She blogs!!!!!  I thought I’d squeak in a page

on the last day of the Kraft+ challenge.

August was the last time I blogged and I hope to improve my strike rate in 2016.   I was inspired by the Travel theme  and have taken a long time to figure out a new photo editing programme - better late than never!

The page is about a three month trip in our Caravan, North from 

Adelaide to the Northern Territory, across to 

Western Australia and home via the Nullarbor.  

I used a Prima stencil and texture paste to give the impression of 

"droughts and flooding rains" on the map.

The travel quotes are mostly from Pinterest

A misty start to the day, Cooinda Road, Kakadu National Park, N.T.

Love the little caravan flair - it's from Scrap Friends.

The Bungle Bungles, Purnululu National Park, Kimberley region, W.A.

Happy New Year to you all, wishing you good health 

and harmony throughout the year.

Hello, hello, all my Scrappy amigos.  

I know it’s a shock, but I’ve blogged again; that’s twice this week.  

I hope it’s a sign of a renaissance at Chez Helen!  

The Kraft+ challenge for August was just too unusual to resist and what a great response there has been from the scrappy community already.  

HERE is the link to see what the challenge is all about.

I went with a Star motif because it worked well with this Advent photo of three of our little Kidlets.  They are like stars in the night sky of our Autumn years and we are honoured to be a regular part of their lives.

The stencil is from Jenni Bowlin

The Alphabet I’m not sure about, as I borrowed it. 

I've yet to feel relaxed by Zentangling - perhaps it's an aquired taste.

The Love and heart brads are from Prima

The etched button is by Crate Paper and was a gift from 

Eila Sandberg

She is not only a generous friend but a super talented scrapper.

The wooden stars are from Studio Calico

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

You little cousins delight in one another’s company and also enjoy dressing up.  So it was fun to capture a few photos of you hamming it up, in your roles of two Shepherds and an Angel. 

Although your personalities are vastly different, you are drawn to each other, like birds to the trees, meeting in the common nest of childhood innocence and mischief.  You make each other laugh and try to outdo each other with silly antics; sharing and co-operating with imaginative games. 

(most of the time!)

We love your company and laugh for days after you’ve gone, 

reflecting on the funny things, you say and do.  

Love you more than words can say. 15 Dec 2014

It won't be so long before the next post

as I have been challenged by the August current Kraft+ theme.

Hello Scrappy friends, welcome to my blog.

Sorry I've been MIA a bit lately.

For health and family reasons, I've decided to step down from CSI.  I know I will miss it, but hope to find time to play along.  I’m so grateful to Debbi for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a talented and inspiring team. 

EVIDENCE
Space elements, Metal, Circles, Stars, Stripes, Something transparent, Swirls, Label, Ink, Die cuts. - I almost used all the Evidence prompts,

TESTIMONY

I chose to write about something funny.

When you were almost 12 months old, one of your favourite toys was your rocket tent.  You were not able to walk, but were able to pull yourselves up, so the holes in the rocket ship were perfect to hang on to and just wonderful to play peek-a-boo.  You spent hours crawling in, peeking out, bobbing down and disappearing.  After a while you learnt how to lean on the sides of the rocket and tip it over.  As you tumbled over together, arms and legs intertwined, your squealing and giggles made us all laugh.  

Photos 15 Jan 2012, Love Granny

Hello Scrappy friends.  

Today I’m sharing a page for CSI challenge 160.

There is a bonus sketch from Em Stafrace.

CLICK HERE

To see what the DT and guest designers have created

for your inspiration.

Do you like using a monochromatic palette?

Then grab your forensic kits and lets get sleuthing.

The photos were taken in January in Phuket

at our youngest Son's wedding.

I followed the sketch almost exactly, 

but it's fine to rotate, or flip it, if it fits your photos better.

EVIDENCE

Travel elements - the venue and the stamp

Textured paper - the tag

Frame - the small photo

Flowers

Metal -the heart

Stamp

TESTIMOMY

I chose to journal about a trip; travelling to another country and also the start of a journey as Husband and Wife. 

I used the words by Kahlil Gibran on marriage on the background and wrote a personal message on the tag.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. 

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Hello Scrappy friends and welcome.  

This evening, by the skin of my teeth, 

I’m sharing a layout for the Kraft+ challenge.

Thanks Sandra and your amazing team for this inspirational challenge site.

I chose to use a gilding technique which I learnt

at a class with the super talented

Louise Nelson.

It's a bit of a messy process, but I love the result.

Hello scrappy friends, thanks for visiting my blog today.

There is a bonus sketch this week from Em Stafrace 

and the challenge is open for the whole month of March.

CLICK HERE

to see what the DT and guests have created for your inspiration.

I chose to use Grey at the predominant colour 

and minimal use of the red.

The background paper is from 13@rts, the Timeless collection, Perfect Moment, just the ticket for photos taken on a wedding day.

 The chipboard title and circles are from 2Crafty,

The sparkly dots are "Say it in crystals" by Prima.  

The wooden hearts are by Freckled Fawn

The metal charms are all from Seriously Scrapbooking, my LSS

EVIDENCE

Camera

Circles

Metal

String

Hearts

Distressing

TESTIMONY

I used the words capture and click to inspire my journalling. (My words are on the back of the page)

It can be tricky to capture natural looking photos of my Husband and my Son.  So those two images, which were clicked while they were focussed on something else, (waiting for the bride), are very precious.

They are alike in many ways, both reserved and thoughtful, yet with a quick wit and dry sense of humour.  They are both averse to conflict, but can take a stand, if an issue is important enough to them.

Their gifts of thoughtfulness, generosity and kindness, contribute so much to a relationship, smoothing the way through rare turbulent times, when friction threatens to disturb the peace.

Passionate about their beloved football team, they have been known to scream, shout, jump in the air and disagree (bleep....bleep) with the umpire, both at home and at the game.  Such a contrast to their normal behaviour!  They really are true believers.

In the early days of our marriage, I was surprised that my husband was willing to lend a hand with the household chores, something he was accustomed to, as both his parents were teachers. Mind you, I soon got used to the idea and came to appreciate it enormously!

By his example, our Sons learned how to treat women with respect, to appreciate their views and to share the washing, cooking, cleaning and decision making.

They knew from an early age, that household jobs are not gender specific, that women have a right to work, a right to have their own friends and a right to their own interests. They know, of course, that there must be reciprocity, for none of this could work, if all the giving is one sided. 

To me the essentials of life, are to find someone to love, to find something to do and to have something to look forward to.  We encouraged our Sons to take their time, to travel, not to settle for second best and to wait until the right person came along, before committing to a life together.

To be part of the wedding celebration as our youngest Son married his partner, was an absolute delight.  It's a wonderful thing to see all our chicks settled and happy. 

Our Sons have all found strong, intelligent and beautiful women to spend their lives with and we are delighted that the tradition of equality, set by my husband’s family, continues on to the next generation.

Hello, hello, today I’m sharing a DT challenge for CSI

So, are you ready for this week's challenge? Grab your forensics kits, 

CSI members, and get ready for some serious sleuthing 

as we open Case File No. 156.

CLICK HERE 

to see what the team and guests have created for your inspiration

I struggled with the colours and binned my first three attempts, so reverted back to what I know best.  The KISS principle.

I used the Teresa Collins range of papers "Nine & Co"

the bright patterned ones.

And a ten year old corrugated one by Wendy Irving.  

Glad I didn't purge that one!

Do you like the hat?

EVIDENCE

Leaves/flowers

Liquid pearls 

Cursive font

Triangles

TESTIMONY

I used the words, grow, spicy and power to inspire my journalling.

The photo of me was taken at a friend’s wedding on Kangaroo Island many moons ago.   We had just finished our Nursing Training and for the first time in our lives, had some choice about what we would do next.  My friend decided to marry, after only a few months courtship.

I was shocked, to say the least.  Marriage to me, at that time, spelt lack of freedom, inability to work and endless pregnancies.  Who, in their right mind would want to do that?  

Three of my Aunts were Registered Nurses, two of whom were single.  These two lived a life of freedom, dressed beautifully, drove their own cars and had regular holidays.  By contrast, the third Aunt married soon after training, had four boys in four years and suffered a nervous breakdown.   The poor woman never really recovered her brilliant mind and incisive decision making skills.

Which path would you choose, I wonder?  It seemed like a no brainer to me.  My inner voice said “Pick up your own power, explore the world and grow into the Woman you are capable of becoming.  Who knows what lies beyond the far horizon”.   So off we went, myself and I, with two like minded friends.  For a year we explored Europe, Britain, the United Sates and Canada. We Nursed the landed gentry on Harley Street.  We poured beers in pubs and cups of tea at Village Fairs.  We listened to jazz in New Orleans and protest songs in Irish pubs. We rode Camels in Egypt and ate spicy curries in Bombay.  Each country offered something new and fascinating.  Different food, architecture, languages, smells and sounds. Such enriching and enlightening experiences, which taught us that our previous view of the world was parochial and xenophobic. 

We returned home with a passion to continue our Nursing and a determination to have equal rights in any partnership. Nothing much had changed in our little corner of the world in our absence, but we knew there was more; we’d tasted it and were not ready to settle for mediocrity and small town attitudes.  This was the first of many journeys; once the travel bug has bitten it stays for a life time.  In the following years, life has not always been rosy, but I've learned that it doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal.” - Paul Coelo

Hello there, welcome to my blog 

as we say goodbye to 2014 and welcome in the New Year.

Today I’m sharing my last post as part of the creative team at
Scrap Africa.
 It’s been an honour and a joy to create with Denise van Deventer and the team.  I am unable to continue for a variety of reasons, 

but will always be grateful for the opportunity.

Thank you so much Denise.

I hope you will feel inspired to enter and be eligible for a $30.00 voucher from PPBN Designs or a prize pack from Papermania.

I have used techniques which I learned at an inspirational

class with Louise Nelson. She is an original and creative artist and I feel so lucky that she lives and teaches in my area.  

The Chipboard is by Imaginarium designs

The journalling is on the back and it reads:-

Because we don't see you as frequently now that you are at school, I always try to take a few photos when you come for a sleep over.  These days, you are not as keen to sit for five minutes while I do this and you assume a sad or silly face.   Pa tries to help out, by making rabbit's ears behind me or threatening to drop the washing basket on my head.   Invariably your sense of mischief kicks in and you get the giggles.   I love your sense of humour and the way you take delight in the ridiculous.  As challenges come your way, I hope your sense of fun will help you to always find the rainbows in the rain.

Love Granny - 16 November 2014