All about Me

I have a friend who is always telling me that 'it's not all about you!'  Well thanks to CSI challenge 118  it is all about me this week.  

To make things even more challenging this week I have to use a sketch in addition to all the other criteria.  The colour scheme was more problematic than I first thought.  My interpretation of 'canteloupe' was perhaps more peach and I struggled to differentiate with the aqua shade of green and the teal.  The papers I chose from Kaisercraft look different when photographed than in the flesh but whether it meets the case file or not I like it.  It's interesting how my layouts evolve and rarely end up as I originally envisage. When thinking about this layout I decided to use a white background ... well that worked well!  I also intended to use beads and hearts as my main feature.  

What I have actually used is jewels, feathers, fibres, stamped arrows and one heart craftily disguised as a key.  I also made a pocket for the journaling out of a clothes tag which I did a little hand sewing around.  As I didn't have embroidery thread the right colour I used natural twine that I found in my grandmothers sewing box and coloured it with an ink pad.  I knew there was a reason that I never throw anything away ... she would be proud of me to think that even though she is no longer with us I am still using her materials.  Even the sentiment on the tag is appropriate to the topic "life is out there".

The feathers are both red and yellow so that ticked two boxes.  It is not so easy to see the machine sewing that I used as a border ... zigzag in peachy colour and then inner layer of teal.  I really liked the mesh that was reminiscent of beach debris.  The small round embellies seemed to fit the theme well and were punched out from patterned paper with inked edges and the addition of 3D gloss ... hey presto!  By using punched shapes and a couple of die cuts I could almost make this layout suitable for the Merly Impressions challenge.  That might be stretching it a bit though.

It could be said that I met the testimony by putting journaling in a pocket but in fact I met it through the all about me prompt.  This was an amazing site that has inspired me to journal my life more thoroughly, this is just the start.  The prompt that most inspired me was 'Isn't this moment the most important thing'  and 'What is your idea of a perfect day?'  For those of you who can't be bothered to plough any further through my mind then look away now ... or go off and make a cuppa because it may take some time!  I made a concertina of my journaling as there was so much of it and then inked the edges in green and yellow just to make sure there was plenty of evidence and attached a nice wispy organza ribbon.  This is the journaling:

It’s all about me … and sometimes it is. These photos were taken on my 50th birthday when we had a whale watching trip in Victoria, Canada.  The day dawned foggy and dismal and  despite 3 hours out at sea there were no whales.  I was devastated and so miserable. 

I cried while being aware of how childish this reaction was. I sobbed that this was my birthday and I wanted to see whales.  I didn’t want to cheer up and nothing could make me feel better. As we headed back to the ship the sun came out and the area near the berth was strewn with drift wood.  I love the sea, I love rocks, I love driftwood. What’s not to love? 

Just a little time to clamber over rocks, balance on wood, listen to the waves and I felt at peace.  Nature has the power to heal, we don’t need money or extravagant gestures; 

just the sun on our face, the wind in our hair and God’s ground beneath our feet.

During childhood I spent many happy days at the beach,  listening to the waves, playing in the water and feeling the sand between my toes.  All these things are healing.  At heart I am still a child and I still want to behave like one.  I recognise and nurture the child within because often she  has more wisdom and knowledge than I. She knows just what I need. This was in fact a perfect day and I love these photos.  I am still a child!

Thank you for taking the time to read and I am grateful for any comments.

Absolutely astounded to be featured as the Star Witness for this layout, I loved creating it and am so pleased that others enjoyed it too. Thank You CSI!

Proud to be Quirky

I have always intended to scrap about spoons and the  latest challenge from CSI gave me the perfect opportunity.

The testimony was to document a quirk. My blog profile clearly states that I am quirky. Now where to begin?  It is only recently I have realised that I am eccentric, I previously thought that this is just me and that I was no different from others. People have called me funny and mad and at first this bothered me. 

Is it so unusual to use particular spoons to eat specific foods?  Is it normal to have specific mugs for certain drinks?  Do other people not use a different apron depending on what they are cooking?  In fact do other people use an apron at all?  Do you appreciate wood grain and revel in the feel of carved spoons and spatulas?  Do you 'try out' a new spatula before buying it?  Apparently the answer to all these questions is:  No!

I enjoyed solving this case file and particularly loved the Prima paper that incorporated flowers, butterflies and a bicycle.  I loved the paper so much I almost didn't want to deface it with mixed media but was determined to continue my experimentation with inks and stencils.  A Tim Holtz spot stencil and Dylusion inks worked well even if the finished effect wasn't what I had originally intended.  I used Cosmo Cricket stickers to create the title and thanks to Kaisercraft I had a great selection of roses, rub-ons, die cuts and mini alphas and rhinestones.  

I'm really pleased with the finished effect and met the evidence using metal brads, flowers, butterflies which I both punched and fussy cut and also a platinum painted button. The title uses Ransom style lettering. Testimony was to journal a quirk ... I certainly did that and I also used the random word generator which gave me 'eccentric' ... yep that fits me!  Using a rub-on journal spot meant I met this in several ways.

A few close ups to give more detail:

Journaling reads: Spoons are just one aspect of my quirkiness.  I like to use different spoons with specific foods.  I also have aprons for cooking savoury food or baking, or special event cakes.  This is just the tip of the ice-berg ... I also love woodgrain and have a collection of wooden spoons and spatulas which I choose to use depending on my mood.  Journal spot: I used to be embarrassed but now I embrace my eccentricities!

Thanks for dropping by ... 

Honey, Mustard Roasted Beetroot

When I first decided to be a blogger I thought long and hard about my title.  A Crafty Glimpse allowed for a glimpse into the world of craft but also a sneaky glimpse into my life.  To date, my entries have all been craft related but I am now branching out into a culinary aspect of my life.  I love to eat and therefore I enjoy cooking. Several years ago I challenged myself to cook a new recipe every week for a year, and in the course of a year I tried 52 new recipes.  It was not hard to do and we enjoyed many new flavours.  Last week I decided to share some well loved recipes with our niece and challenged her to cook one new recipe a month.  I determined to send her a recipe in the first week of every month.  

As I now have a blog, what better way to share than on the world wide web.  So for any of you who are interested I shall be posting a new recipe in the first week of every month.  All recipes will be ones I have tried and loved and we start with 'Ruby Red Stunner'.  I originally found this recipe in a Somerfield magazine many years ago.  When I lost the original cutting I attempted to Google it but discovered that entering the recipe title in the search engine led to many undesirable results.  Therefore I shall call this recipe 

'Honey Mustard Roasted Beetroot'

This is not the best photo but I was getting hungry and the steam was rising and the camera found it hard to focus.  The recipe occasionally deviates a little from the original but that's evolution.

Cut the contents of a 250g vacpack beetroot  into wedges (I use fresh beetroot that I then cook in any quantity I fancy either steaming or boiling and then rub off the skins)  Place in an ovenproof dish with 3 halved shallots (I use onions if I haven’t got shallots), 2 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 2 bay leaves.  Season with salt and pepper and pour over 15ml (1Tbs) olive oil, stirring to coat evenly.  Roast at 180 degrees C, 350F, gas mark 4 for 30 minutes.  Combine 30ml (2Tbs) honey with 15ml (1Tbs) Dijon mustard and stir into the vegetables.  Roast for a further 10 mins until golden.

We enjoy this most with roast chicken but last night had it with grilled moose and it was just as tasty.  Enjoy!

Thanks for taking the time to drop by ... bon appetite!

One of Many

With so many amazing layouts entered into challenges I'm thrilled to feature as a 'Top Act'.

Merly Impressions give me inspiration and support in this crafty world in which we live and now I have another reason to create a blog entry, to show off my new badge:

I'm not enough of a techno wizard to know how to make it small and neat along the border of my page so here it is in full glory!  Now I just need to get busy with paper and scissors to make my name badge for the retreat in June.

Food for Thought

Another month is passing and another challenge left until the last minute. The Merly Impressions Challenge  this month is to scrap anything relating to food.  This was a broad spectrum and I felt I needed a little more direction so looked to CSI to help focus my thoughts; their case file this week is detailed below:

I have had a title in mind for a food layout for several years and this was the push that I needed to actually put ink to paper.  Although I love food and drink I didn't realise at first that I sub-consciously rate the dishes and consider whether it is the 'best' that I have ever had.  '6 of the best' has always been my title and the challenge today was to think how to put it together.  Having just returned from a trip to New York where I visited the 'Ink Pad' and succumbed to my first purchase of spray inks, and some new stencils and stamps I determined to put these to use.  Step one: look at new supplies

and the end result:

It isn't a very good photo of the finished layout because the paper curled from the ink sprays and wouldn't lay flat to photograph.  I chose the paper because it made me think of ledger paper in keeping with numbers and recording facts.  I've never used spray inks before and sprayed dylusions slate grey over most of paper to meet colour requirements.  I then experimented with dylusions pillar box red and Tim Holtz layer stencil.  My journaling lists the best:

• Scrambled Egg - at Hugo's, a restaurant we visited in 2003 some-where on our journey along the Australia coast from Cairns to Brisbane
• Champagne - having sampled many we have decided that our favourite is Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin and we're happy to drink it anywhere at any time
• Breakfast - has to be at Raffles in Singapore as the choice was phenomenal and I especially enjoyed the spicy noodles and gammon joint.  The service was the best I have ever experienced anywhere in the world
• Cocktail - Ginger Berry Daiquiri @ Blue Smoke Restaurant in New York
• Chowder - at The Grey Lady in New York, best for flavour and presentation
• Mango Sorbet - at the Movenpick hotel in Petra, Jordan

I do not have photos of all these delicacies but the memories are all that I need.  I shall still continue to rate my food and add to this list; in fact I could do a layout just covering breakfasts around the world ... and this from a woman who doesn't normally eat breakfast (it's a holiday thing!)

I have tried to use stamps more as I have so many and need to practice.  I would love to be able to layer more for interest and am making a start.  I like the little hearts that I have scattered around and have just invested in some clear stamps (Impression Obsession) that I intend to use for my Project Life whenever I get around to starting.

Thank you for looking and feel free to make recommendations of your 'bests'

Pawprints

Sometimes all you need to get crafty again is a little push.  Unfortunately the loss of a friend's dog was a sad reason to motivate me.  But it shows I haven't lost all mojo ... just need get back to scrapping as time is running out for this months challenge.

The words of an online text bring tears but also comfort:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(Author unknown)

No time to Scrap

I don't know why this year is going so quickly but I have found that I cannot make enough time to scrap.  I read about it in magazines and look at other people's work on various blogs but even that has slipped lately. I seem to have abandoned CSI which proved to be impossible for me to keep up with; I don't know how people lead such full lives with jobs, children and crafting.  Merly Impressions set a more realistically achievable challenge each month and I fully intend to embrace this topic of food ... I'm just not sure when.  

Life has been full lately of visiting family and party invitations, lunch out with friends and family to stay.  Never mind the housework and gardening and fitting in work.  I guess this gives me lots of photo opportunities ready to scrap when I have (or make) the time.   

In the meantime enjoy the arrival of Spring ... Don't give up on me!