SIMPLE THINGS NOVEMBER - GRATITUDE day 3

Hi all, Michelle here with my contribution to this month’s Simple things project and my  take on Gratitude. There are many things in my life that I am thankful for, from the big things, like my family, my health and my life in general, to the small things like having a roof over my head and being able to see a beautiful sunset, so, a project to sum all of this up proved a little difficult for me.

So I decided to create a small notebook to record all the things I have gratitude for

 

I wanted it to be an ‘oldey worldy’ looking leather bound book as I feel it fits well in my ‘treasure chest’

 
I used a small blank notebook and some woodware blank chip alphas

 
I spelt the word out, mixing up the alphas

 
And then mixing some PVA with water (about 70/30) and some loo roll (classy me!) I covered the book. The loo roll is very easy to mould around the letters and also to create a leather texture with, scrunching and folding it as I layered it up.

 
Once the papier mache covering was completely dry (an airing cupboard speeds up the process) I painted the cover with a mix of reds using acrylic paint.

 
After the paint layer was dry I then inked the cover with some walnut distress ink, catching the peaks of the papier mache creases. NB the ink will stay wet a while as it is being applied to an acrylic base, gently heating with a heat gun will heat set the ink.

 
Next came a dry brushing with gold acrylic

 
And then dipping my finger into the gold paint I picked out the letters some more

 
And that’s it, a little book I will fill with gratitude, recording the big and the small for me to look back on when the modern world get’s in the way and also a record of moments I can use in my future scrapping. What are you grateful for today? I think it does us all good to stop, take stock and have a think once in a while! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have been inspired by all the creative girls sharing some gratitude with you this month.

Love

MJM x

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Hello, Eleanor here, without a square to show this month, but I want to have a chat and share some photos, if that's alright.

As many of my friends know, those I've met, and those I have yet to meet, recent years have been something of a struggle in many ways. And yet, still there is always something to be grateful for; admittedly hard to find some weeks, but very often it's been one online friend or another, usually a blogger, who has reminded me that that I have so many blessings.

Here is one, a simple view from our cottage window, as we settle in our new environment:

And here's another view from that same cottage:

 

We now find ourselves living an altogether simpler life, the life I used to long for, and although far, in miles, from some of the people who are so very important to me, I know that happiness can be a weekly phone call, a welcome letter in the post, an unexpected email, or just looking at some special photos on Flickr.

I am so grateful this month, indeed this year, that we have been given an opportunity to enjoy a new life and a wonderful playground for our youngest son.

I am grateful to live at this foot of a mountain:

and beside this loch:

As Simple Things - Gratitude closes today, I am thankful for the opportunity to share a little of my new life in pictures, and promise I will somehow put all these things onto my fabric square to preserve them, and show you all very soon.

Bye for now.

xx

Comments

[claireliz]

Michelle that book is amazing, & so going on my want to do list, I love it, Infact, I've just thought of a suitable book to use, Yay! I'm going to try that.
Eleanor, Oh I love your new home, what beautiful surroundings, that is the lifestyle I dream of. I really hope you will all be very very happy there.
C
xx

[Mandy]

MJM... totally loved the look with the lettering.
E... Lovely to get a snapshot of where you're living now...totally beautiful and unspoilt, with the cleanest air possible (by the looks of it. Do you have an open fire? hugs,
Mandy

[Scrapdolly]

Wonderful creation Michelle and Eleanor your post ,moved me so much. What a stunning place to live

[Debbie Roberts]

Loved both of your posts. Will have to try the lettering, and what a beautiful place you are living in Eleanor.

Debbie x

[Carmen]

Gorgeous posts both. I love your book Michelle and Eleanor - you are literally living n my dream - it looks beautiful.