gimp girl tutorial: make + share simple wall art

I am loving your comments + emails about the last tutorial + ideas about what you'd like to learn, so keep it coming, ok?

Today's tutorial was inspired by Rachel of Maybe Matilda, who wanted to know how to add a background design to words.

I love art that has good words.

For this project, I've chosen a refrain from the beloved hymn, Count Your Blessings.
{I've been loving this bluegrass version -- it's at the bottom of the page.}

In this Gimp tutorial, you will learn how to:

Create a hi-res image suitable for printing

Add a background design as a new layer

Add text
Download + use special fonts 

Change text font, size, and color

Upload to a file sharing site

Create a "click to download" link for your blog

{Just joining us? Start here!}

Let's roll. 

Since we plan to print the image, we need to start with a high resolution.

Open Gimp and go to File > New.

Because we'll be printing the artwork, we'll set the resolution to 360 ppi (pixels per inch).

That way, the image will be nice and crisp when you print it.

When you're making an image for web display only, 72 ppi is all you need.

If you were to print out a 72 ppi image, it would look blurry.

Now you're ready to open your background pattern. 
Go to File > Open as Layers
and choose a pattern from your clip art stash.
I'm using some tasty chevron wallpaper from Erin Bradley Designs.

Opening the wallpaper as a layer accomplishes 2 things:

1) It opens a copy of the wallpaper directly into your image-in-process so that you don't have to mess with copying + pasting.

2) Since it's a copy, the original file remains unaltered.

Once your wallpaper is open, go to Image > Fit Canvas to Layers.

This makes your workspace and your wallpaper the same size.

Now we're ready to add text.

First, select the text tool.

Second, double-click-hold-drag on your image to create a text box 

(you can change its size and location later if you need to).

Third, type text into the Text Editor window.

You'll probably see right away that the text is teeeeeny tiny! 

Before we make it bigger, let's change the font.

In the Toolbox, click on Font and select a font from the drop-down menu.

I'm using Vive la Rivoluzione, one of my faves.

That font doesn't come with Gimp; you'll need to download and install it separately. 

After downloading the font of your choice, add it to your computer's font library.

You'll need to save your work + restart Gimp in order to use your new font.

Let's change the text size.

Click the up or down arrows next to Size in the Toolbox.

You can also play with the justification; I'm going to make my text right-justified.

The text is now larger than the size of the text box. 

To fix that, hover your cursor over the edge of the text box. 

Drag the edge down until all of the text is visible.

Now for my favorite part. Time to change the text color!

Double-click the rectangular box underneath the Text menu in the Toolbox. 

A separate Text Color window will pop up.

I'm feelin' a minty aqua for my text color today.

First, click on a spot on the vertical color spectrum bar that you like the look of.

Don't be shy! You're not painting the Taj Mahal.

Next, drag the crosshairs in the square color box on the left. Watch the color in the Current box (bottom left) until you see a color you like. Click OK.

Now we'll reposition the text.

Select the move tool.

Double-click and drag the text until you've got it where you want it.

All done! Save your work (I like to save one as an .xcf file and another copy as a .jpg).

Now we'll upload your new work of art to a file sharing site.

I've been using Sendspace. It's simple. No frills.

Upload the file. When it's done, you'll see this screen giving you a few different links to choose from.

Click on the second link ("Download Link").

Next screen. 

See the blue box towards the bottom that says "Click here to start download"?

Right-click that box and select Copy Link.

Now head over to Blogger (or your blog host of choice).

Just one step left: time to make the download link.

In my blog post, I've entered the text "Click here to download the print."

Highlight the word "here" and make a link. 

When it asks for the link URL, right-click and hit Paste.

When your readers click on the word "here," your print will automatically download to 

their computer -- without sending them away to a 3rd-party site. Win!

All done! You've got a kick-trash print, and you can share it, too!

{Click here to download the print!}

Sources:
Chevron wallpaper via Erin Bradley Designs
Chalkboard via Kitschy Digitals
Fonts: Cursive Standard, Impact Label, Vive la Rivoluzione

uplifting download: he'll go with you

Welcome, Life Made Lovely readers! It's so nice to have you here!

With all the comings + goings of summertime, I've been thinking a lot about busyness, schedules, 

and trying to spend more time doing stuff that, you know, matters.

Sometimes it is hard for me to choose. 

What I should do -- what I want to do -- what He wants me to do -- 

they don't always align. 

But I do know that I can have Him with me, no matter what.

{click here to download}

Whatever life is handing you right now -- you can have Him with you.

He can help you.

He knows you + He loves you.

Isn't that just the greatest?

I think it is!

Hope you enjoy the print -- I'll be back soon with some super vintage finds.

I hope your week is off to a beautiful start, my friends!

uplifting download: scripture power

Lizzy started going to Sunbeams (Sunday School) this year, and since then it seems like she's been singing non-stop. I LOVE it. She makes up her own songs, too. Most recently I heard her singing in the bathtub:

There was a little rag

She lived at the bottom of the sea

Swim round, swim round, swim round...

*Melt my mommy heart!* Anyway -- Scripture Power is a big favorite around here. Even Maren sings along sometimes. I found an uber cute + clever music video of the song if you haven't heard it before (or even if you have). The chorus goes:

Scripture power(!) keeps me safe from sin

Scripture power is the power to win

Scripture power; every day I need

The power that I get each time I read.

My day always goes so much better when I read my scriptures first thing. Tempers stay down. Voices speak sweeter. Everything is a little bit brighter, a little more saturated, a little more focused.

Feel free to download any (or all!) of the designs below, or you can print a 4-in-1 that's the perfect size for bookmarks. And let's stick to non-commercial use, k? And (ee!) guess what - I whipped up a button for these little freebies (see last week's here). I have so many more ideas that I hope to share with you. Grab the button and link up if you want!

Now get out there with your scripture power!

uplifting download: good, better, best

Happy Tuesday, guys! I'm excited to post this fun little freebie. A while back, Dallin H. Oaks gave an address called Good, Better, Best that's all about priorities.

Because it isn't always a choice between doing something naughty or doing something good.

More often our choices are whether we'll do something good (read a novel?), something better (play with my kids?), or something best (serve my neighbor together with my kids?).

To sum it up simply:

"We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families."

That message has been on my mind a lot lately, so I made a little reminder -- stick it on your fridge, pin it in your laundry room, give it to a friend -- I hope you like it!