Tuesday 26 June 2012

Fun at the Beach

No, not me, only in my dreams.  The flipping weather this summer has been absolutely pants and it must be getting lots of people down.  Hey ho.

Anyhoo, the weather was my inspiration for my latest page in the CJ that is a Swap for my fellow Madonion, Karen

Karen's subject was "Fun at the Beach" and for a while I was completely stumped because everything I started (including painting a lighthouse, don't ask) just didn't work out.  So, happily browsing the Internet, I came across this wonderful lady, complete with shell costume - sorted!  The image was promarkered then UTEE embossed.  The background was created with Holtz distress inks, stamping, embossed stamping and Sizzix die cuts.  The dymo words ("I hope two hatpins will suffice" she thought) were added then glossy accented.  Despite all my angst in the creation thereof, this page makes me smile. 

First challenge - to post it - and second challenge - on to the next page!

Saturday 16 June 2012

June Already ...

I turn into my own mother when I say "where on earth has the year gone already?"  Still, this was me just 3 weeks ago after another hospital emergency admission and have avoided again what I fear will be the inevitable surgery.  SIGH.

Still, seeing friends Thursday and Friday then the girly day out on Saturday  being pampered with luxury facial was Just the Business. Followed by the obligatory lunch of course - managed to force it down somehow.

My mojo seems to have been as heavily medicated as me and I have really struggled with anything crafty.  But, the devil making work for idle hands and thanking the Lord for smart phones, during my long week in hospital I spent many a happy hour surfing the BBC Food site.  The result was a reclaimed love of baking followed by an expensive visit to Lakeland to replace some of my antique-no-longer-fit-for-purpose bakeware and a willingness to weigh everything in sight except me!

Mojo finally recovered and today I finished my Jubilee, Best of Britain, jigsaw puzzle swap.  I found some lovely silvery London background paper and the red and blue colours reminded me of the Underground logo.  Doing some digging I was amazed to discover that world's first underground tube railway was the Tower Subway beneath the River Thames south of Tower Hill in 1870.  Amazing.  And something to be very proud of. 

Minature copies of today's Tube map are tucked under the raised logo on the jiggie pieces and signed on the reverse.  As I realised with my only other jigsaw swap, the signatues on the back disappear when it's mounted!  Having seen some of the other contributions I can't wait to get the whole swap back.  All I have to do now is post mine .......