Susan Ewart

5 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Moving on from bumbershoots and old folks....🙃

Not only do I feed peanuts and seeds to the critters in the backyard, but sometimes I watch their behaviours and silly antics. This particular girl (my photo) savours every peanut she gets, leans way back to eat it, and sometimes falls right over! It looks like she's in raptures with her treats.

OMG!  This is precious.  Fabulous shot, you can see how she savors it.  It must be quite funny when she falls over. It is fun to watch all the antics out my dining room window too.  

1 hour ago, Sue Thomas said:

I may save this one  or the other one I posted for next year's  Christmas countdown. Possibly by putting it to a vote. Thanks for all the loves, wows and likes.

Oh man, we gotta wait a whole year!?  hahaha, it will make me wish for Christmas every day.  And thank you for the Countdown gift.  It's delight to click on the number and see that I'm getting your word art.  You have such a natural ability for word art design.  You would have been a brilliant Calligrapher. 

1 hour ago, Ann Seeber said:

Today would have been my late hubby Frank's, 83rd birthday, so I created this for him. He's pictured at an outdoor restaurant on the beach at Acapulco, our favorite getaway. The textured background paper is labeled "texture25" and I changed the color to match the photo using the Change to Target tool. The frame is from Marisa Lerin, the punch is cass-CornersA-999-13, and the font is Bremen.

That's a beautiful commemorative of your husband.  

2 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Lookin' good girlie!

I know, right? 🤣  I gave myself long hair, different color and *GASP*...LIPSTICK.  I'm ready for a night on the sleigh.

Not sure where to put this.  It is Christmas related.  At least I put some lipstick on!  Even thought I never wear makeup; today was special and just for you all.  This is exactly what I look like (NOT).  

Yikes on the GrumpyFingers part.  Makes a perfect excuse..."I'm sorry, I can't come to work today, my fingers are feeling grumpy". 😋

9 hours ago, Ann Seeber said:

Used one the Corel freebies to showcase this gorgeous winter photo by Nadia Povalinska, a friend of Heather Cox Richarson, the history professor I read daily on Substack and no, I didn't use the Selective Color script. 

What a great card this would make.  

On 12/4/2023 at 4:19 PM, Sue Thomas said:

Would you like to use this  festive word art in a seasonal page. If so head over to facebook, files, to download the PNG file. Perhaps you would  like to change the colours to suit your project, if so, it's easy to change. It is unique, you  will not find it anywhere else.  Once again created using vectors. 

Beautiful and thank you, I'll head to FB, havent been on in while.

On 12/3/2023 at 12:33 PM, Sue Thomas said:

Now then, don't anyone dare laugh, but seeing as I  had completed  all my festive cards, calendars and everything else related to the festive season a while back.  I decided to start thinking of Christmas 2024. I'm currently working on greetings for the inside of  cards, something other than the usual  plain journaling.  I posted the  wordart tree earlier. Since then I have done 3 similar to the one below.  Although it's white vectors on a black background,  they will be colourized.  This is how I start any of my word/subway art.   I used from vector shape to cut out the & from the bauble.

I was thinking of starting my 2024 cards in January/February, well, the photographs for them and that way I can be less rushed that I usually am, since it's also the busy time at work.  Your word art is something to behold.  You are such a natural at the design of it  from choosing the fonts, the elements and the balance of the layout.      

9 hours ago, Ann Seeber said:

Susan, you hit the nail on the head. He was constantly in awe of the changes, especially after WWII. He was very excited about our walk on the moon, etc. ❤️ Having a nostalgia moment here. He's been gone over 40 years now but will always be alive in my heart. 😢

Beautiful words Ann.  I love that 1910 photo.  A handsome young man just starting out in life (18 yrs old?).

6 hours ago, Ann Seeber said:

Don't forget, ladies, I started with "bumbershoot," explaining it was from my dad who was born in 1892! He would be the oldster here. 😉

That date blows me away.  What changes he must've lived through.

6 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Oh man! Because I know brolly and bumbershoot I'm an old girl? I'm heartbroken Susan. 😇 (But the truth hurts sometimes, right?)

Sorry, I'm kind of a youngster here in this group....feel free to reprimand me, I'll toe-the-line.  Kidding of course.  I cant really tell how old people are here, they just seem my age or younger.  Funny how the written word only reveal age when certain words are used that aren't used anymore.  Like the word: Rumpus Room (we'd call in a Family Room now), that dates me to the 70's (presuming I knew the word when I was 4-5 yrs old). 

6 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Well done Susan. Balanced and intricate and worth the time you spent on it. Love kitty's attitude! Are these your pix?

Thank you Julie.  They are my pictures from over several years.  I went all out this time for decorating inside.  Mostly to purge some decorations (which wasnt much at all) and to have some photo opportunities for future Christmas cards.  It's a lot of work and I find it harder and harder to find the energy to do it.  This is coming from someone who loves Christmas.  actually I love Dec 20-24th.  The 25th I am indifferent to, but grateful it's an extra day off.  So I guess I love the "lead up" to Christmas, not so much Christmas itself, I think because it's over on that day.  I do listen to Christmas music throughout the year though.     

This is Christmas card #2, the one that took me quite some time.  Again, I used the techniques from the Lab 13-1(and the Vector Workshop) and made a grid with Vectors.  Boy, that was hard to get all the squares even.  If you think grammar isn't my forte, well, math just makes my head spin.  At first I forgot to account for the thickness of the edges to know where to put the inner grids, and of course having to centre the thickness of those inner grids came into the equation too.  Whew! It's exhausting to think about it.  I'm sure I went about it the hard way, would love to know a faster easier way to make grids and get them even.  Next time I'd make the outer frame thicker than the inner grid part.  Same as the last two cards, I cut off the bottom sentiment and put it on ivory cardstock with a deckle edge.  Cards are all out except a few to yet to hand deliver.  

The other main concern was making sure I got the inner photo spots centred within the squares.  I used the magic want to make a selection and then contracted, add new raster layer, flood filled with black then turned them into mask groups so I could position my photos how I wanted.  

If you wondering what that cheeky cat is saying (with that look on her face):  "Move along human, nothing to see here."

Christmas Card #3, not another fall back, but a card I made in one of the Challenges I think last January.  I'm guess because the pictures are from that time.  I added the snowflakes and "WINTER" to the front.  Again, printed as 4x6, cut off the bottom and put the sentiment on the inside.  The sentiment is thanks to the Vector Workshop where I learned how to use "text on a path." (notice the correct use of the period here, I'm on a grammar roll). Also, attached to warm white cardstock (Strathmore) with a deckled edge. 

Christmas Card #1.  The top square portion is the outside of the card, the bottom is what went inside the card.  I printed them as 4x6 then cut off the bottom and put it inside.  This went on a warm white textured cardstock with a deckled edge (Strathmore).  This is also Lab 13-1 I believe, and was my fall back card if I got too busy to make cards.  I ended up making two more.  I found the inner sentiment color is too strong.  If I did it again, I'd make it lighter, and change that one darker blue circle as it seems quite out of place.  

1 hour ago, Ann Seeber said:

I was taught on the inside; like "bumbershoot." But those rules vary by country and change over time so don't "quote" me! 😁

Thank you. I thought that too, but wasn't sure.  Grammar was not my strong suit.  ( You probably have that figured out by now)

2 hours ago, Mary Solaas said:

I remember the word "Bumbershoot" but I'm not sure where I heard it - maybe when I was living in the UP?  Is it a "Yankee" word? 

I have never heard the word before (either brolly or bumbershoot).  They are super cool words if you ask me.  Wish I knew all the cool words like the old people do...hahaha, I know I'm one of the old people when I "think" I'm not "one of the old people".  

Question for Ann:  when you have words in "quotations" and it's the end of the sentence, where does the period go, outside the quotes or inside?

1 hour ago, Julie Magerka said:

Still trying to get jolly. Decided on a layout that is NOT made of traditional red/green colours. The image is AI-generated by a designer on Etsy (AI WearGallery), and I thought it was something different to work with since I don't take a lot of pix in everyday life. Concentrating on a layout and all the details keeps my mind off other things.

OMG! this is so cute!  I love it.  I'm glad you can create to keep your mind busy with more pleasant things.

1 hour ago, Julie Magerka said:

As far as I know, it's an extruded (not herniated) disc at L2-L3 that has been bothering me for almost 3 years. It got a whole lot worse recently, and I'm just worn down with pain, so any solution (other than long-term painkillers) will be my choice. I've had spinal injections of steroids several times which work...some of the time. This latest did not help much so there's one source of relief off the table. Not many choices left, but the surgery. I know it will be worth it, but it sounds scary right now. (Corrie's words gave me courage too.)

At my worst (with my back) I could walk and stand for about 3 minutes before the pain made my break out into a sweat and felt like I was going to throw up.  Weirdly I could still work out with weights and ride a bike, but not walk or stand for any distance or time.  When I was humming and hawing about surgery a guy I knew (who also had a major surgery on his back) said "get the surgery and get on with your life, you aren't 'living' the way you are now".  My 4hr surgery turned out to be 5.5 hours long and the surgeon told my husband it was much worse than the MRI showed.  So I am extremely thankful to him and that I got it done.  Surgery is a very serious consideration and I did not take it lightly.  I was and still am a very active person, I couldn't live with what I figured was coming (wheelchair) so I took the leap.  I was lucky and had a fabulous surgeon and am pretty much pain free.  The surgery took the compressed disc pain away.  I did deal with soft tissue issues for some years after, nothing major just annoying (piriformis issue's) that didn't even need any pain meds (I cant take pain meds more than two days in a row , so I tend toward icing pain, then heat).  If you ever want any specifics of what my pain was like before and after and what I went through I am always open to chatting via email or phone.  You can private message me if you like for my email addy.  

2 hours ago, Anne Lamp said:

The doors etc in the center are from a photo I took yesterday with my new camera,  standing in the the foyer of my church.  The other elements are some I have saved over the years probable from C F as that is where a lot of them are from.

How exciting to have a new camera.  What a pretty view that is.

13 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Thanks for the encouragement Tigger . I have hoped over the years that surgery wouldn't be necessary, but now I'm starting to wonder.....anything is welcome soon to help.

Surgery is for sure the last option.  Let's hope yours is soft tissue related.  I am still doing recovery for a partial hamstring tear.  I didn't know I tore it and left it for over a year before I got it checked out.  I was told surgery is not an option since I'm not an athlete (hmph! we are all athletes is our own mind aren't we?).  Anyway, I turned to massage as that helped when I twisted a QL (back muscle).  It helped but I still couldn't do certain things, then my massage person suggested Dry Needling.  It's one needle that inserts into the knot in a muscle and relaxes it.  Without this I'd not be able to do much, just swinging my leg to get out of the car was agony.  The dry needling worked, but it does/can take many sessions.  And you need a good practitioner who uses the smaller gauge needles.  I just go in for touch ups now and have 90% mobility.    I will tell you, it can hurt (I'm a baby when it comes to any needle), but it's worth it for me.  I hope you find a good resolution because any injury really sidelines you and chronic pain really messes with your mind.

1 hour ago, Julie Magerka said:

I've been a bit distracted and not feeling great for a while (back pain), so the Festive Season has not been on my mind. But I'd better get on it b/c the time is getting shorter! I have so many kits and elements to use, so that's what I did. No photos included, just decorative elements mostly from Di Hiller and Ericka Designs. Trying to get jolly....

That is beautiful Julie.  I love your natural style.  I hope your back pain subsides quickly.  I know back/nerve pain all too well.  Surgery in 2011, L4-L5 with rods, screws and a bouncy new disc (disk?), just call me Tigger.  I'm pain free and active.  Let's hope you get back to that point too.  

1 hour ago, Marie-Claire said:

Lab13-01_Stencil
Alpha: Freebie cass-ChristmasCookies-Alpha (Blog)
Tubes: cass-LitLights-Red
Pine branches: Snowy Winter-DBMagnolia - themagnoliapatch.blogspot.com
Snowflakes come with PSP (I think)
Background from photo

Perfect!  I used this stencil too this year for one of the 3 designs I did.  Nice to see you back in the Campus Marie-Claire.  

5 hours ago, Michele said:

Believe it or not, I'm still working on my calendar. I really should have planned better. I'm also being inspired by others.

I haven't either.  And looks like another busy week.  Hopefully I finish before this year is over.

2 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

Day 5 of Christmas Countdown: a chance to hear the song again! I needed that! It lifted my spirits.😍

Loved it as much as the first time I heard it.  Love the end, "I forgot to hit record"  and of course the obligatory kitty cat in a banana box.  

This has not happened to me.  In regard to the text, if it's still a Vector you will have to turn it to a raster to add shadows.  I always add on a separate layer, that way you will see for sure if there is a shadow.  Same if your photo's are in a mask group.  Usually to retain the Vector or Mask group for later use, I will duplicate those layers and hide the original Vector or mask layers and then change the duplicates to a raster.  But I've never had the shadows not work at all.  I'm sorry, I'm at a loss with that one.  Unless they are hiding under papers or frames or something like that.