More Prizes!!

Check out CTYD today, I have set a recycling challenge and there's a prize up for grabs!

And the winner is.....

Pamala who said

"My fav way to spend my bday is by sleeping in, then going to breakfast, then taking a ride with my dh on the back of his Harley, then maybe going somewhere fun, hmmmmmm how about the Grand Canyon, taking a little helicopter ride over, then zipping over to Niagra Falls to catch a view of some lovely water, then of course out to dinner someplace really scenic and lovely, have a wee little party with lots of friends and family and chocolate rapsberry cake and then a nice little ride home. :)Realistically it's getting to sleep in an hour or 2 past my normal 5 AM get up time, and some chocolate cake. Maybe a bike ride with dh too. :) he he A girl can dream, can't she? ;)"

This one really appealed to me as I've always wanted to visit both the grand canyon and niagra falls. The fact that it is unlikely for anyone to enjoy all of this in one birthday doesn't matter to me, I just love the idea of it and I have to say that chocolate raspberry cake sounds pretty yummy too!

So Pamala, please get in touch so I can get the mini book parcelled up and on its way to you.


Because I am feeling generous today I also have an early birthday RAK for dddeeebbbzzz who is going to Disney (I've always wanted a Disney birthday!)

Flower photos

Been crafting today but as it is DT stuff, I can't share it just yet. Instead I'll let you see what else I was doing today - more playing with my new toy, lol.

The photos are of some of the lovely flowers we saw in spain. I used the magnetic lasso tool in photoshop to select the outline of each flower. I then inverted the selection to select the background and converted the selection to black and white. I wanted to make the flowers really pop from the background and to allow the detail to show up. I think I might get frames for these and use them to brighten up my kitchen walls as they are a bit lacking in art at the moment.

I can't wait to try using this technique on portraits as I think it could be a really great way to improve photos with a distracting, busy background.

New toy!

Today I popped into PC world for a bit of a mooch, I'm thinking about getting myself a new laptop so thought I'd have a look. Well you'll be glad to hear I didn't make a spur of the moment laptop purchase, I did however come out with my purse a bit lighter and a new toy.

I bought myself a Bamboo, which is a writing tablet that lets you use a pen instead of a mouse. I have to say I like it better than a mouse already, even just for things like surfing the internet its fab, the tablet has scroll, back and forward buttons making life so much easier.

Well in the package there was also a copy of photoshop elements 5 so I have just been having a play this afternoon (I've been a psp girl up to now as I borrowed that from my mum but think I'm already converted), I don't do much digi at the moment but I think that is all about to change! The pen makes all the fiddly stuff so much easier than with a mouse. I haven't braved doodling on my photos with it yet but that is next on my list...

40 days - mini book giveaway

Today I have a mini book up for grabs. All you have to do to win it is to leave a comment on this post telling me about your favourite way to spend your birthday. I'll pick one comment and send you this mini book along with a few matching embellies so you can decorate it and fill it up with whatever takes your fancy.
If you'd like a better look at the prize then just click on the corners of the book on the widget below and drag to turn the pages (fingers crossed it works, its the first time I've tried this one)

Also a quick reminder to check out the Guvs blog to see all of the 40 days posts so far

ETA - i forgot to say you have until midnight BST on Wednesday 23rd July to enter. Check back on Thursday 24th to find out who's won!

My Freedom - Time

I finished my first pages for the Shimelle class last night on the subject of time. I have the photos and journalling ready for the next pages but making them will have to wait as I have some DT projects to finish off first.

Also just a quick reminder to pop over to BTYD to enter my challenge and win some pink stash.

Dans ma maison

Cette semaine, dans ma maison il y a la tour Eiffel!

This week the theme over on dans ma maison is the Eiffel Tower.

Doesn't that stash look yummy? It could be yours if you head on over to the CTYD blog and enter the challenge I've posted on there. The challenge is to create something predominantly pink. It's worth entering just for those beautiful american crafts ribbons, so what are you waiting for?

Bunting

Bunting seems a strange thing to be making, but there is a mixed media bunting swap going on over on UKS. Having so much spare time I thought it would be fun to join in, why do I keep doing this to myself?

I had my first play today using clear resist ink and my crafty individuals stamps. I'm not too sure about this one at the moment, it may or may not end up in the final selection. I think I'll have another play tomorrow and see if anything better appears.

(Sorry for the awful photo, its dark and it wouldn't scan because of the glossy paper)

Also just a quick heads up, its my turn for a 40 days post over on the DT blog. Check it out, there's some yummy stash up for grabs!!

In my pocket...

I have been loving all the little pockets on hels blog over the last few weeks and have been meaning to join in but just haven't found the time. But when I saw that the theme this week was a little bird I knew I'd find the time to join in. My pocket is fairly simple, but it gave me chance to make use of my little owl stamp. I'm supposed to be working on DT stuff this evening but I'm a bit lacking in inspiration.

Sneaky Peek

A very quick peek at my first DT project. You'll need to pop over to BTYD later on if you want to see it in it's full glory lol!

More celebrations

Just a quick post as I dash out the door to work. The BTYD blog is celebrating 10,000 visitors with a bunch of fab embelies up for grabs. Check it out here...

Prizes up for grabs!!

We are on to day six of the 40 days event today and there's already loads of stuff up fo grabs! Check out BTYD for todays prize, a stunning mini book created by Alix (well worth entering for I think you'll agree).
If you haven't got involved in the fun and freebies yet then check this out. Some of the past few days prizes are still up for grabs and there will be something else on offer every day for 40 days. I have to say the stars and stripes stash sounds particularly yummy! Aren't birthdays great?

And just in case you came here to see what I've been up to here's a quick card. I used the twinchie I made a while ago as a topper. Think I'll be making a few more twinchies and stashing them as toppers for speedy emergency cards when I forget peoples birthdays, which is most of the time. (Not sure why the "just for you" stamp looks kind of blurry its not like that really - honest!)

Its a suprise!

Only a quick post as I'm back at work again today. I have just started working on a new mini book, I'm quite liking it so far, the covers are done I just need to fill it with something yummy. Check back on 15th to find out more (you know you want to!)

An award for me? Really?

The lovely Dan really knows how to cheer up a girl with a poorly knee. I arrived home today to find out that he had given me an award. If you have'nt been to Dan's blog yet you really must, it is full of inspirational yummyness! The link is here just in case you missed it before ;o)

The rule connected to this award are as follows

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog (its up there ^^^)
2. Link the person you received your award from (yep)
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the boys/girls you've nominated

I nominate
Sarah (aka Smelly) my uks teamie and mini book queen
Donna and her fab photos
Tinkerbelle
Linda
My new DT friends
Ruth (who has some stash up for grabs)
Alix (who is giving away a lovely bag)
Jay
Guv (aka Beverley, lol)

As if being given an award wasn't enough, I stopped on my way home to see if my local craft shop had anything new. They've got the new core'dinations cardstock which I've been lusting after for ages so obviously I had to have a couple of sheets (or 12). A few other bits fell into my basket too (I had a £5 loyalty card to use towards it so went a bit mad). The owls and leaves at the bottom are papermania acetate sheets which I thought looked fun! (oops just realised they're upside down doh!)


Oh, and my first DT kit was waiting for me when I got home and its so scrummy!! All in all a pretty good day!

40 days of fun (and prizes!)

You really, really need to pop over to Beverley's blog. There's lots of fun to be had in the next 40 days and lots prizes to be won too, one of which will be provided by yours truly - but more of that later ;o)
I have been awol for the last week or so because my dodgy knee has decided to play up again. I can't drive so I have been stuck at my mum's for the past week. She kindly took me to pick up the rats and my craft stuff though so I have been able to do a bit of scrapping.
My mum can always find a job for me, even if I can't stand up. I have just spent one and a half days re-hanging all the droplets on a chandelier. If you love beautiful antiques then have a look here, that is where my mum works - lucky lady!

La musique

The theme on dans ma maison this week is music. Multi tasking as usual I created a music themed house for the little boxes swap. For some reason this ended up being a much girlier house than the ones I've made so far, kind of pink and shiny.

Wishes atc

Just a quickie today, being at work really does shrink my crafting time. I really need to practice stamping on to acetate - I love the effect but my hands just don't seem steady enough to get a crisp image.

Been working on something with the rather scrummy K&Co Urban Rhapsody papers. Can't show you just yet though, its a suprise ;o)

Twinchie

The challenge on Wednesday Stamper this week was to try twinchies. I've tried inchies in the past but they're a bit too small for me. This one was done in a bit of a hurry as I've been at work all day. I have to say I think it looks better in real life, the scan hasn't picked up the colours very well through the shine of the utee. Pretty sure I'll be making more of these as they make a nice change from atcs

Little boxes made of ticky tacky...

Spent yesterday evening making a few more little houses and the whole time I was doing it I had a song going round in my head. I have an ex boyfriend to thank for teaching it to me. I've added it to the player at the bottom of the page if you want a listen. Be warned however, it does get stuck in your head!

Back at work this afternoon so playtime is over for a few days...

Exciting news!

If you look here you'll see why I've been bouncing around like a mad thing the last couple of days. I found out on Saturday and have had to keep it a secret until the announcement was made today - absolute agony!!!

Whilst trying to keep my mouth shut I kept myself entertained playing with my stamps. The images were stamped using staz on then coloured using crayola felt tips and a water brush (classy I know but I can't afford enough of anything else to give me a good colour range). I then sealed them with a layer of glossy accents. If you do this before the colour has quite dried then the colours bleed together a little which I really like (most noticeable on the bird)

But I don't like purple...

I really didn't think I liked purple and then all of a sudden it kind of sneaked up on me. I got some Autumn Leaves Techno Pop papers ages ago and finally got around to using them on a layout for the UKS weekly challenge. Once it was finished I realised that there was purple everywhere.

Then today I was playing with my cuttlebug embossing folders and dies and ended up making a thankyou card and guess what colour I used?

Spain

Well I got back from Spain on Friday evening and wish I was still there. The weather was lovely, hot but not too hot, I'm not too good with the heat. There were so many beautiful flowers everywhere that I have lots of pictures like this one!

Horses on the Balcon de Europa in Nerja. I loved all the mountains everywhere, we even saw snow on the tops of the Sierra Nevada

We went to the Cuevas de Nerja which were amazing, unfortunately the photo doesn't really do them justice. I just need to get myself sorted and then I'll be scrapping like a mad thing!

Green house and green fingers

The theme on dans ma maison this week was the colour green. I think that was the theme for my whole bank holiday weekend. I ended up going to my mums and helping her to help Nigel build a tree house for his daughter. First off I used my limited green fingers to help digging up bushes to clear a space, then I ended up laying a path of granite cobbles through a flower bed. At 10pm we were painting the house and of course it was green.

Hopefully I should be getting some photos from my mum so will share soon...

This house is made from corrugated card paint dabbered in various greens with a die cut slide mount window frame and another crafty individuals stamp behind. The gold wire window bars seemed like a good idea until I tried to scan it!

Altered Tin

Well my altered tin is done, and it was an absolute nightmare to photograph. That'll teach me to cover stuff in gold acrylic paint and pva - far too shiny. Used various bits and bobs, my stampboard from the other day, sheet music stamped and aged with distress inks, a postcard cut from a sheet of Tim Holtz doodads, a few flowers, buttons and a charm from a uks swap.

Off now to do the boring stuff, need some toiletries and bits so have to make a trip to Boots. Would much rather stay in and play!

Work gets in the way...

Not had chance to do much the last few days as I've been at work. Managed to get my BIA book finished on Saturday night but only by staying up after work until 3am. I suffered for it the next day though as I had to be back in work at 11am. Much coffee was required to get me through the day. Thats the problem with the shifts I work, when I get home around 10 or 11pm I'm wide awake and don't feel like sleeping until the early hours.

Last night I had a play with my new Crafty Individuals stamps and a bit of stamp board I got in a swap at christmas. Really like the result, I'm now altering an Altoids tin to stick it on.

Un Papillon

Aujourd hui, dans ma maison il y a un papillon. Okay so my french is not too great but I am really liking this little house. My Crafty Individuals stamps arrived yesterday so obviously I had to make use of one on here. Also used my neglected alcohol inks and a bit of aluminium foil. The lovely people as CI put me some freebies in, not just the one advertised in the shop but a whole 5 free stamps (ok I did spend rather more than I had intended but all the stamps were so yummy)

I also did my first UKS weekly challenge of 2008. The challenge was to use a sketch, stamp, use ribbon and doodle. I managed to do all of them and am quite happy with how it turned out, another page for my mums scrapbook lol!
And just because I felt so guilty about you all thinking I had a beautiful scrap room I thought I'd better put the record straight. It is not a scraproom, that is my house, I live in a studio flat! And it usually looks more like this...

Or sometimes even worse!!

Little Houses...

Well I have just signed up to this. Seems little houses are becoming a bit of an obsession! Really enjoying the whole altered art thing now (well enjoying getting messy and covered in ink anyway, lol!) I don't have anything creative to post yet today, still working on my mini book for the 123 BIA swap on UKS and have ideas for a couple of layouts I want to get done. Really should go clean out the rats and do the washing up, I'm back at work tomorrow so need to get all the HW done today. The crafty stuff is so much more fun though!!
I'll leave you with a few more photos...

My scrapping area

(it doesn't look like this today)

Bluebells at Dunham Massey

Dans ma maison il y a...

Found a fab site while blog hopping the other day. Dan had a house he had created on his blog that was so amazing that I wanted one too. So I hopped over to dans ma maison il y a to find out what it was all about. Afraid my altered art is not yet up to their standards but I did really have fun making my little house and will be going back tomorrow to see what is going to be in my next house! (This weeks theme was "une petite fille" by the way)

Sun at last

Had a busy week last week (hence no blogging). My mum came up for a visit and to do some shopping for the holiday (any excuse to shop lol!!) Once we'd had enough of shopping we decided to make the most of the nice weather and spent the day at Tatton Park.

Book of Me

Well I finally got around to doing some more to my A-Z art journal. Think I everyones on about H by now and I'm only as far as C but I love the pages I've done so far. Have an idea for D which I might to tomorrow but then haven't a clue what to do for E!

Cybercrop Madness

Well despite being at work for most of this years cybercrop I am really happy with what I got done. I got home at 11 last night and started scrapping then didn't stop til the birdies were singing at 5am this morning, at which point I figured I had probably best get some sleep! Even managed to get another class done when I got up and the layout uploaded in time for the deadline at lunchtime. Really need to start putting everything away now because my room looks like a scene from some movie where the bad guy blows up a paper factory!! Why oh why can't I put each piece of stash back where it came from as soon as I have taken it out, admired it, and decided not to use it?

Well I finally got around to tidying my ribbons, I can't stop stroking them now cos they look so pretty. I just have to make a start on my desk, I can hardly see it under all the junk I've dumped on it.

Might leave it til morning though, I bought a matress topper today which I can't wait to try out. It feels so cosy and squishy that I'm really looking forward to getting into bed for once.

Not doing so well keeping up with things at the moment. Off for a few days so hoping to get caught up on a few things. My a-z book still hasn't got past A. I have printed off a few photos for b and c though so hoping to get those done tomorrow. Along with a load of layouts that I have ideas floating around in my head for, and a couple of paintings that i really need to get done. And horror of horrors, I have to try and buy a bikini! Definitely not looking forward to that one.

Got a few layouts done at crop last weekend. I can't believe I actually cut up my bam pop papers!