So,

2014, eh!

First proper post of the New Year and it's for the new challenge over at MAWTT - this week the lovely Claire has picked the theme which is 'Thank You'.

It really should be Emily's (my daughter also known as She Who Must be Obeyed (SWMbO)) name under this card.  I do like her to do thank you cards for Christmas and Birthday -so she picked the image, I printed it out and she put the glitter on the snowman.  Simple, quick and easy for a 6 1/2 year old to do.

So whaddya think then?

How many of us have New Year Resolutions then.  I know I have - shall we see how many I can keep, hmmm?

Gotta dash, got a poorly daughter calling - will be back to finish off later.

Sarah

Cute bingo!

Hi blogworld,

Hopefully when this appears our house won't have been blown away by the wind (I'm scheduling this Sunday evening); SWMbO has gone to school; the plasterer is here and I'm getting a bit of crafty me time!

Let's hope!!

Anyway onto the point of this post - it's new challenge time over at The Cutie Pies and we've got a bingo board for you this fortnight.  Just please remember the one essential thing, if you want to play at the cuties - your makes' got to be cute!

So the bingo board:

Our sponsor this fortnight is Crafty Ribbons with a £10 prize for the lucky winner!

My card - which runs across the middle row (buttons, ribbon and die cut):

Front shot:

His close up:

 I used:

Digi Stamp:

Digi Stamp Boutique - Dan

coloured with my ProMarkers

Dies:

Nestie circle

Die-namics - Stacking Stars

Papers:

Echo Park - A Boy's Life

Anything else?

Ribbons and buttons from my stuff

Craftwork Cards - sentiment and kraft card

Bit of self-indulgence here and am showing you my SWMbO's image, coloured by her own fair hand!  Not bad for 6 and a half eh!

Righty-ho am off now - but am looking : to seeing all your entries into the challenge.

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 124 (everything is old stash - don't think there's anything less than a year old!)

Lexi's Creations: Challenge 102 - Birthday Celebrations

Crafty Little Fairies: Anything Goes

What a few months!

Hello blogworld,

Warning, warning, warning - picture heavy post!!!!

Well I'm slowly climbing out of the pit that I dug for myself and am determined to get back to my colouring / making. I'm still not sure exactly where I am going with my layouts, but it's a start even if a small one.

I sat and made a card or two today - yippee!!

Firstly I think I'll do the card and then the update on the building works.

So me card:

Front shot:

Detail of image:

The arty farty:

I used:

Digi Image:

Stamp Boutique : Funtime Rosie - coloured with Promarkers, Copics and chalks.

Papers: 

Papermania

Dies: 

Memory Box, Die-namics

Anything else:

Charm, twine, chipboard embellishment - all from my many boxes.

A challenge or two:

DigiStamp Boutique - September competition

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Child's Play

Finally the building works - have I said that we've now had another planning application approved?  Hmmm, can't remember so please forgive if I am repeating myself.

We have had approval to create a new floor above our two garages, which will give a 22 x 12ft room this will be hubby's hobby room - he's into trains y'know - which means that the room we have created in the just finished extension will be Emily's new bedroom.  Not that she wants it!!  We explained it to her the other night and there were tears!  I'm sure once she sees it finished it will be different, but at the moment she is not keen.

The upshot of the new building is that all our current work is going at a slower pace, as some of the space is needed for storage for the things coming out of the garage.  Therefore at the moment we are in a bit of a lull - the quiet before the storm maybe?  Who knows, but it is nice to be peaceful again!

So here are some pictures of where we are now.

Stripping wallpaper from where the new door will be - what fun!!!

Look how much stuff has come out of the room!  This is the door to our current 3rd bedroom - which will be a hallway (eventually!).

The other side of that door - it used to be a room! The plastic sheeting is there to keep the rest of hubby's stuff safe from the dust.

Dah, dah - new room!!!!

Under inspection (please do not notice the bag of crisps in her hand - bad mother, slap wrist!!)

That's how things stand at the moment.

I'll be back soon,

Sarah

A bit of sort-of sad news

Hi blogworld,

Well here I am again, on an unexpected day with an unexpected post.

The sort-of sad news is that, for now, this the last challenge over at Moving Along with The Times - it should be Team A's turn, but Hazel said anyone who wants to can join in - hence this post and card.

The better news is that it's not the end altogether, just that we are having a break for a few months and will be back on the 3rd October. This hopefully, will give the Teams a chance to re-charge batteries and find lost Mojo's then we will be back raring to go!!

So for this last challenge we have a 'just for fun' challenge and a lovely easy sketch from Hazel to work with.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my card, as you can see I've rotated the sketch:

Front shot:

The close-up, hmmmm I didn't get the blending so good on this one did I!,:

I used:

Digi Image:

DigiStamp Boutique - Rosie Collection 1

coloured with my ProMarkers

Dies:

Memory Box - Simple

Papers:

I'm not sure - they were very kindly given to me a long time ago

Anything else?

Craftwork Cards - sentiment circle

chipboard number

Stickles glitter glue

So with the spring / summer holiday that MAWTT is taking I'm light on the old DT posts at the mo - maybe the lack of pressure will help me find my lost Mojo - I hope so!  

On the building front some slightly hopeful news - the builder is meeting here with the Building Inspector on Friday.  Hoping it helps the builder sort out any misgivings he has and hopefully we are back on track with building works.

I don't know if I've said as well that we've put in a second planning application for alterations to the garages. If that gets permission it will give hubby a very large hobby room over our two garages.  Hmmm, in that case he won't need the new room over the new kitchen.  A new bedroom then methinks - but who gets it!!!

So here's hoping you pop on over to MAWTT join in with our last challenge and I'll be back with my MAWTT hat on in October.

See you again soon,

Sarah

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

I always knew I was cute -

it's just no-one else could see it ;-)

Hello blogworld

I've got some good news and now I'm sure you must be thinking you've stumbled on the wrong blog - good news, moi?  Never!!  Well in actual fact - yes!!

I put my my name forward for the recent Cutie Pies DT call and you'll never guess what - I only went and got a place!  I'm really happy as I've been joining in with the challenges since the blog started and it's so nice to be on the other side of the fence, as it were, so thank you ladies for picking me, I hope you know you've let yourselves in for a lot of chaos with me!!!

So here we go, my official first post as a member of the DT at The Cutie Pie Challenge, it's challenge number 20 and the theme is 'Real or Faux Stitching'.

The great prize on offer is from:

 

The random prize is sponsored by:

- why not pop over, take a peek and pop an entry in - go on, you know you want to!!

And here is the card!  My first one as a Cutie Pie.

Front shot:

Detail of image:

I used:

Image:

Digi Stamp Boutique - Lil Pops, coloured with my Promarkers

Dies:

Nestie oval

Memory Box - Macarena Corner (new!)

Papers:

(are a real mis-mash)

Do Crafts - Tulip: the blue birds

Prima - Annalee: the red panel

First Edition Papers - Boho chic: the bluey/red/green panel

Anything else?

Ribbon - my stuff

Sentiment - Do Crafts, Forever Friends

Craftwork Cards Candy

And that's it folks!  Looking forward to seeing all your cute projects and real (or fake - like mine) stitching - see you at the Cutie Pies!

Sarah

A challenge, or two:

Sketch N Stash: Challenge 89 - the new is the image, die, some of the papers and my stash is the ribbon, sentiment, other papers and candy

Cupcake Craft Challenges: Challenge 196 - Red, White and Blue

Quirky Crafts Challenges: Challenge 12 2012 - Up, up and away

The Ribbon Girl: Card challenge - use ribbon or lace

Not really what you'd expect...

for the new challenge over at Dream Valley when the challenge is 'That Special Guy', but as this is Emily's card to her her daddy for Father's Day I'd feel a bit odd making her one that had half-naked women, beer or cars on it!!

Hello blogworld

So there you go, do you think I'm peculiar for making a bit of a girlie card for a male challenge?  Probably am, but as the only other male cards I need right now are for Emily's little friends  I didn't think any of those fitted the 'Special Guy' criteria! In any case, this might end up never being used - she does like to make her own cards and I wouldn't put one of those up as a DT inspiration.  They are from Emily so they are special, but they are not really meant for anyone other than family!

So you are dying to see what this girlie for guy card looks like aren't you?  I can tell, the curiosity is just pouring through my lappy window at me!

So, just incase you haven't been over to the challenge yet (and why not?!) - you would find out that we have two fab sponsors this fortnight: One Stop Card Crafts who are offering a £10 prize voucher and Sassy Studio Designs who are offering four digis as the prize - here's me card:

Front shot:

Detail of image:

I used:

Image:

Digi Stamp Boutique - Lil Pops, coloured with my Promarkers

I think the sentiment was a freebie from DSB as well, but I'm not sure

Dies:

Nestie Circles

Whiff of Joy - Heart Banner Die, from My Crafty Heart

Paper:

First Edition - New Leaf

Anything else?

Gems from my stuff

So I do hope you like my take on the 'Special Guy' challenge, would love to see yours!

Cheerio

Sarah

PS - Hopefully this has scheduled and posted OK, as we are supposed to be at a birthday party right now - but Emily is now on her last warning before being stopped from going as a punishment for bad behaviour.  So who knows where I am right now - in Bedlam probably!!!

A challenge, or two,

A Die for a Sketch: Challenge #1 - great new challenge blog - best of luck with it ladies

Secret Crafter: Challenge #189 - Happy Fathers Day

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge: Fathers Day or something masculine

Anyone for cake?

Hello again blogworld,

Hope you all had a pleasant weekend, been a few days gap again between posting I know - but again life does have this habit of getting in the way of the pleasures of blogging!  Helped along by trying to entertain my daughter.

So first off I'll do the card then show you what I do with little one when she can't get out in the garden.  The title might give you a big hint though!

So card first:

This one is a digi stamp -  Digi Stamp Botique, Ella; coloured with my Promarkers. I've tried adding clouds in the background by inking but I'm not sure that they are very good. It's the first time I've tried it and didn't want to over do it, so think I might've underdone it!
Die cut image onto nesties, the papers are Tulip A5 linen paper pack from docrafts.
The ribbon is from a box (I have more than one box of ribbons! - this is my old stash) and I've no idea whose it is.
The card blank and sentiment are Craftwork Cards.
Almost forgot - the stash might also be the balloons sticker - brought about 5 years ago and finally used!

I'd like to enter it into:
Sketch n Stash - Challenge 67

And now for my waffle - or pictures this time!  So we had a bit of mixed weather this weekend and didn't get out as much as I would've liked this was the result of that mixed weather and a child stuck indoors.  Two cakes and a happy Emily:

Next post due Weds for the next Divas by Design challenge.

Cheerio

Sarah