Friday, February 25, 2011

Alice Ann & Albert

Finally I have finished my take on the Dusty Attic February Sketch Challenge.  It's only taken 10 days! 

Last month I created a page with DA items and put it uploaded it to the DA Gallery, and co-incidentally when the February Challenge was out it had a lot of similarities in reverse so I thought I would make February's into a double page.  (It doesn't exactly match but tones).  The first one is of my Great Great Grandmother and this one is of her first two children.  Their father died at the young age of 24.  She later remarried a Mr Fish and had three more children.  This layout is of my Great Grandfather, Albert, and his sister Alice Ann.
 

 I will write their story inside the tags.  The clock was misted with Glimmer mist and the centre given a coat of dimensional magic.
 A Tattered Angels clock frame was used to frame the photo.  
 I found a postcard template on the net, printed it on card and soaked the stamps off an old envelope and adhered back on the card while still wet.   A cluster of embellishments from my stash were included (below). 
I find that scrapping my ancestors is very special so I want to be very happy with the pages created as I hope they will be here for many many years to come.  I think this one took so long as I wanted to do my Gr Grandfather justice.  While going through the process I reflected on his life - the ups and downs....  He was very much a family man, married young at 19 and had a large family (11).  He was to endure many losses in his life with the death of three of his children as infants.  He worked hard as a grocer at Worsborough Bridge, Yorkshire, England.  In 1927 he had sold his grocer shop and booked fares to NZ for he and his family, however just days before they were set to sail the sale of the shop fell through.  They were so disappointed.  He then encouraged his eldest daughter, her husband, their baby, his son and daughter (my grandmother) to continue with the plan and sail to NZ with the future plan of selling the shop and following them.  The shop did not sell, the depression of the 1930s hit and Albert's health suffered.  He was never to see his daughters again.  His youngest child was born after the older children went to NZ and my grandmother never got to meet her younger brother although correspondence was regular between the two countries thus I included a post card in the layout.

I look at these photos and see this is where his descendants got their olive skin from ... and our height (lol).  He was of short stature, as was Alice Ann.  My Grandmother was 4ft 10 tall, her sister Alice 4ft 8 inches.  I hit 5 foot just!

Well tomorrow is a scrapping day at the Embellish It Crop so it will be the Prima BAP Challenge's turn - running out of days before the end of the month. 

Thank you so much for visiting. Until next time........ 

Dianne

WORDS

No words seem adequate to describe the situation in Christchurch since 12.51pm on Tuesday 22 February 2011 as a result of the 6.3 Earthquake made more severe by the shallow depth of just 5km. 

We are 163km south and felt the prolonged shake but that was nothing to what was to unfold in the following minutes.  The current toll is 113 but many more are missing.  It is heartbreaking as we feel for the families of the victims both those who have perished and the 100's with critical and serious injuries which will alter their lives forever.


While I know we need media coverage, which has been extensive, it is upsetting to see the same graphic clips of the injured repeated and repeated day after day, and it makes me angry to hear some of the stupid questions the reporters and presenters ask the victims and government representatives.  (that is my little gripe).  When it gets too much we have to switch the TV off.

Just down the road from Christchurch we feel guilty that our lives just carry on as usual but with the added grieving for all the people who's lives have been affected by this event. 

Being so close to the disaster zone Timaru has become sanctuary/ escape option for many of the victims with a welfare centre set up and many accommodating their friends and relations from Christchurch.  The camping ground and motels are full.  We are expecting an influx of Christchurch students to attend our schools for a period of time.  We will do our best to help these people through this period. 

Many have commented on their blogs about the earthquake but I feel that Azirca pretty much summed up the whole situation and our feelings.

Caring thoughts are with all the people who have suffered.  Take Care.

Dianne

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Babies Babies Everywhere

My workplace is having a baby boom with babies being born to and about to be born to staff members families.  Last week I attended a celebration for dear little twin baby girls who had been born 8-9 weeks early and are now home and doing well.  This is what I made for them.




I have made several diaper cakes before but usually much plainer than this however after seeing Rachel & Bo's recent creation it inspired me to add more embellishments thus a very bright embellished version. Here is one I made about 2 years ago. 

Then this week I was to attend a Baby Shower on Thursday and was not sure what gift to take.  Once again Rachel & Bo came to the rescue as I walked into our Scrapbooking session early in the week they were creating Nappy Cradles inspired from here.  This is my take on it. 


Well after this diversion I must get back to the weekend chores and then I might get some scrapping time later.

Hope your weekend is going well.  Thanks for visiting.
Until next time
Dianne

Friday, February 18, 2011

Primo Prima - February's Prima Pick and Palette & ...Also a Mention


Prima's Product Picks for February will make your heart flutter!
Soft pinks and rich reds are sweetly intertwined with gorgeous fabrics, luscious pearls, and sparkly crystals to create some of the most unique and exquisite products on the market: all hand-made by Prima!

This month's pick includes:
Audrey Rose, Delightful Day, Dechire & Floret Flowers, Fabric Ribbons, Candy Gems, Gianna Flowers, Melody Papers and journaling cards, Say It In Crystals Lace and Trim Sets, our new Heart Canvas Album and so many more gorgeous flowers!


January's Prima BAP winner has been announced and I was thrilled to be in the mention lineup.  

Have a wonderful weekend.
Dianne

Thursday, February 17, 2011

January Highlight

The Birds of a Feather Craft Together February challenge was to scrap a 'low light' or 'high light' from January and to use fabric/lace and dimension.  The Sketch....
 And my take ...
My sister and I took my Mum (as her December Birthday Promise) and Auntie to Akaroa to visit 'The Giant's House" and we were not disappointed.  The giant mosaic creations were amazing and well worth a visit if you are over that way.   It was certainly a highlight of my January.  Mum creates beautiful mosaic pieces herself (on a much smaller scale of course, and all neatly grouted) so the visit was very inspiring for all.
From my prize pack of DA Goodies I used Dusty Attic Angel wings and 'January' word.  Crackle paint was applied  before embossing with 'Opals' which  gave it a cracked effect which can be seen slightly in the photos.
 
 I love the criss-crossed bauble lace which I use very sparingly.
It is hard to believe that it is Friday again tomorrow.  Hope your week is going well. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for visiting. 
Dianne

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sending Get Well Wishes

Last week we had some bad news - Auntie M was very unwell and in hospital. 
This is a little card I made and sent her. 
 


Auntie M is now at home recovering and get well thoughts continue to go her way.

Well another weekend is almost over.  They go too fast!  Will be back with more projects during the week if I get a chance.  
Still to come is my take on the Birds of a Feather Craft Together February Challenge and a Baby Celebration Project. 

Have a good week.  Until next time .....

Dianne

Friday, February 11, 2011

Some more cards...

The week's are flying past so fast already this year.  Last Sunday we survived the 40.3 degree C temperatures ...just ..... No air-con in our house but as of today I have it in my office at work yay...

Last weekend I managed to create a few more cards.
This one is a Thank You to the marriage celebrant
  and the inside.


Tulle was gathered for the strip through the middle so as to keep the main paper coming through. 
A Miscellaneous card - could be used for various occasions.
And another thank you card scrap lifted from an Amy Sheffer design. Amy makes the most amazing cards and projects. 
 
 The insides are very simple, just using a piece of the main paper and then using a Martha Stewart punch to punch around the nice quality slightly transparent paper on which to write the message.

Well that is it for today.  Another card and Baby Celebration Project were created during the week so I will share them next time.
Hopefully this weekend I will get some February challenges - Birds of a Feather Craft Together and Dusty Attic. done.  Speaking of Dusty Attic I received a prize box of Dusty goodness  during the week and can't wait to start creating with it. 

Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy your weekend.

Dianne

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Some Cards Today

This week our thoughts were with the people of north Queensland as they prepared and endured Cyclone Yasi - another totally devastating natural event.

Today I have had my first 'chat' online over at Dusty Attic so I was very pleased to hear that Michelle got through the cyclone unscathed. (also thanks Michelle for your patience while I figured out how to chat LOL)

I managed to create a card this week and am going to give it as a bereavement card. 
 Dusty Attic ferns were added to the Wild Orchid flowers. 
and the inside...
 And below is a  card created a few weeks ago as a "Welcome Home" card for friends who had been overseas for a while.
 
Used stamps were included to give it a NZ flavour along with the printed paper of NZ 'sayings' and of course the Tui. Below is the inside.
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.  I am off to my scrap room to make a couple more cards and do some layout planning.  What better way to spend a Saturday!

Thanks for visiting.  Until next time .....

Dianne