Happy Anniversary

I'm digging into my photo archives today as I haven't visited my stamp room since Monday. I am having a hard time feeling motivated, but tonight I need to carve out some time as I need a card and baby shower gift for the weekend. Its just like riding a bike, right? As soon as I get in my room I'm sure (I hope) I will remember what do to :)

This was made for a publication call a while back.

All Waltzingmouse Stamps goodies on this one. The frame is from Very Vintage Labels No. 4 stamped in Taken With Teal ink and cut out with the coordinating Spellbinders die. The hearts and sentiments are from the Sweethearts set. A row of polka dots adds a little horizontal balance. I really love layering the same color cardstock - it is a fun way to add some depth and texture without trying to find coordinating colors or patterns.

So I took about 450 photos on my trip. That is a lot of photos to wade through! But I thought I would start with our first few days and pick a few of my favorites to share with you.

We started our trip in England - my cousin lives in Northampton, which is approximately 70 minutes or so north of London. We spent the first two days there exploring London (I could have spent weeks in London alone). We knew we wouldn't be able to see everything, so we did what we could. Westminster Abbey was my favorite.

I can't even begin to wrap my brain around the history of just that particular place. The original abbey was founded in 960 AD, and since 1060 has been the site of every royal coronation. Henry VIII, Elizabeth I... just amazing. Many members of the royal family are buried there as well in fantastic monuments. There are memorials to Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, Jane Austen, George Frederic Handel.. the list goes on. It was truly mind-blowing.

We saw Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and London Bridge by starlight (not really, it was raining - big surprise - but it was after dark).

The next day we traveled to some countryside locales: Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and the Cotswolds. We saw Warwick Castle,

Shakespeare's birthplace,

and had afternoon tea (scones and clotted cream.. mmmm) at the Bantam.

We finished out our last day in the UK in Cambridge, visiting the amazing King's College Chapel. Another place that was just overflowing with history. Much of the finishing work on the Chapel was done during Henry VIII's reign including the glazing of the stained glass windows and a majority of the intricately carved woodwork. The organ screen, which is enormous and separates the antechapel from the choir, has the intertwined carved initials of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Isn't that the coolest? Truly surreal.

So that was our time in England in a nutshell. Hope you enjoyed the photos!

I'll be back tomorrow with more - have a great night!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Very Vintage Labels No. 4, Off Beat Backgrounds, Sweethearts - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Taken With Teal - Stampin' Up!; Raspberry Fizz, White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Taken With Teal, Melon Mambo - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Scallop edge punch - Stampin' Up!; Labels Four Nestabilities - Spellbinders