Clouds, sandpits and things

If you are new to my blog, welcome and to fill you in I am doing a series of '40 days of grateful'? Why? To try and stay positive through this time of shall we say fairly average health. Post viral fatigue.

GRATEFUL FOR:
Day 10: Cloud watching with my (big) wee boy
Day11: Sand Pit date at a friends- got out with kids, just!
Day12: The healing power of prayer
Day13: A marked improvement in health and energy
Day14: One of my older projects made it to the Cosmo Cricket blog...yeehaa
Day15: I can breathe better post physio- who would have thought!

Cosmo Cricket

Do you remember the farm matching game that I posted earlier this year?

Well today this project made it onto the Cosmo Cricket blog. I am excited! You can go to the post here http://cosmocricket.typepad.com/cosmo_cricket/2010/11/eye-spy-cosmo-cricket-eye-candy.html

One Day At a Time

My first layout which reflects what I am going through at the moment. It's for the Kraft-it-up Challenge Blog. The challenge was to use trims this month.

For the trims I have used border punches (MS, SU), tea dyed gauzey material, hand dyed and scrunched seam binding (Memrie Mare), rubons (OA), and die cut trims (CP).

In behind the photo is an envelope, which has also been tea dyed to give it an aged look.

LOVE Crate paper's restoration line!

Have used a few elements symbolically- the birdcage stamp (MME) to reflect how I am very much trapped at home at the moment, the angel wings reflecting my faith in God and that things will get better and finally the clock as no one can tell me how long it will take to function normally again.

Back soon to continue my 40 days of grateful.

Hugs.

Inspiration

Day 8:
Grateful for the internet- it is my lifeline (well one of them) at the moment. As getting out is not much of an option online shopping is an absolute saviour. I sooo enjoy my cuppa first thing and blog hopping. One of my all time fave blogs is http://lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com {love}! This beautiful poem was posted yesterday and spoke to me. I am on the receiving end right now.

Because I Have Been Given Much
Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live.
I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see,
who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care…
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-
my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head,
that he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,
I’ll share thy love again according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed,
thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

~ Grace Noll Crowell~

Here's another Tarisota Style studio layout that I did- this is a Gigi Kennedy one. As usual changed slightly (one pic instead of 2 etc) but a cool background technique huh!
Day 9: Grateful for phone conversations with friends, more than ever.

Weekend

Day 6: Grateful for a peaceful and restful afternoon.

Day 7: Got out of the house, was almost too much, but ended up okay. Good to get out.

What are you grateful/ thankful for? Hugs.

Sick of..

sick....Not such a good day today.

Day 5
I am thankful for my boys who I love dearly and who are growing so fast before our very eyes. Often up to antics. Love hearing their laughter from upstairs when I am resting after tea (don't love the cries and tantrums but that's another story).

A layout!

A new layout over at Scrap Box NZ. Product details and some close ups can be seen over there. Did some tea dying of the gauzey fabric to give it an aged look and upcycled some packaging for the journalling card.
Day 4 has to be that I actually managed to complete a layout (even if it did take an extra long time) and upload it. Have a good day friends. :)

Friends...

....where would we be without them?

So day 3 is: So grateful for my friends and their support..... Messages, baking, meals, flowers, help at home...........

Love ya! :)

Robotto

Simple wee robot kiddie cards (made a while back). The front card has already been gifted for a 4th birthday (4 robots and 4 brads- cheesey huh).

Today is day 2 of my -'40 days of thankful'. Today I am thankful for my amazing hubby who is really holding the fort at the moment and doing most of the things that I would normally do- like the groceries last night. Thanks babe xo

40 Days of Thankful

Why? I am still suffering from post viral symptoms after strep throat last month... Well that's what I've been told as the tests thus far haven't found anything else. So most of my time is spent from the bed to the couch, with doing the bare minmum of what needs to be done in between. Fairly housebound. Not a lot of crafting. So I am going to try and keep positive and 40 days of thankful is going to help. Some days I won't be able to blog but we'll see how it goes. One day I will scrapbook it.

Day one: I am thankful for this song that is regularly playing in my head..

"He who waits on the Lord will renew their strength, run and not get weary, walk and not faint".

Karel used to sing this at my old church. It is a great song. The scripture is from Isaiah.

Blessings,
Sally. :)

Stamp Happy

This is my last project as guest designer for Jacque over at Stamp Happy. This month she gave us the Merry Details die to play with...
It has a partridge, trees and snowflake on it. PPs are also Stampin' Up (Love Letter). Delish!

and some wee envelope gift pockets.

Joy

I love the simple joys that my boys bring to not only our lives but the lives of others. 'We' are getting lots of mileage out of the policemen hats- as pictured in the layout below that I made for Scrap Box NZ. The banner I made with a stamp (MME), Baker's twine and some wee alpha beads I found from days gone by.
I am (almost) addicted to making wee gift pockets, this one by simply altering a plain old paper bag. Teresa Collins pps were used, also available over at Scrap Box NZ.

I just love the colour combo of red, black and cream. YUM! So very elegant don't you think?

Lastly I would like to thank you for your comments. They are especially important at present.

Hugs, Sally :)

A couple of cards to share today, that I made a fair few weeks back now.
Firstly a wedding card using some nice vintage elements and my favourite Stampin' Up stamp set (tiny tags).

and for a wee baby using my cuttlebug and some Martha Stewart Stamps.