Spider Alert!!

Last night I was well and truly traumatised!! There were spiders everywhere I turned. Okay, I'm exaggerating just a little, but there were several..all in one day!! I'm not a coward...honest, I'm not...except when spiders are around. I don't know what it is about them but they make my skin crawl. 

I found two in the hall during the morning and I thought that was bad, but at bedtime...it got worse..much worse!! My DH went to bed earlier than I did, I was finishing some work on my PC and needed to get it completed last night.

Eventually with my work completed, I climbed into bed and snuggled down feeling nicely relaxed. I was looking forward to reading the next section of my book before I went to sleep. An hour quickly passed as I lost myself in the story and I felt like it was time for lights out. So, down went the book and the pillows got a good shuffle to get me comfy.

As I lay back to check they were right...I saw it!! Up there poised above my head, staring straight at me and smiling (I swear it was)... .was a spider. Quite a big spider!!!

God, it could drop on me at any second. Should I move or should I jump out of bed? Would it drop on me if I jumped? Believe me it was like 20 questions zooming through my head.I thought of nudging my DH but then thought that may not be such a great idea. There was nothing else for it...I would have to deal with it myself!!

This needed careful manoeuvring, I didn't want that nasty hairy spider on me!!! Aaah, just the thought made me come out in goose bumps!! I crept out of bed..keeping low...well I sort of slithered out hugging the mattress and onto the floor. Whew, at least I wasn't in it's drop path any more...now down to action!!

I grabbed one of the cushions from the bed (there are loads..way too many) and climbed back on to the bottom of the bed. Now all I had to do was knock it off the ceiling with the cushion and over towards the window. Steady girl, don't panic!!! I wobbled on the mattress, it's a memory foam one, wonderful to sleep on but not so great for standing on. I pulled the cushion back like I was about to do a golf swing on the ceiling and whoosh...impact!! Spider gone from the ceiling...magic! I checked that wasn't near the bed and then climbed back in, making sure I left the cushion I had used far, far away form the bed.

Needless to say I needed to read some more as I was not feeling quite so relaxed now. But, if I just read a few more pages, then sleep.

All was well...at least it was until an other spider crawled over the pillow next to me and yes...it was doing that staring again!!!! In fact this one was waving Hi.

Oh, ah...no...scream...HELP!! HELP!!HELP..it's going to get me!!!

So okay, that's what husbands are for isn't it? I had tried with the other one but this one was a sneaky guy and he took me unawares..and he was so close. I mean screaming was a natural reaction...right? Now, I have to tell you, my DH is wonderful...long suffering, but wonderful. That is...except when he's woken up in the middle of the night by a screaming lunatic who is totally incoherent, but with very powerful lungs.

Moving slowly....admittedly with an angry glare, at me not the spider.... he removed the offending monster. Muttering a few choice words, which I won't repeat... he put a pillow over his head and went back sleep. Me? I was awake for sometime waiting to see if any more "visitors" with eight legs were going to drop in or creep out on me. But finally.....sleep came and peace returned.

Now I've shared my horror story, I'll behave and get down to scrap talk!!

Have  a look at the elements that I made to go with the Lilly's Quilt Paper Pack. These too were inspired by the quilt. I hope that someone out there can put them to good use.

You can download the Lilly's Quilt Elements here

I'm busy trying out some recipes in a terrific new book that I've got. It's all cake, muffins, biscuits, cakes and puddings recipes..and they are gorgeous. In my next post I'll let you know how I got on and share the results with you...well, not really share as I'm the one that gets to eat them...you only get to see them, lol!!

Take care and have a great evening!!

Technorati Tags: lillys quilt,element pack,spiders,free download,digital scrapbooking

Little Bits of Magic

In this world changes come at us fast and furious, sometimes they can be overwhelming. But despite the pace and uncertainty, there are so many small things in my live that ground me and make me feel that despite the pace....life is wonderful!!! They may be small and trivial but they really can change how I feel.

Small everyday miracles can lift me from the humdrum and exhaustion of the daily grind and make me think "Boy, life is good". I never cease to wonder at how the insignificant can make me feel so much better...so look around..the world is full of ordinary, mundane daily delights!!

Have you ever watched the dawn come up, with it's gorgeous colours and fantastic light? The first pink glow that radiates slowly across the horizon as the light gradually blossoms into a cascade of colours. As the light gets stronger it floods the landscape making everything look new and bright...full of promise. It's a sight that fills me with calm and warmth...no matter what the new day brings.

One of the simplest delights for me is climbing into a freshly changed bed and feeling the crisp, clean feel of the bed linen and the fresh, clean scent that lingers after washing...it's such bliss!! I snuggle down feeling pampered and spoilt...even though it was me that changed it earlier...it's just that feeling of freshness and comfort that I love.

Candles always fill me with wonder..no, I'm not simple minded...just in awe of the hypnotic feeling from staring into that soft flickering flame. It makes the shadows dance and the room looks so totally different, with deep dark pools hiding the corners. Now that is relaxing...the magic of the flame!

The smell of fresh coffee, baking bread, birdsong...they all are really trivial things that assault my senses and make me feel that life is good. They all work as wonderful pick-me-ups to my jaded senses, waking them up and sending glorious messages to my brain.

How many things can you think of that do the same for you? I'm sure that the list is endless, so think about what does it for you and indulge yourself just a little!! Let's face it they are not costly, you don't have to travel miles, they are there on our doorsteps....our own little bits of daily magic!!

Now, as I promised I have a little set of elements to add to the Everyone Kit. I hope you like them. Tale a look and see what you think.

Your can download them here

Have a wonderful evening and remember to watch out for your own little bits of magic!!

Technorati Tags: scrapbooking,graphic design,everyone elements,free download

Looking Inwards

Yes...it's an other rambling post....again!! So grab the coffee and get comfy...or just scroll to the end and grab the Elements for A Little Love and run!! The choice is yours. I hope you stay and read on.

Don't ask me why but today has been a looking inward day for me. I had just read a blog post and thought how well that the person was dealing with a mammoth problem and yet still coping with the rest of their life. It made me think about my own life...past and present, but more than that it made me think of the people around me and how I was treating them. Was I a nice person to be around? Was I selfish? So many questions so few answers!!!

I am sure that I fall short on so many of these questions. But that doesn't make me a bad person. But there is not a person made that couldn't get better!!! So I decided to try to get better...there is ALWAYS room for improvement!!

"How could I become a better person?" I asked myself. OK, I know that you can't just do these things to order and a lot of you will think I'm crazy (if you don't already!! lol!). But if you don't try it won't happen...........besides it should be a "Work in Progress".

So here's what I've come up with...a Challenge. A Challenge to me and to you too if you want to take part.

I decided that for the next 7 days I am going to do a little something that is selfless each day that will give to others in someway. I don't mean something physical but a meaningful gesture, kind act etc. It's a sort of Better Me Challenge..so I did a little blinkie for it..I know...it's really basic!! But snag it if you want to take part,  it's in my side bar. 

For the 7 day Challenge these are the Aims I hope to achieve. They are not in any order but I aim to do one or more per day for at least the next week...depending on how opportunities develop. Hopefully I will then continue with them as part of my everyday life if they are not there already.

The Aims of the Challenge are:

• Let People Know I Care - Tell someone I love them..and mean it, think about it and say it with meaning.
• Listen - Be a good listener and allow someone to unburden themselves and just vent off!! They may be mad or sad but I will let them bend my ear and get rid it. Don't you always feel better after you have sounded off? I do!! Being a good listener is an art and one we all need to practice!! We talk much more than we listen and often don't really listen to what people say. So, this week we are going to really listen when people talk to us..multitasking doesn't help this one!!
• Give a Little Time - life is so busy we often can't cram everything in, so make sure that you make a little space to do something with one or more of your family or friends...without distractions or worrying about the things your not doing. In other words even if it's just 10 minutes..it will be quality time with your undivided attention. That can be a difficult one to do sometimes with all the multitasking!! Hopefully it will let them know we care and want to spend time with them...they are more important than anything else during that period. You don't want to think in the future if only you had spent a little more time with him/her/it..so do it now.
• Say Sorry - we all have times in our past and present when we should say sorry but we don't. In the next week think about situations when perhaps you should have said sorry and didn't. If you can't find one then make sure that you say sorry at the right time this next week. An apology need not be an admission of being in the wrong but that your sorry something happened...say an argument or a long gap in being in contact.
• Appreciate People and Tell Them So - often we don't do this when we should and it is something that can mean a lot to people. It lets them see you notice and you don't take them for granted. You appreciate their skills, time, effort, kindness or what ever. We all like to be appreciated... so show someone you do appreciate them!!
• Try to Be a True Friend - not to be judgemental, but be trustworthy, a friend they can count on to encourage them and console them.... a friend who can keep their secrets and be loyal. Often we say "We're good friends" but we don't make time to be one!! This one is an ongoing thing to keep doing. That's why they say that "true friends are rare like pearls". Make yourself a pearl!!
• Say Something Good About People - say something good about and to people. Build them up..don't knock them down. Trying not to be judgemental goes with this one too..people are different, that doesn't make them bad...just different.

I'll be posting how I get on with the challenge and I'd love to know how you get on if you decided to try it too.

Now for scrapbooking!!!

I'm so lucky that I get to see so many lovely layouts that people do using my work. It really is a joy and one I look forward to....to find out what others do with the things I make, how they bring them to life as part of their wonderful pages.

Bettina has done just that be sharing with me these two beautiful pages from her album. The first is of her granddaughter Lily and the journaling was dictated to her teacher in First Grade by Lily herself. It is truly amazing!! The page really shows of Lily's crowning glory and is one to treasure for the future.

 

Bettina's second page is of her grandson having a wonderful time in the playground, look at that energy!! Her clever use of the template really conveys the speed and motion of this very energetic young man!!

 

 

Credits both layouts: Papers - Colour Basics by Cens Stuff, Hearts - not known, Template 01 - Cens Stuff, Talent by Bettina!!!

Bettina a brilliant job on both layouts and a huge thank you for sharing them!!

And Finally..I know... I really took my time in getting to it!! Lol!!

You can download the Elements for A Little Love here

Have a great day and I hope you decide to take the challenge!! Check back

for how I'm getting on with mine.

Technorati Tags: better person challenge,elements for little love,free download,layouts,scrapbooking,graphic designs

Element Time!!!

It's been a busy day here. Lilly and I went to visit my mum and I took my Project 365 photo for today whilst I was there. I really need to start doing something with all the photographs that I have taken!! Hopefully I'll post some next week.

I was delighted to see that Chris's over at Blink-kin-eck had posted a fantastic layout using some of the papers from the Colour Basics kit. If you love crafts...then you'll LOVE Chris's blog!! She has some gorgeous cards, altered art..and that girl makes me laugh! What more could you ask? So drop by and have a look for yourself.

Credits: Papers Colour Basics from Cen's Loft, Fantasy Scrolls from Cen's Loft, Bevel Gem and Pink a Dot Alphas from Free Digital Scrapbooking

And now........

The first of the Element Packs!! This one has shades of pinks, lilacs and blues. Each of the packs are different and there are three in total to complete your Mega Kit. So don't miss out collect all three!!

 

You can download Elements Part 1 here

Have fun!!

Tomorrow I am having a rest...well that's the theory!! More like a catchup time sso I will post the next of the Element Packs on Monday. So have a wonderful weekend and see you then!!

Technorati Tags: colour basics element pack 1,free download,scrapbooking,graphic design

The Boy Zone Element Pack

Today's freebie is the Element Pack to go with the papers for The Boy Zone. It makes up into a cute little kit for boys large and small.
You can download it here

Have you grabbed my blinkie..it could be worth while! My CT girls will be on the lookout for it in the forums and who knows you may get RAK'ed!! So why not snag it from the sidebar. Just right click and Save as. You can then add it where ever you want...remember those girls will be on the prowl!

New of NSD tomorrow 3 May!! I am soo excited!! I love National Scrapbooking Day, well it's really International Scrapbooking Day!! Great things are happening around the web tomorrow!

I have a 50% off Sale just for one day, Saturday at my store at SDK. So if you need some stuff to play with on NSD then drop by and grab a bargain!

I also have a chat I am cohosting with Kim Smith at 2.00pm EST and 7.00pm GMT - Its Coffee with Kim and Cen. Collect the links for a freebie kit during the chat. So if you love a freebie drop by!! Details here

If a challenge is more your thing, then why not join in my template challenge? If you post you layout in my challenge gallery by Tuesday 6 May then you get a posting bonus!!

Get the template and details here

I apologise to those of you who have been trying to download the April Supa Digi Kit from Scrappin Digi Kreations for this weeks challenge and had problems. The shop server has been giving problems since Tuesday and the shop has been offline. I am so sorry and so I have extended the challenge deadline until next Wednesday. If you still want to join in. Kim was one of the lucky ones who had downloaded it already before the problems and what a gorgeous layout she made with it!! The colours look great and her photo is perfect for the Spring theme...beautiful tulips. I love the quote and it is oh so true!! Those squares are really effective Kim! Great page!

Credits: SDK April Supa Digi Kit: Blooming Spring by June Schutrups - Cen's Stuff, Blooming Spring by Kim Smith, Sakura template by Tracy Drane, Font used is Kayleigh

Linda's layout is full of promise of Spring to with those lovely flower. I love the torn and curled papers and the stacked look! Wonderful page Linda!!

Credits :Template sbs2 - Pineapple Plantation Designs © by Shauna Burke-Smith 2007, Kit Used - April 2008 Treasure Hunt Kit SDK...Fonts used - Social Animal - Tahoma

Well have a great weekend and enjoy celebrating NSD!!