There's A Light At The End Of My Tunnel...

It's not a bright blinding 'come into the light' sort of light, just a dim glow in the distance, but it's still there.
I can now see each tree rather than just the forest, both at work and at home...phew!

I'm still waiting for my errant step-son Jon to upload the birthday girls photo's, so in the meantime I thought I'd share this one...

Little Miss Poppy in her padding pool. She is just the happiest little muffin ever, always laughing and smiling :)

Other news:
Maria and her girls on the Simply Sassy DT are having a blog hop this Saturday to showcase and launch the next set of stamps and I believe there is also a guest joining in.

Now you all know I am a huge Sassy fan, and in my humble opinion this next set is the best ever! They are absolutely gorgeous (yes, I have seen them nah nah nah nah nah!)

Calling all Sassy Addicts...Maria is searching for 2 guest design team members. It's easy to apply and you can find all the details on how to enter HERE. What's better than new rubber? Free new rubber! So get on over to the Sassy blog and enter and you could be getting your inky mitts on future Sassy releases.

I received this fabulous award off a new friend of mine, Janette. Thank you so much Janette for thinking of me.

Here are the rules to this award!!!

1. Share 7 things about yourself

2. Pass it along to 7 beauty blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy

3. Thank and link back to who gave you the award

So now I have to share 7 things about myself.
1. I am a very clean, tidy and organised person, too much so! To the point where I drive my poor husband (who without me would live in a happy world of disorganised chaos ) around the bend!
2. I hoard paper, be it 12x12, 6x6 or even 8x8, I hoard it. If I see nice new 12x12 papers I have to buy 4 sheets of each, just in case. Just in case of what I'm still not sure about?
3. I drink too much coffee, 12-15 cups a day :) But rarely drink alcohol, and if I do it will be either champagne or cider..from Princess to pauper eh?
4.I love music and listen to it all the time, either the radio at work or ipod at home. Anything from classical to heavy rock and I sing along very badly.
5. Olives are the work of the devil! I hate the little buggers! I'm quite convinced that God didn't create olives, or wasps for that matter.
6. I love my cats and talk to them like everyone else talks to a baby (crazy cat lady!)
7. I am thankful everyday for all my wonderful friends. These are extra special people who actually like me for being me as opposed to family who has to put up with me whether they like me or not! My friends are all very special and dear to me.
So with that last thought in mind, and because I cannot pick just 7 people, I would like to pass this award on to all my friends and followers, you are all amazing and make blogging (even though I am such a bag blogger) the wonderful experience that it is.

Hope no-ones nodded off, sorry this turned into a mini book.
Love Elaine xxx

Just A Little Candy....Winner.

Phew...I'm cream crackered! The weekend has been delightful, and Poppy had a fabulous birthday party.
Of course I am biased, but she really is such a sweet child, she's a happy, smiling and pleasant baby and she had such a lovely party with lots of family and friends. Thankfully the rain stayed off until after the barbecue.

The real reason I'm here is to announce the winner of the candy. Mr Random has picked a number....

Congratulations Yvon ( scrappiesvanyvon.blogspot.com ) please EMAIL ME with your full postal address and I will get your stamps - and some other bits - in the mail to you asap.
Thank you to everyone that entered, I have some more of my birthday candy stuff to post, once I get the laundry basket emptied and the rest of the chores done!

Love Elaine xxx

Just A Little Candy....

This post will stay at the top, please scroll down for any newer posts, thank you.

After a lovely few days off last week I am now back at work and positively drowning in a sea of papers!
No-one covers my work load when I'm off so I have a lot of extra paperwork to catch up on so no crafting time for me this week boohoo :(
I had already bought goodies for a birthday candy, but have had no time to even take a photograph. So without wishing to delay it any longer I have split the candy up into smaller lots and first up is:

3 brand spanking new Sugar Nellie stamps from the latest release as showcased at the Carnival of Colour blog hop last weekend and
3 brand spanking new LOTV stamps from the latest release.

Rules of Entry:
Just one, this candy is only open to those who already follow me. I have noticed in previous candies that some folks add themselves as a follower only to remove themselves after the candy has finished. I want candy to go to those who it's meant for..one of my followers and not a 'candy hunter'. I apologise in advance as I know this will offend someone somewhere but it's my blog, my rules and my candy :)
Any new viewers are more than welcome to become a follower but will not be eligible to enter this candy but will be eligible to enter future candies.
Candy is open worldwide but I am not liable to pay any customs/duties that some countries impose. Candy will stay open until Saturday 16th July 9pm BST.
Please click on the blue froggy to enter unless he's gone for a little hop about, he will return shortly!
Thanks for looking.
Love Elaine xxx

I meant to say...

But as usual I forgot!
It's been another busy week for us though that's pretty normal in my household. Today was Emma's graduation ceremony. She was a nervous wreck but ultimately pleased that we twisted her arm into actually attending!
I need to get the photos off Phil then I will post one on here.
My candy ends tomorrow evening but we are away for the weekend so I will post the winner on Sunday evening when we get back home. We are going to visit Jon, Sam and Poppy. They are having a little party for Poppy's first birthday. I don't know where this last year has disappeared to? I'll post some photo's of Poppy next week too.
Another scan at the hospital revealed the valve still hasn't closed on it's own so Poppy is scheduled to go into hospital on 1st August, poor little lamb but it needs to be done.
Before I go, Ali has a surprise blog candy to celebrate her second blogaversary.

I'll post a link on my sidebar but you can also click HERE to go straight there.

Ok, I'll be back on Sunday. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Love Elaine xxx

Sugar Bowl Challenge ~ 64

Today is my favourite day of the fortnight, yes it's time for a new Sugar Bowl challenge. For this challenge the sketch has been done by the Sweetie Kiki and as always it's a fabby one. The theme, should you choose to follow it, is a nice and easy one of 'lace'.
Nice and easy for some folks huh! But not me :(  I love lace but it's one of those things that I buy and stash away never to be used. I just can't bear to cut into it.
So I think I deserve a gold star for the addition of lace onto this card!

(I got so many lovely gifts for my birthday last month that it will probably take me the rest of the year to show you everything, so please forgive me if it takes a little while, I do love and appreciate everything I got.)

This little sweetheart is of course one of the new Sherbet Pips, and she's called Cherry Pip and was a gift off the lovely Sweetie Erika along with lots of other rubber - thank you very much Sweetie.
She's been coloured with the usual DI's and Nick Bantock inks. The gorgeous papers are First Edition Up Up Away, a lovely gift off my buddy Fiona, thank you Fi, these colours are right up my street.
The heart circle is a nestie die and a gift off my very sweet friend Patty in America, thank you - I love this die, and I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Patty (it's a special Birthday too!) for Saturday, I hope you have a fabulous day and get lots of lovely presents xxx
The sentiment is from Whimsy, a couple of punched flowers, a few pearls and a little strip of lace.
Phew...that's a lot of stuff on one of my usually minimalistic cards.

ETA: Thank you Marie for pointing out that I'd put here the sketch for challenge 63 and not the correct one for 64, the sketch above is now the right one, my sincere apologies, some days I'm as thick as two short planks!
The prize for one lucky winner is a choice of any 4 Sugar Nellie stamps, but if there are 100+ entries then the prize will increase to any 6 Sugar Nellie stamps. 
The Sugar Bowl Sweeties are taking a little Summer holiday break, so this challenge will run for four weeks instead of the usual two, so there's plenty of time to get a card made!For all the details on how to enter please visit the Sugar Bowl blog, where you will also find lots of lovely cards for inspiration from the other sweeties.
This is the 3rd card in a row without a Sassy image!!! I think my Sassy girls will be packaging their bags and leaving home soon in search of some inky love...I shall rectify this little 'issue' very soon.


Thanks for looking and for any comments you may leave.
Love Elaine xxx

Sugar Nellie ~ Carnival of Colour Blog Hop Part 2.

Roll up roll up..again, and welcome back to my little tent for the Saturday performance here at the Carnival of Colour blog hop. I'm so pleased you came back to see me one more time before I roll up my tent. I guess you all enjoyed your time at the Carnival yesterday? There were lots of you who bought souvenirs from the Gift shop but if not you need to visit this tent HERE.

If you've arrived here after stopping by the fabulous display at Maya's then you are on the right path, if not, or if you get a little lost on the journey then please go back and start at the Sugar Nellie tent.

'Tis the Season...I'm here with another Christmas image to show you.

Isn't this just the sweetest image you ever did see? I think it will be my most used Christmas stamp this year. It's called Snow Buddies and you can buy it HERE. It's a really nice size of stamp so I kept the layout very simple and the embellies minimal, much like yesterdays card.
I returned to my comfort zone and coloured with DI's, and again there's plenty of glamour dust sprinkled about. The DP's are from Dream Street, another Marianne die for a different snowflake, a few pearls and a cwc sentiment completes the card.

I hope you've enjoyed the Carnival as much as I have, the next stop is Michele where I know something fabulous will be waiting for you.

A little footnote for my buddies:
My friends all know by now that I average one card a fortnight, and this week I've managed to make three!! It's been great fun for me but no housework/laundry etc has been done and I've had no time to leave comments plus my inbox is full of emails waiting for replies. So the plan of attack for today is chores first and then catch up with all my lovely friends.
Thanks for looking and for any comments you may leave.
Love Elaine xxx

Sugar Nellie ~ Carnival of Colour Blog Hop.

Roll up, roll up...and welcome to my little tent on the Carnival of Colour blog hop. There is no charge to enter but please feel free to visit the Carnival gift shop to buy yourself a little souvenir afterwards!
Follow the signs HERE and take home a little memento from your visit.
If you've arrived at my tent from the very talented Maya's then you're on the right track, if not or if you get lost along the way then head on back to the Sugar Nellie blog.

What's the 'Most wonderful time of the year'?...Christmas is!

Isn't this just the cutest kitty you ever did see? Waiting with his friends the robins for Santa to arrive and fill their stockings with Christmas treats. This sweet image is called Puss in Boots and is available to buy HERE.
It's been coloured with....wait for it....Polychromo pencils just for a change and slathered with lots of glamour dust but you may need to enlarge the photo to see the sparkle better. The DP is Echo Park, a Marianne die for the snowflake, a few pearls, and a cwc sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed my little show today, but please pop back again tomorrow to see the Saturday Performance.
The next tent for you to visit is Michele's where I know you will find a fabulous display waiting for you.
Thanks for looking and for any comments you may leave.
Love Elaine xxx