A PopUp Album

While I was away, there was a Megaclass organised with the talented Lance Anderson (Mr Rusty Pickle) and Donna Downey ! I was raging I was gonna miss such an event !! But on my way back, I found out Lance's class kit was available to buy from Annamarie's The Scrapbook Store (link thingie not working, but there is a link to her store on the right hand side bar of my blog). The kit was designed by Karen Burniston; her work is always amazing !! See for yourself:




















If you have ever taken a class with Karen Burniston, you'll know who detailed her instructions are. And fair play to her, I was able to put everything together using only the written instructions !!

TFL

Kiki x

PS: I'm working on new cards. Will post as soon as they're ready.

Some Cards !

I have been busy since I came back...really, I have :D First, I had to finish an order of 50 cards I had left half done when I left to Costa Rica. Then, we have some friends birthdays these days, and Mother's day in Costa Rica is celebrated on August 15th.









And these Bella stamps, I have been wanting to use them a long time ago. I made some cards like this one:



TFL

Kiki x

Award

Thanks to Jackie and Clare who gave me this award :D

I would like to nominate Gertie (Aine) Tigger and Eva These 3 girls run very different blogs, but I love to take a peek often to see what are they up to. :D

Wedding Anniversary !

Well, the main reason we went to Costa Rica was to take part in my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration. It was held on July 5th, which was exactly 50 years later. I have to mention that my Dad bought my Mum an engagement ring as her present, she never got one 50 years ago !

Traditionally in Costa Rica, the night before the wedding, the groom arrives at the bride's house and brings a Serenade (Mariachis, trios, etc). So this time my brother, sisters and myself organised a Serenade for our parents. We got a "Trio" of guitar players/singers, they played my Parents favourite songs. It was a surprise for them.



Listening to the "Trio"



They renewed their vows:




Photos at the party:







Well, we left Costa Rica last Friday, arrived in Ireland Saturday evening...it's such a long haul !! Jet lag is killing us !! but I can't wait to go back to my cards !! I bought a few bits and pieces, mainly unusual stuff and loads of ribbons and paper bags! I didn't go wild craft shopping cos I had bought new stamps & other bits before I left, that I can't wait to put to a good use !!

TFL

Kiki x

Photos from Costa Rica !

Helloooo !!!!

Things have been a bit hectic from the time I set foot on the first plane !! I got sick all the way !! My gut got emptied...put it that way !!! It lasted 5 days and I lost 6 lbs !!

Dental appointments have been great, my youngest got her extraction in the end, the infection was still there and it was the best course of action. It was VERY quick. Brought my eldest to see an Orthodontist (braces' dentist) yesterday, and her permanent teeth won't have space to grow, so he reccomended 4 teeth extraction, which were done this morning under local anaesthetics, it was also very quick and not a bother at all !!! Now, I need to find an Orthodontist in Ireland, tough job I believe !!

They have both been to the Children's Ophtalmologist and got a new set of glasses. My youngest was still waiting in Ireland for her appointment, and from that appointment it would had taken not less than 6 months to get her first set of glasses, and over here she was seen on a Tuesday and got her glasses on Thursday...wayyy toooo efficient !!

Last week we spent it at the beach...but I got sick over the first days (such a bad luck !!) I had a throat infection and was on antibiotics. But had a series of strange events too:

First, I got sunburnt on my front side on the first day. I dont trust the Carrot Hawaiian Tropic lotion anymore :o( it washed out in the pool. I was sore and had to use loads of Aloe Gel.

Second, as I felt better, I spent the days on a lounger reading a very entertaining book "Confessions of a Demented Housewife" by Niamh Greene.




I was sitting next to a Palm tree with overgrown roots, and an Iguana has made its home of it. Iguanas usually avoid people, but the ones at this resort are completely domesticated. I was quite ok being so close to it, I'm not afraid in any way. I think the one next to me is a male (spikes in its back). They eat leftovers left by people who eat around the pool, we fed them a couple of times.
Then, all of a sudden I felt "something" had landed on my head !!! initially thought it was a bird, but as I shaked my head, I realised it was the Iguana !!!!! He had jumped to the wrong side !!!! there were "girl" Iguanas looking for leftovers and he wasn't sharing !!! I busted in laugh !!! what else could I do !! I wasnt afraid in any way. He then went back to its original rest place, see in the pic below :




And one of the "girls" looking for food:




And third: As I was sunbathing on the last day, on my belly, trying to match the burnt front, I felt something "warm" fell on my back, I got up and run to ask my husband what it was ??? and it was bird poo !!!! My sister says it is good luck...but since I'm not supersticious, does that count, I wonder...

The gils enjoyed themselves at the beach a lot !! My eldest is an innate swimmer !! and she got infatuated by the coconuts hanging from the palm trees (???).









This is the resort's landmark, the Pier:



A Favourite Photo: my eldest at the beach



TFL

Kiki x

Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow is my 10th Wedding Anniversary ! :D And I made this card for my Husband. I also entered it in a card competition...I didnt win though !
It is a shaker style card, I have never done one, and the Hundred Thousands are real !
He will be getting his card tonight, because tomorrow we are flying to Costa Rica !!!!!! Well, we'll be flying into Madrid first, spend the night there, and then on Friday we take the 11 hour flight to Costa Rica...and this time our travelling time will be a lot shorter than usual. We used to go this way: Dublin-Amsterdam-Miami-Costa Rica, all in one day !!

I'm also relaxed about my daugther's tooth. She is fine. And I have got more reassurance that we'll be ok travelling tomorrow. All the better she will be seen in Costa Rica asap.

All my life I have grabbed the phone to ring a doctor for an appointment whenever I have ever needed to see one, and in Costa Rica you get an appointment within a few days, less than a week usually. But this concept of having to go to your GP, ask for a referral letter to a Specialist, sitting down and waiting for weeks or months for an appointment ! This is completely new and frustrating in my honest opinion. Things only get worse sometimes, as in my daughter's case, when nobody can do anything to help, and when you force the system to serve you as you deserve, they just let you down again :(.

Ireland is a lovely place to raise your children, I am very happy they are growing here, probably safer than in Costa Rica, but when any of us need the medical service, my feeth shake and my patience falls apart !!!

I won't be creating for a while, but I will pop in to say "Hi" while in Costa Rica, might share a picture or two !

TFL

Kiki x

A quick card

After this week's mayhem,I had forgotten I had to have a card ready for the Birthday Club I'm in one of the Craft Forums I visit regularly.
The stamped image I dont know what make of stamps it is, one of my craft buddies sent it to me. Isn't that flamingo just gorgeous? :D I coloured her with my Letraset Tria markers...but I'm considering investing in Copics.

I usually don't make cards during the weekend, but I just felt like it today, I needed something to help me de-stress ! it only took me a few minutes to colour, cut and put together. My Husband is over tidying the house LOL !! that's his way to de-stress...lucky me !!