Meet 'Martha' Karen

     

Thought I'd share a couple projects I've been working on for my sister.  I told you in a previous entry they are working on a movie as well as a scrap book for an woman she works with that is retiring and moving away.  The retirement party was a western type theme.  The picture with the cows is a shot I had taken awhile back near her work.  We added the horse and misted the entire shot to give it a softer look.  The dark one was different graphics I had.  We were trying to get the effect of her standing in front of a full display or picture.  She was happy which made me happy :)

Private Beach

 

Been back to work for two days and I am so ready to escape to this private beach!  This is one of the pictures I took looking across the Niagara River at one of the islands.  Beyond the island would be Canada.  I am sure I have another shot someplace where you can see some of it, but I am tired and don't feel like looking, sorry.

 

Today wasn't actually that bad, it's just like I never left or had off.  ARGH!  I had hoped the rest and relaxation of the vacation would last a bit longer.  Work is not a hard 'grind', but it makes my brain a bit tired.  I do a lot of talking so by the time I get out of work I don't feel like doing much of that.  Surely friends and family would beg to argue, but really I don't.  That would be 'don't feel like talking' not that I don't :)~

 

Spent time this evening making some graphics and I can't wait to share ::evil grin:: but you'll have to wait.  I remembered it was Flag Day tomorrow and had done nothing for it.   I missed Memorial Day with my camping trip so I wanted to get at least a few up.  Sorry to those across the pond, I will post some for everyone tomorrow. 

 

Got a few emails today regarding the fix for the new ads in our email but low and behold it only holds for a bit.  Before long AOL figures out that you don't have their precious update and it gets forced on you again.  ::sigh::  Why can't they just leave well enough alone?   I do, however, like the new search option on our journals.  Ever try and go back to find a previous entry and remember what's on it but not when you did it?  LOL  Well now you can search by 'key words' in the entry.  Will definitely help this feeble mind.

 

Not much into writing/talking this evening so I will end it here.  Hope everyone has a great 'hump' day.

Reminder: Tomorrow is Flag Day here in the States

                                           

             

                              

           

PS  Happy Birthday Tim.... everyone still puts the Flag out for you :)

Quick Entry

     

I can't believe how late it is!  What happened to my evening??  First day back at work wasn't bad.  Sure there was stuff not done in my absence, but I've come to expect that.   I think if my desk was actually covered completely while I was out I'd have heart failure.  All in the all the day was fine once I got caught up.   Had a quick dinner and was looking forward to watching hockey.  Wrong!  I had forgotten that I promised my sister to help her do a little movie clip from pictures she had.  Scanned, imported some children's songs and we were off to the races.  If you have XP you need to try Windows Movie Maker if you haven't already.  I've made several little movie clips.  Some not so little even.  I burned them as DVD's and gave them as gifts.  Really pretty easy.  By the time we got done I started working on this graphic.  I found the girl and chair graphic and tubed them myself. 

 

Before I knew it the time flew by, it's midnight and I missed the hockey game.  I know the score :(  Carolina won and leads the series 3-1.  How I hoped Edmonton would eat them alive, pretty hard to do when your #1 Goalie goes down.  Argh! 

 

Off to bed before my alarm goes off :)~

I am so SICK

          

Ok, so maybe it's not sick but rather an addiction.  Those that don't know me may not know I have a very addictive personality.  Good thing I don't gamble, eh?  Drinking is minimal.. LOL and that is good too. 

 

I got it in my head today that there had to be an easier way to do the graphic with the moon dancers.  There is not much I can do about 50+ layers, but it had to be streamlined, even though the person who wrote the tutorial I followed said it couldn't be.  So, as you see I played with another to see what I could come up with.  I was able to do a bit more in animation shop, but not sure I am ready to take on requests yet.  Send good vibes!  LOL

 

The moon is almost full and I needed to get more shots.  Addicted I tell you!  I took my nephew home and once I got out of my immediate neighborhood you could see the moon pretty clear.  No trees in the way.  I came home, grabbed my camera, and ran out for more shots.  Some came out great, others came out double.  LOL I moved.  To lazy to get the tripod tonight.  There are some with clouds surrounding and others without.  I will play around tomorrow to see what I actually have.

 

I posted an entry earlier to help folks with links in their journal entries.  I like to help when I can.  It was nothing more than that, nothing less.  Sure it was brought up because of my request to get linked up when you use my graphics but it was not intended to point fingers at any body.  And I did not.  It really has nothing to do with my sig being on the graphic itself.  ::grin:: Lets leave the drama out, k?  I may have an addictive personality but I do not hunt down journals and/or people who don't comply.  If I see it I may say something I may not, depends on my mood and possibly the graphic.  Just enjoy :)

 

Sports, you all know I love my hockey but I will also watch the playoffs in other sports.  Tonight it was basketball.  I really don't like it, but I had it on in the background as I worked on my graphics.  Some might think I would hate all Dallas teams after the 'no goal' deal, but it is not true.  I am actually hoping the Mav's take it.  I just think Mark Cuban, the owner is awesome!  Some say he is rude, obnoxious, and irresponsible.  I think he is straight forward and honest.  He's down to earth and just like you and I regardless of the fact that he has truck loads of money.  LOL   Mavs are up 2-0.

 

I haven't won the lottery yet, and I guess I'd actually have to play to win, so it's off to bed so I have my job in the morning. 

Assorted Cartoons

               

                      

                                    

                                               

                       

As you all know the only thing I ask when 'snagging' my graphics is that you give credit and link back to the journal you got it from.  Nothing big and fancy, just a little blurb at the end of your entry or near the graphic.  I got a few emails today from some folks who didn't know how to do that, so I thought I'd some quick instructions for future reference.  Not only to add my link, but any link in your entries.

 

Once you type your entry, highlight the word you want to link.  For example you are giving me credit so you type my name, so highlight that.  Then click on the globe icon above your 'entry box' and paste in the URL.  Again for me it would be http://journals.aol.com/nightmaremom/Thisandthatandhockey/ and say ok.  If you want to change the color of the link so it is visible, just click on the text color icon and change to a different color, say ok.  When you save your entry there will be different colored text that includes the link to where you want to send folks.  It's rather simple and shouldn't cause anyone stress :)  It's a nice touch if you are talking about something specific and want others to see it too. 

 

    

 

Thanks again for all your support and understanding.

 

The Experiment

               

OMG!  What a tutorial!  Let me tell you this was time consuming.  Layer after layer, merge after merge, more layers, more merging.  Some 50+ layers.  OUCH!  I do like the concept and will probably do it again with a different image.  I had thought maybe I'd do something for my tag journal, but after running through it once, there is no way!  To add a name and merge it to over 50 layers for each request... maybe when I'm on vacation again and have time... or maybe not.  :)  Sorry 

 

Doing this tut taught me a few different things and I will use those concepts in other graphics.  I hated doing text on a curve because I found it difficult, but this new way is pretty easy so I will probably apply it more.  I've learned a few options on adding animated graphics to still graphics and if I can find some without 50 layers to begin with I will give it a whirl for the tag journal, until then.............