Friday 13 March 2015

Vintage photos

As you know I really enjoy using my own vintage family photos in my crafting. There are lots of images available on the Internet or to buy but it makes things much more fun when you use you own family. Most recently I shared a photo of my Great Grandmother Florence here in my Art for Heart's sake post.

Today I would like to introduce my Great Great Grandmother Alice. Isn't this a great photo, it is so beautifully aged. Alice brought up her 2 young grandchildren (my Nan and her brother) when her own daughter and son-in-law died within 6 months of each other in their early 30s.

I don't know how old she was here but her outfit certainly looks very Victorian.

Last year I attended my friend Brenda's workshop and the project was to decorate a Tim Holtz collection folio.
It started off like this, just plain brown.
We were able to choose our papers and I chose these lovely spring themed ones.
We used inks, paints, stencils and gesso to alter the papers and create tags and pockets and made the folio our own.

This has sat, unfinished in my "to do" pile for a long time. There are some great challenges on at the moment so I finally dug it out and this week. The theme over at PaperArtsy is deconstruction and A Vintage Journey are celebrating all things Tim. I also think the spring weather and the papers inspired me to finish it. I also decided to add some other lovely family photos. It has beocome my family history photo album and on the front cover is none other than Alice.
Here are some inside shots, lots of pockets made from ordinary 12x12" paper sheets

  Lift the flaps and pockets to reveal more layers.
I hand stamped plain brown money/coin envelopes and altered them into little tag pockets.




The tags were tied with thick garden twine to add
some texture


Above is my Nan aged about 18.
Below is my own parents on 26th March 1955 on their wedding day and yes they are about to celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary.


I also added in a tag I had made.
This little match box die below has been used to make another pocket to contain more photos.

The back cover


and one final arty shot
It's a lovely keepsake and when Daisy Jane is old enough I can show her this and tell her about her ancestors including Alice, her Great Great Great Great Grandmother!

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

A Vintage Journey anything Tim
Country View Crafts anything goes
The Artistic stamper Spring is coming
Mixed Media challenge spring, birds of a feather  the spring like weather we are enjoying inspired my use of these gorgeous papers which feature nesting birds too. 5 challenges
Inspiration Journal Spring blooms
Simon Says Wednesday things that fly
Simon Says Work it Wednesday spring
Bunny Zoe Spring
That's Crafty wings and things
Paper Artsy deconstruction #5...I was inspired by Leandra's introductory video to look at altering or using products in a way they were not designed for....I have used coin envelopes and altered them into little tag pockets. Sheets of craft paper have been descontructed into flaps and pockets. I have also used ordinary garden twine for the ties for the tags and to attach the work band  My photos have also been deconstructed as they have been scanned and then inked....a very different process to the original Victorian photography! I wonder what my ancestors would think?

Have a lovely weekend and if you are in the UK happy Mother's Day to all you lovely Mum's out there.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x


20 comments:

  1. This is wonderful Jane! I can't believe this started out a just plain brown, so many wonderful papers and I just love the little tags and pockets you have included! Amazing project. hugs :)

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  2. Oh my goodness Jane, you have been so busy with this truly amazing folio along with your fantastic layouts. Love all your vintage goodies in it and the family photos make it a keepsake to treasure.
    Enjoy your weekend, Julie x

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  3. That is one amazing portfolio! And you have wonderful family stories and photos. I am sure you will win all of your competitions! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  4. Wonderful work Jane, I love your family photos and how lovely to see your parents wedding photo!
    A beautiful piece of history.
    Wishing you a happy Mothers Day and a great weekend,
    V x

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  5. Happy Mother's Day My Dear Jane! I think you did a magnificent job on that portfolio! It so detailed and that photo of Alice is marvelous. Daisy will be so fortunate to see the family history when she gets older. Beautiful creation Jane, have a wonderful weekend celebrating, xoRobin

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  6. What a wonderful photo of Alice and how lovely to see the folio being added to. I am sure Daisy will be enthralled when she is older. Great job my friend.
    Have a great weekend.
    hugs Brenda xxxx

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  7. A stunning piece of artwork, practical too! Lots of love in those pages and I love it too!

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  8. Great journal! Love that you have used your personal photos. Thanks so much for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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  9. Dear Jane,

    What a lovely keepsake, Daisy will love to take a look it with you later! What a wonderful way to keep all those precious pictures and memories safe. You have created an another masterpiece!

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  10. You're so lucky to have the old photos and Daisy is so lucky to have a grandma like you who is preserving them for her like this. Love your knitting too!

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  11. It's funny, my grandmothers' names were Alice and Florence. Must be my English background---those old names. Love looking at old photos, especially the great hats and hair bows!

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  12. This is gorgeous,thanks for sharing with us at Country View Challenges.xxx

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  13. Hello Jane, I loved seeing more of your family photos. My grandmother and my mother were named Florence. But they called my Mom by her middle name ( I guess to cut down on confusion.) 0-:

    A very big Congratulations to your parents on their upcoming 60th anniversary. How wonderful. My parents celebrated theirs in 2006.

    Here's to more family memories, dear Jane.
    best wishes and hugs,
    Anne xxx

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  14. Lovely journal and pictures! Love vintage photos and you are so lucky to have them. Thanks for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  15. Love it! Thank you for joining in with The Artistic Stamper challenge this month

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  16. beautiful layers. Love this. thanks for playing with us at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog!

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  17. wow! your folio is just beautiful!! love all the collaged pieces and those photo are lovely. Thank you so much for playing with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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  18. This is wonderful Jane! So much thought has gone into it and I agree, it'll be a lovely keepsake to show Daisy when she's older. Bx

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  19. Your folio is absolutely stunning, Jane! I think if I ever get around to doing anything with mine (!) the Wallflower papers have to be favourites as a starting point. Really glorious work with all your additions, and the photos are simply wonderful. Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison xx

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  20. A fabulous travel folio Jane. I love the wonderful layers you have created with all those fabulous pockets and envelopes. I also love the way you have used your stamps to create the little envelopes. Just stunning! Thank your for joining us at A Vintage Journey for our birthday celebrations challenge! Jennie x

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Jane x