Cen's Loft: part 1

I hope that you had a great weekend and that the week has started well for you all. I also hope you are feeling strong...this is a LARGE post!! Bear with me and I promise that there is a goodie at the end of it all, lol!!

I have been slow in dealing with the awards that some lovely people have given me, for this I apologise....so,,,,,I decided to take a leaf out of my good friend Chris's book and have an award ceremony!!! As I'm in UK..I thought I'd have my own Brit Awards....so I hope you all have on your best frocks and tiara's!!! This is a posh event, there is even a red carpet...so settle down and get ready to clap all the great people who are getting their "Brit Awards" today!! Now no cat calling, only nice applause please!

As for me, I have on my pearls and diamonds, a haute couture dress and I'm looking oh so grand...I wish!!

The first up is Polly from Angels in My Garden. Polly has a wonderful blog with some really thought inspiring posts..my favourite is still the one about her Mama's Dishes..take a look, I'm sure you'll agree. Thank you Polly for doing me the honour of passing this award to me.

The award is presented to bloggers who display consistency in any one or a combination:

1.The blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.

2.The blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.

3.There is a clear purpose at the blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economics, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.

4.The blog is refreshing and creative.

5.The blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1.Create a post with a mention and a link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.

2.The award conditions must be displayed at the post.

3.Write a short article about what the blog has thus far achieved - preferably citing one or more older posts to support.

4.The blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the award conditions.

5.The blogger must display the award at any location on the blog.

Ok, so now I have to say what my blog has thus far achieved, a difficult one!

I originally started Cen's Loft as a place for scrapbookers and crafters to visit and hopefully get to know me just a little. I hope it has become somewhere that readers feel they are friends, as I have made so many new ones through this wonderful little dot in cyberspace. It has given me a place to share some of my work and put something back into the online community that has given me such pleasure. I love it...and I hope that at least some others do too!!! Lol!! As far as having achieved anything, I think that's for others to decided if it has done that.

I pass this award to....drum roll please (this is the Brits!!):

Grandmother's Pattern Book, this is a fantastic blog with patterns for knitting from a bye-gone era. It is wonderful!!

The next award I received from the wonderful Chris at Bling-kin-eck...that girl has crafting to die for on her blog!!! Plus this week she has a gorgeous freebie mini kit, Angelic, red and white!! So don't miss it!! Have a look.

Thank you Chris for this wonderful award and for being such a great friend !! Now for the award! It's the Arte y Pico Award...isn't it grand!!

I pass this award to:

Candy at Mermaids Haven, she is one talented lady and I think she is a super star!! Drop by and leave her some love.

Now the next one brings a tear to my eye..no I'm not over icing it cause it's the Brits!!! It does really bring a tear to my eye...that wonderful young lady Kat, TragedyScrappinAnne passed my this and she has a soft spot in my heart...so it means a lot to me that she thought to pass it my way. Thank you Kat!! Kat's blog is just bulging with brilliant layouts....and some gorgeous freebies too!! So drop by and have a look.

I pass this one to:

Kim from Kim's Scrappin'. Kim is such a lovely lady, with a huge heart, she is special. Her work is lovely and she is so generous in sharing it.

And last...but not least...I have been given the next award by two beautiful people.

The first is the lovely Su, Scrappy Schnooks (her quick pages are legend!) and the second is Christy of At the Creek (her blog keeps me reading for hours, the variety is amazing!).

Thank you ladies for both thinking of me!!

The "rules" of this award are that I must:-
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (Right click on the logo and save to your own computer.)
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post with the person from whom you received your award.

Now this one needs 10 blogs but I don't think I'll make that many!!!!!

Here goes!!

Gretchen of Chichiboulie, she is a wonderful illustrator and a great blogger too!
Kim Smith of A Constant State of Amusement, an other really sweet lady!!
Lori of Lori M Designs..she an other of my favourites!!
Melanie of Sweet as Mel.....she has some fantastic challenges!!
Kelly at A Snap and A Flash..she has some beautiful pictures!

OK...so I didn't make it to 10..but some of the people I checked already had the award.

So, it's time to put the red carpet away and wave goodbye to the glitz (big sigh). I did promise you a little goodie and as I always try to keep my word..here it is.

A Little Love - from me to you. I didn't want to do the traditional all pink Valentines kit but something with a more varied use that can be used throughout the year perhaps. This is what I came up with, hopefully a set that some of you can use.

You can download the A Little Love Papers here

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the Elements

Thank you all for your patience in staying with me through this mammoth post!!

Take care and see you tomorrow!!

Technorati Tags: a little love,my brit awards,free download,scrapbooking,graphic designs,awards

OK, I have a long post today...tell me your impressed!! I have news of some Mega goodies plus I've been tagged by Kandice from Coloraddiction!!

First the tag......then the goodies!!

The rules are easy - list 7 things about yourself - weird or random stuff. Then tag seven other blogs to play the game. Also, link back to the blog that tagged you. Sounds like fun!

I love Colouraddiction - if you want a great place for colour charts, beads plus loads of great links and inspiration so drop by and feast your eyes...it is a colour lovers dream!!!
I'm a soft touch...doesn't matter what it is...I always say yes!! I really need to learn to say NO...but I always end up saying yes...even when I mean no. So if you want a soft touch, come to me, lol!! I will practice saying No this year in front of my mirror..who knows I may get the hang of it!!! But I just hate upsetting people, so you can talk me into almost anything if you look sad!!
I have a passion for collecting old books, newspapers and magazines. I have gathered loads over time. I especially love reading old remedies and things about day today life in past times. The earliest book I have is 1670...but it's in Latin!! I especially love old magazines.. their ads just crack me up!!
I watch almost no TV. I do check the programs but there is not much on that I actually want to watch. I have to admit that if I'm not interested in the program then it always feels like I'm wasting time if I sit and watch it doing nothing...I'm almost as hyperactive as Charlie....almost!
I am the eldest of two children, I only have one brother. I was the big sister....I can't remember if I was bossy, but I suppose I was...big brothers and sisters normally are, lol.
My husband is Dutch and despite going to classes I still find myself not happy speaking Dutch. I can write it and understand conversations...but ask me to speak it out loud and I clam up. I think it's because when I was learning the lady was so critical of my accent that I don't want to appear stupid. Perhaps I ought to write people cards and hold them up when they ask me something.....I'd love to see their faces if I did.
I have never completed anything I ever started to knit. When I was expecting my first son I started a cute little jacket for him...you know...all white with a tiny duck on the pocket. I only managed to knit the back and one side before I got distracted...but when I was expecting my daughter I got it out again and knitted the arms. That was the furthest I got!!! I would love to finish at least on garment but so far I have never managed it despite repeated attempts I only have bits to show for it!!

Now I'm going to tag seven of my favourite blogs. I hope they want to play but if it's not your thing or you've done it before then no problem.

Crafting at the Creek
3 Scrapbooking Ladies
The Virtual Dime Museum - I love reading the weird and wonderful old ads on this one!
Scrappin A Latte
Stories in Hand
Mumure-Scrapattaque
Crafts and Cooking

I finally got down to some work on my PC, between seeing to Charlie, organising my mum and a few other little distractions. I just wanted to play with some colours and see where it took me. I think I got carried away...the result was 36 papers and quite a few elements too!!

Have a closer look at the papers and see what you think. I'm going to offer them as part of a Mega Kit that I will post over the next two weeks...so if you like them start collecting today with Part 1!!