How to Hand Color Your Photos

Just a reminder that you can still order a hand drawn portrait from my bro in law. I've put a another one of his drawings on the side bar there ---->

I've had a couple people ask me how i color my black and white photos.

First I open my photo in Gimp. I learned how to do it using this tutorial they had on their website. I'd never used Gimp before so it took me awhile to figure it out.

Then sometimes i'll open the picture in photoscape after it's black and white and use the color curves to make it truly black and white and not gray and white.

Here's my short hand list that I use to remember all the steps.

Open GIMP program

Get your picture you want to work on: File, open, folder, select picture, open

Hit: CTRL D to bring up a duplicate image.

On the duplicate, right click on the photo then click on image, mode, grayscale (turns it to B&W)

Then on duplicate, Image mode, RGB

Switch over to color being in front of B&W

CTRL L (open layers dialog box)

Make sure colored image is selected in layers dialog box

Click new layer on layers box

Name B&W, make sure transparency is checked

Switch over to B&W picture (duplicate)

Select all, edit, copy

Go to color photo

Edit, paste (you will see color pic go from color to B&W)

Select floating in layers box

Click anchor to lock down image

Close B&W pic (do not save)

Right click on B&W in layers box

Add layer mask, make sure white full opacity is checked

Click add

Start coloring!
Remember to Flatten Image before saving it.

If you have a picture you want colored but can't figure it out or just don't want to bother learning. Send it to me and i'll help you! Just let me know what you want colored in the photo.
My email is: missylovsjesus at yahoo dot com.

How to make Gluten Free Calzones...

... with two little ones and with out losing your sanity.

First of all get your kitchen associates settled comfortably. Make sure they have enough things to keep them occupied for the next half hour so you don't have to use floury hands to toss a teething ring their way.

First make the dough.

Combine yeast, warm water and sugar. Mix lightly and add oil.
(The complete recipe is at the bottom of the post.)

Mix the dry ingredients...Add the bubbly yeast mixture to the dry.

Grate your cheese...


Chop the peppers...

Have fun...
Prepare other yummy filling you'd like to add to your calzones.

Keep everyone happy...
Make your sauce...
Or use a jar of sauce if you'd prefer.

Get your older kitchen associates to help assemble the calzones after you roll out the dough...


Fold and press...

GLUTEN FREE CALZONE

1 1/2 tsp Dry Active Yeast
1 cup warm water (110 degrees)
1 Tbs Sugar
2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 Cups Gluten Free Flour Mix
3/4 Cup Sweet (Glutinous) Rice Flour
2 tsp Italian Seasoning Mixture
1/2 tsp salt

Combine yeast, warm water and sugar. Mix lightly and float olive oil on top of the yeast mixture. Let stand for 10 - 15 minutes. It should be bubbly on top before use.

Mix flours seasoning and salt and add wet yeast mixture. Divide dough into 3 parts (or 2 if you want the calzone bigger) . Lightly dust a surface to roll out the dough. I use parchment paper to roll it out because then you can bake on the paper. Roll into a circle approx 11-12 inches in diameter (or 14-15" if doing 2 calzones).

I found this recipe here.

You can really fill them with anything you want. Spinach, cheese, ham, pepperoni, sausage, onions, green peppers, mushrooms.

What is your favorite combination?


PS. I'm planning on making peach jam today. Come back soon to see if it turns out!