Sunday 25 November 2012

47-CSI Great Fun

This was a fun challenge where I tried a couple of new techniques; one with texture paste and one with ink splats.  I'm not convinced that I like the results, but maybe I will warm to the layout in time.  I have another page to do for the other little twin, so maybe I will refine the process then.




EVIDENCE USED
Patchwork pattern - I tried to achieve with the multiple photos
Stripes - On Xavier's top
Floral Pattern - On the pp at the top right
Frames - Around the photos

TESTIMONY
I documented a visit when someone visited me

THE JOURNALLING READS

One day in spring you two little tackers came to spend the day with us, while Mummy and your big brother enjoyed a day out together.You are totally dissimilar in looks and personality, but you enjoy each other’s company most of the time.  However, you are not opposed to a bit of “biffo” should the need arise!  You sometimes squabble over toys or climbing rights to the favourite high spot in the house, yet if one of you is out of the room, the other one seems a bit lost. You look around for your little mate and yell out.  “Y a a a y v i e r”  (Xavier) or“O o o h e e e e” (Ollie)On this day, you were a bit tired and grumpy in the afternoon, so I put a little warm water in a basin and a bucket and gave you some small bottles and boats.  At first you were not patient enough to hold the bottles under the water long enough for them to fill, but pretty soon you got the hang of things. With lots of smiles and hugs for each other, you spent over an hour enjoying this simple pleasure.Watching the way you learned from each other with your little heads and hands so close together was a precious interlude in an otherwise ordinary day.    Aged 20 months 25 Sept 2012

Thanks for any comment you may care to leave.  I appreciate you taking the time to visit.

PRODUCTS USED

Alphas, PrimaCardstock, Core Impressions, Jenni Bowlin, Vintage Bright & Kraft
Embellishment, Kaisercraft Brad, Old World
Ink, Color Box Chalk Ink, Dark Brown,
Paint, Ranger dabber, Sail boat blue & SandalPatterned Paper, Chatterbox, 

Punch, E.K., Binding Edge
Stamp, Hero Arts, Silhouette Spray

Stencil, Crafter's workshop, Mini Tile Texture
Texture Paste, Dervlan Matisse Impasto 
Washi Tape, Tim Holtz









Saturday 17 November 2012

46 - CSI QUIRKY

Are you up for a real challenge?   Take a look at vibrant purple and green and yellow pallette this week at CSI.








I found the purples incredibly challenging.  Then I thought of this photo of a flamboyant Aunt who loved to wear bright clothes and be the centre of attention.  Purple is never my first choice to scrap with and yet I found some lovely flowers in my stash from card making.   

One of the good things about being dragged out of my "safe colours" comfort zone, is finding how much fun others colours can be and how happy I am with the results.


and a close up:-



EVIDENCE
Painting - the misted butterfly
Textured element - The embossed green mat behind the photo
Something that shimmers - the purple dots around the cream paper 

TESTIMONY
I used the inspiration words, quirky and surprise as journal prompts.

THE JOURNALLING READS
Aunty Hilda was aged ten in this photo when she won First Price (sic) for her fairy costume; Balaklava frolic in 1928.
Hilda, my Father’s youngest sister was one of my favourite Aunts. She loved to talk loudly and tell jokes about their childhood, something my Father rarely did without provocation.  It was fascinating to observe their repartee and try to imagine my Father as a naughty little boy; something almost beyond my comprehension.  She wore bright clothes, dyed her hair blonde and loved to party.  She was like a Rainbow Lorikeet among a flock of pigeons. 


Alphas, Making Memories - Mini Shimmer, Black School House

Buttons, O Sew
Cardstock,  Bazzil, Coredinations, My Mind’s Eye - Backyard “Sunny Days”

Die Cut, Cheery Lyn “ “Large Sunflower Doily”          
Die Cut, Magnolia - Doohickeys, “Rose Leaf”

Embellishment, Kaiser craft, Pearls

Embossing Folder, Couture Creations, “Walrus and Carpenter”

Flowers, Prima, “Songbird Vine Purple”, 
 Magnolia, “Vintage Lilac Lilley”
 Kaisercraft, “Roses”
 Making Memories, “Purple Mix”

Ink,  Prima, “Garden Grass”

Mist, Tattered Angels, Chalkboard, “Grape Ape”

Patterned Paper, Making Memories, “Addie diecut”

Punch, Martha Stewart, “Monarch Butterfly” (large and small)

Spellbinder, Grommet Tags



Thanks for looking and for any comments you might care to leave.
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Saturday 10 November 2012

45 - CSI Challenge

CSI means colour, stories and inspiration.  A place to try new colour combos, be encouraged to journal and be inspired by other talented artists. It's a fun and friendly place to play.  The earthy colours this week inspired me to scrap a heritage photo.

Because of the topic, I wanted the page to be stark and bare; in keeping with the living conditions my ancestors endured, both in Europe and when they first arrived in the colony.  I had an idea in my mind about how the page would look and could not get it to emerge on the page.  Eventually I ripped every thing to pieces and started again. The little Barque at the bottom is a picture of the ship they travelled on.




and a close up

EVIDENCE

Wood grain patterned paper
Buttons
Silver metal accent
Textured paper behind the photo

TESTIMONY

I used the words, comfort, family and home to inspire my journalling and wrote it like a tale.

THE JOURNALLING READS

My Father’s ancestors emigrated to Australia from Pudewitz, Posen Province, Prussia during a terrible and turbulent time of religious persecution and civil war in Europe.

The majority of Prussians belonged to the Lutheran Church whilst the Royal Family belonged to the Reformed Church which had different doctrines.  King Friedrich Wilhelm the Third decreed the two should become one and began sanctions against Lutheran Pastors and their congregations.  Because they did not comply with the King’s edict, ordinary people had their food rationed, lost their jobs and their children were expelled from school. 

My Great Grandparents were labelled dissenters, rebels and traitors.   They decided to leave, but could not head toward Russia because of a Polish uprising on the border.  

Instead they travelled by bullock cart to the Crossen area where they boarded river barges along the canals to Hamburg.  During the voyage they had rotten fruit and pig swill thrown at them as people berated them for deserting.  In Hamburg they waited in tents for several weeks before boarding the Barque “Sophie” bound for South Australia.  After a perilous three and a half months at sea, they landed at Port Adelaide on 25 October 1866.

My Great Grandfather, Johann Gottlieb Neumann aged 29, his wife Ernastine Amalie Hausknecht aged 19 and their daughter Auguste Emilie, aged 3, travelled to Rosenthal in the Barossa Valley, where Johann secured work at his trade as a carpenter.

We think Great Grandfather built a cottage at Rosenthal where he scrimped and saved money to invest in land.  During this time, his wife Amalie had another eight children.

Twelve years later, in 1878, they had saved enough for a deposit and bought 484 acres of land at Halbury, on credit. This is the home Great Grandfather built on that land.  It was mainly timber framed and plastered with mud mixed with straw; a pug and pine dwelling.

It had a stone fireplace in the main living room and the kitchen at the rear had a stone hearth and bake oven.  The roof was thatched with straw and sported the latest in architectural trends, a corrugated, galvanized iron verandah on the front.   

When I learned of the abject poverty and persecution they endured in Europe and their refusal to be dictated to by the King, I began to understand why they were so fiercely independent, so stubborn and so passionate about their religious convictions.

The Australian branch of the Neumann family began when they had the courage to set out in search of freedom in a strange land.               Journalling 8th October 2012

Thanks so much for looking and for any comments you may care to leave.

PRODUCTS USED

Bazzil cardstock
Kaisercraft patterned paper - Pickled pear collection
Kaisercraft - Collectables - Pickled pear
Delish - patterned paper, Dulwich collection
Tim Holtz - Metal key hole
Tim Holts - Film strip
Prima - Alphas
The Crafters Workshop - Mini Chicken Wire
Pan Pastels - Raw Umber
Chip board leaves - Wow
Tim Holtz - Brickwork embossing folder
Tim Holtz - Tattered Florals die
Ranger ink - Sandal
Color box ink - Olive Pastel
EK punch - Binding edge
Tattered Angels glimmermist - Creme de Chocolate
Image of the Barque Sophie from Neumann family history



Saturday 3 November 2012

CSI - 44

Whoops, I set this up to post on Saturday, but for some reason it's still sitting here.  Uh Oh.....learner Blogger!

Lovely bright colours this week at CSI.   Perfect for a boy's page of DGS and DH reading together.  Why not pop over and play; everyone is very friendly. You have until the 11th to join in.











EVIDENCE
Stripes
Frame  
Doily pattern

TESTIMONY
I chose to journal about something I love in my home and that is the relationship between our Grandson and his beloved Pa. I included the word "sunny" and wrote it as a bit of a fan letter to both of them.

THE JOURNALLING READS.

Here you are, the day before your fifth birthday, being read to by Pa. I love to see you two delighting in each other’s company.  You are alike in many ways; you both like routine and are averse to change. I admire your thirst for knowledge and the way you ask “Why” and “What does that mean” a hundred times a day. Your Grandfather has infinite patience with your incessant questions; he never minds explaining the way things work. I love the way you retain the information you’re given and use it in the correct context sometime later. I look forward to our Granny & Pa days, when you are eager to come and spend time with us.  I respect the way you’ve worked hard to accept and love your twin brothers.   Your wicked sense of humour and honesty make me laugh out loud.  You are like a breath of fresh air in my life; I am refreshed and renewed by your curiosity & joie de vivre.   Love Granny 18 Oct 2012

PRODUCTS USED



Buttons                 My Mind's Eye - Follow your heart, "Be Dazzling"


Cardstock                Bazzil, Teal and white

Chipboard               Imaginarium - Title, "Great Mates"

Embellishment       Bo Bunny - Country Garden (the fussy cut butterfly)
                                  My Mind's eye - Follow your heart, "Be dazzling" (banner)

Ink                             Prima - Rusty Keys, 

Mist                           Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mist, Golden Terracotta

Paint                         KaiserCraft - White, Pale Gold, Yellow

Patterned Paper     Little Yellow Bicycle - Baby Safari

Punch                       Martha Stewart - Punch around the page, "Cherish"

Stencil                       Crafter's Workshop - Mini Solace

Texture Paste          Dervlan Matisse - Impasto

Twine                        Old favourites - Vintage supplies    


Thanks for calling in and for any comments you care to leave  :)