Te Apiti by Passport: New Zealand designer Tammy Dale-Hodgson

New Zealand guest designer Tammy is back for a post sharing her second layout using the Rosie's Studio Indigo Mist kit. I love how she incorporated motifs like the clouds representing the meaning of the name New Zealand in Maori and how she die cut greenery to symbolize the bush and the magical place she took these photos! Read on...

​The inspiration for this layout is one of my favourite places in New Zealand Te Apiti or otherwise known as the Manawatu Gorge.  A beautiful bush covered walk that challenges the body but rests the mind.  There really is something soulful about this place, it doesn't seem to matter how many times I run or walk through it, it can always challenge me physically and yet it is where I feel most at peace.  There are a few tracks to be found winding their way up and through the gorge and at the crossroads of these you are greeted by the magnificent sight of Whatonga, an ancient Maori warrior, who has been immortalised in a 6m tall sculpture.  So the bush and the colour of the sculpture is what I have based my colour scheme from.  I have used a green and white floral paper, and a grey metal paper to frame my layout.

New Zealand is also known as Aotearoa which translates to 'long white cloud', which made the Paige Evans Cloud Background file cut an obvious choice for my background.  I have added a touch of blue to the sky by using a waterbrush and ink pad.

While is was building my base I cut a square piece from the center of the green and white floral paper, I have then used this and the green woodgrain paper to cut leaves from.  These have been arranged and staggered around my photo's to give a bush feel.  Finally I have added a few embellishments including the gumboots and a roof top, blue house veneer and follow your heart arrow flag.

I really enjoyed creating this layout and incorporating so many pieces that represent my world around me. ​​