Barbie Life — Linda Sellers

Black and White Photos with a Touch of Color: Create With Picnik.com

August 17, 2010 By Linda 5 Comments

You know the photos that are black and white except for a small piece of clothing or a flower that is in color? You have always wanted to know how to do that, right?

It’s easy with Picnik.com.

Take Barbie for instance…

She likes to shine in her closeups…

Start with a basic photo, but one with a shape that can be easily “separated” from the background to colorize. You might not want to start with an object with winding parts like a tree.

Open up the photo in Picnik.com

Go to Create>Effects>Black and White

Settings to Original, and change the brush size to fit the object you want to colorize.

While the application is open, the photo will turn to black and white. Take the brush (you will see the cursor is a circle) and begin to run it over the area you want to colorize, in this case Barbie…

Now I’m going to twist or rotate it for effect, and as I do that I notice that i have over colored in one place…

I know, it’s slight but her underarm is yellowish…and it’s not a good look for Barbie!!

Now hit the Black and White again, this time checking “Reverse” and “Effect”….

Now I can take my cursor and “UNDO” what I did. Any spots that should NOT be color can be undone. And by making the brush SMALLER I can hit a fine area to de-colorize.

Can you do that? I’d love to see your finished product!!

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life, Digital Freebies, Digital Fun

I can dance if I want to…

August 10, 2010 By Linda 6 Comments

I can leave my cares behind…

Not sure how much of a safety dancer I was. I was more of an OMG SHE IS GOING TO THROW OUT A HIP OR A SPLEEN OR SOMETHING dancer.

It was such a blast.

Bloggy State of Mind had me busting some crazy moves (re-creation only)

And Sparklecorn had me sweatin’ to the groove – might have been my own groove just so you know….

(credit Mooshinindy flickr)

I am icing the ankle that hurt all weekend long and propping my knee up on the dog’s blankie because I need it more than he does.

Worth every pain and gripe, because the BlogHer parties totally rocked.

I have to thank the girls of Bloggy State of Mind for their groovalicious dance expo and chance to get my groove on. Do we still use that phrase?

I had an equally energetically impossible dance session at the Sparkelcorn Party. I kissed Obama on the cheek. And I hadn’t had anything to drink. wow.

It would not have been a night to dance and remember if not for my friends @twincident, @resourcefulmom, @cassieaiden , @teachmama, @jennyonthespot, @reallifesarah, @cutestkidever, @slpowell, @bizziemommy @shaunaglenn, @carissarogers, @momrn, @rockandrollmama, @whodidimisscauseifeelsobad……

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life, Digital Fun, Recent posts, Road to BlogHer, a Blogger's Life

Barbie Goes Video and the Big Hair REVEAL!

August 3, 2010 By Linda 1 Comment

Maybe you read the big news last week that we now have Video Barbie! The folks at Mattel have created a new media doll…not just a Barbie that is dressed up as a professional videographer but a doll that ACTUALLY HAS A VIDEO CAMERA IN HER! See iJustine’s tour of the Mattel Barbie factory!

I’m not sure how you walk around with a TV screen on your back. I have enough trouble getting my scarf to look good! However with my haircut, I would NOT have to wear that I Dream Of Jeannie hairdo. OY.

Oh yes, I got my hair cut! …Now after the hair extension fiasco, I wanted to show you the new hair style so I took a photo real quick with photobooth. Let me know what you think!! SQUEEEEEE!

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life, Digital Fun, Recent posts

Adding Layers in Picnik Combining Photos

August 3, 2010 By Linda 5 Comments

This is a basic tutorial on adding different photo layers in Picnik. It’s easy to combine more than one photo making Picnik more functional in graphic design.

First pull up a photo you want to start with.

Then from the bottom row where it says “Photo Basket” open up the row to show your photo library. Then it’s as easy and dragging the photo from the basket on top of your base photo.

Here I have Barbie and a twinkie. Let’s add a shape.

I find the thought bubble and add that to the photo. Then resize, flip if you need to and cover the twinkie.

If I right click on the bubble, I can “Send Backward” and the twinkie shows. Move the objects around until you have achieved the desired effect!

Now I want a twinkie!

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life, Digital Freebies

Barbie SUMMAHTIME! – Back From L.A.

July 5, 2010 By Linda 12 Comments

I’m back from L.A. and the trip was so fab. Got to meet the Minions from Depsicable Me and yes that one was totally hitting on me…told him he needed to watch that hand!

I kind of took the long way home via amazon.com, but now that I’m back I have something to show you girls. When I was hanging at the Four Season’s with Beyonce, she convinced me to get hair extensions. Seems all glamorous L.A. ladies get them. And since I didn’t have much money (I mean it’s the Four Freakin Seasons, a per diem only goes so far) I went to some little beauty place on Hollywood and Vine for my hairdo.

But I’m back ladies….

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life

Where in L.A. is Barbie?

June 29, 2010 By Linda 14 Comments

As you know I have a favorite Barbie that I use to tell the story of my life. I like that the doll has a tan like me and a 2 inch waste NOT like me. She is the perfect character.

Or was…

I lose something every time I go away it seems.

San Fran - my wireless card

L.A. – my Barbie.

But the question remains…did I forget her or did she run away to L.A. L.A. land?

Looking at the night before, I’m starting to wonder what the real story is.

Of course I usually use the first person to tell my stories, but I am not missing, she is. So it will be told in Barbie Person. And here are the timeline of events that led up to her demise.

6/24/2010 8:20 pm
Barbie sees flowers and feels special in her room at the Four Seasons.

6/24/2010 8:33

The view is spectacular from the 9th floor.

6/24/2010 10:20

Hung out on the balcony all evening looking at the skyline

6/24/2010 10:25

Thinks she sees Beyonce!

6/24/2010 10:26

Waves to Beyonce or whoever that girl with the booty is?

6/24/2010 10:48

So that’s way too much and we need a little vino from the mini bar to recuperate.

6/24/2010 11:01

We are a lightweight.

6/24/2010 11:20

Somehow we made it into the bed *does not remember that part but thank you

6/26/2010 10:20 am

Press Junket for Despicable Me. Has photo taken with a Minion….and a few others but we shall not drop names (cough julieandrewsstevecarellmirandacosgrovejasonsegel cough)

And that’s the last we saw of her. Did she get lost in all 28 feet of that Four Season’s bed?

Did she fall over the balcony looking for Beyonce again?

Did she crawl under the bed so she wouldn’t have to come back to Richmond?

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life

SUMMAHTIME! Barbie does ebay

June 11, 2010 By Linda 4 Comments

It’s time for summer and time to get my SUMMAHTIME FUN on! Follow me this summer for….

Can you imagine the horror that I had to endure when I got a tear in my favorite jeans? Even with the economy in the toilet, it was time to find some new clothes.

I knew ebay would have the best deals so I headed there.

I have a positive feedback of 100%. #justsayin #booyah

There was no shortage of LAME clothing. I mean who wants to look lame these days when there are so many fancy clothes you can buy? Yes a gold outfit is super LAME, IMO.

bad perm b?

Well, I also found some bargains…

Wedding dresses for $.99

No I am not getting married, but I have 2 daughters you know…

Elvis is alive, in jail, and available for purchase for $34.99….

But I also found something disturbing.

Clean but USED BARBIE UNDERWEAR. GAH… I thought that was a Clinton thing? {{throws up a little}}

Well anywhoooo, I ordered some super cute stuff, and I’ll share when it gets here.

More amazing SUMMAHTIME adventures to come!

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life Tagged With: barbie car, barbie summer, ebay

It’s more than a seat. It’s a movement.

June 9, 2010 By Linda 13 Comments

It’s rare that I mention my son on this blog, mostly because he dies a little each time he is blogged about. And I’m sorry for that.

But he’s a grown up now, 19, soaks in the air that I condition and eats the food that I prepare order from Domino’s, so he’s fair game IMO.

He’s young still and formulating his opinions on life, I get that. But last night he decided to take on an age old question that has already been answered.

again

and

again

And women won, hands down.

His thought…and I have to give him credit on this…

….credit for being a man with a manbrain….

…that simply because we as women are the self appointed victims in this that we should change our habits so as to not rock the boat and upset, hurt or disappoint ourselves.

And let men win.

The toilet seat belongs DOWN.

“Why don’t you look?”

“Because it’s supposed to be down, so we would NEVER HAVE to look.”

“Why don’t you just get used to ASSUMING that it’s up?”

“Why don’t you realize you are wrong and go eat a pizza?”

So far it’s not affected the equilibrium of this house, mostly because we have 5 bathrooms. So with 3 of us living here and 5 bathrooms, 2 of us girls… and you math geeks can correct me…there is easily a 2 in 5 chance of landing in the john (ok, so I’m an accountant not a statistician) …add to that the fact that the boy spends 30% of his time in the basement and it’s more like 1 in some bigger number.

Not really an issue.

No, not an issue but still a position.

A position that has me NOT falling in the bowl at 3 am.

Who’s with me?

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life, Recent posts

Forever in Blue Jeans

June 4, 2010 By Linda 6 Comments

It’s so nice to relax on the couch with my puppies.

I don’t know why, but lately my sleep has been off and I desperately need to take the occasional nap. Of course then I feel like poo all evening. Why is that?

These dogs can share the couch…it’s a bit of a squish….but they won’t mind…you know the old saying….

LET SLEEPING DOES LIE?

Well don’t let them LIE while you are SNURRING if you know what’s good for you…and your fancy jeans.

WARDROBE!

Filed Under: Appearing Weekly, Barbie Life Tagged With: barbie, dogs, jeans

Barbie is a gadget girl

May 13, 2010 By Linda 3 Comments

After NYCGate and the hair controversy of 2010 I had to regroup when I got home.

I’m not just a pretty girl…I have some serious brain power at work, but the paparazzi seem to want to catch me at my worst. My hair is usually practically perfect unlike my friend Betty who God love her is still smiling though that rats nest. I think Crystal Bowersox is her stylist, I think…not sure….

So back to me being smart.

I’m so used to multitasking while looking super fabulous. As a blogger and social media maven marketer strategist guru, I spend my days using all the latest technologies…we geeks have to stay connected and up to date on the latest gadgets.

I can run circles around the geekiest mac owners….