Tony and Hope - CSI: Case #30

Here is Case File #30 over at CSI - really enjoyed this colour combination and as ever the free printable Coordinates were fab!

These colours are a perfect foil for some of the vintage black and white pictures I have inherited (although I didn't use the originals). So I did TWO pages - if I had more time, I'd have done more as I really got into this one.
First one - I love this picture of my Grandpa at about three years old. All the details represent something about the man he was to become - roses, the dove, music and mechanics.

First I had a lovely messy time with gesso, paints and inks to make a nice textural background. Then I stamped some musical notes and scrolls, added some torn and inked pieces of paper and a doyley to echo his little lacey collar. The hinge and frame were from the CSI Coordinates and the vintage scrap was from a bundle I bought in a junk shop.

My Evidence: ribbon, distressing, hinge. My Testimony: documenting the story of how Grandpa was really named Frederick but was known all his life as Tony because when he was little he was nicknamed Toto the Clown and it stuck!

Grandpa and his 4 brothers had beautiful singing voices and used to sing together a capella; one of their favourites was "Oh! For the Wings of a Dove". Grandpa was also very clever with mechanical things; Mum remembered being the first house up their street to have television because her Dad was able to build a set himself, and all the neighbours came in to watch the Coronation. Years later, he took pride in his roses and won prizes for his racing pigeons - this was the Grandpa I came to know and love.

Second one - I always find this picture of my Granny Robinson with her brother and sister very thought-provoking.

I've hidden the journalling on the tag tucked behind the photo. It reads as follows;
"This was taken in 1918, at the end of WW1. It shows my Gran, Great Aunt Mabel and Great Uncle George. Their father had been killed in action in 1915 when Gran was just six weeks old, so these were hard times.  I look at their serious little faces and wonder what was going through their minds. In fact, they were all to have long and fruitful lives and to stay close to each other until the end. Little Winnie was to have six children of her own and become my lovely Granny who I will never forget and I am thankful that she lived to see my own children. So this picture is bittersweet for me - tinged with sadness, but full of hope and possibilities ... xxx

My Evidence: distressing, 4 patterns, ribbon, brads. My Testimony: journalling as above.
More close-ups as the scan was rubbish again  - really must try and work out how to get better pictures of my layouts!

The butterfly is a Stampin'Up! stamp with Distress Ink onto a scrap of patterned paper.

And the little Forget-Me-Not scrap is another one from that junk shop bundle.
I think Gran would have liked this page, especially all the roses. Do you ever think how great it would be if your Gran had made scrapbooks and you could look at them now?!
Right, now I'm off to have a go at the latest Tim Holtz Tag - looks GORGEOUS (well it does when he does it anyway!).
Annie x