Monday, March 9, 2026

Spring-y, spring, spring, Spring!

Good morning blogland,

It's a new month! That means it's a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and the theme for this month is 'Spring'.  

As always there is a great prize on offer for one lucky randomly drawn winner and all you have to do to be in with a chance at the prize is follow the rules.  Rules that are very simple - follow the theme; no backlinking and a maximum of 3 entries each.

Sooo - my Spring themed card:



Supplies used:

Digital stamps:
(both coloured and black/white images - I used the black/white and coloured with my Copics)

Sentiment:

Dies:
un-branded stitched rectangles
Pretty Pink Posh - Scalloped Borders 1

Papers:
Papermania - Retro Floral

And that's about it mostly - it's a really cute image and I didn't really think it needed much added to it. Spring is quite appropriate though as it is nice to see in 'real life' to some bright coming back into gardens.

Looking forward to all your Spring themed cards!

Sarah

Challenges:

Crafty Animals - Challenge #103: Anything Goes (with an animal)

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge 187: The Birds and/or The Bees (ducks are birds - right?! :-) )

Gem of a Craft Challenge - Week 3: Anything Goes

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

There's layers to it

 Good morning blogland,

Time for a new Passion for Markers challenge and this week my lovely Teamie Lorraine picked the theme of 'lots of layers'.  We have a great prize on offer for one lucky winner from this week's sponsor Dies to Die For.

As always there very simple rules to enter our challenges - follow the theme, use your markers (any brand), let us know what markers you used and don't backlink.

So, lots of layers, hmmm? Not the easiest for me but I put my thinking cap on and dug out a great paper pack, coloured the image to match the papers, looked at lots of layered cards (for inspiration only, of course!) and set to it.  This is what I ended up with:


For me, it is lots of layers - not sure how everyone else would class it!

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:
Stamping Bella - Tiny Townie Unicorn
coloured with my Copics
matching sentiment from the set used as well

Dies used:
Poppy Stamps - Scalloped Stitched Frames
Creative Craft Products - A2 Essentials Landscape Card die set
(one of their layering dies makes the perfect background blank and matching acetate sheet for the Poppy die)
un-named notched corner rectangle

Anything else:
Stripy light card
spotty light card
sequins and beads for the shaker part


I had a bit of a melt down making this card - the layout I was going to use didn't work, the papers didn't work, I just couldn't see past the 'lots of layers' part of the instructions!  

So, with apologies to my Teamies, this is best I could do for lots of layers.  Nothing like I had in my head originally, but I counted 4 layers (if you include the stamped image) and hopefully, technically, these layers work!

Still it's a great theme and my Teamies actually made much better cards than me - with more layers! - you really should pop on over to the blog and check them out.

That's it from me for the minute,
See you soon,
Sarah

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Strong women!

Hello blogland!

It's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and this fortnight the challenge is 'A special woman' - as you may know it'll soon be Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday as my own mum insisted it had to be called!) and we are fully expecting to see lots of Mother's Day cards.   

HOWEVER we aren't saying your project has to be only for your mum (step-mum / mother like person in your life) - we are more than happy if you extend out the theme to include any woman in your life.  Whether that is your Grandma, Auntie, best friend, sister or basically just a female orientated card.  The main thing, for the challenge, is to remember to stamp somewhere on that project.

Now, as for me, my Mum died just after Covid and 'Im Indoors Mum died nearly 20 years ago - we have a severe lack of mothers in our lives.  So this card, whilst fun to make, is really made just because, and mostly 'just because' I found a stamp I had not inked before and I loved the sentiment.

Hence, this card:


Supplies used:

Rubber stamps:
Stamping Bella - Mochi Girls: Bride of Frankenstein
coloured with my Copics
matching sentiment also used

Dies:
Un-branded stitched rectangles
Craft Addiction UK - Luxe Rectangle Inverted Scallop Frames
My Favorite Things - Die-namics: Inside & Out stitched circles

Anything Else:
Indentz A6 embossing folder -Swirls
sequins


As I said to my Teamies - this card is not a Mothering Sunday card, nor is it a Halloween card (even though the stamp might say differently!).  It is a card made by a woman who has realised that sometimes she looks at a stamp which is sold as one thing but she sees something else!

It was also a bit of a moment for me when I was making this card, that I realised (on being asked for a card for a birthday that this would not have been appropriate for) I have 3 large plastic boxes of handmade cards that, on the whole, will never see the light of day.  They are made for DT's and sometimes challenges, but very rarely someone in particular when they are going to see the light of day.  Of course, if they ever do manage to see the light of day, they are gone (and I like that) and I honestly don't mind what the recipient does with them.  I am trying very hard to see those cards in boxes as little works of art in storage, not unused cards that will be made and never again see the light of day! It's the never seeing the light of day bit which I find a depressing thought.

Anyways, I'm going away to live with that thought and not depress either myself - or yous lot - any further.

Have fun and do what makes you happy!

Sarah

Crafty Catz: #708 - Anything Goes

The Neglected Stuff Challenge: March 2026 - Indentz embossing folder (are they even around anymore?) and Stamping Bella: bride of Frankenstein brought I cannot remember when, but it must be years and I only opened the packet and inked it for this challenge! Hope that is enough for the challenge?

Just Add Ink: #780 - Stencils and Dies.  Hope it's OK, only dies no stencils.