A birthday, adventure weekend and some more card pics

Well it was M's birthday yesterday...My baby is now 16 am getting old <sigh> IT's not my own kids getting older that make me feel old though...My eldest nephew being 27 now makes me feel ancient...We didn't do anything much as he had school and G was away all weekend and only came back yesterday afternoon...Trying to arrange that him and a couple of friends go to cinema at the weekend...His father phoned <SHOCK> ...They wished him a belated happy birthday as his was on fri...They haven't sent his card yet and i need to hook the printer up...Decided would print off some pics of the boys to send him as his pressie...He can put them in an album himself as that would cost an arm and a leg to post...Mum posted her card to M on fri and it's still not arrived...If it doesn't arrive tomorrow then someones going to have to speak to the post office...I HOPE she put in a cheque and not cash...Knowing mum though it will have been the latter <sigh>...Both my sisters put a cheque in just in case it goes missing...Likewise if am sending money i send a cheque...Have to giggle...M wanted a bag to carry around his portable DVD player with his DVD games...So i got a blokes shoulder bag...Well he told my younger sis that he got a handbag for part of his birthday pressies LOL...I said it's not a handbag it's a blokes shoulder bag...Sis must have said something cos he turned and said to me after a couple of mins that it is a MANbag LOLOL.

G was away from friday morning until supposedly 6-6.30pm yesterday with the base...He got his taxi to school as they were leaving at 10am...This year they went up to an outdoor centre near Aviemore 

Abernethy Trust Nethybridge Outdoor Centre

On the way up there on the friday they visited Landmark which is also near Aviemore

Landmark Forest Theme Park, Carrbridge, Inverness Shire, Scotland, UK

G said one of the teachers with them was so funny at Landmark...There are big water slides there and this teacher was a bit scared...Dunno if he was putting it on for the kids like because he screamed like anything on way down...Then ran round and shouted he needed to go again LOL...G didn't go on it because he had cramp in his legs...Instead one of the little 1st years who adores G had him play with him in one of the adventure areas.

The teacher who was screaming there was a bit of a klutz last year and actually badly damaged his ankle...Well true to form he was a klutz again this year...On the saturday they spent the whole day sailing on one of the lochs...They were mainly paired up for it...I feel so sorry for the lad paired with that teacher...He capsised the boat at least twice LOL...The weather had been perfect for sailing, then it started pouring, then it was perfect again...Then out of the blue for about 5 mins it started snowing...The teacher was so shocked to see snow he looked up, moved his body and capput went the balance of the boat and low and behold it capsised ROFL...Poor lad in boat with him ended up in the water under one of the sails...One of the other teachers with them took the P out of that teacher something chronic the whole weekend LOL...On the sun they were doing archery (might have been mon) Well same teacher missed the target totally in his first 2 rounds LOL...His arrows went flying over the target into the football pitch...Just as well no-one was playing footie at the time LOL...Then on his 3rd round he hit the bull and other 2 arrows went into the red area...The boys have all been taking the mickey out of that poor teacher...He's one of G's mainstream teachers too <ggg> Although probs not for next year as i don't think they have managed to find a way of doing the advanced higher course...They were orienteering, zip sliding and on some swing thing...Not sure what the swing thing was but G enjoyed it...He wasn't that keen on the sailing...Only watersport he's found so far that he doesn't like...He said the facilities for evening were brill...There was a games room so guess where all their money they had with them went...They were also allowed to use the swimming pool...On the sunday evening they played waterpolo which G enjoyed...MrsP always phones the parents when they are around 45 mins from home so we can make our way to pick them up...Well as i said it was supposed to be later tea time they were back...But no i was in GAME buying stuff for M for his birthday at 3.05pm when my mobile rang...Panic stations ARGH...As i told her M doesn't get home until between 3.45 and 4pm and i didn't know if i would be able to beat school at the pick up time...So i had to ring M's school tell them not to put him on the taxi i would collect him...Run and get a bus home, run into flat grab car keys and speed up to M's school...Then we speeded out (not through the speed cameras though) to get G...After we got G we were going for something to eat...So M asked G if going to the Ashvale fish & chip restaurant would be ok...They went there recently with the Triple A team and liked it...They were the top chippie in Scotland for 3 years on the trot and retired to give other ones a chance...They were also top chippie in UK but again didn't compete again...In the restaurant there are paintings and photos of loads fo fishing boats...Some of the boats belonged to some of my uncles...I remember when the place opened one of my uncles was in there for a meal and was surprised to see a photo of his boat on the wall LOL...He wasn't complaining like just surprised.

I went into one of the art shops here i had forgotten about last fri...They don't do craft stuff mainly fine art supplies...But i was pleasantly surprised to see they had a few bottles of the brand of glass paints i like to use...The owner said he wasn't stocking them anymore which is why there was very few on the shelf...So i bought the 5 colours he did have and he gave me them all for a tenner as he was wanting rid :o) The other places here that stock glass paints only stock the water soluble ones...You have to bake them in the oven...Even then although that makes items dishwasher safe the colours are not as fast as with the smelly non water based paints...The water based ones tend to fade too quick for my liking...If am painting something and charging what i consider a fortune for it then i want to know the colour isn't going to fade too fast...I have been making more cards...Really simple ones that are easy to do...The prices some places charge for what is a very simple, doesn't take long to make, card is daft...Am really having my eyes opened at the prices in some shops and online...Some i think are too cheap and others i just think how heck can you charge that...I reckon i will pitch mine somewhere inbetween...M likes one of my latest ideas...Only one he's commented on  LOL...That one being what is in the first two pics below...Apologies for the quality of the pics i did them in a rush just now and the lighting is utter pants LOL

 

Masking fluid used to paint image onto watercolour paper...Then watercolours painted over the paper once masking fluid is dry...Then rub off masking fluid with a rubber once watercolour paint is dry...I ripped the image off the watercolour pad as i like the ripped edges look...When the masking fluid is removed it leaves the white image...Diamantes in centre and image fixed to a card...Simple by effective i think

This one is one lime (nice lime) pearlescent card i bought last week and cut to size and folded myself

White (honest) pearlescent card with a hammered finish...Again card i bought and cut to size and folded myself...Red heart gems on each corner, white feather, red bow and gold wire with beads...Ignore my crap writing it's only there to show where writing would be...I'll be getting proper card motifs done for actual written bits for cards LOL

Again white pearlescent card cut and folded myself...The finish i have forgotten name of ARGH...It's all card i bought last week from the paper mill...String gems down left side...Writing would be to the left of that line...Silver padded butterflies, holographic silver flowers...Silver pen hand drawn stalks and leaves...Close up of that below...You can see the finish on the card better on the close up to :o)