A blokes card!

Hi blogworld

Apologies for the lateness of this post - I went back to my exercise class this morning and completely forgot to schedule this post so now I'm bringing to the fore my super speedy typing skills to get it done asap!

So I'm still GDT for Papertake Weekly and this week it's a Sketchie Free For All - you can either use this week's sketch or pick one from the back catalogue, but please say which sketch it is if you pick an older one.

As always there is a fab prize on offer and amazing DT inspiration.

I used this week's sketch:

and this is what I made (it even went to someone!  It was hubby's dads birthday last Sat - 89 years young!  Not bad!):

I used:

Digi image:

This is just an image I found on the internet - so no stamping or digi stamping, I flipped it, changed the colour scheme, inked the edges and voila!

I also created the sentiment on my computer.

Dies:

Go-Kreate 

Nestie for the sentiment

Papers:

Papermania - Hampstead

Anything else?

Ribbon and Distress Ink

Vroom, all done!  

Sarah

Showers and flowers!

Good morning blogworld,

Monday morning is upon us again - so it's time for a new challenge over at The Cutie Pies and, for this challenge, the theme is April showers bring May flowers. So really the choice is yours - it's either go for something rain related or flower related - or, if you are feeling brave, both!

But what you really must remember is that there has to be some element of cuteness to your entry - cute being something (whether it's stamped, decoupaged, a pre-printed image or sticker - whatever it is that you use in your crafting) that makes you go 'ahhhh'.

You should pop on over to the challenge, there are heaps of 'awww' and 'ahhhh' from my Teamies there ;-)

We've definitely been having the showers here in rural Lincolnshire - and it may not be bringing the flowers but the weeds have grown quite a bit!  I can see hubby being busy in the garden very soon!

We have a fab sponsor this time in Crafty Ribbons, who is offering a £10 voucher for the lucky winner.

I wasn't sure whether to go with flowers or showers - so I went with both!  Though admittedly more showers than flowers, and another very simple card.  It's made with scraps that I had on my desk from a previous project.

And, without further ado, here is me card:

Front shot:

Close up of the glittery rain - it looks much better in real life!

I used:

Digi image:

All Dressed Up - A Time to Share

coloured with my Copics

Stamped ribbon along the bottom is a very old stamp that doesn't have who it's by on it.

Dies:

Memory Box - cloud

Papers:

K&Co - Bailey

Anything else?

Stickles glitter glue

Prima flower

pearls from my stuff

And that's about it folks.  I'm hoping that, as this week is a proper full week back at school for SWMbO, I can get some semblance of order back in my life and get back to commenting on all your lovely blogs.  It would also be good if I could get back to my exercise class - two weeks without and I'm putting weight back on - blehh!!

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Crafting at the weekend: Challenge 1 - Anything Goes

My Time to Craft: April Showers

Fairy tale challenge blog: Cute

A little bit of sugar

Good morning blogworld

I'm am so super happy to be doing this post - you really cannot guess how happy I am!

I had an email from the lovely Fi awhile ago who asked if I would like a Guest Design Team spot at The Sugar Bowl for this month's challenge. It took me all of 3 nano seconds to say yes - I was even polite and didn't bite her hand off!

I've loved Sugar Nellie stamps for years - some of the very first stamps I brought were from them (Simon and Lola range, still got them and still think the little adoption certificate sheet is just so darn cute).  I was also spotlighted once, which made my day. But being asked to Guest is the icing on the cake and I'm so pleased that Fi asked me - so thank you Fi you really made my day / week / month / year!

So now that I've stopped gushing I'll get down to business!  The theme for this month's challenge is 'April showers bring May flowers' - and you must use a Sugar Nellie image on your project to enter the challenge.

I was very kindly allowed to pick a digi and this is what I made with it:

Front shot:

Her close up:

I used:

Digital stamp:

Sugar Nellie stamp: Return to Fairy Glenn release - A Little bit of gossip

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

Memory Box - border and flourish (which I've chopped up)

Die-namics - for the corner

Papers:

K & Company - Classic K Bailey

Anything else?

Fabric flowers and brad - from my stuff

Craftwork Cards - sentiment

Stickles glitter glue

I'm still experimenting with the colouring, hence the weird nose on her face (remind anyone of the Beauty and the Beast show from the 90s?) but at least I'm trying!  I'm seriously considering enrolling on one of Alyce from Kit and Clowder's colouring classes - but as always it's finding the time!  Oh, and persuading hubby to part with the money!!

So there you go - my little bit of happy today!  Hope that you love Sugar as much as I do and that I'll see you in the challenge.  Otherwise I will be back soon with another card.  Oh and one day soon I will no doubt get caught up with commenting (yeah, who am I kidding!!!).

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge or two:

Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 318 - Blue and green

Creative Card Crew: #60 - Girly

It's all white

Good morning blogworld

Ha, my jokes just get better and better don't they!  No don't answer that - really don't!!

So I'm slightly stunned today as school is back and I had to get up at 6.20 and out the house, with SWMbO in tow of course, by 8.05.  We almost did it, we made it out by 8.15!

And now the house is very quiet - apart from hubby has a new computer and I'm blocking my ears to the air turning blue.  Although he is entitled to have a new comp - he had a version of Windows that is no longer being supported so the old comp must be at least 14 years old.

Anyways, waffle, waffle, waffle - you know me!

The real reason for me being here is that I'm still guesting over at Papertake Weekly and this week the challenge is 'White plus 1' so all we want you to do is to use white as your base colour and then use one more colour as well.

This can be different shades of your chosen colour and it doesn't include hair and skin if you are using images. 

There is a fabulous prize on offer and, as always, wonderful inspiration from the Design Team.

This is my effort:

Front shot:

Her close up:

I used:

Rubber stamp:

Kanban: Urban Belles - Birthday

coloured with my ProMarkers

Dies:

Nesties

Anything else:

Embossing folders

Yellow card

Craftwork Cards - sentiment

Wild Orchid Crafts - flowers

3d gloss on the buttons on the image

I'm not entirely sure about the colouring of this one.  I like the hair, but the face and white, hmmmm.  But the good news is that I'm trying to be adventurous and try new things - like the face and colouring white.  More practice required??

Righty ho, I'm away again, but I will be back soon.  

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Crafting when we can: Challenge 67 - Ribbon/Twine/Washi Tape - mine is ribbon

Crafting from the heart: Challenge 15

The Craft Bloggers Network: Die cuts or embossing

Everything's happy!

Good morning blogworld,

I'm seriously behind with commenting now - and I probably won't catch up until the daughter goes back to school next week.  So apologies all round for neglecting everyone, promise it's nothing personal!

So with that apology out of the way, here's my card for the new challenge over at MAWTT - the challenge, set this week by our lovely Teamie Judith, is to have the word 'happy' on your project'.

As I'm strapped for time right now - I went the easy route chose 'Happy Birthday' and made a very simple card.

Here you go:
Front shot:

Her close up:

I used:

Digi Stamp:

Little Miss Mufet - Sugar'n Spice Dolls Pepermint

coloured with my Copics

Papers:

Papermania - Happy Birthday (green spots)

Well that's it folks apart from to say hope you all have a lovely Easter and see you next week.

Sarah

Ahhh, and the jigsaw hunt went very well - we had a grand haul of 6 jigsaws and 4 games all for less than 10 squid!  Not bad, eh!

A challenge, or two:

Sketch Saturday: Week #305

It's spring - all over again!

Deja vu blogworld!

Here I am back again!  If you are here a looking for Easter it's in the post above (or below depending on whether you wrote this or are reading it - blonde moment there!).

In this post it's all about 'Spring time' which is the challenge over at All Dressed Up - so anything either Spring colours or Spring flowers, please.

I went for the colours option and a simple card again:

So here is card the second:

I used:

All Dressed Up image - Daddy's Little Helper

coloured with my Copics

the sky / ground was done with my chalks

Papers:

First Edition - 

Dies:

Memory Box - clouds

Anything else:

Twine from my stuff

This challenge will run until the 2nd of May.

Head on over to All Dressed up blog to check out the rest of the teams creations, and why not enter the challenge whilst you are there.
 **Please note** 
To enter our challenges you MUST use an All Dressed Up Image or paper.

Don't forget to stop by our Facebook Group to keep up to date with all the latest All Dressed Up news, and chat to fellow crafters. 

That's it from me today folks, 

I'll be back later in the week,

Sarah

PS - Don't know if I'm back home yet - but am hoping the charity shop wander went well!!

It's Easter!

Well nearly anyway!

So good morning blogworld,  I'm not hanging around long this morning as I've got another post coming up this evening, so I'm going to show and run!

This post is for the new challenge over at Papertake Weekly and this week (as you may have guessed from the title up there!) it's Hapy Easter.  There is, as always, a fabulous prize and great inspiration from the DT.

Now, as I've been bleating on about, it's Easter hols here and I'm running around like a headless chicken trying to keep the daughter entertained, plus keep on top of the housework, plus do some crafting - something has to give and so my next few cards will be pretty simple!  Just like moi!

Here's card the first:

Front shot:

Close up:

I used:

Digi stamp:

Whimsie Doodle freebie

coloured with my Copics

The paper is from a very old pack of 12x12 papers - no idea whose it is but I got it from QVC - so it's got to be old!!

Martha Stewart glitter

Fiskars punch

And that's it folks!

I'm scheduling this as I'm off swimming with SWMbO again, then we are hitting the charity shops for jigsaws!

See you later

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Oldie but a Goodie: it's the paper that's my oldie - it's got to be at least 4 or 5 years old.

The Pink Elephant: TPE256 - Easter

Dream Valley Challenges: Easter

Bunnies here, bunnies there, bunnies everywhere

Good morning blogworld,

And how does everyone feel on this bright cheerful morning?  Personally I'm stunned that we are already half way through the Easter school hols and have only got a week of manic running around left!

Here is the challenge of the day - over at The Cutie Pies we'd like to see those 'Easter bunnies and as an extra smidge - it's anything but a card!  Our sponsor is:

and the prize is 4 digis

My goodness those five little words send a shiver up my spine, no not bunnies, bunnies, bunnies but 'anything but a card'!

Still I had a go, it's nowhere near as good as my Teamies - pop on over and see the gorgeousness they have made - but it's not a card so I'm well chuffed.

We were very kindly given some images by Meljens to use and this is my make with the digi:

I used:

Digi stamp:

Meljen - Easter bunny

coloured with my Copics and ProMarkers

Sentiment:

C.C. Designs

Dies:

Nesties

Anything else?

Scrap of card, acetate and patterned paper and choc bunnies from a well known supermarket!!

And as modelled by my glamorous assistant, and it must've been liked as it's now been salted away somewhere by said glamorous assistant!

Right I'm not going to waffle on at you a lot as I'll be back again before you can blink!

See you tomorrow,

Sarah

Things they are a changing

Well, tho, really, that should 'garages they are a changing'

Good evening blogworld,

And haven't I been little miss naughty this week - completely abandoning you!  It's mostly because SWMbO is off school and we have grandad visiting so we've been out and about a lot.  However fear not next week is busy and you will see me so much you'll all start moaning and groaning about how much I'm posting!

But what I wanted to show you, before I head up the apples and pears is what's been happening at our house the last few weeks.  Hubby is getting his playroom!  He's going to have a room to play trains in and then my house will emptied of all the railway related stuff.  Yay!  It's very nearly done and I thought I'd share a pic or two.

This is the only pic I could find of what our garages used to look like - I'm sure I've got more, but they are not on this comp.

Then this is the outside today:

Don't know if you can make it out, but we had two buildings with a small gap inbetween - well they've now been joined together and the gap is the entrance to the back building and the new room.

This was inside upstairs a few weeks ago:

 This is today:

Plastered ready for painting, and fitting out.

This is downstairs - I did try taking a picture of the other direction but his 'man cave' just didn't want to have it's photo taken!  The camera wouldn't focus.

I will take more pictures as and when it's fitted out - but all this means that we are closer to getting the new bathroom and kitchen and therefore my new craft room!!

Right off I trot to bed.

Have a good weekend everyone and see you next week.

Sarah

Spring has sprung

Good morning blogworld,

So what exciting bit of news can I impart today, then?  Well pretty much nothing really - apart from I should. hopefully (as I'm scheduling this), currently be at the swimming pool with SHMbO and g'dad - not that g'dad is going swimming you understand you don't do that at 89 or so I'm told!

The pool was chosen for today's trip out as SHMbO has recently moved up into Stage 3 ASA swimming and wants to go to the pool and show off her moves.  Of course whether g'dad will even be able to see her what with him sitting up in the spectators gallery and us in the pool is debatable - but still she wants to go and so off we trot.

Anyway the real reason I'm here is to show my very Clean and Simple card for the new challenge over at Papertake Weekly for which the theme this week is 'Spring has sprung' - so Spring colours required please.  As always there is a fabulous prize on offer and the DT inspiration projects are wonderful.

So here is mine:

Front shot:

Her close up:
(hmmm I never seem to do an Arty Farty anymore - will have to try harder!):

I used:

Stamp:

The Greeting Farm - Miss Anya collection

coloured with Copics

Paper:

Ummm not entirely sure - it's a scrap, I will try and find out

Dies:

C.C. Designs - umbrella

Anything else?

Paper string and chipboard embellishment from my stuff

Right folks, I will let you know how the swimming went when next I'm here.

Cheerio

Sarah

Feel a bit like the white rabbit!

Good evening blogland,

Well holidays have well and truly hit chez Sarah - SWMbO is now off for two weeks, we've got g'dad staying for a week and I'm already chasing my own tail!

So apologies for this being short (and a bit late!) as I'm trying to do three things at once here - but I am, in all honesty, extremely excited to tell you about the new release over at the All Dressed Up Shop.  Still can't quite believe that I got asked to join this very talented group with some of the most cutest images in blogland!

And here you go - these are the cuties for this month:

Easter Bunny

Just So Cool

Little Flower Girl 

On My Farm

For my little creation I used Little flower girl isn't she the cutest!

Front shot:

Close up:

I coloured her with my Copics and the papers are My Mind's Eye - miss caroline.  I added some hessian stuff, pearls, hearts and chipboard sentiment and I was away!

My first attempt at colouring went slightly (ahem completely!) wrong and while I was trying to throw the image in the bin my Emily took it off me and finished it off in her own way:

Got some competition there, eh!

So that's me off now - really must go and start dinner.

But please don't forget that the current challenge over at the blog is Monochrome and any of these images would perfect for joining in.  The prize is three images of your choice!

Also why not pop over to our Facebook Group and share there too - we don't bite, promise.

Well that's about it from me for today - don't forget to pop back to the blog all this month for more inspiration!  

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge: #23 - Anything Goes

CreativeCornerChallenges: April Showers bring May Flowers - I thought flowers - hope that's OK

Crafting from the heart: Challenge 13 - Anything Goes

So sweet!

Good morning blogworld,

It's time for a new challenge over at MAWTT today and guess who's in charge this week?  Well lookey here - it's lil' ole me!

So the theme I choose is 'So Sweet' - basically I'd like to see either a food themed project or something super sweet (if you've no food related stuff!).

I also put together a little prize package:

This is what I came up with:

I used:

Digi image:

All Dressed Up Image - A Time To Give

coloured with my Copics (and my grey ProMarkers).
Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Anything else?
Pearls from my stuff

And that's it folks!

It's a bit on the simple side, I know, but I thought the image needed to be big to be appreciated - and then I couldn't think what else to do.

Hope you find some time to come join in!

See you soon,

Sarah

PS - You all are quite right - my floors are now super clean.  How I lived without the steam mop I don't know - so simple and quick!!!

Me again!

Hi blogworld,

OK so who wants to know something veeeerrryy sad then?  I'm expecting a delivery of a new steam mop today - and I'm quite excited!  Wot a wonderful life I lead, eh!

Onto to more serious matters, my latest GDT card for the new challenge over at Papertake Weekly and this week the challenge is a wonderful 'Anything Goes' with an optional choice of making a 'treat holder for Easter treats' - as you can see I didn't take up the optional extra!

The sponsor for this challenge is Lili of the Valley and there are wonderful examples from the Design Team over at the challenge blog.

So this is my card:

I used:

Digi stamp:

All Dressed Up - Sweetie Pie

coloured with Copics

Papers:

Dies:

Memory Box - scalloped posie

Little Claire - leaves

That's all from me today folks, 

Be back soon,

Sarah

A challenge or two:

My Mum's Craft Shop challenge: Challenge 16 - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart: Cute and cuddly

2 Cute Ink Digital Stamp challenge blog: Challenge #103 - Anything Goes