WOYWW #743

 WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem! 

Happy WOYWW!!  I am happy

I have managed to walk up to the post box this morning and post off the last of my August swaps . . . . just creeping into the back of the room . .  .

The desk

I know . . .  tidy again!!  

It isn't that I haven't been working, I have had PC problems in that the printer was sulking in the corner and wouldn't talk to the rest of us!!!  We're all friends again now though and look what I have . . . . . happy mail!!

Now I'm not trying to make Angela jealous but . . . . .

Yes!  three of them . . . they contain finished (almost) cards, some card to use for diecuts and well, who knows!!  lol

I also wanted to share my Fuchsia with you . . . . this photo does not do it justice as it a is mass of red and blue flowers!  Gorgeous!

The screen . . . 

  . . . . is the front entrance of the Botanics . . . such a happy day . . . .

August Cards

These swaps were finished early this month so I have almost a complete batch.

Crafty Cardmakers Swaps

Noobies

I used a DSP on a black card with a banner sentiment.  I wasam trying to use up my stash . . . 

This 'pretty in pink' was from Lucie and I love it.  Thank you Lucie

Colour - Yellow

Not my favourite colour but I'll roll with it . . 

I embossed the yellow card and then stamped the sentiment in the centre.  Easy . . . .NO!  It is very difficult to aim your stamp into the centre of the circle . . . this must be my third or fourth attempt!!

My return card is so very pretty, full of the joys of Spring!  Thank you Jackie

Casmet Swaps

Card of the month

I am trying to use up some to the wall paper samples I collected whilst Peter wandered around B&Q . . . . 

Dragon flies are just so pretty, I only have blue ones round my pond so this is a bonus.

I received this absolute beauty from PaulineY and I love it.  Thank you Pauline.

Member's Choice - Iris Folding

Now here's a technique I love and don't do often enough!

A beautiful watering can full of flowers . . . . in pink . . .

Another favourite of mine . . .  Ginger Jars.  in a past life I collected them, couldn't walk past a Charity shop without popping inside . . . just in case!!!  My collection stayed in my past life so I really appreciate the PINK Ginger jar.  Thank you PaulineM.

Pat's Letter - Y

This is just what our local skateboard park looks like any day of the week!  Full of Youth enjoying themselves.

One of my favourite flowers was sent by my partner.  Thank you Eleanor.

Pat's Swap - Aperture card

I created this one to honour the new arrival at Bright's Zoo.  

I know mine has its markings but . . . . 

I received this gorgeous card, acetate and folds.  Thank you Madge.

Die Cutting Friends

Letter H

This is a Tim Holtz embossing folder and diecuts . . .  so H for Tim Holtz.  Took ages to get that small embossing folder just right . . . and then gently swipe it with an inkpad!!

My swap return is super, lots of loverly layers.

Thank you Maureen for a gorgeous heart.

Domestic Animals

Lots and Lots of cats . . . . bet my partner likes dogs!!

This is my return card and really made me think then all was explained!  This is a sponsored dog.

Thank you Jackie, what a super idea.

August ATCs

 Although I haven't been blogging, not much going on, I have still been swapping out cards and ATCs so I thought I would share some ATCs for this month.

I imagine you can work out this Theme!!  Free stamps to the fore again.

The Theme for the second set of Coins was 'In the Air' so I have gone all Steampunk . . . . . long time since these stamps saw daylight!  I splashed on some paint then stamped my little heart out . . . 

The personal swap used up several left over designs . . I just love the corrugated ATC and those numbers!!

My partner was quick off the ball and I received these beauties before I had even thought about mine!  Well done Carol, a great selection and thank you.

Colour for this month was Lilac and Grey.

I have had these images, from the web, for some time and they are perfect for this month's swap.  The background was a master board in greys and silver so a little bit of colour added to these stupendous images was perfect. 

The Theme was Toys and I had the perfect stamps, they rarely see daylight so this was a treat!  lol   I started off splashing a bit of colour onto paper and then added some Washi tape to define the areas.

I added some stamp and stencil work which left me with a good selection of designs.

Choosing carefully where to cut . . . . stamp the design in black and three ATCs on the theme of Toys completed!!

I just have to post another photo of this Saliva, it lights up my heart every time I go out into the garden.

     

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

 DDC and I arranged this day out some time ago.  

I used to take the children to visit when they were small, as did my Mother.  I used to enjoy this time with Mam, and we so loved the gardens.  Her mother used to take her and it became a regular family outing for them.

Botanics, as it is known, has been there a long, long time with just a few small changes.  I remember the white cockatoo sat just inside the Green house and would always say 'hello' to us as we entered!!  

The pond is still in the centre of the Greenhouse and the fish, as always, demanded a good amount of time to look . . .

After visiting the Greenhouse and the Hot House - cacti -  we stopped for lunch.  The boys wandered off and did  some exploring of there own . . . 

They found the bandstand, rolled down the hill and then found the Aviaries . . .

The Aviaries have great Victorian Architecture and topiary . . . 

Afterwards as we walked along one of the paths we came to a playground.  This was really interesting, I won't bore you with its features but so well thought out . . . . even a broken wrist did not spoil the exploration . . .

     

Then it was along the path to the exit as Grandma was very tired . . . . she sat and waited while the boys and Mam went off to explore yet another play area - Treetops Area - so I can only guess . . .

As we walked along the paths through the Pinetum a very large cone was found!

This now sits in the pot just outside my backdoor, forecasting the weather!

We found the Japanese Garden wow!  those bonsai trees . . . .

      

No wonder they are kept behind bars . . . 

We then headed back to the entrance/exit, stopping to look at the fish again,

 exhausted (in my case!) but happy.  

What a super day out!  must do it again. There were several areas we didn't manage to visit  (we were only there 5hours!) but next time may be in Spring!

Sign of the times

I had quite a good day yesterday.  I managed to clean the pond pump without it getting the better of me!

Just to the right you can see a statue of a small boy . . .  we named him Dexter .  . . . he has a hose pipe to spray into the water but it hasn't worked for some time . . . . I stripped this down to the basics and it looks like it needs a new pump.  Now that will be an interesting project!

I just had to admire the 'red' corner of the patio once again,

The Lobelia is going full blast now, it doesn't care that its feet are in the pond but the wind has blown the stems out onto the patio . . .  it has just carried on flowering . . . . .  with the Wind Anemones behind it the corner is just beautiful. 

The post had arrived, not much interesting but I could see a postal stamp from USA so that IS exciting!  I put it a the bottom of the pile but when I came to open it . . . . .

As you can see . . .  someone has removed all the artworks from inside the plastic holder . . .

I can only complain to the local sorting office as the Royal Mail website is . . . . useless!  This is not the first time this has happened, someone has a nice collection of ATCs, but I would prefer them to have a commitment to the job . . .  I suppose it is a sign of the times!

House for Sale

 I am putting my beloved Doll's House up for sale .  . . . . it is rather large so has to be collected.  SIL is overseeing all this, I shall just send him photos and he will do the rest.

The house is custom made, Peter and I spent many hours travelling round the local area in case we could find the original but no luck.

It's very large, 96cms (about 3ft) wide with a height of 61cms (about 2ft). It needs a base of at least 33cms (about 12ins) so it's no small dainty building!!

Roof can be removed to access the inside of the house.

There are 8 rooms . . .

. . . . two rooms on the ground floor with reception/hall, two rooms and bathroom on 1st floor with three rooms in the attic.  

The front opens with two doors, the left side and the gable side.  The curtains are still up . . . . one has to make sure that the house still looks occupied . . . squatters and all that!

The Jones family did live here for a short time but moved out to make way for Spiderman and 'friends'.

 I am so sorry to see it go but its chequered history must continue elsewhere . . . .  a good refurb and it will become the perfect Christmas present for someone . .