Aren't I lucky?

Look what came in the post for me today, my sister has kindly brought some for me. I also had some gorgeous stamped images from Jenny (I will stamp you some next week hun after Paul's birthday weekend).

edited to add all were purchased from Donna at Krafty Crafts who sponsers the magnolia challenge Tilda and Co, there is a link on my sidebar and she has the new summer Tilda's in stock now!

2 awards

I have received blogging with a purpose from Cathy and you rock from Donna, thank you ladies. Not sure who to pass them onto as I think most people seem to have received them already, so I will pass them onto viewers of my blog, enjoy xxx

Tagged!

One of my best friends Cathy has tagged me.The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people (I am only doing 3 otherwise it will restrict others) and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Here goes!
1. Ten Years Ago...

I was just finishing University, infact I was probably finishing my dissertation - 'Compare and Contrast Warnicke's witchcraft theory to Ives Political theory in relation to the downfall of Anne Boleyn.'

2. 5 Things in todays 'To Do List'

Oh as today is almost finished will do tomorrow

1. Finish the washing.
2. Strip the beds and put the clean sheets on.
3. Make Birthday Card with Harry for Paul, have done Ed's handprints already.
4. Wash and Straighten Hair.
5. Play with new stamps if they arrive.

3. Snacks I enjoy:

Maryland chocolate chip cookies (craved them when pregnant)
Crisps
Popcorn - but only sweet

4. Things I would do If I was a Millionaire

Pay off my mortgage
Have another baby
Buy all the stamps and papers I want

5. Places I have Lived

Oldham
Walsall
Cheltenham
Wolverhampton

I will now tag Steph , Jacqui and Jenny

Joanna Sheen

Joanna Sheen I was blog hopping and found this. The tutorials are fab, really recommend.

SBS 18 Challenge 3 - Flying

The stamped image is from Cathy (thanks hun) and it is pennyblack. I have watercoloured the hedgehogs in and have matched the backing papers to the balloons. I have then finished it off with 4 balloon stickers which I pinched from my sons sticker chart supply - naughty Mummy!

Papertake weekly - masculine card

This is my masculine card made for my husband whose birthday is coming up. I have watercoloured Edwin (a rak stamped image) in Wolves football kit (as he is a season ticket holder). The other images are outline stickers from my stash. The card is done in orange and black as I had no old gold!

A day of Ups and a day of Downs

Well I knew today was going to be hard, and it was. Surprisingly I cried more yesterday as I remember how ill she was those remaining hours and the pain, not the relief and stillness almost carm afterwards.

We took the boys out for the day to Wonderland in Telford and Ed enjoyed himself, Harry just watched! But the best bit was Harry called me Mummy for the first time! As he is only just 8 months old I was very pleased.

Just ordered myself the Lily with Kitten, plus a few other bits from Donna at Crafty Kraft to cheer myself up, think I deserve it, don't you?

Another award

From Jacqui - A circle of friendship x

Tilda and Co challenge - TORN

I am not really sure about this, all of it is torn, the backing paper, vellum and also the Tilda image (a RAK stamped) I have painted her in Orange and Black using my watercolour pencils as I prefer to do. I did try to use faux stitching on the first attempt but it looked awful so no Friday Stamp Challenge this week.

another card using fridays sketch 3

I loved it so much I did another card using the same sketch

Friday sketchers - sketch 3

This is a shabby Tilda which was a stamped RAK from Jacqui, the backing paper was a RAK from Cathy. The pink flowers and the rest of the card are from my stock, not sure where it all came from now. I have used a purple and blue pallet, and watercoloured Tilda. I think it has worked well and I just adore the stamp x

New challenge site (Thursday)

http://thisthursday.wordpress.com/ starts on the 19th June, and one of the design members is our own SBS18 sister Susie, so put the date in your diary!

isamki 20 challenge

Here is my entry for this week, the sketch was followed and no backing papers were used. Now I had a little helper for this task, I hope no one minds my eldest son Edward (26m) hence why Peter Rabbit.

OMG I have won an award

As the title says, been having a very low day and nip on the computer to see that my close friend Jacqui has given me an award.

I now have to pass this on to 3 others who's work I admire.

Firstly it has to be Cathy who got me blogging in the first place.

Secondly Steph my fellow SBS18 member who I bounce themes off.

Thirdly Lorraine whose work I find truely inspirational.

Well done girls x

Congratulations Donna

Just to say congratulations to Donna on winning the first SBS18 challenge - as choosen by my sister x

Deb's birthday candy

Deb's is celebrating a special birthday and is looking for inspiration for how to spend it with her gorgeous daughter - if you go to her blog and leave a suggestion the best entry wins some fab candy.

Happy birthday Deb x

Cathy's Birthday Blog

One of my best friends Cathy's birthday is coming up at the end of the month and she has a fantastic candy on offer. I would recommend visiting, one as she is a very good friend of mine and also because she is the one who started me blogging and helps me gain inspiration.

Plus her children and mine are great friends too x

Cute Card Thursday - Vacation

This is my best painting and colouring to date - I am very pleased with this. The image is pennyblack which was a swap, and I have mounted it on black card to give it definition. I have then made the back ground resemble a beach so that the image is surfing on waves itself.

Blog Candy from Heidi

I would advise everyone to check out Heidi's Blog as her cards are absolutely fabulous, plus she has one of the best candy on offer for a while x

My SBS18 Challenge Number 1

A very simple card, but my sister does not like over cluttered ones as she calls them. I have choosen a blue daisy backing paper as blue is her favourite colour and her favourite flower is daisies. The Tilda I have choosen, looks just like her and I have coloured her to resemble my sister. The sentiment is handwritten from the heart. I hope you like x

Ps it is straight it is just how I was holding the card to photograph x

The first SBS 18 Challenge - In memory of my Mum

The first challenge is to make a card for your Mum to tell her how much you love her and to send it to her so she recieves it by the 27th May (the anniversary of my mother's death). If you are not able to do so, please make and send a card to your nearest most loved other female relation, failing that your best friend, if that does not work the dog or cat! They must be female though!
My sister and I will choose our favourite from the ones linked to this thread and I will send them some candy as a reward.
I will do a card myself and publish as inspiration tomorrow.
Please link this challenge to your blog as the more the merrier,
Vicky x

Isamki and Papertake weekly challenge

As requested by my little sister not a Tilda stamped image!

A flower fairy in lime green with Lilac and green wings (glitter on wings but does not show on photograph. The backing paper is very pale lilac - papermania cool tones pearlised card with a deep lilac behind. The lilac paper was given to me by Cathy and the lime-green paper is dovecraft.

This is for entry in Ismaki 19 and Papertake weekly. The sketch matches Ismaki and the colur scheme matches papertake.

Magnolia challenge - black and white

Or as I have called it Goth Tilda! Thoughtful Tilda, water coloured black(two coats on hair to make it stand out). Mounted on black and white paper. Greeting papermania rub-on transfers, and 3 black stickered flowers. I did add a silk flower orginally on my design but did not look right on the card.

A card inspired by Cathy

This card was made using the faboulous papers Cathy sent me as a present in the post. I have used my Tilda with biscuits and watercoloured her in lilac, with black hair and mounted her onto black card. I have divided the card into quarters using a deep purple ribbon and mounted the image slightly off centre. I have added a making memories hydranger lilac flower in the corner to finish off the card - I really love it.

A few cards I have made - simple designs but forgot to post

This is an image given to me - It is party Tilda I think, I have water coloured her in different shades of blue and as the image is so large, mounted her on yellow card onto a white background.
For this card I wanted in simple for a friend whose daughter has had to have brain surgery for the second time in a fortnight due to an infection after the orginal operation. Again an image given to me, which I love so much it is on my wishlist. I have coloured Tilda's dress in an olive green to match the stems of the lavender and given her lavender wings. I have shaded a bit of blue sky int he background. Mounted on lilac card and greeting from papermania run-ons.
Yet again an image given to me. Mounted on papermania elequent paper. A ribbon from a chocolate box I think and the message a papermania rub on again.
A final swapped image ( I am saving for more stamps as my maternity leave money ends this month). I have mounted Tilda sitting on a ribbon and added some silver flowers to give a firework type image.
Ok this is one of my own stamps (hehe), I love this Tilda. I have coloured her blue and mounted her onto blue card. Two squares from the venetian skies range by papermania and 4 gem stars to balance the card.

Missing my Mum - Candy thought

I have made some cards but will put them on tomorrow as feeling very blue today. It is 2 weeks until the 3rd anniversary of my Mum's death and it is hitting me very hard this year - first year without a newborn or being pregnant. I have cried lots today and everything seems a struggle.

I did have some lovely papers in the post from Cathy, which gave me an idea. I am going to set a theme - will have to talk to a few people who run competition blogs as I would like everyone next week to make a card for their mum's to say how much they love them. I will then choose a winner and send them a small amount of Candy. What do you think?

Magnolia challenge theme

I must admit I was a bit surprised by the theme this week, as it was one I suggested on the 20th April, when suggestions were asked for, but as a friend has pointed out, it may have been a pre-choosen theme. I have decided however to share my other ideas with everyone as it may give them inspiration as I am going to make a card on each of the themes myself.

My suggestions are -
* Hobbies and Pasttimes
* Flora and Forna
* Card for a child
* All that Glitters
* Nighttime
* Black and White
* Midsummer Madness

think pink 2 challenges in one

The first entry is for Friday sketchers as I have used their sketch, it is a brand new competition blog just set up and well worth trying to compete in and a fab candy prize this week too.

The second is thank god it's friday whom have a pink theme this week - not entered for their's before but I had already doen the card in pink so I thought I would enter.

Feel better I have had some inspiration tonight lol!

Lost all inspiration

I don't know if it is the weather or what but I have lost all inspiration. I am simply mounting water coloured stamps onto plain or single papered backgrounds. I have tried challenges and nothing seems to flow at all. I think the problem is down to the size of my cards and my images being too big for the challenges, may have to buy some bigger cards and treat myself to some new backing papers at the same time. Will maybe show you the cards, but may not - stupid transfers not working again and these are the replacements - think that so far the black ones have been fine - it is the coloured ones where the problem lies - just calling them distressed - lol!

Little H is full of a nasty cold and has a rash and high temperature so calpolled up - it is just a cold keep checking with a glass to make sure - so DH and I are shattered. E has spent the day tearing round the house and garden which has worn us out too!

Well off to blog hope for inspiration but all my sisters seem to have been enjoying the sun and not crafting this weekend.

Poll

Please note a little poll - just wondering what colour other people think Tilda's hair is.

Flock!!!

This has made me laugh after getting an email from Glitterbug about the latest products one of them is Flock of all things! Time to raid my husband's wargames supplies, now how many cards can I do in midgreen flock I wonder......pmsl!

Cards for Bridgett, and other stuff!

This card is made using papermania venetian skies backing paper and a purple circle with glitterglue detail. Tilda is sitting on the circle. I have cropped the edge with a Victorian patterned scissor.

Another card in blue again I am afraid using the same papers as before and glitter boarder flowers going across the card.

Bridgett a SBS18 member is going a card drive for Breast Cancer next weekend and so I am sending these to her as my own mother past away from this disease on the 27th May 2005.

I have not done much today as baby H is under the weather again and is all sniffles and running a tempreture. I did manage to buy an aluminium ruler as mine is all scarred from using with my pen knife cutter. I also brought some more glitter glues - not sure what to do with them yet, but they were on offer lol! I need to look for some yellow backing papers as I seem to be in a lovely summery mood at the moment and need some papers to reflect this.

Help required

If anyone has a sutable graduation image they are happy to swap a stamped image back for I really need one for a friends graduation from University at the end of this month. Thanks x

Cute card thursday - gems

I just threw aload of stuff on a card hap-hazzardly and this is how it turned out! There was 5 green gems in the bottom corner but I removed them as not too sure. It was going to have a flower on it too, but changed my mind. I think it works in a weird way. All bright colours, think the sun has gone to my head - lol!

Tilda and Friends ATC Challenge - Bugs

This is my first Tilda and Friends ATC Challenge - and I am not quite sure it has worked.

Lilac paper topped with butterfly vellour, pretty dress tilda in lilac, with dark purple ribbon and a quilled butterfly in the corner.

Will be sending this to Jacqui if she would like it - that is as a return RAK x

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers (18)

Sorry been away for a couple of days, but I have been accepted into the Sisterhood number 18, I am so pleased. I will endevour to look at everyones blogs when I get a spare moment.

Not done any cards for a while, and I have a list of orders and ones I need to do for me, so hopefully will catch up soon, have spent tonight painting and colouring to hopefully mount tomorrow night - boys allowing!

Not done any competitions this week either, may see if I can combine a few cards, fingers crossed x