Sunday, 15 May 2011

The Garden Butt

I'm all over the place at the moment. In a crafty way, that is. So many projects begging for attention, so many new things I want to try.

One "scrapbooky" (as Shimelle herself would say) thing I've never really got along with is sketches. But having fun with this month's Pass The Book (coming on Tuesday) has changed all that. I've been looking at sletches with new eyes. And, as I've been seeing lovely examples of Shimelle's Sketch of the Week popping up everywhere recently, I thought I'd have a go myself:

Butterflies and ruffled ribbon from a kit by Midnight Rooster

That's another observation on life courtesy of The Small One. When she heard her Dad was buying a water butt, she said "He couldn't sink any lower without buying chickens, could he?" And we already know what she thinks of chickens..

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38 comments:

  1. Rachel Brett15 May 2011 at 09:21

    I love your take on the sketch Sian, its fab. I've found that using a sketch a week is helping me get through my 'to scrap' pile :)

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  2. Alison15 May 2011 at 09:22

    Great LO Sian...love your handwritten journalling and glad you've joined in with'sketch-a-mania'!
    Alison xx

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  3. Kirsty.A15 May 2011 at 09:23

    Lovely layout - I adore the oversized buterfly. I know what you mean about sketches, I don't find them easy at all for scrapping, but find they are great for a quicky card

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  4. alexa15 May 2011 at 09:23

    And how well it has turned out! The papers you've chosen are lovely, and I am intrigued by the bit along the bottom - I can't work out whether it is part of your page, or something you've set the page on. I also love how you observe and record these wry observations. :) I am envying you the glorious colour - we do green, yep, just green, really well up here ... Oh, and grey. But nothing as nice as your garden.

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  5. JulieJ15 May 2011 at 09:25

    I love that layered butterfly. Glad you're finding sketchy love - looking forward to seeing more on the sketch of the week.

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  6. Lou15 May 2011 at 09:48

    another great layout Sian, loving the layered butterflies and the ruffled ribbon.

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  7. Clair15 May 2011 at 09:51

    However you're inspired, your layouts are always beautiful. No exception here :)

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  8. This West London Life15 May 2011 at 09:58

    That's a great take on the sketch. And, you know, I'm thinking that TNSSO deserves/needs her own scrapbook album of sayings ...

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  9. Amy15 May 2011 at 10:19

    I go through stages when I like sketches and when I don't - like Rachel, I am finding them useful to get through a few pages at the moment.

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  10. Anonymous15 May 2011 at 10:41

    I love sketches and sketch challenge blogs. Your take on the sketch is a beautiful layout, as always.

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  11. Miriam15 May 2011 at 11:01

    I'm just amazed at what you do and your out put! totally envious. This is lovely Sian.

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  12. debs1415 May 2011 at 12:26

    Great interpretation of the sketch. Love the comment from the small one too, it's how I felt when my husband investigated 'worm farms' to make garden compost ...

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  13. JO SOWERBY15 May 2011 at 13:23

    now i have to say waterbutts are gr8 environmentally and all however the chickens would be wonderful not only for the friendly fun but the free organic eggs ud get. come on the small one, get with the chicken programme, they're fab,
    jo xxxx

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  14. Ade15 May 2011 at 15:08

    Lovely layout Sian and great tie-in to the chicken story!

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  15. laurie15 May 2011 at 15:52

    i love how the personalities and stories of your family are beautifully recorded on your pages. they are all such keepsakes.

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  16. Gem's Crafts15 May 2011 at 16:22

    Lovely LO and the small one's comment is just so cute :)

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  17. Becky15 May 2011 at 17:30

    Really lovely layout Sian - glad you got on well with the sketch, I love using them. We have two chickens by the way and they are not scary at all!

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  18. Denise15 May 2011 at 19:05

    I love what you have done with the sketch.I always really like Shimelle's sketches as they get me scrapping if I'm having a 'can't decide what to do ' time :-)

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  19. Sandie15 May 2011 at 19:20

    That's a lovely layout, Sian, and the colours are just my kind of thing.

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  20. Maria Ontiveros16 May 2011 at 03:54

    I agree that the way others are using the Shimelle sketches is very inspirational. The term "garden butt" is not one we use here - it makes me think of what you might see from someone wearing low riding jeans and bending over to garden!
    Rinda

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  21. scrappysue16 May 2011 at 05:13

    Great page Sian and what an adorable way to record such a cute conversation!

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  22. Lynn16 May 2011 at 09:39

    Its a lovely layout and a great story. Don't tell the small one but we have eight water butts in our garden! and if Mr Green (aka my hubby) could find space for more we would have them!!

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  23. scrappyjacky16 May 2011 at 10:15

    What on earth has TSO got against water butts????
    You better not tell her how many we have either....but I love them...even if they're not very pretty.
    I also love using sketches as inspiration...though the finished article rarely looks anything like the original sketch!!

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  24. Winnie16 May 2011 at 14:14

    Love this LO, especially the butterfly and the ruffles down the bottom.

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  25. Cheri16 May 2011 at 14:15

    The Small One cracks me up! But now please let the clueless in on the entire joke... what the heck is a "Water Butt"????

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  26. Sian16 May 2011 at 14:31

    It's simply a barrel for collecting rain water in. I'm guessing it's an old Anglo-Saxon word? Might need to check with my brother on that one.

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  27. Alana16 May 2011 at 14:48

    I like your layered butterflies Sian. Wait until she is grown up and has a garden of her own she may even grow to like chickens too.

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  28. Bubbles16 May 2011 at 17:54

    When hubby suggested getting a water butt, all my eldest daughter said was "Think we've seen enough arses in the garden already" (referring of course to her friends playing on the trampoline... and possibly a slight workmans crack when the builders were over *lol*).
    Love your layout - that butterfly is gorgeous - and once again the colours are perfect!

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  29. Jo16 May 2011 at 20:05

    Great layout. OH wants to buy a water butt in the shape of a butt! Managed to stop him so far

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  30. Melissa16 May 2011 at 23:17

    Great layout using one of Shimelle's sketches. (I love sketches!) I really like the ruffled ribbon at the bottom adding the perfect texture and grounding color.

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  31. Beverly17 May 2011 at 04:06

    Ahhh a rain barrel :) I agree The Small One needs her own book of quotations. I love the colors you've used and the sketch layout.

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  32. humel17 May 2011 at 14:44

    lol! Nice one, TSO :) I thought I was going to play along this week but I'm having to be extremely careful to avoid papercuts at the moment so no crafting for a few days.... Love your take on the sketch! xx

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  33. Anonymous17 May 2011 at 14:44

    Your layout looks great. I'm glad you explained I couldn't imagine what a water butt was. You wouldn't imagine the things I was coming up with. :)

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  34. Rhona17 May 2011 at 17:39

    I really love the colours you've used on this layout, it's a real garden feel :) xxx

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  35. Sue Althouse18 May 2011 at 15:31

    How much fun to be immersed in all kinds of crafty goodness! Love the butterflies on your layout and your daughter's comment is priceless!

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  36. Cheryl19 May 2011 at 00:57

    I love your version of the scetch and your pictures just pop with vibrancy x

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  37. Sian20 May 2011 at 11:20

    So, I asked my brother and he says "butt" is Norman French. He knows a lot, so that'll be right. It must have come over with William the Conqueror, then.

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  38. Sandra24 May 2011 at 21:46

    I haven't seen the sketch, but I do like you layout - I really enjoy the "everyday life" layouts you do.

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Thank you! I do love to know what you think