Digital DIY Wednesday How to Create a Watermark Using GIMP

Happy Digital DIY Wednesday!
Today I have a video tutorial on how to create your own watermark using GIMP.  Recently there has been quite a buzz about copyright, and photographs on the internet, especially with regards to Pinterest and now Etsy.  I have had at least two friends of mine who have had their photographs stolen, and then reused as their own to sell similar Etsy items, which is not only dishonest and disgraceful, but also illegal, oh and I'd like to add unoriginal to the mix as well.
So, adding a watermark to your photographs that you will be sharing on the internet is a great way to protect yourself and your photographs!Here are two samples of watermarks:

Below the video I'm providing a written step by step as well. If the video appears too small within the blog screen, you can view it on You Tube HERE

Step By Step Instructions
1) Open the File you want to use as your watermark
2) Save a Copy of that file as a .gbr file and make sure you save this copy within the Gimp Brushes Folder (If you're not sure where the GIMP folder is, do a search for it using the "Search Programs and Files" on your Windows start bar
3) Open the file that you want to use the watermark on
4) Select the BRUSH tool and select the brush type. If you don't see the brush file you just created, hit the refresh arrows in the bottom left of the toolbox window
5) Once selected adjust the SCALE and OPACITY to where you want it and then click the brush onto where you want it to appear
*If you mess up and don't like where you put the watermark, or want to further adjust the size or opacity you can just hit CTRL and then Z to undo it. Once you click the brush onto the picture you cannot edit it so simply undo it and and adjust, and then redo the brush

If you have any questions at all, shoot me an e-mail ReleaseMeCreations {at} hotmail {dot} com

Digital DIY Wednesday: Fix Google Friend Connect

For those of you who use Blogger, I am sure that you share the same sentiment that I do with that little box that holds all of your friends and followers.  It has been endlessly frustrating to me that the box just disappears, and then re-appears whenever it chooses.
Well, it is now time to whip that little box into shape!
This fix came to me from the talented and incredibly lovely Abbie of Five Days...5 Ways. Her tech savvy husband helped her to out how to tame the unruly little box.And now I get to pass that onto you with this little video!

Here is the direct link to the video to be able to view it full screen: How To Fix Google Friend Connect
*Here is the text to insert into your blog html:
<script src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js' type='text/javascript'/>
**Also, whenever you are editing the html language of your blog be sure to SAVE A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT TEMPLATE! That way, if anything goes wrong in your editing process, you have a copy of it to re-insert back into the text box. Thank you so much Abbie!  Be sure to check out her incredible blog, Five Days...5 Ways!

Digital DIY Wednesday: DIY Etsy Banner Using GIMP

{To forgo the epic whine session, scroll down for the video tutorial}
Well, the schedule has not let up any. My first craft show is coming up in two weeks, so I have been busy getting the setup perfect. I have changed things up this year adding an actual retail display tower that I snagged from Game Stop's dumpster, as well as string lights. But I am having some roadblocks, as my string lights are too heavy for my PVC poles so I need to figure that out.
 Right now the upstairs family room is a staging area for my craft booth!

I'm still trying to finish up the Academy Awards necklaces. I only have one little step left, but multiply that little step by 100 and it doesn't seem so little anymore.

I'm also selling some new belt cuffs at the karate school using actual karate belts. They are a hit so I have at least 5 orders a day. That has been keeping my already busy schedule full beyond capacity.

AND I'm still trying to develop my business plan for my indie gift shop.  Currently I am wrestling with the Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Projection, and Profit/Loss Forms.

HELLO BUSY.

Bla bla bla...enough of that whining, let's have another DIGITAL DIY WEDNESDAY!

Today's topic is DIY Etsy Banners.
You can watch it from You Tube as well, which will allow you to make it full screen:

PAR-TAY!
To see the tutorial on how to arrange your buttons like this, CLICK HERE!