PRETTY IN PINK

Dear Reader

Here is a card I've made to go in two challenges, Simon Says Stamp Challenge and the Whiff of Joy Challenge.

Simon Says Stamp asked for lots of glimmer and sparkle - no need to ask hard for that! I've followed the Whiff of Joy sketch to meet their criteria and used a Whiff of Joy stamp. My papers are My Minds Eye, I've cuttlebugged the image and surround, used part of an EK 'bling' flourish, stamped out some Magnolia butterflies out of thin card which has been through the cuttlebug using the dotty embossing folder. My ribbon was on a Christmas present and I kept it, Nicky gave me the central rose (thank you Nicky) which is so pretty and the rest of the flowers are from a mixed bag from RWS. I made the tag myself and stamped it with a Woodware sentiment in Spun Sugar distress ink. I inked all the cardstock too with Spun Sugar and accented with tiny pearls. I used Stickles on all the flowers and gave the card and in particular the rose a spray (or two or three) with glimmer mist. Please excuse the background - I'm struggling to take pix at night at home as it's dark so took the card to work yesterday to photograph at lunchtime but there was too much light there! so ended up in the kitchen and didn't have a lot of time.I then accidentally downloaded 826 photos from my camera onto the works computer and then ran out of time completely as I had to go out. So I gave up and had to leave it 'til I got home today. Not easy entering these Challenges some days.

Had a terrible cold this week and if it wasn't for the fact that I had 38 speed networkers and 50 lunchers today at Hall Farm Restaurant I don't think quite frankly that I would have got out of bed this morning. But needs must as granny would say and I had people coming (first timers) that were nervous about meeting people and I didn't want to let them down as I'd promised to be by their side. Didn't want to give them a cold either so fingers xd on that front! We had an interesting table at lunch , a garage (I've booked my car in with him for a £30 speed service - well he had just been on the speed networking he he!). a magician whose business card I loved - it was a playing card one side!, a travel agent who had just been on the cruise ship Oasis that holds 6,500 (can you imagine that?), a Human Resources lady who has just set up her own consultancy but who I used to work with years ago in a former life (it's a small world isn't it), a bridal shop owner who makes beautiful bespoke gowns and was saying that she's even made a couple of those huge gowns for travellers who spend a fortune to get what they want, and a solicitor specialising in Employment Law who keeps pot bellied pigs. So a real mixed bag and entertaining as well. We had two Young Enterprise student companies and their teacher there from Tollbar School who brought their stands to show members what they produced in their 'companies'. Also had a guy who brought a stand advertising the National Training Awards as I act as an Ambassador for them in this region. I'm a big believer in training! Also met with a lady called Vicky who runs a company called VIP Adrenaline - they're putting on a 'TriWizard Tournament at the Harry Potteresque Awards evening for us. I'm so excited as they've sourced live owls who will fly onto the stage with owlagrams! Hope they don't bring us any howlers! There will also be a riddle-solving competition and a competition on stage to make someone levitate! The surprise is someone actually does! Can't wait to see that. So a busy day and now I'm shattered so going to lie down on the sofa, have a Lemsip and a well-earned nap! I seem to have rattled on a bit .. but hope you enjoy my card xxx