Today is the winner’s blog from the April Fools co-host challenge I held recently, Lan (@queen_of_spades) and I (@combo_apps). Held a challenge for the icon spot for Combo Apps Instagram, we had lots of great entries. Then I let the people decide on Instagram who would be the new icon. I wanted to add that the voting went so well, with everyone’s support and kind comments toward each other and the finalists. Lan and I felt honored with everyone’ support with this challenge. It was of the best challenges I ever did on Instagram. All 12 finalist had something to offer and it was hard to decide 10 entries, so we went with 12 instead. The 12 finalists is listed below and you can click on the to check out their feeds on Instagram.

1. @colecokid
2. @scifi11
3. @momma2maxh
4. @dhuerta77
5. @nw98110
6. @odtc
7. @luapajean
8. @msdupreez
9. @_jenbeezy_
10. @treedles
11. @mohojung
12. @bongwaterjoe

Let’s talk about the winner of the challenge, her name is Katrina Bews (@treedles). She lives in British Columbia, Canada. We had a hard time with the iTunes card but we both came up with a solution for her being the winner and prize. Overall she is a very nice person, easy to talk to and just a great person. She gave me the edit details of her winning photo and another edited photo. Which was great and I thank her for sharing her editing skills with everyone. Katrina has a very beautiful feed on Instagram and I recommend you check her out. You can find her under @treedles on Instagram, please check out her feed. You won’t regret it !!! Stop by and say congrats too…

This photo was created using multiple photos and blending them together.

My editing path is as follows:

1. The first photo I used was one that I previously created and posted of abstract begonias (below). To create the abstract begonia photo I took a photo of white and pink begonias and used the app “Paint Mee”. In that app I used the following settings:

-Layers – 32
-Strokes – Wild
-Begin with – Midtones
-Colour Effect – Saturate
-Detail – Higher
-Paint – Medium
-Colour Precision – Balanced
-Effect Strength – 100%

And then saved the photo to the camera roll.

2. I then opened that image in “Percolator” and adjusted it to the following settings:
Grind – Extra Fine, Average, Auto Adjust
Brew – Treble, ¾, Darkest
Serve – Stirred, Cross Perc, Brown Bag

And then saved that photo to the camera roll.

3. I opened both photos described in items 1 and 2 above in “DXP” and combined them using the “Difference” setting and saved it. I believe I also used “PS Express” to reduce noise.

4. I opened up the DXP combined photo (above) in Image Blender and also opened a photo of a tree with blue sky and clouds in the background. The tree in the photo was dark, like a silhouette. I then blended these two photos using the “Difference” setting and adjusted the slide to get the effect I wanted.

5. I then loaded the newly blended image back into Image Blender. I also loaded in a photo I took of a sunset using Hipstamatic (John S Lens and Alfred Infrared Film). I then blended these photos together using the “Difference” setting again.

6. I then opened the final blended photo in LensLight and added in the coloured orbs.

7. Lastly, I added a frame using Pixlromatic.

Phew, there you have it!