Dolly's Dreamings

Happy May

So whilst today may not have been so springlike it is May, a new month, another new start. My leg is less painful though I still have not driven and I still have not heard from the hospital. 

Everything is gearing up for iNSD on Saturday ... and challenges everywhere.

I am promising myself I will accept I can't do them all! I seriously cannot.

Some will have to be digital as I am limited in the amount of sitting time I can do at the moment at my desk.

 

FTLOPP has a new challenge every day and today's served my exact purpose. The challenge was Rainbow. So I made this page documenting my knee. (Oh yes - I believe the bad, as well as the good, should be recorded as that is what scrapping is all about) I used a Paige Evans cut file and spent an age filling it and then an age die cutting and sticking little letters and flowers but it is the story I wanted to tell and a tribute to how fab Nigel has been

 

 

As I couldn't scrap when I was sofa bound I did do a colouring page - haven't done one for ages and yes I know it is all the wrong colours but they were happy colours I needed to use

 

 

Today I went with Nigel to visit his Mom and it is soul destroying for him. She really has very limited words now and it is so sad to see and so hard on Nigel.

and this is another page made for ATDML with the gorgeous Blessed papers which matched the dresses of these singers at the vintage fair so perfectly.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• scrapbook challenges - I do love them
• Nigel's mom being so well cared for even though she doesn't know it
• my wonderful husband

 

Frantic scrapping day

The weather has been rubbish here so I have been binge scrapping (and binge watching a  series on TV called Being Human that I had never seen or heard of and it is so bad it is good if that makes sense)

I have completed 8 pages for the photo book - catching up on the past few month that I hadn't done - and the books are almost ready.

Mary I am glad you liked Photobox too.

I get their spiral bound 8" x 8" soft cover books which work really well for me. I still make the pages 12" x 12" of course.

 

This is the cover of the WOW album I have just finished

 

 

and this is the cover of the general album I have almost completed

 

 

I also have a new page to share made with a new collection out by Dawn Inskip

A CREATIVE MIXED MEDIA WORLD : GLISTEN PAPERS by Dawn Inskip

A CREATIVE MIXED MEDIA WORLD : ELEMENTS by Dawn Inskip

 

I made this page with it, showcasing how much I am loving using my IPad for colouring. I have to say I had reservations about the Apple pencil but it is amazing - you can do such detail - I love it

 

 

This is the bird a little closer up that I shared a little while ago.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel getting excellent results in his latest tests at the doctors. I am so thrilled.

 

 

A very significant day

Today is just a Wednesday.

Today is just a day.

But actually, in this house, it is not.

Today is a significant day.

 

Today is the last day I am officially employed - by anyone.

 

Although I kind of finished on 4th July when my successor took up her role and my office, today is my final final day at work. Ever I hope. I am not planning on another job but never say never. No-one ever knows what is around the corner. But it is not in the plan at the moment.

 

So my last salary has been paid, my last day has been worked (though it wasn't at work) and I am officially, as of midnight, a retired lady of leisure. And it feels so good.

 

I will be toasting that tonight!

 

It is fitting to share a little of my retirement gift today. I asked for any gifts to be int he form of vouchers and I bought myself a shiny ne iPad Pro and apple pencil and I love it.

 

I have actually spent quite a lot of today playing with my best friend on our iPads, teaching each other new tricks. It was also Jakki who showed me the Millie Marotta colouring app which, of course, we both have now!

 

This is my first properly completed picture on it - and it took me longer than with pencils or paints I think!

 

I am not sure if I prefer it on the black background or the white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawn has a new release on 50% off at the Lily Pad today - Yarn Craft

 

 

and I made this page about how having Fiki meant I could no longer be a knitter or crocheter. Small sacrifice really - I'd rather have him any day!

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• 29 years doing a job I loved with amazing children
• freedom - from the stress, the accountability, the politics, the difficulties
• the chance to have early retirement whilst I can still do things
• a morning with my BFF
• my iPad Pro

 

 

so ... do you know what ... I am NOT going to!!!

 

 

And this was my randomly generated word for 2016. Funny old world isn't it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losing myself in colour

Holidays are about doing nothing much yet doing what you want. No scrapping today but something pretty and colourful.

I am getting a little addicted to colouring - I am loving it.

 

Sadly the new Millie Marotta book I bought does NOT lend itself to my watercolour colouring as the paper is not thick enough.

So I used my Spectrum Noir pencils for this one and I really enjoyed colouring it.  Rainbow birds.

 

 

At conference they said that mindfulness was NOT adult colouring books. Do you know - I feel I was mindful doing this. It was calm, it was relaxing, it was enjoyable. I loved doing it.

The finished product is not perfect, but it made me happy.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• mindless ... or mindful ... activities
• Colour

 

 And a few more of those photoshoped animals that I shared the other day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

some very scary

 

 

 

some beautiful

 

a very clever husband

I think we both went into shock this morning.

Overnight our internet had broken.

Not a thing

Completely dead.

 

We phoned the company and they said it was the router and we would ned a new one and it would be here on Thursday! Thursday!!! No internet until Thursday! That was going to mean a lot of time at Starbucks!

 

Anyway Nigel did some research, went to his 'heaven' shop of Maplins and tis all sorted. He is such a star

 

I haven't been in today - out shopping and stuff - and so no new scrapping but I have some colouring to share.

 

 

It was the very first page I did with the new Inktense pencils and it wasn't very good.

It was OK on the small bits but I hadn't got it right on the large areas.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a very clever husband
• sale items

I am NOT thankful for

Matalan. I took back a pair of leather ankle boots I bought just before Christmas. I have worn them 4 times and the side split. The seam obviously wasn't sewn properly. They were clearly faulty. You could tell from the heel and the sole they had hardly been worn. Of course, having bought them before Christmas I no longer had the receipt. I mean how long is one expected to keep the receipts for. They said they would refund me but only the price now - they were in the sale at £18. I paid £30 or £35 for them (I can't remember) I was so cross. They were clearly faulty but in the end I had to settle for the £18. It made it a very expensive lesson - £4 ish per wear!

 

Art Therapy and a promo

Dawn Inskip has a new collection out today called Art Therapy and I had such fun playing with it.

 

 

I have had such fun with my colouring books and it is true what they say - it is very relaxing.

I don't get time to scrap int he week but I can always find just 10 minutes to do a little art and be creative. I love it and so I just had to record that with this new collection.

 

 

Such great elements in this collection - do go and check it out.

 

I am not the only creative person in the family. Nigel recently got a new job which we are thrilled about. He is the  coordinator for the Darcy Ward Foundation, helping with events around the world to raise money to help this remarkable young man, struck down in his prime in the horrific accident last summer.

There is an event next week that Nigel is hosting - he does it so brilliantly - and this is the promo video.  I am dead proud of him ... as I always am.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a clever husband who is respected by so many for all he does
• being home - I am bone tired today

 

 

 

I lost hours!

Today began well - nice and relaxed with a plan for all sorts of things.

Then I looked at Facebook and several friends recommended a book on the Kindle called Follow You Home

 

Well that was Sunday gone then as I downloaded it and have sat for the best part of the day and read it.

 

Been a long time since I have just stopped and read.

 

Consequently no real scrapping - well not that I can share as they are up and coming releases.

 

So here is my colouring to share today.

 

This is another with the spectrum noir pencils not the inktense.

 

Today I am thankful for

• reading - it's very relaxing
• colouring - also relaxing

 

I have been freezing

I dont think there have been many days when I have felt colder all day long. It has been seriously cold and it wasn't until I came home that I finally felt my toes.

 

Not good news then that the weather report, just before I arrived home, said tonight will go down to -3 and that tomorrow will reach a high of 2 degrees.

I already wear a thermal vest - what else can I find to put on.

I am so glad that I have a snuggly new hot water bottle and I am sure they must be made of better stuff than they used to be. When I was a child I am sure they only stayed hot for a few hours. My new one, however, is still warm in the morning when I get up. Not sure how it is possible - but it works for me.

 

No new scrapping today but I do have a bit of colouring the share.

It is still using the Spectrum Noir pencils - although I have to say I am hooked on the new Derwent Inktense but more of that another day.

This was done over Christmas ... its isn't by any means perfect but I did have fun with it.  And I think the most important thing is it was de-stressing, relaxing and enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• warmth
• cozy slippers

CT Call and A super simple Saturday that is just perfect

I love Saturday's

I try and not work on a Saturday. I would rather work late on Friday and do some on Sunday and have one clear day and I love it.

We had a very lazy morning, reading the papers in bed, and then went for a walk. We live in such a Beautiful area walking is a pleasure.

This was on the brick path on the way back home across the heath

 

 

and the sun came out enough for our first shadow selfie

 

 

Nigel bought me the most wonderful belated Christmas present and a cheer up the holidays are over present.

It is a box of Derwent Inktense pencils ... 48 awesome pencils int he most gorgeous box .... the most amazing pencils I have ever ever owned. And yes - that is so sad to be so excited but I know hundreds of friends who will feel exactly the same.

 

 

 

 

 

But this project - for my study wall, was done with a really cheap very old box of pencils I have had for years. I haven't finished anything with the new ones yet!

 

This took hours and hours and hours to do.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely Saturday
• Time to recharge and renew
• a cozy house - never taking my heating for granted again

 

Now I promised exciting news of a CT call. Regular readers will know I CT for Dawn Inskip. She is one of the most amazing scrappers and designers ever and I am proud not only to have been on her CT for years but also to call her a very dear and close friend.

 

Her work rocks and you now have a chance to be one of her Creative Team.

 

 

Go on - it's a chance you don't want to miss.

 

 

Yet more colouring

I didn't do nearly as much scrapping as I hoped over the holidays. But I did do quite a bit of colouring that was very relaxing.

This is a page from Enchanted Forest also by Johanna Basford - Nigel bought me the book for Christmas.

 

 

I was pleased with this one until I saw some other examples on line and then I realised I have such a lot to learn.

It was nice to see the children back at school today. As school is really only a school because of the people in it.

 

Today I am thankful for

• diet day 1 complete
• Nigel seeing the doctor - it did take some nagging