As seen - Limo

Mothering Sunday, and I actually knew what was planned for today before the 11th hour. Neil had phoned me last night to say we were going to Laycock to the Agriculture college to see the lambs. Very enjoyable afternoon and we actually saw a lamb being born. Rufus was fascinated with it and he was also fascinated by the pigs.

I was going to use the photo of the new born lamb for today's as seen,

but on the way home I couldn't resist taking this photo of the car in front of us.

I have also got a layout to share, the one I finished last night

I actually got my sewing machine out for this one, not done that for a long while
I am gradually and very slowly getting some of my stash mountain used, and I actually cut into a lovely paisley paper that I bought when Noah was a lad.

As seen - through square eyes

Well I've done it again, not gone out, not taken any photos spent most of the day sorting out my photo on picasa, it was originally a mistake and I was going to try and delete them all from there but I discovered something rather useful. Picasa will seek out every face on every jpg and put them all into folders all I have had to do is make sure that each folder is named and all the photos in it are correct, a long task as all my files are stored on an external hard drive and a portable one so it is still working to scan each and every one.
So I've just taken a photo of my computer screen on Picasa

I have also done a layout but it didn't get finished till after dark so decided that artificial light on a dark coloured layout was not a good idea will photograph it tomorrow.

Today I am thankful for not having to go shopping.
for a phone call from my son inviting me out tomorrow for mother's day.

As seen - purchased

I went into town today had to deliver something to my Son in Old Town, and I wanted to purchase a spray bottle as on of my Glimmer Mist, the red one, leaks like mad and won't spray properly I end up with get big blobs and very red fingers, I chucked it away in discussed but one of my team mates on UKS suggested I get the bottle and decant just as much as I need each time and wash the bottle out thoroughly after use.
I did get one in Boots in Old Town, I didn't actually have to pay as I had so many points on my card. The little Boots give you this information the large ones just take your money and tell you nothing.
I walked down town and looked in Bon Marche came out with 3 tops oops, still I didn't buy the skirt I tried on so a bit of saving there :D

I came home shortly after that as I was feeling really groggy again. I felt better once indoors, could have been I was too hot.

I have also put some jumpers in a bag to go to the sale so feel I have justified my purchase. lol

I've been playing with Picasa still not sure what I am doing did manage to make a collage and did find it's image location, once, can't find it now but I hope this will work

Today I am grateful for a successful shopping expedition

As seen - attractive tractor

It's Thursday and that means the sale at church. Today I wasn't feeling up to much at all so came back before the end. I tried to make an appointment with the doctors but the best one to see is on holiday and I'll have to phone again on Monday. I've been suffering with giddiness for a while and Ann reckons it may well be a build up of wax or even an infection in the sinuses and she insist I make the appointment :(. I'm very reluctant but have tried.
My photo for today is this little tractor picked up at the sale isn't he cute and I do like his roller going to have to use this in a layout before too long

I had a text from my daughter today just one word Passed. She has passed her driving test first time. (well first time if you don't count the attempt 22 years ago)

I did manage to finish the layout I was doing for the weekly challenge on UKScrappers, challenge criteria 3 or more photos, paint or misting, doodling

I do like this little wire cat that someone gave me a while ago


Today I am grateful to my friend for sending me home early have felt rather groggy most of the day, but quite a bit better now.

Counterfeit challenge 1 - Number four

The first challenge this month is to utilize the number 4 in some way or other. I've gone for the obvious and used it in my title.

I have a subtitle too counterfeiting the wood effect tag the paper for that was from a freebie that came with one of the magazine a good many years ago. I don't have many alpha stamps but I have a zillion font so I printed the words onto the woodgrain paper using 3rd Man font. Then painted in the outline with white marker pen

As seen - squashed bed

Well dear readers I failed in my quest for this week, I didn't manage to go out, pity really as the sun did decide to make an appearance today which was more than it did yesterday. Still never mind.
I was hoping to have a photo of a hot air balloon going over quite low, my neighbour was out the back walking her dogs and she knocked to say it was low but by the time I grabbed my camera and dashed out the front it was no where to be seen going out the back I could just see it very low clouded in mist too faint to capture. :(
My photo for today has now to be this one

which is quite appropriate as I have been trying to do a layout for the weekly challenge on UKScrappers. It is of the many places the cats sleep during the day.
Not quite finished it yet so will have to show you that in a later post.

Today I am thankful for staying in and not feeling guilty

As Seen - Surprise

I started the day with finishing my book. I don't often read a book right through I usually get fed up part way and give up. But I found another book that gripped me (I wrote about the first one here). This latest read Kitty and her Sisters by Maureen Lee.
Am I becoming a book worm again?
After I had dressed I did a bit more fiddling with the layout that I had mulled over yesterday. I had promised myself that I would go out every day this week so forced myself to get ready and catch the bus into town. I decided a walk round Queens park would be a good idea and it was, thought the weather wasn't up to much I still found enough to photograph
This photo of the park was to be my photo of the day.

But ...
when I went to bring my washing in just before it started to get dark look what I found sitting in one of my panties

It made me roar with laughter, I was convinced my neighbours had done it but they say not so I really haven't a clue who put it there. He is joining my bedroom collection and I'm calling him Blue Tiger, Blue for short.

Before I came home I popped into the library to see if I could get another book by Maureen Lee and picked up The Old House on the Corner, promising start.

I did finish my layout too this one was done for the Monthly challenge on UKS


Today I am thankful for having a nice park in the middle of town
a friend who has a sense of humour
My camera

As seen - little things

Today has been a very dull day, not exactly damp but my washing hasn't dried at all still as wet as when I put it out.
I was determined to go out, well I had to or the cats would have had nothing to eat.
Walking down the back lane I was more concentrating of exercise than on taking photo. But I was stopped in my tracks when I saw this little clump of violets, out came my camera and it didn't go back in it's case till I reached Asda. As well as the violets, I took a photo of the lovely little tree that gets photographed by me every year such pretty delicate yellow flowers, I must try and find out what it is. the catkins of course are so attractive at the moment. Just before I reached Asda I noticed little gems of water the size of a seed pearl on the grass. I knew there and then what today's picture would be.

I discovered something the other day, there are now three kinds of icing sugar, the ordinary one, Fondant icing sugar and Royal icing sugar. I bought the fondant one as it was a 1p cheaper, but I really don't know what the difference is, think they are just trying to confuse the consumer into buying them all, crazy.

Today I am grateful for little surprises

As seen - Gemma's present

It's my dear daughter in Law's birthday on Monday but as Neil is taking her out for the day tomorrow I thought it would be nice to take them out for a meal today. We ended up in Bristol and had a lovely meal in The Clifton.
Why Bristol you may well ask? Gemma, her Mum Gill, and Auntie Lynne had been to the theatre the day before and Lynne had stayed over at Gill's place but needed to be taken back to Bristol. A long drive for a meal but it was worth it just to see a different area to usual
Rufus was his usual charming self keeping us amused with his antics. Hopefully I will have some usable photo.
I gave Gemma some pretty spice jars for her present and did manage to get a photo of her opening the boxes.

Today I am grateful for Family and a chance to speak to Neil uninterrupted (just us in the car)
for a very tasty meal
and snatching photos of Rufus

As seen - saved

I am getting to be a home bird, not wanting to go out, this is bad, I should have at least gone to Asda today but I didn't, realising I needed a photo for today I took my camera into the lane at the bottom of my garden. I thought perhaps the daffodils would make a good photo. When I drew near I saw flowers cut and strewn on the ground, must had been done today as they were still looking fresh. I really don't understand some people, why pick them and throw them away or drop them where you pick them? I didn't want to leave them there so I picked them up and brought them home. Adding a twig or two from my willow

I hope that I am going out to lunch tomorrow with Neil and Gemma but I am still waiting for Neil to confirm.

I do have a page to share I started this one with an inspiration from a page by Kirsty Smith in March's Scrap 365 I liked the grid effect she obtained and although mine ended up nothing like her page I am quite pleased with it.


today I am thankful for the comfort of my own home.

10 on the 10th - Making a paper flower

The other day a friend showed me how to make a simple flower that looked really nice so I thought I would put it on my blog as a demonstration

punch out a circle of card stock  (mine is 1½") you could use double side patterned paper too

begin to cut into a spiral leaving a centre circle (this will later have a glue dot)

Using either a quilling tool or  a pair of tweezers wind the spiral up

release it and let it spring open a wee bit then place a glue dot on the centre circle pushing the flower down onto it.

ink the edges

put a spot of glossy accent in the middle

place a pearl or gem in the centre
I am using a little blob of blue tack on the end of an old ball point pen

The idea for the tool to pick up gems came from a real tool I saw my friend using and it looked rather like a bit of blue tak in a pen hence my innovation.
thanks for looking hope this will inspire you.

why not head over to Shimelle's place for more 10 on the 10th

As seen - Money gobbler

I took a trip out to Hobbycraft today, it means catching two buses and I had to wait nearly half hour for the second bus but it was worth it. I managed to get the things I wanted plus some and ended up spending quite a bit. It's not somewhere I get to very often because of the journey so better to get all I need or want in one go.
my photo for today is of course

but I thought I would put a picture of what I bought as well.

I have done a page today but I didn't finish it before the light was too bad so will take a photo tomorrow.

so just a short post today.

My thankfulness today is
for an enjoyable shopping expedition
for lunch in Dunelm
for the March edition of Scrapbook 365 and the inspirations therein.

As seen - Captured

The saga of getting the kittens to the vets for their 6mth check up (6 months since first seen)
1) set alarm to go off with plenty of time to get there
2) trap both kittens indoors half hour before need to go
3) get bike with cat basket out
4) carry one kitten to basket and manage to get her in
5) capture 2nd kitten and take her out to basket
6) she escapes before I can get her in
7) shut basket door with one kitten in
8) chase 2nd kitten trap her in greenhouse
9) take 2nd kitten to basket to find
10) bike on the floor with basket door open and 1st kitten gone
11) shut 2nd kitten indoors
12) bring cat basket indoors
13) put 2nd kitten in and shut tightly
14) go find 1st kitten trap her in greenhouse
15) carefully open basket indoors with all exits firmly closed
16) get both kittens in basket and shut firmly
17) take basket with kittens and fasten on bike
Phew

Next time take basket to kittens not the other way round. Glad I had given myself plenty of time. They were weighed and are both healthy.
Oh and I have a scratch for my troubles that is beginning to hurt

Today I am thankful for two lively kittens
for sunshine for the sale (after yesterdays blustery rainy day)
a meal that I had already prepared (see yesterdays post)

ps after Lizzie said about the tale of how to pill a cat I found it on line here well worth ready as it will have you in stitches (not literally that was for the cat's own human)

As seen - Hidden in full sight

I haven't been out today, should have taken the kittens for their 6 month check and then I was going to try and get to Hobby Craft but it was such a miserable wet and windy day. I phoned and changed the appointment to tomorrow.
I hadn't even taken any photos. I have been scrapping or rather fiddling with bits of paper but getting no where fast. I keep loosing things. Last night I couldn't find my very thin double sided tape. Where do you hide a reel of tape in full sight, by putting it on top of another reel that is exactly the same dimensions and colour. I eventually found it this morning so that is my photo for today.

Can you see it?

I had prepared dinner early, I was going to have Chicken and Broccoli Pasta bake, it was in the oven and all set to switch itself on, but just before it started my neighbour knocked and handed me a dish of fish & chips, he had inadvertently bought 3 portions instead of 2. So had that today and my pasta bake will do for tomorrow. It's nice to have dinner all prepared especially on a Thursday when I really don't feel like standing and cooking.

Tomorrow is dustbin day and I've just been outside to put them ready for collection, boy is it cold and windy I daren't put the plastic bottles out they will land down the road somewhere but I can leave them a bit longer.

So today I am thankful for a nice warm bungalow
A super neighbour
dinner for tomorrow already prepared.

As Seen - Blossom

Yesterday I used a photo of Muffin looking so sweet and today I was going to try for one of Mittens I did actually take one I was pleased with. She had climbed into a plastic bag that was part of a home made collapsible waste paper basket. I could hear something rustling and when I turn round the bag was moving grabbing my camera I managed to capture her looking out of a hole she had torn in it.

well that was to be my photo for today but when I went food shopping, walking down the back lane in the sunshine I saw this beautiful blossom and with the blue sky behind it looks just like a Japanese painting.

I've also done another page using my CFK

a little bit of the details, title is made up from sticker and I stamped the top right hand corner to balance with the printed bottom left hand corner


Today I am thankful for such a lovely sign of spring
for a nice stew prepared earlier and put on auto cook ready when I wanted to eat
finding places to display my layouts before I put them in albums, it's nice to see them hanging up

Counterfeit Kit Challenge - March

I was flabbergasted cuffed and worried all at the same time when I was asked if I would be the guest designer for this month over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge. The reason for the worried bit is not being sure I can do this honour justice but I will try.
this month we are counterfeiting a lovely blue and yellow kit from Birds of a feather

Unfortunately I don't have any papers in that lovely dark blue so I have gone for the nearest I can. They are all single sided  (except 2 but the other side colours are not in the scheme)

I can only name a few as most do not have anything on them.
The yellow woodgrain is by K&Co
the floral blue one is Sandylion
Swirly blue is Lilykate by Basic Grey
Blue brown lined one is My Minds Eye
Blue artex ceiling design is Up Up and Away
the circle blue one is Sweet Pea by Fancy Pants
I didn't have any corrugated card so chose textured white

As there is a lovely 12x12 sheet of stickers in the kit we are counterfeiting I grabbed lots of stickers and cut outs that had the right colour scheme (don't think I'll go short of things to add to my pages)

the little bunches of flowers from the original kit I have had to improvise,  the yellow ones I made and the blue ones I died by spritzing them with glimmer mist.
frames are by Colorbok
Alphas It's the little things by fancy pants
No wooden butterflies (found one after I made up the kit)so I've grabbed some E-Z stick on 3D ones by Royal Langnickel

Now that will never do there are no button in the original kit and I can't be without buttons after all that is my username isn't it.
So here is my add on kit
buttons of course, more bling, odd bits of patterned paper, more ribbon & lace and more butterfly stickers and another alpha

and of course I just couldn't wait to use it so without further ado here is my first page

I had a little play with the first photo making my face hair and hand sepia leaving the rest black and white. Quite pleased with the effect.

To see more kits that the design team have come up with your next port of call is Crystal or head back to the Counterfeit Kit challenge blog for the full list

As Seen - Muffin

I didn't go out again today, this seems to become my usual Monday habit. I did do a little bit of hoovering but then I had some fun scrapping. Still not finished the page though as I've got so far and don't know quite where to go from here. Tomorrow is another day hopefully I will get the inspiration I need after a nights repose.
So what can I use for my photo today, well I have always got ready and will models in my three cats so here is the smallest one looking so appealing

I do have a page to share though as I did this one for the weekly challenge that my second team set. the criteria was to use this sketch by page maps



today I am grateful for my three live in companions
my on line friends
Skype which lets me keep in touch with family too far away to visit often

I was sent this email today and want to share it with you

Christianity is now the target of persecution...

Tennessee Football
This is a statement that was read over the PA sytem at the football game atRoane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee by school Principal, Jody McLeod

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! Means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment.."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless , as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

" However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so..As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.."

This was in America but we are being restricted here in the United Kingdom too

As seen - flowers for church

It was my turn to do the flowers for church this week. I asked the Lord what colour and I immediately thought yellow.

I had to arrange them at home and carefully take them up to church. They survived which is more than I did we had a service or more like a pantomime aimed at teenagers too loud and I was unable to worship, If I hadn't been going out for lunch and had order my taxi to pick me up at the church I would have come home.

The weather has been very strange, raining when I went up to church but then we had snow, not much and it didn't settle of course, then the sun came out briefly and finally rain again.

I did enjoy the company and the meal with the Ladies Club though. But haven't felt too well this afternoon, possibly too tired as I didn't get to bed till gone 1.00 this morning and was awake again before 7.00 still early night tonight hopefully will set me back on my feet

today I am thankful for the lovely sunshine yellow of the flowers
a nice meal with good company
being able to change into my pj and just sit and watch tv

Story Telling Sunday - Swimwear

Today story was sparked off by Sian the other day when she said about having to go home in a borrowed pair of somebody else's big purple pants.

When I was very little I was evacuated to Worthing with my Mother and baby brother. We were made so welcome there that after the war we would go back to the same address for our holidays. I was about 5 and my brother about 2 and because it was just after the war probably 1946 and things were hard to get hold of we didn't have bathing costumes but I remember these plastic pants

I do truly remember them they were bright orange I remember my mother taking off our liberty bodices and telling us if we were cold to come straight out of the water but I was desperate to get into the sea so although it looks as though I am shivering I wasn't going to tell her how cold I felt.
I did a layout with this photo a few years ago

For more stories why not pop over to Sian's place