Happy Valentine's Day

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are all lucky enough to be spending the day with the one that you love.  Jon and I will be at work, but popping out for a bite to eat at lunch time. Nothing fancy.  I do love Valentine's Day but I don't agree with the commercialism that comes with it all.  I believe that if you love someone, you should tell them all the time, not just one day a year.

The card I'm showing for you today is one I made for an order from a lovely guy at work.  He always asks me for cards as his partner loves them and, in his words "I would rather pay you for a card than give the money to someone like Hallmark". 

I've used another adorable Lili of the Valley stamp for this card, called Close Your Eyes. This is another one that I have had for a year and am using for the first time.  I am really pleased with how I've coloured the pleats on the skirt for this as this is something new for me. I think I'm starting to love my copics.

Those of you that follow me regularly will know that I love my red and white cards and this was no exception!  I think the colours are perfect for romantic cards as well as Christmas.  I remembered to use some of my flowers this time too.

Here's a close up of the image.  I'm disappointed with the slight blemish around the rose.  No matter how much used the colourless blender, I could not get it to fade completely.

The paper is from an old Forever Friends paper pad and was a perfect compliment to the image.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Moving Along With The Times - Love is in the Air
Crafty Creations - Love and/or Hearts
Divas by Design - Love and Romance
Penny's Paper Crafty - Use your Fav Colour Combod (Red & White)
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Hugs and Kisses
Loves Rubber Stamps - All About Love
Papertake Weekly - Hearts & Flowers

I'm hoping to come and visit you all a bit later on when Jon is watching his beloved Chelsea.

Thank you for all your comments, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx :0)

It's been a while!

My word, I can't believe that I've not posted since just before Christmas.  I am truly very sorry but in all honesty, I haven't really crafted or felt like it so took a bit of a break.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and the first month of the new year has been kind to you.

I finally have a date for my operation.  It's scheduled for 16th February and I'm keeping everything crossed that it doesn't get cancelled.  I'm currently trying to fight a cold!  I'm also in the middle of changing my craft room around.  The double bed has gone and has been replaced by a sofa bed, I have furniture coming from IKEA and I'm also giving away a fair bit of my old stash to the childrens ward at my local hospital.  The aim is to get it all finished before I go in for my op because I won't be able to much for quite a while afterwards.

You may be surprised to hear after all that that I have actually made a card!  I was asked by a friend to make a card for her daughters friend's birthday.  I took the opportunity to make it fairly girly for me and used one of the my old Miss Anya stamps for the very first time (shock horror)!  The papers are from the gorgeous Bumbleberry Cottage Nitwit set and the cardstock is Core'dinations.

Supplies:

Stamps: Miss Anya Collection and Woodware sentiments; Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black

DP & CS: Bumbleberry Cottage - Nitwits, Core'dinations; Tools: D'vine Swirls CB folder, Label 4 Dies



Considering it's been a while since I made a card, I was really pleased with how this turned out, esepcially the colouring. I have been colouring a few images up ready to make some cards, so hopefully it won't be too long before I have some more to show.

I will try and do some blog hopping this evening whilst watching Masterchef!

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

xx

Thank You Christal

I would like to thank everyone that left a lovely message following the loss of Bozzy.  One week on and it still feels so painful. It's funny how you miss the smallest of things like hearing his meow or even just seeing his face looking back at you.  The mornings are difficult for me as I've lost my breakfast companion who had to be fed before I could do anything else and then wanted a cuddle when finished.  We'll get there slowly.

I have managed to make a card as I wanted to say a thank you to Bozzy's vet, Christal.  She is a wonderful lady who thought a lot of him and was so gentle and kind.  Even after he'd passed away, she was talking to him as she carried him out of the room.   I've wanted to do this since that day but haven't felt able to.  In the meantime, Christal took the time to send us a card with the following message:

"Boris was a super cat.  He was really lucky to have you look after him so well - allowing him to live for so long in comfort.  I know letting him go was not easy for you.  Thinking of you. Christel xx"

That meant so much to us.  I don't know many vets that would do that.  On the very same day, we also had a lovely card from a very good friend Michelle and one of my best friends, Sarah. 

This is the card that I have made and it obviously had to have a cat as the focal point.  The stamp is part of a Penny Black transparent set called In the Garden and has been coloured with copics.  The paper is from the first SWALK cd rom from Crafters Companion and is mounted on core'dinations cardstock.  The embossing is from a Crafts Too embossing folder called Daisies and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I hope that she likes it.  We'll be taking it in on Wednesday hopefully with a tin of Celebrations chocolates for them all.  I just wanted to let her know that we appreciated everything that she did for Bozzy when he was with us.

I hope you've all had a good day.  I've made a fish pie for dinner tonight and two mince beef pies to freeze for other days.  I like to try and keep busy so that I don't have too long to sit down and think sad thoughts as I know Bozzy wouldn't want that.

Thank you all for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Good Luck Humphrey

Good morning everyone.  I hope it's as beautiful a morning where you as it is here in Berkshire.  We have certainly been spoiled with some gorgeous late summer/early autumn weather these past few days, but I think we deserve it given the pretty awful summer we had to contend with!

It's been a week since my last posting and not an awful lot has been happening in the land of Fewings.  Skittles wasn't so good for me as I ended up with the booby prize on our lane!  I wasn't able to get as far down as I'd like because of my back, but we all had a laugh and that was the main thing.

I do have a card to show you that I have made this week.  It's a good luck card for my boss who is taking her German Open University exam on Monday.  It's from all of us in our little team and our way of saying we're thinking of her.  She's worked so hard for this and I'm sure she'll do well.

I took the opportunity to use one of my new Humphrey stamps for this card and coloured him with my trust copics.  They've all been sat there patiently waiting for their turn!!  The backing papers are also from the Humphrey's Corner cd-rom.  The cardstock is from Core'dinations and I've used my Swiss Dots embossing folder and Doily Lace punch finish.

 I just think Humphrey is so cute and a delight to colour!  I'm looking forward to using all my other stamps as well as the elements from the cd's.

Supplies:

Stamp: Humphrey's Stamp Set - Crafters Companion;  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics;

DP &CS: Humphrey's Corner cd rom, Core'dinations;

Tools: Oval scallop nesties, MS Doily Lace Punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder;

Embellishments: Sentiment Oval - Craftwork Cards

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Stampin for the Weekend - What a Cutie

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Animal Crackers

Little Miss Muffet - Animals or Monsters

Paper Play - White + one

Southern Girls - Anything Goes

ABC Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Clean & Simple
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafters Companion - World Cardmaking Day Challenge

I've got a week of work now but not much crafting will be happening as I'm off up to Durham to visit my lovely sister for 4 days!  We're going bridesmaid dress shopping so that will be fun, but also spending time together as I've not seen her since June (one day) or spent quality time since March and I really miss having my big sister around.  Hubby is staying at home cat sitting!

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

xx :0)

Belated Birthday Card

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far.  With the Indian Summer they are talking about for next week, it looks like we're going to be in for a nice few days which will make up for the pretty dismal summer we've suffered.

My card for you today is a belated birthday card for a lady in my team.  I was off sick for her birthday the previous week so didn't feel that I could give her the card I'd prepared for her birthday so instead I made a "Sorry it's Late" card.  This Tilda image has been sat coloured on my desk for nearly 4 months now! In some ways I didn't want to use her as I was so pleased with my colouring! Is anyone else like that??  The paper is from a Me To You pad and the embossed background is using a Crafts Too folder whilst it's been finished off with three little roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 I know I've left her sitting in mid-air! I realised after I'd cut her out with the nesties that I should've actually moved it higher up so that her hands were resting on the edge.  I'd used the cutting outside the frame technique.  I think this is the first time that I've used this stamp despite having her for at least a couple of years!

Supplies:

Stamp: Tilda with Lilies - Magnolia; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics;

DP & CS: Core-dinations, Me To You; Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Crafts Too Embossing Folder;

Embellishments: Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts, Sentiment - CWC, Ribbon - Stash

I hope you all have a lovely evening. I'm off out with Jon and my family as there is a skittles night down my dad's bowls club.  I'll be having a go but I won't be doing my usual stint in the pits as there is no way that my back is up to that, no matter how good my new painkillers are!

I'm planning to do some crafting and blog hopping tomorrow so I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to.

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

xx :0)

Sending Hugs

Okay, I know it's been a couple of weeks again since my last post.  Unfortunately that's the way things are going for me at the moment.  I may be intermittent for a while yet I'm afraid.  I know I've not commented for a while, but that doesn't mean that I'm not always looking because I am.  It's just that blogger doesn't always allow me to comment on everyone's posts still.  Very frustrating!

Anyway, I've been able to have a little play today with my crafty stash so thought I would show you what I have created.  I've used one of my new Me To You stamps.  You know me and teddies, I just can't get enough of them!!  He's been coloured with copics and I actually think he looks pretty good!  The backing paper is also from the Me To You paper pack and the cardstock is Aqueduct Core'dinations.  It was my last sheet so I made a note of the name so I can get some more as it's very pretty!!  I've finished off with some Wild Orchid Roses that have been lightly spritzed with Glimmer Mist and a Craftwork Cards Sentiment oval.

I've used the sketch from A Gem of a Challenge.  I don't own any Pink Gem images but luckily you can use any image to participate.  I'm also entering this into:

Stamping for the Weekend - My Favourite Things - Teddies!!!

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I will try and pop round everyone's blogs later.

xx :0)

Father's Day Card

Good evening all.  It's been a while again since my last my post.  I've really been suffering with my back, not just physically but mentally as well.  I've been having to take days here and there off work and it's really been getting me down.  I hate not being able to do things which gets me frustrated and this then gets me down.  I've not been able to craft much either because of that but also because I was feeling down. It may seem strange especially when crafting helps so many people who suffer with depression and other illnesses but I was getting so annoyed with myself that I was unable to want to do anything, if that makes sense!!  I had all of these lovely goodies that I'd purchased that were just sitting there!

Today I decided that I was going to do something about that and I've managed to make my Dad's Father's Day card as well as one for Jon's dad!  I am paying for that now but boy did it feel good!!  My mojo was suffering so I had a look around some blogs which helped to inspire me. 

Tonight I will show you Jon's dad's card.  My inspiration for this came from a card the lovely Marcea made.  I used the Cheers Bear from Lili of the Valley which was purchased at the Masterclass in May.  I love all the LOTV bear stamps!

Supplies:

Stamp: Cheer Bear - LOTV; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics;

Card & DP: Doodles of Dots & Harlequin - Pink Petticoat, Core-dinations; Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties

Embellishments: Glossy Accents, Sentiment Oval - Craftwork Cards & Gemstones. 

A close up of this little cutie. you can't really tell that the beer glass has had the glossy accents treatment, the sun deserted me at that moment!  I don't know if you can tell either but I've started to use some polychromo pencils to enhance the shading on my bears.  We were shown this at that Masterclass. I'm hoping that I'm doing it right!

This weeks Lili of the Valley challenge is Bring on the Music.  I really wanted to enter this card & the only song I could think of was Boney M's Daddy Cool!! I think he looks a pretty cool dad so I hope that's acceptable!!

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Blogger Challenge - Masculine Card
Fashonista Friday - For Men
Craft us Crazy - Father's Day
Crafty Sentiments - Fathers Day
Delightful Challenges - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - For the Boys
Lili of the Valley - Bring on the Music - Daddy Cool!
Southern Girls - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Dad
Papertake Weekly - Dad's & Lads

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

xx :0)

Happy Birthday Mum

I would like to start off by thanking everyone for the lovely comments left on my previous post, especially after such a long absence, they are truly appreciated.

My mojo seems to be returning slowly as I managed to make a card over the weekend for my mum who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  I needed to do this as unfortunately I was unable to make a Mother's Day and I felt very guilty about this.

My mum, like me, loves teddy bears so for me the perfect stamp was one of my favourite Penny Black stamps, Gentlest Kiss.  I adore this stamp and was very lucky to purchase it half price at Ally Pally last year.  The papers are from a Papermania Henbury Lane set and match perfectly with the cardstock I'd chosen.  I think I over-Glimmer Misted my large rose though as the petals opened up a bit too much, hopefully they still look okay.

 Supplies:

Stamps: Gentlest Kiss - Penny Black; Happy Birthday - Woodware; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics

DP & CS: Henbury Lane - Papermania & Core'dinations

Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Love Language CB Folder, Martha Stewart Lace Valentine Punch

Embellishments: Wild Orchid Craft Roses, Glimmer Mist, Ribbon

I don't know what everyone else uses for their copic colouring, but my favourite is Ryman's Brilliant White Super Smooth.  It blends really nicely and evenly.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Stamp with Fun - Birthday
Pile it On - Use a Rubber Stamp
By the Cute & Girly - Cute & Girly
Copic Creations - Favourite paper to use for copics - Rymans
Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Crafty Catz - Furry Friends
Daring Cardmakers - Spring or Easter
Creative Card Crew - Spring

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

xx :0)

Swing Time

Good evening all! I know this is a late post from me but I know I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight so I thought I would get on and post this whilst I was still up.  For those of you that know I've been having trouble with my back, I'm going into hospital tomorrow for a Caudal Epidural.  It is just a day case but requires a general anaesthetic due to the placement of this.  I am unable to have a normal epidural under a local because of all my previous spinal surgery.  This is another attempt to control the pain that I have been suffering.  If this fails then I will be looking at more surgery.  It's an early start for me as I have to be at the hospital for 7:30am!

Anyway, enough doom and gloom, my main reason for posting was to show a card that I made for an order.  The card is for a friends partner who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  She is a dog lover and I didn't have many stamps so I thought I would treat myself to some Lili of the Valley stamps and couldn't resist the adorable stamp called Swing Time.   The other criteria was that her favourite colours were purple and green.

 I know the colours look slightly washed out in the photos, no matter what I did, I couldn't get them to any better without over saturating.  I really loved this card as the colours are all nice pastel shades!  The DP is from an old free My Minds Eye pad with a crafting magazine.  The sentiment is one of the great circular sentiment stamps also from Lili of the Valley.  I can't believe this is the first time that I've used them!

I know I've not included the details list like I have been doing recently, but I think I've mentioned most things in the post.  I can't type much longer as my cat, Bozzy, is trying to walk across the keys!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Lili of the Valley - Spring

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I hope to do some major blog catching up whilst resting over the weekend!

xx :0)

Spring has Sprung!

Good morning to you! I hope that you have got a lovely weekend planned and that weather stays kind to you.

It's time for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge for you all!  With the moving of the clocks to British Summer Time in just over a week, it means that Spring is just around the corner so our challenge is Spring is Sprung.  We want to see lots of lovely cards relating to Spring so you can bring out all those lovely colours and flowers and use them to your hearts content.

I took the chance to use an old stamp that was probably in the one of the first batches of Penny Black stamps that I purchased and has been quite a while since it was last used.  I've also had these Papermania Rose Garden Papers for about a year and this is the first time I've used them too.

 Supplies:

Stamp: Duckling - Penny Black; Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black

CS & DP: Core'dinations & Papermania Rose Garden

Tools: Martha Stewart Punch, Swiss Dots CB Folder & Oval & Scallop Nesties

Embellishments: Rose - Wild Orchid Crafts, Sentiment - Craftwork Cards & Gems - Stash

How cute is he? I can't believe he's been left neglected for so long!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

AiFactory - Things with Wings
Crafty Sentiments - Animals
Southern Girls - Use Flowers
Creative Cottage - Spring has Sprung
Simon Says Stamp - Happy Birthday!
Penny Black @Allsorts - Welcome Spring
Sketch & Stash - Sketch

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

xx

GDT - PBSC #142 - Think Green

Good morning all, I hope you're looking forward to your weekend, they certainly go quick enough!

It's my 2nd week as a guest designer on Penny Black Saturday and I'm loving it!  Thank you to everyone that took part in last weeks challenge.

This week with St Patrick's Day on Thursday we want you to think Green! This wasn't so easy for me as green isn't one of my favourite colours and I was looking at my stamps wondering which ones would work with the colour.  I ended up going back to one of my earlier PB stamps.

Supplies:

Stamp: Spring Parade - Penny Black; Sentiment - Elzybells; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics

CS & DP: Core'dinations, Nana's Nursery - DCWV; Tools: Daisies  Embossing Folder- Crafts Too, Tags & Circle - Nesties

Embellishments: Ribbon, Gemstones & Brads - Stash

I decided to have a go at making a Step Card after seeing this beautiful card and tutorial by Heather.  It wasn't the easiest card to photograph and I'm not sure whether I should have used thicker card to make it sturdier

The lil chicks don't appear to have much shading but I can assure you that IRL they do! This card is for my boss, Christine's, birthday which happens to fall on St Paddy's Day.  I hope she likes it!

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

xx :0)

Makes you think of Spring!

Good evening, I hope everyone has had a good Monday (is there any such thing?!)  I haven't had the best day but I've got through it & I'm still standing!

I was asked by a friend in the village to make a card for her daughter's 11th birthday.  Pammie is my biggest fan where I live and is always telling me that I should get myself out there.  All I knew of Tasha was that her favourite colour is orange and Pammie wanted her name and age to be on the card.  I immediately thought of my neglected Miss Anya stamps, perfect for a young lady.  I do enjoy colouring these images in and I don't know why I don't use them more often.

I couldn't really find any sketches that I felt comfortable with so I stuck with one that I've been using recently.  The papers are from my Milton Bear paper pad.

 Supplies:

Stamp: Miss Anya - The Greeting Farm; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

CS & DP: Core'dinations & Wild Rose Studio; Tools: Label 4 Nesties; MS Doily Lace Trim

Embellishments: Sentiments - PC Generated; Papermania Gemstones

I'm really pleased with the shading although have realised this image is slightly blurry.  Pammie loved the card and it's always great to hear people praising your work and it just makes you feel good inside!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Simply Create - Bold & Bright
Stamp Something - Something Funky
Stampin with the Dragon - Birthdays
Charisma Cardz - Spring has Sprung (The colours and paper's I've used)
Cute Card Thursday - Shiny Happy Cards (Gemstones)
Dutch Dare Card - Sparkle/Glitter/Bling (Gemstones)
PaperCrafting Journey - Anything Goes
Samuel Taylors Monthly Challenge - Copic Chic/Promarker Gal
Paper Pretties - Card for a Child

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)

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)

So sorry it's late......

You're probably wondering what I'm apologising for......but it's about my latest card which was a "Sorry it's late" card for my friends birthday! Our holidays overlapped and I deliberately decided not to give her her card and pressie before I went.  Why I hear you ask!!  She would've been unable to wait 3 minutes, let alone 3 weeks, before she opened it!  She cannot wait, even when it's not for her so I thought it was for the best to give it to her on  her return to work today!

I used one of my Forever Friends stamps that has not seen ink for a while and coloured it with Copics before cutting out with nestabilities.  The base is a layer of Core'dinations CS and some white card that has been embossed with the D'vine Swirls folder.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, the sentiment from Craftworks Cards and the ribbon from my stash.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Flowers
Forever Friends - Sketch
Oldie but a Goodie - Pink & Girly

I hope you're all having a lovely evening.  Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx :0)

Just Cute Bears #24 - Decoupage

Good morning everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying this beautiful weather we are experiencing. I had a fabulous day yesterday. I went to the Art Stamps England show at Newbury Racecourse with my best friend Nikola. I got some lovely goodies to play with. Please check out Nikola's new blog, she makes some wonderful cards and is trying to design her own stamp range. She doesn't get many visitors yet so I would love it if you could all give her the support you give me.

It's now Sunday and that means that it's time for another Just Cute Bears challenge. Thank you to everyone that took part last week, I had a great time looking at every one's entries.

This weeks challenge is Decoupage. This gave me the perfect opportunity to use some more of my Forever Friends kits that I purchased last year. I apologies again for the darkness of the photos. I unfortunately left it until late last night to photograph them!


I made only my second easel card and am really pleased with the results. The base CS is core'dinations, the DP is from the Forever Friends decoupage kit as is the greeting. The white panel has been embossed with the Argyle cuttlebug folder. I have also used a Fiskars border punch and X-Cut snowflake punch. I finished off with 2 different ribbons that I purchased today and some gemstones. I have also done some more faux stitching around the edges.

A side view of the card so you can see the dimension of the decoupage.

Finally a close-up of the cute decoupage image.

Please check out the rest of my teamies cards and also our GDT this month which is the lovely Becky.

I am also entering this card into these challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Punch it

ABC Challenge - X for Xtra Dimensional

Creative Card Crew - Easel Card

Forever Friends Challenge - Stitching
ABC Christmas Challenge - N for Noel - Anything Christmas related

Die Cut Dreams Christmas Challenge - Christmas Wreath

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C44 - I love Ribbon (minimum of 2 ribbons)

Charisma Cards - Metal Mickey (Gemstones)

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

xx :0)

Butterfly Kisses

As promised yesterday (technically today as this is a scheduled post cos I'm at work!), I'm back with another of the cards I made in my lil session. I had a really good time and felt like I was really enjoying my crafting for the first time in ages. Hopefully this will continue!

I got this gorgeous Penny Black Stamp "Gentlest Kiss" at Ally Pally and it was a half price bargain! It's the first time he's been inked up, I can't believe it's taken me over a month to do it! He's been coloured with copics before being cut out with nesties. The card stock is Core'dinations and the DP is another Pink Petticoat download. The Doily Lace MSBP has made yet another appearance, I can't get tired of using this punch but I do think I need more to my paltry collection of 3! I've finished off with some Wild Orchid Craft flowers, gems and a Woodware sentiment.
A close up of this adorable bear.

One of the challenges I am entering this into is the Creative Card Crew sketch, but I've noticed a slight deviation from it, I hope you still find it acceptable.

I am also entering this into the following challenges;

Penny Black Saturday -Flowers

The ABC Challenge - U for Unused Stash

Cute Card Thursday - Someone Special

CCEE Stampers - Nursery Rhyme for inspiration - I've used Teddy Bears Picnic

Allsorts Challenge - Birthdays

Thank you for stopping by again and for the lovely comments you leave, they are all greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Sweet Lil Thomas, with love!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS MY SECOND POST OF THE DAY

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY JUST CUTE BEARS DT CARD

It's almost unheard of these days for me to post twice in one day! Well I have to say I've had a bit of a craft fest and made 4 cards! I'll spread them out for you, although one of them is my DT card for next week.

I spent yesterday having a look at what challenges there currently are out there and found a few that I fancied having a go at.

I've had this adorable Thomas stamps from LOTV since they were released and can't believe that I've not inked him up yet! He's just a sweetheart isn't he?! He's been coloured with copics and I've also added some stickles to his whiskers and glossy accents to his little posy of flowers although they don't show up very well in the photo. I've used one of my fav shades of Core'dinations CS (exotic orchid) and the DP is a Pink Petticoat download. I've also not used these flowers since I received them from Wild Orchid Crafts so thought they would go perfectly with the DP & CS. It's been finished off with my Doily Lace MSBP and a sentiment from Woodware.

Isn't he cute?! You can just about see the stickles on his whiskers but the glossy accents still doesn't want to show. It's their, honest!

This cards has been made to fit a few challenges, as follows;

Lili of the Valley - Sketch by Bev
Papertake Weekly - Shiny, Sparkly & Special
ABC Challenge - U for Unused Stash
Cute Card Thursday - Someone Special (I do have another card made for this challenge too, hope that's allowed!)

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

xx :0)

Just Cute Bears #15 - Buttons & Bows

Firstly, thank you to everyone who sent kind messages after my dental trauma last week. I'm doing ok at the moment (now the pain has subsided) and am awaiting the final appointment in 9 days. Jon is also doing ok thanks although he still has some pain and discomfort in his arm.

I'm sorry I've not been around much this week, I have been busy organising a cake break at work in aid of MS. My weekend will be spent baking up a storm in the kitchen!

Anyway, enough waffle and onto this weeks Just Cute Bears Challenge. Thank you to everyone that took part in last weeks challenge. I hope you enjoyed using Jane's sketch, I know I certainly did! Check out the blog to see if you were our luck winner.

Before I tell you about this weeks challenge, I have to tell you about our new guest designer for May. I am so happy to announce that the wonderful Bev is joining us! Please check out Bev's wonderful creations. I would also like to announce that the lovely Helen has agreed to join us as a permanent member of our team.

For this weeks Challenge we would like to see you use Buttons & Bows. I have to admit that I don't own many buttons so this was a challenge in itself! My bow also went seriously wrong!

I used another of my cute Milton Bear stamps that I purchased at Ally Pally. This is Milton with Teddy and he has been coloured with copics before being cut out with nestabilities.

The papers used are gingham and doodle dots which are from Pink Petticoat. The cardstock is Core'dinaltions. I have also used my MS Lace Doily Punch and a sentiment from Woodware.

Isn't he a cutie?! I swear the bear stamps are just getting cuter!

Please check out the rest of the girls fabulous creations. I hope you will join us, we have another great prize on offer from Cuddly Buddly.

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

xx :0)