A diamond day

Thank you so much for all the good wishes you sent to me for my parents'  diamond wedding anniversary on Thursday which I passed on.  For 60 years of marriage the Queen can be requested to send a congratulatory message. I decided that I would surprise my parents.  I had to apply last month and this was the confirmation which arrived a few weeks ago...on Buckingham Palace headed note paper no less.

Below is one of the official wedding photos of my darling Mum and Dad on their wedding day, 26th March 1955, when they were 21 and 22 years old. Apparently once my Dad had ironed his trousers that morning he refused to sit down until after the service so that he did not crease them. Just look at the shine on his boots, he learnt that when he was in the army. My Mum looks so serene and so beautiful in her wedding dress and that was quite some bouquet of roses she carried.

and this is a more recent shot from one of our Thursday day outs.

We had planned lunch out at Scotney Castle, a National Trust Property but on the day it was so wet that we decided to go to our favourite garden centre instead and keep Scotney for a sunny Thursday. By going out later than planned it also meant that we were were in when the Royal Mail Van pulled up and the postman rang the bell. He wished my Mum happy 60 years of marriage and handed her an envelope. She was really surprised to find that it was from Buckingham Palace in this regal envelope.

 Inside was their card from The Queen

 It arrived in time for the actual time they were married, 12 noon, 60 years ago.

 It was personally addressed to them, here is a cropped version of their lovely message.

Today's card challenge entry is the card I made them.
They love my "vintage" Tim Holtz inspired cards so that is what I made. Tim uses "Found Relative" photos in his work but I use "My relatives" in mine as it makes my work so personal to the recipients.
I scanned and sized the image. I wanted to make the card look like a vintage photo frame capturing this magical moment. Here is the card.

I used Bister pigments for the background which I then stamped with a flower stamp and added lace fabric. I also added lots of frantage for "confetti". I distressed the edges in true Tim style and added some Vintage photo ink, so apt for my card. I mounted the card on Kraft card to continue with the vintage feel.

I used metal embellishments and one of Tim's lovely pen nibs. The sentiment is LOTV. I added a simple ivory bow and a little heart charm.

I also added a little set of rings embellishments, one of which has a "Diamond" in.

I made a corrugated card backing for the photo, inked with DIs. I used 2 styles of metal corners and more frantage.
The flowers are mulberry paper from my stash, I added some distress inks to them to give them a more ivory colour.
And here is a close up of the focal image, I love this photo and I love these 2 very special people. They have given me so much love and support throughout my life. I have been blessed to have them as my parents.

I would like to enter my card into the following great challenges;

A Vintage Journey anything Tim
Papertake Weekly a cut above
Top Tip Tuesdays buttons or bows
Frilly and Funkie put a ribbon on it
Country view crafts anything goes
Crafty ribbons anything goes with ribbon
Penny Black and More blossoms and bows
Inspiration Journal spring blooms
Mixed media world anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday anything goes

And so the celebrations continue......we are looking forward to a Sunday lunch with the rest of the family and we will raise a glass or 2 of bubbly to wish Mum and Dad many congratulations on reaching such a milestone. I am so lucky that I was able to spend the day with them on their special day.

Thanks for visiting me here today and for the blog love you leave, it's so appreciated.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x