Doubling it

Hello blogland

I'm back with another doubling up post - this time for my makes with All Dressed Up stamps as part of the Facebook Group DT.

So first up is the card inspiration for the current challenge over on the Facebook Group which for this month the theme to follow is 'We love flowers'.  There are only a very few rules to join in with the challenge, and a lucky winner gets a great prize of digi stamps from the shop as well, those rules being 1. Be a member of the Facebook group; 2. Use an ADU digi stamp and 3. follow the theme.

This is my inspiration card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up stamp - Flower Fairy

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Little Darlings Rubber stamps - Garden Sentiments

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle dies

Anything else:

flat backed gems

Then this card below is my inspiration for this month's ADU's New Release - and what a cute image it is. You really should pop on over to either the Facebook Group or the Blog and have a look at these images, if you like cute you'll love these!

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up digi - Little lamb

coloured with my Copics

The 'ewe are' was text added in with Publisher

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Made to Surprise by Sam Calcott - Chunky Alphabet Die

flat backed self-adhesive pearls

Distress Inks and a home-made cloud stencil

I've got a funny feeling that I've missed blogging more All Dressed Up cards, but if I have I'll catch-up (again!) in a different post otherwise I'll feel like I've overwhelmed you all.

So I'm off again now, but I'll be back at some point and no doubt with more catching up posts!

See you soon,

Sarah

Hugs

Hi everyone,

First New Release of 2025 for All Dressed Up and, as always, such a super cute image!

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

All Dressed Up - Spring Hugs

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Tonic Studios - Say it with Sentiments

Dies:

Time for Tea Designs - Hugs stitched sentiment die

un-branded stitched rectangle die set

Anything else:

striped card

self-adhesive gems

And that's about it folks.

Other than on a personal note - TTT has had another offer arrive for University a place.  We've now heard from Lincoln, Hull and Sheffield Unis - all with offers for her for their Psychology Degree courses.  Super proud of her and she's going to be the first one in both our immediate families to go to University.  That's if I can get her to actually check her emails - she does seem to be super reluctant to look at them! Must admit I'm on tenterhooks for these offers, she appears to be either remarkably laid back or almost insensible about it - teenagers! What do you do with them?!

And that is definitely off now.

See you soon,

Sarah

Let's celebrate

 Evening blogland,

Having a crash in front of the TV after a day of full on washing and drying what feels like every single bit of clothing in the house, interspersed with exercise and cooking - tomorrow it's rinse and repeat.  Going to be a busy few days really - tomorrow it's more washing, want to get it all out of the way to have a few days off next week, and food shopping. Monday we're off to Lincoln shopping for last minute presents but also stuff for the new downstairs shower room.  Tuesday is a quiet day at home then an evening Christmas lights walk at a stately home, we've done this for the last few years and it's a lovely way to spend an evening.

So that's my busy domestic schedule! However, that's not the reason for the post - the real reason is to share my ADU Facebook group DT inspo card for the current challenge. The challenge, as always. runs for the full month so this one finishes on the last day of December.  Only two rules - use an ADU digi stamp and follow the theme  of which this month's is 'Celebrations'.  This doesn't mean only Christmas celebrations - it can be celebrating anything, as I've done with my card.

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Sparkle

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions ; Simple Strips - Background

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Bold Words: Celebrate

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: Asymetrical

un-branded stitched rectangles

The bit of black card behind the stamped panel and the half circle are random bits of die discards from other projects.  I'm a proper hoarder when it comes to stuff like that!  I often contemplate chucking them and then just as they are about to go in the bin, I use them!

Well that's about it for this time.  I'll be back a for a couple of posts before the year is out though.  

See you soon

Sarah

Still creeping but....

 now we've jumped!

Good morning blogland

Here I am with the December New Release for All Dressed Up - and it's not Christmas - we're jumping Christmas and going straight into the New Year! I can see it makes sense as if you are organised, unlike me, you've probably finished and posted your Christmas cards and are looking for the next occasion and New Year would be it! 

Though I would imagine you can use this image as a birthday card as well if the birthday is near the beginning of the year - or maybe even a new baby card (if you know it's a boy?). 

Supplies used:

All Dressed Up - Star of 2025

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Time for Tea - Dream Big

Anything else?

blue striped card

For more New Release inspiration why not either pop over to the Facebook Group or the Blog, both DTs have made fabulous cards and they are well worth a look.

I also have the my December Facebook Challenge card to share - which I won't be leaving until the last minute this month (like I usually do) but will be sharing at the weekend.

See you later,

Sarah

Very late!

 Morning blogland,

It's just dawned on me that I haven't posted my card made for this month's All Dressed Up new release! There are two drops of New Releases per month and I'm with the 7th of the month crew - just look at the date today! I'm 13 days late with this post / card!

So, without further ado, here's my take on my image for the November New Release from ADU:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Skater

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Creative Expressions - Festive Wishes

Dies:

My Favorite Things - Fishtail Foundations

Memory Box - Snowflake Corner

un=branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

random piece of patterned paper

flat backed gems

I'm not going to bang on, seeing as I'm incredibly late with this post, but I will say I did disappear off into the new home gym yesterday and, by gum, I'm feeling it today.  My legs are feeling 18months of lack of work!!  I remember this feeling from when I first started on my fitness journey 5 years ago and all I can say is - bring on 18 months time future me when it doesn't ache so much!!

See you soon,

Sarah

Boo to you too!

 Morning everyone,

A last minute post to remind anyone who might read this that, if you Facebook, there are a few more days to enter the Facebook only challenge for All Dressed Up Stamps.  It finishes on the last day of the month, as always!

The rules are not too much hassle - belong to the Group, follow the theme (which this month is 'Halloween or use Autumn colours') and use an ADU stamp - follow those and off you go!

This is my DT inspiration card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

ADU - All Dressed Up for Mummy

coloured with my Copics

Dies used:

Die-namics - 'wavy edge'

unbranded stitched rectangles

unbranded alphabet

Papers:

echo park - Chillingsworth Manor

Anything else:

Copic fine liner to draw the spider and web

So you'd think I  would've gone for Autumn colours, but for some reason I went with Halloween. No need for the card, no one to give it to, but I fancied colouring in the image - so off I went!

Feel free to pop over to the Facebook Group and see the other lovely Inspiration makes my Teamies have made and if you don't 'do' Facebook there's always the blog and their challenges.

Off again now - see you later

Sarah

Ooooh how spooky - not!

Good morning blogland,

This post is all about my DT card for this month's new release from All Dressed Up - I am posting it a little late (but then when isn't that a recurring theme with me?!) as always life happens and I've only just found time to do this post.

So - the new release, and how adorable is this little witch!  As you probably know I don't properly 'do' Halloween, no big ethical reason why not, it just wasn't a thing when I was younger and now, living as we do in the middle of nowhere, we don't get Trick or Treaters.  The most we've ever done is carve a pumpkin and take TTT, when younger, to the nearest village so she could knock on a few doors.  Although I don't do cards or decorations or spooky film marathons - I can still appreciate a cute image to colour and this is just what that is!

So here you go, the October New Release from All Dressed Up - the digi I got to work with is called Magic Broomstick and is available from the Etsy shop.

Here's the card:

Supplies used:

Digi stamps:

All Dressed Up - Magic Broomstick

coloured with Copics

SVG printing / cutting file from an Etsy seller - for the sentiment

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Sunny Studios - stitched circles small

Stencils:

Honey Doo Stencils Collection 

Home-made cloud stencil

Anything else:

flat backed gems

striped card

Distress Inks

blending brush

The Honey Doo stencil is difficult to describe, it's a stencil with lots of holes cut out but they also provide you with the cut outs.  Here's the link, which is probably more use than my mad ramblings! It's useful as you can use either the stencil itself or the solid cut outs to make negatives.  I used one of the cut-outs to create the moon up in the left hand corner.

To have a look at the rest of this month's releases - you can go here to the FaceBook Group: here to the Blog or. to purchase, go here to the Etsy shop.

And that's me done folks,

until the next time,

Sarah

Girls rule - OK!

 Good afternoon blogland,

Again, an odd time for me to be posting, but I looked at the calendar today and realised it's (already!) nearly the end of August so I thought it was probably well past time to do my All Dressed Up Facebook Group DT challenge inspo card.

The August challenge theme is 'Girls Rule' - so basically anything girlie - and you've got until the last day of August to enter.  Now I thought to myself rather than just making it girlie, I'd make it more Girls Rule - OK! So with girlie a bit of attitude / sass / we are the best type of angle.

Hope you like how it turned out!

Supplies used:

Digital stamps:

All Dressed Up - Play day

coloured with my Copics

The sentiment was amongst a job lot brought as SVG files (even though I don't have an electronic cutting machine) because I liked the sayings from an Etsy seller

Stencil:

My Favorite Things - Wonky Dots

Anything else:

un-branded stitched rectangle dies

some bright red wood look light card

flat back pearls

Distress Inks

blending brushes

The digi image - as sold - is a full length image of the girl with her dog and she is facing the other way.  For the idea I wanted to go with I flipped the digi vertically and then chopped legs and dog off, finally making the digi much larger than I would assume was intended.  I just thought the girl on her own really suited that self-confident sentiment!  I also used the black / white / red combo, because I thought she need to come across with that 'rock chic / don't give a damn' feel to make the sentiment work,

I hope you like my girls are the best! card and please pop over to the Facebook group, if you Facebook, my Teamies cards are just lovely.  If you don't do Facebook, there's always the ADU blog - they also have a monthly challenge and lots of inspiration posts.

Hope everyone is doing well and see you again soon,

Sarah

Here comes the Sunshine

Finally!

Good evening blogland, just a quick flyer to share my All Dressed Up Facebook Group DT inspiration card for July's challenge over in the Facebook Group.

So this is quite a late post for the challenge  - like I said this is a July challenge - but better late then never, I suppose!  You have until the end of this month to join in, the only rules are use an All Dressed Up digi and follow the theme, which this month is 'Seasons'.

I think I must have finally got something right - when I created this Summer card when it was still cold and wet right now Summer has finally arrived!  It's lovely, sunny and warm here in chilly Lincolnshire and I'm loving it!

Here's the card:

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

All Dressed Up - Summer Fairy

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamps:

taylored expressions: Sending Sunshine

taylored expressions: Simple Strips: Friendship

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

taylored expressions: Asymetrical

Anything else:

linen style card

Small update from me - TTT is off on school hols now and on Sunday we take her to London, she's staying there in UCL University Halls whilst doing a two week Psychology Summer School!  She's half way through her 'A' Levels now and it's looking like Psychology is her chosen career.  This two weeks is supposed to show her all the different types of Psychology careers and options and help her decide what aspect of it she wants to go into.  Two weeks without her, not sure if I'm happy or sad - we will find out in due course!

See you later,

Sarah

Seashells on the seashore

Good evening blogland,

Yes I'm here and it's evening - honestly it's about the only time I get at the moment to have a sit and wonder around the web.  Life is continuing to be hectic but I'm always hopeful that it will calm eventually.

The reason for this late evening post is that I'm sharing my All Dressed Up Stamps New Release inspiration card.  These images are always super cute and the ones for July are no exception.  You can see what wonderful cards my Teamies made by either popping over to the Facebook Group or taking a look-see at the blog.

This, however, is my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Seashells

I both created a scene and coloured the digi in with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle die set

Creative Expressions - mini expressions duo: Friends are like seashells

Anything else:

striped card

And that's about it folks, I'm off for a nice quiet sit down before bed-time!

See you soon,

Sarah

New Release day

Good morning blogland,

It's the day after the 7th of the month (this is about as close as I get these days to being on time) so it's only just one day past the first half of New Releases for June from All Dressed Up Stamps.

I am always so happy to see Wendy's new stamps, you know they are always going to be super cute and this month it's no exception.  I was given Wash Day to colour up.  This is the card I made:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Wash Day

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp (sentiment):

Honey Doo Crafts - Everything Stardust

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

Coloured card

random flower embellishment

I know I've used the image as a birthday card, but it really doesn't have to be, it would work just as well for a new baby, or a thank you - maybe while someone's watched your house while you're away.  It's just I don't need any of those cards and, as I'm always in a rush these days, a birthday card seemed simplest.

If you'd like to see what my Facebook Teamies have done with the rest of this release do pop on over to the Facebook Group where there are some lovely examples to look at.  If you're not a Facebook person, the blog is still there and the blog ladies have excelled themselves as well.

See you soon,

Sarah

Oh those boys!

 Good evening blogland,

I'm trying really hard to keep up with posting as I should, and I'm not doing too badly but I'm afraid I'm still falling down badly on commenting on everyone else's blogs for which I sincerely apologise.  

This job I'm doing at the moment is holding steady at 4 days a week, and it should come to an end when the girl off on maternity leave comes back at the end of July.  I'm enjoying the job but my goodness I'm going to be glad to get some of 'my' time back!

Anyways, in spirit of trying to keep up with posts / cards that I should be making and blogging.  This card is for the current All Dressed Up Facebook challenge  - I'm nearly out of time (challenge finishes at the end of May) but it is still May, so I am in the right month just!!  The theme is 'For the boys!' and as always you need to use an ADU image to join in.

Stamps used:

Digital Stamp:

All Dressed Up - Monsterific

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Catherine Poole - Everybody Say Happy Sentiments Stamp Set

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle dies

My Favorite Things - In and Out stitched circles

Anything else:

Striped card

paper dots

OK, I'm off again now, been a nice Bank Holiday weekend but work is back on tomorrow so I'm off to bed soon.

See you later,

Sarah

In the pond

Good morning blogland,

Today I'm sharing a digi from one of Mays' All Dressed Up Stamps New Release images.

I was given Water Lily to play with and this is what I came up with.  The sentiment is actually a happy accident, I'd stamped it straight onto the scene I'd just coloured and the damn thing didn't stamp clearly! Luckily I've taken to using a stamping platform, rather than a good old fashioned acrylic block, and so I could lift and re-stamp.  Even then though the paper I'd created my scene on had moved a fraction, and so when it re-stamped I made a little shadow effect.  Initially I thought 'ruined', but, no, I re-stamped again and made the new impression as dark and bold as I could, and I ended up with this shadow effect.  Rather good I think, for something that started as a mistake!

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

All Dressed Up - Water Lily

coloured with my Copics

Rubber Stamps:

Woodware: 'Double Birthdays' and 'Just to Say'

Stencil:

Creative Expressions - Scattered Hearts

Anything Else:

Distress Inks

Blending Brush

flat backed gems

This image is just one of this months New Releases, the others are just as cute and superbly showcased by my Teamies - here on the group for Facebook People and here on the blog for Bloggers.  If you are in need of super cute sweetness - I'd go take a look-see!

Hope everyone is doing well and I'll be back when I can.

Sarah

Magical Day

Good evening blogland,

This post is for the New Release over at All Dressed Up, normally you'd be seeing this post earlier in the month as I'm with the first half of the month team.  This time I was, very kindly, allowed to gate-crash the second half of the month team as I was well behind with my crafting.

So I won't waffle on, just say hope that everyone is well and here have a gander at me card!

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Pony Trek

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: Double Stitched Squares

Creative Expressions - mini expressions

Anything else:

striped green card

Distress Ink and a cloud die for the background

So that's it folks, I'm still working away and being busy outside of crafting - looking forward to going to the craft fair at Lincoln at the weekend though.  Just because I don't craft that much, doesn't mean to say I can't keep buying crafting stuff, eh!!

See you soon,

Sarah

It's a swinging time

Good evening blogland

It's time for March's new release for All Dressed Up - another dose of super cute digis! I was given Daisy to colour up and this is the card I made with the digi.  If you want to see the rest of the release you can pop over to the Facebook Group and if you don't Facebook there's also the blog.

Supplies used:

Digi stamp:

All Dressed Up - Daisy

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Whimsy Stamps - Fantabulous

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Sunny Studio - Happy word die

And that's about it really - I just flipped the image, gave her freckles and coloured in a very simple background.  Voila - job done!

That's it from me for a few days again,

Hope everyone is well and happily crafting,

See you soon,

Sarah

Krafty Chicks Challenge - #706 Stamps

The Paper Shelter: In the Garden

Double D Challenge: First Signs of Spring

Fab 'n' Funky: #590 - Use your favourite colours - Greens / purples / red (her hair) / blue

Super, super cute!

Evening blogland,

Here I am with my nearly end of the month DT inspiration card for the All Dressed Up Facebook Group.  Only the three rules - you have to belong to the group, use an ADU image and follow the theme, with the theme being this month (February) 'Cuteness overload'. This is the card I made.

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Some bunny loves me

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle

Pretty Pink Posh - Eyelet Borders

Patterned Paper:

Dovecraft - Sugar and Spice

If you don't 'do' Facebook, don't worry as there's always the Blog and they have challenges too. 

And I believe that's it again folks! 

Other than to say that I'm not deliberately neglecting the blog - it's that I've gone back to work (only part-time!) and have been since the end of last year and I'm finding it hard to fit everything in.  Unfortunately that means it's my crafting that gives mostly. It's going to get worse from now on as well as I've just been asked to increase my hours due to how busy the office is.  

Hopefully see you again soon!

Sarah

Do you knit?

Good afternoon blogland,

Here I am with my New Release inspiration card for All Dressed Up Digital Stamps.  Yesterday was my turn, as part of the Facebook girls, to show off the first part of February's new digi stamps release yesterday and what a lovely lot of inspiration it was!

If you'd like to see all the Facebooks girls cards just pop on over to the Group, get yourself joined up, and take a gander - I know you won't be disappointed.  Alternatively, if you're not a Facebook type of person, there is always the blog to take a look at which also has some great inspiration for these digis (and many others!).

In the meantime - here's my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Love to Knit

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions - simple strips: Friendship

Dies:

Taylored Expression - well rounded

Spellbinders - Grand Nestabilities: Grand Big Scalloped Circles

Creative Craft Products - Nestables: stitched and plain circle dies

Paper:

BoBunny - Smoochable

Anything else:

flat backed pearls

small pearl hearts

And that's about it folks, hope everyone is doing well and the current snow snap we're having in the UK is only causing fun not chaos (it's falling as rain here in wet and damp Lincolnshire!) and see you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

As You Like It Challenge: Digi or Physical stamps (and why).  Oooh, difficult one - but I think digi pips real rubber at the post.  I love them both, but the versatility of digi just takes the edge for me - being able to re-size, flip, rotate and crop - it opens up a whole new world!

Creative Inspirations Challenge: February challenge - For Someone You Love / A Special Friend

The Paper Shelter: Challenge #582 - Hearts

Digi Choosday Challenge: Wk 5 - Anything Goes

Goodbye 2023.....

 Hello 2024!

Good afternoon blogland,

I know I'm probably posting this to a completely empty space while you are all off out celebrating the incipient arrival of 2024.  We, however in Chez Sarah, are very boring at New Year (well to be fair we are boring most of the year - so New Year makes no difference!) and treat it as just another day in the life of Sarah and family.

So I'm here to catch up with my final card of the year - it's my All Dressed Up Facebook Challenge inspiration.  Probably you're all too busy celebrating New Year to squeeze in a card in the final hours of the challenge, but I felt like waffling so here I am!  I wonder if it's getting old that starts you sitting down and thinking??!!

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

All Dressed Up - Christmas Post

coloured with my Copics

Dies used:

unbranded stitched rectangle set

Creative Obsessions - Sue Wilson: Festive Collection

Embossing folder:

Do-crafts - Snowflakes

Anything else:

sparkle card

red cardstock

Funny isn't it - who celebrates what?  Growing up my family (parents and older sister) went all out on Christmas and almost totally ignored New Year.  On my moving out and in with boyfriend who later became1st hubby it all changed to Christmas bleugh, but New Year - whey-hey!!  Then again he was Scottish and Hogmanay meant a lot to him!Then fast forward to single again and meeting current other half - he (and his family) it was both Christmas and New Year that were celebrated equally.  

Now, another considerable amount of time has gone, we went through Christmas being important for TTT when she was little and New Year was bleugh.  Now both holidays are rather bleugh if you ask me! I'm not Grinch-y or anti-fun at New Year - they just seem to pass by in a weeks' worth of sleeping in and not doing much.  

Whereas me - I'd like to be out doing something!  One of these years I'm going to try being on holiday over the Christmas / New Year period - see if that is what does it for me!  I'd love to see New York at Christmas and New Year - it always looks fabulous in films and on TV!

Anyhooo, there you go that's my little meander of the mind done.

I hope that 2023 closes well for everyone and for those of you to whom 2023 was the year from Hell best wishes and sincere hopes that 2024 is better.

Happy New Year!

Sarah

Little bit of news for you

Good evening blogland,

I'm to share two things this evening, one is my (very late) DT card for All Dressed Up new release for December.  For this piece of news here's my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Penguin Fun

coloured with my Copics

Dies used:

Pretty Pink Posh - Scallop Borders 1

unb-branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

very old pre-printed sentiment from Craftwork Cards

piece of glitter card

Such a cute image and great fun to colour!

Second piece of news is in the New Year I will be joining the DT at Passion for Markers!  I've been playing along with their challenges for many, many years - even before I had my break from crafting - right back to when they were Passion for ProMarkers.  There that is showing my age! So you can guess how pleased and honoured I was to be invited onto the Team.

I only hope I can do their challenges justice - I certainly will enjoy getting my markers out and colouring, as I'm sure you will have read me blathering on about I love colouring!!

Anyways, I will be back before the end of the month with my DT Facebook Challenge Inspiration for All Dressed Up, but for now I'm off as it's TTT's last day at 6th Form for this Term tomorrow and she's already loading the car with presents for friends!!

See you laters,

Sarah

If not now, when?

 Good evening blogland,

This is my towards the end of the month reminder that the September All Dressed Up Facebook Group challenge is still running.

The theme this month is 'Make it Feminine' and, as always, are rules are simple - use an All Dressed Up image and follow the theme.

This is my DT inspiration card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Feeling Spoilt

(flipped) coloured with Copics

Rubber stamp:

Tonic Studios

Paper Pad:

Basic Gray - Hello Lusicious

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh

un-branded stitched rectangles

Stamping Bella - big sentiment dies 'celebrate'

Anything else:

Self-adhesive rhinestones

Hope everyone is having peaceful times and see you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Passion for Markers: Week 708 - Colours of Autumn