Note to self - DT page for CSI 145

Hello and welcome to my blog, I hope you will find some inspiration here.

Today I’m sharing a layout for CSI challenge 145.  It’s a quirky image and lends itself to any kind of page.

CLICK HERE

to see what the rest of the design team have created.

I hope you will feel inspired and join in for a chance to win some 

fabulous scrappy prizes.

I fell in love with the image for this case file and remembered that I had a small piece of the same paper tucked away. So I had a play with an “Art journal” kind of page.  It didn’t turn out quite the way I expected, but I guess that’s what Art Journalling is about.  For the first time, I managed to use all the evidence prompts - yay!
The mixed media background was created with Prima crackle paste
and Tattered angels Glimmermist.

The dress was made from Cosmo Cricket, Odds & Ends, "Remnant"

The stamps are from Unity stamps - Jillibean soup

 The gorgeous umbrella chippy is from Scrapmatts

The butterfly stencil and stamp are from Prima

 The heart chippies and the sequins were a gift from my friend

JANICE NICHOLLS

Thank you Janice  :D

I was inspired to try draping the paper by seeing some layouts by

MARILYN RIVERA

EVIDENCE

Mixed media background

Hearts - on dress pockets and texture paste

Wings

Flowers - on dress

Stamps

Transparent elements - Sequins on dress and blue beads on brolly

Floral pattern on dress

Polka dots - on dress

Stripes - stockings

Stencil - MM

Pockets - on dress

Quotes

TESTIMONY

I went to the fairy tale prompts and chose to write as though I was talking to myself.

The quotes and poem read:-

The greatest challenge in life, is discovering who you are.

The second is being happy with what you find.  (Unknown)

Life’s challenges are not meant to paralyse you,

They are meant to help you discover who you are, (Unknown)

Make a little garden in your pocket,

Fill your cuffs with radishes and rocket,

Let a passionfruit crawl up your thigh,

Grow some Oregano in your fly.

Make a steamy compost of your fears,

Trickle irrigate your life with tears,

Let your troubled mind become a trellis,

Turn your heart into a summer palace.

Michael Leunig

The first quote has helped me to accept myself just the way I am, a flawed woman, doing the best I can to live in the moment.  Not regretting the past or worrying about the future, but enjoying the here and now, because that is the only moment I have.  

The second one has given me hope in the darkest times and guided me to find the lessons to be learned from adversity.  Sometimes the lessons seem rather obscure and sometimes I think they are meant to teach me patience; not one of my virtues. 

The whimsical poem by Michael Leunig, is one of my favourites.  It teaches me not to take myself too seriously, to harness my tears and fears so they can nurture my heart and allow it to bloom. 

A true friend & Love is all you need - DT for CSI challenge 144

I love the colours of this case file and had the perfect photo for them.

CLICK HERE
to see what the Design Team and Guests have created for your inspiration.
Then grab your forensic kits and let's get sleuthing

The background paper is from Blue Fern studios,
the Ombre Collection, "Susan's dream"
It's a thick and sturdy, perfect for all the mixed media you want to use.

 The chipboard words are from Scrapmatts
The "Happy" paper clip is by Prima

Some Mixed media with a Prima stencil, various sprays and inks
A yummy flair from Studio fourteen 40
A few bits a washi from Craft Queen
Some stamping by Kaisercraft triangle stamp

EVIDENCE

Paint/watercolour

Polka dots - on grey card and yellow tag

Stripes - faint stripes on the background paper

Triangles - texture paste and stamping

Pleated rosettes

Light bulb

Ampersand

Flower

Phrase stickers - well not really stickers, but phrases on chipboard, does that count?

Metal

Clip - “Happy” at the top

Button

TESTIMONY

I went to the Thought Questions prompt and wrote about “What’s something you look forward to?”

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-

My favourite day of the week is Tuesday, when we look after you two gorgeous kidlets in our home.  At three, you are excited when you wake up and it’s a Granny and Pa day.

You are full of questions about how the world works and ask “Why?” a gazillion times a day. Sometimes you get into a continuous loop of “Why?” questions, until in the end, I say “Because that’s just the way it is.”

You love to dig and plant in the garden and are enjoying harvesting and eating the snow peas right now. 

You take delight in baking, especially things which cook quickly and can be eaten hot, straight out of the oven.  You always want to take some goodies home for your big brother, Mummy and Daddy. 

One of the rituals you enjoy is ringing the door bell, at least umpteen times a day; something you don’t have at your home. 

Another is to make a Baby Smoothie in the blender.  Each of you stand on your own set of steps, pour in the milk, frozen berries, and honey, then blitz the contents into a thick drink, which you slurp loudly through straws.  Part of the process is sampling the blueberries and raspberries to make sure they are good enough to be used.  Quality control is paramount!

We often make crafty things, using punches, inks, stickers and glue.

Sometimes we carve stamps out of potatoes and paint with them outside, using the easel your Daddy used as a little boy.

You always love story time and have half a dozen “Spot” books which you know off by heart. You enjoy other stories too, but Spot is a favourite at the moment.  

When Daddy comes to collect you and have dinner with us, you’ve had your bath and are ready to plop straight into bed when you get home.  We flop in the chair, worn out by the day, but wouldn’t change a thing, because you bring so much light, love and laughter into our lives.  Love you to the moon and back little boys.  Photo 8th April 2014.  Journalling 18 October 2014.  Love Granny

Meditation tags - Scrap Africa Dt challenge 37

Hello, hello, nice to have you back to visit; 

perhaps you will leave a little comment or become a follower.

I love to read your kind remarks.

Scrap Africa has changed things up a bit and we hope you will like

the challenge this fortnight which is simply "Lists"

It can be a page, a card, an OTP, any topic, any colour.

CLICK HERE to see what the DT and guest designers have created.

Most of my lists are functional, like shopping, packing for holidays, 

ordinary stuff, hardly worth creating a page about.

I decided to make a tag holder with inspirational words 

by Louise L. Hay, which I can use when meditating.

The latest of her books I have been reading is "Heart Thoughts,"

a beautifully illustrated, colourful book, chock full of wisdom

First, I made the background on chipboard, using a technique I learned in class from 

LOUISE NELSON

If you don't know her Art, do yourself a favour and check out her blog;

she is extremely talented, and generous with her knowledge.

The topiary tree, the chippy lace and the words are from Scrapmatts.

The papers are from Maja, "Coffee in the arbour" collection.

I created a gusset in the side of the paper to make room for eight tags to go in the pocket easily.

The words are paraphrased from the book and printed directly onto the tags.

Then I used texture paste and various stencils for texture, 

before spraying with Lindy's stamp gang mists.

The tags are a bit hard to read here, so I've typed them out, if you are interested.

Try to meditate outside for at least 10 mins a day.  

Just sit quietly. “Be” in the moment and connect with the Universe and Joy.

Yelling at the little girl inside only makes things worse. 

She is frightened and hurt.  

Embrace her and say you will always love her.

Ask yourself why you are angry? What am I sorry for?

Identify the feeling beneath the anger and gently let it go.

Replace the negative thoughts

like fear of pain, loneliness, loss and grief.

Open yourself to harmony, peace,

renewal of the spirit.

Be gentle and kind with yourself. 

Comfort your inner child, as you release 

negative thoughts and replace  them with positive ones.

Don’t chastise your self too much for your mistakes,

 that is how we learn.  

Love yourself for your willingness to try again.

Love yourself.

One of the gifts of loving

yourself and loving others, 

is the feeling of tranquility and 

well being that it generates.

Forgive your Parents

for their perceived mistakes.  

They did the best they could with the 

information 

they had at the time.

Thank them..

Making Memories - Enjoy life. DT for CSI challenge 143

Welcome to my blog on this sunny day in Australia.

I have a CSI challenge to share with you with a bonus sketch from Em Stafrace.

To see what the challenge is all about and take a peek at what the 

DT have created for your inspiration.

CLICK HERE

I used a gorgeous paper from 13@rts as the background

Flyaway, "Fleeting moments"

Some chippies from Scrapmatts
An ancient K&Co beaded flower

A Studio fourteen40 flair which just happened to be the right colour.

EVIDENCE

Mixed media background

Frame - the photos

Cogs, gears

Circles

Butterflies

Typewriter

Clouds

TESTIMONY

Document something on my mind - My obsession is with photographing the Grand children.  I’m determined to gift them with a pictorial diary of their childhood, so I’m a bit of a pest with the camera.  The journalling reads:-

You sat on the stool in the shade, whilst I tried to capture your vivacious personality with a lens. Your mood is mostly exuberant and playful, but this day you were tired, withdrawn and pensive.  Your demure expression is one that’s rarely seen and all the more precious because of that. The photo on the far left reminds me so much of my youngest Sister as a child; just a nuance,  a glimpse of my side of the family. Love Granny      10th August 2014

Beach, Timeout, Paradise. DT for Scrap Africa, sketch challenge 36

Today I’m sharing a DT layout for Scrap Africa sketch challenge No 36.  It has a lovely tropical feel and prompted me to use a photo of our youngest Son and his partner, taken in Bali at his Brother’s wedding.  

I used the Kaisercraft Paradiso range, “Tropical Bliss”, 
The Paradiso collectables and acetate overlay.

Having stitched the overlay to the page, I discovered it wouldn’t photograph without reflections, so I unpicked it and got it flat again.  Now the photo looks a bit blurred, 
but I’m not clever enough to figure out how to fix that.  
If you have any hints, I’d love to hear about them.
Would you like to join in the challenge?
Just CLICK HERE to see what the DT have created for your inspiration.
Come and play too and maybe win a prize for your own page.

The journalling is on the back and it reads:-

We gathered from all around the world to attend your Brother’s wedding in beautiful Bali.   You had been living and working in London for years and it was wonderful to see you both again, after so long.  We had about a week together, just relaxing before and after the wedding and enjoying each other company.   The Bride and Groom looked gorgeous, the food and drinks were delicious, the setting idyllic.   But the very best part was having all my chicks gathered around in the same place for a family celebration; when the first of our children got married. Nothing gladdens the heart of a Mother more, than a big hug from her Boys.