I can finally announce my fab news!

As some of you will know, I have been on the Rosemary Conley Diet trying to get down to my ideal weight, which was 5 stones lighter! It took me 18 months and I finally managed it in July, so I decided to apply for a Slimmer of the Year 2011 competition, that I saw being run in the magazine by Rosemary Conley.  I never thought in a million years I would get anywhere (which was probably part of the madness of me applying) but in October, while on holiday in Ibiza, I found out that I got through, along with 21 other men and women out of 100's of applications, and that I had to go collect my award THE DAY AFTER my holiday!! Stressed!!!  I had to also buy a few new outfits for photographs, so as soon as I got home from the airport, fortunately in the morning, I rushed to the shops!!

I had a good day up in Leicester, where the Rosemary Conley 'headquarters' are, and had my hair and make-up done, due to having photographs for promotional work, and various interviews!!

Anyway, I have officially been crowned Regional Slimmer of the Year 2011, and I am so proud of myself (for once!)  I feel like a totally different person, and on looking at old photos of myself, it's like looking at a stranger, and one I never intend to meet!  I will not ever go back to the 'old me'.

This is what I used to look like:

And this is the new me, in my 'Marketing' photo for Rosemary Conley in my region:

I have had a few interviews, one being with Rosemary Conley , and the other with my local radio station, Heart FM,  and they played my interview last Thursday afternoon, but I missed it, as I was told it would be the morning, as it was pre-recorded! Ugh!  But they have put something about me on there website.  So if you want to have a read of my story, take a look.

 Tomorrow I will see for the first time, printed leaflets with the above picture on which have been posted all around my region (not at all embarrassing...! :oS) and my class instructor has asked me to post some out too, since I always do them for her! Oh dear!  I was hoping i'd get out of it. I was wrong!

Please take a look at the overall 10 Slimmers of the Year 2011, if you need lots of inspiration, as some of these people have lost over 10 stone in a year!! OMG!! It can be done!

 They were amazing people to meet, and so so lovely, as were the other 10  Regional Slimmers who all had amazing stories of there weight battle journey.

Even More Polar Bear Cuteness....!

Well, after staying up rather late last night finishing off Christmas cards for people I was supposed to be seeing today, with a very sore neck, the stupid snow has ruined my plans!!!  My family are unable to drive up to see Mark and I and go out for our yummy early Christmas lunch down at the local restaurant!  I am SO disappointed! :o(!  Never mind.  I just hope it doesn't happen next weekend when we are due to go down South, otherwise, Christmas will officially be ruined for us!  At least we have each other.  But for me Christmas is about spending time with all of those you love.

Anyway, here are the 2 cards I made last night.  They will have to wait to be given to the recipients on Christmas Day!

Can't wait to make some more later on!! Will cheer me up.

Thanks for popping over and please leave a comment as I love reading them! :o)

Polar Bear Cuteness!

Hi everyone,

I am so pleased with my latest Christmas card that I have made using Prairie Fairy Designs - A Mother's Love!!
I have bought quite a few images from the store, and they are just so wonderful to work with. 

I have used Stamp 'n' Bond with White Flock on the Polar Bears, so they are lovely and fluffy! I have also added Glitter Glue to the snow which I shadowed with my Arctic Blue Pro Marker.  It's much more sparkley than in the picture!

I also used my Promarkers to shadow the fur with grey, and to give Mummy and Baby Bear rosie cheeks, I used my Blush Promarker. White Sukura pen is on the noses and paw to make them look shiny.  I now wish I had added Glossy Accent too, but I've given the card to the recepients now! I'll do it on the next one for Marks family.

As I haven't used my Hot Foil Print Wizzard for a while, I decided to get that out and personalise the cards.  I think it makes the card even more special.

Thanks for looking, and i'd love to hear what you think of my card.

Merry Christmas!

Final Pear Tree Designs Challenge of 2010...........Challenge 30!

Hi everyone,

Firstly, I'd like to say a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone and a massive THANKYOU to all of you who have taken the time to look at my blog, post comments and enter challenges at Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog where I am on the DT.  Also, I'd like to say thanks to Donna for allowing me to be on her DT during 2010, and I am looking forward to more DT challenges in 2011!

The final challenge is to create a Christmas Card! Anything relating to Christmas. All we ask if you follow the rules below:

1) Only Max 2 entries per person per blog

2) Please stick to the theme that has been set

3) All entries must be linked from your blog or emailed to me if you do not have a blog

4) All challengers must be a follower of our blog

5) All entries must be in before Sunday 19th December @ 4pm

Here is my DT card:

Our sponsor for this weeks challenge is One Stop Card Crafts and this week the prize is a £10 gift voucher to use on their online store.

Good luck everyone, and have a lovely Christmas 2010 xx

Stylish Blog Award!



A massive thankyou to Heidi who has very kindly given me this award!!  It has made my day, and I'm so grateful!

Once awarded this award, you are supposed to:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 8 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers you have recently discovered.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.

  

8 Things About Me:

1. I love anything to do with cardmaking and papercrafts! (who new!?)

2. I love shopping, especially for present for others!

3. I have lost 5 stone (70lbs for my american friends!) in the last 18 months through eating healthy and daily exercise, and very proud!

4. I am getting married next May to my goregous Fiance Mark who I love with all my heart!

5. I love to cook, but hate clearing up afterwards!

6. My favourite animal (currently) is a cow!  I am obsessed with everything cow!!!

7. I like to make people happy!

8. I love my life and the 'new' slimmer me! :o)

I am passing this award to the following people (in no particular order):

1. Donna
2. Mandy
3. Georgina
4. Maddy
5. Suzi
6. Wendy
7. Teri
8. Emma

Please let me know when you lucky 8 have picked up your reward!

Have a super weekend everyone.

Pear Tree Designs Challenge 29 - Winter Wonderland!

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay in posting, but for some reason blogger would not let me sign in!! ARGH!

So, for this weeks challenge we would like you to make a card/project  with a winter wonderland theme!! This should be easy enough, enter your christmas cards you are making!

Here is my DT card for this weeks Winter Wonderland Challenge:

This week we are sponsored by The Character Cafe and they will be giving the lucky winner $10 Gift Certificate to spend in there online store.

We also have a wonderful 2nd prize this week!!!!! All of us on the DT over at Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog have donated lots of lovely goodies for the luck winner to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to say a big 'Thank You' to all of our followers, who have been following us and joining in on our challenges over the last year.  Donna has very kindly put a list up of all the goodies so far, and she will be adding some more to it as well!!! WOW!

Good Luck everyone and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Pear Tree Designs Challenge 28 - Sketch with a twist....

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the tad late post.  I have been SO busy today, what with shopping and exercising and general house stuff!

So, Challenge 28 - Sketch with a twist...This week we would like you to follow the sketch below, but the twist is you must include gems somewhere on your card/project.

SKETCH:

Here is my take on the challenge, and a big thankyou to our sponsor this week, Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More , for letting us use one of their digi designs:

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps

or digital paper sets of their choice.

Please head over to Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog and enter your card or project before Sunday @4pm!

Pear Tree Designs Challenge 27 - Colourful

Hi everyone,

Challenge 27 - Colourful

This week over at Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog  we would like you all to produce a card/project which is colourful! We don't want to see black, dark brown, purple etc....

Rules:

1) Please follow the challenge that has been set

2) Only 2 entries per blog allowed, other entries will be removed

3) Please make sure you are a follower of our blog

4) All entries must be in by Sunday 28th November @ 4pm

Our Sponsor for this weeks challenge is CardMadFairy's Creations and they will be offering this weeks winner a set of 4 x Christmas Digital Images!!! Lucky you!

Here is my DT card:

I am loving my new Glossy Accents which I bought from the Hobbycraft show a few weeks back!! I am using it on everything! haha  Not sure you can really see it in the picture, but it looks pretty cool in real life, even if I do say so myself! :oD  It brings a flat picture to life!  I am also loving my Elegant Square card! I wish I had a die cut that could cut it out for me, as I had to cut the backing paper out myself, was a bit tricky, but didn't do a too bad a job I don't think?

Anyway, have fun with this challenge everyone!  

Pear Tree Designs Challenge 26 - Shaker Card...

Hi everyone,

Challenge 26 is up and running over at Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog and this week we are asking you to make a shaker card!

Making a shaker card is easy peasy, so if you have never given it a go before (just like me) have a look at this video below:

Art & Craft:
How To Make A Shaker Card

Here is my take on this weeks challenge:

We have a new sponsor this week, CardMadFairy's Creations. Welcome!

Please head over to Pear Tree Designs Challenge Blog to find out what you could win if you are the lucky winner!

I looked forward to seeing what you come up with. Remember your challenge cards must be in by 4pm Sunday.

Good luck.

Pear Tree Designs has been hacked......

Hi everyone,

Donna has asked the DT to let you all know that the challenge blog has been hacked into, as has the email account associated with it, and unfortunately Donna is unable to sign into either and sort out the winner of challenge 25 and put up challenge 26 for you all!

Please bear with Donna while she is trying to rectify the problem

Llook out for challenge 26 on my blog, and the other DT's blog's tomorrow, but you just won't be able to add your card until the challenge blog is sorted.