Ooooh this one was a pain!

Hello there blogworld,

Well here I am again - bored of me yet??  I can promise you that I won't be seen tomorrow but then I'll be back again on Wednesday with my Divas card.

Today it's a card made with a purpose and it was a pain!  It was my Father-in-Laws' birthday last week and I was really struggling to know what to make him.  I had some brilliant suggestions from bloggyfriends and I was going to go with one of those when I was digging through my stamp boxes on one last desperate attempt to think of something - and I came across the stamp I've used.

So in the end I made a card that was relevant.  His 'hobby' is to dig and dig and dig!  He is a massive gardening fan, but not flowers - oh no he's a fruit and veg fanatic.  Probably the reason why he's made it to 87 this year, even with only one kidney that massively failed a couple of years back, is because he is the original 'organic' gardener!  If it's veg or fruit and it doesn't come off his allotment - he doesn't eat it!

Anyhows you are all dying to see the card - I can tell, it's pouring through the screen at me!!  So here we go:


Front shot of card:

Detail of image:

I used:

Stamp:

Wild Rose Studio: For Men - Grandad Gardening (see even it's name is appropriate!) coloured with my Promarkers

Sentiment - freebie off the web

Dies / Punches

Nesties - image and circle

Martha Stewart - zig-zag border

Everything else:

Papers: First Edition Paper - new leaf

Ribbon and pearls - from my stuff

Craftwork cards - card blank

Not much else to say really, as I've been here three days running!  Ooh apart from Emily really enjoyed the party - but then got sent to bed early when she got home for being extremely rude to her daddy!  I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it particularly, but it certainly took me back to my disco days!  Shouting at your friends in the semi-dark because the music is so loud!  Oh, happy days!!!

See you Wednesday,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 86 - Doreen's sketch (the image is bigger than on the sketch - hope it's OK).  My stash, well everything - nothing less than a year old used on this card!!

Cards for men: Challenge 9 - Texture, the leaf paper at the very back is embossed, could the ribbon also be texture?

Crafty Cardmakers: Challenge 67 - for the boys

Here Come the Boys: Challenge #26 - hobbies (is digging a hobby? ;-) Seriously it would be gardening)

and just for fun:

Lisa's Waste Not Wednesday - Hi Lisa, I have actually used this stamp once a year ago!  And I've had it for a good couple of years - do you think that's a good ratio of length had to times used???!! 

New challenge at Dream Valley

Good day to you blogworld.

All fine, I hope!  This is a scheduled post (fingers crossed it works OK) as while you are reading this I should be getting Emily ready to go a classmates birthday party.

This post is all about the new challenge over at Dream Valley and this fortnight we'd like to see your cards for a special lady.  If you have a special lady in mind that's great, if not just a good old girlie card would be fine.

Our fabulous sponsor this fortnight is the wonderful Krista Smith the artist who draws the Saturated Canary images.

My name is Krista Smith. I am the artist behind the Etsy shop, Saturated Canary Digis. I began working in the stamping world about a year ago when I was hired to create rubber designs for the sweet Scottish company, Sugar Nellie. They launched my artwork under the name 'Simply Sassy.' I've moved into the digital world and-- I love it!! There is a little more freedom here, as I can create anything that pops into my head:)! I am so humbled by the artistic talent of the girls coloring in my designs-- it is truly an inspiration! Likewise, I am so thankful for the friendships I've made in this wonderful and lovely crafty community! It's been a true delight! I'd love for you to stop by my challenge/inspiration blog, Saturated Canary Challenge and join in the fun...And, while you're there, click over to my personal blog (Saturated Canary) and introduce yourself! I am a bit eclectic and touch on everything from family (I've got me a great one!) to fashion (obsessed!)...Please say 'hi!'...I'd love to be friends!:)

Winner gets $10 Voucher

So, what did I create?  Well, as I seem to be having a week of having a try of things - I did a criss cross card.  Though my one opens - as I couldn't see how to make the non-opening ones stand, does that sound a bit confused?  Probably!  Want to say thanks here to Teresa who very kindly sent me a link to a great tutorial which I sort of followed!

And here is the card - again this is very picture heavy:

Closed (with band) and then (band removed) opening:

 Open!:

Close up of image:

Showing where the tag is on the card and the tag its self:

 All three parts of card:

 

I used:

Digi image:

Saturated Canary - Secrets, coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarks

Inked around the edges with a Distress Ink pad (think I was a bit too heavy with that - it looks more smudged than anything!)

Stamps:

TPC Studio - Boho Blooms set; corner flourish

Fiskars - Make a Wish Quotes - sentiment

Dies:

Martha Stewart punch

Die-namics die - for the tag top

Nestie - square (the greeting and blank back)

memory box - Maderia Corner

Others:

Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Lace from my stuff

Phew, well that was a lot of pictures and a list and a half, wasn't it!!

So I hope you can make it on over to the challenge and see what wonderful things my teamies have made and pop a card in the challenge as well.

Have a great Sunday and I'll see you all again soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Stampalot challenge: April Challenge - Happy Birthday

The Poodles Parlour: Anything Goes challenge

Saturated Canary Challenge: Challenge 16 - Happy Birthday

Round, like a circle

Well I don't think anyone would disagree that I've got windmills in my mind!  One of my favourite songs ever that.

Hello blogworld

Here I am again when I shouldn't be - did you notice that?  It's Team Abi's turn this week at Sweet Stampin' but I, probably in a reaction to making so few cards recently, have had a bit of a manic cardmaking week and am joining in.

I saw this card style in this blog and loved the idea.  Then as the challenge this week is 'Anything but a square' I thought, aha two birds one stone and here I am!

This weeks sponsor is Di's Digis and on offer is a $10 voucher:

Our regular monthly sponsor is Joanna Sheen and a £10 voucher is on offer:

So what card made I in my busy week then?  Have a look-see, but lots of pictures to wade through:

Front shot:

Detail of image:

Side shot:

Showing the extra base for the message:

You'll have to excuse that in places the circles don't completely match up, it is the first time that I've made this type of card - next time I'll be better.

I used:

Digi stamp:

Tiddly Inks - Wryn Birthday Girl

coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers and a white gel pen

Dies:

Nestie circles and scalloped circles

Lea'bilities Cutting/Embossing Die - Swirl Circle and Flowers

Paper:

Papermania - Blueberry Hill

Others:

Lace and brad - from my stuff

Swirl, was a freebie

Craftwork cards - circle sentiment

There you go, that's my not a square card, if you are looking for more not squares pop over to the challenge blog and take a peek at what the very talented ladies on Team Abi have created.  While you're there soaking up the inspiration, you could pop an entry into the challenge.

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Cutie Pie Challenge blog: Circles (nice to be joining in again after missing a couple of the challenges!)

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge: Challenge 61 - Punches & Dies

Crafty US Crazy: Challenge 26 - Inspire us - well I've used one of my favourite stamp / digi company's - Tiddly Inks!!  Love Christy's images (stamps or digis)

My biggest critic

Hello blogworld,

And how are we all today?  I've had a very productive day, made a couple of cards, got the washing put away, made a loaf, and generally been a busy bee.

Had a lovely lunch out with my friends yesterday - I haven't got that many friends (in actual fact the three that I went out with yesterday are the sum total of them!) and since one of them started sending her daughter to school by bus I don't get to see that friend very much at all.

Emily also enjoyed her gym club - she came out very full of all the jumping, climbing and running they'd done!  Hmmmm, apart from the climbing, sounds much like the years I went to the gym!!!!

So why my biggest critic - well hubby went to get Emily from school today and I managed to squeeze in making an extra card.  When they came home I showed darling daughter the card below, which is meant to go a little girl in her class whose birthday party it is at the weekend, and asked her what she thought of it.  Little munchkin said that she didn't like it as 'it looks like the little girl could drop her cake'.  'Ahhh' I replied 'so what should I do then?  Make another one?'.  'No' replied the apple of my eye 'I'll make a better one at the weekend'.  Oh, how much do I love my offspring!!

Here is the card in question for you to make up your mind if the little girl looks like she's holding onto tightly enough to her cake.

Front shot of card:

Detail of image:

I used:

Image:

Pollycraft - Swings and Slides: Cute as a Cupcake.  Coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Circular nesties - to cut and mount the image.

Die-namics for the scallop

Lea'bilities - for the little flowers

Marianne Creatables - flourishes

Papers:

Unknown - they were sent to my by bloggy friend Kat

Others:

Craftwork cards - card blank and sentiment

So there we go bloggy friends, do you think the little girl will drop her cake?! I do hope not.

See you again soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Pollycraft Monday challenges: Challenge #137 - Sketch.  While I'm here can I say a very big thanks for picking my card (challenge #135) as one of your favourites.  Genuinely made my day!

Passion for ProMarkers: Week 146 - Theme; cut it out

Crafty Creations Challenges: #167 - That's what little girls are made of...  (if my daughter lets me this card is meant for a 5 year old).

And another!

Hello blogworld

I've gone from not posting cards to posting one a day, it won't last I promise.  I've been super good today as in actual fact I've made two cards!  I'm posting this one today and will put the other up one day during the week when I don't get time to make anything.

So how are we blogland?   We are all well at our house, back in the swing of normal school routine - Emily is very happy!  I've got a treat tomorrow and so has she - I'm going out to meet my friends, we are going to be 'ladies who lunch' and Emily's latest club starts.  It's Gym club this time, hmmm wonder what they do with a group of 4 / 5 yr olds for gym?  Get them on treadmills, the weights or rowing machines!!  What a picture eh!!

So now that I've suitably numbed your brains with the waffle - here's the card!

Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

But no 'arty farty' side shot tonight - didn't feel there was enough depth to do one of those!

I used:

Stamp:

The Greeting Farm - Miss Anya collection (can't find them!  Does anyone know which set it was?) Coloured with my Promarkers.

Papers:

Blonde Moments: Sugar Dumpling

Dies / punches:

Nestie - ovals for cutting and matting

Memory Box - Prim Poppy (got mine from My Crafty Heart here - great service!)

Heart - punch (not sure of the make, had it for years)

Others:

Lace from a boot fair that we went to recently - it was a bargain!

Pearls are from Kort & Godt at Joanna Sheen, but I couldn't find them on the website.  Hah and I glued them all on myself they are not sticky backed - blooming fiddly, awkward little blighters they were too!

Card blank - Craftwork Cards

I'm not entirely sure that I like it, and was just about to say it's not my normal style but then what is!  Don't think that you could look at one of my cards and say, yep that's Queen of Waffle Sarah!!!

Am off now, trying to catch up on my commenting before heading off to bed to rest well in anticipation of my exciting day tomorrow ;-) 

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Passion for Promarkers: Week 145 - Theme (pink, pearls and lace)

I love Promarkers: Challenge #113 - Let's go shopping

Paper Sundeas: #117 - Let's get cute

Morning, morning

Good morning blogworld,

Looks like I'm still out of routine, but in a better way than when I wasn't posting at all.  This time I'm here rather early on Sunday morning - it is such fun having Emily, I've seen hours of the day that I've never seen before!  Oh, other than when I was younger and would go out partying all night and then go to bed in the early hours - what fun that was.

Still at least she goes to bed early and we get our evenings to ourselves, must admit (as much as I complain - and boy can I complain!) I think I prefer it that way.  It is good for school as well, I don't have to be in there turfing her out of bed, as she's awake and cheerful from 6 (or before) pretty much every morning!

There now I've waffled on for ages again, now for the card.  I'm amazed at how quickly this card came together, I'd been trying to find time for a few days to join in with Pollycrafts challenge and was starting to think I'd miss it - so I gave myself an hour last night.  I'd thought that if I didn't manage it - that would be that, I'd miss it again this week.  I got this done in just over the hour - and I don't think it's too shabby even if I do say so myself.

Let's see what you think!

Front shot:

Detail of image:

Trying to show the 3d gloss:

I used:

Image:

Tortoise hugs - coloured with my Promarkers.  I also used 3d gloss for highlights.

Papers:

Dream Street Papers: Clubhouse - Stripe (stripes)

My Mind's Eye: Ooh La La "Soiree" (pattern)

Others:

Martha Stewart punch

Buttons and string from my stuff

Craftwork cards: card blank and sentiment

Hope, whatever you are doing, you are having  a good weekend.

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge: Challenge #136 - Cute critters

Sketch Saturday: Week #204

CES Challenge Blog: Challenge #82 - Button it!

Totally Paper Crafts: all buttoned up

I love ribbons, do you?

Hello blogworld

Can you believe it's Saturday again, hasn't the last week gone quick (well I think anyway), and you know what it being Saturday means - a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin.

So do you love ribbons?  Would you be able to use more than one ribbon on your card?  Then the challenge is right up your street as this week, along with the stamping, we'd like you to use more than one ribbon on your creation.  Doesn't matter how you use the ribbon - and some of my Teamies have been very inventive (much more than me!) - there just has to be more than one.

We've our regular monthly sponsor with a £10 voucher on offer:

The sponsor for this week is

and the prize is little bundle of gorgeousness!

Now my attempt at using more than one ribbon.  I've been very boring and done what I very often do when I use ribbon - layer one over the other.

Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

Arty, farty side image:

I used:

Stamp: 

Sugar Nellie - Gorgeous Girl; Guardian Angel, coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Glamour dust on their wings.

Dies: 

Nestie circles.

Corner flourish (made with two): Memory Box - Elegant Scrollwork

Flourish circle: 

Lea'bilities Cutting/Embossing Die - Swirl Circle and Flowers

Papers:

Spotty is from a free pad that came with a mag.

Flower from Papermania - Blueberry Hill

The rest:

Ribbons and flowers from my stuff

Pin made by me

My card blank

So why not pop over to the challenge blog and see how clever my Teamies have been with their ribbons and looking forward to seeing what you make with yours.

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 82 - Maria Theresa's Sketch - which I rotated, hope that's OK

Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 127 - Bling (I'm not sure that the glitter on their wings can be classed as 'bling' hope so!  But if not feel free to delete)

Stampin' for the Weekend: Challenge 8 - Sparkle and shine (again the sparkle on their wings)

Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Things with wings

and just for fun:

Lisa's Waste not Wednesdays - Lisa I've forgotten how old this stamp is and how long I've had it!!  I've not used it before as, tho I love the image, it always strikes me as being a little sad, beautiful but sad.

A post - for me!

Hello blogworld!!

Well doesn't this feel strange, a post that's for a card that I made just for me to join in a challenge or two - not for a Design Team!

I am still struggling to find some sort of inspiration, but at least now I have some time back!  I forget, now that Emily has been at school for nearly a year, just how much time she needs when she is at home.  I really didn't get two minutes to myself for the last two weeks - so had to surf and craft in the evening!  Poor Hubby was complaining quite bitterly that I spent all evening either on the computer or making cards!!

Didn't help either that most of the last two weeks were a wash out!  Not much fun for Emily being stuck indoors with Mummy and Daddy nearly every day.  Still we made a couple of days out, saw some friends and went swimming, and now she has happily trotted back off to school - it's still raining though!!!

Anyhoo, enough waffle (bet that's not something you've been missing eh!  Had to keep my recent posts short and sweet) and onto card.

So this one isn't too bad, but there were a couple of bo-bos on the way - please close your eyes to the spot of glue.  It will dry and disappear, but hadn't when I took the pics.  I've got to take the pics now as I'm trying to join in with The Sugar Bowl - first one I've made in about 4 weeks!!!

Here you go, whaddya think?

Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

 I used:

Stamp: Sugar Nellie - Cherry Pip, coloured with my Promarkers then chalked whilst still in the die, for definition.  (I do wish some of these dies were slightly larger and had smaller gaps between the layers then I would be able to matt and layer.)

Papers: Docrafts, Andrea Jayne - Tulip 

Kort & Godt for half pearls

Ribbon from my stuff

My card blank

And finally, can I share one funny story before I go link up to the challenge and then do the dishes? Emily's class had obviously been learning about Easter and the reason for it before the school break as at dinner one day she suddenly said - "we've been learning all about Jesus."  "That's nice" I said "and what do you know about him?"  "Well", the reply came, "he was born, grew up and died!"  "Is that all?", asked Daddy.

"Well no", came the reply, "he had a lovely Easter as well"!!!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 81 - Gayle's Sketch (took the option of stripes)

Stamp with fun: Challenge #157 - Favourite colours, (mine are combinations of green & pink & blue)

Earth tones

Hi Blogworld,

Well this is unusual for me at the minute isn't it - posting once a day!  Pure fluke, I can promise you.  However, with the end of the school holidays in sight, I should be back to posting more frequently from next week (well once I've tided up the tip that is my house!).

So here I am again with a card for the new challenge over at Dream Valley Challenges and, as my title suggests, the challenge this time is to use Earth Tones on your project.  Now as those of you who follow me regularly will know I am useless with colour!  I'm getting better at colouring but picking tones and contrasts and knowing what they are called - useless!  So this one was quite a challenge for me, in the end I quite liked the card even if I'm not sure that it is really 'Earth Tones'!

We are being sponsored this fortnight by:

http://www.beadcrafty.com/

A hand-picked selection of the finest beads to help your products and creations sell and look professional! Same day dispatch and free delivery on ALL UK orders, regardless of value! Prepaid, no hassle returns!

The winner gets £20 to spend in store

And my card:

Detail shot of image:

Detail of sentiment and charm:

I used:

Ladybug Crafts Ink stamp - Nikki and Friends: Shopping Nikki coloured with my Promarkers

Image die-cut with and mounted onto Nestie circles

Papers: First Edition - New Leaf

Memory Box die - Madera Corner

Thread and charm - from my stuff

Craftwork cards: card blank and sentiment (which I cut down to fit the card)

I'm so enjoying being on the DT over at Dream Valley, with some wonderful Teamies and great entries to the challenges to have a wander through.  Why don't you pop over and see what wonderful inspiration there is for you this time and have a go at the challenge while you're there.

Looking forward to seeing you,
Sarah

PS - Slight confession to make - the die is another new purchase!  Well I've been wanting it for ages then saw Teresa (My Crafty Heart) had it in stock so over I rushed and into my basket it fell (along with the one from yesterday and another one that will make an appearance soon!).

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 85 - Kevin's Sketch - my stash could be either the image, sentiment or charm (I've had them all for quite a long time!)

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT challenge: Challenge #58 - Shapes.  Well the card blank is a square, the image on a circle, the corner and banner bit are triangles, the charm and sentiment oblongs - hope that's enough shapes!!

Peek-a-boo!

Hello blogworld

I'm being sneaky here!  It's not my week over at Sweet Stampin, but I loved the challenge theme so much that I had to sneak onto Abi's team and join in.

So what is the theme then that got me so intrigued?  It's girly but NO pink!  How fab is that - almost every girly card I do has pink on it somewhere and I wondered if I could make a card without.  In the end I took a very easy route and made a White on White - and thoroughly enjoyed myself going overboard with glitter and flowers.

Our regular monthly sponsor, with the prize a £10 voucher for the on-line shop:

and this week's sponsor, a the prize being 5 digis of your choice:

Here is my creation - what do you think then?  Is it maybe a touch girly?

I used:

Pollycraft stamp (yes I have stamps as well as digis!  I got a bit obsessed at one point!): Sharing Sherbet - Seeds of Love.  Coloured with my Promarkers, then die-cut with and mounted onto nestie circles. The scalloped circle I embossed as well.

Cuttlebug embossing folders - Swiss Dots / Birds and Swirls, both edged with ink.

Martha Stewart punch for the border and butterflies.

Memory Box dies - Elegant Scrollwork (which I got myself as treat, not good UiU but I'm in dire need of a treat!)

Wild Orchid Crafts - roses, shame they are cream but I've run out of white.

Bow lace trim, from a seller on e-bay

Craftwork card blank

There are a few of us Team Fi girls going over to Team Abi this week - so why not pop over, have a peek at the fab inspiration and then join us!  Go on, you can make a girly card without pink ;-)

See you there!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

I love Promarkers: Challenge #112 - White on White

Passion for Promarkers: Week 144 - Theme, White on White

Pollycraft Monday Challenge: Challenge #135 - Fabric (the bow trim is lace)

Charmed I'm sure!

Good morning blogworld!

Well wasn't that an exciting week over at the Divas 1st birthday / anniversary celebration blog hop!  I've never had so many comments on a post!  I'm also so pleased that some of you lovely people liked what you saw so much that you've decided to stay to listen to my inane waffle and look at my OK-ish cards for yourselves!

Thanks ever so much for stopping and a very warm welcome to you. I'll say again that I'm always astounded when I get new followers and I really do hope that you see something you like in my averagey cards.

So, just as with life, the excitement of a birthday is over and ordinary life goes on - and here we are again with a new challenge at Divas by Design.  This time we'd like you to use a charm or charms somewhere on your entry.

Now for this week's exciting news - we are sponsored by the brilliant artist Krista Smith who is the person behind the gorgeous images at:

I have to confess to having just  a couple (or more!) of Krista's images - altho (due to the stash diet) nothing from her newest releases, but enough that I had a difficult time to pick which one I'd use!  What swung it for me was the charm that I decided to use.

And, without further ado - here is my little creation:
Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

I used:

Saturated Canary digi - 'cell'; coloured with my Promarkers and die-cut out with a Go-Kreate die.  As pretty much normal for me I chalked the image while still in the die for definition.

Touch of Stickles glitter on the fringe on the handbag

Papers: Basic Grey - sultry 

Flourish: Cheery Lyn die - Fanciful Flourish (yes I know, again!)

Flowers - Prima

Pin - I made it!!!

Ribbon, charm, gems - from my stuff

Craftwork cards - card blank

I do hope you will pop over and have a peek at the wonderful creations my Teamies have made and give the challenge a go.  As always, am really looking forward to seeing all the charming (couldn't resist it!) entries I know there will be this week!

See you soon,
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Tuesday Throwdown: #93 - Stick pins

Twisted Tuesday Challenge: I never promised you a rose garden - flowers but not roses

Use it Tuesday: Challenge 29 - Anything goes - everything is from my stash (apart from the beads in the pin - they are new) but the paper and flowers would be the oldest.  Hmmmm, a year or more?!

How many frogs?

Hi all,

If you are here hopping along with the Divas please scroll down a post.

This is post is all about the new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and we've gone doodlie die crazy this week.  Which means, in non-Sarah talk, that we would like for you to use a die or dies and then doodle something on your entry - not forgetting that there has to be stamping somewhere on your project.

Our monthly sponsor is:

 who is offering a £10 voucher in the shop for one lucky winner.

And this weeks sponsor is:

who are giving a  £10 voucher to the winner of this week's challenge.

So this is what I created:

Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

I used:

Stamp: Kraftin Kimmie - Lillith, coloured with my Promarkers and die-cut with a Go-Kreate die.  

Papers are a don't know for the backing paper and First Edition - New Leaf for the sparkly stuff.

I typed the sentiment and then die-cut it with with a Spellbinders Tags die

Craftwork cards for the card blank

Pearls from my stuff.

The doodling was done with the image still in the die for the first line, then out of the die for the second.  I also doodled around the backing patterned paper.

There you go, that's my contribution why not pop over to the challenge blog and see what my talented teamies have created and look forward to seeing your doodling!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 84 - Angie's Sketch

Do You Stack Up: #66 - Friendly Critters, well the frog looks sort of friendly!

Simon Says Stamp: use you favourite tool - Cuttlebug

and joining in with Lisa's Waste Not Wednesdays - using up forgotten / neglected stash.  Week 14 already - my goodness times flying!

Happy first birthday to.....

Divas by Design, Happy Birthday to us!

Can you guess whose birthday it is?  No?  Really?  I think I might have given you a clue or two, maybe!  It's the Divas and we are a year old today!!!

As this is a very special day for us the prizes are very special too - and we're having a blog hop!  Never been in a blog hop before - so fingers crossed I'm getting this right.

The theme for this challenge is 'Anything Goes' and you can participate in the hop or challenge or both. There will be a prize for the winner of the challenge who (as always) will be picked by Mr Random thingy.  Then there will be prizes for seven hop winners - but in order to be eligible for a hop prize you MUST leave a comment on all the blogs on the hop and the challenge blog itself.

You should have arrived with me from Jayne and your next stop on the hop is Laurie.  If you get lost at all (like I normally do!) just hop back to Divas by Design and the full list is there.  The sponsors and prizes are brilliant so why not pop over to the blog and see for yourself what's on offer.

The winner of the Challenge itself is in for a lovely treat as the challenge sponsor is Mullberry Crafts who are offering this fab prize:

The Design Team were allowed to pick images from two of the sponsors and I got to pick from the wonderful:

Who are offering a prize for a hop winner as well!

Pause, deep breath!  Finally I get to show you what I created for this special birthday.  I made two cards as I really loved the image I picked - I'd not used Tickled Pink images before but I can see me going and getting more.  And here they are:

Card one:

 I used:

Tickled Pink digi stamp - Lil Fashionette  - 60's Willow, coloured with my Promarkers.

The stamp is from a Fiskars set - Make a Wish Quotes, and I inked round the edges for some definition.

The swirl is a Memory Box die - Valerian Flourish.

The papers, frame, ribbon and buttons are all from my stuff and so old that I've no idea where they came from.

Card two:

I used:

Same image as before this time die cut with and mounted onto nestie circles

Sentiment - same stamp set but a different quote.

The papers are My Mind's Eye - Bloom & Grow, front and coordinating back.

The circle is a Memory Box die - Whimsy Circle

The flower and pearls from my stuff.

Both card blanks are from Craftwork cards

Not sure if you can tell, but I was experimenting with different shades for red hair - one is distinctly oranger than red, but I like them both.   I think the second card needs something else, but I'm not sure what so I left it!  Also, while I'm here, can I just say thanks to Arabella for the inspiration for the first card.  I've had these frames for ages, but no idea what to do with them and one of her recent cards really gave me a good idea of how to use them!  Thank you, Arabella - love your cards!

I really don't know where the last year has gone and I can't believe how brave I was trying out for a Design Team.  I had only been blogging for a couple of months, took a really deep breath, stuck my head over the parapet and put my name up for a chance on the Design Team of Divas.  I will always remember the sheer panic I felt when I went looked at the blog and realised I'd been picked!!!!  I'm so grateful to Rebekah and Jo for taking a chance on me and giving me to opportunity to get onto a DT and have really enjoyed working with my wonderful team mates.

Speaking of my Teamies, they have made some marvellous cards for this challenge, please head on over and take a gander.  As well I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone who enters the challenge creates - you are such a talented bunch.

So see you at the Divas birthday bash!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT challenge - Challenge #57, Spots and Stripes (1st card)

Craft your passion challenge - Challenge 104, Dots and Stripes (1st card)

Cupcake Craft Challenges - 186 - Sewing Box (buttons / ribbon on 1st card)

Time for a new challenge and

we've gone all loved up over at Dream Valley Challenges!

So yes another two weeks have flown by and this is my second DT post for Dream Valley and from the small hint above I wonder if you guessed that the challenge this time is Weddings / Love.

Our sponsor is:

and the prize:

So here is my contribution:

I used:

Lili of the Valley stamp - Mr & Mrs coloured with Prisma pencils (trying to get the colour match with the paper).  Die-cut with and mounted onto nestie circles
Papers are: K&Co - Classic K Bailey
Border: Memory Box - Twirled Heart border
Craftwork cards: sentiment and card blank
The bit of trim from my stuff.

My teamies have made amazing things for this challenge, why not take a few minutes to pop over and take a peek and you may even be inspired to join in - look forward to seeing you there!

And finally...  I hope everyone is enjoying the last of the good weather we are having.  Forcasted to turn cold and wet from tomorrow - just in time for the end of term holidays!  Oh the joy of having two weeks of bad weather with a very active nearly 5 year old!  If only last week's weather could've been next week!!

I can see lots of indoor activity centres in my immediate future!

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Lili's Little Fairies: Anything Goes