Susan Ewart

I should probably expand on my resolutions. I make them, but I dont care if I keep them. Mostly they are a mental list in my head of what I want to do going forward from any given time. You could say I make resolutions all year long. Life is fluid and always changing and so I stay flexible for the unexpected things in life that take me in another direction. Which is what the bootcamp did for me.

Wow Anne, I love this. The hands in each year gave me goosebumps.

My scanner is over 15 yrs old and it used to do TIFF. Now it complains and groans and only does 1/2 of what I'm scanning. It even groans at 600 DPI (I do have a 1200 DPI setting) now. Time for a new one, but it's very low on the priority list. I really want one though because you can do some really fun creative stuff with scanners.

Yes, I set goals too. I love the New Year and look forward to setting goals. I know, call me neurotic. I'm also known as the "Queen of Lists". I think the organizing of my goals is what I like the most because I like to organize. I have creative goals, health goals and personal/household goals (like organizing and culling stuff we dont need so we have more time to enjoyr the stuff we have). Like Rene, I have a ton of ideas (for me it's photography) swirling around in my head, which in turn will be good for layouts. And I want to get through the LABS at a much faster pace than I am now. I should put a number on it as it would maybe make me more accountable.

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.

hahaha, love it Ann. I was one of the ones down to the last few rolls. Good thing you've had a guard on duty. I have to hide the TP from my cats, they rip apart the bag and the TP. Strangely, they dont touch the rolls on the dispensers.

Hahahaha, love the song this year. I feel the pain of missing your favorite cereal. Mine was Bran Flakes or Corn Flakes. When I finally scored a box, it was the teeniest, tiniest box for the price of the Jumbo box. Dont get me started about toilet paper. It was so expensive I was thinking I should use it as wall paper!

Hahaha, Suzy, on your last paragraph. Not so funny, the flu. It's scary to be that dehydrated. Glad you are on the mend and eating again. Agreed, it is always nice to not have to go to the store. If I get a day off without having to go out to run errands, it's a win for me.

Yikes Suzy! Glad to hear you came out the other side of the flu and are back to the land of the living.

Cindy, Bravo! You never give up, that's inspiring. Love the glitter too, because you can never have enough glitter I say. Great name you gave the file, it's perfect (I did it). Looking forward to card 4.

Thank you Sue, I'll head over after work and get that frame. I was marvelling at how perfect the corners are. I have my list started for the Black Friday sale.

Sue, those frames are beautiful and look so real. I've never been lucky enough to see a grackle in real life, what a stunner! I agree about the white background. I did put a texture on one white one then left two cards with white and it bothers me to look at those two. I feel like I didnt finish them, and will probably go back and change the background.

Monique, is your score-board called "Scor-It"? I have two of them and they are great. And, I have about 10 bone-folders, I couldnt live without them. I make sure they are in various locations so I dont have to go hunting for them.