Sue Thomas

Laurie, please forgive me as I don't mean to knit pick, as you did say you wanted feedback, and suggestions. To me all photos take precedence in my layouts. A portion of the photo of the gull on the water has been cut, by being hidden under an element. I would switch it with its opposite diagonal photo. There should be enough free space in that photo, not to obstruct any of that bird. Or place the gull on the water above the elements. After all you are the create,

Laurie, you have showcased some lovely bird photos. Your shadowing looks fine to me. Regarding the issue with the shadow not moving as you want, did you link the photo/element with its shadow? Which will enable you to move both evenly at the same time. Unfortunately, when linked you can't resize, or rotate, all it allows you to do is to move, not only on your page, but also in the layers palette. One other small thing I noticed, is that the letters of the title BIRDS aren't joined. Check the kerning setting, on the text tool bar.

Oh dear, that sounds ominous. I hope it's not serious. Something to possibly consider. I don't keep any photos or my PSP creations on the laptop. I have them all on my external hard drives. Also at the end of each year I copy photos, and PSP creations and jpg creations to sticks, as a backup.

I overlooked mentioning that the lace is one of many of Carole's special fonts, and one her latest brush punches, which in my opinion add a touch of finesse to any layout. I love and use them as much as possible.

Here is my DIY page. I wanted to include two photos, so I put the three small squares together, added another one, merged them to add the photo. with another small square placed in the centre to fill the corners, in the centre. I used the width of one of the rings to add the lace edge, (keeping the dimensions the same) it didn't look right, so I filled the ring. I added to 2 small squares, one thin strip and a fill to the one ring. All the colours came from the two birds. Textures. The background paper is a combination of colours from the birds, melding together. For the centre round paper, I promoted from the background paper, added a texture. Placed the blue ring under the top promoted paper.

Ah yes, now I remember that challenge, it was a short while back. I had completely forgotten about it. My apologies. I was unfamiliar with those pyramids you mentioned, until I googled them.

I have added the page to Facebook, I mistakenly posted the compressed version, I have now replaced it with the full version for better viewing.

After looking at Carole's latest script, I had to see if I could replicate it. This is my test interpretation. I used a new mask layer, hide all. Brushes, Fonts, from vector shape, select selection borders. I must admit I do like this effect, another way to showcase my photos. The photo fills the whole page. Perhaps this wasn't the best photo to use as an experimental page, as the background of the photo gets rather dark. But I get the gist on how to create this effect. One of my resident Great Horned Owls. I'm going to put the script on my wish list, as I'm sure it will take a fraction of the time it took me to create the page below. Still, I enjoyed myself.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean when you say "my attempt at numbering" As for your numbered circles, the numbers aren't centred. May I suggest that you create your numbered circles on their own image. Create the circle, object,, align, centre in canvas. Type your number, resize etc. object, align, centre on canvas. Then copy merged to your layout. Repeat, until you have done all your circled numbers. In the creative scrap there is a tutorial on creating a word art Xmas tree. (word tree Lab 10-12) That tutorial may help you adjust the text in the triangle, in order to dispense with the actual triangle.

Your garden reminds me of a Mandala I read about in a nature book titled The Forest Unseen. The author refers to 2 Tibetan monks that create a complex mandala of coloured sands, taking many days to complete. It has significance at many levels, concentration taken in creating it, complexity and coherence. The mandala is a recreation of life, Anyway the author of the book a biologist, creates his own mandala out in a forest, 1metre in diameter, wondering if the whole forest can be seen through a small contemplative window of leaves, rocks and trees, and water. Sure enough he could, along with his magnifying lens, he could view the whole forest, in immature. It's a fascinating book. He devotes a whole year of his attention to a one square metre patch of old growth in the forest. Your garden is alive, filled with colour, I'd be outside investigating every nook and cranny. I'd gather the leaves placing them on the flower beds, your garden is well sheltered

I don't do any cleanup at all out here. I leave everything alone until we are well into Spring.The annuals reseed themselves, if the birds don't get to the seeds first. Even at home other than the veggie patch, and the odd Lawn mowing I would leave the garden well alone.

Your style resonates through in this page. It's positively ethereal. ( beautiful, delicate, exquisite). Lest we forget!

Here is an example I did this evening, using the same font you used. It may inspire you to try something a little different using a font. You are right, using fonts are very versatile, and often overlooked. I also used the same font, to add an embellishment to the frame.

I agree with you, translating from one language to another can be tricky, and translated words can be interpreted differently. It's the same for any language, Welsh included. I would have used inexpressible in a totally different context, and not as a substitute for ineffable. The only meaning for ineffable in my dictionary, is how I initially described it's meaning, and in exactly the same context in which I used it, when commenting on your page. I try to refrain from using words I would normally use on here, as I try to take into account the different languages, and how they would be defined. I also like and use the word appealing and ethereal . My mum would always use the word appealing. Also I use the word pleasure, or my pleasure instead of no problem, or you're welcome. It's difficult to change old habits.

Yes, along the lines of Carole's corner punches. I have that font. using the from vector shape, it gives good clean edges. Or you could convert to a raster, using the selection tool, delete. Using that technique, you could remove the edges, leaving only the flowers, then use the selection tool, and delete.

The Robin is a nice addition, which compliments the layout.

I enjoy potato wedges. I make my own seasoned wedges cooked in the oven.

Clever layout! Well done! I add a little mayo to jacket potatoes, with lashings of butter.

Inexpressible, listed above is the word I'd say describes the meaning of ineffable best. I use it when I'm unable to find the words to describe something which is so wonderful it's beyond words. I feel it's one of the best compliments you can pay anyone. Ann refers to the word in a different context to how I use it. I haven't read the book Good Omens, so It may or may not have been used in the book, but used in the series to describe the characters. In the series the word had been nominalized. If my knowledge of grammar hasn't failed me, the adjective word ineffable has been used as a noun.

A pretty page. Did you know that birds like the Robin, and many others that feed on berries, can fall over drunk after eating to many of them. It happens here to the Waxwings that winter here feeding on berries. I like what you did with the floral corners. What would be cool to do, is to use from vector shape, delete the background layer on all four corners, then add a drop shadow to the background paper. Add a matching page below.

I don't know if I am in the minority today, probably not so much as I was a decade or so ago. I have never ever had a Burger King meal. Admittedly when McDonalds appeared on the scene in the UK in 1974 in England. I tried my first McDonalds in 1983, the year my daughter was born. It was a while before McDonalds came to Wales. Several years passed before I bought the next McDonalds. I can count on one hand how many I have bought, as a treat for my children. I haven't had a McDonalds or similar fast food in over 25yrs. I'm not a fan of traditional French fires, (thin strips) I favour proper chips, fat strips of fluffy potatoes deep fired, with salt and vinegar (has to be malt vinegar). Preferably my own. Admittedly, on occasion I enjoy a Tim Hortons chicken noodle soup or broccoli and bacon soup with a blueberry fritter. Supplying my own beverage of water.

It means too wonderful, great to be described with words. I use it if I can't find the right words to describe its exemplaryness.

Yule is the pagan festival of the winter Solstice , which marks the longest night. For 12 days there would be feasting, dancing, gift giving to celebrate the return of the sun. Burning an oak log, that would burn for 12 days. The 12 days between the winter solstice and the beginning of the next solar year. It was considdered a sacred period, belonging to neither the old year nor the new year. They would gather greenery to fetch into the house, ivy, mistletoe which grew on the oaks, holly and berries to decorate their homes. The longest night would be between the 20th -23rd December, depending on the year. Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival, celebrated on the 17th December. It honours Saturn, the agricultural god, which was derived from the pagan winter solstice rituals. Pope Julius chose the 25th December, in 336AD as the date when Christmas was first celebrated in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the feast of the nativity. The custom spread, and arrived in the UK some time at the end of the 6th century. When I was a child, we decorated the house with all the greenery we could find outside. Mum, my brother and I would find the holly tree with the most berries, hazelnuts, pinecones, conkers (are nuts, the seed of the horse chestnut tree) we used to play conkers. Mosses, ivy, mistletoe, we would drape them over the mantelpiece, and on the windowsill as decorations. For a tree, we gathered large branches, decorated them by weaving ivy around them, and decorations like babbles and tinsel, nothing elaborate, also we made paper chains , and lanterns. We did have stockings to hang up over the mantlepiece on Xmas eve.

I'll second that! it most certainly is a spectacular layout. The colours are ineffable!