BasicGrey Blog Candy # 20

THIS BLOG CANDY IS NOW CLOSED !

Well, here we are again with another fantastic BasicGrey Blog Candy courtesty of Simon Says Stamp !

Just look at these amazing goodies you could win !

So, what do you have to do to win my candy ?

Some of you will be used to it by now but for those first timers, here goes :

Well, there are no strict rules and the comments I make below are not compulsory to enter this draw but it would be nice if :

You could give your support to Simon Says Stamp, BasicGrey Challenges and myself by becoming a follower if you are not already. Links to both of these are in my sidebar.

Add my blog candy to your sidebar and please feel free to "take away" my blinkie

Join in with us at BasicGrey Challenges and also Simon Says Stamp's challenge blog, Simon Says Challenge ! You can combine challenges with both of these challenge blogs which is great news ! Links to both of these are in my sidebar and relevant posts.

This blog candy will be open to everyone Worldwide (including all DT members of both challenge blogs) until Saturday 12th June when I shall draw a winner with a random number generator and post a new fabby blog candy for you to enter.


To make it much quicker for me to choose a winner, I am using inlinkz but there is a catch !!! Every fortnight I shall ask you a question and I would like you to answer that question after your name. It will be a one word answer so not difficult.


For example, you would type your answer as Jo Nevill (Blogs and magazines)


This fortnight's question is : Where do you find your most crafting inspirations ?

I find most of my inspiration from blogs and also magazines but mainly when I go blog hopping. So many of you are sooo talented !!

Anyone not leaving the answer to my question in inlinkz will have their name deleted to stop spammers and also people only entering for the sake of it (if you know what I mean and I don't wish to be rude in anyway).

I would like to give a huge thank you to both Heidi and Steph of Simon Says Stamp for giving me this fantastic candy again for you to win.

Winner - BasicGrey Blog Candy #19

Well, the time has come to announce the winner of my BasicGrey Blog Candy. The Eagle eyes of you may have noticed that the links to Mr Linky aren't showing on my blog as the account needs upgrading. I will be switching to a new system this week for the new blog candy but I can assure you that all your links I can see in my account in Mr. Linky. There were 75 valid entries and I am pleased to announce the winner is :

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:62 - Dragonllew
Timestamp: 2010-05-29 14:41:01 UTC

Many congratulations ! Please email me with your full name and address so I can arrange for Steph of Simon Says Stamp to forward your goodies onto you !

BasicGrey Challenges

Good morning and welcome to another BasicGrey Challenges ! Looks like you all enjoyed the "Punch It" challenge. Let's hope at Martine's sketch gets your juices flowing for this challenge !

Once again there is a fabulous prize !





The DP's are BasicGrey "Euphoria". I just love these papers but sadly I haven't used them enough and I don't know why. The white paper is the one from the pad that has the same colour pattern on it and hues of pink and blue - its so pretty but the camera hasn't picked it up very well.


The image is of course Tilda and she has been coloured with ProMarkers. I have just noticed while trying to find this Tilda in the Simon Says Stamp Store that they have 524 Magnolia products including the Magnolia flowers, leaves, chandelier garlands and now the papers (which you can buy by the sheet or as a pack - what a fabby idea that is !). They also stock some of the older Tilda's too so if you are struggling to find an old favourite, try Simon Says Stamp first !


The flowers are some gorgeous Prima ones Heidi of Simon Says Stamp sent me at Christmas. They are all sparkly and are a very fine fabric so they are very delicate looking too.

The DT's cards for this challenge are yet again absolutely amazing and every one is so different. Hop over to the challenge blog and see !


I hope you all have a good and relaxing Bank Holiday weekend. I'm hoping that Mr Sun puts in an appearance especially next week when I shall be back under canvas !


Thank you for your visit and for any comments you may leave and I do hope you can join us in our challenge.

Simon Says Challenge - Pink (or blue) with Green and Brown

Good morning ! Wow, has it really been a whole week since I last posted ? Doesn't the time fly when you have been having fun ! I haven't been sat idle though. I had a large commission to get done and also a poorly baby, a swimming gala and trying to sort things out for our camping trip. I've also been trying to do my DT work for while we are away - phew ! Still, keeps me off the streets annoying old ladies !!!

Before I tell you about this week's challenge I would like to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Simon of Simon Says Stamp ! Simon is of course Heidi and Jason's dog and the mascot of Simon Says Stamp and its his birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON !!

So, this week's challenge on Simon Says Challenge is a colour combo. PINK (or blue) WITH GREEN AND BROWN. The DT are showcasing Penny Black stamps this week. Simon Says Stamp carries (at the last count) 1,000 Penny Black stamps ! Go check them all out !!!

I followed the sketch over at Friday Sketchers and they are being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp this week ! They are giving away a shopping spree of $25 ! I did "tweek" the sketch a little !

The DP's are October Afternoon "Farm Fresh".

The image is by Penny Black and is called "Lazy Days" which I thought fitted in very well with the weather we have been having in the UK this week !

The flowers and brads are from my stash.

The prize this week is a fantastic voucher for a shopping spree in the Simon Says Stamp Store of $25 and you don't even have to pay the P&P !

We look forward to seeing your entries to this week's Challenge.

Thank you for your visit and for any comments you leave, they always mean so much.

Have a great day !

Simon Says Challenge - A Tent Card with Charms !

Hellooo ! I hope you are all enjoying this glorious sunshine and warmth we are getting ? It gives you a spring in your step !

This week on Simon Says Challenge, we are making tent cards and adding charms to them. If you don't know how to make a tent card, we have added Dena's fantastic and easy tutorial to the blog to show you how its done.

Heidi is very generously giving away a $25 P&P free shopping spree in the Simon Says Stamp Store !

The DP's are Cosmo Cricket "Material Girl".

The image is Anya by The Greetings Farm and she has been coloured with ProMarkers. I added some glossy accents to her sunglasses.

The flowers are Prima.

The button is BasicGrey

The pin was made by myself and the flip flop charm is from my stash.

The scrabble letters are also from my stash.

We hope that you can join us in our challenge this week. The DT have given loads of fantastic inspiration for you with their amazing cards.

Thank you for your visit and for any comments you leave, they always mean so much.

Don't forget my BasicGrey blog candy. If you click on the photo in my sidebar it will take you directly to the post.

Have a good week. I've got a busy one coming up. The schools and clubs seem to book up days out and activities right at the end of term and cram them all in. My calendar is black with writing for the two girls ! Still, looks like it will be entertaining, swimming galas, a workshop with the author Jeremy Strong, parties, school trip to @Bristol ! Oh to be a child again !

Hugs to you all,

BasicGrey Challenges - Punch It !

This week on BasicGrey Challenges we are getting our punches out. With so many gorgeous punches around, its fantastic to get a few out and show them off !

A couple of the Design Team are using the new BasicGrey papers that have just been released and boy, they are gorgeous !

The DP's are BasicGrey "Koishi". These papers are just so pretty and have such gorgeous colours.

The image is Mo Manning/Stampavie "Rae with Journal" and she has been coloured with ProMarkers and Copics.

The punches I used are Fiskars Apron Lace and EK Success retro flower (3 sizes).

Gems and ribbon from my stash.

We look forward to seeing what punches you use and hope you can play along with us.

Thank you for your visit and for any comments you may leave.

Don't forget to enter my blog candy - new one put up today !!! Just click on the photo in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the post.

Have a fabby weekend and enjoy the sunshine !

BasicGrey Blog Candy # 19

THIS BLOG CANDY IS NOW CLOSED

Well, here we are again with another fantastic BasicGrey Blog Candy courtesty of Simon Says Stamp !

Just look at these amazing goodies you could win ! Now, if my eyes aren't deceiving me, I am sure these are the brand new Capella papers you lucky, lucky peeps !!!

So, what do you have to do to win my candy ?

Some of you will be used to it by now but for those first timers, here goes :

Well, there are no strict rules and the comments I make below are not compulsory to enter this draw but it would be nice if :

You could give your support to Simon Says Stamp, BasicGrey Challenges and myself by becoming a follower if you are not already.

Add my blog candy to your sidebar and please feel free to "take away" my blinkie

Join in with us at BasicGrey Challenges and also Simon Says Stamp's challenge blog, Simon Says Challenge ! You can combine challenges with both of these challenge blogs which is great news !

This blog candy will be open to everyone Worldwide (including all DT members of both challenge blogs) until Saturday 29th May when I shall draw a winner with a random number generator and post a new fabby blog candy for you to enter.

To make it much quicker for me to choose a winner, I am going to start using Mr Linky but there is a catch !!! Every fortnight I shall ask you a question and I would like you to answer that question after your name. It will be a one word answer so not difficult.

For example, you would type your answer as Jo Nevill (Bittersweet)

This fortnight's question is : Which are your favourite BasicGrey papers ?

I think mine are Bittersweet as I have used so many of them, I have had to buy another pad !

Anyone not leaving the answer to my question in Mr Linky will have their name deleted to stop spammers and also people only entering for the sake of it (if you know what I mean and I don't wish to be rude in anyway).

I would like to give a huge thank you to both Heidi and Steph of Simon Says Stamp for giving me this fantastic candy again for you to win.

Winner - BasicGrey Blog Candy # 18

Here we are again, drawing the winner of my blog candy.



There can only be one winner and that lucky person is......

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 75 - HildeM

Timestamp: 2010-05-15 14:17:29 UTC

Many congratulations to Hilde . Could you please email me with your details and I will arrange to have your goodies sent to you !

Good luck next time !

Don't Eat All the Animals !

Thank Crunchie its Friday !!

Hope you have all had a good week ?

I thought I would take part in a couple of challenges for a change and so made a card for :

Stampin For The Weekend whose theme is "a card for a male"

Paperplay Challenges whose theme is "brown and...."

Crazy 4 Challenges whose theme is "What are little boys made of ? Frogs and snails And puppy-dogs' tails, That's what little boys are made of"

My Time to Craft Challenge whose theme is "Too Cute"

The DP's are Imaginisce "Wild Things" and I've had these for ages and ages.

The image is The Greetings Farm "Happy Day" and I think this little cutie is called "Oliver". He has been coloured with ProMarkers.

The sentiment is also by Imaginisce and I bought it at the same time as the papers. I used a scallop circle punch to "bite" the edges !!

Well, I think that's about all to say about that one !

Thank you for your visit and for any comments you may leave. I will be back tomorrow with BasicGrey Challenges and of course, the draw for my blog candy. There is still time to enter so just click on the piccie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the post.

Have a great start to the weekend. Look's like the weather is picking up next week and due to get warmer - yippeee !

Take care

Simon Says Challenge - Domi's Sketch

Here I come, sliding in my the skin of my teeth again and very late ! Honestly, I know I keep saying it but where on Earth does the time go ?

Anyway, what an amazing response we had to last week's challenge and blog hop ! Thank you to all of you who entered and for showing us your amazing cards and creations. The winner will be posted on the Simon Says Challenge blog later today.

I can announce the winner from my blog of the Exclusive Simon Says Stamp, Stamp Set is SANDIE ! Many congratulations Sandie. Can you please email me so I can tell you how you can claim your prize !

This week, we have a sketch for you designed by our fantastic Domi !

The Design Team this week are showcasing Whiff of Joy stamps which can be bought in the Simon Says Stamp Store. You don't have to use a Whiff of Joy stamp but if you have one, it would be lovely to see it !

The DP's are Papermania "Persimmon Collection".

The image is Melinda Hugging a Heart and she has been coloured with ProMarkers. The flourishes around the outside edge are also Whiff of Joy stamps which have been stamped in Pumice Stone distress ink.

The flowers are a mixture of Prima and ones from my stash.

We look forward to you playing along with us !

Hope you have a fantastic day and thank you for your visit and for any comments you may leave. They always mean so much.

See you soon !

P.S. My bumps and bruises are feeling much better now and I can walk and move ! I can highly recommend Arnica in both tablet and cream form, they work like magic ! I just need my knee to heal up and then I will be as good as new !! Thank you for asking about me - mwah !

The Craft Barn Mini Album Competition - Completed Album !

If you are looking for the Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop post, please CLICK HERE !

Whooo hooo at last I am able to blog AND show you what I have been making ! You have seen most of the pages of the mini album I have been making for The Craft Barn's competition, but I have now completed the remaining few pages which I am over the moon about.

Well, its been a very eventful week ! Firstly we went on our first family camping trip over the Bank Holiday weekend and although it was very cold and wet, we all really enjoyed ourselves and the girls were so excited. We got on so well in fact, we have booked another break away at the end of the month !

Izzy and I managed to catch someone's cold so we have both been under the weather since we got home.

On Thursday, my darling little daughter decided she wanted to play outside with her bike. Unknown to me, she also moved the rest of her garden toys right outside the steps to the back door. Along I came with the holiday washing and stepped onto the skateboard. You can imagine the rest I am sure. I am now looking for a skin donor for my knee and I feel like I've been in a car accident, I can't begin to tell you how bruised I am on my right hand side, from top to bottom. I am not ashamed to say that I sat on the patio, inside the washing basket, crying my eyes out for a good 15 minutes trying to get up off the floor !

Anyway, the good news is it has given me more time at my craft table as I haven't been able to do much else !

The good news is that I won Pop's blog candy of all those fantastic, wonderful and delish flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. Wow, if only you could see them in real life. Thank's again Pops !!

This is rather picture heavy but I have to put all the photos of my mini album in one post to enter the competition so...... here we go !!!!

If you click on the photos you should be able to see a larger version for more detail.

PAGE 1 (front cover)

PAGE 2

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

PAGE 7

Using DP's by BasicGrey and Papermania.

The main flourish I found amongst my stash. I dabbed it with a white acrylic paint dabber and then edged the flourish with a silver marker pen. For some reason, the marker pen ran a little in the paint although it was completely dry. I loved the effect it gave, quite spidery.

I also added some flourishes from some Whiff of Joy stamps with Perfect Pearls but you can't see these very well on the photo. I also added some others in the bottom two corners with silver ink but you can't see those on the photo either !



PAGE 8

The DP's are by Melissa Frances.

The flourishes are Whiff of Joy stamps.

The centre flower I made myself using some cross stich material. I frayed the edges and inked it with vintage photo distress ink. The centre brad is a stitched BasicGrey brad.

The other flowers are all Prima with little wooden heart buttons for the centres which I bought at Ally Pally.

The ticket is by Hero Arts.

This picture is my two "silly billies" playing with a pair of pants would you believe !!



PAGE 9

DP's are Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love".

Corrogated card from my stash.

EK Success letters from Simon Says Stamp store which were a pressie from Heidi a while ago.

Tim Holtz ticket. Melissa Frances sentiment and wooden button again from Ally Pally.

The flowers were the blog candy I won from Pops kindly given by Wild Orchid Crafts.




PAGE 10 (back cover)

DP's are BoBunny "Love Bandid".

Sentiment was computer generated.

Everything else from my stash.





Thank you so much for your visit and for bearing with me on my long post !

I hope you all have a great weekend !

Love 'n' hugs,

Simon Says Blogaversary Blog Hop !

To celebrate the first blogaversary of Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog, the Design Team members are participating in a blog hop, to inspire you and celebrate an amazing first year! And what a year it has been!! WOW!!!!

As a special treat for this challenge, we have invited our two past DT members, Anna and Kim, to join us! Please give them a warm welcome back!!!

The theme for this weeks challenge is...you guessed it, BIRTHDAYS/CELEBRATIONS!!!!!!

We love BIRTHDAYS & CELEBRATIONS at Simon Says !!!!

The DT are showcasing the Simon Says Stamps exclusive stamp sets and have made some gorgeous Birthday cards to inspire you!! You can see them all close up on each blog as you hop along !

I'm sorry if you have already visited and my card was missing ! It is here now !



The DP's are BasicGrey "Green at Heart"

The lacey self adhesive ribbon is also BasicGrey "Green at Heart"

The flowers are by Prima and I have added some pearls to the centres which I have coloured with a ProMarker.

The image is by Pure Innocence and she has been coloured with ProMarkers.

The sentiments are from a set of Simon Says Stamp Exclusive stamps.

Simon Says Stamp sells all these in its store !

I am also entering my card in the Friday Sketchers challenge seeing as I used their sketch !!!

If you didn't start the blog hop at the beginning, then you want to head back to Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog so you do not miss anything. At each blog, there will be a NUMBER – collect all of the numbers, add them up, and post your answer at the end. Be sure to follow the blog hop all the way to the end, for a chance to win. When you get to the Simon Says Stamp Blog, leave a comment that you hopped to all blogs, and the final number and you will be entered to win at each blog, you need to leave a comment – this will get you a chance to win your choice of 1 Simon Says Stamp exclusive stamp set at EACH blog, AND an entry into the GRAND PRIZE!!!

You MUST enter the challenge to win!!!!!! Be sure to follow the blog hop all the way to the end, for your chances to win. When you get to the Simon Says Stamp Blog, leave a comment that you hopped to all blogs, entered the challenge (we will check!!!) and you will be entered to win some FABBY blog candy! Blog candy is GOODIE BASKET FULL OF FUN ITEMS YOU CAN USE IN YOUR CRAFTING, courtesy of Simon Says Stamp Superstore. (valued at over $100)



The number for my blog is 2 Next head over to KIM to see what fabulous inspiration she has for you and to collect your number.

You can combine this challenge with the WEDDING CHALLENGE AND the BLING challenge on PCP!!!!! Three challenges with one card...can it get any sweeter than that?????

Good luck and have fun HOPPIN'!!!!

We would like to extend our biggest thanks to Timea, our wonderful DT member who has decided to step down. She has been a FABULOUS addition to our team and we will all miss her greatly!!! We wish you the best of luck in your new job and hope you enjoy the time with your son! Please come back and visit us often!!!

Thanks for stopping by! HAVE fun and good luck!!!

BasicGrey Blog Candy # 18

THIS BLOG CANDY IS NOW CLOSED !

Well, here we are again with another fantastic BasicGrey Blog Candy courtesty of Simon Says Stamp !

Just look at these amazing goodies you could win !

So, what do you have to do to win my candy ?

Some of you will be used to it by now but for those first timers, here goes :

Well, there are no strict rules and the comments I make below are not compulsory to enter this draw but it would be nice if :

You could give your support to Simon Says Stamp, BasicGrey Challenges and myself by becoming a follower if you are not already.

Add my blog candy to your sidebar and please feel free to "take away" my blinkieJoin in with us at BasicGrey Challenges and also Simon Says Stamp's challenge blog, Simon Says Challenge ! You can combine challenges with both of these challenge blogs which is great news !

This blog candy will be open to everyone Worldwide (including all DT members of both challenge blogs) until Saturday 15th May when I shall draw a winner with a random number generator and post a new fabby blog candy for you to enter.

To make it much quicker for me to choose a winner, I am going to start using Mr Linky but there is a catch !!! Every fortnight I shall ask you a question and I would like you to answer that question after your name. It will be a one word answer so not difficult.

For example, you would type your answer as Jo Nevill (BasicGrey)

This fortnight's question is : Who makes your favourite papers ?

Umm, very difficult choice this one so either BasicGrey or My Minds Eye I reckon.

Anyone not leaving the answer to my question in Mr Linky will have their name deleted to stop spammers and also people only entering for the sake of it (if you know what I mean and I don't wish to be rude in anyway).

I would like to give a huge thank you to both Heidi and Steph of Simon Says Stamp for giving me this fantastic candy again for you to win.

BasicGrey Blog Candy #17 - WINNER

Thank you all for your patience while you have waited for me to draw the winner of my blog candy. I can announce the lucky winner to be......

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

80 - ANNE

Timestamp: 2010-05-04 19:23:29 UTC

Many congratulations ! Please email me and I will arrange for Steph to send you your goodies.

BasicGrey Challenges

Good morning and welcome to a new challenge from BasicGrey Challenges !

Please think of me while you are reading this ! If Mr Blogger is doing his job properly, I will be on my camping trip getting soaked to the skin if the weather reports are anything to go by ! I won't even be able to do any crafting to pass the time !

Important information regarding my blog candy........

I would normally draw the winner for my blog candy today but as I am away, I will draw the winner on Tuesday 4th May so you still have a few days left to enter. I am sorry for the change.

This week we have a photo interpretation for you and here is the yummy photo for you

Here is my card !

The DP's are a mixture of BasicGrey Wisteria, Papermania and Cosmo Cricket.

The image is of course Magnolia - such a gorgeous, pretty Tilda. She has been coloured with ProMarkers. The sentiment is also by Magnolia and I made a ticket using the new Tim Holtz ticket Sizzix die.

The flowers are Prima Shabby Chic, a button from the Hobby House, roses from my stash.

The doily is also from my stash.

The rest of the DT have done an amazing job with their cards, such an inspiration.

We look forward to seeing your interpretations of the photo.

Thank you for your visit and for any comments you may leave. As always, they mean so much.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and see you all soon !