Adding Magical Filters to Photos

 I love the essence of whimsical magic, anything sparkly catches my eye, whether its a glimmering shirt, rhinestone necklace or glittered crown, I'm most likely going to love it, the same comes with jazzing up an ordinary photo.

Photos are the essence of us, they tell a story and help us preserve a moment in time which we can share for generations. Photos also help us inspire others through art and everyday life, along w/progress of ourselves.

When you feel good about yourself or the moment you are capturing behind the lens, it will show right through with a natural magic that can't be beat, but sometimes those moments need some extra jazzing up, a tweek, a little magic.

Nowadays you don't have to be a photoshop pro to enhance your images, all you need are some fun and fast programs available all over the net for free or a minimal cost, which are user friendly, fast, and easy to learn, often within minutes.

For years I have been a paint shop pro fan myself, but today w/the Iphones/apps and online programs I can achieve such great results in minute, whether its tweeking my products and items to sell, artworks, digital creations or photos, added effects make for a more appealing look.

Many people ask me for shortcuts to enhance their photos, here are some sites I recommend that are either free or won't break the bank book:

http://www.picmonkey.com
http://fotoflexer.com
http://www.befunky.com
http://pixlr.com
http://www.tuxpi.com
http://www.ribbet.com
http://en.funphotobox.com
http://photofiddle.com/photo-effects.html
http://www.ehow.com/list_7329143_online-photo-editors.html

All the sites listed above each have their own fun filters and enhancements, and will appeal to photo lovers everywhere, you just need to find the one that you like the best. Here are some before filter and after filter photos using online photo filtering and enhancement options.

A photo of the Met in NYC I took a few weeks ago.

Here is that same photo enhanced w/filters I used in a online photo editing program.

Another photo of the Met in NYC I took a few weeks ago

Here is the photo after w/effects

The Hoboken Terminal Before

Hoboken Terminal w/first set of filters
Here its is more more filters

More filtered Museum Photos, this one is from the Museum of Natural History, NYC

Here it is with different filters

Here's a pic of me I took 2 weeks ago

Here it is with filters and writing


More photos of me w/filters I did last week

Here's a few pics I took outside of New Hope, PA, in Peddler's Village, a few weeks ago


With filter


So many possibilities await you, think of how much you can spruce up your website and store listing photos, make your artwork pop, and give yourself or loved ones some extra pizazz and magic.

Hope this post inspires you to take your photos into a whole new direction,
xoxo
Lisa

The Wonderland Chronicles!

Before Alice fell down the rabbit hole, chasing after the white rabbit who is actually the grandson of S. W. Rabbit, and great great grandson of Elmerious Rabbit, before the mad tea party which was retold in carroll's story, Wonderland was more then a countryside fantasy trap of riddles and rhymes, all in the hopes of Alice finding her way back home....................

Wonderland was a mysterious place, one wrapped in secrets and hidden labrinyths, good against bad, friend or enemy, what lays underneath the green hat, could be a never ending hole, a time travel back to Cheshire E. Cat's first of his 9 lives, inside his apothecary shoppe at the corner of Pigeonwood Court and Tweedle Pine Lane, inside Wonderland City.

No one knows what's lurking behind every corner, keep your magic near by for you never know when you will need it. Come with me and visit Sir Wilford Humpty's Photographie Studio and glimpse through his cabinet of cards, and read about the wonderland chronicles.

Pictured here is The Queen of Hearts, a few feet from her croquette field, which is always having its roses painted!Pictured here are Addie and Austin Rockfellow, part of the Hatter Family!Here is young Madson Hatter, practicing magic at his first tea party. Later he would become known as The Mad Mad Hatter.
Here is young Cheshire, and a young age, in the beginning of his first life, followed by Fiona and Lucinda's Grandmother and Alice's Grandmother Hailey.The Wonderland Chronicles, Wonderland City by Lisa Kettell!

Welcome to Wonderland City, This is the place you never saw or heard about in Lewis Carroll's Story: Alice In Wonderland.

On a recent discovery of an old chest, I found hidden chronicles which have started to un-covered the real story of Wonderland, a secret world filled with magic and loads of secrets!

Madeline Merbrights Summer in Pixie Isle, C.1920!



Madeline Merbrights Summer in Pixie Isle, C.1920!
Enjoy previews of my up and coming illustrated novel called: Madeline Merbright's Summer in Pixie Isle, C.1920!
This story revolves around a young girl named Madeline, whose summer on Pixie Isle will change her life forever.

Welcome to Grimshaw Alley located in Pixie Isle along the Merwin Sound. Pixie Isle is part of the Pixie Region of Wistica and located 25 miles from land. Since Wistica is south of England, the whole area has many British characteristics.

Pixie Isle is considered a premier seaside destination and famous for the Tri-Sea Pixie Pageant, last years winner was August Platmoore.

Lavender, coral powder and moongrass are indigenous to the island. While Wentmoore Holloway made the area famous with his delicious tea called Holloway's Teasers, with flavors such as: Mervander's Twist, Licorice Sunrise and Lavender Vanilla, and many more, which have now been made into scrumptious taffy and candy confections.

Madeline Merwright is pictured here waiting for Percy Spellbinder to start his summer potions class, held every thursday evening at 8pm. $100 pixiepents gets you 8 classes. This is a must do for any young and curious pixie.

This summer will be the opening of the Pixie Boutique on Pixie Isle. FiFi and Trixie LaBlume, have been preparing all year for their fashion show at The La Dolie Opera House. This would be the first fashion show for the two pixie sisters who had left The Phantom Chillarie Theatre Group just last year to pursue their love for designing.
Their debut line will consist of a variety of cutting edge bustiers with vintage ribbons and tulle skirts layered over funky leggings. There will be lots of frills and glam in this collection, complete with dazzling Austrian Crystal colorful tiaras and blown glass flutter rings to accompany the pixie wings.

Pictured here is Polly Andrews, the lead model for the show, who was just featured on the cover of The Faerie Princess Magazine and in The Pixie Times. Polly with her velvety blonde hair, comes from the Rouge Agency and so does her friend Lisette, a new up coming model with gorgeous violet eyes and radiant long brown hair.

To show no hard feeelings that the La Blume sisters didn't renew their contract, The Phantom Chillarie will provide the props and flowers for the show, along with some advertising, other sponsors include: The Paris Magic Group, Hollowood Bank and Trust, Langley Grace Designs and The Garden Bug Cafe.

Every show has a theme, FiFi and Trixie choose a carnival theme. They even transformed the Opera House into an acting Carnival with Pierrots, Ballerinas, Acrobats, and a Lion Tamer, all courtesy of The Percy Peapack Carnival which opens on the Isle two days later. Some of the models will ride down the runway on elephants costumed in LaBlume clothing, others will roller skate while eating cotton candy and the rest will walk with balloons and candy apples.

At the end of the show, guests will be ushered into the opera promenade where they will be given either cotton candy light puffs or sparklers. Then the models, circus performers and The LaBlume Sisters will be whisked away in the Vintage Hot Air Balloons, in an eclectic blend of shapes and designs followed by a magnificant firework display.

I was impressed with the show, however, Lisette, who has no last name, seemed weird, quite strange if you ask me, there was just something about her that bothered me, I don't know what it was, she just did. What's even more strange is that the owner of The Phantom Chillarie has never been seen, only his liason, Groman Felsaunt, who is the appointed, head of the Chillarie. I asked my parents why no one has seen him, they claim, its because of his involvement with the dark arts. Rumors have circulated that he has a secret den where he tortored Pixies and Wizards for their magic, but it can't be proven.

Every August, The Percy Peapack Carnival comes to Pixie Isle. The Carnival stays on the Isle for 10 days, which are filled with lots of magical fun.
Cotton Candy Filling Stations are one of my favorites, You pay one price and can refill your cotton candy sticks all day and choose between 24 flavors. The carnival also features Percy's Cherrie-ettle Corn which is cherry flavored pop corn, there are also Comet Cakes, Snow Cones, Ice Cream, Pickles Fudge, Candy Dandy Apples and Moon Juice.
The seahorse carousel always has a line and changing lantern lights, the ferris wheel extends over Scullivers Park, The Le-Mer-Mystique Dancers put on a water sky-show and elephant rides are a must!
Every year a Carnival Princess is choosen, this year, the title went to Maddy Spellbinder, the daughter of Mrs. Spellbinder. Here Maddy, short for Madison, is shown in her cotton candy gown, her picture is then placed in the Carnival's signature stardust background and placed in the Percy Peapack hall of fame, along with a spot in the Pixie Isle Town Hall! Did I mention her mother is on the Woman's Club Board of Trustees!


This novel/story and the illustrations are Lisa Kettell C.2006-2012

Enjoy all!
Magic and Much Joy, Enchantment and Love!
Lisa!

Happy Halloween!

Amy Knutkowski has done it again, another fabulous digital masterpiece. Today was a late day at Piddlestixs, spent eating candy and giving it all away. As I sat back tonight and reflected on the Halloween Season, I came away with magic, 2 full weeks of it. A Witches Tea Party, Ghost Walk, Seance, Halloween Decor, Folklore and a Special Birthday Greeting to my Grandmother who was born on Halloween, who makes this day that more special.

I walked toward each area of my store and turned off the lights, which glow so magically every evening. To me it doesn't have to be Halloween time in order to decorate and feel magic around you and inside you, it can be kept all your long. In a few weeks, I will be celebrating the release of the latest Harry Potter Movie with a night workshop and a trip to see it.

Tonight I turned on the computer and was greeted with a fabulous piece of digital magic from the amazing Amy Knutkowski, who used one of my images: Betty Grable Halloween as an element in the piece. Click here to visit Amy's flickr site!
Amy's Blog: www.wallflowerimages.blogspot.com

Here is the Betty Grable Halloween Image:


Here is the digial masterpiece that Amy created with it:


All my collage cd's are available in my Etsy Store, Website, and inside Piddlestixs. For free images to use in your works, please visit my flickr site.

Have a magic filled night!
xoxo
Lisa!

The Witches of Lafayette! Double, Double Toil and Trouble

I added some magic to some of the photos from The Witches Tea Party and Ghost Walk Event I hosted at Piddlestixs on October 16, 2010, in Historic Lafayette, NJ.

I added some pizazz in Corel Paint Shop Pro using some filters, distress tools, lettering, plug-ins and borders!

Here are some highlights of these enhanced photos:



Here I am in my own Witches Hat, I choose Pink and I'm wearing Mo's Velvety cloak, I truly felt magical. To set the mood of the event, I tried to play all the magical tunes I could find, a few of songs on the playlist were from Harry Potter, such as Double Double Toil and Trouble, which comes from Macbeth.

Below is a caption from Macbeth, its interpretation and the lyrics from Harry Potter....P.S. I have this as a ring tone on my cell phone!

"Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."

-Macbeth Act 4, scene 1, 10–11, etc.

Three Scottish witches are going about their business—tossing poisoned entrails, eye of newt, toe of frog, and such, into a cauldron—while awaiting a visit from the man they said would be king: Macbeth. "Double, double toil and trouble" is part of the refrain to their demonic incantation, an inspiring little number in tetrameter (four accents per line). The collective memory has clouded somewhat; often, this refrain comes to mind in the jumbled form "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble," which makes even less sense than the original. The witches are actually trying, with their spells, to pile up toil and trouble until they "double"—yielding twice the toil and double the trouble for Macbeth, presumably.

Here are the lyrics as they were played in Harry Potter:
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!

Eye of newt and toe of frog,
wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
lizard's leg and owlet's wing.

Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!

In the cauldron boil and bake,
fillet of a fenny snake,
scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
witches mummy, maw and gulf.

Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Something wicked this way comes!

Have a magical night!
xo
Lisa!

The Magic of Digital Art!

I adore Amy Knutkowski's digital artwork they are filled with so much magic, I can't seem to pick a favorite.

As many of you know I offer a variety of collage cds for artists to use in their works, along with giving free images on my flickr site ranging from Marie Antoinette to the Circus, Victorian, Fashion Plates and Storybook Covers, plus many more.

One image I offer for free:
Which is called: After The Ball, Sugary Sweet.

Now This is what Amy did with it, adding the image to her digital design:

Amy calls this piece: Afternoon Tea!

So magical, to see more of Amy's work visit:
www.wallflowerimages.blogspot.com

or her flickr gallery at:
http://www.flickr.com/people/amyknutkowski/

For my free images visit my flickr page and either add me as a contact to download them or sign up for a free flickr account, add me as a friend and you'll be able to download:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16

Freebie Collage Images For You!
Hello All,
Many of you know just how much I love photographs and ephemera, the more vintage and unusual the better. Old books, magazines, illustrated journals, scrapbooks, theater/opera programs, circus programs, fashion plates, comic books, recipe books, craft books, cabinet cards, postcards, tin types, perfume and apothecary labels/boxes/bottles, cigar labels/boxes, tobacco cartins, candy wrappers, prom tickets, dance cards, auto/oil ads, carnival posters, you name it, inspiration and imagery for your artwoks can be found everywhere, the older the item, the better chance at it being copyright free/public domain.Normally works dating before 1929 are considered public domain, however you will also find works from the 1930's to the 1970's that are copyright free as well, or no copyright was re-newed on these, or photographer or individual is deceased, no estate with restrictions, etc. can all lead to public domain works, check the US Gov.Site for more details, in my book: Altered Art Circus I touch on the subject, located in the beginning of the book.I periodically upload images for you to use in your works both on this blog and on my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157603511546861/ In order to download the pictures you must have a flickr account (which is free for a basic account), and be my approved friend contact, which can easily be done by sending me a friend request, once approved you can download the images in high resolution to use in your works.

I also have a variety of collage images for sale:
1.Flapper CD
2.Soiree CD
3.Marie Antoinette Chronicles/Royal CD
4.Fashion Plate CD
5.Art Deco Fashion Plate CD
6.Grandville/Ballet/Botanical CD
7.Holiday CD
8.Halloween CD
9.Opera CD
10.Children Storybook/Ephemera CD
11.Vintage Greetings CD
12.Kitchy Chic CD
13.Doll Chronicals CD
14.Travel/Archaeology CD
15.Queens of the Sea CD
16.Seaside CD
17.Circus CD
18.Vintage Wedding CD
19.Compilation CD (parts of each available cd)
20.Geisha CD
21.Victorian CD
22.Fairytale Follies CD
For more information on these cds's, what's in them, previews and to order visit
my webshoppe:
http://moonfairesworld.com/curiosity_shoppe.htm
my etsy shoppe:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5074220
moonfaires.etsy.com
my ebay shoppe:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Queen-Lisas-Art-World__W0QQ_armrsZ1


If you have additional questions regarding what's on the cd's send me an email at:
lisakettell@yahoo.com please put CD question in the title.Enjoy the freebie's I have posted today, just click on the photo, it will bring you to my flickr site.

Have a magic filled day!

Its Summer, Try Something Different: a new art form, food and more!Its Officially Summer, Is there something you wanted to try last summer or in general, perhaps a new art form or technique, a new recipe or food. Did you want to color your hair or try a new clothing style, then try it now, you have a whole summer to embark on a new adventure of ideas and inspiration.

Some idea's to ponder:
1. Try a nice refreshing old fashioned Rootbeer Float, a cherry soda float straight from the soda fountain w/cherry syrup and soda fizz.

2. Do you always wear darker colors, try on some brighter and cheerful summer colors, or add some sparkle and glam with a bevy of rhinestone jewelry or some of your own handmade artful jewelry and make a cool statement.
3. How about learning to knit, crochet or tatt, perhaps take that course you have been wanting to take on the art form of your choice.

4. What about reading a new novel while at the beach drinking a pina colada and soaking in the warm summer sun.

5. Maybe you always wanted to try fishing or camping, now is the time to do it, bring a seafood recipe and camping cookbook with you or turn your camping excursion into an exploration, bring a tent, a safari hat, some linens, moroccan anterns, a carpet and have a whole new experience of the outdoors.6. Try a new food or prepare a recipe you always wanted to make. What about lemon lavender cupcakes, an edible flower salad, baked figs w/cheese, Tandoori Chicken, Thai Green Curry Chicken or Peanut Butter and Garlic Spareribs, these are something cool to try.

7. Ever go searching for sea shells after a storm or renting a metal detector and combing the beach, Geo Tracking Devices can start you on a treasure hunting experience!

8. Is there a historic place you always wanted to visit or a museum you have been wanting to explore, then do it.

9. Perhaps for a few years you have been wanting to re-vamp your garden, add a trellis, roses and a garden ornament, maybe re-configure your yard, wait for some sun and start that project.

10. Been wanting to try your hand at attending a garage or yard sale, don't wait for someone to go with you, just go and find those vintage finds, but grab a cup of coffee and some single dollars before you go.

11. What about taking the leap of faith and painting a spare room a bold color, branching out of your color comfort zone, bringing to life those ideas whirling around in your head.

12. Volunteer somewhere for the day, and feel good about helping others, help out at a funraiser or take a walk to help in the fight against the many diseases out there, or just show support for a friend, loved one or stranger who might need your help.

13. Love amusement parks? Want to feel like a kid again, head out to one, eat kettle corn, cotton candy, funnel cakes or ice cream, ride the carousel, roller coaster and ferris wheel, feel the excitement
14. Hate bathing suits, but love the beach? Just grab that long sarang or maxi dress, pack a bag with a towel, a book, sun block, snacks and just do it, grab a friend go to the beach early during the week and relax reading a book, searching for shells, followed by a trip to the boardwalk for some fun, you don't need a bathing suit to do that.
15. Go to the library and walk to your favorite section, close your eyes and let your heart pick a book, open your eyes up and choose that book, read it and enjoy, try something new.

By trying something new you are fueling your craving for adventure, an exhilarating feeling, a surge of energy, an awakening, a challenge to get out of your comfort zone, trying something new will open your mind to new things, leading to new ideas, a belief in yourself, to conquer your goals and over come your fears.


These are just a few ideas to get you going on your new journey! I hope you enjoy the photographs I took from my travels which I added some more color and magic too, they are altered a bit from the originals to show the variation and different interpretations, I hope you enjoy them and get energized to try something new this summer.