Thursday, March 29, 2012

A Glimmer Of Hope - Scrap Africa Challenge 3


Scrap Africa decided to celebrate our "rainbow nation". This photograph was taken by a friend of mine whilst on a 4000km journey through South Africa together with her two daughters. Thank you Isobel and Carla :) Please visit us at http://scrapafrica.blogspot.com/ and see the beautiful projects made by our other talented ladies on the team.


This is another layout I made which is also part of my beloved country. This baobab tree is situated in the Limpopo province in South Africa and is the world's largest and oldest living tree and a major tourist attraction. The photograph really does not do this tree the justice it deserves but I tried. She is over 2000 years old and is still growing at a rate of 1cm per year. In ancient times, kings, elders and leaders held meetings in the shade of the baobab trees and there were times when humans made homes inside their trunks. There is a room inside the trunk of this tree which was used as a fridge during the Gold Rush days. The baobab was declared protected in the Forest Act of 1941. She consists of 80% moisture and stores up to 120 000 litres of water to sustain her through droughts.


"Jewels of Africa" was created over the course of two days and trust me, for me that is fast as I usually spend a week on a layout. I happened to see that Fabscraps was hosting a competition and participants had to use their fabulous C40 collection. I am proud to say that I won the competition and the cherry on the cake was when it was published on the front cover of Scrap Affairs Issue 17. The elephant in the photograph had a very sad story to tell. Whilst in the Kruger Park my husband took a series of photographs of this particular elephant over the course of a few days. The elephant returned to this same carcass every day and we are convinced he was in mourning as all the while he was gently touching the bones with his trunk and the mournful, rumbling sounds that emanated from his tummy was very touching. They truly are such magnificent animals ...


And here is my proud moment...

14 comments:

  1. I have this magazine))) great works as always!

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  2. Your layouts are gorgeous... I'm not surprised they take you a week to do when I look at all the details... lovely.

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  3. Dear Cathy, your layouts are fantastic! Could you please give your e-mail? I would like to invite you as a Guest Designer to russian blog Scrap Melodies http://scrap-melody.blogspot.com/ ))

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    1. Thank you so much Tatiana :) I sent you an e-mail this morning :))

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  4. Cathy, you have beautiful layouts!!! Thanks for a very interesting story about the baobab tree and the elephant. Sorry for bad English

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  5. Hi Cathy, I've only just found your blog and I've joined as a follower. Your work is so beautiful and you're so generous to share your techniques step by step. I love your blog.

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    1. Hi Sandra :) Thank you very much and you are most welcome :)x

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  6. Your work stands out! So very beautiful. The detail is just amazing.

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  8. Hi Cathy!! Wow... absolutely STUNNING layouts!! Your details are just amazing and very inspiring!! Congrats on making the cover of Scrap Affairs!! So sad about the elephant. Have an awesome day... hugs, Tracy

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  9. I have just discovered your blog, great work - so I am a new follower.
    regards from Norway

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  10. you have beautiful layouts, very lovely

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