Saturday, December 21, 2013

Decorated Tili Jar

Whew - the very timely Holiday break has arrived but today has been a case of 1 step forward - 3 back as I do not know where to start with all the things going on in my mind.  I have a lot of half finished jobs which will have to be completed before bed and here I am on the computer.

We had our End of Year lunch yesterday and are allocated a person to be Secret Santa for so I thought I would share my creation and enter it in the Wild Orchid Challenge # 93 - Anything Goes.

I had fun decorating one of these very popular items this Christmas - The 'Tili Jar' is a very versatile retro item and can be used for anything from storing items to desserts, drinking wine or cocktails and could even be used as a vase for a summer posy.   The recipient likes gardening and reading books and relaxes with a wine so I suggested that "after some time in the garden she could relax with a book and kisses (chocolates included) and enjoy a relaxing drink."  The jar also contains a pair of gardening gloves.

 All flowers, spirals and leaves used are Wild Orchid




 Above - a personal touch of initials.  ...and below the flower arrangement lifts up to reveal a message.
Thanks so much for visiting today.  Please let me know you have been by leaving a little comment.  They are much appreciated.

This may be my last post before Christmas so wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas.  Thank you for your support during 2013.

Until next time...

Dianne                   PS - I have just realised this is post #300 - a milestone  lol.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

How Sweet is this little 'Santa's Helper"?

Half way though December already and welcome to Post #299 - hard to believe both.  I started blogging in 2010 just after Autumn Escape as a new challenge at the time.  I am booked for AE2014 so looking forward to that too. .  
I had a play with Nic Howard's pressed metal pieces to make the tree.      Papers are Kaisercraft 'Turtle Dove' collection from last year.  I used the stickersheet to layer behind the tree and added a few more bits. 
 ... a few closeups.
 The little parcels were made using book paper.  A little bit of gauze was added for softness and texture.
How cute is this little 'Santa's helper'?

We have had a lovely surprise this weekend - a visit from our daughter and 2 DGS's - just what I needed as I hadn't seen them for 5 weeks and thought I would have to wait until Christmas. 

I have entered this layout into the Southern Girls Christmas Challenge.

Thanks so much for visiting today.

Until next time....
...
Dianne


Friday, November 29, 2013

At the Butterflies

Back today with some pages created a few weeks ago for Embellish It with the Authentique 'Natural' Collection papers. 

At Labour Weekend we got to take Zac to one of his favourite places - the butterlies at the Dunedin Museum. 
and a few close ups. 
 Using a mask and texture paste this little bird cage was added.


 And a first attempt at a Project Life type page with some more of the photos taken that day.  The Authentique papers fitted in well with this.

Thank you for visiting today.  Your visits are very much appreciated.

My scrap room has had a massive clean up tonight so I have a clean slate for December.  DH left the vacuum cleaner at the door - must have decided it was time......

Have a great weekend.

DIanne


Sunday, November 24, 2013

My Happy Place - OUAS November

Hello and thanks for stopping by today.   'My Happy Place' and the below sketch are the challenge at Once Upon A Sketch for November and today I managed to put something together.  I had been playing with the papers and photo for a few days  (think it was because it was a rare occasion - scrapping a pic of myself as there are not many)

I have used mainly the Prima Delight collection and also a Dusty Attic Name Plate.  

 The photo is of the afternoon Jake came home from hospital at 6 days old.   He is now 6 weeks old - how time flies. 
 I used a word template with texture paste and  irridescent medium to add some texture to the base layer.  Some Acetate squares were  added for extra dimension.
 The challenge requires journaling so I included it on a tag behind the name plate.  Being able to spend time with to precious grandsons is definitely my 'happy place'.  My only regret is that we do not live closer... 



Below is the sketch. 

 Thanks again for visiting.

Have a good week.

Dianne


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Meet Jake - Prima BAP November

Welcome to my blog today and thank you for visiting.  I hope your week is going well so far. 

Unfortunately I didn't make it to the Embellish It Crop on Saturday due to a dose of the flu but I did manage to do a page at home over the weekend although not this one (I will share that another time).  I have had the Prima Delight papers sitting on my desk for a few weeks now so just had to use them for this month's Prima BAP for November.  I was also keen to get on to scrapping for new grandson, Jake's album so this special moment of meeting his Great Grandparents at age 4 weeks  is the outcome of this page created earlier this week. .
 
 I have also had these Prima resin items in my stash for a while so the time was right to use them.
 I had a bit of a play with a mask, texture paste and Glimmer mist. 
 The Prima canvas alpha were perfect for the sticker flags.

 This is definitely a 90% plus Prima Project.  Non Prima used is the Donna Balzar template, Websters trim, a few little flowers and Glimmer mist and liquid pearls.

Prima Delight Papers, tags, and stickers  and two flowers were used along with other Prima - canvas alpha, flower vine, roses and resin pieces.  And here is the sketch.


I thoroughly enjoyed creating this page and have the remainder of the collection on the table in anticipation of another page but the mojo is lacking after work when the tiredness takes over - hopefully the weekend will bring some creativity.

Well that is all for today.  I would love to hear that you have visited by leaving a comment.  Your visit and comments are truly appreciated. 

Until next time....
Dianne




Thursday, November 14, 2013

Yummy Scrap #18

I was looking for some inspiration to get me going when Joanne from Embellish It gave me the KaiserCraft 'Garage' papers to create with and came across the Scrapfriends Colour Challenge "Yummyscrap' #18 so thought I would give it a go together with the Sketchabilities Sketch #102 (which I am too late to enter as I had written down the 15th and not 13th. )

However here is how it turned out. 

 


 and the sketch
Thank you to both Scrapfriends and Sketchabilities for the inspiration.

The Kaisercraft 'Garage' Collection is great for male layouts and should you want any Embellish It currently have them in stock.
My layout is of Zac and his Dad on Father's Day back in September - a special 'boys' breakfast.  He has been in his element over the past week having had his Grandad visiting and at one time had two grandfathers and his great grandfather all at once.  He invites the males into his room to play 'cars and trucks' and will spend hours there.  If anyone disturbs he very politely says 'bye' 'bye'.  Very cute.

Well that is all for today.  Feeling a bit under the weather with a fluey thing that is going around work at the moment.

 Thank you for visiting today and please let me know you have called by leaving a comment.

Enjoy the weekend.

Until next time....
Dianne






Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Ribbons and Lace

Where O Where has the last month gone???  Has anyone missed me??

Well today I am back with a card created for my Aunt on the occasion of her 70th birthday which we attended at the weekend.  When I saw that Wild Orchid Challenge Blog had a challenge for Ribbons and Lace I thought I would give it a go so here is my entry.

 Base paper is Prima Divine and then I layered assorted laces (2 or 3 are Wild Orchid) on top before embellishing with a 'Make it Crafty' dress form and diecut sewing machine, scissors, pin cushion and cotton together with Wild orchid flowers, pearl droplet trim and cabochon.    And a few closeups.

 A few vintage buttons were added and the card was finished with a border of liquid pearls.
 and as the card measured 6.75 x 6.75 I made a box to put it in.
The recipient of the card has wonderful creative skills and has been a dressmaker, creator of tactile books for blind children, an occupational therapy assistant, activities co-ordinator and has lovely floral arrangements throughout her home.  I like my personalised cards to depict something about who they are being created for  thus the eclectic mix on this card. 

We had a dual purpose for our Dunedin Visit last weekend as it was also Zac's 2nd birthday party.  He thoroughly enjoyed his special day and we enjoyed taking him to the 70th birthday after function on Sunday.  He is such a delight.  Pictured below waiting for his party to begin.
Here is his amazing cake made by Zarlene of Arbitrary Cakes.  She is amazing.


Thank you so much for visiting today ...and your patience if you have been awaiting a post.  Please let me know you have called by leaving a comment.  

There just haven't been enough hours in the day especially when I have been to Dunedin four weekends out of the last five.  Little Jake is doing well too.  

Now off to the scrap room in search of 'mojo' and to have a play with the Kaisercraft 'Garage' papers and some Authentic ones before the Embellish It Crop this Saturday.  Be sure to let Joanne know if you would like to join us.  We will be at Highfield School Hall, Rimu Street, Timaru from 9am until 7 pm if you would like to visit.  And the Oamaru Crop is on Sunday - contact Joanne for details. . 

Well that is all for today...
Until next time..
Dianne

Monday, October 14, 2013

Early Arrivals

The last two weeks have flown past with lots of excitement.  First I had Zac to stay for three nights and there is never a dull moment when he is around.  We had lots of fun. I worked a couple of days in the holidays in order to catch up and be prepared for the busy term and then we went on a mystery trip which I had been given as a gift last Christmas.  We opened the envelope last Thursday morning and headed off north - to Diamond Harbour which is somewhere new to both of us.  We had one night of 3 there when we got news that saw us head immediately for Dunedin on Friday.  On Saturday we welcomed a new Grandson - a dear wee boy born a month early but he is progressing well today.  We returned home last night for work etc but I cannot wait to return later in the week and help out.

Today I am sharing a baby card but a pink one made for another early arrival.  I will enter this in the current 'Pretty Pastels' Challenge 87 over at Wild Orchid blogspot.

 Created using the Kaisercraft Bundle of Joy Collection papers together with Wild Orchid flowers, some newly acquired pretty lace and Prima canvas alpha and of course finished with liquid pearls.  The punch is Martha Stewart 'bubbles'.

 The inside

Thank you for visiting my blog today.Your visits are much appreciated.

Have a wonderful week.

Until next time......

Dianne

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Hidden Treasure - Gran

WOW - posting for a third day in a row and the final reveal (for now) of creations made with the new Kaisercraft "Hidden Treasure" range available from Joanne of Embellish It.

This time I did not follow a sketch as this shaped paper is already so well embellished with a border and embossing that not a lot else is needed.

 I felt the paper was perfect for the colours in the photo of my Great Gran taken in the 1970s. The verse is a rubon from the collection .
 I added some special tatted lace (the last piece of this which I reserve for special layouts).  Gran was a 'tatter'.  ...and I have finished the trim with you guessed it - some liquid pearls.  I can't seem to do a project without them these days. Ideal when you just need that something else.

Well that is short and sweet today and I am not likely to be back this week as I will have my hands full taking care of and having fun with DGS.

Thanks so much for visiting today.  Would love to know you have been by leaving a comment.

Until next time...
Dianne


Monday, September 30, 2013

Vintage Fashion

Hello again and thank you for visiting today.  I am back again with another layout created with the new KaiserCraft "Hidden Treasure" Collection.

This time I thought I would enter the Dusty Attic September Challenge with it.

After creating the base of the layout I then used texture paste to add texture and pattern with a template.  I felt the page need blinged up a bit to match the photos so I dug into my hidden treasures and found some mesh trim and two lots of bead trim. I even found some pheasant feathers to add.   Dusty Attic items include the word 'may', hinge and chicken wire.

 Some flowers are Petaloo with two being from deep within my stash.  I used another bit of this precious vintage trim.  There is a lovely sheet of rubons with the collection also.
 It has been a while since I have added beads to a layout.
 and of course I finished off the title pieces with liquid pearls.  
and the DA Sketch by Michelle Grant.


Remember Joanne at Embellish It has these Kaisercraft "Hidden Treasure" patterned papers in stock if you wish to source some. 

I am pretty excited as I am off to see my DGS and bring him up to Grannie's for a holiday however I will post a third "Hidden Treasure" page tomorrow.

Well that is all for today.  Have a good week....

Dianne