Wednesday 31 December 2014

Happy Dancing in progress ... so excited!


You possibly think I'm partying like crazy for New Year
as is probably the case but the REAL reason for my happy dance is 
I've got some exciting news to share ....

To be honest I've been itching to share this for a few weeks
and I was expecting to schedule my post for NYD but due to
worldwide time differences I've been given the nod to 
'spill the beans' today and what better time when it's
a New Year ... YIPPEE

So without further ado ...

Recently there's been a DT call at
Addicted to Stamps and More 
 I took the plunge ... and (suspense is killing me here!)
I've been accepted!


There's been quite a few comings and goings on the ATSM DT
and I can't wait to get stuck in with my first challenge in 2 weeks time.
Please keep your eyes out for that one

The super talented Design Team are from all over the world,
they are a really fun and happy bunch and I'm so looking forward
to working alongside them and getting to know them better.

Our AMAZING team leader is Kylie who recently created my 
blog header, signature and watermarks and I decided to make this 
announcement by creating a card for one of her other challenge blogs 
which until now I seem to have missed!

Happy Little Stampers
There's a magnificent sketch which is so appropriate for 
New Year and my card, I hope, shows an explosion!



Card Recipe:
 Uniko Studio: Decorative Doilies / Hands of Time stamp
which is heat-embossed in WOW metallic silver sparkle EP.
Clearly Besotted: Say it in Style sentiment
For that extra bling ... couldn't resist
gems and candy dots from my stash

So if you have a burst of creative energy and feel like
getting crafty then why not have a go at this superb challenge.

Thanks again for stopping by and all that's left for me to add is 

Have a Happy New Year

Sarah

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Let's Have a Party


Hello friends and followers thanks for stopping by today.

Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas time with family
and looking forward to 2015 festivities.

As well as celebrating the New Year it's party time for
our daughter ... she'll be 17 on New Year's Day!
She was 1 of 4 babies born on that day in our tiny
local maternity unit so we had our own little party.

Here's a card I've made for her and to link to some challenges


Card Recipe:
MFT Die-namics - Pierced Rectangles
Paper Smooches - City Skyline die
Clearly Besotted - Say it in Style sentiment
Distress inks, perfect pearls, glossy accents

Challenges:

CASology - Light
Inkspirational - Photo inspiration

   


I'll be back on New Years Day with some exciting news ....
so do hope you'll call back then and in the meantime
have a Fabulous New Year's Eve.


Sarah

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Christmas is Here!


Yeah ... well almost! 
Just a few hours away until midnight here in the UK.

My card today is to for all my AMAZING
Blog buddies, DT buddies and wonderful followers.
Here's wishing each one of you, in whatever part of the world you live,
 a Fantastic Christmas and New Year

 I've met but a few of you yet feel I've known you all forever.
Your comments, inspiration and friendship are hugely valued and
I'm certainly looking forward to more fun and crafting with you next year!


I was going to go with a crazy, silly card but went for the 
heartfelt one instead ... and it wouldn't be a blog post 
if I didn't enter a few challenges - so here goes ...

Addicted to Stamps & More: Anything Goes 
(optional twist 'Love')
Whoops! Quick edit here - I missed the boat at 
Addicted to Stamps & More but as luck would have it
I realised this could definitely fit in at 
CAS on Sunday: Christmas
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Time Out Challenge: Word inspiration
(Christmas is Love with all the Trimmings)


For your blog
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog   Grab Our Badge!

Card Recipe:
Impression Obsession: Heart Die
Pink Petticoat: Sentiment
DP: Papermania & DCWV

So if you find yourselves a little bored and stuck for something to do 
over the next week then head off to your craft space!!!
You could join in some of these challenges too.

Thanks as always for stopping by my blog and
Happy Christmas

*******
Sarah

Saturday 20 December 2014

Christmas is a Time for Families

Whether we are ready or not ... we have reached the final challenge of 2014 
at Less is More and the theme is 'Family'
It's a 2 week challenge in the hope that you'll have a little
crafty time amongst the festivities ... maybe with some new goodies to share!
So here's my cards

Well nobody said it had to show a 'human' family!
 and this card is going to my sister and family.

Card Recipe:
Lawn Fawn: Tweet birds & sentiment stamps
Clearly Besotted: Birch Trees stamps & dies
Pink Petticoat: snowflake DP behind a layer of vellum
Brads and twine from my stash and to finish 
Winks of Stella and Glossy Accents

Other Challenges I'd like to enter:
CASology: Snow
Simon Says Stamp: Photo inspiration

 
  icy-moodboard-sss




For this one I've gone with the traditional Christmas family

Card Recipe: 
Paper Smooches: A Blessed Christmas image (heat-embossed in 
WOW pale gold embossing powder and coloured with Promarkers);
sentiment from the same set on a MFT Die-namics sentiment strip
DCWV Glitter card, Doodlebug sequins & gems from my stash

Another Challenge I'd like to enter:
Addicted to CAS: Coincidentally the theme is also 'Family'





Card Recipe:
Clearly Besotted: Naughty or Nice stamps and dies
Clearly Besotted: On The Line die collection
Pink Petticoat DP plus gems and pearls from my stash.

I've gone crazy for Gingerbread on this one but I decided it
could represent the Less is More DT 'family'!
Although looks like Chrissie, Anne & I have joined 
some weird cabaret dancing troupe or a marching band!!!

A quick edit here as I hadn't appreciated that today would be Jen's
farewell post as she leaves the DT at Less is More and I wouldn't 
want to exclude her from My LIM DT 'family' card...so
Chrissie, Anne and I are wishing you well for the future
(whether you be Naughty or Nice!!! :-) )
and sending you on your way with hugs, hearts and very best wishes.

Cheers Jen, thanks for your fabulous inspiration and
hope to see more in blogland as your talent is immense.


Other Challenges I'd like to enter:
Time Out Challenge: Word inspiration
Christmas is Love with all the Trimmings

Grab Our Badge!


Ok over to you now to wave some magic over this week's challenge.
Thanks for all your snowy creations last week - I think it did
the trick for me as I managed to get a bit more focussed on
Christmas cards, pressies and decorations!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year
Thanks for your continued support at Less is More and
See you all in 2015 for lots more challenges

Sarah

Monday 15 December 2014

Funtime Robins

This is seriously late for blogging but I've got a crazy week
and away for a few days so thought I'd post this card super quick.

It's for the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge 
and as soon as I saw this week's sketch I knew what I 
wanted to do with it - that's quite unusual!!! 
Normally there's much scratching of head!

It turned out to be the quickest card I've ever made too!




Card Recipe:
MFT Die-namics Blueprints 15 & Sentiment Strips
Clearly Besotted: Rockin Robin stamps & dies
American Krafts DP
Wink of Stella & Glossy Accents

Thanks for stopping by 

Sarah

Sunday 14 December 2014

Dashing Through The Snow ...


Morning all 
If you saw my post yesterday with the news of my 
new baby nephew then I couldn't resist the cuteness
and had to nip down to Liverpool yesterday for an impromptu
visit and cuddle with the little sweetie.
He's totally adorable and so so small.

I'm zipping in with a quick card for the Merry Monday Challenge 
where it's a colour one using gold, silver, white and one other.

I've used Black and to be honest this card set out as one of my 
Less is More cards for yesterday but hated it on one layer and 
all black so I've adapted it, layered it up and I'm much happier with it.



White: Card base & Spritz of Perfect pears (snow)
Gold: Corner card stock panels, 
Heat embossed sentiment and snow images & mini star
Silver: Die cut snowflake
Black - pretty obvious I've splashed out on this colour!


I'd also like to link my card up at Inkspirational 
where it's Anything Goes with Gold


Card recipe:
Uniko Studio: Big & Bold Snow
Uniko Studio: Snowflake Dies
MFT Die-Namics pierced rectangle die (embossed)

Thanks as always for stopping by and happy crafting.


Sarah

Saturday 13 December 2014

Dreaming of a White Christmas ...

As the saying goes 'desperate times call for desperate measures'
 ... well that sums me up this week with some very quick
one layer Christmas cards to keep on top of the ever growing
list of Christmas chores ...
AND as luck would have it it's a ONE LAYER Week at
Less is More
with a SNOW theme
If you saw my blog post yesterday you'll have seen my excited 
announcement at being invited to join the DT at Uniko Studio
and as Beverley loves her snowflakes I couldn't resist 
stamping them up for a few of my cards this week.
Here goes:
From Uniko Studio I've used:
Big & Bold - Snow from the recent release
and Stunning Snowflakes released last year
I've heat embossed the sentiment in WOW silver glitter EP
Stamped the snowflakes around it then dusted some 
blue ink around the background to make it an even chillier scene!
To finish I've added a few gems from my stash
First of all I embossed a stitched rectangle die from the 
MFT Die-namics set to add some detail to the card then using 
the Stunning Snowflakes stamps from Uniko Studio I've heat embossed
the snowflakes with the WOW silver glitter EP and added gems to the centres.
The sentiment is from the same set.
I've been watching some craft videos by Kristina Werner recently, in particular
 her Holiday cards. She often uses EP round the edges of the card so I've 
tried it on this card to add some extra interest to the one layer card and 
you can see one of Kristina's videos Here showing the technique.
The colours on this card appear to be in line with the colour palette
at this week's Colour Me...! Challenge so I'm hopping over there
shortly to link up my card along with the Timeout Challenge
which is a photo inspiration using similar images and layout
   Let it Snow 

Another of my favourite stamp companies, in case you hadn't realised 
is Clearly Besotted so I've used the following from their range:
Signature Christmas Dies which I've used as a mask
Christmas Sparkle: Tree image to create my snowflakes, which 
are heat embossed in white before inking with Peacock Feathers Distress ink.

The sentiment is from the Little Pudding set and I've hand-drawn 
(yes hand-drawn which was VERY scary)
the strings and bows to my ornaments with a Pilot silver marker
and to finish some turquoise pearls from my stash.


Last but not least ...


The Christmas Sparkle set from Clearly Besotted 
stamped in Sea Breeze chalk ink with the sentiment and star 
heat embossed in WOW silver glitter EP.
A wrap around of coordinating hemp cord from my stash
and some mini gems for that bit of bling to my tree.

Oh speaking of BLING that's the theme at this week's
Simon Says Stamp Challenge so I'm off there to add this card.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog

Thanks as always for stopping by my blog,
it's always appreciated and thank you for another
fabulous collection of entries using the colour scheme from
last week's Less is More challenge.

Before I go I must thank you all for your comments on my 
'new' Auntie status which I was a week premature on!

At last here he is ... my gorgeous baby nephew
born Tuesday 9th - Harry Joseph weighing 7lb 0.5oz
I can't wait to give him a  HUGE cuddle!



I do hope you can find a little crafty time this week 
to take part and look forward to catching up with you soon.


Sarah

Friday 12 December 2014

FIT TO BURST!


Morning Crafty Pals and thank you so much for stopping by my blog today
I've some super exciting news to tell you and pretty much my best Christmas pressie
... and it's not even the 25th yet!

This HUGE secret has been kept tightly under my hat for a few weeks and I won't lie ... 
it's been pretty tough! but now I can 'let the cat out of the bag'

From January I will be joining the super duper talented DT at Uniko Studio
I am literally fit to burst and can't wait to get stuck in 
Having had a fantastic experience in the Summer as a GDT for Uniko
 this opportunity is a dream come true and a great honour 

Thank you to the lovely Beverley and her Design Team for inviting me
and I'm so looking forward to working alongside you.

Quick edit here as I should also have introduced my fellow
newbie on the DT; Deborah from Deborah's Gems
I'm so thrilled to be working alongside Deborah and looking
forward to getting to know her better.

If you follow my blog regularly you'll know 
I LOVE Uniko Studio products and try to use them where I can.
Here's 2 cards using some of the latest products from the November release.




This one uses Rustic Christmas;
sentiment heat-embossed in silver sparkle and
the tree in white EP with a distress-inked backdrop.
To finish some gems from my stash




Here I've cut a frame using a die from my stash
stamped around the edge using the 
Background Builders: Vines Winter Additions
Sentiment: Simply Said Christmas
Flowers from Flower Power 1: heat-embossed 
in red and fussy cut with a mini pearl to the centre

I'm looking forward to sharing lots more inspiration using these 
sets in the coming weeks and if you can pop back tomorrow
I'll have some more on show in my Less is More post.

Happy crafting.


Sarah

Saturday 6 December 2014

ICY LOLLIES AND CHRISTMAS ....

Happy Saturday all and thank you for your lovely comments
about the 200th celebration of LIM  and my new Auntie status!
Unfortunately I'm in a tizz with days and dates at the moment 
and in fact my sister is booked in for this Tuesday (9th)!
What a dummy I am but your comments are much appreciated.
So onto this week's challenge and ...
I dread asking if you are ready for Christmas ...
 as I'm still frantically cutting and sticking to make my 
Christmas cards for this year and 
wrapping presents - haven't even started!!!
This week we have a colour challenge for you at 
Less is More 
... so if you are disorganised like me you could twist 
these colours around for Christmas as I've done!
Here's my cards



Card Recipe
Uniko Studio: Snowflake Dies & Sentiment (heat-embossed on vellum)
Cuttlebug: Embossing folder
Gems from my stash

I'd like to enter this card at
(in case you don't know, Kylie recently did the artwork for my 
blog header, signature and water mark and she also administers
several challenges including Addicted to CAS & Addicted to Stamps

A quick edit here thanks to Sandie who reminded me the 
Uniko Studio challenge is still live so I'm going to
Head over there to enter this one.



Having received some new goodies from the latest Uniko Studio 
release I couldn't wait to try them out so this card uses the following sets:

Simply Said Christmas
Background Builders Vines - Winter Additions
Rustic Christmas 
Dies: MFT Die-namics pierced rectangles
Spellbinders nesties - labels
To add the essential Christmas bling I've added
glossy accents, wink of stella and pearls

I'd like to enter this one at Addicted to Stamps & More
where it's a Clean & Simple week

GRAB OUR BADGE!



This is a really cheeky, CAS and quick one for mass production!
Using Mama Elephant: Landscape Trio dies for a 'pelmet' effect
a strip of foil card from DCWV
Uniko Studio: Simply Said & Rustic Christmas sets
Doodlebug sprinkles and gems for baubles

I'm going to pop this one in at Simon Says Stamp
where the theme is Christmas / Holiday card

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog



I'm creating Christmas cards like a maniac now as you can tell!
This one uses some other Uniko Studio images from last year's 
Christmas set: Peace on Earth
I've used the same technique as shown a few weeks ago here
using glossy accents to resist the Distress Inks
 A little bakers twine from my stash and matted using 
MFT Die-namics pierced rectangles.

I'd like to enter this one in the Merry Monday challenge
which features birds this week.



Last but not least


I've used 'snippets' of glitter and textured cardstock to create the
diagonal striped panel, word die and sentiment from Clearly Besottted
with gems from my stash.

... and as I've used 'snippets' it would be rude not to head over
to Pixies Snippet Playground if I've time to dash in under the gates!


Well you certainly enjoyed the celebrations challenge last week 
full of AMAZING creations and superb inspiration.
Amongst your comments and blog posts there were some very special
and heartfelt words about Less is More. It made me feel quite emotional
reading them and so honoured to be part of the team despite not having 
been here from the start as a lot of you obviously have.

Thanks for your continued support and looking forward to 
this week's 'icy' creations on your blogs.

Thanks as always for stopping by
Sarah