HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON

This gorgeous man is my eldest son Dwain, today is his birthday and he is 26!!
Sadly Dwain and I have been estranged for over a year now but as a mum he is in my thoughts EVERY DAY.
Imagine my surprise and TOTAL JOY!!!! when I picked up the phone as it rang and it was his voice on the other end. I have walked around in a joyful stupor for most of the day I am so HAPPY that we are talking again. I do love him dearly, things have been tough but he is a fantastic man and has such a wonderful network of friends that he has done really well.
This post has to be my HAPPIEST post ever and I want to shout from the rooftops about my happiness...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DWAIN I LOVE YOU....

Football and all it's Magic

Boys in the team

Jazz gets his trophy with dad looking on...

So football has played a big part in my weekend.
On Friday it was the Croydon Juniors Presentation evening. Our boys collected their league winners trophys and in addition to that they received the "Team of the Year" award....fantastic.
Stuart received a totally wonderful surprise, he received the Manager's Manager of the Year award and was totally blown away by it....unbelievable.
So to all the boys, the manager and Marcus the coach CONGRATULATIONS
And then just when you think it can't get any better it does....Spain won the Euro 2008 Championships.
I am so amazed that a team I backed from the start did it with such style and wonderful football. Fantastico!!! Germany were shown how to play passing football and the BEST team throughout the whole tournament won....Yipee!!!!

CCSWAPS Yahoo Group - The Written Word

 

Over on CCSWAPS we had to make 9 for 10 ATC'S with the theme "The Written Word" Being a scaredy cat when it comes to stamping I jumped in and created these ATC's. I mad 5 of the blue theme and 5 of the Red theme all identical. I used Tim Holtz distress inks and then an Eiffel Tower stamp and the words come into the ATC's via the French dictionary pieces I tore and stuck on the background.
I used cosmic shimmer embossing powders on both sets of ATC's.
The red ones are embellished with prima flowers and the blue with ribbon and bling... Thanks for looking xxx

Paper Whimsy House

So the football has reached an hiatus, I have had a little time to create and decided today to try something new...
How much fun did I have? the most! Okay it was a fiddly job and it had a few trial and errors but I got there in the end, made this litte house for China to try and let her see that PW images are not scary! She sees the images and thinks of "The Others" they tend to freak her out. But, and I mean but...she loved it, even the images so we have a first!!!!
I used lots of different embellishments on this rusty keys, stamps, rub ons, flowers etc. A lot of the stuff was actually from my PW stash, they do other bits apart from images so I thought I would create with mainly their gorgeous stuff (for want of a better word!)

 

 

 

 

China's Prom

So the day of the prom arrives fake tan applied, nails done, hair done and then the magical moment, seeing my baby all grown up in her dress...I can't believe she is only 15 and looking so mature!

 

China was so giggly in the garden having photos taken with her bf Jess...love her in this it is so China...

 

China and her brother Jazz who turned up to witness his sister all done up; he actually didn't like the dress when it was on the hanger but he loved his little sister in it, thought she looked "hench"...

 

China and her gf's Jess, Bianca and Charlie...don't they all look so beautiful? And the picture below is of China and her beautiful friend Danielle.....

 

Paulette Insall 2nd Canvas

This was my second canvas, after all the layering this is my finished result. I confess that I feel proud that I have achieved an end result with these canvases, I learnt a lot and feel sure that I will use what I have learnt in future art.
I can't wait to do Paulette's next class which is a "Faces" class starting on the
30th June....watch this space lol.
Click on title for a link to Paulette's blog. Thanks for dropping by

Paulette Insall Canvas Class

I signed up to do a background canvas class online and these are the results of the 1st canvas I did
{click on title of this post to be taken to Paulette's blog}



Week 1 we had to decide on our color scheme, so i chose a yellow ochre. We then had to stick on images.


The next layer was done.

and another

and this was my finished canvas.

RR BOOK 2nd Spread for Chris

 

Bit of time on my hands today so I worked on the 2nd spread for Chris's book.

RR BOOK - BIRDLAND

 
Working in Chris's book at the moment, her theme is Birdland. Here is the 1st spread I have completed. The colors don't look too vibrant in this picture but they are and the cosmic shimmer on the embosssing powder doesn't really look to good here either. Any way thought I would share with you

Fairy in a jar

 

 

So this past week I have once again felt like I have been disconnected from the world; my internet connection has been intermittent and really, really slow or not available at all, so frustrating.
I had a great time last Saturday. Stuart and Jazz were in France on a football tournament and China was at her friend's house all weekend. So on Saturday Lorraine and I went to the Craft Barn in Lingfield. It was a day for demonstrations and I had a wonderful time, it was so nice to see various products demonstrated. I don't know about you but I see a new product and have to have it and then forget how to use it....at the Craft Barn I learnt how to use some of the products I have for the best results. Spent a lot of money but hey ho a girl can't go to a craft supplier without buying now can she???!
The pictures above were made for precious little Rhosie, her school is having a Summer Fete and she had to take in a jar filled with goodies or decorated, I have wanted to make a fairy in a jar for a while so it was the perfect opportunity. She was fascinated as to where I got the fairy dust, oh to be 5 again!
Apart from this I have been doing Paulette Insall's on line class and this Monday will see the instructions for the last lesson and then I will share what I have been creating with you all.
Finished my Mermaid in a box after adding some minor embellishments and I will found out later today who I have to ship my one to in the swap. Tomorrow I will send of my Row Houses to Kathy for her to swap out. My "Diamonds are a girls best friend" house got chosen for the Paper Whimsy Art of the Week so I was really chuffed!
My thoughts have been over the pond this past week after seeing all the horrendous weather conditions over there, my heart goes out to all those in the Mid West who have had such awful flooding. What with the snow that has fallen over there and the fires it has not really been a good year, hope you are all safe xx
Got to work on a an altered book for Chris, it has a bird theme and to complete a second canvas so I shall get busy. So glad to be back on line and able to share with all my friends what I have been up to hugs to you all

Testing

just seeing if a link for comments comes up

Treasures in the post

The postman has brought treasures to my door this week.
I received beach charms as part of a swap that I did with this yahoo group I was delighted to receive 2nd prize for "Best Presentation".
The group was set up by Melissa and the next swap is based on Birds, if you like charm swaps then check out this group, there is always plenty of time to get creative.



Then I received this delightful Betty Boop from Mary at Green Woman Design
Mary is really talented she creates wonderful shrines, jewelled book marks, affirmation goddesses, rosary rings and much more which you can find in her Etsy shop
So why not check out her blog and shop....
Thank you Mary for my wonderful surprise my dh thought she was fabulous... in your own words PEACE
Thanks for checking out my blog