Book reviews - Photoshop Elements

I wrote these reviews over a month ago, but somehow I never managed to get them over here. Enjoy.

How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements

		How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements 7: Creating stunning photomontages on a budget by David Asch Edition: Paperback Price: $26.37
A great reference I will come back to again and again, July 9, 2009 I just finished reading through "How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements", and this book will now never leave my desk. I learned a ton of stuff in the first 3 chapters alone. Each technique is shown with step by step screenshots on such things as extracting a subject from the background, explaining all the tricks (keystokes) to really make the Marquee tool really work for you, making fire from nothing, etc etc. Most of the techniques are work arounds for stuff the "real" Photoshop does with a click of the button (or just easier, I haven't dealt with the Real PS for several years). It really isn't for a total Newbie, but it is great for someone familiar with the basics and ready to expand their skills. I believe that this book will be an invaluable tool for my digi scrapbooking.

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			Photoshop Elements 7 Digital Classroom by Aquent Creative Team Edition: Paperback Price: $29.69
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Classroom in a Book is fabulous!, July 16, 2009 I love the Classroom in a Book series, and this particular installment lived up to the standards set by the previous versions. The basis of the Classroom in Book is simply step by step instructions on different aspects of Elements, using images provided to you on the accompanying CD-ROM. Following the instructions is easy and really helps you to become quite proficient in Elements. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn the ins and outs without having to wade through hours of interest tutorials.

Today's the Day!

I'm starting the freezer job today. I'm nervous as can be. :( Just popping in so people know I'm alive.

Tomorrow I should have a couple of reviews on books pertaining to Photoshop Elements, but right now, I'm already running behind for the morning. I truly need to get up when my alarm goes off, and not just shut it off! It was set for 8 am, I got up at 9:45

Book Review - Girl in the Arena

I'm back!!!! Did you miss me?!

Sorry, I've been neglecting the blog in an effort to prepare myself for the shift change. I could go on and on about everything that I now have to schedule out, but I won't. Instead, here is a book review

		Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines Edition: Hardcover Price: $11.55 Availability: Available for Pre-order
Social commentary on our obsession with violence, August 15, 2009 Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Girl in the Arena follows Lyn, the daughter of 7 Modern Gladiators. The "Glad" society can be compared to the NFL for example, a national sport with it's die hard fans and "groupies". The difference is, a whole culture has sprung up around the Neo-Gladiators, along with rules of conduct for their wives and children. There is even a university where young women can attend and learn to become the perfect "glad wife". When Lyn's 7th father is killed in the arena, his opponent picks up Lyn's dowry bracelet, which he was wearing for luck. By the rules of the association, Lyn is now required to marry Uber, the victor. Lyn's mother, having just lost her 7th gladiator husband, is no longer allowed to marry. Lyn rebels against the rules and regulations, in an attempt to be her own woman and care for her mother and brother. That's the plot in a nutshell. This novel reminded me of a classic that you would be required to read in Lit class. I know I say that in my reviews occasionally, but this is just how I see them. This book is really just a commentary on our culture's obsession with violence by taking a ultra-violent sport and turning it into a cultural event. The social commentary is so oblivious, it really just makes for poor reading. Glads are contracted for "X" amount of battles, their wives are only allowed to marry 7 times, and their children are hounded by the paparazzi. Rabid fans will press their bodies against glads fresh from the arena to get bloodsplatter on their clothing for a memento. I can just see a college prof. asking his class to write an essay of significance of "caging a glad", and how it can be compared to fandom in today's society. The narrative, which is 1st person, seems distant and lacking in feeling. Lyn, the narrator, has a couple of tragedies befall her, but her emotions seem non-existent. Her love for her family is a main point in the novel, but the detachment makes her seem like a shallow, selfish girl. The writing style and flatness actually reminded me of The Handmaiden's Tale.

My Gluebook cover.... and news of a change in my life

Well, I finally got a gluebook started. I simply purchased a super cheap sketch books from Wal-mart, and went wild on the cover. The finished result was this:

I love it! I used some scrapbook paper that I love, a TON of rub ons, some stickers left over from another project, an ATC I made, some grungeboard I had decorated up previously, and viola! Not too shabby. Of course, this really isn't for anyone other than me, so I don't really care what other people think. :) When I put this together, I was in a horrible, near tears, "Why did I ever decide to have children?!", "poor me, I'm so unappreciated" mood. We all have those days, so don't look at me like that! ;) By the end of 20 minutes of glueing, inking, and rubbing on the rub ons... I felt so much calmer and relaxed. Everybody has to have some outlet. :)


Now for the change in my life....

I bid on another job a my place of work. I took the plunge and gave up my cozy, "I know what I'm doing, and I'm damn good at it" office job, and decided to go to the -40 t0 -20 degree freezer, hauling freight on a fork life. Lots of people think I am crazy for doing this, and I honestly am wondering myself, but for 5 1/2 years, my husband and I have been on opposite shifts. He works Mon - Thurs, and I work Fri -Sun. Now that the kids are a little older, and I have a 15 yo son dying to make money to save for a car, I wanted to get on the same days as my husband, not the same shift though! He gets up at 2:30 am, and has to be there by 4 am. I may be crazy, but I'm not that crazy!!! Mornings are sooooo not my thing! So in 2 short weeks, I'll be working 2:30 pm to 12:30 am (which is really my most energized time), Mon - Thurs. JB and I are so excited about have days off together again! Wish me luck (I'm gonna need it... it is cold in there!)

Book Review - Demon Chick

I don't know what the deal is here lately with the Hell-themed novels, it is just a weird phase I guess. Out of the Advanced Reader Copies Amazon offers me, these are the ones that jump out at me.

Demon Chick by Marilyn Kaye

A quick, light read, July 28, 2009

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

I really enjoyed this book.

Demon Chick is a fairly light YA novel about Jessica, whose mother is running for President, and whose deceased father was the poster boy for segregation. On her 16th birthday, Jessica is "kidnapped" by a demon named Brad, who in reality is only collecting a her as a debt. Before she was even born, Jessica's mother sold her to the devil in exchange for power. Now, banished to Hell with Brad, which actually is much like the suburbs, Jessica finds out her mother's plans for the world, and must figure out how to stop her.

All in all, this novel was a cute little story. I stupidly picked it up to read for a "few minutes before bed", and 3 hours later, I had completely finished it. The storyline kept me interested and entertained, even if some of the supporting characters were rather flat and cheesy. The plot does get wrapped up rather quickly, so that the novel seems more like a short story. The flat characters and quick wrap-up are why I deducted one star.

Parents be warned: Sex does happen in this book, but it isn't graphic. It is mainly alluded to as in "what we did last night" etc. Really nothing too bad, but some parents would like to avoid this.

I will be recommending this book to friends.

Book Review - Sandman Slim

				Sandman Slim: A Novel by Richard Kadrey
Action packed, July 28, 2009 Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) Sandman Slim is an action packed novel which grabs you by the hair and drags you along for the ride. Stark (aka Sandman Slim) was banished to Hell, alive, but his magician friends. After 11 years in Hell, fighting in the Hellion's Arena, he has become hard to kill, and mad as Hell (pardon the pun). When his girlfriend is murdered, he escapes from Hell, and goes in search of the people who killed her, and who put him in Hell. Through the novel, he reunites with old friends, meets new friends (some which are more monstrous than he is), and manages to do good a little good for all mankind in general. The story line reminds me of the Crow, except Stark is not dead. The characters are well developed and each has his or her own unique personality,with the exception of the main antagonist. He seems to just be the boogie man throughout the novel, and when he finally appears, he is very one-dimensional. My only problem with the story was the anti-climatic meetings a couple of the former circle. The ladies are mentioned, but you never really get to see Stark hash out his grudge with them. Also... the "Sandman Slim" just comes from out of the blue, with no explanation of its origin. Rather odd. Even with those couple of oddities in the storyline, I did enjoy this book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to for a unique stand alone urban fantasy novel.

Book Review - The Magicians

I haven't posted a book review here for a while, even though I have been writing them for Amazon, so I thought I would copy and paste a couple today.

Here is the first:

				The Magicians by Lev Grossman
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Combination of Harry Potter and Narnia - final result = rushed and dull, July 16, 2009 Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?) In The Magicians, the author attempts to create an adult version of Harry Potter and then meld it with an adult version of the Chronicles of Narnia. The end result is too much story for one book, which cause the novel to become extremely dull. The main characters themselves are completely unlikable. Quenton, the protagonist, is a boy/man who is still fascinated by the fantasy novels of his youth. In his mind, real life is pointless, there must be something more magical out there. The problem is, whenever he finds something more magical, be it Brakebills (the magician school), of Fillory (Narnia knock off), he is still unhappy and unsatisfied. This is the main point of the whole novel. Part I - Brakebills - learning magic, easily the best portion of the novel Part II - After graduation - ennui, boredom, sex and drinking, worst part of the novel Part III - Fillory - journey to the magic land, angst galore, some action, but still rather dull Part IV - recuperation phase in Fillory, guilt, some resolution, dull, dull, dull Part V - back to the real world in NY, more dullness with final ending. By this point, I hated all the characters so much, I just couldn't care This novel took me 2 weeks to finish, simply because reading it was a chore. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

My First ATC

Recently, I decided that I would like to try making some ATCs. I love to play with my paper, stamps, and images, but really, sometimes, scrapping and cardmaking just don't cut it. I really don't send out many cards (gasp!!! I haven't sent out Christmas cards in over 12 years!), and I have lots of paper and images, both digi and "real", that I just love, but they just don't seem to fit anything I'm scrapping, hence the desire for a way to use them. So, in order to avoid the "Maybe, Somedays", I signed up for 4 spots in an ATC swap. One each in the following catagories: Love, Seasons, Baby, and Misc.

What I found it that ATCs are harder than you think. They are soooooo tiny! I like to stamp and then cut things out, but most of my images are just too big for the little 2.5 in x 3.5 in space required. So once again, I turned to my trusty computer (yes, I am a computer geek) and my collection of cheap or free digi scrapping elements, and I came up with this:

"Love Is..."

I swear it took me hours to determine what to do on this tiny tiny piece of paper! I'm not even sure where I got most of the images, but 90% of them are from karenheckyeah's great digi kits from divinedigital.com. The swap required 2 layers of cardstock and 1 embellishment, so I placed my image on Cameo Coral, and stuck a tiny heart brad on it. I didn't really know what to do for the embellie, because I liked it the way it was, but I'm a rule-follower!

The only thing I regret, I wish I had started in Photoshop with a larger image and then resized it down. I truly love my finished result, but I would have liked to have a large one to frame and display. I could make it all over again... maybe... someday.... :) Now only 3 more ATC to figure out! I hope they go faster.


A little side note:

Lately I have been seeing several people making swatch pads from their Stampin' Up! paper, and I love it. My paper is poorly organized, and when I am looking for a color match, and I will pull everything out and make a huge mess! So I took about 30 minutes one day and die cut small tags out of every color and labeled them. This made matching the background of my ATC to the images a breeze! I just grabbed my trusty swatches and held up tags until I found a good match. LOVING IT!!!