Friday 12 June 2015

Crafting in the shadow of Mount Etna

Bonjiorno.....greetings from Sicily. We have excellent wi-fi in our hotel so I decided to do something really different and post from over here! I also wanted to try taking some photos with my tablet and see if I could upload them successfully. Unusually for us we are not hiring a car but enjoying walks in town and reading and relaxing on our gorgeous balcony.

Welcome to my balcony

Our beautiful hotel looks out to Mount Etna and this is our view everyday from any part of the hotel as all balconies, the pool and dining room face the same way. Our hotel is high up in the back hills of Taormina and the location is breathtaking and so peaceful. You can see that there is still a little peak of snow at the top of Etna.


On Tuesday we took the bus up to Castelmola which we can see from the right hand side of our balcony. Here it is below, high up on that rock face in the distance.

We sat at the highest point in the shade of the castle and I decided to try my hand at sketching the slightly higher view of Etna. It was a very hot day and when we got back to our room in the afternoon we had time for a quiet relax before getting ready for dinner. I had taken a few crafting supplies away with me and decided to use my sketch to make one of my "moments". I had taken some card away for my travel journal but realised I had no suitable backing card. I decided to make my own but then realised I had only 1...yes 1 stamp with me, no archival ink and only 1 mini vintage photo distress ink pad. In true Tim style I embraced imperfection and made do with what I had. This really is crafting with a view isn't it.

 So this is what I did; I added colour to my pencil sketch using Inktense pencils and some water.

I used my 4 distress markers to colour my flower Crafty Individuals stamp and make my backing card. To give a slightly water coloured effect I then gave a few flicks of water and as I had no heat gun I lay the card in the hot sunshine to dry.

I clubbed together the few paper scraps and some hessian I had and was delighted that I could actually come up with something presentable. Here is my finished Moment sitting on our balcony.
Below is a close up of my little water colour....yes I know that I am not an artist but when I look at it I can take myself back to that moment of sitting in the shade sketching Etna and her surroundings in the sunshine.  As these photos have been taken on my tablet you might be also able to double click on each photo to enlarge the details?

I created a tag using an index card on which I had written "Etna" and added some very relevant remnant rubs. It just shows that with just a few crafty supplies it is possible to come up with something usable.
 These are non edited photos, so very much a Moment for me. No cropping,sharpening or even watermarking. Crafting back to basics - I wonder if anyone else on holiday has tried this before? A real celebration of simple crafting. I am even going to link it to some fun challenges.



I would like to enter my Moment into the following challenges;

Artistic stamper summer is on its way 

Rubber dance sunny sand/yellow/ ocean green/blue colours

Take it make it texture texture my texture is the hessian I have used.

Noor! here comes summer

We love to create anything goes/mixed media

That craft place anything goes

A Vintage Journey celebrations my celebration is my wonderful Moment on holiday in Sicily and my back to basics crafting!

And just to show you that even at night our balcony still has such a gorgeous view!

It is 37c this afternoon and time to head down here.....you'll find us under the brolly by the steps :0)

Thanks for the fun comments you are leaving, I have enjoyed reading them all. I would also like to warmly welcome even more new followers who have joined my creative journey at Jane's Journal. It is lovely to see  you here...in Sicily for the moment, but back home very soon.

Bye for now,

Jane x

20 comments:

  1. Oh Jane, what a tranquil beautiful looking place this is and I'm so impressed with your journal page especially with such limited supplies.It's like you have taken away your desert island craft supplies and created a great treasured memory to keep. Thanks for joining in the challenges at A Vintage Journey and That Craft Place.
    Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
    Julie xx

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  2. Right that's it...I'm officially jealous!!!!!
    What a view, so lovely and I can 'see' the heat!!!!
    Well done on blogging abroad, IG is as far as I've managed on hols.
    Your little moment is wonderful and will be a constant reminder of a fantastic holiday.
    Enjoy my friend,
    V x

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  3. Have you ever heard of a compliment sandwich? It's when you put something negative in between two positive things to lesson the blow. Well what do you call it when you sandwich something gorgeous in between two breathtaking things??? A jaw-dropping experience, that's what!! First some stunning shots of your view, then that amazing piece you put together, and then more amazing photos!! Best post ever! HAHA! Hope you're having tons of fun Jane! hugs :)

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  4. beautiful ! i love your pictures and your craft!

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  5. Jane, I left a nice comment but am not sure it went through. Suffice it to say I bet you're enjoying the pool! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. aw - lovely pictures and fabulous memories for me - Sicily was the first foreign holiday I went on with Shaun! Hope you are partaking of the mud baths! Lol! Great sketch too - brilliant xx

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  7. Hi Jane,

    Such a lovely place and what a view! Fabulous sketch you have done, beautiful. We went to Sorento Italy 10 years ago, loved every second and have always wanted to go back, We managed to climb Mount Vesuvius which was breath taking in more ways than one lol! Couldn't get up there now!!!

    Enjoy your holiday

    Love & hugs

    Jacquie J xxx
    http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. Oh, wow!! The view from your balcony is breathtaking!!!
    Thank you for taking the time to enter our challenge once more. Love what you managed to make with what you had on hand and your sketch is lovely!

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  9. Hello dear Jane,

    WOW WOW WOW! Of all places that must be the best ever for crafting-inspiration, those views are breathtaking! Wishing you the best time ever, and see you here soon again!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  10. Beautiful! And good for you for using your inspiration while surrounded by so many exciting sites. I hope you have a wonderful vacation!!

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  11. What a lovely memory of a beautiful place - so nice of you the share it with us at A Vintage Journey

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  12. Ooh, such an amazing view Jane!! .... You've captured the 'moment' beautifully in your water colour (your photographs look lovely too! :-) )
    Have a wonderful trip!
    Susan x

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  13. I like rooms with a view from the balcony as well. When we stayed in Lincoln City a few months ago, we were across from a hotel. There is a parking lot under the hotel so there's a nice see through to the ocean. Have a good holiday and thanks for sharing your creativity in drawing and stamping!

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  14. Hello dear Jane and welcome back home!
    I'm so glad Mont Etna inspired you to create such a beautiful Moment!
    As always, I've enjoyed your photos and your art!
    Many Thanks

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  15. What a view!!!! Great sketch too ...... thank you for joining in with the Craft Stamper Challenge ..... good luck! Linda xx

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  16. Lovely piece of art and what wonderful breathtaking scenery. I love how you were inspired and the layers on your design are gorgeous. Thanks so much for joining in the We Love to Create Challenge. Tracy x

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  17. Lovely artwork thanks for joining us on The Artistic Stamper

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  18. Jane, nothing like being prepared, lol. Love the holiday photo's, looks fab. Thanks for joining us at Noor Design UK for our Here Comes Summer challenge.
    Tracy
    Owner Noor Design UK

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  19. Sorry for my late comments. This looks fabulous. SO happy you and your hb could go and have some sunny travels. I've been to Italy but not Sicily. Thanks for taking us along, Buena Serra, (good evening)!!
    Anne D.T. xx

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  20. Wow - you are somewhere close to heaven I think! what a wonderful place for your holiday - gorgeous views - and wonderful creation to remember the days spent there! Julia xx

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