February Layout Challenge

A Facebook group that I belong to has a challenge to do a layout about something or someone you love.

I don’t usually do the whole soppy Valentines thing so I thought I would give the Hearts and Roses a wide berth and do something much more subtle.

February is also the month of our wedding anniversary and we ticked off 16 years this month.  After some ups and downs, re-assessment and moving house we have settled into a new happiness - one I reflect on and am grateful for, daily.

We had a professional photo session back in November and while we don’t have all the images yet (gotta pay them off, lol) we were able to select 3 or 4 to start us off.  There were some awesome photos taken that day and you will see many more when I finally get them all, but this photo of James is one I really love.

The layout itself was inspired by on I saw on Pintrest – some amazing layouts on there!  I used a patterned paper from the 9th Wave collection by 7 Dots Studios, added texture past through stencils from Maya Road and Crafters Workshop. I added Distress Ink sprays, distressed the edges with a couple of punches and doodled a bit too (I NEVER do that).  The wooden flourish is from my stash, as is the key and the charm.  The Library Card and Sentiment card were created on the Silhouette Cameo.

It was really good to do a layout for James – to be honest there are not that many.  I must rectify that from this point on.

Thank you for stopping in and for all the encouraging comments you leave.  It means a lot.

Esther  xoxo

 

Tag It On #159

This fortnight at Dragons Dream Tag It On the requirement is to use the colour Green and something starting with the letter F as well as the use of at least one real stamp.

Green Frog sprung immediately to mind, lol – No decent frog stamp in my stash however, so I came up with a plan B.

My husband would agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment!

I stamped my image and used water–colour pencils and a water brush, punching it out and popping it up on foam for some much needed dimension.  I typed the sentiment out on a word document, changing the text colour to white and the background to a deep sage green.

Thank you for taking the time to see what I have been up to.

Take care,  Esther xoxo

The Prison That Is Parkinsons

I belong to a Facebook group for New Zealand Paper crafters and Beth has put up a sketch challenge for January.

I wasn’t sure how I would manage a layout, with one hand in plaster but was keen to give it a go because I really like this sketch.

My husband’s Cousin, Glenys, took an amazingly poignant photo of my Father-In-Law sitting in the shade of the pergola one afternoon and when she showed it to me I just knew I had to scrap it!  She was really moved by this image and said to me – “This is life for Uncle Jim now.  Locked in the prison of Parkinson’s and Dementia.”  I admit to shedding more than a tear or two for this once strong and capable man.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

 

Esther xoxo

Let There Be Light

The latest challenge over at Dragons Dream Tag It On is to make a tag inspired by the letter “L”, using script in some way and naturally, at least one real stamp.

I used a Prima tag that already had script printed on it and stamped my lamppost, heat embossing it with fine detail black.

I made my own “washi” tape by using by script stamp on good old standard “invisible” sticky tape from the local $$$ shop. I used Archival ink and it set really well with little or no smudging.

All that was needed then was the finishing touches: tiny roses, homemade textured leaves, a bit of bling, some colour on the lamps and the phrase (excuse my less than stunning hand-writing – I just couldn’t figure out another easy way to add it to my tag with only having one had to use, lol)

Thanks for taking a look – I appreciate it.

Take Care – Esther xoxo

Dragons Dream Tag It On #157

I didn’t think I could take part this time – I broke my left wrist a week ago – but where there's a will, there's a way!

Helen has set the guidelines of  “the letter T and stencil(s)” along with the compulsory use of at least one real stamp.

I set out several rows of cheap medical tape and used a stencil with Tangerine coloured paint (actually it’s called Ginger Spice but you get my meaning, lol)

I then stamped over it with my favourite Text stamp.

I covered my Tag with the tape, added some Twine and finished it off with a Timepiece.

I’m pretty happy with the end result actually.  Not too bad for “a one-armed parent”, as my son calls me, haha.

Dragons Dream Tag It On #155

Whew – just made the last challenge in time – now for the next one.

The recipe this time at Dragons Dream Tag It On  is “a book of your choice as inspiration plus - Stencil/Mask, Paint and the colour green along with the obligatory stamp and tag.”

I am an avid reader – I certainly read a lot more as a child and one of my favourites was Anne of Green Gables.

I used a Stencil called Karen’s Houses on a Prima tag and a Prima Black Chalk Ink through it.  I ten got out my watercolour paints and completed the background.  This is where I discovered that the black was not “set”, even when dry!

I used a Magnolia “Tilda” stamp, coloured her with the watercolour paints and popped her up on foam squares.  Here is another view:

Not a huge amount of technique involved but I like it.

Cheers, Esther xoxo

Good Mood

7 Dots Studio have a challenge running to use their products in a layout about “Good Mood”.

I fell in love with 7 Dots Studio's papers at the workshop with Finnibair earlier this year.  We have no retailers who sell this line in New Zealand at this stage so Brenda and I got together and did an order from Australia.  I was particularly keen to get my hands on the 9th Wave collection and it was so worth it!!

For this layout, however I used a piece from the Love Is In The Air collection as the colours were just right for the photos.  I know I still have a couple of sheets from the Sunrise, Sunset collection that would have been awesome too, but do you think I could find them?

I won a free photo shoot with a local company and thankfully Liam was in a Good Mood so he was able to relax into it after an initial awkward stage.  By the end of the shoot he was totally rocking it!

I added some distress inks through stencils and inked up a wooden camera embellishment, popped on a kraft envelope with journaling on a ticket tucked inside.  The stamp is from Ali Edwards and the washi tape was some I got through Papervine.

It was good to do a layout again – my first since August for goodness sake! 

Cheers, Esther  xoxo