'Blues and/or Browns' mini challenge!

Hello again!

 

I'm just popping in to let you know about the new theme for our mini challenge at Creative Craft World this month.

All you need to do is make a project using blue and/or brown and link it to the

Creative Craft World blog HERE.

 

Lou very kindly sent me April's mini kit to have a play with.

You can find it HERE but you don't have to use it to enter the challenge.

 

(although you can if you want!)

 

 

This is what I came up with...

 The flower stamp is by Unity and the 'hello' stamp is Stampin' Up.

The sentiment is a stamp by Hampton Art Clear Expressions

and it's stamped with Elzybell's white ink. 

 



I have been very quiet on the blogging front,

mainly because we have been getting work done to the house and I'm stressed out with it!

Roll on the next few weeks to get the house back in order again :)

 

Thanks for visting and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sarah xx

New Christmas challenge at CCW

Good morning!

 

I hope by now those of you dealing with the terrible snow storms are over the worst of it.

We've been very fortunate here with just a little sprinkling of snow.

 

I'm back today to tell you about a new monthly challenge over at Creative Craft World.

For those of you who want to get a head start on your Christmas cards this will be perfect for you.

The challenge is called BtCR (Beat the Christmas Rush) and the idea is to create some Christmas cards each month and add them to the linky HERE.

By the time 25th November comes round you could have all your cards ready in time for posting in December!

 

This is a card I made as a Christmas thank you.

The image is a digi stamp from Tiddly Inks.

 

I coloured it with Copics and tied some twine around the centre to look like a present.

I stamped the sentiment (Stampin' Up) and punched it out with the Tiny Tags punch.

To add a little sparkle I outlined parts of the image with Stickles glitter glue.

 

Thank you so much for visiting today.

And to all my followers thank you for sticking with me.

I haven't been able to blog lately with my health playing up and other things having to take priority

but I hope to be back soon when everything settles down.

 

Hope you have a lovely day,

Take care.

Sarah xx

Sparkle with LIM

Hello everyone,

I've been trying to get time since Saturday to play in the Less Is More

challenge this week and I finally managed it this morning :)

Chrissie & Jen are looking to see Glamour & Glitz!

 

I love glitter and all sorts of sparkly things so I couldn't miss this one :)

I have made a quick little Christmas card.

I love using kraft card for Christmas cards and this one is 12x12cms.

I stamped a little Elzybells robin, coloured him with copics and added Glamour dust underneath him

and a few dots of it around him. I also added white dots (inkessentials pen) around the frame.

The stamp is from a little clear set by Hampton Art.

-------------

 

Keeping with the Christmas theme, we are down to our last few projects over at

Creative Craft World....November has flown by!

Today Lou has a bottle tag and gift carton to share.

Here's a little peek and you can find out how to make them here.

 

Thanks for popping in today

and I'll be back tomorrow with a link to Sue's project.

I have a couple of birthday cards to share soon but I have to wait in case they see them on my blog!

Take care,

Sarah xx

Christmas Mini Envelope Book Tutorial

Hello everyone,

 

I hope your weekend went well, mine went far too quickly!

Well today is day 26 of the Christmas Countdown at Creative Craft World

and it's a special day for me as it's my birthday :)

 

I have a tutorial today for a little mini album made with envelopes.

I haven't it fully decorated inside but maybe it's just as well as this post

has a lot of photos already.

 

 

 

 I used 3 DL size envelopes and I like to use PaperMill Direct ones but any good quality ones will do.

To start you score each envelope down the middle.

 

Then fold in half (with the flap to the inside)with a bone folder to get a good crease line.

 

 Take a piece of scrap card and trace the outline of the flap.

This will make a template for cutting patterned paper for the flap as you decorate.

 

 Take one envelope for the front cover and lay it flap side down.

Add a strip of double sided tape from left to right approximately halfway down.

Take approx. 1m of ribbon, find the centre and adhere to the tape.

This is your ribbon closure.

 

Now you can decorate the back and front of the envelopes.

 

The paper I used for the front and back cover is Jillibean soup.

I inked all the edges of each envelope with 'Barn Door' distress ink.

 

Measure 1.5 cms in from the spine and 2.5cms from the top and bottom

and mark with a pencil.

Using the large hole in the cropadile punch through the folded envelope.

Using this envelope as a guide, mark the holes in the other 2 envelopes and punch. 

 

Layer the envelopes together and tie ribbon through the holes.

I left one end longer so I can loosen the ribbon if the book becomes a little bulky after decorating.

You can dab some wet glue on the ends to stop the ribbon from fraying. 

 

Before I decorate a book I always gather up as many matching embellishments as I can.

(A great chance to use up that hoarded stash...)

It really does make decorating a book a lot quicker if everything is at hand.

 

This is the first page of the book, I have tags to make for journaling on the left hand side

and I'll probably add more bits and pieces as I go along :) 

 

The second page is a pic of the family (except me...) enjoying the first snowfall one winter.

I still have to complete the journaling on the left hand side.

You can use the flap of the envelope for tucking in tags and little bits and pieces inside. 

 

When I get the book completely finished I'll post all the photos of the inside

so you will have a better idea of how it all comes together.

 

If you made it to the end of this very long post

THANK YOU!

I hope I have inspired you to have a go at your own little book

and if you do, please post a link in the comments section below - I'd love to see it :)

 

Don't forget to pop back tomorrow for a link to Susi's blog

where she has made some handwarmers.

These are great little things, I've made some for the craft fair coming up

and I've had to hide them because all the family want one :)

 

Take care,

Sarah xx

Edited to add: Rene from Simply Cute has used my tutorial to make a fabulous calendar.  You really must check it out!!!

Click HERE to see it. 

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

MIM ~ linky party

Challenges 4 Everybody #8 ~ anything goes

Corrosive Challenges ~ anything goes

CI Paints ~ anything goes

The Squirrel & The Fox ~ anything goes 

Notecard

Hello everyone!

 

I have a little notecard to share today using bits and pieces I cut with the Silhouette.

 

 

I added tape just along the top of the scallop strips and turned the scallops up slightly
to add a little dimension.

The stamp is by Clear Expressions (Hampton Art)

 

 

~~~~~~~~

 

I also have the link to Sue's blog

where she has made a beautiful wreath for the Christmas Countdown at Creative Craft World.

We only have a sneak peek but you can see it all and the tutorial here.

I can't wait to see it!

 

 

Thank you for stopping by today and if you come back tomorrow

I'll have a link to Susi's blog where she will have some homemade treats to eat!

 

Take care,

Sarah xx



4 cards using CCW's November Mini kit

Hello again!

I just remembered last night that I had to post these cards for the new mini challenge at

Creative Craft World today!

We've been so involved with the Christmas Countdown that the regular challenges have been a bit forgotten about.

We'd love you to take a moment and enter your projects.

 

Lou very kindly sent me this month's mini kit to have a play with and with the gorgeous mix of colours, I was able to make a male card as well as more feminine cards.

 

 This cute little mouse is from The Paper Shelter, the sentiment is a Daisy Bucket stamp and the brad is K&Co.

 

 The sentiment on this card is computer generated using 'LoosieScript' and the oval is cut with Nestabilities.

 I 'm sorry I can't remember the make of this stamp.  To save on space I removed all my stamps from their wooden blocks and I never made a note of the names!

It's coloured with Koh-i-Noor woodless pencils.

The button is by Fancy Pants and I tied twine through it. 

The brads were stuck on with pinflair glue gel after I removed the pins from the back of them.

I find that if I'm placing brads close together on card it can be hard to get them in a straight line.

Also the card crinkles when I pierce holes closely together so I find gluing them on gives a neater finish :)

The sentiment is computer generated using 'PhontPhreak's Handwriting'.

 

The flower stamp on this card is by Elzybells and the button is American Crafts.

Everything else is from the kit.

 

Thank you for reading both my posts today,

I'm a little behind in my commenting but I will be round to visit you soon :)

I  hope you have a lovely day

and if you pop back tomorrow, I'll have a link to Sue's project.

 

Take care,

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter some of these in the following challenges:

Loves Rubberstamps ~ fun with ribbons

Oldie But A Goodie ~ anything but Christmas (Sailing card...stamp, brads, button, twine, more than 6 months old)

Incy Wincy ~ hip to be square (Sailing card)

Crafty Cardmakers ~ more than 1 punch/die cut (Flowers/butterfly card...2 die cut circles, 2 punched butterflies)

Whoopsi Daisy ~ die cuts and punches (Get well soon card... die cut oval, punched flowers & Flowers/butterfly card...2 die cut circles, 2 punched butterflies)

 

'cool company' Christmas card

With Christmas fast approaching I have another card to share today.

It's only the 3rd Christmas card I've made so far, so I'd need to get my skates on!

 

I've been trying to use up some of my forgotten/older stash for my cards this year.

I have no room to store anything new!

 

Supplies used

White card ~cut and scored to A6 size

Patterned Paper ~ DCWV Christmas multi stack (6x6")

Red card ~ cut with Nestabilites labels 8 die

Green card ~ embossed with Cuttlebug snowflake folder

Stamp ~ Penny Black 3743K 'cool company'

Ink ~ Memento black

Coloured with Copics

Red/White ribbon, Christmas twine & Green star button

Stickles 'star dust'

Ice white pearl pen ~

for the dots of snow in the background, but they haven't shown up too well in the photo.

 

 

....continuing on the Christmas Countdown....

I hope you've been enjoying the lovely festive projects shared by the DT

at Creative Craft World.

We're now on day 10 and Morag has a winter scrapbook page here

 

 

and that's it from me today!

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend :)

I have an appointment at the hospital this morning for a nerve conduction study

for Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

I'm dreading it a bit because I don't know what to expect and it sounds possibly painful??

Maybe it won't be as bad as I think :)

I'll let you know how it goes....

 

All the best

Sarah xx

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday ~ cute Christmas

One Stop Craft ~ anything goes

Krafty hands ~ Christmas

2 Sisters ~ favourite Christmas stamp

CSAYL ~ anything goes

Fun with shapes & more ~ the 1st snow (Christmas/winter, white base colour)

Day 6 and a birthday card

Good morning!

I'm back again today with another link

and this time it's for Lou's lovely Christmas scrapbook page.

You'll find it HERE with all the details.

 

 

 

My card today was another rush job, this time to send to Australia...

I'm getting into a bad habit of leaving things to the last minute!

It was for my wee nephew's birthday and although it's pretty simple I was pleased with it in the end :)

I used Woodware 'peeking over' stamps and I decoupaged the horse and sheep for some dimension.

Layered it on yellow card, added doodled stitching around the outside

and tied some twine around the top.  It was coloured with Copics.

 

That's it from me today.

I will be back tomorrow with a link to Trish's Christmas cards.

 

I'll also be sharing a card I've made for my nephew's 18th birthday this weekend.

Thank you so much for stopping by,

Take care

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox ~ flowers, hats or horses

Make it Monday ~ anything goes

The Crafty Pad ~ anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles ~ anything goes

Day 2 of Christmas Countdown

 

This morning I have a link to Ali's blog and she has been working with Fimo.

We only have a taster photo for you but you can see it all HERE

 

 

I also have a card to share and it's a little sleeping House Mouse.

The image looks pale in the photo but it's not really, my photograpy skills are lacking!

 

The papers are Echo Park 'Life is Good' and I coloured the image with Copics.

The base card is Bazzill 'French Vanilla' (I love that colour!)

and the embossed dots were made with a Sizzix large dot embossing folder.

 

 

I am off today to a sewing class to learn how to make the most of my sewing machine.

I have so many feet for it and no idea how to use them. 

Maybe after today I'll be whizzing up all sorts of things.......I can live in hope anyway :)

 

Thank you so much for joining me today and I hope you have a lovely weekend.

I'd love it if you could come back tomorrow when I'll be sharing my scrapbook page for the next challenge at Creative Craft World.

 

See you then!

Sarah xx 

Sympathy card.

Good morning!

 

It's turned very cold and wet here, so it's time for the winter woollies I think!

 

I'm back this morning with a card to share and I always find these ones difficult.

It's a sympathy card for a friend whose husband died suddenly.

 

 I made a 12cm card blank and using an extra square of white card, I stamped the flower using a Unity stamp.  I coloured the leaf with Copic markers and added tiny green gems to the circles.

Then I wrapped some SU ribbon around it and placed the sentiment (computer generated) on top with foam pads.  I added this square to the card front with double sided tape.

Then finished with a printed insert on the inside.

 

 

Thank you for visiting today

and I'll be back on Saturday with 4 projects using CCW's October mini kit.

 

Take care

Sarah xx

Scrapbook page - Back to School

Good morning!

 

I hope you're having a lovely weekend.  The weather here has been great this week -

just typical back to school weather!

 

Our scrap map challenge at Creative Craft World was postponed for a week, due to the birthday blog hop we had.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part and thank you too for all the comments on my blog.

I loved reading them :) I'd like to say a  big 'hello' to my new followers too, not just from the blog hop but to those of you who signed up during the summer months too!

 

Well, today we have a fabulous sketch from Sue and it would be wonderful

if you could join us in the scrapbook challenge this month.

The winner is chosen by the DT and gets a fab prize, a generous discount in the shop and a GDT spot for the next challenge!

 

This is my take on the scrap map.

 

Regular readers of my blog will have seen this photo before... I posted it on the children's first day back at school.  How difficult is it to get two children to look at the camera at the same time?

I took lots of photos and I still didn't manage it.....  lol

I made a little mini book for more photos and hidden journaling and tied it closed with twine and a little owl charm.

 



 

 The patterned papers are DCWV 'school days' I think and I've had them for ages.

For the 'chalkboard' I cut a 10" square from pepper bazzill swiss dot paper and distressed the edges.

Then I dabbed along the edges and swiped across the front of the card with a white paint dabber.

Using Elzybells white pigment ink I stamped TPC Studio 'teacher' stamps all over the black card (stamping off on scrap card first) to make it appear 'chalked'.

 

This is the inside of the wee book and it has individual photos of each child and a little bit of journaling. (some of the details I've kept private)

 

 The large WRMK brads were a real bargain I got ages ago but I always knew they'd come in handy some day!

 

 

The title was cut from a sheet of matching paper and I created a string line across the chalkboard and attached the card card to it with a patterned peg from Making Memories.

 

You'll find the scrap map for Creative Craft World here.

I hope it inspires you to take part in the challenge.

 

Thanks for popping in today

and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Take care

Sarah xx

 

I'd like to enter this in MIM linky party.



 

3-2-1 with Less is More

Good afternoon!

 

With the summer nearly over and the children returning to school on Friday

it's time for me to get back to blogging!

 

I love the Less is More challenges and Make it Monday and although I tried to get time to play along this summer it just didn't happen but on Saturday I had a little free time and this is what I made.

 

 

The challenge for LIM this week is a recipe and I used 3 words - 2 animals - 1 ribbon.

 

The base card is 14x14cms tent fold and I layered a pink 11x11cms square on top.

The little elephant is cut with a Sizzix die from an Echo Park 'hello summer' paper pad.

I inked the edges with TH antique linen distress ink and added a black brad for her eye.

The word 'sorry' is an Elzybells stamp (unfortunately not available anymore) and the 'I forgot' is part of a Personal Impressions stamp which I inked with an SU marker.

The wee bird is cut from a sheet of paper from the EP pad.

 

 I layered the elephant and bird with foam pads and I added two pads on top of each other just under the ear to prop it up a bit higher. Then I glued a strip of ric rac ribbon just underneath to 'ground' them.

 

 

When I finished that card (and making the most of my 'free time'...)

I made one for a boy.

 

The base of this one is cream card and I layered Bazzill kraft card on top.

The elephant is cut from an Echo Park 'note to self' paper pad.

My recipe this time is 3 words - 2 doodled lines - 1 animal

 

 

By this stage I should have been back to my 'mum' duties but I had been asked to make a baby card and I thought these little elephants would be perfect!

The photo is not great and the card is already away so I can't retake it but you'll get the idea :)

 

It's for twins Edward and Ruby.

 

This time it's on a 7x5" white card blank and I printed the sentiment on the computer

using 'annie use your telescope' font.

The names are stamped using Elzybells alphabet stamps with versafine black ink.

I added clear dew drops to look like bubbles.

 

That's it for today!

 but I'm going to schedule more posts for this week.

I have been doing quite a bit of sewing over the summer

and have also been to classes to make some christmas projects .

Rather than mix the papercrafts and sewing on this blog, I've created a new blog just for sewing.....Richard is laughing....

he says if I can't keep up with one blog how will I manage two!

Well, I'll just have to prove him wrong won't I!  lol
 

My new blog is dillydoodle (if anyone is interested click here!)
Here's a wee peek of my latest project...

 

 

Thank you for coming to visit today :)

See you soon

Sarah xx