Circus - CSI/s365 - 5

Today I'm sharing a combined challenge set by Debbi Tehrani

 at CSI for s365 - 5. It has a circus theme.

I was so inspired by the Case File photo.  

It lead me to scrap a very ordinary photo, 

but the only one I have to tell the story of the day.

Sometimes any image is better than none.
If you'd like to play along, you have a chance to be selected
to create a layout for a future s365 magazine publication
CLICK HERE

I wanted to create a child like, naive style page with gelatos.

First, I sketched a rough outline, before colouring with gelatos and pencils. 

I added water, but not a lot, as I wanted to retain 

some of the hessian like texture as well.

The circus elements are from a cheap shop.

When flicking some paint around, 

I managed to make a frightful mess - what to do?

Ah hah - some camouflage in the form of some greenery.

The grass is from some ancient stickers.

EVIDENCE

Stripes

Animal accents

Paint

Scallops

Circus theme products

TESTIMONY

I chose to write about “Something silly.”  

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

I’m reluctant to say that the twins third birthday was a three ringed circus, however, the noise level was high and there was plenty of monkey business going on.   Here we have the troupe all roped up for their epic high wire act around the kitchen.  The ring master was supervising from the side and the intrepid leader forged ahead, with his support act tethered safely behind him.  Fortunately no one tumbled off and the act was deemed a roaring success. The clown juggled for attention and the Elephant balanced precariously on a ball, whilst the Lion could be heard roaring in the distance. However, the high wire act was voted top act by the audience.   Stay tuned for the next exciting appearance of "Flying Rascals".   January 2014   Love Granny

Left brain - Right brain, CSI DT challenge 116

Thanks for this brilliant case file Debbi - I absolutely loved it. 

All colours were used, plus complimentary colours less than 10%.

For a peek at what the other DT artists have created

CLICK HERE

EVIDENCE

Musical elements

Monogramme

Circles

Silhouette

Solid black background

Something that runs on electricity (computer)

TESTIMONY

Journal on several different journalling spots.

Inspiration words, think, process, idea.

The journalling is on the back and it reads:-

I found the image on the mood board inspiring and it lead me to use a silhouette of myself as a young woman.  It was cut by S. John Ross, a renowned silhouette artist who grew up in America and migrated to Australia after the second world war.  At that time he practiced his craft at Luna Park in Sydney.  For a small amount of money and about five minutes of my time he created this very good likeness. 

First he folded a thin piece of black card in half and with small scissors cut a double silhouette in just a few minutes.   So, the silhouettes combined with the mood board got me thinking about the functions of different areas of the brain. 

I had the idea that I would be primarily Right brained.  However when I did some research I found that the Left/Right brain hypothesis no longer has much credibility in the scientific world.  Despite that, I am much more at home with most of the qualities listed as being Right brained.  By contrast, during my working life, I relied on Left brain skills almost exclusively.  I was surprised to find reading and writing listed on the left, because these are two of my favourite things.

What does that all mean, you may well ask?  Perhaps that I was in the wrong career all my life?  Maybe that I’m a good all rounder?  Possibly, I'm just a crazy, mixed up kid!   I’m not really sure, but it was a fun way to crack the case. 

A photo of the legendary S. John Smith

MATERIALS

This is the first digital page I’ve created.  I photographed my silhouettes and then inverted them.  I searched on line for free clip art to drag and drop on to the silhouettes.  The border is a brush found in Adobe PS CS3

Peek a Boo - CSI challenge 115

Today I'm sharing a CSI DT boy's layout using non-traditional colours.
Initially I had difficulty finding a photo to go with these 

soft colours and the girl in the mood board image. 

However, when I came across these photos of DGSon 

with the dark brown background they seemed just right.  

I used the peachy end of the pink tones and just little touches of the other colours.  

Just right for a boy - why should girls have all the pretty colours?

The DT have a large variety of styles to show you using these colours. 

If you'd like to join in, use at least two prompts for the evidence

 and at least one prompt from the testimony.

Because I didn't have papers in the peachy tones, 

I mixed a few gelatos to create the pale and mid toned peach.  

A grey gelato coloured the leaves and the black ink splashes are Glimmerglaze.

The distressed doilies are fussy cut from

 Cor'dinations White Wash card stock, Hazelnut 

The die is from Memory Box and the red pearls are Kaisercraft

Not sure of the make of the wooden heart, 

but I used Glimmerglaze "Chianti" to colour it the dark crimson required.

Gesso was used to prime the card stock

then texture paste applied through

the stencil which is by Urban Artist "Diamonds Forever."

Prima alphabets

The cute wooden bird is from Freckled Fawn

I use a Martha Gardner punch to make the little heart strip

Love the camera Flair  from Studio 14

EVIDENCE

Hearts

Lace (on the doiley edges)

Bird

Leaves

Flowers

Pen work

Mixed media background

TESTIMONY

I went to the Friday 5 prompts and chose to write about “In what good ways are you like your Mother”  The journalling is on the back of the page and it reads:-

I’m not as patient, tolerant and serene as my Mother was, but I’ve learned to embrace a softer side of myself as I’ve grown older. The way Mum lived her life, demonstrated all those qualities; she was probably the most generous person I’ve ever known.

When I see the Grand children fighting over who’s turn it is to come to Granny and Pa’s, I remember how welcome our Boys were at my Mother’s home.

The minute they arrived, she got out the baking ingredients and would have a dozen family sized apple pies whipped up in no time.  They’d eat three or four of them there; Mum would keep one and the rest would come home with us to pop in the freezer.  Many years later, one of our Sons still asks if I will bake an Apple Pie like Nanna used to make.

The Grand children love to cook with me too. When I happily tolerate the mess during the baking, I recall Mum saying “They are only little for such a short time, just enjoy them.  The work will still be there tomorrow.”  

When we play the age old game of Peek a Boo with the little ones, I remember her allowing our Boys to climb all over her. She’d hide them under her apron, so they could play that game with her.  She delighted in their antics, their tantrums and their little triumphs.  I’m so grateful she was my Mother and I attribute my Grand parenting skills to following her fine example. Journalling March 2014

Laugh out loud - Scrap Africa challenge 27

Today I’m sharing a DT layout for the Scrap Africa challenge, No 27, 

hosted by Rene, which is to use Stars and stitching.

You can find details of the challenge here
I'd love you to pop over and see the variety of examples created by the DT
and maybe enter the challenge.   You have a couple of weeks to play along.

The back ground paper is so old, I don't know the brand. 

 I cleverly cut the label off years ago, 

before I had any idea that I would one day have a blog,

 and be entering challenges, let alone be on design teams!

First I used a variety of stencils and texture paste, 

before misting them in green and brown. 

 A close up to show you, the stars

 The stitching forms a line for my journalling, 

similar to the example page by Kinsey Wilson.

I used lots of Kaisercraft collectables “Hello sunshine”

The heart washi tape is from a $2.00 shop

The journalling reads:-

One hot summer day, you two little boys were cranky.  With a few toys in the paddling pool, it was just amazing how quickly your moods changed.

Jan 2013.  Love Granny

Numbers

Such a fun mood board and bright colours from the amazing Debbi Tehrani at CSI this week and an fabulous sketch by Em Stafrace. 
I hope you will hop over and play at the 

CSI CHALLENGE

I’m still on an economy drive to use older stash and all of these papers fall into that category.  The green is so old, I have no idea of it’s provenance.  The green spotty, the yellow spotty and the red papers are older Kaisercraft.

 The cute phone button is from October Afternoon

The circle die is by Memory Box

A Tim Holtz die made the rosette

A Tim Holtz embossing folder created the numbers on the banner

The alphas are from Doodlebug - Just my type

Basic Grey provided the rub ons and they still work beautifully

EVIDENCE

Numbers

Technology accent (telephone flair)

Loopy border (red trim)

Rub ons (stars and bar code)

Circles

Symbols (in the tree)

TESTIMONY

What is your favourite number Granny?

Eight.

Why?

Because it has two circles joined together.

Why do you like two circles joined?

It reminds me of infinity.

What’s infinity?

Never ending, or beginning.

But things have to end don’t they, like playing has to finish to go to bed?

Hmmm...some things have to end.

Well I wish playing was infinity.

What’s your favourite number Lachie?

10

Why do you like number 10?

Because it’s two numbers, but it actually = only one number.

Of course, how logical.

What’s logical mean?

etc, etc, etc and so forth and so on…..love Granny February 2014

Happy today

I'm sharing a page for the CSI Design Team today.  

Take a look at these delicious gelati colours.

I used a sketch from S365

It was such fun to work with.

I'd love to see you at CSI

Papers used

Prima All about me collection “All about me” Chevron and thumb prints

Making memories Noteworthy “Delaney” floral (teal spot)

Making memories Noteworthy “Delaney” Stipe (pink)

Fancy Pants Family tree “My family” (ledger print)

Studio Calico - Wooden title, typewriter and stars

Never thought I'd use vellum again!  Melissa Frances - Vellum envelope

Amy Tangerine - Remarks “Cute overload” provided the cute puffy camera

Love the quote from Kaisercraft Collectables - “Hello sunshine”

EVIDENCE

Camera

Hearts

Birds

Owl

Scallops (edge of envelope)

Banner

TESTIMONY

I chose to put my journalling in the envelope and use the inspiration words, love, memory and family.  The journalling reads:-

I love this family photo which was taken on your third birthdays.  You each had your own cake, which tested your parents ingenuity because one of you chose a swimming pool cake and one a construction site cake; indicative of what you’d observed being built in your own back garden. Your big cousin had given you water pistols, so you had a wonderful time squirting everyone and everything in sight.  Happy memories. Love Granny 25 Jan 2014

Archiscraps

Today, I'm sharing a page which is a special project designed by Debbi Tehrani at CSI in collaboration with Archiscraps. It inspired me to scrap a photo from our visit to France.

If you'd like to join in, you have the whole month of March to do so.

The DT have created a wide range of pages to wet your appetite.

Why not hop over and have a look?

CLICK HERE

I used an Authentic paper "foundations" as the background 

The bright yellow underneath is Crate Paper, Happy Day

The stripey pieces are very old Basic Grey, Aged and confused, "Phinicky"

I use a Memory Box to die to create the tree

The Crafter's workshop and gesso to create a stained glass window effect

Architectural element is something I've had for ages.  E.K Success

Another architectural element.  Tim Holtz, Pediment 

EVIDENCE

Stipes (patterned paper)

Decorative border

Tree

Paint

Architectural accents (Pediment, Eiffel tower, gold accent)

TESTIMONY

Document something about architecture - Journalling is on the back and it reads:-

It was a happy accident when we stumbled across this exquisite Chapel, tucked away in the heart of the Palais de la Cité on the Ile de la Cité in Paris.

The Sainte Chapelle, is a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic architecture built by King Louis IX, (later Saint Louis.)  Unlike a lot of dark and gloomy Gothic buildings, its unique stained glass windows and brightly painted ceiling, render the air iridescent with light and colour.  

We marveled at the intricate details and the craftsmanship from the 13th century.  How could such splendid results be achieved without computer drawings, modern tools and machinery?   After a busy day sight seeing, this unexpected find was a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city. 22 June 2004