This is for Dawn's terrific Free for All challenge, celebrating National Reading Month. I love books!!
One day at school our teacher asked us to name 3 people you would like to have dinner with. My hand shot up and I confidently named Anne Shirley, Heidi and Clara. She went nuts and I was ordered to the Head Mistresses office. Sitting outside her office was the longest 5 minutes of my eight year old life.
I told the Head Mistress what the teachers question was and then I told her my answer. I quickly added that one of my favourite people in the whole world is Anne Shirley of Green Gables, we have never met, but we are of kindred spirit (kindred spirit was my favourite saying from the ages of 8 to 10). In a very dignified voice she said that perhaps my teacher was looking for people who were actually living. I sat there in stunned silence; she asked me if I had understood. All I understood was that Anne, Heidi and Clara must had all died that very morning while I had been sitting in class. The tears started to fall; this was my first experience of grief and loss.
This was in the early 60's when corporal punishment in school was the norm. Boys got the cane over the backs of their legs and girls got whacked (really) hard with a wooden ruler across the palms of their hands. With silent tears streaming down my face, I stood up and held my hands out, squeezed my eyes shut tight and waited and waited and waited. I never did get hit; turns out the Head Mistress also loved Miss Anne Shirley too.
My card is in honour of my favourite book Anne of Green Gables. The background was created using the Smack & Squirt technique - smack distress ink onto aluminium foil, squirt on a lot of water then using a foam blending tool, scrub over smooth cardstock. Repeat until the desired colour and depth is achieved. NOTE: If your foam pad is new (or hasn't been used in months) give it a good squirt of water before you start. If you have trouble blending the colour, just squirt on more water and wipe gently with a baby wipe. Wait for the card to dry, and then add more colour using the S&S method.
I used the rectangular shaped blending tool and just turned it on its side to shape the grass and water. The berry tree and flowers were added before adhering Anne to the card. Her legs and boots were roughly drawn and cut into shape, then stuck in place using a glue stick. Her plaits are from a gorgeous Unity Stamps Co stamp. Anne's hat was made by using a large oval punch and trimmed to size. A grey copic marker was used to outline Anne and give a 3D illusion.
The quote seems like something Anne would say. I had heaps of fun making this; I will be adding it to my journal.
Thank you for looking.
Date: Friday, March 4, 2016 GMT Views: 5269
Favorited:12
Registered: May 9, 2008 Location: N.Tonawanda, NY between Buffalo and Niagara Falls Posts: 2747
Sun, Mar 06, 2016 @ 2:06 PM
Love what you have done with the bird, those long legs and braided hair is wonderful. The 3D effect looks awesome. Colors are so intense, they are beautiful. AND that story, touched my heart, anyone with a parochial school education knows the wrath of the ruler!!
Thanks so much again for the nod to my card this week for the favorites
appreciate your taking the time.
------------------------------ Sue Drees MY BLOG Proud Fan Club Member "I'm thankful that in God's design, he planned it so your path crossed mine"
Registered: January 26, 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 79311
Sun, Mar 06, 2016 @ 2:21 PM
Susie,
I love what you do with those crazy birds, you bring them to life and add so much character to them! So sorry about your experience in school when you were young, I sympathize with you, I went to a Catholic grade school and I remember those days of getting hit with a ruler!!
Registered: June 4, 2009 Location: Deatsville, Alabama Posts: 83926
Tue, Mar 08, 2016 @ 2:52 AM
Love, love, love this!!! Wow. I so love the story you have shared, the book you love, and this journal page. Wow - I so need to look at these birds in a different way. That sentiment is so inspiring too. Wow, wow, wow. Hugz - extra ones because this is soooo great!
------------------------------ Nancy Williams - Hope your day is Spirit-filled and ink-filled (in that order)!DRS Designs-DT, Punchkateerforever, Dirty Dozen Alumni
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Tue, Mar 08, 2016 @ 11:22 PM
You are one of the most amazing crafters on SCS! You stole my heart with your story and your card! My favorite movie of all time, Anne Shirley and Green Gables. No clue why I don't get your notifications but you are truly an amazing artist and kindred spirit to all of us!
Registered: April 13, 2011 Location: Midwest Posts: 178
Wed, Mar 09, 2016 @ 10:37 AM
I LOVE your Anne!!!!! And how fitting of you to honor her with your colorful leggings. She's really an Outstanding looking chick! The braids are Exquisite!!! I'm sorry to say that I had not known her during my childhood. I was too busy solving mysteries with Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, etc. I did, however, take some side trips to the Land of Oz and various fairy lands. But Anne alluded me until not too many years ago when I saw the Anne of Green Gables series on TV. In fact, I had just the other day been thinking of dragging out my recordings and absorbing all the wonderfulness of that series again. Thanks for allowing us another little insight into your life and what makes you You. Love every minute of reading your stories and being awed by your explanations of how you bring all of this into being.
Registered: August 10, 2006 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 25290
Wed, Mar 09, 2016 @ 6:41 PM
Oh my, Susie!! What a tearful story! Even Crazy Anne's makeup is streaked from crying! But she is so beautiful with her braided pigtails and gorgeous long legs!
I don't know how I missed this beauty last week!! I Love it! I can recall very vividly being smacked on the hand with a wooden ruler! My first grade teacher smacked all of us when one of us did something wrong. I wasn't happy about that, but of course, I said nothing. Nothing like kids today!
Registered: February 3, 2005 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 34769
Sun, Mar 20, 2016 @ 9:55 AM
Oh, sis, what a traumatic thing to do to a young child! I can't believe a teacher would have done that even back then! But look at the amazing, warm, and loving woman you've become in spite of it all (and perhaps because of some of it). I love the story of Anne of Green Gables, and what an amazing and beautiful girl with her braided hair and sweet little bows on them! Oh, and those long legs - wow! Such a delight, sis! You are truly a treasure for us all, and I continue to thank God for being your DD sis every single day! Love you dearly! xoxo
------------------------------ Cheryl
Proverbs 3:5-6 My blog
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Fri, Apr 08, 2016 @ 9:52 AM
Revisiting your amazing backgrounds and characters for inspiration! The more I look at this, the more I am amazed by your incredible talent, your imagination and your drawing skills! LOVE this one and the braids- just genius!
------------------------------ Nancy
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