AJC10 Week 11 catch-up "Each photo is a memory I've collected"

The pictures are all from our trip to Ireland a couple of years ago and these are illustrate my favourite trip somewhere. We are going back this summer for new memories this year. The places illustrated are Glendalough (the top two rows), Newgrange (the next two rows) and finally Avoca, where they used to film Ballykissangel.

Credits:

Background paper - Nancie Rowe Janitz @ ScrapArtist, Altered Art Mixed Media Volume 1 paper set

Wood box - Paula Kesselring @ ScrapArtist, Girl Wood Box set

Journal doodle = Nancie Rowe Janitz @ ScrapArtist, Playful Journal Pieces

AJC10 Week 10 - Sometimes I wish I could point... 2 minds

This double-page layout came about because of a project appearing on a blog by Graphics Fairy. The phrenology images were freebies. With the week I've had, the words just came to me yesterday morning. The picture of me is from a few years ago from a Halloween dress-up but the colours suited the layout.

Credits:

Background papers - Studio Tangie @ SBG, Enchanted Art Box kit, Artist Canvas papers

Phrenology heads - Graphics Fairy blog @ Blogspot

Black and white striped border - Studio Tangie @ SBG, Enchanted Art Box kit, Altered add-ons

Sparkles - Studio Tangie @ SBG, Industrial Velvet, Elements

AJC10: Smallest of things

This was a photo I took last summer and blogged, but I liked its simplicity so had to include it for a week on the power of imagery.

Credits:
Background, string, and picture frames - Soaring kit, Studio Zampf @ SBG

AJC10: Taking Chances

I love the TV show "Glee". I watch it, then my son and I watch it together later, and we love it. He loves drama and wants to be a singer or an actor. The top quote is from the pilot episode, from the founder of the high school's Glee club, and the quote on the gingham ribbon is from the Celine Dion song Taking Chances - written by David A. Stewart and Kara Dioguardi: "What do you say to taking chances, What do you say to jumping off the edge? Never knowing if there's solid ground below Or hand to hold, or hell to pay…". The photo is of my mum aged about 12 - I used it as I liked the pose. The "Remember that song" is there to remind me to take some chances.

Credits:

Backing paper, gingham ribbon, piano hand (rotated), marbled border - Studio Tangie @ SBG, Art Journal Caravan, Week 8 parcel
"Remember that song" - Gypsy Couture @ SBG, Journalling prompts
Red ribbon - Studio mgl @ SBG, Dreaming in Colours 2.0 - Red

AJC10 Week 7 and 8 - Snow Angel

At the weekend we had snow and my son and I had a snowball fight. He then did snow angels in the front garden. The Journalling says: " Even with his arms folded you can still see his wings :) (Shining through :) ) showing that despite what happens your true form is still visible shining through." I used a doodling template for the black ribbon line and the squares are inchies I was going to experiment with but adding them as a fringe added needed colour to the piece. I outlined the wing shapes and added dots with an ordinary pencil.

Credits:
Black alphabet - Making Memories
Inchies - made using a Dovecraft punch from paper scraps from my stash - details not known now
Cream paper - K & Co - from my stash

AJC10 Week 6 - Leisurely bliss

The photo came from a walk I took last Autumn around a local lake. The water was so still and reflected the blue sky beautifully. The extract is from a poem ("Leisure") that I had to learn off by heart at secondary school (high school). In the first year we had a weekly lesson with the Head teacher and she was very intimidating when you were only 11 years old. We had to learn the words and the punctuation of the poem so that we could write it out unaided as a test the next lesson. Needless to say I only remember bits of it now, but the words seemed appropriate for the photo.

Credits:
Paper - Studio Flergs, Apartment D Quick Page kit
I can't find the details for the tag, sorry, forgot to write it down as I put the page together earlier in the week

AJC10 Week 6 - Seaside Bliss

This two page spread explores my love of the seaside. From most of my childhood, I lived near the seaside and there is something about the sights and sounds of the sea that I love, although I now live the furtherest you can get from the sea. The salty taste of the air, beachcombing, exploring and bracing walks on the beach or paddling... :) The photos are from two family holidays and the day on Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow is one of my favourite hours of my life. That day was our last full day in Ireland and it had been raining all day. We decided to go for a walk on the beach and the rain cleared up for our time there. I was sitting on the beach and my son came up for a cuddle and I asked my hubby to take a picture as I felt the happiest I had for a long time. I wanted a photo to remind me of that joy. The shells I've used to embellish the quick pages I cut out from a 3D scrapbooking border.

Credits:

Pages - Studio Ztampf, Seashore Quick Pages kit

3D shell border stickers (dismantled) - Inspirations

"Pure Bliss" - Studio Ztampf, Seashore Kit, alphabet

AJC10 Week 6 - My idea of Bliss

Week 6 and this week is all about blissful living. The journalling prompts are:

• What brings you bliss?
• What gets you excited and energetic about life?
• What can you do to fill your life with more bliss?
• What can you change to allow yourself bliss?
• What does your heart whisper to you about blissful living?

Well for me, bliss is a day out or holiday away with hubby, son and a camera, although a solitary walk with my camera can be just as good. I love the opportunity to watch the world go or have an adventure. I have so many photos that bring back memories of those bliss-filled days.

Credits:

Paper - Studio Vivarant, It's Only Natural Quick pages kit

Metallic butterfly stickers - unknown designer, from stash

AJC10 Week 5 - I am What I am

When I first thought of this concept I originally was going to use a different "I am what I am" quote which says "I am what I am. Not what you like to think I am. Not what you want me to be. I am me. - M. Pring (2009)" but as I constructed the art doll I felt a more showbizzy feel was needed. And then I found the George Bernard Shaw quote about creating yourself which took it towards the new "I am what I am" quote's direction which is a song lyric from the musical "La Cage aux Folles". My favourite version is that sung by John Barrowman, although sadly I wasn't able to see him sing it on stage in the West End of London at the tail-end of last year. I may not be as slim as the doll now but that's part of the creation ;) and I was definitely born with glitz, glitter and glam in my veins. I am loving "Glee" :) The first series is showing here at the moment - I loved being in the school choir in my teens although we only did musical plays, like Oliver! etc. As a child, I wanted to be a dancer but sadly I had two left feet when it came to co-ordination as I grew so much ;) I was nearly 5ft 10 by age 12! I ended up at 5ft 11 and love my height now.

Credits:

Background paper - Tangie Baxter, Field Notes papers

George Bernard Shaw quote - Studio Maya, Quirky Quotes - Existence

Art Doll's clothes - Tangie Baxter, Ultimate Doll Kit

Wings - Lorie Davison, Faerily Moonlit elements

Red flower and Golden starry Sprinkles - Tangie Baxter, Centre Stage, Opera House elements

Newspaper border - Glam Fairy Designs, Pimp My Art elements

Creativity quote and Queen of Glamour stamp - unknown designers, from internet

Hand - Tangie Baxter, Darkroom elements

AJC10: These boots...

This morning I heard "These Boots are Made for Walking" on the radio and it made me think of my Grandad. I once told my mum that this was one of my favourite songs and she told me how my Grandad had held me as a baby when they were playing this song. Apparently I had shook my head in time to the music as he held me up to walk. The small picture I've included in this piece is one of my favourites, as it's one of the few ones I have of him and me. It was taken on my Christening day. Sadly Grandad died just before my 2nd marriage. He had been ill for sometime but the Christmas before, he seemingly gave his approval of my choice for 2nd husband, having not really like my 1st (but then 1st one wasn't really that likeable). So with the wonderful memory of my grandad in my mind, the layout put itself together. (The journal behind the feather headdress is the same as that on the first filmstrip). He wasn't perfect - you only had one chance to make a good impression - but Grandad taught me to look for the adventure in everything and encouraged my interests in history and gemstones. I could listen to his voice telling me tales of Iron Age settlements or ring and ditch enclosures... and he loved to tell my brother and me jokes. I wish he had had a chance to meet our son, but I believe my Grandad is my guardian angel, so he probably already knows, keeping us under his protective wing :) He was the only Grandad that I knew - my Dad's dad died when I was 2.


Credits
Background paper - Ruby Rynne, Nat IV backgrounds
Pink flower skirt, legs, black top hat and feather headdress - Tangie Baxter, Ultimate Doll Kit elements
Black and white banner and pink swirl circle - Tangie Baxter, Enchanted Art Box Altered addons Be yourself, Remember and The Best Memories buttons - Baer Garten Designs, Girls will be Girls, Flair kit
Happy Moment button - Baer Garten Designs, Autumn Orchard Flair
Filmstrip and multicoloured baubles border - Glam Fairy Designs, Pimp My Art Elements
Oh Wonderful Day - Tangie Baxter, Wonderful Day elements
Diamond rain - Studio Manu, Listen to Your Heart elements
Red stitching - Tangie Baxter, I am a Fanpire elements
Loving Heart spread and Loved scrap - Baer Garten Designs, Love of my life, Loving kit