Mary Solaas

Ann - I have to say that is a great shot "Going Home".  Besides the triple frame, I like that barn shot down in the lower right corner.  Is it a picture you took, or?  Thanks for the information on dairy cows!

Last days of December and I finally finished (I think so) with Lab 6 Mod 9.  Problems with this module were the wire clip and the overlapped string.  Created 2 star wire clips and one Christmas tree wire clip (that one doesn't work too well).  Was not happy with the overlapped string I was making for the layout, but I made one in blue which was twisted (that I didn't like), and made 3 in gravel texture which I did kind of like and which I finally decided to use in the layout.  Didn't have as much trouble with the flowers, although I think I still need to work on that. All the elements and papers are mine.  I think I got the hang of how to put part of a wire clip behind the paper or picture one is using - I had to go to the Master Class "Hang On" to make it work.  Will go back to that class since it has several different clips to make and use.

 

Anyway, here is the Lab 6 Mod 9.  Not one of my favorites, however "it is what it is".

 

I'm also posting my playing with "gravel".  Lynda DiGregor last year used gravel as the frame in one of her layouts and that inspired me to "play" with that.  Did manage to use the inner bevel with the frame and picture.  I do like to take pictures of gravel, pavement, rugs, etc. - anything that might be useful to use as a background.  (works in Video Studio as well).

I, too, started with the challenges, etc. because it was helpful to have a particular project layout from start to finish with an end view in mind.  Then I moved on to the Labs as I had been convinced to buy the Diamond Membership because of the way you teach.  I really wanted to develop my own papers and elements so that I am not restricted in displaying or using them (even though I don't plan on selling them).

 

The Master Classes I am not working through, although I try to attend the webinars as they are in more detail about learning techniques.  The Master Classes have both the video and the detailed printout and a summary printout.  This is very helpful.

 

The Labs only have the detailed printout.  WOOPS!  I just looked at the one I was having a problem with:  The wire clip from a vector shape.  I couldn't make it work from the directions in the downloaded notebook, but when I look at the Lab on line, I see that you have a video with the lab that shows how to do the elements (the wire clip in particular).  SO - downloading the videos with the Labs would be nice!

Love what you all have been doing.  Also, Carole, thanks for the Christmas count-down goodies from you and all you "frame ladies".  Wow.

 

I've been stuck (really stuck) on the making of a vector shape clip.  I've tried several times, even thinking of giving up, but that is not in my nature.  Once I have a "bone", I'll knaw it until either I get it or it gets me.  The vector clip is in Lab 6 Mod 9 and I don't think I'll give up.  Even went to the PSP Help to look at Modifying lines and curves, Editing contours and paths.  My problem is working with nodes, so I also went to PSP Help for Working with Nodes, printed them all out so that I could look at them while I'm working with the vector shape.  Wish me luck!

I would like to know about the various tools.  I used the push tool in Lab 6 Mod 8 but it wasn't great and I really don't understand it.  Also when you click on the push tool, I see that there are a great many tools in that area that I do not understand.

 

Also, in creating a shape paper clip, I did not understand how to use the pen tool and the knife tool to pull apart the pieces and push them to a new location.

 

 

Halleluia!

 

 

Plowing through the Labs (I'm still in kindergarten).  Lab 6 Mod 8:  all the papers are my creation; created the label under the title and the fluttery ribbon attached to it, the cross stitches (brush created in greyscale) holding the papers together.  Had fun creating the bright stripe ribbon and many "gingham" papers and stripe papers.  I don't understand the Push brush, so my fluttery ribbon is very transparent - I doubled it and put a white layer underneath it for this layout.

 

Ann - I can't imagine vultures circling your home!  Love your gnome peeking out of the window!

 

I sharpened the photo and changed the gingham paper to 100% opacity as it seemed to washed out before.

 

 

The palette picture is missing.

Played with the elf card and this is what I came up with.  Interesting putting my face in the elf's body!  The Christmas ornaments I created from Cassel's freebies - white and silver ornaments.  The stars are also from Cassel and actually have metallic rope around them.

Lab 6 Mod 7.  Scale pattern (made several background papers with the scale pattern- some with black scales, some with white scales; sand brush (used it for the frame); wavy flag (made it as a template with the shadow and the flagpole) changed color, text, and removed the flagpole for this layout; actually started with Corel's autumn layout, but as you can see ended up with something entirely different; the starfish is from PS - christina carrano; the seashells are from a PSP picture tube; the flower and seashell cluster is a freebie from Cassel.

 

Love what everyone is doing.  Sue, are the swashes the gold flowing lines that make the tree??? - love it!

I'm HAPPY!  Just a quickie.  "HAPPY" is from my stash; the cluster is made from Corel's bell and PS-Marisa Lerin's star and berry cluster; the background paper and the green paper and button are from Sscraps CH Dec. 2020.

Christmas is just around the corner.  For this layout: the papers and ribbon are mine; the corner brush is from Cassel; the star picture tube is from Cassel; the cluster is made from a bell in Corel's Video Studio and the star, berries and bow are from PS - Marisa Lerin.

 

Helen - really enjoy how you made and decorated your tree from that video tutorial.

 

 

Some changes but I think most of it is there.  Made a template of the sketch, then changed what I did with it.  The background and pictures were taken this summer on that long vacation that Joe, Laurie and I took.  I blurred and reduced the opacity of the background which was a picture of the RV park.  The title font is Curlz MT; narrative font is Arial Rounded MT Bold.  Frame on the background is mine as are the cream and dark green papers and the pink ribbon.  The doily is from Cass Fire & Ice; the butterflies are from PS - Jessica Dunn; the bee and its path are from PS - Janet Kemp.

Beautiful, Sue - well done (as usual)

 

I can't seem to stop playing.  Created the template for this LO, but changed it up.  Originally the triple picture was in the bottom right corner and had 8 pictures in picture all connected in the bottom right corner.  For this LO, I didn't like that and so only used the 3 last pictures and then put each of them in different locations until I came up with this.  Played around with different backgrounds, but settled on one from PS-Jessica Dunn and reduced the opacity and color tinted it to make it colder.  The font is AR Berkley; the snowflake is from PS-Gina Jones and the snowman is from PS-Rachel Martin.  I played around with shadows again - this time I had just slight shadows with the color of the shadows a medium grey.  Only shadowed the bottom picture.  I've been playing around with both PSP2021 Ultimate and Video Studio 2020 Ultimate, but gave myself a Christmas and birthday present yesterday and today and couldn't resist the prices on PSP 2022 Ultimate, Video Studio 2021 Ultimate and the full version of Photo Mirage (which I may be able to use in Video Studio.

Thank you, Ann for your LO.  We, too, have been vaccinated 3X.  I live with my granddaughter who is also a nurse in a hospital handling Covid-19 patients.  We're still trying to keep safe this year - and I am thinking we will need to next year also.

Ann, that is a lovely photo!

 

I guess I quit the video project to do layouts of my daughter's and my vacation last week.  PSP is just too much fun!  The template I created from a sketch I saw and made a few variations, but am saving it to maybe use again later.  This LO is of our visit to Safari Park in Alamo, TN. The background is PS-Gina Jones; the cream paper and the zebra ribbons are from my stash; the hay bales are from Cassel and I used her hay brush to make the frame around the whole LO; the font is Arial Bold; the giraffe is PS-Marisa Lerin; the buttons are from PS: peacock: Janet Kemp; the giraffe: Jessica Dunn; the Llama: Marissa Lerin.  I used the warp mesh tool to lift the corner of the title picture and put the shadow on a separate layer- pulled it out and reduced the opacity to show the lift.  The hooves are from a PSP picture tube.  I think there is only one more LO to go for our vacation.

Trish - that's a beautiful card for your sister.

 

Yesterday - at the last minute (literally), my daughter and I went to Memphis Botanic Gardens.  Only had about 30 minutes, but we took pictures with our phones - the leaves are so beautiful now that we have had some frost.  The pictures are from both of us, the border I created with the paint brush and added the effect slats.  I had originally created a template that had horizontal masked pictures, but for some reason, all the pictures we took were vertical!  So I had to change my mind. The title is from their brochure.

My daughter and I just got home from a short trip up country in Tennessee.  Today we went to the Safari Park and this is what we developed together after we got home.  The zebra background was made with the PSP zebra pattern and the frame around us is one from Cassel.  I extracted us from a selfie we took today and overlayed it on the picture of the park entrance poster.  Lots of fun.

I'm still having fun - can't seem to stop!  Michelle, you are such an inspiration!  This is a picture I took in Louisianna several years ago - can't believe how time flies!  This time I used picture in picture instead of masks.

 

 

Inspired by the diamond in the center of Cassel's freebie, I decided to create a series of masks using the diamond shape.  Also inspired by Michelle who uses multiple copies of the same picture in some of her layouts (thanks for the inspiration, Michelle), I used multiple copies of the diamond mask and the same photo of the prairie I took on one of my trips.  The result is shown here.  I learned a few things about masks, creating brushes, creating shapes also.  The backgrounds are mine and I used the texture effect shades on the light blue one.  For the elements:  the butterfly is a colorized version of one in ML's Pretty things kit and the grasses are from PSBT-July DBMagnolia.  The font is a PSP one using the dark blue of the bottom background paper.  This was a load of fun and a great learning experience - thanks Cassel and Michelle for the inspirations - thank you Cassel for your great teaching on all aspects of PSP!  (I had to stop on the video - at least for a few days)

I wasn't happy with the previous layout so I redid it.  This is the result.

Everyone is doing wonderful things.  I said I wouldn't be back until I finished the video, but I couldn't resist.  I used the freebie mask Carole offered and a picture my grandniece in South Dakota sent for this.

Ann - that is so beautiful - you made the colors of the challenge really pop and blend well.

 

Corrie - I've forgotten how beautiful the spider webs can be with the dew on them.  Thanks for that beautiful LO.

 

Sue - your Autumn quote is beautiful and a different way to use the colors of the challenge.

 

Betsy - love your 2 halloween displays.

 

Everyone has done some beautiful layouts.

 

I'm presently working on a video for my granddaughter and so, though I'm itching to get back here, I'll be absent for a little while.

So now I will post my Dragon Cake which featured in another layout earlier.  I’ve just been having fun.  Made a separate layout for the dragon cake; papers and elements are mine.  Had fun extracting the cake from the counter with the other stuff on it.  The font is (of course) Cass-icing – the freebie which I recolored to match the cake.  The narrative font is Brush455 BT.

I've just been having fun.  Made a separate layout for the dragon cake and will post it in the October theme as well as here.  Also, played with possibilities of Lab 6 Mod 5 which I just couldn't seem to get into before, but I think I will post my meanderings with Halloween Shenanigans.  Dragon Cake:  papers and elements are mine.  Had fun extracting the cake from the counter with the other stuff on it.  The font is (of course) Cass-icing - the freebie which I recolored to match the cake.  The narrative font is Brush455 BT.

 

The Halloween Shenanigans:  the spooky elements are all from the 3 Halloween picture tubes in PSP, except the web and spider which are from PS - Brooke Gazarek for the web and Gina Jones for the spider; the font is Decorated035 BT (PSP font).  The background is a picture from Microsoft of a road in Ireland - reduced opacity with a black layer underneath.  I experimented with shadows on this one - different #'s for horizontal & vertical and different shadow colors.  A lot of fun.