Wire and Alexandrite Heart Alpha

I was asked to make an alexandrite version of this alpha about three months ago.  It is definitely far too late for June, but perhaps someone can still use it.

Alpha

Temporarily Loading Fonts in Windows 7

Given that I have had to upgrade to Windows 7, I can no longer open a font, minimize it, and have it available for use in Paint Shop Pro.  I knew about the small program for temporarily loading a font, but since I had my lovely Windows XP, I didn't have to use it.  Alas, those days are over.

For people needing to temporarily load a font (and I have thousands, so I am not installing them), there is a program called Font Load Unload.

1.  Download Font Load Unload.

2.  Unzip the file to a folder.

3.  Go into the folder and launch (by double-click) the file called 'Font Load_Unload' (or Font Load_Unload.exe if you can see your extensions).

4.  Open the folder with the font to be the temporarily loaded.

5.  Drag the font to the Font Load_Unload window.

6.  This will load the font.

7. When you are done using the font, click the 'Unload' button to remove the font.

8.  Or, shutdown Windows and at the next boot, the loaded font will be gone (from the Font Load_Unload window and from Windows).

Computer Up, but Internet Down

I have spent the last two weeks building a new computer.  It took this long because the original hard drive that I bought was DOA and I had to send it back to Newegg.  This took a week.  I now have a computer with an operating system and no software.  I also do not have functioning internet as the wireless network card that I had with my old computer is not compatible with Windows 7.  My installation disk is for Windows XP.  I can only have internet if I steal the PowerLine adaptor from my kid's Xbox360.

I am going to try the Atheros driver that appears to show up on Google for the Belkin F5D8001 wireless card.  Here are some notes for myself:

1.  Go to
http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atheros.htm and download the
Windows Seven 32/64bits driver for the AR5008X.
2.  Unzip the file into a folder.
3.  Run the setup and install drivers.
4.  Open the device manager and select non-functioning ethernet control device (Belkin).
5.  Select Update Driver
6.  Choose “let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.
7.  Choose Qualcomm .
8.  Then, select the “Atheros AR5008X Wireless Network Adapter” from list.
9.  Get a warning message stating that the driver has a problem because it is not signed.
10.  Install it anyways.
11.  Reboot.

Computer is Dead

I was planning on returning to creating once I developed some free time. Unfortunately, my computer has decided to stop booting so any return to digital creativity is on an indefinite hold.

Opal Gemstone

Opal is not a faceted gemstone, but if I didn't make it, then October is without a birthstone.  This is it for the series if no other ideas pop into my head.

Opal Gemstone

Customizable Stencil Chipboard

I made this alpha for SNL73.  I am posting it because someone request an alpha that they could fill with their own image.  It is customizable.  Select the white space inside each letter and fill or clip with the paper or image of your choice.

Alpha

Sticker Alphabet

This tutorial will show you how to make a paper sticker alphabet in Photoshop.

Supplies:

6x6 Grid Template

1.  Open up the 6x6 grid template.  It is 3000 x 3000 pixels and will create 36 500x 500 characters so that you can have 26 letters and 10 numbers.  You can also make one letter at a time and not use the grid template.  I think it is easier and faster to make all the letters at once.

2.  Select a nice font.  I am using Copse.  It is a commercial use ok font from Font Squirrel. With the text tool, write out your letters and numbers as vectors. Try to position each letter in the middle of a grid square.  Choose any color you like.

3.  With the Move Tool or in the Layer Palette, select all the letters or type layers.

4.  In the Layer Palette, right-click the selected layers and choose 'Rasterize Type' from the menu.

5.  In the Layer Palette, right-click on the selected layers and select 'Merge Layers' from the menu.  This should merge all the letter layers but not the grid template layer.

6.  Select the paper of your choice and open it in Photoshop.

7.  Drag the paper on top of the layer with the alpha by selecting the Move Tool.  Next, left-click on the paper, then while holding down the button, drag it over to the canvas holding the alpha.

8.  Right-click on the new layer that is your paper and select 'Create Clipping Mask'.

9.  The paper is now clipped to the text.

10.  Select the layer with the text and apply a white outer stroke using the Layer Styles (Layer > Layer Style > Stroke) the letters in white.

Size = 20 px
Position = Outside
Blend Mode = Normal
Opacity = 100%
Fill Type = Color
Color = White (#FFFFFF)

11.  Hide the grid template layer by clicking the eye next to the layer and the alphabet is ready to be saved as either a single sheet or sliced into individual files.  If you have used my grid template, then you can use my Alpha Cutter Action to slice the image into individual files.

Just Hatched

I made alphas and some decorative items (grass, chicks and wordart) for SNL 60 and then I forgot to post it last year.  There are two zip files, one with all the different alphas and one with the decorative items.

Alphas

Decorative Extras

Topaz Cut Gem

Topaz Cut Gemstone

Citrine Cut Gem

Citrine Cut Gemstone