Friday 28 June 2013

Orange Paperie & Co June Challenge

ECHIDNA GORGE

Thanks to Jo for a great challenge this month; tabs, tags and texture. It was lovely to see Tone as GD.  
The photo I scrapped was taken in Echidna Gorge in Purnnululu National Park. It is about an hour walk along a stony creek bed and we were just in time to see the sun light up the cave at about midday.  
I had a play with some embossing enamels from Stamendous through a Crafter's workshop stencil and enjoyed using a new roller stamp.  
This part of the magnificent Kimberley has been on our bucket list for about 20 years and it was absolutely worth the long, long drive to get there.

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Wednesday 26 June 2013

Tiara

I made this card for a brand new challenge set by Lucy Muraca "You show me yours"  Lucy posts an image and everyone scraps it whichever way they want. More details at Lucy's blog 
http://red-chichi.blogspot.com.au Ysmy update...
 As you can imagine the entries are very elegant and femine.
 Feel free to join in, the more the merrier

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Sunday 23 June 2013

Scrap Around The World - 2 The Pinnacles

This is the inspirational mood board over at Scrap Around The World.  

I was inspired by the suit case,  the camera and the wide open spaces in the top left photo. 
Last year I was lucky enough to spend three months in the outback 
and National Parks of Western Australia.  
Always happy with my trusty Nikon in hand; 
I love to be up early and out late to catch the changing light.  
At these times, the parks have fewer travellers and the peace and serenity lifts my spirit and recharges my soul. Who was it that said. "You can take the kid out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the kid"?
This photo of the Pinnacles rock formations was taken at sunset in Numbung National Park.

I enjoyed using the found items, the bark and dried grass 
as they still have the faint smell of the bush.
Love this paper by Prima - Sunrise Sunset collection "Del Sol" and the 
Dusty Attic Chippies
I used an old Ranger stamp and some new ones from Prima and Dear Lizzy 
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Saturday 22 June 2013

CSI challenge 77 - Watch

I was looking forward to these colours, as I always seem to have lots of green in my stash.  
Also found it easy to add the evidence, but the Testimony had me stumped for a while until I remembered the chatter and self assessment as this little boy as he enjoyed the playground.
I used a great sketch from Scrap Friends, thank you, it was perfect for my four photos.

http://blogscrapfriends.com.au




I had bit and pieces of various collections in green. 
 In fact five different papers played happily together on this outdoor page.
The little dragonfly has been in my stash for so long I don't remember where he came from.

EVIDENCE
Leaves 
Numbers - stamped bottom right
Pearls - on butterflies
Something from nature - Butterflies and dragonfly
Woodgrain pattern

TESTIMONY
I chose to journal in the form of a catalogue

THE JOURNALLING READS
A self catalogue of your skills at two & a quarter. Are you watching Granny?  I can climb right up to the top of the climbing frame.  No, No, No, not get down now.  It’s not too high. I’m a big boy now! I can spin, I can get dizzy and fall down.  Did you see that Granny?  I can nearly fly right up to the sky.

TFL and for any comments you may care to leave.  I appreciate each and every one of them.  Close ups and materials used are listed on my blog at:-

MATERIALS
October Afternoon - Midway collection, Main Gate 
Bo Bunny - C’est La Vie, Art Nouveau (reverse)
My Mind’s Eye - Memorable collection, “I’m with”
Authentique - “Curiosity” (check)
Kaisercraft - Marigold sticker sheet - leaves
Kaisercraft - Pearls, “Snow”
Heidi Grace by Fiskars alphabet stickers “Moody”
Atelier - Gesso Craft Queen - 
Washi Tape, Green Floral 
Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Sweet Clover 
Tim Holts Distress paint - Peeled paint 
Ranger Acrylic paint, Citrus 
Color Box Chalk Ink, Olive Pastel 
Stamp-it Stamp, Mixed numbers 
Dear Lizzy acrylic stamp
Prima acrylic stamp
Kaisercraft Stamp - Arty
Cristina Re - Butterfly punch 
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

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Thursday 20 June 2013

76 CSI Challenge - Play

My first glimpse of this week's challenge made me think of these playground photos with the bright primary colours.  My challenge to myself was to use a very busy background page.  Hmmmm....I think the jury is still out on the results.  Whoops...forgot to upload this challenge.  :(
I always enjoy using Em's sketches and this one was perfect for the smaller photos.


EVIDENCE
Circles
Numbers (stamped on the gesso)
Lady bugs
Small repeating patterns (stars)

TESTIMONY
I used the inspiration word “important” for my journalling

THE JOURNALLING READS
Watching you two little boys at the park with your Daddy reminds me of the importance of play and how lucky you are to have a Father who makes time to play with you. 

My Father was a good man who worked twelve hour days to put food on the table and clothes on our back, but there was rarely time for him or for my Mother to play with us. It was sad for us and possibly for them too.  I inherited their work ethic and now regret that I didn’t make enough time to play with our own childdren.

In two generations men’s roles in society have changed so much; there is more leisure time and you little children experience the joy of your Daddy's company as you learn by playing.  I love to see the determination on your faces as you explore and discover. 

In my opinion, this quote by an 18th century philosopher, sums up of the importance of play perfectly.

“Is it nothing to be happy?  Nothing to skip, play and run around all day long?  Never in his life will he be so busy again. “ Jean-Jacques Rosseau   Love Granny 

Thanks for looking and for any comments you may care to leave.  Details of materials used are on my blog if you are interested.

MATERIALS
Bazzil Cardstock - Black
Doubles Mates - cardstock - Awesome Aqua
Cardstock - Yellow, and yellow, unknown
Authentique pattern paper - Bi fold, foundation (date & place)
My Mind’s Eye - Boy crazy, “Point the way” (chevrons)
My Mind’s Eye - Boy crazy, “Word Play” (Background)
Echo Park patterned paper - Clouds (Stripes)
Tattered Angels Glimmer mist - patina
Prima chalk ink - Teal Damask
Prima chalk ink - Coltsfoot stamens
Kaisercraft - Mini Crochet Doilies
Atelier - Gesso
Prima stamp - Romance novel
Prima Alphabets - Red
Spellbinders die - Grommet tags
Fiskars punch - Star shape
E.K. Success punch - corner rounder
Ladybugs wooden - unknown

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Saturday 8 June 2013

75 CSI Challenge - Key to my Heart

Absolutely love the soft and dreamy colours this week. I thought the journal prompts were perfect for a celebration, so I chose our wedding photo from a few decades ago.
For a change, my papers are fairly new, but some of the Prima elements have been hoarded for a while.  
I lashed out and bought a new die, having seen my friend Heather use the leaves so beautifully. 

A close up so you can see the glimmer in the bird's wing
Love that Cheery Lyn Die and the Spellbinder one too.

I tried to make the page, soft and tradional; in keeping with the era. 

EVIDENCE
Lace - the lacy die cut doily 
Flowers
Distressing
Jewels
Ruffles
Door Accent - the key
Gold - tiny circle on the key

TESTIMONY
I chose to write about our wedding.

We thought we were in love, but had no idea what that really meant, or how to make a relationship work. I came from a family of girls and my fiance had three brothers, so neither of us had much experience of the opposite sex.

Our wedding was in my local church on a blisteringly hot summer’s afternoon.  The morning started early when my Sister came to do my hair. My Mother and her friends were catering for 170 guests and we all helped to transport the food and set up the hall.

When the photographer came to the house, I started to get nervous about the ceremony. For better for worse.....but what if it got worse?  Dad noticed me shaking and said, “Here, get this into you”.  The stiff dose of brandy didn’t do much to quell my nerves.  As we walked to the church, only a block away, Dad said “It’s not too late to back out, you know”.  They were wise words, allowing me to feel as though I still had a choice.

Should I cut and run? Choir singing, organ playing, flower girl looking angelic, and me with a jack hammer in my chest.  Do I really know this bloke?  I remember Mum saying “You don’t really get to know someone until you live with them”. 

Standing at the altar. He turns to greet me and he’s shaking too.  The priest says, “Come on you two, it’s really not that bad”.  And of course it wasn’t.  But back then, when people didn’t live together before marriage, and good Catholic girls didn’t experiment, it felt like I was setting off for another country without a compass, a map, or any provisions. 

We learned together, my love and I; with the occasional boggy patch and rocky climb to negotiate.  There were days of mediocrity too, whilst working hard to pay off a mortgage.  We also experienced great joy at the birth of our children, wonderful adventures on holidays and crippling fear during acute illness. By fighting fair, maintaining respect and making time to nurture our relationship, I can honestly say I now know what love is.

MATERIALS
Carta Bella - paper, “Forever Friends cards” (reverse)
Prima - Lifetime Collection “Blue bayou” (reverse)
Prima - Packaging (the taupe)
Kaisercraft - Bundle of Joy, “Rattle’
Prima - Large Heart
Prima - Invilde Bolme, shabby chic treasure (resin bird)
Prima - Flowers
Prima - Gem Stones
Prima - Vintage Trinket (key)
Simple Stories - “Vintage bliss” Brad
Basic Grey - Brad
Spotlight - White ruffled lace
Cheery Lyn Die - 
Cottage Cutz Die - Leaf
Spellbinders Die - Fancy tags
Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Creme de Cocoa

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Saturday 1 June 2013

74 - CSI Challenge - Happy Days

The challenge this week is for those who love the super bright  colours.  Think vibrant gelati and sophisticated cocktails.  My first thought was to put my sunglasses on, but I had fun with the challenge and stepped outside my comfort zone, so I hope you will too.

Here's how I cracked the case.

I found the perfect pink on a recent trip to my LSS and I thought it matched well with some older MME and a Kaiser butterly.  I introduced the chippie to add a bit of grunge.
A couple of closies, this one to show the beads on the butterfly
And this one to show the embossed metal flowers


I made a terrible mess with the pink dylusions which has been covered by the buttons.  They are not quite where I would chosen to put them, but a good disguise all the same.

EVIDENCE
Metal - the embossed flowers
Beads - on the butterfly
Flowers

TESTIMONY
I used the inspiration words: Cute, Little and Bright

The journalling is about our DGD.  It's on the back of the layout and reads:

This photo was taken on your very first sleep over with Granny and Pa.  To everyone’s surprise you slept all night, waking up as bright as a button. There was no time to get you dressed, as you immediately wanted to be outside, exploring in your cute pink pyjamas.

This big old vintage bike was no challenge for you, even though at 15 months you are still a tiny little girl. You’re as game as Ned Kelly, and as happy as the day is long; always wanting to have a go, no matter how difficult the task.  Like a butterfly, you flit from one thing to the next, never settling in one spot for more than a minute.

Although you love pretty colours like pink and purple and you adore your dolls, you are equally at home with dirt, bikes and soccer balls; no gender stereotyping for you.  Your vocabulary is sparse, but despite that, it’s wonderful to observe you honing your interpersonal skills by negotiation and a beaming smile.   Love Granny

MATERIALS
American crafts - Dedar Lizzy, 5th and Frolic (reverse) the hot pink
My Mind's Eye - Unforgettable, "Today" the yellow polka dots
My Mind's Eye - Memorable, "Journey" (the days)
My Mind's Eye - Kate & Co, Decorative buttons
Simple Stories - Vintage bliss brads 
Prima - Say it in crystals
Kaisercraft - Rhinstones for a cause
Kaisercraft - Pink Pearls
Kaisercraft - Tigerlilly Collection - Freesia (butterfly)
Mill Hill - Seed beads
Dylusions Ink - Bubblegum pink
American crafts embossing powder - Zing
Martha Stewart Punch - Marguerite Daisy
Ranger ink - Jet Black
Scrap FX chipboard -
Spellbinder - Die - Fancy tag
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