Thank you Jools

What a lovely surprise I received yesterday from Jools.

Jools very kindly sent me this gorgeous card together some fabby Kerryjo and Elzybells stamped images as a thank you the Secret Sister goodies I sent her. Thank you so very much Jools, I love them. I'm quickly becomming a big fan of Elzybells just lately and must admit to ordering quite a few of the everyday stamps a couple of days ago, I'm eagerly awaiting their arrival....lol!!!!!

I hope your all enjoying the half term hols so far. I've had a lovely day with my daughters, we've been to see High School Musical 3 and it was brill, lots of toe tapping, hand clapping, goosebumps and the odd tears, mind you nothing will beat the first one in my opinion....lol!!!

Tomorrow is going to be a tough day as Ryan and I shall be attending Shaun's funeral (Ryan's school friend, aged just 14) who tragically died last week.......

Sue's Think Pink breast cancer awareness challenge

Sue has a wonderful challenge on her blog which is to raise awareness of Breast Cancer, well done Sue, this is such a worthwhile cause. Please pop over and have a look for yourselves at the delicious candy she has up for grabs.All she asks is......." Here is what I would like you to do.. if you have time can you make a pink card and send it to someone who could do with a little tender loving care."

Fortunately I don't have any family members suffering from this cruel disease, but that's not to say that I haven't lost a few relatives in recent years due to cancer.
I have decided to give this card to my cousin and his wife. They have three amazing children, two of which have Cystic Fibrosis. They do so much to raise money for CF and have been through quite an ordeal as a young family, I personally don't know how they've coped, but they have and do, tremendously well.
xx vicki xx

Some BIA projects.....

Well as you can see from the photos below, I've been having another lil play with my new BIA and have to say it is very addictive.....lol. Here a some lil books and thank you cards I've recently sent to my blogging buddies, I made and sent them a couple of weeks ago so it's ok for me to post them on here as I know they have all received them now.
The papers used on the card and book above are Anna Griffin.
Again using Anna Griffin papers, The scallop shaped card was made using an XL sizzix die

More Anna Griffin papers, the flower image is a Stampendous stamp

Yet some more Anna Griffin papers, doodlebug rub-ons and Brenda Pinnick 'N'

These papers are from that scrummy Cosmo Cricket TSV from QVC, the pin on the card is by Fancy Pants and I've also used my new SU round tab punch.

I love the colours on the papers above, they are by Sassafrass and is part of kit I purchased from Sarahs Cards ltd.

Well I'd better get on and do the dreaded h*******k. Hope you all have a lovely half term with your family. Luv 'n' hugs to you all xx vicki xx

a trio of 21st birthday cards

Well what a rush job these were....lol!!!! I had a phone call from the florist on Tuesday to ask if I could make 3 21st birthday cards for Thursday, the birthday boy is a hairdresser and not keen on sport, so I was in a bit of a pickle as to what to make. Thankfully I had a couple of stamped images from you lovely girlies to help me out. But I did end up buying the two magnolia stamps as I'm sure they'll come in handy in the future.

Thank you for all the lovely kind comments in the previous post, they have meant so much and are all very touching. Ryan seems to be a little better at the mo. Still haven't heard when the funeral is but we have been informed for Shaun's (the young lad who lost his life) friends to wear Welsh Rugby jersey's to the funeral. I can't begin to imagine what his parents are going through......

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and not forgetting it's half term.....yay!!!!! a couple of lazy morning due to us all, me thinks.

Take care and huge (((((hugs))))) to you all xx vicki xx

Happy Birthday Gina, Awards and some tragic news

Happy Birthday to you !!! Happy Birthday to you !!! Happy Birthday dear Gina !!! Happy Birthday to you !!!

Here is the card I sent to Gina, as today is her birthday and boy has she had some gorgeous goodies, just have a nosey at her blog, lots of scrummylicious stash to play with....lol!!!

I have used my new RR stamp for this card, (Natalie I couldn't resist, it's your fault.....) Natalie made me a beautiful card for my birthday using this very image and I new then I just had to get it myself and so ordered it from Dies to Die For.

I have received the Wilde Women award from Lesley, (so sorry I forgot to save the piccie) shall do it later. Huge thanks Lesley for thinking of me to give it too, I'm touched and so very grateful.

I have also received this fab award from Natalie, Gina G, Sharon and Sara. Huge thanks ladies, this really means a lot to me and has put a smile on my face, just when I need it most. There are so many wonderful blogs and not to mention amazing girlies, that I have the pleasure in calling friends, that makes this part extremely difficult, so I would like to pass this award back to all the fab girlies who gave it to me and to all that takes the time to visit my lil oasis.

And now for such sad news, sorry to post this here but feel the need to. My son Ryan came home from school yesterday (yasmin's birthday too) very sad, he'd been crying. When I asked what was wrong, I wasn't expecting this reply. His friend in the same year as him at school, aged 14, has died. His mum had taken him to the doctors for some antibiotics for his acne. He took the tablet and his body reacted to the tablet, causing some sort of anapylactic shock. Ryan went to school today, but the Head said that if they wanted to go home they could. There is a special assembly in school tomorrow, not sure as yet when the funeral is. Ryan has never been to a funeral before, so this is going to be extremely difficult for him. It has been so hard to comfort Ryan, not having gone through anything like this before. Sorry to have burdened you all with this, please excuse my spelling, its' hard typing through tears.

xx vicki xx

Happy 6th Birthday Yasmin

Well today my lil baby girl is 6, wow that's flown by.....I came across this photo of her a few days ago whilst uploading the card in the previous post, I think she may have been around 10 months old......aaaawwww bless....pmsl...do not let that angelic smile fool you all, she's a lil minx who's 6 going on 16......lol!!!!!

Yasmin put her birthday card order in with me back in the summer hols....lol!!!! yep she's done nothing but go on and on about her birthday since then, I'll be glad when today is over with.... she said "mummy for my birthday I want you to make me a card with a box and I want one of those wallet things with 12 stamped images in so I can colour them..."

So here it is. I've used that lovely fairy martha image by Kerryjo, Bazzill Bling cs, K & CO and DCWV pp. The lil charms are from WHAT. Nestabilites. "yasmin" is cut out using my Big Shot and ellison design "best friends forever" alphabet. Glamour dust for that little bit of twinkle. Sorry about the poor photography, you should be able to click on all the pics for a closer look, should you so wish too.

The card above is from her sister Georgia~May, huge thanks to Michelle for this lovely Elzybells image, I really NEED to order some of those stamps as I am becomming quite a fan of them. I've coloured the image with Copic markers, everything else on the card is DCWV, apart from the ribbon, which is American Crafts, from qvc.

Another thank you to Michelle for this cute image which I've coloured with Derwent water coloured pencils, Sandador and Derwent blending pencil. This card is from her big brothers Tom & Ryan, again papers and cs are DCWV as for the ribbon, it's American Craft from QVC craft day. The pin is Fancy Pants.

Well as you can imagine, a busy day today, so hopefully will try to catch up with everyone as soon as I can. Take care all xx vicki xx

For my Secret Sister

The very lovely Michelle arranged a Secret Sister swap last month, huge thanks Michelle, I really did enjoy taking part, hopefully we could all do another soon. Today is the day we all reveal who our Secret Sister is. Above is the card I sent to my lovely SS, who just so happened to be Jools. I love these Sassafrass papers, the colours are all my favs, I bought them after seeing a beautie card on Hans blog. It is a kit from Sarahs Cards ltd. Don't know what I was thinking of when I made this card, all I knew at the time was that I wanted to do something a lil different, it didn't turn out quite how I had imagined, mind you nothing new there but I think it's ok...ish!!! I didn't think to take a photo of the goodies I sent my SS, but I know Jools kindly did and also posted it on her blog, so if you would like to see what I sent her just click HERE

xx vicki xx

Julies blogoversary candy

If you love Stampin Up products or have never tried them and would like to be in with the chance of winning some, then check out Julies blog, she has the most scrummy goodies up for grabs in celebration of her Blogoversary, congratulations Jules and many thanks for being so generous. xx vicki xx

My first BIA books and thank yous

I've been having a lil play with my new BIA and have made a few address books etc and thought I would send a couple out to some of my blogging buddies by way of saying thank you for all the lovely gifts I received for my birthday, plus this also give me chance to have a practice...hehehe!!! I am still in the middle of making a few other books for others but having had such a hectic week I'm a bit behind, so hopefully I'll get chance to finish them later this week.

I ordered the Stampin Up round tab punch from the very lovely Jules, it came in very handy for making the address books. I have to say a huge thank you to Jules for being so helpful and taking the time and trouble to send my order off. If anyone is thinking of ordering any Stampin Up products, I can honestly recommend Julie, she's been brill so huge thanks Jules.

Well it's my day off today, so you'd think this would be a good opportunity to do some crafting.....but no chance, I've got a mountain full of ironing I really MUST get through today.....gggrrrrrrr!!!!! ttfn xx vicki xx

Happy Birthday Stephen

I've certainly had some stick off my hubby since turning 38 almost 2 weeks ago, because up until yesterday we were the same age....hahahahaha!!!!, not anymore, it was his birthday yesterday which means he's now 39...hehehehehehe!!!! I took great pleasure in ringing him at midnight (he works away from home, nightshift) to wish a very happy 39th birthday .....ooooo revenge is sweet...na na na na na, thwrrrrppp (raspberries) it's fun being childish every now and then...pmsl

It's a good thing he does work away from home, I've had such a hectic week I didn't start making his cards until gone 10pm last night...oooops!!! Well at least I made it in time, he came home early this morning.

The card above is from me and I've used DCWV papers.

A very quick and simple card to give Stephen from our lads Tom & Ryan. Those cuttlebug embossing folders are a life saver when it comes to making cards in a hurry. The metal tags are Papermania which I've had for yonks and only now used.

Finally this card is off our daughters Georgia~May & Yasmin, again using DCWV papers and alphabet stickers, core'dinations cardstock, sentiment stamp is Hero Arts and the cutie image was kindly given to me by Maria.


Also I'd like to congratulate Natalie on her Blogoversary. You must check out her blog she has some fantabulistic candy up for grabs. Many thanks Natalie for the chance of winning.

witchy wishes....

I've made this card for the October friendship swap over on the do-crafts forum, as you can see from the photo, the theme this month is Halloween. So of course with it being a Halloween theme what better image to use than Kerryjo's witch. The pp are Doodlebug, green cardstock is core'dinations, which was very kindly given to my by Michelle, many thanks again Michelle and has been run through my Big Shot using the spots and dots embossing folder. Scalloped circles are Nestabilities, I used my corner rounder punch to make the scalloped strip.

Sorry I've not been around much this week, pheww!!! what a busy week can't believe how quick it's gone, again. Shall try to catch up with everyone really soon. Got a few cards and other bits to show, so may see you later....ttfn xx vicki xx

Thank you Jools and Jilli

I received this gorgeous birthday card from the lovely Jools on Saturday morning, thank you very much Jools I love it.



Also through the post on Saturday morning, was this lovely card and fabby stamped images, together with a christmas stamp set from the lovely Jilli, many thanks Jilli I love those cutie characters, I've also been trying to get this stamp set for a while now and everytime I pop into Craft Central or The Range they haven't had it in stock, so huge thanks Jilli, what a mind reader you are.....lol

I'm so sorry ladies that it has taken me until now to put them on my blog, we've had a busy weekend with the kids etc...... so glad it's Monday and they're all back in school.....lol!!!!!

ttfn xx vicki xx

Thank you Kerry....

Just look at this beautiful card I received yesterday from the incredibly talented Kerry. Kerry also sent me a wonderful selection of her chrismas girly images, which I have kept in their gorgeous gift wallet so as to protect Kerrys copyright. But if you pop over to her blog and scroll down a little, you'll be able to see them in all their glory.

I love this set so much Kerry and many, many thank yous, can't begin to imagine how long it took you to punch out and arrange all those flowers, but it was well worth it, it's a stunner.

I've also received my Cosmo Cricket tsv from QVC today, so I'm sending hubby to the chip shop for fish and chips all round, we usually have a house/garden full kids around on a Friday, so they can entertain themselves and I intend to get stuck into making some little notebooks with my Bind-it-All and new Cosmo Cricket goodies......

Well the weather here is absolutely gorgeous, even if a bit windy and cold, the sun is beaming, lets hope it lasts the weekend. I hope you all have a lovely weekend, take care and thanks for popping by my lil oasis.

xx vicki xx

just a few cards I've recently made

Well I thought I would pop all the cards on in one post rather than individually, still got quite a few to make but these are for starters....lol!!!!To be honest I made the card above ages ago and forgot to put it on my blog, it's for Stephens parents 40th wedding anniversary.

The card above is for an order for one of the guys in work with my hubby, I've made a few of these now for his work mates. The papers are all DCWV from qvc and recent tsv of theirs, you now, the one with the two drawers.

This is the card I sent to the lovely Jools and her hubby, as they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last weekend, many congrats to you both, hope you enjoyed your weekend in Florence. The image is another fabby 'doodle' by kerryjo, which she very kindly put on her blog as a freebie, thanks Kerry.

Thought I'd have a go at a christmas card using my new c/bug embossing folder that I had for my birthday. I've had these papers for a while now and this is the first time I've used them.

Well you now the saying less is more, well that definately didn't apply to the card above, more like see how much you can fit on one card......lol!!! It's for my fil birthday which was today, he loves all types of sports, so thought I would just go with that.

I've used some of the lovely goodies Michelle sent me for my birthday, the lovely image and core'dinations were both from Michelle, have to say I loooooovvvveeee that cardstock so much, thank you once again Michelle.

This card is for an old friend of my Mums, and eventhough my mum past away 12 years ago we always keep intouch. Kath (who's the lady in question) moved from South Wales to Cambridgeshire many years ago, we sometimes visit each other, but always remember birthdays. Love this RR image which was kindly given to me by Natalie for my birthday, I've coloured her with Copics, papers are from QVC, other bits from my stash.

aaaaahhhhh isn't this image so cute, it was kindly given to me by Maria, along with some other gorgeous goodies, huge thanks again Maria. I've coloured the image with Whisper pens and the paper is K & Co.

Phew!!!!!!! what a long post, sorry if I've bored you all to bits, you can now wake up........lol.

I'd better get a wriggle on with the rest of my cards, hubby's birthday next week, Yasmins the week after....blimey what a busy month.

Oh yippeeeeeeeee, my washine machine is now back working, yay!!!! no more tooing and froing back and forth to my dads, luckily he only lives across the next housing estate.

If I'm not around for a while, that's because I'm going to try and have a play with all my new goodies. Take care all, luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Thank you Han & Shelly

Look what was waiting for me when I arrived home from work yesterday evening.....this absolutely gorgeous card from the lovely Han, together with some fabby stamped images....wooohoooo!!! as you can see from the photo, I have some H & S images to play with, thank you so very, very much Han.


I would also like to thank Shelly for sending me the most adorable e-mail card with the cutest house mouse characters on, it was beautiful and such a lovely thing to do, I've not seen anything like it before, thank you Shelly.




I've put this piccie on my blog again, it was all the gorgeous goodies that Maria so generously gave me for my birthday, however in the post below the photo wasn't that good and you weren't able, for some reason the click on it to see a closer look, so hopefully this piccie is better, huge thanks again Maria.

I have made a few cards using some of the lovely goodies you have given me for my birthday, I'll put them on my blog soon. Gotta go now, cos my washing machine repair guy is about to turn up to fix my machine, I've been without a washing machine for just over two weeks......aaarrrgghhh.. it's been unbearable, but that's another story.

ttfn xx vicki xx