Julie Magerka

S = Sepulchre

I'm not able to do the Text Workshop this time, but I enjoy seeing the output from others who are. I don't actively look for photos online, but if they happen to appear in front of me, and they touch me somehow, I grab them as a layout possibility. National Geographic is a good source, and I get plenty of emails from them (even though I don't pay for a subscription to read the articles). This one is from their Photos of the Century collection, and I just loved the face. So many of the pix they present are sad and reflect the steady decline of wildlife species and flora of the world. Since 2005, this photographer has taken pix of over 10K species to document their peril and to encourage people to be aware. I think Nat'l Geo is preaching to the converted, unfortunately. I did an extraction of the image since it had a black background and was straightforward to do (but not perfect I fear). Anna Aspnes and Katie Pertiet design elements used. Font for 'cheetah' is Stardust.

H = Hymn

C = catafalque (just love that word)

Either the layout just seems to fall into place and quickly or I'm labouring over it and changing it continuously! Never a happy medium! Nice bit of wordart!

It takes a bit of time to unzip and organize into folders, but it's so much fun to explore!

My budget is almost non-existent now. I have to resist and desist!

My canvas was 3600x1900 b/c the photo was horizontal. I am using aA's supplies a lot b/c I can't help myself! I got more of her art with a recent sale she had.

I think you're right. White-washing history is not the best plan. We need to remember and learn from it.

That can perhaps be a problem, as we've discovered here in Canada. Some of the names have become associated with unpopular behaviours and there is a trend to rename them. Hope that doesn't happen with the bridge. But I still prefer TZ.

I did another layout for cemeteries. This one is an early settler burial ground for those early folks who lived along the Thames River in the area of Chatham, Ontario. In 1959, many of the markers had been vandalized or had fallen into the river. So an effort was made to retrieve and rehabilitate them and place them in a row. That's how they stand today. Ontario history of settlement is not that early, 18th or 19th century. Not like Europe or elsewhere. This cemetery is named for an early family who donated land for burials, as was the custom back then.

I watch those episodes over and over to admire the background scenery.

I wasn't even aware of such a thing as a scrapbooking retreat! Sounds like a fun time.

So they replaced the wonderful name of Tappan Zee with Cuomo? Why? The name was both Native American and Dutch. Pretty spectacular photo!

Your project to document the month is a wonderful idea. It's something all those family members you've lost would be proud of. They are with you, in your heart and your memories.

I really understand how you feel Rene. After my mother died, holidays were very difficult for such a long time. I hope it gets better for you over time.

He's a tolerant man.

I have other things to do but they are things I don't really want to do, so....I'm playing with PSP! Major procrastinator here. At the Windsor (Ontario) and Detroit (Michigan) border which is the Detroit River, there has been both a bridge and a tunnel for nearly 100 years. The Ambassador Bridge until quite recently was owned by an private citizen who made lots of money over the decades with his toll booths, gas pumps, and duty-free shops. That bridge was completed in 1929 and took two years to build. In 2015, the new bridge plans began. They decided to call it the Gordie Howe (for a famous hockey player from Detroit). Its progress has been well documented online and it has been amazing to watch as they brought the two spans (Canada side and US) together in the middle. But it has taken so long that I began to worry I might never live to see it or use it! (It's about 1/2 hr or so from where I live.) The bottom right photo taken in Windsor by a photographer (Mark Hewer) shows the view of the bridge from a main artery road in that city, posted on FB. There are fabulous views of both bridges now when you visit Windsor, especially at the riverfront. I used a Cass Template (from Lab 12-11) b/c the photo spots were so nicely framed and ready. The background has several layers of papers all blended. The pix come from online.

You are NOT a weirdo about the decorations coming down. I too find it tiresome by the 24th, or maybe even the 23rd! By then I've heard more repetitive Christmas music than I can tolerate for weeks on end everywhere I go.

I just couldn't resist this one! She is in the news cycle all this month in this part of the world (Toronto area), with her first concert happening on Thursday night past. She is doing six sold-out performances for 50K happy fans each night. Ticket prices are unbelievable, some as high as thousands of Can dollars. I am not a Swiftie, but I can appreciate her many talents (including her financial acumen) and the coverage about her is better to hear about than other things going on. I just played with it and had fun! Lots of blending and masks.

Another photo that popped up in my online activity. This is a new one to me. It looks like a fungus but it isn't. Also called corpse flower, the plant lives underground for 51 weeks a year and then pushes up into flower for one week. Grows in most of North America, except the southwest. Used an overlay of film strips and some blending. The frame is from DS (Marisa?). Everything in there from my ever-growing stash. Just as with fonts, I have to stop acquiring stuff! Could never use all I have already.

I took crochet lessons in my 20s and ended up with many shawls and afghan blankets. I don't sew, knit, tat, or do anything like that since then.

I wish I could move to Scotland!

Correction: Photo was posted on FB by Love Scotland, not the name I mentioned. I also grabbed a pic by Mark Hewer that I plan to use for a layout. The image comes from Mark Hewer Photography, and I saw it on FB. It looks so inviting. Would love to visit there. It's a 12th century castle that is still inhabited! Owned by a descendant of Clan Malcolm. Here in Canada, if a building is 40 or 50 years old, it well might get torn down. The gate posts entrance was used in Skyfall, as James Bond's childhood home, were modelled on these.

Love this! The touch of the photo apertures as letters works so well!