A very BIG thank you...

...to Ignacio over at Nicecrane Designs.

I received some lovely comments on some recent posts and the offer of being able to choose something from the Nicecrane Designs website. I chose Sweet Kids 3 and Ignacio very generously sent me the whole set of "Sweet Kids"...

...don't you just adore these lovely images.

My printer hasn't been playing very nice recently (I think some of the ink is getting low) but I just couldn't wait to print off this image and get it coloured in...

 ...and get it made up into a card.

 Aren't these two little darlings adorable...

 ...and perfect for colouring with a muted palette of colours.
I tried not to go too mad with the embellishments because I didn't want anything to detract from the image...

...just some doilies, ribbon, lace and a few flowers.

I made an 8x8 inch card blank out of cream CS and inked the edges with Antiqued Linen Distress ink (all the edges of the various layers were inked). I had some script 12x12 PP which I cut to layer onto the card blank and a piece of cream cotton lace was wrapped around this before it was stuck down. A smaller piece of the script PP was mounted onto kraft CS and then wrapped with jute twine. The white doily was slipped under the twine and secured in place then the wax paper die-cut doily was slipped under the cream lace and secured in place.

The image was coloured with Spectrum Noir pens - matted onto kraft CS and mounted onto the card using 3D foam. I used brads to create the centres of the flowers before attaching the blooms to the card with some more 3D foam.

Nicecrane Designs have a fabulous selection of digital images and they also have a blog where there are plenty of examples of how to use them - do pop over and take a look...especially if you love Victorian/vintage style images.

Ignacio - I hope you like what I did with the first of the images that you kindly gifted to me..............................................................................

RYWF and

...a lovely day to play.

Well it was back to work this week and I have to be honest...there hasn't been much to rock my world during Monday to Friday. I have tried Virginia, I've really tried to find some high points to the week.

 Each week the lovely Virginia encourages us to take a look back at the previous 7 days and find the positives. I've really had to dig deep but I've found a few...

Monday dawned and it was certainly a case of 'back to work blues' but it was so nice to have colleagues that I don't work very closely with, asking how I was getting on with all the 'to-ing & fro-ing'.

We have had quite a few thunder storms in our neck of the woods this week - I love storms, but not when I'm having to travel backwards and forwards to work. Tuesday we had the thunder during the daytime (previously it had only been of a night) and boy did it rain...if only I hadn't been going to work it would have been marvellous as it was that very fine rain and it actually felt warm - unfortunately I got a bit soggy...not the most comfortable of ways to spend the day at work LOL

Thursday I managed to get some more super storage boxes from "The Works" - they are currently reduced but I had a 10% voucher so got even more off of the price - I now have 9 boxes that I intend to use to tidy away a lot of my craft stuff.

Today has to have been the best day of the week. A Paperartsy demo was arranged at Sugar & Spice over at Barleylands and late last night Marion was able to blog that the fabulous Leandra would be demoing during the morning - even though it was her birthday...

Leandra showed us some wonderful techniques with a whole host of goodies and we sang "Happy Birthday" at regular intervals throughout the morning LOL
Weasel (Suzie) came along too and we were both a little naughty with the items that just seemed to hop into our baskets...

...this is just a sample (I've checked the cupboard and the freezer and I think I've got enough beans on toast to last me until the end of the month - gosh, is it really only the 3rd???)

After a great bit of demo watching and retail therapy - Suzie and I had some lunch and sat and drooled over our new goodies. We also checked the colour charts and decided that there were a couple more colours that we just HAD to have...so back we went.

Leandra had departed to continue her birthday celebrations with her family and Marion & Nina were doing some 'make & take' sessions - we had a fabulous play...

...these are my two completed pieces. On the left is a sample of some stamping and colouring over a crackle background - the translucent paints are super to paint/colour with. On the right I had a play with some Grunge Paste through a script stencil and then I coloured the board before sanding back to reveal the words. I had stamped the sprigs in black down the other side of the card and then decided to use some of the Treasure Wax to add a bit of shine - lovely effect but it dulled the stamped images a bit...so I re-stamped and was really pleased with the finish as the first stamping acts as a gilded shadow behind the fresh stamping.

So, today really has 'rocked my world' - I had a wonderful time watching/learning/playing - and a pleasant lunch with a friend. What more can one ask for on a lovely Summer day..........................

A little bit of...

...crafting.

After spending a week away from work in which I did little or no crafting, I thought I should get something done before I returned to work. So Sunday evening I sat down and made a card.

I have a variety of Kanban bits & pieces that I have accumulated over the years so I thought it about time I made use of at least some of it.

I had a couple of die-cut sheets including this...

...it was intended to make a 'tunnel' card so I rummaged for some toning bits...

 ...all die-cut so it was very quick & easy.
After a bit of a play around with all the elements that I pulled out of my stash - I came up with this...

...I think that most of it came from the same Kanban range but I'm not sure because the bits were in a polybag (I'd obviously sat and popped out a load of die-cuts at some point). I love the shade of blue and all the gold foiling but I felt it needed a little 'extra'. This came in the form of some blue adhesive flat-back gems that I added to the centre of the flowers. The gems were a bargain find in "The Works".

So there you have it, a quick and easy card........................................................

I did promise...

...so here are some photos.

The cupcake/muffin ladies only 'do' Barleylands once a month so this has been the first chance I've had to get the promised photos.
The ladies had a wonderful selection again this month but unfortunately they are currently 'resting' two of my favourites - Apple crumble and Rhubarb & Custard. Never mind, there were plenty of others to try...

 ...they even had a savoury one this month (which I wish I had tried) - Cheese & Marmite.
Here is the selection that I came away with...

 ...and I wish I had written down what they were as my mind has gone completely blank on a couple of them.
These are the two that I can't recall...

...the one in the pink wrapper is something with Raspberry and the brown wrapper has Blackberries but I really can't remember what else.
The rest I can remember. The green topped one is "Apple Doughnut"...

...the chocolate looking one is "Chocolate & Beetroot" (sampled this and it is yummy) and finally the iced one is "Lemon & Lime".

So for all of you in far-flung places...sorry you are not here to enjoy them for yourselves but I'll take on the very hard task of tasting them for you.......................................................

What's Rocking your World...

...Friday - okay, I know it's Saturday but hey - what's in a day LOL

Each week over on the lovely Virginia's blog she encourages folk to take a look back at their week and find the positives...the things that made us smile...the things that 'Rocked' our worlds (in a nice way of course). I've been MIA from WRYWF for a few weeks but Virginia is a very forgiving hostess.
To be honest, I've struggled to find the 'happy' things because there has been a lot going on at work that has been stressing me out and I don't use the 'S' word lightly as I have recognised the impact that work has been having on things like sleep, concentration, mood. So I booked a weeks leave - no plans, no set agenda, just a week away from the work place.
The weather this week has been fabulous during the daytime (the thunder storms and rain of a night don't count as it's NIGHT) and I have just enjoyed pottering about. So, in no particular order...

Although Mum finds the heat very tiring we went into Chelmsford for a mooch around the shops on Thursday - a couple of covered shopping malls and lots of air-conditioned stores meant that she was able to have a good wander round without too much trouble. She thought this fellow was rather fun...

 ...and she also 'splashed out' on a crystal figure of a hedgehog from a well-known crystal retailer. The ladies in the store told Mum that he was called 'Nick' so Nick now lives on Canvey Island near the sea-side. A spot of lunch and no rushing around made it a lovely day for both of us.
Wednesday was a very sad day as it was the funeral of a colleague but the weather played her part and was glorious. Many colleagues, past & present, attended which was a lovely reflection of the high regard that everyone had for Chris. Suzie (Weasel) had worked very closely with Chris for a number of years and she had taken the phone call that had brought the sad news of his passing so she was understandably very upset. The service was beautiful and the wake after was cool and calm away from the heat of the outside - folk were happy to share fond memories of someone that will be sorely missed. I then 'kidnapped' Suzie (her words) for a visit to Barleylands...

 ...mid-week even at this time of year is never too crowded so it was lovely to just potter and enjoy the flowers...

 ...sit and have a cool drink & an ice-cream...

 ...and of course, a little retail therapy LOL I was very good (honest) and used the time to plan my 'spree' over members weekend (30% off time). We rounded off with me driving Suzie home and we sat and had a natter before I then headed on home.
 Crafters will know that there are always "Christmas in July" events every year - these give a boost to those who are very organised and craft through the year for the Holiday season and a gentle nudge to those of us who always have good intentions but still end up frantically crafting until the wee-small hours the night before the last mailing opportunity (I hold my hand up and admit to being guilty as charged LOL). This year the folk at Bugaboo Stamps were celebrating their 3rd year of having a CIJ event by having a blog-hop and a whole week of challenges with loads of prizes up for grabs...

...I was lucky enough to be one of the winners and now have the difficult task of picking my prize from all the fabulous digi images available on their site - such an onerous task (giggle).
Friday was the start of 'Member's Weekend' and I placed my order for the new Distress Markers that are coming out (matching the limited edition seasonal colours ink pads that came out originally in sets of 3). A few other goodies managed to find my way into my basket - don't they always - and then I had a lovely coffee and chat with Hilary, a lady I met through crafting and if we are unable to catch-up at workshops we always take time to do so during members weekend.

This has been a lovely 'slow-down' week. I haven't managed to do much in-doors and I haven't crafted much this week but it has been super to just 'chill' (okay - probably not the best choice of words in this heat LOL). It's back to work on Monday and things will be back to their normal hectic ways but it has been super just doing 'nothing' so to speak and not having to rush anywhere or chase deadlines. I wonder how the boss would feel about me booking another week off?...........................

A local piece of...

...history.

I'm sure many of us are guilty of not paying attention to what is close to home - I know I certainly am. I have travelled to London to visit "The Tower" and various palaces. I've been to Scotland and seen a Castle or two. I've also been to Yorkshire, Devon and Cheddar where I've explored caves/caverns but I don't often stop to think about things right on my door-step.

Right here in the borough where I live (Thurrock) they discovered a Woolly Mammoth (in Aveley). There were archaeological digs at Mucking (oh that was a very muddy school trip) and we have two forts on the banks of the river Thames - Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort. A big chunk of the land that borders the Thames near to where I live was at one time owned by the Boleyn family in Tudor times and going further back in time to the reign of Richard II we had several leaders of the Peasant's Revolt (1381 - poll tax revolt) allegedly living in the Fobbing area.

Just across the border from Fobbing in the next borough we have Wat Tyler Park which has been designated a site of significant interest and if you take a look at the park website via the link you'll see that there has been stuff going on there since around the Bronze age.

Now I'm sure you are all wondering where I'm going with this...well...I have a few days off and as the weather was beautiful today, I went for a wander.

I haven't been to Wat Tyler park since before my niece got married and I have to say that there have been a number of changes, many of which I have snapped so that I could share them on here - get a very long cool drink because there are a load of photos...

Next to the visitor centre there is the "Village Green" which is a large grassed area surrounded by some thatched buildings that have been rescued and relocated here...

 Much of the park was marsh/wetland and what used to be muddy paths near the children's play area has duckboard walkways now...

 I'm not sure what these figures are but they are part of the sculpture trail that consists of pieces of art throughout the park...

...they could be representations of Wat Tyler and the other peasants but I couldn't get close enough to find out.
 The tide was in...

...and this map shows the route up from the Thames via Holehaven creek...

This is a "Washing Bowl" - a leftover from when there was an explosives factory on the site...

 ...the information board suggests that it was used to wash gun cotton...

 This building was originally part of the explosive works but is now a bird & wildlife discovery centre...

 A lot of work is currently going on to clear overgrown & clogged waterways - this waterfall is one of the first bits completed...

 The waterway will run into a series of ponds in the rose garden...

 ...and seating area...

 There are lots of information boards dotted all around the park...

 The park is a wonderful place to wander around...

 ...with shady wooded areas...

 ...and open grassy mounds...

 Here is another of the art pieces...

 This is one of four pill-boxes from WWII...

 ...there is another info board...

 ...and on top is a viewing platform...

 What you can see in the distance is the remains of the Coryton oil refinery...

 This pond full of water grass is quite close to the creek...

 ...and you can probably just make out a few water-lilies...

 

I spent a lovely (if hot) few hours wandering around the park and really must make the effort to pop over there more often.

 

If you stop to think about it, are there places near where you live that you often take for granted ? Why not spend some time wandering around where you live or pop into the library to find out a bit more about where you live - you might surprise yourself with what you find....................................