Simon Says Stamp DT - Little Tilda

Hello peeps,

It's been a busy couple of days here, Jake had a beautiful send off yesterday, the sun shone, lots of motorbikes made his last journey with him & hundreds of people went to his funeral. The start had to be delayed while the crematorium staff were rushing around setting up loud speakers outside in the gardens so the people who couldn't get inside could still hear the service as there was just no way everyone could fit inside.

This afternoon I have had a house full all awaiting heading off for a ride to the beach in Jake's memory. Jode & hubby have gone on his bike & the group who left from here looked lovely wearing special polo shirts over their jackets which Jodie has been busy organising with Jake's name and dates of his life on the back which I think was such a lovely gesture and also good as it has kept her busy.

It's time to get down to business as I'm so late with my post, I've been typing it over a couple of days as pins & needles in my arm is driving me nuts & I intended finishing it this morning but with the hoards arriving I didn't get chance.

This weeks challenge at 

SIMON SAYS STAMP

is that old favourite

ANYTHING GOES

My lovely teamies & I are featuring Hero Arts products on our creations this week.

 Ingredients -

Featured Hero Arts products - Felt Angels, Holiday Cheer Messages & white embossing powder
Image - Magnolia, Little Tilda
Medium - Copics
Papers - Magnolia Ice Princess & Snowy Wood
Twine - Hemptique
Flower - Prima, Gillian
Resin Cherub - Prima
Charms - Darice
Sparkle - Donna Salazar Sugar Shimmer
Pearls - Hero Arts 3mm & 5mm
Tools - Magnolia Doo Hickey so wrapped lovely heart, Old Swedish Lace, Martha Stewart Aspen & Himalayan snowflake punches, CC Designs Olive branches & MFT die-namics Icicle border

The Copic colours I've used are -
skin - E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E44, E43, E41, wings - C3, C1, C00, dress & tights - B32, B00, B000 / C1, C00

As always our lovely Heidi is sponsoring our challenge with a fabby $50 spending spree in the 

SIMON SAYS STAMP SUPERSTORE

Don't forget to keep an eye on the STORE BLOG peeps for lots of inspiration, new goodies in store and also changes to win candy :)

I'm entering my card in the following challenges -
Just Magnolia - show me a heart & Make It Monday - anything goes, The Sketchy Challenge - sketch, Crafting For All Seasons - stitching, Divas By Design - celebrate, Just Keep On Creating - Christmas, Penny's Paper-Crafty - sparkle & shine, The Perfect Sentiment - anything goes with a sentiment, Crafty Sentiments - lets sparkle, Creative Card Crew - Christmas, Deep Ocean - things with wings, Everybody Art - anything goes, Paper & Such Design - wings & things, Stamp & Create - stitch it up, The Crazy Challenge - anything goes, Magnolia Down Under - all stitched up, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - non traditional colours, Crafty Ann's - Christmas in August, Crafty Catz - ribbons & bows, Fairytale - song inspiration (Angels, Robbie Williams), Frosted Designs - twine / ribbon, Inspire Me Fridays - anything goes,

Thanks for stopping by

A Big Catch Up - Totally Tilda & Paper Play DT & La La Land GDT

Hello peeps,

I'm so sorry I've neglected my blog & visiting you all, I have loads to get through today and catch up on posting DT & GDT cards. I've had two flipping migraines this week, the second I thought was just a hangover at first & the result of a lot of wine consumption after going out on a "ladies night" but then I had the blurred flashing lights in my vision etc & couldn't believe I was having another one as usually it's very rare that I get migraines. It's probably just stress & tiredness as I am such an insomniac, I'm convinced I was an owl in a past life lol.

I thought I'd attempt a quick post, yeah right good luck with that champion waffler lol.

Today is new challenge day at 

TOTALLY TILDA

& this fortnight we would love to see your

TILDA BOOKMARKS

Ingredients - Amor Tilda, Copics, Magnolia Paper, Prima flower, Hero Arts pearls, Wild Orchid string of pearls, Hemptique twine, Woodware butterfly, Martha Stewart frond leaf punch, Spellbinder fancy ovals & Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder, charms from stash.

The Copic colours I've used are - skin E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E47, E44, E43, dress - RV95, RV93, RV91, wings - C1, C0, C00, bow, W4, W2, W0, arrow, CI, C0, C00 / E41, E40

My GDT card for inspiration Friday at

La La Land

has the theme

 buttons & bows.

 Idiot here enjoyed colouring this sweet little Marci & making my card so much I totally forgot I needed to follow a theme until I went to upload it in the DT group, luckily it was a nice easy one to fix :)

If you haven't used these cute stamps before give them a try as they really are lovely to colour and little Angel Marci is now also available in digi.

Ingredients - Angel Marci, Copics, Melissa Frances & Hero Arts pearls, Cuttlebug & Papermania embossing folders, Spellbinders, MS Aspen snowflakes, Marianne Creatables Poinsettia.

The Copic colours I've used are - skin E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E44, E43, E41, dress - C4, C3, C1, C00, wings - C1, C0, C00, flowers & leaves - YG67, YG63, R20, R000, R0000

At

PAPER PLAY

 this weeks challenge is

SENTIMENTAL

so we don't want to see images, just sentiments.

This one was a last minute card as I already had my DT card made but when I discovered this neglected never been inked stamp in my stash I had to have another play :)

Ingredients - Cats Life Press sentiment, Raspberry Road papers, Kort & Godt & Wild Orchid flowers, MS Aspen PATP, MS Himalayan snowflake punch, Karrs & The Ribbon Girl bling, large snowflake  was a gift from a lovely lady :)

My last card today is my original DT card for Paper Play, it was a comissioned card I made a few weeks. It's not my usual style but was nice for a change & so quick and easy to make. I had to put it straight in the box when I'd finished making it as I have trouble stepping away from the card until it's piled high with embellies so I thought it best to try the out of sigh out of mind approach lol.

Ingredients - Melissa Frances paper, Cheery Lynn butterflies, Zva Creative pearl flourish, MS PATP, ribbon & lace from stash

That's me all caught up :)

I don't know quite where this last week has gone, hopefully next week will be a nicer more chilled out and creative week.

Thanks for stopping by

Simon Says Stamp DT - Tilda's Going Back To School

Hello peeps,

I went for a run yesterday!!! Totally unintentional as I don't do running as my shoulder dislocates when I do, but I was up the park with the dogs relaxing in the sunshine in my flip-flops, cropped jeans & T-shirt & I could see very dark clouds heading towards us & knew it was going to rain as it always feels like my shoulder is swelling, so I got puppy back on his lead and dear old Dude just dawdles alongside good as gold. On the way home it started to rain some very big raindrops, & then I heard it! A rumble of thunder, so with my usual blind panic I started to run and so did Dude who normally hardly has the energy to walk home but as he doesn't like thunder either he wasn't hanging around & overtook me. How on earth I didn't go flying is beyond me as it poured down & my flip-flops had become really slippery but there was no way I was stopping to take them off, & that mental puppy of ours got all excited probably at the shock of me running & wondering what I was doing, so he was literally leaping up & jumping at me as I was slipping around attempting to run. I must have looked a right sight soaked through with a puppy hanging off me and hollering "GO" everytime I caught up with Dude at a road as he still sat at each kerb waiting to be told he could cross the road bless his heart.
Forget this myth that exercise is good for you, I needed about 20 puffs of my ventolin inhaler to breathe again when I got home and my blooming legs are killing me today so they'll be no more running from me, I might drive to the park in future, just in case lol.

Today is new challenge day at
SIMON SAYS STAMP
& this week our challenge is
BACK TO SCHOOL
My lovely teamies & I are featuring Sizzix products on our cards this week, so were a bit spoilt for choice of products to use :)

 Ingredients -

Featured Sizzix products - Tim Holtz Bigz Hardare findings & Tiny Tabs & Tags 

Images - Magnolia Tilda with pencils & shelf with cross stitch 2008, sorry I couldn't find it in store to link to but there was loads of other little Magnolia's I discovered I "need" lol.

Medium - Copics

Doily - Royal Lace

Papers - Prima, Tea Thyme

Pearls - Melissa Frances & Hero Arts

Large brad - American crafts

Flowers - Prima coffee silk flowers & Wildflowers 

Twine - Hemptique

Tools - MS Cherish PATP, frond leaf & classic 3-in-1 butterfy punches, Magnolia Doo Hickey heart swirls, grand circle nesties

The Copic colours I've used are -

skin - E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E47, E44, E43, E41, dress - R20, R00, R000, W1, W0, shoes - W6, W4, W2, W0, pencils - BV01, BV00, BV0000 / RV00, RV000, RV0000 / BG11, BG000, BG0000 / E53, E51, E50 / I also added W0 & W1 to get the more distressed look

shelf - E55, E53,51 / C1, C00 / RV00, RV000, RV0000, picture - E35, E33, E31, E30 / E53, E51, E50.

The paper edges have all been distressed with Pumice Stone distress ink. 

As always our lovely Heidi is sponsoring our challenge with a whopping $50 spending spree in the fabulous

SIMON SAYS STAMP SUPERSTORE

Don't forget to check out the STORE BLOG peeps for lots of inspiration, new products and more chances to win candy :)

I'm entering my card in the following challenges -

Make It Monday - anything goes, Just Magnolia - back to school, Inspire Me Friday - anything goes, Magnolia Down Under - masking

Our Children's challenge is still running for another 8 days so there's still plenty of time to get those kiddies as addicted as we are lol

Thanks for stopping by

Tilda Bobbin - Addicted To Stamps & Totally tilda DT Project

Hello peeps,

I thought I'd scheduled my post last night but I must have intended to and fell asleep, good job I checked as I'd only got as far as uploading one picture! I'm not sure who took my laptop off me but I woke up to discover somone had reclined my seat, put a blanket over me, taken my laptop & unplugged the mouse as that was still clenched in my hand lol. I took some extra painkillers yesterday evening & they just suddenly hit me, one minute I'm wide awake not feeling tired and then I'm gone zzzzzzzz, hence why as wonderful as they are I only take them when I don't need to go out anywhere. I have visions of me nodding off while bending down picking up a packet of choc chip muffins in the supermarket, or falling into the potato bin, how embarrassing that would be lol. 

I woke up to find two little notes beside me, one from Jodie to say she was having a girlie night & they were all staying at Stacie's, and one from Gareth to say "home muma xxxxx" I always worry if they got home safe if I'm not awake to see them so I love the way they leave me little notes :)

Today I have a large bobbin / cotton reel to share for the new challenge at 

ADDICTED TO STAMPS 

& our challenge is 

RECYCLE,

My bobbin is also as a midway reminder of our challenge at

TOTALLY TILDA

for our

TILDA WITH KRAFT

The bobbin / cotton reel idea wasn't mine, I have taken inspiration from some gorgeous shabby chic bobbins I saw on Pinterest although mine is not for practical use like the one's on Pinterest, mine is just to look pretty. 

Pinterest is my new addiction, I've still not got into facebook but I've recently discovered Pinterest and love it.

Ingredients -

Recycled - toilet roll tube

Stamps - Magnolia, Tailor Tilda, Kaiser Postmarks

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bazill basics, Hero Arts Kraft & Whiff Of Joy corrugated card, (Creative Imaginations make similar)

Flowers - Wild Orchid & Magnolia

Pins - homemade

Twine - Hemptique

Lace - The Ribbon Girl

Sparkle - Crystal glamour dust

Pearls - Melissa Frances

Tools - Nesties, Magnolia Doo Hickey heart flower lace, & Swirl, Cheery Lynn butterfly, Vintage photo distress ink pad, MS Frond leaf punch

The Copic colours I've used are - 

skin - E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E44, E43, E41, dress - RV10, RV000, RV0000, C1,C00, sewing machine - W4, W2, W0, blanket - E55, E53, E51

I'm entering my bobbin / cotton reel in the following challenges -

Inspire Me fridays - anything goes, Allsorts - heavy metal, Craft Your Days Away - anything goes, Clearly Inspired - circles, Frosted Designs - twine / ribbon, Pattie's Creations - anything but a card, The Poodles Parlour - die cuts, 4 Crafty Chicks - circles, Delightful Challenges - punches & dies, Moving Along With The Times - shape up, Crafts & Me - lace, My Mum's Craft Shop - kraft it, Stampotique Designers Challenge - alter it, Cards & More - anything goes

It's so hot & humid here again today, I'm hoping for a nice crafty afternoon as hubby is off to work later, so fingers crossed I don't have any unexpected visitors and I can play :) I've put the fan on in my little craft room and opened the window wide trying to cool it a little so all that's needed in there is me and a cup of coffee, I wouldn't mind a choc chip muffin either, I haven't had one for 4 whole days & it's torture lol.

Thanks for stopping by

Inspiration Friday - La La Land GDT

Good morning peeps,

I really don't know what I'm doing today! I started writing my post and for some bizarre reason hit publish after only adding the card pic's and my usual layout headings in my post!!! Nothing a couple of matchsticks and a gallon of black coffee can't cure I hope lol.

Today is Inspiration Friday at

LA LA LAND

& the challenge this week is

YELLOW / GREY & WHITE

This one almost had me running to hills as soon as I saw the theme as I just don't do yellow! I love custard, bananas, the sun, cheese, Daffodils and even SpongeBob SquarePants, but me using yellow on cards, nooooooooo. 

I blame my friend Ali as she drove me insane with all her yellow when we started crafting, she bought bright yellow flowers, ribbons, brads etc, basically anything she could get her hands on that was yellow, and I lost count of the times I yanked yellow ribbon or flowers out of her hand to stop her ruining her card with them as it just didn't go, so it seems that woman's scarred me for life as I tried making a yellow card once before and hated it as I just get flashbacks to Ali & all that yellow lol. 

Ingredients -

Images - Big Panda Marci, La La Land, Kaiser - Tigerlily butterfly

Medium - Copics

Papers - Prima & Basic Grey

Flowers - Wild Orchid & The Works

Seam Binding & bling - The Ribbon Girl

Pearls - Melissa Frances

Sentiment - Magnolia

Tools - nesties, Magnolia Doo Hickey heart flower lace, MS frond leaf punch, Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder

The Copic colours I've used are -

skin - E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E55, E53, E30, Panda & hat - N7, N5, N3, N1, N0 / RV52, RV000, clothes & boots - Y26, Y23, Y21 / W1, W0 / C5, C3, C1, C00, belt - YR24, YR21, YR20

The butterfly is coloured with a mix of all the above colours.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges -

Crop Stop - flowers, dots & bling, Delightful Challenges - punches & dies, Ruby's Rainbow - butterflies, Papertake - spots & stripes, Make It Monday - anything goes, Stamp & Create - stitching, Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - add some flowers, Inspire Me Fridays - anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - sketch 167

That's me done for today peeps, they'll be no more yellow from me for as long as possible lol.

Have a lovely weekend & thanks for stopping by

3rd Blogversary Candy

Hello peeps,

It's hard to believe that I have had my little blog for 3 whole years this month :)

I've made so many wonderful friends along the way and have even had the pleasure of meeting some of you lovely girlies IRL. I consider myself extremely lucky to either be, or have been a little part of some fabulous DT's and having so many lovely followers always amazes me, thank you so much.

As a thank you to you all my followers I have some blogversary candy to share & I'm doing it differently this time & have some vouchers as prizes instead of sending goodies, so this time the winners can decide what they want. 

My first choice was always going to be a voucher for the very best crafty store in the world where I spend many hours happily filling my cart and that is of course the fabulous Simon Says Stamp, & as it's my 3 year anniversary there are going to be 3 prizes :)

 The other two prizes are vouchers for gorgeous digi stamps by ladies who are in my opinion two of the most talented artists around, Sylvia Zett (Wee Stamps) & Krista Smith (Saturated Canary).

1st Prize - $50 gift voucher to spend at SIMON SAYS STAMP

2nd Prize - $20 gift voucher to spend at SATURATED CANARY

3rd Prize - £10 gift voucher to spend at WEE STAMPS

I reserve the right to delete entries from candy only blogs.

There are only a few simple rules -

You need to be a follower of my blog to qualify for my candy.
Please link up my candy in your sidebar.
 Please leave your name & blog or online gallery page addy with Mr Linky. If Mr Linky has gone for a wander please pop back and enter when he returns & lastly,
Please play nice and only enter once to make it fair for everyone.

I will close this candy on the 30th September :)

Thanks for sharing the last 3 years with me 

Simon Says Stamp DT - Magnolia Colibri

Hello peeps,

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments on my previous post, your kind words brought tears to my eyes but they really helped, thank you xx

Today is new challenge day at

SIMON SAYS STAMP

& this weeks challenge is

ANIMAL ANTICS

Ingredients -

Images - Magnolia large & small Colibri

Medium - Copics

Papers - Magnolia, Forget Me Knot Wallpaper & Sweet Crazy Love hearts

Lace - Simplicity

Bird House - Prima

Pearls - Hero Arts

Flowers - Prima & CC Designs 

Sparkle - Diamond Stickles

Sentiment - Magnolia

Tools - MS Cherry blossoms PATP, MS classic 3-in-1 butterfly punch, Cuttlebug swirls & birds embossing folder, MFT Fishtail Flags Stax, CC Designs five point flowers, MFT Fancy Flourish

The Copic colours I've used are -

E55, E53 / RV02, RV00, RV000 / B00, B000, B0000

As always our lovely Heidi is sponsoring our challenge with a fabby $50 spending spree in the 

SIMON SAYS STAMP SUPERSTORE

Don't forget to keep an eye on the STORE BLOG peeps, there is always lots of inspiration & giveaways :)

I'm entering my card in the following challenges -
Just Magnolia - pearls & swirls, Make It Monday - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by

A Heavy Heart

Hello peeps,

As my title says "A Heavy Heart" which is how mine feels right now!

It has been such a sad day here today with so many tears shed, as one of Jodie's friends Jake, age just 19 was killed in a motorbike accident this afternoon.

I hugged my baby girl tight as she sobbed & sobbed, I wiped her tears, I listened as she spoke through the sobs, & tried my best to be strong and support her.

Very soon as word of Jake's tragic accident got around, my house, then my garden & then the street outside filled with friends, so many young faces full of shock & grief, too many to count, and for probably the first time ever, I didn't know what to do. 

I didn't know how to help them, I couldn't say "it will be alright" because it isn't going to be, I just kind of crumbled inside seeing all those puffy little eyes & listening to their plans of laying flowers for Jake & thinking how they have lost 3 friends in 2 years & they are still so very young.

As a mum I think it's my job to be strong and do & say the right things, to try and make things better, but I just didn't know how, I felt helpless & inadequate.

I left them all together to comfort each other & came indoors wanting to be busy, needing a distraction while I pulled myself together, & remembered some of the youngsters wanted flowers to take & lay where Jake died but had no money, so I went into the garden and cut all the roses, then die cut some Doo Hickey tags and tied them with ribbon to each rose and gave them out along with some pens.
I felt so guilty for not staying with them all the time, trying to comfort them, seeing so many upset little faces, kids I had watched grow up, who'd stayed at my house for sleep overs, was just too much & I just needed to take a few minutes out, I think, and hope that was o.k.

R.I.P Jake

 Give your children an extra kiss tonight, a text, or a hug, it dosen't matter how old or big they are, just be sure to tell them how much you love them

Tilda With Kraft - Totally Tilda DT Card

Good morning peeps,

I sat all chilled out in the lounge last night uploading my photo's and & starting to write my post, cursing now & again as the internet connection was playing up, then Gareth came home & rushed into the lounge asking "Are you alright muma?" With that my laptop went flying as I leaped off the sofa & started racing around like a lunatic unplugging everything electrical while he stood there giggling. You see there are ways of asking "Are you alright muma?" and then there's the way he asks & his eyebrows are raised and he has a little smile on his lips which means only one thing, it's flipping thundering!!! 

Yes I'm a big baby lol. I would stand my ground when being physically attacked by an over 6ft tall male resident, but one little flash of lightening in the sky and that's me turned to a quivering wreck lol. So blog post abandoned I then annoyed hubby until I finally dropped off to sleep well into the early hours by jumping out my skin everytime there were flashes of lightening or rumbles & cracks of thunder lol. 

When I staggered out of bed this morning not looking my best it has to be said lol, my first thought was not to apologise to a tired & grumpy looking husband lol, it was do we still have internet & can I finish my blog post as a storm usually knocks it out, which it did but thankfully not for as long this time :)

This fortnights challenge at 

TOTALLY TILDA

is

TILDA USING KRAFT CARD

Don't forget peeps there is a DT call at Totally Tilda for the next 6 month term, so all you Maggie lovers pop over and take a peek :)

I have been trying to ink up my Tilda's I have so far neglected and are still sat waiting for their packets to be opened, but when I saw this gorgeous background stamp I just knew the perfect Tilda for it so good intentions abandoned here is my card

Ingredients -

Images - Magnolia Tilda Celebrates Mid Summer, & Kaisercrafts - The Lake House
Medium - Copics
Papers - Crafty Individuals & Kraft cardstock
Flowers - Kort & Godt, Wild Orchid & Hooked On Crafts
Birds - Studio Calico
Lace - stash
Pins - homemade
Pearls - Hero Arts
Sparkle - Crystal Glamour Dust
Tools - MS Eyelet Lace PATP, Magnolia Doo Hickey heart swirls, Cheery Lynn butterfly

The Copic colours I've used are -
Tilda - skin E11, E00, E000, R20, E93, hair - E57, E55, E53, dress - RV63, RV52, RV00, RV000, fountain - W6, W4, W2, W0, flowers - R85, R83, R81 / RV10, RV000, RV0000

I'm entering my card in the following challenges -
Make It Monday - anything goes, Challenge Up Your Life - everything goes, Amusing Challenges - Summer, Craft A Scene - the great outdoors, Dream Valley - die cuts & punches, Lovely hAnglar & Sweet Magnolia - flowers, Pile It On - bingo (bottom row, glitter, pearls & sewing), The Ribbon Girl - bingo (pearls, bow, lace), One Stop Craft - Summer holiday, Just Magnolia - pearls & swirls, Inspire Me Fridays - anything goes

The next couple of days are going to be pretty stressful as I'll be sat in court on Monday & Tuesday with Jodie as she has been called as a witness for the prosecution to a nasty fight she saw up town one night a few months ago which left one of the men in hospital for a few weeks. She has to give evidence again in September & October as counter allegations have been made, that is of course providing the cases don't get adjurned again, which I think is so wrong as it causes more stress for the witnesses when this happens.
Anyway hopefully I will have my blogversary candy sorted & posted in the next couple of days.

Thanks for stopping by