Which tea are you?

I saw this image on Facebook today which a tea addict friend posted.  For my next BIG birthday I would like to have a Mad Hatter's Tea Party.  I have it all planned in my head and part of it includes a table with each setting a different pattern of fine china.  And of course lots and lots of assorted tea-pots of different teas.  I dream of starting to collect the china one service at a time at markets, charity shops and other bargain outlets.  I won't even mind the occasional chip as the more character the better!  I think I'd better start soon ... :D

I tracked down the source of the image to the Artist and Illustrator  Helen L Smith.  It is well worth a look and she even has embroidery kits!  I needed a little cheer today and I thought that some of you could too.  So which is your favourite tea?

Enjoy,
Chipper

P.S.  I must add that I had an altogether different picture in my mind for 'p.m. tea' and it certainly had nothing to do with the afternoon/evening!  If you know what I mean ...  ;)

Counterfeit Kit July 2013 Members Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop in the CKCB Members' Blog Hop!

This month we were challenged to pick a DT member and peruse their blog for a bit. Find something inspiring, and use that to create a project!

You should have come here from Lesley :-)

I have often been inspired by Jemma from Just Jim-Jams and so it was to her blog that I turned for this challenge.  I also liked Jemma's suggestion to draw a quick sketch of the layout that inspires you and list a few elements.  That way your finished layout will still be inspired by the original and not just a copy.

I took my inspiration from this layout by Jemma, which you can find blogged here.  I drew a quick sketch and took it with me on a night out crafting with friends.

Here is my Master Forger inspired layout with a photo from our visit with Goofy back in 2008.

"Goofy" inspired by Jemma

Even with all the themed bits in my kit I really like the colours in my finished layout.  It isn't an exact copy of the lifted layout but I like the sense of fun that it portrays.  I even used some of my new Sharpie Glitter Paint Pens to draw in some stitching.

The EK Success stamp set also came in handy for the three red circle embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by and now you should hop over to Leslie and she what lovelies she created!

The full blog hop list will be published on the CKCB so if you get lost along the way, head over there to find your way back onto the hop.

I love to read your comments so feel free to say "hi" if you've a moment to spare and happy hopping!

Chipper

Counterfeit Kit July 2013 - Layout 1 & 2

My Mickey Madness kit this month is lots of fun and my first layouts weren't even Mickey, but Buzz Lightyear!  They were quick to put together and used lots of themed items from my stash.  I little corny but perfect for the album.

They would have come together quicker if I could spell 'infinity'!!!  I was talking too much with my friends when one asked if I meant to spell infinity that way?  Opps ... third time lucky and it was finally right!  LOL  My brain had taken a holiday :-)

I used the shooting star stamps on blue and then cut them out.  I also used the tiny star stamps for some additional embellishment along with buttons shaped like stars.

It has been rainy and dark here and this is the best photos I could get but parts of this paper say 'Tomorrow Land' which is where we were.

When my boys were little they LOVED Buzz so this photo was a must do ... we actually went on a hunt for Buzz just so that we could collect his autograph stamp.

I love my Sakura 'Stardust' pen as it adds lots of sparkle to the layouts without making it 'girly'.  I must when you have two boys!

Pop back on the 24th if you have a chance as I will have something for the member blog hop.

It has finally turned cold here as winter is in full swing.  Lovely weather to craft in :)

Chipper

Photo Scavenger Hunt Update

This year I am joining in with Rinda's Photo Scavenger Hunt.  You can find all of the details here and you have until September to collect as many as you can so there is still plenty of time to join in!

Last week the kids began two weeks of school holidays.  We stopped at a shopping center so The Princess could buy something she had been saving for and to drool over all the lovelies at the Apple Store.  While trying to find our way around the boys asked if I was going to take a photo of the dinosaur for my scavenger hunt.  I hadn't even seen him!!!!!  There were dinos all over the place ready for the school holidays.  I laughed when I realised that they really were getting into the spirit of the hunt.  So we walked and I took photos like a little kid, even though we already had our hunt photo.  So here are more photos of #20 A Dinosaur ...

A scary T-Rex

There were little dinos too

Including a photo with me that the Extrovert kindly took.

I had been struggling with #4 An Airplane even though I drove past the airport numerous times a week.  I see them all the time but trying to get a good shot with my phone while NOT driving is very difficult.  I had this one ...

The LOML snapped this one while I was driving

 And then this one when it was coming in to land while I was sitting at a set of traffic lights ...

I caught this one and cropped out the cars

 But then today I found the perfect plane to photograph ...

US Air Force Monopoly

I could have also used the FAB playing pieces ...

Monopoly playing pieces.

The Thinker (along with all of the family except me) plays a Footy (AFL) tipping competition on his iPod via an app.  It is sponsored by a local fast food chain and everyone who gets all of the tips right in a single round (week) wins a free burger.  His voucher expired today and not wanting him to miss out we popped down to one this afternoon.  Along the way we detoured past our City Council building and in between showers I quickly snapped a few shots of #3 City Hall or similar Civic Building.

Our local City Council Office

This is the new building which I had actually forgotten they had built.  I grew up in this area when we stayed at our dad's house.  My older brother (step-brother) had his wedding photos taken in the grounds many years ago.  In the photo below the river is down behind the trees and a few large ponds are around to the left.  In Spring it is always a beautiful location.

The war memorial

This is the older part of the building and on the roof I spied another tower for #8

A phone tower

And speaking of #8 A Tower, I snapped this photo last week when the kids were setting up another Monopoly.  As The Extrovert was putting together Monopoly Revolution (the worst version ever invented) he yelled out "Hey Mom, I found a tower for your photo hunt!"  So I had to quickly get the photo before I ran out the door to work.

Monopoly Revolution tower - it controls the game

As I didn't have to go to work today we played a family game of Monopoly (which is how I found the plane!) and it even included its own tower ...

Traffic Control Tower

Like most of our family games of Monopoly it turned into a marathon.  We love to play this game and it is a bonus that all five of us can play at once.  We have a huge Monopoly collection and have collected them while we traveled and they are also popular Christmas presents.  There is one I would love to add to our collection, the Coke Cola Vintage Adds board.  Today's game involved fierce trading, much yelling and coaxing, lots of laughs, and we even had to find a notebook to help keep track of all of the immunity deals that were mixed up in the trades!

After five and a half hours we finally had a winner.  It was down to The LOML and The Princess and money flew back and forth frantically until finally the scales tipped and The LOML won!

The kids and I are headed into the city tomorrow and hope to spy a few more items off of the list :)  How is your photograph hunt going?

Chipper

And the river of life takes another turn ...

“Have you time for a chat now?” he asked.

“Sure” she replied. 

“I’ll just close the door as the walls around here have ears.”

“So I’ve noticed.” she stated nervously, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

“The only way to say this is to just be blunt and get it over with.” He looked straight at her with only a hint of apology. “We need to terminate your contract.”

There … it was said … it was done. She wasn’t surprised and he knew.

“You were expecting this weren't you?” he asked. “I saw it in your eyes at the meeting yesterday. I searched the other faces to see if they had guessed, but it was only you.”

“I could tell. The numbers aren’t on the board and with four closing that means that there isn’t room for me. I understand your position as I’ve been in it before.”

“This is the first time I have ever had this conversation and not wanted to. I have told everyone else that the business isn’t for them. I am happy to give you a reference and maybe you will find employment elsewhere. Or you could wait, if you can, and when more open in 6-12 months we could hire you back.”

“So where do we go from here?” she asked, knowing that she still had work to complete, and struggling to make her thoughts focus.

“You can finish what you are working on and you will still be paid on anything that goes through. You can work this weekend if you have things to finalise and then your contract will officially terminate at the end of the month. That gives you time to finish things up but there is no need to come to meetings.”

She left the office and continued to finish the drawings she was working on. Hours later the tears were finally winning the struggle. It was time to go home and let them fall. Work would still be there later that evening. She packed her bags and said goodbye to her oblivious co-workers. The tears began the minute the car started.