Orange is the new orange!

Morning blogland,

It's Tuesday and therefore challenge time over at Passion for Markers and this week the theme has been picked by our Teamie Lorraine who chose 'use orange'.  Obviously this lends itself very well to all those Halloween themed cards, it can also be used in your Autumn cards or just as a colour choice.

We are sponsored this week by SheepSki Designs, the Etsy shop was shut but all the digis can be found on the blog here and there are some crackers!

This is the card I made with my digi stamp:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

SheepSki Designs - Shopping in Yorkshire

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

TimeForTea - City Break

Creative Expressions - Bold Words: Fabulous

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles set

Creative Expressions - Bold Words: Fabulous

Anything else:

Distress Ink

blending brushes

pearlescent misting spray

As you can see, I didn't go with either of the possible orange themes of Halloween or Autumn - I just went orange!  I was trying to create a bit of a shopping scene, and ended up with some sort of rainy evening glow cityscape.

It didn't go exactly as planned, but in the end I don't think it ended up too badly.

Looking forward to see what everyone else makes of the 'orange' theme.

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Colourful Options: Oct 26 - as you can see my card concentrates on orange

The Neglected Stuff Challenge: October 26 - everything on my card is at least a year old.  Special mention must be made for the Distress Ink pads though, they must be at least 8 years old and I'm surprised they still have ink in them!

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #840 Birthday

A Cut Above: October Challenge 2026

Inspiration Station: Oct 26 - photo prompt.  Tho I love that cat - it's the colour that I'm using for inspiration.

Not a cat person?

Then probably best to look away for this post!

Morning blogland,

It's Tuesday and so time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers challenge, this week our Teamie Sue picked the theme and she's chosen 'Lots of layers'.  This weeks' sponsor is Clearly Besotted and there is a great prize on offer for one lucky, randomly chosen winner.

As always you do have to follow the rules to be in with a chance of winning the prize or being picked as a Top 5 Pasionista and those rules are : use your markers (any brand); follow the theme and don't backlink

As for the 'cat person' bit - well once you've looked at the card, I think you'll understand!

Said card:

Supplies used:

Digi stamp:

Polkadoodles - Cat Naps - Honeypie

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions: Simple Strips - Meow

Dies:

Taylored Expressions: Simple Strips - Well Rounded

un-branded stitched rectangle

MFT - Die-namics: Blueprints - 1

Polkadoodles - Big Hello sentiment die set

Paper:

Dovecraft - Sugar & Spice

Anything else:

Indentz : Swirls embossing folder

sequins for the shaker

red card for matting

To be totally honest - I was more a dog person when I met 'Im Indoors but, with him being allergic to dog fur and so having always had cats as pets, I've turned into a cat/dog person. 

I'd really love to have the sort of dog we had in my childhood - a wonderfully daft Golden Lab or big shaggy Alsatian or (with our wonderful Sola) an Alsatian/Irish Wolfhound mix, but every time I mention it said 'Im Indoors asks me if I really would enjoy living on my own! 

Also TTT threatens to disown me if I get a dog, she's not frightened of dogs by any means but 100% prefers a cat. So I'm, by default, because of family commitments, a servant of cats.

Anyways - there's my many layered card and the story behind the meaning of the sentiment.  I hope you all have as much fun with the theme as I did, and I look forward to seeing your entries.

See you soon,

Sarah

Shopping our Stash: SOS582 - Who's Who.  So my stash items were the embossing folder, the die-namics dies, the patterned paper and the sequins.  Although to be fair everything else must be at least 6 months old as well.

Try it on Tuesday: Emboss it. My embossing is the back of the shaker pocket.

A Cut Above: Sept 26 - AG

Polkadoodles Challenge: Challenge 9, Wk 1 - AG

Splish, Splash

 Good morning blogland,

It's challenge time!  Crafty Calendar Challenge is back from our Summer holidays and a new challenge starts today.  

Even though it's officially the start of Autumn we are still holding onto those Summer vibes at CCC and so the theme this month is 'Summer', as always this is a very easy going challenge.  We only have a few rules, which are : follow the theme, no backlinking and a maximum of 3 entries per person.

As always everyone who enters and follows the rules is entered into a prize draw, with a randomly drawn winner and this time the prize is from Lili of the Valley.  We do also have Top 3 Picks chosen from all the entries by the Design Team.

Onto the card I made for this challenge:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Saturated Canary - Snorkelling

coloured with my copics

Polkadoodles - Coral Mermaid

for the sentiment

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Paper:

Papermania - Retro Florals paper pack

Anything else:

distress inks and blending brushes for the panel behind the image

vellum for the layer above the image

red and blue lightweight card for matting

self-adhesive gems

A much more layered card than I normally make but, from its start as a very clean and simple card, it just seemed to evolve into this!

On a personal note, did I tell anyone that I got a Cricut Joy Xtra for my birthday? It's something I'd thought about for a very long time, then saw a 2nd hand one on ebay for a very reasonable price and told 'Im Indoors that that was my birthday present.  I'm finding it a little erratic - not the machine itself, that works fine, but how the overall Design Space programme works and the results I then get.  

I do one thing that I think will get me 'that' and instead it seems to give me 'this' - I've still not worked out what it is I'm doing wrong. However, for this card, it gave me exactly what I wanted!  A nicely fussy cut out digi stamp (I'm a very messy fussy cutter!) and the sentiment looking like it had been cut with a die. 

I am also determined to not let it beat me!  I will learn!

So there, that's my little bit of sharing of a Summer event - now I'm looking forward to seeing all the left over Summer vibes that your projects conjure up!

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Krafty Chicks Challenge: #836 - Birthsday

Creative Knockouts: #578 - Lots of Layers

Tic Tac Toe Challenge: TTTC300 - Bottom Row: Die-cut/Punch \ Patterned Paper \ Bright Colours

Crafty Gals Corner: #279 - AG / optional Summer Vibes

So who's been on their jollies then?

 Good evening blogland

It's time for the August release for All Dressed Up Stamps and this time we have a mermaid and a young lady off on her jolly holidays.

I have to admit I wasn't entirely sure what to do with this image - whether to keep it all together, cut the extra clothes off;  cut the extra clothes up individually, so many options!  In the end, as I'm on a bit of a shaker streak - I decided another shaker card!

This, then, is what I made:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Holiday Girl

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Creative Craft Products - Notched Edge Supersize Nestables

Anything else:

sequins and seeds for the shaker

an extremely old pre-printed / foiled sentiment from Craftwork Cards

That's it really - it is, in essence quite a simple card but it does look (even though I say so myself) quite an effective card.

Also if you get time, why not pop on over to the Facebook Group and have a look at the my Teamies lovely examples for this months' two new releases.  If you are more a blogger sort of person - my blogging Teamies have made some wonderful cards as well.

And completely off of cards - Chez Sarah has been off on our jolly hollies.  Thought to be fair not all of it was jolly - we went off to Inverness for a week, and it was a bit of an eventful week! Started off with a fault on the car, which meant that we were stuck in Dunfermline for nearly a whole day so missed a trip on a preserved railway on the way up to Inverness.  We were eventually on our way with the help of a wonderful AA man, after we had been let down by the AA on the phone.  So got to Inverness, found the block of flats, but had a tense time trying to find which flat was our one!  Rest of week went well saw lots of lovely places - Inverness itself with the Castle and Cathedral, Loch Ness, Dunrobin Castle by train, even the trip home was good - we got re-booked onto the missed train journey.  But right as we got home we hit traffic and roadworks, still got here eventually!

And on that cheerful note, I'm finishing my waffle and heading off to bed!

Be back soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

Allsorts Challenge: Colours of summer / AG - I think mine is probably (although a bit of a Summer theme) more AG

Polkadoodles Challenge: Anything Goes

All About Papercraft: Challenge #8 - Frames (there is a frame around the shaker window)

Just Us Girls: #835 - Die week

Like buses....

 things come in three's don't they?

Good morning blogland,

And the reason for this rambling? It's because it's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers.  This week the theme has been set by our lovely Teamie Lorraine and now it's where the three thing comes from, she would like to see a project made where you use 'three of something'.  

As always our normal rules apply - you must use your markers (any brand); follow the theme and no backlinking. 

For this challenge we are sponsored by All Dressed Up stamps and there is a lovely prize for one lucky winner drawn at random.  Now ordinarily I would be saying that ADU also let the the Design Team use a digi - which did happen - but! I'm on the DT for ADU so I used one of the digis that I already own and, here's where the but comes in, it's no longer in the shop!!

There are, however, many other lovely images you can buy and then do a similar thing with that I've done.  Take a look at the card and I'll explain:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up: Pool Ready

(edited to add - the digi has been restored to the shop!)

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Concord & 9TH : Fashion Shoppe stamp set

Dies:

Catherine Pooler : fabulous

un-branded stitched rectangle

Anything else:

another rectangular die to make the 3 line corner doodles

red self-adhesive gems

Copic fineliner

So, the digi, I took the whole image which is a full length stamp of a girl ready for the pool with tote bag and then zoomed in on the upper body.  I then cropped it when I was happy with the image I'd created and then spun it but then spun it back again once I decided on placement.  I then just printed, cut and coloured as normal. Oh and for added ingenuity - the stamp I used actually has the word 'fabulous' but I masked it and added 'fabulous' as a die-cut instead.

Now there are a few digis that you can do this with if you go have a wander around the etsy shop - Play Day; any one of the girls in Winter Walks; Love to Dance or Beret Girl, to name just a few.

I suppose you could say this is the perfect example of a 'Design Team' card - the actual stamp isn't currently for sale, but the idea is a spring board.

I really am very curious to see what you will all come up with!

See you soon,

Sarah

Challenge/s:

We Love Stamping: July 26 - Summertime or AG

Crafty Catz: #718 - AG

Just Add Ink: #790 - Dies and/or Stencils - as you can see no stencils but I have used 2 dies (or three if you count that I used a die to create the corner lines)

Tic Tac Toe: no:297 - Middle Row: Any colour / free / sentiment

Bit of a shaker

Morning blogland,

This was made for the All Dressed Up stamps July new release and shared over at the All Dressed Up facebook group.  As always Wendy (the designer) has presented us with some super cute digis and my Teamies have come up with some gorgeous cards.  I really would suggest you take a peak - even if you don't particularly want any ADU stamps - the cards made with the stamps are just gorgeous.

And here's my contribution to all this loveliness! 

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up : Play Day

coloured with my Copics

Rubber Stamp:

Woodware : Word Fragments

Dies used:

un-branded stitched rectangles

My Favorite Things : Die-namics - Forever Friends

Papers:

First Edition - Blank Canvas

Extremely old piece of 12x12 patterned paper that I couldn't find a label on

Anything else:

gems and sequins for the shaker

And the ' bit of a shaker' - well I'm on a bit of a shaker maker roll at the minute, with this being the (I think) third shaker card I've made in probably three weeks.  It does come to a stop with the next one though, I got a bit pressed for time and went back to my usual clean lines style.

If you're not a Facebook fan we do also have a challenge blog where there is even more Design Team inspiration for you to take a look at.

Aaaaand I think that's about it for now folks.

Be seeing ya!

Sarah

Challenge/s:

AAA Colourful: colourboard #29

Gem of a Challenge: Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

All About Papercraft challenges: #7 All about friendship

Cardz 4 Girlz: #280 - For a friend or friendship

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

It's anniversary time!

 Morning blogland,

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers and normally you wouldn't see me there this week but it's a special one and so both Teams are involved!

And why is it special I might hear you asking - well it's because it's Passion for Markers 17th Anniversary!  I do actually remember the blog challenge starting - and it being a ProMarker challenge blog, I might even have entered, I can't remember but I probably did.  

As it's such a big number - it's also a big prize week.  I'm not going to repeat all the prizes on offer - best to go visit the blog for that - what I will say is it's an 'Anything Goes' themed week to make it easy for you to pop an entry in.  The rules do still apply - use your markers, don't backlink and follow the theme - but such an easy theme this week.

My card for this week is:

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:

Kanban Crafts : Urban Belles - birthday

Catherine Pooler - Hey, Hey, Hey sentiment stamp set

as always my stamp was coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Catherine Pooler - Hey word die

Paper:

My Mind's Eye - Bloom & Grow

Limetree Craft - blue light card for the matt

Now I started out with ProMarkers and quickly found that I preferred Copics so I drifted a bit, then I stopped crafting for a number of  years and so I wouldn't have participated in every challenge over these 17 years, but I'm pretty sure I have entered a lot and I was so super proud when I was asked to be on the Design Team.  I also think it will take an Earthquake to get me to leave! Even if my crafting at the minute is restricted to 30 mins slots to take account of a DVT in my leg!

I also thought, seeing as how it was a card for a challenge that has been going for a long time - I'd also use supplies that I've had for a long time.  That would be the stamp, That has 2010 as the date printed on the packet, and the paper also looks like 2010 from a quick Google search!

See when I say I've been crafting forever I mean forever - those supplies are new, as far as I'm concerned!  The Catherine Pooler stuff is the proper newest supplies!

So there, I've waffled on for ages - I'll finish by saying both pop on over to the challenge blog there are some wonderful cards on display and - Many Happy Returns Passion for Markers and here's to another 17 years!!

Sarah

Challenge/s:

The Neglected Stuff Challenge - May 2026: The only even 'newish' thing is the 'hey' die. Everything else on the card varies from 1 year to 16 years old..

Dragonfly Dreams: May challenge - use die-cuts.

Just Us Girls: #823 - Word Week: Flowers.  Hopefully flowers on the paper is OK?

Allsorts Challenge: Challenge 849 - Monochromatic (or AG - as you can see I'm going with AG)

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

Flowers everywhere

 almost - anyway!

Morning blogland,

It's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers and this week our Teamie Marie has her pick of theme and she's chosen 'make it bloom'.  So for this week we'd love to see your creations with flowers - in the image, on the paper, embellishments - everywhere or where ever you like, just as long as there are flowers some where on your project.

We are sponsored this week by the always super cute All Dressed Up Stamps and, as always, there is a lovely prize for one lucky winner from our sponsor and Top 5 badges on offer as well.  Although please do make sure you keep to the rules - use your makers, follow the theme and don't backlink - to be in with a chance at the prize.

So my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Potted Plants

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle set

My Favorite Things - Big Hugs Circle Frame

Creative Craft Products - Nestables Circles set

Anything else:

Scraps of wrapping paper for the shaker background

some linen effect light card

sparkly things for shaker 'sprinkles'

I'm not 100% sure why I've made a few shaker cards lately - probably because I'm short on time and haven't cleared my desk since the first shaker card.  I keep using bits that I have lying about on my desk! Once I have a little more 'me' time I will no doubt clear my desk and move on from shakers. For now though it's fun.

Anyways, there you go.  And I'm looking forward to seeing all the flowery entries.

See you soon,

Sarah

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

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.

Stash used!

Good morning blogland

It's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers and this week it's my turn to pick the theme! First off we are sponsored by Polkadoodles with a great prize for one lucky randomly drawn winner.  To be in with a chance to win it doesn't matter what you make, but you do have to use your markers (whatever brand) and follow the theme.  

Aha, I hear you say, but what is the theme you have picked Sarah? Well I thought it can't be too hard for you to 'shop your stash'.  What with it only having been Christmas recently (maybe you treated yourself) then the January Sales (another treat) but then, oh no! it's February and I've no money for craft shopping.

So why not go shopping in what you already have, but haven't used?  So all I would really like you to do is tell us what you pulled out of those deep, dark, crafty drawers and used on your projects.  Here, I'll go first:

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

Polkadoodles - Bookworm / study Rebel

coloured with my Copics 

Dies:

un-branded rectangle stitched dies 

Pretty Pink Posh - Eyelet Borders 

PaperRose - Hello Large Layered Die 

Paper:

First Edition - New Bloom

black card

stripey card

And how did I shop my stash? Well, the Copics are over 10 years old; the stitched dies are at least 5 years old, as is the Pretty Pink Posh eyelets, but used all the time.  The perfect 'shop your stash' bit is the 'Hello' die - now I brought that at least 2 years ago, but this is the first time it's been out the packet - I am soooo bad!

The paper pack has got to be at least 7 years old, then the black card and black/white stripe card maybe 3 or 4?  Not sure there.

The only new thing on this card is the image - which I was allowed to have as part of Passion for Markers DT.  Not bad, eh!

I really am looking forward to this one - I do hope we get more than 5 entries because I'm truly looking forward to see what people can dig out of their craft stash to see the light of day!

Hope to see you soon,

Sarah

Challenge /s :

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Gem of A Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

As You Like It - Cute or Elegant (and why) Hello - long time no see!  I'm finally trying to get back to entering challenges and here I am!  Whilst I do like making elegant cards, more often than not I do Cute.  So I'd have to say Cute - it's who I am!! :-)

What's your favourite then?

 Good morning blogland

What a start we've had to 2026 Chez Sarah - so many things gone wrong, but deep breath and motor on, put it all to one side and make this post is all about the new challenge over at Passion for Markers. 

This week our lovely Teamie Marlene has set the challenge which is 'Favourite colours' and our sponsor - with a great prize for one lucky winner  - is 

The DT are very kindly always allowed a digi to use and this is my make with that digi:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Colour of Love - Wish upon a Star Dreamer

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - Birthday

Dies:

unbranded stitched rectangle

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - asymmetrical

And, other than some 3d foam pads, that's it folks!  This time I concentrated on creating a scene (the digi is just the girl on the cloud with stars dotted about), rather than using lots of dies and papers.  I did that mostly because I was running late with this card and I get more enjoyment out of colouring than 'arranging'!

Also, the challenge part of the card - my favourite colours.  I find I tend to go for the purples and greens in my Copics, time after time, sometimes a bit of blue gets thrown in but not always.  Something I do use quite a lot, and is a favourite, is colour my character with red hair, so my favourite colours have evolved as purple, green and red (hair)!

Anyways got to go, got to drive a daughter back to University!

See you soon,

Sarah