Daybook and Mini-book

 Join the Simple Woman's Daybook HERE

FOR TODAY 31st May 2010
 

Outside my window...it's been a nice day, sun shining, quite warm.  It was bright sunlight at 5.30am, I woke up, but turned over and went back to sleep till 7 o'clock.
I am thinking...about my holiday coming up fairly soon, looking forward to some R&R!
I am thankful for...being able to get out and walk around the grounds in the campus at lunch time.
From the kitchen...home baked ham with a honey glaze
I am wearing...oh no it's my same old trousers, t shirt and fleece, not so warm this evening.
I am creating...I've have been creating all weekend, a mini-book for my MIL's birthday and a card for my SIL.
I am going...to Hamilton tomorrow, looking forward to it.
I am reading...nearly finished Peter James book, Dead Tomorrow.  It was a slow starter but very good build up.
I am hoping...that Brian is going to make me a cup of coffee in a minute!
I am hearing...Springwatch on the TV
Around the house...patio cushions have been brought in because it is forecast to pour with rain tomorrow.
One of my favorite things..K& Co.scrapbook papers ;)
A few plans for the rest of the week: two days in Hamilton then back to the local campus for Thursday & Friday, nothing much else planned.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing..the mini-book I made for MIL.

That's not a smear on this tag, I 'smudged' it in photoshop, that's where Brian and I signed the card!  Papers and embellishments are Touch of Teal by Papermania, spot the Cornish Heritage Farm lace backgrounder - it is fab-u-lous!

Where I work, Mosaic Monday

I don't actually work in the gardens, but I am very fortunate that one of the campuses of the university I work for, is in the grounds of an old 'lunatic asylum' which became a psychiatric hospital and then, with care in the community has been given over to an number of other purposes.  It has the most gorgeous gardens which are at their best in the spring.

The photographs wer taken on my phone on two different days about a month apart.  The blossom and magnolias taken last month and the rhodedendrons and Horse Chestnut trees, last week.  The Rockery (centre) is beautifully laid out and it is always a pleasure to go out for a walk at lunch time to see the plants and trees.

Join Mosaic Monday at the Little Red House HERE

A perfect fit!

I have been neglecting the Daring Card Makers with all my busy-ness, but this week I have made time to take part in the dare.  The theme is 'Anniversary', now although Brian and I will be celebrating our 29th Wedding Anniversary in June, we don't actually give each other cards, so I thought it better to make a card to give to someone else.  

The chippie jigsaw pieces have been in my 'bag of chipboard' for a very, very long time but seemed to be just perfect for this card.  Papers are all Websters, the butterfly is K&Co Wild Saffron (I still have another two left, I'm very stingy with my favourite stash lol!) The little flower is a Wild Orchid Crafts one and the text is computer generated. 

I am woman...

The Soartful challenge this week is 'I am woman'.  I immediately thought of the Helen Reddy song and wanted to include the 'roar' from the lyrics:

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

 

 The woman image was one provided by Jeanette for the challenge and is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci.

It is very beautiful, but not much roar going on there, maybe a silent roar!

A cat may look at a King

Crowns are everywhere in crafting right now and they are the theme for this week's Something Completely Different Challenge.  As well as the usual Ranger Distress inks, I used some Viva Decor Croco Transparent Crackling that I got from Caroline at BubblyFunk Shoppie Shop.  When it was dry I cracked the card and then rubbed over more ink.  The 'king' is a Stampotique stamp by Daniel Torrente, the crown and cat are both Craft Stamper Magazine Freebies.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY my Day Book for Tuesday 25th May
Join the Day bookers HERE

Outside my window...It is 9.38pm and just starting to get drk, it's much colder today and a bit of a shock after the warm weekend.
I am thinking...about my son and new daughter-in-law returning from their honeymoon, and also of my friend whose brother is critically ill in hospital after a bicycle accident.

I am thankful for...having a job that I enjoy and a great boss
From the kitchen...chilli, baked potato & broccoli
I am wearing...crop trousers, t shirt, hoodie!!!
I am creating...nothing at the moment, but I have a new stamp :)
I am going...to a good practice day tomorrow, planning for next year's service delivery
I am reading...
I am hoping...for a good sleep tonight now that it is cooler
I am hearing...Brian playing his saxophone in the other room
Around the house... the shower is leaking, engineer is coming on Thursday
One of my favorite things...blog hopping.
A few plans for the rest of the week: the good practice day tomorrow, and a couple of days of paperwork.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing

 Calves enjoying a shady spot.

Creativity Boot Camp

Look what I found...

Creativity Boot Camp check it out, I'm going to give it a go.

Spring or Summer?

We have had a sudden heat wave this weekend.  Most plants are still in spring mode like the tulips, lily of the valley and bluebells. But look at that swallow and the summer sky!

This is my little photo medley for Mosaic Monday over at the Little Red House. Why not visit Mary there and find out how to make your own mosaic or just enjoy a tour round the many mosaics that are linked to her blog.

We'll always have Paris...

A little Twinchie from me for the Something Completely Different Challenge 'Paris'.  The usual stuff, Distress Inks, assorted stamps, a bit of stickles glittery stuff and a heart shaped brad for lurrrrve ;)

Summertime

It is rather appropriate that Jeanette chose Summertime and this white picket fence for the Soartful Challenge this week.  We have had the hottest day of the year with blue skies and blazing sunshine such a welcome change after the cold winds that have been blowing throughout April and May.

Digital papers and elements by AnnaBV Designs, Anna Wierzbicka & Redju.

Wedding Cake Recipe

Wedding Cake Recipe
1/2 lb good looks
1lb sweet temper
1lb butter of youth
1lb blindness of faults
1lb of wit
1lb good humour
2lb of sweet argument
1 pint of rippling laughter
1 wine glass of common sense
a dash of modesty

Put the love good looks and a sweet temper into a well furnished house.
Beat the butter of youth into a cream,
and mix well together with the blindness of faults.
Stir the wit and good humour into the sweet argument
then add the rippling laughter and common sense.
Work the whole thing together until everything is well mixed,
and bake gently forever.

The Colour of my Love

The Colour of My Love

David Foster, Arthur Janov

I'll paint a sun to warm your heart
Knowing that we'll never part.
I'll draw the years all passing by
So much to learn, so much to try.

I'll paint my mood in a shadow blue,
Paint my soul to be with you.
I'll sketch your lips in shaded tones,
Draw your mouth to my own.

I'll trace a hand to wipe your tears
And trace a look to calm your fears.
A silhouette of dark and light
To hold each other oh so tight.

I'll paint the stars in the evening sky,
Draw the light into your eyes,
A touch of love, a touch of grace,
To softly fall on your moonlit face.

And with this ring our lives will start,
Let nothing keep our love apart.
I'll take your hand to hold in mine,
And be together through all time.

This was one of the readings that Steven and Shona chose for their wedding ceremony.  Digital page and elements from Mon Petit Jardin by Maelia Designs, digital mask from Pton Designs.

Family Wedding

Cutting the Cake

With Steven's grandmothers

With Steven's Aunts

With the Bride's Family

When I count my blessings...

Not only am I going to bore you will wedding photos, you are also going to see them in digital scrapbook pages and possibly also actual scrapbook pages, if I can get my act together!   I loved this photo of Shona's neice, Keira, she looks so solemn. It was taken just inside the entrance to the hotel where we were waiting as the bride and groom had their photograph taken.   All three girls were extremely well behaved and calm in the face of all these strangers.  I know how special they are to both Shona and 'Uncle Steve' which is why this piece of wordart seemed so appropriate.

I am also entering this for this week's Soartful Challenge as Keira looked small and vulnerable just like the Sofia teddy bear that was the photo prompt this week.

With this ring...

My elder son, Steven, married Shona yesterday and I thought I'd share some photographs with you.

Here they are signing the register, with Shona's sister Melissa, chief Bridesmaid, and Steven's best friend Will who was Best Man.

The groom and all the men in the bridal party wore kilts, as did many of the guests.  The couple were piped to and from the wedding ceremony.

It was a very wet day, but there was a brief respite in the weather and we got some photographs taken outside,  here I am with my husband Brian.

I loved my hat!

My younger son, Andrew and his girlfriend, Hazel.

and my best friend, Avril with Hazel.

I'll post more family wedding photos tomorrow, hope you are enjoying them as much as we enjoyed the wedding.

To have and to hold...

Remember I showed you this picture of the Tando Creative horseshoe that I made for my son's wedding?  Well now I am going to show you the book that I altered to present it in.

This also features a piece of Tando Creative Chipboard, the lovely branch of leaves which I combined with Wild Orchid flowers to match those on the horseshoe.  The papers are Websters and also some K& Co.  I've smudged the date in the photo deliberately.

 It fastens at the side with velcro and ribbon.

When you open it the horseshoe is inside as well as an appropriate poem.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this as much as I enjoyed making it.

I thought I would also show you what the 'book' was made from, it was a Christmas present from my other son and his girlfriend, I'm on my last bottle of shower gel, but I hope the book will be treasured for a little bit longer.

Mosaic Monday

A William the Westie Mosaic
for Mosaic Monday

Dioressence

The Soartful prompt this week is 'Fragrance' but rather than use the image provided, I decided to use an image related to the first 'proper' perfume that I was given, Dioressence.  My dad travelled a lot in his job and came back from trips to the US in the 1960's  and early 70's with a transister radio, a cassette player, at a time when these were unknown locally,  and lots of lovely dresses for me and my sister.  As we got older buying clothes was not such an easy task and so he started to buy duty free perfume in the airport or on the plane.  The first bottle he bought for me was Dioressence.  I loved the smell of Lily of the Valley, although it always made me sneeze!  Pefume still makes me sneeze, but I continue to wear it. 

The image is from a vintage Dioressence advertisement, which I have chopped, duplicated and generally messed around with! Over that is a scribble overlay from the Scrappin' Cop and underneath a pic of lily of the valley.

Butterfly Wings

I was beginning to get crafting withdrawal symptoms, as I haven't had a lot of time to make things.  Yesterday I managed make the muffin basket and also this Twinchie for Something Completely Different, it is some time since I took part in this challenge and as it is their birthday month, it seemed rude not to!

I swiped the card with Distress Ink in Peeled Paint, Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick,  then stamped the Crafty Individuals stamp with dazzle versamark and embossed with holographic embossing powder.  The I swiped over the whole thing with Perfect Plumeria.  Re-stamped the butterfly in Perfect Plumeria and cut it out, shaped it and stuck on.  Three little gems and an edging of silver glitter pen.

Muffin Basket

I'm going to a 50th birthday party tonight for a friend from work.  He made a couple of comments on Facebook about the Rhubarb Muffins that I made last week:  'Yum' and 'Are you bringing these in to work tomorrow?'.  As it happened I wasn't but I had frozen a few of the ones we didn't scoff, so decided that I would present him with his own personal muffin in a decorated Muffin Basket.  It's mostly cut and stick with a bit of embossing and some Stickles.  'Enjoy' stamp is Studio G and the cupcake stamp is a Papercrafts magazine freebie.

Happy ever after.

It's Friday Photo Flashback time again, join Alicia at More than Words to post your own flashback or visit some of the 'flashers'!!!!

Still thinking about weddings.  I might have posted this before but here is a photograph of my Mum and Dad's wedding in 1954, the bridesmaids in green and coral are my aunts.