Sue Thomas

In situations like that, if I'm understanding you right. I will create shadows on their own layer. Allowing me to shadow promoted selections independently. Even using different shadow settings. Of course you will then have to use the eraser tool to carefully delete unwanted shadowed areas.

They rarely show themselves, as they spend almost all of their time on the ground lurking in the dense undergrowth. They also nest on the ground.

I didn't have any doubt in my mind, that this photo of a male Brown Thrasher taken on Tuesday morning was going to be photo of the week.

You certainly did a superb job on the knotted ropes. I don't think you followed the tutorial in the masterclass Learn the ropes. Unless there were other turorials. Beautiful Corrie style layout

It most certainly is, they have one of the most beautiful of songs. Signaling the arrival of Spring, as they are one of the first birds to arrive in Canada. They are common in grasslands, singing from fence posts.

I did/do the same as you Corrie. When I joined it was before the Lab. I started at the beginning, doing the tutorials that was then the creative scrap. Storing the patterns, elements, text etc in a folder for future use to be used when I showcase photos. Some elements I have never used, but I created them, and perhaps one day I will have a use for them. The beauty of creative scrap and lab, is that we learn how to uitilze techniques in different ways, and to think outside the box.

My confirmation email arrived last night, at the same time as the weekly scrapbook email.

You are always ever so kind, as are so many others. It is always very much appreciated.

Actually, it took several shots, to get the one I liked, as he was impatiently waiting to be fed. You are always so kind with your comments. Which is always appreciated my dear.

I couldn't agree more!

I used one of Carole's Punch brushes, I created the scallops to make the papers more interesting. Text on a curve. Seeing as I used a vector elipse for the photo. I feathered it to soften the edges of the photo. Text on a path. I created a stencil mask for the date. An ever so simple layout, which I saw on Annie C's site. So I decided to relicate, making it my own. Just the sort of layout I like. Again all the colours came from the photo. The pinky colour came from the bird's feet and legs, beleive it not. The text reads Watching a Robin is like witnessing a dance of nature, graceful movements and vibrant colours. This young one was actually dancing back and forth the branch. The text is actually legible on the full size page.

I would consider using the brush variance palette, such as the colour blend, if you fancy blending some of the colours together. The warp brush, and several overlays should achieve a similar effect. I'll think of some some tuts and masterclasses that will be of help. Grunge magic, overlays and Textures and Overlay masterclasses come to mind.

Oh Julie! There isn't anything sexual about the photo. I'm not even going to ask what ran through your mind when you saw the photo. 🙂 lol

The way I see it, and please, I'm not being critical, only my observation, and the way I work. I feel that all the early tutorials, mastercalsses, creative scrap, and blog has covered the majority of techniques and tools. Of course newer versions introduced new tools, all of which you have addressed. It seems to me that in many of the newer tuts, masterclasses you are going over what you have already covered. Also in my view many of the questions asked in the Q&A, are answered in previous tuts etc. It appears to me it is far easier to ask the question rather than spend some time to search out the answer in the wealth of information provided. Whilst, doing a search you get to see and pick up little things along the way. The campus has grown beyond anyones expectations. In all honesty, I find the it all overwhelming on occassions. Adding some references to past posts and classes is a great idea.

Yes, you have mentioned it. In the masterclass Playing with Vectors. Which is an older masterclass. Thinking back, I set the tracking to a higher number, which is where it has stayed. Unknowingly to me I must have had a gremlin change it to 8. Of course I didn't think to check the tracking. I thought my steady hand was failing me. Many of the earlier masterlasses and other tutorials are worth revisiting.

You really do create wonderful Alphs. A lot of time and thought goes into them. I had to look hard at the title in order to read it correctly. There was a time I would use some fonts, not taking into account of who is going to read it. Will the text be legible for eveyone. As not everyones' eyes are healthly, which makes reading some text/alpha even more difficult. Fortunately my eyes are fine.

I will now be using her site as a new source of inspiration.

Flippin' knot gave me grief. Now I can go outside and star gaze. The milky way, and hopefully another Aurora tonight.

My subjects are rarely cooperative, they are after all wild and free spirited. Which makes photographing wildlife a challenge. Always having to seize the moment, which makes life interesting.

Here is the updated version. The pen tool gave me a lot of grief earlier, until Carole suggested using a high tracking. I didn't know where to put it so I stuck it in the corner.

Thankfully I can now. I rarely draw with the pen tool, my pen work is done using the nodes. 🙂

That will expalin the shakiness then. I checked the tracking and it was set 8. Usually it's set at 40. Don't know why it was as low as 8. I know I have a steady hand for everything else I do. I will redo the knots, using a tracking of 60 plus. Thank you. I didn't notice that the tracking was that low, and that the tracking would effect the shakiness. I thought, blimey I'm deteriorating quickly! lol

Here is the shot of a female Robin sunbathing on the 30 July, with the preening gland exposed, opening dorsally at the base of the tail feathers. For those that are interested, I will post the photo on facebook for better viewing.

My hand is getting to shakey to do a decent job drawing with the pen tool using a mouse these days. Athough I used a cass rope, It looks more like string, and hides the shakiness. I went with a goldy metalic title. Created the curly streamer, placing it under the flowers. I will remove the flowers, streamer and knots to make room for some info at a later date. I have only ever photographed 2 birds with their uropygial gland exposed. Also known as the preen gland. It secretes an oily fluid which the bird uses in preening its feathers.

I'm sure I have seen a tutorial on making knots, where, for the life of me I can't remember where it was. I have one of your knot scripts that I could use.