All I want for Christmas.....

I made this lo already in December but still had to finish the journaling (behind the tag). Journaling is about a new Christmas tradition I started for my mini-moi: we will buy her 1 Christmas ornament every year until she is 18 years old, so when she will buy her first tree (which will be a small one in her student room maybe) she can already fill it with a nice collection of ornaments.
I was inspired to make this layout with the "holiday"prompt on the
Global Perspectives blog.

Global Perspectives # 2 - Your Background

I am really starting to like maternity leave and wish it would last forever (without the big belly of course hehe...).
I finally have the time again to join different challenges and take my time to create a layout without any hurry or obligation. The latest challenge blog that I really love is Global Perspectives. If you haven't checked it out yet... do so.. you won't be dissapointed!

The layout took quite some time.
What I did was the following:

I scanned some old pictures, changed them to sepia colour in photoshop and printed them on thin photo quality inkjet paper.
Then I transferred them to watercolour paper with Golden Gel Medium, which this time worked perfectly! The background consists of various layers of Ranger Distress Ink that I used over a Heidi Swapp mask. I thought the colours were the too bright so I added a thin layer of gesso over it.
The layout still needed some more darker colours for more contrast so I made a border with my favorite Vivid Ink colour: Coffee Bean! (The perfect brown colour).
With gouache paint I coloured a bit of the backgrounds of the inkjet transfers.

What else is on it? Dymo tape, on the left and right some other tape, scraps of Daisy D paper and a text stamp I received with the latest "Get Inspired Kit".
I am not too sure I like the result, but I had a lot of fun making it. Especially the colouring of the transfers was great! I will add this layout to the album I am making for the baby.

Be on the lookout for a new Studio DaphNat technique today or tomorrow :-)

Global Perspectives #1 - Hollands Glorie?

Finally there is a new challenge blog that actually asks something from you beyond the usual topics people scrap about normally. Check it out HERE to see what it is all about.

For the first challenge they asked to tell something about your own country:
On my layout you see a collage of typical dutch things; some of which I like, some of which I don't like. As an illustration to this double feeling I have, I used the lyrics from a Dutch song called "Het land van.." ( The land of.."). This song is about all the good and the bad things that Holland has to offer to its people. The title I used (Hollands glorie?) means something like "The best of Holland?".

I think in the end I am proud to be Dutch (and no Rita...I will not join your new political group LOL).. but there are also quite a few things that irritate me daily when I see it on the news.

(EDITED)
Here are some links, following the numbers on the pictures / in my journaling:
1) Marihuana: In Holland this drug is not illegal; I like it to have a choice without being thrown in jail. More info about the typical Dutch drug policy can be found in this article on Wikipedia

2)Windmills: something for tourists... they like them a lot
More info HERE

3)Pim Fortuyn: the Netherlands' first modern age political assassination. I didn't like his ideas, but am still wondering what would have happened if he had won the elections (this would have happened if he had not been killed). More info on him and his idea HERE

4) Theo van Gogh: another controversial man, like Pim Fortuyn. On the day of his murder and the weeks after the whole country was in shock and I think a lot of people were in fear of a big explosion of Muslim violence. Luckily this did not happen. I liked Theo's sense of humour, although sometimes he was really really rude, especially about Islam. An extensive article on him HERE

5) Bugaboo: I love this product. I think it is a good example of a really strong brand that conquers the world. It even appeared in "Sex in the City", and Gwybet Paltrow has it too. I am proud that it is a Dutch product. Of course I have bought one too for my mini-me...second hand though... it is sooo expensive. Check out their website.

6) Febo: Typical Dutch warm snacks "from the Wall"... You throw in 1 euro, open the little door and there is your snack... Imagine this...a whole wall full of little doors with snacks behind it. That's the Febo experience! I love to go there sometimes...they also sell the best French Fries :-).

7) Burka Babes: a really funny comic with comments about Islam and the role of muslim women in Dutch Society. Hilarious book! These burka babes have a lot humour!

8) De Zwaan (The Swan): Officially called the Erasmusbrug, this fantastic piece of architecture is stunning..or at least I think so! I don't really like Rotterdam (living in Amsterdam myself ;-)...)but they have some great architectural sites to visit!

9) Tulips: Aren't they the most beautiful flower you have ever seen? I love the simplicity of this flower! They are my favorites.

10) Bicycles: the weather doesn't matter..Dutch people hop on their bike..... I just ride my bicycle in the summer, for fun trips and picnics :-).

11)Traffic Jams: a rapidly growing problem..I hate it!

12) National Soccer Team: when they play..almost everybody wears something "orange".

For more info on The Netherlands.. check out this Wikipedia article.

TFL!