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Saturday 31 December 2011

A new challenge at Sweet Stampin

Good morning blogworld

My goodness where did those two weeks go to?  Haven't they just flown and here we are looking down the nose of a New Year!

And a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin - 'New beginning's' this can be for the New Year, a new baby, new home anything new really.  Our sponsor this time is:
and the prize is a great embellishment kit - sounds great doesn't it!

Here is my card;


I used:

A Panduro stamp from the Tilda range - it doesn't have any other name on it and I've had it years!  It's coloured with my Promarkers and die-cut with a nestie.
The papers are First Edition - Up, Up and Away
The sentiment is a Lili of the Valley stamp, die-cut and mounted onto a nestie.
Trim from my box of ribbons.
Craftwork Cards card blank.

Why not pop over, see the wonderful creations my teamies have made and join in?

See you next year!

Sarah

Thursday 29 December 2011

No I've not dropped off the face of the Earth!

Hello blogworld

I did warn you it might be a while until you saw me again and it has been!  Can you believe that Christmas has come and gone and now we are heading up in to a new Year?

Our Christmas was quiet - as it always is, but at least this year we didn't have to deal with a complete melt down from Emily.  She was actually very good.  She didn't get up until 7am and then it took her about 20mins until she realised that it was Christmas day and then it took 3 goes of running from our bedroom to hers until she managed to look into her stocking and realise that she had some presents!

She really is such a good little girl and honestly thought that the presents in her stocking were all she was getting and was happy with that - then when we got downstairs she thought the first few presents were all she was getting and was happy with that - and then when she realised she was getting lots of present she was over the moon!!

Sharing a picture of pre-Christmas decorating the tree in the conservatory:


Anyway Christmas is over for another year and so - moving on.

Here is my card for hubby's birthday:

As you can see, he turns 50 today.  Unfortunately nothing exciting has happened, he has hurt his back and has spent most of the day taking pain killers and resting on the sofa!

I used:
Pollycraft digi: Maurice Hot Stuff, coloured with my Promarkers.  Then Distress inked the edge of the image and stamped a Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp in the same ink.
Papers are all from a First Edition paper stack (they were left on my table from something else - so I know they are First Edition but I can't remember which pad!).
Sentiment is from a Fiskars stamp set.
Numbers and paper string from my stuff.
Punched the edge of the card that I mounted the stripy paper on (will go check which punch).


Hope everyone had a happy Christmas and there were some wonderful things in your stockings!

See you soon,
Sarah

A challenge or two:

Pollycraft Challenge - Challenge #121; Punch it

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Week #50; Anything goes

I love Promarkers - Challenge 97; Anything goes

Passion for Promarkers - Week 129 - Celebrations (2nd entry)

Saturday 24 December 2011

Such a busy week we've had!

Hello blogworld

Well we are home all safe and sound after our big London adventure. Have been baking this morning and thought while I've got 5 mins waiting for the cakes to cool I'd do a very quick post of my own and show you some pics from our London trip.

Hubby and Emily at Trafalgar Square

Emily 'driving' a bus in the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden

Emily took this one - the pod in front of ours on the Eye.  Not bad I thought for a 4.5 yr old!

Emily on a City Cruises river boat - I thought she looked particularly cute in this one!

Mummy (i.e. me!), Emily and Grandad (hubbys' dad) on the boat.  Emily was not impressed with sitting upstairs and we went to the lower level very quickly!!
 We had a lovely time, was so strange to be in London again after all this time - I worked there from my late teens to early twenties and so much has changed in the (ahm!) number of years that I haven't been back.

So came back straight to the chaos of getting everything ready for Christmas - but after a couple of hectic days all is done (apart from a few presents left to wrap).  Oh and Emily telling me that she doesn't want the Christmas card I made for her!  Knows her mind that one and doesn't like it!!!

You won't be seeing any cards from me a for a while and maybe not even me, as Grandad arrives late afternoon and is here until middle of next week.

So if I can take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and say thank you for following my blog - I really am astounded that I have nearly 100 followers listening to my waffle and looking at my cards!

So hope you all have a lovely Christmas, but not wishing you a Happy New Year as you'll see me again before then - poor you!!!

Best wishes,

Sarah

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Just to keep you going

Hi Blogworld,

Well if you are reading this it means that old bloggy's scheduler has worked, as we are off in London on our jollies!  Hubby decided last minute, which for him is unheard of!, that as Emily's school was breaking up for Christmas so early this year that we would take a trip to that there London!

So I should be doing the whole touristy thing while this is publishing, hope I'm having a good time!  No doubt I will waffle on about it when I get back - and have lots of pictures to bore you with.

I wanted to do this post in case anyone was wondering how come I hadn't replied to your comments - not being rude, just not here!

I will do my best to catch up when we return - but in the meantime here is a card to keep you going:

Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

I used:
Lili of the Valley stamp - Maisie Two Balloons, coloured with my Flexmarkers and Promarkers and highlighted with (you guessed it!) Stickles ;-)
Nesties to die-cut and mount image.
I can't remember whose sentiment I used for the greeting and I'm not even sure I like it - I was trying to go for the curled around the frame look, but I don't think it worked!
Cuttlebug embossing folder.
I think the paper is from a First Edition pad.
Got the flower trim and corner from the Lincoln paper show - finally cut into one of the two packs of trim I got - oooh it felt bad using it!!

So no challenges at the mo, will do the linky thing when we get back.

This explains why I have been so organised with Christmas - had to be otherwise we'd run out of time!

Hope everyone well and see's ya soon!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Passion for ProMarkers - Week 129 Mega Christmas Challenge

Saturday 17 December 2011

New challenge at Sweet Stampin'

Hello blogworld

Told you it was a fluke that I posted so regularly!  Have been very busy, so went back to normal and apologies that you haven't seen me for a few days.  You probably aren't going to see me regularly either for the next couple of weeks as school broke up today for the holidays and they don't go back until the 4th - so will only have evenings for crafting, plus we've got Grandad coming up to stay over Christmas so I can't really disappear into the dining room every evening!

Have been so busy this week. Been to school twice - once for Emily's school play and then for Carol singing.  The only other play she's been in was the Nursery Nativity, so we hit the big time this year ;-)  Unfortunately she didn't really look like she was enjoying herself, she was a snowman and stood there for most of the time twiddling her hair!  Been and finished our Christmas shopping so only the wrapping of presents to finish off now.  Organised for once this time!!

Anyway enough waffle from me, this post is supposed to be about the new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'!  This week we are sponsored by Di's Digis and the prize is a $10 voucher to spend in the shop.  Also the challenge runs for two weeks this time - to allow you all time off over Christmas!  So why not pop over and join in, you'll get even more inspiration from my Teamies wonderful creations.

For this challenge we would like to see your glittery / sparkly / blingy creations!  So without any further ado here is my glittery creation, along with lots of pictures to show the glitter.

Front shot of card:

Detail of image, trying to get the glitter here!:


Even sprayed the flowers with Glimmer Mist - first time I've tried this!:


I used:

Di's Digi image - Cuddle Christmas; coloured with my Promarkers (all the fur trims covered in Glamour Dust), die-cut and mounted onto nesties.  I even added a touch of  Stickles to the the papers!
The papers are - crate paper; Snowy Day Collection.
The flowers and heart pins are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the flowers have been sprayed with Gold Glimmer Mist.
Sentiment created on the computer and die-cut with Shapeabilities - fancy tags 2.

Hope everyone is coping OK with the stresses of Christmas looming on the horizion and the snow hasn't affected anyone too badly.

See you soon,
Sarah

A challenge, or two,:

The Cutie Pie Challenge - #7 Use a Sentiment

Di's Digi Challenge - Christmas

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 111 - for someone special; this is my daughter's Christmas card

Stampin' for the Weekend - Challenge #22 - Christmas

Wednesday 14 December 2011

New Challenge at the Divas

Hello blogworld,

Posting two days running, eh!  How good am I!  I promise I won't be turning it into a habit - I don't think anyone could stand that level of waffling!!!

So the reason for the post is that it's a new challenge over at Divas by Design - we are up to number 17 now and the theme is Merry Christmas.  Our two wonderful sponsors this time are:
and
http://deliciousdoodles.blogspot.com/
I'm sure I don't need to encourage anyone to be making Christmas cards.  I would imagine nearly everyone is snowed under with them!  Also the challenge runs for 4 weeks this time - plenty of time to nip over and join in.

I know my team mates have created some wonderful creations to inspire you and here is my contribution:


As you can see I went for a simple design - but that is because I was making batches of cards to send out.  I did this one and another two designs.  This one I thought was the more elegant of them!

So I used:

Inkadinkado Dot Flourishes set - I picked one of the larger flourishes stamped it on its side and then overstamped a bauble image (I've no idea whose it is - I've had it for years!).  Coloured it in with my Promarkers added a Wild Rose Studio sentiment, a couple of gems and - hey presto - 15 cards later I was done!

It's been very hectic over at the Divas this challenge - Anything Goes is obviously a very popular theme, we've had hundreds of entries!  I've really enjoyed wandering around all your blogs and admiring your work.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Sarah

A challenge, or two,:

Creative Card Crew - Tis the season

Dream Valley Challenges - Challenge 22 - Christmas


Tuesday 13 December 2011

What I found in the hoover and other stories!

Hello there blogworld,

So I've had a busy few days, took Emily to a birthday party on Sunday - which she thoroughly enjoyed, don't think I've ever seen her so bouncy and that's saying something with my bouncy girl!

Then yesterday I had to thoroughly clean my house and the holiday let as we had some visitors come to stay overnight.  Not paying guests, but a friend of hubby's and his wife and little boy.  They were meant to be here in time for dinner so I had to completely clear the dining room table of my craft stuff.  Don't think we've seen the far end of the table for about 3 years!  I found it amazing that all of my stuff on the table fitted into an empty microwave oven box.  In the end they were delayed and arrived after dinner so we ate in two shifts, so all my efforts in vain.  I'm off in a mo to put all my things back, I am getting palpitations not being able to see my craft mat and regular bits and pieces!

I almost had a temper tantrum at one point as the hoover packed up with the house not finished and I couldn't find what was wrong with it - I'm sure it eating one of the Christmas lights had nothing to do with it - so I gave up on hoovering for a bit and did something else until the man of the house came home to have a tinker!  He took the thing apart, found bits that I didn't even know came apart!, and found - now you're not going to believe this - my quickie glue pen!!!!  It appears to have been stuck in a pipe in the hoover for some time as it's rather scratched, but it works.

With being busy it meant there was no computer time yesterday and a late night but the friends have gone now, hubby has gone to get the little one from school and I've got time to blog!

So here is card, and this again is inspired by a card I saw on coops blog (I do love your cards Nic).


I used:

Simply Sassy - Season's Greetings; coloured with my Promarkers.
Die-cut out with, and mounted onto, nesties.
Swiss dots and a snowflake embossing folders.
The corner I got from the Lincoln paper show earlier this year (can't remember which stall!).
Ribbon from my stuff.
Craftwork Cards - card blank and sentiment.
Edged everywhere with stickles and highlighted her hair with Liquid Pearls (which got a bit smuged, hope it doesn't detract!).

So again I'm apologising for not getting round many blogs at all, I aim to fix that tonight and so I will leave you all by saying - see ya's later!!!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 73; Cathy's Sketch (option something unusual - the colouring on her hair) 2nd entry

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Cupcake 172; Don't look at the light! (all the edges are Stickles glittered and her eyes are too - hope that qualifies!)

Make it Monday - Linky party


Saturday 10 December 2011

Not Christmas

Hello blogworld

So I think I've finished my Christmas cards, but you never know - there is always one that arrives last minute that you didn't realise you were going to get and so I'm still plodding on making a few extra.  Already sent out 17 of them!

Anyway, onto the card I'm posting today.  It's a bit out of the ordinary for me and inspired by the colouring on a recent card that coops made and that the optional theme for Sugar Nellie this challenge is to try something unusual.  So this is a la coops - thanks for the inspiration coops!


Please don't laugh too loud at the greys, I've only got the one full set of greys with two warm greys so wasn't sure whether it was working or not.  But, hey we've all got to start somewhere and I'm sure I'll be investing in some more greys in the January sales!

So I used:

Sugar Nellie stamp - Gorjuss; sent with Love coloured with my Promakers, die cut and mounted onto nesties.
The swirls around the edge are one of the Lili of the Valley additions clear corners.
'Just a note' is a £1 bargain stamp.  Die cut with shapeabilities.
The papers are all from First Editions Isabelle pad.
The corner are two Marianne Creatables swirls put together - I really need to get some corner dies!
Ribbons are from my stuff.

So hope you are all well, and I'm making real efforts to get round to all your blogs, but please excuse me if I'm not there very often things are very hectic at home just now.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 73; Cathy's Sketch (optional theme - do something unusual)

TotallyPaperCrafts - Challenge 96; Anything but Christmas







Thursday 8 December 2011

Help I'm buried under a pile of Christmas cards!

And this silly computer just went an published a blank post - arrrgghh!

Anyway, now those hicups are over - hello blogworld.

So how is everyone?  All well and hopefully to my Scottish bloggy friends keeping safe in this dreadful wind.  We've had a windy afternoon, but nothing compared to what I've been watching on telly!

Right not much has happened since last time I was here, so I'm going to get on with posting my cards and then I'm going to go catch up on my commenting.  So this will probably be the shortest post ever from me!

My cards I'm entering into the Totally Gorjuss challenge, which is a sketch and I liked it so much I made two cards from the same sketch.

Here they are:

Card 1:


and close up of image to try and show the wonderful glittery wings:


For this one I used:

Saturated Canary image: Christmas Angel; coloured with my Promarkers - die-cut with a Go-Kreate die and chalked while still in the die for definition.  For once it's not Stickles glitter glue - but Stickles Ice, much bigger chunks of glitter for that wow factor.
The patterned paper was free with a mag, the green paper from a Papermania paper stack.
The border is a CC Designs die - Teardrop.
Ribbon, flowers and brad are from my stuff
I made the card blank and a Craftwork Cards sentiment die-cut

Card number two:


 Detail shot again for glittery effect:

And I used:


Saturated Canary image: Molly the Elf; coloured with my Promarkers - die-cut with a Go-Kreate die and chalked while still in the die for definition.  Stickles Ice glitter glue.
The patterned paper was free with a mag, going to have to go and check where I got the other papers from.
The border is a die as well, and I can't remember whose it is at the mo, I will check that when I check the papers.
Ribbon and star are from my stuff
I made the card blank and a Craftwork Cards sentiment die-cut.

So hope all is going well for you and I'm off now to catch up with everyone!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 109 - Sketch (great sketch!)

Monday 5 December 2011

Production has started!

Hello blogworld

So how are we all keeping then?  Hasn't it turned cold?  So hard to believe that last week we were still wandering around in our T-shirts and this week it's hats, gloves and scarves.  Saw on the news that Scotland has had their first fall of snow - hope none of my Scottish bloggy friends are too badly affected.  Have I ever mention before that I lived in Scotland for 5ish years - loved it!  Would move there again tomorrow if I could, but hubby is not keen!

What's the title all about then?  Well those darned Christmas cards are now in production in chez Sarah and I've done not too bad so far, I think anyway.  I started this morning and I have 11 done already, nothing fancy you understand - just plain simple (I hope stylishly plain and simple, not boring!) they must be fairly simple as hubby likes 'em!  Am moving onto a different design tomorrow and hope to make another 10 then same again all week so will be all done by weekend.

I do have a few fancier ones, and have to decide who they go to.  The masses get the mass produced one!

And so here is one of my 'fancier' ones:


Detail shot of image:


I used:

TeddbyBo & Co digi image: TeddyBea_132 - Snowflake flight; coloured with my Flexmarkers and Promarkers and then Glamour dusted to within an inch of her life!
Various embossing folders.
Memory Box die: Meridian Border
Craftwork Cards card blank and sentiment

And here is a little treat for those of you who read this far.  Emily has been colouring in, what do you think?

Not bad for four and a half eh!, she picked this one from all my Saturated Canary images and said she liked it as she was so pretty!

Anyhow, will wander now and see you all again soon.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

TeddyBo Challenge - Challenge #23: White Christmas

Sketch Saturday - Week #184


Saturday 3 December 2011

It's snowing ....

Well at Sweet Stampin' it is this week!

Hi blogland

I did warn you that you might not see me again before the weekend, and I was right!  I had a very productive day out Christmas shopping on Thursday.  Spent a small fortune, but got all Christmas presents and even some birthday presents for hubby - he's very awkward you know and has a birthday in between Christmas and the New Year and to make matters worse it's one of those milestone birthdays for him this year as well.  I won't tell you exactly what one, but lets just say he is 9 1/2 years older than me and you all know what birthday I didn't celebrate earlier this year!

Yesterday I was off to the Christingle service at Emilys' school, it was sooo sweet.  Years Reception, 1 and 2 only - a sea of cute little faces!  Tho Emily's face wasn't very sweet when she saw me - I don't think she liked me being there!  She settled after awhile and was very well behaved, but didn't join in at all - I'm convinced she is going to be super shy like I am, wish she was more confident like hubby.

Anyway, enough of my waffle lets get onto the challenge.  This week at Sweet Stampin' we would like to see some sort of snow on your cards - be it snowmen/women, flakes, etc.  Anything as long as it features the white stuff.

This time we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store and you can win this fab Fizzy Moon paper pad.
 

So finally we get onto my card!
Front shot:

Detail of image:

I have to say that I'm quite pleased with this one.  I just adore the paper pad and I don't know what I'll do when I run out as it has come out every year for, as I've been reliably informed, probably nearly 5 years!

So I used:
Digi image from Pollycraft (one of the fab new Swings and Slides releases) - Snow buds, coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers with a touch of Stickles to highlight.  I also used a bit of 3d gloss on her glasses, not sure if that shows or not.
The papers are all Craft House - Winter Wonderland.
Ribbon and trim from my stuff.
Craftwork Cards - card blank and sentiment.

Hope everyone is coping with the run up to Christmas and I suppose I will have to start my Christmas cards next week, otherwise I will be nipping out to the shops in a panic.

Have a good weekend everyone and I look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries I know there will be over at Sweet Stampin.  If you want more inspiration, why not nip over, check out my teamies wonderful creations and join in while you are there!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge - Challenge #120 - Christmas fun

The Cutie Pie Challenge - #6 - Pastel Christmas

Passion for Promarkers - Week 128 - Sketch