Create a frozen effect with textures & photo veils [Photo Recipe]

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, Ring-ting-tingling too, 

Come on, it's lovely weather, For a sleigh ride together with you.

Outside the snow is falling, And friends are calling, "Yoo hoo"...


You can just imagine the shouts of joy this Christmas morning, as we opened the curtains and saw that it was snowing outside! In the afternoon we took a long walk outside: It was wonderful to hear the snow under our feet, to breath the cold air, and just enjoy the white landscape around us.

I had my camera with me - I was looking for a motive for next years Christmas Cards. As I spotted these red heart-formed leaves covered with snow, I knew I had found it: With a few layers of textures and photo veils, I would create a hazy, frozen feeling to the image. 

You see below a step by step-tutorial on how I proceeded with the editing - I ended up using 7 layers of textures and photo veils.

Photo Recipe:
1. In order to highlight the red leaves, making them to stand out a bit more, I used the lasso tool in Photoshop: I masked the red leaves in the middle of the photo by drawing a circle with the lasso tool around them, and adjusted the brightness up to 29 and the contrast up to 7, inside the circle. I did set the feather for the mask up to 70%
2. Thereafter I started to add layers of textures and photo veils:

• Aloha texture from Kalani Collection, blending mode Soft Light, opacity 30%
• Twinkle photo veil from Simplicity Collection, blending mode Lighten, opacity 15%
• Serendipity photo veil from Simplicity Collection, blending mode Soft Light, opacity 16%
• Chamomile photo veil from Simplicity Collection, blending mode Linear Light, opacity 4%
• Keiki texture from Kalani Collection, blending mode Soft Light, opacity 11%
• Ice photo veil from Simplicity Collection, blending mode Soft Light, opacity 100%
• Wailele texture from Kalani Collection, blending mode Soft Light 16%

--> I used the brush tool with each layer, to erase the texture and photo veil effects from the area around and on top of the red leaves.

... I'm sending you a fresh and snowy greeting, hoping to have inspired your creativity - Textures and photo veils are lovely to work with, creating just the amount of effect that suits to your photos and personality.

With Happy Holiday greetings,

Nina

Peace of Heart

Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, 
for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. 
And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 Living Bible

Draw Me Close to You Sax Solo

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As we woke up Christmas morning, it was snowing outside -
Such a lovely surprise!

Blessings to your week, 

Nina

Here's a printable

of Colossians 3:15
for you 

Sharing with: 

Still Saturday, Give Me Grace,

Scripture & Snapshot

Photo: Nikon D3200, Photo Veil Light from the Illumination Collection Love That Shot

Merry Christmas

Photo: iPhone 5S (Camera+ og TadaaSLR) - Texture Simple 2 by Kim Klassen

"Somewhere across the winter world tonight

You will be hearing chimes that fill the air;

Christmas extends its all-enfolding light

Across the distance...something we can share.

You will be singing, just the same as I,

These familiar songs we know so well, 

And you will see these same stars in your sky

And wish upon that brightest one that fell.

I shall remember you and trim my tree,

One shining star upon the topmost bough;

I will hang wreaths of faith that all may see --

Tonight I glimpse beyond the hear and now.

And all the time that we must be apart

I keep a candle in my heart."

Mary E. Linton

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Wishing You 

Merry Christmas 

& 

Happy Holidays!

Nina

Angels sing

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,

Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Luke 2:8-14 The Message

Hark! The herald angels sing / Gordon Young by Bente Kiil Toftegaard from Nina Jensen on Vimeo.

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Blessings to your week, 

Nina

Here's a printable

of Luke 2:11
for you 

Sharing with: 

Still Saturday, Give Me Grace,

Scripture & Snapshot

Photo: iPhone 5S, Rhonna Designs, Stackables, Snapseed, Filterstorm Apps
Textures: Love That Shot, FrenchKissStudio & Kim Klassen

My Christmassy Week

iPhone 5S: Camera+, Image Blender, texture by DistressesFx, VintagePhoto, Filterstorm

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

with every Christmas card I write ..."

I was feeling creative last Saturday and made some Christmas cards. I punched coloured cardboards with either a heart or an  angel paper punch, gluing them to the cards, together with a ribbon. Thursday evening I wrote the cards, listening to carols and sipping tea ... And now they're stamped and on their way, thanks to my sweet husband, who patiently waited at the post office to get the stamps.

iPhone 5S: Camera+, VSCOcam, Snapseed, FocalLab

Christmas Carols have been echoing at my work as well, as the children have been decorating the classrooms.  Watching them I remembered an occasion from my own kindergarden class: I was 6 years old, and we were making Christmas collages. We had a dark blue cardboard, where we glued some cotton balls as snow - and I was allowed to sprinkle some silver glitter to the sky, for stars ... The collage is printed on my mind - being a magical piece of art, our kindergarden teacher inspired us to make. 

On Friday some of the students performed the old Nordic tradition, Lucia - bring the light. The Lucia day is actually the 13th of December, but we delayed the Lucia-tradition to Friday, when the parents were invited to school to Christmas workshops at the classes.

Rick Steve's European Christmas Part 4: Norway

The Christmas traditions in Scandinavian countries are very similar. The video above shows both the Lucia-tradition, the pepperkakkor-cookies and the Christmas porridge with almonds, that among others are a part of the Danish Christmas traditions.

Last but not least - I have been introduced to a fun and creative doddle game, a smart phone app called Draw Something. I am newbie but find it nice and relaxing: Draw one of the 3 words suggested - and try to guess the words, that co-players have drawn. If you already are doodling away at Draw Something, I'd like to guess your word - you'll find me as Niksu12.

Happy Weekend greetings, 

Nina

Friday Finds Friendship Friday Weekly Top Shot

 Saturday Share Fest Friday Photo Journal

Grab the Hope

When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. 

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:18-20 The Message

Still, My Soul Be Still by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Blessings to your week, 

Nina

Here's a printable

of Hebrews 6:18-20
for you 

Sharing with: 

Still Saturday, Give Me Grace,

Scripture & Snapshot

Photo: iPhone 5S, Hipstamatic: Libatique 73-lens, Shilshole-film
Textures: Anna Lenabem & 2 Lil Owls Studio

Faithful

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Faithful by Chris Tomlin

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Blessings to your week, 

Nina

Here's a printable

of Lamentations 3:22-23
for you 

Sharing with: 

Still Saturday, Give Me Grace,

Scripture & Snapshot

Photo: iPhone 5S, Camera+, Snapseed
Textures: FrenchKiss Tableaux Old Style, Anna Lenabem 275, Kim Klassen Simple