Russian Life?

Hello Everyone...

 

My brother recently had a very odd conversation with his ex-wife, that got me thinking.  So... a little background... my brother married a Russian lady, who turned out to be a bit of a 'nutter' (a cultural thing?  Or just that she's crazy?... I really don't know).  He has had some very hard years but through it he has gain custody for his two children (on a 50-50 shared residency, even after all the lies she has told... it has gone some way to re-affirm my faith in English justice and the law ~ even though he had to fight every step of the way AND it has cost the family a small fortune!  But that is neither here nor there considering those two beautiful innocent children are now given much needed balance in their otherwise weird and warped lives!).

 

Anyway, his ex-wife recently told him off for buying his 10 year old daughter a 'black' rucksack for school (at this point I must point out that she does not work saying that the British benefit system is there so that she doesn't have to - meaning Annabelle's school items and clothes are bought by her father, and rightly so, he takes his responsibilities to his children very seriously), he pointed out to his ex-wife that the choice of colour had been Annabelle's, that it was ideal for school and what were her objections ~ big mistake, because?  She told him! (upsetting poor Annabelle in the process and showing us all once again why she is a bit of a 'nutter')...

 

• "a 'black' bag is for funerals" ~ how many school rucksacks have YOU seen at a funeral?
• "Annabelle will turn out gay if she has a 'black' bag" ~ what??!*!???  I can't even get my head around that reasoning
• and "by the way... she's getting FAT" ~ why would you even say that in front of your pubescent daughter? 

I have to say, I think my brother handled the situation brilliantly (but then he has had years of practice at trying to reason with the unreasonable).  He just walked away (I, on the other hand, would in all likelihood of had a raging argument with the 'nutter') .

 

So, my thought processes are now working overtime... do people really think this way?  Or is this only one rather odd woman's view?  And if so, how will her influence effect my niece and nephew's outlook on life?  Is this how Russians are raised?  Is this the beliefs of  all Russians?  Would it even matter if your daughter turned out gay?  Does it matter where she finds love?  Or who with?  Has the human race not evolved and become more understanding, more knowledgeable and more tolerant?  Is all our politically correctness just a sham and we really are thinking that if a girl wears black, it will influence her life choices?  I don't think this way... but do others?... my answer?

 

I hope not!

 

On a recent visit (Halloween), the family (brother, niece, nephew, daughter, future son-in-law, other niece) all descended on me.  Oh what fun we had, all getting together and catching up with our lives.  The photograph I scrapped is of my daughter (at the bottom of the pile) getting a load (a heavy load) of love from everyone...

This is my 11th layout out with this fabulous LIKE FOR EVER September kit called 'Acorn Avenue', the kit consisted mostly of Pink Paislee's 'Cedar Lane' collection ~ I've loved this kit!

 

In the kit... Twelve 12x12" double sided patterned papers from the 'Cedar Lane' collection | Two 12x12" sheets of cardstock: Bubbles and Blackberry Swirl | One pack of Fitzgerald Glitter Thickers: Teal | One pack of Ephemera | One pack of Word Jumble Stickers | One pack of 3D Arrow Embellishments | One exclusive, custom mixed pack of Pretty Pink Posh Sequins | One vellum bag of wooden butterfly buttons.

I bought some glitter words add on ~ this 'snuggle up' just seemed so appropriate!

 

I used my very old typewriter to add some journaling and went back over some of the letters with a pen to add a little bit of interest

 

'love this' came from the puffy sticker embellishment add on

 

Those colourful wooden butterfly buttons were fab along with the Pretty Pink Posh exclusive sequin mix

 

More fussy cutting from the 'Town Square' patterned paper

 

Et Voile!

 

 

From the look of this layout, you'd never guess that the kit is almost killed!

 

Now to decide if I make one more layout or whether to use the last few bits in my PROJECT LIFE, decisions, decisions...

 

 

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1992 & Best Day EVER

I apologise (if anyone's interested) for my absence... I've not been well, my 'condition' decided to throw me a curve and gave me some new symptoms and 'stuff' to deal with :(

 

My 'condition' (I have Progressive Multiple Sclerosis) has now officially placed me in the disabled echelon's of society, not a place I'd ever thought I'd be, but health is something we don't appreciate until we no longer have it (along with a lot of other things... like bladder control, the ability to walk or the simple act of cutting up one's own food).  I am NOT moaning and I still enjoy life to the fullest (well as that's a bit of a stretch but whatever), but my crafting is something that makes me feel... good. 

 

 I have achieved something ~ I am still useful.

 

Accepting the person I am now, is a never ending struggle, when I don't even recognise myself anymore, but this is what life has dealt me... so I'll make the best of it and acknowledge that it could be worse.  However, last week my little brain lesions decided to play havoc with my senses and knocked me out of action... but now ~ I'M BACK...

 

I've now dealt with all that health $h!t and am getting my mojo back together with my inspiration and trying to tackle my increasing stack of LIKE FOR EVER kits.

 

As I got further and further behind, I tried to run a couple of kits along side each other in the hopes of getting through them, no... it's not worked.  So, rather than getting bogged down with all the crafty goodness, (my December Day by Day kit also arrived), I think what I'll do is forget the October kit (of which I haven't even stroked, let alone opened!) and concentrate on killing my two outstanding kits before the next on arrives and/or I start the December Day by Day kit.

 

August's kit... 'Oh So Lovely' (Crate Paper 'Wonder' Collection) is currently proceeding as follows...

 

Seven layouts completed, love this kit (I say that with ever one of them!), it's very child-like with its papers and embellies with a beautiful colour palette and of course some lovely little cat die-cuts.  There's plenty of everything left for more layouts.

 

 

September's kit... 'Acorn Avenue'  (Pink Paislee 'Cedar Lane Collection) is...

 

Nine layouts down with probably only one or two layouts left in it before it's killed, so I'm getting there.

 

 

October's kit... 'Hello, Beautiful' is...

 

Currently untouched :(   and will remain so unless there is suddenly more hours in the day or I'm miraculously cured (then I won't have a de-fuddled brain unable to cope with more than two things at once... but then I'd have to look for a full time job and I'd still have no time... ).

 

 

I'm also behind with my blogging... meaning?  I've got a few page layouts to share with you... but I don't want to overwhelm you with my crafting greatness, so today I'll only show you two of the pages I've managed to complete...

 

Both are from the 'Acorn Avenue' kit, the first (layout #8)... 1992, is of my baby boy in yes, you've guessed it... 1992.

 

A very simple layout using 2x2 squares of patterned paper

 

Those fussy cut flowers (from the 'Town Square' patterned paper) have provided a HUGE amount of interest on my layouts and of course, some gold splatters of Heidi Swapp Color Shine

 

Date and title in one, using the American Crafts Thickers - 'Fitzgerald' in peacock

 

The frame and 'smile' die-cut are from the ephemera pack

Look at those rosy cheeks and happy smile!

Don't look at that disgusting red flowered wallpaper

 

No layout is complete without a bit of bling ~ sequins from Pretty Pink Posh (exclusive mix

for LIKE FOR EVER)

 

My second page (layout #9) is a very old photograph I fish out of the attic, of my Uncle Barry's wedding to his lovely bride.  My Aunty Linda (now deceased) was the most beautiful person I've ever known both inside and out, a very special lady who is sorely missed.  This photo gave me the opportunity to immortalise this precious memory.  I am the little bridesmaid on the right, along with my two cousins ~ we all wore pretty bright pink dresses and none of us had a clue what we were doing!  I went on to be a bridesmaid another five times for friends and family (wasn't I popular?!)...

 

When I see my Uncle next, I'll ask him what year this was and then make sure I record the date. I'm loving this light woodgrain patterned paper

 

Lots of layering, some of the tissue paper the kit came in and some glittered washi tape

 

I'm so glad I splashed out and got the embroidered tags (add-on), they are lovely.  I used the puffy stickers for part of my title and the AC thickers for the rest. I also punched out a gold glitter heart and added it to the top corner of the layering.  You can just see my (not so happy) little self in the bottom corner

 

... more glitter washi tape and another piece from the ephemera pack, the acetate 'memories' was stapled to a piece of yellow patterned paper and adhered to the washi tape with foam squares

 

 

I cut the acetate wreath in two to maximise its use and added some purple splatters to the top and bottom corners.  To complete the layout I added some journalling

 

So this was my part one catch-up, I gotta go now... my son's cooking roast beef for Sunday Dinner... see, being disabled has it's perks!

 

Happy Crafting

 

 

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UNBOXING ~ September's Scrapbooking Kit

I thought I'd share my unboxing of the latest LIKE FOR EVER scrapbook kit ~ 'Acorn Avenue'.

 <----- Every month Nicola tries to match the tissue paper with the colours in the kit ~ And I try to use it on at least one layout!

 

Isn't that packaging sticker super cute? 'GET EXCITED'        ----->

September's kit consists of...

 

And features Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection, each kit includes:

Twelve 12x12" double sided patterned papers from the 'Cedar Lane' collection | Two 12x12" sheets of cardstock: Bubbles and Blackberry Swirl | One pack of Fitzgerald Glitter Thickers: Teal | One pack of Ephemera | One pack of Word Jumble Stickers | One pack of 3D Arrow Embellishments | One exclusive, custom mixed pack of Pretty Pink Posh Sequins | One vellum bag of wooden butterfly buttons.

 

So first of all the two sheets of cardstock ~ 'Bubbles' and 'Blackberry swirl'...

Bubbles is pale green

 

Blackberry swirl is ? Yep, black

 

Next... those fabulous patterned papers

5th Avenue

Acorn Avenue

Arrow Avenue

Cedar Lane

Circle Street

Greenspace

Main Street

Park Place

Riverside Lane

Town Square

Walnut Street (x2)

Aren't they just 'scrummy'?

 

 

Embellishments...

Fitzgerald Glitter Letters in Teal

 

 

Ephemera Pack (76 pieces)

 

 

Word Jumble Stickers (clear blue with gold lettering)

 

 

3D Arrow Embellishments with gold glitter accents

Exclusive sequin mix by Pretty Pink Posh

 

And finally... painted wooden butterfly buttons in a glassine bag

 

 

 

Yes, I DID get some add-ons...

Glitter words; puffy stickers; washi tape; 6x6 paper pad and

some embroidered tags

 

 

Oh, and lets not forget the little sweetie gift Nicola includes in the kit ~ this month I got one of my favourite childhood chews ~ a 'drumstick'!

 

 

So there we have it... September's LIKE FOR EVER kit... ACORN AVENUE, I'm off for a play, but first I'll probably stroke those patterned papers for a while, whilst I contemplate the dilemma of cutting into them!

 

 

Happy Scrapping x

 

p.s.  I nearly forgot... Nicola (the owner of #likeforever) also includes some 'page maps' for us each month! What a little smasher she is...

 

 

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