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Monday 31 December 2012

If anyone is there can I....

wish you all a wonderful New Year!

Hello blogworld,

Well my popping back inbetween Christmas and the New Year didn't really happen did it!!  Here I am by the skin of my teeth wishing you all a fabulous 2013 - I hope it brings you all that you could wish for.

I decided to take a break over Christmas and leave the old lappy off as much as I could, and I did manage to leave it along quite a lot - very difficult though, I'm rather addicted!!  Still it did mean I spent some quality time with the family - some of it playing at being a donkey for SWMbO, just imagine me wandering around the house on hands and knees with her sitting on my back.  Ahhh, what an image!

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas, ours was quiet - always is - but enjoyable and fabulous presents all round!  Santa very kindly brought me my e-bosser plus a large die and various stamps.  Even some Copics - am wondering if I'm starting on a slippery slope there!!  Apart from the crafty stuff we are drowning in Playmobil - pirate boats, a ferry, fishing boat, a cafe - bit of a nautical theme going on here!

I will be back tomorrow 'on duty' as it were with my first DT card of 2013, but for now I'll say hope you all have a great night - and thanks, again, for all the lovely comments you have left over the last year on my blog.

See you next year!!

Sarah

Friday 21 December 2012

Deep breath and.....

relax!

Hello blogworld,

So Christmas is almost upon us and I'm pretty sure that nearly all that needed to be done to be ready has been done.  Apart from some wrapping of presents and the buying of two presents for people that we don't know what to get for - one of them being father-in-law!  But then when he says that he doesn't want anything and don't bother, what do we do!! So he's getting a personalised calender and box of Bertie Bassets!!

Today was last day of school as well and SHMbO is in a very funny mood - very happy one minute and down in the dumps crying next.  I'm hoping that it's just getting over excited in the run up to Christmas, and it's nothing more serious.

So this is probably going to be my last post now before Christmas - we've got last wrappings tomorrow; food shopping and a birthday party on Sunday; the father-in-law is arriving on Monday and then it's the big day - so slightly busy then!

I'll leave you with a couple of cards and very big thank you for all the wonderful comments and support over the last year.  I am so grateful that I've found this wonderful bloggy crafty community - so lovely to find people who get that desire to stamp, colour, create and generally spend a fortune on crafty stuff ;-)

I will pop back on Christmas day for a festive wave, but really won't be here until between Christmas and the New Year.

My cards, with apologies for the poor pictures - I'm flying around at the mo and didn't have a chance to get the light box out from the corner under the pile of stuff!


and:



That's all folks!  Hope you get to do whatever it is you like doing best over Christmas - I'm hoping that Santa brings me a crafty present or two and a bit of time to play with the crafty stuff (if I get it!!).

See you soon,
Sarah

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Last challenge..

...of this year!

Hello blogland

Well as the title says its the last challenge of the year over at Divas by Design this challenge will run until we return on 9th January 2013.  Sounds a long time away, but it isn't really - how scary is that, 2013 just round the corner!  I don't know about anyone else but I used to love Space 1999 when I was a little 'un - now 2013 is knocking on the door.  Great way to make me feel old!!

Anyway, waffle, waffle, waffle!  You don't want waffle you want details I know!

So the challenge this time is Anything Goes, nice and easy - eh!  We have two sponsors for this extended challenge and they are:



Here is my creation:


I used:

Stamp:
Sugar Nellie - Snow Loved
coloured (where I haven't Glamour Dusted it to death!) with my Promarkers
Lilly of the Valley - sentiment

Papers:
crate paper - Peppermint Collection

Dies:
Memory Box - Lamppost
Die-namics - Stacking Stars
Nesties - circle and image

There we go - just remains to say thank you for joining us with our challenges during the last year and to add that I'm always amazed by the wealth of talent out there in blogland - it's wonderful to be on Design Teams and get to see for myself all the amazingly creative people out there.  

Look forward to seeing you all at the Divas in 2013!

Sarah

PS - Yes you guessed it I'm still behind with my personal commenting.  Please bear with me, I will get round to say hi - it might just be a little while.

A challenge, or two:

The Sugar Bowl: Challenge 98 - Fiona's Sketch

Stampin for the Weekend: Challenge 23 - Let it snow

Crafty Sentiments: Glitter


Saturday 15 December 2012

Some exciting news!

Hi Blogworld,

Twice in one day, eh!  That's not like me at all now, is it!

This bit of news though cheered me up today - I've been picked to be part of the DT at Moving Along With The Times!

I start in January and am really looking forward to it!

Sarah

Oh and if you're here for my Sweet Stampin card - it's in the post below!

My goodness how long has it been!!

Hello blogworld.

Huge apologies for the long absence - it's just been such a hectic week that I haven't had time to blog at all.  Not that I've been being lazy though - 53 Christmas cards made, not bad for a week's work!

And it's one of those cards that I'm using today for the new challenge at Sweet Stampin.  This week we're feeling all festive as Santa's on his way to visit us!  Seriously though this means we'd like to see anything with a Santa on your project, as well as stamping (the clue is in the title!).

This weeks sponsor is giving one lucky winner a $12 certificate :


And one lucky winner will get a £10 voucher from our regular monthly sponsor:


Now then, I have a slight problem with Santa - I don't like him, well I don't actually know him personally to not like him!  What I mean is that I grew up not liking being made to go talk to Santa - I have lots of pictures of my bawling my eyes out standing next to man in red!!

So I have only the one image of Santa and it's been rather over used over the years, I was on the hunt for an alternative Santa - Abi (the boss lady!) was very kind and said that I could use the word 'Santa' but that didn't feel right.  Therefore, after a degree of hunting around on the internet I found this image and it's become one of my batch made Christmas cards.

Here you go:

Can you spot Rudolph!! Hubby couldn't, but then he is getting very old (private joke there, which will be explained between Christmas and the New Year).

I used:

Digi stamp:
Floppy Latte - Santa Sleigh Silhouette

Die:
Memory Box - Modern Landscape border

Anything else?
Martha Stewart glitter 
Glamour Dust

I'm just as busy next week, so again you might not see me very much but I will definitely be back mid-week.

Cheerio for now,
Sarah

Monday 10 December 2012

So who wants to be cute for Christmas?

We do over at The Cutie Pies!

Hello blogworld

As you may have guessed we've got a new challenge for you at the Cuties and we'd like to see your cutest Christmas creations going!  You've also got extra time to enter the challenge as this one is going to run over Christmas and into the New Year - 10th December to 6th January to be precise!  But don't run away from the blog - check back at Christmas and you will find a lovely Cutie Pie extra Christmas present.

This challenge we have Di's Digis sponsoring us :

with the prize being a $10 voucher for the lucky winner.

So this is the image that I coloured for another project and had to abandon - still I don't mind as it actually turned out really well - I think! - in the end.

Here you go, see what you think.

Front shot:

close up of image:

arty farty side shot:

side view trying to show the glitter:

I used:

Stamp:
Kanban - Betsie Bob magic of Christmas (had to have this stamp when I saw it, it's Emily to a T!)
coloured with my Promarkers

Dies:
Memory Box - Snowflake

Papers:
Now there's a thing - they are all scraps and bits of really ancient papers and I've no idea whose they are.

Anything else?
Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima Flowers
Blingy things from the candy I won from Lisa
Heart doily was a birthday present
Seam binding and bobbly trim from my stuff
Viva Decor Pearl Pen
MDF present embellishment

It's a big card this one - 8x8!  Dictated by the size of the stamp, I hadn't realised when I brought the set just how big it is!!  Still doesn't matter, it's for SHMbO and she'll appreciate that it's a big card!

Hope to see you over at the Cuties!

Cheerio
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch n Stash: Challenge 102 - by Sue.  My stash are the papers, flowers and bobbly trim.  The stamp is a newbie - slap wrist!!

Christmas Card Challenges: 2013  Christmas Card Challenge Week #2 - die cuts (the snowflake)

Eclectic Ellapu: Challenge 9 - Jolly and Bright

I love Promarkers: #146 - Anything Goes

Passion for ProMarkers: Mega Christmas challenge

Christmas at Sweet Stampin: Challenge #1 - Anything Goes: Hello everyone - had to show my support (not that you need it - going well I see!) for your new challenge.  Best of luck, and this will definitely be the only time - until next December - you see me!!! Mwahh!!

Friday 7 December 2012

Yes, I'm still here!

Hello blogworld

I wouldn't be surprised if you've all given up on me and I'm here talking to myself and I wouldn't blame you if you did give up on me! I'm such a bad blogger at the mo, both for posting and commenting.

Huge apologies to everyone who has commented that I've not replied to, I am trying I'm just a tad busy at the mo - as is everyone I would imagine!

There's been cakes baked, cards made (though not for me - I made a batch for a friend, first time I've been asked to make Christmas cards!), Christmas party been to, house decorated and then un-decorated by those darn kittens.  I swear one of them is going to poo tinsel, she's eating so much of the stuff!!

Then today I'm off for a hair cut, the local Christmas Fayre tonight and still to come next week - Christingle, Christmas Play, Christmas Sing-a-long, birthday party - my god I'm exhausting myself just thinking about it!

Anyway, just to show that I'm still here and making the occasional card!  Which is going to have to be ramped up next week - here another CaS thing:




I used:

Stamps / Papers
Nope, no time!

Dies:
Nestie
Memory Box for the Deers

Embossing:
Swiss Dots and Snowflakes

Anything else?
Loads and loads of Glamour Dust

There you go, right well I'm off now to get myself an early lunch then I'm off for a cut and colour.

Wish me luck!!

Sarah

Monday 3 December 2012

Too simple?

Hello blogworld

And an especially hello-y hello to my new followers - thank you for deciding to listen to my waffle and watch the odd card being made!  Hope you enjoy!!

Hmmm, so now I'm in full Christmas swing - the trees are up and decorated and the advent calenders are open.   I thought this year that I'd try something new with advent calenders - can't take away SWMbO's choccie one (or ones!) but she's also got the addition of a Playmobil one.  It makes up into a Woodland scene over the course of the month.  She likes it, I think, but she's not overly impressed so far that all she's got was a bare tree and what looks like a raven!!  She did like the owl tho today, and has guessed that tomorrow is her first person.

Now then, this here card - I'm not sure.  I was debating a few more layers on it than this, but showed hubby and he said it looks very smart (whoo-ho get me, making a card hubby likes!) so I left it alone.  Oh apart from I added a sentiment to see what I think.

So here she is in nakedness:



Here's the glittery arty-farty:


And here's with a sentiment:


What ya think? With or without?

The photos really don't do either the snowflake or cardstock justice.  They truly shimmer and shine and even hubby said that it was a very glittery snowflake.

I used:

No stamp!  
It's OK I've taken my temperature and I'm not ill!!

Papers:
No hang on, maybe I am ill - there's no papers either!

Dies:
Ahhh - normal service resumes!
Nestie for the square
Memory Box - Bianca Snowflake

Anything else?
Glamour Dust - Martha Stewart Glitter and gem from my stuff
Craftwork Cards - sentiment

Can't promise when you'll see me again, but it will be before the end of the week, hopefully!!  By then maybe I'll have persuaded those darn kittens to leave the darn Christmas trees alone!

Oh and, I know, I'm behind with commenting - again!  Please bear with me, I will pop by your blogs as much as I can, it's just this is such a busy month.  Apologies in advance.

Going now,
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Cupcake 221 - It'll be All White on the night

Eclectic Ellapu: Week 8 - Santa Paws and/or snowflakes

The Squirrel and The Fox: Challenge 32 - Summer or Winter, winter for me!

Saturday 1 December 2012

And I'm back!!

I did say I would be and here I am!

So let me just check, is it still countdown to Christmas?  Check!  Is it still Christmas cards? Check!

This time I'm here my card for the new challenge over at FlatFriends and this month the theme is - White on White.  Remember it has to be one of Emma's digis to enter the challenge and to make this even easier Emma has very kindly drawn a freebie image for you to use.  It's a fabulous freebie - pop on over to the challenge blog to see it!

Oh I love WoW - it gives such freedom with colour choices for the image and allows you to add lots of other detail in the way of embellishments and embossing.

So here we go, here is my WoW card:

Front shot - a bit on the skew-wiffy trying to get the details to show:


Close up of the image:

Arty farty:

I used:

Digi:
coloured with my Pro and Flexmarkers

Dies:
Nesties for the squares
Memory Box - heart and Modern Landscape border

Embossing folders:
Swiss Dots and Snowflakes

Anything else?
Distress Ink, chalks and Viva Pearls
Craftwork Cards - card blank and sentiment

The only thing I'm not sure about is the placement of the sentiment - I don't think I like it where it is, too late now it's stuck!

Apart from that - it's a rare card I'm happy with!

That's it from me today, and probably for a few days as well - got a busy week ahead.

So see you soon,
Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Fussy and Fancy Friday: Challenge 77 - I love Christmas

Stampin' for the Weekend: Challenge 22 - Use some texture (embossing)

Moving Along with The Times: Use 3 elements beginning with the same letter.  Now, ladies - I'm not sure if I'm pushing the rules here a bit - delete me if you think I'm being cheeky!  My three would be - Heart, House and Hand (on the digi image!).


Hello Christmas!!

and hello blogworld!

So here we are 1st of December, which means we are officially in Christmas time in the world according to Sarah!

Just to prove the point this is the first of two posts today - and they are both Christmas cards!!

Firstly - it's Saturday and so it's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and this week, along with the stamping of course, we'd like to see ribbons and snowflakes on your entries.

This week we have two great sponsors :


and:

Our regular monthly sponsor is:



The DT were allowed images to play with but ooh the trouble I had with this card!  I forgot that I had this image and spent a whole day colouring the wrong image. Luckily I can use that for something else, but boy was I mad when I realised what I'd done, that then set the whole tone for the card.

The die didn't work - so it's been chopped to pieces; the ink pad fell on the paper and smudged - so it became distressed; the snowflake wouldn't cut properly - please ignore the shabby looking-ness of it!!  Anyone want the card - I sure don't!!!

So here is the infamous card:
Front shot:

Arty farty side shot:

Arty farty two - to show glitter?


 I used:

Digi:
The Stamp Fairy - George and Friends
coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers

Dies / Punches:
Nesties for the oval and scalloped oval
Martha Stewart border punch
Memory Box - snowflake

Papers:
crate paper - Pepermint Collection

Anything else?
Ribbon, gem and border thingy from my stuff
Craftwork cards - Kraft card blank

Right am off now but I'll be back in a mo!!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps: Challenge 93 - Christmas

Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 245 - Snowflakes

I love Promarkers: Challenge 145 - Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers: Week 177 - Theme: Distressing