Susan Ewart

Suzy, that's funny, I just commented on the blog post about how i'm saving to TIFF more often these days.  I read that TIFF and PNG are lossless compression that no matter how many times you open and close the file it retain it's full data.  Unlike JPGs that lose a bit of data each time.  I have also gone to shooting RAW files (insert YIKES face) because when I look at my RAW files next to my JPG files it's unreal how much data is lost in the JPG.  Once I edit the RAW (again insert the YIKES face, cause I dont know how to do it yet) I will save in TIFF or PNG depending what it is.  

Great idea with the template Ann. 

Rene, that is exactly what I want to do.  Lots of blending with paints, gesso and watercolor.  Did they also have tutorials on how to do that?  I will work more on masks in the new year as I really want to learn that really blended background and getting the edges of layers brushed out etc.  Alas, January is for cleaning out/culling all the clutter in my house...and hopefully my computer.  changes in hours at work and losing more paper runs on the press (newspaper industry) should leave me with more time.  I will try and use it well.  I bought the yearly membership so I didnt have to worry about the loss of income.  And because I got a gift of money to my Paypal account!  they say when one door closes (my hours) another door opens (a wonderful gift of creativity with another year of instruction).  

I am really looking forward to the February workshop.  It is daunting, but I know I will come out with a completed kit at the end. 

Thank you Carole.  I had logged in but couldnt find the blog for some reason.  

Corrie, where did you find the Year in Review template.  I cant seem to find it.

 

Cindy, first, congratulate yourself for getting through the Bootcamps without a glitch.  Believe me, I find some (okay, lots!) stuff hard too. Sometimes I need to reset my brain and I walk away for a while and then come back with a fresh mind and fresh eyes.  If the labs are too hard right now try some tutorials. Pick the ones that have one button rating to start so you succeed and feel an accomplishment (good for your confidence).  Using three tutorials of your choosing you can make your own layout (or your own LAB) until you are ready to jump up to the Notebook Labs.  Remember...baby steps, where we all started. It's a different journey for everyone; some of us (like me) crawl longer and some are off to the races immediately.  Just keep moving forward, do the the things you can do and add in a little challenge now and then.   And another thing I learned from Sue Thomas, if you like a technique, keep doing it until you can do it without reading the instructions.  I'm still working on that one.

Fabulous Michele!  Perfect colors.  I like how you tweeked the template.  And gorgeous illustration.  For a little pizzaz, remember WWSTD (What would Sue Thomas Do), the texture does add that little extra!  I love your style.

Wow, Ann that is beautiful.  I got those templates (the ones on Christmas countdown right?).  The name of the mushroom is funny and yet does look like a turkey tail.  I read this amazing article on mushrooms and their underground network.  It was humbling to learn how connected nature is.  

Colin, your layout is perfect.  And so true, only in my house i have a complete room for crafts and then last year my husband moved out of his home office so I could turn that room into a photo studio.  he's now in the "cat" room.  He has gained two judgemental and demanding (of his attention) fur bosses in the move.?  Hoping you get back up to speed and can move around better soon.  You are very optomistic and have found a positive way to spend your down time.  

Fabulous one Colin.  I am just about to start Lab 6-5.  The colors are perfect for the comic book feel. 

Beautiful Anja. I especially love the Cherish one.

Ann what a great layout and a great idea to have 12 of your favorites.  

Rene, I love that picture and the title Finding me 2023.  fabulous!

Happy New Year Everyone.  I think I better got watch the new forum tutorial as the first New Years resolution.

 

Suzy, I loved your recount of your graphic design days.  It's a case of "be careful what you ask for, you might get it" isnt it.  Learning about everyone's lives is so interesting and sometimes humourous.

 

Ann, I wish I was standing on that dock in that warm sunset.  What a great photograph.

I went to one In Edmonton (Alberta, CAN) this summer.  I loved it.  And it was kitten time!  There was a coffe shop on one side (very small) where you pay to go into the rooms with the cats and you get free drinks the whole time you are there.  I have two cats now (6 in total), but grew up with small dogs.  I am a big dog lover, I love to rough-house with them.  Actually I am an animal lover.  When my hubby and I moved out we worked long hours and had a long commute so we got a farm cat from the farm we worked at.  The only cat that we had from a kitten stage.  The rest were young adults from rescue centres.  We both worked at several horse breeding farms over the years, hubby was a stallion handler for breeder.  I worked mostly with mom's and babes.   If I had to pick dog or cat, I think I'd be little more a cat person, they have such personalities (and judgy attitudes ?), but they can be self sufficient too.

 

Cindy, I love your cat-cafe, it's pretty close to the one I was at.

Awesome Mary.  That means I'm at the right place.  How cool your daughter-in-law is living my dream job.  Although she has to create for clients needs.....SCARY!  Actually, the challenges in the campus teach us to create with criteria created by someone else.  I marvel at how designers come up with different stuff over and over and over, and on a time line no less.

 

 

Thank you Ann and Kasany.  That really means a lot, as I struggle with design and what I see in my head is not anything near what the finished product looks like.  I guess that's why it takes me weeks to do one Lab.  ? Ann. I'll send you the file on messenger...if they take files that big.  I would have love to have met you years ago.  I love your sense of humour.  I think if I knew you in person I wouldnt be working the minimum wage job I have now.  I had dreamt of being a graphic designer; I was chicken, I didnt go for it.  So, now I consider everyone at the campus my mentors and I decided it's not too late learn.

Thanks for notifying us by email too.  I just started looking at FB again, but normaly it can be 3 months before I'm on it.  It's a time sucker, so I generally avoid it.

Had some time finally to get back to the Labs.  Wanted to get this in before the closure.

 

Lab 6-4

Banner

Lifted Flap

Silhouette

Background paper and astronaught from Pixabay.  Fonts are Brites (title), The Moonlight (rest of the text), Alafyou Swirly (script on the banner).  Photo is mine from the last full moon (that I could see).  I did negative image on it and tweaked both to make them like day and night moons.  PSP 2022 was cranky today, text tool freezing up PSP and it would crash and I'd lose what I did.  Started on PSP 2022, finished on PSP 2021.  When I load 2023 I will keep 2021 as my back up and take off 2022.  It's been unpredictable for me.

 

Good luck with the transition.  I know you will be there to guide us along.

Ann, thank you so much for your heartwarming words, they mean a lot to me. As well as all the support you have given me.  Through the Campus and learning PSP I have regained my love of photography.  I like how you re-tooled the Drive In layout.  I know what you mean, I've had a busy two months and I found myself not being able to focus on anything for anything length of time.  I think I was just really tired.  It's an unsettling feeling isnt it.  Here's my Christmas card again, what it looks like in it's finished version.  Since I couldnt have the digital frame I had to resort to doing it manually.  I lucked out at Michaels as they had red foil cardstock.  And I had gotten these black card/envelopes at a steal and knew I wanted to do a black card for Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas to you and to all the people here in the campus.  I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas, filled with joy.  I am enjoying your Christmas wishes creations.  They are all so beautiful and festive.

My turn for giving thanks.

 

To Sue, for all the wonderful goodies, being inspiring and teaching us about the natural world.

 

To Carol; for being who you are and the community you have created.  What a marvel and what an inspiration.

 

To All the Campus Campers; Wow!  Incredible talent, brilliant ideas and layouts and always there for each camper.  Amazing!

 

Here's my Christmas card front this year.  Not my favorite (it's the shot I was trying to get in 2019 where I slipped on the dustpan and skated across the basement floor - partially tearing a hamstring on the way - confirm not until Jan. 2020).  The double framed one I sent to a photo printer and they cut off the top and right side of the frames, back to the design drawing board and the clock ticking away.  Was this going to be a New Years card after all?  I quick did the second one.  It' ho-hum but it's done.  We cant always bat it out of the park.  Photo lab printed it way dark, had grey snow, had to run with it anyway.  Have a happy wonderful creative fantabulistic Christmas.

I was looking for a place to post as well.  Thank you Carole and Sue for the goodies and the smiles you've given me. I'm looking forward to the rest of the countdown ride.

I had never heard of them either.  My massage therapist was telling me about one where I live.  There was differents rooms with different types of puzzles to figure out.  the Physio clinic she works at went for their staff Christmas party.  It sounds like a blast.

 

Suzy, I had to laugh at  "so bright your teeth hurt", I would feel the same.  A welding helmet shouldnt be required to enjoy a Christmas light display!

I would love a class like that too Ann.  These two clases from Creative Live have video tutorial, downloadable instruction manual and the files (even some PS brushes) needed to complete one project from each class.  It's nice sometimes to have all the same supplies (as the tutorial) for the first time through learning a new complex layout, and being able to follow along with each step.

Thanks Bonnie, I found it along with some more cool templates.

I love this Brian.  Well done.