scrappassion

Crafting in the Caribbean with Tim

Just random pictures and random thoughts in random order about the cruise:

 

- probably the best cruise ever craft-wise. Loved ALL of Tim's projects

- couldn't have hoped for a better travel/craft companion than Chiara (elsewhere known as Maria)

- the weather was gorgeous - just some clouds and some showers which were actually welcome

- liked the Royal Caribbean better this time (last time our waiter sucked!)

- loved room service (for breakfast)

 

- I still don't like eating at Windjammer

- love shopping onboard AND onshore

- I still like Carnival better

- impeccable organization as far as Tim's classes were concerned (as always)

- met Elsa and Roxie, my new best friends from Florida and Texas

- made 117 ATCs to trade

 

 

- very little interaction between the two groups probably due to different class times and our later dining time

- beautiful ports of call; hubs and I raided the stores:) Well, I raided, hubs strolled along.

- Portofino onboard was a fabulous surprise

- the ship's "house champagne" comes nowhere near Prosecco

- our waiters and cabin attendant were excellent

- didn't spend too much at Mario's Market place - speedy shopping at Michaels and Joann's prior to embarking may have had something to do with it;)

- took less photos this time but I am quite pleased with them

 

 

- Chiara and I had 8 evening wears - one for each night and one "just in case"

- got a head cold from the darn air-conditioning on at full blast - especially in the dining room

- the staff at Royal Caribbean deserves kudos - they sorted out problems for us that hadn't been taken care of beforehand and some that occured during the cruise

- better not put the key card close to iPhone or other electrical devices - learned that first hand

- I hardly ever eat desserts but couldn't resist all the yumminess 

- cool ice show - Franco didn't like the magician and his tricks...

- some ladies assaulted the Market Place as soon as the doors were opened. Geez what manners!

- bought the most beautiful carryon onboard - it pays to be nice to Hubs :)

One hour challenge

We had to create, photograph and upload a sketch in 20 minutes. After that we could choose our own sketch or someone else's and we had exactly an hour to finish.

I chose Lisa's sketch. Lisa is a very talented and fun scrapbooker I met last year at Cocoa Daisy's forum. Then I found her in the fall at The Studio. This is her sketch and this is my layout:

I won this challenge and so both Lisa, having provided the sketch, and I, having won the layout contest, will have a chance to work with Cocoa Daisy Team and the newsletter. Cool! 

Jamaica

For these layouts I've had the great pleasure of using the products of Harmonie Hobby Crafts, a Canadian scrapbooking and crafts company. They were perfect for my Jamaican layouts.

The first one, Yes Mon! is of my hubby and of the crocheted cap he bought as soon as we set foot on Jamaican ground.

I used Sketchy Thursdays's sketch for the second chance challenge flipping the sketch 90°.

The patterned paper is from Harmonie's Iles du Pacifique collection as well as the buttons and the clear stamp that I used for my journaling. 

The second layout is also based on Sketchy Thursday's sketch. The background paper is Scenic Route's Kraft paper. I used the printed flower as one of the elements of the sketch adding some Ranger stickles to it. Here I used strips of two different patterned papers and again buttons from the Iles du Pacifique collection. For the title I used Harmonie's peel off letter stickers. 

 

A detailed shot of the flower I made with book paper, glimmer mist, patterned paper and  buttons. 

The last layout is for Cocoa Daisy's April scraplift challenge. The sketch is Kim Watson's who is an extremely talented scrapbooker.

 

In addition to the patterned papers and the buttons, I also used Harmonie's recycled precut chipboard shapes (palm trees) and ribbon. The black acetate bird and butterfly are Heidi Swapp's and the title is American Crafts vinyl stickers.

I wrote the journaling on the computer and printed it on acetate.  

I created the colorful butterfly from Heidi's white and transparent sticker and Harmonie's patterned paper.

Céline's Vintage minialbum

This was one of the projects that Céline Navarro taught us in Montpellier last January. During the class I finished the structure and misted and stamped and put together almost all the pages. When I got home life got hectic once again and I didn't have time to finish the album.

Now it's done. I actually finished it two weeks ago but then I didn't have time to photograph it or to post it.

We made the covers from chipboard and covered them with fabric. I used a long leather strip and a button for the closure.

Here you can see the three signatures (groups of pages bound together).

I ended up putting more pages than I had originally planned. The album is of events and places we went to last year and there were quite a few of them. Here is just a sample of them.

 A year full of photos, trips and special occasions.

We used Studio Calico papers and also white cardstock with Glimmer mists, stencils and stamps.

  

We really traveled a lot: the Caribbean, Finland, Crete, Mykonos, London and Mexico.

 

Our 2009 was full of special occasions and events: my best friend turned 50, we completed the renovation work in Kristina's house, Valentina graduated from university.

I love this album. It was fun to create and now I have a special keepsake of things that happened in 2009.      

January 1st, 2010

Apart from being my birthday (Happy Birthday Me!) I have my January's Guest Design layout on The Studio site. Not a bad way to start the new year!

Here are the rules for the challenge:

1. Make a page that includes a lot of “white space”.
2. The subject of your page should be something that scares you; scrap your fears!
3. Use 3 photos in the design of your page – but don’t forget that white space!

I scrapped about my fear of clicking on the icons of my new MacBook. Like my Mac assistant Daniele said the other day:" It won't explode if you click on them!" I guess I have to gather my courage and take the "click leap". *grin* 

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I usually don't do resolutions for the new year, too stressful to maintain them :) And then it's no fun, and I like fun!

I'm looking forward to 2010, even the sound of it appeals to me and I'm confident it will bring many happy things. The year that has passed was exceptionally positive with quite an unexpected "slip" a few weeks before the year ended but nevertheless it was a good year with a lot of wonderful events and some major changes.

- fantastic scrapbooking cruise in the Caribbean with Franco

- Valentina graduated from University

- Kristina moved to New Zealand and went to work with her "dream" company Weta. 

- took Karen Russell's online photography class and learned to use my camera - also my new Nikon D90!!

- Andrea, Franco and I had a marvelous vacation in Crete and Mykonos

- went to Finland with Andrea in February (he wanted SNOW and snow he got!!)

- went to London with Andrea in July

- had a nice even though not very mushroomy nor  blueberry-ish  vacation in Finland with Franco and Andrea

- closed Scrap4all which was a huge relief and a start for new creativity for me

- Franco finished Kristina's house 

- Andrea changed a lot his "I-know-it-all" attitude and has turned into a darling 12-year old (he'll be 12 in two weeks' time)

- wonderful scrapbooking cruise in Mexico with Valentina and a bunch of good friends

- Valentina moved to London and after some frustrating and disappointing weeks found a job

- had some minor health issues

- changed from pc to MAC!!!

- the loss of an old friend and some serious health issues within family and friends

- learned that I'll be out of job by spring

- had the first Christmas just the three of us since the girls are abroad

- have learned to ENJOY life with the good and the bad

My motto for 2010 is "new life, growth, strength and peace" 

I leave you with a couple of photos of last night's fireworks. I have to admit I really need A LOT of practice in shooting fireworks!! It's not half as easy as it seems!

    

   
 
 
 
 

Last port-of-call Cabo San Lucas

Il porto che mi è piaciuto più di tutti. Venerdì mattina quando siamo attraccati questa è la vista che ci offriva Cabo San Lucas.

This was by far the best port-of-call for me. This is how Cabo San Lucas welcomed us on Friday morning.

These are the tenders which transport cruisers back and forth.

Just a fun and colorful ad at port.

Our excursion was Sun & Fun Snorkel Cruise and this was our cruise boat.

First we cruised along the shoreline of Baja California Sur to Playa del Amor, Lover's Beach, which is on the Sea of Cortez side. Here you can swim and snorkel. On the opposite side (on the Pacific Ocean) is the Playa del Divorcio, where it's strongly advised against swimming and snorkeling due to the waves and currents.

Landìs End (Finisterra) is the southernmost point of the Baja California. Its rock formation is quite unique.

The Arch (El Arco) is the passage to the Pacific. On this side is the Sea of Cortez and on the other side is the Pacific Ocean.

Land's End from the Pacific side. On the background Playa El Médano, the most popular beach on the Baja California, right beside the harbor.

Getting near Chileno Bay

Snorkeling at Chileno Bay

Playa Chileno

First time snorkeling for Giulia, Valentina and Martha. I tried it for the second time and didn't like it any better than the first time. It's just not for me!

This was more me: free margaritas onboard :)

Valentina and Martha ended up dancing onboard.

Last glance at Cabo.

And this is my last update on the Artful Voyage to Mexico. What a cruise!!!!!

Puerto Vallarta

Che avventura! Avevamo scelto l'escursione Jeep Safari and Beach adventure e lo era davvero!

What an adventure! We had chosen Jeep Safari and Beach adventure and we had the time of our lives!

We started out by admiring on the dock Rosita, the parakeet. Here Rosita is with Martha.

Here Rosita is with Elina. I think they didn't click - or at least Rosita didn't: she pooped on Elina! Bad Bird!

Our jeep

  and our fearless driver Elina!

and our tour guide Pepè

 

We went off-road to go into the mountains of Sierra Madre and we were given bandanas.(could keep them as souvenirs!) The dust was everywhere.

We visited a village where the ninos offered us yarn bracelets made by them.

On the way back we stopped at a tequila factory and learned how tequila is made. This is blue agave, the plant out of which tequila is made.

Only the core or the fruit, the pina, which resembles a giant pineapple is used for tequila.

After the process of shredding, crushing, pressing the juice and letting it ferment, the tequila is distilled for the first time. After the second time it is diluted and bottled and we have Silver tequila. Reposado is obtained from tequila which has aged in an oak barrell minimum 2 months but less than a year. Anejo has aged from 1 to 3 years in an oak barrell. You could tell the difference in taste!

 

Arriva, abajo, al centro, para dentro!

My first margarita ever! It does have a smoky taste. Not bad but I didn't fall in love with it:)

Back to the city and the waterfront.

The beach was beautiful

Hand painted ceramic plates. Why didn't I buy one?? I bought a suitcase in Puerto Vallarta, I could have bought a plate!

 

Just passed by la Catédral Basìlica de la Inmaculada Concepcion

It's a long way to home from there!

Loved Puerto Vallarta.

Tomorrow Cabo San Lucas.

First port-of-call Mazatlán

Cabo San Lucas doveva essere il primo porto dove attraccavamo ma la tempesta Patricia ha cambiato tutto e siamo arrivati per prima in Mazatlán. Il nome Mazatlán significa Il paese del capriolo. Come escursione avevamo scelto Show, sightseeing and shopping nella Zona Dorada. Lo show e sightseeing erano belli, lo shopping un po' meno. Almeno qui ho risparmiato:)

The Storm Patricia made the captain change the order of our ports-of-call so instead of going first to Cabo San Lucas we went to Mazatlán. The name Mazatlán means the Land of the Deer. For our excursion we chose Show, sightseeing and shopping at the Golden Zone. The Mexican show and the sightseeing tour were nice, the shopping a little less. At least I didn't spend anything there:)

Artwork at the port of Mazatlán.

goofing around

El Faro sulla montagna è il faro posizionato più in alto al mondo dopo quello di Gibilterra.

El Faro on top of the mountain is the second highest working lighthouse in the world after that of Gibraltar.

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe - The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Inside the Cathedral

La Continuidad de la Vida - una delle statue più belle su Malecón, il lungomare, che rappresenta la continuità della vita in armonia con la natura.

La Continuidad de la Vida is one of the most beautiful statues on the Malecón, the waterfront. It represents the continuity of life in harmony with the nature.

La Mujer Mazatleca - un'altra statua importante. Rappresenta la bellezza delle donne mazatleche.

La Mujer Mazatleca - The Mazatlecan Woman is another important statue. It represents the beauty of the Mazatlecan women.

Questo invece è un venditore ambulante.

A street vendor.

Siamo andati a vedere i tuffatori dalle rocce - clavadista - aspettano l'onda giusta per tuffarsi dall'altezza di 45 piedi (ca 15 mt) in un mare che è profondo solo 5-6 piedi (ca 1,50 - 1,80 mt).

We went to see the cliff divers - clavadistas - who wait for the right wave to dive from 45 ft into the sea where it's very shallow, only 5-6 ft.

la Caverna de Diablo - Devil's Cave where ice used to be stored.

The Mexican show

Pulmonia - the typical taxi of Mazatlán.

 

My Artful Voyage

Non ci posso credere, ma a 5 gg dalla fine della crociera ho finito tutti i progetti cominciati in crociera. Anzi, un paio avevo finito già sulla nave. Sono 6 in tutto, 3 con Tim e 3 con Wendy.

I can't believe it but I've finished all the projects of the Artful Voyage. Actually a couple of them I finished already on the ship, but still it's a big achievement for me. We had 3 classes both with Tim and Wendy.

Durante il primo corso di Tim abbiamo fatto un grungeboard minialbum del viaggio. Per le copertine abbiamo usato il sticky back canvas di Claudine Hellmuth, un materiale bellissimo che puoi stampare e poi essendo adesivo, lo incolli direttamente sul supporto. Tanto Distress Ink, abbellimenti di metallo di Ranger, transparencies, masks, paper bags e timbri. In classe abbiamo usato 7 gypsies Binderie per fare i buchi senza fatica :) Mi mancano da aggiungere solo delle foto.

During Tim's first class we made a grungeboard minialbum of the trip. For the covers we used Claudine Hellmuth's sticky-back canvas: it's fabulous, you can print it and then adhere it directly to the base because it's adhesive. We used also a lot of Distress Inks, masks, metal embellies from Ranger, transparencies, paper bags and stamps. In class we used the 7 gypsies Binderie machine to make holes. I just have to add the photos to the album and it's completely finished.

I added a tiny Mexican pot I got from Elina and a maraca from Tiffany.

Some of the inner pages. I added some postcards because I needed more space to journal the excursions we did on the ports of Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

 

 

 

The second class was with Wendy and we made Apron art with flowers stamped on grungepaper and made in pins so they can be removed when we wash the apron. Grungepaper is thinner than grungeboard and can be curled and shaped to give dimension. It can be stamped, inked, painted and sanded like grungeboard. The only downfall is its particular odor: that of wet, old shoes :)))

Il secondo corso era con Wendy. Abbiamo abbellito un grembiule con dei fiori stampati su grungepaper. I fiori sono delle spille che possono essere tolte prima di lavare il grembiule. Grungepaper è più fina rispetto a grungeboard e può essere maneggiata e "arrotolata" per dare dimensione oltre che timbrata, pitturata con acrilici e scartavetrata come il grungeboard. L'unico neo è il suo odore particolare: tipo scarpe vecchie bagnate :))

 

Nel corso di un'ora "Charming Intrigue" con Tim abbiamo fatto una catenina ed una spilla di "arte metallica". Mi piace particolarmente la spilla e sono contenta di aver visto usare questi oggettini in un modo insolito.

Con Wendy nel corso "Fragment art" invece abbiamo fatto una collana di charms con dei pezzi di fragments, Glossy accents, carta, perline e la penna Glaze.

Poi ai progetti più tecnici e complicati: con Tim nel corso "Flight of creativity" abbiamo fatto una shadow box usando vari oggetti, tecniche e materiali: Distress Inks, Dabbers, la cera, perfect pearls, mini canvas, multi-medium collage ecc. Questo progetto era diverso da qualsiasi altra cosa abbia mai fatta. Mi è piaciuto da morire imparare cose nuove che spero di utilizzare nei miei lavori in futuro visto che ho comprato questo e quell'altro mondo da Mario nel Market place, lol!

Now to the two big projects: during Tim's course we created a wonderful shadow box using different materials and techniques such as Distress inks, Dabbers, beeswax, perfect pearls, mini canvas, multi-medium collage etc. This project was completely out of my confort zone, but I loved learning new techniques which I hope to use in my future projects since I bought practically everything there was in the Market place. *wink* And I have to say I love my "Birdie".

some details:

 

 

 

During our last class was with Wendy we made a bulletin board using sewing/dress pattern paper, multi-medium, grungepaper flowers and leaves, grungeboard letters, dabber, rock candy crackle paint, and various embellies. Of course a lot of stamping going on here. I love how my Inspiration Station turned out. I really loved all the classes and I'm super happy about all my artwork! Thank you Tim and Wendy from the bottom of my heart!!!!

Il nostro ultimo corso era con Wendy. Abbiamo fatto una bacheca usando cartamodelli per sarte, multi-medium, grungepaper flowers and leaves, grungeboard letters, dabber, rock candy crackle paint e vari abbellimenti. E naturalmente abbiamo timbrato parecchio qui. Sono contentissima del risultato. Anzi sono arci-contenta di TUTTI i corsi e di tutti i miei lavori.

Mingling with creative minds

I corsi sono cominciati lunedì mattina. Eravamo divisi in 4 gruppi, noi eravamo nel gruppo B che aveva il primo corso con Tim. Durante il corso di 1 ora e mezza abbiamo preparato la base dell'album del voyage da poi completare durante il viaggio nelle ore libere. Avevamo a disposizione il crop room 24 ore su 24 e anche tantissimi materiali dalla riserva personale di Tim. Durante i corsi ci davano tutto il necessario per completare i progetti e in più tantissimi regali e giveaways. Durante i corsi di Tim quando sentivamo che partiva la musichetta del Mexican Hat Dance sapevamo che c'era un regalo in arrivo. Invece quando Wendy diceva: "Vi piacerebbe avere questo?" urlavamo sììììììììì e Rick, il marito di Wendy che faceva da assistente a Wendy, ci distribuiva prontamente i regali.

The classes started Monday morning. We were divided in 4 groups, we were group B and had the first class with Tim. In an hour and a half we prepared the base of the Voyage album which we were to complete during the free hours. We had access to a wonderful Art studio aka crop room 24/7 with a lot of tools and stamps and inks from Tim's personal stash. During Tim's classes as soon as we heard the first notes of the Mexican Hat Dance, we knew it was a giveaway time. When Wendy asked us: "Would you like to have one of these?" we shouted Yeeeeeesss and Rick, Wendy's husband and her valuable assistent started distributing the giveaways.

Tim Holtz, truly one of the best people I've ever met: his undeniable creative and artistic talent apart, he is such a nice guy, kind and funny, demanding but encouraging at the same time and always ready to help and share his knowledge with everyone. I'm honored to know him and will be waiting for the next opportunity to learn from him.

Tim's Artful Voyage grungeboard album

This is where the classes were held and where we had the Art studio and also the Market place.

Valentina, Mario and me.

Me and Wendy. I had never taken classes from her before but I am ever so happy to have had this opportunity. Her artwork is amazing and I loooooooove her stamps: ended up buying SIX of them!!

That's the smile which announces something nice is going to happen...

 

                      Tim's assistants Michele and Keychain

Our crazy group with Tim.

My new apron I made before the cruise. The fabric is from Ikea.

More tomorrow...