March 3rd (the previous post was actually written and went unpublished all through February)...

My ban may be lifting...

 

There are so many great challenge sites out there, and I have missed being involved and missed creating altogether!!!

In the Scrap Matrix Studio, we have Texture Tuesday each week, where people can come along and play with all things texture... have a practice, experiment with new products.... have fun.

 

It has also become the day when we participate in challenges. I have a few favourites that I love, and have the current month's mood boards or sketches available to be inspired by.

I can hardly not create in my own studio, when others are!!!!

 That is my decision, and I am sticking to it!!  So, I guess my creative ban is lifting.... slowly.

On Tuesdays anyway!

 

My first one for the year is for Kraft +, which actually is a real challenge for me - I rarely choose kraft as my base....

http://kraftpluschallenges.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/march-challenge-all-that-glitters.html

 

 

 

Here is my take on the challenge, using loads of bling, which fit perfectly with my daughter's Year 12 Formal photos.

(I still need to get better at taking these photos - the right hand side is a bit dark....). But it is done!

 

Fabulous!

 

And here are a couple of close ups...

 

This is what I have been missing - I had the best time!

Thanks Kraft +.

Cheers, Vicki. xx

March 3rd....
My Creative Ban

Okay, so all has been very (VERY!!!) quiet on the blog front lately. I have imposed a "creative"  ban on myself... until I have things under control.  Well as in control as is possible for me. lol

 

I have been struggling on a few levels for quite a while now, and need to find myself again.  My word for this year is RESTORE - and there is much that needs RESTORING, in a few areas of my life.

 

I think I 'dropped my bundle' in about August last year, and I think I buried my head in ....my studio.... because everything else was either too hard, or too unpleasant for me to deal with.  Unfortunately I wasn't doing anything that SHOULD have been attended to, I just played (I had discovered challenge sites lol). 
It seems to be taking a long time to pick up my pieces again, but I am working on it.

 I spent 2 weeks in Bali early in January, much of it alone - to sort some things out... and have some things/aims/plans/dreams.... etc that I will be focusing on in the short term.

 

They include:

Scrap Matrix:

• restore to former glory!
• restore a system that works for me
• restore my abilility to plan and follow through
• restore my own creativity
• Practise making 'business' decisions, that sometimes may not be easy
• Maintain the stock inventory better  (find a system and maintain it!)
• Accept that it is a new business (for me!) and things don't happen over night
• Don't give up, it is my dream, I am happy to put the work in, because I love it and believe it will pay off... financially - one day!
• Just do it better.... 

Myself:

• Restore My Confidence
• Trust my instincts in making my own decisions, and accepting that some of them are ... not so good!
• Remember that I am a 'strong, independent woman' - that sometimes needs help....
• Work out if you can be strong, and vulnerable at the same time?
• Allow myself time to mourn (I didn't give myself time for this last year - and I suffered because of it)
• Create smaller job lists - that are achievable - tick them off
• Remind myself of things that I do achieve
• Stop trying to please everyone - it will never work, even when your intentions are good
• Try not to 'put things off' - just do it!
• Attempt to work and live within my budget! (This will be one of the toughest!!!)
• Spend more time in Ubud!!! (This will be a good one!!!)

 

Okay, one of the things is "create smaller job lists"... so I think I better stop!

 

I am glad I have written this all down, and some of it will be reflected in my art journaling and probs some of my layouts - so be warned... lots of affirmations, quotes and things to celebrate and reflect on... all reminders and prompts to myself to help me RESTORE myself to my former glory!!!

 

I have however been preparing some workshops for the
Stash + Creativity = Stash Journal in the Scrap Matrix Studio..

 

 Cheers, Vicki xxx

 

A Sketch from Ulrika

http://hemmahosulrika.blogspot.com.au/

It was Texture Tuesday today in the studio and the challenge was to use 3 papers from either of the new 7 Dots ranges I have in stock.

Here is the link: http://scrapmatrix.com/paper-and-ranges/7-dots/

I came across this site the other day and checked it out - it has some great sketches - and Ulrika is very talented also, her work is lovely.

History.

I love this photo of my nanna, poppa and my dad. Nanna's face shows the love and pride she has for her only son.

 

 I have used 7 Dots - Thoughts Keeper.

The colours are so soft and lovely, just perfect for a heritage layout. I used 3 sheets - no 2, 3 & 5. I also used part of a Blue Fern set (the Splattered Circle), some washi and a whole bunch of random flowers that I had in my stash. I coloured the chipboard (no gesso) with Twinkling H2Os - I love the softness of the colour straight on the chipboard.

 

 I am so happy with the way this heart turned out - just what I wanted (woohoo!)

 

Family

So, anyway...  I loved the sketch so much (and couldn't decide which 7 Dots range to use today), so I did another, using the Destination Unknown range.

Again, I used 3 papers - Journey, Celestial and Night Sky. 

When I look at this photo now, it makes me smile. I had got a copy from Aunty Jean and when I showed dad, he said that nanna hated the photo!  Apparently, she was always conscious of her weight - and didn't appreciate that the photo implies that it took 4 people (well, they are kids!) to balance out her weight at the other end of the boat!

 

 

 

 

 I also used a Prima stencil and stamp - and some flowers, Scrap Matrix chippie, Heidi Swapp stickers... and more random flowers.

 

They turned out so different - they hardly look like the same sketch!

 

Thanks for popping by, Cheers, Vicki

Blue Fern Studios - December Sketch

 

http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3843073245&group=5100795&frame_type=b&context=&context_ids=&blog=5100795&frame=1&click=0&user=0

I have really only discovered this brand in the last couple of months - and it is my new favourite brand... the quality is great  (and perfect in weight for mixed media), the designs are all so pretty, and the ranges so far.. are quite different in their look - and I love all 3 that I have in the studio.

I have (in stock)  The Garden, Ombre Dreams (my fave) and Sanctuary, which is brand new, and what I have used in this layout!!

 

Here is the lovely sketch.

And here is my layout

Beautiful.

 

And a couple of close ups...  I heat embossed the coral (Blue Fern chipboard branch) with whits and gold - and it looks awesome. I also gessoed the metal shell charms to give them a more whitewashed look.  I used H2Os straight onto the chipboard for the shells and the title, and it gave such a pretty soft effect.

 

 

 

 

This next close up I took, because the sun was catching the page in such a pretty way, I couldn't resist. I did take the whole page, but the sun actually washed most of the colour out... but the close ups were gorgeous!

 

Blue Fern Studios products I used:

Sanctuary paper - Meadows of Time.

Chipboard title "Beautiful"

Chipboard set of Seaside Shells

Chipboard Splattered Circle (the smallest one only)

Chipboard Twiggy Branch (I turned it into coral!

 

I also used Scrap Matrix metal charms, glass domes and mini micro beads, Prima bling swirls, paper clips and Finnabair Glass Beads.

 

I am ridiculously happy with how this turned out!

 

Thanks for popping by,

Cheers, Vicki

CSI Case No 149. December

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-149-case-closes-on-december-25-2014

 

This is my second case as a Special Investigator -

feeling like a real rookie!

 

 

I love this colour palette, it has some of my favourite colours, but obviously - from the southern hemisphere - it is hard to imagine Christmas all rugged up with scarves, hats and sitting around a fire with snowmen!!!  So, my layout is based on the colours, the sketch and the journaling clues.

 

Play

 

 

 And a couple of close ups...

 

 

I am unsure I love this .... I may have overdone it (I am a little prone to not knowing when to stop and getting a little carried away!). However, I was determined to use all 4 photos, once I decided to use the "4 wishes" clue....

 

 

The Scheme - all colours accounted for.

 

Evidence:

Polka dots (sort of - if I can count the dots stencil)

Buttons - in the middle of my hand made flowers.

Swirls - on my background paper

Mixed media background, trees, animals (the photos of the wise monkeys), wood (tree embellishments), and string connecting it all together.

 

Testimony:

Not exactly a swirl, but my journaling is in a wavy curl shape, and documents my 4 wishes (that we could all live by what the monkeys are gesturing. Of course, there is one monkey missing.... DO NO EVIL!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Cheers, Vicki

I am a SPECIAL DEPUTY!!!!!  For CSI!!!!

For the month of December!!!!

 

I just can not even believe it!!!

 

 

 

 

BUT... HERE IS PART OF THE EMAIL I RECEIVED.... (evidence!)

"... your layout was chosen as a favorite for the Scrap365 Case File! That means you are invited to be a Special Deputy for December!"

 

The layout they are referring to is 50's Glam:

(from post called 'Last One' in October)

 

I am a "little" excited - and hope that the 'pressure' of this title doesn't affect me - or more importantly - what I create!

 

So, right onto my first case....

 

Case File 365-10

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/special-scrap365-case-file-no-s365-10-case-closes-on-december-31-

 

 

 

Here is my layout

Be Happy

 

 

 

I love this photo of Bree, it is so natural and unguarded, and I would love to know what goes on in her head ..... sometimes. lol

It is moments like this that I would like to remind her

how awesome she is!

 

A close-up and my journaling tag.

 

Evidence:

I distress inked all of my tags and embellishments, I have jars, (which hold the goals I would like her to strive for), there is metal (envelope, wings, locket, clock..), flowers, cotton string, ribbon (on journaling tag), puffy stickers, my jars are hanging - (but on string, not ribbon!), cursive font (the title) and chalkboard embellishments  (tags, flags and tickets).

 

Testimony:

My inspiration was the 'journal jars' and I handwrote on my tag.

 Thanks for dropping by - and please, if you like challenges - or just need a little inspiration - check out CSI. It is a very cool site - loads of talented people involved and everyone is SO friendly! Here is the link to their home page:

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/

 

...and while you are there - check out My Page here:

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/profile/VickiChristensen

http://api.ning.com/files/KzOvBNTGFEFUjbh8vYyW43ZL1HCK0xQdHUTmlC4JyPpX*QLkoHuEljDILNb7S9rmdmmU*txz9Ce*bfdlZPuPMa0gbZJCJ*Rz/S36510flat.jpg

CSI Case File 148 - November

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-148-case-closes-on-december-11-2014

 

How lovely is this?  The colours are so soft and beautiful, and the evidence supports this too!

 

Here is my take on the case - I worked hard to solve it.....

 

Coffee Time

 

 

 

 

I used some Pink Paisley watercolor type patterned paper, and added some more watercolour effects with sprays and H2Os, before cutting it all up and making layers for the background, and then penned around some edges. 

 

Evidence:

Teacup accents (Scrap Matrix and Prima), book page (looking) paper, flowers, speech bubble, birds, watercolour, tags, string and a little bit of pen work.

 

Testimony:

Although this "morning coffee" activity is not a common occurrence with my daughter - we don't live geographically close - I wish it could be a daily pleasure I share with her!

Also, my little tags explain the sentiment and are connected with the string, which then connects to all the other sub heading words.

 

This case closes next Friday - follow the link to join in...

http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-148-case-closes-on-december-11-2014

 

This site is so cool.

Thanks for popping in,

Cheers, Vicki