Violets for Granny

I made this layout earlier this month, but have been too busy with other things to share it with you all. 
This is a lovely photo of my grandmother(in her youth), who unfortunately I didn't get to know at all as she died some 40 odd years ago.  Through her though, I have inherited the 'crafty' gene.  She was a brilliant seamstress & homemaker.  She sewed all the clothes for her 5 children, embroidered beautifully, could cook a banquet out of nothing at all(all on a coal fired stove of course) preserved every possible fruit and vege she could get her hands on. She loved her garden, I remember lots of flowers and a large vege garden ALWAYS. Her favourite flowers were violets.  All in all my granny was one clever lady.  I'm sure she would appreciate this layout.

Products I have used here are G45 Secret Garden paper and tags, dusty attic chippies DA0670 mini wire dress form (inked) & DA0543 baroque corners (gesso, texture paste, stickles), old lace, feathers, pearls and flowers from my stash.

Challenges entered:
dustyattic - monthy LO sketch
creativecraftcottage - mothers day

'Prickly' Kew

The weather has been rather 'indifferent' today, so its been great to retreat from the world and get those jobs done that you just keep putting off till tomorrow.  So yes I've really had a fruitful day.  I was even surprised with 'happy mail'.  A large pizza box arrived much to my amazement, totally unexpected.  Turns out it was a challenge prize that I'd completely forgotten about.  Don't we all like that kind of mail?
Anyhow tonight I have another layout to share with you.  It shows off more photos taken while on my big holiday.  It goes without saying I have HEAPS of photos waiting for a home. 



This layout has been entered in the following challenges:

nzpaperchase - monthly sketch - masking

artfullcrafts - monthly Lo sketch

letscraft&create - die cuts                                      

Products used here are Kaisercraft paper - Just Believe collection, Tim Holtz cog die, mask & findings, vintage buttons, pinkpaislee letters

To carry the 'prickly' theme of the photos throughout, I have matched it with masking and cogs.

Thank you for coming to look and please leave me a comment.

I'm a Winner!!!

Wow this is fantastic.  Here I am, new to this blogging game and I already have a win to share with you all.  This was my entry in the southerngirlschallenge  challenge #67 - buttons/flair.  I entered this challenge via email before this blog was running.

This is actually the front cover of a mini/journal I made in a partnered swap at nzpaperchase.  In the swap we were to send our partner a parcel of goodies, for them to make a project and return to the sender.  You'll be amazed at what my partner sent me, and how I came up with the result I really don't know, it just kind of evolved taking the best part of a month to create.

This is the parcel of goodies I received to 'play' with.  The majority of the items were just bits and pieces, not really papercrafting goodies as such.  After much thought here is the finished product:

I believe all the entries in this swap will be posted on nzpaperchase and facebook within days.  I can't wait to see them all.  This was such a fun challenge, really pushing out the boundaries.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing this with me.  Please leave a comment, as I really value your feedback.

What a Hot Chick

Wow, this is real exciting, this is actually my 1st post in which I will be entering a challenge. Thank you to all who have helped me reach this point.
Tonight I am sharing with you a real fun layout, featuring our close friend Robbie dressed as Bet Lynch at a 'Coronation Street' 40th birthday party.  Its with mixed feelings I have made this as just months after the party, his partner - the birthday girl, sadly died suddenly.   I hope this cheery, fun LO will help people feel just a little better, and remember her for the fun, happy-go-lucky girl she was.

Products used here are G45 Secret Garden paper, Kaisercraft mini roses, Dusty Attic chippies - mini vine (DA0370) & Bottles on shelf (DA0597), vintage buttons, gauze, and lots of random stamping with gesso.

Thank you for coming to look, and I hope you all enjoy.

Challenges entered:

southerngirlschallenge - #69 going spotty dot

dusty attic - monthly LO sketch  

Learning New Tricks

My 1st ever post - who would have thought - my own blog.
Wow this is a big learning curve.  I have just spent the last few hours watching You Tube videos, trying to learn what I'm supposed to do here to set things up correctly.  Lets see if I've learnt anything.  While I've been doing this our poor little man is either lying next to the fire OR playing with his new toy.  Here he is, isn't he adorable

Through this blog I hope to share lots of activities, from day to day activities, our pets, travel plans, progress in the garden, right through to the MOST important reason - to share my passions for crafting.
I hope you will 'come along for the ride' with me and 'follow me' once I am set up properly.
Most importantly, thank you for reading my 1st post.