gingerandgeorge

Happy days

In the last couple of months, both of my parents have accidentally retired. My dad had been pondering the whens and hows of it for around 18 months, when circumstances contrived to make it happen a little sooner than planned. It's possible he over-egged the telling once it was finally decided (even my birthday card this year included the phrase 'have I told you I'm retired?'), which should hopefully go a little way to explaining the inspiration behind the 'happy retirement' card I made for him.

It seems like he set a trend, because a few weeks ago, my mum also joined the retirement party earlier than expected. She's gone for the keeping-ridiculously-busy approach to it so far, rather than my dad's share-it-and-share-it-again option. 

I, meanwhile, have gone for butterflies and flowers on retirement card no.2,  plus a little wish for (lots of) happy days.

(The card is also my take on this month's Hambly sketch challenge, which you can find over at the blog now, along with info on how you can join in.)

Happy retirement, Mum & Dad - may it be long, relaxing and thoroughly marvellous.

xx

Palette Pingpong (No.45)

Hola Pingpong pals. 

Shall we keep things brief and perfectly to the point? In this week's pong-tastic episode, it was my turn to choose an image for Gabrielle, and by way of overcompensating for the grey and grisly world currently outside my window, I went with this one:

Spied on the ever-awseome Decor8, the image is actually from a book, La Tartine Gourmande, by Béatrice Peltre. I'm not generally a big user of cookery books, but with photos this beautiful, I could be converted. Heaven knows, it wouldn't hurt. Let's compare the eggs above to one of mine, shall we?

It can only be a matter of time before Nigella's people come a-knocking, I think.

Culinary exploits aside, you should probably be heading over to Gabrielle's blog to see what she's made with the lovelier of those two images. Rumour has it a palette and a fancy freebie are yours for the admiring and the snapping up. 

(Please note: no chickens were harmed in the making of this blog post.)

x

 

Fancy Painted Glassware

Despite the simplicity of this project, it actually took me an age to put together this week. Spray painting glass jars and bottles outdoors, in between the heaviest and most determined of downpours? Not the best idea. If you fancy giving it a go yourself, don't be an impatient idiot like me. Hold out for a dry day instead, and everything else should be easy-breezy.

You can find a quick step-by-step tutorial over at the Hambly blog, and in case you were wondering (you wouldn't be the first), all of the photos are in colour; it's just the glassware and the wallpaper background which are in black and white.

x

Sing A Song Of (not even) Sixpence

A couple of months ago, I put together ten cards for a feature in PaperCraft Inspirations. All of them featured sentiments based on song titles - a Truly, Madly, Deeply wedding card, an Isn't She Lovely new baby greeting, and so on. There were a few which didn't quite make the cut (Every Day I Love You Less And Less, Shoplifters Of The World Unite), but . . . you know, maybe one day.

For now, though, you can find and download the whole feature over at The Making Spot website for free. As in, it won't even cost you sixpence to get all ten songs wedged in your brain for hours on end. 

You're welcome. 

So, if you were going to pick out a song to inspire a card, what would it be? 

x

PS. Despite the feature mentioning soupy old Rose Royce, you know and I know the only worthy version of Wishing On A Star is the Paul Weller one, right? Just to be clear. 

Palette Pingpong (No.44) : Retro Lamp

This week's Palette Pingpong challenge finally helped me get around to a small but long overdue makeover project. You can find Gabrielle's original picture over at the green gables (along with a terrific book review she posted earlier in the week), and this is the palette it inspired:

Generally speaking, I'm not overly fond of pink or purple, but I do have the biggest crush on Melody Miller's Ruby Star fabric line just now. The colour scheme above matches perfectly with this print in particular, so - strictly in the interests of Palette Pingpong and not at all because I was looking for any excuse to buy some - I, um . . . bought some. And teamed with a freshly-painted lamp base, I think it does the job pretty well.

From this:

To this:

It's the first time I've used one of our swatches for a home decor project, and I'm now thinking it might be fun to try it out on something bigger - a quilt maybe, or even the colour scheme for a whole room. If you've got a picture you think would be an especially good source of inspiration, I'd love to see it. Leave a link below, and you never know what it might lead to.

Similarly, if you've made something inspired by a Pingpong palette, please do get in touch so we can (a) come and have a nosy, and (b) share it here, for everyone else to enjoy, too.   

x

Love, the Easter Bunny

I'm hoping to have a couple of Easter-themed projects to share later this week, but in the meantime, if you'd like to add some easy seasonal decor to your home, I have two words for you. 

Bunny bunting.

The more properly titled rabbit garlands are in the shop now, and if you order this week, you'll get two sheets of bonus bunnies to go along with the kit. You can also use the rabbits to make Easter cards (as below), or add them to scrapbooking layouts, like this one by my talented and very lovely friend, Julie.

x