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

Round like a...

 circle

Hi blogland

New Tuesday, new challenge.  This week over at Passion for Markers it's Team 1 with you again and my wonderful Teamie Sue picked the challenge theme of 'use a circle'.  We also have a fabulous sponsor in the shape of RAM Stamps with a lovely prize for the winner.

Just a gentle reminder here that we are a marker challenge and to be in with a chance of winning the prize you have to use your markers (any brand) and follow the theme.

This is what I made with the digi that, as part of the DT, I was allowed to pick:

Supplies used:

Digi stamp:

RAM Stamps - 'You Can Do It'

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle

I&O Stitched Circles - My Favorite Things: Die-namics

Big Hug Circle Frame - My Favorite Things: Die-namics

Anything else:

glitter

acetate

flower mdf embellishment

Phew - I am glad this card is done.  It was really more a case of 'can I do it?' rather than 'You Cand Do It'! My printer gave me gyp (to the point of swearing), then gave up the ghost.  The shaker part decided to go both wonky and dictate where I put the image as you could see the 3d foam through the acetate.  The 'Big Hugs' die just would not cut cleanly - I ended up going over it 3 times with light card to get a good impression and the flower embellishment got glue all over it!  The list of woes just goes on and on!  Still I did get there in the end.

TTT likes it - she has a really strange liking for shaker cards.  You'd think at almost 18 she'd grown out of liking to shake a card and watch the glitter move, but no that's what she does on the rare occasion I make a shaker card - shakes it!

And that's it folks, please pop on over to the challenge to admire my Teamies gorgeous cards and I'll see you back here at some point.

Cheerio

Sarah

Pastel tones

 Good morning blogland,

It's time for another Passion for Markers challenge, with our lovely Teamie Lorraine being the person in charge.  She's picked the theme of 'Pastel colours' for this week and with our sponsor being Lili of the Valley it's a wonderful pick.

To win the prize on offer you do have to follow the rules of using your markers and following the theme, then let your imagination go!

This is my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Jasmine - Laptop

coloured using Copcs

Rubber stamp:

Catherine Pooler - Everybody say happy Stamp Set

I used the word 'birthday' off a larger stamp from this set.

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles set

Penny Black - happy edger

Paper:

First Edition - Up, up and away

Anna Marie Designs - linen effect card

anything else:

self-adhesive gems

And that's it from me, so c'mon folks get those markers out and come join in the fun!

See you soon,

Sarah

Doubling it

Hello blogland

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

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

This is my inspiration card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up stamp - Flower Fairy

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Little Darlings Rubber stamps - Garden Sentiments

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle dies

Anything else:

flat backed gems

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

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up digi - Little lamb

coloured with my Copics

The 'ewe are' was text added in with Publisher

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

Made to Surprise by Sam Calcott - Chunky Alphabet Die

flat backed self-adhesive pearls

Distress Inks and a home-made cloud stencil

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

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

See you soon,

Sarah

Playing serious catch-up here

 Good evening blogland,

I have to be honest and say, as you've probably noticed, that I'm not doing much with my blog at the minute.  What with working (supposedly part-time but more like 3/4 time just recently) and running around taking TTT to Uni Open Days and Offer Holder Days over the last few months, I've not had that much time, or that much inclination to blog.  So I've been scheduling posts and then not really coming back to the blog in-between times - that system is wonderful when it works, I've just noticed it's not been working perfectly!

I seem to missing two cards for one challenge and one (possibly more I'm going to have to check) for another challenge. It appears I've been a bit silly and the mistake is that I'm rushing and I think I've put the wrong year for the post to be published! But now double checking that I'm not sure it is that and if it isn't I've no idea what I've done - maybe it's Blogger not me!

So I'm here to play catch-up with the latest Crafty Calendar Challenge and then I'll do a separate post with the other cards I've missed.

The current challenge theme for this month (just to be clear that is April 2025!) is 'Feminine' - this is a very easy going challenge, no special rules or use something in particular, just create something crafty and share it. 

To follow the theme of my running out of time, this is a card I made but never shared.

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Saturated Canary - Teensized

coloured with my Copics

Rubber Stamps:

Whimsy Stamps - Fantabulous phrases

Anything else:

a Honey Doo stencil

Distress Inks

Blender brush

dotty card

pearl drops

Confession time over now! Let's hope that I manage to keep up with Challenges and manage to blog on time now that I know what I'm doing wrong - but, me being me, I doubt it!

I'll be back shortly, in the meantime thanks for bearing with me and why not pop over to the Challenge blog and pop in an entry. you'd be most welcome!

Sarah

3, 2, 1, Go!

Morning blogland,

Well it would appear we've spun around another week and now it's Tuesday again with a new challenge from Passion for Markers and this week it's my turn to set the theme of the week.  I chose to go with '3, 2, 1, Go!' - which is just a fancy way of saying use 3, 2 and 1 one thing on your project, but as always (as we are a marker challenge) you must use your markers in there somewhere.  For me that's always simple as I colour a stamped / digital image - but they can be used anyway you like as long as they are used.

Our generous sponsor this week is Dies to Die For who are offering one lucky winner a prize of a £15.00 voucher to spend in their online store.  

So onto my card, for which I used 3 dies, 2 patterned papers and 1 stamped image.

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp (one of)

Toni Heart Balloon - Make it Crafty Stamps

coloured with my Copics

Designer papers (two of)

echo park paper - Sweet Girl

Anna Marie Designs - striped paper

Dies (three of)

Creative Designs - A2 essentials Landscape Card Die set

(I used the base card creator and front panel dies from this set)

Creative Expressions - Nobel Collection: Double Stitched Rectangles (one die from this set)

Aaaaand that's it folks - 3 dies, 2 papers and one stamp and the card was done - plus bonus I'm pretty sure the patterned paper and the stamp came from Dies to Die For!  I figure if it needs a sentiment I'll add one if it's ever used, otherwise it'll just sit with the hundred others in a box waiting for the grand day.

My Teamies have created some wonderful cards using my recipe, please pop on over to the challenge to see them and then why not whizz up a recipe of your own and join in.  I won't promise but I would hope it would be fun! :-)

See you soon,

Sarah

Is Spring sprung?

Good morning blogland,

Am here today with my post for the new challenge starting today at Passion for Markers, the theme this week is 'Spring colours' picked by our Teamie Sue.  Our sponsor is Colour of Love and there is a great prize of 3 digi images on offer for one lucky winner. 

Please do remember to follow the theme and that this is a challenge for those of you who love your markers and so those must be used on your project.  

As the sponsor for this week's challenge Colour of Love allowed the DT to have a digi and this is my card made with that digi:

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

Colour of Love - Sugi Spring Blossom Dress

coloured with my Copics

Stamps used:

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: Friendship

Dies:

Pretty Pink Posh- Scallop Borders 1

Suny Studio Stamps - Stitched circles

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: well rounded

Paper:

BoBunny - Country Garden Collection

Anything else:

self-adhesive gems

And that's about it folks, do pop over to the challenge blog and admire my Teamies cards.  They've all interpreted Spring colours much better than I have (I feel I've gone a little too Summer!) and then add your own card - it's fun to join in!

See you soon,

Sarah

All things girly

Morning blogland,

This post is for the new challenge starting today over at Passion for Markers and this week the theme is 'For the Girls'. I do hope you'll play along - the theme was my pick this week - eeek!

We have a lovely prize on offer by the always fabulous Paper Shelter and they also allowed the DT to pick a digital stamp to use for our makes.

So this is my card with that stamp:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

The Paper Shelter - Vintage Amy

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Woodware - Word Fragments 2

Dies:

My Favorite Things - Fishtal Foundations + Inside and Out circles

un-branded stitched rectangles

Paper:

First Edition - Love Letters

I find it odd how cards go together sometimes - sometimes I know exactly what I want to do, but others I surf and surf and surf, think I've found an idea but then it ends up not really looking like the that idea at all.  Then I find a scrap of paper (as with the striped bit on this card) or a discarded die-cut and 'boom' that's exactly what I wanted! Strange old world.

Anyways, enough rambling from me - pop on over to the challenge, why don't you - you'll find some wonderful cards and a great prize on offer.

Aaand that's it from me folks - I'll catch you next time I'm in blogland!

Sarah

Let's celebrate

 Evening blogland,

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

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

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Sparkle

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Taylored Expressions ; Simple Strips - Background

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Bold Words: Celebrate

Taylored Expressions - Simple Strips: Asymetrical

un-branded stitched rectangles

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

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

See you soon

Sarah

Very late!

 Morning blogland,

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

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

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Skater

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Creative Expressions - Festive Wishes

Dies:

My Favorite Things - Fishtail Foundations

Memory Box - Snowflake Corner

un=branded stitched rectangles

Anything else:

random piece of patterned paper

flat backed gems

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

See you soon,

Sarah

Hello - again!

Morning blogland,

Just a flyer of a post.  I realised last night that I've not posted the September New Release for All Dressed Up yet! Ooops! 

So this image was released on the 7th and is called Autumn Fairy - how appropriate - and this is the card I made:

 Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Autumn Fairy

coloured with my Copics

Dies:

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: double stitched squares

Time for Tea Designs - Hey Hello Hi sentiment die set

Paper:

My Mind's Eye - On the Bright Side

Anything else:

Copic fineliner for doodling

And that's about it folks - I'm off to work in a little bit. The extension is still being worked on, the tiling is starting to look very good and I'll show progress pictures another day.  TTT is out at School (she was feeling under the weather earlier this week and stayed home) and him indoors is being, well 'im indoors!

Hope everyone is well.

Sarah

It's hip to be square

 Good morning blogland

Another week has whizzed by, which means it's now a new Tuesday and a new challenge over at Passion for Markers.  This week the lovely Marlene has picked the theme - and she's chosen 'Hip to be square' which pretty much just means a square card and/or anything square in your design.

We are sponsored by RAM Stamps who very kindly allowed the DT to use images from the new release and the prize is a £10.00 voucher to use in the online shop.

This is the card I made for the challenge:

Supplies used:

Digital stamps (image and sentiment):

RAM - Candy Shop

coloured with my Copics

Die used:

Creative Expressions - Noble Collection: double stitched squares

Anything else:

Distress Inks

blending brush

square flat backed gems

The sentiment I printed on a piece of Copic friendly light card and then mask off the middle third and blended / splattered over some Distress Inks.  Printed off the image onto the same card, coloured it then fussy cut it out and popped it onto the same bit of distress inked card.  Added the square (keeping to the theme!) gems and - voila the card you see before you.

And that is really it folks, hopefully I'll be back soon.  In the meantime hope you get a chance to pop over to the challenge blog, even if you don't use Copics - there's some fabulous inspiration there - and if you do use Copics pop over and get in an entry!

See you soon,

Sarah

Ready, steady, bake!

Good morning blogland,

I think, at the moment, you must all realise if I'm posting it's a new challenge time - that's all the time I appear to have available to blog at the moment!

So as this is a new post, let's tell you about the accompanying challenge, shall we? This time it's for Sweet Stampin' and this fortnight the theme is 'Cakes and Baking'.  As always this is both a 'for fun' challenge - so no sponsors or prizes - and the only rules are follow the theme and stamp somewhere on your project.  We don't mind if it's rubber or digi, but you must stamp somewhere.

Again, being strapped for time, this card comes from the vaults so made ages ago but not blogged.  

Supplies used:

Rubber stamp:

The Greeting Farm - Miss Anya: Anya Treats

coloured with my Copics

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Birthday

Dies:

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Well Rounded

Pretty Pink Posh

un-branded stitched rectangles

Designer Paper:

Bo Bunny: Ambrosia

Anything else:

Flat backed gems

 And that's about it folks,  Only thing left to add is why not pop over to the challenge, admire the wonderful cards my Teamies have made and pop a card in yourselves.  We'd be pleased to see you!

Cheerio for now,

Sarah

Many wishes

Good morning blogland,

It's another Tuesday morning which means it's time for a new challenge over at Passion for Markers.  This time our theme, picked by our fab Teamie Marie, is 'Add a sentiment'.

We are sponsored by Colour of Love, with a great 3 digi images prize for one lucky winner, and the DT were very kindly allowed some images to use.  This is my card, made with one of those images:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

Colour of Love: Senara Mer

coloured with my Copics

Sentiment stamp:

taylored expressions: Simple Strips - Birthday

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Well Rounded

Anything else:

Various cards to matt and layer

Please pop over to the blog and take a look at my Teamies wonderful creations - they have all been a lot more inventive with layouts and colours than I have!  There are really some wonderful cards over on the blog.

On a personal note  it's a busy week for us (either nothing happens in this house or it all happens at once)!  TTT arrived back from her 2 weeks in London on Saturday and goes straight in for her Driving Theory Test today (Tues) then it's a second visit to Bishop Grosseteste University on Friday.  Let's hope she passes the Theory, eh - maybe a two weeks away right before a test wasn't the best of planning!  

I'll let you know how it goes!

See you soon,

Sarah

See

Oh so quiet!

Good morning blogland

Can you believe it's August already, it really feels like this year is just flying, but as it is August (and the first Saturday) it's time for the new challenge over at Crafty Calendar Challenge.  We don't have a sponsor for this month but instead have a prize of a set of 2 Studio Light 'Grunge' stamps and an 'Anything Goes' theme.

This means the Design Team could use and make whatever they felt like however, as I'm still super busy at work, I had to dip into the vault to find a card I've not shared before.  I made this one for TTT's 16th birthday last year, but never got round to sharing. Here it is now:

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

Some Odd Girl - Cat Lady Kaylee

coloured with my Copics when I also made her a floor to sit on

Rubber stamp:

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Birthday

Dies:

taylored expressions - Simple Strips: Asymmetrical

un-branded stitched rectangle set

Anything else:

Pretty Pink Posh  - Layered Hearts

Distress Ink

blending brush

And that's it for card stuff.  

On a personal note TTT is now at the end of her first week on the London residential Summer School for Psychologists in UCL.  She was really tired and homesick at the beginning but seems to have settled down now and is enjoying learning about all the different careers you can have as a Psychologist.  

It is very quiet here though with just me and TBDH left at home.  A small taster of what it will be like when she heads off to University this time next year!  

That is actually it from me now,

See you later,

Sarah

Oh so pretty!

Good morning blogland,

It's a new week and so a new challenge is underway at Passion for Markers.  This week the sponsor is Di's Digi Stamps with a prize for one lucky winner of a £6.00 voucher.

The theme this week is 'Pretty Pastels' and was chosen by my wonderful Teamie  - Lisa.  As always there are only a couple of rules and they are - use your markers and follow the theme!

This is my card:

Supplies Used:

Digital Stamp:

Lili of the Valley - Bobby Socks (which I think is retired now)

coloured with my Copics

Rubber stamp:

Creative Craft Products - Funny Sentiments

Stencil:

Creative Expressions - Scattered Hearts

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangles set

Anything else:

gems

flat back pearls

blending brush

Distress Inks

That's it about it folks - if we keep going as we are, I'll see you for the next challenge.

Sarah

Seashells on the seashore

Good evening blogland,

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

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

This, however, is my card:

Supplies used:

Digital stamp:

All Dressed Up - Seashells

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

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle die set

Creative Expressions - mini expressions duo: Friends are like seashells

Anything else:

striped card

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

See you soon,

Sarah

Being sentimental

 Morning blogland,

It's the first Saturday of the month - July already! Whose stolen 2024, I can't believe we are 6 months in already! So that means there's a new challenge over at the Crafty Calendar Challenge blog and this month our theme is 'Add a sentiment'.  

This month our lovely sponsor is SheepSki Designs, with a great prize for the lucky winner.  As always our Challenge blog accepts all sorts of crafts - you just have to follow the theme!

I was kindly allowed to choose a digital stamp and this is the card I made with that digi:

Supplies used:

Digital Stamp:

SheepSki Designs - Whisper

coloured with my Copics

Rubber Stamps:

Concord & 9th - Fashion Shoppe Stamp Set

Catherine Pooler - Just Plain Fabulous Sentiments Stamp Set

Dies:

un-branded stitched rectangle dies set

Stencil:

Honey Doo Crafts

Anything else:

Distress Ink

striped card

And that's it folks - other than to say please pop on over to the challenge blog and take a look at the fab cards my Teamies have made.  It's worth the visit!

See you soon,

Sarah