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!