Susan Ewart

Just now, Sue Thomas said:

There isn't a day  that goes by, where we don't learn something new in the campus, myself included.

I love it.  

13 minutes ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

Thanks and yes you can use the eraser brush and it gives a cutout effect to the punches; however you can use a regular brush too and that gives the effect of painting on a layer. Look at the difference in the shadows on both layouts. What I wanted was the cutout effect but I was so tired I just didn't saw what was wrong. I like the 2nd because that's what I intended.

And we all learned and had an example of two different ways to use it.  I understand how foggy a brain is when you are tired.  today is that day for me and I'm about to get in a car and drive!  Look out world, here I come!  With less than 3 hours of sleep.  Got home from work after 1am (work was physically exhausting and my hands are really stiff this morning from it), scripted till 3am.  Saw my husband leave for work at 3:30am. bed at 4am.  Cat woke me up at 5:30am, she was hungry.  back to bed, up at 7:30am.  thankfully, today is my day off and my appointment is a massage....I might be snoring on the table.  ? 

18 hours ago, Barbara Caulton said:

Hi everyone .Following a lot of e mails back and forth, thank you so much Carole, I think I might be finding my way around, but there again if this is in the wrong place I clearly have not ! The photograph is of my Retriever, Oona, sadly now at Rainbows Bridge but her antics still bring a smile to my face. I have never done a workshop before or indeed been on a forum so this is a big learning curve !  

You are in the right place Barbara.  With a beautiful layout!  I've done the bootcamp 5-6 times.  I would never have being able to use PSP if not for the bootcamp and the Scrapbook Campus.  So, you are right place on two accounts.  

On 10/18/2023 at 4:00 AM, Doska St. said:

Good morning everyone,

After some confusion and technical difficulties on my part, I can now follow the bootcamp modules:
My settings:
Background color: light gray
Palette material and layers: docked
Window: free-floating
My photo:

What a sweet kitty.  The best assistant ever.  

On 10/17/2023 at 7:58 AM, Ann Seeber said:

My sandwich. I always have a lot of fun with these!

Ohhh, yummy, I'm coming for lunch.

14 hours ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

I redid my layout for this challenge, because Sue was very kindly suggesting that I had used the brush tool for my cornerpunch and yes I had done so. I myself wasn't very happy on how it looked, but was to tired to see what was wrong. Therefore I redid it with the eraser brush and now have the cornerpunch as it should be. I have already told Sue that I appreciated her comments and so also here thank you so much Sue.

I thought it was supposed to be like that.  It actually looks cool the other way (the first way you did it) too.  I do like this version, it's very polished and pretty.  And good to know that we should use the eraser brush.  I wouldnt have known that. 

15 hours ago, Julie Magerka said:

I actually was up close to some bison years ago on a trip to AB & BC. They are almost scary in their size and nobility. And their eyes....!

wow, what an experiece for you.  We were at Elk Island Nat. Park, (it's close to us, 30-40 min) and we drove in and there was one right there beside our truck (glad we were in the truck and not the car), it's just as you say "almost scary in their size".   It's amazing how fast they can move too.  They do seem to have an air of nobility dont they.  Truly magnificent.  Well, I think any nature experience is magnificent.  A squirrel running along the fence, the LBJs in the bird bath or dirt bathing.  It's fascinating to watch and makes you happy.  

11 minutes ago, Julie Magerka said:

This is one I did and then left sitting. No photo, just the words. I need to be reminded to let some things go.

I love the style of your layouts.  I download/buy these types of papers/element then cant seem to use them.  You've seen my style, it's pretty static.  

11 minutes ago, Julie Magerka said:

We recently had some chats going on about good programs to watch, many of them on PBS (Canada & US). After watching this two-part documentary by Ken Burns I had to make something to express how profoundly moved I was by this series. He has been making documentaries for 40 years, and his productions are all extraordinary, whether they are light-hearted or heart-breaking. This one had me in tears. He uses the bison as a theme for the near-genocide of a species, and then ties it nicely into the way indigenous people have been treated. It's a hard watch, but so worthwhile.

I will look for this one.  In AB we have Elk Island Nat. Park where conservation of Plains Bison is going on.  They have sent bison all over the world to help repopulate areas they used to be in.  A big part of them establishing in areas is natural vegetation which is hugely stripped where any farming has/is going on.  It's a fine line, I have farmers in my family and my niece's sister-in-law works at Elk Island with the bison conservation efforts.  We need to find a balance for everything on the earth to thrive dont we?  I'm sure I will shed tears watching this one.  

1 hour ago, Cassel said:

Maybe they will direct people to this article: https://scrapbookcampus.com/2016/11/how-to-install-brushes-in-paintshop-pro/?

However, I think I should have one article ESPECIALLY for .abr and .jbr files!

That's a good idea.  I didnt know enough to try Suz's script.  Now I'm more confident and will give this a try on the files I have that I couldnt load.  

3 hours ago, Jannette Nieuwboer said:

Yes, Yes, Yes. ? the technical support from Corel has written today again to my address. There is a way inside PSP to import abr and  jbr files. It's a route to go and it works terrific. 

Do they have instructions on their website somewhere.  

3 hours ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

Between all the scripting lessons with the super script-along plus all the normal weekend activities and a husband who got ill, I have managed to make something for the 1-2-3 challenge. Luckily I had most of the requirements already done another time. I only had to adapt the colors to the colors from my photos and Sue I nicked your idea of a big cornerpunch. The last nice ones are on my wish list. I had to renew my subscription for the campus and buy the scripting course and that's enough for now. The background is from the photos with a very big blur. Last week we needed something from the gardencenter and there I noticed these little butterflies that were still active. It was a bit difficult to get decent photos of them, they were only for a short moment on a flower and then moved to the next. And of course they were sitting still in places that I could reach. Therefore I have no photos of them with their wings spread out. The fonts are Michalina and Arial.

Simply beautiful Corrie.  The punch in the corner is really pretty.  Great colors as well.  

2 hours ago, Bonnie Ballentine said:

Wow! Amazing layouts! Great work, Everyone! I need more time! Template, XOXO, by KCW (Kimi's Creative World). Font is Apple Butter...from DAFont, I think.

 

What a cutie!  And if you find any extra time...please send it my way.

Beautiful Mary.  It's like you can just step right into that autumnal path. beautiful color choices, did you pic them from the photo itself?

We'll make it a surprise....400 people showing up on her doorstep.  SURPRISE!  Where's the bathroom?

57 minutes ago, Sue Thomas said:

That is interesting, about the heated baths. I appreciate a professionals opinion, other than my own.  Between the heated bath,  dirt baths,  and a buffet, your birds get the luxury of a  full spa treatment. Whilst giving you immense pleasure observing them.  Who needs retail therapy, when mother nature provides  all the therapy anyone needs  for free.

You got that right about retail therapy.  I appreciate all opinions because if that ever happened that bird did get stuck I'd be devastated and I do think about what can happen (I'm can be a chronic worrier) and try to watch what any surround branches/perches are looking like (are they dry, is there ice on them etc).    I tend to worry more about wildlife than humans, is that bad?  I always love to read your words, you have a way with them.  One day, I will get to your area and we can chat with a tea and watch the birds and bugs and mammals. Of  course that will be one stop on our pilgrimage to the motherland...of PSP....Carole's place!?

31 minutes ago, Sue Thomas said:

I leave the bird baths out, certainly until the first snow fall, and until the temps do not rise above freezing during the day.  Now I am emptying just after dark, and refilling them just after the sun has risen.  As we have  had a couple of  nights of frost. Some use heated baths during the winter, personally I feel it isn't a good idea, as some birds have been known to  get frozen to  wire, with wet feet, when it's 20 or 30 below.  Bird can and will eat snow.  The Robin has a very distinctive song, one of the sweetest songs you'll hear. Second to them I would say are the Native sparrows, I hear them before I see them, especially the  American Song Sparrow, and the Vesper Sparrow.  

I have been doing the same, empty at night, fill in the day.  I do admit I use a heated bath and was worried about that, so I sought out some advice.  I have a friend who works with a biologist who studies birds for a conservation Trust.  She said she hasnt heard that happening, as they are well adapted to bathing in standing water that they find in the winter.  She did say it's possible to happen and if using a heated bath she said to keep metal objects away to be on the safe side. I have lots of branches that I place around the bath.  It gets emptied every night and stored inside till the morning.  It's against the garage wall so it does not get snowed on.  Last year the LBJs (LBJs -Little Brown Jobs- ) found a spent plant pot with dirt in it and were bathing in it. They like this fine dirt I have in one spot so this year I have made two dirt bath spots in low wide planter pots. I have placed branch perches nearby as well.  I'll be excited to see if they use them.  

31 minutes ago, Sue Thomas said:

Few Robins will over winter, providing there are sufficient berries for them.  The great majority of them migrate. At the moment they are passing through, but it's now coming to an end.  As they migrate they do flock, sometimes in great numbers.  I'm still putting out blueberries for them, (apples, grapes that have gone over too) as  there are very few insects for  them now.  You'll be surprised what they can find under the leaf litter. It's  in the Spring, when they are passing through I have the largest flocks, around 200 plus, will descend out in the trees.  I'm prepared for them, as they will go through  6-7 apples and other fruit in a day.  They will leave on mass in a few days.  Those that stay will remain for the summer, rearing 2 clutches, depending on whether it's is a good season for insects. I heard a Robin out in trees today, the photo was taken  on the 8th Oct.  They are not in their breeding plumage now, and  you have immature Robins, which can make them a little difficult to  ID, if you don't know what to look for.  The only little birds I have now are the Juncos.  There's one on the ground in the photo.

What an awesome shot!  These are the ones, well, not the EXACT ones, but ones just like it that were at my baths.  By the way, that is a really nice bath you have.  I even see the junco.  I'm tempting Mother Nature by leaving my baths out this long.  I'm trying to keep them out as long as possible for the birds, they seem to be using it more than I would have expected. Hope we dont get a sudden freeze.  Thank you for sharing this photo and for information on these guys.  I'm told their song is really pretty.  I've probably heard it but didnt know which type of bird sung the song.  Some, like the Merlin are distinctive.  the one that fools me the most is the blue jay, I heard they are mimic birds, some pretty odd sounds come out of them.  I never get tired of crows and ravens and love the magpies, as they seem to talk a lot.  they are the tabby cats of the bird world.

9 minutes ago, Sue Thomas said:

Thank you ever so much  for your kinds, posted on facebook.  You need to get out of your controlled photographic studio, and start shooting  what you see around  you.  I would love to see those photos, and  showcased in  lovely pages. next spring and summer, you'll have  the bees that will occupy your bee tower hotels, and just think of all the creatures that you'll get to see and shoot that  will be attracted to your flowers. I guarantee it, that you'll get a real buzz from it! ?

You are absolutely right!  I'm planning for next year.  I have doubled my garden space for flowers in the last couple weeks and even going to try and grow some vegys.  And I want to get out into nature like I used to.  The studio is still a favorite place to get lost in and I have lots of projects I'd like to do in there.  It has taught me a lot about observing light.  But, winter is the time for indoor photography.  Most of the flower photography was out doors this year, a nice change(some indoor stuff for later extraction to have as elements).  It's a short time period and I tried to make of the time I had.   

On another note:  The weirdest thing happened at the bird baths late this afternoon.  We had 6-8 what I thought was robins come and drink and bath and they were there for sometime.  they had the rusty chest and a white ring around the eye, the ring was very noticeable so we thought it might not be robins and because I've never seen that many in one spot. I didnt know if they hang out together like the waxwings do. There was even more in the trees.  I looked in my bird book and it said they were migratory (and that some overwinter as well) so we thought maybe they migrated as a group and just stopped by.  Must do a bit more research on that.  

2 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

Susan, I have now  posted it on Facebook, for much better viewing. 

Thank you.  My internet went offline for some reason now it's back.  We still have TV and streaming devices worked.  So weird.

57 minutes ago, Cassel said:

When you go the ABRMate route, that will create PNG files. Then, you don't IMPORT them, but instead, you need to EXPORT as a Custom Brush.

I'm not sure how I got there, might be (likely) that's exactly what I was doing only I didnt know.....as you know (with scripting) I seem to have my own illogical logic.  I know that I would have initially followed one of your tutorials.  I'll have to download some to see just how I did it.  Memory is fine line isnt it.  Thanks for clearing it up.  

The more I read what you say the more I think that's what I do when using ABR but didnt realize it was making pngs.  I just now imported ones with PSP by going:

File<Import<CustomBrush<dialog box pops up; choose Open<get the file which adds the brushes to the dialog box(Brushes)<add all (adds to Selected for import)<OK   -  this sounds like a script! There must be some if/else structures in there. ?  Is PSP also written in Python? Does Python talk to other coding languages?

2 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

For easier reading.  I simply can not resist adding  word art. The background paper is taken from the same photo used in the background paper on the main page. Changed the colour, overlay, etc.

I love how the background, you can see what it is but doesnt overpower.  And of course your text on a path is mimicing your words about the Merlin's flight patterns.  Magnificent birds.  I'll have to get onto FB to see the full size one.

3 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

The days of crouching and crawling around on the ground is coming to a close for this year.  It does pay off though, along with a lot of patience, it can be very rewarding. Everything is my own work. Pin, paperclips, sequin, polaroid images.  Carole's corner punch, and lifted corner script.  The background paper is from from another photo I took on the same day, lightened.

Wow!  beautiful.  And thank you for letting me see what lives my 'hood.  We can hear them calling to each other and one day one brought it's snack to my yard and once i was treated  to an airshow as they were training the kids to hunt. One flew over the yard (I was outside) and it hit the afterburners part way through, took off like a rocket.  Amazing!

4 hours ago, Ann Seeber said:

Cross-posting this from the 1-2-3 Challenge which asked for 1 sequin, 2 Polaroid and 3 paperclips. My details are on the 1-2-3 Challenge page and also on Facebook. Introducing my great grandson Jonah James born June 20th.

Beautiful layout Ann.  the colors are perfect.

What I get when I convert them (in ABRMate is PS7 files) then I import/export (which ever is the right word) them into PSP.  First I try the original file in PSP (always) and if it wont import (nothing shows up in that box) then I try ABRMate, which converts it to PS7 if it can do that (sometimes it can, somtimes it cant - like newer version PS brushes doesnt always work).   Here's a file that only had the one file and ABRMate converted it to PS7.  It's in my folder I call "Done - Imported"  that means it's in PSP as a brush.  I check them once I import them.  Does this make any sense?  It sounds like something I'm doing is wrong, but I am getting brushes somehow.   The 5 and 3 in the picture is the start of the date modified, not how many brushes there was (there was about 20 brushes).