Full Bloom Christmas
3 hours ago
Friday, 9 November 2018
Sorry I missed posting yesterday, but I’m catching up with two days today
Yesterday, I was thankful for our amazing night skies, filled with stars – when it’s not cloudy, lol. Where I live, we don’t see the fabulous starry spectacles seen in countries where there are more open areas, fewer built up areas and therefore less light pollution, I love looking at the stars and learning about them and really love the Moon, especially when full!
I used to go to visit my friend in France every year in late July/August and when it went dark, we would lie in the garden, watching for shooting stars. Such a treat. Most of my family live in New Zealand and my brother often sleeps outside under the stars… I think I’d be tempted do the same if I were over there…
I’ve been playing with recreating night skies – needs more work is my conclusion!
This background was made with a variety of different coloured Oxides on white card, covering most of it with black. Some of the stars were then added with Irridescent Embossing paste through a starry stencil. I made the mistake of spattering with silver and white inks before I added them, and a couple of my stars just happen to be touching the spatters (sod’s law?) which makes them look a little misshapen, but they’re actually not. The colours are clearer in real life.
This one is a night scene by a lake… or a river. My stars are definitely out of proportion, lol – I stamped them and the Moon in Versamark and clear embossed before adding the inks. This time I used the new Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky and Blueprint Sketch inks to create the dark sky over pinks, oranges and yellows.
Today, I’m thankful for hands that work – enough said
I was speaking to one of my son’s closest friends on Wednesday. I’ve known him since they were at school together, so we go back a while. His dad is a really well known Wildlife artist, specialising in reptile art and known internationally. In fact, if you were Wildlife t-shirts, or know someone who does, it’s quite possibly his art you’re wearing! A few weeks ago, he fell out of bed while asleep – I don’t know about you but I’ve done or almost done that a few times – but landed awkwardly, breaking his neck and leaving him paralysed from the neck down. Can you even begin to imagine the consequences of a freak accident like that? He isn’t just losing his way of making a living – or his hobby – he isn’t able to do a thing for himself! It really puts life’s niggles in perspective when you think about losing your independence in such a drastic, unexpected way, don’t you think?
It’s been on my mind ever since, and yesterday was a difficult day for me, so today I made this…
There are days when my hands are really painful and I’m unable to stamp at all – but I can still get around and look after myself. Today I’m thankful for small – and not so small – mercies.
I’m linking to
Creatalicious, where the challenge is ATG with the option of dry/wet embossing – I’ve heat embossed all the images…
Crafting Gals Corner – Thankful
Inspire Create Challenges – Thanksgiving
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday – Thanksgiving
Art Journal Journey – New and old – New Perspective…
and (oops! Almost forgot…) of course to
Thanks for looking
See you soon
Cath
xxx
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11 very kind comments from lovely people:
A very thoughtful and though provoking post Cath. We all have things to be thankful for but it sometimes takes other people’s misfortunes to make us realise how lucky we really are. Every day is a blessing. Your night skies are fabulous. I’ve been trying out galaxies recently and the best thing I’ve found for this is my new white Posca marker. You basically tap it over the sky, just as you would a paint brush with white paint but it has a much finer spray. It’s the best that I’ve ever used. Take care and I wish your friend all the best. Crafty hugs, Sandra x
Cath is was a post to get us thing about folk who's life gets altered by an unaccountable accident and to get us thinking how lucky we really are.
Your cards and journal are all fabulous. I loved the night sky scene.
I can really relate to the sentiment you added to the wonderful page.
Yvonne xx
Cath I love your cards and your journal page. But just as much I loved your story about star watching on summer nights. That is such a fabulous thing to do, isn't it? Have a great weekend Cath! Hugs-Erika
You pack a lot into each post, Cath. Your cards are beautiful and truthfully, I have never heard of embossing PASTE before. However, the cards came out great. BTW, what is "sod?"
So sad about your son's friend's dad. I can not begin to imagine. Your journal page is a wonderful tribute to your own occasional misfortune. I can relate, actually, since I was born with a rare form of arthritis where I have no calcium around my joints. I've lived with it since birth, so have learned to understand what I can and cannot do, like zentangles which to me are SO painful and no fun. Sorry about my rant. Your journal page is fabulous and I love that you are sharing it with us at Art Journal Journey, too.
the night scenes with the oxides are fabulous! actually i always hesitated to buy the oxides ("i have way too much stamppads"...), but just recently i bought them. they are just great! you managed to do wonderful art with them.
it gives me a shiver when you are telling the accident of your friend... life is so fragile, nobody knows about tomorrow! take care of your health and all the best for your hands ♥
A very thought provoking post Cath. I too have painful arthritic hands, and the accident you described gives me the shudders. What a terrible thing to happen.
Love all your art, stars are not easy to portray.
I do LOVE your card Cath and the beautiful page - what a drama for this man - unbelievable!
Thank you very much for joining AJJ again my freind and happy weekend!
Big hugs, Susi
I wouldn't say you had that much work to do on those night skies - these look pretty good to me!! What an awful thing to happen to that poor man! I can relate to painful hands following my trapped nerve in my arm and the ganglion - which amazingly both got better while we were away - one following the visit to the spa baths!! Hugs, Chrisx
I know what you go through with your hands Cath - from days gone by. I came on here in good spirits looking at your lovely cards but was overcome by the sad story of your friend's father. How terrible that such a simple accident like that has turned his life upside down and inside out. I will include him in my prayers.
Hugs, Neet xx
Oh I am so so sorry about your friends accident, I hope hes not suffering too much with his pride,
Good luck with your entry in the Creatalicious Challenge #150
{{{hugs}}}
Marg DT member
Lovely makes!
Thank you soo much for taking part in our "anything goes with optional embossing (wet or dry)” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)
PS: Sorry for the late comment, life had been very busy these past weeks…
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