Hello

Hi everyone

Sorry it's been a bit quiet in the life and times of Sarah-land just lately.  Not only did I have a stinking cold, thankfully mostly gone now, but as said in last post I've completely lost my interest in cards right now.

I still am wandering into the dining room and looking at all my stuff and wandering out again having made nothing, nada, zilch, not a sausage!  I know I've got DT cards to do and I will do those, but I seriously can't find any enthusiasm for making anything for me.

I don't know if it's the stash diet - I am sooooo missing my little parcels of happy - those internet baskets are getting heavier and more difficult to delete!!!  Maybe it's the good weather and not wanting to be indoors while that lasts! Maybe it's the looking at the dies and papers that I want and having to put them back that's making me fed up.  I'm keeping an eye on the diary counting down the months to the craft fair, but oh dear I'm weakening.  Even the beads aren't calling me right now, how pants is that!

Anyway I've been through this sort of creative dry patch before, and come out again (obviously!) so until then I'll leave you with a card I made a few weeks ago but haven't blogged yet.

Front shot:

Detail:

I used:

Lili of the Valley - Milly Flower Power, coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers and sentiment stamp

First Edition paper pad - Hideaway

Gems and ribbons from my stuff

Craftwork cards - card blank

Ho hum, so depressing again!  I'm surprised I haven't frightened you all away!  Lets hope some of this sunshine makes its way into my dark dining room and inspires some more cards, eh!!!

Hope you are all doing well and apologies that I've not been visiting you all very much - I will do, just as soon as I don't spread the depression with me!!!!

Cheerio

Sarah

It's Saturday,

it's 8am and it's (no not Crackerjack!) but time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin!

This week we are sponsored by two wonderful companies.  Firstly our regular monthly sponsor:

 who is offering one lucky person a £10 voucher!

Also this week's sponsor is:

who is offering this week's winner a $12 voucher.

So what is the challenge this week, I hear you cry!  Well it's one we all love and is a very brilliant - Anything Goes!  So lets see those projects, with stamping, but this time anything you like.

So I was very boring with my anything goes and made a card!  Not much surprise there then!  The Design Team were very lucky to be allowed to pick an image from A Day for Daisies and this is the card I created with my image:

I used:

A Day for Daisies digi image: Flowers for my mommy and coloured with Prisma pencils (as I'm not very good getting a pastel look with my Pro / Flexmarkers).

The papers are all Basic Grey - Sugared pad

Cheery Lynn: Fanciful Flourish

Ribbons and silver corner (which was the last one by the way - and I haven't rushed out to get more!) from my stuff

Craftwork cards: card blank

Quite a simple card as at the moment I'm not really creating much - only two cards this whole week!  I'm not even playing with my new beads.  I came down with a rotten cold yesterday and I think it's put a dampener on my creativity.  I wander in the dining room, mooch a bit and then come back out again!  Unheard of!!  Hopefully, once the cold has gone, I'll be right back there stamping and colouring to my hearts content.

Now I do hope that everyone is feeling much more creative than me so why not pop over to the challenge, see what my talented teamies have created and stamp yourself into the challenge.

Am looking forward to seeing you there!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Hotshot Craft blog: Challenge No.5 - ribbons

Stampin' for the Weekend: Challenge 6 - anything goes

Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 209 - anything goes

PaperCrafting Journey: Challenge 5 - Pretty Pastels

Sharing

Hello everyone

Well it's been a bit quiet on the old card making front at the mo hasn't it!  You could put that down to having had a busy week this week and then starting to feel a bit yuk today (it would appear that I'm getting another cold!) or that I've been busy collating what could be my next 'thing'!

But before I show you  that, would you like to see a special card and flowers that I got?  Nope, well hard luck you ain't got a choice!  Well, unless you would like to wander away right now that is!!

So lookey at these:

This is the card Emily made me for Mother's Day

The flowers she made and ones that hubby and Emily went and got for me:
Vase 1:

Vases 2 & 3:  (Peter used to own a shop next to a florist and picked up some flower arranging tips so he never leaves them in the bouquet that they come in from the florists.  Personally I'm the put some water in and stand back type!)

My new collections!  A Mother's Day present

And my first attempts at beaded hat / stick / corsage pins:  Whaddya think?

So I have been busy just not really making cards as such - more sorting out beads and playing around making hat pins.  Oh and taking apart old jewellery to get to the beads on them.

And, after all my angst, I had a lovely Mother's Day, was woken at 6.10am by having chocolate stuffed in my hand!  Emily was awake and desperate for me to open my presents and so the chocolates were the first things I woke to and was told I had to try one right now.  Not the first time I've had chocs for breakfast, but probably the first time said breakfast was at 6.10am!!!

Some wonderful presents, a mooch around the charity shops for beads and a lot of time spent with Emily! Who could ask for anything more.

Back soon with a card - now if only I could make one that looks like it could take a pin, hmmm.  Off for another mooch with paper, ink, stamps and now beads!!!

Cheerio
Sarah

It's all distressing....

over at Divas by Design.  Oh yes this means it's Wednesday, a new challenge at the Divas and Team A's turn.

So, as you might have guessed by the title, we would love to see your distressed projects and no that's not pictures of you when your card doesn't go right!

This time we are sponsored by the wonderful:

We were very kindly allowed to pick an image, and I have used the so sweet Chloe in the Rain for my card.

And so onto my card:
Front shot:

 Detail of image:

 Close up of butterflies:

I used:

Pink Gem digi stamp: Chloe in the rain - coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Die-cut with a circular nestie

Drop of 3d gloss on the raindrops (doesn't show so well in the photos)

Papers: K& Co - Classic K: Bailey

Border: CC Designs die - Teardrop Border

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima

Butterflies are a Martha Stewart Stamp and Punch set - I didn't stamp them, just used the punch and stuck two butterflies (one cardstock and one paper) together

Card blank and sentiment: Craftwork Cards

This is one of those few occasions when I actually quite like the card!  I've no idea why it came out all soft and 'girlie' but it seems to have worked and I quite liked the doubled up butterflies.

So, why not pop over to the blog - have a look see at all the gorgeous creations my Teamies have made and then have a go yourself!  We'd love to see you.

Cheerio for now,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

A Gem of A Challenge: Challenge 42

Tuesday Throwdown: #90 - Spring Cleaning (use up old stash), it's the papers and flowers - couldn't tell you how long I've had them, but it's years not months!!

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Challenge 22 - Shabby Chic / Vintage

Some exciting news!

Hello there blogworld

Well and how are we all today?  Now I know it's Mother's Day and I do hope that those of you who celebrate it are having a lovely day, but I'm also aware that there are lots out there who do not.  So I'm not going to bang on about it or whether you got lots of pampering and presents, I will share a story and probably post a pic or two another day how my day went (did you realise I like to share?).  But not today.

I certainly find today day tinged with bitterness.  For many years (and I do mean many), while we were trying to start our own family I found the concept pushed at me that if you weren't a mother you weren't a proper woman, that hurt.  Also I don't have a particularly good relationship with my family - so this day reminds me that my mother and I don't speak, that also hurts.  But I've learnt to live with it, some times life does not go the way I would want.  I realise that some of you are not going to be able to understand not speaking to your parents / family - but unfortunately that's how things are in my life and I'm coping with it.

Anyhow, enough angst from me!  On to happier things and that would be - I was recommended by a good bloggie friend to be a new face on a challenge blog and I'm happy to say I am now a proud Design Team member at:

So straight into this fortnights challenge which is Easter - so come on then lets see those eggy cards!  The lovely sponsors and prizes for this challenge:

One lucky winner gets to pick four images of their choice from:

and 

A goody bag from:

Mulberry Crafts

Well I would be entering this week if I hadn't been asked onto the Design Team!!

So, finally, my card.  And here it is:

Front shot of card:

Detail shot of image:

I used:

Pollycraft digi image: Spring things: eggcellent for sharing, coloured with my Prisma pencils

Sentiment is from an All That Scraps set, probably a Swiss Pixies one but I chucked the packaging, again!

Die-cut with a Go-Kreate die

Papers are from a kit I got from QVC many moons ago, don't know who made them.

Ribbon and brad from my stuff.

Craftwork cards: card blank

So there you go, that's my eggciting (couldn't resist!) news and I do hope that you will pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at my new Teamies wonderful creations and maybe even join in? I'd love to see you!

See you another day.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 83 - Michelle's Sketch

Joanna Sheen Chellenge: Spring is in the air

Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 123 - Spring

I missed it!

Hello blogworld

I missed my first blog birthday!  It was yesterday!  I sat down tonight with a really snappy post all about what I was doing this time last year, asking you to guess and all ready to sing myself happy birthday - bet you're glad you missed that one!!! - and light the candles on the cake and I missed it!!

Typical of me, I'll be late to my own funeral is a phrase that that springs to mind and is ringing in my ears from my childhood.

You know I've had a great time in blogworld: - I've got onto Design Teams (something that I never would've dreamt was possible with my lack of confidence in my cards) meet wonderful Teamies and made some great friends and none of this would've been possible if I'd kept on saying to myself one day, maybe, sometime I'll start a blog!  Still never won a Lili of the Valley challenge - the main reason I started blogging but there you go I won others!!  They don't know what they missed - eh!

So another one of my averagy cards to share.  This one has a purpose, it's one of Emily's little friends' birthday on Monday and this is her card.  She's having an after school party at her house (well her parents are having it for her!) first time we've been to a party after school.  Hmmmm, wonder how that one will work with a half-dozen or so tired 4 and 5 yr olds - will report back!

So waffle done, here's card:

 Close up of image - you'll have to excuse that the ice-cream smudged.  All was fine and then I went and added Stickles - the colouring ran!!  Damn

I used:

Pollycraft digi image: Kiki ice-cream, coloured with my Promarkers, Flexmarkers and a white gel pen.

Cut out with a nestie circle and mounted onto a nestie circle scallop

Papers are all scraps so I've no idea whose they are.

Ribbon, chiffon and pearls from my stuff

The 5 is an American Thickers sticker (soooo old!) and covered in Glamour Dust

Craftwork Cards: card blank and sentiment

So hope you all have a weekend and see you soon,

Oh and I know I've loads of comments to catch up on, I'll try over the weekend otherwise it will be next week before I get a chunk of 'puter time.

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Pollycraft Monday Challenges: Challenge #131 Paula's Sketch

Passion for Promarkers: Week 140 - Theme: yellow and pearls

Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 208 - Happy Birthday

nope, not a bean!

Hi all,

Well I've been sat here for the last few minutes trying to think of a snappy title for this post, but nothing is coming to mind.  So I'll just carry on and waffle, as per usual, instead!

So I'd said in an earlier post about Emily and the not beautiful shoes - well I've got her new shoes but the fuss I've had over them!  We were in the shop looking at these shoes and she wanted a lace up canvas boot, so I said no we are looking for school shoes - they need to be sensible, how about these ones?  I got a foot stamp and a 'not beautiful shoes, don't want them'.  So we trotted off to the next shop and I bartered!  I got her to have the sensible shoes by also letting her have sparkly party shoes and a pair of Hello Kitty slippers.  And where the desire for those came from, I don't know!

Oh and on top of that she'd already had a temper tantrum in the car in the car park - she wanted to get out the drivers side, I'd said no so she started crying and shouting in the car.  I lifted her out, popped her next to the car and she proceeded to knee me!!  I thought she'd kicked me and when I bent down to her to ask, she said no she hadn't kicked me - she had hit my shin with her knee!!  This is better it seems!

There we go, the saga of the beautiful shoes.  No doubt we will have another one soon, but in the meantime, I have another card to show.

Here we go:
Front shot:

Detail shot of image:

I used:

Sugar Nellie: Leanne Ellis stamp - If Only, coloured with my Flex and Promarkers.
Papers are Basic Grey - I'll have to go check which collection.
Craftwork cards - card blank and sentiment
Gems from my stuff.

That's it really!

Hope you are all having a great week and see you again tomorrow.

Cheerio
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 79 - Erika's sketch (I thought I was following the optional Spring theme, but I'm not so sure looking at it now!)

And just for fun:

Lisa's Waste not Wednesdays - can I have a gold star, this stamp has only been in my possession since Jan 2011 and this is the first time I've inked it.  Much better than last week's stamp!!

Clean and Simple?

Or just too plain?

I'm not sure, am not over happy with the colouring on her face, but the rest I like and I've got to be quick if I'm going to join in with the challenge!

Waffle another time, promise (or threat!).

Any suggestions on what the card would be for?

I used:

Saturated Canary digi: Snow White - coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers.

Die-cut with and matted onto, nestie shape.

Cheery Lynn Floral Flourish die

Prima flowers

Patterned paper scraps and gems from my stuff.
Martha Stewart punch - Doily Lace

Speak later, gotta go.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Saturated Canary Challenge: Challenge #12 - Doilies (hope the punch qualifies)

I love Promarkers: Challenge #108 - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenges: #161 - Mother Goose & Friends (or other fairy tale - will Snow White do?)

Papertake Weekly Challenge: For the girls / mum - I opted for 'the girls'

The story of

my Emily and her new friend Jade.

So when I saw Krista the creator of Saturated Canary digis / Simply Sassy stamps and Saturated Canary blog challenge was organising a card swap for the little 'uns, I thought I know who would like that!  And that would be - my Emily, I was right (for once, as at the moment she is going through a 'my mummy is a wrong 'un' stage and only Daddy can do right.  I'll tell you about the kneeing me and the not beautiful shoes another day!).

Krista had asked to be emailed with the child's details and she would organise swap partners.  So off popped Emily's details and we were paired up with Jade and her mum Katya - who live in America!!  Firstly it took some explaining to Emily (who is 4 and 3/4s!! as she is telling everyone) where America is, the Atlas was dug out from it's lonely corner of the kitchen, dusted off and then England was pointed out and America was pointed out and the big blue pond in the middle was pointed out!

Emily dealt with this concept of an ocean and the distances involved by latching onto the fact that we are on an island so Jade must live on her own island!  I don't think that Jade and Katya realised just how close they came to having an Emily invade - we had to spend another chunk of time explaining to Emily that it was a bit difficult going to visit them as they are very far away.  'What even further than grandad?  Could I go on a train - or an aeroplane?  Oh, an aeroplane, ooooohh  - can I go now'!!!

So we eventually got round to the idea of making and sending a card which we did, but then there was a great deal of disappointment (on both sides I understand) when the card didn't arrive.  We worked out what had gone wrong and duly created another card to send.  With Emily practising her writing in it - a big thing at home right now! In the meantime Emily's card from Jade had arrived and it had stickers in it!!!  A big plus point for Em - she does like her stickers!

So I show below the card that did make it to Jade and a picture of Jade's card to Emily:
Oh and I know they all have my watermark on, but that's an automatic thing I do with blog cards - so please excuse and ignore!


Emily's card - don't ask me about the blue neck, I've no idea!

Emily showing off her card (excuse dirty windows, have I told you I'm a terrible housekeeper?)

Jade's lovely card to Emily:

This has been a great experience for Emily and I'm so pleased that Krista put herself up for organising something that must've taken up a lot of her time.  Emily is quite determined that she is going to visit Jade one day and that she is going to make her another card.  What a lovely memory this is going to be for her.  The time she made a card for Jade who lives on Jade's island!!

Bye for now,
Sarah

I shouldn't really be here!

Hi blogworld,

Firstly I'd like to say hello to my new followers - hello!!  So nice to see you here and I hope you like what you see!

Yep you got it another odd time for me to post - I really shouldn't be here (and I won't be for long!) but I've got a minute or two to do this very quick post.

Em was up at 5am (ish) this morning, tho I can't grumble as hubby finally got up with her properly about 6ish and let me have a lie-in until 7.30!!!!  Ooooh isn't that nice of him - and I mean that sincerely!

She was up so early as we were off to her best friends 5th birthday party at a local soft play / climbing thingy at 10am.  After that we went and did our shopping and she's fallen asleep in the car on the way home, so I'm typing this with one eye out the window (I was just sooo tempted to put that in my accent - winder! - that I had to add this little aside) and the other on the lappy.

I'm also cursing all the damn flies that have just woken up in the sunshine - one of the downsides of living surrounded with farmers fields.  Hate, hate, hate flies - sometimes can't even have one window open for 5mins without loads of the blooming things coming in.

One last thing - I have a question for you very clever ladies who make decorated hat/stick pins.  Where do you get your supplies?  I've seen lots of really pretty pins on cards and I'd like to have a go at making them - are they very difficult to do?  Any advice would be really appreciated - thank you!

Anyway, I think I said this would be quick - ha!

So the proper reason for this post - my card:

Front shot:

Detail of image:

I used:

Pollycraft Digi image: Moodles Fleur Flower - coloured with my Flexmarkers and Promarkers.

Die-cut with a nestie and chalked whilst in the die.

Paper: First Edition - Hideaway

Die-namics: Dainty Lace border die

Ribbon and button from my stuff.

OK that's me off - probably won't see you tomorrow, but I will be back later in the week.

Hope you all have this lovely weather, and are enjoying it fly free!

Aaah, and this is Sketch n Stash's sketch - but I've missed it!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge: Challenge #130 - Spring has sprung

I love Promarkers: Challenge #107 - Ribbons and bows

Totally Paper Crafts: Challenge 107 - My favourite things - they are: Promarkers / Flexmarkers, colour green, First Edition paper packs, ribbons!!

Layers, moi?

Hello blogworld,

So it's a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and we'd like to see lots of layers (along with the stamping) on your cards.

Our fantastic regular monthly sponsor, with a £10 voucher for one lucky person, is:

We have two wonderful prizes this week, £10 vouchers from:

and

That's a bundle of goodness isn't it!!

And to top it all off the DT were given a digi by Stampfairy to play with and this is what I came up with.  Sincere thanks as well here to our Teamie Janneke for her sketch, which if you are as afraid of layers as I am will be a great help - but remember it's optional, you DON'T have to follow the sketch.  Personally without it I would've totally panicked - I really don't do lots of layers, not being able to cut straight doesn't help when you're trying to mat papers and images.

So finally me card:
Front shot:

Close up on image:

I used:

Digi image from the Stampfairy: Lenny Camping, coloured with my Prisma pencils.

Die-cut with, and matted onto, nesties.

Papers: Basic Gray - Archaic

Twine: Wilkinsons!!

Kraft paper: inside of wrapping paper

Sentiment: from a set by Elzybells

My own card blank

So over to you - looking forward to seeing how many layers you can get onto your projects - please remember you do need to fit something stamped in there somewhere as well!

Hope you have a good weekend and see you later,
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge 62 - Boyz to Men

The Poodles Parlour: Birthday Challenge

Willow Sketchie Challenge: I didn't follow the sketch, but have used twine

Creative Craft Challenges: Boys will be boys

Craft your Passion challenge: 100th challenge - anything goes

Cor, that's a lot - innit!!  Think it's most I've entered, maybe it's not so bad making a masculine card after all!!!

Boing!!!

Hi all

Well here I am at an odd time of day, aren't I!  I've been busy this morning making a card that I'm actually going to send!!  Then this afternoon it's the school trip, baking and then dinner - so I thought I'd take 1/2 hr to sit at the old lappy!

It's very strange at my house at the mo, we've got the road outside the house closed for miles (and I mean miles!) so no traffic.  Not that we get heavy traffic anyway, well certainly not the level of traffic I was used to when I lived in Essex, but it's dead out there now!  And I have to shout at a workman to get him to move the cones to let me out the road.  Think he's getting used to the school times - and it's almost like having a butler - imagine me waving my hand and saying (in the very grand manner) 'open the gates please, Jeeves'.

Now the truth is - me shouting out the window, at some poor bloke (who probably thinks I'm mad as a hatter) 'oi, let us out then, mate'!!! Refined or what?!

So what have I got to share today then - a card, never, really?!  The surprise is, wait for it!!!, I actually quite like it!!  I'm not sure about the sentiment, as I wonder if it's meant to be a new baby card, but I don't do many of those (don't know any expecting ladies), so I thought this would be more universal - maybe even a Mother's Day card?

Here we go then:

Front shot:

Detail of image:

I used:

Image: Stampavie - Rachelle Anne Miller: Jump into my pouch (I had a really serious habit for these images for years!), coloured with my Prisma pencils.

Die-cut with and matted onto nestie shapes.

Papers: First Edition - Desert Blooms

Cheery Lynn: Fanciful flourish die

Flowers, button, pearls all from my stuff.

Craftwork Cards: card blank and sentiment

Hope you like, will be back tomorrow with my card for Sweet Stampin.

See's ya then,
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog: Challenge 13 - pearls and swirls

Crafting when we can: Challenge 13 - animals

Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 121 - a sketch

Moving along with the times: Cute as a Button

and just for fun:

Lisa's  Waste not Wednesdays, this is a doozy Lisa, I've had it since 2008 and not inked it - slappy wrists, naughty Sarah!!

Gotta be quick

Oh dear, here I am struggling to be quick!  Really want to join in with the Sugar Bowl (I've missed the last one or two!) and I've also got to go get dinner started soon.

So no waffle today, will be back another day for that (probably not tomorrow, but definitely Friday).

Here's me card and it's a first for me - colouring on Kraft (well the inside from wrapping paper Kraft anyway!).

Front shot:

Close up of image:

I used:

Sugar Nellie (from Funky Kits) stamp: Hippie Love - coloured with my Prisma pencils.
Die-cut with and mounted onto Nesties
Papers are First Edition: Up, Up and Away.
Marianne Swirl die
Wild Orchid Crafts flowers.
Craftwork cards: card blank and sentiment.

Gotta rush, see ya's later.
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 78; Marie Theresa's Sketch, optional Kraft

My Time To Craft Challenge: Challenge 174 - Circle Circus

Using it Up report

Hello there blogworld

Firstly I seem to have got myself in a muddle over which month I'm looking at for these reports.

Note to self - this is posted in March but applies to Feb.  Do I ever wonder if I'm in need of one of those brain training games - yes frequently!  I mean, do you know anyone else who would drive 30 mins to go swimming, park up outside the pool and realise that they have left their bag at home?  So no purse = no money = no swimming and an hours round trip wasted!!!

Here we are again, another month gone of 2012 (isn't it just flying by?) and another monthly Using it Up report.

Not quite as good progress made this last month, two naughties to report.

Naughty one - I brought the new limited edition spring colours Promarker set!  I hmm'd and ah'd over it for ages, then caved!  I know it's only a marketing ploy and asked myself what happens when those colours run out - but I'm a sucker for Promarkers and I cave I did.  I did get them from Joanna Sheen at, I think, the best price I could though - does that make it better?

Naughty two - had to go into Louth yesterday to collect the un-sold clothes from the NCT sale and had a very quick wander around town before I went to collect.  I ended up spending £8.13 on some lace and ribbons.  Worse thing was got home and discovered that one of the fancy ribbons I'd brought I could get for half the price in some on-line shops!  Who said buying local was a good idea?

So in total I spent £18.12 - nearly double my £10 a month budget I've allowed and not a digi in site!  So no digi's for me this month - pah!!!

I'm also, after having trawled the 'net, severely tempted by lace that I've seen on e-bay.  I'm trying to leave it, but I'm struggling!

One good point is - still no mags!!!  That's more than made up for the money I spent this month.

UiU report over - now onto my normal meanderings.

What would you do?  Whilst in Louth yesterday, I got Emily's feet measured - she's gone up a shoe size (measured in Clarks) do I buy another pair of expensive Clarks shoes - which cost £30 but have lasted her since Sept (and still have wear in them, but now are too small) or do I go for cheapy shoes that might not last?

Answers on a postcard please!

Pelting it down here, hubby and daughter due back any minute from a walk on the beach - should be getting the washing in the machine ready for school tomorrow, will really have to tear myself away from computer and go do it.

Hope you are all having a good weekend - see ya's soon.

Sarah

What is it about Jaffa Cakes.....

that once I start I just can't stop!

I absolutely love 'em, I have to restrict myself to an occasional packet otherwise I think I'd turn orange as well!!  I have demolished half a packet this evening and thankfully I feel slightly sick now, otherwise I'd be onto the other half already.

So now I've got that little confession off my chest - how are we all doing today then?

We took Peters dad off to Skeg this afternoon so he could catch his train home, and everything has run late since that.  Also am rather stuffed 'cause not only did I finish off half a pack of Jaffa Cakes but we also had homemade pizzas and now I can hardly move!  Diet, what diet?

So onto my card, this is the companion stamp to the one I used yesterday - which by the way I have to say a great big thank you for all the lovely compliments, they are very appreciated.

The card, it's for my friend's little boy - the one who is Emily's best friend.  When I asked if she thought he looked like Ryan, she gave the card careful consideration and said 'no - he's too short'.

Front shot:

  Detail shot of image:

I used:

The Greeting Farm stamp: Happy Days - coloured with my Promarkers.  The die-cut out with and mounted onto nestie shapes.
The papers are all Basic Grey Archaic, and I've used my last bit of the dinosaur papers from it!
Ribbons and number 5 from my stuff
Sentiment is Craftwork cards

Oh and do you want to see the state making that card yesterday left my dining room in?  Look at this:

Off now to try and digest this pizza and Jaffa Cakes and wander around lots of blogs!

See you soon.
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch Saturday: week #196 ( I rotated the sketch - hope you can still see it)

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Boys and their toys

Aud Sentiments Challenge: Challenge 49 - Happy Birthday

How frilly is this!

Hello blogworld,

Hasn't it been a gorgeous day - not that I've seen much of it mind!  Have spent most of the day indoors creating this little frilly, fussy card.  I think I have to ask - those of you who make heavily embellished cards, how long does it take you?  This one has taken me all day - from stamping it last night to finishing it off this afternoon, it's been blooming aggggeesss!!!!

I am also going to make a little promise here that I'm not going to whinge and whine anymore about my cards, I know I'm not perfect but neither am I totally unhappy with what I produce.  I know I can, and do, improve and I'll just keep making my cards as (apart from the odd blip) it is a hobby I enjoy and makes me happy.

So - thank you to everyone who left me such kind comments yesterday, it really brought a lump to my throat to see so many of you telling me to stop being such an idiot!!!  Love ya's - mwahhh!!

And so, moving swiftly on to my card. Firstly have to say a big thank you to Kat for the inspiration and template for this card.  She very kindly sent me one of her cards to use as a template, as I'm totally useless at measuring.  Altho I've made one before from her template, this is the first time I've blogged - I forgot last time to take a pic before I sent it, me idiot!

Heavy on the old pictures here - only way to get a good idea of what it looks like:

What d'ya think?  I decided to go with the spirit of Using It Up and chucked loads of embellies and die-cuts at it (hoping that if I stick loads of stuff on it no-one will notice the terrible cutting and measuring!!!).

So I used:

The Greeting Farm - Happy Day set (got the boy image to share tomorrow), coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Die-cut with a nestie and chalked while in the die.

Paper is a scrap from my scraps box - sorry no idea whose.

Cheery Lynn - Fanciful Flourish

Marianne Creatable - butterfly die (twice and layered for more effect)

Prima flowers (the big blooms) and Wild Orchid Crafts for the paper roses (are they roses?)

Ribbon and flower middles from my stuff.

Craftwork cards card blank (chopped and re-folded) and sentiment

Phew, that's a list - innit!  And absolutely nothing new was brought to use on this card - infact most of it is over 2 years old, am I good or what.

Hoping that everyone else has had a chance to get out and enjoy the sunshine, and that it lasts for tomorrow too - not that I'm going to get out in it.  I've got to sort Emily's old clothes out for a NCT sale that I'm doing on Saturday.

See ya soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Passion for Promarkers: Week 138 - Colour challenge: pastel colours

Crafting when we can: Big Birthdays

Ladybug Crafts Ink: Pink and Girly

Crafting for all Seasons: Shaped cards

My Mum's Craft Shop challenge: Shaped cards

and just for fun:

Lisa's Waste not Wednesdays - week 9 already, my goodness where have the weeks gone!