Scrapping Tonight: October 2006

About Me

Married to my soulmate with 2 beautiful girls,and our English Springer Spaniel, Suki. Living a country life in Cambridgeshire, whilst baking, gardening, and photographing our daily lifes, where they find a place on my scrapbook pages.

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My little place on the web

This blog is just that, my little place on the web.You will find my daily (or not so daily, hehe)life, my love for my new vegetable garden, baking, photography and my scrapbooking!

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My Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a way of life for me now.It has been for over 4 years. I love journaling, taking photos of my family and love colour and texture, these are all part of my everyday life and scrapbooking.

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Have you heard the news......?

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/31/2006 01:32:00 PM 6 lovely comments

Pencil Lines has only gone and grabbed the attention of the big boys at Typepad and we have only gone and been given a Featured Blog spot for this weekend, OMG I am so chuffed. More on details and date later but just had to spill the news. And it is even better as we have a BIG BIG US guest DT this weekend as well, it is just all so exciting. And, there is more, but you have to go and take a peek at the site tomorrow.

My poor Lilly has been really sick today and I have had to pick her up from Nursery, so we are home not doing the planned Halloween festivities but instead cuddly on the sofa. Hopefully will have Halloween piccies later for you as Izzy is off to a party today, poor Lilly is going to have to miss out.

Just quickly here is a sneak peek of Novembers page kit, you are only guaranteed a kit if you

are a subscriber, balance kits go on general sale next week!

I will leave you with this scrummy photo of my 2 precious girls before they turn all ghoulish for later!

hugs

Anna x

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Smile

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/29/2006 11:21:00 PM 8 lovely comments

and 20 Luxurious Scottish Angels smile back

Just got back from my weekend teaching at the Luxurious Angels retreat and what a blast I had. OK I was the first to hit my bed at midnight both nights, but I still loved every minute.

Thanks to all the girls that took my classes, i was so pleased to see all the seats filled, it is such a confidence booster

Thank you to Roz and Angela for being such brilliant hosts and for letting me come and join in the fun at their first , of many fabby retreats in Scotland.

Thanks to Gerry for being my chauffeur, mwah
Thanks to Angela for being my roomie and giving me a bit of time out and a chat

Thanks to Heather, Ann and Elaine for the heart to hearts

and finally so good to meet such a amazing bunch of women, June for being the biggest laugh of all, so i have been told, Clare, Jane, Carole( for the Bertie Bassetts), Pam,daisy chain ( i know i cannot remember your real name, so sorry!!) to name a few of the wonderful ladies i had the pleasure of meeting, i am so bad at names, my apologizes.

Also an amazing amount of money , £400 was raised for charity!!
I am now home, have my darling girls tucked in bed, i have been fed and watered, had a bath, checked emails and now I am off to me bed.

BUT before I go you must pop on over to Pencil Lines as challenge 4 is up with the first of many talented Guest DT, this weeks is the fabby Queen Geek. This is my take on the sketch, Izzy learning to body board in Cornwall this year

Night all, will pop some retreat pics up tomorrow

hugs

Anna x

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Scotalander here I come

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/26/2006 11:18:00 PM 7 lovely comments

as Izzy used to say!!

yes my kits are packed, prizes sorted, auction goodies packed, chocolate galore purchased, now just to pack my belongings!!

I leave first thing tomorrow "on a jet plane" from Luton. Have a lot of waiting around as Peter has to drop me off way early but hey I can duty free shop.

Annie and I have chatted sooo much on the phone today and have been emailing Anam loads as we finalise the next few months guest DT spots at Pencil Lines. Boy you are going to be stoked about these guest spots!!!

Finished my layout for this weeks sketch as well as I will not be home until Sunday late afternoon.

Today Izzy and I got to see our little water baby swim. Poor Lilly was terrified at her first swimming lesson and hung onto the instructor like a little monkey. Today we had spectators viewing and we watched hold hands only and actually manage a few feet without help. Izzy was so overjoyed and actually did a picture while we were there of Lilly swimming, how sweet is that.

Have a fab weekend, don't forget to email us you sketch 3 so we can add you to the readers gallery which is now live by the way. Also check out the links for all the DT girls blogs, such awsome stuff

and yes that is a bunch of lego flowers!!!! How cool is that

hugs

Anna x

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Title help

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/25/2006 11:23:00 PM 9 lovely comments

I am absolutely stumped for a title!!

This is one of my class layouts for The Luxurious Angels retreat this weekend in Scotland. I am teaching 2 classes, this one which is called "Bloomin Marvelous" and a handmade embellishment class.

I leave on Friday to fly into Glasgow where Roz's hubby is picking me up chauffeur style!!

Looking forward to meeting the Scottish girls and having some fun and teaching.

Its funny, I am closing Bumblebee Crafts down at the end of the year, a hard decision to make , but I know its the right one and I have received 2 emails asking me to teach. Not just anywhere I might add , but I will leave you to ponder on that one while I talk to my agent before making any announcements. OK then, until I talk to my Like Coach (Ms Hafermann) and my hubby, in that order of course!!!

So title please, so I can add it to the LO, or do I leave it title less?

hugs

Anna xx

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Closing Down

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/25/2006 12:14:00 PM 10 lovely comments

Bumblebee Crafts will be closing down on 31/12/06

We will be moving our popular page kits, subscriptions and our very own range of flowers "The Angel Kiss Range" to our new website that will go live in January at www.scrappingangels.co.uk

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continous support over the years, and I do hope to see you all at our new site next year I have given alot of consideration to this closure, and after the personal events in my life of recently, I have not been able to offer the high standard of customer service I myself would like to receive.
As with so many other comapnies as of late, I need to spend more time with my family and back to enjoying life and scrapping again I will continue to run crops and retreats as well as our popular page kits, and all these services will be available at our new site in the New Year.
In the meantime, I have set up 2 sections where all the sale goodies will be added over the coming months.
Please note that I will not be sending out back orders, any out of stock item will be refunded unless you specify in the comments box that you will except an alternative product. All sale orders will be sent by Royal Mail 2nd class, unless the postage costs you have paid for are covered by 1st class post
I hope I have covered everything, please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Thank you again for all your orders and patience over the last few months.
Love Anna xx

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Sketch 3 is up!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/23/2006 10:43:00 AM 7 lovely comments

Love this weeks take on the Pencil Lines sketches, do pop on over and have a look, you will be so inspired by this weeks sketches.

hugs

Anna

xx

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more piccies

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/21/2006 10:51:00 PM 5 lovely comments

Honestly, this was the best £275 I have spent and the best 2 days I have had in such a long long time, Mel and Annie you are such a breath of fresh air, we had such a giggle, a scrummy dinner and lots of laughs.

Here are a couple of portrait shots that I took from yesterday using the Canon 350D.

The first is a low light setting, crammed up the ISO, 60/1 shutter spead and the lovely Freddie.

The 2nd shot is the gorgoeus Mel, using my Fuji, ISO 100, shutter speed 60/1 and an overexposed photo due to the Fuji contrast in its quality on Mels face. I then opened in CS2 and had a play with motion blur and curves to give this funky look to the finshed image. I love it.

I haven't played with my Fuji today, instead have had a look at Peters Pentax SLR, I actually am seriously thinking of purchasing some real film and having a play, well now I understand a bit about how a camera works!!

Back to the scrapping room tonight as I have 2 deadlines to complete by Monday, a crop for tomorrow and a Fuji to sell!!

Hugs

Anna x

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Back from Reading

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/20/2006 10:43:00 PM 9 lovely comments

What a fantastic, inspiring and amazing couple of days have I just had.

Freddie and Mark are wonderful and brilliant teachers, made our 2 days fun and inspirational. I am upgrading my camera as I am unable to achieve effects with my camera alone that I would like. I know I can CS2 the image but at the end of the day I still want to take great photos that do not always need the CS2 treatment!

So with Feddies advice I will be purchasing a Nikon D80. Thankfully I got to play with a Canon EOS D350 for today and I had my first play with a DSLR and achieved those photos I could have only dreamed off with my Fuji, thank you Freddie

We also had a photo shoot at the end of the day with Freddie and all 6 of us, so that I can do a feature for 1 of the magazines, that on it's own was such a giggle.

I am knackered and will leave you with a couple of photos from the course.
The camera which has been hugely manipulated for the fun factor and a Lily taken with the Canon 350D, no manipulation, just as is.

hugs

Anna xx

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David Bailey

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/18/2006 02:27:00 PM 8 lovely comments

eat your heart out!! I am off for a couple of days to Reading, hoping to learn the ins and outs of my camera and how to manipulate shoddy photos and make them look like works of art!!!

Only kidding.

Having a real mojo problem. After a week of scrapping all hours i have scrapped myself out and now cannot scrap for the life of me. I have 2 projects to do for Creative Scrapbooking and I have thrown both in the bin! Tried to do "freestyle" and it looks more like Lilly has attacked the page. I guess this means it is "time out" for me. I will return, refreshed and ready to attack my 12" x 12" again.

This is a page I have had sat on my desk for a couple of days, plopped a flower in the label holder and called it quits, have looked at this for too long now.

Just a reminder that sketch 2 is up at Pencil Lines so go challenge yourself this week and I still have places on the Christmas Bumper Craft Day in December.

See you Friday

hugs

Anna x

PS: Ladies can you send me your addy's so I can post books out on my return xx

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The Promise

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/17/2006 11:18:00 PM 2 lovely comments

Izzy had her Promise today at Rainbows, along with 9 other girls. They all did so well remembering their lines. Us parents were spoilt with cupcakes decorated by the all the girls.

Photo's, well not as good as I hoped, if any good at all to be honest, but I do have 1 of Izzy and her best friend Sophie, cupcakes in hand after the ceremony. Lilly enjoyed every minute as she sang along to the songs and clapped to her hearts content, bless her

I have been busily finishing off some projects for Creative Scrapbooking before I leave tomorrow afternoon for Reading and the Photography School.

(OO talking of Creative Scrapbooking, this months issue is available to see via the website, brilliant issue again, Mandy is doing such a fab job.) I am so looking forward to these next few days.

But I cannot leave before I have attended parents evening with Izzy's teacher, Mrs Bliss at 4pm. I get ever so nervous meeting school teachers, takes me back to my youth!!! miss spent, never........

OK now to the winner of the bookazine. Boy you lot know how to leave me with difficult decisions to make, so I have decided to give 2 bookazines away, and the lucky blogettes are :

WEEZIE

SHARON SPEAKMAN

I will post out your books on my return from my little jaunt to Reading.

Hugs

Anna x

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A bookazine is up for grabs

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/17/2006 01:26:00 PM 12 lovely comments

Just a quick post before tonight. I have 1 Creative Kids Party bookazines up for grabs that I contributed, along with Mandy Anderson, Nathalie O'Shea and Kirsty Wiseman as well as loads of other really talented girls.
Just tell me why you think you should have a copy, and when I pop on tonight I will choose some lucky blogette to send it too
I am off to see Izzy do her Rainbow promise tonight so I am sure I will have a photo or 2 of her to share

Have a great Day
hugs
Anna xx

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Sketch 2 is up!!!

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/15/2006 10:30:00 PM 10 lovely comments

Pencil Lines week 2 sketch challenge is up, I was still putting the finishing touches to mine at 8.45 pm, and then had serious Internet problems leaving poor Anam to help out!!

Love this weeks sketch that was done by Annie, and also our newest member to the DT joined us this week, so you must check out the site for some awesome LO's

Today Izzy had golf this morning and then a Go Kart party in the afternoon, boy that girl can

sure go go go in a Go Kart!!

Its been the usual quiet weekend here in the Bowkis household. Yesterday was swimming for Izzy then we went to purchase her rainbow uniform as it is her promise ceremony on Tuesday. unfortunately they had sold out so one is on order for me.

I am off to The Photography School Wednesday night to spend a couple of days in wonderful company with Annie and Mel, and hopefully come back knowing a few things about my camera that i don't know, this will be a lot as i know nothing!!

That's it folks, my bed is calling so I am off, don't forget to pop by Pencil Lines for the week 2 sketch

hugs

Anna xxx

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Christmas comes early

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/12/2006 10:36:00 PM 7 lovely comments

Finally finished a Christmas project for Creative Scrapbooking. I can only show a sneaky peek. It was alot of fun, got to use some scrummy stamps and Rebecka Erickson papers, as well as some lovely chipboard.

At last the Children's party bookazine I contributed is out and available only in WHSmiths. I did 18 projects for this book on 4 themes, so cannot wait to see my copy. Unfortunately the Christmas bookazine I contributed too never got published. A real shame as I think this book was stunning.

Scrapping Angels bumper Christmas day is in full swing now and we still have a few seats left. Check the website for further details of this great festive day out.

And finally Pencil Lines has its own reader gallery. Email your take on the sketch to us and we will upload to the gallery. Once a month we will RAK some goodies to our favourite layout/card/mini book

Off to finish a layout now, using BG Urban Couture, painted!!!

Hugs

Anna xx

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More scrapping....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/11/2006 08:46:00 PM 6 lovely comments

I am on a scrapping journey at the moment, I can't stop, lol

Another layout using left over papers from my Kit 8. I am loving this kit and we are just about sold out now.
Added Lil Davis chipboard, Heidi Swapp bling, lace, stamping and some Life's Journey paper.

A lovely photo of my 2 girls taking this weekend with Nana. Really pleased with this, as it shows their love perfectly for each other.

I have started work on magazine projects today. Have lots in the pipeline so needed too get a move on. Today Christmas came to my scrap room, as I began designing a project for Creative Scrapbooking.

Issue 21 is at the printers and I cannot wait to see this issue. I have a really special layout project in there, and I can't wait to see it in print.

Pencil Lines is getting great reviews and looks like you ladies love a sketch and a challenge. I have sketch 2 here and am working on my layout tomorrow.

We have some really BIG names in the pipeline , the word is out and it seems even my editor has heard about us and whats a piece of us in her next issue, how fab is that!

Do pop on over to the site and have a look if you hav'nt already, all the layouts are gorgeous and its a great sketch by the talented Becky Fleck

Thats all folks, back to the drawing board as they say and go with the flo as my mojo is rolling

hugs

Anna x

PS: No more photgraphing layouts for me, I have invested in the Arc Soft deluxe scanning package, it is fab!!!

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Kit tastic

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/09/2006 09:50:00 PM 7 lovely comments

Kit 8 is finally done and not after alot of problems. This is not Basic Grey as expected, because my supplier, (after I have waited a month) still doesn't have it in, ggrr, so we now have some Junkitz instead. I love this kit, great for heritage layouts and autumn as well. I did my first heritage layout today using this months page kit. This is a photo of The Wilmots. My grandparents, who I never met as they were killed by a direct bomb on their house in WW2, and my Auntie Rita, Uncle Derek (who sadly left us when I was a child) and the youngest , my dad (inserts)*BIG GRIN*.

I hope I have done a good job here for them.

With leftovers and a few bits from my stash I made this little piece of Lilly dressed as a Victorian beauty. Doesn't she look so cute and adorable?

If you fancy 1 of these kits, pop on over to the website to purchase. I am also doing an add on this month of a Junkitz mantel book.

Love sketches, love challenges. Well it seems you do. Last night was the launch of my brand , spanking new challenge site "Pencil Lines" . A fantastic line up of talented designers who I am also proud to call friends. Each and everyone of them has worked hard behind the scenes to make my idea a reality. And they are still hard at work, gathering some amazing celebs for the launch of the guest DT in November.

Thanks to Anam for all her hard work behind the scenes doing all the fancy bits on the site, without her hard work we would not have had a site to launch!!

Pop on over to see what Pencil Lines is all about and join in the fun. The more the merrier is all I can say, and last night over 1000 of you did !!!!!

Its back to the scrapping board for me and some great DT assignments to start and finish, and Sue, you will be pleased to know a CJ is on its way to you.

hugs blogettes

Anna xxx

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New Challenge Blog

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/08/2006 06:39:00 PM 12 lovely comments

A new challenge blog had been launched today for cardmakers, scrapbooking and mini books lovers.

Pencil Lines is a challenge blog for sketch lovers and those who have never used a sketch before.

We have an international line up and some amazing guest DT members in the pipeline

Please come and visit and join in the fun

Ist challenge goes up at 9pm GMT tonight

hugs

anna x

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Memory Trends

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/07/2006 02:56:00 PM 10 lovely comments

I was so chuffed to have 3 of my layouts chosen for display at Memory Trends for the design team I am on with Zsiage.

I am now allowed to pop them up in full, so here are my creations!

Calling all sketch lovers, stay tuned as a brand new challenge website is being launched tomorrow night, with a very talented design team and some awesome and well known sketch artists all involved in a very exciting new site. Check back tomorrow when I will be popping a link here for you all to take part.

Have a good weekend
Anna x

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Same old same

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/05/2006 09:52:00 PM 8 lovely comments

Nothing much to say today, I have been working hard packing the back log of orders, so really have done very little else.

The weather here has been dreadful, really dark and gloomy, so Lilly and I snuggled side by side for soup, french bread and Chicken Run on DVD. That's the only thing I Love about days like these, cuddling up with the girls.

Tomorrow is jeans for genes day, so both the girls will be sporting jeans and a £1 in their pockets for charity.

Did you know Scrapping Angels are hosting a 1 day festive workshop in Buckden on the03/12, an absolute not to be missed day of festive fun. Already Annie and myself have some great productslined up and theclasses are shaping up fab!
We have the much talked about exploding box, a stunning mantle/wall Christmas banner,

Christmas tree dec's and a really stunning mini book greeting card, already planned. There will be a festive goodie bag, buffet lunch and of course Christmas crackers and some caroling!! Pop on over to thesite to book your place at only £45.00. Limited places available

A group of international scrappers have got together to bring you a new weekly challenge. watch this space as we will be launching very soon. I am so excited about this, it will be great fun, inspirational and appeal to all levels of scrappers.

Lastly I leave you with some projects I did for Creative Scrapbooking and Scrapbook

Inspirations. I really enjoyed doing the clippy kit project for Creative Scrapbooking, they make great gifts for girlfriends. The scrapbook T shirts were alot of fun and the girls really enjoyed modelling them, bless them.

Oops for someone with nothing much to say I sure do manage to waffle!!

hugs

Anna xx

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Tagged

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/03/2006 09:12:00 PM 8 lovely comments

The rules are: List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people.

Thanks Chanel for the tag

Not sure if I can think of 5 people who haven't been tagged, so if you fancy being tagged go for it! but here goes my 5 weird things;

1. I have double jointed BIG toes, and until recently realised I have my Dad's BIG toes, lol

2. OK , this may sound gross to some, but I am completely obsessed with having clean ears and I must "twiddle" with those ear buds every time I head into the bathroom. If I go away for the night and forget to take some buds with me, it really freaks me out, sad I know...

3. I love peanut butter and will sit and eat it out of the jar using my finger if i need a peanut butter rush that quick, oh and i don't do smooth it has to be crunchy

4. I still believe I am a size 12, 26 years old and gorgeous, until I get a glimpse in the mirror and see a completely different story :(

5. Discovered this week by some lovely cyber friends that I am a funeral director stalker, due to my obsession with the place last week, I was constantly visiting. OK morbid I know and I have been a good girl not been back in 4 days!!!

weird facts over now...

I love challenges although I am so useless at doing them, I still have never done a speshal dare, only done 1 effer dare and only managed to complete so far 1 of Ann{i}es challenges by Ali Edwards, BUT saying all that, I try most weeks to pop a sketch challenge of a layout and a card weekly on The Lounge. The girls seem to be enjoying them so I thought I would start popping them on here for you all. I love Becky Fleck sketches, so I often use her sketches. I will post the first sketch by Friday no time limit , but I will post a new sketch every Friday for you.

Photo is off some button flowers i found on Morgon's blog ages ago. These are just so cute and I know Emily has made these as well, and I must do these, I am a bit of a button hoarder so I definatley have plenty of buttons to use.

hugs

Anna x

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Anna does it Dawn Bibby style

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/02/2006 08:22:00 PM 12 lovely comments

Well not quite , lol, but I did do my first TV performance today, not sure if it has been left on the cutting room floor, but I will find out soon and will let you all know. I have been on the road since 7.30 am, filming, and then back on the road home, a fun packed day, and a very nerve racking one. I have been asked back to the studios, and we will wait with bated breath, just in case they change their minds. I don't even remember smiling, and I was lost for words at points, me , lost for words? yes, it is true

Now I must apologize as naughty blogger would not let me or several others post last night, so I have 2 prizes to draw and give away in this post.

By the why, do you lurve my roots!!! OMG how bad do they look. I have a colour consultation in November, eek can I actually wait that long. And yes I know the photo is blurred, but it doesnt show my wrinkles up so well, you see!

Just got back to some good news. 2 of my DT projects for Zsiage have been chosen for memory

trends, and I am oh so excited about this. Silly I know, but how exciting is that?

"Harvest" is with the new Flourishes collection. A delinght of reds and golds, perfect for the photo of Lilly in the corn fields. The other layout "I is for Izzy", is again using new papers and the 5" chipboard which I inked using Tim Holtz alcohol inks, then I utee'd with a pearl utee and finally added some Heidi Swapp bling! Lots of stitiching with my sewing machine as well.

I managed to complete 3 layouts yesterday, all for DT's, so only sneaky peeks I'm afraid.

Lovely Annie is coming over Wednesday, and I am dead excited. I always am when I see Annie, she is such a breath of fresh air, and then of course there is the adorable little man Dean to accompany Annie. Lilly and Dean I am sure will chat and play all day, while Annie and I put the scrapping world to rights and plan exciting projects for our next retreat! Which by the way is 03/12/06 in Buckden.

A 1 day festive delight of 6 Christmas projects to brighten your home and brighten the faces of those that love to receive beautiful handmade gifts.

To book your place, pop on over here.

And the winners are :

GEMS

CATHY

Ladies you know what to do, email me your postal addy and I will get packing some goodies up for you :)

Hugs

Anna xx

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and next up is......

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 10:03:00 PM 3 lovely comments

JACQUI

email me hun your details and a set of Making Memorie Boho ephermera stickers are on their way

next prize goes out at 11pm so keep posting :)

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2nd prize goes to....

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 09:36:00 PM 3 lovely comments

KELLY G

Hi Kelly, email me your details and i will post your goodies of a Paper Loft Flip Flop kit with matching cardstock

keep posting girls

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Ist prize goes to...........

blogged by me domestic goddess On 10/01/2006 06:40:00 PM 7 lovely comments

ok ladies
first name pulled out of the hat is

Louise Squires

Louise, congratulations, I will be sending you the KI Memories kit, please email me your details albowkis@hotmail.com

Just keep posting until midnight tonight and i will draw another name out of the hat at 9.30pm, and every 30 minutes until midnight (see yesterdays post for details)
Good Luck
anna xx

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