Blessings and welcome rain

Happy Tuesday to everyone who calls in to see me today.

Its T day over at Bleubeard and Elizabeths 

  where we are always make to feel very welcome with a drinks related post.

You can see my cuppa is sitting by the computer as I was creating this digital page.

I didn't just have tea day in mind .

 I was also thinking of the 

Art Journal Journey  theme,

Count your blessings. that

 Bleubeard and Elizabeth  

 set for this months challenge.

I had this quote noted in my book and I have  seen it a few times lately in Blogland.

We may not know it was a   blessings at first, but I'm sure that if we take time to sit, relax and look back on the day , we will find that we have been blessed in some way.  Even if we didn't realise it at the time.



On my one armed holiday a few weeks back, to the Lake District we visited Sizergh Castle,
 OH was the photographer for me, it was so hot to be outside, but we did manage to take  a few.
It seems appropriate that  on a rainy day today[hooray!!!!!!]
I can share some sunny views with you.

It wasn't blossoms that were falling around us today it was RAIN

Who would have thought that  I would be thinking  of rain as  a blessing ,

 we usually have too much of it in the U.K.

But our fields and  gardens really need it so do our  farmers.

 It makes me feel for the folk who struggle to get supplies of clean water. 

Something most of us can  take for granted, so yes we are blessed to have water to drink.

What ever your day has in store for you today, I hope you have a good one.

Storing Memories......Diary Day week 32

It's  Friday... its Diary Day week 32
 and a diary is all about storing memories

I did remember to take a photo  of the early stages of getting a background  to cover a pre- printed page, underneath these painted layers it was the grey background with the mushrooms.


I used some really old stamps [TH]  on the background as well as the stencils .
The birds and flowers are Sheena's and I have lost the name of the sentiment stamp in the passing of time, or maybe during a  tidy up session my craft room might have  received sometime in the distant past.

I thought about the sentiment as I took the photo and it made me think
of all the occasions  in the family, that over the years have meant a lot to me.
Love and laughter, sadness and tears, health and happiness, highs and lows.
losing family loved ones and welcoming new members to the family as the years have passed by.
Yes, memories,   a blessing that I wouldn't change for anything in this world.

I will share this page with friends at
  Art Journal Journey
and Bleubeard and Elizabeths theme for the month
Count your Blessings.

Thank you for calling in today, You are always  very welcome here.

Love Nature

Even the smallest of our insects, if you take time to look  can be beautiful.

Visiting blog friends over the past weeks I have been amazed

 at what they have been creating in a small time.... 5 minutes.

So this is my attempt, NOT in 5 minutes  - it took about 30 and I had sorted out all the things from my bits and pieces that I wanted to use.

I swiped ink blocks over the page , added a couple of paper scraps,

 sprayed it with my own mixed spray. A few random flower stamps 

Next the dragon fly scrap, already to go,  on a piece of pre printed tissue

A die cut feather from Chris, added a pop of colour.
I used a heat gun to help with the drying. and

the computer helped me to add the quote.

I will be  joining the folk at Art Journal Journey

for Bleubeard and Elizabeth's lovely theme for the month....

Count your blessings.

My blessing today are.... appreciating nature 

.........being thankful that I can use both my hands again

and for the the inspiration I find out there in Blogland.

Thank you for calling in today, your visit is always very much appreciated.

The Lady in Red for TioT's

Over at Try it on Tuesdays our new theme is.......

Inspired by a song

What kind of song would  give you inspiration, popular songs  classical music, a song for the children a Christmas Carol etc. etc.

Please pop over for all the details and see how the team interpreted the theme.

The song that inspired me for this card is

The Lady in Red

by Chris de Burgh.
I had a few stencil wall bases  that I had made a while ago, when I was making a couple of cards for friends in a very similar style. The stamps are all Darkroom door, well,  thats what it said on the storage tin, but I cannot be 100% sure.
I had help fussy cutting the ladies. but I am being patient and taking my time .
Every thing crafty is taking me twice or thrice as long , but I am making progress.
All the shading is distress inks and  water colour paint.

Thank you for calling in today, you are always very welcome here.

Happy T day

Happy T Day.

Tiny cakes, coffee and of course a cup of tea.

perhaps listen to some background music.  sit  with the computer and   have

 a visit to  friends.

So, I am off to say hello to folk over at ..

Bluebeard and Elizabeth

where each Tuesday we are always welcome with a drinks related post.

 My drink of choice when creating this journal page was a mug of cold water. I am not used to the continuous heat we  have had  for  weeks now in the UK. Even when its been dull, its been hot.

I used my 8 x8 inch journal, distress inks for colour. A layer of music  paper, pieces of torn napkins, a stencil, white gesso to create a lighter base before sticking  down the cakes.  Oh and a bit of random stamping

I am not a sewer, so the sewing round the coffee cup is a digital addition.

I will also be joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth  who are  hosting this months theme over at

 Art Journal Journey,

which is...... Count your Blessing.

'Friends are the family we choose for ourselves'.

I feel blessed to have good friends,
 here at home,

 as well as out there in Blogland.

Thank you for calling in to see me today, I hope you have a super day.

.Diary day week 31

Diary day week 31.....

A bit late today to share Friday's diary.
I used a bit of extra shading ,stencils
  on a spread that was the already precoloured  on one side.

Next some torn flowers from a napkin,  I had a practice a few times stamping the words on newspaper before I took the courage to stamp them in my diary, I am still rather clumsy. I did add more colour etc  and splashes as the page evolved.   It also took me quite a while to get the page completed. so I will be learning to have patience with myself over the next few weeks. I hope  to add a butterfly  to the page  when that particular stamp I have in mind
 decides to show me where its hiding

'You may see me struggle
but you won't see me fall
Regardless if I am weak or not.
I'm going to stand tall.'

This  stamp and quote spoke to me when I saw it ,    as I am not one to give in, or give up.
As kids gran used to say many times......' you can do it' .....
 and if things went wrong as they often did.......
'bless you you tried hard'.

I will join friends over at
 Art Journal Journey.
and Bleubeard and Elizabeths theme.....
Count your Blessings.
Today's blessing for me was to remember family who always encouraged us to do our best.



Thank you for calling in to see me, I hope you all have a good weekend.

Find beauty in every day.

Find beauty in everyday

...........one of life's blessings.

To wake in the morning and enjoy the day what ever it may bring..

Bleubeard and Elizabeth

have set the  new theme for August over at

Art Journal Journey

'Count your Blessings

I  used a piece of ready printed tissue as my background., adding two shades of ink to add colour.   I stamped the quote on a tag, adding a piece of material, I had tried to stamp on the background, this hid a bit of a mess. So not great 

control over stamps yet.

 So how am I counting my blessings today.......freedom  from the heavy weight on  my left arm.   I am now sporting a pull on elastic support bandage.

I am not expecting a miracle to happen fast  as I have less movement than I did,

 the arthritis in that wrist had a field day due to lack of regular exercise. 

However,  I   am I assured it will get back to my sort of normal in time. Things are going to take longer for me to do , but that is  fine with me , I have both my hands back in use again.

Thank you for calling in today, your comments are always appreciated.