Friday, October 01, 2010

I'm engaged

OK I first got engaged on 29th June 1987. Actually we knew we were going to get married 6 months before that but couldn't share it just then. We didn't have much money so my ring had the smallest stone in the whole world. Until 5 years ago when cleaning the ring with a pin (as you do) the stone came out. By some miracle I found it. I put the ring and stone in a little box. Next time I looked the stone was gone. And there it lay until now. Yesterday Phil went down on bended knee and produced the ring with a new stone. I think my hands are rather more wrinkly now (my face may still be pretty fresh but my hands aren't!) I must remember to tell my Heaton Way URC congregation. We did the story of the lost sheep and lost coin a few weeks ago and I talked about my ring. I can rejoice because what was lost has been replaced found again.

So I have made him a card to say thanks. It is to go with the rather tricky birthstone for October a la Daring Cardmakers - Opal. I was stumped by this one until I remembered Angelina. Angelina is a collection of fibres that you iron between sheets of paper. You can add other stuff which will be fused in by the heat. I found some iridescent white and fuchsia pink. Et voila
Now I am gutted because you just can't see the opalescence here but you will have to take my word for it. The top background to the card is white angelina that has gone through an embossing folder to create the dots. It has a lovely sheen to it. The heart was cut using a sizzix die and embossed as well. The papers had actually been put away after making the Salt layout but the Cosmo Delovely came out again. Also Ribbon Girl ribbon; a button; liquid pearls in White Opal (note that)
Here's a close up but you still have to imagine the sheen
(Added at lunchtime)
In my excitement I forgot all about the fact it is double dare day today!
Yes the first of the month also means its time to Get Funky!
It was my turn to set the challenge and I decided on
Take 5
Use 5 or more different patterned papers
These are all from the Colour Me Happy CD. I actually used 6 papers. One is almost hidden (the pattern round the oval) and two are subtle (the self coloured squares) but they are all patterns! Iused my EK Success big scallop punch to layer the patterns and the butterflies are martha Stewart. Nestability ovals; Imagine That stamp; Black Soot distress ink and some Sarah's Cards bling finished it off. The Funky Hand team have been sooooooooo inventive so do go and see what they have been up to.

Phil and I are finishing the 30 day shred tomorrow. We've actually done more that 30 days and I am v. proud (we are allowed Sunday off). After that I will try and keep up the regime but add in yoga and wii fit I think. The key for me is keeping the exercise to about 30 minutes. Sunday it is harvest at Romford. On Thursday there was a Ministers Meeting in my other area and someone brought a fantastic illustration of how small is good - especially referring to mustard seeds. Now I am pretty sure he is not a lectionary follower (a set list of readings for each Sunday) so how cool is it that it is one of the Mustard Seed readings this Sunday so I can use his illustration. Result! Thanks Rich and yes, God is good!

10 comments:

Lynda said...

Totally beautiful - love the colours and you've been very creative with the fibres.

Love Lynda xxx

Kathy said...

It's beautiful - I love the papers and the colours and the opalescence shows up fine - try clicking on the photo if you don't believe me!

Your ring is lovely - what a wonderful surprise for you to have it back in all it's glory

Loopylou. said...

oh lythan your ring looks gorgeous hun, it must be so nice to wear it again. and your card is just wow pretty hun, i love all the little elements of it. hugs Lou xxx

Kaz said...

Congratulations!! I didn't know you then, but am glad to be able to share your happiness!!!
Fab cards by the way! x

Allison said...

gorgeous card Lythan
AllisonX

Jo said...

Happy engagement lol.

That is such a fab story and I love the card that you have made for Phil :)

jo x

Samm said...

Congratulations lol ;-)

Love it, such a pretty card!!! x

Jules said...

Hi Lythan

Many congratulations on your re-engagement!!! How romantic.

Your story made me smile as I too have an engagement ring with a missing "diamond" .. .. well they look like little tiny chips of glass until you have one missing and then suddenly there looks to be a huge hole!!!!

My first born kindly took it to work with him one day whilst on work experience from college. He offered to put in the sonic wash system. Apparently all the girls took their jewellery in to clean it and he thought he was doing me a favour in taking it in to "sparkle it up".

The poor lad was gutted and emptied the whole system the following day in the hope of finding the missing stone. But of course he didn't. It would have been far too small to find. So mine went into "storage" for sorting another day.

A few years later We took the ring to see how much it would cost to have "restored" to its former glory and we were told that I was lucky I hadn't lost more diamonds and the sapphire from the middle. (My ring was shaped like a flower with the sapphire being the centre).

We didn't think it would be worth having restored as it had only cost us £45 many, many years previously .. .. but we were surprised to learn that it had actually increased in value to over £300.

We couldn't afford to have it restored .. .. and still can't .. .. but perhaps one day!

And after all of that .. .. .. your ring is beautiful and your cards are too.

Love Jules xx

Hazel said...

How wonderful to get your ring back with it's lovely new stone - well done, Phil. Super cards. x

Tip Top said...

Congratulations! Eek - I clean mine with a pin too!

Fab take 5!