Thursday 30 July 2009

Catching up!

Hello hello and happy Friday everyone! I've been back for a few days from a fab long weekend away but haven't quite got round to blogging yet...so there's lots to catch up on! (Long post warning!! )

The WOMAD festival was fabulous, in spite of the rain. (Wouldn't be a true British musical festival if it didn't pour for hours though would it lol!) Tantalising sights, sounds and aromas from all over the world - saw some great bands, ate some fabulous food and even joined a dance workshop!

I didn't take many pics because of the rain but I do love this one - these two kiddies were loving the music, dancing on their parents' shoulders, how cute do they look holding hands - it just summed up the atmosphere to me:


I left the happy campers to their soggy tents and headed off to a lovely hotel (camping at festivals is so ten years ago for me lol! I do love camping though having said that!) I then had a fabulous few days visiting my best friend and her family in Wiltshire - it's so special spending time with her baby girl...we did fun things like eat chocolate cake:

...and went for a long walk:


So, back to stamping! I was working on my computer yesterday when I had an email from the lovely Debbie....congratulating me on winning last week's Hero Arts blog challenge!!! I had no idea so headed on over to see if she wasn't winding me up! Apparently not, and I was thrilled to see I'd won the fresh face winner prize (and $50 of Hero products - woo-hoo! Thanks Hero!).

The challenge was to make a monochromatic card - I was in a pink and shabby mood when I made this last week:

Recipe:

Stamps - Three Ferns/Dots and Flowers/Thank You Messages (All Hero Arts)
Ink - Hibiscus and Sweet Blush (Papertrey)/Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Card - Kraft/Vintage Cream/Hibiscus and Sweet Blush (Papertrey)

Other - sewing machine/adhesive pearls/Martha Stewart border punch/Prima flowers/pink button/linen thread(SU)/Tim Holtz Distressing Tool


It was my best blogging buddy Steph's daughter's second birthday last Sunday, and I reached for more of my Hero stamps to make her card:




The Hero Arts elephant is paper pieced with SU papers (Tea Party); the chipboard number 2 is coloured with Copic markers then covered with Glossy Accents for a shiny finish. 'Today' is spelt out using Papertrey's Fresh Alphabet.

Recipe: Stamps - Elephants (Hero Arts)/Fresh Alphabet (Papertrey)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Card/Paper - Sweet Blush (Papertrey)/Stamper's Select White (Papertrey)/ So Saffron (SU)/ Tea Party DSP (SU)
Other - Circle Nestbilities/sewing machine/So Saffron striped ribbon (SU)/ Maya Road chipboard number/Copic Markers/Glossy Accents


And here's a PTI card I've posted on A Passion for Papertrey, details over there :)




And finally...if by any chance you're still with me I want to thank a few lovely ladies for bestowing these awards upon me :)

Thank you Tina and Alex for this:


A big thank you to Sara for this:



And to Bev for this:


Thank you so much ladies - I'm so tickled you thought of me!!

Oh, and one more thing (honest!)...there's some fab candy around at the mo, up for grabs by some even fabbier gals:

Emma's:



Steph'
s:



Oh and we've got the following up for grabs on A Passion for Papertrey too :)



Phew.. that's me done! I promise tomorrow's post will be much much shorter!! Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Kate x

12 comments:

Tina Spohn said...

I love long posts with lots of pictures. :) You had some fun time off and thats wonderful. But it´s good to see you back again. :D

Congratulations, your pink winning card has been one of my favourites. I guess, I gotta get some money for some lovely HeroArts-stamps. But there will surely be some cute PTI-stamps too. Oh my... I need a sponsor. *lol*

Hugs, Tina

Emma said...

WOW Kate,

You have been a busy bee. What sweet phots of the little one's too, awh. It must be something in the air too - lots of news from everywhere - so exciting :D

Thanks you so much for mentioning the candy too. A BIG CONGRATS to you on the Hero Arts competition, did you tell me because either I am going senile or you were sneeky. I love the card, you always make it look so stylish and have that something extra - no wonder you won - beautiful work hun.

Have a great weekend :D

Emma x

Steph said...

Gorgeous cards! I love that leaf stamp. x

Crafting Queen said...

Congratulations on your win!! The card is wonderful so worth winning. Looks like you had a wonderful time. have a great weekend. Anesha

Need More Time to Craft said...

Big Congratulations on Winning the Hero Arts Comp. Your card is so beautiful. Well deserved. Pleased you had a few fun days. BFN
Carole x

Mandy said...

Hi Kate, glad you had a fabbie time away, piccies are lovely!

Well done on winning the Hero Arts Blog Challenge, deff deserved....your card is stunning as they all are in your latest post!

take care,
Mandy
xx

Lesley Edmonds said...

Hi Kate,
Looks like you are having a fun time. I just love your pink card and congratulations on the win.
Lesley x

Vicki said...

Oh Wow Kate, thats a hard post to live up to...lol Nice to see you back, lovely pics and your cards are beautiful, congrats on your win!
My family originate from Wiltshire, I have a family tree book one of my Dad's cousins wrote it and had it published, it's beautiful to have, (never been there though...lol).

Well back to the real world now, blog land!

Take care

Hugs
Vicki x

Nancy L. said...

Congrats your card on HA was beautiful!

Aimes said...

Hey stranger! Missed ya! So glad you had a fab time - a festival wouldn't be right without a bit of rain would it?! Love your pics of your visit - I notice your love of Turquoise remains ;D
CONGRATULATIONS on the Hero Arts win! Just goes to show your creations rock hun! Lovin' that shabby chic style!
Have a super duper weekend!
Love,
Aimes
x

Suzi Mac said...

Congratulations on your win Kate, looks like you had a lovely time with the family. I have left something on my blog for you.
Your cards always encourage me.
Suzi xx

Unknown said...

Glad you had a good break Kate - I love the photos with you and the little girl - adorable.

The cards are lovely too