Bella

I was dying to cut into the Creative craft world's September kit which was made up with the new Prima Alla range a gorgeous colour palette. I couldn't resist the paper that had the appearance of misting and decided to base the LO around that particular piece.

I cut the paper down to roughly 9.5 inch square and then cut, tore, and punched 3 strips from the reverse side which had strips of different patterns to make my own border strips. I stuck the papers down at angles to the backing card and added my chosen photos.

I chose some blooms from the kit and using icicle stickles and my fingers gently "frosted" the edges of all the petals and put a gem in the centre of each. I also used a tulle flower which was originally part of a headband and I got for 50p in the sale at a clothing store :)

To this corner I added a Prima gem swirl which I snipped into 4 pieces 2 of which I used in the corner. I also added a little Adore ticket and Jenni Bowlin pin. The title was made from AC Thickers and picked out the brown in the paper strips and the journalling card was cut from a larger card to fit in the space. The journalling explains the title, my Nan was Mary Isabella and as a girl was known as Bella.

Finally I added my butterfly which I made by stamping on acetate with blue stazon then colouring (on the reverse or the inks mix with the stazon) with alcohol inks. I then cut the stamped image out bent up the wings and added the gems. I also added a third section of the snipped up Prima swirl to make the Butterfly's trail.

I love the finished result and my hubby wants to get a frame for this one so that it isn't squished away in an album :) and I am entering this into Creative Craft World's Scrap map challenge for September, why not pop by CCW and have a go too? Thanks for popping by and for your lovely comments I do love to receive them xxx

Role models

I am very lucky that I have such a wonderful mum and also a fantastic aunt, both of them are great positive role models and women to be cherished. I used my Gottacraft Kit containing Crate Paper's Farmhouse range and followed the Scrapology challenge requirements for September to make this LO about them. This photo is one I have inherited from my Gramps and I was so pleased to have a nice picture of them together and a reason to use the "Sisters" sticker in my kit as I have no sister and only one daughter so my mum and aunt were the obvious first choice :)

I embossed the vertical strip of paper and lightly sanded the raised embossing to distress it and the horizontal paper was punched and inked. I used a lot of hand cutting again all the little flowers were cut from one of the papers and I used a self cover button covered with the green leaf paper and one of my hand made crochet flowers.

Thanks for popping by hope you like my LO and apologies if I haven't commented on your blog recently I have been a bit awol.

September house challenge

The house challenge this month was to use either stitching. stamping or both on your LO and follow the sketch provided. I pretty much stuck to the sketch and used some stitching and made another back to school LO so I am only 4 years behind now lol;

Whilst mooching about on facebook I found a friend had posted the follow about the illness we both suffer from; Fibromyalgia. It explains it so well better than I ever could that I am sharing it on here for any of my blog pals who find it tough to understand how I am so gregarious one day and withdrawn the next thanks for taking the time to read my blog :)

FOR ANYONE WHO SUFFERS OR KNOW SOMEONE WITH FIBROMYALGIA...
by Marie Bunce on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 7:24pm

1. MY PAIN---MY PAIN IS NOT YOUR PAIN. IT IS NOT CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION.TAKING ARTHRITIS MEDICATION WILL NOT HELP ME. I CANNOT WORK MY PAIN OUT OR SHAKE IT OFF. IT IS NOT EVEN A PAIN THAT STAYS PUT. TODAY IT IS MY SHOULDER, BUT TOMORROW IT MAY BE IN MY FOOT OR GONE. MY PAIN IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER SIGNALS SENT TO THE BRAIN. IT IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD BUT IT IS REAL...

2. MY FATIGUE---I AM NOT MERELY TIRED.I AM OFTEN IN A SEVERE STATE OF EXHAUSTION. I MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES BUT I CANT.PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS PERSONALLY. IF YOU SAW ME SHOPPING AT THE MALL YESTERDAY BUT I CANT HELP YOU WITH THE YARD WORK TODAY, ITS NOT CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO. I AM NOW PAYING THE PRICE FOR STRESSING MY MUSCLES BEYOND THEIR CAPABILITY.

3. MY FORGETFULNESS---THOSE OF US WHO SUFFER CALL IF "FIBRO FOG". I MAY NOT REMEMBER YOUR NAME, BUT I DO REMEMBER YOU. I MAY NOT REMEMBER WHAT I PROMISED TO DO FOR YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU JUST TOLD ME SECONDS AGO. MY PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY AGE BUT MAY BE RELATED TO SLEEP DEPRIVATION. I DO NOT HAVE SELECTIVE MEMORY. ON SOME DAYS I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY SHORT TERM MEMORY AT ALL...

4. Your Fibromyalgia is not MY Fibromyalgia........... There are differing degrees of suffering from this illness. Just because you know someone who has it and functions just fine, does not mean that I can. Just because you have it and it's just a mild irritant, does not mean that I'm lying or lazy when I say it can change and try to control my life.

4. MY CLUMSINESS---IF I STEP ON YOUR TOES OR RUN INTO YOU FIVE TIMES IN A CROWD, I AM NOT PURPOSEFULLY TARGETING YOU. I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MUSCLE CONTROL FOR THAT. IF YOU ARE BEHIND ME ON THE STAIRS, PLEASE BE PATIENT. THESE DAYS I TAKE LIFE AND STAIR WELLS ON STEP AT A TIME...

5. MY SENSITIVITIES---I JUST CANT STAND IT. IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS; BRIGHT LIGHT, LOUD OR HIGH PITCHED NOISES, ODORS. SO DON'T MAKE ME OPEN THE DRAPES OR LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD CRY. I REALLY CANT STAND IT.

6..MY INTOLERANCE---I CANT STAND HEAT OR HUMIDITY. IF I AM A MAN, I SWEAT PROFUSELY. IF I AM A WOMAN, I SWEAT PROFUSELY. BOTH ARE EQUALLY EMBARRASSING, SO PLEASE DON'T FEEL COMPELLED TO POINT THIS SHORT COMING OUT TO ME. I KNOW. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF I SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN IT IS COLD. I DON'T TOLERATE COLD EITHER. MY INTERNAL THERMOSTAT IS BROKEN AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT...

7. MY DEPRESSION---YES, THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I WOULD RATHER STAY IN BED OR IN THE HOUSE AND DIE. SEVERE, UNRELENTING PAIN CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION. YOUR SINCERE CONCERN AND UNDERSTANDING CAN PULL ME BACK FROM THE BRINK. YOUR SNIDE REMARKS CAN TIP ME OVER THE EDGE...

8. MY STRESS---MY BODY DOES NOT HANDLE STRESS WELL. IF I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY JOB, WORK PART TIME OR HANDLE RESPONSIBILITIES FROM HOME, I' NOT LAZY. EVERYDAY STRESSES MAKE MY SYMPTOMS WORSE AND CAN INCAPACITATE ME COMPLETELY...

9. MY WEIGHT---I MAY BE FAT OR I MAY BE SKINNY.EITHER WAY, IT IS NOT BY CHOICE. MY BODY IS NOT YOUR BODY. MY APPETITE IS BROKEN AND NO BODY CAN TELL ME HOW TO FIX IT...

10. MY NEED FOR THERAPY---IF I GET A MASSAGE EVERY WEEK, DON'T ENVY ME. MY MASSAGE IS NOT YOUR MASSAGE.CONSIDER HOW A MASSAGE WOULD FEEL IF THAT CHARLEY HORSE YOU HAD IN YOUR LEG LAST WEEK WAS ALL OVER YOUR BODY. MASSAGING IT OUT WAS VERY PAINFUL, BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE. MY BODY IS KNOT FILLED. IF I CAN STAND THE PAIN --REGULAR MASSAGE CAN HELP -AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

11. MY GOOD DAYS---IF YOU SEE ME SMILING OR FUNCTIONING NORMALLY, DON'T ASSUME THAT I HAVE BEEN CURED. I SUFFER FROM A CHRONIC PAIN AND FATIGUE ILLNESS WITH NO CURE. I CAN HAVE GOOD DAYS, WEEKS OR EVEN MONTHS. IN FACT, THE GOOD DAYS ARE WHAT KEEPS ME GOING...

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME, BUT IF YOU STILL DOUBT MY PAIN, YOU LOCAL BOOK STORE , LIBRARY AND THE INTERNET WILL HAVE ARTICLES ON " FIBROMYALGIA".

THIS IS BASED ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH PEOPLE THROUGH OUT THE WORLD WHO SUFFER FROM FIBROMYALGIA.IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 10, 000, 000 PEOPLE SUFFER FROM THIS DISEASE/

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR PAIN LIGHTLY. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO SPEND A DAY IN THERE SHOES OR THEIR BODIES.

I SUFFER FROM FIBROMYALGIA...SO PLEASE, SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND SPREAD THE AWARENESS ON "FIBROMYALGIA"

September challenge

My team on UKScrappers set the challenge this week and this is what we decided on;

As it is back to school this week for most children we thought that we would set a challenge around a school theme.

Firstly we would like you to use just 2 colours (black and white dont count as colours for this challenge) 10 points

Secondly please use the sketch. 10 points

Thirdly use an embellishment that represents your favourite thing about school, subject, hometime what ever you want. 10 points

Enjoy your trip down memory lane.

This is the sketch we have used; here

and here is my LO;