Sweet Stampin' ~ Valentines

Hey there my lovely blog buddies. How has your week been? I have been run off my feet, racing after the bairns who are in their final days of their Summer break. 6 weeks flew past! Today though, we're starting a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, we're all about spreading a little love. So we're keen to see all your creations showing expressions of love.

I've just had my 22nd Wedding Anniversary, so this card is for my hubby to celebrate the 22 years we've shared together. We've survived some storms and had some calm waters, this past year has been a tough one for our family, and yet we survive. That is something to celebrate. Like Audrey Hepburn once said, 'The best thing to hold onto in life, is each other'. 

I loved this image from Mo Manning called 'Embrace' the instant I saw it and went straight to her shop to grab it without hesitation. The image reminded me of that young couple we once were, about to embark on a life time together, full of dreams and hopes and possibility. We had photos taken for our engagement 23 years ago, that this image of Mo's so reminded me. I thought it was perfect to celebrate 22 years married to my lovely hubby.

I wanted to keep the card style quite 'masculine' as Greg prefers the CAS style without fru fru elements. No pearls or glitter! But it was too plain for the vision I had without a little embellishing, so I went for a red feather and a lovely Whiff of Joy Waterfall of Hearts die. I also used a Whiff of Joy Tiny Hearts Pocket Page die. There were tears in my coffee the day Whiff of Joy closed their doors. So sad to see that wonderful store close. I really liked their stamps and dies and they were perfect for my make today. The sweet little sentiment tags are from Whimsy and I used the matching die to cut them. The small red tag left of the image is from a Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Stitched Shapes ~ Cold Hands Warm.

While I was making this card I was listening to Leather & Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, and though hubby isn't keen on the frou frou, I couldn't resist putting a bit of lace in the make, just a shame I didn't have any leather! I did cover it with a simpler ribbon, so it wasn't 'too' lacey! 

I can't believe I've been married 22 years, have two (longed for) kiddies and one is about to start Intermediate! Georgie is super excited about starting her new school. Intermediate, is our equivalent of Middle School just for ages 11 & 12. Such a special and wonderful time focusing on and supporting the changes during the adolescent years. I loved Intermediate, they were my favourite years of school, so I'm excited for her and the school we've found for her is fabulous. We're ready for the next batch of adventures in store for our family this year, just hoping for a little less stress than this last year.

I hope you'll come and join in this lovely Valentine's themed challenge with us this week at Sweet Stampin'. We've got a fab prize up for grabs from Crafty Ribbons, so our winner's in for a treat! I can't wait to see what you're inspired to do. Just remember you need to do some 'stamping' either rubber or digital on your project to be eligible for the prize. See you all again soon. For those of you who don't mind a few family pics, read on. Otherwise, my post ends here.
Hugs to you all, have a fabby week! Wends x

Challenge Entries:
The Ribbon Girl: Love ~ GDT Challenge
Whimsy Stamps Challenge: #90 ~ With Love
Crafty Cardmakers: #156 ~ Punches and/or dies
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenges: January ~ Hearts

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday Challenge: Love Is In The Air
Creative Inspirations Challenge: #43 ~ Anything Goes +/- Sketch
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge: #259 ~ Anything Goes with a Mo Image
As You Like It: Favourite - One or Multi Layer? I love both styles, but my preferred style is multiple layers. Not usually more than 3, but I play around occasionally with more or less layers.

Update: Yippee yip yip! I was named in the Top 3 for Mo's Digital Pencil. Thank you Mo and your wonderful DT! Doing a little happy dance.

Second Update: Woohoo! Just spotted that I've been named in the Top 3 for the As You Like It challenge. 

This next bit, is more for me than anyone else, a wee trip down memory lane. I hope you won't mind me sharing a little montage of pics to celebrate the life my hubby and I have built together. One of my dear friends lost her sister late last year, and as part of her funeral they showed a heartbreaking montage of family photos. She left behind a hubby who loved her dearly and 3 children only just in their teens. It occurred to me we shouldn't wait to celebrate the precious things in our lives. So I am embracing life, and counting my blessings, of which there are many. Here is a snippet I'd like to share with you...

Our Wedding Day, Wellington, New Zealand ~ 1994

Two young very much in love kids took the plunge.

Cocktail Inferno Party, Wellington, New Zealand ~ 1998

Celebrating one of our best friends birthday

We moved from New Zealand to the UK in 1999

Lago d'Orta, Italy ~ 2000

I lost my beloved daddy earlier this year, so this trip was food for the soul.

We also celebrated the wedding of two of our dearest friends that trip.
This is us enjoying the local Lemoncello rather too much!

La Seine, Paris ~ 2004

A birthday surprise from hubby

Then there were three...

Welcome little Georgia ~ Feb 2005

Our Miracle Baby

Santa Monica Water Park ~ 2006

Rockin' out with Daddy ~ Sep 2007

Rotterdam visiting our besties ~ Feb 2008

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland ~ Jan 2009


 Daddy's 40th ~ May 2009


London Snow ~ Jan 2010


My hubby is a creative soul,
he NEEDS to express that creativity
So here he is jamming out at a friends birthday ~ Feb 2010

The Louvre, Paris ~ March 2010
My beautiful girl. I'm heavily pregnant with Zac here!

Then there were four...

Brand New. Big sis cuddles.

Welcome our little man, Zac ~ May 2010

Our second miracle to complete our family

Love this portrait done by my talented sister

~ Jani Shepherd Photography

My sister won a Highly Commended Place in the 'IGPOTY' competition 2011

in the category 'Breathing Spaces' with another pic of Georgie from this series.

 Hot Summer Night Shenanigans

with buddies in the garden of our London Flat ~ 2012

We went years without any 'family' pics, but thanks to a lovely pal, we have several in one year!

Chinatown, London ~ Jan 2012

London Snow ~ Feb 2012

Our utterly awesome, gorgeous boy ~ Aug 2012

 Overlooking Stackpole Quay, Wales ~ Sep 2012

We moved back to New Zealand from the UK in 2013

 Packing up our London life
 Our home and car had to fit in this box!

It snowed like crazy right before our move.

Our little London babes saying goodbye to our last London flat

Celebrating Zac's 4th Birthday ~ May 2014

Matariki (Maori New Year) at Zac's Playcentre ~ July 2014

Realising how 'few' photos we have together as a family, I think I might aim to at least get one every year! LOL. I hope I didn't bore you with too many family pics. But I feel so blessed to have this beautiful family that for a long while we never thought was possible. I hope you don't mind me sharing. Big hugs, Wends x