Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all of you out there. It's nice to be appreciated isn't it! My two are way past the craft/gift stall at school (way past school in fact) but I still remember their delight at how 'clever' they felt when presenting their gifts in the morning. As I have been solo parenting them for most of their lives my earlier breakfasts in bed usually consisted of cornflakes and a juice but the delight and love shining in their faces was the best part of breakfast!

Now, many years later, the breakfasts are more elaborate but the love and tenderness is still there. I count them as the best thing I have done in my life. They are loving, caring and empathetic, hardworking and have a wicked sense of humour. Great fun to be around. Lucky me.

I think Mothers day is important not for the gifts (although they are nice!) but for the chance to just have a day to breathe and take stock of the amazing little people that we have created. To just bond and snuggle and remember why we all love and need each other. These things can be hard to remember in the almost never ending treadmill of daily life. The dust bunnies can definitely wait!!

Anyway - as promised - here is the card I made for my mum.

The products are SU and the colours are very vanilla, blushing bride, strawberry slush and certainly celery. Stamp sets are 'circle circus' 'kindness matters' and a general greetings set. The patterned paper is  Tea42 and the embossing sets are also from SU. The only non-SU product is Wink of Stella - clear, which I used to make the embossed areas subtly sparkly.

On a Personal Note -

I had a lovely Mothers Day yesterday. A cooked breakfast in bed and a coffee then 3 rounds of Bananagrams before we all met up with my mum and niece and nephew at a local coffee shop/bistro for a yummy lunch. We scored a table under the heater so it was nice and toasty!

When we got home my son and I started watching the football together but I promptly fell asleep. Nanna nap time for me!

They catered dinner as well and were generally solicitous throughout the day. I felt very nurtured and loved.

On Saturday I had a brunch for some girlfriends to celebrate our Mum-ness. Much laughter and reminiscing. Here are a couple of photos of the table courtesy of my daughter. She was an absolute rock helping me get ready.

Mini almond and raspberry friands

Apple rose pastries - thank you Pinterest!

The savouries - mini salmon or ham quiches and spanakopita.

Will definitely do this again as it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed getting in and doing some serious baking and then 'playing ladies' with my vintage china and napery.

I hope your Mothers day was filled with love and laughter.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Think Pink - more Mother's Day

Well, to be honest, two pink and one blue! They all use quite a bit of retired product but if I like something I am going to continue to use it! Lots of fussy cutting too - I really needed to meditate! (see below)

This first one uses SU colours of very vanilla, blushing bride and strawberry slush. I coloured direct to the stamp and used blushing bride, strawberry slush and certainly celery. The embossed panel is two SU edges ones joined together. 

More blushing bride and whisper white. Again, I coloured direct to stamp using certainly celery, blushing bride and strawberry slush. The embossed frame is from SU and has been fussy cut.

And now for the blue one. Colours used are SU very vanilla, bashful blue and lucky limeade. The embossed frame is from SU and has been fussy cut.

That's it for now. I will show Mum's card after she has received it.

On a Personal Note -

Negotiating housework with two young adults is driving me crazy! Now that they have left school and finished studying I have been trying to get them into a more 'shared house' routine rather than 'I am too busy working/socialising/relaxing - Mum can pick up the slack' routine that seems to have become the norm. When I loose my cool they exclaim 'No I didn't intend for you to do it instead' but it certainly begs the question - 'If you don't do it, and you don't intend for me to do it - who does it?'

Brings back not so fond memories of shared households in my 20's. It is also my own fault too, because I am not good about being assertive. I tend to ask once, then drop some hints, then loose it.
As is said - 'and how is that working for you?' If I am truthful I would have say - pretty bad.

Time to put my big girl panties on and do some win/win negotiation. Gulp!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Flowers and more flowers = Mothers Day!

Cliched I know - but I do find it hard to go past flowers and pastels for Mothers day cards. Probably very strongly influenced by my mother and grandmother both loving flowers and soft greens and blues in their homes.

I am a bit more multiple personality with my likes in decor - love flowers but also love geometrics! One day I want all cabbage roses and violets, then another it's french provincial, and the next day I want morrocan! I think I really just need several homes! Ha - as if that would ever be possible. Probably the only decor trends that I have a shudder response to are 70's and 80's. Avocado and salmon are for eating - not decorating in my humble opinion.


Mmm! Looks like I have used a fish eye lens on this card but - nope, just my camera. I have been borrowing my daughters camera but decided to give mine another go. I think the verdict is no, and the time has come to invest in a new one!

Colours used are SU very vanilla and sahara sand. The DSP is SU. The doilies are MFT and the sentiment is from SU 'Teeny tiny sentiments'

More SU - lucky limeade and whisper white. The rest are retired SU except for 'teeny tiny sentiments' and 'itty bitty banners'.

Some more retired SU and a nod to a more contemporary colour scheme (still flowers in there though!). Colours are sahara sand, calypso coral, very vanilla and pool party.

This one is specifically for my purple loving sister. All SU - a mix of current and retired. Colours are wisteria wonder, blushing bride, elegant eggplant and very vanilla.

SU again and a MFT doily. Colours are - very vanilla and baja breeze.

On a Personal Note -

We are sodden, soaked and drenched. My cardstock is starting to feel damp! The dog has developed cabin fever and so have I! I want to be out and about but the hassle of wet shoes and dripping umbrella are just not worth it!!

On Saturday I am having some girlfriends over for a girly morning tea to celebrate being Mums. I really, really want it to be sunny so we can go 'al fresco'. I am doing a sort of high tea with sweet and savoury munchies and I am going to use my vintage china. I might even break out the linen! I will do the majority of the cooking and tidying on Friday.  Saturday morning all I will have to do is get up early and buy some flowers and decorate. Wish me luck!

Hope you spoil your mum, and if you are a mum - hope you get spoiled!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie