Tutorial: Create Your Own Art Prints in PicMonkey

There's something about me that I really don't like.

I'm not artistic.  At ALL.

And as much as I love artwork and prints for wall coverings... shelling out $20-$50 (or more- eek!) a pop kills me slowly on the inside.  And I don't want to die.

So, for the sake of my own life, here's a way that you can create your own artwork and subway prints for very little mula.   Hooray!


Create Your Own Artwork

1. Open PicMonkey - www.picmonkey.com
      - I believe that I had to set-up an account when I first used their website, but it was awhile ago so I'm not sure.  I just use the free option.  

2. Select "Create a Collage."

3.  Your collage will come pre-set with 3 cells.  You'll need to delete 2 of them so you just have one large cell remaining.

4.  Next, you'll need select the background of your collage.  On the far left side, middle of the screen, is a "Swatches" icon.  Click on the icon, and then drag and drop your background swatch choice (you can manipulate the coloring later).

5. You're almost ready to start creating!!  Your last step is to adjust the pixel size down at the bottom of the screen.  

PicMonkey gives the following recommendations for each size photo/collage; I chose the 4x6 in the above example:

3x5 inches:  1500 x 2500 pixels

 4x6 inches:  1600 x 2400 pixels

5x7 inches: 1500 x 2100 pixels

8x8  inches: 2000 x 2000 pixels

8x10 inches:  2000 x 2500 pixels

8.5x11 inches:  1700 x 2200 pixels

9x16 inches: 3200 x 1800 pixels

11x14 inches:  2200 x 2800 pixels

11x17 inches:  2200 x 3400pixels

6. Now, save your collage.  This will be the base of your artwork.  Once saved, go back to PicMonkey's main page again.  This time, select "Edit a Photo," and open the collage that you just saved.

7.  Your screen should look like this, except with your collage selection.  You can see all of the options you have to the far left - add text, add images, adjust color and exposure, etc.  Now it's time to create your artwork!

From the collage that I started with above, I created this print:

If you kept going, you could pair all sorts of prints and photos to make some epic inspiration walls in your home!  I want to try something like this soon:

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I like to print these out and frame them for gifts and fun decorations around the house.  If you plan to frame them, remember to add a border (usually 1/2" is enough) so the words don't get covered by the frame.  

In my opinion, the best thing about these prints is that you can change them out from season to season or as your mood and decorating style changes.  And these prints are just the beginning - you can make every new piece of art as simple or complex as you'd like, plus you can even include photos or edit photos in the program.  

Have fun creating your own artwork, and send me any questions!!

The Story of Rue

In honor of Austin's 1st annual "Love Your Rescue Pet Day," allow me to introduce the 3rd member of our family, Rue.

Does it get any cuter than this?

In March 2010, my husband and I moved from an apartment into a rental house.  I'd been wanting a dog for awhile, but Jesse insisted that we have more space and a yard before we even thought about adding a pet to the family.  I went dog-crazy for months, checking websites for available puppies and discussing possible names with friends and family.  I can't explain what caused this phenomenon seeing as I'd had a few dogs growing up but they weren't ever "my" dogs; I just felt like a pet would make our small family into something so much greater.  

On the weekend after we moved into our house, Jesse and I were out running errands and I convinced him to stop to "just look at" the puppies outside a local petstore.  The group was from a small no-kill shelter out of Hutto (I think; I honestly don't remember all of the specifics).  As Jesse parked, I wandered around and looked at the sweet puppy faces.  He and I had already agreed upon the breeds that we preferred (though determining breeds from puppies that were brought to a shelter with little to no background story is pretty much a toss-up), so I did my best to stay on task instead of just throwing myself into the middle of all of their cuteness and basking in puppy breath all day long.  Because, really, who doesn't want to do that?!  

Anywho, the first group of puppies, while so incredibly wonderful in all of their puppiness, weren't quite what we were looking for, so I moved on to group two.  And there, snuggled up with his kennelmate, laid Rue.  I picked him up, and knew he would be ours.

"Jesse!"  I called to my husband, who was still at the first group of puppies.  I held Rue up as what can only be labeled 'Lion King style':

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"I want him," Jesse said after one look.  

And Rue was ours.  Hands down, one of the best decisions we've ever made.  If you don't know what it's like to have a pet as a part of your family, let me be the one to tell you that you're seriously missing out on a special kind of love.

So, if you have a pet, even if they're not a rescue, give them some extra love today...and tomorrow...and the next day...  They are part of your family, and you need them far more than you may ever realize.  

If you want more details on the "Love Your Pet Rescue Day," or just some great information on why rescue pets are the most awesome, check this site out:

http://www.austinpetsalive.org/

And now, for your viewing pleasure, please enjoy a handful of pictures of Rue from the last three years...   :)

Rue's first day home with us.

He is the best snuggle-bear EVER.

Getting bigger...

Road trip to the coast

It's okay if you now think my dog is cuter than yours.  No... really.

Besties.  Or frenemies.  It really depends on the day.

Something Ideal

I just read an article that I've seen floating around Facebook the last few days:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/15/i-know-what-you-think-of-me/?smid=fb-share

I haven't ever experienced something like the author describes, but the article really pushed me into examining my own words about others.  I don't really text or email critical things about other people - frankly, that just seems idiotic unless you WANT the information passed around - but I do say them... and one form of criticism is no better than the other.  

As a kid, I was told, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all."  Somewhere along the way, adults seem to convince themselves that this saying really is just for children, justifying the words that are thrown against their friends:

Well, I'd say it to their face, too...

Oh, you know that I love her, but...

Sadly, these excuses are drawn from my own repertoire.   

It makes me wonder WHY I feel so entitled to not only my own opinion, but then using it to judge and criticize others.  There is a clear contrast between expressing my perspective on matters that actually effect me and ones that don't, and yet I still feel a need to judge and express my judgement beyond this boundary.  For example, if I have a friend that I see struggling with something, taking the time to meet and express my concern and opinion on why it should change (read: encourage, support, love) is clearly not the same as talking about what I see and my thoughts on the matter to friends, mutual and otherwise (read: judgement, gossip, criticism).  And yet, I do it. We all do.

If unconditional love is what we want and what we want to give, I agree with the author - it means being known by others, as well as knowing the worst about another person and choosing to love them despite of it.  I do not, however, agree that a natural part of this love is a lack of kindness towards that person so that you can "bond...with your mutual friends" (don't worry - it's mostly behind their back!).  Just because this happens doesn't make it right and, let's be honest, for most people it's completely hurtful and tarnishes a friendship.  

So here's my request, friends.  

Let's. Just. Stop.  

Please?  

Can I be honest with my true concerns, but learn to silence that which doesn't involve me until asked for my opinion?  

Can you do that for me, too?  

Can we truly respect each others' choices enough to confront when needed, but otherwise choose to reflect on and appreciate the good in each other?
Can we stop judging each other long enough that we start remembering that we all, as the article states, have "the same interior complexity we take for granted in ourselves, the same capacity for holding contradictory feelings in balance, for complexly alloyed affections, for bottomless generosity of heart and petty, capricious malice."  

I say,  let's drop the malice and embrace the rest.  Embrace each other.  

...and I think the world may become a better place.

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**Dislaimer: So, this is much more "heavy" than I planned for a 2nd post, but have no fear-  I'll be back with ridiculousness just as soon as possible!!

Why Blog?

About 8 months ago I decided to start a blog. 

...obviously I jumped right on that plan...

2013 is a big year for me - I've just turned 30, am working towards a career change, saving to buy a house, paying off debt... essentially taking care of the grunt work to help move life more in the direction of what I want it to look like, or maybe even need it to look like.  But, perhaps more importantly, I've truly started to realize more and more how LIFE is big.  It's important.  It's something that I would like to embrace and cherish as long as I can, and this is my attempt to record it, share it, and then someday be able to look back and enjoy it all over again.

So I named this little blog of mine Perfectly Rooted.  It took me awhile to come up with that for a few reasons: 

1. Every blog name that's somewhat clever, cute, or involves the name 'Ashley' is taken.  I guess I'm really behind on this bandwagon.

2. I thought about the nickname route, however, my main nicknames are Splash and Beefy... neither of which were to be used in the title of this blog.

3. I wanted something that could work even if the story of my blog changes.  Like, if I have a kid and just start talking about mom stuff... or if I get super famous and need to reference it for millions of people to Google.  Normal things like that.

Out of those profound parameters, I came up with Perfectly Rooted.  I don't really know what this blog of mine will look like and I'm sure it will "branch" into many topics...

See what I did there? 

...but, ultimately, I hope that my voice is a true reflection of the One that has rooted me in Truth, grown me in grace, and directs my life according to His perfect will - Jesus Christ.  I may fail terribly at DIY's, take awful pictures, or blog only sporadically, but what truly matters is that His love and mercy pours from my life into others'.   So here's hoping that's what I can accomplish... plus maybe a few successful crafts and decent shots... :)

Welcome!