Saturday 30 April 2016

Addicted to CAS Challenge #87


Good morning friends, I'm back with details of the latest challenge over at
Addicted to CAS and our wonderfully talented DT member, Anja is hosting this one. 
The codeword she's chosen is 'Plaid' and if I'm honest this one took a while to make. 



I spent so long trying to design my own plaid background but nothing
wanted to work for me so I ended up with a bin full of Duds!!!


Then I found a piece of design paper by Doodlebug in a plaid fashion and
although it covers the whole of the base of the card I've kept the rest
of the design very minimalist so hope it works ok.

The die-cut balloons are from Paper Smooches, The banner die is Sizzix Framelits, 
the sentiment is Happy Little Stampers with the balloon strings from Uniko:
Balloon bash. I couldn't resist a few extra Doodlebug sprinkles for added interest.

It's an anything goes week over at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge
 so I'd like to head over there with this one as my second entry.

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog



Our sponsor for this challenge is Create a Smile and the lucky winner will
receive a 15Euro gift card to spend in the store.

We also have a guest designer for this challenge; our lovely winner from the last on,
 Shona, of Twinearound
If you've never visited her blog before you are seriously missing a trick and a treat. 
I hope you'll pop along and leave some love and friendly encouragement.


I hope you'll feel inspired to play along and can't wait to see your cards this week.
Don't forget to head over to the main blog where there's links to my fellow teamies
cards and I'm sure they'd love a comment or two if you've time.

Thanks as always for calling by and catch up with you soon.



Sarah

Less is More #274


Morning Limettes ... do you have that Saturday morning feeling?
Ready to get your teeth into a new challenge over at Less is More?
Hopefully this one won't be as difficult as last week - easy in fact!

It's the 5th Saturday in the month which means it's 'Lucky Dip' Time!
We'd like to see you use Design Paper in a Clean and Simple way!

If you haven't already popped across to see what my fellow teamies have created
 then be sure to do so! As usual they've worked their magic wands to perfect! 

What's more we have an AWESOME, super-talented
guest designer with us for this week so please head over to see how
Esther of Carnelian Wood has worded with design paper.


Here's mine:
 

One for the box here as I'm short on Baby Congrats cards and there's
a few cousins about to have little ones any time soon!

This card uses the Sweet Baby set from Uniko plus the 'New Baby' 
from Simply Said, also Uniko. I started out by inking the top left corner
with distress in in Wild Honey, a little spritz of water and perfect pearls,
a die-cut 'diagonal-stitched' rectangle and a few Doodlebug sequins to finish!
OH and my Design paper is Doodlebug too and I've paper-pieced the little vests.

... and it's still Celebrations with the optional twist of fuzzy / die cutting
over at Time Out challenges so I'd like to head over there with this one.
You can't find much more to celebrate than a new baby can you!




... and I guessed wrong! Did the boy congrats card first and one of the
cousins wives had a baby girl this week so I've quickly zipped this one 
together with some design paper from Echo Park and images from
CBS Baby Shower and Mama Elephant sentiments from Just Hatched.


I'd like to enter this one over at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge
where it's an Anything Goes week!

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog


Ok that's it for my post but I'll be back in a little while with a new
challenge over at Addicted to CAS so hope you'll pop back then!

Thanks as always for stopping by and have a fun Bank Holiday
weekend if you are in the UK - let's hope the sun shines!
Sarah

Sunday 24 April 2016

AAA Cards Challenge #63


Hello there crafty friends I'm here to announce details of our
latest challenge over at AAA Cards and we'd like to see 
CAS shaker cards for this one. 
Here's mine and there's plenty more inspiration from my fellow
 teamies over on the main blog so I hope you'll check them out.

Here I've used a Shaker Word die from Clearly Besotted, Happy Birthday
sentiment from Avery Elle: Sentimental, Die-cut balloons from Paper Smooches,
patterned paper and sequins from Doodlebug.

It's celebration time at Time Out challenges - well that's the theme
with the optional twist of die cuts / fuzzy cutting! No fuzzy cuts
here but plenty of die-cuts and a birthday occasion for celebration so
I'd like to hop across there and enter my card.

Grab Our Badge!


Our sponsor is Stampendous 
Stampendous


Thanks as always for calling by and I hope you feel inspired to play along with us. 

Sarah

Saturday 23 April 2016

Less is More #273

Hello there friends; another week has whipped by in a flash so it's
back to Saturday morning and a new challenge from Less is More!

It's recipe week and a bit of a tough one ... in honour of 
St Georges Day - we'd like to see Saints, Dragons or Heros

Here's mine and I've very little in my stash that ties in with the theme
so it's 2 cards using the same 'dragon' from Mama Elephant: Just Hatched.

Certainly not the scariest dragon you'd ever imagine but in an effort
to make him a little more 'realistic' I've created a watercoloured surround of
'fire' - that's what it's supposed to be anyway! I've used a new die from 
Pretty Pink Posh: Peek-a-boo and a sentiment from Clearly Besotted: Eye on You.
I'm not sure if the googlie eyes I've added make this little fella more geeky or
terrifying but they were on my desk and I couldn't resist a bit of fun!


Same Mama Elephant set here with a 'Hello' sentiment from the set too plus the 
'You're my hero' from Clearly Besotted. The dragons are coloured using my 
Zig Clear Brush pens and I've added a stitched frame die from Paper smooches.

Ok it's over to you talented folk and I'm intrigued to see what you'll come up with!
No doubt we'll be blown away by your creations as always! Don't forget there's some
magical inspiration from my fellow teamies so I hope you'll pop across to their 
individual blogs to leave some friendly love and encouragement.

Thanks as always for calling by and I'll be back tomorrow with the
latest challenge details for AAA Cards.


Sarah

Friday 22 April 2016

Uniko Challenge #31 - Reminder


Hello there friends, I'm zipping in this morning with a 
little reminder for this month's challenge over at Uniko.

We'd like you to use metallics on this one and you have until 
Friday, 13th May to play along so I hope you feel inspired to do so!

Once again I'm using the brand new Fun Flowers set and this time
I've heat-embossed the images plus the Background Builders Lattice
with Ranger Platinum embossing powder. 


I've used 2 strips of glitter card above and below my lattice panel 
with a sentiment from Simply Said - Birthday. To finish a few 'metallic'
sequins from my stash for some added sparkle.

is 'Girlie' so for me it's pink with pretty, fun flowers!

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog

... and at Time Out challenges it's Celebrations with the optional
twist of die-cuts or fuzzy cutting. So in the absence of dies for
these blooms I've fuzzy cut them plus the leaves and birthdays are
definitely a reason for celebrations so hope this counts!

Grab Our Badge!



Don't forget to check out the main Uniko blog HERE as there's links
to my fellow teamies blogs and a little sneaky peek at their cards.

Thanks as always for calling by and I'll be back tomorrow with our
latest challenge details from Less is More.

Sarah

Saturday 16 April 2016

Addicted to CAS #86


Back again friends and this time it's to announce our latest challenge
at Addicted to CAS with our host for this one being Ceal!

She's chosen 'Rain' as her codeword ... this week there's been lots of it
 in the UK (where I live) but it's still not the easiest theme for me.


I've gone with a shaker style looking through a window die by 
Clearly Besotted, Sponged rain droplets using a Simon Says Stamp stencil, 
Umbrella stamp and die from Clearly Besotted: April Showers
 with a sentiment from Uniko: Bright Butterflies


The codeword at CASology this week is pink so I'm dropping this card
in there too and hope my 'pink' umbrella adds just the right amount of pink!


Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations and our lucky 
prize winner will receive a $10 voucher to spend in the store.

We also have a guest designer joining us for this one ... Caroline Paton
of Keep it Sweet and Simple I'm sure she'd love you to pay her a visit, 
check out her designs and leave some love before you go.

I do hope you feel inspired to play along and don't forget to check out the
awesome designs by my fellow teamies HERE on the main blog.

As always thanks for stopping by this morning and hope you have 
a fun and crafty weekend. 

Sarah

Less is More #272


Morning friends it's that time again ... are you wide awake?
It's a Theme week challenge at Less is More and we'd like you to

USE 3 STAMPS (this can be 3 individual ones or the same 3 multiple times)

Here's my examples and as always there's plenty more inspiration over on 
the main blog HERE from my fellow teamies and if you hop across to 
their personal blogs there's more info and possibly a few extras!



3 stamps here are Honey Doo Crafts Flowers for Design (stem & blooms)
plus a sentiment from WPlus9 Doodle buds. 



This one uses a 3-step stamp from Altenew: Painted Butterflies
with an inlaid die-cut 'Hello' from Paper Smooches.



I've gone ultra CAS even for me here using a couple of newbies
to my stash ... Sending and Hugs sentiments from Avery Elle Sentimental
plus the floral bloom is from Newton's Nook Fancy floral.

The codeword over at CAS-ology this week is PINK so I'm heading
over there with this one.



Ok that's all for now and I'm looking forward to checking out your
creative ideas later in the week. In the meantime thanks for calling by 
and I'll be back shortly with the details of our latest challenge ATCAS.



Sarah

Honey I Shrunk The Kit #6

Hello crafty pals and blog buddies!
It's time for another day out with my fellow Honeys ... aka!

Honey I Shrunk the Kit logo

The Team:

Hazel Hodgkins: Hazel's Paper Designs
Sarah Gray: Funky Fossil Designs
Shona Chambers: Twine Around
Sandie Munroe: London Days
Sarah Platt: Sazzle Dazzle Crafts ... that's ME!

Every few months one of the team puts together a kit of cardmaking goodies
then sends it around the world to the other members to play and create!
Then we all get together today and post our creations to compare notes!

So our adorable host for this kit of springtime yumminess was Shona and 
here's a photo and details of what goodies were in the kit!



Here are my cards with a few extra bits and bobs from my own stash:

The only additional items I used were the MFT Die-Namics: Basic Stitched
border dies, Simon Says Stamp: Stitched Circle Die to cut out the design paper
for the little chic to sit against plus a couple of co-ordinating Doodlebug Sprinkles.

Another one using the remaining piece of lemon design paper with 
a little addition of some lime green DP of my own from Echo Park.
I pulled the MFT: Basic Stitched Border dies out again plus the Homespun
edges and Fishtail Flags also by MFT Die-Namics.


For this one I've created a shaker with sprinkles from Lucy Abrams plus
I die-cut the 'Especially For You' panel with a snowdrift border die from
MFT Die-Namics to sit my bunnies on and to finish a few pearls from my stash.


I couldn't help but get some mileage out of the awesome Waffle Flower dies so for 
this card I used the large one repeatedly as a stencil to create a spring-like coloured 
BG inking with Distress Inks in Ripe Persimmon, Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed 
and Spiced Marmalade. The edges of the plain die are inked in abandoned Coral to 
coordinate. The blooms are coloured with a minute amount of distress ink and water
 before adding a few white gel dots, wink of stella and glossy accents. 


OH but just enough to make one more ...

The die itself ... and I have to admit it brought me to tears slicing it into two
 pieces but I love the effect on the panel. I'd run out of sentiments by this point as I 
messed up the colouring of those sheep so the 'I Like Ewe' sentiment didn't seem 
appropriate. Instead I've used the sentiment from WPlus9 Ranunculus.


Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I've used this
 fantastic kit. Please do a hop, skip and a jump over to HazelSandie
Sarah and Shonas' blogs to see how they were inspired too.


Sarah

Friday 15 April 2016

Uniko Challenge #31

Morning friends, it's time to introduce a new challenge for this month
over at Uniko. We'd like to see you using metallics on this one and
you have until Friday, 13th May to enter.

There's prizes up for grabs too so please check out the main blog HERE 
with all the details and links to the awesome designs by my fellow teamies.



For this one I've used the brand new Fun Flower set and heat-embossed
the images using Ranger 'Silver' Pearl EP onto some purple cardstock.
The panel is sliced in two and adhered onto 3d craft foam for added dimension.
The sentiment is from All Occasion Sentiments #1 and to finish a few sparkly 
'silver' sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

I hope you feel inspired to play along and I'm looking forward to 
seeing what you make of this one!

Thanks as always for calling by and I'll be back tomorrow
with the latest challenge details for Less is More.


Sarah

Monday 11 April 2016

Uniko Reveal, Release & GIVEAWAY - April 2016


Hey there thanks for coming back to visit as it's the 
full reveal, release and blog hop giveaway day over at Uniko.

Here's my cards using the sets followed by the images of the new sets 
which are available to purchase from today over on the website HERE.


I've gone a little crazy with the old spritzing here!!! I started with 
the off-set panel then couldn't resist splattering my previously 
coloured cake toppers!!!! The cases are stamped onto some dotty paper
from Echo Park with the topping heat embossed with Ranger pearl EP before
colouring with Distress inks in Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick. The sentiments
are also included in the set and they slot perfectly against the topping and cake base.



Here I started out by stamping and heat-embossing the images from
Fun Flowers using Ranger Pearl EP onto some water-colour card.
I've used Distress inks in Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Worn Lipstick,
Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon to ink over the blooms fading 
out at the edges. I've spritzed and flicked a bit of the old water and perfect pearls
mix then mounted the panel on 3d foam for added dimension. The sentiment
is from Simply Said - Birthday and for a little glamour I've added some 
crystal dewdrops from Pretty Pink Posh and some sequins from my stash.


I hope you like how I've used the sets and please let me show you the 
line up below of my fellow DT members who are taking part in the blog hop.
Don't forget to stop at each one and leave a comment in order to be eligible
for entry to the giveaway prizes; if you get lost along the way then head 
back to the main Uniko blog HERE

   
Sarah

Sunday 10 April 2016

Uniko - Introducing: Fun Flowers

Hello again crafty buddies and thanks for calling in again this morning.
It's day 2 of our introductions to the latest 'mini' release from Uniko and
today we would like to introduce Fun Flowers! Definitely full of doodle fun!


For this one I've stamped the images from the set accompanied with 
some leaves from Natures Treasures I and sentiments from All Occasion
Sentiments #6 and Fontiments. The flowers are coloured using Stabilo Markers
and I've added the usual wink of stella and glossy accents to the centre 
because I simply can't help myself!

I 'cased' a design by Joyce of Cards-By-The-Sea who is the 'Case the Designer'
at Happy Little Stampers challenge so I'd like to pop my card in there.

Here's Joyce's card in case you want to play along too:



Ok so that's it for introductions and all that's left is to invite you back
tomorrow for the ... Release Day! 

Monday 11th April 9am BST you will get to see the products and purchase them HERE 
on the website! As tradition holds there will be a Uniko Design Team Blog Hop 
with a chance for a lucky person to win the release & a £10 eGift Certificate.

I do hope you'll join me then
Sarah

AAA Cards Challenge #62


Morning friends I'm back again with the latest challenge
details for AAA Cards Challenge and if you saw my Less is More
post yesterday you'll note I re-hashed a card I'd intended to use there.
It's an Anything Goes - BUT Clean and Simple 
challenge for the next 2 week so no excuse to have some fun and play along.
I even managed a 2 for 1 re-hash here so here they are ...
Using a multi-faceted stencil from My Favourite Things I've used
Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio and Blueprint Sketch
to ink it up then spritzed with water and perfect pearls. A little cropping and 
chopping with MFT Die-Namics: Blueprints 15 & Chevron dies, a sentiment from
Uniko and some coordinating gems from Papermania finish the first. 


The card below uses the outer space from the Blueprints die with the 'enjoy' 
sentiment from My Favourite Things: Brushstroke Birthday and 'Today' from
Uniko: Fontiments (discontinued)


As it's a 7th Birthday for Simon Says Stamp this week and the 
challenge over at their Wednesday Challenge is Happy Birthday
I'll be hopping across there with these 2 cards. 

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog


I hope you feel inspired to play along and there's more magical
inspiration from my fellow teamies over on the AAA Cards blog HERE 
and here's our photo inspiration just to get those ideas flowing ...




The sponsor for this one is 
Picture

with our lucky winner receiving a $20 gift certificate to spend in the store.


Thanks as always for stopping by today and I'll be sharing another
introduction to the second new release stamp set from Uniko in a little
while so I do hope you'll pop back to check it out - I'm sure you'll love
the funky fun flowers that are on offer!


Sarah