65 CSI Challenge - Unique

These colours just screamed little boy to me....so fresh and vibrant.  I'd love to see you over at CSI to have a play.

I decided to play with some new Dylusion spray paints and had a lovely, messy time. I used four different ranges, My Mind's Eye, Kaiser, October Afternoon and Bo-Bunny and they all played happily in harmony....love it when that happens.



It was fickle day with the weather, when I went to photograph this and I just could not get the October Afternoon Button without glare.  So here is a close up. I was aiming for a mottled effect on the alphas by using both yellow and black paint.

EVIDENCE

Stripes - on the buttons

Circles

Mini brads

White space

TESTIMONY

I used the inspiration words Interest and Personality

THE JOURNALLING READS

At 26 months you have definite ideas about how life should be lived.  You remind me of a miniature version of Hercule Poirot where all is order and method.  Unlike your brothers, you are fascinated with toy cars.  You line them up neatly in rows and when your twin scatters them out of place, you patiently restore them to their designated position on the grid. You have great spatial awareness and love to play with puzzles. You always put things away when you’ve finished with them; something I have not seen in a child before. I wonder what sort of career will interest your shy personality? Maybe something which requires great attention to detail.  Perhaps a career which has not yet been invented? Whatever you choose, I hope you find it challenging and life giving.

MATERIALS
Bazzil Cardstock - Blue and Red
Watercolour Paper - White
Bo Bunny - Back to Basics, C'est La Vie "Art Nouveau" (Green) 
My Mind's Eye - Notable "Love this" Adore yellow
My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy "Point" the way" chevrons
My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy "Decorative Buttons
My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy Decorative buttons (banner) 
Kaisercraft Collectables - On the move (car)
October Afternoon - 5 & Dime Tin Pins (Wagon)
Imaginarium Chipboard - Alphas, lower case
Ranger Delusions - Ink Spray, "London Blue"
Ranger Delusions - Ink Spray, "Fresh Lime"
Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Patina
Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black
Ranger Acrylic Dabber - Lemonade
Royal Coat - Dimensional Magic
Prima Mask - Circular Lattice
Spellbinders Die - Sprightly Sprockets
Mini Brads
Twine

Orange Paperie - March Challenge

I have been promising myself to get involved with this challenge every month.  In the blink of an eye the month goes by and I haven't quite achieved my goal.  The challenge was to use hexagons and do some stamping.  There is one tiny bit of stamping just under the photo and I turned to hexagons into a patchwork flower.  I think I just scraped in before the end of the month.  I've scrapped a photo of my DGD when she was about a month old.  Thanks for an interesting challenge.

I will add a list of materials soon.

Scrap your Story

Two uploads in one day, what is the world coming too?

I was honoured to be invited to guest design over at Scrap Your Story week four.  Thanks Christy. The techniques used were wet and dry embossing.

Mostly I use those techniques for card making, so it was a fun challenge for me to try.

The dry embossing is on the blue cardstock behind the photo and the wet embossing is on the title and the star.  Both of the images were stamped before sprinkling with embossing powder and setting with a heat gun.

I kick started my mojo by referring to a sketch by Scrap Friends, but did not follow it exactly.

64 - CSI Challenge - Explore

A bright and zesty palette this week over at CSI challenge number 64.

 Inspired by the arty example, I hunted around for an ancient photo of me wearing a green scarf. The quality of the photo is not good, but it seemed to fit with the theme. I wanted the text on different angles as it is in the challenge photo and I used the the journalling prompt about verbs. The quote "In these shoes, I don't think so", is from a song by Kirsty Macoll.

The sketch is based on one by Scrap friends.

EVIDENCE
Bird
Rub ones - Bird and stitching on right side Stamps - Grunge around the edges
Use words as embellishments
Stencils

TESTIMONY
I used the journalling prompt "Use a series of verbs" and tried to make a potted history of my personal journey

THE JOURNALLING READS 
Explore
In these shoes? I don't think so! 
Strut Stumble Fall
Flirt Hug Desire
Laugh Enjoy Rejoice

Cradle Nurture Relinquish
Grieve Surrender Bury 
Mutter Mumble Negotiate
Support Surrender Withdraw
Relent Repair Redeem
Rest Revive Renew 
TRANSFORM

MATERIALS
Bo-Bunny, C'est La Vie
Bo-Bunny, C'est La Vie, "Art Nouveau " ( front & reverse) Bo-Bunny,
My Mind's Eye, Notable "Love this", Adore paper
Kraft Cardstock
Bazzil Black Cardstock
A2Z Scraplets Chipboard title, Explore
Prima, Metal Key
K, Clear Stamp, Distress
Kaisercraft Acrykic paint, Sage, Olive, Navy Blue
Ruby Rock-It, Rubons, UDR22
Fiskars Punch, Apron Lace
EK Success Punch, Binding Edge
Martha Stewart Punch, Embossed zigzag
Prima ink, Dark Rust, Lime Pie
Ranger Distress ink, Bundled Sage
Ranger archival ink, Jet Black
Derivan Matisse, Impasto

Crafter's Workshop Stencil, Mini Rustic Paint, and Mini Triangle Royal Coat, Dimensional Magic

63 - CSI Challenge - Recollections

Beautiful colours and case files this week.  Here is how I cracked the case.  Why not pop over to CSI and see how the other team members interpretated the challenge?

Nadia Canizzo at OUAS, graciously allowed me to use her sketch September 2012

The photo of me was taken when I was just four years old.

I loved using this eylet lace which I inherited from my Mother's stash.

EVIDENCE

Ribbon

Flowers

Pearls

Jewels - in the yellow flower

Tape measure

Vintage element - little girl with her dolly

Lace - vintage eyelet from my Mother’s stash

TESTIMONY

I used the words INSPIRE and WOMAN to kick start my journalling. 

It is in the form of a letter to my Mother.

THE JOURNALLING READS

Dear Mum,

Many times, I go to ask you something, or tell you something and wish you were still here to share our lives. I know you would adore the Great Grand children; you always clucked around babies of any kind.  Children, chickens, pups and kittens, were all gathered in your apron of love and nurtured into wholeness. 

You know how much I loved that pink dress you smocked for me, it looked so pretty and felt so cool sliding across my legs.  Every little girl should experience the delight of wearing a pink smocked dress, so I stitched one for Esther when she was born.  I think you would be proud that the tradition was handed down to the next generation.

The hair in ringlets tradition has not continued though!  Remember what a fuss I made having to sleep in those tight rags overnight?  After our Saturday night bath, you sectioned my hair, dipped it in “Curlypet” and brushed it around your finger in a curl.  A thin strip of rag went though the middle, was tied in a knot on the outside and held tightly against my scalp. Was the “Curly Pet” some kind of setting lotion?  It smelt fresh and sweet, but heralded the terror of the torturous curling process too.

I know I inherited my love of “hand made” by observing you making everything from scratch.  You still inspire me to have a go at anything, even if I don’t have much of a clue where to start.   I loved walking in the door after school and yelling out “Muuuuuum” and you were always there creating something.  Baking, sewing, knitting, weaving, making a hat or a cane basket.  From your example I knew deep in my bones, that a woman could achieve anything she set her mind to.  Except knitting maybe, you know I always had difficulty with that and got into a frightful pickle when I dropped a stitch.  

You taught me to do my best, to unpick a line of stitching if it wasn’t straight, to find a way around obstacles if a road block got in the way of success.   Never one to seek praise, you rarely gave it out either.   That’s why I treasure the words you said after looking at the first Scrapbook Album I made.  “You made a good job of that Helen”.   Your words meant more than I can say; they still warm my heart over a decade later. They shine like a precious jewel in my collection of happy memories.

Thanks for everything Mum.  I said it many times when you were alive and I hope you truly believed what an inspiration you were.

Love Helen

MATERIALS

Bazzil cardstock, Vanilla

Authentique patterned paper - Renew Collection “Foundation One”

Prima patterned paper - Divine Collection “Canzone”

Prima patterned paper - Divine Collection “Ballade”

Pion patterned paper - Tagan om Varen collection “Fairytale of spring”

Graphic 45 patterned paper - Little darlings “Bundle of Joy”

Graphic 45 patterned paper - Old Curiosity Shoppe collection “Butterfly Specifics”

Martha Stewart Punch - Wild Flowers

Imaginarium chipboard - Borders “Circles”

Tattered Angels Glimmer mist - Sweet Clover

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Victorian Velvet

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Bundled Sage

Ranger Acrylic Dabber - Sandal and Lemonade

Kaisercraft Acrylic paint - Soft gold

Kaisercraft Flowers

Kaisercraft Pearl Flourish

All My Memories - Expressions, Accent Bars

Prima Mask - Sunrise, sunset “Flower”

Prima Embellishment - Say it with crystals

Twine - 

62 - CSI Challenge 2 Today

Great colours this week for a little boy’s page.  Thanks Debbi. Love the sketch too, thanks Em

I hope you will come on over and have a play, you have until Sunday 17th to upload.

 Here is my take on this pallete.....it came together really quickly...unusual for me

Here's how I cracked the case.

.

EVIDENCE

Fabric - does the ribbon count?

Wood - the leaves

Tone on tone

Circles   

TESTIMONY

I went to the journalling prompts and chose to write about qualities a best friend would admire.   These twin boys really are each other’s best friend and I see them emulating the gifts and strengths of each other. 

THE JOURNALLING READS

It’s interesting to observe the different approach you two have to life and learning.  One always adopts a vigilant, back foot stance; guards & blocks, saying “No” to most options, even if it’s a something he likes.  The other always dances down the pitch, hits the ball on the up and lets fly with resounding “Yes” to most things. You each display a viable, alternative view of the world from which your brother can learn. Why is it so?  Born on the same day & nurtured alike, it rekindles in me, the whole debate of nature versus nurture. It’s wonderful that you are so uniquely individual.   Jan  25, 2013

MATERIALS

Kaisercraft Marigold Sticker Sheet

Kaisercraft Devonshire collection, Victorian Rose

Kaisercraft Wooden Flourishes - Leaf

My Mind’s Eye, Notable, “Love this” Adore patterned paper

My Mind’s Eye - Memorable “”I’m with...” Gathering patterned paper
My Mind’s Eye, Decorative Brads, Notable, Wonder

Authentique - Renew collection “Foundation Two” patterned paper

Prima ink - Garden Grass  

Tim Holts Alphas, Typeset

Scrapbooking Memories - Alphas

Ribbon - courtesy of Scrapbook Fantasies - thank you

61 - CSI Challenge - Destination

Orange is not usually a go to colour for me, but I loved seeing all the interpretations of this scheme from the design team at CSI.  The challenge was released today and you have until March 10th play along.

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-61-case-closes-on-march-10-2013?xg_source=msg_mes_network

A favourite photo of my son and his partner was the kick start for this palette. I used a beautifully textured paper by Authentique as the base and Graphic 45 to provide the orange.  It should have been a walk in the park.  However, not content with the finished product, I took it one step too far and made a “bleep bleep”.  I managed to claw back from the brink and cover my mess, but it was perilously close to going in the bin.  I’ve added a touch of teal within the 10% limit.

I made the butterfly with a die and acetate, then coloured it with alcohol inks.  

EVIDENCE

Butterfly

Rub ons

Gold accents (butterfly body)

TESTIMONY

I chose to use the inspirations words Dream Big.

THE JOURNALLING READS 

Unlike people of my generation, who had a career for life, you and your partner were courageous enough to dream big and follow your bliss.  You resigned your permanent jobs and set off on a working visa to London. Five years later, you have back packed, tented, hiked and volunteered in more countries than most people do in a lifetime. You’ve learned so much about other cultures, yourselves and each other, that I’m afraid you may never want to settle back in Australia.   Who could have imagined that our shy little boy would become so intrepid and tenacious?  I’m so excited about your visit and counting the sleeps until we see you again.  

MATERIALS USED

Authentique patterned paper - Renew Collection, “Foundation Two”

Graphic 45 patterned paper - Place in Time, June Cut-Aparts

Bazzil Cardstock - White

Imaginarium Chipboard

Kaisercraft clear stamps - Postmark and Pack your bags collection

Kaisercraft acetate embellishment - Pack your bags collection

Kaisercraft Rubons - Dreams

Crafter’s workshop template - Tiny circles

Prima embellishment - Say it with crystals

Atelier Gesso

Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Lemon zest and Golden Terracotta

Prima chalk ink - Rusty keys

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye and Rusty Hinge

Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink - Butterscotch and Terracotta

Royal Coat - Dimensional magic

Marianne Design Die - Butterfly LR0114

Spellbinders die - Labels eight

Ruby Rock-It - ATC cards, The Summer House

Acetate