wow!!! wow!!! and even more wows!!!!!.....

Now it doesn't take a lot to start me crying and today has been no exception, tears of joy, I hasten to add. I'm such a sentimental, sloppy so and so. I am genuinly taken aback by all the gorgeous gifts and generosity of you lovely ladies. Thank you seems such a small phrase to use for all the time, effort and money you have spent on me, I am truly, truly grateful and totally overwhelmed. Thank you so very much for making my birthday such a special day. Loads of love and hugs to you all, I only wish I could thank you in person...mmmmwwahhh!!!!!
Maria sent me this wonderful selection of beautiful gifts, the candle is absolutely exquisite not to mention the card, box, papers, stamped images, ribbons, flowers and brads, many, many thanks Maria.
From Michelle I received this stunning assortment of goodies. Each gift was individually wrapped in co-ordinating chocolate brown and teal tissue paper. Huge thanks Michelle, been dying to get my mitts on the coredinations cardstock for ages
From the lovely Jill I received so many goodies I could just about fit it all in the piccie, thank you so much for all those fabby stamped images, papers, flowers, ribbons, a gorgeous card and wallet.
A beautiful card and lovely stamped images from Gina. Thank you so very much Gina.

Thank you Nessy for this beautiful card and wallet filled with scrummy stamped images.
A stunner of a card from Natalie, and more gorgeous stamped images for me to play with, cheers Natalie, you already now how much I love those RR divas.
This absolutely gorgeous card is from Sue. Many thanks again Sue, i love it.
What a lovely selection of Elzybells images and a beautiful card I received from Vicky. Thank you so much Vicky.

Craftwise, this is what hubby bought me. A few weeks ago he asked me what I wanted for my birthday, well you can imagine the look on his face when I told him I wanted a Purple Cow and a Bind it All.....pmsl...but love him, he came up trumps, even got me a few extra goodies that I'd been hinting about. To be honest he has really spoilt me this year because not only did he buy me the above, but I also got 2 Kipling handbags and lots and lots of Molton Brown smellies. I also had three bottles of perfume and matching shower gel from family and friends, gift vouchers, money, another handbag from my sil and her family and a lovely box of choccies too. Yep, I'm a typical bag and smellies lover, well what girly isn't hey!!!

Thank you also for all the lovely e-mails and happy birthday greetings everyone has left on my blog, your all such lovely, lovely friends, I'm so happy that I have the priviledge of 'knowing' you all.

luv 'n' hugs

xx vicki xx

And the winner is........

?????????

????

??

?

Gina

As you can see from the piccies I wrote all names out and put them into a bowl and my little scallywag daughter Yasmin picked out Gina's first entry.

Congratulations Gina, I shall pop your goodies in the post tomorrow. Huge thank yous to all the other girlies who entered my lil challenge.

I also want to say a massive thank you for all my lovely pressies, cards, e-mails and birthday greetings. I shall put some piccies on my blog later today showing all the scrummy things I have received.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of this glorious weekend. luv 'n' hugs to you all
xx vicki xx

Anyone for candy.......

To celebrate reaching 20,000 hits and with my 38th birthday fast approaching....gosh am I really that old already....lol!!! I thought it would be nice to offer some candy to you lovely lot by way of saying a big thank you for taking the time to visit my 'lil oasis and leaving such lovely comments etc.

Pins & Needles challenge

Up for grabs are:-

Basic Grey 'Eva' pad

Sugar Nellie 'Jingle Bells' stamp

Doodlebug rub-ons

Craftwork Cards sentiments

1 Copic Ciao 'skin white' marker

Alphabet stamp set

2 bottles Stickles

2 Versacolour ink pads

selection of flowers and ribbons

box of buttons, brads and safety pins

So what do you have to do I hear you ask?????

Well the title of my challenge is called Pins & Needles. I would like to see cards made using some decorative pins and some sewing. This challenge is open to anyone who would like to take part that has a blog. I shall have one of my little scallywags pick the winner out of a 'hat' on 28 September, which just so happens to be my birthday.

Above is a card I made using pins and beads. The papers are from Basic Grey 'Eva' pad, Sugar Nellie 'pen pal' image, flowers are from Sarahs Cards Ltd, buttons have been sewn on and added a saftey pin and beads, ribbon from my stash. There is also another example if you scroll down a little.

I shall keep this post on top until the 28 September. For all other posts please scroll down.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing some lovely creations

xx vicki xx

Entries so far

Caroline,

Vicky

Ribenruby

Gina x 2

Nessy

Hans crafty candy

Han is offering some delicious candy in celebration of reaching 20000 hits, huge congrats Han and thanks for the opportunity. If you haven't already, please go check out her fabby blog, her cards are truly gorgeous

fabby awards....

I have had the great pleasure in receiving some wonderful awards over the last couple of days, for which I am truly grateful. Natalie, Jill and Jilli passed on the 'one sweet blog' award to me, many thanks girlies. Both Jill and Jilli very kindly gave me this lovely Sylvester award, I'm so touched thank you both so much.
Julie also awarded me this lovely award a few days ago to, many thanks Julie.

Choosing blogs to pass these onto is very difficult, as there are so many wonderful blogs and lovely girlies around so I would like to pass all three awards onto all the blogs on my blogroll and all who pass by my lil oasis, I would also like to pass the awards back to the four lovely ladies who gave them to me.

Sorry I've not been around much lately. I have been given extra hours at school, plus they have changed my days around, so life is very hectic at the mo and I really am finding it harding fitting everything in lately. I've also got loads of cards to make for birthdays, October is a busy month in our family, plus the florist has asked me to make a selection for her shop and hubby has an couple of orders from his works.......grrrrrrr, need more hours quick....lol!!!!

Hope your all keeping well and happy, take care xx vicki xx

Vanessa's birthday blog candy challenge

To celebrate her birthday, Vanessa has some lovely candy up for grabs, all you have to do is create a girly card with the added touch of some glitter.

This card is made by request from a lady who saw something similar I had recently made, but wanted it for her mum's 50th birthday, as I may have said before, I take a selection of my cards to the local florist and she kindly sells them for me.

The pp is from Craftwork Cards, my trusty RR image, ribbon, beads, brad and pin from my stash. The card looks very different in real life, the pp is shimmery and the sentiment and '50' doesn't look white as in the photo, just looks twinkly, my photography is appauling....lol!!!

xx vicki xx

male 50 th birthday cards....

Well I don't usually mind making male birthday cards, but this really got me stumped. I had a telephone call on the weekend from a lovely lady who always asks me to make cards for her. This time she wanted a couple for her son, who's going to be 50. She gave me no brief, just said 'oh it's ok, you do whatever comes to mind'...ggrrrrrr, eeeek, helppppp,...pmsl.

So this is what came to mind. The Magnolia images was kindly given to me by Kerry, many thanks again Kerry. The tie image is from a set of wooden stamps from QVC which I've stamped twice and decoupaged to give it the 3d effect, both sentiments were printed on my pc, other bits 'n' bobs from my stash.

xx vicki xx

thank you secret sister.......

oooooo look what goodies just arrived from my lovely secret sister. I do have a fairly good idea who my secret sister is. Thank you so very much for the lovely card, images, embellies and the snowflake punch, I'm over the moon with them.

I'd also like to say a big thank you to Michelle for organising the swap.

xx vicki xx

something a bit different

I have made this card for my friendship swap partner over at the Do-Crafts Forum. I bought this gorgeous Anna Griffin kit from here about two weeks ago and haven't had chance to use until now. The kit is fabby with some gorgeous papers, templates and a CD to create your own messages using their fonts. I know it's not my usual 'thing' but I think it's turned out ok considering I had to trace the flower shapes and cut them out, cutting not being my strong point...lol!!!

I shall be back sometime over the weekend with some more news regarding the post below....lol!!!! Hope you all have a lovely weekend, ttfn xx vicki xx

Pins & Needles

Could that be the title of a little blog candy challenge I may be doing soon.....????? You'll have to wait and see....hehehehe..lol!!!!I have made this card for my daughter's friend who's party is tomorrow. Georgia doesn't see her friend Leah as often now, since we've moved schools, but I will always make sure they stay in touch.

The papers are Basic Grey 'sugared', Sweet Ebony 'pen pal' image has been coloured and distressed. I've added a couple of stitches here and there, that could be the 'needles' part of my challenge. I've attached the lace with staplers, added a saftely pin to the button on the flower and put a bead headed pin onto the Autumn Leaves sentiments, that could be the 'pins' part of my challenge. The flower is from Sarah's Cards Ltd, can't praise that webstore enough, superb service and gorgeous goodies too.

Sorry for teasing, I promise I will reveal all just after the weekend but for now I shall keep you in suspense....pmsl!!!!!!

xx vicki xx

delicious candy

If you haven't already, please check out Gina's blog as she has some delicious candy up for grabs and if your a Penny Black fan your going to love what she has on offer. Many thanks Gina for your generosity. xx vicki xx

Happy Birthday Jill

It's Jill's birthday today, Many Happy Returns Jill, hope your having a lovely day.

This is the card and image folder I sent to her, along with a few other bits 'n' bobs, it is safe to put this on my blog as I know she has already opened it.

I have paper pieced the Rubber Romance image, the papers are Mara Mi from QVC, other embellies from my stash.

thanks for popping by,

ttfn xx vicki xx

Thank you Michelle

I have received this absolutely gorgeous card from the very lovely Michelle, for sending her some stamped images. Your so kind and thoughtful Michelle, I really love my card, many thanks again. xx vicki xx

Thank you ladies...

I have received this lovely award from Jill, Jilli, Natalie and Michelle, thank you all so very much for thinking of me to give it to, I'm truly grateful and right back at ya ladies!!!!!

I have to pass this onto five other blogs, which is always the hardest to choose, as there are so many lovely ladies out there with amazing blogs, but I have decided to pass this award onto:-

Zoe, Natalie, Kerry/Pickle, Kerry and Jools.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge

This weeks challenge over at CCT is to use lots of Pink on your card, so here's mine. I have recently received my new Sizzix BIGZ XL scallop card die....yippeeeeeee!!! and that's what I used to create the shape of this card. The papers are Mara Mi, yet another kit from QVC. The beautiful fairy image by Kerryjo has been coloured with Copics with stickles glitter glue and H20's, flowers are from Sarah's Cards Ltd, the bottom of the card has been embossed using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend, love to you all

xx vicki xx

Spiral Whisper's first sketch challenge

There is a great sketch to follow over at the Spiral Whisper blog, it's their first challenge so I thought I would join in. I've used that lovely nurse image by the incredibly talented Kerryjo, which has been coloured with Copics, sentiment was printed on my computer, nestabilites, cuttlebug embossing folder and papers from my stash.

Thanks for visiting

xx vicki xx

thank you & congrats

Just a couple of cards I made for Michelle to say thanks for organising the Secret Sister swap and congratulations on her new job. For the card above I've used one of my favourite stamps 'pen pal' by Sweet Ebony and have coloured it using watercoloured pencils, sansador and H20's. The paper is by Bo Bunny a lovely kit I bought from QVC, sentiment stamp is Cuddly Buddly which has been heat embossed.

I thought this fab image by Kerryjo (available to buy from Spiral Whisper) was so appropriate for Michelle, I've coloured it with Copic Ciao markers, for the shoes I used a Sakura glaze pen, the safety pin is MM, papers and other bits from my stash.

xx vicki xx

snowy family christmas

I've had this cute Penny Black stamp for a couple of weeks now and have been itching to make a card with it. I've coloured the image using Whisper pens and H20's, then added lots of Stickles glitter glue. The papers are Dovecraft as is the snowflake brad. Sentiment was printed from my computer, ribbon/braid from my stash.

Well how are you all enjoying the kiddies being back at school.........back to routine and early mornings, dashing here, there and everywhere. I seem to be always in the car, taking one of my lot somewhere, I feel like a tornado....lol!!!! Today was Georgia and Yasmin's first day in their new school, Georgia was great but as for Yasmin she cried and cried and would not let go of me. It was heartbreaking as the teacher took her to the class. I have butterflies in my stomache and can't wait to pick her up, poor little thing she's so sensitive. I'm sure she'll be fine after a few days, I hope.

Thanks for popping by, ttfn

xx vicki xx