What are you working on (in January 2025)?

[Cristina]

On 1/18/2025 at 2:49 PM, Rene Marker said:

That is quite normal for scrapbookers. I've gone through phases where I don't scrap much at all. Quite often other things going on in my life become the focus and scrapbooking takes a back seat to those life things going on. But I will get my "mojo" back due to a challenge or some other inspiration later on and off I go.

The other thing for me is when a layout isn't coming together, I just do a basic page and call it done. Then move on, quite often doing multiple basic pages. Eventually the creative part will come back maybe because of the photo(s) I've chosen to scrap.

You are right, Rene.  Sometimes, life comes in between, affecting our creativity, or we just need a break for any other reason.
It’s a good tip to be satisfied with a basic page during this phase.  The Bootcamp was helpful before, and also the Build-A-Kit Workshop.
 

[Sue Thomas]

Playing catch up.  The majority of you will know that I am not a fan of plaids.  I tend to go for  more subtle plain papers, anyway I decided to create the latest plaid tutorial in the blog.   I also often go back to basic tutorials, which I find most appealing.  I used the stencil tutorial, which is an old one in the creative scrap. 

Edited January 20 by Sue Thomas

[Sue Thomas]

Finally getting a chance to scroll through all the wonderful pages which have been submitted. Everyone has been ever so busy, being creative. 

[Mary Solaas]

Lab 13 Mod 7. Pinwheel. This one was difficult, but, when I finished one, I changed patterns and made 3. That was all that was required. Thought about children playing in the sunshine and so I went with an AI picture made when we were playing with Bing's AI - maybe last year or the year before. So I used that picture for my focus. I used one of Cass's mask's that she gave us - one was square and one was a circle. The flower cluster is from CF. The font is Adventure Island ScriptBold. The papers are mine. Oh, yes, I made sticks for the pinwheels as that is how I remember playing with them.

Edited January 21 by Mary Solaas

[Susan Ewart]

16 minutes ago, Mary Solaas said:

Lab 13 Mod 7. Pinwheel. This one was difficult, but, when I finished one, I changed patterns and made 3. That was all that was required. Thought about children playing in the sunshine and so I went with an AI picture made when we were playing with Bing's AI - maybe last year or the year before. So I used that picture for my focus. I used one of Cass's mask's that she gave us - one was square and one was a circle. The flower cluster is from CF. The font is Adventure Island ScriptBold. The papers are mine. Oh, yes, I made sticks for the pinwheels as that is how I remember playing with them.

Beautiful Mary.  Your pinwheels are exquisite (hmmm sp? - keepin' it real by guessing).  I can't wait to get there.  I am trying a new tactic this year, since going in order seems so daunting when I know how far I have to go.  I put all the labs (written on a piece of paper) in a jar and I will pick at random.  My next lab will be 10-6.  I'm hoping that gets me excited to get a mix of the cool new ones as well and the previous ones.  Right now while TV is booooring, I've been watching lab tutorials and really cant wait to get to them.  I started watching for stress relief (it works!) and now just finding the Notebook Lab is the best channel on TV (TV= my monitor).

[Mary Solaas]

@Susan Ewart   I put all the labs (written on a piece of paper) in a jar and I will pick at random.  

Sounds like a plan!  I almost quit my plan several times, the latest with the pinwheel! LOL

[Julie Magerka]

3 hours ago, Mary Solaas said:

Lab 13 Mod 7. Pinwheel. This one was difficult, but, when I finished one, I changed patterns and made 3. That was all that was required. Thought about children playing in the sunshine and so I went with an AI picture made when we were playing with Bing's AI - maybe last year or the year before. So I used that picture for my focus. I used one of Cass's mask's that she gave us - one was square and one was a circle. The flower cluster is from CF. The font is Adventure Island ScriptBold. The papers are mine. Oh, yes, I made sticks for the pinwheels as that is how I remember playing with them.

The only pinwheels I recall (and still see in dollar stores) have sticks. Yours are so pretty and perfect.

[Rene Marker]

I made this layout the other day using PSP but waited to post until the swearing in ceremony had actually happened. And, it happened this afternoon. I used a retired template from Scrapping With Liz and a kit from a retired designer. The fonts are Baker Signet and Aristocrat (title). 

[Susan Ewart]

2 hours ago, Rene Marker said:

I made this layout the other day using PSP but waited to post until the swearing in ceremony had actually happened. And, it happened this afternoon. I used a retired template from Scrapping With Liz and a kit from a retired designer. The fonts are Baker Signet and Aristocrat (title). 

Rene, this is a really nice layout.  And it's refreshing to see something positive regarding politics.  What a nice memory to have.  

[Corrie Kinkel]

22 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

The only pinwheels I recall (and still see in dollar stores) have sticks. Yours are so pretty and perfect.

I live in a country that almost all the time has windy conditions and pinwheels and in summer the toyshops always sell pinwheels on sticks. You can see them at the beach but often in gardens as well, maybe I should make some if I have time enough and I doubt that because there is so much going on in my life at the moment.

[Julie Magerka]

My happy place is studying mixed media layouts and learning the skills to create them, in PSP or Affinity. Right now, I default to PSP b/c I don't have to flounder around as much to find the tools/techniques I want to use. Eventually, I will become "bi-app'd"...fingers crossed.

I have always been fascinated by crumbling, fading old barns that survive in our rural landscape. I haven't taken that many photos of them, but I did this one last year in a nearby county. Then I saw a layout on OScraps which featured a barn and lots of Anna Aspnes design elements worked in, and I had to give it a go. This is the result.

There are many brushes, artsy transfers, textures, elements, etc. from aA used in it.

 

[Susan Ewart]

Lab 10-6

• Alphabet Beads
• Nettings (2)
• Honeycombs

I really enjoyed this lab.  I have always liked honeycomb shape and now I have one in my patterns folder. I like how the alphabet beads come together after all the "cutouts".  How do you come up with these things, Carole? 

A co-worker sent this image to me which I found amusing.  What I find really funny is that there is such a thing as "spear-wielding snowmen" in the world.  I took liberties from the National anthem (stand on guard for thee) and the old Hinterland Who's Who commercials.  They were 60 second public service announcements profiling Canadian Animals, produced by the Environment Canada Wildlife Service (according to Dr. Google).  

I used Caster Serif Font and Arial Rounded MT.  the background is Riley B Graphics and I blended the honeycomb pattern into it as well as the text.  

 

[Susan Ewart]

8 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

My happy place is studying mixed media layouts and learning the skills to create them, in PSP or Affinity. Right now, I default to PSP b/c I don't have to flounder around as much to find the tools/techniques I want to use. Eventually, I will become "bi-app'd"...fingers crossed.

I have always been fascinated by crumbling, fading old barns that survive in our rural landscape. I haven't taken that many photos of them, but I did this one last year in a nearby county. Then I saw a layout on OScraps which featured a barn and lots of Anna Aspnes design elements worked in, and I had to give it a go. This is the result.

There are many brushes, artsy transfers, textures, elements, etc. from aA used in it.

 

Julie this is so pretty and you really are good at the mixed media layout.  I love them and looking forward to more and more of you bi-app'd (great word) layouts.

[Michele]

16 hours ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

I live in a country that almost all the time has windy conditions and pinwheels and in summer the toyshops always sell pinwheels on sticks. You can see them at the beach but often in gardens as well, maybe I should make some if I have time enough and I doubt that because there is so much going on in my life at the moment.

I play hidden object games and whenever they want a pinwheel, it's always in with the flowers.

[Michele]

12 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

My happy place is studying mixed media layouts and learning the skills to create them, in PSP or Affinity. Right now, I default to PSP b/c I don't have to flounder around as much to find the tools/techniques I want to use. Eventually, I will become "bi-app'd"...fingers crossed.

I have always been fascinated by crumbling, fading old barns that survive in our rural landscape. I haven't taken that many photos of them, but I did this one last year in a nearby county. Then I saw a layout on OScraps which featured a barn and lots of Anna Aspnes design elements worked in, and I had to give it a go. This is the result.

There are many brushes, artsy transfers, textures, elements, etc. from aA used in it.

 

I love old barns. Your layout is beautiful.

[Julie Magerka]

5 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

Lab 10-6

• Alphabet Beads
• Nettings (2)
• Honeycombs

I really enjoyed this lab.  I have always liked honeycomb shape and now I have one in my patterns folder. I like how the alphabet beads come together after all the "cutouts".  How do you come up with these things, Carole? 

A co-worker sent this image to me which I found amusing.  What I find really funny is that there is such a thing as "spear-wielding snowmen" in the world.  I took liberties from the National anthem (stand on guard for thee) and the old Hinterland Who's Who commercials.  They were 60 second public service announcements profiling Canadian Animals, produced by the Environment Canada Wildlife Service (according to Dr. Google).  

I used Caster Serif Font and Arial Rounded MT.  the background is Riley B Graphics and I blended the honeycomb pattern into it as well as the text.  

 

I love this! Whoever posted the armed snowmen image has a great sense of humour. And so do you to create this layout!

[Julie Magerka]

1 hour ago, Michele said:

I love old barns. Your layout is beautiful.

I always see "stories" in them. There is just something majestic about them and the era they represent.

[Susan Ewart]

38 minutes ago, Julie Magerka said:

I always see "stories" in them. There is just something majestic about them and the era they represent.

I love old barns and old abandoned homes too.  It's hard to imagine who lived there and what they'd be doing right now (in their timeline).  Ghost towns are also favorites of mine.  When I walk through the houses I wonder how they lived and was it cold because there was no heating, you know, the detail of comfort that we have and how did they manage to live without what we have.

[Susan Ewart]

45 minutes ago, Julie Magerka said:

I love this! Whoever posted the armed snowmen image has a great sense of humour. And so do you to create this layout!

Thank you Julie.  I had a good laugh at it and the fact that they have spears and are so happy is even funnier.  

[Sue Thomas]

16 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

My happy place is studying mixed media layouts and learning the skills to create them, in PSP or Affinity. Right now, I default to PSP b/c I don't have to flounder around as much to find the tools/techniques I want to use. Eventually, I will become "bi-app'd"...fingers crossed.

I have always been fascinated by crumbling, fading old barns that survive in our rural landscape. I haven't taken that many photos of them, but I did this one last year in a nearby county. Then I saw a layout on OScraps which featured a barn and lots of Anna Aspnes design elements worked in, and I had to give it a go. This is the result.

There are many brushes, artsy transfers, textures, elements, etc. from aA used in it.

 

I too love old barns, the stories they could tell. I like to photograph them when there is a blanket of snow down. 

Edited January 23 by Sue Thomas

[Sue Thomas]

A follow up to the Wild page I did the other day.  Resident Red foxes and coyotes

Edited January 23 by Sue Thomas

[Corrie Kinkel]

5 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

I love this! Whoever posted the armed snowmen image has a great sense of humour. And so do you to create this layout!

I agree and I had seen this armed snowmen image on Facebook; this layout makes it so humorous, love it.

[Corrie Kinkel]

11 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

Lab 10-6

• Alphabet Beads
• Nettings (2)
• Honeycombs

I really enjoyed this lab.  I have always liked honeycomb shape and now I have one in my patterns folder. I like how the alphabet beads come together after all the "cutouts".  How do you come up with these things, Carole? 

A co-worker sent this image to me which I found amusing.  What I find really funny is that there is such a thing as "spear-wielding snowmen" in the world.  I took liberties from the National anthem (stand on guard for thee) and the old Hinterland Who's Who commercials.  They were 60 second public service announcements profiling Canadian Animals, produced by the Environment Canada Wildlife Service (according to Dr. Google).  

I used Caster Serif Font and Arial Rounded MT.  the background is Riley B Graphics and I blended the honeycomb pattern into it as well as the text.  

 

I didn't know which icon to use, the ❤️ or the 😄, so here you have them both!

[Corrie Kinkel]

7 hours ago, Michele said:

I love old barns. Your layout is beautiful.

So beautiful and I have read in one of Anna Aspnes' newsletters that she is going to use Affinity too and there should be a free class coming.

[Julie Magerka]

1 hour ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

So beautiful and I have read in one of Anna Aspnes' newsletters that she is going to use Affinity too and there should be a free class coming.

Yes, I saw that too. Also Marisa Lerin at DS and I think someone mentioned the Lilypad too. That says a lot about Photoshop and the users there who might be switching.