First Challenge

Well, it is Wednesday and I have been working on my first Magnolia Down Under Challenge.  I have been inspired by my daughter, Amelia, who is doing some amazing work with her card making.

This challenge requires us to follow a particular layout and I have made my card using Lightening Edwin, painted with brown tones with Distress Reinkers.  I used a combination of vintage photo and tattered rose for the skin, frayed burlap for the clothes and walnut for hair and shoes.

It is kind of exciting, but also nerve wracking to put your stuff out there for criticism.

I hope you like what you see with my Lightening Edwin Christmas Card.

I'd like to enter in the Magnolia Down Under Challenge #123 - Debbie's Sketch

Australia's Junior Masterchef finale is on tonight and I have to watch it.  Those kids are absolutely amazing and can do things with food that I have never attempted.

My birthday

My 60th birthday was in September and it was pretty low key.  I didn't feel like celebrating because my dear brother had passed away only 3 weeks prior to my birthday.  All my friends have turned 60 this year and we have celebrated with them but I wasn't in the party mood.  I had a feeling for many months that Graham wasn't going to be here by my son's wedding in October.  I kept telling the family that, but they thought I was just being anxious.  But as they said to me,  you were right Ma.

Denis and I went out to dinner on my actual birthday, then on the Saturday night following, the whole family and Linda and Brenton went to the Birkenhead Tavern for dinner.  It was a lovely night and we had a special cake - chocolate, my favourite.

I am now the proud owner of a Kindle ebook reader from the family.  So I spend my 40 minutes each way on the bus to and from work every day reading.  So spoilt!!.  I also received a beautiful ring with sapphires and diamonds from Denis and Elizabeth and her family.  My lounge was like a florist shop, it smelt beautiful with all the flowers that my family gave me.

Elizabeth and Amelia put together a special beyond the page "60" scrapbook album for me with my three children and their respective families included.  I have taken a picture of it and it is below for all to admire.

My son Ben was getting married on 1 October 2011 and I have made a card for he and his future wife Jo to celebrate their wedding day.  I used Magnolia Tilda Loving Couple and the Rose Arbor with inspiration from some of the blogspots I have been visiting lately.  I used Distress Reinkers for the painting.

I recently made a card for Linda and Brenton's daughter for her birthday. 

This is a not very good photo of my effort.

I really loved painting this background.