Cassel

Smoke alarms are very important as they can save lives and properties, but at times, they can also "cry wolf". Share experiences you had that EITHER saved you or annoyed you. We can read some serious or funny stories. What can you share?

That would be a very expensive script! 🤣

Yup, I have been working in the backend to add more Affinity Photo tutorials. I guess I forgot to tell you all 😁

Here are some possible options you can look into: Movavi Canva Ezgif If anyone else has other resources, please, add them to this thread.

Even if you don't upgrade to the full version, the Express version might be enough for your need!

I had a chat with someone at Corel. He explained that Photo-Mirage was (and still is) included as an add-on with PSP2023 Ultimate (it was also included with previous Ultimate versions). Whether you installed it or not, you might have it or have the download for it. If you just have PSP2023 (not Ultimate), you can upgrade to it for $19.99CAD in the Upgrade tab on the Home page of your PSP2023. So, for $19.99, you get the Ultimate version of PSP (which is only a couple of additional features) but all the add-ons, including Photo-Mirage Express. If you have an older version than PSP2023, you can upgrade to 2023Ultimate for $49.99CAD, and that will include Photo-Mirage Express. If you currently have Photo-Mirage Express and want the full version (that you can save your work in progress with it), you will see an option with a blue button inside the application to upgrade for $19.99CAD. (I am not sure what the price is in other currencies) No pressure. I don't get any commission for purchases made inside the app so this information is just for you, in case you might be interested.

Let's continue this challenge for another year. We might be the ones taking pictures but we are not the feature of our layouts, so let's change that since we ARE important and have lots to say. Every month or so, the layout will be about YOU, and a prompt will be given. If you have taken the Story Week Challenge, you will find some similarities but it won't be the same. For the March layout, tell us about places you visited. It might have been a vacation you took as a child. It could be visiting a relative in a new place or a different country. It could also be a landmark that you visited for the first time when you were younger. It could also be interesting if you share your feeling about that particular place, especially if you were younger. Was it wonderful? Was it scary? Did you misunderstand things about that place? There are many angles you can take to share stories. Remember that if you want to create pages for previous prompts, those threads will stay open. There is no right or wrong order to share about YOU.

That reminds me that in the past, we would get two QRCode stickers from which to choose. One was for "you can use my blood", the other would be for "do not use my blood". You would put the correct sticker while the nurse left the station for a minute, and you would throw out the rest of the paper where the stickers were. They explained that, sometimes, some people were "forced" to go to the blood donor clinic or, for some reason, had to lie on the questionnaire but they felt that their blood might not be "safe to use". However, that didn't happen when I went yesterday. It seems that the process often changes slightly, in different ways, over time.

Interesting to hear about.

How does it work, in your country, for blood donor clinics? I assume there are some. Do you get paid or compensated for donations? Do you (or did you) ever give blood?

When you use the Fill tool, make sure that the Source: (in the toolbar) is set to Current Layer. It tends to default to Current Layer & Below, and in that case, it is NOT working as we would expect.

Several years ago, the kids called me outside as they found a huge butterfly. It was my first encounter with a Luna Moth. Unlike most moths, this one is quite colorful. I noticed that the moth was on the ground, and our cat was about to pounce on it. I grabbed it and it kind of hopped on my sweater and crawled on my face. It was likely injured, but it ended up flying away (and we brought the cat inside, to give it a chance). This moth has a life span of about one week.

Have you ever created an album that tells the story of your life, one chapter at a time? For 2025, I’m inviting you to embark on a year-long creative challenge to document your personal timeline in a unique and meaningful way. We’re calling it the Timeline Album Challenge! The idea is simple: divide your life into 12 periods (the length of each depends on your age) and create one scrapbook page for each. Whether you include photos, memories, or simply words that describe those times, it’s up to you! By the end of the year, you’ll have a complete album that reflects your journey. For example, let's assume you are 72 years old (it just makes it easier to calculate): 0-6 years old: you can talk about your birth place, your first tooth, your first day of school 7-12 years old: you can remember some birthday parties, friends, places you visited 13-18 years old: those teen years! what were you doing, your first crush, your high school years 19-24 years old: maybe your dates, or wedding (if it happened in that time) 25-30 years old: maybe when you moved town, when your kids were born, when you purchased your first house And so on. You get the picture. Here’s how it works: One page every month: Start with your earliest memories or your childhood, and work your way to the present. You can also document specific milestones, achievements, challenges, etc. You can pick and choose any element to document. No pressure: Share your pages with us as you create them. There’s no strict commitment, and you can always catch up later if life gets busy. Make it yours: Add photos if you have them, or create pages without photos by focusing on stories, quotes, or embellishments that symbolize those moments in time. Include what was around you: seeing how some world events (or local ones) can relate to us can be interesting. What there a new fashion trend? What were the newest inventions? Any famous people that you might have heard of (or met) during that time period? This is your story to tell. Whether you want to focus on key milestones, favorite memories, or even everyday moments, it’s all about capturing what makes your timeline unique. Time for the third period (likely your teens!).

Yes you can. Window > Studio > Add Preset.

And this is a good example of how important it is to save your own customized workspace! Maybe we can set a reminder every 6 months, in case one tweaks their workspace over time.

D- Dragonfly

You are talking about the Tools toolbar, correct? For me, it would grab the toolbar, move it close to the top corner and double-click at that point, like telling it to go to the corner! Maybe for you, you can drag it to the middle of the left side before double-clicking?

Did you try double-clicking on it?

It is a new month and new projects. Show off what you are working on in March be it a scrapbook page, a collage, a tutorial, or anything else you want. We are curious and want to see, learn, and get inspired. These threads are quickly becoming a fantastic source of inspiration, support, and friendship. Keep them coming! Remember to size down your image to about 600x600 pixels and save it in .jpg format before posting it (if you are creating a double page, you can resize it to 1000 pixels in width if you don't want to post the pages separately). Here are a few guidelines for everyone: when you post a project, give as much information on your sources or techniques used. It will help others who are curious and would like to do the same. if someone uses something that you like on their page, ask where they got it. Sometimes, you can go get it too and it will be better quality than trying to extract it (as it would have been resized to post in the forum anyway). if it is something that they did from scratch, ask how they did it. It would be so helpful to everyone! if you like a photo and would like to “play with it”, ALWAYS ask permission. Sometimes, there are some limitations and the person is not allowed to let others use it. Don’t get them in trouble. Usually, people are happy to say yes (if they can) when you ask politely. And if you get permission, you might get a better-quality image than the resized image anyway.

The theme for March is INSECTS. Insects are all around us, from the buzzing bees in the garden to the delicate butterflies fluttering through the air. Whether they are helpful pollinators, fascinating creatures with unique patterns, or even pesky bugs that sneak into our homes, insects are a part of our everyday world. Do you have photos of insects in nature, at a butterfly exhibit, or maybe a fun childhood memory chasing fireflies? If not, you can always tell a story and use stock images, illustrations, or themed embellishments like bees, ladybugs, or dragonflies to bring your layout to life. Remember, you can also share older layouts you’ve already made—you don’t have to create a brand new one! Let's get creative! Let's go! Post your project in the gallery.

In March, our monthly theme is INSECTS. Insects are everywhere! From the tiniest ants to the most colorful butterflies, they play an important role in nature. Some are helpful, like bees that pollinate flowers, while others can be pests, like mosquitoes and aphids. There are insects with wings, some that crawl, and even a few that glow in the dark! Let's find words starting with each letter of the alphabet that relate to anything about insects—types of insects, their body parts, their habitats, or even actions they do. I'm sure we’ll uncover a fascinating variety! If we get stuck on one letter, we can skip it after 24 hours, sound good? Let's get started!

The idea of one photo a week was quite popular in 2024, and it encouraged participants to take photos and showcase them without having to create a whole layout for them. In 2025, I will offer you a little twist on this. Again, the idea is only to showcase a single photo at a time. You can showcase them as a flashcard, emphasizing the letter (you can use these free cards as a basis to create your own). Of course, if you want a different format, you can use a polaroid frame, a slide, or a playing card (like Susan was doing in 2024). Choose the format you want, and keep it throughout the year. But just make sure to emphasize the first letter! Every 2 weeks, you will be asked to take a picture of something, at home (or around your home) that starts with a specific letter of the alphabet. The goal is just to be on the lookout for ANYTHING that can be photographed. You can stage the object however you want, or just take a picture of it in its natural environment. For example, you can showcase your favorite Mug, or your Pillow, or your Fireplace. You can practice your photography skills if you want, but you can just capture things as they are. Let's just encourage each other. This is a no-pressure thread. And if you skip a letter or two, you can always come back. You know your alphabet so you can easily catch up, whenever you need to. Let's continue with the letter E. It could be your cozy Electric blanket, a shiny Espresso machine, your trusty Extension cord, or that old Egg timer in the kitchen! What will you showcase?

If you listen to the radio, it is the topic. If you are on break at work, it is the topic. If you go to the Tim Horton's, you will hear people talking about the weather. I guess, we have so much variety and range in weather/temperature/events, there is always something to talk about!

It is a fairly high frequency sound so it is possible that you don't hear it as well as others since high frequencies are the first ones people lose in aging (wow, didn't ever think that my professional training would serve me in this forum!).

Interesting to hear that it is not something new. How long have they been using those in the NICU?