Suzanne Carillo

I decided to change up my fireplace mantel again.

If you remember…this is what it looked like in February.

This time I wanted to create some art from my personal photos.

This is how it turned out.

I managed to score all of the fames on a weekend when Michaels had them all at 50% off. The other bits I already had in the house.

I’m very pleased with the clean, modern and very personal touch it added to the space. Each of those images speak to me. The one of me with the hat was when I was waiting at the airport in Germany on my way to visit bloggers in the Netherlands. So many great memories were made with Greetje, Anja & Sylvia. I love that the photo reminds me of that adventure.

Zoe my pug…well like any proud mother I love to show off my baby. #pugobsessedmuch?

And my husband holding out the perfect martini he just mixed…captures him completely.

Adobe Photoshop Actions

To create the “dreamy” effect in some of the images I went into Photoshop and played around using some homemade Actions. There are plenty of Actions that you can download for free online to help edit your photos to create unusual effects. Here are a few links to get you started…

50 Free Action Sets

45 Amazing Actions

Brusheezy Actions

Tuts + Photo 100 Actions

What are Actions?

Actions are small plugin files for Photoshop. They’re preconfigured recordings of a sequence of manipulations which are automatically applied to your own images with just a single mouse click. They play out like a movie in front of your eyes transforming your original image into something brand new. I love them because you don’t need to constantly repeat steps.

Don’t have Photoshop? Or Photoshop skills? No worries! 

Instagram

Do you have a mobile phone or iPad? Are you signed up to Instagram? If you are, you will know that it comes with its very own filters that will help you edit your photos so that they all look like works of art. The interface is very user friendly. No real learning required.

Having worked for years in Photoshop I was surprised at just how many options Instagram offered to edit, resize and enhance photos. It is a mini version of Photoshop for your phone or iPad.

Other FREE Downloadable Photo Image Editing Solutions

If you don’t have Instagram or prefer the old fashioned way of taking photos with a “real camera” there are other options for editing your images into works of art.

Instead, consider some of the free downloadable versions of photo editing software.

Gimp – Most options but has a steep learning curve if you are a novice.

Paint.net – Interface isn’t too difficult to learn.

PhoXo – Simple but useful.

Chaseys Draw IES – Lots of great options and effects to choose from.

Also if you own a Mac it often comes with photo editing software included. Check your iPhotos panel.

Of course once you have edited your images you will need to print them out onto high quality photo paper. I’ve used large format Epson printers for years for my business. My preferred photo paper is the Luster. Not too glossy and it doesn’t show fingerprints but provides rich deep colours and great solid blacks. I have not been paid for this recommendation, it’s just what I use. Every printer has its own drawbacks, so do some research before you buy.

Have you ever altered your photos using filters? Do you like to use your own photos throughout your house as home decor?