Sue Thomas

Susan, look who showed up today. A sharp-tailed Hawk. My resident Merlin has now got some competition. Mind you, there's more than enough House Sparrows for them. Sheltering under the lilac hedge, with the Robins. It's still snowing and blowing. I'm yet to get a shot of the Merlin.

I agree, they are fun to make, but I'm afraid not for my layouts. Though I do like them when others use them in their pages. You know that I'm going to expect to see that technique used in one of your lovely pages. lol

Cheers! Several little details, which doesn't over crowd, or make the layout appear busy, to distract from the photos, yet makes the viewer's eye wander, to absorb the whole page. Although the Masterclasses are great, and I love them. I have always and still do prefer the tutorials in what was the creative scrap, and now called the Lab. Even though a greal deal of the tutorials are available as scripts. I enjoy creating my own elements. Even though I rarely use patterned papers, I have created templates for all of the paper template tutorials in the creative scrap and Lab. My least favourite patterned paper is plaid. The Robins are still here, I doubt they will move on until the weather is more favourable.

Not here, temp dropped last night to-13c. Still high winds with blowing snow. I've not long come in from taking pics of a lo several Robinsl cwtched up under the lilac hedge.

Both, I don't have the script. I like to create my own.

I did that on purpose, on occasion I will remove one of the outer blocks placing it away from its slot, and tilt it slightly. Adding a shadow to the technique allows me to do that. To me it isn't any different from a jigsaw puzzle. Carole has a script, I create my own. It was one of the very first tutorials I learnt when I joined the campus. It's really easy, using a Mask.

Good morning, and thank you. I must admit that I have never used alphas, only fonts. The font is called wooden brench. I applied the impasto script to it, which I won some time ago. In order for the letter S to sit comfortably in the letter R I used from vector shape, expanded, then deleted part of the letter R.

I had to wrap up to go outside today. It was worth it to sit observing and listening to all the Robins out in the trees. Once again I used Carole's punches, and corner punch. Played with some frames around the photo. Photo block technique on the main photo. I replicated Carole's newest Admission ticket. Created my own tokens.

What a difference in two days, yesterday I was in jeans and T shirt. I did cover up to lay on the ground taking photos of the crocus. I still came back with 2 ticks on me. Today -1c I bet the horses are cursing me for brushing out their winter coats. Crows are very inteligent, and will soon have you very well trained.

They were forecasting snow for today, so yesterday I decided to take a drive to the areas where I knew I'd be guaranteed to see Native Crocus. As for today, it is snowing with 70km winds, which has also blown in a large flock of migratory Robins, up to a hundred I'd say. Large Flocks of Robins always turn up on snowy days at this time of year. Some will stay, but the majority are only passing through. Thank goodness, as I wouldn't be able to afford to feed them all throughout the summer. 😉 Pulsatilla nuttalliana, known as prairie pasqueflower or prairie crocus. The first of the native flowers to bloom.

No matter how many times they come to my hand, their light touch always generates great elation.

I had forgotten about that. Now that you have mentioned it, I remember now. Always a pleasure to share what knowledge I have with you and everyone else here.

I’m only privileged to the presence of Warblers during Spring and Autumn, as they don’t nest here, only pass through. Warblers offer wonderful diversity, with more than 50 species in North America. They also offer interesting challenges , with completely different patterns in Spring and Autumn. ID ing them in the Autumn can be a real challenge. This one is a young Autumn Myrtle’s Warbler which I took on the 26th Sept last year. The Myrtle species has a distinctive white throat. The bird you have showcased is a Spring mating male. I have never used the Merlin app. I’m sure it can do a good a job, but it’s not infallible. I believe it knows which birds are near to you, based on sightings submitted by bird watchers. The app can be helpful, but it’s not diagnostic. I’m not saying that it didn’t correctly ID the bird. To use it in order to create lovely scrap pages, with interesting information, it has served your purpose. The bird groups I use, doesn’t allow any comments, where the Merlin app ID’d the bird. They say it’s not a proper or acceptable documentation.

Over the course of this past winter, and previous winters I have taken no end of photos of the delighful Chickadees at the National Parks where I snowshoe, and hike. The background photo is one of last year's apple blossoms. When I hear them I get out the seed, many will come and take food from my hand. They have become accustomed to me. I can only take photos of them feeding using my mobile photo, which pretty much basic, and takes crappy pics. My camera is to cumbersome to use one handed.

Slowly the native migratory birds are returning. THis one is a white throated Sparrow. I'd say that all native sparrows are considered song birds. I haven't done a proper frame in quite a while. Colours used came from the photo. One of last night's little projects.

What can I say Mary, other than your pages are exquisitely created.

It''s quite uncanny how the topography of your area would pass for where my tree is situated in Wales. It brought back many wonderful memories of me riding my pony as a child past that tree almost daily checking the sheep.

Would you mind telling me where this photo was taken, as it's extremely similar to a view of a tree where I grew up. It may also be a coincidence, as you have a popular Welsh Christian name. Llanbad, overlooking Bryna, mid Glamorgan.

A sea of blue as seen through Nell's ears. I ride the tramlines through the crops in the summer. You can just see the farm on the horizon. Looking at the field it is rather dirty, with the invasive yellow sow thistle. No the flowers don't give off any perfume. The flowers I showcased is a macro shot from my garden.

Should this be your last project, then I would say, that you have ended on a grand note. The page is perfect. I initially thought you had created the heart paper, using the exploding cutout , from the lab 13-9 (I think) I suppose you could have selected some of the hearts, promoted to a layer, then delete. Just a thought.

I love everything about the title!

Flax flowers. Using adjustment layers.

I remember it well. At the time I regarded your comment as the ultimate compliment, to be mistaken for a photographer for a magazine, and magazine cover designer. Well, like the majority of North Americans, you call them gophers, so yes, it's a Richardson's ground squirrel. There are gophers, like the pocket gopher, which has external cheek pouches, for carrying food, and bedding. They are all rodents.

You have created yourself an absolutely superb card. Happy Birthday young lady!!!! Enjoy the journey, and savour every moment spent with your family. Creating memories that will last a lifetime.