31

Once upon a Sketch September challenge

Hello Blog friends...This is my take on the challenge...The theme for this month is " Lucky" and that is precisely what I am - Lucky to have met this man and be married to him for 31 years this past week! Was it always easy? No ways...many were the days that I felt like packing my bags and leave him, and I am certain he would have gladly helped me pack those bags and send me on my merry ways,  but we stuck it out with each other. I did and sometimes still battle to accept that George is some one who does things and not an emotional, being in touch with my feelings kind of guy, making it difficult at times for this sentimental Pisces girl! I just need to ask, and my handy man Husband will deliver, I also know he will go to the end of the world for me and although he does not say so I know that he loves me...his never complaining about my scrapping budget is a big indicator of that...!

This photo was one of many taken for our wedding invitations...

For this challenge I used the following Prima Papers: Almanac Collection, Wordsmith

                                                                              Tea-Thyme Collction, Marcella

                                                                                             Engraver Collection, Arcade, Calligraphy

I did rotate the sketch...

I wrote this sentiment on the back of my page...

One advantage of marriage is that,

 when you fall out of love with him 

or he falls out of love with you,

 it keeps you together until you fall in love again. 

 ~Judith Viorst~

Scrap Africa ~ Challenge 21

Today we have a challenge hosted by Elizna Parsons challenging us to use Washi Tape and Twine on our projects!

Now these photos were taken in 1984 and that is me and my husband and no...it was not a medical breakthrough...it was merely a fancy dress party where we had to dress as the opposite gender!!! Hence he had to carry his cushion baby for a few hours and I was in Army wear...big LOL!

I used Maja Design papers, Fikka; Kladdkaka

                                                                      Vintage Summer Basics 1921, 1944

                                                                      Spring Basics 6th and 9th of March.

I layered some of the headers and adhered some Photo strip Washi Tape over it.

Some Petaloo flowers and Prima Clock face and Clock hands.

I  dressed my Dress form with my twine and some shabby chic looking flowers with strips of Tulle in between the flowers.

I hope to see you enter Scrap Africa's challenge as well...go and get creative with your Washi Tape and twine and stand a change to win a gift certificate from Scrapbook Studio...

http://www.scrapbookstudio.co.za/

a certificate for 250 Rand (approximately 25USD), which can be used by foreign participants as well.

You have until the 30th September to upload your projects.

Art Journal

I'm not some one who jumps on the trend band wagon from the word go...I tend to take my time, trying to figure whether I will like doing some thing and more important, will I be able to do it...And in that lies my down fall many-a-times! Not always being very confidant in what I do and my worst critic, makes me miss out on fun adventures sometimes...

Like Art Journalling...Once I decided to try my hand at it, it took me at least two weeks of 'studying' Art Journals on Blogger and Pinterest and only after shouting out for some encouragement from my Face Book friends was I able to take that first step. And of course, the first page made it's way into the trash can!!! Going about it a little different with this page, I am making progress, so much that I can even confess that I actually like this page a lot. I'm busy with the front page and must admit that I can see me stretching my 'artistic' wings somewhat in that I am trying different techniques and using my supplies as well. I am only hoping that this exercise will also help me get over my fear of writing...not fear so much as reluctance to putting my thoughts onto paper!

After applying Gesso and some Textured Gel medium, I coloured the page with Distress Stains in Squeezed Lemonade,  Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade.

Did some stencilling with Texture Paint, stamping and more inking.

Took my title from what my Face Book friends told me!

Inked some thin chipboard pieces to create some stems and flowers...

I will not bore you with every single page I make...just the ones that are really worthwhile. Thank you for kind comments and words of encouragements...It means the world to me...

People are like stained-glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,

but when the darkness sets in,

their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.

  ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross~

So Magical...a Layout by Patricia Basson.

Were have the Years gone / Best Wishes

I can not believe it's September already? Making the title of my LO very appropriate..."Were have the Years gone", for this photo of Michelle is once again of her as a toddler at least 20 years ago! Whilst doing the stamped in UTEE technique last month, I at times stamped on the cooled UTEE making me think that it could be a neat marbling technique to try...and it works amazingly! I will give a photo tutorial at the end.

The Oval frame was done with this technique resulting in an amazing marble finish. The title was inked with Mix'd Media Inx; Chiffon and Wisteria and heat embossed with some Irredesant Sparkle embossing powder. I used papers from Creative Imaginations. Did some stamping and masking with texture paste on it.

Doesn't this finish look amazing...and the Imaginarium chipboard behaved beautifly even with all the intense heating that I applied to it.

The Prima resin bird got a little colour with Lindy's Stampgang Starburst, Cotton Candy Pink and Gregarious Grey.

I cut two strips with Tim Holtz Alteration Pennants Die, I used the shorter one as is and used the longer ones to roll as paper beads and glued them in between.

~~~

Step 1  Used Pearl UTEE on my frame.

Step 2: Stamped on the cooled UTEE with Archival ink; Plum and Sepia. It is best to use an acrylic block for the ink tends to slide on the UTEE, I wiped the mishaps of with a cloth until I was happy with my image...

Heat with heat gun, pushing the melted UTEE until the inks begin to marble.

~~~

...Best Wishes...

The same technique was used on this frame, this time using black UTEE with Jasmine and Pomegranate Inx. Also used Creative Imaginations paper again.

On the Butterfly wings I used Desert Moon Turquoise and Angel Wings Mauve embossing powders from Lindy's Stampgang...Used a Prima Sipper Pull as the body of the butterfly...

I hope I have inspired you to try these techniques...please feel free to share them with us on the Ning site, we would love to see what you create! And also remember, by leaving a comment on my post, you could stand a chance of winning a prize pack of Imaginarium design chipboard!

Oval Frame with Brackets 

IDF 0009

IDP 0032

Photo Frame 1

IDFR 0002

Monarch Butterfly

IDS 0059

IDW 0013

Thank You card / Sketch 21 Scrap Africa

Although I created this card for sketch challenge nr 21 hosted by Scrap Africa...I want to dedicate it to all of the friends who faithfully follow my blog and especially those that leave me a little comment and words of encouragement! I am not going to make any exceptions, but please know that it warms my heart each time I receive an e.mail notification that I have a comment waiting for me...I truly appreciate every single comment from you all...

I used Pion Design papers, Alma's Sewing Room and Studio of Memories. The doily is Die-cut with Spellbinders Venetian Motifs, and I also used Sizzex Alterations Pediments. The foliage is a Marianne Die-cut.

                        

My layers are given definition and lift with foam circles. Also did a little hand stitching.

Don't ask why, but the German version of Thank You just felt right for me, maybe it suited the European papers best?

The backside was not forgotten and also got some treatment...

~~~

The sketch to follow...

A gift from Evgenia Petzer...

And one from Denise van Deventer...

Gratitude is the music of the heart,

when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness.  

~Author Unknown~