Bad Blogger!

I am so embarrassed by my lack of blogging lately. I have however,really enjoyed teaching the workshops. My students are really learning a lot and have even showed me their homework to prove it. I have a couple of blog addresses to add to my sidebar that are ones of my students. They have posted their homework on their blogs for me to check (I give out special gifts to those who actually do homework!).

My reality tv is winding down for the season. I was SUPER happy for Ali to win biggest loser. I was sad to see Michael Johns go from American Idol. I am anxious to see who makes it to the end for Survivor and I am thrilled to see that because of the writer's strike ending, GREY's ANATOMY is BACK!

I have really savored my full nights of sleep since last week was my last week on the route! I really really really enjoyed not having to sacrifice another Sat. night doing inserts and staying up to deliver Sunday papers. To all you COUPON SENSE customers..you really should tip your carrier!

Here is a fun announcement I just made for a client for her upcoming wedding. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing her cutie announcement. I had fun taking their photos. I had even more fun creating her announcement. Maybe my photoshop students can see some of the techniques I have taught in this invite! If any of my students see this, I will be asking questions in class about it!

Doing a little cross promotion...

I am having my first class for my photoshop workshops this Thursday. You can go to my workshop blog by following the link on the right under emflake workshops.
Here is the post I have over at my workshop blog:

I am excited to remind all of those who have already signed up and those wanting to sign up that this Thursday is the kick off class for the 4 class workshop! I have been working on making informative handouts and thinking of fun and creative ways for you all to learn how to play on the computer and make creations you can be proud of!

I added to this post the picture of Photoshop Elements 4.0. This is the program I will be teaching from. If you are unsure about the details of this program, please email me emflake@hotmail.com.

There is a newer version Photoshop Elements 6.0 that is a little fancier, but the information I will be sharing will still apply. Also, the tips and tricks I will be presenting throughout the workshops are applicable to other photoshop type programs, but the wording of the tabs and tools may differ.

Don't let this keep you from signing up. I know you will walk away with a new found knowledge of photoshop and using it for creative purposes!

Sharing a layout from our hike up Silly Mountain..

I created this layout for my class this Thursday (follow the link on the right to view details of the class under emflake workshops).

It was fun to make a scrapbook page again since it has literally been 2 years! It was such a fun day, and I am glad I at least have some of that memory saved to a page :)

Felt like sharing!

Flashback Friday

In honor of me jumping back into the teaching arena again, I thought I would post one of my first projects I taught 7 years ago! It's a picture of me at my wedding reception 15 years ago with my niece Maycee. Wow, have we BOTH changed. At my class, I taught how to create the lattice frame with tearing and chalking techniques. It's funny to see the progression of my style over the years.

Check out the link on the right

Under emflake workshops! I have updated my new blog for my workshops. I have all the information on there regarding pricing, classes, etc..Hope to see some of you there!

emflake workshops in the works..

I am about to embark on a new adventure since I have decided to throw in the paper route towel. I have had a few people inquire recently and over the last year about having me teach workshops on using the computer for scrapbooking and photo editing or photoshop 101. In my other life (heehee), well over a year and a half ago, I quit working in an industry (scrapbooking) that I worked in for over 7 years. I loved it and the people I worked with. My favorite part of working over the years was teaching others techniques and ideas. Not only did I love watching my students have light bulb moments with their new found knowledge, it helped me to continue to learn as well so I could be a better teacher.

With that said, I am working on setting up a blog with samples and schedules of what and when I will be teaching. I will be teaching the workshops out of my home until a better location becomes available. I am going to offer two types of classes. The first class will be focused on how to create titles, page embellishments, cards, etc using Micorsoft Word. This style is best for those who will be printing off what they create and in mass production (cardmaking, handouts, etc.). This class will be offered once a month with new stuff being taught each month. The second class will be a weekly workshop that will span over the length of a month (4 classes)focusing on photoshop and how to use it on photos, digital pages, etc..


If any of you have any suggestions or questions for me concerning this, your comments will be greatly appreciated. Even if they are to tell me how crazy I am to take this on! The cost is still being decided upon, but will be posted on the blog I set up. The blog should be up and running within the next day or so.

Here are some examples of what kinds of techniques and projects I teach:


This is a page that shows the title with the words typed in a circle with the center word having a sentence typed over it. This title was done in Microsoft word.


This christmas ornament was also done using shapes in Microsoft word and shape to fit a 4 inch chipboard circle. Makes a fun and cheap ornament!


Here is a family photo with editing done to the photo as well as brush effects and transparent words placed around the photo. This was done using Photoshop ELements 4.0


This is a baby announcement with photo editing done to the photo and brush effects are included in this design as well. This was created as a 4x6 photo for the ease of ordering prints to send out to friends and family. This was also done using photoshop Elements 4.0