the right range of motion, but he's been working hard at recovery & we think he's doing much better now.

And Miss Mouse thanks you for not laughing at her chubby tummy & she sends you all kitty snuggles (bonus for the poor allergy sufferers: they are fur and dander-free internet snuggles!) ;0)

mouse may never forgive me!

i am so cute with my little chubby tummy:

i am so sleepy sleepy cute with my little heart-shaped chubby tummy:

HEY! Wait! WHY do you interrupt my cute sleepiness
to take pictures of my chubby tummy!?!:

May you have a heart-shaped-chubby-tummy-feeling
kind of Valentine's Day!
oxo

Everything I've Ever Made (at a glance)

This post is a visual overview of pretty much everything I have ever created, to date
-with thumbnails that are linked to as many tutorials & free things as I could muster.

(It may take a while to load all these photos)☺

Just click the images to visit that post

(most have step by step tutorials, printables, & templates or free cut files)

Floral Watercolour Resist:


Inktense Butterfly hybrid card:

+Free Hexagon Map & Ledger paper

Free Mustache Printable Paper:

Chevron silhouette-cut card:


Custom tinted versamark/pigment
inks (for heat embossed stamping):


CAS Copic coloured Flowers:


Silhouette Foil leaf Resist technique
 (using cut-file remnants):


Watercolour Floral card:


Hero Arts Delicate Flower card & free 'Hello' cut files:



Hello card & free speech bubble cut file:

 Free Christmas gift tag 
.studio cut files & svgs:

 
Gilded paper (silver & gold leafed sticker paper) SCS tutorial:


 Rainy sky & clouds card kit Silhouette cut file (+clouds svg):



Free eyelet lace Silhouette cut file & tips for cleaner cuts:



 Free 'thank you' speech bubble cut file & floral paper:


 Spritzed stencil sketched Moroccan Tile papers:


 A Day For Daisies Holiday cards:



 Adding 3D elements - tutorial:


Free Antique Floral instant art printable:


Free Ampersand cut file & trending journal cards:


Triple-stamped Fancy-cut card
 & free striped paper:

Flying by card & free papers:


Wooden canvas collage (Silhouette project & tutorial):


Silhouette Sketch pen card & 
free "we click!" .studio cut file:



Colour-blocked card
 (with rainbow printables):


Free mustache printable digital papers:
...

'Traced Doodling' video tutorial:


3 styles of free Butterfly cutting files 
for the Silhouette:




Free butterfly digital images:

Traced doodling technique:

Speedy floral card:


Free 3x4 journal card printables (for Project Life)
(print & cut file for silhouette and regular printables):

 DIY fun-foam paper piercing mat & stitching tutorial:

Free 'Love Graphics' paper set:

Three free printable/digital Christmas paper sets

 (there are many all year patterns in them though):

set 1 is here:


set 2 is here:


set 3 is here:


Hometown flower shop cards & free batik paper printables:

more free paper sets 

masculine get well card & chevron paper:
 

Distress watercolour embossing
tutorial on Splitcoaststampers:


and other examples (with free paper printables):



a card & 3 subtle paper set freebies:
 


layered P.O.D. Bakery images & distressing SRM stickers:
 

wrinkle-free Distress card & organizing obsession:
 

over 100 free pattern overlays ... at a glance:
 

how to make DIY custom coloured paper with gimp


Distress Ink reinker watercolour painting:
 

(and a trick for labeling the palettes)

C.A.S. snail card
 

All of my free printable digital paper sets & overlays at a glance.


How to download from flickr:


Sunny blooms:
 

Peep tag card:

Baby Boy faux window card:
 

Coloured white heat embossing:
 

Ribbon spool box with hidden compartment (free printables):
 

Hero Arts window card:
 

Vintage Sewing Pattern printable papers & overlays:
 

Coffee-themed tag card (with free papers & overlays)


Freckles & Peep:

Peep with a string:


sunburst template/overlay/printable:


Bicycle card & free printables:


free patterned papers (chevrons, ledgers & pin stripes):
:

100+ washi tape links - round-up:
 
(tutorials for DIY craft tape & lots of ways to use it)

a plethera of printable tags - round-up:


Wee Houses - round-up:


Tea Party card (and free digi textures):



Bird in a nest card (with free digital images & tutorial):


3 clean & simple cards:

Painted Distress Ink card & tutorial:


Mini stationery card:
(with free digi, dictionary paper & chevron pattern overlays)


6 free bright paper sets
(text, quatrefoil: solid & outline, damask and tiny dots: on white & solid)

Lots of free printable high resolution ephemera
(from The Graphics Fairy and me)


Birthday card & cheap tricks for digi papers


Ephemera paper set (17 free patterned digital papers)


4 free bright paper sets
(vine outline, tight zig zag chevron, moroccan tile: solid & outline)


Map hexagon paper freebies:
.&.

a "Dear John" letter
to Wordpress (blogging):


Ledger Hexagon (more digi paper freebies)


12x12 sizes (of map & ledger hexagons) are here:


rainbow heart paper freebies:


Interactive swinging card:


vintage vine (free papers & overlay) + a bird card


Gift idea: tutorial for a round 3D flower note pad:


Knotty tree cards:


DIY Notebook 2 ways (tutorial):


Halloween Cards:



13 High resolution Crow labels:


Turn a solid image into an outline with a shadow & Poe papers:


Digital paper snippet as focal image:


How to use overlays to reinterpret
your pattern papers:


Gift stack card & paper freebies:


6-petal Ornate flower template (And various cutting files):


Interactive bat window card:


Snowy embossed Merry Kissmas card:


Pressure Embossing ink Resist tutorial:


Black cat lamp hanging:


DIY Hexagon paper template & free ready to print papers:

Quick faux paper-piecing (from digi paper pack 'cover'):


Office sign:


and i made this mess:


Sleeping Beauty card (and free digis)

Gate-fold card
Turned refillable Notebook:

Mushroom card & a bit of sky printable:


Polaroid beach box
(free template-with photo or blank)


Wooden canvas (with secret box in back)


Additions to the wooden canvas auction:


Ribbon sketch challenge


Turning a line art image into a silhouette:



How to make a speedy PDF
(with multiple images)


Quick trick for lining any envelope:


Mini polaroid flippers card:


Skipping Stones Design Grunge cards...

...with a tutorial for how to make
DIY thickers reversed alphabet stamp
(for kissing embossing folders):


Amber Ink purse gift set:

+the free simple purse templates here:

(SVG file by Michelle linked there too!)

Leather look embossed purse box (using crayons)

(the free template is linked there too)



How to make custom patterns &
use them to fill images:

Cut out pressure embossing pictorial

(and general embossing pointers)

Cut out pressure embossing

(and men's suiting pattern freebie)

Emboss & Colour fabric:

(and Fish dictionary text paper freebie)

Solid digital image turned outline image:

...

(Photoshop tutorial for the image in this post):


Stiff felt based cards:

digital flower image freebies:


Little Nymph & beaded starry sky:


Mini floral-wire Bouquet card &
silver leaf on sticky-back canvas:

Bunny with a ribbon TuTu card (tutorial):


my craft studio before & after:
&

[also in that post: ideas for distress ink/other brand ink labels]

1 minute rainbow doily:


Popcorn Box ...with Liner & Trim:
(a whack of new free templates)


A large variety of free vintage or antique style ledger papers:


Firefly card:
(and a variety of free text digi papers)

white on white- 3D flower templates & technique ideas:

DIY colour shimmer sprays

Lots of Links here

& directions post here

Turn any card into a notebook:

Faux button card:

Cricut Expression cut scallops:

Button Tray:


Tiffany Doodles cards:

&
&

&&

&&
&

&&

&

&

&&
&&
&&
&
cutting punched flowers tutorial:

painting punched + embossed flowers tutorial:

...custom flowers & leaves tutorial

&
card tutorial:


&
&
&&
&
&
&&

&&
&&

&
&


&
&
&
&
&&

&
&&
&
&
&
&&
&

&

&&
&

&&
&
&&

&&

&&&

&&
&&

&

&
&
&
&&
&
&

&






















Quilted Dry embossed squares:

Copics on Gesso:

...and.....
Armoire Box tutorial

DIY cheese-cloth tea bag tutorial:

Teapot Box and Tag (template & tut.)

&&
&&
&
free digital images link list:


&&
&&
Crafter's traveling lap desk:




magnetic skater card:


&&

&&&

&&&

&&

&

&

&&


&&

&

&&

&

&

&

&&

&

&&

&

&&

&

&

Square label templates & Rectangles:&

and Dark Rectangles here

Doodle Tabs:

Dragonfly...Beaded bucket Box...Stamp & Cut flower...Tall box/Double stitching

1) Stamp'n'stitch, vellum-resist flower tote 2) Gem purse 3) Mini Book:

&&

cuttlebugged note-top purses:

1)SU Filigree Candle 2)Butterfly template:
&&

100+ things to do with your Scor-pal:


100+ Envelope Templates:


Belly Bandelopes:
with flowers ..... beaded ............. envelope style ..... corset style
&&&

233 unique cuttlebug techniques list

1) Cuttlebug Crayon Rub 2) Cuttlebug Crayon Resist tutorial
3) another example of Cuttlebug Crayon Resist

&&

3 x 3 templates (25+):


houses, 152 purses, & boats:

&&

more Template Links....
Birds............... Butterflies ...... Lots of Boxes............... Bags
&&&

Tool Belt Box or Card and Links for Dad or Dudes
&

Ribbon use & Storage...... Stitching Links ...Miscellaneous Scoring
&&

Mixing Inks & Transfer Techniques & Lumiere Stamping
&&

Distressed Scor-Pal marker grid Blinged up Scor-Pal Stripes
&

Faux French knot Scor-Pal grid and example


1) Piercing Patterns (& faux enamel) 2) Faux bleach with no bleach
3) Pastel rub-ons:

&&

1)Faux tin Tile (with tinfoil) 2)Embossed Silhouette

&

Marker Links ................... Altering Brads:
&

Gesso Posts:



Patterned Gesso cardstock
(DIY Designer Paper) & dresses template


CTMH Marker Faux-watercolour
(on patterned gesso c.s.):

(Faux Watercolour resist there too)

Gesso Resist Stamping:

Oil pastel Gesso Background

(cuttlebugged too!):

More Gesso Stuff here:

Tricks with patterned paper:

distressing (vintage wallpaper look or toned down colours)
& strengthening for cutting superfine detail

Gesso on faux tin tile:
(tinfoil, Cuttlebug, & Scor-Pal)

Printing & embossing clip art on Gesso Cardstock
(Faux watercolour with CTMH markers):


and another computer printed example:

Paper Garden Projects Winter Wonderland Crafts:

1)Photo Snowpeople Boxes 2)Snow hill gift Box 3)Snowmen treat boxes
&&

1) Stitched Snowflakes 2)Vellum Window Stickers 3)Colouring Card
&&

1) Frosted Snow hills 2) Winter Book 3) Sled Slider
&&

More Paper Garden Projects:
Punched acetate tags and Pearlescent Black Magic
&

1) Puttin' on the Glitz set 2) Damask Flowers
3) Magic Pattern Silhouette
&&

Halloween Stuff:
1) Halloweenie Paper Garden Projects Index




2) Tombstones templates & other stuff 3) 100+ Halloween Links:

& &

Little Paper Shop Projects:

{Topiary}........ {A Dream} ..... {Nature's Garden}

&&

{Butterflies & Blossoms} ....{Global} ...

&&

{Snowflakes}Purse... Pink {Snowflakes} ...{Topiary}
&&

1) {Flourished Dove} rounded Basket 2) {Butterflies & Blossoms} card
3) {Flourished Dove} Luminary
&&

1) {Flyin' By} 'Owloween Box 2) Boo 2 You {Global}
&

1) {Make a Wish} Chocolate Cake 2) {Flourished Dove} vellum
3) {The Beauty of Nature}
&&

{Flyin' By} Tree house


Paper Temptress Projects:
Penguin Box


Note Top Purse Templates


Naughty & Nice Card & Box

Gina K projects:

1) Year of Flowers Stamper's Sketchbook 2) "Have a Cookie" Box...

3) Embossed(!) Bandanna Technique

&&

1)Bucket purse Box 2) Penciled "A Year of Flowers"
3) Beaded "Year of Flowers" Sunflower

&&

Dress Templates:

&&

Various Dress Templates...............Shapes .......... Dress Shaped Box

Scanned Text Freebies:
"Dream" Dictionary definition......Merry Christmas...................Crafting text
&&

Storage Ideas:

framed stamp storage:

Various Storage Suggestions


Nestabilities corkboard storage:

Nesties Templates

I'll return to this post to add new projects as they come along... titles for the pictures (and anything I missed) when I get my new computer in a week or so (YAY!) This poor little cheapo oldie computer of mine is so slow it's rather difficult to type! Time to retire it to somewhere where it'll be taxed with less photo storage. (Do you hoard photos? Man, do I ever!)

Thank You ever so much for having a look!