Susan Ewart

the more you do the faster you get. Mind you I've only done the first two. Break time over, back to chore-time

thank you for the this Christmas puzzle-thon. I better go carb up with some Christmas cookies for this brain workout!

Awesome! I would love to see you in action. Sadly, I did start with corners and edges. 😨. I did see you could drag your own photo there to make a jigsaw puzzle. I might try that. Maybe they have 4 piece option for me. Then i can start and end with corners.

Don't be sorry, that's really impressive. I don't do puzzles, except the campus ones when they come along, it's to be expected that I am slower. I'd love to hear other peoples time too, it's fun to play and exciting to see faster and faster times.

Technically mine was too since two of us did it. We are "sistas-of-the-puzzle"!

Oh What fun it is to..... build a puzzle (you thought I was going to say, "a one horse open sleigh", didn't you?). Here's my puzzle. With help from the the husband-elf over my shoulder - I think he had more fun. Math lesson: if two people took 8 minutes then it really is 16 minutes. I'm slow, but it was fun to do. (Note: the puzzle is greyed out because of the time clock pop up).

You can see it in the video. Nice to know the packaging also is usually for wrapping.

Thank you, this is good info. I like that there is a blank option to start from.

I did notice "fujifilm" on the box suggesting it was sent out and was perhaps printed on the one the fuji papers.

Usually I get prints done of my Christmas card photo/layout then I put them on cover weight (cardstock) paper. then I cut around as a frame with special rulers I have that where I can cut 1/8" (for example) on all sides. It's a process and adds weight when I put that on the final folded card it goes on (strathmore card/envelopes w/ deckle edge). I wanted to cut that process down (sometimes I have two frames for twice the work!). Doing that in PSP is maybe less than a minute! But when I get the 4x6 printed at a photo printer (London Drugs - in Canada) it always loses off each side, so having frames close to the edge get cut off on one side and partially on the other side. I'd rather be able to print 2-up 4x6 on a sheet of photo paper and cut the print out and then no frames at the edges get cut off. This is one of the reasons why I'd love to have my own print. so I get full control. I've used staples a lot for my Color course and the many cards I cut out for that, but the in-store (behind the counter - which is better than the serve yourself machines) machines are not very good and the color discrepancies between the machines was pretty bad. I'm wondering if the book you did is sent out for printing, because the quality is outstanding.

Nice to see you again Cindy! Have a wonderful holiday.

That's so beautiful and touching. As you said he is reserved and might not cry, but I sure did. Thank you for sharing such a personal gift. I would love to know about the ordering process. Do you choose the type of book (binding style, soft or hard cover, matte or glossy etc) and the type of paper and is it templates you put your layouts into?

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.

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.

That's a beautiful commemorative of your husband.

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". 😋

What a great card this would make.

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

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.

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

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

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.