Saturday 27 September 2014

Curiously Tinted...

Gooooodly Morning to all you lovely Compendium-ers!  Today sees the start of a brand new Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge.  To see all the details on how to join in with the challenge, CLICK HERE.  Also, if you pop across to Linda's blog, you will see all gorgeous creations that my talented teamies on the Curiosity Crew have made... well worth taking a cuppa and a packet of Digestives :O)    The challenge is sponsored by the Funky Junkie Boutique this time... so you will have a chance of winning a very generous Gift Certificate to spend there.  As ever, Tim & Mario have very kindly donated goodies for an extra prize... which will be awarded to the "Curiosity Crew's Choice"... so you have two chances of winning fabby prizes!  If you haven't got your Compendium book just yet, you can order a signed copy directly from the man himself... HERE.  And... Linda has also done a FAQ page for you.. HERE it is... all the info you will need is listed there.   This week we are turning to Page 41 of the book and playing with Distress Photo Tinting.  Now, as usual with the Compendium Challenge neither I nor the Curiosity Crew will be posting the technique instructions and participants must not do so either. We all want to encourage people to buy Tim's awesome book; giving away the instructions wouldn’t be fair to him. Linda will have no choice but to un-link any entries that don’t follow this rule. 



My entry this week isn't a tag!  The main reason for this - as actually it did start life as a tag - is because once I had the photo tinted, it was just too special to bung on a tag which would then be hanging with a load of other tags.  And what makes the photo so special?  Well, allow me to introduce you to my Grandma!  This photo was taken on 26th June 1929, making her 16 years old at the time.   Another special reason is it would have been her 102nd birthday yesterday.  So this little shadow box is in memory of my wonderful Grandma who taught me so much about life, the natural world and how to make a complete mess of every available surface in her flat making Christmas cards using glitter, a dab of Gloy glue and cotton wool.


As detailed in the book, I did the technique on the photo and then mounted it onto black cardstock, scuffing the edges of the photo to make them a bit shabby to give the photo a bit of age.   The shadow box was painted with a mix of Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy Distress Paints, sanded back and then inked with Vintage Photo to add a bit of a distressy feel to it.  The insert is a piece of Wallflower Vellum, popped onto cardstock to give it a plain background and then I used my good old harlequin stamp to add a few diamonds to the background.



Next came the embellishmentising:  when I was little, Gran and I used to go for walks along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, both of which ran close to where she lived.  We always came home with a jam jar of tadpoles, a bunch of wild flowers or pockets full of acorns and conkers, depending on the season.  One particularly chilly day, it must have been late March/early April, we arrived back home with that pink cheeked look one can only get whilst walking in the cold air.  To our dismay, we saw two baby blue tits had fallen from a nest that was a-top of an out building and were on the path outside Gran's bedroom window.  Never one for ignoring such things, Gran quickly looked for the Mummy bird and she was no where to be seen.  I remember her saying that these little babies would "perish of the cold" if we didn't do something, so she bustled off and found a shoebox, filled it with and old towel, some cotton wool and some leaves and after donning a pair of gloves, she lifted up the babies and popped them into the box.  She said it was important not to touch their feathers as Mummy might come back and she would smell us on them.  After a few hours, the babies were still alone and Mummy bird was no where to be seen so in came the shoebox and so began a late night vigil... a vigil that lasted weeks!  And sure enough, as soon as those little babies were big enough and strong enough to fly, off they went.  And back they came... daily!  Oh yes, the little birds came back daily to dine on fresh lamb fat (off the chops, cooked of course!), bacon rinds (fried just for them!) and morsels of her rather delish cakes and pastries.  My Gran was a character - she was a one in a million special lady who gave me such a good grounding, she was a sage, wise old owl who knew a fair few curses in her native Welsh tongue - a few of which were directed at me when I was being cheeky or naughty but my lasting memory of my Gran is her laugh, we used to laugh 'til tears ran down our faces... so this little piece of art is for her... for my Gran.

So you see, when I saw this sheet of Tim's Wallflower paper had the little blue tits printed on it, I just had to cut them out and add them to my memento box.  Along with the blue tits, I added a few bits of Idea-ology, some off cuts of lace and a couple of paper flowers, layering them all up and finishing off with a little acetate butterfly.



That's all for now - don't forget, you will have two weeks to enter the challenge... and a bat at the chance of grabbing the Crew's Choice prize which is a mahooosive haul of stash donated personally by Tim & Mario... so if you are joining in, remember to comment on all the Crew's blogs and you will be in with a chance of winning that too *believe me, this is one gigantic pile of goodies*  I will just say a big thank you to every one of you who has taken part in the challenge so far, it has been great to visit your blogs and see your wonderful interpretations of the challenge themes!  Thanks for looking, have an inky inspirational day!  TTFN

Hels x

65 comments:

Helen said...

what a lovely project Hels, and a gorgeous tribute to your Gran.

carol edwards said...

Hels this is a lovely story about your Gran and much she was loved. I love the picture of her and all the added embellishments you have done. A visiting tribute to a lovely lady x

Chris Kelly said...

Hi Hels
Absolutely beautiful and what a lovely story. You have made my day.
Hugs from Chris X

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is so beautiful held and such a lovely tribute to your granny. Your sense of composition is wonderful,

Lucy x

Sue said...

This is fabulous, Hels! Love the story of the wee birds and your Gran! I have decided that this is my FAVORITE challenge so far since so many of the Crew used real pictures of real people in their lives and each one had a story to tell. We need more of that in our lives. Tell the stories. So they don't get lost.

Patricia Howarth said...

Afternoon Hels, This shadow box is fabulous !! the tinted photo of your Gran is beautiful and the little birdie thinks so too, as he is very intently looking at her. This project is so vintage, and I adore anything vintage, I love it !!
Lots of love from Patricia xx

SusanK said...

I love creating special tributes to relatives and this one for your grandmother is so lovely. What a gorgeous head of hair, too!

Scrapthat said...

How beautiful!! TFS Hels!

betjunroe said...

This is so lovely Hels! I love the sweet story about your grandmother--it's wonderful to have such great memories!

Julia Aston said...

What a lovely photo and decoration of your frame to highlight it Hels - and what wonderful memories you have of your grandma!

Jackie T said...

Hi Hels this is a gorgeous tribute to your Gran she must have been a very special lady. I remember that glue with its red rubber top it was all we had then. What a choice of glue we have now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hugs Jackie

Vic said...

Lovely tribute to your Grandma!

Marjie Kemper said...

Oh, Hels, what a lovely tribute! Your Gran sounds like a wonderful woman and a fun spirit to boot. Love how you've done this.

JanBianchi said...

Hels I love the story of you and Gran! I love all the natural elements that can be found in your work. This is a another stellar piece and beautiful tribute to Gran your memories!!! Thank you for sharing!

JanBianchi said...

Hels I love the story of you and Gran! I love all the natural elements that can be found in your work. This is a another stellar piece and beautiful tribute to Gran your memories!!! Thank you for sharing!

McStamper said...

Great project.

vicky's scrapping passion said...

Hels, I love your frame. You are right, this beautiful picture of your grandma is way too special. I wish I had some of mine too...

Scrapintheattic.com said...

What a beautiful frame, I loved your story of the bluetits. Your background stamping just adds the subtle finishing touch.x

Candy C said...

Hels...it is 4:45 in the morning here. I could not sleep so I ventured onto CC3C's blog to see everyone's challenge pieces. I am memorized by your piece. As I read your story about your sweet Gram, I felt like you were sitting on my bed, right next to me, telling me a sweet bedtime story! How precious are these memories of your Gram and what an absolute perfect way to celebrate her! I love your tinted photograph. So pretty. And I love how you have completely captured the essence of your Gram in this piece. Absolutely stunning! <3 Candy

Unknown said...

Beautiful, Hels! Your post brought tears to my eyes with your lovely memories of your G-ma! Just beautiful! A most special heirloom, Hels!! XOXO-Shari T.

Redanne said...

Oh Hels, that is such a lovely story about your Gran, the photo of her is beautiful and you have created the most wonderful tribute to her. Hugs, Anne xx

JG Designs said...

Love the story about your Gran. Your project is a perfect tribute to her and I am sure will have a special spot in your home

Annette Green said...

Oh Hels, your story about your Gran and this lovely project have tugged at my heart. How very sweet, the story of your times with her, and the birds, and tears of laughter. I so enjoyed reading every word. You're truly blessed to have had such a positive, loving bond with her. Such a wonderful and beautiful project to remember her by.

Terry said...

So very lovely, Hels! Wonderful tribute to your grandmother and what a lovely lady and great story you shared. Love this!

Yvonne said...

I love this!!!! Your grandma is beautiful..just like her granddaughter! love that this will be able to be hung for your enjoyment! Fabulous that we can create art that brings memories back and enjoy the personal bit of being our family. Lovely sweets...just lovely! hugs.

Susan said...

Hels, you know how much I love using family photos is my projects.....well you made me so happy that you used your Gran's beautiful photo! I was so moved by your memories with her as well and those details that you put into your beautiful shadowbox! The photo tinting was so beautifully done too!

Cheryl Grigsby said...

Thank you for the beautiful world you drew us into and the story of your walk with Gran and finding those little birds. I can only hope the children of our generation are gathering sweet memories like these of their own. <3 <3 <3

j3xs said...

So sweet and very pretty

Juliz Design Post said...

An absolute delight and lovely keepsake of your gran.
Julie x

Unknown said...

Simply beautiful, a wonderful heirloom.

Rea' said...

Gorgeous, your Gran is beautiful; love your cluster; the colors and how you layered it just beautiful(reflects the beauty of your memory of your Gran)... of course I always like your layers !

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

What a tribute to your Grandmother! LOVE her hair and the way you colored it and stamped on it! Gorgeous ephemera too! Just gorgeous work!

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Great story and a lovely way to feature it. I love all your detail and beautiful tinting!

Ruth said...

This is just divine! I love the photo of your grandma, it's beautiful! So lovely to hear your memories of her....I love things like that. Lovely read Hels. Ruth x

Quirky Shepherd said...

Thanks Hels - What a lovely project which brought back memories of my Nana and reminded me of some photos i have - I can feel a project coming on. Jenny x

Cim Allen said...

I love it !! The picture, the elements of details on the frame. The whole crew just rocked this challenge !!

Kim said...

Beautiful! Aside from all the wonderful projects, you and the Crew have made me realize I need to get my hands on some family photos before they disappear! Be thankful of the memories you have with your grandparents.

Carol said...

Your Gran sounds like a wonderful lady! This is a great tribute!

Two Mad Dahlias said...

I love this photo. The bright blue makes it look very modern. I'm sure your grandma would love this.
Jess

Rhea said...

What a lovely photo and a great tribute! Thanks for your inspiration!

janna'scraftingattic said...

Oh how lovely, no wonder you wanted a special box for the photo she is lovely. I try to make memories with my grandchildren and hope they will remember me as fondly. Lovely work and lovely story too x

penny4thoughts said...

Such a great way to show off your special photo!

Unknown said...

Hels, you made me stop for a moment to try to count out how old my granny would be, thanks... loved your tinting and you were so right to frame her photo, it just got the right place!

Joanne said...

Having seen this beautiful project 'in the flesh' so to speak I can truly say it is fantastic
x

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Hi Hels , hope you are well. Love your frame , gorgeous photo and I love your tinting and touch of stamping . The bird and embellishments are a lovely touch. A lovely tribute. Tracy x

sarascloset said...

Oh, my, I almost wept when I read your story! Your Grandma sounds like she was a wonderful part of your life and a terrific lady! The story reminded me of my Dad, who was always bringing home orphaned birds from the field--we had an owl, a yellow-bellied sapsucker(who layed an egg behind our sofa), and a hawk as living under our wing at one time or another. In fact, that is what inspired me to put my owl in the rafters of my project. This is a lovely tribute to your Grandma--LOVE it!

Sandra said...

Stunning! Love the picture and the story behind it! Fabulous! Hugs, Sandra

craftylyn said...

What a lovely shadow box, I think a lot of us underestimate just how much our grandparents shaped the people we are today. My own Nana bought every grandchild a pair of scissors as soon as we turned 4 and set us to cutting old magazines and we all have a crafty streak to this day! Just lovely Hels!

Vic's Creations! said...

What a beautiful project. I love how the birds are very interested in your grandma. I love your grandma too! She sounds fun! A beautiful project, inspirational story. I think you share that sparkle in your eye with your grandma!

barbarayaya62 said...

Amazing delicate project! Wonderful execution of this technique: your photo is stunning! BArbarayaya

TangledBlueRose said...

Love your photo of your Gran! Your shadow box is a wonderfully beautiful tribute to her! Love the birds peeking in and watching over, can almost hear them chirping!
So beautiful, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful art!~kim

Laurie Y said...

I got so engrossed in the story of your grandma. It made me quite emotional (in a good way) thank you for sharing that with us. Your project is perfect.

Kay B Mitchell said...

Beautiful framed piece. I also like the little black cat in left hand corner!

crafty creations said...

Wonderful tribute to your Gran Hels - beautiful

Kim said...

Hels, Thanks for sharing your story and your lovely piece. What a great way honor your Grandmother's memory.

Bobbi Smith said...

Oh Hels, what a beautiful heart warming tribute to your Gran! Love your project!

Lisa H said...

How special and wonderful this is!!

Unknown said...

She sounds amazing Hels, what a woman! I love how this technique brought out "our memories" to share. Such a beautiful composition with depth and real meaning. xx

Studio Rose said...

Oh Hels, no wonder you turned out so fabulous! It sounds like your gran made your childhood very special. I love hearing the story of all the nostalgic embellishments on your beautiful piece. (And go, harlequin stamp! It woudln't be yours without it!)

Belinda Basson said...

What a special photo. Happy Birthday to her too! Mine lived to be 99&3/4 not quite making her 100th birthday. I wanted to use her photo for this project too, but it was too soft and did not colour up well.

JansArtyJunk said...

One of my favourite distressing techniques and you have done a wonderful job with it Hels... Great choice of photo to tint too!... a lovely tribute to your gran ....Jan x

Unknown said...

Beautiful piece Hels! Sounds like your Gran was a wonderful woman!

Unknown said...

Your Memory box is beautiful!!! I hope every time you see it you smile!!

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

Oh Hels, Your gran and project are just stunners. What a wonderful walk down memory lane.

Lisa :) said...

this is so amazing. I cannot believe that's a vintage photo your tinting made it look so modern!! Gorgeous.

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