Julie Magerka

I was surprised to learn I won the Phrase Strips script! I had to play with it which took a bit of time as I made the adjustments to the script itself (as per instructions included) and needed some help from Carole. My deadlines for two projects are now behind me (other stuff) and I can get back to PSP time. I like the "idea" of this layout, but I'm not entirely pleased with the harsh white background. I had to leave it like that b/c I'm not much good at extracting an image and getting a transparent background (the sketch of Mrs. Roosevelt). If I changed or softened the background, then the borders of the sketch were too visible. It's a skill I have to acquire.... Otherwise, I'm happy with the phrase strips and how to use them. Thanks Carole!

Is this a surprise gift? I'd love to see your daughter's reaction to this gift of love. It's an amazing feat of patience and creativity. It looks entirely real and full-size in the photos. As Susan said, all the tiny details are wonderful.

Reading the titles found me singing a few bars! This is a fun layout.

I had to look up Glenn Miller's death date, and discovered that he disappeared in 1944! I didn't know that.

I think this is so perfect. What a wonderful tribute you made. Well done, Susan!

I am also learning to stop acquiring things that I will probably never use or use very little. I bought a tablet a year or so ago (Wacom) and I like it but I don't even use that enough!

Susan, did you get it installed, and have you played with it yet? Just curious.....

That goes not only for the PSP elements and stuff I've collected, but for the general accumulation of stuff I no longer need in the house? If there were only a DELETE key for that! But what if I need it later....?

Susan, if you want dandelions I can send you mine! I like them too, but not when they all go to seedheads!

Oh, how I wish we had meadownlarks here! Such a lovely song.

Playing is fun but, more than that, is my learning process too.

And here's how the Word Slats script gets cut off when the photo I use is not large enough. This one is 1072 x 1440 px.

I can't say I have a favourite yet, but I am just starting to play with some of the scripts I have. It seems to me that these Slats scripts work best on large photos. I downloaded one from Unsplash to test them out. I don't really do enough layouts to give the scripts a good old workout!

If you use the Search function on the taskbar in Windows (or the CMD+spacebar in OS) you can find anything - fast! I never go searching for what I want. Just a quick search and it turns up.

I love when new challenges are posted. They give me focus and get me trying layouts for a reason. This has the Hallowe'en theme b/c the photo of my grand-nephew was taken then last fall when he and the girlfriend went out. That accounts for the dripping blood marks on her neck! Using buttons and folded elements is difficult for me. I never know where to put the darn things. The black button on the photo was placed to hide a clock on the wall!

And isn't that perfect for your fish tribe!

Me too! Have never seen it before in the store.

Best wishes, and many thanks for all the goodies. I'm so glad I joined this community of PSPers.

I have collected a few clusters over time, but I end up never using them on the few layouts I do. I'm not a scrapbooker so frills and embellishments are not to my taste.I think Sue Thomas's idea of having a layout and then creating the cluster makes good sense. I wanted some spring-y colours in mine to go with the warm weather we're having, which is really unseasonable for this area, as in 'way too hot! The wavy ribbon is from lindsay jane designs and it's a border that I resized and changed the shape of. The flowers and paper strip are from Di Hiller. Only a tiny bit of shadow added since I see that many designers offer their clusters with and without.

Just sent mine this morning. What fun! It felt like being a kid again!

Happy birthday Corrie. Hope your day was special and memorable.

Poncho singing! This is priceless.

I downloaded some freebies from Di Hiller Productiions. The only thing I did was the text (modelled on hers). I just love the colours in this for Spring. Easter greetings to all, and Passover too.

When I lived in Toronto, the garden centres there were open year-round for the reason you mentioned. I used to love going to them during the doldrums of winter to see the greenery and breathe in the smells. It was reassuring. But - sadly - none of them at that time offered a coffee shop. That would've been great.

I like these challenges. It keeps me on my toes trying to create something worthwhile. I have no gift for layouts so using someone else's ideas is helpful. The background paper is from Digital Scrapbooking, Melo Vrijhof, called Animal Kingdom collage paper. I added the outlines of gnarly tree branches to the background and adjusted the opacity. The frames are vector shapes with effects added. The photos are by Bobbi Goodrich, a US photographer and artist. Her work is outstanding. I've had them for years and wanted to do something with them.