Chldren!

Good morning blogland

My goodness here's another Saturday come around - seriously this year I've no idea where it's gone!

As it is another Saturday, it's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and this fortnight the theme is 'For a child'.  Nice and easy, eh! So all we need to see are those stamped whatevers - digital, rubber, sentiment, image - on your project and you good to go!  As always, this is a 'for fun' challenge, so no prizes, but then who makes cards (or whatevers) for prizes?

I've no idea why, but when I see a 'for a child' challenge, unless I'm working with a specific image or am told it's for a girl, I tend to go for boy's cards.  It's pointless, I've no boy child to make a card for (hmmm nor even any girls now) but still I do those boys cards!

Having said that - here is my card for this challenge:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Pollycraft - and as the brand no longer exists all I'll say is I used my Copics to colour the image

Rubber stamps:

taylored expressions - 'It's your day' (for the 'wish big')

a very old rubber set for 'boy' - I think it was Do-craft but I chucked the packaging years ago!

Dies:

un-branded DL (or slimline) stitched die

Julie Hickey - Birthday Profile Die set

That's about it folks - still busy here.  TTT is off to Skeg-vegas this evening with one of her friends to see Blood Brothers.  They studied the play as part of their GCSE English Lit, and were interested to see the actual play performed.

Other than that what's going on in our lives?  The extension - oooh now that is exciting the bathroom fitters are coming on Monday to do the en-suite shower-room.  I'll share pictures when they are done.  I'm still working and TTT is now over half-way through her A-levels.  Universities are still high on the list.  We've done Open Days for two at Lincoln (Uni of Lincoln and BGU), we've also done York and are doing Loughborough next weekend.  Then we pause and collate.

Hope everyone out in blogland is well, and now I'm off.

See you later.

Sarah

Has Spring sprung?

Good afternoon blogland,

A late post, again, to let you all know that there is a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and this fortnight we are looking for your projects along the theme of Spring / Easter.  Not being one for Easter (other than the chocolate Easter egg - which is going to be a very small one this year!) I went for the Spring part of the challenge.

As always, my Teamies have made some wonderful inspiration projects - and as they demonstrate it doesn't have to be a card you enter into the competition, it just has to have a stamped (rubber or digi) element to it.

This is mine:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp and sentiment:

Pollycraft - Spring things: follow the leader

and a sentiment that's called 'happy Spring' (surprise!)

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh - Scallop Borders 2

Memory Box - clouds

I think the little dotty circle is the off-cut from an O out of an unbranded alphabet

Rubber stamps:

Phill Martin - Sentimentally Yours : Splatterlicious large rectangle frame

random flower border

It certainly feels more Spring like today here in the wilds of Lincolnshire than it has for the last few days - we've had rain, rain and more rain!

Look forward to seeing everyone's entries - remember to stamp!

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Passion for Markers: Week 681 - colours of Spring

Crafty Catz: #629 - Anything Goes (optional Go for Green)

And finally,

Hello again blogland,

If you are here looking for my Sweet Stampin' challenge card it's the post before this one.

This post is all about Crafty Calendar Challenge, this month the theme is Anything Goes and is sponsored by Lawn Fawn, with a great prize on offer. As we are a monthly challenge and this month is December (the last month of the year, if you hadn't noticed!) the next time you see us we will be in 2023! I know I'm going to sound cliched, but my goodness this year has really flown!

Here's my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Polkadoodles Winni Sugar Sprinkles - Hi, it's me!

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Neat & Tangled - Hello There

Dies:

unbranded stitched rectangle set

Pretty Pink Posh - Scallops

Lawn Fawn - lawn cuts 'hello border'

Anything else:

Lawn Fawn stencil - Brick

Distress Ink

blending brush

wood effect card

And done! As with the previous post this will be the last time you will see me for Crafty Calendar Challenge, so I hope you all have a great Christmas period (if you celebrate) and see you either in the Challenge or here on my blog in 2023!

Sarah

Challenges:

Sweetie Christmas

Good morning blogland,

This is the first of two posts from me today.

As it's a Saturday it's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' Challenge - this time, as we are coming up on Christmas, we are having a month-long challenge. You probably won't be surprised to learn the theme is Anything Christmas, any type of craft is welcome but please remember there has to be some stamping (digital or rubber) on it somewhere.

This is my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Pollycraft - Happy Mail (no link as Pollycraft no longer exists)

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Altenew - Festive Sillouettes

Dies:

un-branded DL stitched dies set

Anything else:

Creative Expressions - Clouds stencil

Distress Inks

blending brush

red card

I'll be back myself (today, inf fact!) before the end of the Year but that's it from The Sweeties this year. I hope you all have a non-stressful run up to the Christmas season and as a pleasant a Christmas (if you celebrate) as is possible.  See you in 2023!

Sarah

White rabbit alike!

Good morning blogland,

I'ma flying through here - I ran out of time to schedule this post yesterday as TTT has a couple of friends here for a sleepover, went out for the day yesterday (Friday) and stayed up into the early hours to watch a meteorite storm, and in that rush I completely forgot to do my Sweet Stampin' post. So now I'm imitating the White Rabbit and shouting, 'I'm late, I'm late'.  Also one of the girls is getting picked up anytime now and then us and the other friend are off out to a performance of the Community Orchestra they play in. So a busy day again.

Right deep breath and post -

It's Saturday, again!, so it's time for a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and the theme this fortnight is 'Firsts'.  Please remember that we are a stamping challenge, your entry doesn't need to be a card - or even have colouring on it - but you do need to have either used a rubber or digital stamp to be in with a chance of being Top Pick!

So Firsts eh! Now this one really pickled my already aging brain.  I did one card, didn't like it, stewed on it and (as I'm a bit of a control freak) did another card.  Here comes the show and tell.

Card one: very simple 'First' - baby's First birthday.

Supplies used:

Digital stamp - Image:

Pollycraft - Superstar 2

coloured with Copics

(unfortunately Pollycraft no longer exists and so I can't link to the shop)

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

Extremely old chipboard number one

Glitter Kiss glitter on the star (hard to see in the photo)

And done, but not liked.

Card number two - this is a play on the 'If at first you don't succeed.....' quote, I guess you could give it to someone who is doing an exam of some sort? Maybe 1st driving test or 1st interview?  I dunno, but loved the Mo Manning image when I saw one of my Teamies use it earlier this year and, yes you guessed it, I went and brought it (plus others - I mean, who doesn't do that). I'm a potty mouth and have quite a sharp sense of humour (a standing joke in our house is that I tell hubby I'll be a very merry widow as I'm sure I'm going to outlive a man who is 9 1/2 years older than me!) and I would have put a swear word instead of 'beggars' and hexing those 'beggars' appealed to me.  I cleaned up the naughty word and this is card two:

Also fully glittered but hard to see in the photo - so her close up:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Mo's Digital Pencil - Flippin Fairy

coloured with Copics

Sentiment created in Publisher

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh - Scallop Borders 1

Un-branded stitched rectangle set

Anything else:

Honey Bee - Hexagon layering stencil

Memento Dew Drop Ink pad

stencilling brush

linen printed card

Glitter Kiss 

('cause it was left out from previous card and a girl can be glittery while not being pink!)

And done!

Tell me which one do you prefer?

Why not pop on over to the challenge blog and see what wonderful cards my Teamies have created - they are an amazing bunch of ladies and have created an amazing array of cards!

Right and I'm off, got things to do.

Will be back later to link to some challenges.

Sarah

Birthday Boy

Afternoon Blogland

Another lengthy pause between posts, not intentional it's just that I'm struggling at the minute to find the ooomph to blog. Always something else that needs doing, blogging will re-appear high on my to-do list again, it's just low priority right at the minute.

Doesn't mean to say I'm neglecting making cards - that I'm certainly not! Got proof as well in the form of the card I'm posting today.  No reason to make it at all, don't even know any birthday boys, just felt like colouring a Pollycraft image and this one jumped to the front of the pile!

Have to say this card did not end up looking anything like the idea I had at the start! I'm not impressed with the colouring of his face - I was going for the 'he's got a nose/snout' angle, don't think I quite got there though.  Also there wasn't going to be any patterned paper on the card at all and now there's loads, the card was going to be square, then a side fold 5x7, now it's a top fold 5x7.  Hoping I'm not alone in a finished card looking nothing like the start point, or I'll just have to acknowledge what I've always thought - I'm a total weirdo!!!

Here's the card:

Supplies used:

Digital Image:

Pollycraft - Marley's Party

(I don't know if you can get the image anywhere now since Pollycraft no longer exists)

coloured with my Copics

Papers:

BoBunny - Surprise collection

scrap of striped card from Anna Marie Designs

Dies:

Julie Hickey - Birthday

My Favorite Things - A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX

Die-namics - Photo Corners

Anything else:

Basic Gray - dark brown chipboard letters : for 'boy'

black card

white gel pen for highlights on image

3d foam squares (give the image a bit height by popping it on them)

I'm off now - it's Saturday which is pizza day in our house and, as I make the pizza from scratch, I've a fair amount of prepping to do! 

Signing off now,

see you soon,

Sarah

Challenges:

Passion for Markers: Week 640 - for the men/boys

Crafty Catz: #595 - Anything Goes - with optional twist masculine

The Cutie Pie Challenge: #171 - Digi's and Die Cuts

Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge #429 - Any Occasion

AAA Birthday: Game #37 - Let's Party

KISS with Chester!

Good morning blogland,

Today I am stepping over onto Team Susan - a big wave and hello Team Susan! - at Sweet Stampin' as I loved their challenge theme for this fortnight and really wanted to join in!

So what's the theme for the challenge that I liked so much? Well it's KISS -Keep It Sweet & Simple (CaS - Clean and Simple) makes. Now you I'm sure by now you know how much I like my CAS cards, so I couldn't help but join in! I also used one of my all time favourite digital stamps from one of my all time favourite digital stamp companies - very sadly no longer in business.

As always, as we are a stamping challenge, some stamping (digital or rubber) on your make is a must but other than that - follow the challenge theme and let go! 

This is my Chester make, and all together now - lets say 'awwwww':

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Pollycraft - Call me Chester (sadly no longer available)

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp (sentiment):

Neat and Tangled - Hello there

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh - hello friend

un-branded stitched rectangle die

Anything else:

Copic fineliner

Hobby House - flat backed gem

DL (slimline) card base

You really should pop over to the blog and check out what Team Susan have made this week - they are fabulous! Then go ahead, challenge yourself and why not join in our KISS challenge!

Signing off now,

see you soon,

Sarah

Challenge / s:

Cardz 4 Galz: #168 Zoo/Safari Animals

Time Out Challenges: Challenge 209 - Cute

Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge #424 - Any Occasion

Crafty Catz: #586 - Anything Goes (option - Spring colours)

Digi Choosday Challenge: Week 9 - Anything Goes

Gotta get my skates on

Good afternoon blogland,

Minimal chatting today - want to get this post linked up to a couple of challenges - so only subject of conversation is, isn't it turned cold!!!! Weather seemed to change overnight from 'ooh it's too warm to be November, feels more like September' to 'where's me blooming woolly hat at then, I'm freezing!'.

Also in my head I've taken a decision with those blooming Christmas cards, I will be separating making them out from the actual thing of Christmas itself - I mean I make all types of cards with no-one particularly in mind to send them to, just do it for the fun of 'making' so why not the same with Christmas cards? Makes me feel better than all the angst I have over not particularly liking Christmas itself.

So to join in with a challenge or two, here's my latest creation (please try to ignore the dodgy printing - my printer wants new ink and so is throwing it's dummy out of the pram):

Digital stamps:

Image:

Pollycraft - Maurice Christmas Socks

(coloured with Copics)

Sentiment:

From an etsy seller - a set of them listed as for making vinyl signage but I thought they're .pdf's so why wouldn't they work as sentiments. Proof in the pudding!

Patterned Paper:

First Edition - Arctic Wonder

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: Double Stitched Squares

Anything else:

MDF glittery triangles

What I did:

Re-sized and mooched around a bit with the image and sentiment until I was happy with how it looked, printed off onto Copic friendly paper (after swearing at the machine a couple of times because it's being a pest).

Coloured with Copics.

Die-cut with square die.

Die-cut a bit of patterned paper out with different sized die from same set.

Glued paper to 5x5 card base, popped 3d foam on the image panel and popped that onto the base.

Glued the corners onto the image panel.

et voila, job done!

I showed this card to TTT she actually laughed and said 'that's good!', of course then carried on with 'why are you making Christmas cards this early, don't you know it's a month off?' It seems parents are sooooo dim they don't know when Christmas is!!  Here's hoping someone can tell me, when should I expect it to be Christmas - please help out an old, out of date parent, eh! ;-)

Hope you are all well in blogland and I'm signing off now,

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge /s:

Passion for Markers: Week 618 - Anything Christmas

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Challenge #540 - Check it Out

Watercooler Wednesday: WWC 329 - Cathy's Challenge - All Things Masculine

As You Like It Challenge: Favourite - Dies v Stencils - for me dies all the time!  I have a few stencils (a steadily growing collection it has to be said!) but I'm much more of a die person, I just feel they either create a great embellishment or hide the fact I really cannot cut straight when used for matting and layering. 

 

Today is your day

Good morning blogworld

Been a quiet weekend chez Sarah, TTT went off on Saturday afternoon for a sleepover at a friends' house and wasn't collected until lunchtime Sunday - she doesn't do sleepovers very often at all (if she does the girls normally come to us) so it was very quiet, dare we say peaceful? Until she came back Sunday afternoon, then it was lots of homework and walk with friends (and their very cute puppy!)! She crashed Sunday evening and I'm just about to go up and 'try' to get her up for school!

The hubby and I also went and got my bike back from it's service - so all the quiet meant I had time to fit in both colouring and a quick bike ride in the glorious weather!

I thought I might add photographic evidence that when I talk about living in the middle of nowhere I do mean nowhere - a couple of photos from my bike ride, I only went on a 25 min loop around our house:

This is on far end of the loop, furthest from our house:

This is coming back home, you may just be able to see a house with chimney pots on it's own between a couple of trees - that's us!

Now, of much more interest, my card:

I used:

Image (digi):

Pollycraft - Retro Chester

coloured with Copics

Sentiment (inked):

Kaisercraft - Today

Dies:

Sunny Studio - Stitched circles: large and small

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: double stitched squares

Anything else:

red card

And that's it folks. 

Off to deal with the bus rush - wish me luck!

Signing off,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Passion for markers: Week 599 - animals

Allsorts challenge blog: Week 632 - masculine

Crafty Catz: #559 - Anything Goes (option - CAS with a sentiment)

Ahoy there!

 Hello blogworld

Still not quite back to routine yet following on from TTT's birthday.  Currently I'm on tea making duties while hubby is re-arranging the Teens room to put up the Tokyo Ghoul canvases she got for a birthday present.  He's also listening to the radio on an echo dot, another present and a total novelty for us - we've never had one before Tuesday!

So as I can't hang around long, I'll move swiftly onto my card:

I used:

Image: Pollycraft Digi Stamp - Cuthbert yo-ho
Catherine Pooler - All Around wishes 'day'
 Colouring: Copics
Dies: Sunny Studio - Happy

And that's the story folks! Oh, apart from I can't see the word 'happy' on it's side - so I'm not entirely sure this card works, but the family tells me I'm the oddball and they can see 'happy'! 

Signing off now,

Sarah

Challenge / s:

Passion for Markers: Week 597 - Keep it slim

Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Something beginning with B - Bear, Boat, Birthday (also skull and crossBones)!!!

The Cutie Pie Challenge: Challenge #160 - The Bear Essentials