Warning!!.....when giving me presents.....

..........you may just get them back again!! Albeit in an altered form, like the gift bag below which used to have Estee Lauder products in it and my Melissa Francis box which arrived at Christmas full of bath products!!


This paper from Kelly Panacci-Friendship Words-Blue has been in my stash for some time and saved me from having to gesso and paint the whole bag as it was a similar match. I applied Jo Sonjas crackle glaze directly to the edges and then painted with cream acrylic once dry.

I am struggling at times with the Ranger Distress crackle paints as they are so thick so I am pleased that my original crackle glaze still gives me more options to work with it. I made the bow from tulle and stitched it in the middle, glued on the Bazzil Bling velvet flower and layers and applied Ranger "frayed burlap" Distress paint to the edges. The glitter is from a large selection of glitter glue pens and I deliberately wanted it to look a bit gaudy. I added some touches of pink to soften the overall look and to go with the rose in the doves beak. (Sorry for the slightly blurry photo but my hand model wouldn't stay still!!)

Prima essentials flower, small prima Got Flowers and a Rose bud detached from a spray. Inside is a verse and a gift voucher. Happy Birthday Brenda I hope you have a lovely holiday and we will see you soon. Love Ruth and family xxx



Check these photos out!!! They took my breath away when I saw them..........sigh......if only....!!



I can't remember whose blog I pinched them from (sorry) but I think it was an NZ one...anyway here is another talented antipodean Rachel Greig Photography for a super quick schmooze at CHA look at her awesome photos HERE.
Spring is on the way and there might not be any flowers in my garden yet but I have plenty in glass jars to keep me going for a wee bit!! Still sometimes you can't beat the real thing.......I realised this week that I haven't any snowdrops and that made me feel sad so I might just have to get some ready cultivated ones and pop them in....that'll cheer me up!!




Love and snowdrops Ruth xxx

Who says Blue and Green should never be seen?

Our bedroom is neither blue nor green it has both colours in it although I prefer the name Aqua as it is not duck egg blue. When I discovered these papers had both colours in I knew they would be perfect for my dressing table.

So here it is..... the Valentines present that I made for myself..........it has been finished for a while but I spent ages umming and ahhhing over the design on the top...did it need more? But no matter how many times I rearranged things I came back to this and removed half of the clutter so after nearly a month of it sitting next to my frying pan in mortal danger of being spat on I decided to just get on with the gluing and live with it!!

I shall live in eternal hope of actually getting love letters to put in it, although I did get a sweet handwritten note from Georgia the other day when she was banished to her room for losing her temper so I may resort to saving these instead!!

I used modge podge to glue half a paper doily and the lace trim on to the top. The glue really protects the delicate doily paper from damage as it sticks like nothing else can!!

More of that awesome ribbon rose bud trim layered over a sheer scalloped ribbon.

I bought some tulle especially to add more dimension to the flower and then stitched it into a circle and zig zagged the edges....wish I had some pinking shears!!

The wired crystals were donated from a work colleague who gives me all her christmas cracker trimmings and ribbons every year, I reckon they'd be easy to recreate though and I have tonnes of beads just waiting to be used up.

The beautiful papers are Melissa Frances (Amanda) from Tillys in Immingham. Prima say it in crystals bling and my own feathers and small Prima flowers.

I am giving away the exact items required to make a replica of this (apart from a box) so if you want some candy keep an eye out for my next post!!

Check out this site Handmade Help...they are asking for crafting items to be sent to Australia for the bush fire victims to help re-build their lives. Some of the stories will break your heart.......I can't imagine losing everything. In fact it's one of my biggest fears but I guess when it does happen you just revaluate your life and are grateful that God spared you on that day.

Love and feathers Ruth xxx

Toot-Toot!! My first magazine publication!

Yipee I have had my first layout published in Scrapbook Inspirations Magazine. It's only in the readers gallery but still a bit of a buzz to see your name in print. (Thanks to Stephanie and Helena who spotted it and left a comment xxx)

I thought I had removed all traces of the layout which I kind of did because I also erased them from the PC! Duh!! Then I spotted it in the slide show on the bottom of my blog and realised I could copy it from there. So here is my layout made with Prima papers and plenty of baby blue pearls!! Most of you have seen it before........


I am feeling slightly better now and will share my Valentines creations with you soon, albeit a few weeks too late by then!!

I just want to say a special thankyou to Mark my DH for doing the last post in my absence (he got sick of the e-mails!!) and to everyone who has left such lovely comments wondering where I am. Your kindness has spurred me on to do this post to show that I am still alive!!

Love and tummy-bugs Ruth xxx

Apologies for the lack of blogging

Where should I start.... 2 weeks of head down the toilet being sick. That about sums up my life at the moment !
I would like to apologise for the lack of blogging.. When I feel a little better I will start updating this blog again (need to do some scrapping first!!), and visit all of your wonderful bloggs, to leave some much overdue comments.

Catch up with you all soon.

Love Ruth XXX