join me for a cuppa?

... and a little ah.artography
in celebration of kim klassen's texture tuesday cuppa cuppa challenge!
i was pretty excited about this, as you know how i love cups ...

this one's for you, anna ; )

{originals photos and textures}

kim's texture tuesday challenge this week is to apply any of her textures to a photo of a cuppa ... or two!

i began with setting the two sweet little cuppas
on the high ledge of the window 
to play in the sparkly sun

: )


here is what i did to add texture and soften the image, but keep the sparkle!

INGREDIENTS
:: join me for a cuppa original background image
:: kim klassen cool grunge texture

STEPS
:: apply pure photoshop actions pure pop action to background image

:: apply gaussian blur to background image - 16%
- add layer mask and soft brush 40% the cup area
- watercolour pattern overlay - soft light 100%

:: add kim klassen cool grunge texture layer - color blending - 100%

:: add another kim klassen cool grunge texture layer - lighten blending mode - 100%
- add layer mask and soft brush 100% the cup area 

this is where i normally would add my signature layer and call it a day, but ...
while i loved the clean softness, i wanted more to this ... 
more 'pretty'!

enter a fresh breath of air ~ a little something i was fiddling with to possibly put as my button on facebook  for the summer

a completely separate textured image!
do you see where this is going? here is the recipe ~

INGREDIENTS
:: original fresh breath of air background image
:: kim klassen sweettreat texture

STEPS
:: i cropped out a square area of background image to focus on flowers

:: adjust levels on background area - input 15 | 1.00 | 241

:: apply gaussian blur to background image - 16%
- add layer mask and soft brush 40% focal flower area

:: add kim klassen's sweettreat texture - soft light blending - 100% 

voila!

then, i simply slid the textured fresh breath of air image
over the textured join me for a cuppa image
applying soft light blending 100%

i took two textured images
to make my one, final ah.artography image

what d'ya say ~ join me for a cuppa?

: )

thanks kim for the fun challenge!

xo

.