Blossoms Make Everything Better

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2949.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2949.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">2013 is rocking us a little. Michael and I have been working like dogs. We definitely had a weekend's worth of work to do, but when Saturday morning rolled around and the sun was shining  and spring was calling, we decided to throw work to the curb and hit the streets.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2710.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2710.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2941.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2941.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We ended up at the Brooklyn Museum and Botanic Gardens, where we were able to catch the blossoms in full bloom. </div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2947.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2947.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2810.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2810.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Catching blossom petals before they hit the ground is good luck in our family. My girls say that they get a wish for every petal. Among others, Saturday's wishes included:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1) That Linus would learn the standing trick</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) That we would build a swimming pool in our back yard (???) :)</div><div style="text-align: left;">3) That the street fair that was right by our house last weekend would come back soon.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2826.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2826.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2954.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2954.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2959.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2959.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2939.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/IMG_2939.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Note to self: working weekends are never necessary. </div></div>

Blossoms Make Everything Better

2013 is rocking us a little. Michael and I have been working like dogs. We definitely had a weekend's worth of work to do, but when Satu...

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DIY Art: Upholstery Yardage Charts

A lot of you asked where I got the upholstery yardage charts that I hung <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-faux-malachite.html" target="_blank">in my office</a>. It was definitely one of those "make it work" ideas.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0315.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/1DSC_0315.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Originally I had grand plans of photoshopping out my favorite pieces from the various upholstery charts floating around the web (I posted a few of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/07/upholstery-charts.html" target="_blank">the ones I reference here</a>) and making the lines a bright reddy orange and then taking the files to the printers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0258.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0258.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I was inspired by these orange prints from the first season of <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/whats-hot-top-design#last-slide" target="_blank">Top Design on Bravo</a> (remember that show from back in the day?).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo topnotch_12-lgn.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/topnotch_12-lgn.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo top-design-matt-room1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/top-design-matt-room1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Well, the long and the short of it is I ran out of time to go with the original plan. So I grabbed an orange artist's marker with a brush tip and a roll of white butcher paper and whipped these three "posters" up in about 30 minutes (I was <i>really</i> out of time and needed art up fast). I <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/07/upholstery-charts.html" target="_blank">used these charts</a> for reference and literally held up the paper to my laptop screen to roughly and quickly copy the "yardage chart" title.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0372.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0372.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0291.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0291.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0367.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0367.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I have plans to go back and redraw them all because I like the concept a lot, but I started to get pretty sloppy with the execution by the third poster (the one with the sofas). Also, most of the pieces I drew were straight from the old upholstery charts which (I realized in the middle of my time crunch) were pretty generic (read: boring). But how cool would it be to do real iconic furniture pieces, or even some of the new pieces currently available online and in stores? I'd happily spend an afternoon sifting through 1st Dibs listings to get an inspiration file going!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: start;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0240.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0240.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The frames are just black IKEA Ribbas with the mats removed. I mounted the butcher paper right on to the chipboard backing using double-stick tape. (That's my signature secret move when custom framing/mating is not in the cards. I actually have come to really like the brown addition from the chipboard. I know that sounds a little cheap and weird but I've found the natural brown adds a surprising color element most of the time? Anyway, it works in a pinch.)</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0351.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0351.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm happy with the way these posters look on the dark gray walls. They probably would have been lost on a lighter wall color. Though it's a given that I'll always love orange and gray together.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0301.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0301.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Info on items in this post (feel free to ask if I missed anything):</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-faux-malachite.html" target="_blank">DIY Malachite desk top</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/inexpensive-black-lamp-shades.html" target="_blank">DIY black lampshades</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/03/eames-management-chairs-in-scalamandre.html" target="_blank">Leopard Eames chairs</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-iron-bowl-gold/-/A-14327353#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=gold+bowl" target="_blank">Gold bowl for storing paint decks</a> (I need to buy like four more of these bowls before they sell out, they're my favorite)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.art.com/products/p10229081-sa-i1294377/douglas-david-walker-untitled-d0018.htm?sorig=0?WT.cg_n=Gallery+Search+Redirect&WT.oss=Untitled+D0018&SSK=Untitled+D0018" target="_blank">Colorful abstract</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/03/new-art-in-living-room.html" target="_blank">B&W abstract from lot purchased by this artist</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/05/kitchen-rug.html" target="_blank">Persian rug</a> in front of back door</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/hanging-guitars.html" target="_blank">Slipper chair</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://shop.freshly-picked.com/collections/mouse-pads/products/gold-mouse-pad" target="_blank">Mouse pads</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.target.com/p/bright-wicker-basket/-/A-14242154#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=bright+wicker+basket" target="_blank">Green woven wastebasket</a></div></div>

DIY Art: Upholstery Yardage Charts

A lot of you asked where I got the upholstery yardage charts that I hung in my office . It was definitely one of those "make it work...

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Chalkboard Markers on Picture Frames

How great is this living room of one of my readers, Linda?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>She wrote to me:  "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">I recently spied my old chalk board markers and randomly decided to draw on the glass of a couple picture frames.  It ended up being super fun and I liked the look (a bit irreverent), so thought I would share with you.  It's so simple and something your girls might enjoy for personalizing existing framed pictures.  And it wipes right off with a damp paper towel."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this! It is endlessly exciting for me to see the creative ideas you guys come up with. Sometimes the blog world can feel a little stale and your submissions are like a breath of fresh air in my inbox! :) If you'd like to share one of your ideas, feel free to <a href="mailto:jenny@jennykomenda.com" target="_blank">email me</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And for kicks, here are just a few more photos of Linda's pretty living room. Man, I'm so loving dark wall color, always and forever.</div><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_3.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_6.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo LShukla_5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/LShukla_5.jpg" /></div>

Chalkboard Markers on Picture Frames

How great is this living room of one of my readers, Linda? She wrote to me:  " I recently spied my old chalk board markers and randomly...

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A New Leather Source

I've really been wanting a chair in <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-headboard-for-master-bedroom.html" target="_blank">our small bedroom</a>. I looked around for a while and then remembered <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/05/found-my-office-chair.html" target="_blank">the Plycraft chair</a> that I had tucked away into storage. It fit perfectly in the small nook by my closet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0458.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0458.jpg" /></div><br />But the vinyl on the chair is all ripped up and in bad shape, so obviously it is time for an upholstery job. Because the walls are so dark in here, I thought something a little on the lighter side would be pretty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 3DSC_0344copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/3DSC_0344copy.jpg" /></div><center></center><br />I started hunting online for a hide of leather in a light shade and I stumbled across <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/leatherhut/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686" target="_blank">Leather Hut</a> on eBay. They had a ton of great options at really affordable prices. Then I realized their showroom is in Brooklyn! It's open to the trade only and only by appointment, and it did not disappoint. I found <a href="http://instagram.com/p/Xuw3f0wW-E/" target="_blank">two identical hides of navy leather</a> for a client's dining chairs and this half hide in a really lovely pale camel, almost blush. I love the color and the sheen so much!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0492.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0492.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I think the color will be perfect on the dark rug and against the charcoal walls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0511.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0511.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've got some mink oil that will help protect the finish and it will probably darken it a little bit or at least make it look a little more broken in. I'm so excited to pull off the wood shell on this chair and get to all that tufting! :)</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0508.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0508.jpg" /></div>

A New Leather Source

I've really been wanting a chair in  our small bedroom . I looked around for a while and then remembered the Plycraft chair that I had ...

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Giveaway: Windows 8 Tablet, Keyboard Dock and Stylus Brush

So many of you mentioned <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/04/playing-with-fresh-paint.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a> that you were dying to get your hands on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freshpaintteam" target="_blank">Fresh Paint app</a> yourself. Well, here's your chance! The Fresh Paint team provided me with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009F1INL8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009F1INL8&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">a tablet with the Windows 8 software</a>, a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009F1IO3K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009F1IO3K&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">keyboard dock</a> (making your tablet basically a fully functioning laptop), and a really cool <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UGQ064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008UGQ064&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">stylus brush</a> to give away so you can create your own masterpieces in Fresh Paint.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MSFRESHPAINTGIVEAWAY.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/MSFRESHPAINTGIVEAWAY.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo abstract.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/abstract.png" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(one of my recent Fresh Paint creations - I'm loving this app!)</i></div></div><br />So to enter to win the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009F1INL8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009F1INL8&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">tablet</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009F1IO3K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009F1IO3K&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">keyboard</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008UGQ064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008UGQ064&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20" target="_blank">brush stylus</a>, please leave a comment on this post, sharing what type of painting projects you'd try with the Fresh Paint app. Abstracts? Portraits? Hoping to import a photo in using the "wet paint" function? Feel free to link to inspiration images. We'd love to see!<br /><br />***This just in! <a href="http://www.canvaspop.com/" target="_blank">CanvasPop</a> is throwing in a free 12x18 custom canvas print of your masterpiece as part of the give away. How's that for sweetening the pot? :)<br /><br /><i>Contest ends Sunday May 5 at midnight. I've opened up the comments to allow for unregistered users. The winner will be emailed so please be sure to leave you email address if you're not signed in. Good luck!</i>

Giveaway: Windows 8 Tablet, Keyboard Dock and Stylus Brush

So many of you mentioned yesterday that you were dying to get your hands on the Fresh Paint app yourself. Well, here's your chance! Th...

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Playing with Fresh Paint

<center style="text-align: left;">I was thrilled when Microsoft reached out to me about trying out a new app called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freshpaintteam" target="_blank">Fresh Paint</a> they developed for their Windows 8 touch screen device. Fresh Paint was first introduced in MoMa's Material's Lab, and was met with high acclaim. I was also totally blown away by the realistic look of <a href="http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/fresh-paint/1926e0a0-5e41-48e1-ba68-be35f2266a03" target="_blank">the painting application</a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo 3DSC_0351.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/3DSC_0351.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">To practice I referenced <a href="http://www.simplelovelyblog.com/2013/03/lovingon-wednesday_27.html" target="_blank">this painting</a> and tried my first go-round. Here's the base:</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo o1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/o1.png" /></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo 3DSC_0436.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/3DSC_0436.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">And here's the finished version:</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center><img alt=" photo Tangerines.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/Tangerines.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">And my second try, with apples:</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo apples.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/apples.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">The dimension of the strokes looks a lot like real oil paint, right? Like any more involved app, it takes some time to figure out how everything works, but after three or four paintings, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on how to use all the functions. I like "real" painting a lot, but it is so much work to pull out all my oils and make a huge mess and then there's the clean up with all those chemicals, not to mention waiting around for a week for the paint to dry. I love that with Fresh Paint, I could make a painting in like 20 minutes while I'm lounging on the sofa. Such a relaxer!</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0444.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0444.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">So once I felt like I had the hang of painting with the app and the brush stylus, I tried Fresh Paint's cool feature where you can import any image and the colors become wet paint, so you can manipulate the image and make it look painted. It's like advanced doodling - no creativity or brain work required! So, so awesome.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0461.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0461.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">Since Mother's Day is around the corner, I decided I wanted to use the app to make something special for my Mom (and she already saw the painting, so I'm not blowing any surprises here.) :) I've talked about my Grandma Johnson before, who immigrated from Sweden when she was 19. This photo has always been my favorite of her. It was taken just before they left their home to move to the US.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center><img alt=" photo edithjohnson2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/edithjohnson2.jpg" /></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;">Grandma Johnson lived to be more than 100 years old. She was independent, headstrong, lovely, intelligent, creative, and loving. We all think of her as the matriarch of our huge family. One of the first and most memorable things we've done since moving to New York was to go to Ellis Island when my parents were in town visiting. We were able to check the scans of the ships' logs to see Grandma's and her parents' signatures. It was really amazing.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;">I thought it would be fun to see if I could use Fresh Paint to paint on top of the old photo scan and recreate a loose, more abstract and painterly version of the photo in color. To do this, you import the photo in the same way as the "wet paint" method, but this time I layered paint color on top of the black and white image, just using the photo as a sort of template. I liked getting to guess what color her clothes would have been, and it was fun to add color to the room through the rug, wallpaper and furniture.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo 2IMG_2597.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/2IMG_2597.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">I think the thing that makes the Fresh Paint app so realistic is the seemingly infinite color possibilities. Every shade you could ever dream up is right at your finger tips.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0407.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0407.jpg" /> </center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0391.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0391.jpg" /></center><center>  </center><center style="text-align: left;">The brush stylus makes the process feel so real. I was able to smooth out her face and add in more detail in the room.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0378-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0378-1.jpg" /> </center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">And here's the finished painting. I love that it's not a perfect replica of the photo. This actually looks a lot more like Grandma did as an older adult, which makes me really happy. This is more like how I remember her.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo grandmajohnsonforblog.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/grandmajohnsonforblog.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">I had two of the finished images printed on heavy cardstock at my local printers for $2 each (talk about affordable art!). I'm giving a framed one to my mom for Mother's Day, and the other I framed in one of my favorite antique frames and hung in my girls' room.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo 2DSC_0414.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/2DSC_0414.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">My girls know all about Grandma Johnson and how special she was to me, and I love that they get to see her photo every day in their room.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center> <img alt=" photo 2DSC_0389.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/2DSC_0389.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo 2DSC_0352.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/2DSC_0352.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0426-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0426-1.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">I can't wait to keep practicing with the Fresh Paint app! I've already got a whole folder of images on my desktop that I'm so excited to paint over and print out. :)</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center></center><center><img alt=" photo DSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album4/DSC_0434.jpg" /></center><center></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i>This post was sponsored by Microsoft's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freshpaintteam" target="_blank">Fresh Paint</a> app, available exclusively on Windows 8. All opinions are my own. </i></center><center><center><center></center></center></center>

Playing with Fresh Paint

I was thrilled when Microsoft reached out to me about trying out a new app called Fresh Paint they developed for their Windows 8 touch scre...

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