200 Followers ..... Giveaway winner!

Hello again,

Well that took a while, but I finally figured it out ..... (I'm hopeless with anything technical on the computer when my tech support's not around!) ..... nothing too major, just how to show the result from Mr Random.org and his number generator.  It's easy enough to use on the website, but I wanted to show the actual result here on my blog.  So ...... with a little help from Google, here it is.

So ..... drumroll please ..........
And the winner is ........... ta dah ......

Number 126

According to the list I have, counting right from follower number 1 (which was hubby by the way, all those months ago), Follower number 126 is .....

Amy Russell

Congratulations Amy!  If you'd like to claim your Giveaway Gift please email me with your address, and I'll pop it in the post. You'll find my email address under the Contact Me button above

If it hasn't been claimed within the next 7 days, I'll do a re-draw.

Thanks again to all of you who follow my little blog ...... it wouldn't be the same without you

MWAH!!

X

Cheerio until next time

Linda 

xx

I'm home ..... and what a nice surprise!!!

Happy Wednesday,

It's a little on the wet and windy side over here today, perfect weather for spending the day in the old craft room .... if I could get in there that is!!
What with starting to pack up the stuff that's already in there, things that I'm not using, or won't be needing in the next couple of weeks (yeah! try figuring that out!!) and trying to find homes for all the new stash that somehow keeps finding it's way over to the island (funny that!) I'm not getting very far!!  As for a workdesk, well ..... finding the desk itself would be good, never mind a space large enough to work on!  Oh well, it'll all be over soon ..... hopefully!

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things after my weekend away ...... thank you for all your birthday wishes by the way, I had a fab day.  Saw the family in the morning, did the whole cards and presents thing.  Then I got on a plane and spent the next four days in the company of my bestest friends and fellow craft addicts down at the IndigoBlu Retreat in Retford, Nottinghamshire.  Check out the IndigoBlu blog to see some of what we got up to .... my DT buddy, the lovely Nikki was also on the retreat and she's blogged one of her projects already.
Unfortunately I can't show you mine just yet, as they're being shipped over for me .......more room in the suitcase for shopping .... not that I did much (and if you believe that you'll believe anything!)  Silly me didn't take any photos before I left either!!!!

So ..... it's back to normal now.  I've conquered the mountain of washing that was waiting for me, re-stocked the fridge, got the kitchen tidy, unpacked, read and answered all my emails, caught up with Facebook ...... phew!!! Now it's time to craft!!

I was so thrilled to see that while I was away my number of followers reached the 200 target (201 infact!) ..... whoo hoo!!!!
A big Hello and Welcome to the latest ones amongst you ..... thank you so much for taking the time to visit my little piece of Blogland, it manes a lot!
It also means that it's time to do the draw for the Giveaway ...... I'll make it first job on this week's 'To Do' list.  Check back later to see which one of you it is that will be receiving my little gift.

Well, as much as I'd love to stay and chat I really should get a move on ..... DT stuff to do, Blog challenges to enter ..... that 'To Do' list to make a start on!
I also went to see a Physio this morning who's given me exercises, stretches and stuff to do 3 times a day, which should be fun!  I've been suffering with my hands for a while now,  and apparently I have Carpal Tunnel ....... if it means I can enjoy my time in the old craft room I'll try anything!

Thanks for popping by ..... sorry there's nothing to look at, I am working on that.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Take a Stamp ..... it's Challenge time again!

Happy Friday folks!

This is a scheduled post (so fingers crossed it has gone live on Friday!!).  I'm currently across in the UK having fun on a craft retreat weekend down in Retford, Nottinghamshire run by the fabulous Kay Halliwell-Sutton from IndigoBlu.  I'll let you know what we all got up to when I get back!

It's the first Friday of the month, and you all know what that means ..... a brand new challenge over on the Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge Blog.

It's the turn of 'Take a Stamp' again this month .... no specific theme .... you can create whatever you like as long as there's actual rubber stamping on there.

Our challenge sponsor this month is the fabulous PaperArtsy .......

And the prize for the challenge winner is ......

A set of Lin Brown Limited Edition Paints

(how gorgeous are these colours!!)

 AND ......

a brand new release Darcy Wilkinson stamp set ..... oooh!!!

Don't forget .... there's also the Design Winner, chosen by the DT ...... they get their wining project featured in Craft Stamper magazine, they're invited to be a Guest Designer on a future challenge and ... they also have a Winner's Profile post on the blog!!  Not bad eh! ..... come on get those stamps out!

Here's a little bit of inspiration for you to get you started ......

I've used one of the fab new stamp sets from Mr Tim Holtz ........  the gorgeous Flower Garden .... love this set!

I'm also still playing with all the coloured card I've made using the Brushos.  I stamped the flower heads onto some of the coloured card and then fussy cut around each one

I then stamped the stems for the blooms, 2 directly onto a piece of white card cut to fit on the front of my finished project, and one on a separate piece of card and then fussy cut around this.  They were all coloured using  Distress ink and a little water.

I attached the fussy cut stem over the other two and then tied a piece of dyed bakers twine around all three.

Using a stencil and some co-ordinating Distress inks I added a bit more interest to the background around the stems

I attached the stamped flower heads onto the card, using foam pads on one of then to add a little dimension

and finished off with a sentiment, from another new Tim Holtz set ...... Perspective, coloured to match

The usual little touch on the inside too ....

This time the flower was coloured using Distress ink mixed with a little water, and a few drops splattered around the edge with a paintbrush to add the final touch.

Now it's your turn.  Go on ..... take a stamp, and create something fabulous!

You have until midnight on March 25th to get your entries in.  Check out the rules and challenge guidelines on the blog .... you'll also find more fabulous inspiration on there today from the rest of the DT.  You never know, you could be our next winner ....... have fun and get stamping!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend ...... I know I'm going to!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Red and green .... positively festive!

Happy Tuesday,

Well, dare I say it ..... fingers crossed it doesn't all go pear shaped from here ..... but this week, so far, is going according to plan!  Apart from the printer  breaking down on me this morning that is .... arghhh!!!  There's a problem with the ink so the printer's telling me ..... That'll teach me to use non hp ink cartridges.  Well .... it's just going to have to wait until I get back next week, unless hubby feels like taking a look at it over the weekend (that's not going to happen!!)

Anyway, I said I was trying to get everything done before I go away on Thursday ...... washing and ironing - check!  Case is packed - check!  Shopping all done and fridge is full - check!  Blog posts scheduled - check!  and it's only Tuesday.

I've even done my card for this weeks Merry Monday challenge........ yes it's time to get all festive!

This weeks theme is ..... RED and GREEN

What do you think .......?

I love these little sparkly Christmas lights ..... cut using the Penny Black die  'sparkle string' from red and silver glitter card, and gold mirri

You can see I've layered the light bulbs onto the gold mirri string.
I didn't have any green glitter card in my stash so I cut one string of lights from silver glitter card and then coloured it using a green Copic marker ...... does the job!

A festive sentiment finishes off another CAS Christmas card

And of course a little something on the inside ....

Oh well .... that's another job done - check!
Now I just need to tidy the old craft room (or I could just close the door!) get my craft tools ready for the retreat and sort out my craft bag for tomorrow ....... it's workshop day over at my friend Jill's.  I have cake too ...... the birthday celebrations continue!!!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Enjoy the moments that make you HAPPY!

Happy Monday .... and welcome to March!

Busy week this week ..... I'm off on my first trip across to the UK on Thursday (whoo hoo!!!) so I'm trying to get everything organised and done before I leave.

Did I mention it's my birthday this week ...... 35 this year! (oops ..... I may have got those numbers a little mixed up ..... but who's counting anyway!)  Celebrations got underway at the weekend and will be continuing all week ..... seeing as I won't be at home on the actual day.  Well, I will be but not for long..... we fly first thing!  So to make sure the whole family can join in the fun we're doing things a little early.

Speaking of early ..... I know it's only Monday but, here's this weeks offering for the latest Less is More Challenge (jobs in the old craft room are getting done first this week!)

It's Week 213 and the theme is .....

This Makes Me Happy

Lots of things make me happy ...... my beautiful grandson, good weather, good food, nice wine and most importantly my family and friends. Put them all together and I couldn't wish for a better way to spend the day ....... which is where the inspiration came from for this .......

A lovely family Sunday lunch, with a nice bottle of red (cheers!) followed by the football. Something else that makes me happy .... seeing Chelsea win the match! ..... a nice piece of silverware for the trophy cabinet!

I've said I have a busy week so quick and easy and CAS is the way to go.

I've had this Penny Black stamp (cheers! 40-219) for ages, but I think it's the first time it's seen an ink pad.

It's simply stamped in black, a touch of colour added using some Distress inks (had to get my favourite colour of the moment on there somewhere ..... cracked pistachio!!)

A thin layer of Glossy accents over the glasses .......

And a sentiment on the bottom ........ and jobs done!

I couldn't resist splattering a few ink spots here and there ..... I hope I've left enough white space!

Well, that's me done for today in the old craft room ...... the ironing basket is calling me I'm afraid (oh joy!) 

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx