It's a kind of

 magic!

Good morning blogland

It's also a kind of Tuesday as well! It feels to me like this year is particularly flying by - early August already - TTTs' been home for nearly two months now and goes back to Uni end of Sept.  

But I digress, the proper reason for this post is that, as it is another Tuesday already, it's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers and this week it's my Teamie Marie's turn to pick the theme.  Her choice is 'Dies and/or Punches' - with the sponsor this week being Colour of Love Digis who are offering a prize for one lucky, randomly drawn, winner. As always the rules are simple - follow the theme; don't backlink and use your markers.  

I can't see there being any problems with this theme - who doesn't use dies or punches?  I have to admit I've long moved on from punches and now my die cutting machine - a good old Big Shot - is used every single time I make a card!

And this is the card I made with my trusty Big Shot and dies:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Colour of Love - The Sorcerer Mouse

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Concord & 9th - Kristina Werner: Big Day Birthday stamps

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Concord & 9th - Kristina Werner: Big Day Birthday dies

Anything else:

gel pens

scrap of designer paper

This card is one of those ones where part of it I like and part of it I look at and think what did I do! The mouse didn't colour up very well, but I really do like the effect of the dies / stamp combo. There you go I'm digressing again! 

I am actually really looking forward to see what everyone makes this time - does anyone out there still use punches?  Or are we only going to see a mass of makes using dies?  

By the way, I do still have my punches - they are boxed up waiting for Him 'indoors to get round to putting them up for sale, personally I don't think anyone will buy them.  But he's determined to try!

See you soon,

Sarah 

Challenge/s:

Cut It Up: #362 Add a sentiment

Digichooseday: Challenge 8 - wks : Anything Goes

The children take the spotlight

 Good morning blogland

Saturdays are rolling around almost as fast as Tuesdays are - here were are with another Saturday and so another Sweet Stampin' Challenge appears as well.

This time the theme is 'For the children' and, as always, these are 'for fun' challenges so no prize but we do have 'Top 5' with a badge.  It's also a really friendly challenge with very few rules - you only need to make sure you stamp (whether that's rubber or digi), follow the theme and don't backlink.

So what did I make for a child - this card:

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:

The Greeting Farm : OA Happy Day

coloured with my Copics

Time for Tea Designs : Bold Sentiments set

Dies:

Creative Craft Products : Stitched Nestables - Stitched Circles Set

Honey Doo Crafts - Connect the Dots nesting dies

Time for Tea Designs : Bold Sentiment Co-ordinating Dies

Paper:

Polkadoodles : oh boy!

Anything else:

Cuttlebug embossing folder : Seeing Spots

Distress Ink

That's quite a long list - for a fairly simple card - isn't it!

It was really nice pulling out my old stamps (this card and the last two CaS) and I had forgotten how quick they are to colour.  I think/hope (?) I've done both sets of images more justice now that my colouring skills have improved over the 15 to 20 years (oh my God - how long!!) since I've been colouring.

So I do hope you find time to pop on over to Sweet Stampin' and take a look-see at the lovely cards my Teamies have made.

And I will see you on the other side of my holiday - we are off to Inverness for a week.  All three of us!  That will be interesting ;-)

Sarah

Happy Birthday to....

 TTT!

Good morning blogland

That the new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge is a 'Happy Birthday' one is a nice coincidence for me as it was also TTT's birthday a couple of Monday's ago - just when I needed to be making a birthday card for this challenge! 

Dealing with the challenge first - we are a very easy going blog with really simple rules which are follow the theme, don't backlink and a maximum of 3 entries per person.  That's it really - doesn't have to be a card, doesn't have a to have a particular type of product or crafty item; just make something yourself and enter.

Moving onto the card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

DreamFlare Studios - Mythical Creatures

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Woodware Craft Collection - Just to Say; Birthday

Dies:

Un-branded stitched rectangle set

Catherine Pooler - Wishes

Anything else:

very old 12x12 patterned paper

Now for TTT's birthday.  Well what do I say - she turned 19! It feels so strange that this is her last year of being TTT (The Troublesome Teen).  To be totally honest her birthday was a bit of a non-event; we spent the day at home, no party, no friends, just her opening presents and then her favourite meal for dinner. Oh and homemade cake that took me ages to make and no time to eat!

When I was her age it would have been a big party - but it would appear she just wanted a quiet day in.  Not sure I will ever get why a 19 year old doesn't want to party, but hey, who knows maybe that will be her 20s!

I am also open to suggestions as to what she is known as once she's no longer a Teen! Maybe we go back to SheWhoMustBeObeyed (SWMbO)!

Please do pop on over to the challenge blog - my Teamies have made some lovely Birthday cards! 

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Crafty Catz: #717 Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #827 Birthday

Seize the Birthday: #329 Birthday

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge: #640 Something beginning with a 'b' - I hope 'Birthday' counts!  No problems if not.

Birthday wishes

 Hi blogland

It's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers and this week it's our Teamie Marlene's choice for the the challenge, which is 'Things with Wings’. 

So 'things with wings' this is anything with a wing - fairies, butterflies, bees, birds, aeroplanes; anything this has a wing (and I suppose doesn't even have to fly as long as it has wings)!  

This week we are sponsored by LeAnn's World 101, with a lovely prize for one lucky randomly drawn winner.  To be in with a chance to win, you do have to follow the rules, and use your markers most importantly, but you don't have to make a card.

Having said that - here is my card!

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

LeAnn's World 101 - Angeline

coloured with my Copics

Dies used:

un-branded stitched rectangle

TimeforTea Designs - Big Birthday Wishes

Craftaddiction UK - Rectangle Inverted Scallop Frames

Patterned paper:

Anything else:

acetate for the shaker

sequins

yellow spotted light card

I just realised that I didn't make a note of the paper, so I'll be back with that shortly.

Otherwise looking forward to seeing all the entries to the challenge, and having a wander around and looking at all the lovely flying things.

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Try it on Tuesday: Flying High - does a fairy work?  Hope it does, but not to worry if not.

Cupcake Inspirations: #638 - Anything Goes

More of 'em

Those tricky men that is!

Good morning blogland,

It's the first Saturday of the month (who would believe we are in June already!) and so it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month the challenge theme is 'All about the men or boys'.

As always we are a very easy going challenge - just follow the theme, don't backlink and a maximum entry of 3 per person.

This is my boy's card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Saturated Canary - gamer

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Lisa Horton Crafts - Bold Phrases

Whimsy Stamps - Frame

Stencil:

Honey Doo Crafts - Funky Lines Stencil

Anything else:

Distress Ink

Lisa Horton Crafts - Cloud 9 dye/pigment ink

And that's it folks!  Not the most exciting of cards, but I really wanted to try out the stencil and new ink pad, very happy with how it turned out too.

Hopefully see you over at the challenge?

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Girlz Makes Guyz Cards: Challenge 40 No Squares

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #823 Birthday

Creative Knockouts: #572 4 June - Die-cuts/Stencils/Punches

Tic Tac Toe Challenge: TTTC#294 - Middle column (Gold/Back / Free / Stencil) - Hoping that I've read it right and the gold/black part is gold or black not gold and black.  If I've got it wrong, no problems with you deleting my entry,

Going in circles

Good evening blogland

Genuinely I am such a dimwit!  For the first time in absolutely ages I was invited to GDT on a challenge blog and guess what - I only went and got the days wrong in my head!

How on earth I got a Try it on Tuesday challenge in my head for a date that was a Friday I'll never know.  So all I can do is offer a genuine apology to the whole Team and get my card up as soon as possible, 

The theme of the challenge is use circles on you project and this is the card I made:

Supplies used:

Rubber stamps (and matching dies):

My Favorite Things: JB Monkey Around Duo

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh: Scallop Borders 1

MFT: Die-namics - I&O stitched circles

un-branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

various very old designer papers

Time for Tea: Sweet Summer enamel dots

OK, so I will apologise one more time to all the lovely crafters over at Try it on Tuesday and go away to hide in my shame for being so incredibly late posting this!

Cheerio for now,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Alphabet Challenge: C is for Circles

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #822 Masculine Week

Inkspirational: #368 For the Guys

Digi Choosday: Challenge 6 / Wk 1

Seize the Birthday: #327 - Anything Goes option

Flowers in bloom

 Good morning blogland,

New Saturday - new challenge and this week it's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' with the theme this fortnight being 'Flowers'.  As always there are no prizes on offer but the joy is in the taking part and also being awarded a Top 3 pick.  The rules are very simple - you must stamp (rubber or digital is fine), no backlinking and follow the theme and, other than that, we are a very easy going challenge so what you enter is entirely up to you.

Now me and flower stamps don't really get along that well - every time I try using proper flower stamps something always goes wrong. Generally when the theme of a challenge is 'flowers' I would go down the route of flowers on the paper, flower embellishments or the stamp I use being a person with flowers.  This time I thought, nah I'll try for proper flowers again - disaster!

I'll show you the cards first:

Card one:

Card Two:

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:

My Favorite Things - Magnolia Blossoms

coloured with my Copics

Sentiments:

Card one - Taylored Expressions (a matching sentiment set and die from Simple Strips)

'Happy Birthday' and 'well-rounded'

Card Two - a very, very, very old pre-printed/pre-cut sentiment from Craftwork Cards

Dies:

Card one: Honey Doo Crafts - Triple Dots and Dies & Polkadoodles Botanical Foilage Dies

Card two: Honey Doo Crafts - Connect the Dots & un-branded stitched dies

Backgrounds:

Card one: Distress Ink and blender brush

Card two: Cosmic Shimmer Airless Mister and spattered Distress Ink

Anything else:

Card one: self-adhesive gems

How much can you take of my tale of woe with the first card I wonder?  Well, I mis-cut the die and had to do it again, and didn't get it quite right (the bad bit is hidden!), my glue dispenser bottle was very low -- so I filled it and, obviously, made a complete mess of my work mat and the bottle.  The fine nibs for the differing glues I tried (I was trying to get glue on the back of those delicate dies) were bunged and took me ages to wash them out and get them working again.  I used a pre-cut matt for the card and I do not like it - I really miss the stitched edge and, finally, the Distress Inking went wrong.  I was going for a particular look and I completely got it wrong. I do not like that card.

Feeling empowered that I could push through - I made card two.  So much relief - I made it and liked it!  Yay! 😂

I am not touching flower stamps again for a good long time! 😂

I know my Teamies cards are really wonderfully flowery as well, not nearly as traumatic as mine, so please pop on over and take a gander, we'd appreciate it.

Until next time,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Allsorts challenge: Challenge 850 - Anything Goes

Cut it Up: #356 - Flowers

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #821 - CAS (I'd like to enter card two)

I love Promarkers challenge: #607 - Special Occasions (Card one is more specifically birthday, so I'd like to enter that one)

Simples

 Good morning blogland

As pretty much normal for me - I'm late with a blog post.  The only credit I will give myself is that I am marginally less late than I normally am - so I suppose you could almost say I'm on time!

So the reason for this post.  It's New Release Time (that should have been Day but, hey as I'm 3 days late with this post, it's become Time) over at All Dressed Up stamps.  This month's release is super sweet - tho to be honest when are ADU stamps not - and I got a lovely digi to colour.

I did spend ages going through lots of different options for this card, put on layers / a frame / contemplated turning it into a shaker card / various patterned paper.  But, in the end, we went with what does seem to be my 'normal' style - not quite Clean and Simple but what I like to call ' Clean Lines'.

The only thing that bugs me about this card, is that it just wouldn't photograph properly.  I'll explain after you've seen the picture:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Whimsical Day

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: Birthday

Dies:

unbranded stitched rectangle

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: well rounded

Anything else:

embossing board - to get the embossed lines

self-adhesive gems

And therein lies the problem - the embossed lines.  There actually six embossed lines on this card, 3 across the top and 3 down the side, but would the damn camera pick up the embossed lines down the right-hand side?  No it blooming well would not!  

I tried so many different angles and it only shows them really faintly, they only properly show up in real life.  And, as happy as I would be for everyone to pop over for a cup of tea and a 'look-see' at the card, that's not really going to work now, is it?

OK, so I think that's probably enough moaning from me now and, anyways, I do actually like how this card turned out.  It's the picture of it I don't!

With that I will wander off to do Sunday type stuff and just leave you with the request that you pop on over to either the Facebook Group, the blog or even, if you feel like it, the Etsy shop and have a look at the lovely examples of what can be done with these images. I disclaim all responsibility for any shopping spree I might set off! 😀

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Crafty Catz: #713 Anything Goes

Simply Clean & Simple: May 2026 Anything Goes (option - Things That Fly)

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #819 Birthday

As You Like It: Favourite sketch/layout and why.  Goodness this takes me back - when I very first started cardmaking I was really into layering and embellishments and had a little notebook that I kept all my favourite sketches in - because that allowed me to use some of the papers and embellishments that I was stockpiling!  Fast forward to today and I don't have a favourite sketch anymore - nor do I heap papers and embellies on a card - instead I have a favourite layout.  Which is: a top fold 5x7 card; large focal digi (or rubber stamp) on my Copic friendly paper; die-cut that out; matt onto another piece of coloured (or spotty or stripy) card; matt that onto the card front.  Finish with sentiment and maybe some gems/pearls as embellishment.  Sometimes add a couple of strips of patterned card at the top of the card.  If you look back at my most recent cards (not all of them because this isn't a set rule, it's just my comfort zone) you will see a double layer of matted card with a large Copic coloured digi as the top layer.  Long story short - that's my favourite layout.  I like colouring and it allows me to colour and spotlight the digi - that's why it's my favourite layout.

(Super)Heroes

 Good morning blogland

Time for another Passion for Markers challenge and this weeks' sponsor is the always fabulous Dies to Die For - a shop I'm rather familiar with! - and there is a lovely prize for one lucky randomly drawn winner. Really simple rules to be in with a chance to win the prize - follow the theme, use your markers (and tell us which ones you've used) and don't backlink.  You don't have to enter a card - any project you make and use markers on can be entered.

Now, onto the theme and I'm the one who picked it this week.  When themes were being chosen I was trying to come up with something and failing so I Googled 28th April and discovered that it's Superhero day - who knew! I doubt very much everyone everyone across the Country has taken the day off to celebrate their favourite superhero but it did give me an idea for the theme.

So this week's theme is 'Superhero' - this doesn't have to be your 'classic' superhero it could be anyone who you think highly of.  I was thinking everything from fictional superheroes to a family member / friend or really anyone you think of as heroic.

So here is my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

an etsy seller LDKZdesigns

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Time for Tea Designs - City Break Stamp set

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Whimsy Stamps - OMG! Word die set

My Favorite Things - Die-namics : fishtail foundations

Anything else:

Polkadoodles crafts - Fluffy Clouds stencils/masks

distress inks

blending brush

sentiment created in Publisher

spotty light card

Phew! again a long list of supplies for this card - you wouldn't think to look at it, would you?

Before I go, I realise pretty much nobody reads my blog (I am terrible at promoting myself) but here follows a public service announcement.  Please, please, please make sure you read the descriptions of etsy sellers and their 'clip art'.  

Every single seller I've ever brought from on etsy - and there's been a few - have always sold their digi stamps as either  .jpg or .png files.  I mean half of them don't call them digi stamps, but whatever they call the file there's been a .jpg or .png in with many other types of files.  This particular seller only sells them as SVG, it's something I didn't notice and (as I don't use SVGs) caused me no end of problems trying to open the damn things.

There was a link to a free graphics creator pack or they said you could use Canva - but I am always wary of 'free' this or that and my goodness Canva was not the most beginner friendly programme.  So it took me ages to get the files converted into something I could use.  I was tearing my hair out there for a little while, once I did manage to get them converted it was plain sailing, but for a bit I really regretted my purchase.

There that's my little tale of woe - and a warning to other mildly technologically challenged people out there.  Make sure you check what you are buying!

And on that happy note 😁I'm off to see what entries we get for my (Super)heroes challenge!

See you soon,

Sarah

Shopping Our Stash: SOS572 - Up, up and away. Hopefully a Superhero counts as something you can see in the sky?  The only new thing on the card is the digi stamp - everything else is from my stash and the Distress Inks I used to blend the sky - more like 8 to 10 years!

Unicorn Challenge: #119 - Use dies

Allsorts challenge: #848 - Anything but square - a bit boring I know but it is a rectangle not a square.

Polkadoodles Challenge: Challenge 5, wk1 - Anything Goes

And back to Spring has sprung

 Good morning blogland

And, just like that, it's Tuesday again and time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers.  This week, as you may have a guessed, the theme is 'Spring colours', it was chosen by our lovely Teamie Sue and, this week, we are sponsored by LeAnn's World 101.

As always, if you follow the rules, you have a randomly drawn chance to win a lovely prize from our sponsor or be a Top 5 Passionista - chosen by Sue.  The rules being - use your markers (and please do say what markers you've used), follow the theme and don't backlink.

The DT had the chance to use one of our Sponsor's digi stamps - and this is my make with that stamp:

 Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

LeAnns World 101 - Birthday Balloons

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp and die set:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: birthday (stamp)

Simple Strips: well rounded (die)

Dies:

LaLa Land Crafts - Banner

Whimsy Stamps - frame

Whimsy Stamps - 'YAY!' word die

Creative Craft Expressions - Sue Noble: Double Stitched Squares

Paper:

BoBunny - Country Garden Collection

Craftwork Cards (who don't exist anymore) - Lots of Dots

Phew! That was a long list of supplies - it's not often I make a card this 'busy' (and it is busy, for me!), but for some reason it just wasn't coming together as simple layout.  I really don't know why, and to solve it, I just kept chucking things on the card blank - this is the outcome!

Hope you all get a chance to come play with your markers, and also come see the lovely inspiration cards my Teamies have made.

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Unicorn Challenge: #119 - Use dies

Aud Sentiments Challenge: #336 - Use Watercolours / Or Spring - obvs I'm doing the Spring part of the challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: #275 - April 5 - AG

Polkadoodles Challenge: Challenge 4 Wk3 - AG

Going retro

 Good morning blogland

It's the first Saturday of a new month (can you believe it April already!) and so it's time for a new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge and this month the theme is 'Dies/Punches'.  

As always the rules for entering the challenge a really simple - No back linking; max 3 entries per person and follow the theme.  For one lucky randomly drawn person there is also a fabulous prize on offer from our sponsor Lili of the Valley.

So, why going retro? Well, simple answer - I used an old card.  Longer explanation is that we have TTT home this fortnight from University for the Easter break and, as always my time is no longer my own and my little routines go out the window! I realised that I hadn't made my card yet, asked for more time (and got it- thank you Chris) but then had a brainwave - I wonder if I have any older, not blogged, cards I could use?  Answer - this one!

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Saturated Canary - Teen Tunes

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: birthday

Dies:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips : well rounded

un-branded number dies

Creative Craft Products: Nestables Scalloped Ovals Set

Creative Craft Products: Nestables Ovals Die Set

Paper:

First Edition - Noir et Chic

It's a good job I take a picture of my finished card with supplies used, otherwise this would have been a very short can't remember what I used part of my post!

It also goes to show how sad I am over both Saturated Canary and Creative Craft Products shutting down.  I love Krista's images, and to be fair I have many of them to keep me going, but I miss the joy of new image!

Anyways, am off again now - not particularly going anywhere today but do have things to do!  

So I hope, if you celebrate the religious meaning behind Easter, you have a good weekend and, if you don't celebrate, you enjoy the Bank Holidays!

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Cut It Up: Challenge #353 - for babies or kids

All About Papercraft: Challenge #4 - All about Birthdays

Krafty Chicks Challenge: Challenge #814 - Birthday

there's something about

 red!

Good morning blogland,

New Tuesday, new challenge! This week over at Passion for Markers the theme (as you might have guessed) is 'Add some red' and the theme was picked by our lovely Teamie Sue.  Now Sue probably thought, with it being February and Valentines coming up, that her daft Teamies might have gone with Valentines - ummm not entirely and me included. I just thought 'red' ooooh, I like red and didn't give a thought about it being Valentines!

We are sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs, who design the most wonderful digis and this is my make with one of their stamps. As always with the Passion for Markers challenge there is a lovely prize for one lucky winner, badges for another 5 and all you have to do to enter the challenge is use your markers and follow the theme.

Digital stamp:

SheepSki Designs - My Music

coloured with Copics

Rubber stamp:

Woodware Singles - Celebrating You

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Julie Hickey - Birthday Profile Die Set

And finally:

BoBunny 12x12 paper for the matt

a very old glittery flower

self-adhesive blue sparkle gems

I have to admit to loving colouring this image, and then being stuck on how to finish the actual card off.  That's why it's such a clean lined card - I get stuck on that part of the design process all the time!  I have so many dies and papers and stamps but I look at them and go 'nah, that doesn't work' and then end up just adding a couple of gems and walking away!  I feel some Pinterest or Instagram or Facebook inspiration time is well overdue!! :-)

Anyways, am off again - will be back in a few days.

Sarah

All about the die-cuts

 Good morning blogland

Well routine is well and truly back on the menu and I can't be more pleased! A structured day is much more to my liking than the total chaos of not knowing which day of the week it is!

Whilst talking routine and structure I'm happy to say that the first Passion for Markers challenge of 2026 is here! The details - this week the theme of 'Dies or punches' has been set by my Teamie Marie and the sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful The Paper Shelter with a lovely prize for one lucky winner.

So onto my card - as always The Paper Shelter allows the Design Team a digi to use and this is my make with that digi:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

The Paper Shelter - Daises on my Hat

coloured with Copics

Rubber stamp:

taylored expressions - It's Your Day stamp set

Paper:

Making Memories - Boho Chic

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: Double Stitched Squares

My Favorite Things - Inside & Out Circles

un-branded stitched tag die

Memory Box - Riviera Corner

Anything else:

Yellow striped light card

MDF flower

self-adhesive pearl

As always the rules for this challenge are very simple - follow the theme and use your markers, it can be any brand of marker (Copics are my choice) but you do have to use markers somewhere/somehow.

So there you go, hopefully I've given you some sort of inspiration and, if you want more, please pop on over to the challenge and take a look at my Teamies cards which are fabulous!

See you again soon,

Sarah

With a New Year finally here

 We start the New Year with a bang - two new challenges!

So to kick things off here's my card for the new Sweet Stampin' Challenge, as it's New Year we'd like to see your 'new' theme cards.  So that could be a card for a new home / baby / job / year or how about some new stash?

Not needing a card for any 'new' reason - I went with the new craft supplies theme.  This is what I've made:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

DigitalLenaStamp (an etsy seller) - Peeking cats

my 'new' part of the challenge

Rubber stamp:

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - Man, Myth, Legend

Dies:

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - Well Rounded

unbranded stitched rectangle

Whimsy Stamps: OMG! word die set

This is super easy challenge to take part in - there are only two rules which are follow the theme and use a stamp (digital or rubber) and that's it!

Would be great to see your entry and your take on 'new'.

Sarah

It's all about the birthday

 Good morning blogland,

It's that time of the year - no not 'that' time of the year just yet- it's Birthday Time! Sweet Stampin' challenge is celebrating their birthday and I believe it's quite a big one!

So to celebrate both Teams were invited to join in with the celebrations and this is the card I made for the occasion. As always the challenge is a 'for fun' only one so no prizes on offer - other than earning yourself a Top 3 badge of course - but there are a couple of simple rules.  You must a stamp somewhere on your entry and you must follow the theme of the challenge and, of course, the unspoken rule - have fun!

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:

Whimsy Stamps / Time for Tea stamps: Ruffles

coloured with my Copics

taylored expressions : Simple Strips - Birthday

Dies:

Creative Craft Products : A2 Landscape Card die set

Time for Tea Dies : Smile Inverted Scallop Die set

Julie Hickey : Birthday profile die set

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - well rounded

Papers:

BoBunny - Isabella

and some random striped paper

Anything else:

sequins for the shaker element

And that's about it.

It's hard to comprehend sometimes just how many years I've been making cards (ok with a bit of a significant break) but at times like this it's brought home to you.  I can remember making cards and invitations for TTT's various birthdays over the years and using them as my DT card for Sweet Stampin' and now Sweet Stampin' is celebrating a big birthday and TTT has flown the nest and living in Lincoln.  How time flies - next thing you know I'll be heading for retirement (ha - I wish!!!).

See you soon,

Sarah

Sentimentally yours

 This is not what this post was meant to look like!  For some reason (I should really face up to things here and say it was more than probably me not putting the dates in right!) Blogger decided not to post this when it should have - so I am so, so, so late with this. However, you do still have just under a week to get an entry in - and to be honest so few people come to my blog now that me being late probably didn't make much of a difference!

Hello blogland,

It's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and this fortnight the theme is 'Feature a Sentiment'.  As always please remember this is a stamping challenge and so your entry does need to have some stamping (old fashioned rubber or modern digital) on it somewhere.

Here's my card:

Supplies used:

Stamp:

Catherine Pooler - Everybody Say Happy sentiment stamp set

Dies:

Creative Craft Products - DL card builder set

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Two

Pretty Pink Posh - Scalloped Borders 2

Stencil:

Creative Expressions - DL Stencils: Party Confetti

Anything else:

Polkadoodles - Stencil Butter Frosting: Sunbeam Shimmer

sequins

Paper:

First Edition - Let's Celebrate

And that's it folks - not actually sure that I like this card, I feel something didn't work right but I can't put my finger on just what's wrong.  Maybe I should have used black card for the stencil paste - it doesn't show so well on the picture but in real-life it's very pretty.

Anyways off again now, see you soon.

Sarah

Layering up

Morning blogland,

Couple of days late with this post - TTT and I were travelling all day Saturday and then Sunday was a full-on day of washing and sorting - now catching up with everything I missed last week / weekend.

This post is for the new challenge over at Crafty Calendar which runs for the whole of September with a theme of 'Lots of Layers'.  We do have a sponsor this time,  the fabulous Polkadoodles with a great prize for one lucky winner.

So moving onto my card, this was made for TTT's18th birthday in June and not shared until now.

Supplies used:

Digital stamps:

Character: an Etsy seller called zekesami -  Mia

coloured with my Copics

Balloons: an Etsy seller called ClipArt Vogue - 18th Birthday Balloons

pre-coloured

Rubber stamp and matching die:

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Die - well rounded and Stamp - Birthdays

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Centre Stepper Die Set

Pretty Pink Posh - Eyelet Borders

Papers:

First Edition - Let's Celebrate

Random scraps of card

And I think that's it really, 

See you soon,

Sarah

A little spotty

 or stripey?

Morning blogland

Well you could call my blogging a little spotty (or even patchy) right now - to be honest it's rather low down on my list of priorities.  TTT got her A-Level results last Thursday and they were, as predicted, at a high enough grade to get her her first choice University and course.  This has really ramped up the, 'Oh my word, we've not got a lot of time left with her and so much to do' feeling.  Therefore blogging has taken a back seat.  Maybe when she's off in Halls at Uni I'll feel more like filling my time with making cards and bloggin, but right now - nope!

Anyways there's your explanation as to why the blog is quiet and now the reason for today's post.  It's Tuesday and we all know what that means - it's Passion for Markers day! This week the theme has been picked by my lovely Teamie Sue who picked a theme of 'Spots and/or Stripes' and our sponsor for this week is Polkadoodles who is offering one lucky winner a prize of 3 digi images of their choice.

So, as always, Polkadoodles always lets the DT pick some images to use and this is my card made with one of the images picked:

Supplies used:

Digi stamp:

Polkadoodles - Pile of Surprise Gifts

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

some very old shaped striped paper

very,very old Craftwork cards sentiment

very,very,very old glittery flower

striped background card.

Aaaaand that's it folks,

Off to not so sunny Skeg today - hitting the charity shops.  TTT is driving as well! I have to say it is a very pecuilar feeling sitting in the passenger seat with your child driving - sort of hammers home how long ago they were little kids!

Anyways, hope anyone who is left reading this blog is doing well and, if you get a chance, pop on over to the challenge we'd love to see you!

Cheers

Sarah

It's always somebody's birthday somewhere!

 Hello blogland,

Well it is - isn't! However, it's also the theme at this weeks' challenge over at Passion for Markers.  So to be clear this week's challenge is sponsored by Colour of Love with a lovely prize of 3 digi stamps for one lucky winner.  The challenge theme is 'birthday', which has been picked by our lovely Teamie Marie, to enter there are two simple rules - use your markers and follow the theme.

This is my card - using a digi from our sponsors:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Colour of Love - Rory's Birthday Party

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Honey Bee Stamps - Birthday!

Anything else:

spotty light card

pink self adhesive gems

un-branded stitched rectangle dies

And that's it folks!

See you soon,

Sarah

Still going

Hi all,

Another Tuesday has rolled round - to be honest with you at the moment at chez Sarah the days are all rolling into one and the weeks are merging into months with there being no school run anymore - and it's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers.

This week it is my Teamie Lorraine who has picked the theme and she's chosen 'use a ribbon'.  We also have to wonderful shop Dies to Die For as our sponsor and one lucky person can win a £15 voucher to spend in the shop.  Please do remember that our main rule is to have used markers on the project you enter into the challenge, along with following the theme.

So, without further ado, here's the card I made:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Swinging 60's

coloured with my Copics

Dies used:

non-branded stitched rectangles

Creative Craft Products - Stitched circles die set

Rubber stamp and die set:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: Birthday

Simple Strips: Well Rounded (die)

Papers:

Craftwork Cards - allsorts paper pack

Anything else:

ribbon

self adhesive pearls

linen effect card

I've noticed, since I took a picture of the card, that I put the stamped, coloured and die cut image at a bit of wonk on the card.  Typical that I only notice it once I've attached it, but hey maybe someone else wouldn't notice, who knows!  Also most of the things I've used are no longer available - it's just as well I've got stacks of crafting supplies - seems like there's a lot of change going on in the crafting / stamping world.

Anyways, am typing and posting this while I wait for TTT to get herself up out of bed, we are off to a local town today.  Plan is to go looking in charity shops for crockery and cutlery for Uni -we're told not to buy new stuff as a lot of it either gets broken or 'disappears'!  Heavens only knows what goes on in the accommodation - it's all new to me as I never went to University.

See you all soon,

Sarah