My Month in Numbers - December.

It's been another mad crazy month in the Rowlands household & to be honest thats just the way I like it. There are times when I'd like things to slow down but I think there is plenty of time for that when I'm old!!

Here is our December using this fabulous system, MMIN devised by Julie Kirk x

December.

19 Our eldest had a birthday.

8 blog posts! we have been so busy that I got out of the habit!

23rd Scout Jamboree to be held in Japan in 2015 & I have 2 yes 2 children selected to go x we are beyond thrilled x

2006 - I attended the Class of 2006 graduation with Dan to collect his A level certificates.

3 new recipes tried. Brandy & Apricot cake, chocolate roulade & melting snowman biscuits.All really yummy & consumed over Christmas.

12 hour Moxley Crop with 2 surprise visitors xxx

2 Christmas dinners cooked, one with family & another with great friends.

4 becomes 5. I'd just got used to Dan being at Uni & then he was back for the hols. I do love it when we are all together x

Many thanks for sticking with this post & for coming over to my little corner of the world. I really appreciate your comments & hope to see you again next year x
Happy new Year.

Love
Sheena x

Merry Christmas x

Wishing all my family & friends a very merry christmas xxx

Hope you have a fun & laughter filled holidays unlike these poor snowman Harriet made for consumption tonight!!

Sheena x

Handmade for Christmas.

Over the past year with the help of my friend Kirsty, I have really enjoyed rediscovering my love of sewing( like I need another hobby!!!). In years gone by I've made simple clothes for me & the boys, blinds, curtains, cushion covers, fancy dress & nativity costumes...

Now I'm trying my hand at quilting & after some success with one for Harriets room, I planned two more with Christmas in mind.

This one is for our lounge. For snuggling with my girl over the holidays & watching Xmas movies...It's the biggest I've attempted & I've learnt a lot during it's construction.

This is a Christmas gift for my Mum -in-law with a fleecy back to keep her extra cosy in the cold weather.

The fabric used is Moda Joy.

I have sewn quite a few more Christmas gifts this year but will have to wait to share them when they have been opened;)

Sheena x

Last minute cards to make.

For our card challenge on the Scrapology blog this month we just had to have Christmas cards, as it's still not too late to make a few for your nearest & dearest x

This is mine :)

The background was embossed using a folder then highlighted with some Buff-it from Pinflair to enhance the wording.

The bauble was made by cutting 2 decoration shapes using a Sizzix die from music paper. Then sewing them together & lightly stuffing the centre with toy filler to give it dimension.

Hope you like it. Hop on over to our blog to see loads of other Christmas card examples x

Sheena x 

Let him eat cake!

Today we would like to wish our eldest Son Daniel a very happy 19th birthday xxx

The years have just flown by & in that time we have both changed!

The best way to celebrate is with homemade cake & Dan chose this design of pigs in mud for me to make :) It's real tasty too x

So have a great day Son full of laughter & surprises x love you lots xxx

Sheena x

Last Case File...

...for me as a Special Investigator for the CSI challenge blog. I loved this chance to provide examples & inspiration for recent files.

This is file 100 - Perfect Moments.

The photo was a selfie taken at a recent Ladies Night. The background was made using paint plus a stencil & the chandelier was cut using my Silhouette cameo.

Scheme- all colours used.

Evidence- numbers,stars,glossy accents,frame,  wood, bricks, chandelier.

Testimony- inspiration words - picture.

All my journalling is on a tag behind the photo starting with "a picture says a thousand words..."

Hop on over to CSI to see the many pages of inspiration on offer x

This page also qualifies for the Merly Impressions december challenge - to use a mask.

Happy Scrapping.

Sheena x

Splice of life!

Over on the Scrapology blog the December sketch challenge is up & this month the challenge is to splice your photo.

This is my version & I kept pretty close to the design of the sketch.

Hide & Seek.

My son Matt took this photo of a lion cub peeking through the undergrowth whilst we were on a game reserve in the summer.

To keep the focus on the photo I kept embellishments to a minimum. The leafy photo mat was cut using my Silhouette cameo.

Fancy having a go ? Hop on over to the blog to see more inspiring pages & the original sketch. 

Happy Scrapping x

Sheena x

Story Telling Sunday- My Festive Favourites.

Welcome to this, the last Story Telling Sunday, Pick Your Precious of the year. Many thanks to Sian for devising & hosting this fabulous story sharing concept which has had me visiting blogs all over the globe, reading the most amazing stories causing me to laugh, cry, giggle, gasp....

Today I wanted to end with something I just love to do at this time of year which involves me seeing our "precious" & reliving & retelling moments from our lives.

What am I talking about ??

Decorating our Christmas trees :)

As we open the boxes of decorations the story of our life as a couple & a family see the light of day after 50 weeks carefully wrapped & stored away.

Here are just a few...

...we bought this bell for our first ever Christmas tree when we were first living together in 1990 I believe. 

...Paul inherited this delicate birdie from his Nan & she always goes high up on the tree to keep her from harms way & little fingers!

 ... memories of visits to Florida with the children & friends.

...a souvenir from Birmingham's German Christmas Market which we visit every year.

... special decorations made for us by the children x

...24 of these were made for us by my Mum before we were married & although they didn't all survive the fire the ones that did have been loving restored by her for us xxx

 ...meeting the man in red in Lapland.

I could easily go on & on recounting the memories stored delicately in the layers of tissue paper. Maybe another time.

Thank you for coming over here & reading my stories, it's much appreciated. If you hop over to Sian's blog you will find many more, so I recommend you make a cuppa & spend a few minutes enjoying the stories shared xxx

Sheena x