I'm almost here

I've been away - hence the silence. Had a lovely mini half term break with my wonderful mother in law. Came back, did a class at Imagine That and then discovered that someone at the centre of church had died suddenly (that'll teach me to leave the answerphone messages until 12 hours after I get home). It has been mad since then.
I have so much to show and tell from the various challenges I am part of, but I just don't have the spare capacity and energy right now.
I'll try and catch up soon!

Every day when I wake up I thank the Lord I'm

Welsh.

I'm not the best at being Welsh - I can no longer speak my mother tongue (Its on the list for retirement or if I go back and work there) which is rather embarrassing but there is a long and boring reason why.
But I am also proud to be British. Part of the band of tribes that make up our Islands. I am not English and it is often frustrating for us non English people to be called that when what is meant is British. And British means people of different races, faith expressions and ideologies living and working together and always has. (At least since the English managed to take us over and subjugate our mother tongues but us Celts are not known to bear a grudge. Ha, ha).
I watched Question Time last night when the leader of the British National Party was allowed to speak. I could say a lot about it here, but won't. Enough I think to remind everyone that British is something wonderful and bigger than being English or Welsh and that very, very few of us could claim to be racially unmixed (I am pretty pure Welsh but my children aren't!) and that is one of the beauties of being British.

Right off my soap box now! That song by Catatonia you found if you followed the link is one of my favourite things (yes, even though I can't sing along to all of it as I don't know all the Welsh words) and Fave things is what the Daring card challenge is all about today.

"These are a Few of My Favourite Things"

This is a chance to go mad with the papers, embellishments, tools and styles you really love to use.
I'd like you to use at least 5 of your own personal favourite things on your card this week - if you can make it 10 then you can claim our DCM Gold Star - virtual, of course lol.

As it happens I needed to make a card for my Uncle who reaches a special age this week!


SO here are my favourite things
1: Kraft card
2: Square card
3: October Afternoon papers (Farm Fresh in this case)
4: Urban Lily number templates. They came on a patterned paper sheet and I have them cut out in a bag and they are some of the most used pieces of kit I have as they are lovely and big
5: Distress ink (black soot in this case)
6: Embossing folder (argyle)
7: Glue pen and glitter
8: faux stitching
9: random photo corner
10: ribbon (Anitas)
11: buttons (vintage)
12: tied with string/floss
13: foam pads (under the 7)

Oooh I am fickle. Look how many faves I have and I missed out nestabilites, doodling and white gel pens! And gems. And Scenic Route. etc. etc. etc.

Some of those things can be found here
IF drawing a line round the edge counts as doodling. The chipboard pieces are Scenic Route. The papers are Fancy Pants. the chipboard is Basic Grey and the Journalling Spot is from Scrappy Fairy. The lettering is all Doodlebug.
I do wish that I had reversed where the title and photos are as I prefer to read left to right and top to bottom and it doesn't quite work like that! My fave bit is the arrows. They are actually cut out of FP paper and stuck on with foam pads which looks quite cool.

Hywel and Phil are going on the last Uni trip today - to Middlesborough. Which is just down the road from Hartlepool and makes me feel a bit last home sick. I can't go as I am Boys Brigade chaplain and it is Enrolment tonight!
I hope he does go to Teesside as it will be a great excuse for hols up that way! It has just been voted Times Higher Education University of the Year so it does sound pretty good. Last night was the first Sixth form college open evening. Eeeh its a never ending merry go round this parent hood lark!

She's a model #2

Yesterday I made Carys up to be a Goth. She is Leader of the Flying Monkeys in the school play and they will be Goths. Having been a little bit of one in my time I knew what to do...
Now I am trying not to be feel funny because
1: she looks so grown up
2: She makes a better Goth than I ever did (although she wouldn't let me put kohl inside her eyes. Doesn't she know you have to suffer for beauty?)

Second shot I finally broke out my reflective circle - you can tell the difference I think!

Onto other rather splendid news
Use this code and get all sorts of loveliness from Funky Hand. There are some fab Christmas downloads for example as well as the now even greater value for money CD's!

And finally, catching up with some of my holiday layouts
Scenic Route Surprise with a Pink Paislee rub on
October Afternoon - Detours or Cherry Hill
Can you beleive it is the same girl just a year ago?

She's a model and she's looking good

Last night I took Carys to a local camera club to do some modelling for them. She had a ball and was a really good sport at pulling faces and jumping up and down and all sorts. I naturally took our camera along. Thank the Lord for digital as it means that you can try all sorts of things and not worry about wasting film. It was actually a lot harder than I thought to get a good shot - to do with technical stuff like ISO's and apertures and all the words that make me start going "la,la,la" in my head because I don't really understand.
So... prepare to be bored by a few of the 72 shots I took!

this overexposed one is actually one of my faves...

this has had nothing done with it post production either

a behind the scenes shot (taken with the wrong lens and no flash so thanks to Picasa for being able to see anything)my first really successful jumping shot (shame about the beard!)
totally Carys
I look forward to seeing the other photos taken by those who know what they are doing. Carys had her braces out last week - look how lovely her teeth are! (She now has retainers and being the gentle, loving supportive mother I am I keep asking her to say "I am not an animal, I am a human being" while she struggles with the amount of hardware and saliva in her mouth and then laughing uproariously)

In other news...
I was supposed to be going to Belmarsh prison today to visit someone. V. nervous. Discovered yesterday he has been transferred to Norfolk (why he didn't write that to me but hoped that someone else would pass the message on I dunno) but I am relieved all round!

Today is Daring day. It is a pretty special one as we have now been Daring Cardmakers for three whole years. There are four of the original Darers who still take part regularly (can you spot who they are?) but no-one ever really goes away - once part of the team you are always part of the team! I have been inspired by so many wonderful card makers - both my teamies and those who take part in the challenges so thanks to all of you.

It was my turn to set the dare this week so I went for something simple (like me!)This week's dare is

I can see clearly now
and I would love to see something clear on your card. It could be an acetate card, an acetate embellishment, a window cut in the card, clingfilm, OHP sheet, Mirror fragments - anything that shows that your card is clearly one of the best!

It has actually coincided with some sad news (not end of the world tragic but sad anyway). I have found that the best place to buy acetate cards - Shortcuts - is actually on the point of closing down! Although it is in the US I have found them great value for money including postage. So if you want a bargain go now!

I love to use acetate cards now I have got the hang of it a bit more
I think it is all about the layers - putting something on the back, the inside front and the outside front. Actually the card is remarkably similar to my one last week I think - purple, gold and a big flower. The papers are all Basic Grey; letters are Adornit; threading water punch; nestability label 8 (my new fave!). the flower is made using grungepaper and an Artistic Stamper stamp set. It didn't go quite as well as I had hoped (sulk) but it was my first go. I painted the flowers with a purple/gold acrylic paint and stamped over it with versamark and a Prima stamp. Then embossed with Stamp and bond powder and sprinkled black and gold glitter on different layers. Because I couldn't get it all to stick together properly I used a Papermania brad to hold it all.
Here is a version of the card more closed
Right then, lets make the most of the time when I would have been going to prison!

Having confidence

I don't have much self confidence. Or self esteem. I have worked on this but it is still a struggle at 44* to believe that I don't just spout nonsense or am no help to anyone or that all I can create is the same old rubbish. But knowing that this is my default position means that I can try and have a stern word with myself about how I am. In a sense lack of confidence in myself becomes lack of faith in all that God has given me. Not a sin exactly but close to it.

(*Carys asked me how old I was this week. I asked her to guess. She said 26. I pointed out my oldest son is 17. She is 13. Still I don't mind looking young to her!)

I was reminded of this struggle on Tuesday when my MA course began again. This year I am doing a module on Psychology, faith and church life. It is the reason why I started the course in the first place so I am very excited about it. I had a really tough time a few years ago and doing the MA is a way into finding something positive from being at rock bottom with no self confidence left at all. But it is funny how, even at my third year level now, I get really nervous meeting the new group and worrying how I will shape up. It is fascinating being introduced to the people I will spend a few months with. Some are training to be Ministers, some are working like me, some are retired people. It is a good mix.

One of the group who had done the introductory module the year before was winkling out of those he knew how they had done with the essay. I did rather badly (though I passed!) and my confidence shot down again. (I wish I had said something about how I barely scraped through as I think he is someone who needs to learn a little more sensitivity but somehow the words wouldn't come out!). We are to keep journals - which I am bad at. this blog is the nearest thing I have to a journal and look at how often it is updated. And I think it will be useful for me to reflect on all sorts of things. We also have to do a project with a church and I am cautiously excited that the plan I have in mind may really help a local church. But can I do it? the doubts creep in...

Confidence is so important. Not the "I can do anything because I am fantastic" but "I can do anything because God has confidence in me". This last week the reading was Jesus saying "all things are possible for God" which should give us hope. this week's Salt challenge was set by Hazel and is all about reflecting on our Confidence in God. I chose a verse from Joshua
I failed spectacularly to get a good photo of this layout despite two goes on different days. Each time the layout then fell off the wall and now has rather battered edges! The colour of the background of the photo is almost identical to the cardstock. It is a photo Phil took and tinted (it wouldn't be me taking it, I had to ask him which way up the birds were!). Everything else is Kandco - stamps; die cuts; acetate - everything! I do try and mix things up but think I am better when I can easily go for a co-ordinated range (I think the key word is easily!). The letter stickers are silver on green and they hate cameras! Here is a close up of my reflection

Yesterday I had another project posted on Docrafts. Apparently it is beginner level! I suppose it is although there is quite a lot to do to finish the layout off.
The papers are actually Christmas ones. I so love the turquoise and brown combo. And the build a poppy stamp is great. The photo is one we took on our day trip to France. I have since added a bit of journalling to say it is the most moving memorial I have ever seen. That fallen soldier is so poignant.

And finally I keep forgetting to share the layouts for the holiday album. Still working away on that!
This one came together in no time at all. All Scenic Route papers and stickers. A Technique Tuesday template; American Crafts journalling sticker; Fiskars punch and Making Memories template for the stickles swirls. I haven't done a close up of the journalling but you should be able to see it better if you click on the photo. If not, I reflect on how being a family of 5 sometimes means one person has to be left out. But I was able to shoot water from a cannon and take silly photos so still had fun!

Purple prose

Some days this week have been as tough as I feared they might be. The sort of days when I hate being a grown up. But also aware of God's hand on my life - guiding me to right, if painful decisions. Then today I have been even more aware that I am a grown up as I was the parent taking my child to look at University. (Still can't get over that. Really can't). This time it was Coventry

A few points
1: As we were early (thanks to staying overnight in a very comfy Village hotel. Like a four star travelodge for not much more) we got to park at the uni techonology site for free and had lots of help moving around the Uni. Not so good for others as the Uni has built on all their car parks and one of the staff noted that all of them tend to walk 15-20 minutes into work. Good for the environment, not so good for harrassed visitors.
2: If anyone was REALLY impressed with the opening film about how the Uni is on Facebook and I tunes and everything then they do not deserve a place at University
3: New buildings coming in the next few years is great but doesn't that mean that my dear child's studies will be disrupted by building work?
4: Computer studies staff need to co-ordinate how to run groups. 2 1/2 hours round the department is really too much especially when it is 11:45-2:15. I may delay lunch sometimes to watch Doctors but that is 1:45 - still technically lunch time to me! Mind you the pastries we got at the end were tasty!

All that said: Coventry looks to be a friendly and upcoming uni and I liked the Computing staff and would be happy for H to go there. I think I would be happier for him to go in 2012 when the fab new Engineering and Computing building is up and running.

On to crafty news - the stuff I do that makes me still feel young!
Yesterday was Daring cards day and Vanessa chose the theme of Autumn Purple

To be honest I nearly added this card but that would have been a cheat as I made it last week.
I used the scraps of paper from last weeks card and anew Hero Arts stamp and a new Waltzing mouse stamp which co-ordinates with my new Nesties labels 4
But decided it wasn't autumnal enough! So I made a new card with some Bazzill kraft folded to make a 6x3 card.

The papers are all purple - just don't look it! The two papers are Prima I think and I upped the purple on the punched paper by swooshing distress ink all over it. The three blooms are ancient stash and I added coppery glitter to the middle bloom with a glue pen. The middle of the blooms is a Jenni Bowlin button with lots of Prima gems on the top. The cork word came back from a French craft shop in Beurges and I added Craftwork Cards Candy and a Prima gem.

I'll share a layout I have done this week. Putting photos in an album ready to scrap really works for me although it means I have to do a LOT of multi photo layouts and cut down a lot of photos too.
This is the pool complex at the campsite - very nice! Using the August Gottacraft kit; more Prima and more Jenni Bowlin - oh and a Scrappy Fairy journal spot.

Right off to a charity quiz where I may/may not behave like a grown up!

I made a child cry but I didn't push him over..

Well it is quite funny now.

At my harvest service for today (only one version left, a school assembly) I used an illustration of how you can't eat something without bending your elbow (unless you feed each other children, unless you feed each other). One child - who i shouldn't have chosen as he was a bit young BENT his elbow and I helpfully shouted NO! Everyone laughed. His little face fell. "but dat's wat I do ap home" he said in a small wavery voice. I said he could just finish it. He took what was in his mouth out and dumped it on the plate. "Don't want ANY" he sobbed. "Oh dear" I said "just go and sit down" and I moved my hand in a helpful sweeping gesture.
I didn't hit him.
He just tripped.
But apparently it looked like the Minister pushed him.
Oh my.
His mum came to the rescue.
I turned to the next child - a girl of 5. She looked at me with real terror in her eyes.
I let her eat some doughnut with bent elbows.

All through the rest of the service all I could see was the little boy - still so upset.
At the end when I went to apologize he said "dat's awight" and his mum said it was the people laughing that made him cry. Phew!

Here are some of my recent layouts I haven't shared yet. Finished another of the photos and journalling without a layout sections yesterday but haven't photographed it yet. It actually doesn't seem like less work. But maybe that is because I have to doodle on the photos too!
I messed up the journalling (can't spell journeys) and so tried to cover it up...
BG Offbeat bits and bobs; thickers and doodlebug letters. Pretty plain for me!
Roadmap by October Afternoon papers. A new Nestie borderability with stickles on it and various other punches too. Three layers of cardstock (unusual for me) from some chosen to match Roadmap by Crafts Emporium. Lyn from there sent an email saying she had the new OA lines in. I couldn't resist and they were in my hands (along with a Twix!) 2 days later. Mighty fine service there I think. The letters are Roadmap and Carolee's. The journalling spot is American Crafts. Here's a close up
Right must go and tidy the crafty area before the evening service.
I have to work tomorrow (sulk) but I am off looking round another Uni next weekend so it all evens out in the end I suppose

Tonight Matthew I am going to be...

Sue!

My poor friend Sue ended up having to have emergency eye surgery this week. When I enquired if I could do anything to help she mentioned that it is her brother's birthday and she needed 3 cards. Well that I can do (better than taking the cat for a walk!) . Of course, what I can't really do is cards in SUe's style. We have a standing joke that I struggle with A5 cards and she struggles with A6 cards. But I thought I ought to do my best to go big.

The last card I made is actually the first to reveal. This week on Daring Cardmakers the theme is

Folding Up

It's "just what it says on the tin", we'd like to see some folds on your cards this week. Fold the whole card, fold some paper, fold some ribbon. Do some origami, teabag folding or just fold over a corner of your paper
to reveal the other side. As long as there's some sort of folding used as a feature of your card then it counts. Any subject, any theme, any reason.

I knew exactly what I was going to do - a joy fold card. I haven't made one in ages and I really enjoy it. Only I was beaten to the fold. So I found another one. UPdate: I've tracked it down - it si a Tri Shutter card designed by Beate Johns. See here for the instructions. Anyway, here is said card
It uses a piece of card 12x51/2" and is straightforward to make in terms of the intial folds. It is a little more fiddly making all the bits to cover the panels. I used some old Chatterbox papers I have had for ages. I worry that it ended up a bit girly really. I also used a Quickutz die, Nestie circles and some KandCo letter stickers that did tone in well. Here's another angle
It squashes up quite small - an A6 envelope I reckon and I shall try this again for a special card.

Card 2 is one of my default square cards! Sue's dad has sight issues so I wanted to make something bright with big letters. I think I filled my brief...the papers are Fancy Pants - lovely double sided ones. I used my Technique Tuesday tall timbers letters and black embossing powder; new letter stickers and Papermania black gems. And just a tad of doodling.

And finally - an A6 card (faints!). I used a white card and distressed it to look more brown. The papers are Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy. I traced a Chatterbox deer; used my new Nestie 6 again - this time as a tree. Letters are MM tiny alphas; Jenni Bowlin and kraft cardstock cut from Playground and gone through a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I'll be popping along to Sue's to hand them over this afternoon. They are not really her style still but maybe it will make a change.

Get well Sue!
(but don't move...)

Busy little crafting bee

is what I look like today, but I'm not really! Its just that two teams I am on have a reveal day today and my latest Docrafts layout went up as project of the week yesterday - and I did that one ages ago. However I have done more crafting than usual this week - strangely I have had no evening meetings at all. Result! But next week has "Do not add any more meetings in this week" written all over it which does not bode well. Make hay while the sun shines I think then!

Back to showing some things I made earlier...
For Docrafts I had to make a Christmas layout. As it happens we keep a Nativity set out all year as I love it so much so that became the focus of the layout (I kept the dust in on the shelves for a sense of reality...) I was sent some rather lovely papers to use - an A4 Linen paper pack and a gold embossed vellum pack. The papers are traditional deep red and green colours with a wonderful texture to them. I have used the plain side for writing on too as that has the texture as well. Now I have to be honest - I'm not really a traditional colours kind of person (Well, not much Christmassy at all as we all know) and it took a while for me to get into the groove but I am glad I persevered
I was also sent a rubber stamp which i used freely to create a patterned backing paper from cardstock. The green and red papers have diluted Smooch inks sprayed over them which is quite hard to see. The layout is really very gold and glittery. There's a bit of distressing and rolling and rub on adding going on as well. And 4 photos. I am trying very hard not just to use one photo all the time. It's tough though...

Next up is the Get Funky challenge for October. Now it is clear that I will never be Miss Hallmark Cards 2009 because I don't really do Halloween either... I love the colours and the ghosties and stuff though and refuse to make it so that there is any time in which evil seems to have the upper hand over love so I am not one to frown over it either. Its just not been a big thing where we have been or that the kids have really wanted to join in with. (apart form one year and I have the photos to blackmail them with at a later date!)
Anyway all that lecturette is an introduction to the theme this month! Halloween.
And here is my offering
I used papers from the Now That's Funky CD. I was inspired by the ad for the Basic Grey Eerie collection to make the scary mask faces! I also used rectangle Nesties and Papermania gems. The middle skull has glossy accents on the eyes and mouth. I think I might add "I forgot your birthday" when I come to use the card. I love all the cards the team has come up with - check out Anice's labour of love on her card - and you can see how versatile all the cd's are.

Last but not least... it is Salt challenge day today and it shows how God works as Esther had decided on her theme before she looked at Tanis' reflection last week! So the challenge was to think about Growth
Its been a good one to think about as autumn comes and I keep getting hit on the head with shiny conkers! How the seeds need to drop from the tree - to be lost to it, in order for new growth to come. And how generously those seeds are scattered in order for even just one to take root.
Those were my thoughts as I made this layoutThe photo is from the shoot I forced Carys into for my "Autumn splendour" layout a few posts ago - this time you see more of her! I used kraft Bazzill (for a change eh?) and some of my new things from Alexandra Palace
1: Cosmo Cricket earth love papers
2: Prima mesh background stamp
3: Nesties label die 6 (clouds)

When I got home I thought "why did I buy labels 6 but I have already used it as clouds and trees so I think it was worth it after all!

I also used

• little pearls from Imagine That
• Papermania letter stickers
• Maya road tree covered in Dabber paints

and copious amounts of Old Corduroy distress inks.
and a corner rounder. So into rounding corners on layouts at the mo'

Right, better buzz off now!

Expanding my horizons

Just after finishing my Friday blog post I ended up rushing to Basildon to support someone attending Crown Court. Now 27 years ago when I did work experience in the 6th form...(Pause to take in the fact that it is 27 years ago. I feel old. Sigh) ... anyway a while ago I did a fab work experience with the local Voluntary Services group and ended up visiting all sorts of places including the local Magistrates (where some of my brothers friends were up on charges. Interesting) and Crown Court. But I haven't been in one since.

I found it totally overwhelming and I was all at sea and nervous. "Just go in and nod to the Judge and DO NOT talk to him" I was told. The case was delayed and I was the ONLY person in the room who wasn't a barrister or in the dock for 40 minutes. Now I know what it is like going to Church for the very first time... it was an interesting experience. The upshot of the case is that I will also be experiencing prison visiting as well. This is one of the great things about being a Minister - you get to do surprising things. Most of which, sadly I can't write much about in order to protect other people!

On Saturday I went to Alexandra Palace and Sue and I walked and shopped. We live near enough to drive and there is a hidden little car park right by AP which we used again. We said hello to Sue W on the Scrap Revolution stall and then did the work our way to the front system. I think next year we will do the "pick your fave stalls and visit them first" system as it didn't work so well this time. I thought there were more scrapbooking stalls and more people too. I had a teeny meltdown when choosing Nestabilities (just couldn't decide!) but recovered well. Huuuuuuuuge queues at Scrapshed and if I didn't have a 5% discount I would have given up. I came away with stamps; buttons; nesties and a modest amount of papers. We did have fun! It is only something I want to do once, not twice a year though.

Harvest service was lovely on Sunday and I FINALLY did my ironing which is a major achievement! I also had a little crafting time and so made two commission cards. The first uses a square corrugated kraft card; BG Granola; distress stickles and an owl button. The letter stickers are MM.

The other uses a white square card; BG Scarlet's Letter; Fiskars border punch; thicker numbers
and Docrafts ribbon.
I have also been getting on with holiday album. You can see how it works with the photo/journalling pages as well as the traditional 12x12. The only problem with the photo pages is that I haven't worked out how to hide the back of the page.
Papers are BG Lime Rickey; letter stickers are Doodlebug
the shadow on the layout is cos I had put it in the album and couldn't be bothered to get it out and photograph it properly. Norty me! And yes, that is a circle shaped photo. I was a little stuck on this layout until I saw one in Scrapbook Trends july which I lifted. Papers are 3 Bugs with lots of extra sharpie. The BG rub on tree (obviously today BG has to get in somewhere on everything I do) is cos I managed to cut the tiny scrap of blue paper in the wrong place and had to hide the join with something. Stickers are Doodlebug and MM tiny alphas. Again.
Do have a close look at that beach and the number of bins. It was almost scary!

Right, wonder what other new experiences I'll have this week?

Harvest time again

I can't believe that September is just about over and my round of Harvest services begins. At the churches now we give our produce to the local Women's Refuge. It doesn't look as romantic with packets and tins rather than fruit and vegetables but we know that the food is much needed - and used - and I would rather be practical any day. We also spend a lot of time during worship thinking about other parts of the world where harvesting is a real struggle and think about issues of fair trade and what God's harvest for the world really means. All that in an hour!

But I also have a "crop" of cards and things to show you...
Firstly my daring card for the week
Jo set the theme of Tartan this week. I was fortunate to remember that I had some October Afternoon tartan paper. It is one of the other sides of the papers I used on the layout in the post before. As it was Jo setting the theme I decided to see if I could do a card in her style. Which is one of my absolute favourite styles of cardmaking in the whole world. And it is harder to do than you might think! What I love is her use of white space and the eclectic addition of little extras that give the "ooooh" factor
I used a kraft card blank. I'm still on the hunt for these in the UK. These are quite nice but they have ridges in (fussy much?)
The backing paper is a scrap from the Costco kit. The colours in that are a tad muted for my taste but the plainer sides make for great backgrounds. The scallop is from the Chatterbox embellishment bag which was one of the best value items I have ever bought! The twill tape I have had for years, ditto the Papermania metal tag. I added a bazzill bloom, love Elsie sticker, button and twine and a photo turn. It still isn't as good as the Mighty Jo's but I like it!

I have also delivered two classes to Imagine That so I will show you them here now. All of these things look better in the flesh (as it were) becasue they are all glittered to within an inch of their lives. I am trying to use as much Glamour Dust as I can as the world needs a little sparkle.

Firstly 3 cards using Paperartsy Christmas stamps
(Phil tied the bow for me as I can't do bows. Seriously. I have to make two loops which will do for shoes but not cards. Oh the shame)
What do you notice about these cards?
No patterned paper.
Somehow I didn't notice in the shop when we put the kit together. Only when I got home did I go "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek". So I added my own patterns - on two of the cards by clear embossing with some of the stamps provided and on the middle one by drawing with glue pen and glamour dust. That elf is just head and feet you know. I thought about adding a dress but decided to hide her behind the sign instead!

And finally
Gosh I wish I could have photographed this better. It is really sparkly. That grey looking stuff on the right hand side is in fact glimmer mist. Which was also sprayed on the doily paper and the scallop. And the middle of each leaf has a line of Glamour Dust. I was really pealsed with the lettering. Playground Sizzix letters were put through the Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder and then inked with Spiced Marmalade; Vintage PHoto and Something Corduroy distress inks (all at the same time. I plonk a bit of foam into each in turn and am probably ruining them but I don't care). I did the same to the journalling spot (it was white) so you can see the change. They look almost woodgrain now. I think I might try again with less orange!

Right, must get in the mood to Plough the Fields and Scatter
Phil took this photo near our house. And this one
You can tell I live in a London borough can't you!

PS I am going with my DCM buddy Sue to Alexandra Palace tomorrow. Say hello if you recognise me. I am small and my hair is currently a Phil Oakey one side shorter than the other (a bit freaky as I had the same style at 17) - and I look a bit like this

Still relaxed

My difficult bit of the week ended up a whole heap less stressful than I thought. I'm molto tired anyway so I am v. glad!
I've been tonight to a meeting about Uni and it is hitting me more and more what a big step this all is - and there is a year to go until H leaves home. But the thing I am aware of is, that with the type of course he wants to do - with the promise of summer jobs in some places and it being soooooo far away with others (Dundee. Nice place. Just 8 hours away) that when he leaves, really that might just. be. it.
Remind me of that with a hollow laugh when he is at home at 45...
Plus I would be able to use my computer when I wanted to and not get chucked off at World of Warcraft time.

This week amongst other crafty things I did something truly amazing. I sorted LAST summers photos into the album that I will scrap them in. I bought a LIckety Split album from Imagine That which combines layout pages with heavy photo ones. Having the photos all ready there now means that I have done three layouts for this album already. Incredible. One doubles for a future Docrafts Layout on their site so won't be shown yet, one is not photographed yet - it was a fast one and you will see why! And the first one for the album is this

H at the ferry with his GSCE results. I made him run into school and get them as I was so worried about missing the ferry. The plan had been to go the day after but Palmers College had other plans. He looks so much older than that now ('cos he is I suppose) but he is beginning to look more man and less boy.
The papers are all October Afternoon Route Map. The black scallop is actually a papermania card. OA and Tiny Alphas stickers; Chatterbox cork and a Scenic Route chipboard circle and a Sharpie pen border. One day I will manage to mix my papers but this will do for now!

Close up of the blurb follows
And now this old lady should head bedwards.

I hope H will love Uni as much as I did. And do (though v. part time now) Remember I've already done 7 years and two degrees (OK one is a Post graduate certificate of theology but after I left they made it easier and turned it into a degree and so it counts in my book. Bitter much? Nah). I just hope he occasionally remembers his parents. It only now I realise how much they did for me to get me started on the road to hard work and LOADS of fun!

And... relax

Had a quite stressful end to the week and will have a few hairy days next week so ended up having a Sunday afternoon snooze today! I would rather have been crafting - or done the ironing like I meant to but the body decided otherwise. The rather busy week end is why I haven't posted up my Daring card here yet so now is the time to rectify that.

Obviously still tired as I suddenly realised I had started typing this post on the DCM blog. Whoops! in its rightful place now.
Anyway this weeks dare was

Shabby Chic
Look through your stash and found all those bits and pieces you can use or even ask your Nana or Grandma for some bits. Old lace, buttons, bling, flowers etc and make a mess and see what you come up with.

I am in awe of people who can really rock the shabby chic look. Even more now I have discovered how hard it is!!!! I could do the making a mess bit easily enough, just the rest that was the problem really. But I am always game
Mine doesn't have anything truly shabby on it. I did get some vintage papers out (OK they were still on my desk after the Salt dare) but in the end I used a Flower stamp with print on it. This was stamped three times in Stazon and roughed up with distress ink. Three of the papers are BG Stella Ruby
(yay, more of those old sheets used! Although in BG defence I haven't grown tired of most of the designs. Except maybe Obscure but even some of those patterns are still cool)

the design cut out with the Nestie Label is a new Papermania Christmas paper. It is a pad of A4 linen papers that are paper not card heavy but really pretty and vintagey. I sewed round it by hand. The velvet ricrac behind is from Paper and String. I put a strip into an embossing folder - the wrong way round (doh) but then got heavy with distress ink again to bring out the debossed pattern

An Imagine That button was tied with bakers twine and I tied some sheer ribbon and added a rosebud paper flower. In the right hand corner I used the same stamp as last week and sprinkled it with Distress Stickles and Liquid Pearls. I've not added a sentiment as then I can choose what occasion to send it for.

Right off for a reviving cup of tea and an ignore of the ironing pile...

Things that go bump in the night

I woke with a start in the early hours thinking that someone was crashing around in our back garden. There was nothing there.
Turns out the problem was at the front (we sleep at the back but how H didn't wake I don't know)
The alarm didn't go off this morning as all our leccy went off due to the outside light being smashed so it is amazing we woke up at the right time!

The driver turned up this morning saying he had swerved to avoid a fox, lost control of the car and went through our wall and next doors fence. None of our cards was damaged which was amazing!

Anyway on to more exciting news - new Muse CD this week. I'm glad to say I love it. And boy, can that Matthew Bellamy play classical piano :) Family are fed up of my obsession already!

ANd even more exciting - my Salt challenge layout has actually been done and on time.
Tanis came up with a great theme

Listening to God

It's usually pretty easy to talk. But how good are we at listening?
We're busy. We live in a busy world. We have lots of commitments. We're pressed for time.
But when it comes to listening to God, we have to make time. Quiet time. And that is hard.

I pulled out one of many photos of H on holiday gazing reflectively out to sea while in Weymouth
Look at that fab sea and sky! It was really like that, not touched up at all.
This layout came together in about 30 minutes which is fab. The papers and die cuts are all October Afternoon. The stickers are AMerican Crafts and Doodlebug and the only addition to that is a page from a 1936 prayer book which I got in a bundle of papers from Puss at a Crafts By Carolyn get together many moons ago.
Small peeve - why do so many sets of alphas only have lowercase. It doesn't feel right using a lower case G for God but I ahd to give up in the end or my layout would have taken three hours...
the team have done some great work for this challenge - go and by inspired why don't you!