My inky travels along life's rocky road

Monday 30 December 2013

Craft Barn Alpha Challenge - the Final Two

 
The remaining 2 letters for the Craft Barn Alpha Challenge are X and I. I am just scraping in before the deadline as we have had quite a hectic holiday season. The first letter is X and I only had half a page of definitions. I looked at the usual X options such as x-ray and xylophone and x-ray would have been appropriate at the moment as my dog has been unwell and has spent a couple of days at the vets. We have seen a few of her x-rays but TBH her intestines are not something I want to inflict on all of you. I did toy with xenophobia but it's not a word I could depict very well through the medium of rubber. Finally I opted for xerophyte - a plant that is adapted for growth under extremely dry conditions. Amongst the cacti and yuccas I spotted a Californian Poppy also known as eschscholzia californica,  the seeds of which can lie dormant for a long time but with a little rain they will spring to life, germinate, flower and set seed in a matter of weeks (who knew?). With the help of my Memory Box poppy die I cut several poppies and coloured them with my coloursoft pencils. I did debate going over 2 pages onto the Y's but I thought I'd leave this as the only single page entry as that's all there was.


Next comes I with many more options. I have had this Artemio London stamp set for a while and have used it quite a lot. I wanted to use it somewhere in my dictionary but thought about it after doing C for Christmas early on in the year. I had no L for London definition so couldn't use it. However it occurred to me that all these images of London (my home town) are iconic - you don't have to be a Londoner or even British to recognise them. The text is cut with Sizzix petite petals strip die which I just bought in the Craft Barn sale (I brayered red & blue inks over some card and outlined the letters for more definition). BTW this stamp set is also in the sale (in store) and I like the fact that the union flag is in 2 parts so you can do the red and blue bits separately.
So that's it... I've really enjoyed this challenge I only have to decorate the outside now and I will post that later. Thanks to Isabelle and everyone at the Craft Barn for coming up with this. I'm looking forward to a new challenge next year. Thank you also to everyone who has followed and commented on all the dictionary posts - we have become quite a community.
Have a Happy New Year!

20 comments:

  1. Amazing desert looking background with beautiful poppies. Love your creative way to use your London ICONS.
    Hope your dog get better ASAP.

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  2. Great last couple of pages and well done on finishing your book. Happy New year!

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  3. Wonderful pages, I love that Poppy die and shall buy it one day. I grow poppies every year including the Californian Poppies, they are such cheerful, happy flowers!!
    Your dictionary must look fabulous now that the challenge has ended and you can flick through it all. Hope your poor dog is soon well. Have a very Happy New Year. Lynn xx

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  4. Your pages are both fabulous. The X page is so pretty and the I page brings back memories of when I used to live in London. Those images are indeed iconic! I hope your dog is better soon. xx

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  5. Love that poppy die, really ought to treat myself, great that you found a word to have it on your X page. Super Iconic images of London. Brilliant - BJ (hopefully I won't be self imposing any extra challenges this coming year!)

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  6. Two super pages. I love the delicacy of the poppies and the layout of the icons. That was a clever association of ideas. Best wishes to you for the New Year.

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  7. Both pages are lovely and great choice of words too. Love the colouring on your poppies, so delicate!

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  8. Fabulous last pages, love the poppies.

    Sylv xx

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  9. Wow, I love your London page!

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  10. Lot of brainstorming here! For two lovely entries. Ole',you've done it!!

    I wish you the very best from the next year, and we'll see on the next challenge :-)

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  11. Both of your pages are fantastic.
    Wishing you a happy, healthy and creative year 2014.

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  12. Happy New Year! Congrats on doing the whole dictionary challenge - these last two pages are fab! We have loads of Californian poppies and they're lovely (as is your page!).

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  13. First I do hope you dog is better. Secondly - you did the whole dictionary - wow! Your Poppy page is gorgeous - really very pretty. As I really love the United Kingdom - your iconic images of London is a wonderful idea. Your London pages could not possibly be any better!
    Again, I hope you dog is well and your dictionary pages are smashing!
    Sandy

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    1. Thanks Sandy, my dog is much better and almost back to her usual self. She's getting old though (@12 next month) and her bone-eating days are now over even though she loves them.

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  14. Great two final pages! Well done on completing the challenge and hopefully see you on Sunday.
    Happy New Year
    Izzy

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  15. Hi ...I've really enjoyed seeing your Alpha challenges... 2 more fab pages to add to your cool dictionary...LOVE your London themed page!! ...and I will miss seeing what you and everyone else comes up with each fortnight now...Jan x

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  16. Visiting from The Craft Barn - your poppy page is gorgeous & your use of Iconic so you could use those fab stamps was Inspired! :o))

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  17. Fabulous last two pages. My sister also did your x word but used the cactus - pages just so totally different, it is what makes this challenge so much fun. Love the iconic page from my happy days of living in London. I hope to see you at the new challenge.

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  18. Love your 2 final pages! It's been a great challenge hasn't it! xx

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