Birthday Wishes

I know, it's a shock! 2 posts in less than 24 hours!  I hope you're having a good morning.  This is a scheduled post for me as I'm currently at work.

I've another card for you and this is for the lovely Jenny who's birthday it is today!  I worked with Jenny during the Just Cute Bears days and feel privileged to have had a chance to get to know her and work with her as she has such an amazing talent.

As Jenny loves Penny Black stamps, I just had to use one of my PB stamps on her card.

 Supplies:

Stamp: Gentlest Kiss - Penny Black; Medium: Copics

CS & DP: Bazzill Basics, Henbury Lane - Papermania

Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, MS Daisy Deep Edge Punch

Embellishments: Sentiment - Craftwork Cards, Gems - Stash

A close up of this cutie!

I would like to enter this card into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is January Sales.  I didn't actually get any crafty bargains in the sales due to my stash diet, but this stamp was a bargain at half price at he last show that I went to so I hope this qualifies!

I am also entering this card into the Sketch Saturday Challenge as I followed their sketch for this card.

I hope to spend this evening catching up on all your amazing work, I can't wait!  Such a shame that work gets in the way of all this fun!

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Get Well Soon Beth

Good evening all, it's a late one from me!I hope you're all keeping well.  It feels like Thursday for me as Jon and I have Friday off work so my brain is telling me that, in a work sense anyway, tomorrow is Friday.  I hope that makes sense!!

The lovely Cathy put out a plea for some get well soon cards for her young daughter, Beth, who is going into hospital on Thursday to have gromits.  Having had these myself, I just had to make a card for her.

I have used this adorable stamp that I've had for ages from Whipper Snapper Designs and has only been used once!  I do love these stamps but, unfortunately, the Angel Policy is that you're unable to sell any cards you make with these these stamps, so I have stopped buying them.

Supplies:

Stamps: Morgan - Whipper Snapper Designs; Medium: Copics

CS: Bazzill Basics; Tools: Oval & Scallop Nesties, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, MS Valentine Lace Punch

Embellishments: Sentiment - Craftwork Cards, Ribbon & Gems - Stash

As I'm usually cuddling bears or animals this has shown that I really need to get my Tilda's out and practise my shading of hair.  As I didn't want to ruin the image, I'm afraid that I just stuck to one colour!  I'm not so sure on the white highlight I put across the middle now, but it's too late now!  Do you know what though, I'm so enjoying making cards again and just colouring in.

 

Anyway, enough waffle!  I must get ready for bed as I'm shattered and my back is still giving me a lot of pain so I need to rest.  I am behind on my blog hopping so I hope to have a catch-up tomorrow when I get home from work to see what you've all been up to.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Sunday for Santa's

Good afternoon, I hope you're all having an enjoyable Sunday.  I'm trying to relax a bit after the exertion of yesterday!  Jo and Phil got off ok but unfortunately she had far more stuff than she realised so, once they'd gone, dad and I had to make another trip back to get more of her belongings and take it back to my folks! This meant that Jon and I didn't get to go out for our meal so this is going to be re-arranged for next Saturday.  My back is aching after it all so it;s definitely a day for putting my feet up!  I know Jo has only been gone for one day, but I'm missing her already!

Anyway, stop waffling Sarah!! The reason I'm here is it's time for another Sunday for Santa's card over on our little Facebook group!  This weeks challenge is Cosy.  I knew straight away the stamp that I was going to use for this card.  It's been sat in my drawer for so long since it was last used that I just had to ink him up!

 Supplies:

Stamps: Cozy Dream - Penny Black; Believe - Lauren Meader Secret Santa

Medium: Copics; CS: Real Red - Stampin Up!

Tools: Snow Dots Embossing Folder, Oval & Scallop Oval Nesties

Embellishments: Ho Ho Ho Ribbon  & Gems- Papermania, Glamour Dust

How could I have left this cutie shut away for so long??  My only disappointment with this card is that I didn't have an ink pad the same colour as the cardstock, so the sentiment has a slightly pinkish tone.  I really must get myself the Real Red pad from Stampin Up! as I use this colour quite a lot on my Christmas and Valentine projects

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Forgotten Stamp
Stamp Something - Cute Somethings

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Teddy Stampers #28 - Anything Goes

Okay, I know that I've been absent couple of weeks now, what with being poorly and my sister preparing to leave.  Not what I wanted as I want to be a more active blogger and make more cards but that's life I'm afraid!  Jo sets off for her new life up North tomorrow so we'll all be heading over to see her off.  After that Jon and I have decided to go out for a meal and have some "us" time.

Anyway, the reason I'm here today is it's time for another Teddy Stampers challenge.  Thank you to everyone who took part in our last challenge, I enjoyed going round and visiting all your amazing cards.

This weeks challenge is Anything Goes and we're being sponsored by Ellephantasitc!

I thought I would take this opportunity to make a card to wish Jo good luck in her new job and life.  I was having trouble finding the right image for the card but opted for this sweet Forever Friends image.  The papers are from a My Minds Eye free pack that came with a magazine.  It's been stuck on the shelf for well over year having only been used once.  I coloured the ribbon with one of my copics but it turned out slightly darker than I was hoping for.

 Supplies:

Stamp: Forever Friends - I'll Drink To That; Medium: Copics

CS & DP: Core'dinations & My Minds Eye

Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Daisies Craft Too Embossing Folder, Daisy Dot MS Punch

Embellishments: Prima Flowers, Papermania Gems, Ribbon, Glossy Accents

I'm hoping that you're unable to see my thumb print in the glossy accents on the wine glass!  I can't believe that I was so silly when I picked it up to not even think!

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch & Stash - Sketch (obviously!) and the old stash is the papers, stamp and flowers.
Incy Wincy Designs - Bears, Bears, Bears
Pile It On - Anything Goes
Totally Gojuss - Cuddly

I hope that you will join us for out challenge.  The rules are fairly simple, you just need a new creation with a Teddy Bear on the card.

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

No cards today

Evening all, I can't believe that the weekend has been and gone already! I know earlier in the week that I said I would be back at the weekend with cards but I'm afraid that didn't happen.

I've spent this weekend with my sister as she is moving to Durham next Saturday to be with her fiancé.  She successfully passed the interview to transfer to John Lewis in Newcastle and they wanted her to start really quickly so it's all been a bit rushed.  I know you will understand the need to put family first. We have never been apart in my 32 years so this is going to be HUGE wrench for me, but I'm also happy as I know how hard the last 15 months has been with them commuting back and forth to see each other.  We've had a great weekend playing on the Wii and baking cakes.

I'm back to work tomorrow too, having been off since Tuesday with this flu virus.  I aim to be back in the week with some cards that I hope to have made.

Have a lovely evening and thank you for all the comments you have left me recently.

xx

What do you think?

Thank you for all the get well wishes that I have been given.  I'm starting to feel a bit better however I have now developed a cough which, being asthmatic, isn't a good thing! I just hope that it doesn't hang around too long as I know some people have had this and it's lasted 4 weeks.

Anyway, my main reason for posting was to ask your thoughts on my new blog layout?? I hated having to get rid of my Winnie the Pooh layout but Christmas has now passed so it had to go.

xx :0)

Not feeling well :(

Sorry I've no cards to post the last two days.  I have unfortunately come down with Jon's bug and am feeling pretty rotten at the mo!  I don't know if it's because I suffer from IBS but whenever I get a virus, it always affects my tummy too which makes me feel even worse, so I'm currently sipping some ginger ale too to try and help settle it down.

I feel so lousy that I don't even feel like colouring any images up!  I hope to be back with a card in a couple of days.

I would also like to say a BIG thank you for all the lovely comments I have received on my recent cards, they have been a HUGE confidence booster to me! You guys are the best!

I had better go as Bozzy is trying to walk across my laptop and I've already had to delete a few of his "words!"

xx :0)

Sunday for Santa's

This is my 2nd post today, please scroll down to see my 1st.

I know, shock horror!!  Two post's in 1 day, it's almost unheard of from me. 

I have another card to show you today and it's for a group called Sunday for Santa's that the wonderful Pops has set up on Facebook.  There's a small group of us that are trying to get ahead with those dreaded Christmas cards and not leave it until the last minute!  I hate to admit it but some of the cards I gave last year were shop bought and I don't want that to happen again this year!

Our 1st Challenge was All That Glitters.  This was a great one for me as I'm still loving my Glamour Dust!  I also got the chance to use my Snowy Penny Black stamp for the first time since I got him in November!

Supplies

Stamps: Snowy - Penny Black, Twas the Night Before Xmas - Stamp Addicts

Medium: Copics; Cardstock: Real Red - Stampin Up!

Tools: Rectangle Nestie, Snow Dots Embossing Folder, Glacial Snowflake MS punch

Embellishments: Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon - Stampin Up!, Gemstone, Glamour Dust

I get all of my Stampin Up goodies from the lovely Jules and they arrive so quickly. 

This card is also eligible for The Sweet Stop Challenge as I have used their fabulous sketch this week.  I'm getting good at this after being scared of them for so long!  It will definitely be one that I use again.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

New Beginnings

Good afternoon, how's your Sunday going?  Whilst Sunday's are nice relaxing days, I also feel a bit sad as it means the weekend is almost over.

Yesterday I said that I'd made a couple of cards so today I would like to show you the second card.  Being the start of a new year, there are a number of challenges with a theme of New Beginnings and this gave me the perfect opportunity to use my Bundle of Joy set which I've ashamedly had since April but not used!  The papers are also from an old DCWV pad - Nana's Nursery which I think I've had for nearly 2 years and not used a single piece!

 Supplies:

Stamp: Bundle of joy - Penny Black; Medium: Copics

Cardstock & Paper: Core'dinations & DCWV; Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties

Embellishments: Ribbon - Papermania Capsule Collection, CWC Sentiment Oval

 I wish now that I'd put some Diamond Glaze on the bottle to make it stand out, I might actually do that a bit later on!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday - New Beginnings
Ellephantastic Challenges - New Beginnings
Fairy Fun Fridays - New Beginnings
Stampin For The Weekend - New & Blue
Creative Card Crew - New Beginnings
AiFactory - New Beginnings
Cute Card Thursday - Out With The Old (papers)
Dutch Dare - New Beginnings
Simon Says Stamp - New Beginnings
Sketch & Stash - Sketch & Neglected stash is DCWV papers and stamp.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Snowflake Wishes

Good evening, I hope your Saturday has been enjoyable so far.  I've been making a couple of cards whilst listening to my team, Reading, beat West Brom in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.  There's something magical about 3rd round weekend, when all the underdogs dream of beating those top teams and getting to Wembley.

One of the cards I have made is for the Lili of the Valley Challenge which was great sketch.  I had a number of James Bear images already coloured so I thought I would get a head start on those Christmas as it will be here before we know it lol!! 
One of my craft related resolutions is to use up some old stash before I even consider treating myself to anything new.  The papers are from an old Forever Friends pad that I think was from 2009, the border punch I've had well over a year and I think it's only the second time I've used it and the corners are from an old sizzix die that was just shoved in the draw!  I wonder how long I stick to this resolution?!

Stamp: Lili of the Valley; Medium: Copics

Cardstock & Paper: Core'dinations & Forever Friends

Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Fiskars border punch, Snow Dots embossing Folder, Sizzix Corner Die

Embellishments: CWC sentiment oval, Glamour Dust, Gemstones

I didn't take a close up of the image, but the fur trim, snowflakes and ground is all coated with Glamour Dust.  I really love this stuff at the moment!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Lots of Texture (Glamour Dust, embossing and gemstones)

Winter Wonderland - Lets go Dotty - (embossing)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Goes

Fuzzy Wuzzy - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Out With The Old  (Papers, Corner Die, Sentiment Oval, Border Punch)

ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for Anything Christmas

I'm off to do some blog hopping now, if the cat will let me! Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Teddy Stampers #27 - Celebration!

Good morning all, sorry I've not been around the last couple of days but I've been looking after my poor hubby.  I was very concerned yesterday that he might have swine flu so got the doctors to call him and apparently he just has a very nasty virus that seems to be affecting a lot of people in our village.  He's not one of your typical "man-flu" guys and I've not seen him look this poorly in the 8 years we've been together. I'm over-cautious about all this because I'm asthmatic and only had my jab last Thursday which was 48 hours before Jon became unwell again.

Anyway, it's my first challenge with the wonderful Teddy Stampers gang and I'm so excited!!  Our first challenge for the New Year is Celebrations and we're being sponsored by the wonderful Whimsy Stamps!

We've all been provided with some digi stamps to showcase for this challenge and this is my first foray into the world of digi stamping.  I know many of you have been using these for quite a while, so I'm a late starter! Whilst I did enjoy using my image, I don't think you can beat that feeling of holding a rubber stamp in your hand and stamping away to your hearts content. 

I used the Baby's 1st Christmas image and coloured it with copics before cutting out with my label nesties. The fur trim and bobbles have been glittered with Glamour Dust.  The CS is Real Red SU and the papers are from an old Forever Friends Christmas pad. I finished off with two MS punched snowflakes and gems and the sentiment is from a Personal Impressions set that I have.

I am also entering this into the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

A Spoonful of Sugar - Christmas

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant - Winter Wonderland

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Goes



I really hope that you'll join us for our 1st Challenge of the year as I love visiting your blogs to see your interpretations.  Just remember it must include either a stamped or digi teddy!! Please check out the rest of the DT's amazing creations.

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, the are greatly appreciated.

xx :0) 

Stamp Organisation?!?

Afternoon everyone, I can't believe that the 10 days off work have all but gone and we go back tomorrow! How hard is it going to be getting up at 5:30 tomorrow morning after all those lie-ins?!?

Enough mopping! My reason for posting is to ask how everyone organises their rubber stamps?  I have so many stamps, many that have not been inked up since they were purchased!  I want to try and ensure that I use more of my stamps and show you that I do own more than cute teddy bears.  You may be surprised to hear, but I do own a few Magnolia's and Miss Anya stamps, among the many others that are scattered all over my room.  The majority are cute animals, including a HUGE collection of Penny Black stamps.

Do you have a specific way of organising them or have you catalogued them maybe by stamping them all up and putting them in a folder?

I would love to hear your suggestions.

Sarah xx :0)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Santa brought you everything you wanted.  I also hope that 2011 will be a happy and healthy year for you all.

On a personal note, I aim to not let things that I have no control over get me down this year and to concentrate on all the good things that I have in my life, not the the negatives.  If it looks as if I'm starting to go down hill, you have my permission to tell me off!

As a family we had wonderful cause for celebration over the festive season when my sister got engaged to her lovely boyfriend Phil on Christmas Eve!  As we were all going to be spending New Years Eve together I obviously had to have a Congratulations card to give to the happy couple.

Apologies for the darkness of the photo, I will be so glad to have those long, sunny evenings back!  I've had this adorable Penny Black stamp since April's Ally Pally show so it was about time that it was introduced to an ink pad. I remember being very lucky to get this at half price!  It's been coloured with copics before being cut out and mounted onto Real Red CS cardstock.  The base panel was embossed with the Love Language CB folder.  Unfortunately I realised only after I'd stuck the ribbon down that it was the wrong way so the hearts are sideways!  I've had these heart ribbon sliders for so long and I only remember them when it's too late, but I was prepared this time.  The sentiment is a CWC oval.  The heart has been covered with Glossy Accents that you can just see with the shine on the top half.

I am entering this card into this months Penny Black at Allsorts challenge which is All You Need is Love
I don't want to list my personal goals that I am trying to set myself this year craft wise as I have done that in past years and have not managed to fulfill them.  However, I do know what that I are and will do what I can to achieve them.

Thank you for continuing to stop by and support me, even with the lack of response in return.  I do really appreciate each and every one of your comments.

xx :0)