Make me smile

I think I'm becoming hooked on ATCs because they're small.  I freely admit that I don't use them as they're intended.... no real artist lives here, but I like the size and the lack of opportunity to add too many frills.  Don't come to me for cute.

Oooo I do sound pernickety today......  small break for soothing cup of tea......

Return!  

This week's OG challenge was to make them smile and I got so sidetracked in my picture folders that I kept on trying.  So here's what I did: two deceptively nice gun-toting children coming home for tea, a hopeful suitor, dinner with intent, and a catty ballerina.  I think some of the smiles might be ironic, assuming I succeed in making anyone smile at all.

All the images are from my decoupage folders in a vain attempt to minimise some small part of my busy room.  Likewise all the little pieces of coloured CS are from that big mountain of bits that always needs to be in a bigger box than the one its in.  I wrote the text because my printer is having one of those "I dont print on THAT" days, and here and there I sneaked in little bits of bling.

with thanks....

One afternoon I spent the hours in the company of my dear friends Ali and Ev, making these cards to thank so many friends who helped us to celebrate Peter's life. Even the thought of picking up paper and scissors had been too hard, but friends bolster you in ways I dont understand but accept with thanks.

It was fitting that the ingredients came from other friends.... a store of images stamped with Debbies SU Embrace Life, and lengths of ribbon from the Poobahs. I played with a little bit of colour and my blender pens, sometimes added gold or pearls, and found extra images from the SU Fifth Avenue Florals.

Who could know that the time spent stamping multiple copies of beautiful flowers would be needed so soon?

"To" and "From"

One of the many things that happened last month was a decadent morning tea at the National Gallery, celebrating birthdays for two good friends. This is the card I made for Debbie.

Just had to use the SU Eastern Bloom, which is a bit of a joke between us, and also found this lovely textured paper for the background. I wanted the card to be distinctively coloured and stylish, because Debbie makes such lovely cards herself that anything less than hand-made wouldn't do. Then of course there was the stress of getting it right.

The red flocked paper is another Paper Chic DP from Officeworks, and its layered on black before being mounted on the white card. The ribbon is a present from the Poobahs, and has a satin sheen. I love it.

The second part of the post refers to a beautiful present to us which was organised by Debbie on behalf of three good friends. I forgot to include it in my last post, so here it is in solitary splendour! Its beautiful, and clearly loves being at my front door because its thriving. Thankyou Deb, Lisa and Debbie.