TWO MORE STORMS, TWO NEW KITS

Goodness, have I gotten behind.  Seems like very time I get a new kit to work on I get a new snowstorm to shovel!  We are definitely in the polar vortex this winter.  I stopped counting after seven feet of snow, and it snowed last night and is snowing right now... like crazy.. and I don't even think THIS round was in the forecast.

Anyway... that's not why you're here is it???

It's catch up time!  Kits released on February 9th and 16th by Xquizart.

"Midnight Blue" Collectibles and Papers and "Old Gold" Collectibles and Papers.

Very different from each other and so much fun to play with.

 

This one above was created with Xquizart's Midnight Blue papers and collectible as well as a frame, seashells and sparkles from Pink Lotty's "Blue Sea"

I don't always succeed, but I enjoy trying to use a kit WITHOUT using the dolls for at least one page.  Again, I don't always accomplish the task, but this one was easy!

 

Lately I've been all about the head decor.  (a page for another day with some other kits) but here is what I accomplished with Midnight Blue.  First with it's original colors then I went a little off course with NOTHING but BLUE.

 

 

 

 

 

No stories with this set.  Not sure why.  I usually have a story for everything, whether you want to hear it or not.. lol

Lastly.... Don't Cage Your Dreams 

(At least that one got a title)

 

Background from this last one is from Holliewood's "All that Glitters" papers.  My all time favorite paper kit. Goes with everything.  :)

On to the next storm.....   Another blizzard, another foot of snow.. and OLD GOLD!!!!!

While this first one didn't actually have a story... it had a name, which changed the longer I looked at it.  I started out calling it "Mantle".  Yeah, pretty lame, I know.  The longer I looked at it though it came to me...

I present TROPHY WIFE (giggles)

Just stick her up there with the hockey trophy, why don't ya?

  

This next piece is "THE CAT TAMER"

 

 Created with Xquizart's "OLD GOLD" Background from her "Reckless Goth ATC" Tiger from Holliewood Studio's "LaVie Boheme" and black cat from "Hotel Hell"

 Golden Relections (above) was created with Old Gold Collectibles and Holliewood's "All That Glitters" paper for a background.

Last but not least "The Entry"....

This one was very last minute, but for some reason ended up being my favorite piece from this kit.

I'm sure I'll come back to it and play again.  Love the vintage dolls, the soft colors and all the beautiful clothing.

Thank you for stopping by!

Hugs from my corner,
Arline (aka Nonni)

 

VINTAGE ROSE

Greetings!  Happy New Year!

Just released Xquizart's newest collection "Vintage Rose"  You can find it here at Mischief Circus, as well as all of Deb's other kits. 

I think I surprised myself.  I'm not a "pink" girl, but I had a lot of fun with this.  I came to Mischief Circus because of Deb's artdolls and have to say, I LOVE that she has now incorporated collections with accessories, furniture and the such.  So, much fun to make a strictly "Xquizart" piece, though I must admit, I still love throwing her dolls into just about every Mischief Circus kit I have, no matter the artist.

To prove the point I thought "outside" the box on this one.  I decided not to use a single doll, just to show what she has to offer along with her fabulous dolls.

 

This reminds me of an old gift stop I use to visit in an old train station.  I could walk around that place for hours and did most of my Christmas shopping there years ago.  It has since shut down, but if it were still there, I think it would look something like this for certain.

Anyone who has read from the beginning of this blog, knows I am my own worst critic and have little faith in myself.  Just applying to be a part of Deb's team was a HUGE thing for me.  To be chosen...well, yes.. I am still pinching myself.

For that reason, I think a lot of my pieces end up having to do with confidence and believing in yourself.  I think it's the hardest thing we sometimes have to do.  

Believe it or not, in high school, I was voted "Class Optimist".  Apparently I have the gift of inspiration, courage, going forth and seizing the day for everyone but "ME".  lol   So, even though I'm not big on New Years Resolutions, I made two promises to myself for 2015.   To be more positive and to take better care of myself.   I already had my physical this week, but no one wants to hear about me turning 50 this year and needing a colonoscopy!  hahahaha

What I was getting to though, is being positive.  This next piece represents how hard it is to see what others see when we look in the mirror.

 

SELF ESTEEM.

"It's not your job to like me; It's MINE"

From there I moved on to my daily mantra to "believe in yourself".

 I leave you this morning with a few more pieces I created with Xquizart's new Vintage Rose kit as well.  Remember, grab the kit..  Come play with me!!!!

 

PRETTY IN PINK

 

SANCTUARY

(Created with Xquizart's Vintage Rose and these Holliewood Studio kits...  All That Glitters, Out of this World and Special Effects)

 

THE GEM

Until next time.  Hugs from my corner,

Arline

THIS AND THAT

Good Morning, World

I thought, while waiting for next week's "new release" from Xquiart at Mishief Circus I would play with some of my stash I have purchased from her over the last year.  Oh, there really is something for every occasion!!

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
 
I created this  for a friend who is in the hospital. More than a week and still no answers.

She was down to one broken wing. She was losing her optimism. Modern medicine had no answers so she went searching! Always look to the stars. For there, you will find the light.

Created with Xquizart's "Into the Darkness Alone" artdoll, Holliewood Studio's "Void" and Pink Lotty's "Witches Kitchen"


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Thankfully, while she still has no answers, she has returned home since I created this Saturday evening.

Last night I played with her Tartan Artdolls to create a couple pieces.  It started as a Christmas  project but then suddenly my Irish came out and it became about drinking....

JOY TO THE WORLD

 I really enjoyed creating this piece.  I have so much to learn about layers.  I think I added more into this creation than I have with any of my pages before.  It was good practice for sure... and she just might have to become my avatar next week.

Created with Xquizart's "Tartan" artdolls, Tumble Fish Studio's "Holiday Trim" and Eena Creation's "Magical Ice Kingdom"

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This one is simply:

IRISH GIRL

IRISH GIRL © Nonni F 2014

"The best drinking buddy a guy could ask for."
Created with Xquizart's "Tartan" artdolls. Booze embellishments from Rucola Design's "Blarney Blast" and "Finding Shamrock"

I just adore her.  I had used all the other dolls in this kit before but not her.  I love her sass, and her hair.  Seemed perfect for a drinking buddy or a hostess for the local Irish Pub in my old neighborhood.

I was so tickled when I came across these dolls last year.  It was right after visiting Saugus Iron Works in Massachusetts where my descendant Peter Grant was brought as a Prisoner of War after the Battle of Dunbar.

Here is a small piece of an article I found about his journey here around 1650


WHERE THEY LANDED...

Col. Charles Edward Banks wrote an article, "Scotch Prisoners Deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-52" on the fate of the deported Scots which was published in "Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings," Volume 61 .

Carl Boyer III writing in "Ship Passenger Lists" produced additional information about prisoners. He wrote:


In November 1650 a number of these prisoners were apparently sent to Boston in the "Unity," arriving in New England early in 1651, no doubt. Sixty of these prisoners were sent to Lynn, to work in the iron industry, and the others dispersed. As the prisoners were sold as indentured servants at about 30 pounds each, the average passage at the time being about 5 pounds, Col. Banks has suggested that the owners of the "Unity" cleared a handsome profit of about 1,500 pounds on the trip.

John Gifford, iron works manager, wrote in 1653: 'For 62 Scotts dd and 35 only left on the works, 17 to Awbrey, 3 to commissioners; 2 sold and rest we desire to whom disposed of, which is 5 at 20 pounds.

Col. Banks listed the following as being probably prisoners who settled in Berwick, formerly a part of Kittery, Maine: Niven Agnew, James Barry, Alexander Cooper, William Furbush, Daniel Ferguson, Peter Grant, George Gray, William Alexander Gowen, David Hamilton, Thomas Holme, John Key, Alexander Maxwell, John Neal, John Ross, John Taylor, William Thomson and James Warren.

 I so enjoyed playing with these when they came out as a tribute to both my Irish and Scottish heritage.  I even got my granddaughter into the fun....

 Ní neart go cur le chéile (There's strength in unity)

Our family crest...

 and lastly, the port Peter Grant arrived in on as it is today at Saugus Iron Works.

I almost didn't post these as even though I have a lot to learn, I can see I've come a bit of a ways since creating these.  Goodness.  No shadowing whatsoever.  EEK~

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope this message finds you smiling and your day is a happy one.

Hugs from my corner,
Arline

SUNDAY SCRAPS

Greetings!!!!

Let's see... two weeks before Christmas, housework to be done...  laundry basket full....

What did you do today?  I did NONE of the above!  I scrapped! :)

Still fiddling around with Xquizart's "Annie Mae" artdolls.  I have to be honest here, and I hope it doesn't come across the wrong way.  When I first saw these dolls in particular I thought they really weren't "me"... but goodness... the more I play the more I want to play with them.  They are so very addictive.  Just goes to show that you should always try new things, no matter what they are... even scraps.  As with a lot of things, I learned something new about myself and what I can work with.

Today I did a couple journal pages.  Not something I usually do, but these dolls are just fabulous for journal pages.  In my head there's a whole bunch of journaling thoughts for these beauties.

These are very simple.  Hoping to get some practice in on more detailed and complicated pieces.  Time to push myself to the next level... read some tutorials.  PRACTICE.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.  I hope you're having a fabulous day.
xoxoxo

Hugs from my corner,
Arline

 

 

 

Journal pages created with Xquizart's "Annie Mae artdolls and papers. http://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/product.php…
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Addicted to these adorable little girls!!! What fun they are. Every time I get ready to head on to something else... I'm back to them. Thinking they would have made the very best of friends that I always dreamed of meeting in my fantasy dreams as a child.

ANNIE MAE

Two days on a CT and I am still pinching myself!!!   Can't believe I'm there.  Very excited.  Worried I don't match up to the awesome work I see, but keep reminding myself we are all our own worst enemies, are we not?

Got my first new release to work on.  Feels like Santa in the toy shop.... playing with things no one else has seen yet.  Excited to put them out there!  I've completed four so far with the kit, and decided to do some "other" play this evening.

I went back to one of the previous kits from Xquizart that I hadn't played with before.  "Annie Mae".
CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!  I love the vibrant colors and the whimsy play of it all.  I think I'll be making quite a few with these and with my granddaughter Brielle's love of birds... I have a few ideas that just might make it to her walls.

Without boring you with chatter (and I hear wine calling me)  I leave you with these two pages I created tonight.   The first one being a reminder to "love yourself".  This week has shown me not just that, but to trust myself and believe in myself as well.  

The second "Balance"... well, if I keep playing with these kits I'm going to need a lesson on how to balance everything else I'm NOT doing.  hehehehe

Hugs from my corner,
Arline

Created with Xquizart's adorable kit "Annie Mae"  Oh, the whimsy! Loving this!!! 
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Kit by Xquizart@mischiefcircus.com

Update:  One more before bed!  Oh, what fun!!!!

WELCOME TO MY PAGE

Greetings, fellow bloggers and digital scrappers!  Welcome to my page.

My name is Arline.  I am "Nonni" to my three grandchildren and my biker friends...  The "Crazy Cat Lady" to just about everyone else.  In my defense, I only have three cats.  Though I'm always trying to sneak in another addition.

This is a big day for me.  I am my own worst critic and have little faith in my own talent when it comes to just about everything I do.  This week a friend told me there was a CT Call (creative team) for a digital artist who's work I adore!  She is what brought me to digital collages when I was trying to create a mermaid page for my granddaughter.  She pulled me in with her beautiful artdolls and it was the beginning of a new obsession for me.  I have become obsessed with Mischief Circus's creative designers and their fabulous kit.

Had Beth not encouraged me, I don't think I would have taken the leap, but she did and I am so thankful.  I submitted my application, which considering my inexperience and lack of knowledge summed up to about two sentences.  But, guess what...  I am now the member of a CT.  Pinch me.  I am so very excited.

I can never thank Debbie enough for believing in me and give me a chance. 

I'll be posting my work here as well as on the gallery at www.mischiefcircus.com and on the group's Facebook page.  Come along and play with me.  Give it a try.  Oh, what fun we can all have together.

I learned something today....

Always believe in yourself!  Take a chance!  LEAP!  You won't know unless you try and you just might surprise yourself!!!!

Hugs and Purrs,
Arline