Julie Magerka

As they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? I bet those poor birds were quaking when you used your stern voice! ?

Me too, Bonnie. I never thought of it as being "thieving" when I borrowed for lessons, just expanding my repertoire and paying homage to the original.?

Yet another layout inspiration I saw online. I didn't scraplift it entirely, just the basic idea. Background paper is from the Lilypad, a set of Fusion papers called "For Art's Sake". Then added the elements & text for the theme of books. Nothing much is mine, except the frame. I do love books and reading and do it whenever I find time. I met a man in a book club once who worked in an automotive assembly plant. He had a book with him all the time as he worked. If he could complete his part of the assembly in less time than allotted, he would read as much as he could, even if it was only 30-40 seconds at a time. I think that's amazing. (The quote is from Stephen King.)

I'm rather late too, but I wish you sincere congratulations on all your achievements and hard work in making this a fun, supportive, and creative place to learn and be inspired. So glad I found this group!

R = Robusta (the cheaper kind of coffee beans)

I recall this one so well! It's beautiful.

I went looking for something I did 'way back in a Bootcamp. That was so worth doing, and I think I did it twice? It's where I learned about Layers and how important they are. And do you know, I still forget sometimes to add a new layer each time I want to add something! This one is from 4 years ago.

Going through files of layouts I've created has been interesting....in that I'm finding very few! Most of them are ones I've made as cards or greetings for friends or FB, etc. Or they don't connect directly to a lab or tutorial. Or they were from monthly challenges. Huh. I did find the Text Workshop layouts I did, so I picked this one with filled text. Those workshop lessons were, however, only for Diamond members. But I have learned so much by being a member of this group, here and on FB and YouTube.

This would go nicely with Michele's Divas. Love it!

E = energy drink (the original)

Such a lovely tribute to a beautiful young woman.

Trying to work a bit more regularly on some kind of layout when I have the time. I saw one I liked on Curio Pantry so I thought I'd try something similar. I'm neither a photographer nor a scrapbooker, so I really need some kind of inspiration (or push). It's so-o-o hot here, temperatures higher than all through the summer, but my thoughts are already on autumn and its marvellous colours. The only things that are mine are the photo - my niece's daughter many years ago - the strips of coloured paper with the ends cut out (one with Carole's new punches which I just HAD to have), and the "tag" at the bottom. Everything else is from somewhere online.

B = fresh BREWED

O = over-stimulated by caffeine

Thanks Sue. It was simply a texture from the Effects menu>Textures. I usually forget there are more choices there than in the Materials Palette.

F = Fair Trade supplies of beans

I read that one so many years ago and loved it. It probably deserves a read now since it's been so long.

OMG! When I was a kid free roaming in our small town, my Dad would do his loud whistle with a knuckle in his mouth to call me home. If I didn't hear, someone in town did and let me know to get going! I know I had it good when/where I grew up.

The history of European places (like Wales) is so deep and rich, and l-o-n-g compared to North America. The house (and life) you described during your childhood sounds so wonderful and magical. When I was a kid, I disappeared for hours on end (in the summers) and feel very privileged to have had that kind of upbringing. I have always assumed that "bats in the belfry" referred to the real thing. I didn't realize the UK is rabies-free! That's a great thing. And yes, shame on Hollywood and Disney and others who malign nature's creatures.

I wanted to get in here early on this month's projects. This is a simple one, an ode to one of my favourite months. The quote comes from a poem called "September" by Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885). She was friends with Emily Dickinson and Harriet Beecher Stowe. If you wish to read the whole poem, just google her. It's quite lovely. As a child (and teen), we had to learn "memory work", usually poems or passages from Shakespeare (in high school). Those things are deeply embedded and don't fade away. Every year, as I pass the corn fields or the orchards near me, the poem leaps into my mind. Even when I was a "big city girl" for many years, I would recite it. The background has a texture of wet autumn leaves applied, and I used it again for the font on the title. The image is from online with added borders. The label is from DS, colour adjusted.

I watched some of those episodes as well. Great work she was doing, and very moving sometimes. I've never had a fear of bats or reptiles, only 8-legged arachnids, but I have overcome that for the most part. I still do the web-dance if I happen to pass through one!

My mom died young in 1971. That's so many decades ago, but I still talk to her and miss her terribly some days. I only wish we'd had more picture-taking back in those days so I would have more pictures to look at.

Doesn't matter how many years go by, does it? They are missed and in our hearts forever.

Wow! the pix are beautiful. If I reached out, I could almost feel the snake's skin.

What size canvas do you start with Sue?