Susan Ewart

Thank you Sue, Corrie and Rene. I am finding my tastes/styles in photography is changing too. What most has changed is my passion. Often now, putting creativity first and the fact that I did find a passion in the digital world which lead me back to the my first passion (photography). Now I understand my "real" artist friends (one's that are making their living from it) when they'd pull an all-nighter because they were in the zone. I get that now...although I'm too old to pull all-nighters...but I've been doing some late-late-lighters, especially when I have an idea and I have to get it out of my head (so that I can go to sleep).

yes, that is it. I think I am still experimenting with styles. I definitely dont have a style as yet. I often sit back in my chair so I'm farther away from the screen and just look at it and see where my eye goes or if I feel it's not quite right. I think I probably overthink. I never thought it could be because I don't have a style; which if I did (have a style) it would be more instinctive to know where something needs to go. Soon as Build A Kit workshop is over I am looking forward to getting back to the Notebook Labs again which means more layouts!

This one is really pretty as are those Redpolls, mother nature really knows what she's doing when she creates. I love that background too; do I see a background photo through the pink textured paper as well?

Beautiful and oh so sweet. What runs through my mind when creating layouts? Usually if I'm adding elements I think, "does this/these element(s) make sense with what I'm trying to say with this layout". Sometimes, I will add a surprise element in a corner or on a frame, somewhere in the layout. For example I've put a very owl small on top of a frame, or a cat in the corner of a layout that isn't about cats...sort of like "Easter eggs" in films (definition below). I try to make it look balanced and with fonts I try not to over "glyph" them. It's still a struggle at times and a learning process for me. Some I like and some I just don't like. Of course there are elements that are non-descript and fit any layout, like flowers and buttons and fasteners etc. Usually I have a photo(s) and the layout evolves from me thinking about it when I'm not where near the computer. If I sit down and say I'm going to make a layout, I come down with "blank page" syndrome and other times I already have a theme or concept in mind. Like the layout I did recently called IGNITE, it was in my head for some time, and that time (when I had to do photography for it and go to work and do regular life things) is where it really evolved when I'm doing non computer mundane things, more ideas pop into my head. Why are Easter eggs in films called Easter eggs? It is believed the name derives from the idea of going on a traditional Easter egg hunt - the task of finding an object that has been concealed with the intention of it being found.

After seeing this beautiful layout I'm BEGGING you to please continue as you are doing. I think this challenge is pretty relaxed on rules and that makes it why I wanted to do it.

How great that we can spend a lifetime continually learning something we love.

Not quite from scratch. thankfully, Carole shows how to use the first one to make the other three, saving some steps. It's to get the 4 directions of the prong with the highlight in the right spot for each direction. I am thinking I need to "think" in template terms too, going forward. It would be so much faster. On the bright side, I did a lot of cutout effect today so I'm hoping that got stuck in my brain. And it helped to understand using the cutout for highlights is different than using the effect to indent (such as for the wax seal). Imagine how much more I could have done today if I'd just followed the directions. 😪

I totally hear you. I have learned in the past few years to back away and not engage in conflict that just isn't that important (As a child I was the temper-tantrum Queen!). I'm trying to save my words ("those" kind of words - we all have them) for really important situations. Thank you about the tip. I was making Photo Prongs today (12 of them) when around prong number 6 to 12 I saw a little something weird on the prong (of course AFTER I was done). Ugh, I had switched one the steps with another one which cause the issue, took me some time to figure it out. Yup, any and all tips are important...so is following the steps in the correct order!

What a cool and clever technique. Love it. Beautiful words Sue. "Immortalizing the fleeting beauty of a moment no matter what it may be.", really resonated with me.

Thank you it's all good now. I did the wax seal tutorial, it's a good one.

I have tried to watch some tutorials tonight but there is no video. In the spot is a URL address, but I tried using that and couldn't make it work. I did a re-boot on my computer, cleared the browser history etc but not working for me. The masterclasses play okay.

That's beautifully done Julie and the background color works so well with the color in the photos.

the flowers just pop right out of the photo. Beautiful.

Wow, how lucky to have flowers already. Looks like nice sunny day. And I have to say I love 11 in your language because it's also a Christmas character, what better number is there?

Well said. Me too....avert my eyes and back away slowly (from drama, conflict or any uncomfortable situation). But...please be comfortable enough with me to say anything you want and give me any advice you feel would help in my learning, regardless of what anyone says or thinks. If you're speaking to or helping me (especially if you have knock it into my brain- I can be super dense sometimes) only you and me matter in that moment.

It's the computer mischief fairies at work. Simply stunning layout and such an incredible photo, so incredible it deserved to be shown twice! I think you are a nature magnet....I think the porcupine is thinking the same thing...."I am incredibly privileged to be photographed by Sue Thomas, I've been waiting weeks for this day". All kidding aside. You put in a lot of work and you get the rewards for it. Best payday ever, eh? PS. I was so proud of how less word-y I was on the original post...and here I am blabbering away ruining my good intentions of less talk.

WOW. JUST. WOW!

My best friend (since I was 12) is moving to Nairn, Scotland inJune. She is looking forward to seeing/learning about all the flora and fauna of her new area. How lucky to see these in the wild.

Cool, you live in Carole's neck of the woods

Nice area to camp! I'm from the Edmonton area (St. Albert) although I'm a BC transplant to AB.

Who needs TV when you have this right out side your house.

P52 Week 10. Yay! We are in the double digits now. And I'm caught up here (waaay behind in Build A Kit). I used Lifted Photo script (Creation Cassel) and the color of Counting cards script looked quite nice once I put the background in (the outer frame and fonts is the last step I do). I had wondered about putting a shadow on the bigger font (Week Ten) and when I went to put that shadow on I still had the last shadow as a reverse shadow and it made the font pop a bit more so I left it like that. the background is an inverted gradient, then I used halftone (lines) effect and a bit of Add Noise. The font is aptly called Queen Victoria Vintage, likely from CF (there is a bunch in this font family, presumably each with their own glyphs, which seemed plentiful).

OMG! I love french toast. This is meal in itself.

Mary that cake is fabulous! Love the Icing font too.

P52 Week Nine Not sure if the texture (a gradient with several hundred repeats) will show up. Font is Madina Graciela (CF). this font has lots of glyphs, I only used one (the e with the heart)