Sunday 30 August 2015

AAA Cards #47


Hello friends it's time for a new challenge over at
AAA Cards 
and we are looking for spectacular embossing!
Before I show my card I would like to wish one of my
super talented blog buddies a magnificent birthday today!
Happy Birthday 
Hannelie of Desert Diva and here's to a wonderful year ahead, full of happy memories!
I'm sure many of you will know Hannelie, from blogland; she has AWESOME talent, 
a unique CAS style, queen of the silhouette and sentiment creator supreme! 
If you've never visited her blog you are missing one heck of a treat!
Ok on to my card and if you saw my ATCAS post yesterday 
you'll realise I've been trying out one of Jennifer McGuire's techniques! 
Faux Metal using Perfect Pearls as seen HERE
My card perhaps isn't as CAS as usual but I've tried to keep it to one main 
image using a detailed embossing folder with very little embellishment.

I started out by inking and blending my card panel with various shades
 of blue Distress ink with an ocean / sea theme in mind. Once blended
I painted perfect pearls on top of the distress inks then using a Spellbinders
sea shells embossing folder to create the metallic textured look.
The sentiment, from Clearly Besotted: Dandelion Dreams, is heat-embossed
and to finish I've added some mini pearls and sequins for added sparkle.

It's an 'Anything Goes' week over at Simon Says Stamp so I can't 
resist popping across with another entry for their gallery.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog


.... AND because my inks were on my desk I decided to go with another embossed look!


This time using vellum and heat-embossing.
To begin with I've stamped the florals and leaves from a set by
Uniko: Pure Florals - Chrysanthemums using Versamark ink before
heat-embossing with clear embossing powder. Using blue shades again
I've inked and blended the distress inks over the vellum. 
To hide the adhesive I've wrapped my vellum panel around some light-weight
 white cardstock then adhered that to the card. The sentiment is from the same
Uniko set and is heat-embossed in WOW Metallic silver sparkle.
To finish a few more sparkly gems, strips of glitter and navy cardstock and a 
corner crop to the bottom right corner of the card.


Here's our photo inspiration and I hope you find a little crafty time
to play along with us.

For more inspiration please head over to the AAA Cards blog HERE
where my teamies have created some awesome embossed cards
... PLUS we are introducing our new design team members!
Thanks as always for calling by my blog and I hope you have a fun 
and crafty week! See you soon! 

Sarah

Saturday 29 August 2015

Addicted to CAS #71


Hello Friends, I'm back again!
This time it's with details of our new challenge at 

Addicted to CAS

and our fabulous host is Joanna who has chosen the codeword
'Blue'

For my card I have been literally 'itching' to try out a technique I 
saw Jennifer McGuire showcasing - Faux Metal with Perfect Pearls
and the link to the video is HERE.  

As I type this post I've just noticed one of my fellow blog buddies has also given 
this technique a go today! Elaine at Craft-E-Place - she may well be kicking herself 
if she reads this post as she's used wonderful 'blue' tones too! 

Here's mine and I decided to go Christmas!


I used various blue and purple distress inks to create a night sky
before adding the Perfect Pearls and dry embossing with a Sheena Douglass
Snowfall embossing folder. The landscape die is from Clearly Besotted and just 
before I made the card I received some 'Happy' mail from Australia! 
Yes ... Kylie's very own Christmas sentiments set (Happy Little Stampers
popped through the door just at the right time for me to add to the card! 
To finish a couple of gems in various blue shades for added sparkle and interest.

I do hope you'll find some time to join our challenge and there's more
fantastic inspiration from my teamies at ATCAS on the blog HERE



Our sponsor for this challenge is


and one lucky winner will receive a $20 gift certificate


I'd like to enter my card over at Addicted To Stamps too where
it's a Clean and Simple week 

GRAB OUR BADGE!


I hope you feel inspired to join the challenge and thanks 
as always for stopping by my blog. I'll be back tomorrow with 
the latest challenge details at AAA Cards and we'll be revealing
the new members of the Design Team!




Sarah

Less is More #239

 Morning friends ... it's that time again!

Less is More Challenge

and this week we'd like you to use sprays and / or mists
... so roll your sleeves up, have fun and get messy!

Here's my first card and I literally did get messy!
I've watched all these videos where crafters use a box for spraying
but I just flew straight into it and ended up with pink dots 
absolutely EVERYWHERE! - I've found a box now!!!


I started out by embossing my 'sprayed' panel with a honeycomb
embossing folder before spritzing with a mix of Distress Ink re-inker
in Picked Raspberry and Perfect Pearls which adds a great shimmer.
The black frame is die-cut using MFT Die-namics Pierced Rectangles
and the horizontal strip with Mama Elephant Landscape Trio dies.
The flower head and sentiment are from a new (to me) set from Uniko: 
Pure Florals - Chrysanthemum. The flower is heat embossed then water-coloured
using Zig Clear Brush pens and to finish a few pink shimmery sequins.

I've used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches so I'm heading 
over there with my card plus Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge
where it's an Anything Goes week! 

   Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog


So you might like to see what I created with the pebble-dashing of pink spray 
dots that were all over my desk and craft mat! Oh and up the walls!!!! 
I decided to make use of this precious spritzer by collecting it on some acetate
 and smooshing it onto a piece of water-colour card to create this card ...



Using my MFT Die-Namics stitched square dies I die-cut my smooshed panel
then sliced the centre out to make space for the 'thanks' word die from WPlus9
with a mini sentiment along the bottom from WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers.
In true Jennifer McGuire style I even die-cut some hearts with the left overs
using a Wise Die (mini hearts) from Paper Smooches. I drizzled these with 
Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents.

I've certainly gone to town on snippety bits for this card even down to the 
teeny black strips which I cut from above and below the 'thanks' negative!
So what more can I do but head over to Pixies Snippet Playground!
Having followed the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch I'm also 
going to link my card up there too.



And in view of Anne's terrible sad news this week 
here's one for her with sincere condolences.


Using WPlus9 Sending Sunshine and Clearly Besotted April Showers stamp sets
 I've created a mini scene, masking each image before stamping the next one. 
Before removing the masks I've spritzed a mixture of Distress Ink re-inker in 
Peacock Feathers and Perfect Pearls. Having removed the masks I decided a little silver 
misting was in order too with glossy accents for added detail to some elements.

Ok it's over to you now and I hope you enjoy the messy challenge!
Have loads of fun and can't wait to see your cards.

Thanks for calling by and if you check out my post with the latest challenge details 
for ATCAS HERE you might even manage a challenge combo opportunity!
Sarah

Friday 28 August 2015

Uniko Challenge #24 Reminder

Hello friends I'm here with a reminder card for the 
current challenge over at Uniko where the theme is 

Summer
and there's an optional twist to use the photo inspiration below.
The challenge ends next Friday, 4th September at 8am BST 
so still plenty of time to play along and possibly win a prize!

More details below ....

Here's my card and again I've gone with the colours in the photo
and twisting with hearts too making it Anniversary time!
I've used the Flower Power #3 set as I think the flower heads bear an 
uncanny resemblance to those in the grass on the photo.


I started out by creating my border of hearts - also in the Flower Power set
and I was inspired by the sketch which is currently running over at 
Less is More. I then inked the flowers in Versamark ink and heat embossed
in Hero Arts clear embossing powder before water-colouring using the
Zig Clear Brush pens. To finish I heat embossed the sentiment using 
WOW Metallic silver sparkle and adhered some gems for some added interest.

Here's the photo inspiration if you fancy a twist!


It's an 'Anything Goes' Challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp
and it's Clean and Simple over at Addicted to Stamps so 
I'd like to enter my card at these challenges too

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog

GRAB OUR BADGE!


I hope you feel inspired to create and find some time to join the challenge.
Details of prizes and more superb creations by my teamies at Uniko 
can be found HERE

.

AND how totally unforgivable of me ... I forgot to mention our
superstar Guest Designers who are joining us for this challenge.
I'm sure you'll all know these talented crafters from blogland but 
please pay them a visit - you won't be disappointed and I'm sure they'd
love some friendly feedback and encouragement. 

Darnell of djKardKreations and NBUS fame, who coined the phrase 
'New but unused SCHTUFF!' and we all have loads of that don't we!
and 
Wiebke of KomMa-designed


Thanks as always for calling by and I'll be back tomorrow
with a few more posts so hope you'll pop by again then.


Happy crafting!


Sarah

Sunday 23 August 2015

Super Quick Sunday Post


Hi Friends zipping in with one card to share with you
which I'm entering over at Muse Card Challenge and CAS(E) This Sketch

My super blog buddy and LIM teamie, Anita, is the MUSE this week
and I can't resist 'caseing' her cards! Always super elegant and full of
beautiful elements so here's my take on it. I've stuck with similar colours, 
stencilling, embossing and a die-cut 'Thanks' sentiment but teamed it with
the sketch from CASE(E) This Sketch where there's some awesome
 inspirational cards from the DT there too.


Card Recipe:
Distress Inks: Cracked Pistachio, Broken China & Peacock Feathers
inked through a Burlap Stencil by Tim Holtz
WPlus9: Thanks You die
Clearly Besotted: Everything Changes butterfly image 
embossed using WOW Metallic Brass Sparkle on vellum and 
to finish a few gold gems from Papermania.

Here's Anita's card and the sketch I've followed.



That's all for now and not sure if I'll have time to craft or share
until later in the week so thanks for calling by and have a great week.

Sarah

Saturday 22 August 2015

Less is More #238


OM Goodness! Where has this week gone! Simply flying by! 

So it's time for a new challenge at 
Less is More
and we have a sketch for you this week so hope you enjoy it.

Just the one card from me this week followed by the sketch and because there's 
just one I thought I'd be super clever and make a trio challenge combo post only to discover
I've missed the boat at Just Us Girls! I've never entered that challenged before
but I loved the colour combo of red, black and grey ... hence my choice of colours!



Using the Uniko Classic Number set I've stamped haphazardly in the 3 colours 
before adding the red diagonal panel with a heat-embossed sentiment by Clearly Besotted: 
Sweet Little Sentiments and the 'BOYS' is made up from the Uniko: Garlands Galore Set.
I've added a mini strip of black cardstock between the number panel and the red 
just for added detail and I couldn't resist the sprinkles; I was going to stick with 
3 on the left but if I hold my hand up the othersare covering a little mis-hap 
with embossing powder! Grrr!

   

I'd like to link this up at CASology where it's a 'Number' theme
My brothers little boys are back at school soon with the youngest
starting out in reception this year so had to include them both on the card!


   Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog

Ok it's time for you talented folks to get crafty and I can't wait to see what you come up with! 
Before you grab your stamps and card there's more inspiration over on the Less is More blog.

Have fun, a great week and thanks as always for calling by!

Sarah

Friday 21 August 2015

Uniko Challenge #24


Morning friends, it's time to announce the latest challenge at

Uniko
Despite the hit and miss weather in the UK we have a Summer themed 
challenge for you with the optional twist of being inspired by the photo below.

I've gone all out on the colour-mix of pinks, purples and reds using 
the Pure Florals: Chrysanthemums stamp and die set which are 'new'
to me in the last few weeks! So thrilled with this set and it's been on 
my wish list FOREVER but only just come back into stock!



I started by heat embossing the larger floral bloom in Hero Arts white embossing 
powder before blending distress inks over the top in Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, 
Festive Berries and Dusty Concord. I did the same with the smaller bloom 
which is then die-cut and adhered to the panel with 3d foam for added dimension. 
The sentiment is from the same set and for a little added interest I've placed a 
strip of silver glitter card above the embossed panel. 


Here's the photo if you are inspired by it and fancy the optional twist!



You have until Friday 4th September to compete and we'll have a little
reminder post and more inspiration for you next Friday.

I hope you feel inspired to join our challenge this month and please head over 
to the Uniko Blog here for some sneaky peeks at what the rest of the Design Team 
have been up to and details of the prizes on offer if you take part.

Have fun and thanks as always for stopping by.

Sarah

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Freshly Made Sketches 200th Sketch Celebration

Hello crafty friends, I'm here on behalf of Uniko,
which is sponsoring a very special event over at 

Freshly Made Sketches as they celebrate their 200th sketch

That's a fabulous achievement and I'm delighted to design
a card using Uniko products to mark the occasion.

Huge congratulations and well done to the FMS AWESOME DT!
Here's to the next 200 sketches!


Card Recipe:
Uniko: Pure Florals - Chrysanthemum, stamped using
Ranger Archival Black ink then coloured using Zig Clear brush Pens
and All Occasion Sentiments #3


Here's sketch number 200! and I do hope you'll find some
time to play along and don't forget to check out all the 
wonderful creations over at Freshly Made Sketches.
I'm guessing there could be some prizes too!



Sarah

Sunday 16 August 2015

AAA Cards #46


Hello there it's time to announce the latest challenge details over at 
AAA Cards 
The theme for this one is Maskerade (masking and/or masquerade theme)
I've gone with plain old pure masking as I didn't have any 'masquerade' style stash!


Using a brand new stamp set from Clearly Besotted called Cute as a Bug,
I started by stamping the caterpillar then masking it whilst stamping the flower head.
The flower was also masked then to add the stem and the 2 other blooms.
The images are coloured using my Zig Clear Brush pens with some white gel dots
and Zig Wink of Stella for added interest. I then re-masked all the images and used
a Tim Holtz: burlap stencil, inking through with Distress Ink in Cracked Pistachio.
Finally the sentiment is from the Clearly Besotted: Say it Style set.
I'd like to enter this card at a few challenges too
Time Out Challenges - Inspired by Words 'Friendship is Golden'
Happy Little Stampers - CAS Challenge: Masking
Thanks as always for calling by and I hope you get the chance to play along
 in our 'Maskerade' challenge and there's loads more fantastic inspiration over on 
the AAA Cards Blog HERE from my fellow teamies.
Sarah

Saturday 15 August 2015

Addicted to CAS #70


Hi crafty friends I'm back again this morning
and this time with the new challenge details at 

Addicted to CAS 

Our superb host for this one is Barb of Barb's Studio Creations
who has chosen 'School' as the codeword.

I guess it's fast approaching the dreaded 'Back to School' time
... me too as I work in education! This holiday is going WAY too fast!

My cute little niece starts school this September so she was the inspiration 
for my card using the Teacher's Pet stamp set from Clearly Besotted 
with sentiments from their Geometric Style I and Basic Alphabet.
The pencils are coloured using my Zig Clear Brush pens which are fast
becoming my favourite colouring medium and a few enamel dots to accent.




STAMPlorations are returning as our sponsor for this 
challenge and the prize is a $10 voucher to spend in their store.

I hope you find a little time to play along and please head over to the 
ATCAS blog here where you'll find lots more inspiration from my
fabulous fellow teamies!

Thanks for calling by and I'll be back again tomorrow
with the latest challenge details for AAA Cards plus we may
have a few new Design Team members to announce! 


Sarah

Less is More #237

Yeah! Saturday morning ... 8am which means only one thing
- well on the craft blog-vine! A new challenge over at 

Less is More

and we are talking 'Congratulations' this week
so a whole array of occasions for celebrations!

There's cause for celebrations in our house this week as not only is our kitchen
almost complete after 4 weeks but our daughter collected her AS results on Thursday
and we are so proud of her - 4 A-grades! So one more year of school before
she hopes to study medicine at university! She's so bright ... just like me LOL!

Anyway her boyfriend also did superb in his exams and here's the card
I made for him! It's a shaker one but still maintaining lots of white space!


I started out by inking the whale and sentiment from Paper Smooches
Briny Blue and 'You Did It' from Clearly Besotted - Let's Roll using
Versafine Black ink before heat embossing with clear embossing powder.
Using Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire, Mermaid Lagoon and Tumbled Glass
I've watercoloured the background allowing the colours to merge slightly before
spritzing water splashes on it. The shaker frame is made with an MFT Die-namics
Stitched Square Die and filled with beads and sequins from my stash.

The theme over at CASology this week is Aquatic so I'm heading
over there with this card too.



I was quite late pulling these cards together this week due to 
being unwell with a stinking cold and loads of cleaning and clearing from
the numerous workmen around the house who have been finishing up this week
so I'm not too sure about the next two which I made for our daughter.
One's a bit conservative and the other a bit of a joke!


For this one I started out by heat embossing the 'Congratulations' sentiment 
from Uniko: All Occasion Sentiments and 'You're a Super' from Clearly Besotted
Superstar stamp sets in Hero Arts white embossing powder before masking off the 
area beneath the sentiments. Using 'hot' coloured distress inks in Mustard Seed, Wild Honey
and Barn Door I've inked over the sentiment then used some glitter card stock to cut
several stars using a Memory Box die set and some mini pearls to accent.




... and last but not least this one uses another Uniko set - Explosion
and I used some fun and jokey sentiments from the same set plus the
'You Did It' from Clearly Besotted Let's Roll.
The images and sentiments are all heat embossed using either Hero Arts Clear,
WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle or WOW Metallic Brass Sparkle.
To add some extra details I've gone a bit mad with a white gelly roll pen!
The black panel is die-cut using MFT Die-Namics Inside-Out Diagonal
Stitched Rectangle STAX


Ok I'm sure you super talented bunch will come up with some 
AMAZING celebratory cards and I hope you have something good
to celebrate too this week! Don't forget to check out the Less is More blog
HERE for more incredible inspiration from my teamies!

Thanks for stopping by, have a good week and I'll be back in an hour 
with the latest challenge details for Addicted to CAS.


Sarah