69 - CSI Challenge - Free Spirit

What do you think of these bold colours and the quirky inspiration photo?  I had fun with them and I hope you will pop over to CSI
 and have a look at the ideas the Design Team have created.

I used Little Yellow Bicycle papers mixed with older Kaisercraft and some very old Creative Imaginations.  I don't think they are in business anymore, but I still like their papers.

Loved getting messy with Gesso, stencils and inks.   The journalling is hidden in the navy pocket.

EVIDENCE

Number accents 

Circles

Metal

Something completely unexpected - Is the bike spring unravelling due to excess speed.  This is a symbol of the way our DGS lives his life. The pedal is always to the metal. He runs, skips or jumps everywhere. Nothing as slow and mundane as walking for our quick silver boy.

TESTIMONY

I was inspired by some of the words of Heart Light, the song by Neil Diamond. The chorus says 

“Turn on your Heart Light

Let it shine wherever you go

Let it make a happy glow

For all the world to see”

These words describe you perfectly.  From the day you were born, your bright eyes seemed to shine with joie de vivre.  I said to Pa, “I think he’s been here before and knows just how the world works.”

Your mood is either jubilation or despair, laughter or tears, with very little middle ground. The tears never last very long, as you are easily distracted with a game, a story, a hug and sometimes all three.  You attack life, full bore, eager to try new things, master them and move on to the next attraction.

Like a hummingbird you slurp the sweetness from the flowers of each day. You’ve taught me a lot about delighting in the simple things; some life skills I wish I’d had when your Daddy and Uncles were little boys.   I love to see your Heart Light glow and when you’re with me, my heart glows too.  Love Granny April 2013

MATERIALS

Little Yellow Bicycle - Saturday collection, Saturday Collage 

Little Yellow Bicycle - Saturday collection, Easy Breezy 

Little Yellow Bicycle - Saturday collection, Pattern Play

Little Yellow Bicycle - Saturday collection, Vintage Bliss

Little Yellow Bicycle - Saturday collection, Tear Out Ticket and Journalling card

Bazzil Cardstock - Navy

Tim Holtz - Die, Alphabetical

Tim Holtz - Distress ink, Broken China

Martha Stewart punch - Birds on a wire

Prima Stamp - Romance Novel (letters and numbers)

Prima ink - Cold Ice

Prima - Metal embellishment, “Mechanicals”

Stamp-It Stamp - mixed Numbers

Colorbox Chalk Ink - Dark brown

Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Patina

Kaisercraft - Pearls - red

Kaisercraft - Collectables, “On the move”

October Afternoon - Flair pin, “5 & Dime”

Crafter’s Workshop Stencil - Swiss Dots

Atelier - White Gesso

Covered buttons - Unknown, from a craft fair

Creative Imaginations - Creative cafe (circle)

Orange Paperie April Challenge

The inspiration photo reminded me of the dining room in my home when I was a child.   The pressed tin ceilings were about sixteen feet high and there was a picture rail about a third of the way down from the top. Here stern portraits of my ancestors observed my behaviour. (Or so I thought)  There is some stamping apart from the title, but it doesn't look as bold as I had imagined. You might be able to spot it!

That led me to thinking about the proper and restricted lives my ancestors lived and the strict discipline of my own childhood.  By comparison this little girl lives a life of freedom.  She is not hampered by protocols, but gently encouraged to explore and learn in an atmosphere of love.

On my hunt for frames and wallpaper type paper, I came across some stash which has been there since button up boots and they created just the look I wanted.  The scrap of fabric behind her frame is some upholstery fabric which belonged to my Mother.   I love that tiny connection between my DGD and her GGMother.

MATERIALS
K & Co - Life's Journey, Ceiling Tin Embossed paper (cream)
K & Co - Life's Journey, Domed Frames
K & Co - Blue Awning, Beaded Flower brads
Keepsake Collection - # H5444/6 (silver frame)
Anna Griffin - papers, Floral and Diamond shape (no name on back)
7 Gypsies - For Autumn Leaves (no name on back, small vintage portraits)
We Are Memory Keepers - Embossible Designs - Heritage, Olive (title and ribbon strip)
Prima - Say it in crystals
Prima - Flowers, "Engraver"
Martha Stewart Punch - Vintage Doily
Kasiercraft - Clear Stamps, "Flutter"
Kasiercraft - Mini Clear Stamp "quote"
Magnolia - Doo Hickey, Die Cut, "Rose Leaf"
Fabric - My Mother's stash
Colour Box - Ink, dark brown

CSI Case File - 68 - Broken

 I wanted to go with humour this week, but I did not have a photo to work with the "silly" prompt.  As the colours seemed a little sombre to me,  I worked with the "Write a poem prompt" and wrote about a significant friendship.  

It explores the way I felt during the friendship, rather than when it ended. Now, I realize it was a toxic friendship, one where I was frequently given the cold shoulder, not knowing or understanding what the problem was. Had I done something wrong, offended in some way?  Out of the blue, I would be re-instated, without any explanation and expected to act as though nothing had happened.  I’m not sure why I tolerated such capricious behaviour.  I think I must have had my Saint Helen crown on, thinking if only I tried harder and more carefully, everything would be harmonious.  Eventually, I realized that the harder I tried, the more outrageous the expectations became and I sadly walked away.

OUT FOR

PUBLICATION

EVIDENCE

Clouds 

Polka dots

Stripes (paper behind the image)

Small brads

Flowers

Stitching

Paint

Pen work

TESTIMONY

I wrote a poem

THE JOURNALLING READS

I glimpse your face in my dreams now

you broke the deep sworn vow

of friendship

Your sparkling eyes no longer 

welcome me with acceptance

and radiance

Familiar bonds once uniting us

lie severed on the path

which entices you away

I am discarded, like an old toy

forsaken, bereft, abandoned

as you disappear into the crowd

MATERIALS
Stamp - "On the Porch" Paper Bag Studio

Prima - Lifetime collection “Quilter”

Prima - Alphabet #550066

Prima mask - 

My Mind’s Eye - Unforgettable collection “Today” (both sides)

My Mind’s Eye - Unforgettable collection “Authentic” (reverse)

Kaisercraft clear stamp - “Arty’

Kaisercraft - Brads

Kaisercraft - Acrylic paint - Black

Liquitex Gloss - Heavy Gel

E.K. Success - Flower punch

Tattered Angels Glimmermist - “Creme de Chocolate”

ColorBox Chalk ink - Dark Brown

Studio Calico - Chip Shapes - Clouds

Ranger Distress Stain - Walnut Stain

Zig pen - Black

67 - CSI Challenge - Outnumbered

My idea machine went on strike when I first saw the inspiration photo for this week.   Then I remembered these photos of the twins behaving like little cartoon characters and it all came together quite quickly with the help of Em's sketch..   I hope you will be inspired to play this week.

I blended two older paper ranges, October Afternoon and Kaisercraft with a new one, My Mind's Eye and they all played happily together.

EVIDENCE

Stars

Accent from the picture (the little rub on Robot, on the star)

Fussy cutting (the arrows)

Plain Cardstock

TESTIMONY

Hand write your journalling (cringe)

THE JOURNALLING READS

You two little boys simply adore being outside with Pa. You also love finding alternative ways of using things.  Like this soccer/totem pole which makes a fine imaginary game of “capture the Adult”, when you tie Pa up in knots. 20 months 25 September 2012

MATERIALS

Kaisercraft cardstock - Ivory

Kaisercraft - Technologic Collection, ESC Sticker sheet

Kaisercraft - Technologic Collection, Download (reverse) the ledger paper

Kaisercraft - Technologic Collection, Rub ons

Kaisercraft - Technologic Collection, Die Cut (big star)

Bazzil cardstock - pale blue, dark blue

My Mind’s Eye - Boy Crazy, “Seeing stars” (reverse) tiny stars

My Mind’s Eye - Boy Crazy, “Point the way”, the arrows

October Afternoon - Farm Fresh, “Root Cellar: (reverse)

Spellbinder Die - Sprightly Sprockets

Prima Alpahabet - Sunrise, sunset  #562984

Tattered Angels Glimmermist - Santa Baby and Lemon Zest

Ribbon - Spotlight

66 - CSI Challenge - Anatomy of nurses training

This week's colours reminded me of our hospital colours which were red white and grey, so I decided to scrap a photo which is many years old, but it still makes me smile. The quality of the photo is bad, but it reminds me of an era, a different society and of friendship born of united goals.  One of my friends has died, another has had cancer and we are all old chooks, but what we shared was precious and deserves to be remembered.

The photo is one of three of my cobbers, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  As usual, I am behind the camera, so nothing much has changed there.  We were all country kids and therefore not quite up to snuff with the city slickers.  They probably out did us in the sartorial stakes, but we won hands down, with our work ethic and practicality.

EVIDENCE

Buttons

Arrows

Plaid or check pattern

Heart

Plain white background

Holes - punched on the border

Drawing - doodled arrows

TESTIMONY

I chose to start my writing with “Anatomy of.....” and went on with details about Nursing training in the sixties.

THE JOURNALLING READS

Trainee Nurses were not allowed to continue their training if they got married.  We worked up to 60 hours a week, staying on duty until chores were completed. There was no provision for part time work. We earned less than $25.00 for our 60 hour week.

If unwell, we had to dress in full uniform, walk to Matron’s Office across the 

quadrangle and be examined by her.  She would then decide if we were crook enough to have a day in bed.  All sick leave had to be made up at the end of the course. A fine incentive not to “swing the lead.”

Whilst on Night Duty, we got out of bed to attend 2 p.m. Doctor’s lectures.  

Late leave to go out at night, was requested from the Home Sister, the one in charge of the Nurses Home where we all lived.   Only one late leave a week was permitted and begrudgingly approved by this self appointed moral guardian of our virtue. Nurses Home doors were locked at midnight, too bad if we weren’t Home.  Punishment for being late home was extra cleaning duties and no leave at all for a month.

This sign was placed in front of the Nurses Home, supposedly to stop Nurses kissing 

and cuddling their boyfriends in the car after a night out. To ensure no such liberties were taken, Home Sister used to ride her wooden broomstick around to shine her torch into the cars. 

In the four years of training we grew from girls into women & made friendships which have lasted a lifetime.  We looked after each other through thick and thin and most of all we had fun on the journey.

MATERIALS

Kaisercraft - white cardstock

Basic Grey - Patterned Paper, Wassail collection, D1448, Mantle, reverse side (red)

Basic Grey - Patterned Paper, Black Tie collection, D144, ( check)

My Mind’s Eye - Follow your heart collection, “Be amazing” reverse (spots)

My Mind’s Eye - Boy Crazy, Decorative buttons

Michelle Singh’s downloadable art - Heart and the arrows

Prima alphabet - Sunrise Sunset collection # 562984

Tape ribbon -  Craft Queen

E.K. Success Punch - Binding edge