Yep – it’s been 365 days of blog bliss (on my part, tee hee hee) and hopefully I’ve made more than a few new friends out in the blogosphere 🙂 I’ve completely loved this last year of web logging and it’s so fun to see how I’ve improved in my photography and my photoshop skillz. I’ve enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to many more years!
Yes, What would a blogiversary be without some blog candy??!?! I’m going to be giving away a homemade gift…something brilliant..something I haven’t thought of yet, but that’s why it’s so darn fabulous! It will be brilliant AND a surprise! YES!
What do you have to do? Just leave a comment with your name and email, AND mention something you’ve enjoyed about my blog over the last year – doesn’t matter what, just like hearing from you 🙂 I’ll post a winner on…let’s say….oh…..let’s say on Friday! Okay, leave a comment on THIS post before Friday and you’ll be entered! I really love knowing that someone out there is actually reading this thing, so comment away and you could be well rewarded. Mwah ha ha!
Okay, partying aside, this is also Tutorial Tuesday! I thought I’d show you a fun and easy way to create a blurry/fuzzy background on a photo that maybe has a distracting background etc. Now, as a photographer, I have to make a disclaimer here…. the easiest way to acheive this effect is by doing it with your camera first – how? Opening up your aperature as wide as it will go (in other words, set your f number as low as it will go), and getting closer to your subject. BUT if you can’t do that, then try this photoshop elements technique! Here we go…
1. Open your photo (create a duplicate of the image first) Select the magnetic lasso tool from your tools pallette. Up at the top of the screen, in the box next to the word “feather” enter 3 px. That will help the blur blend in to the “in focus” part of the photo better. Make it transition from sharp to blurry better.
2. Move your mouse over your photo and click on the edge of the photo maybe around half way to a third of the way up (you don’t want to blur the entire background from the bottom up, or it won’t look natural). Click once and slowly drag your mouse, outlining as close as you can to your subject. The magnetic lasso tool will cling to contrasting colors. Neat eh? Just basically outline around your subject, up the side, across the top, and down to meet your starting point. Like so:
3. When you reach your starting point, click on the starting square and you’ll have marching ants around your background. Go to the top of the screen and click on Filter>Blur>Gaussian blur.
4. Enter in a blur amount of 10 to start with. Lets not be crazy. You can see a preview of how it will look in the little screen above. You can make the number higher or lower depending on the effect you want. Just remember, less is more sometimes, especially if you want a natural effect. Click OK to commit to the change.
5. All you need to do now is get rid of your selection (the marching ants) by clicking on Select>Deselect (at the top of the screen). Voila!
It Works For Bobbi! 
Thank you sooo much! I love your blog because YOU have taught me so much about Photoshop (Elements). I really do appreciate it! You also have a darling family and it’s fun to hear the in’s and out’s of your life. Thanks again!
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I enjoy your blog very much. I read it often. I too am LDS and enjoy seeing that people all over the world are just as busy as I am. I have enjoyed seeing the cute treats you have made, your daughter on her baptism, and I enjoy all of your beautiful pix!!! Thank you for sharing your life and your testimony here in blog world!!! Have a Fantastic day!!!Trina F.
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Hi Bobbi! Congrats on a full year of blogging. I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while. I love photography and have just started to dip in to digiscrapbooking. I love family stuff and have loved learning a little bit about LDS as I have never met anyone who practices that.
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Hi Bobbi! Congrats on 1 year of blogging, it goes by sooo fast.I love everything about your blog, the pics, the tutorials, your gorgeous scrapbooking, your honesty, recipes, everything!!!
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hello! i started reading your blog a few months ago and really enjoy your tutorial tuesday as i’m becoming better acquainted with photoshop! congratulations on your 1 year anniversary =)
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Congrats on your year anniversary. I came across you blog somehow. I’ve enjoyed your tutorials. It’s been fun to try your instructions on my own pictures.
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Happy Blogversary!! I really enjoy your blog! Your pictures are amazing and I lovelove the tutorials! Keep ’em coming!xoxo Sarah from Mainemsimagna at aol dot com
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Great tutorial! I gave you a shout out for Tutorial Tuesday over at Card of the Week.com. Thanks so much for sharing!Blog candy: wow! Something homemade.. by you?! I’d LOVE IT! I can’t wait to see what you make 😀 My favorite part of the site is the tutorials! You do an great job of sharing tips and techniques that take some of the intimidation out of Photoshop. In a word, you make it look EASY.
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Hey Bobbi-What I love about your blog? EVERYTHING!! Its a fun blog to read and very educational. You make photoshop easy. Thanks for all the tips each week-its very kind of you to do. I think you might be the first person out here that doesn’t want to charge for a photoshop tip.lol… Thanks again, I look forward to reading your blog for many more years. Josie-TXjoehamper@netzero.com
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hello! the first time I came on your blog, you had posted pics from your house and I loved your decorating style and clean-ness! I also really like your tutorials!Jessica livingstone@shaw.ca
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I’ve only recently discovered your blog but LOVE LOVE LOVE the tutorials. Being a working mom of two, I don’t get a lot of time to “play” with PSE3.0 (I know, it’s old) but your tutorials give me the know how to do cool things to them in very little time! THANK YOU! Happy Blogaversary!
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Happy Blogaversary! I just love your tutorials. They are so easy to follow. I love your creative and inspiring style of your projects. Count me in on this sweet MYSTERY HANDMADE celebration candy. I love anything handmade and coming from you….I would be so honored. Thanks for a chance.
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What’s not to love about reading your bog? I love hearing what you are up to and finding inspiration for myself to do a little something myself now and then. Your talent is outstanding and that alone is worth checking out and drooling over.
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Happy Blogaversary! I know you are thinking I will love your tutorails most, but I actually admire you pretty well rounded. You are a great example of a mother. You are a great example of a member of the church. You are mad talented– and well… I just admire adn love everything about your blog! So that’s that!simplyjenn_dm@msn.com
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Thank you thank you thank you! I have been wondering how to make a blurred background for a while and I did mess about a bit but never really got the “how-to)… until now! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with this newbie.
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Hi Bobbi, I found your blog about 6 mo ago and it was love at first sight. I can’t tell you how much I hated my photoshop elements because I just didn’t know how to use it. With all your tutorials I have to say it’s now the only thing I use. The projects are wonderful and you pictures are amazing. I come here to feel inspired..thanks for that! Here’s to many more inspiring years!!
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Bobbi- I love your blog. i love that family shot with the feet- why didn’t i think of that with you! i am determined to learn more photoshop- and you teach it so well. i want to take pictures like you!kristill@hotmail.com.
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Congrats!! 😀Your photography is AWESOME and I love your photoshop tips! Keep up the great work 😀
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Bobbi,I love your photography! It must be fun taking all those great pictures. I haven’t started playing with my pictures like you do but perhaps if I keep reading your blog daily I will get the courage up to try some of those thingsHappy Blogversary!lori.ryde@gmail.com
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Happy Blogversary! I have loved all you photos and inspiration! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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LOL! Nothing like blog candy to get over 20 comments in minutes. I can hardly believe it’s been a year since you let me know about your blog. WOW! Where does the time fly? Congrats to you and thanks for inspiring me to start one of my own. I didn’t imagine in a million years that it would provide all that it does for me.
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Happy Blogeversary!!! I love your blog… your creativity amazes me! I also love Tutorial Tuesdays… especially when they relate to PSE!! I use your creamy b&w conversions all the time… love ’em! =)
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Happy Anniversary…I’m new to the blogging world but have been stamping and scrapping for about 18 years and love your photography tips. Congratulations and thanks for sharing. Sandy gsrmeyers@comcast.net
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Oops forgot my email!! srschneider at mac dot com
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P.S. I love your Bobbie’s Boosts. Are they compatible with Elements? I’m guessing no. It seems like there aren’t any for Elements. Do you know of a way to MAKE them work?!
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Congrats on your 1 year Bobbi!I’m an avid “scrap” card maker myself, and I have really enjoyed reading your blog, because of how genuine you are with your entries. There is no doubting, at how beautiful your photography is. They are so candid, and REAL! You have such a true talent, for seeing things behind the camera, in those precious moments; that anyone else would have passed by. You’re so good at capturing movement, emotion, and originality.I see a major growth in your talent, as you make each shot more precious than before!I love looking at the pictures of your family, friends, and everyday subjects. Whether it’s rain or shine, you blow my mind! 🙂Keep up the awesome work! You’re one creative woman! You inspire me!
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Happy Blogiversary! I love visiting your blog because I love to look at your photography. And your tutorials are great. I hope to be able to utilize some of them soon.Charmaine
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Congratulations ! I love everything about your blog, it’s always so full of inspiration. Thanks for the tutorials too.Claudiascfranson@charter.net
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I love your blog and all the great tutorials you put on here for us nwbies…I follow them every week and I look at your site almost daily! Keep up the great work!!
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Duh! Feather the edges…. why didn't I think of that? 🙂 Next time things will look much better. 🙂
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