Textures and Tales: March 2018

Thursday, 15 March 2018

Stuck?! Sketches! 15 March 2018 - Dream

Welcome to my blog where today I’m sharing a DT layout for

Stuck?! Sketches.

I enjoyed working with this sketch and used two 4'X4" photos,
but it could be adapted to one 6"x4" or two 3" x3" photos.

I started with this pretty floral paper which I've been ~~hoarding~~, saving for a special occasion; it's an older collection from Webster's Pages, The beautiful Chic collection, "Interior Design". I backed it with some green Core'dinations card stock called "Rosemary".

The spotty paper is also from Webster's Pages, The Simple Pleasures collection, "Plum Seed". I added a couple of doilies to soften the background.

The flair is from Funky Flairs. The title and the butterfly at the top are from WR Memory Keepers "Wildflower layered tags". The pink brads are by Vintage Brads.
The words strips are from Tim Holtz, "Small talk" stickers.

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-
These photos were taken on your first visit to Granny and Pa, all the way from Melbourne. It was lovely to have you in the house and watch you interact with new people. Understandably, you were a bit wary of us to begin with, but it didn't take long before you came willingly for cuddles and fell asleep in our arms. You still had that sweet new Bubba smell, that I never grow tired of. Such happy days. Love Granny, 15th May 2017.

Our generous sponsors for this challenge are:-

They are donating a $25.00 Gift Certificate.

They are donating a $20.00 Gift Certificate.

Thanks for calling in.

I enjoy reading your comments and appreciate you leaving them. Thank you.

Monday, 12 March 2018

Scrap Matrix DT - Ranger challenge - cards

It’s Helen with you today sharing my second Design Team project for the
Scrap Matrix Ranger challenge.

I love to send hand made cards and Ranger products are just the thing to kick start my mojo. The first card has a masculine theme; I think it would be fine for any occasion, Birthday, Father's Day, Retirement etc.

I began with an ivory coloured card blank, added some hessian from my stash and then puddled around with Ranger’s Distress Oxides to make the background of the card on smooth white 300 gsm card stock.

It's a messy process but I love the unpredictable nature of Oxides; I can never replicate a background, so each piece is original.

These are the oxide colours I used.

Ranger Distress Oxides

Frayed Burlap

Antique Linen

Iced Spruce

Walnut Stain

Looking for more detail, I sponged some Vintage Photo distress ink, through a Tim Holtz stencil “Measured THS012”

Then I stitched the background to a darker piece of card stock.

All our Sons and Grandsons are dog lovers, so this Gent with his top hat and his dog, looked perfect for a bloke’s card. He came from a collection of Idea-ology Paper Dolls. They are great for card making, art journalling and scrapbooking; super versatile. I added a Idea-ology Journalling Ticket for extra dimension and interest.

I tucked some Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon under the Metal Word Band similar to those in the store and tied the metal on with some sting.

Finally I rubbed some Moss coloured, Ranger Patina onto the metal, to create an aged effect.

The second card is a girly one.
We have a little Grand daughter learning ballet
and I thought this would suit her perfectly.

I've used the Ranger Distress Oxides again to create the background.
These are the colours I used.
Salty Ocean
Wilted Violet
Picked Raspberry

The Ranger texture paste was added through one of my
favourite flower stencils Tim Holtz Roses THS075

The dancing girl is from the same set as the spiffy gent in the top card,
she was in the pack of Idea-ology Paper Dolls.

Her dress looked rather brown, so I coloured it with Ranger Distress ink, Spun Sugar, then added Ranger embossing pad and heat embossed it with
Ranger glitter embossing powder.

The stamping was done with Ranger archival ink, Majestic Violet

The stamps are Dylusions inbetweenies DYR34575

I added a few strips of torn Tim Holtz washi tape.

The metal band is from Ranger Idea-ology word bands, similar to the
Metal Word Band in the store.

Finally and using the Idea-ology Paper Dolls again,
I created a wedding card.

The cream brocade fabric is from my Mother's stash and I used her
old pinking shears to cut the edges.

This time I used Ranger Texture Paste Matte 4oz first through a Tim Holtz Stencil, Flourish THS032, then I dried it off and used the Ranger Distress Oxides to create a resist effect.
These are the colours I used.
Peeled Paint
Cracked Pistachio
Antique Linen

Then I tucked some Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon at the bottom, topped it with some Cream lace from Scrap Matrix , before adding a Tim Holtz Word Key.
It was a bit shiny, so I altered it with Ranger Patina for all metal,
Moss and Jade colours, before rubbing in a bit of Ranger Black archival ink.

The bunched ribbon is some seam binding from my stash.

Thanks for calling in today, I hope you found something to inspire you.
You still have a few days, to enter the challenge;
I'd love to see what you create with Ranger products from the
Scrap Matrix store.
You can add your entry at Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Page

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Stuck?! Sketches! DT 1st March 2017 - Chasing Dreams

Welcome to my blog where today I’m sharing a DT layout for

Stuck?! Sketches.

At first, I wasn’t quite sure where to go with this challenge because the photos are small, but as they were taken on Christmas day, I thought they deserved a place in our Grand daughter’s album.
I’m quite happy with the way it all came together in the end.

The background paper is from Blue Fern, Montage collection, “Now and then.”

I used 7 Dots Studio “Paint Chips’ collettion behind the photos.

The washi tape is from my stash.

The heart circles are a cut file from “Just Nick”. I coloured the cut file with a mixture of Ranger Distress Oxides, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Antique Linen.

The Title and the puffy butterfly are from Maggie Holmes “Chasing dreams’ collection.

I popped a couple of crystals into the clusters, they are from Prima.

The little wooden dog embellie, reminds me of my Grand daughter’s dog; He is a Schnoodle.
I found the embellishment in a dollar shop.

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-
It was so exciting to wake up with you in our home on Christmas morning. You'd travelled the scenic route, along the Great Ocean Road, from your home in Melbourne, bringing Alfie, your dog, along for the ride. You didn't really know what Christmas was all about, but you enjoyed ripping the wrapping paper and banging a little wooden hammer on your Xylophone. Your big cousins enjoyed having you in their pool with them after lunch and you survived their attentions pretty well! You love your Doggie, often attempting to give him kisses and snuggles which he tolerates with good humour.
Love Granny, Christmas day 2017

Our generous sponsors for this challenge are:-

They are donating a themed prize pack.

and

Thanks for calling in, I hope you found something to inspire you.

I enjoy reading your comments and appreciate you leaving them. Thank you.

Scrap the Boys DT March 2018 - One of a kind

Hello Scrappy Friends, welcome back to my blog today where I'm sharing a DT layout for

Scrap the Boys
The challenge is to use this sketch to scrap about about the boy/s (of any age) in your life.
I hope you will feel inspired to play along and be eligible for a prize.

The sketch is by Laura Whitaker

I adapted the sketch a bit, to better suit my photo, but I hope you can see that I used it.

I thought the stars on the base paper would work well with the large star on the sketch.
It’s from Echo Park, Teacher’s Pet range.

The big star is a cut file from Just Nick.

The chipboard is from Blue Fern, I retrieved it from a discard pile when the cracks didn’t work on an earlier layout. I added a mixture Tattered Angels chalk mist, Mint Chocolate Chip and Clover and rubbed Nuvo Mousse into the crack.

The orange paper is an older piece from BoBunny, The Souvenir collection and the blue paper is from a 6x6 pack by Lawn Fawn, Perfectly Plaid.

The scraps of yellow are from the archives, it’s by October Afternoon.

The title is from Tim Holtz, chipboard quotes.

I added the fabric arrow as a focal point - it’s from Charm’s creations and the flair is from
Studio Fourteen40.

The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads.
We took you out to lunch recently and then to Pegi Williams bookshop to choose some books for your Birthday. We enjoyed your company and you helped me finish off your little cousin's Butterfly album for her 1st Birthday. We talked about cricket, of course, as you've been going to the Big Bash series, with your Daddy and Pa. You are fascinated by all things Sport, Aussie Rules Footy, Cricket in any format, and Tennis as well. During the past Winter you honed your footy skills, by doggedly practicing your kicking, catching and marking, often by yourself, if you had run out of partners. I admire the way you are so determined to succeed at the tasks you set yourself.
Love Granny, Photo taken 27th April 2017

I appreciate your kind comments and so enjoy reading them. Thank you.

Kraft+ DT March 2018 - A sketch & Fussy Cutting

Hello again Scrappy Friends, welcome; today I'm sharing a DT post for
KRAFT+

For this challenge, we were asked to use the sketch and do some fussy cutting.

I chose to scrap a photograph of one of my Irish Ancestors.

Because of the challenge to fussy cut, I used this gorgeous floral paper from Prima, the Rosibelle Collection, “Lucky charm” It's difficult to see the gold foil accents, but they do look lovely IRL.

The chipboard is from Scrapmatts; one of our generous sponsors. I treated it with my favourite embossing powder, Stampendous Aged Ivory.

I added texture with Liquitex modeling paste through a 13@rts stencil, which I purchased from another of our generous sponsors - Scrap Matrix

The random stamping was done with a Prima stamp and I flicked on some Tea Rose Glimmermist, before glueing down some Prills and tiny beads.
The flowers were from my stash.

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

My Maternal Great, Great, Grandmother, Honora Hayes (Hennessy),

was born in Galway in Ireland in 1815. She died in 1899 and was buried at Caltowie in the mid North of South Australia.
She married Thomas Hayes, also from Galway, in Ireland, where they had 6 children, before emigrating to Australia, we think on the "Eliza" in 1849. Little is known of their early years in Australia, but they had another three children after they arrived and eventually farmed land near Caltowie, in South Australia.

We assume they left Ireland because they were starving during the potato famine which lasted from 1845-1852. The famine remains a controversial event in Irish history. Debate and discussion on the British government's response to the failure of the potato crop in Ireland, the exportation of food crops and livestock, the subsequent large-scale starvation, and whether or not this constituted genocide remains a historically and politically charged issue.
I marvel at the courage and tenacity of my ancestors, who chose to leave their country, their relatives and friends, to embark on a perilous journey to an unknown land and start all over again with nothing. Little wonder that they were fiercely independent and viewed authority with disdain. I can't imagine how the women coped with multiple pregnancies, infant mortality, no running water or electricity and often very little food. Yet cope they did and through the generations, we've reaped the benefit of their brave decision to cross the sea, to make a new life in Australia.
Journalling 13 February, 2018

I enjoy reading your comments and appreciate you leaving them. Thank you.

If this is your first visit to my blog - welcome, I hope you found something to inspire you.