Tdeade Photo Chic Tips by Katie Brown (NAPSA)—Photo Chic is an up and coming fashion and craft trend that celebrates the personal panacheinall of us. It’s the simple style of combining software and your favorite photos with unique, everyday items and fashion accessories. Here’s how: Brown ——-__ 1) Choose the ideal photo. You may need to edit and enhance yourphotofirst. I use Microsoft’s Picture It! because it’s the easiest photo-editing software Tve found for getting rid of annoying red-eye and wrinkles, adding a flash and airbrushing imperfections. Now comes the creative part. Change a color photo to black and white or give it a romantic, antique look (otherwise known as “sepia”). You can even add distortion, stamps, or your own artistic touch to give your photos the personal look you desire. Next, put it in a colorful border. 2) Personalize out of the ordinary items with the photos. Consider making a diaper bag for a new parent using a picture of the new baby, or make a textbook cover or school bag for your daughter using photos of her friends. Check out “how-to” Web sites— http://photos.msn.com, www.per sonalcreations.com/ or www.craft shelf.com/products/1/3 for tote bags, baby bibs and other items that would makegreatgifts. Another easy Photo Chic tip is Picture this: A personalized present made with a photograph and your ingenuity. to use iron-on transfer computer paperto print the photos. Then the pictures can be affixed to various items: party placemats; personalized clocks; purses; baby clothes; aprons; CD covers; even boxers. Tron-on photo paper can be found at office superstores for abouta dollar a sheet. 3) Photo Chic Fashion. Some stylish Photo Chic gifts include a Wingard leather key chain, which can be purchased at Embrey Papers, and an embossed Coach bookmark—each with room to insert a picture of your loved one. For additional tips and resources on creating Photo Chic gifts for all occasions, see www. microsoft.com/Katie or look for Picture It! at local software retailers. Ms. Brown is author of Katie Brown Decorates: 6 Styles, 12 Rooms, 126 Projects and host of The Katie Brown Show on E!’s Style Network.
