Tuesday 31 December 2013

My Month in Numbers - December.

It's been another mad crazy month in the Rowlands household & to be honest thats just the way I like it. There are times when I'd like things to slow down but I think there is plenty of time for that when I'm old!!
Here is our December using this fabulous system, MMIN devised by Julie Kirk x

December.

19 Our eldest had a birthday.

blog posts! we have been so busy that I got out of the habit!

23rd Scout Jamboree to be held in Japan in 2015 & I have 2 yes 2 children selected to go x we are beyond thrilled x
2006 - I attended the Class of 2006 graduation with Dan to collect his A level certificates.
3 new recipes tried. Brandy & Apricot cake, chocolate roulade & melting snowman biscuits.All really yummy & consumed over Christmas.
12 hour Moxley Crop with 2 surprise visitors xxx

2 Christmas dinners cooked, one with family & another with great friends.
4 becomes 5. I'd just got used to Dan being at Uni & then he was back for the hols. I do love it when we are all together x
Many thanks for sticking with this post & for coming over to my little corner of the world. I really appreciate your comments & hope to see you again next year x
Happy new Year.

Love
Sheena x

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Merry Christmas x

Wishing all my family & friends a very merry christmas xxx


Hope you have a fun & laughter filled holidays unlike these poor snowman Harriet made for consumption tonight!!
Sheena x

Thursday 19 December 2013

Handmade for Christmas.

Over the past year with the help of my friend Kirsty, I have really enjoyed rediscovering my love of sewing( like I need another hobby!!!). In years gone by I've made simple clothes for me & the boys, blinds, curtains, cushion covers, fancy dress & nativity costumes...
Now I'm trying my hand at quilting & after some success with one for Harriets room, I planned two more with Christmas in mind.

This one is for our lounge. For snuggling with my girl over the holidays & watching Xmas movies...It's the biggest I've attempted & I've learnt a lot during it's construction.
This is a Christmas gift for my Mum -in-law with a fleecy back to keep her extra cosy in the cold weather.
The fabric used is Moda Joy.
I have sewn quite a few more Christmas gifts this year but will have to wait to share them when they have been opened;)

Sheena x

Sunday 15 December 2013

Last minute cards to make.

For our card challenge on the Scrapology blog this month we just had to have Christmas cards, as it's still not too late to make a few for your nearest & dearest x
This is mine :)
The background was embossed using a folder then highlighted with some Buff-it from Pinflair to enhance the wording.
The bauble was made by cutting 2 decoration shapes using a Sizzix die from music paper. Then sewing them together & lightly stuffing the centre with toy filler to give it dimension.
Hope you like it. Hop on over to our blog to see loads of other Christmas card examples x

Sheena x 

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Let him eat cake!

Today we would like to wish our eldest Son Daniel a very happy 19th birthday xxx
The years have just flown by & in that time we have both changed!
The best way to celebrate is with homemade cake & Dan chose this design of pigs in mud for me to make :) It's real tasty too x
So have a great day Son full of laughter & surprises x love you lots xxx

Sheena x

Friday 6 December 2013

Last Case File...

...for me as a Special Investigator for the CSI challenge blog. I loved this chance to provide examples & inspiration for recent files.
This is file 100 - Perfect Moments.
The photo was a selfie taken at a recent Ladies Night. The background was made using paint plus a stencil & the chandelier was cut using my Silhouette cameo.

Scheme- all colours used.
Evidence- numbers,stars,glossy accents,frame,  wood, bricks, chandelier.
Testimony- inspiration words - picture.
All my journalling is on a tag behind the photo starting with "a picture says a thousand words..."
Hop on over to CSI to see the many pages of inspiration on offer x
This page also qualifies for the Merly Impressions december challenge - to use a mask.
Happy Scrapping.

Sheena x

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Splice of life!

Over on the Scrapology blog the December sketch challenge is up & this month the challenge is to splice your photo.
This is my version & I kept pretty close to the design of the sketch.
Hide & Seek.
My son Matt took this photo of a lion cub peeking through the undergrowth whilst we were on a game reserve in the summer.
To keep the focus on the photo I kept embellishments to a minimum. The leafy photo mat was cut using my Silhouette cameo.
Fancy having a go ? Hop on over to the blog to see more inspiring pages & the original sketch. 
Happy Scrapping x
Sheena x

Sunday 1 December 2013

Story Telling Sunday- My Festive Favourites.

Welcome to this, the last Story Telling Sunday, Pick Your Precious of the year. Many thanks to Sian for devising & hosting this fabulous story sharing concept which has had me visiting blogs all over the globe, reading the most amazing stories causing me to laugh, cry, giggle, gasp....

Today I wanted to end with something I just love to do at this time of year which involves me seeing our "precious" & reliving & retelling moments from our lives.
What am I talking about ??
Decorating our Christmas trees :)
As we open the boxes of decorations the story of our life as a couple & a family see the light of day after 50 weeks carefully wrapped & stored away.
Here are just a few...
...we bought this bell for our first ever Christmas tree when we were first living together in 1990 I believe. 
...Paul inherited this delicate birdie from his Nan & she always goes high up on the tree to keep her from harms way & little fingers!
 ... memories of visits to Florida with the children & friends.
...a souvenir from Birmingham's German Christmas Market which we visit every year.
... special decorations made for us by the children x
...24 of these were made for us by my Mum before we were married & although they didn't all survive the fire the ones that did have been loving restored by her for us xxx
 ...meeting the man in red in Lapland.
I could easily go on & on recounting the memories stored delicately in the layers of tissue paper. Maybe another time.
Thank you for coming over here & reading my stories, it's much appreciated. If you hop over to Sian's blog you will find many more, so I recommend you make a cuppa & spend a few minutes enjoying the stories shared xxx
Sheena x