Julie Magerka

Love all those little bees hovering around. I can almost hear the buzzing!

So much to do...and such limited time! I have to pick and choose what will get some attention. I have AFF 2.6 and PSE 2024 and I'm trying to learn/use both. I think, at this point, I have seen more PS videos over the last few months, and so I am tending to prefer that program. But when I want to do something quickly, I default to PSP. Considering how little I knew of any of these apps a few years ago, I feel pretty good. It's the process that I enjoy. There's a creative team member at Vicki Robinson Designs (Gina) who uses only images from sources like Pixabay, Unsplash, etc. for her layouts. She looks first at the kit or parts of it that she wants to use and then searches for a photo to suit the feeling. I also like to find online images, but I tend to work the opposite way: photo first, kit or elements later. The older couple layout uses an image I got from one of those sites. I'm playing mostly these days, trying to work in PSE or AFF, to achieve the image/effect I have in my head for the photo(s) I want to use. Once I began following particular photographers on FB, then I receive lots more of those feeds from Meta. I have become aware of some wonderful work. In the icebergs layout, the images come from Ray Mackey in Newfoundland. They are all from Twillingate which is offshore from the northeast coast of Nfld. It is known as the Iceberg Capital of the World and presently has some in the harbour. If you don't know Newfoundland/Labrador, you are missing some of the most spectacular rugged and natural landscapes. Also, the place names in that province are so unusual and endearing. The hospitality of the people you meet is legendary.

I'm sure your family will appreciate the love you put into this.

I would prefer to see them in the open air, as well. The location was small and unsuitable for the purpose, I thought.

You're a well-travelled woman, Corrie. As you say, it's a bit easier when you already live so close to so many countries and different cultures. This works well to document your journeys.

I think you're right about including the date, at least. I will amend it.

Yesterday I did something a bit different. I saw a posting on FB about a display of raptors (the birds, not the Toronto NBA team) coming to this area for March Break which just began. It was in such an unlikely location (an empty store in a small mall in Windsor), and chock full of squirmy, noisy kids, but it was amazing! I learned so much about the birds of prey that are native to this area and was able to be up close but not personal with them. The show was put on by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Port Dover, on the north shore of Lake Erie. The birds flew in brief bursts from the trainer's arm to perches at either end of the room. She spoke in great detail about each one. They brought five show birds. In the layout, they are (starting at top left and going clockwise): Red-Tailed hawk, Bald eagle (who is 33 years old!), Sparrow hawk (noisy!), Great Horned Owl, and a Harris hawk (not native to here). I used a template and kept getting mixed up with all the layers, but once committed to it, I had to continue. I think there should be some journaling on the l/o, but I didn't find it necessary since no one else is likely to see it. So I removed the journal space and added another photo.

I knew what my D image would be since the beginning. But I am just late getting it done. This doll is the only one I have that my mother dressed for me. She did outfits for all my dolls, and I didn't play with them that much. I think she simply enjoyed the work. Sadly, the others disappeared over the decades. She was born in Moravia and young girls then learned to sew like experts. Most of them made their own "kroj" (pronounced KROY) which was for festive and formal occasions. Even after she was living in Canada, she and her sister would dress for those occasions, wearing their kroj. I have pix of their mother and them in their incredibly complex costumes. Those don't exist anymore either. This doll has been stored for a long time and is rather squished and needs a good cleaning. But I have to get in touch with some of the Czech community around here to find someone who knows how to disassemble the layers.

If I HAD to choose, I'd say the blue background. But both are effective and convey the message. Love the elements and images which are so touching.

I think it's lovely. There's an ethereal feel to it, one that suggests the sky, the horizon, and beyond which is so appropriate. Nicely done Donna.

Oh Donna, you do what I do when someone close to me loses their furbaby. Recently, my nephew and his partner lost their long-time rescue dog, and they had no photos at all. He had lost his phone and had no backup system! That made me doubly sad. And just last week, good friends had to make the tough decision for their 16-year-old dog. But there are pix of her from which I used one to create my tribute. Somehow being able to do this makes us feel a tiny bit better. Maybe it will for you and your family too.

I read your comment a while ago, then kept thinking about it. If you like Enya's music you might also enjoy Loreena McKennitt who is quite similar. I used to listen to both of them years ago. I am rediscovering them now since I can't have on radio or TV without being bombarded by events that are too disturbing. My soul needs soothing these days.

Thanks Susan. That's the one that came together more easily and that I enjoyed the most.

Here's some layouts I've worked on lately. I have no particular focus, just react to photos I have or get and try something with them. I am dabbling and rather scattered, but I like to work on something everyday. The last week to ten days of each month is a busy time for me, so I am not able to comment/react/post very much. But I do check out the wonderful layouts that appear in the different topics. This place is my "stay sane" place. (However, I have to scroll quickly past the spider pix! 😛) The fellow on the bike is a good friend of my (older) sister from 'way back. I've bugged him for a long time for a copy of that photo. The couple are my parents just after they were married. And the blue layout is about my yearning for Spring which is still elusive here. Photo in that one from Pixabay. The designers whose materials I have used are: Vicki Robinson, Anna Aspnes, ET Designs, Marisa Lerin, Rachel Jeffries, and maybe some others.

Oh yeah, I saw her sale! Good markdowns. You did justice to her elements.

Such pretty colours! And some lovely elements blended in. Really a good one, Anja.

I don't blame you at all. That's a lot of work, and for what? You make beautiful layouts with PSP. Glad to be at the party!!!!! 😀

The bit about the kids made me laugh out loud! Enjoy seeing your tour of Malmo.

Years ago, I listened to Vinyl Tap. A friend in another town also listened. We considered it to be listening together and would talk about it later, in the days before social media. This is my take on the challenge. Any song sung by Ella Fitzgerald is one I love. Many of the winter elements come from Jessica Dunne mini kits that were free.

For me, the issue seemed to be that I was using my own Affinity account password to activate, and what they wanted was the long activation code they gave us initially. When I used that, it activated and told me I had 50+ days left. I emailed their support, got a standard reply to wait, and then tried my own solution. Whew. It worked.

I fiddled around and tried another way to get the download of v. 2.6 activated, and it worked! It says I have 50+ days left in the trial.

Hockey = Feeling ridiculously proud!

Those are some of the designers I most admire. Thanks Cristina. I do not consider myself to have "artistry" but it sounds lovely. It's just a style I prefer.

What a lovely comment, Ann. Thanks.

Well, I downloaded v. 2.6 no problem. But the activation process stopped on me. Since they don't send codes by text message, I have to switch to my email to get the code. Then, when I go back to the activation window on their site, it locks up and I have to End Task. So I signed in at Affinity to check my account. My trial has expired! Huh? I got a 90-day trial, so what's up? I have written to their support to find out what's going on. There's just bad juju between me and Affinity!