Fridays challenge

I still have a migraine after 4 days and I’ve been awake since 5am,So I feel a bit punch drunk.I’ve had some Ben & Jerry's ice cream with a lemon curd meringue as a pick me up.

I was looking forward to feeling better so that I could complete Shimelles new challenges for the class.I waited all  day and then just dosed myself up with some medication.

FRIDAY'S CHALLENGE:
Can you use metal, cardstock, patterned paper and ribbon on the same project???

I decided to use a photo I took of my children against a mosaic wall in London on Mothers Day.

I tried to replicate the tiles using  a pile of plain cardstock pieces I bought in a supermarket in the States

I then machine stitched them to a piece of cardstock that I rescued from a clearout my friend Hilary was having a while back.

So I am also using up someone else's excess cardstock as well!!!

 

I added a couple of metal brads and some ribbon.

This layout is much more me,I just prefer working with lots of colour.

I finally chose some photos to go in my album for the class.

 

These are the first few pages using all scraps and unwanted stash.

Its only a small 6 x 6 chipboard album so I can’t go to town on it.

 

 

We moved my dresser upstairs today.I say we,when I mean my husband and son,with me pulling faces as  I did my best.

But as soon as it was in place I had a brainwave.I have been trying to work out how we were going to accommodate  all the pipes we have to hide.Then it came to me,to get in the fabulous person who handmade all my kitchen.He has since branched out on his own and had popped in with a business card for me last year.So I’ve rang and left him a message so fingers crossed my troubles will be over.

Whilst in the loft sorting out the next piece of furniture to sell on ebay I found this forgotten magnetic notice board.I had had all my favourite photos copied onto this metal board as a Christmas present years ago.

So I may ditch the whiteboard and  put this up instead.

(Sandra and Hilary-near the top left, you can see that naked photo of me sat on a bridge,I told you about!!!!)    

(Oh,whoops just noticed another of me naked top left  with the children enjoying the VIEW from our Spanish apartment) How brown are we,we’d been there a month and in those days you tanned.Plus how big had my bikini bottoms been??

Word for the year-Capture

21st Century

19th Century

post marshmallow cupcakes.

I have just made a batch of marshmallow cupcakes which are yummy.

I have been so good this week that I surprised myself by fitting in my favourite dress.

As you can see my boobs are straining at the seams at bit,but the rest is nothing that a pair of spanx wouldn’t sort out.

Thanks to Jane for her comments on my migraine medication.The beta blockers I have to take are renowned for slowing you down and weight gain.The first time I tried them 10 years ago I used to go to the gym everyday and was very fit.Beta blockers stop your heart rate from increasing,so it was very weird working out without breaking into a sweat.Because your heart never races it slows your metabolism down and everything goes on a go slow.

Every time I see the Doctor I ask to be taken off them as they don’t help my migraines at all,but they always resist and I  leave with a reduced dosage.But this time I’m going to put my foot down.Maybe they are why I have put on weight.I had always eaten exactly what I wanted and never had a weight problem. I had put my gain down to me getting old and my bad back stopping me working out.

Anyway enough about my fat……..

A huge Congratulations to my friend Scrappi Sandi,she was featured today on Shimelle class prompt  along with two other great scrappers.Sandra  is a fabulous scrapper,if a bit slow!!!!But she has certainly speeded up for this  class,either that or she’s not sleeping.I bet her poor family are having to live in squalor and I’ll be surprised if she’ll be able to get in her craft room by the end of next week because of all the ironing she’s ignored.

Anyway enough about her …..This blog is all about meeeeeeeeeeee……….

I had a tough time with Shimelles prompt- to scrap with just plain card stock.I HATE plain card stock.I always use it reluctantly,give me a patterned paper  every time.

So I dug out the remaining lilac papers (yuk) from my cardstock and got punching.The pictures are of my niece Taya.I took them on a dark night in my garden.She was lit just by the garden security light

I couldn’t resist adding a few coloured  butterflies and some of the beads I found yesterday from my Mums stash.I can’t say its one of my favourite layouts and it will no doubt be heading my sisters way.But at least I no longer have any of that yucky  lilac cardstock left.

depressed

I am struggling with another migraine.I take daily medication to try and prevent them but it doesn’t seem to make any difference.I think they are linked to my neck and back problems as when one hurts ALOT the migraines pop up for 3 days at a time.So I think a trip back to the Doctors is in order.It would be nice to come off the tablets as I put on a stone as soon as I went on them.A friend of mine came off hers straight away as they slowed her right down and the scales started increasing alarmingly.

Teddy was very brave this week.

The car ride to his destination was a bit hair raising.Its very twisty through country lanes and at one point he ended up upside down in the foot well.

His excitement at a trip, quickly evaporated when he saw we’d arrived at the vets.He had his yearly inoculations and didn't bat an eyelid.I had him weighed as everyone comments how fat he is.But I can now assure them its just his big fluffy coat.He’s really a skinny Minnie under his clothes.Just like me really!!!

I felt he deserved a treat for being so brave ,so this time I put him in the back of the car and all I could see was his head popping up and down looking out the back window.

Teddy takes me for a walk not the other way around.Its always a chore to take him out.I can't believe such a little thing has such strength.I always come back exhausted .So It was time to treat him(me)to an anti pull harness.He tried it on for size in the shop  and then promptly amazed me by acting like an angel.He walked around like the best trained dog he isn’t.So I  gladly handed my money over.

Well, I would love to tell you that its a miracle and he’s a changed,passive little bundle of fluff.But no he still tries to pull me and embarrasses me by dragging me the full length of waiting traffic outside my house….I can see people tutting and laughing.

But the good thing is I can lift him of the ground now.So hopefully he’ll get the message soon,who’s in charge………………….

Shimelle’s “something from almost nothing” class included a video link on how to make a ribbon flower with an iron.I had a light bulb moment when I realised I had some ribbons I’d inherited from my Mum.She used to make lots of craft projects and had a little business making cushions and decorated teddy bears.We sold most of her huge lace and ribbon stash.But I remembered I had a drawer full of “bits”.So instead of using up stash I have ended up discovering more that I had forgotten I had!!!!!!!!!!

I had a go at making the flowers but I wasn’t very successful.My ribbon wouldn’t flatten.But I decided I  didn't need to bother,not when I have all these new stash flowers to use up.

Plus,I found my drawer of wool and unfinished crochet projects,so I’ve dug them out as well.So watch this space to see if my crochet addiction comes back.

Checkout this blog of the shop Jolie where I used to buy all my wool. The shop is amazing and Danni and Linda are very clever ladies. Its like you’ve died and gone to heaven when you go in the shop.Its a feast for your eyes.

I had to clearout my stash cupboard yesterday so that we can lift the dresser upstairs.

But none of us felt up to trying to struggle with it up the stairs.Its VERY heavy and HUGE.So lets hope I like it in the  new scraproom because I don’t fancy telling Hubby to take it back downstairs.

I had a shopping trip yesterday so I thought I’d share my outfit for the day with you.

I am determined to lose a few pounds to fit into my favourite all time dress.So far so good .I have been a good girl for the last few days,but I feel a cupcake baking session coming on.

Its a beautiful Whistles dress made of silk.But it has no give in it whatsoever and that lovely little velvet ribbon around the waist is VERY unforgiving.

So its hung on my wardrobe as inspiration to eat less.

 

 

 

Along with this gorgeous dress I bought last year.It has the weirdest shape.

The waist is huge and is under my boobs.So I have to wear a belt which I HATE to do.But I needed to buy this huge size,to fit my ample bosom in.And its still straining at the seams.So I’m having it restyled,maybe into a 1950’s style skirt or a dress with a scooped neck to let the puppies breathe!

What do you think????

Ribbon…..

I woke up this morning with an idea for Shimelles prompt 2 & 3  combined.I had used a technique at the Craft Stash crop last year using punched circles .I drew a heart shape and then just punched and inked away at a collection of scrap pieces.The majority of the paper was from a collection of Elsie Flannigan papers I bought in the States a few years back.

The backing paper and rub on were left over from the crop kit from this weekend.

I made a heart from ribbon a long time ago.The ribbons are sewn on to a backing scrap of fabric cut into a heart shape.The football quote one didn’t even have to be cut,so although I was going with a different title for this the scrap won.The photo is inked and distressed with sandpaper.

I have sewn a pleated piece of ribbon ready for my mini book ,but I still can’t decide which photos to use in it.

We had very dark grungy papers to work with this month at the Crafty Stash crop.Michelle had designed the 2 layouts.I didn't play with them too much this time.

This photo is of my Adonis husband in his first year at Secondary school.He’s always been a looker!!!

What a shame that for the small amount of time God gave him hair,his Dad thought it wise to cut it for him.Poor child.You wouldn’t be allowed now.It would be reported as cruelty.

That hair cut might explain why I never once noticed him at school ,even though we were both there at the same time.

Mind you I would have been too busy in the toilets at break time ,getting my “flicks” to stay in place and reapplying my makeup.I was NEVER seen looking less than immaculate.What has happened to me????

Plus this will cheer everyone up.I’ve just heard on the news that petrol (gas) is expected to rise to an all time high here in a matter of weeks.They think it will reach £1.20 ($1.80) a litre.For you Americans reading this feeling you pay high “gas “prices,give a thought to us.A litre is equivalent to 0.26 US gallons.(For some reason we have a different measure of gallons to the States?)

Plus along with the fact that the pound is sooooo weak against the dollar.Resulting in the cost of scrapbooking imported goods going through the roof in price.We may only have our scraps to keep us happy for a while.

Happy Scrapping.XXX

Happy Mothers Day

Well what a lovely day,for me anyway.

Poor Ryan was hung over after a late night.

We spent the day in London popping to all my favourite places.

First stop was Columbia Road flower market.

It was so busy even at 10am.Too busy for me,I chose some flowers for a friend and my Mother in Law and then left empty handed for myself.

But I got to pop into some shops and bought some bits I regretted not buying last time.

There were some familiar faces from last time

and some new ones

Then it was off to Cath Kidston to buy a bag.I am going to convert it to hold my camera.I have wanted it for a while and I was in the mood to treat myself……..

Then it was a quick run into Selfridges to try on the Chanel sunglasses I wanted.

I couldn’t decide if I liked them.

My children thought my old ones were nicer,so we nearly left empty handed.But we passed through the food court and were drawn to the cupcakes.

Then it was off to Trafalgar square for the St Patricks Day celebrations.We had missed the parade,but caught lots of people enjoying themselves

 

 

 

 

then it was home for a spot of indulgence with tea and cakes.Me and Tasmin had to polish of most of them,as the men weren't that interested.Men just don’t get cupcakes????

Our favourite was the  smartie one and the ferrero Rocher  inspired one.

Mmmm…….in fact we feel sick now……….

(My word for the year)

CAPTURE

smile

sad

God given assets

I have a busy weekend ahead,a day of scrapping at the Crafty Stash crop tomorrow and then Columbia road flower market for Mothers day.Hopefully we will get to see some of the St Patricks Day celebrations that are going on there.

I only got half way through Shimelles prompt 2,before I knew exactly what effect I wanted to use from her ideas.I LOVE bunting I have been trying to get some for my garden for the last few years,but I haven’t found any that takes my fancy yet.

I have tried all my local scrap shops for the new Dear Lizzy range.I love her bunting paper,but they don’t have it in yet.

So I cut lots of triangles from my box of scraps.I keep all my scraps in a box.I only throw away tiny pieces and I always try and pull something out of it for each new layout.

The orange backing paper was part of a pack I bought in Chicago.I knew it would sit forever in  my stash.The summertime title was left over from a crop kit and the blue cardstock was in my scraps box.

I’m off to check out the rest of the prompt and will try and get some time tomorrow to crack on with my album.