A scrappy life!

2011-02-02T10:10:00.003Z

So, what can I say!!

It has been three years+ since my last post!! So I'm guessing that this blog has gathered some dust! I thought it was time to come out of blogging retirement. Unfortunately, crafty endeavours are still limited as my lovely stash is stashed away since the birth of my twins back in January 2008.

The little rascals have just turned three and really acting the part!!! So I am now living in Morocco!! I'm teaching English at the very pretty Al Akhawayn University!! I hope to start crafting at some point soon when I can get my hands on some crafty bits and pieces!

Or maybe its time to go back to basics before the advent of Craft Robos, or Die Cutting or stamps or brads ...back to glue and scissors and that kind of thing!

Well watch this space as I hope to maintain thisblog a bit better!

xxxx

2007-11-30T23:23:00.000Z

2007-11-09T22:31:00.000Z

Friday...again!

Its all going so quickly! Thanks to everyone who left a comment. Unfortunately this week I wasn't able to get back to anyone but I really read all the messages and really appreciate them all too! Its been hectic with appointments and scans and goodness knows what else!

Well anyways here is today's dare, set by Jo

Getting Corrugated...
Hi all :) This week it is Jo here to set the dare...
I seem to have developed a little bit of a fixation with old cardboard boxes....! My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...

And this is my card:

This was fun, I cut out one inch squares from a really old pad I have, the tulip is a sizzix paper sculpting die, stamp is purple onion from a Self Addressed kit!

Don't forget to pop by the dare a look at all the fab cards!

2007-11-02T11:35:00.000Z

The Joys Of Twin Pregnancy!!..And DCM day!

Well its Friday again! I managed to miss last Friday and only got my dare card up mid week..shame on me!!

I'm now at 27 and a half weeks! In lay mans terms that's about 6 months...and I tell you I'm feeling it! Back ache....sleeplessness....intense breathlessness....exhaustion...sensitivity...wierd numbness in my left leg..feel life a beached whale... oh and of course an octopus beating me up from the inside! I say octopus seeing as there are 4 arms and 4 legs! Its actually kind of weird as there is so much movement compared to when I had Ibrahim!

On the up side DH is being super nice! And I have been baby shopping for a few essentials!!

SO on to today's dare now I have got that out of my system! Today's DCM dare has been set by our own Tracie who is only a couple of weeks behind me so maybe if we ever get together our girls can play together!!

The card for this dare can be any theme but must have an element of hand cutting in it!

I hand cut the card base and the papers, also hand cut the greeting.

Papers are K&CO Amy Butler collection, the pink is a scrap of BG which I ran through a cuttlebug embossing die. The stamp is from a super cheap Papermania set. Prima blooms and some buttons!

2007-10-19T10:12:00.001+01:00

Happy Birthday DCM

Today is the Daring Card Makers birthday! WHooooooooooooooo. Where have all the weeks and dares gone! Wow it has been so fabulous. All the great dares set by the DT and the fab cards made by the dare takers! We have also made some amazing new friends along the way so it seemed fitting that we come full circle back to our original dare which was 'friends' this time though it is entitled 'Circle of friends' as you need at least one circle there too!

What a year we have had, with lots and lots of ups and a few downs, marriages, births, tough times, sponsorships and magazine publications! Its been great and here is to many more years of our great friendships...of course as well as more babies....hehehe

So this is in honour of all the friends I've made this year and the friendships that have deepened! For all of you who have taken part in the dares and for : Jane, Kathy, Rhi, Tracie, Lythan, Jo, Kel, Debbie, Gillian, Keryn, and Lynne..you girls are the best!

Here is my card this week. BG papers, primas, and my friend Mr. Robo! I cut our the white card and layered it over coloured BG papers. The butterflies which I love are wizard dies, probably the die I use the most!

The great quote is from Raplh Waldo Emerson!

So be sure to take a peek at the amazing cards the girls have made this week! They have all really out done themselves! And please take part and make this one of the most successful dares ever!

TFL

2007-10-17T13:37:00.001+01:00

Oh my word..enough Paisley!!

Well I think I am now on paisley overload!! I made these cards last night and today and gave myself the extra challeneg of using every colour in the DCVW pad I have had for ages! I also used all eight See D stamps in a collection I have also had a long while! The love stamp I think is a Do-Crafts stamp. Anyway here they are..I am pleased with them but need a rest now!

2007-10-16T15:08:00.000+01:00

Paisleys again!

Well it seems I'm on a role! This is a piccy of me I think maybe around ten! Dressed in folkloric Persian clothes for a fancy dress party. I kind of went mad with the bling! Took forever to stick down each seed bead and sequin but it was very therapeutic! The title and the journaling spot are cut on Mr Robo. What the pics don't show is what I attempted to do to the title. I cut it out then stamped it with a text background stamp using versemark then used some pink embossing powders just to bring it out a bit.
Papers are K&Co pad. The little blue sequin flowers are from Iran!
TFL

xxSaffa

2007-10-15T12:21:00.000+01:00

My Fab Pa!

I don't quite remember when I started calling my Dad, Pa. It was in my teens at some point. It was a bit of a standing joke as Pa means foot in Farsi. Anyways My dad has three girls and loves it. He says that girls take care of their dads and cook them dinner. Well I tell you our Dad takes wonderful care of us even though we are all now married.

Well my dad really out did himself this week. He has only gone and got me one of these:

I can't tell you how excited I am! Me and Mr Robo are still getting acquainted but WOW I love him already. He is a typical bloke and doesn't always do what he should but hey!

So in honour of my Pa I made this LO using Robo. This is my Dad in the summer he was going to Iran for my kid sister's wedding. He hadn't had a holiday for 16 years before this and he said he enjoyed his 8 weeks break sooo much he didn't want to come back! Thanks Pa you are simply the best! Love you!

2007-10-12T10:42:00.000+01:00

DCM Friday! (And a Just Bex challenge)

OOh today's dare from the Daring Cardmakers is sooooooo fun! It was set by Kathy this week and the girls have come up with some fab cards as ever so make sure you take a peek!

Hellooooo, Kathy here to set you a really Beastly dare this week! The theme is ANIMAL and you can use anything that's animal inspired - not those diddy little ones like bugs, birds and butterflies (though you can include them in your design of course) but what I'd really like to see is bigger, wilder, more fabulous or fantastic creatures So you could maybe use animal die cuts, animal prints on paper or fabric, or maybe animal words or phrases "grrrrr get down tiger"!!!! You could invent your own wild and wonderful beasties, or go back in time for dinosaurs, or into the world of mythology for all sorts of incredible creatures. How about a card in the shape of a tiger, elephant or monkey? Now, there's a challenge for you.... I'd love you to all go really wild over this one and have loads of beastly fun

So here are my offerings of the week:

So for this card I made the little bee from some circles cut using a wizard die in my Big Shot. The frame is an old sizzix die, papers are BG and Chatterbox. I used some fibres and buttons for the bees knees lol

This was a fun card to make and I have only just discovered the absolutely fantastic Cuttle Bug embossing folder things which are so cheap too and work a treat in my bigshot! So I used a cuttlebug lion and embossing folder and the most time consuming tiny Quikutz alpha! The papers are some that were donated by the fab team at Self Addressed kits.

I also did another layout for the challenge to use loads of pics on a LO on the Just Bex forum. Its of me and my sisters when we were kids! I have noticed we don't have many pictures of the three of use! Must remeber that for when my lot make an appearance! LOL- So SEI papers, making memories foam stamps and some ribbons!

TFL!!

2007-10-08T21:00:00.000+01:00

Me...again!

Well lets just hope this crafting mojo keeps up!!! I have been having a blast! Anyways here is a layout I did today for a challenge on the Just Bex forum. It was a challenge to use more than one picture on a layout without totally hiding the paper. Well these are pics of Ibrahim at about 7 months.....dressed in his Moroccan gear hehe.

The papers are We R Memory keepers that I got ages ago from a Self Addressed kit. The lettering is Making Memories as are the rub-ons. Card stock is Bazzil.

Thanks for looking!

2007-10-08T11:10:00.000+01:00

Yay!

Well went to my Dad's on Saturday...I wanted to tidy Tas's bedroom before she came back on Sunday..HAHAHA well OH MY GOOOOOOOOD what did I let myself in for!!! Talk about bomb site! Well after a few hours it was done...I bet next week it will be a state again...well I think I have given up any hope that married life will change her. Mind you I don't think we want her to change too much hehe. It was wonderful to see her and her DH is due God willing on Tuesday. Still waiting for the official wedding pics though :(

Here is a layout I have just finished. It's my Aunty Souri on her wedding she was just sweet sixteen and still is totally stunning mashallah! This is the first outing for me of the amazing BG scarlet letters papers...really stunning. I also used some primas, some gems. I hand cut the title...NOT FUN I sooooooooooooo want ..did I say want....I meant NEED a craft robo boo hooo.

2007-10-05T15:04:00.000+01:00

My Mum!

OOh I love old pics..I could scrap them forever! Here is my mum...not sure how old but WOW!!
Bought these fab fab fab K&Co papers a weeks back they are gorgeous! Oh and a BG rub on and a journalling spot I can't remembe the manufacturer.

2007-10-05T14:18:00.000+01:00

Answers on a post card

Today is the fabulous Jane's dare day on the Daring Cardmakers! So here it is:

'Hello Happy Darers !!! It's Jane here ! It's my turn to dare again .........and I'm still on the postal theme ......yep thats right - I want you to design a post card - and whats more I want you to actually post it! Aren't I mean ? Honestly, its not as bad as it sounds- just a bit more thinking 'outside the square'.....excuse the pun :0).'

So here is my atempt. I use some BG papers (honestly I have other papers but always seem to reach for the BG) some stamps I've had for ages and hey presto! The saying is from Helen Keller.

Make sure you pop over to the blog and see what the other DT members have come up with!

2007-10-04T20:51:00.000+01:00

Paisley Crazy!

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my blog! I am trying to get back to everyone individually but haven't yet managed it! I'm ok..get tired very quickly and spend much of my time out of breath. Other than that not been up to much. Just taking it easy before all hell breaks loose come January!

Here are a couple of cards for the Paisley challenge on Just Bex forum I really love paisley!

BG papers, banana frog stamps!

2007-09-28T10:50:00.000+01:00

In the frame...

Today as always is dare day! Today was the lovely Lynnes turn to set a dare..

'This week I’d like you to use a FRAME or FRAMES on your card. You can use any type of frame you so wish. How about a die cut frame or a hand cut frame. You can frame your card with brackets or flowers or how about some doodling - the choice is yours.'

So here are the two cards I came up with...

Basic Grey papers, wizard butterfly die and wobbly frame die and a stamp that i got yonks ago bu this is the first outing its had! I stamped onto acetate then stuck it to the frame and used foam pads. Used a bit of glitter on tyhe wings of the butterflys for a bit of bling hehe. I go the ribbon ages ago so don't remember where from!

The second card is using the sizzix slide mount die with coloured corrogated card, some free rubbons, BG papers as per usual!!!

So make sure you head over to the Daring Cardmakers to check out what the fab design team have come up with this week and also to see what the dare takers have been up to!!

2007-09-25T13:39:00.000+01:00

Too good to be true!

Well I hope I can keep up this blogging fervour!! Firstly here is todays LE from the Daring Cardmakers

Vroooooooom.................
Cars, Boats, Trains & Planesis the theme for our Little Extra challenge this week. A good chance to stock up on kids cards and make a few of those poor, unloved "cards for men", maybe? How about "congratulations on Passing yout Driving test" or "Got your Wings" for newly qualified pilots? - ok so we may be reaching a bit far with that one, but you never know! Basically, what we'd like you to do is put some transport on your cards this week, how you do it is up to you

Here is my atempt:

Don't forget to check out the blog to see the design teams fab efforts as well as take part in this weeks dare and littel extra!

I also managed to complete a challenege for the Just Bex forum. It was to create a LO which included an element of symetry or a mirror image. It isn't entirely symetrical however the image and blocks around it are. This is my DH at around 5 years old and his dad. Papers are BG (most my layouts are BG papers)!!

2007-09-25T09:33:00.000+01:00

Maamy Sorour!

This is my maternal Grandma. She has lead such an interesting life which I hope to scrap at some point. Anyway this is a picture from when she was I think either 16 or 18 I will need to check with her and my mum at some point! She was such a beautiful young woman and now is a sweet granny full of love and kindness and concern!

This is a very simple layout for me but I really wanted the picture to do the talking and I didnt want to be at it for hours!

Papers are Wild Asparagus, autumn leaves stamp and the lace is actually from my grandma..after a huge clearout of her stuff a year or so ago!

xxSaffa

2007-09-23T19:05:00.000+01:00

Proud!!!

Well here is a canvas I JUST finished for my sisters birthday which was in June! LOL I'm notorious for this kind of thing it took me a whole year to finish a painting for DH's birthday so that he got it on the next birthday hehehe.

This in my cool nephew while he was playing me a song for my birthday on his electric guitar! He has grown in to such a handsome and well behaved boy lol (mashallah).

The canvas is made of two canvases. The largest is 16" by 16" and the smaller is I think 10" by 12" I use some old BG papers that I have had for ages. Lots of the good old modge podge BUT NOT ON THE PHOTO otherwise it turns a funny colour!!!!!!

I used some twine oh and a rub on from a really old SA kit!!!!

2007-09-21T11:39:00.000+01:00

Gillians Dare!

So here is my card fot this weeks dare which was set by Gillian!

OK, here's this weeks dare:Let's go Charity shoppingor Op shopping (as we call it in Australia)
I DARE you to visit your local Charity Shop & make someone else's
TRASH your STASH!
.........and make a GORGEOUS card from what you find.You'll be amazed at the special little treasures you'll find if you only take the time to look with CREATIVE EYES

So I hit my local HIgh streets and went to about six charity shops and have to say I was REALLY disappointed! WHat happened to all that brik-a-brack and magpie type finds! It was all so tidy and well more like a high street chain!

Owe well I managed to find these little blighters..I guess they are some kind of moulds but no idea what for as they are tiny!

So I chose the butterfly one and this is my card the paper and diecuts were freebies from Quick and Crafty magazine. I can't say I was inspired but hey never mind!

So make sure you pop over to the Daring Cardmakers blog and take part and look at the lovely cards created by the DT

2007-09-19T13:53:00.000+01:00

Hello?

Oh dear, I don't know if anyone still pops in to red my blog...but I figured it was about time I made an appearance!

What can I say...it has been a MANIC few months with us and downs. Thank God my FIL is doing really really really well (Mashallah) and is back in Morocco. Thanks to all who sent me all your good wishes and much needed prayers.

In a short space of time a lot has gone on. Firstly we had to move.....AGAIN...as the landlord was selling, at the same time I found out that I was PREGNANT!!!!!!! WOhooooooo that was a good day. I did fell bleugh for the first three moths though!! Which actually was a good thing as I managed t loses a few kilos which is much needed!

So I taught a little English, moved house and then........went for my 13 week scan to be asked by the sonographer 'do you have a history of twins in your family?'......UH NOOOOO.

SO thats my biggest news of all. God willing Im expecting twins and I found out yesterday that they are ickle girlies...YAY YAY YAY..all that pink and frills and plaits. They will hate me Im sure but they will be the girliest girls EVER..hehehe.

SO the downside of the summer....I missed my baby sisters wedding in Iran. I couldn't fly out. I cried sooooo much its silly. Everyone was there except poor me, all our friends had gone and my family. It was a BIG and lovely affair so I'm told although everyone says 'its better you didn't come as we were soo stressed'. Unfortunately that doesn't make any difference, but hey at least a get a great double consolation prize in a few months.

So here are some pics of my sister one is from the phororgrapher. This was her Iranian/Islamic ceremony in Iran the 'real' wedding of you like. This is my Dad collecting her from the salon and giving her hand to th groom...

Traditionally the groom bings the flowers for the bride (after this they were whisked away for filming and photos.

Here comes the cultural bit! This is the Sofreh Aghd the bride and groom sit in front of it and it is where the vows are made her is an explanation I found online

:Persian Wedding Traditions and Customs

There are two stages to a Persian marriage. Most often both take place on the same day, but occasionally there could be some time between the two. The first is called "Aghd", the legal process of getting married, when both the bride and bridegroom and their guardians sign a marriage contract. The second stage is "Jashn-e Aroosi", the wedding reception - the actual feasts and the celebration.

The ceremony takes place in a specially decorated room with flowers and a beautiful and elaborately decorated spread on the floor called "Sofreh-ye Aghd". Traditionally Sofreh-ye Aghd is set on the floor facing east, the direction of sunrise (light). Consequently when bride and bridegroom are seated at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd they will be facing "The Light".
By custom Aghd would normally take place at bride's parents/guardians home. The arrival of the guests, who are to be witnesses to the marriage of the couple, initiates the wedding ceremony. Traditionally the couples' guardians and other elder close family members are present in the room to greet the guests and guide them to their seats. After all the guests are seated the bridegroom is the first to take his seat in the room at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bride comes afterwards and joins the bridegroom at the head of Sofreh-ye Aghd. The bridegroom always sits on the right hand side of the bride. In Zoroastrian culture the right side designates a place of respect.

Persian Wedding Spread - Persian Wedding Sofreh Aghd

The spread that is used on the floor as the backdrop for Sofreh-ye Aghd was traditionally passed from mother to daughter (or occasionally son). The spread is made of a luxurious fabric such as "Termeh" (Cashmere: A rich gold embroidered fabric originally made in Cashmere from the soft wool found beneath the hair of the goats of Cashmere, Tibet, and the Himalayas), "Atlas" (Gold embroidered satin) or "Abrisham" (Silk).

On Sofreh-ye Aghd, the following items are placed:

Mirror (of fate) "Aayeneh-ye Bakht" and two Candelabras (representing the bride and groom and brightness in their future) one on either side of the mirror. The mirror and two candelabras are symbols of light and fire, two very important elements in the Zoroastrian culture. When the bride enters the room she has her veil covering her face. Once the bride sits beside the bridegroom she removes her veil and the first thing that the bridegroom sees in the mirror should be the reflection of his wife-to-be.

A tray of seven multi-colored herbs and spices "Sini-ye Aatel-O-Baatel" to guard the couple and their lives together against the evil eye, witchcraft and to drive away evil spirits. This tray consists of seven elements in seven colors:
Poppy Seeds "Khash-Khaash" (to break spells and witchcraft)
Wild Rice "Berenj"
Angelica "Sabzi Khoshk"
Salt "Namak" (to blind the evil eye)
Nigella Seeds "Raziyaneh"
Black Tea "Chaay"
Frankincense "Kondor" (to burn the evil spirits)

A specially baked and decorated flatbread "Noon-e Sangak" with blessing "Mobaarak-Baad" written in calligraphy on it. The writing is usually with either saffron "Zaffaron", cinnamon, Nigella seeds, or glitters. This symbolizes prosperity for the feasts and for the couple's life thereafter. A separate platter of this flat bread, feta cheese and fresh herbs are also present to be shared with the guests after the ceremony, to bring the new couple happiness and prosperity.

A basket of decorated eggs and a basket of decorated almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts in the shell to symbolize fertility.

A basket of pomegranates and/or apples for a joyous future. Pomegranates are considered heavenly fruits and apples symbolize the divine creation of mankind.

A cup of rose water extracted from special Persian roses "Gol-e Mohammadi" to perfume the air.

A bowl made out of crystallized sugar "Kaas-e Nabaat/Shaakh-e Nabaat" to sweeten life for the newly wed.

A brazier "Manghal" holding burning coals sprinkled with wild rue "Espand" a popular incense. Wild rue is used in many Zoroastrian ceremonies, rituals and purification rites. It is believed to keep the evil eye away and bring on plenty of health.

A bowl of gold coins representing wealth and prosperity.

A scarf or shawl made out of silk or any other fine fabric to be held over the bride and bridegroom's head throughout the ceremony by various happily married female relatives (mostly bride's close family members).

Two sugar cones "Kalleh Ghand" made out of hardened sugar to be used during the ceremony. These sugar cones are grinded together above the bride and bridegroom's head (over the scarf held above their heads) throughout the ceremony to shower them in sugar (symbolizing sweetness and happiness).

A cup of honey to sweeten life. Immediately after the couple is married they each should dip one pinky finger in the cup of honey and feed it to the other one.

A needle and seven strands of colored thread to figuratively sew up the mother-in-law's lips from speaking unpleasant words to the bride! The shawl that is held above the couple's head throughout the ceremony is sewed in one corner by the needle and threads.

A copy of the couple's Holy Book is placed on the spread. For Christian couples, it would be the Bible, for Zorastians Avesta, For Muslims Qur'an, .... This symbolizes God's blessing for the couple. Some couples use a poetry book such as Khayyam's poetry collection or Hafiz poetry collection instead of a religeous holy book.

A prayer carpet/kit is placed in the center of Sofreh-ye Aghd to remind the couple of importance of prayer both at blissful times and times of hardship. This prayer kit would include a prayer rosary or a cross & Holy Bible or a small rug "Sajjaadeh" and a strand of prayer beads "Tasbih".

An assortment of sweets and pastries to be shared with the guests after the ceremony. The assortment usually includes: Sugar coated almond strips "Noghl", Baklava (a sweet flaky Persian pastry "Baaghlavaa"), Mulberry-almond paste made in the shape of mulberries "Tout", Rice-flour cookies "Noon-Berenji", Chickpea-flour cookies "Noon-Nokhodchi", Almond-flour cookies "Noon-Baadoomi", and Honey roasted almonds "Sohaan A'sali".

Having the sugar ground over their heads..

Towards the end of the reception:

Going home for the after party!!

The official 'for the guests' piccy

Are you all still with me?

Anyways I can't post her looking mashallah stunning without her scarf and bolero...you'll just have to take my word for it oh and the music is traditional persian wedding music..LOVE IT!

2007-07-10T18:05:00.001+01:00

WHY?

SO why have I been a bad bad blogger!!! Well as usual I have plenty of excuses! But I won't go into them for now, I have just been MEGA busy....so huge apologies to the rest of the fantastic DCM team and all the participants for my lack of participation. Anyway I just wanted to share a couple of photos I took at my sisters civil marriage ceremony a couple of weeks ago. The actual big religious/Iranian ceremony is God willing in August.
Thanks Paula for the mention! I was thrilled to see my cards in Quick and Crafty it was pretty cool!!!!

Anyway Im signing off for now!

xxSaffa

2007-06-05T18:00:00.000+01:00

Daring Cardmakers Mid-Week Little extra...

So Yes I did one this week...Im on a role....SO this week was interesting to put it mildly..and it was Gillians idea so I blame her....NO GLUE!!! So no adhesives of any sort. I resulted to hand and machine stitching as well as brads and staples! Papers are from the lovely Jenn at Self Adressed!

This is for my Dad who has been a star! He got me the most amazing camera EVER for my birthday last week..DAD YOU ROCK!!!! Here is my baby....
I have been dreaming of one of these for ages.......Im soo excited!

2007-06-02T18:27:00.000+01:00

I can see clearly now..

Kel says- Okay, this week I would like you to use some acetate, vellum, plasma or anything else remotely 'see-through' on your card. That's it.

Here is my take of Kels dare. I used some Queen and Co. Flowers and machine stitching. It wasnt easy as the acetate didn't feed very easily through the machine but I got there in the end!

2007-05-27T00:26:00.000+01:00

Heloooooooo

Sorry for being a bad blogger. Here is my late card for this weeks dare. We had to use something from the office. I used staples, dymo tape, a paper clip a post it note and a raffle ticket..if that counts hehe.

2007-05-17T13:59:00.000+01:00

Lemons anyone?

There is the saying 'when life throws you lemons make lemonade'. Well all I can say is that life seems to be throwing us a veritable bowl of fruit these days so I guess we have just got to try and make some kind of a fruit salad. Lets just say the next few months are going to be well 'interesting' to say the least!!

xxSaffa

2007-05-01T12:26:00.000+01:00

Time Management?

Nope I am useless at managing my time and I am the queen of procrastination.....evrytime I tell myself not again! Oh well. Anyways instead of doing a massive assignment I need to have done by Thursday I have done spot of crafting. I was inspired by Bex new forum which launched yesterday, so go check it out! It looks like a lot of fun and some crafting will be had!

Anyway, I was going to bed but decided to make something instead. This is what I came up with: This an old photo of me and Abdellatif from 1999!!!!!! I heard the quote from the movies 'The Wedding Planner' the guys says 'love can't always be perfect, love is just love'. I heard it and thought wow thats us.

So this is the layout I made. I bought a BG card making kit and used it for scrapbooking instead! I haven't scrapped in eons and it was soooooo much fun. The paper is BG blitzen and blush. I sooooo need a good crafty spend and want to get some of the new BG papers. I feel that something is missing, should I plonk something in the bottom left corner, or some doodling..hmm I'll have a think! I have to say you got to love the Dymo machine, its just fab, I used some BG coloured paper and just put it through the Dymo thingy then sanded it with my trusty nail file! I love the effect!

I did these layouts a little while back, but thought I'd post them. The first is of me and my sisters..I have used this picture about a million times so sorry for those of you that have seen it. Its at my little sister's engagment. And lastly this is a page about my first trip to Morocco to visit Abdellatif's family. I didn' have Moroccan wedding (very very very stupid of me they are sooooo much fun). So on Eid MIL got a lady round to do henna and we had the tradition of feeding each other dates and honey! It was lovely. I really really really need..yes NEED a robo, hand cutting the letters takes flipping ages,as usual BG papers, Urban Couture I think.
Thanks for looking...

Lets hope the crafting continues. Thanks for all the prayers for my FIL. He is stable but there is no change. We just have to be very patient.

God Bless
xxSaffa

2007-04-27T07:13:00.000+01:00

Tempting Templates-DCM

Ooh we have been very lucky! This weeks dare is sponsored by the lovely Jenn and Self Addressed she was kind enough to provide the team with some fab papers. So this week Jane set us a template to make good use of the stash we had been sent!

Here is my attempt. The papers are just sooo delicious!
So have a look at what gorgeous creations the girls have come up with and don't forget to check out the Self Addressed site

We are also really glad to have a new guest designer for a couple of weeks..so big waves to Tracy! We look forward to seeing some of her gorgeous creations!

xxsaffa

2007-04-24T11:46:00.000+01:00

So much going on!

Phew its been a busy old week...actually its been a busy month or so! BIG DCM NEWS: We have the absolute pleasure of having Lynne join us as a full time DCM designer. We are so chuffed and we will get to se loads of her fab fab fab creations! So welcome aboard Lynne!

Today is the DCM little extra. This week it was primary colours! I had a great time with this card and went a little overboard with the walnut ink so it looks a little dirtier than I had intended!

FIL is still is still in intensive care. There are some serious problems with his lungs as well as other issues so continuing prayers would be much appreciated. I found this picture of him when he and MIL came to visit back in 2005. I love this photo I hope and pray to God that we will again be able to share moments like this!

Well Ibrahim started his new school today (yes I'm about to get all motherly so reach for a bucket as I've been gushing for two days over my boy) Yesterday was a well needed trip to the barber. We just popped in to a new place and he gave Ibrahim a great cut-although my kid sister said that its geeky....well I think that (mashallah) he looks gorgeous! So here is a before photo from Sunday morning at the park and an after photo from yesterday!

And here is my boy..you can now actually see his face hehe......
I really love this photo and it is going into my box of pics to scrap..that is an ever growing mountain!!!! I'm really pleased that he has been excited about starting his new school! I think it helps that he already knows one of the boys in his class. The last week or so was spent kitting him out...WOW uniforn isnt cheap, but we found a blazer at the thrift shop at the school for the grand sum of £8 which saved me about £90 would you believe!! Everything is labeled including socks as Ibrahim is as scatty as they come! He will lose anything! Anyway Ibrahim this morning looking all smart (Im sure he wont look like this when I go to collect him!!) My boy is all grown up..I don't know where the time has gone!!!!

And if you have got to the end of this post..well done!!!!! Go take a well earned rest of go make a card for the DCM challenge!!

xxSaffa

2007-04-22T02:21:00.000+01:00

Better late than never!

So this weeks dare was set by the fantastic Gillian it was to use the currently very hip felt on a card. Somehow Friday passed me by without me quite noticing. So here is my belated card.

2007-04-14T09:08:00.000+01:00

Loving this song!!

OK OK OK I know its really old, but if its good then it should always be good if you see what I mean. This is Clannad's song from one of my all time favourite movies The Last Of The Mohicans I just adore this move so I thought I'd post the song!

Saffa

2007-04-13T09:06:00.000+01:00

Crossing Continents!

This weeks dare for the daring card makers was set by yours trully and the girls have risen to the challenge with such style as ever!!

I (Saffa) come from a very multicultural background and love being able to see them all from within and this is what has inspired this weeks challenge....take a deep breath...
I would like you to make a card that celebrates and reflects a festival from another culture to your own....

So here are some ideas to get you started:
Chinese New Year,
Eid,
Hanukkah,
Persian New Year,
Diwali,
Sinhalese New Year,
Kwanzaa,
St. Patrick's day,

So this is what I came up with for my own dare this week. It is not what I had originally planned but hey when are my cards ever what I originally planned. Now I have been a bit cheeky with this dare. I chose Nowruz which is the Persian new year it literally means 'new day' and is celebrated in Iran , Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, Georgia, the countries of Central Asia such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, as well as among various other Iranian and Turkic people in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, India, North western China, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and the Balkans.

It is celebrated at the time of the spring equinox which usually falls on the 21st March. This year it was around 1am UK time on the morning of the 21st. There are lots of traditions relate to Norooz, several days before we set out the Haftseen this is what Wikepedia has to say about the Haftseen

The Haft Sīn

Main article: Haft sin table

The Traditional Haft Sîn

Haft Sîn (هفت سین) or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Norouz. The haft sin table includes seven items specific starting with the letter S or Sīn (س) in Persian alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Originally called Haft Chin (هفت چین)^{[citation needed]}, the Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sīn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Norouzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

The Haft Sin items are:

sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

Other items on the table may include:

Sonbol - Hyacinth (flower)
Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi
dried nuts, berries and raisins (Aajeel)
lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
a mirror (symbolizing cleanness)
decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)
a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)
a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
rose water for its magical cleansing powers
the national colours, for a patriotic touch
a holy book (e.g., the Qur'an, Avesta, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas,) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez)

There are normally prayers said aroung the time of the equinox to welcome in the new year. So this is my card. Paisley is a big part of persian art and the cloth used on the Haftseen is normally a traditional paisley fabric called 'Termeh'.

We always have flowers, I tried to make a hyacinth bu that failed so resorted to the good old junkitz blooms! The sequin is for the mirror that is always on the haftseen and the colours are reds and greens and earth tones to reflect all the other items of the haftseen.

2007-04-06T14:27:00.000+01:00

Just a quick hello!

Hello everyone, thanks to all of you that have poped in to my blog recently! There has been a reason for my lack of blogging. Apart from being mega mega busy with my studies and my work we had some bad news three weeks ago. My father in law who had been visiting family our in Saudi Arabia had been hit by a car as he crossed the road. Three weeks on and he is still in a semi-coma state. He has started to move his hand and feet and my DH Abdellatif who flew out is sure that his father hears them. Unfortunately the MRI scan showed some brain damage, but we will not know the extent for a very long time and recovery will be along process.

As you can imagine, in times like this blogging falls straight to the bottom of the need to do list as does crafting I'm affraid. It is difficult sometimes to come to terms with things like this but we must put our trust in God. Often there may be great good in something that appears bad to us. The family are coping as best as they can and it is good that MIL and her kids are all together. We didn't tell the family back home in Morocco until two weeks later as we were waiting for something conclusive to say so it has been hard on them too!

I will try and get back to some crafting and blogging. I would ask you to make a prayer for the continued recovery of my FIL who (mashallah/ God bless him) is the very best of men.

xxSaffa

2007-03-30T12:56:00.000+01:00

Quick Giveaway!

I have a free new and unopened copy of this months Crafts Beautiful. So whoever is the first to leave a comment (sorry only uk for postage) I will send it to you!

xxSaffa

2007-03-07T22:02:00.000Z

About a boy...

Well today's post is about developments in Ibrahim's little life. He has been a busy chap! Ibrahim is due to move to the Juniors in September but we just didn't feel that it was good enough and he wasn't being challenged. For example we like to do a bit of extra work with him but it is proving so hard its like going against the grain as at school there is not much effort!

After much deliberation we approached a great private school. He sat the entrance exam and got through. I was so proud of him. I'm sure lots of people don't agree with private schools but seeing as he isn't getting the education we want this is what we have opted for. The big downside is of course the back breaking fees! I almost keeled over at the price of the uniform which is nothing special! However he has made me proud and I'm so pleased that he will be going to a good school. It will mean another upheaval for the poor love seeing as he only changed schools a year ago however I hope it will be for the best and he already knows one of the boys in his new school!

Also....Ibrahim did the Taekwondo exam two weeks ago to move from a high white belt to a yellow and he passed...I was almost in tears I was so pleased, he was also made a member of the the tiger team -this is a group of kids who have tiger badges and are awarded these for discipline, behavior, dedication etc etc. I was so happy that he passed he grading, then he got his tiger badge andI was just a gushing high pitched squealing mad woman hehe. He is a very active and sometimes exhausting young man but the joy that he gives me is immeasurable, just the hugs I get as I come in the door..awwwww...bless hehehe. Here are a couple of pics of my love!

On the right is Ibrahim with Grand Master Yusuf Dildar and on the left is Ibrahim with Master Yusufs brother Master Usman Dildar. They are fantastic instructors and have such a great way with the kids. The kids.

Can you spot Ibrahim's tiger badge in his left hand! ..We even laminated his certificates..hehe..and of course he took everything in for show and tell.!!!! And bellow he demonstrates for us his fighting stance!

And if you are still with me thanks for putting up with a gushing mum!

xxSaffa

2007-03-02T11:48:00.000Z

Out of the comfort zone!

This week's Daring Cardmakers dare was set by Tracie..one of our brides to be!! She wanted us to step out of our comfort zones, to through away those security blankets, to try something different!

Well here are my interpretations. I'm quite happy with this first card! I never use 'shapes' so I decided to make a round card for my gran who has just come home from hospital after about 6 months! I also used a die that I bought and was well really unsure about ever using! I used a plate to draw around fr the card, the brown paper is BG Lillykate and the pink is Making Memories paper as are the flowers. The blue bloom is Junkitz and the buttons are Papermania. I think the ribbons are from Self-Addressed but I can't be sure! I used a wizard die for the little frame which I really love, I spritzed the card with some embossing solution t help make bring out the embossing then I rubbed in a bit of black ink and some bronze perfect pearls and I think the effect isn't half bad!

Ukh not to keen on this card....I bought a lot of sequins and really find it impossible to use any and have gazillions of the things lying about! SO here is an attempt to use them..which kind of proves that they should stay in the box. I am by the way now safely back in my comfort zone and don't plan on coming out in a hurry!!Make sure you check out the DCM blog and have a look at the gorgeous creations the ladies have come up with!

On another note I am God willing starting my course......next Saturday! Yay..still working on getting a refund on the course from hell via the card company so fingers crossed!

xxSaffa

2007-02-26T23:05:00.000Z

Something I made a while back!

Here is a canvas I did a while back! I have no new pics at the mo so I am digging up old ones! I had a blast making this although I had a bit of a wobbly when I started Modpoging everything and the inked edges went green!!!!!!!

Paper is Basic Grey of course!!!!!

Letters are handcut..I am soooo getting myself a Robo soon maybe I will do that when I claim my tax back!!

The picture is of me and my two sisters on my baby sisters engagement- you have seen it before so sorry but I reckon it is the nicest pic of the three of us...plus we dont actually have that many of the three of us!

Thanks for everyones sweet and supportive comments! I am hoping to get on with a new course...start again and hopefully God willing this times things will go according to plan, but Im not starting until March so I shall try to cram in some crafting!

xxSaffa

2007-02-23T16:17:00.000Z

What a week!

To start off....here is my card for this weeks dare. I have not taken part due to my course but I will get to that in a moment!

Kathy set this fab fab dare for the Daring Card Makers blog 20:20 vision. You must make a card on any theme but it must use 20 of something!

So this is what I came up with:
I used brown card-stock and cut out twenty flowers using a think cuts die. The rub on words are SI. The colours are a bit off I'm afraid!

That is the first bit of crafting I have done in ages and ages. The reason was me starting an intensive teacher training course so I could teach English to beginners! Well there have been some rather sickening developments on that front.

The four week course is accredited by an examination board called Trinity. There are two accreditation boards which are recognised worldwide for this TEFL qualification the other is Cambridge. You can get unacreddited courses however they are not well recognised and the basically to get a good job here or abroad it should be accredited.

So I signed up for my Trinity Tefl in January and have been sooo excited! The first week was well not great as the teacher who was new himself to this centre left after 3 days! He told us the reasons would become apparent and boy have they! So after a mish mash of a first week we really got stuck in and it was really hard work, alot of blood, sweat and tears. So we began week three and on Tuesday discovered to our horror that in fact the course was not accredited even though it was and still is advertised as such. WOW we were dumbstruck. The examination board were adamant that the accreditation had be withdrawn as of 31 December 2006!!!!!!!!

So there we 13 are in total shock. Basically all the effort we have out in is worthless as we have to start all over again and the work will not be retrospectively accredited! Plus it looks like we may never get a refund as the whole school appears to be a sham! the guys has people wanting money left right and centre.

We have tried speaking to him and he can talk for England but say nothing of significance. Basically he is a con man, and has our money, won't return it..oh I could go on and on and on but we feel like we have had the wind knocked out of us! We now have to find the money and time to do it all over again!

So we are looking to see if we can get a reputable establishment to accommodate those of us who still want to continue. It is terrible there are those who have come from abroad, and those of us who have stopped work and hoped to be working my March!!!!!

Well that's that...I will keep you informed as it is quite a saga and we will be seeking legal redress!!

So that's me..on a plus side there are some projects I would like to get done so hopefully more crafting time.

xxSaffa

2007-02-01T15:46:00.000Z

Hello!

Well I am beginning to feel better in myself physically! Went to the doc and was given antibiotics for a sinus and chest infection. I have not had antibiotics for at least 3 or 4 years and they did not agree with me at all giving me a dodgy tum for a week. I have been getting sick of being sick though! Only thing is that two months of being poorly and feeling rather crook, plus the antibiotics seems to have made my OCD and anxiety levels rise quite substantially! I guess its just taken its toll on me. That is not good, one of things I fear most is another severe OCD relapse and the black hole that it brings! Thank God it seems to be just simmering and hopefully the rescue remedy with help until it subsides. Ok enough of me wallowing in self pity! Wow I do sound like a really moaning Myrtle!

Well today was my last day working at Waterstones book shop. I have worked there since October and have finished as my course starts next Monday so YAY YAY YAY...I am glad to get back to studying...plus it will get me busy which will help keep anxiety and OCD at bay me hopes!

Unfortunately crafting has been severely neglected. My craft room is now in my bedroom which actually isn't bad- and I will get a piccy once it is organised. There are a few 'projects' I want to do and I have had a piccy on my desk for over a week but the layout just isn't coming together!

And my lovely mum is back in Iran until the summer-boo hooo. My poor dad will be feeling rather lonely!

Well I thought I would post a random photo of my men, it was taken at Kew gardens before Christmas. I really really want a new camera, the new Canon eos 400 would make my day, so I better start saving as it isn't cheap!

Well I think thats enough waffle from me for today! Hope you are all well!

xxSaffa

2007-01-19T01:09:00.000Z

Blurghhhhhh

What Can I say? Oh well just sorry everyone for not being a good blogger. Well quick update and will try and get some piccies up. Am still feeling yuck with a cold or flu or whatever it is that has lasted almost two months!

Have been wedding dress shopping with my kid sister and WOW the dress she has chosen is stunning. Unfortunately she doesnt wan anyone we know to see the dress before hand so I cant even post a link! Needless to say that mashallah she looked like an angel!

I have been a very bad crafter of late and have been very un-crafty! But I am feeling he mojo come back so hopefully will get some stuff done and up on the blog.

Im really excited, in Feb I will be starting a TESOL course. It is a teacher training course for teaching english as a foreign language, whats more is that as it is a very intensive one month course we have decided to get an au-pair as it is cheaper than the childminder. It does mean that I have to give up my craft room which I will be moving in to my bedroom, but at least I will be getting some help wit the dreaded housework!

So hopefully by March I will be able to teach english whopee!

Anyway I just wanted to get something down and will hopefully be more regular with my posts.

Thanks ladies for visiting my blog and leaving comments for me!
xxsaffa

2006-12-30T23:13:00.000Z

SORRY

I will write a longer message soon. Just wanted to apologise for being a bad bad bad blogger! Thanks to everyone who has left comments for me!! Sorry I have not replied. I started a new job in November and have also me sick for the last three weeks. But will try to get back on track. Tomorrow is Eid so I hope to have so nice eid family piccies to share.

Hope you are all good

xxSaffa

2006-12-08T18:37:00.000Z

Stamping with a twist....DARE 8!

OOh yay..its that time of week all tooo soon! The new dare from theDaring Cardmakers! This week was Keryn's turn to set the dare and did she come up with a great challenge..although to see the work the girls have produced you would never guess they felt at all challenged..hehe Keryn wanted us to stamp using anything other than commercially bought stamps..so there was plenty of scope for the imagination!

So here is my rather..erm..psychedelic card.... I was really stumped but even though nothing matches and the colours clash, I think they are miss-matched and clash in a good way? Well I started ou by trying to find something to stamp with. Well it just so happens that me and Ibrahim bought some cookie cutters (see my previous posts) so I got out the the star. I used brilliance ink in a purple colour and stamped the BACK of the cutter on to some cream card. After cutting the star out I embossed it with versemark and clear embossing powders and of course added some 'blingage' with my yummy blue gems! I used a purple card blank and masked of a checkered pattern then again just used my versemark ink pad all over. Next (are you still with me?) I covered half the card with a piece of BG romany paper GORGEOUS STUFF IT IS!!! and also a bit of Crate paper I got from a magazine! I stuck down the star with my usual foam pads. The greeting is a bit of twill ribbon stapled on to a teeny bit of chatterbox papers mounted on card then stuck down with FPs. I then hand wrote the extra greeting and stapled so ribbon on too. Et voila!! Thats it! PLEASE go check out the blog if you haven't yet as it rocks...whohoooooo

xxSaffa

2006-12-03T00:09:00.000Z

P.S...

Here is the Bette Midler song for my card down below!!

2006-12-02T23:36:00.000Z

Master chef!

Well today was 'baking with mum day'. We have a points scheme for Ibrahim, we try and do a bit of work with him everyday, maths, spelling etc. We give him points for how well he works etc. Once he reaches 10 points he gets to pick a prize form the prize tin, kind of a lucky dip. Its full of things like 'play monopoly', 'go to the museum', 'trip to the bookshop' and today was a day baking with me. So we got a book from the library and he decided he wanted to make tarts and merangues (sp?)

So a trip to tescos and he was kitted out hehehe and we set to work! Here are the fruits of our labours...I just thought I should have photo-ed the merangues never mind! I have to say I have never liked tarts and these were no different..TOO MUCH JAM, I think next time I will try a nice cherry or apple fruit filling, they are just tooo sweet with jam or lemon curd......and of course here is a pic of the chef taking a bow!

2006-12-01T22:45:00.000Z

Time for a song...dare 7!

Today was Kel's turn to set the Daring Cardmakers their challenge. The card had to include Lyrics from a song and NO Happy birthday was not acceptable!!

Here is my go! I used Bette Midlers 'wind beneath my wings' I love that song. Now with this card I thought I would try a bit of stamping and chalking which I haven't done in ages and ages. On white cardstock I used some Hero Arts stamps with Versemark inks then chalked them! The butterfly is a wizard die cut from vellum and brushed with some perfect pearls. I used some alpha stamps using the same technique. And then just embelished with some little metal sparklies from Iran!!

2006-11-25T22:28:00.000Z

In homage of sisters....

My darling mum has been in Iran since september and I am missing her more than anything, she is there looking after my sweet grandma with all her sisters now since Khaleh Manizheh arrived yesterday! It is not so nice having such an international family (especially if you can't stomach flying like me) I have 2 Aunts and they both hale from over the pond, one Canada one the US. I love them dearly so am gutted that I am not with them all! I don't see my Aunties and their families enough!

God willing my mum is back for a month soon...and she will be off again! So in honour of family and sisters I have posted these pics of my mum and her sisters and me and my sisters. I love you women so much. Each one of you is amazing....

Mum you are my rock, my guiding star, my friend my confidant...I know you read this (after I give you the link for the umpteenth time!) I want you to know how much I love you and how blessed I am to have you as my mother! Khoda Hefset koneh!

Maamy Soroor I wish we were all with you to give you kisses and hugs and tease you keep well and listen to your daughters they love you! You have made them what they are and therefore us what we are. I love you and am sending you many many many kisses!

Khaleh Soury, you always give me such a feeling of peace, you are at peace with yourself and you Lord and this spreads to those around you. You are so easy to talk to and so understanding and I can't wait to see you soon!

Khaleh Manizheh..JOOOOOOOOOOOON MY goodness I miss you sooo much I want to cry! Your fun spirit, your advice and listening ear..and you are a great shopping companion! Its been way to long since you were last here!!!

May Allah bless and protect you all! Khoda hefsetoon koneh! Mashallah!

My sisters!!!

Peggah, my elder sis! Love you honey, Im so proud of you and your achievements you are a fab mum and a great listener. You have a cool sense of humour and we can always have a good laugh!! Oh and you give the meanest massages...although as I recall I have not had one in ages..hmmmm. May God grant you every happiness and success that can be had!!

Tas, you are well and truly off your rocker...and a typical younger sibling, but you are the one who will take the pee when I'm feeling sorry for myself and make me laugh! I pray that God fills your life with Love, health, Iman and lots of laughter..

You women inspire me, listen to me, inspire me and console me!!
May Allah bless you all and protect you and bring us altogether in one country SOOOOOOONNNNN

Kises from me xxxxx

2006-11-25T13:54:00.000Z

Dare 6..

Well this week the daring cardmakers culprit was Jo!! Thanks Jo!! Actually when I first saw that the dare was doodling I thought YAY!! Well I found it much harder than I thought and I'm not all too pleased with the out come. But hey ho! Thus is crafting sometimes you have it and sometimes you just don't! And this week was a don't week!

The process of this card was actually really fun just didnt come together as planned. I got the inspiration from some free christmassy doddle bug papers that came free wit he Scrapbook Inspirations mag. I doodled the background paper using three different colour pens. I then cheated..I scanned the image which was originally purple, green and blue. I tiled it on an A4 sheet and then messed about with the colour cast and it came out pink, green and red.

The font is Rebekahs Birthday which you can find free on the net..thanks Jo for the link! I matted the greeting on some card I printed on so I could match the exact colours of he back ground (smart huh!) Bit of ribbon some bling a few paper parcels and hey presto!

This card looked soooooo good in my head....why does that happen. I have seen lots of scrapbook pages with this wavy free hand writing thing going on! Even saw some paper like it so that was my inspiration The papers are from a DCWV paper stack! I jut ripped a whole lot stuck them down and then machine sewed the edges. I ripped some red cardstock and hand drew the greeting as well as the heart and stuck it down using foam pads for dimension added a junkitz flower and the heart and hey presto!

So that was it..I MUST MUST MUST try and practice the whole doodling thing much much more..

Now if you haven't already you simply have to go check out the blog the girls have excelled themselves this week and I am slightly green at the moment of the doodling talent out there!!

2006-11-21T12:05:00.000Z

Pencil Lines Sketch #7!!

OOh this is a fab fab fab blog and if you have not paid them a visit you should! This is the first time I am joining in and it has already really got me 'out of the box'!

So here is my layout and my version on the sketch..not strictly the same but hey! This is my cheeky Ibrahim in the summer trying on a suit at John Lewis dept. store-we didn't buy the suit but he looked sooo cute I took a few snaps. A bit of playing in photoshop by the way.

So what did I use...well some KI papers and a few KI letter stickers I got in a Self Addressed kit a while ago now and never knew what to do with..lol The pics are mated on to some Bazzil card and the little plastic tags are also from SA. Ribbon I was given. The rubbons are Royal and Langnickel. I stamped the title with MM foam stamps then cut them out and used my pentel pen to outline them. This is quite experimental for me but I am quite pleased with how it turned out!

2006-11-20T19:04:00.000Z

School Piccy!

Just got Ibrahims school photo today! Its not the best but kind of feel I have to get it if you know what I mean! This time round I bought the CD and the copyright so I could do what I pleased with it! So here it is. Ibrahim in year 2! I dont know where the last six years have gone they have flown past like a day dream!

2006-11-17T22:15:00.000Z

If Only.....

I have pilfered a whole load of piccies from my mum and have scanned them so I can scrap them. I finished this today, I started it a bout a month ago and it is nothing like that which was in my head but I am quite pleased with it. It was quite emotional to do though! This is my Uncle, my mums brother. He tragically dies 5 days after I was born. I never new him. He is my only uncle from my mums side. Is strange because if it is possible I really miss him! Or miss knowing him.

Journalling reads " I never got a chance to know my Uncle Massoud. Tragically he died 5 days after I was born-the day before Peggahs birthday! As an only son in a family of girls he had a special place I think. His death broke my grandparents Mammy Sorour and Baba Omid. Just 5 days...just 5 days after I was born, for 5 days I had a real Diey. A maternal Unlce! I never really thought about him as a child growing up, but now as a mum myself I have started thinking about him. Peggah was lucky enough to have known him and I know he loved her. They spent time together smiling, laughing, hugs and kisses. There are photos to show. I dont have that, what I shared with Diey Massoud is sharing FIVE days on the same planet. I wonder what it would have been like had he lived. He would have doted on us neices and nephews I'm sure!! Perhaps he would have had kids two-other cousins. He would have had fun with us, and now if he had lived he would see my son Ibrahim! I know his life was not alwys happy as it should have been, it pains me that you suffered so much in your short life now especially since I can glimpse in to some of that pain. I wish I had memories of you like Peggah. I wish I had keepsakes and photos of us laughing and smiling together. I wish you had lived to see me and us cousins growing in to men and women. I wish you had met my husband and son. I wish you had not felt so desperate and pained. I wish you had lived and I really really wish I'd had the chance to know you!! "

I miss you Diey Massoud, may you rest in eternal peace and blessing!(Ok I am going to stop with this now as I'm welling up again!)

Even though it looks yellow this is actually a kind of green paper from the fatastic Basic grey Urban Couture papers. I cut the bird out of another BG UC paper, MM velvet letters, papermania metal letters, MM alpha stamps. And lots and lots of journalling with my zig pen!

xxSaffa

2006-11-17T10:17:00.000Z

Dare Number...5

Wow! I can't believe we are on dare number 5 already! Thats right the Daring Cardmakers has been up and running for 5 weeks. The blog is doing so well its fantastic with contributors from around the globe! Well this week was Debbie's turn to set a dare.....hmmm...nothing hard..ONLY A MENS CARD WITH RIBBON!!!!!

Now I know we ALL find men's cards so hard so this is a great challenge! It was really very good as my nephews birthday is coming up so this was a perfect way to get that done. Make sure you check out the blog to see everyones gorgeous creations!!

This is the card I made for my nephew who will be 13 in a week or two! He plays bass guitar and is a complete guitar nut..lol!! I started with a yellow piece of A4 cardstock! Added a strip of red and blue down the centre. I cut out three tags from corrugated green card. Using an ellison die I cut out the bass guitars. I made the greeting with dymo label maker. I mounted the greetings on yellow corrugated card. I assembled the lot as in the picture. I stapled the ribbon on each tag. and then stuck the tags down with foam pads!

I started with a beige card blank and stamped some circles using a hero arts stamp and versemark ink pad on to it. I cut out three strips of patterned papers (Chatterbox I think!) and inked them too. I inked the edges of the paper and card. I stuck the papers down and then stitched round using the sewing machine. I then used a sizzix die to cut out the slide mount and again used the dymo to make a greeting which I assembled and then decorated with ribbon. I used a junkitz flower and bazzil button. Two pieces of ribbon were stapled to the card and the flower was stuck down using good old glue dots. I stuck down the slide mount with foam pads.
Et voila!!

Well thats that for now! I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!
xxSaffa

2006-11-14T16:30:00.000Z

Julia Boutros-Lebenese Christian singer...

Beautiful song..mashallah alayk ya Julia!

2006-11-10T17:26:00.000Z

Dare 4..

Fantastic dare...again! It was set this week by T (AKA Bondgirl!) . Use a foreign language. This was such a great dare! The good old internet came up trumps and I was able to find 'hello' in any number of languages from cherokee to chinese hehehe.

On this card I was able use the sizzix telephone die that I have had for ages but never actually used on anything! I used ribbon for the wire. The papers are a bit of gren bazzil and the rest are from a MM small pad. I hand wrote the speech bubble..that was fun ...in english, french, russian, english again, spainsh, arabic and japanese:)

I cut out five squares using a punch everything was inked with distress ink by Ranger. Then I just played aroung with everything and stuck it down when I was pleased!

I really enjoyed making this card. I ripped the two opposing sides of some crate paper that I got free with a scrapbooking mag! Stuck it down on to an A5 card. I scanned the love translation from an english-arabic dictionary and printed it on to some beige card with I then ripped round and inked. I die cut some flowers using a sizzix dies and inked the lot-the papers are the gorgeous BG lillykate set. Finally I printed out the saying-inked it and stuck the lot down, I used foam pads for the greeting to give it a bit of extra dimension!
Don't forget to check out the

blog to see everyones amazing cards they are truly stunning!

2006-11-07T19:26:00.000Z

Bits and Bobs...

So I thought I would show you what I have been up to of late! I made this for my Gran who is having chemo at the moment. I am not able to see her as much as I should so made her these flowers to say hi!! It was so much fun!!

The little watering cans were probably about £1 from good old Ikea, then I used loads of ribbons and chatterbox papers and mod podged the lot!! The flowers are attatched to dowel from Homebase which I covered in ribbons. I stuck the stems in the pot using ALOT of hot melt glue!

It was a really fun project to do and so different from cards and scrapbook LOs.

2006-11-04T17:58:00.000Z

Dare 3.....

Yup..yesterday saw the release of Kathy's dare.. on the Daring Cardmakers blog! It was a pretty fantastic dare too I may add... (so why did I leave it till the last minute..hmm). 'A stitch in time', it had to feature real sewing not the old use a pen jobby and anything sewing related. Once again the girls have produced some cracking cards! So many different interpretations of the theme! Don't forget to check out the contributions of the dare taker-uppers (is that a word?).

Well here is my effort, and I just want to say one thing first..INTERFACING, INTERFACING, INTERFACING!! (Ok thats three things). That stuff rocks! Well I left my card a bit late in the day (11.30pm to be precise) so the sewing machine would have to stay covered in dust!

I was wandering what to do when I remembered I have a box full off curtain samples I got for 50p a piece when Allders dept. store was clossing down and selling all their fittings etc!

So I cut out some bits of different colours and ironed on some of that interfacing stuff to stiffen it up...stay with me...and then I had my eureka moment as I still had no idea what I was goig to do! I was able to run the material through the Big Shot and it cut out the flowers like a dream...believe me you WILL be seeing more fabric flowers on my cards from now on!!

WARNING: Dont try using the xyron machines to stick your flowers down...it is nigh on impossible to get them off the backing sheet without totally distroying them!!

So I stuck the flowers with a bit of glossy accents although I am sure PVA would be great too! I then used a needle to make holes for my stitching (which took ages I must add) and did the stitching with some old embroidery thread I had lying about and made a few french knots with green thread and even stitched the buttons and greeting on..no glue dots for me either!!

2006-11-01T21:07:00.000Z

About time...

I was tagged a little while ago byKathy!! These are quetions..very good ones too..set by Paula.

1) What technique would you consider to be your "trade mark" (what do you do most)?

I don't know if I have a trademark..nope I don't I enjoy trying all kinds of things. Sorry not a great answer..

2) Which technique(s) do you wish you could do/do better?
Erm...is Patience a technique as I could really improve on that..otherwise I would have to say stamping. I tend to do the same old same old and nothing very creative..

3) What are your 4 favourite embellishments?
Ribbbons, blossoms, eyelets, brads! You will no doubt find at least one on everything I make and often at least three!!

4) What are your 3 favourite gadgets?
Eyelet setter, scissors, printer! Now if I had a Robo thats what I would say but I dont have one!!

5a) What do you like to do but haven't done in a while?
Shrink Plastic! Whe I first discovered it alot of stuff feaured shrink plasic, but I havent used it in ages!!..hmmm must dig it out..

5b) And what have you done recently & forgot how much you enjoyed?
OOh toughey!! ..Just making random cards I guess, I have not just sat and made for no reason in ages and ages..so thats it!

Well if anyone reads this then you are tagged, post a link to my blog so I can read your answers

xxSaffa

2006-10-27T22:14:00.000+01:00

Dare 2....

So this week sees the launch of dare 2 from the daring cardmakers . This weeks dare was ALL Janes fault....now when she said dare she really meant it! The challenge was to make a card on any theme (so far so good)....using stuff from the kitchen (thud....yes it took a while to pick our jaws up from the floor) But after some recovery time the team came up trumps and produced some cracking cards using the most inventive stuff from plastic milk bottles to tooth picks!!!!!

Here are my efforts for this week..

On this card I used a sizzix die to cut out the sunflower, I used mung beans for the centre and covered them in Glossy Accents, I inked and mounted the flower using foam pads on the corrogated card and then inked yellow gingham paper. I trimmed it will ribbons, brads and a greeting made on my Dymo label maker.

This was a very quick card....using pearlesent (sp?) card and paper. I stuck the papers down, then used a hot melt glue gun to stick the candles...IT DOES MELT THE WAX so easy on the glue then I used a bit of ribbon and a printed greeting stuck on top with glossy accents..I must say it is not all that sturdy as wax doesnt stick very easily!!!

For card 3 I started with pink hammered card and inked the edges, then used a piece of MOD papers which was also inked. I used a circle punch to cut out the flower centre which I decorated with brown rice and a split pea!! Cut a strip of green bazill card as the stem and hand cut a little tag to which I stuck..Oh my God must I admit it...well...peel offs (now I must go wash my mouth out with soap). Everything was inked by the way lol, I stuck it all down, adding dimension by using foam pads for the flower head. I then used a few green lentils which were stuck with glossy accents for earth at the bottom of the flower stem and then hand drew stitiching around everything!!!

Next weeks is a cracker...can't wait...whopeeeeeee

xxSaffa

2006-10-25T20:51:00.000+01:00

P.S

The music I have had on is and Iranian guy called Ebbi...very popular (even if older) bloke!!

This song is about 'Hannah' lol and is sung strangely enough in Persian/Farsi!!

2006-10-25T19:55:00.000+01:00

Cards....

Here are the eid cards I made this year...hmm have not sent them yet! These lot I made for an order. Was going to have stamps made but never got around to do it so I printed out these islamic patters and caligraphy, mouonted them on mirri card and used foam pads to stick them down. hey went down a treat!! (Comercial eid cards are the height of TACK) 50 cards 10 of each design, mt friends OH sent them out on behalf of his business to his clients and he said clients rang back to say how nice they were..needless to say that made my day!!

These three are among the ones I have made to send from me and the family to friends etc. They are more traditional!! I absolutely ADORE these stamps from Banana Frog!!! They are gorgeous. I stamped on the card using only versemark....I love this watermarking technique!! It is so fun and effective. Then I stamped and embossed in gold and mounted on gold and trimmed with ribbon..very simple, but I had fun and really enjoyed myself! Now to send them off lol.....

2006-10-24T23:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Eid !!!!

....Well the month of Ramadhan has flown past, I am a little sad to see it over again, it is such a blessed time and as usual I really did not take advantage of it as I should have!!! Today we celebrated Eid -ul-Fitr. Whopee.. I wore my princess style dress again (traditional Moroccan gown) Well its kind of the only time to really get dressed up! Hubby and his friend went this morning to the congragational eid prayers at the mosque, and then we had a nice breakky of croissants (about 6 different kinds, eggs, etc) at.......12:30pm!!!!

I spent a good three hours cooking lunch which we ate at 6pm!!! Due to the mix of cultures I dressed as a Moroccan, but cooked as an Iranian!

I got Ibrahim a few more pressies than planned...well I could'nt resist..even though a globe is a very useful gift I am not sure it has the WOW factor that the Power Rangers doo daa that I got him has...(and I promised I would never buy any chid of mine those kind of toys..lol) I couldn't wait to see his little face in the morning, and actually woke him up myself when he was sound asleep (evil mother that I am). Had my camera a the ready too.
He was thrilled o bits with his gifts, bless him!! (I managed to get i on camera too!!) He kept saying thank you and hugging us, and saying his presents were 'cool' it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!!!!

Anyways here a few pics taken really late at night we were all so tired but I had to have some to post for all of my blogging friends!!!!

Look at Ibrahims teeth!!!!! His adult teeth are begining to come through!!

Anyway I will post some pics of the Eid cards I made a bit Later as Blogger wont post any more pics!!!!

xxSaffa

2006-10-20T13:38:00.000+01:00

Showing Thanks!!

Well the day just gets better and better..thank you God!!! Apart from the fab Daring card makers blog , I have also just got my self a JOB...... it is at Waterstones bookshop, and ok it isnt what I spent 7 years at Uni for, but until I fugure that out it will be so great, meet new people, discover new books and make some money to pay back a few bills..yippeee..and buy crafty bits..craft robo here I come!!

Oh and Ibrahim was in the Harvest Festival play to day and remebered his one line and was just fantastic!!

2006-10-20T10:49:00.000+01:00

TODAYS THE DAY!!!!!

Yes its here at last, the launch of DARING CARD MAKERS !!! It is new and exciting venture. Each week one of the design team will set a new card challenge! I must say the callibre of the designers is fantastic, so many different styles. We are an international team (oh the joys of the internet) , with designers from the UK and New Zealand. This promises to be a very exciting and inspiring blog so watch this space and get creating!!!!!

This weeks starts of with the great challenege of 'Friends'. Here is my contribution:

Ok so the papers are Murray Hill by City Center Designs. The flowers are Queen and Co. Bazzil card stock. The circle was created in Word using word art, printed on to bazzil, then I cut it out using my wizard die cutting machine with two circle dies!

So if you are reading this and want a challenge then go on...WE DARE YOU!!!!!!!!

2006-10-14T23:38:00.000+01:00

Just the Remedy...

Nothing like a couple of hours of girly chat with a good friend, especially if that friend is a completely gifted and talented crafter!!!! Thankfully the cold that I felt coming on has not stayed and has moved on! So Paula came over and we had a FABULOUS TIME...she got me the most amazing HUGE slabs of chocolate. CAN YOU BELEIVE THIS CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No way I'm eating it especially the pink one Im gonna keep it as a momento!!!

We talked soo much OH felt so left out and had no idea what we were talking about, 'big shots, wizards, basic grey...I think he needed an interpreter! He said we were 'soo chatty'. Paula was teaching at a quilting shop near Hampton Court Palace (not far from me) I never new he shop existed, They really are totally limited when it comes to card making stuff, but still managed to get a few bits…..hehehe

Well I can’t wait to do it again it has been so long since I had so much fun and such a good natter! ...If you are reading this Paula..thanks soooooooooo much and have a safe and great trip on Monday!!!

Oooh and I am excited again...hehehehe!!

2006-10-12T19:40:00.000+01:00

On Friendship

The last couple of days a lot of friendships have been put to the test! Whenever I hear of problems and misunderstandings between friends I always remember when I was younger. I have always been a very loyal and sometimes even jealous friend (well I never had loads but treasured the ones I have). So many times I have trusted freinds and been heart broken by them.....BUT.......like any worth while relationship good friendships are bound to go through tough times as well as good. There will be times when friends are misunderstood, when our hearts rule our minds,and we feel wronged....in the heat of the moment we all say things perhaps we didn't mean!! But a good friendship should not be discarded so easily. It takes give and take, and compromise. Friends are precious and few, we may go through life knowing many people but true friends you can count on the fingers of your hands!!

In Islam we are always reminded that it really is your intentions that count, sometimes looking from the outside it is tough for us to see that...how may times I have put my foot in it..too many to count...but good intentions should count for alot!

Anyways I don't know if any of that made any sense but I put a lot of importance on friends and keeping them so just though I would share my thoughts. And ALL of you out there in web world that are having tough times at the mo, take it easy, step back, have some hugs from me and heres hoping for strong and re-kindled friendships......

2006-10-11T14:29:00.000+01:00

New look!!

Well after sitting in front of the flipping computer ALL day I have revamped my old blog..quite pleased with myself actually hehehe..even designed the banners and backgroung papers myself from my work..hehehe....not just a pretty face huh?

It is a bit IN YOUR FACE but hey never mind..probably change it soon...

heheheh..

(still fed up though about my criptic issue)

2006-10-11T05:38:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to put this in to web space..

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A bit disappoined at the moment...

I was all excited and now well never mind!

All a bit criptic I know but I jus felt like shouting and there are no empty deserts or beaches so the web seemed a good place!!

2006-10-08T22:22:00.000+01:00

I've been tagged...

..by Rhi

1. Do you have any middle names?
Well actually I have two, one I chose myself ....lonnnnnnnnng story and another one. Saffa the one I chose myself and ..wait for it...Punteha ....which is the name of an ancient Persian princess my mum chose...I really dislike it!!!!!!

2. What's under your bed right now?
Do I have to confess? Quite a lot..the campbed, some boxes of photos, soem jumpers erm probably a fair bit of dust, a glass, a bit of Ibrahims toy....need I go on?

3. Last time you laughed so much you cried?
Ohh its been I while I think since I laughed that much...I guess it was probably playing monopoly over the summer with the family and OH's cousin who was over from morocco! When you play long enough it just gets really silly...lol!!

4. What age were you when you first drank Alcohol?
Well, as a Muslim I have never drunk, however I do use Dr Bachs flower remedies which are preserved in brandy so does that count?

5. Porn Star Name (First pets name and your Motheres Maiden name)?
.....well I wouldn't have one..plus I can't rememebr he name of our first pet! ( I know I am a spoil sport)

6. Whats your desk top photo on the pc?
OOh its this piccy I took of my babe Ibrahim during the summer at the park ..Ohh what I would give to have a Canon EOS 400D and a couple of fab lenses, but will just have to make do with my good old point and shoot!

7. What did you have for breakfast?
Well at about 4.30 am I had a slice of date and walnut cake with custard...I bought the cake the other day from the super market as it looked yummy and I really fancied it...what a disappointment..too sweet and dry, so bought custard the next day to see if that helped...well guess what....it didnt!!!!!

8. Music or TV?
Hmm well we don't have a TV at home although we have a fair few DVDS mostly mine and Ibrahims, so I do like my films but in the long run I would say music!

9. Worst outfit you have ever worn?
Oh boy there have been many, when I was a girl I was nick named 'gol nar' which is the name of a persian kind of village girl in persian folk stories, it mean flowery....well I would wear about every colour there was...flowery trousers yellow t-shirt, hot pink coat and a sky blue head scarf...I have often asked my mum HOW SHE LET ME OUT LIKE THAT!!!!!!

10 .Where do you feel most at peace?
Hmm I love just sitting watching the sea, especially when it is rough and windy! Also in our prayer room at home which is so calming. And nothing beats being in my mums arms..I know how soppy is that, but hey I owe her everything !!

Now who am I going to tag.....Carolyn, Rachel.

2006-10-06T00:56:00.000+01:00

Yawnnnnn

Oohh really sleepy as it is 1 am!! Anyways just been doing a spot of crafting..making my gran a little something as she is in hospital having chemo and thinks we all forgotten about her!!

After posting piccies of my nice neat room I thought I would show you what it ACTUALLY looks like and voila: This is actually quite tidy it can get a whole lot worse.

OOh and I hear there is a little secret going around..well wink wink..nudge nudge...mums the word!!!!.....hehehehehehehehehehehehhe

xxSaffa

2006-10-02T21:03:00.000+01:00

Dinner Party!

On Sunday we invited the neighbours over to share our 'break-fast' meal. Well spent most of Saturday shopping for the affore said meal. Went to central London to our favourite Halal butcher and North-African foodstore. Now you know how he shops are at Christmas well his store was just like that it was PACKED!!! People take a lot of care preparing their evening meal when they fast (which kind of defeats the purpose) but it is lovely time of year for muslims, a time for family etc etc etc. Anyways I wanted to try to make a moroccan sweet which needed Mastic! Which is not readily available at Sainsburys. I love the middle eastern food shops I can get lots of stuff that I just cant at the super market. Special pastry called 'feuille brik' which is used to make kind or samosa type things. Well the list is endless, as was the traffic coming and going. I mean it is only a distance of about 10 miles but took around an hour and a half to get there and an hour back!!!!!!

Sunday got on with the cooking and spent 7 hours in the kitchen. I felt rather deflated as the food didnt look like seven hours of work but they were all fiddly things involving pastry and stuff like that! OOh and I also managed to nicely burn my fingers with hot oil..I am known for my clumsiness and sadly dont get much simpathy from OH now, I think he is waiting for me to do some serious damage one day!!!!!

I thought I would post some piccies of the table before I served my infamous moroccan soup!!!

Okay well this is the 'spread'

Okay Left to right: meaty samosa type things called 'briouat' in morocco. Then sweet 'briouats' which are stuffed with ground almonds, orange blossom water, cinammon and mastic, then fried and dipped in syrup!!! And little mini pizzas for the kids!!

Moroccan eggs..ie boiled and sprinkled with cumin and salt...a must at the break fast meal, the long pastries are made of the pastry I bought at the shop and are stuffed with minced chicken spices and egg. To break our fast it is traditional to start with dates and some kind of milky drink. I make bananas or avocados blended with milk a bit of sugar and rose water..yummy! Ooh there were also figs

I should say that moroccans eat a lot of sweet and savoury things at the same time! It took my a while to adjust but its actually lovely if you can get your head round it!!!

We also had grilled goats cheese on ciabata with caramalised onions..NOT moroccan but I love them anyway..and.................................soup.

P.S the music is by Sameera Said a moroccan working in Egypt. Its a kind of be good to each other anti racism kinda song and is great until she starts in English!

Enjoy

2006-09-30T09:04:00.000+01:00

Dejected Morning!!!

Woke up at 5.58am! So thought I would search for a job! Well to be honest after about 2 hours I am feeling thoroughly dejected. I have come to this conclusion that after

a.Seven years of study
b.three years of commuting from Southampton to London everyday
c.waking up at the crack of dawn to get Ibrahim then 3 months to my mums before I head off,
d.carrying a breast pump around uni to express milk for Ibrahim (plus odd looks in the ladies prayer room)
e.One year spent in egypt
f.Thousands of pounds of debt

that my First Class Honours Degree is worth absolutley NOTHING and I am not qualified to do anything useful...even the Foriegn office didnt want me as a low grade admin assistant!!

So now I am wandering what the point of it all was and what the heck I am going to do with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is a pic to prove that yes I did graduate (after 7 years)

2006-09-27T22:42:00.000+01:00

Announcement!

OOh Im on a role tonight well I thought I would post something abou the music I have been playing. I thought it would be a bit different to play suff that I listen to at home and perhaps some of you will never of heard!

This guy is called Hakim he is an egyptian (he normally seings belly dancing music!). This song is actually about Islam and about how our religion actually stands for peace despite what we may be lead to believe. I think this was as a response to that last few years world events!

Hmm enjoy my eclectic taste in Music!

xxSaffa

2006-09-27T15:30:00.000+01:00

SOOOOOOOOOO Tired!!

Ok well I am supposed to take Ibrahim to Acton for his Taekwondo....but I really can't be at all bothered!! I am really tempted to just stay at home. Its a 40 min drive, 2hr wait for him to finish and a 40 min drive home. And with the fasting I really am no in the mod for driving to and fro! Hmm ok thats it I have decided I am staying in.

..Didnt take much time to convince myself, but I will make sure he goes to his weekend class instead to make up for it. Besides I have some crafting I want to do.

The fasting is going well, its just the waking up for breakkie at 4am!!! Thats what is really knocking me out.

Oh ok seing as I am not going anywhere I will post some piccies of my Craft Room! Just so you have something to look at!

2006-09-23T00:58:00.000+01:00

Ramadhan!

Well is seems that the Holy month of Ramadhan is upon us muslims again! As usual half the world will start one day (24th) and half the day after. I wish that we could all agree on moon sightings but never mind!

So Inshallah we will start on Sunday. I am really looking forward to Ramadhan this year I feel it I really need it!

Also we really want to get Ibrahim involved with it this year now that he can really understand so much more. He wants to fast some half days this year which will be lovely and such an acheivement!

I don't know if my blog actually gets read, but for those of you who don;t know here is a breif introduction to Ramadhan.

Ramadhan is one of the months in the Islamic calendar which is based ono the moon not the sun so it is about 11 days shorter than our gregorian calendar. Muslims have been commanded by God in the Qu'ran to fast between sunrise and sunset for the entire month. This means no food or drink between those hours. (I should mention that sick and elderly as well as travelers etc are not expected to fast as you are not allowed to do anything that harms your body) For muslims Ramadhan is a very Holy month we try to really be at our very best, it is a time of reflection and spiritual cleansing and of trying to draw closer to God. It is a time for us to stop thinking abou our material needs and to think of others who are less fortunate. We try to complete the Quran during Ramadhan. It really is a month of blessings a time for family. Most cultures have there own traditions as far as the meal at sunset is concerned. Seeing as I have a Moroccan husband we will be having Harira a rich moroccan soup...EVERY DAY...I know I know I get sick of it but it is a Moroccan tradtion!

After the month is up we have our celebration or Eid!

Well R.E. lesson over! Just thought I would fill you guys in!

xxSaffa

2006-09-16T15:23:00.000+01:00

I have been tagged by lisababe
1. Which famous person would you most like to learn that you are descended from?
Hmm tough one maybe someone like Malcolm X! I wish he was still alive today I really wander what impact he would have had on the world!
2. Which famous person would you hate to learn that you are descended from?
Hmm there are so many..GEORGE W BUSH has to win hands down what a nightmare that would be!
3. If you could be ancestor to any living famous person, who would it be and why?
Some one famous? Let me see.......Muhammad Ali!!!!! Wow he is such an absolute inspiration-not that I like boxing- but I so admore his courage and honesty and faith in the face of adversity!

4. If you could go back in time and meet any known ancestor(s) of yours, who would it be?
OOh again there are so many but probably...one of my greatgrandadsI

5. Tag five others:

Hmm sorry I dont know who to tag!

2006-09-16T14:55:00.000+01:00

Too Long!!

Oh Boy its been ages since I posted! Well had quite a hectic summer, with both good and bad events going on!

So Ibrahim is back at school so big WOHOOOO now my holiday starts. So am hoping to really get my teeth in to my business and get started properly..well I can always live in hope! Also have to get my self in shape for Tasniems wedding which inshallah will be next summer! Hmm I went sight seeing with my husbands cousin to Harrods and saw the most gorgeous dresses..well hubby has told me that if I slim down he will get me one...I didn't tell him how much it costs..but I will be keeping him to his word I tell you that hehehehehehehe.

Summer seems to be on its way out which is a bit sad however I love autumn and don't mind winter either actually I quite like it, sitting inside all snuggled up while is it cold out!

Ok well I seem to have produced a load of old drivel but never mind.

2006-07-17T21:53:00.000+01:00

Forgot to add....

What is with the world! And what is it with foriegn policy in the US and UK!!!!!!!

I am about to tread on some toes...but here it goes......how come 'Isreal' gets to defend itself, but the Palestinians are not goven that right!! And what is all this rubish about UN resolutions....so now Isreal wants UN resolutions against Iran and Hezbollah etc....when they completely ignore UN resolutions about the state of things in Palestine/Isreal!!!!

>>OHH and why oh why on the news...when Lebanese are killed they are simply calles 50 victims..where as the news goes out of its way to state that a woman and child were killed in Isreal....dont the lebanese qualify as women and children too!!! Makes me soo mad I could spit..any death is a tragedy and they should be treated equally as tragic!!!

Ok rant over..I can go back to being nice little crafter

2006-07-17T21:41:00.000+01:00

Im still here!

Oh boy what a couple of weeks it has been!!! It seems to all be happening at once! Within about 24 hours of each other we found out that both my grans have most probably got cancer! And that my mums mum who is in America staying mwith my aunty is in intensive care. Well since then we have been through it just a bit! My mum treid to get an emergancy visa ten days ago to go to the States as my gran was having critical surgery...of course they wouldnt give it to her the same day that would be just too easy! As a persian passport holder she is subject to a whole load of extra red tape! Still in the American style they were very polite and she has been told sionce then that she will get a visa...we are just waiting now to receive it! The surgery has already been done however without my mum being there. Thank God it went well, we are not out fo the woods yet but we are praying that it will all work out. We still have my other gran to sort. Also my kid sis was told she has IBS today...I mean it doesnt rain but it poors!

I havent been feeling all that together, OCD has been running rampant through my mind and tears seem to be just behind my eyes all the time. Such is life though and I have a lot to be grateful for.

One bit of good news is that I managed to get through Psychometric testing for a clerical job at the Foreign Office....it aint much considering the 7 years it took to get my degree but its a start...I have the interview in August so fingers crossed.

I would request prayers from any pray-ers that read this for my Grans health!

2006-06-30T17:41:00.000+01:00

Amusing blog!...just don't take it personally! His list of 100 things is quite an eye opener!!

http://bgwynne.blogspot.com/

2006-06-28T10:36:00.000+01:00

OK so I have more to share!!!! On Saturday we all went to Haleemas wedding! She is a very close friends of ours ...specially Tasniem! I made her engagement and wedding invitations. It was a lovley wedding and me, OH and Ibrahim went as the Moroccan contingency!..heheheheheh. Tasniem was Maid of honour and was dressed in a gorgeous sari and as usual looked stunning (mashallah). The wedding was help at the Watford Town hall and was really lovely the bride and grown looked stunning(mashallah)! I think it was a dream come true for Haleema!

This is the invitation I designed.....after 250 I was just a bit fed up of red and gold!!!!..heheheheh

Doesnt the bride and groom look radiant (mashallah)

And to finish off the busy few days on Sunday night we had a ladies only party for my sister! WOW it was a great knees up! We all boogied down foe ages...must have burnt a fair few calories! Im afraid no pics...ladies only...but It was great, great company, great food, great music, great night!!!!!!Lots of peoples places were really missing...specialy My aunties and my cousin! We really felt their pressence was missing! Also Haleema was missing but you couldnt really expect her to come the day after her wedding!!! So now Im back home and have nothing of interest to report!!

2006-06-28T10:00:00.000+01:00

Here are some more photos of my lovely sister! Her and her OH!

The group picture is as follows from top left to right:Grooms sister in law, his sister, his brother, me,my OH, my older sis and her OH, our close friend (practically brother)and his wife.
Next row, grooms dad and mum, Tasniem her OH Mehdi, my mum and dad, then my son and my nephew! Phew.

What a day after the engagement we went to the mosque where the ehgagment was announced, we shared some persian cakes and prayed for the happiness of the couple! It was all very emotional! And I can't beleive that my baby sis is all grown up, in love and getting married! May they be blessed with hapiness and love always!! Ameeeen!!

2006-06-27T21:14:00.000+01:00

Oh Boy!!

Have I got me some catching up to do! What a few days it has been! Actually it has been absolutely lovely! On Thursday I went to Southampton to my folks! My sisters future in laws who had come from Iran we officially going to ask for her hand!! It was really an interesting experience! Sitting down officially and discussing things like the dowry (in a muslim mariage the Groom Must pay the girl a dowry no matter how small). Anyway it was actually quite stressful and made it all seem so serious and real! The next day we had the engagement! OOh it was sooooooo lovely my sis and her guy looked (mashallah) gorgeous!!! Actually I reckon we all did. It was just the family and it was beautiful....the engagment vows were read over the phone by a friend of the inlaws in a holy shrine in Iran it was perfect!
This is Tasniem before the ceremony! And waiting with her fiance for the vows to be read!

I love all our little customs and traditions. They exchanged rings, fed each other cake. They also signed the contract which states the dowry and wedding date etc. As me and Peggah didnt marry Iranians we didnt have these things....hmmmmmm

Here we are.....altogether me and OH and Ibrahim and my sis and her OH!!! I was official photographer and am soo pleased with the pics from my little camera!! This was after the vows..reflection from the mirror

2006-06-21T11:41:00.000+01:00

For Valerie!

Here are some pictures from the downstairs of our home! Specially for Valerie!
The front room..

The study..or more lilke library!

The Kitchen

The back garden!!

2006-06-21T10:55:00.000+01:00

Ok so I am on a roll at the moment!

I have been having a mosey through some of the blogs of you CBC girlies (for non crafters that is the little spot of internet paradise that is www.craftsbycarolyns). So following Kathy's blog here are twenty facts about me in no particular order....

I am half Iranian and half English
I suffer from Obssesive Compulsive Disorder (wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy)
I am totaly useless at money matters
I am inconsistent
I love crafting..scrapbooking now and card making
I love happy ending chick flick type movies
I am a loyal friend
I am PETRIFIED of flying
I have lived in Egypt.....SO COOL!!!
I love to dance
I have the greatest in-laws a girl could wish for (mashallah)
I am a muslim
My husband is moroccan
I wish I was half the size i am now!
I am a terrible procrastinator!
I am bubbly and appear very confident...but I really am not at all
I hate confrontation
I wish I was organised
I find life an uphill struggle most of the time
I am very emotional

2006-06-21T08:54:00.000+01:00

MY FIRST POST:

OOh...what have I done! Well this is my first post! I am sure I won't keep up with this. I always really liked the idea of keeping a diary but was never actually much good at it. I am not sure that my life will be of much interest to anyone but...you never know I guess.

Well this photo was taken on Sunday, because Ibrahims birthday was on Monday-a school day we decided to go down to my mums on Sunday. He had a lovely time. He got some lovely pressies..he especially loved his Narnia costume and sword and shield that he got from his grandma and grandpa! He also had a yummy yummy chocolate fudge Narnia birthday cake..which I baked (with the help of a Jane Asher cake mix pack..but shhhhhh don't tell anyone). I was planning to do one of those photo cakes, but Sainsburys wouldnt print the Narnia pic because of copyright...luckily someone on ebay would so I made my own cake and used the topper courtsey of ebay!..It was a great day and we had lots of fun! I can't believe my baby is six!!!!!! Where has the time gone!!