Happy girls are the prettiest girls - Scrap the girls challenge

Hello again scrappy friends, welcome back to my blog.

It must be the heat keeping me confined indoors that’s responsible for a second post for the month!
The layout is entered in the January challenge at SCRAP THE GIRLS and it’s a free style event; use any colour, any design.

There is also a sketch provided.

I chose to scrap this photo of my DGD who is always smiling. 

She loves dressing up and having her photo taken.

I wonder how long it will last.



I used a collection of Pink Paislee papers mixed with some old Crate paper and the title was cut from an Echo Park sheet.



The chipboard stars are from Blue Fern and the lace is from Prima.

Thanks for calling in to say hello. 

I truly appreciate any comments you may care to leave.

On the Wallaby

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

What an amazing country we live in.  Each day a new landscape and a new adventure.  We didn't plan anything much, just drifted along, camping by the side of a River or in a free park, occasionally staying in a Caravan Park to charge the batteries and wash our clothes.

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.

Our Three Angels

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

Elegant - August sketch from Scrap Africa

Hello all my scrappy friends.  

I’ve finally found some time to scrap

 and was inspired by Denise Van Deventer’s great sketch at 

SCRAP AFRICA

I’ve been waiting for just the right opportunity to do justice 

to the vintage photo, 

which was taken at another Aunt’s wedding.

I love the sweet bonnet worn by my Sister

 and the smart, tailored look of my Aunt’s clothes. 

My Mother made all the clothes, including the bonnet and hat.

 I choose some Kraft card stock to suit the muted photo.  

The black and white blooms were cut from some wrapping paper 

and the stencil is from Tim Holtz.

The black frame is from Manor House.

It won't be so long before the next post

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

Oh Hello There - CSI DT challenge 162

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. 

Like the look of the challenge?  Well grab your forensic kits and let's get sleuthing.  There's lots of prizes to be won.

CLICK HERE 

To see what the DT and Guests have created for your inspiration.

The background paper is an oldie, but a goodie, 

"Rough and Tough" by Fancy Pants.

 The little pinwheel is by Kaisercraft and 

the speech bubble is by Basic Grey

Love the film strip by Tim Holtz

and the cute robot/space man by Kaisercraft 

I'm not sure where I acquired the fabric flair.

The label is also an oldie, from ?October Afternoon

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

Waiting - CSI DT challenge 160

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.

Happy - Kraft+ March challenge

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.

The challenge is to use Kraft plus, sketch, glitter, e.g. gold, sequins, bling. 

CLICK HERE 

to see what the Design Team have created for your inspiration.

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.