Glitter doesn't have to be Christmas!

Hello blogworld,

So here we are on the cusp of the Christmas month - only a few days now before I officially let Christmas in my house. Then I will be mass producing Christmas cards!

But, until the 1st December I'm still bah humbuging and I'm here to let you know that you don't have to make a Christmas card to join in with us this week at Divas by Design.  Of course, you can, but you don't have to!!

The theme is 'Glitter and Sparkle' - so break out the Stickles, Glamour Dust, glittery papers, sparkly gems - anything that glitters or sparkles is the name of the game.

We're sponsored by the awesome:

 and the DT were allowed some images to play with, this is my pick and the card I made:

Front shot:

Close up of image:

New type of arty farty - to try and show the glitter:

I used:

Digi:

Kenny K - Elf Queen

coloured with my Pro and FlexMarkers

The flourishes are from a set but I can't remember who made them!

Dies:

Memory Box - Macarena corner

Papers:

echo park - Be Mine

Anything else?

Ribbon and gems from my stuff

Glamour Dust - lots of it as well!!

I made a very silly mistake with the image on this card - so I might well take it off and do it again.  But I'd spent so long colouring it that I didn't have time to do another before the challenge started, so unfortunately you don't get a 100% perfect card!

I also can't help thinking it needs something else, but I can't for the life of me figure out what, so I didn't!!

There you go, my sparkly glittery non-Christmas card - looking forward to seeing all your wonderful creations now.

See you soon,

Sarah

PS - SWMbO got moved up to the next level reading books yesterday - all my knickers in a twist for nothing!!!  Don't tell hubby he was right though ;-)

A challenge, or two:

Digital Tuesday Challenge: #188 - Girly

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge blog: Magical/Mystical

Quick heads up

Hello all,

This is just a quick post to wish Sweet Stampin a happy belated 3rd birthday!!  Typical of me, I'm always late to the party and then more often than not (if it's a house party) I head straight for the kitchen away from all the noise!

To celebrate the birthday occasion there is candy on offer of a pack of ProMarkers and some super cute gorjuss stamps!

All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is to enter the challenge, of course, and display our badge on your blog - not difficult I think you'd all agree.

See you all over at Sweet Stampin then!!

Sarah

Cutie anyone?

Hello blogworld

Oh dear Monday morning, again!, where is the year running off to - can anyone get it to stop, please!!!

On a brighter note Monday does mean it's a new challenge over at The Cutie Pies - with the challenge this time to use a doily somewhere on your entry.  Easy, eh!  Hopefully we won't stump you this time as we did for the last - Cream and Brown Christmas really didn't seem to be your cup of tea at all.

This challenge we are sponsored by the pure cuteness that is:

and there is a fab prize on offer.  The DT were very kindly allowed to pick an image to use and this is my creation.

Now before you go too far I would just like to say that I was experimenting with pinks when I coloured this (it's the only thing that disappoints me with Promarkers - the pinks, they could really do with more).  I also picked the wrong greys - so bearing that in mind, apart from that I quite like it!!!

Here you go, bet you don't see a pink bear all that often!! :

Apologies also for the very poor picture - I took it on a day when we had just buckets of rain and its' the first time I couldn't find enough light to get my light box to work!  Hence the view of my window in the background!!

I used:

Digi Stamp:

Pink Gem - Fairy Teddy

coloured with my Promarkers

Dies:

Nestie for the image

Memory Box - simple picket fence

Paper:

First Edition - Bird Song

Anything else?

The doily - of course! - and pom-pom trim: from my stuff

Craftwork cards - sentiment
Glamour dust on wings and stars

 Looking forward to seeing all your cutest projects for the new challenge.

Oh, before I go - another anecdote from SHMbO - we went Christmas shopping yesterday.  Wandered around a wild and windy Skegness for a couple of hours and by the time we'd been in a number of shops I'd had to get her to put things back quite a bit.  I said, each time, Emily it's coming up for Christmas - put it on your list and if you are a good girl Father Christmas might bring it for you.

Well she picked up another little toy and I started with the 'put it back' routine, but before I got a chance to finish madam puts it back and says' I know, put it on the list!' - what a little terror, eh!!

On that note, I'm off!

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Allsorts: Week 182 - Bring on the bling

Eclectic Ellapu: Challenge #7 - Celebration with sparkle

OK, so.....

I'm not any good at paper pleating!!

Hello blogworld,

I've been trying to be a more regular join-er-in-er with challenges and I'm not 100% successful with that aim - but I'm not doing too badly with Cupcake Crafts and In the Pink!  Well when they pick a card of yours a couple of times to be one of their top picks, you've got to repay the compliment and try and join in occasionally!

But thing is you see, I'm rubbish at straight lines, counting, folding and any sort of neatness!!  So Cupcake-ers you're not going to be overly impressed with my take on paper pleats!

Here we go, have a gander - oh and apologies for the poor quality pics.  I may well take replacement pictures tomorrow.

Front shot:

close up of image:

arty farty:

I used:

Digi stamp:

Digi Stamp Boutique: Funtime Rosie

coloured with my Promarkers

Dies / punches:

Nesties

Memory Box for the corner flourish

Martha Stewart punch for the butterflies

Papers:

Papermania, but I can't remember the actual collection names!

Anything else?

Swiss Dots embossing folder

I've kept the waffle to the end here, but waffle I'm going to!  I always knew that having She Who Must be Obeyed would make me even more worried than I normally am - and here I am worrying now over when she is going to be moved up a stage in her reading books!

Good news first - we had our first proper teacher consultation a little while ago, were told that Em is in the top group for everything - she is particularly good at spelling, literacy, phonics and maths.  

So why, I ask myself, are her friends going up onto Stage 5 books and she's still on Stage 4, when she reads extremely well (I think anyway)?  I left a note in her reading book and the reply (via the same book) came back - that they'd like her to do more guided reading on this stage.  So is there something wrong with what she does when she does guided reading?  I don't think so, as her last comment when guided reading took place was 'excellent'!  Is it time constraints on the teacher - in that Em isn't getting to do guided reading very often?  Well that isn't her fault is it.

I don't know I'm starting to send myself a little round the twist here - hubby says to stop getting my knickers in a twist they are only 5 and we shouldn't worry yet!!  I'm just wondering if they are giving her the attention she deserves.  I suppose, in the end, I know that she reads well and reads a lot - it's just I'm a worry wart and I don't think I'm happy unless I'm worrying about something!!

Hah, I'll probably still be worrying about whether she's eating right when she's my age - ooooh that's depressing thought, how old will I be then!!!  Toothless, and in a old people's home probably!

So on that happy thought - I'm off now!  Have a good weekend.

Cheerio,

Sarah

A challenge, or two,:

In The Pink: Challenge #8 - Punches and/or Dies

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Cupcake 219 - Paper pleating

Sweet Sketch Wednesday: 181

Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 244 - Girls Only!

I love Promarkers: Challenge #144 - Singing and/or Dancing

A short time ago...

in a galaxy very very near (unless, as hubby says I live on a different planet to everyone else!) the journey begins!

Hello blogworld
Be warned - even more waffle and pictures than usual.

The journey being a mess of a dining room which is no longer a dining room to a craft room which will be a craft room.

There is a long back story to this and I'm not going to go into every detail about the plans I have for our house.  Suffice it to say the office will become the kitchen, the kitchen will become hubby's study and the dining room will become the craft room (with possible library / playroom overtones).

I had wanted a door and window between the kitchen table and conservatory knocked out and turned into a 3-fold glass door.  I have been countered with raising the roof a couple of foot in what is now the office but will be the kitchen and having Velux roof lights - that counter offer is under consideration.

So pictures:

Office:
Standing far end of room looking to the right:

Looking to the left:

Temporary home for the table - which is now on ebay!

Dining room - initial space and complete chaos (the curtains were tied back when this was the kittens room - the little angels were climbing them):

To slightly more organised chaos:

Of course there now has been added into this a little table and chair for She Who Must be Obeyed - as she wanted to craft with mummy.  There is even a light on the desk for her - we had complaints that I had a light and she didn't!!!

So the house will probably stay like this until the spring as that's when the builder is (probably!) coming to do the repairs/alterations to office roof.

However in the New Year the bathroom is going to be updated so I can wait for a few more months for the rest of the house!

I will do occasional updates - when something happens!!

Cheerio
Sarah

I'm such swingerly crafter!

Hello blogworld

Firstly a big hello to my new followers - lovely to see you and hope that you are aware I talk just a tad too much!!

In that I swing from one extreme to the other - extreme CaS to totally over the top with flowers - this is an OTT flowery card. So can anybody tell me what my style is then please?

This one just sort of evolved - I wanted to use the image; remembered the postcard stamp; realised that I hadn't used my flowers for ages; realised that I had never used some sparkly things that I had won from Lisa; then hours later I had this:

Oh and I'm not entirely sure I like it - don't really do hanging over the edge things.  It just looks totally out of proportion to me.
Front shot:

close up of image:

Arty farty side view:

I used:

Stamps:

Sugar Nellie - Elizabeth Bell: Post Box

coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers

No idea where the postcard stamp came from, I've had it years!!

Dies:

Memory Box - corner flourish (chopped up)

Whimsy - gate

Papers:

Papermania - Rose Garden

Anything else?

Wild Orchid Crafts - flowers

Blingy thing - from Lisa

Distress Ink

And this one is sincerely dedicated to Susan - you know why!!!!!

Am off to try and visit a few of you now - eventually.  Oooh, and oooh I'm uploading pictures tomorrow of the progress on the the dining room to craft room conversion - I'm thinking I might even give it it's own label, it's a going to be a loooong journey.

Cheerio
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

The Squirrel and The Fox: Challenge 31 - Anything Goes

Stampin with the Dragon: So cute

It's snowing!!

well over at Sweet Stampin it is anyway!!

Hi blogworld,

There you are!  It's been awhile hasn't it - I've been mired down with all that cleaning but by today (and which day is it again?!) I should be coming out the other side!  And to those of you saying please come clean my house - nope, no chance!!!  Of course in-between all that cleaning we've also been moving furniture around starting the long process of changing rooms - I'll be posting pictures and waffle on that subject very soon!

Now down to business - so why is it snowing over at Sweet Stampin well because the challenge this week is 'Snow People'.  So any sort of snowmen, women, children, etc - and stamping, don't forget the stamping - are the name of the game.

We are sponsored this week by:

 and

With our regular monthly sponsor, the wonderfullness that is:

So my card - Bugaboo were kind enough to let the DT pick an image each and this is my creation with my pick.

Front shot:

Close up arty farty:

sideways arty farty:

I used:

Digi stamp:

Bugaboo - JJ Calender Months - November

coloured with my Promakers

Dies/Punches:

Go-Kreate for the circles

A punch for the little mittens - but whose, I've no idea!

Papers:

I've blanked it out - it's not Christmas yet!!

Anything else?

Craftwork cards - card blank and sentiment

Glamour Dust

Viva Decor pen (which I smudged!)

So are you going to pop on over to the blog and join in then?  I do hope you do, you could win a fabbo prize and you will certainly see some wonderful DT inspiration.

Oh and I'm waaay behind with commenting, again!, I'm hoping to get round and see everyone over the weekend.  So hope y'all have a great weekend and see you soon.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Cupcake 218 - Sketch

Crafty Catz Challenge Blog: Challenge #159 - Lets have sparkle

Crafts and Me Challenges: Challenge #110 - Untraditional Christmas colours

I don't think I'm quite me at the moment...

Hello blogworld,

Back again so soon?  How nice to see you!

So what am I doing out of character?  Well to start with I'm cleaning!!  And lots of cleaning at that!  We've, probably, got visitors coming over on Sunday - one of the other mums' has been asking for advice about the cupcakes (fairy cakes to us oldies!) that I make.  The conversation ended up with me inviting her and her daughters (the eldest is in Emily's class) over to have a baking afternoon!

Now I've no idea what inside her house is like, but she seems a very organised, efficient sort of person and she lives in a new bungalow - not a ramshackle sort of place (or person!) like me.  I thought, therefore, got to get the old marigolds on and attack the dust and dirt.  I've been doing it for two days - got another three days ahead of me and I've had enough!!  I want to make a card - bohohooo!

Secondly reason I'm not me - this card.  No stamping anywhere, not a thing -  I've not made a stamp-less card for years!  Still, I like it - and what's more I could see it in lots of different colours. And, shhhhh say this quietly, I might even adapt it for the time at the end of the year that I'm not mentioning yet.

Here, what do you all think?
Front shot:

Arty farty:

I used:

No stamp!

Dies:

Nestie oval and scalloped oval

Memory Box - Prim Poppy

Anything else?

Embossing folder - Swiss Dots

Craftwork cards - sentiment

pearls, from my stuff

So opinions please?  On the card that is, not my cleaning - I know I'm bonkers about the cleaning (oh and pretty much everything else as well!!).

Sarah

A challenge or two:

In The Pink: Challenge #7 - CaS. There we go, I'm back!!! 2nd try, any better?

Craft your passion: Challenge 136 - CaS

Craty Cardmakers: Challenge 79 More than one punch and/or die cut

Ummmmm, gone a bit off plan here!!

Good morning there blogworld,

The  new week sees a new challenge over at The Cutie Pies - the theme is 'Brown & Cream Christmas' and we are sponsored for this challenge by Floppy Lattes, with a great prize for the winner. The were very kind and allowed the DT to pick some images.

We also have some new Teamies who have made gorgeous cards - you should pop over and take a looksie!!

So, just to make this clear, you did know The Cutie Pies are all about cute and sweet images; that this week it's cream & brown Christmas; teamies have made wonderfully cute cards?

Now, bear that in mind when you look at my card and you might think I've gone a little off piste here!!

So this is my card:

Hmmm, at least it's cream & brown!  I will say no more. Nope, not a thing, zip, nada, nothing, zilch, not a word really.

I used:

Digi image:

Floppy Latte - Flying Reindeer Sillhouette

highlighted with a touch of Stickles

Sentiment - Wild Rose Studio

Dies / Punches:

Nestie labels

Martha Stewart for the zig-zag

Papers:

From a Christmas paper pad - not sure, blocked out which one!

Anything else?

bit of twine and a kraft star

and everything has been Distress Inked to death.

Off now to wonder how on earth I made it onto the DT!

Cheerio

Sarah

what do you do....

when the daughter is at school and going to a friend's after school so you don't have to go and get her until nearly 5pm?

Hello blogworld

Well the answer is - spend the day surfing!!!  Oh dear, I'm terrible aren't I!  I have nearly a whole day to myself, a very unusual circumstance, and I'm wasting it surfing and doing nothing!

The housework is talking to me, but I'm turning my back on it, the cards are calling, but I'm not listening, the shopping is whispering, and I'm tuning it out - the only thing I'm listening to right now is the lappy!!!

Ach well, I suppose I'll wander off eventually - and who doesn't deserve a lazy day every now and again.

So want to see a card - be warned it's a lot of one particular colour!

Here you go:
Front shot:

close up of image:

The arty farty:

I used:

Stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Maisie Two Balloons

coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers

Dies:

Nestie Circle

lea'bilities - for the swirly circle

Paper:

Papermania - Rose Garden

Anything else?

Craftwork cards - Card Candy and sentiment

lace from my stuff

Right well, I'm off now to turn the lappy off and go and do something less boring instead!!  Oh my showing my age now - badly mis-quoting names of ancient TV programmes.

Cheerio

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

I love Promarkers: Challenge #142 - Pretty in Pink

In The Pink: Challenge #7 - CaS.  Now then ladies, I'm not sure I've interpreted this in the right way - so if you think it's not appropriate I don't mind if you delete.  I'm not even sure myself that it's particularly CaS!

Sketch Saturday: Week #232

Totally Papercrafts: Challenge #142 - Cute and Girly

Sunglasses anyone?

Good morning blogworld

And how are we all today - well I hope!

I'm here today with my DT card for the new challenge at Divas by Design.  This week the theme is 'Cute' - so c'mon then lets all dig out those cutsey stamps, find your sweetest papers and channel cute!

Our sponsor this week is the wonderfulness that is:

I'm not sure what you are going to make of my card this time!  She's certainly cute, but she also might have had a bad hair day and you definitely need your sunglasses to view!!

Here we go:
Front shot:

Close up of image:

The arty farty:

So what do we think then?

I used:

Stamp:

The Greeting Farm - Anya Celebrates

coloured with my Promarkers

Papers:

echo park - Splash

Dies:

Wot no!

Anything else?

buttons from my stuff

Craftwork Cards - Kraft card blank

Still getting back into the swing of school - early mornings do not allow for late nights.

Pop on over to the challenge blog and see all the wonderful cuteness that my teamies have created and show us how cute you can be!!

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge or two:

Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 156 - Anything goes.....with a button

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Cupcake 217 - Get Krafty (and thank you ladies for picking my card as a Cupcake Cutie the other week - made my day!!)

Without Words: November - Whizz bang (bright colours)

The things they say..

those little people, also known as children.

Hello blogworld

Just a quick one tonight as I'm away to my bed soon.  It's first day back at school after half-term and the getting up at 6am and being out by 8am has done for me today.

Firstly I'll share my card, like this:
Front shot:

Detail of image:

I used:

Stamp:

Sugar Nellie - Simply Sassy: Book club

Dies:

Nestie

Memory Box - Simple banner

Papers:

Ummm can't quite remember - I'll check and get back to you

Anything else?

Craftwork Cards - card blank and sentiment

Rose ribbon - from my stuff

Secondly I'll share the story, like this:

And what did SHMbO say then?  Well as you no doubt are aware today is 5th November - variously known as Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Night, and that blooming night when our peace is shattered!

Well, they must've been talking about it at school because, as she was going to bed daddy asked what sort of day she'd had at school.  

"Oh OK", she replies

"was anything in particular really good?" continues daddy  

"well we learnt about some people, but you wouldn't know them" was the reply

"who were they then, and we'll see" replies daddy

"someone called Gay Forks and a lady called Grace Darling - she saved some people you know and she was only 10!"

Do you know we didn't even notice the Gay Forks - we were too busy congratulating ourselves that we knew who Grace Darling was and how she was the inspiration for the RNLI!!

Thirdly I'll say Night, night - back tomorrow when I'll link to some challenges.

Sarah

Can you see it?

the glitter that is!

Hello blogworld

Good morning on this lovely Sweet Stampin day!  Or Saturday as it's known out of blogworld ;-)  I wonder if you've got the theme for the new challenge yet?  No, well here's a clue - you generally manage to tip the pot of it all over your workspace when creating something using it!

Ah, yes!!  That would be glitter then - so the theme this week is 'All that glitters'.

We are sponsored this week by:

with a gift pack as the prize.

Our regular monthly sponsor is:

with a £10 voucher to spend in the shop.


Now I know a lot of you will use this as an excuse to make a Christmas card, I can't do that - it's not December!

So here is my glittery but not Christmassy card:

Front shot:

Close up of image:

The arty farty:

Trying to show the glitter - does it work?

I used:

Digi image:

Emma Canning: Flatfriend - Birthday Wishes

Papers:

First Edition - Summer Breeze (again!!)

Dies:

Memory Box - simple banner and Macarena corner

I'll get back to you about the border - I can't remember!

Anything else?

Glamour dust

flat back pearls from my stuff

We are now on the countdown back to school - will be nice to get my craft time back!  Although, in all honesty, it's been a very nice week off.  We've all managed to enjoy ourselves and I'm almost sad to see school go back (for once!!).

Have a good weekend all and I'll see you next week.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch n Stash: Challenge 99 - The only new things on this are are the digi and the simple banner die - everything else I've had from a few months to more like 6 or 12 months!!

Stampin for the Weekend: Challenge 20 - Anything goes.

Card Makin Mamas: Anything goes.

Fussy and Fancy: Challenge 75 - Pearls and Flowers.

A new month...

a new challenge!

Hello blogworld

Well I did say you wouldn't see me very much this week and I was right!!  School holidays, eh - they play havoc with my craft time ;-)

On a serious note we've had a very good week so far, with more fun to come for the rest of the week.  We went to SWMbO's best friends' house, with a couple of more friends thrown in for good measure - rather glad the get together wasn't at my house!  We are off swimming today and another friend is due over on Friday.

So to get down to work - today is the first of November so it's time for our second challenge over at Flat Friends and the theme is 'Dots and Stripes' - you can do either dots and / or stripes but remember you do have to use one of Emma's digis.  Though to be honest, how difficult is that, they are super cute!!  The prize is four of Emma's digis - a fab prize I think, especially as new ones have just been released.

Without further waffle - here is card:

Front shot:

The arty farty:

Trying to show the 3d gloss on her glasses:

I used:

Digi image:

Emma Canning - Flat Friends: Walkies

Dies:

Nesties

Cheery Lynn - Fanciful flourish

Papers:

First Edition - Summer Breeze

Anything else?

Craftwork Cards - card blank and kraft card

3d gloss on her glasses and rose ribbon - from my stuff

flowers and Viva Decor pearl pen - from My Crafty Heart

Oh and I wonder if I've got a rival for making the cards in this house - here is Emily's colouring:

Not bad for a 5 year old!!

See you soon,

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

I love Promarkers: Challenge 141 - Cute

Fab n Funky: Challenge #145 - Dies / Punches - just dies, hope that's OK?