Birthday Celebrations Continued

It was Laura's birthday yesterday so we (Jim, Laura, Gran and I) headed over to Tony Roma's for dinner. As usual we celebrated in style with a Vesuvius dessert. It must have at least a zillion calories per mouthful of hot chocolate brownie, vanilla , chocolate ice cream. chocolate sauce and whipped cream YUM! Even with four of us attacking it we still couldn't finish it but we did have a good try LOL.

This is another recent layout I did. I used Bo Bunny Persuasion papers with this photo of Jim and Laura having a cuddle. The photo was actually taken on Christmas morning a couple of years ago and you can see the christmas cards in the background. The chipboard hearts I made myself with some scrap chipboard and covered it with paper. Val and I were laughing when we were looking through some of my layouts as I seem to have gone through a "button" period where every layout I did contained buttons somewhere, then there was a time when I favoured background stamping, another period was my "flower" period and so it went on. This layout was from my "chipboard hearts" period LOL. I hope you like it.

Catch ya soon.

Fee x

Happy 13th Birthday Laura

I can't believe that my little girl becomes a teenager today. I'm sure (like most other Mums) it seems like no time since she was born. Last night I took her and three of her friends over to the cinema at X-scape to see Streetdance 3D. The movie didn't finish until 10.45pm and they then went into the arcade, then the simulator and then faffed about posing for photos before leaving and it was 12.15am before we finally arrived home. I was exhausted but they all had a great time. The photo above shows the girls (Jenny, Laura, Sophie & Caitlyn) still wearing their 3D glasses - not a particularly good look but they were having fun with them.

Yesterday I cropped with Val, Sandra, Izzy, Lynn and Maxine and we all had a good laugh and, as usual, mucho plenty biscuits and sweets were consumed. Izzy is still on her diet so she behaved herself but the rest of us more than made up for her LOL. She has lost a lot of weight and is doing really well. I wish I had an ounce of your willpower Izzy! I wasn't particularly productive and only managed to complete two layouts all day and I struggled to do that.

Till later.

Fee x

Raspberry Pavlova

Doesn't it look fantastic and I bet it will taste good too LOL. This little treat is for teabreak at work tomorrow and I bet everyone will be fighting for a piece.

I've posted the list of ingredients just in case anyone would like to try to make it themselves.

Ingredients

4 Egg Whites (use eggs at room temperature)

80z Caster Sugar

1 teaspoon vinegar

1 level dessertspoon cornflour

Dash of vanilla essence

Method

Using mixer beat together all egg whites, add vinegar , vanilla essence and cornflour then gradually add caster sugar and continue to beat together until mixture forms stiff peaks. Arrange on an ovenproof plate and bake at 110 degrees for approximately one hour until pale cream in colour. Switch off oven and open oven door leave meringue in oven with door open for a further 30 minutes. Take out of oven and allow to cool then fill with whipped double cream and fruit of your choice. Yummy!

Catch ya later.

Fee x

Clearing Out

I've just finished another night of trying to clear Great Aunt Bessie's house and I'm exhausted. It really has brought it home to me that I should have a clearout of my own house. We have stuff up our loft that was put there out of convenience because it was to good to throw out but I would hate to leave anyone with the job of sorting that lot out LOL.

I posted a card that I made recently using My Mind's Eye Lush Black papers. I was quite pleased with its simplicity and although I've used black and white paper together before, I found the black and cream just a little bit more challenging to work with.

Till later.

Fee x

One of My Favourite Photos Ever!

This photo of my nieces Lynne and Jan was taken at our wedding in March 1994 (not yesterday huh?). The girls are now 22 and 27 but it is fun to look back. My wedding flowers were made by Jane McPherson in Hamilton and I especially loved what she did with the bouquets and the girls head dresses the are sooo pretty. Maybe one of these days I'll find the right paper and I'll be able to scrap these LOL.

Till tomorrow.

Fee x

Another Pressie

... from myself to myself LOL. I saw this cake stand in BHS and thought I'd treat myself. I'd better not buy any more cos I just don't have the room to store them.

Val and I were busy yesterday and despite only starting mid afternoon I managed to do 3 layouts. I'll upload them as soon as I get some time to myself. I am sooo busy at the moment trying to work full time, clear out my Great Aunt Bessie's house, keep on top of the housework and work in the shop cos Jim has to take it easy at the moment. I wish I was superwoman cos that is what I'd need to be to do everything I have to do LOL.

Till later.

Fee x

Wedding Guests

Here is another layout I did recently. This photo of Jim and Laura was taken at a friends wedding at Duck Bay Marina, Loch Lomond in August 2008. It was a wonderful wedding and we had a lovely day. Laura loved her gold silky dress and strappy sandals and I think she looked beautiful and quite grown up too. It is so nice to get dressed up sometimes. The paper and ribbon is from the Manhattan range by Autumn Leaves and the little heartribbon charm is by AMM. I stamped the title using Timber Brown Staz On ink which I thought was very brave given the fact that if I messed it up I would ruin the whole layout LOL.

Till later.

Fee x

Treating Myself

I saw this little cake plate and just couldn't resist it. It is sooo cute but I bet it will look even better with some yummy cakes on it. I'd better dust of my recipe books and get practising LOL.

Today I thought I deserved a little ME time so I went for a luxury pedicure. My feet now feel fantastic and my tootsies are a lovely shade of deep pink. It was probably the most relaxing hour and a half that I've had in a while. I'm now sitting here wondering what I can get done next week - maybe a facial would be nice. I think I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Till then.

Fee x

Cropping with Friends

Today I spent some time cropping with "the girls" and we had a great time scrapping, chatting and generally putting the world to rights LOL. I actually managed to do two layouts which was good considering I didn't really start working until after lunch (what's new???). The first one I'll post today was done using the Bo Bunny Flutter Butter range of paper and stickers and the pearl swirl is by Prima. I stamped the butterfly background using my PTI butterfly stamp set and Brilliance Light Blue ink. The buttons were pinched from Val's stash as I had conveniently forgotten mine LOL. I particularly like this photo of Laura and I have used it a couple of time before. I think she looks so angelic that butter wouldn't melt and that was probably the case back then but maybe not so much now LOL.

Catch ya later gaters.

Fee x

MRI Results

Jim had his MRI test last week and this week it has been confirmed that he has had a stroke. Not quite the news we wanted to hear but at least we've had the diagnosis confirmed. He has to go to the Western Infirmary for a couple more tests for his heart and kidneys and is waiting for an appointment. Meanwhile it is a complete lifestyle change for him and he has to take it easy for a period of time. His blood pressure is still a bit erratic but looks like it is coming down slowly with less wild highs and lows so fingers crossed this will be sorted soon.

As you can guess I've been a bit busy recently so apologies for not blogging regularly.

Till later.

Fee x

Scor-pal Gardeners Companion

I thought I would try making my own version of a shabby chic flower from yesterday's post. So using the same Prima cardstock I cut out some scalloped circles and a small retro flower and spritzed them with water and scrunched. When I flattened them out again I made a hole in the centres with my paper piercer then popped in a little wired rose that I had lying around in my stash. I mounted it on a foam pad and stuck it to the card. I'm not completely sure what version I prefer but I was happy with the result and the ones I made myself were an absolute fraction of the cost LOL.

Yesterday Val and I tried our hand at designing a Scor-pal project that could be used as a gift for a gardener. I've seen books with pockets like this before but usually they are made with chipboard and this is obviously not suitable for scoring. I used the new double thick Bazzill cardstock for the base, scored it with our Scor-pals and then covered it with Chatterbox papers. The metal buttons are from Melissa Frances and I've sewn it on to the cardstock using PTI twine. Inside there are five separate pockets, containing seeds, twine, flower pot labels and plant ties. I didn't get it all finished until later today (probably because we were stuffing ourselves with muffins LOL), here is my version. I hope you like it.

Jim has his MRI scan tomorrow so fingers crossed all will be well. His BP is still up and down quite dramatically and I'm still worried about him.

Till tomorrow.

Fee x

Shabby Chic !*!*!*!

Is so not me but I was really pleased with this little card I made using cardstock from the Prima Watercolour Rainbows Collection. The flower is also by Prima and I just had to use my Martha Stewart Loopy punch again.

Gotta go now I'm baking atm.

Till tomorrow.

Fee x

Pretty Ballet Pumps

I've been so busy I haven't had two minutes to myself this week but I'm enjoying my job so I can't really complain. I thought I'd post a card I made a few weeks ago using a cardstock from the My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary range. The happy birthday sentiment and the little ballet pumps stamps are by Amuse and I've twinkled the shoes with Glamour Dust and added a dinky little pink bow to finish it off.

Jim is still having problems with his blood pressure and his medication has been doubled again and he has to go back to the Doctor again tomorrow. He is getting quite frustrated that it is still not under control and even more annoyed that he is allowing himself to get frustrated - it's a vicious circle.

I'm still struggling with my own health problems at the moment but I am more concerned about Jim and trying to get him back to normal.

Till tomorrow.

Fee x

Walking Wounded

My back has been giving me problems all afternoon as everytime I bent down, got up off my chair or turned around I let out a squeal of pain. I'm now doped up with painkillers to see if it helps. My Gran used to say "old age doesn't come alone" and she was sooo right LOL.

Today's card was made using black and white Junkitz paper. I covered a strip of black bazzill bling with Glamour Dust then adhered white satin ribbon across the centre and finished off with a few black crystal stickers. The rubber stamp is from a set by The Unity Stamp Company.

Till later.

Fee x

Back to Work ..................

and what a shock to my system. I'd forgotten how hard it was to get up at 6am and go to work. Seriously though, I am glad to be back and using my brain again and I'm sure it is like riding a bike and within a week or so I'll forget I was ever a lady of leisure for so long LOL. I'm still having problems with my back but everything else seems to either be sorted or well on the way to recovery so it's no rest for the wicked.

Yesterday Val and I did a little scrapbooking and I did a 12" x 12" page using some cardstock from the My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary range and Bazzill French Vanilla. I'd like to say it all came together easily but it took me quite a while to get into the "zone". I went a bit nuts and stamped all over the Bazzill with some of my Autumn Leaves stamps to try and match the cardstock. I don't know if it worked or not but it's finished now anyway LOL. We also managed to scoff some chocolate biscuits and apple tarts while we scrapped and chatted - what's new I hear you say! The punch is my favourite deep edge heart punch by Martha Stewart and the buttons are a selection from PTI. The photo is of Jim and Laura and was taken at EPCOT in Florida in May 2008.

Off now to get some beauty sleep - I'm exhausted.

Till tomorrow.

Fee x

Normal Service Will Be Resumed ASAP

Thanks to everyone for all the visits, posts, texts and telephone calls enquiring about Jim. I'm glad to say he seems to be doing better since the Doctor changed his medication. His blood pressure seems to be calming down a bit so we are happy with that. He has lots of appointments for tests over the next couple of weeks so hopefully by the end of that we will have a better idea of what actually happened and where we go from here.

I've posted a photo of a card I designed recently. The paper is from Chatterbox and brown cardstock is Bazzill. I ran a strip of the Bazzill through my Cuttlebug using the distressed stripes embossing folder to add a bit of texture. The shirt was folded from a 3" x 4 1/2" piece of scrap paper and the buttons were punched using a 1/8" hand held punch. I particularly like the Happy Birthday stamp which is from a set by Stampendous and I stamped it using Timber Brown Staz On to tone in with the rest of the card. I hope you like it and if anyone would like the instructions for folding the shirt please let me know.

I attempted to tidy my workspace yesterday because it was such a mess. I do like to make a mess when I'm trying to create something but it had really got out of hand. Hopefully I will be able to create something now LOL.

Till later.

Fee x