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Oct 6, 2018

Allsorts 488: Trees or Leaves and a Few Words about my New Photo Tent

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is going well! Lots of rain in our forecast this weekend....


We have a new theme at Allsorts challenge...our host this week is Mervi and she wants to see Trees and/ or Leaves. We have a great prize from Marianne Design, so hopefully you'll find some time this week to join us!

I also finally purchased a small photo tent to photograph my cards and you can read a little bit about it at the end of the post, if you like to.


A square acrylic block and distress inks were used to create the background for the leaves. I hadn't really planned on trimming all around the inked panel, but got a black ink smudge onto it and so it had ot be trimmed. 
This brought on my decision to get out some mulberry paper. The one I used was originally white but after tearing it I sponged it with distress ink to give it a fall color. The maple leaf stamp is from the Penny Black set Nature's Gifts, stamped with Versafine Onyx ink. And the sentiment is part of the Hero Arts MMH September Kit. I added some simple paper piercing using Stampin Up's old tool kit, which includes a piercing template and piercing tool. 



Also joining these challenges:
Stamploration -  Stamps plus Autumn
Sisterhood of Crafters -  Fall is in the Air
4 Crafty Chicks - Something Old is Something New (Mulberry paper - I've had it forever, but also didn't use it in a really long time)
Craft Rocket Challenges - Autumn/Halloween
As You Like It Challenge 2W,E3 Favourite Season  (I can't choose between fall and spring, but linking up with a fall card today. I love fall because we finally get some relief from the summer humidity, I love all the fun fall activities, and then of course the beautiful fall colors.) 
Alphabet Challenge - N is for Nature
Crafty Gals Corner  - Fall 
Fab 'n' Funky  - Orange, Black and Green
Brown Sugar  - Spooky Halloween or Celebrate Autumn
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations  Halloween or Autumn
Cute Card Thursday  - Anything Goes
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Crafting-With-Friends  Anything Goes 
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes QKR Stampede -  Anything Goes

Crafting With An Attitude Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Always Anything Goes 



As some of you know, I have been thinking about purchasing a Photo Tent for quite some time now, but always kept putting it off, but I never did stop looking. Well, I finally came across one that wasn't too expensive, had good reviews and was small enough for my space. I actually was afraid it might be too small as most reviewers seem to be using it for jewelry and other small items, but it's the perfect size for my largest cards, which are 6 inches tall.


The photo above shows how it arrives and it's also how it folds up for storage and I keep everything in the drawstring bag it comes in.  The kit comes with 6 backgrounds (white, blue, red, black, yellow and green).  I will most likely only use the white background, because I like my backgrounds to be white. It also comes with 2 LED light bars, already attached to the light box, and two 2 micro USB cables (I think it's what they are called). 


In the photo above you can see what it looks like once snapped together. All you have to do to assemble the photo tent, is use the 4 snaps and add your background. You can see one of the LED bars in the back, the other one is at the front part at the top where it is folded down. In the photo above they are not yet plugged in. The box measures approx. 8.5 inches square, so it's perfect for my largest cards, but will obviously not work for large scrapbook pages. 

Two comparison photos ..... 

With photo tent - notice the more uniform border around the card.

Without photo tent - notice the darker shadow on the left side - this is the reason why I've been wanting a photo tent.

There really isn't much of a difference in the card itself, and my reason for wanting a photo tent was to eliminate the shadow I am getting without using it, as seen on the left side on the second photo, and then too much light on the right side. As much as I always try, my pictures always end up with some sort of shadow and not a uniform border.
So, basically totally not a necessity, but it seems to be doing what I want it to do. I am still using the free software "PhotoScape" to crop, add watermark and "auto level" as I've always done. And in case you're interested what camera I use ... I use a Canon EOS Rebel T5, but I read that this photo tent also works well with a phone camera.

And that would be it for today, thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to see you joining in at Allsorts challenge!

ETA: apparently the photo tent I purchased is currently out of stock. I did find this one that looks similar and even costs less (and is by the same company), if it's something you've been thinking about getting.  And this photo tent looks like another good one, it's a bit larger and does cost a little more, but might work well for those of you creating larger cards or art journals, etc. 

This post contains some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. 


40 comments:

Wendy L said...

Your card is gorgeous Ellie and thanks for entering it into Craft Rocket and MAWTT,
Thanks for the hint on the photo tent. xxx

brenda said...

Morning Ellie,

I adore your card, the contrast of the leaves against the autumnal colours and then th ribbed tissue sitting behind which adds the the feel of windy Autumn days.

Will check out that photo tent, I always stress about getting decent photos.

B x

Marilyn said...

Pretty card! Have to checkout that photo tent
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

This is GORGEOUS! LOVING those leaves! And thanks for the info on the photo tent! I have been wanting one too ... off to check it out!!!

Linby said...

Love the silhouette stamp against the colourful background.

Mummylade said...

Glad you like you tent. I have a similar one — but with a choice of white or black background only — and I really like it.

Ellibelle said...

Thanks so much for stopping by, Wendy!

Ellibelle said...

Thanks Brenda!

Ellibelle said...

Have a great day too, Marilyn!

Ellibelle said...

Thanks Julie! Hope you find what you are looking for, I've been putting off ordering one for soooo long and they don't even cost that much!

Ellibelle said...

Thanks Lynn!

Elaine Stark said...

A lovely silhouette card. Thanks for joining AYLI challenge. Elaine

Creations by Shirl said...

What a beautiful make! TFS it with BSChallenge~

Darlene said...

Simply GORGEOUS! Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood’s ‘Fall is in the Air’ challenge and please come back again soon!
Darlene
one of the 'Sistahs'
The Sisterhood of Crafters
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit!

Ellibelle said...

Thanks Helene! I'm happy with it so far! Maybe I'll try the other color backgrounds sometime.

Ellibelle said...

Thanks so much Elaine!

Ellibelle said...

Thanks for stopping by!

Ellibelle said...

Thank you Darlene, and I definitely will join in at the Sisterhoods challenge again :)

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Beautiful card with the silhouette stamp and the inked background! Great design!

Debbie Mageed said...

Your card is just stunning! I love how you created the background. I forgot about Mulberry paper and it's wonderful on your card. Thank you for playing with us at the Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge and hope you will join us again soon.

Granmargaret said...

lovely work. Thank you for joining the challenge at Crafting with Dragonflies and Creative Fingers. Hope to see you again next time.

Mervi said...

Beautiful and so stylish autumn card!
I broke my photo tent, I had quite similar. But still hope I can (hubby) fix it;-))m

Janette said...

Beautiful card, so glad you have shared it with us at CraftyCatz this week and good luck in the challenge.x

crafty-stamper said...

Brilliant card and love how you showcased the beautiful leaves.Thank you for joining us at Crafting With Friends
Carol DT x

Darlene said...

I still just LOVE this creation! Might have to pin it for future inspiration! Thanks so much for playing in our Alphabet Challenge! Good Luck and please come back next month!

Darlene
Alphabet Challenge DT
ALPHABET CHALLENGE BLOG
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please stop by for a visit.

Alina Florea said...

Excellent card. Love your style. Colors are perfect for an autumn card and the approach is unique. Thank you so much for entering our challenge this month. Looking forward in seeing future projects.
DT member for http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/
Huggies

Vickie Y said...

Beautiful card! Thanks for the photo tent info! Thank you for sharing with us at The Sisterhood of Crafters.

N-Eva said...

Oh this is beautiful, what a lovely cards. Thank you for sharing your wonderful project with us at Fab'n'Funky challenge Neva

Amy Johnson said...

Beautiful card. And what a difference a photo tent makes. Wow!

Rae Ann said...

The leaf silhouette looks so great against the inky background. The piercing adds a great visual detail.

Thank you for joining us at Crafty Gals Corner for our Anything Fall Goes challenge.

Alex said...

Amazing card. I like your Selfmade backgrounds.
Thanks for playing along with us at our present challenge at Craft Rocket and good luck! Hope you will join us next month again.

Hugs
Alex

*DT* Craft Rocket Challenges {#53 – Autumn / Halloween}
*DT + Admin* Do-Al(l) Kreatives {#22 – Make your own background}
*DT* Kreativ-Tanten Challenge {#22 – Anything goes}
Alex' Kreative Seite

susiestacey said...

Beautiful card Ellie, the mulberry paper looks great behind the image.
I can see a difference with the use of your photo tent, the one taken in the tent looks much crisper. x Susan x

jheuser69 said...

Thank you for joining our challenge at Moving Along with the Times. Your project is wonderful, and I just wanted to wish you the best of luck! – DT Jodie

AO Creations said...

Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at 4CC, good luck!!! Amy DT

Pattie G said...

This is so pretty! It goes perfect with our current challenge “Halloween or Autumn” at Patties Creations Design Challenge. Thanks for joining us…
Pattie
Artist and Owner

Unknown said...

What a georgeous card! Your background is amazing! Thanks for joining us at STAMPlorations theme and sketch challenge! Jerrie

KathyA. said...

Your card is like a beautiful shout of autumn. Thanks for joining us at QKR Stampede this week. DT Kathy [https://myasperations.blogspot.com]

Wynn said...

A lovely card. Thank you for sharing the info about the Photo tent. So pleased you joined us at Crafting with Dragonflies WynnDT

Paddington fan said...

A fabulous autumnal card, love the bold silhouette! Thank you so much for joining us over at PBSC this month and I do hope you'll join us again soon, Love Jacky x
PBSC DT

Ellen said...

Lovely card, well done! Thanks for joining us at Craft Rocket Challenges.

groetjes, Ellen