Extended playtime ....

... Good afternoon all.  I'm back a little earlier than expected owing to a slight change in plans.  I hope that all my American crafting buddies had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Our first experience was great fun.  We had a quiet day at home and I cooked turkey with all the trimmings!  I have to admit that it's probably the third time I've EVER cooked roast turkey and all the trimmings - in the UK we spend Christmas at my in-laws and my mother-in-law makes the most wonderful dinner!  So I had a lot to live up to; Jonathan and Kathryn said I succeeded!!

I managed to find some time to play in my craft room too and I've used two challenges to make a sympathy card:

• The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC158 - these soft colours are just perfect
• CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS6 

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Pleasant Poppies; PTI - Scattered Showers
Inks: Memento - Grey Flannel
Accessories: SU Design Paper - Basic Grey; Promarkers - Soft Green, Dusky Rose, Pale Pink; Prismacolour Pencils - 20% Cool Grey; Card from stash

It is always really hard to make a sympathy card, but these challenges really helped - the soft, subtle colours are just perfect and I've kept to the layout - exactly!  I think poppies are just right for a sympathy card; I stamped the image in grey and coloured with Promarkers.  I outlined the coloured image with a very pale grey Prismacolour pencil and blended to give a soft glow around the image.  I opted for a very simple sentiment.  The background panel and frame are SU design paper in basic grey - I used the texty side for the panel and strip to frame the stamped image.

Yesterday was Black Friday - the traditional start to sales in the US.  We did go out, but didn't get to the shops until quite late in the day. While still busy, it wasn't the total madness that occurs at midnight!!  Jonathan picked up his new computer and Kathryn bought a game for her DS.

In the morning we headed into Detroit to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts where they are hosting an exhibition about the House of Faberge, and features some wonderful jewellery and six of the famous Faberge Easter Eggs.  I can't show the eggs on here because of copyright - but I can link to photos of the eggs.  My favourite of the Eggs on display was the Imperial Red Cross Easter Egg.  It is simply gorgeous.  The most ornate of the eggs was without doubt the Imperial Peter the Great Easter Egg - so intricate and utterly beautiful.  The Faberge exhibition was fabulous.  But the DIA has so much more to offer; we spent a few hours just wandering around - we will have to go back again soon.

This morning we headed out again to exchange the game that Kathryn got for her DS.  What we didn't know was that DS games made in the US don't work on DS units manufactured for the UK.  Hey ho!!  Still, Kathryn is happy as she now has a game that works just fine on her PC.  And I had a good day as I found another new craft shop - it's huge and a place that I'll be going back to again, and again!!

Before I go today - I want to show you the scarf I've been knitting for Kathryn - I finished it yesterday - which is good timing as it has gotten really cold!  It's been quite some time since I knitted anything, so this is a simple rib scarf, but made in fabulous wool, silk and cotton blend which is multicoloured.  Kathryn is really pleased with it.  Here's my gorgeous girl modelling it!

Well, that's all for today.  I'm off to make the most of this long holiday weekend and play in my craft room.  Be sure to drop by at midnight for the start of our next colour challenge at CR84FN!  See you then.