Get Creative Challenges #42

Welcome back. I'm here again with another challenge from Get Creative Challenges #42.

This challenge was challenging for me because it was "Black and White Only", but the image I had was too pretty to only colour in black and white (and besides I've never coloured skin in black and white - too much effort!) Therefore I added a little pale blue and lemon to add just a little more interest.

Our sponsor this challenge was The East Wind. Check out the lovely digistamps here.

I even had to go to Craft Giraffe to buy some extra Copics because I didn't have enough of the right markers to colour it properly. (Life's hard, isn't it, but I'm not complaining. :) ) But I am saying goodbye to the "bricks and mortar" store of Craft Giraffe (my favorite all-time craft shop). As from 1st July, 2016 they will only have an on-line presence. They have been my inspiration and enablers to my craft addiction on more occasions than I can count. It also didn't help that they were sited just a little way from my son's school and I had to pass them every afternoon for the past 18 months. I think my husband will be joyously happy! (You all know what I mean.) Anyway, thanks for the laughs, work for Alex* and many wonderful memories, Craft Giraffe. I'll see you on your Facebook page.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Love,

Janelle

* Every time I took Alex (my 13 yo son) into the store (since he was about 10), he'd always ask, "Have you got any jobs for me?" and Teena or Stevie would find a job for him to do, whether it was sorting out and tidying their trinkets, restocking their ink pads or Copic markers, etc and he LOVED it. He even wanted to do his first work experience with them when he was in Year 10 (2 years time). He will especially miss them as they made him feel grown-up and valued. Thanks so much for that.  XXX

My Poor Mum

A month ago, my Mum tripped while walking along the street in her retirement complex. She face-planted the bitumen and ended up being taken to hospital. This is what I saw when I finally got there (I had to phone a number of hospitals in the area before I found out which one she was in). (It's not a flattering photo, at all!)

She severely bruised her right eye socket and cheek, as well as her chin, left knee and hip. She also cut her lip and broke two teeth. Miraculously, she did not break any bones or require any stitches etc. Considering she is 79 years old, I reckon that's incredible. She stayed in hospital for four days and then came home with me for another four days, as she had a really severe concussion. I'm pleased to say that she's now mostly recovered, except for her teeth (She did have a dentist's appointment that she didn't keep, but that's another story) and her damaged glasses.

The reason I'm sharing this is because I disappear off the blog landscape for long periods of time, and I often feel guilty about not spending more time of my blog and cards (though I did also have two commissions for the magazines during this same time). ~O~ (That's me with my hands in the air, shrugging) But with me, family always comes first.

But I'm able to share this birthday card, today, that I made using a "make and take" from Craft Giraffe a couple of weeks's ago during their Silly Weekend Sale. I made it with help of Tracey Cooley from Couture Creations. (She's such a scream. I'm looking forward to catching up with her again in June at the Papercraft Expo here in Brisbane.) I love the layering we put on the paper (which started off plain white). 

Anyway, this card is for my niece who's 11 today, so "Happy Birthday, Sarah!"

I'll be back soon with some cards I've made from practice pieces while I was researching for a series of cards I made using watercoloured backgrounds. Wait and see!

Bye for now.
Love,
Janelle