Tuesday 29 October 2013

CONDOLENCES


Happy Tuesday All and sorry if I missed you yesterday but we didn't get back until midnight last night. Great time though ... well mostly but if I have to look at another sink or toilet in a showroom I may have to smash it to bits. Can you believe there are so many shapes and sizes.

On the plus side I think we are almost decided on what we need so no new bedroom this week but hopefully soon it'll be so beautiful and inviting that I won't ever want to leave it - even to craft!!!

After all that shopping excitement we met up with the in-laws for tea then off to Manchester to watch Wicked. I've seen the film of the Wizard of Oz years ago but didn't know anything about the story of Wicked. It was fabulous with some wonderful tunes that I've been humming all day.

So I have only one card to post today because I have spent most of the day having one big sort out. I think someone must have told the local charities that they might be in for a big haul this week as we've ended up with 4 of the charity bags through the door yesterday!

I'm combining 2 challenges today; Dynamic Duos and CAS on Sunday, which is a sketch challenge. I do think gentle lilac/mauve tones look lovely on a sympathy card so I've used a pearlised card base in a lilac tone then embellished my image, which is from Pink Petticoat along with the sentiment, with plum and lilac pearls from The Hobby House. You can just spy the insert too and that's a lilac tone too.




     



That's all for me today so enjoy the rest of your day and I'm off to check out what you've been up to now!


Sarah


Sunday 27 October 2013

RAIN, RAIN AND MORE ...


So with all the howling winds and torrential rain today what better way to spend the day? - Crafting!

First of all I had a tidy up and clear out and I really DO need to get on with some Christmas cards but none of those today! I've got another of my craft sessions with friends the week after next and we are concentrating on Christmas so hopefully have some to show then.

Bit of a change of plan on my decorating activities this week too ... after much discussion Mr Dazzle and I have decided the room needs rather a major revamp so it's a shopping week instead for bathrooms, tiles and flooring! Unfortunately I can't get quite so excited as I would if it was a full-on crafty shop!

Anyway onto my cards and as it was successful posting one blog with several challenges I'm going to do the same again for speed so first up is my entry to the Less is More Challenge where the requirement is to 'Use Twine or String' - Now this isn't really an issue for me as I use it a lot but I wanted to do something different so I've combined it with the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge and used it to attach the sentiment banner to my aeroplane. I was a lucky lady a couple of weeks ago as I won a blog hop challenge for Clearly Besotted on Jen's Tiny Blue Butterfly blog and won the Going Places stamp set and this is my first play with it.  Think I may have to put the matching dies on my never-ending wish list as I'm not too great at fuzzy cutting.



I've used several snippets and odds and ends to make this card so I'm going to be heading over to Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground as soon as the gates open! Miss Di has been on a superb break and think she's recovering from the long journey but hope she likes my aeroplane card and might even get her thinking of her next sunny trip.

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Going Places from Clearly Besotted
Papers: Pink Petticoat snippets
Brad, Twine and gems from my stash
Dies used: MFT Die-Namics party banners & Clearly Besotted New Home set for the clouds




Now onto my second card which is to enter the ColourQ Challenge and I'm going to drop another entry in at Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground as the card also features snippety snips! I've made the card for my friend's son who's birthday falls on Halloween day and I just love the photo inspiration on the ColourQ card so added some circles and a googlie eye! 

I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday but swapped the star for my one-eyed THINGY!





Card Recipe:

Papers: Free Digi Download from Shelly K (another one I've had ages and never used!) plus Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Googlie Eye and buttons from my stash

    



And last but by no means least is a bit of a change of direction for me with this card ... It's a commission I've been asked to make for a friend who's BIL is in the priesthood and celebrating a special occasion later this year. There doesn't seem to be any inspiration out there for this type of card so basically had to 'wing-it'! The die-cut cross was a freebie from the lovely ladies at Dies to Die For which I decided would be perfect for the card and I've used the sketch from this weeks Retro Sketches Challenge but turned it sideways.





Card Recipe:

Die Cut image: Dies to Die For
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Lattice Embossing folder used as the background which was a Pixies Crafty Snippet Challenge win
Gems for a bit of dazzle from my stash



So that's all for me today and I'm off to visit the in-laws tomorrow, bathroom shopping then watching Wicked at the theatre in Manchester so there'll be no crafty time for me! Enjoy the rest of your evening and catch up with you all soon. 

Off to watch some good Sunday night TV.

Sarah




Friday 25 October 2013

CRAFTY BEE AT WORK TODAY

Hello Friends

Hope you are keeping dry in this disgusting weather today ... I took the dog out for a walk this morning but neither of us were keen and thankfully I hadn't done the housework before Cookie decided to shake himself like crazy as soon as we got home! Don't you just love 'em?

So what better place to play once the jobs were done ... yep the crafty cupboard. I've had quite a few commissions to do recently and isn't it great when you can combine them with a challenge or two?

For my very first time I'm going to try one post with multiple photos and challenge entries! May have to edit this if it doesn't work though!

Here's number one which is a commission for my daughter's friend, who wasn't being particularly helpful in giving me ideas and themes! After much head-scratching and web surfing I came across the Seize the Sketch Challenge and thought I'd make use of the lovely sketch along with some amazing free papers I downloaded ages ago but haven't ever used. Think I'll be making an effort to use them in future though.




Seize the Birthday (sister challenge to Seize the Sketch) have an anything goes challenge so I'm going to drop my card in there too.

Arrrgh! Only just noticed that my card doesn't entirely match the sketch ... Oh **** Well I'm going to enter anyway and hopefully get an acknowledgement for trying! Sorry ladies.



Card Recipe:

Papers: All Freebies from Shery K Designs
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Dies used: Nestabilities Labels, Sizzix Framelits Pennants, Clearly Besotted Florals, MFT Die-Namics numbers and a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Button, twine and gems from my stash plus a drizzle of glamour dust here and there




So onto my next card which is for a challenge I've never entered before - the CASE Study Challenge. I spotted it while checking out Amy Wanford's blog and couldn't resist entering as I had the perfect ballerina die cut image which was a freebie from Dies to Die for.

I was also itching to try out my new poinsettia stamp and die set from Clearly Besotted. I stamped three of the large outline poinsettias onto white vellum then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I added glamour dust to the veins for extra dazzle but think I've perhaps got a bit carried away with the old glamour dust as I decided my ballerina would look pretty cool with a glittered tutu and ballet shoes!!! I've attached the vellum poinsettias to white card with brads covered with candy dots in coordinating baby pink and I'm hoping my cluster of 3 can pass as the 'circle' in the CAS - Colours and Sketches Sketch Challenge which is where my card is heading too.




Card Recipe:

Image: Ballerina from Dies to Die For, Poinsettia Stamp and Dies from Clearly Besotted
Papers: From Do-crafts (Forever Friends)
Sentiment: Uniko Studio
Sizzix Swirls Embossing folder used on the Kraft semi circle
Candy Dots from my stash


    


Did I say I'd been a busy little bee today?

So here's my last card which is another commission; this time for an 18th birthday card where the recipient loves owls.



My cute little owl reminds me of barn owls out in the countryside and on that note I've decided to enter him into the CASology Challenge where the cue word is 'Country'. I'd been watching some videos on using acetate on cards so decided to make an acetate cover for the card and layer my images on the top with the scalloped circles behind. Looking at the photo you probably can't tell there's any acetate so you'll just have to take my word for it.



Card Recipe:

Images, Papers & Sentiment: Clearly Digi Stamps who are sadly no longer trading (I stocked up before they closed the doors) but you can purchase items from Doodle Pantry
Acetate, metallic cord and gems from my stash plus I've added a few glossy accents for extra definition.




Wow that's got to go down as the longest blog post I've ever done ... a marathon indeed. Going for a lie down now or should I do the ironing???? No contest!

Hope to catch up with you all tomorrow and enjoy the rest of your evening.  Fingers crossed this multiple blog post will work when I come to enter the challenges Hee Hee!

Sarah

Tuesday 22 October 2013

NOT THOSE TREES AGAIN!

I'm afraid so!

My 'tree' image from Pink Petticoat hasn't been used in ages and it's another one of those times when you simply forget what's in the stash!

So this card is to sneak in at the last minute to the Clearly Besotted Challenge, which I have entered already, but wanted to try harder to stick with the colour pallet.

Also a late entry to the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge and last but not least another one to add to the tree theme at Less is More.

Last day at work for the week tomorrow...YIPPEE...then one week off as it'll be half term here next week. Mr Dazzle has taken the week off too so hoping he can add some much needed dazzle and sparkle to our bedroom with the dreaded 'painting & decorating' activity!






Card Recipe:

Image: Pink Petticoat
Leaves stamped using Clearly Besotted Autumn Flowers set with glossy accents added for some dimension
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Candy Dots from Stampin Up


  


Sarah

Monday 21 October 2013

NOT ANOTHER TREE!

I'm posting a very quick post today as I've had a chaotic day at work and think I need to lie down in a darkened room for a bit! So no crafting tonight!

This is another card to enter the Less is More Challenge for this week where the theme is Trees and this card uses a stamp I've had for more years than I care to remember...in fact I haven't used it for that many years either so I've dusted it down and quite like the effect so may have to use it more often.



Card Recipe:

Image: Stamp by Art Impressions
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Cotton Cord from my Crafty Auntie
Crafts-Too Snowflake Embossing folder
Fluffy Stuff and Glamour Dust added as snow for extra sparkle

Sarah

Sunday 20 October 2013

BUTTON TREE


So here's my last one for today and it's the weekend so got to be Less is More! For once I've loads of tree images and I thought I'd combine this one with the ColourQ challenge for this week; just hope Chrissie and Jen will allow the pink space instead of white!

Also managed to make this a trio challenge as I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday but turned it and used an A6 rather than Square card.

I have almost finished another festive 'tree' card which I'll hopefully post tomorrow. Hope you are all well and catch you soon.

Sarah





    


Card Recipe:

Image: Pink Petticoat
Papers: Clearly Digi Stamps (no longer trading) & The Paper Mill Shop
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Buttons from my stash (leaf-shaped ones from my Crafty American Auntie)

SPOTTY DOTTY CHRISTMAS


It's a while since I've posted more than once in a day and I've even got a third to add in a minute!

Mojo seems to have returned - just needed to play with some glitter and sparkle to get me in the mood!

I feel like I've missed so many challenges this week so now playing catch up. Here's the first one which is for Freshly Made Sketches and it's another one to add to my Christmas box! Whoopie!

I've delved into the Christmas snippets box to make this one so I'm going to head over to Pixies Snippet Challenge with this one too. Wondering what's going on in the Playground with our leader away enjoying the sunshine!

AND a  third challenge with this one as Simon Says Stamp have a 'Holidays' theme. Just love it when it works out!




Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Papers: Freebies (last year) from Quick Cards Made Easy
I've added some glossy accents to my spotty trees for extra glamour and also to the spotty pennants
Star Gem from my stash

 


Enjoy the rest of your evening; I'm off to watch some TV and check out your blogs.

Sarah

WINTER GARDENING


Sorry friends I've been a useless blog pal this week and I do hope to catch up with you all but please bear with me. My guests left yesterday and we've had a wonderful time. We hadn't seen them for 3 years but it was great to just chill and catch up like they'd never been away and it was quite sad to see them head off and back to Australia. They're already planning to return next year for an extended stay and tour of Europe so that'll be great fun.

Anyway I really don't know how to get my head back to crafting ... any suggestions!!! I've looked everywhere for my mojo and it's disappeared - maybe down-under with my friends!

So I decided to kick-start my blog activity with a card I made a couple of weeks ago and enter it into the Paper Players Challenge where the theme is 'Masculine Birthday Cards' and I've used a Digistamp Boutique image so I'm going to drop in on their monthly challenge too. Those wellies are going to come in handy for tidying up the garden for Winter though the bees and bugs won't be hanging about in this cold!

Hopefully I'll get down to some crafting this afternoon as the weather is pretty glum here so perfect excuse to hide away in my crafty space. Just not sure how the photos will pan out later but here goes with the first one...


Sarah

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique coloured with Promarkers
Leaf Embossing Folder from Crafts-Too
Paper: TK Maxx
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Twine from my stash

Tuesday 15 October 2013

LACK OF TIME = BUMPER CHALLENGE!


Sorry pals but just sweeping in and out with my card today - busy day at work and all the last minute things to do before our friends arrival have to be done this evening because I'm at work again tomorrow!

So due to my lack of time I've tried to make a card to tie in with quite a few challenges so hope it works ok. Here's my list of challenges:

  1. Clearly Besotted Challenge - I've tried to use the colour scheme as best as possible with an Autumnal slant
  2. Sketch Saturday: - I've missed this challenge for a few weeks but love this sketch so had to play along.
  3. Addicted to CAS - Challenge # 24 (Transparent) - so I've overlaid my base card with acetate but not sure you can tell from the photo.
  4. Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground: I would sooooo love to win that cutting die! I think I saw it on Jules (Always with a Heart) recently and immediately added it to my never-ending wish list! So as this card uses several snippets I'm going to throw my name into the hat! Sorry it's another New Home card but I'm just loving this set of stamps and dies from Clearly Besotted.
  5. Simon Says Stamp - Use a clear or rubber stamp and as SSS are showcasing Clearly Besotted I simply had to join in!

So that's all from me for today - catch you all soon.




Sarah

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Autumn Flowers and Home Sweet Home from Clearly Besotted
Acetate, Twine and Gems from my stash

Monday 14 October 2013

FUNNY LITTLE MONSTER


Another late one from me; the reason being I've been tearing my hair out and my house apart looking for my mojo! I think with the craft event last Friday and cutting and sticking like crazy for the last few weeks that I've lost it.

Anyway I decided to have a go at the Less is More Challenge featuring a One Layer Card of Witches, Wizards or Monsters I think. I feel this is a bit of a cheat card really as I've used a pre-coloured digi image from Clearly Digi Stamps (sadly no longer trading) with sentiments from them too.  I'm always itching to add some embellishment, glitter or dazzle with these one layer cards and basically have to tie my hands behind my back to stop me adding things BUT I have added a couple of glossy accents to my one-eyed monster and placed him in a teardrop shape using my PC just for some added detail.

I think he's quite cute really and not particularly scary! I did attempt to colour a wizard stamp for a second entry but honestly my hubby announced it looked like something a 3 year old had coloured so I gave that one a miss!

Catch up with you all soon and I'm being lazy tonight ... NO card recipe as I've detailed the items used above.


Sarah


Sunday 13 October 2013

WHERE'S THE WEEKEND GONE!


Hello Blog Pals

Can't quite believe it's almost teatime on Sunday and not sure where the weekend has gone. But I have been quite busy so I guess that's where it's all disappeared to! Firstly we had the craft event on Friday night which was quite successful ... I would have like to sell more cards but it was a learning curve! It's only the second one I've done, the first being several years ago and I vowed never to do it again! Anyway I quite enjoyed this one so who knows I may have another go at craft fairs in the future.

Secondly we had some friends over for a meal last night so lots of last minute shopping, cleaning, preparing and cooking but it's always worth it to catch up after not seeing them for a while.

Then today I've been doing more DEEP cleaning as we have friends arriving from Australia this week and my daughter has given up her room for the guests. Crikey does she accumulate dust and junk in equal measures!

So all this means little time for crafting but I thought I'd be ultra clever and make one card for 6 challenges! YES 6 challenges ... but then I read the rules at Freshly Made Sketches and had to cut it down to 4 challenges in total so here's my card:



I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays: where the theme is Stitching and this is faux stitching as my sewing machine doesn't want to play ball when I ask it to stitch card! 
CAS on Sunday: where the theme is make a Get Well Card
CASology: the theme here is CRISP and I've interpreted this as Crisp autumn leaves. I've seen several people embossing onto vellum and if you follow my blog regularly you may realise that I fell out with stamping & embossing some years ago and am now only just getting back to it. Fortunately I didn't throw away all of my embossing powders and heat gun! So I've used clear embossing powder on the orange and gold coloured vellum then red on the red vellum. I've then glittered up the veins for some added sparkle.
Last but not least - Freshly Made Sketches

          

Card Recipe:

Image: Craft Too leafy embossing folder with leaf stamps and die from Clearly Besotted
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Candy Dots & Glittery Brad: Stampin Up


Sarah

Thursday 10 October 2013

BUTTONS, TWINE & WASHI TAPE!

This is a scheduled post as I've lots to do today and I'm off to a MacMillan Coffee Morning so wanted to get this up on the blog early - just hope I remember to link to the challenges! A double one today ...

It's for Seize the Sketch and the monthly challenge over at Uniko Studio, where the theme is to use washi tape. To be honest I've been a bit baffled with this one as I'm not that keen on washi tape although it's very popular and I can't help but think it distracts from the beautiful stamps. I've tried to pick out the colours in the tape to match with my backing CS plus this adorable button I found in my stash!

Hope you have a good day and I'll catch up over the weekend and hopefully be able to report on a successful fundraising event.




Sarah

This used:

Flower Power 1 stamps and sentiment from Uniko Studio
Washi tape, Twine and Button from my stash

Wednesday 9 October 2013

WHOOP WHOOP A TRIPLE CHALLENGE

Hello All

Really pleased I've finished work for the week and can now get down to the final bits and bobs for my craft event on Friday ... whoopie.

I've been having a little play in my craft pod this evening and have a card to share which is to enter this week's Colour Q Challenge along with Cas-ual Fridays where the theme is sequins and chevrons.

I've kept it quite simple and silly me got it in my head that Uniko Studio were sponsoring this challenge so I decided to use their products ... only to discover later it's CASology not Cas-ual Fridays!!! Anyway I love these little flower power stamps and sentiments so an extra excuse to use them.

You'll notice I've used a few snippety bits on this card so I'm going to pop this in at Pixies Snippets Playground Challenge too; my second entry for the week!

Off to catch up on your blogs now.




Sarah

Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Uniko Studio - Flower Power 1 & Natural Treasures
Chevrons die-cut using MFT die-namics
Sequins from my stash