Life, eh!

Gets in the way of blogland something rotten sometimes, doesn't it!!

Hi blogworld

Well this should've been my DT card for the new challenge over at Dream Valley where the theme is 'Go Pink' in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness.

The sponsor this time is:

and a special prize from Melly.

Now there should have been a lovely pink themed card here - but She Who Must be Obeyed went and decided to spend half the night awake Thurs complaining of stomach pains and then didn't go to school on Friday.  So guess where I didn't have time to get to!!  Ah yes, my tiny little craft area.

It's also very frustrating as this would've been the last card I make as part of the Design Team as I've decided to step down.

I've had great fun at Dream Valley, but I'm finding just now that I'm fighting to keep up with my DT commitments and am pretty much always running late or forgetting to make a card!!  I also started my blog as I wanted to join in with lots of challenges, well tick there!  But also to join in with a couple of particular challenges - and those I'm not getting round to.  So I took the sad decision to step down.

I want to say a huge thanks to Melly, and all the girls, over at Dream Valley for putting up with me for the last 6 months - and hope the challenge blog continues to goes from strength to strength.

So pop on over to the challenge, have a look at all the glorious pinkness and say hello to the new DT members.

See you soon,
Sarah

Child's birthday take 2

Hello blogworld

You remember the LoTV card yesterday that I didn't think was right for a little girl (and thanks by the way for all the nice comments saying it was!)?  Well this is the alternative and it's also my DT card for the new challenge over at Divas by Design where this week the theme is 'Fairies and Fantasy'.

Our sponsor is the fabulous:

And this is my card:
Front shot:

Detail of image:

Arty farty:

I used:

Stamp:

Belles & Whistles: Fairy Dance

coloured with my Promarkers

Dies:

Nestie circles

Papers:

First Edition - Love Letters

Anything else?

Some ancient Craftwork Cards blooms (which I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder to give more interest)

gems and heart ribbon - from my stuff

Sentiment computer generated

I just realised I've posted regularly for three days now - you must be sick of the sight of me!!!

Well I'm pretty sure you will have a little rest from me now until the weekend, and then I'm here again!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch Saturday: Week #226

In The Pink: Challenge #4 - Embossing (well I've finally made over into the Pinkie Palace - only taken me up until the fourth challenge!!)

Crafting for all Seasons: #36 - Things with wings

Flutter By Wednesday's: #207 - Open Challenge

Birthday girl, or not?

Hmmm, now I don't know!

Hi blogworld

Firstly let me say thanks so much for all the lovely comments you've left on the passing of our old lady.  I think everyone is pretty much of the same opinion - 19 is a great age for a cat and Katie had a lovely life, but it's still sad to see them go.

Emily was told last night and spent quite some time crying, she didn't want to go to school today either but I thought it was best to send her - take her mind off things.  Only thing is she wants to go dig Katie up, I think to say goodbye - hmmmm not a good idea!!

Right then, chin up and on we get.

So this is my Lili of the Valley card that I made - I thought it would go to a little friend of Emily's whose 5th birthday party we are going to at the weekend.  Then when it was finished I thought not!  So I now have another spare card, which I'm not sure if it's for a girl or woman.

Hey, ho.

Here's the card:
Front shot:

Detail of image:

Arty farty one:

 Arty farty two: (trying to get the glitter on her jacket and skirt)

I used:

Stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Best dress

coloured with my Pro and Flex markers

(oh and inked with Cocoa for a change for a softer look)

Dies:

Nestie label

Papers: 

First Edition - Love Letters

Anything else?

Card blank - Craftwork cards

Trim, ribbon, sentiment - from my stuff

Glamour Dust

Wild Orchid Crafts - flowers

I decided to put my name forward for GDT at Lili's Little Fairies - don't think I've got a whiff of a chance, I've never won a challenge - but I thought why not!!

So see you again soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Lili's Little Fairies: Flower power

Stampin for the Weekend: Challenge 18 - Feeling Floral

Goodbye

Oh how sad - we've just found the old lady of the bunch passed away in the conservatory.

She was 19 so a good age, but how on earth am I going to tell Emily.

No signs of injury, just gone.  Still she passed peacefully, but still a shock.

I may be back later.

Ummm

not sure, what do you think?

Hello blogworld,

So do you ever get a card in your head that when you put it down on paper just doesn't work?

I had this fab idea, inspired by today's weather!, for a dinky little stamp that I've not inked before, made the card up and I don't think it's worked at all!

Anyway, card below for you to have a look see and tell me what you think.

Front shot:

Detail of image:

Arty farty - trying to show the glitter and 3d gloss

I used:

Stamp

Stampin Bella - Izzy has a brelly

coloured with my Promarkers

Sentiment: There She Goes - Angel Mail

Dies:

Nesties - oval and scalloped oval

Memory Box - picket fence and clouds

Anything else?

Glamour Dust

3d gloss

Yes, mmmm don't know.  It might well just get pulled apart and I'll try again.

Anyway it's pelting down here and the 'non-competitive' sports day at She Who Must be Obeyed's school has been postponed until next week.  So don't have to go get her until 3.30 as she's started Cookery Club, then we are rushing out again to Rainbows.  So busy, busy, busy!!

See's ya soon (and probably sooner than you think - I think I want to try for Little Fairies GDT but I'm not sure - so I'll post the card and then make up my mind!!).

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Passion for ProMarkers: Week 167 - Theme: CAS

finally a card!

what's it been nearly a week with no cards?  Just waffle!!

Hello blogworld

Well finally she's only gorne and made a card I can hear you cry!!  Yes, I know, I know, nearly a whole week and no card, what's more this is the only card I've made this week!  What a week it's been, properly getting back into school routines, I've gone back to swimming & T'ai Chi and loads of housework.  Ah, and that tap!!

So stop the waffle Sarah and back to reason for post.  It's Saturday and that means we're in for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and this week we're all being extremely charming - oh look how clever a play on words!  Sensibly now - we'd like to see a charm on your project, along with the stamping of course, please.

Our sponsors are: our monthly regular Joanna Sheen with a £10 voucher

and this week the lovely Emerald Faeries

I had a dreadful time with this card, that charm just wasn't working whatever I did - so I gave up.

This is my card:
Front shot:

Detail of image:

They arty farty:

I used:

Stamp:

Sugar Nellie - Simply Sassy: Tease Me (which looks to be out of stock right now - oh dear!)

coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Nestie

Die-namics - Stacking Stars (blaming you here Faye!)

Papers:

First Edition - Isabelle

Anything else?

Craftwork Cards - card blank and sentiment

Oh, and the charm (yuk, yukity, yuk) from my stuff.

There you go blogworld, hope you have a good weekend look forward to seeing your 'charming' entries in the challenge.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 92 - Erika's Sketch

Polka Doodles: Week 38 - Inspired by a song title.  OK, I'm not sure if this properly applies or not, but Whigfield's Saturday Night (watch it here) - I know the sentiment is a birthday one, but the Sassy getting ready makes me think of the song and, more especially, the video - loved it!!!

Want a good tip for a harmonious house?

Never, ever, ever let a husband offer to buy and fit you a new tap for the kitchen sink.

It won't fit, will take him all day to find out it doesn't fit, will cause chaos and then he'll have to put it all back how it was - whilst getting angrier, angrier and angrier!!

Oh and it will involve a trip to a local DIY store to get a part that he now needs as he chopped off a bit of a pipe earlier to make said new tap fit - which it didn't!!!

Roll on bed-time!!

Any other tips???

OK, so what do I do now?

Hello blogworld

There you go, I've finally joint the 21st century and got myself onto Facebook!

So what do I do now?

I'll warn you my account is a bit vague as I've got a bad feeling about privacy on Facebook - I know I waffle on and on on Blogger, but I think you need to actually know about my blog to find me - whereas on Facebook it's more open and accessible.  Now tell me I'm wrong!!

So anyone I really must follow?  I've already 'liked' SC, LoTV and aked to join SugarNellie - so now what??

Sarah

Getting in shape

ah, no, not me! the cards!!!

Hello blogworld

So here I am again - surprise!!!!

This time I'm here with my card for this fortnights' challenge over at The Cutie Pies and we'd like to see your shaped cards - that are still cute of course!

We have two sponsors this time:

A prize of 3 images:

and a $10 gift certificate from:

The Design Team were very kindly allowed to pick an image from Heather's digis and this is my pick and my shaped easel card.

Front view:

Close up of image (and I was trying new paper out that I won't use again - look at the bleed on that!):

side view:

and my glamorous assistant, again!:

I used:

Digi stamp:

Heather Ellis - Pure Innocence 001

coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Go-Kreate

Memory Box - Simple Picket Fence, Elegant Scrollwork and small scalloped posie

Papers:

First Edition - Hideaway

Anything else?

Felt for the flower

Craftwork Cards - sentiment

That's all folks!  It's been a quiet weekend so, as I posted yesterday and nothing has happened since, no waffle today!  Next time - I promise!!!!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge or two:

Passion for Promarkers: Week 166 - colour combo (green and yellow)

Joanna Sheen Challenge: So sweet - no food, but I thought the image was extremely sweet (hope that counts)

Let's celebrate

Hello blogworld

So it's time for a new challenge over at Dream Valley Challenges and this time theme is 'Celebrations'.

Now I know you could do weddings; wedding anniversaries; new baby; new home and anything less boring than the card I made - but I don't know anyone getting married, moving, having a baby or celebrating a wedding.  So I ended up making a very run of the mill birthday card!

I do like the card, but I probably should have thought of something more interesting for the theme as most of my Teamies did!!

Our sponsor this time is

With a fab prize on offer, so why not pop over and join in.

So let's show the card then.

Front shot

Detail of image:

Arty farty sideways

and, finally, as demonstrated by my lovely assistant!!

She Who Must be Obeyed liked this card (and image) so much that she wanted in on the picture!!

I used:

Digi image:

Millie Birthday - coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Nestie circles

Papers:

First Edition - Isabelle

Anything else?

Wool from my stuff

flower made with a couple of ancient punches and a gem

Stickles glitter glue

I have to give credit here to Coops for the background - I saw this on one of her cards ages ago and loved the look - finally got round to giving it a go and it's great fun!

So hope to see you over at the Valley!

Off now to enjoy the rest of my weekend.

Cheerio

Sarah

Just one challenge this time:

Sketch n Stash: Challenge 96 - The image is new, everything else from stash

Ooops.......

a day late with the draw but done now.

Hello blogworld

We had a busy day yesterday and then busy again this morning, but I've now got 10 mins peace and I got my personal random number generator (also known as She Who Must be Obeyed) to draw the number out of the hat for my candy and she came up with the winner.

And that winner is.........


Debs


Hello Deb,

want to email me your address and I'll pop your winnings in the post next week.

My email (without the funny symbols) is sarah[@]vintagecoach[dot]com

Well done you and look forward to hearing from you!!!!

Sarah

PS - One of the things that happened today is that one of the kittens found a new home.  The littlest one, known as black toe, went off to live with a very nice lady in a small town about 1/2 hour drive away.  Ah well, bit sad but has to happen, I'm not having 8 cats!!!!

First of many

I'm sure!

Hello blogworld

Well here I am with my first ever card made with an Emma Canning digi stamp!  I knew when I saw, and applied for, the DT call over at the Flat Friends challenge blog that I'd love to colour these stamps and I was right!

I'm not entirely sure that I've given enough definition to the top or shorts, but overall I'm quite pleased!  Am really looking forward now to the challenge blog going live and making more cards (or non-card projects!) with these digis.

So, thanks again Emma for picking me for your team - and hope you like my little creation!

Front shot of card:

Detail of image:

Arty farty side:  Oh and can you tell, I'm as bad with accessories as I am with blog backgrounds - I'm trying glass pebbles this time!

I used:

Digi stamp:

Taylor "Camping Day"

coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Go-Kreate tag

Memory Box - Riviera Corner (part of at least!)

Papers:

First Edition - New Leaf

Anything else?

A very old Bo Bunny rub on

Trim and charm from my stuff (and are even older!!)

Viva Decor Pearl Pen

Kraft cardstock to matt with

3d gloss on her glasses - which I'm not if it shows in the picture or not

All fairly quite on the home front at the mo, although She Who Must be Obeyed is developing even more of an attitude at the moment and isn't sleeping so well just now.  She also cried that she didn't want to go to school today, I'm sure she will be fine tomorrow.

Also we might have got homes for two of the kittens - fingers crossed!  Then just two more to go - I've given in and we're keeping one!!!

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 148: Pink and Green

Without words - Sept Challenge: Autumn

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - "Make your Mark" - Challenge #3

And now for you....

Hopefully this is now a sticky - please scroll down for current posts

Hello my followers

With a special hello to my new followers - can I reassure you that, to the best of my knowledge, I do make cards occasionally along with the endless waffle I post on this blog.

It's just you have to hunt for the cards through the waffle!!

To say sorry for abandoning you lovely people during the summer holidays, I've got a little surprise!

I'm not looking for new followers - this is purely to say thank you to the people who have persevered with me over the summer holidays.

So:
I'm not looking for this to be widely advertised, if you don't want to put it in your sidebars - don't;
I'm not going to let it go to someone who just follows for the surprise - follow me 'cause you like my waffle and cards;
I will check on all entries and make sure they are not just hoovering up blog candy;
I will post worldwide.

This will be a sticky post and left up for a week so I will close it Thursday 13th September and then do the draw on Friday 14th September.

Good luck and thanks for sticking with me.

Sarah

PS - I've edited this to add - I suppose I should say please leave a comment and then I'll do the draw from that!  Duh, brain freeze!!!!!!

oh diddle piddle it!!

Hello blogworld

I went with a couple of friends to re-start our swimming sessions today (after the summer off) and d'ya know what the swimming pool has gone and done?  They've only shifted their schedule about and cut all the early swimming off at 9am instead of 10am!!  So no more early swimming for us!!  We can't drop the kids off and get to the pool before 9, there's just not enough time.

Oh the joys of living in the country and having to drive 30 mins to get to the nearest swimming pool!!

Ah well, had a nice hour over a hot chocolate chatting with my friends and we will just have to find some other form of exercise to replace the swimming.

So anyone like to see a card?  Here you go then.

It's the one I made for the little girl whose party we went to first on Sunday.  Was a long day, by the way, but fun and Emily loved going straight from one party to the next!

You'll have to excuse just the one photo - I was in a terrible rush and the arty farty and the close up of the image both blurred.  Only found that out though when I checked my pics after the card had gone!!

Front shot - and that's it folks!!

I used:

Stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Cake glorious cake

coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

and

Vintage Labels - Occasions

Dies:

Nesties

Memory Box - Twirled Heart Border

Papers:

First Edition - Summer Breeze

Hope everyone is doing well and thank you for the lovely comments you have all left on my new DT position - watch out for some of my cards using the gorgeous digis soon!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Lili's Little Fairies - Black Magic + DT call ( y'know I dithered over whether to put my name forward, but in the end I figured you never know and LoTV stamps will always be up there as all time favs.  So I thought nothing ventured nothing gained and here I am).

Crafty Cardmakers: Challenge 74 - Winged Things

The Squirrel and The Fox: Challenge #26 - Anything Goes

A facelift and a surprise!

Hello blogworld,

Firstly the facelift - I'm making you wait for the surprise! Well I've gone even plainer with my blog look, what do you think - too severe?  I wonder if the slight shading for the columns that I've seen on other blogs will be there, or is that something you have to do?  The only thing I would like to do now is make the header centred and slightly more personalised.

So come on you experienced bloggers, how do you get a fancy graphic in the header then?

Now the surprise - see that new button over there on the right, you know ---> there!!

It's it just so classy?  And so cute?  And so fab - I've only gone and been picked to be on a new Design Team for a new challenge blog!  It's called Flat Friends Challenge blog and is the baby of a fab Digi stamp designer - Emma Canning.

You can find her digis here at Polkadoodles - aren't they just the cutest?  I actually feel a bit of a fraud as I hadn't seen the digis before the DT call, but I applied anyway and you could've knocked me down with a feather - when Emma emailed and told me I'd actually got on the DT!!!  I'm not sure Emma and the other lovely DT ladies realise just how much waffle they are in for - you, my loyal followers, could tell them - couldn't you!!

So there you go a good point in a not so good day.  Let's just say, childish tantrums aren't fun (and they aren't always from children!).

See you soon,

Sarah

Is it seven zero zero yet?

because if it's anything before I'm not getting up!!

Hello blogworld

This is the time (7am in adult talk) that we tell She Who Must be Obeyed to not get up before at the weekends - now that we are back into normal school routine.

I'm scheduling this for 8am and I'm hoping that I'm just about rolling out of bed, SWMbO is in a good mood and we are doing something tomorrow, no today, ach this is confusing this scheduling lark.

Anyway lets get down to work - the reason for the post is that it's Saturday and that means it's a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and we'd like to see your White on White cards.  We are allowing colour for your images but everything else should be white.

We've got loads of sponsors this time.


Our regular monthly sponsor:

Weekly prize from:

and our Teamie Natalie's shop:

I have to admit I like the WoW style of card - sometimes it works for me and sometimes not, but I still like it.  This card I'm not sure if it worked or not, here you have a look and tell me what you think.

Front shot:

 Sideways (arty farty):

Detail of image:

Now then what do you think, I've tried creating pleats - did it work?

I used:

Stamp:

Paper Pretties - Need a cuddle?

coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Nesties

Cheery Lynn - Fanciful Flourish

No papers

Anything else?

Pearls from stuff

The card blank is pre-embossed and I've no idea where I got it from, it came to light when I was sorting my stuff into the new storage I got for my birthday.

There now, that's my contribution pop on over to the blog to see my Teamies gorgeous work and to join in the challenge.

Sarah

One, four and six

yes I can count!  but those are the ages of the children whose birthday party we are off to on Sunday afternoon.

Hello blogworld

My regular followers may remember a year ago a friend of mine having her 3rd child - two girls already and baby was a boy - well this Sunday we are off to their combined birthday party.  So it's a 1st birthday, 4th birthday and 6th birthday.

And that's the second birthday party we are going to on Sunday!  I've also a card for a 5 year old girl to make!

Aren't we the social butterflies - two parties in one day!!

I won't be showing the 4th or 6th birthday cards as I've run out of time to make so many cards.  So those will be from my old makes and I may have shown them (or may not I can't remember).  The only ones you are getting to see are the 1st - today - the 5th next week, probably.

Here we are with the 1st:

Front and arty shot combined - what do you think of the accessory? I is trying to be posh!

Close up of image:

I used:

Stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Patchwork Bunch of Balloons

coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Nesties

Memory Box - Simple Banner

Go-Kreate - tag

Papers:

First Edition - Up, Up and Away

Anything else?

Craftwork Cards - Kraft card

So I'm happier with this one and I'm very pleased with the colouring!  

A challenge, or two:

I love Promarkers - Challenge #133: Bunting

Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 147- A Sketch

My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges: Challenge #73 - Anything Goes

She Who Must be Obeyed...

Want to see a picture, or two?
This is the 'stop taking pictures now, Mummy' look!!!

This is the 'look I've found my friends' look!

So what did we think of our first day in Year 1?  Well she looked lost when we left her, she'd said to Daddy that the classroom doesn't look right or like her old classroom.  So I spent a bit of time slightly worried in-case she didn't settle.

Shouldn't have worried - SWMbO came home and promptly cried her eyes out that:

1. She didn't want to come home from school

2. She didn't want to change out of her uniform

3. She didn't want to ever leave Yr1

I replied:

In answer to points 1 - 3 in the appropriate sequence - 

can't stay there forever, you do have to sleep sometime, 

do it

and:

why do you think it's called Year 1 - you get to stay there for a year!!!

Trotted off today no probs - bit shy at the beginning again, but I'm sure she will be bouncing when she comes home!!!

And I'm now thinking about getting off the computer and doing something!!!!!!!!!!

Cheerio

Sarah

And we're off....

back to school!!

Hello blogworld

Well today is 'S' day, School that is!  As you read this I will be tootling back from dropping off She Who Must be Obeyed to her first day in Year 1.

I'm fingers crossed she's going to like this Year - I've not really explained that it's learning now, not play, so we will wait and see what happens.

This won't be a long post as I'm typing this Tues evening scheduling for Wednesday morning.  I'm hoping to get back posting again before the weekend, but you never know - it is only a three day week for me this week!!

So we are starting a new week and therefore a new challenge over at Divas by Design and this week the theme is 'Friendship' and we are sponsored by:

And this is my poor excuse of a card:  Apologies for both the poor card and poor photo - I'm really struggling at the moment both with time and space and it's seriously affecting my mojo.

So front shot:

 I used:

Stamp:

Sugar Nellie: Rachelle Anne Miller - Lola with bunny

Coloured with my Promarkers

Dies:

Nestie circle

Papers

Ooh they are a right mish-mash!!

Blue spots and blue roses- Papermania

Yellow background - Basic Grey

Anything else?

Craftwork cards - card blank and sentiment

Flowers (which I'm wondering why I used!) - from Joanna Sheen

There we go people - one slightly disappointing card and one not disappointing challenge!

See you soon,

Sarah

Wot no....

flowers??

Hi blogworld

There you go aren't I being good to you - two posts in two days!!  Don't expect it to last though ;-)

The reason for this post is that there is a new challenge over at The Cutie Pies and this time we would like to see your creations without flowers!  Wot no flowers at all - yep that's right, not a one!

We are sponsored this time by Bugaboo Stamps and there is a fab prize on offer - pop on over and take a peek, you'll be happy you did!

D'you know I thought this would be easy but then looked at what I have and had second thoughts. So I took the easy route and did a boy's card!

This is the end result:

Front shot:

 Detail of image:

No time for the arty-farty this time!

I used:

Digi image:

Bugaboo - Deacon bugs (which does actually have flowers in the full image, so I cut him out!!)

coloured with my Pro and Flex markers

Dies

Circular nestie

Papers:

Basic Grey - archaic

echo park - Splash

Anything else?

Twine and star charm from my stuff

There you go, hope you like and please pop on over to the challenge blog and join in - you'll be more than welcome.

Cheerio

Sarah

PS - On the final countdown now - only tomorrow and then She Who Must be Obeyed (who is currently crying at the end of Charlottes Web - Charlotte dies you know, I'd forgotten that bit!) is back at school and I then only have to fight the kittens for craft space!!!!

Tap, tap, tap.....

anyone there?

Hello blogworld

I wouldn't be surprised if you've all deserted me - it's been so long between posts!  My main excuse is that we are still cramming loads into the last week / few days of the school holidays (She Who Must be Obeyed) goes back on Wednesday.

My secondary excuse is those darn kittens - my dining room is a tip and I can only get to a tiny bit of the table to craft, it's agony!!!!!

Anyhow, I had to make something for today as it's a new challenge over at Dream Valley and this time we'd like to see 'Something Old, Something New'.  We've got loads of lovely sponsors - pop on over to the blog to see, and some gorgeous DT inspiration by my Teamies.

So my card is this:

Apologies for the wonky photo, I'm trying to work in a tiny scrap of space and was being hassled by an Emily and kittens at the time!

I used:

Stamp:

Sentiment by no idea who! It's a wooden block with that sentiment on and nothing else.

It's also my something old - I've had it since I don't know when, probably getting on for 8 / 9 years?

Dies:

Nesties

Memory Box - Scalloped Posie - my something new, it only arrived last week (part of a birthday present to myself)

Cheery Lynn Designs - Fanciful Flourish

Anything else?

indentz A6 embossing folder - Vine #1 (probably the first time I've used it!)

Cuttlebug embossing folder (for the frame) Swiss Dots

Spun Sugar Distress inkpad

Pearls from my stuff

So there we go, apologies for the not up-to-standard card - I know I'll get some peace from the daughter once school starts, someone please tell me when I'll get some peace from those kittens and my craft area back!!!

See you soon

Sarah