Missed challenge and new way of colouring

Hello!

Just a quick experiment from my new iPhone (it's so cool!)

This was a card I made for the sketch Saturday challenge but missed the deadline, oops! Thought I'd post it anyway.



I've been playing with a new way of colouring on this card. I used sansador (i think in the US they call it Gamsol). I used paper stumps and Derwent colouring pencils to get this look. I'll post more details later as I can't type very well on my phone yet!

Sarah xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday Sketchers

Hey!

Just a quick post. I'm pretty sure I've missed the Friday Sketchers deadline for this weeks challenge but thought I'd post my card anyway(!)

I'll post material details later  :-)

Sarah xx

My First Award!

I've had this award for a while but just haven't had the time to post it. I feel awful about that when someone has been so kind as to pass this on to me but you know how life can sweep you along at times. I can't tell you how excited I am to have received this award from the lovely Angela! Have a look at Angela's lovely blog 'Sparkly Cards', her cards are so pretty.

Here are the instructions in order to accept this award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name seven things about yourself that people might find interesting.

5. Nominate seven Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.

7. Leave comments on all seven blogs letting them know you nominated them.

Crikey, 7 things that people might find interesting ay...? Here goes(!)

1.  I'm an only child and still live at home with my parents (I'm 24 for goodness sake but I've just got it too good here!) I blame the economic situation!
2. I love Strictly Come Dancing and am so glad that it's finally back on TV! :-D
3. I work in Marketing for a software company in Nottingham.
4. I have a rabbit called Bruce. He is a black and white Dutch and is now wise to all my tricks when I try and catch him in the house!! Naughty Bruce!
5. I have always loved arts and craft but sort of fell into card making when I couldn't find a suitable card for my parents wedding anniversary. It was a slippery slope from then on!
6. I already have tickets for the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC in November (maybe I'll see some of you there?!) :-)
7. I've promised myself that this is the year that I'll try skiing for the first time. (I'm counting early next  2010 as 'this year' as well though!) I can ice skate well so how difficult can it be?!

The seven Kreativ Bloggers that I'd like to nominate and pass the award on to are -

1. Lynne - Ruby-dooby-doo's Stampin Spot
2. Kerry - A Load of Old Pickle
3. Debbie - Pink Poppy Craft Box
4. Katy - Katy's Bloggeroo
5. Diane - Dizzy Dan Designs
6. Juliet - Juliet's Paper Palace
7. Kim - Paper Babe

Sarah xx

Long Time No Post!

Hello!

Well, I'm back(!) I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted! Things have been really busy and I haven't really had the time to post. I've still been making cards but lost my crafting mojo for a while but now it's coming back I thought I'd share some cards with you again!

I always struggle with cards for men (especially if they don't like sport!) so this stamp is going to come in very handy!

I bought this Trimcraft paper pack at the weekend called 'Masculine'. I only really bought it because it was cheap but once I got them home and really looked at them, the designs are really nice. Pleasantly surprised :-)

I followed a sketch over on Inspirational Card Sketches and thought the bold shapes worked really well for a male card.

Image: Can’t remember maker of the stamp (I’ll look it up later!) stamped with Black Stazon. Coloured with Derwent Watercolour Pencils and white Sakura Soufflé pen for the detail.
Papers: Trimcraft – Masculine paper pack and silver Mirri board
Tools: Just the basics; craft knife, silicon glue etc
Greeting: Studio G clear stamps

I'm going to try and be a better blogger from now won and post more regularly! :-)

Sarah xx

Summery Birthday

I recently got some new My Minds Eye papers that I've been dying to have a play with so I combined it with a few challenges and this is the result...

(Sorry the photo isn't great, there wasn't any natural light when I took the photo).

Sketch from Spoon Full Of Sugar, I used faux stitching around the image for Creative Inspirations, buttons for the centre of the flowers for Just Magnolia and the Cupcake Craft challenge was to include blossoms and butterflies . The Roses On Paper challenge is 'summer and vacation' and the Simon Says challenge is 'summer fruit colours'. The My Minds Eye papers are so lush and juicy, these areas also covered.

Thought I'd try a new way of showing what materials I've used so here goes -

Image: Magnolia, Kars 'Children' clear stamps for the butterflies (both coloured with Copics)
Papers: My Minds Eye - Bloom and Grow
Tools: Carla Craft flower punch, large Dovecraft flower punch, Woodware grass fronds punch
Embellishments: Anita's gems, buttons from stash, stickles glue

Sarah x

Winter Wonderland

I've made my second Christmas card of the year... (only about 100 more to go!)
I made the card for the challenge over on Winter Wonderland. this week the theme is 'Christmas Present'. I have used traditional colours for this card but I thought that the layout and the image were quite modern  :-)

The paper is from the new Daisy and Dandelion Christmas Collection. This stack is called 'A Winter's Tale'. The red ribbon across the centre is Anit's and has gold writing which says 'Merry Christmas & Happy New Year' in gold (it doesn't really show up on the photo). The image is from Magnolia and coloured with Copic markers. I made the three stars in the corner which a punch.

Thanks for looking!  :-)

Sarah x

New Career...

Hello!

A friend has recently completed all her training to get ino the police force and asked me to make this card for the police recruitment officer who helped her through the process.

The layout is from the Sketch Saturday challenge and I have also entered it into the Colour Create challenge as the theme this week is blue and white.

The policeman topper is made from a number of blue and white circles (an idea shown in Papercraft Inspirations a couple of months ago). I colour his hair with Copic markers and printed the sentiments. The paper is actually from the new Daisy and Dandelion Christmas Collection, versatile paper hey?! :-)

Sarah

Another 30th Birthday Card

Hello!

I've been asked by a friend to make another 30th birthday card. I'm asured that the birthday girl in question is very girly so hopefully this card should fit the bill(!)

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for the layout.

The papers are DCWV Butterflies and Blossoms Stack (I really need to use some other paper on my next card, I've used this stack loads but it's just so pretty!) Gems are Anitas and ribbon is from stash. As usual I've made some flowers from a selection of punches and a Woodware punch for the leafy bits. Coloured the stamped image with Copics.

Hardly used any materials for this card. I think it's because the patterned paper itself is so bright it does most of the work for you. You can't really see it in the photo but the background paper has glitter over some of the design. Sparkly! :-)

Sarah xx

Male 30th Birthday

Hi agian!

Just thought I'd post this card before I'm too late for the Friday Sketchers challenge.
A friend asked me to make this card for her brother and I usually really struggle with male cards but I really enjoyed making this one -

It didn't photograph very well because there wasn't any natural light but I think you get the idea  :-)

The papers are DCWV Green Stack, image coloured with Copics, sentiment printed from computer and brads (not sure where these are from). I also used Anita's gloss on the wine glass and on the sentiment but it doesn't show very well here.

See you again tomorrow with another challenge card!

Sarah xx

Anniversary Card

Hello again!

It was my parent's anniversary at the weekend (39 years together!) so I made them this little card.

I followed the Lili of the Valley sketch and the bears are some of the digi stamps I got from the amazing Card Making World Trolley Dash (keep an eye out for their next one!) You can also find a few freebie craft printables from their site here.

To make the card I used DCWV Garden Party Stack, digi images from Card Making World (the bears were actually separate but that's the beauty of digitlal images) :-) and coloured with my new Copics. I used a
few different flower punches to make the flowers and my new Woodware punch for the green leafy fronds. Lace is from my stash.

Sarah xx

New Job Card

Hello!

I made this card for a friend who has just got a new job at Nottingham University. (Woohoo! Well done her!) :-)

I followed the Papertake Weekly Challenge sketch for the layout and used a charm so that it would qualify for the Just Magnolia challenge. I also the distressed the background with pink ink so that I could enter it into the new Magnollia Tutorial Challenge.

I coloured my Tilda with my new Copic markers(!) I finally decided on the Ciao ones and bought 12 to see how I'd get on with them. I LOVE them already but can see that they will take a bit of practice to perfect... oh well, another excuse to make cards(!) Problem is now, I've got to collect some more colours or else everything is going to be coloured blue, red, brown or skin coloured(!)  :-D
I ordered my Copics from an online site called Cult Pens. They offer free delivery (on orders over £10) and the service was fantastic. I ordered at 2.30pm on a Tuesday and my pens arrived Wednesday morning!!

Sarah xx

You-hoo!

Hellooo!

Made this quick card for a friend.

The stamp is by Sugar Nellie and was free with Craft Stamper magazine. I cut out the little owls eyes to make them stand out. The paper is DCVW Green stack, I used a small flower punch and printed the greeting. I coloured the owl using Whispers Brush markers and stickles glue.

Sarah x

Christmas in June!

Today felt like the right day to start crafting for Christmas so, here's my first Christmas card of the year! I'm sure lots of you have already started  :-)  I'd like to be able to make all of my Christams cards this year. I sort of made them all last year but most of them were from a kit so I felt like I cheated really(!)

I followed a sketch from A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge. I haven't added a Christmas-sy sentiment yet as I didn't have one small enough (i'll add one along the ribbon later).

This is a Magnolia stamp that I got from the NEC earlier this year and it's the first time it's been inked up...ahh, poor stamp(!)

The papers were a free download from the Crafts Beautiful Christmas Party (last year I think), the ribbon is Anitas, I used a Dovecraft snowflake punch, stickles and I used clear embossing powder on the Magnolia stamped image to give it a crisper outline. To colour the image I used a mixture of Cosmic Shimmer watercolours, Marvy Le Plume, Whispers and Dovecraft Double Brush markers with a water brush.

I'd really like to invest in some professional markers but just don't know which ones to choose... I think I might buy a few copics to see how I get on with them but then which ones do I get...? Sketch or Ciao? I'm not really sure what the difference is between them. Advice anyone?  :-)

Sarah x

Challenge Card

Hello!

I didn't think I'd get any time to make a card this weekend but I found a couple of spare hours :-)
I made this card for a couple of challenges and it ended up qualifying for SIX. That's got to be some sort of record?? A happy accident at least...
I followed the Inspirational Card Sketch for the layout of the card and paper pieced Lola's hat and coat so this qualifies for the Creative Inspirations and Lili of the Valley challenge as well. Lots of blogs have asked for paper piecing at the minute, I think it's a great technique. Colour Create asked for 'fruit colours' to be used on the card (I chose pink, orange and green).

The Allsorts challenge was to include wings in your project and finally, the Roses on Paper challenge was a little more demanding. It was a combined challenge, incorporating flowers. To qualify you had to enter your card into another challenge blog, use flowers on the card and be created with a stamp from Magnolia, Alota, Sarah Kay, Rachelle Anne Miller or Greeting Farm. Phew, I think that covers it(!)

I used a Rachelle Anne Miller stamp - Lola with Bird, Dovecraft flower punches and marker pens, Anita's gems and glossy accents. I'm not sure who the paper is by.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend! :-)

Sarah x

Father's Day - Ribbons

Hello again! This is the last Father's Day card I'll post...

I think you have to be careful how you embellish men's cards. The temptation for me is to always pile on glitter, sparkly gems and fill up empty spaces with flowers(!) I made this card more as an experiment than anything to see if it would work.

It's quite a simple card. Matted and layered cardstock with a ribbon border, peel off greeting and faux stutching. It's quite bright but still (hopefully) masculine, I think it works. I've not used ribbon like this before but it's something I'll try again...

Sarah x

Father's Day - Origami Shirt

This was a very quick card for a friend. I used origami to make the shirt. When I first looked at the instructions it didn't seem to make any sense but I had a practice with some copy paper and it all became clear... :-)

I tied a knot in a thin piece of ribbon to make the tie.

Sorry the photo isn't great, I photographed it in a poly bag.

Sarah x

Father's Day - Car Card

Thought I'd show you a few of the cards I made for Father's Day this year... A friend asked me to make this card for her Dad. His 1971 convertible VW Beetle is his pride and joy and he tells her that this will be the car she uses on her wedding day(!)

Sarah x

Card Making World Trolley Dash

Hi Guys!

Just found out about the amazing Card Making World Trolley Dash that is on at the minute. They have LOADS of cute downloads and for just £2.00 you can have as many as you can fit into your virtual trolley. The offer ends Friday 19th June 11.59 pm GMT. Get a move on and bag yourself some bargains!

I've got my evening planned now anyway!

Sarah x

CCSR Challenge

Hello!

I made this card for the challenge on Stampin Chic. This week the challenge was to follow a sketch.

I used Stickles to jazz up the background paper (but I'm not sure if this shows up very well on the photo).

Materials - DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies stack (there's that paper again!), CCSR stamp, waterfall Stickles, Hero Arts sentiment stamp, flower punch and derwent colour pencils to colour the image.

Thanks for looking :-)

Sarah x

Just Magnolia & Friday Sketchers Card

Hi!

I inked up my favourite little Tilda for the Friday Sketchers challenge. I also paper pieced Tilda's dress so this qualifies for the Just Magnolia challenge.

I don't have a die cutting machine so trying to cut an oval by hand was quite tricky, but it didn't turn out too bad(!)

The materials I used were DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies paper (this is a new pad that I've recently added to my stash so be prepared to be seeing a lot of it!), Magnolia stamp (Tilda with Cowberry Muffin) coloured with Derwent watercolour pencils, sentiment stamp (free with magazine), flower punches, Stickles, faux stitching with white souffle pen and PM gems.

Sarah x

Cupcake Card

I made this card for the Sketch Saturday challenge. I also tried out a ribbon border as suggested on The Next Level but was too late to enter it into the competition, doh (!) I really like the idea and it is something that I will definately try again, it really attracts your attention to the main image. I think it might look better with thicker ribbon though. Looking at the card now, I also think I should have inked or distressed the edges of centre panel, I'll know for next time :-)

The card is made from DCVW paper (Blossoms and Butterflies stack), Hero Arts cupcake and sentiment stamp and lace from my stash. The cupcake is coloured with Cosmic Shimmer watercolours.

Sarah x

Miss Anya Card

This is my first Miss Anya card. I followed the challenge sketch on Inspirational Card Sketches. The card also fulfils the Creative Inspirations challenge by using 4 different papers.

To make the card I used DCWV paper (the Garden Party Stack), Miss Anya stamp from The Greeting Farm, Waterfall Stickles and a couple of flower punches. The image is coloured with Derwent watercolour pencils.

Sarah x

30th Birthday Card

A friend asked me to make this card for his sister.

I paper pieced some of the ladies clothes. I've used this technique a couple of times now and really like it. It makes it easy to match all the colours.

I used patterned paper from Papermania, I think it's called Retro Floral, punched the flowers from the same paper and the stamp is from the Clare Curd Signature Range.

Sarah xx

Magnolia Card

Hey!

Just thought i'd post a Magnolia card that I made for a guy mate. I've used the Magnolia Edwin with guitar stamp with some free papers from Quick and Easy Card Making Magazine.

Hope you like :-)

Sarah xx

Stampin Chic Challenge...

The challenge this week was simply 'Be Chic!' (See the CCSR Blog here)

I love the Clare Curd Signature Range and this was a perfect excuse to glam it up :-)

I've made the card for a friend, just to say thank you. (I've not added the sentiment yet but this will go in the bottom right hand corner).

The papers were free from Crafts Beautiful, the flowers are Prima, gems from Anitas and the stamps is obviously from the Clare Curd Signature Range.

Sarah x

The Next Level...

Just been scouting around the internet and found what looks like its going to be a really exciting new challenge blog starting on 1st June. It's called 'The Next Level'. You can have a look for yourself by clicking here or on their image below :-)

Sarah x

Decoupage Birthday Card

Hello,

Thought I should start the blog with one of my latest makes...

This is the first time I've used lace on my cards (it seems to be in all the mags at the minute) and I will definately be using it again. I think it adds a lovely bit of texture :-)

I've also entered this card into the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge as the theme this week is 'lace'.

I love the look of decoupage but I don't really get much pleasure from cutting out all the different layers so this is die cut (I suppose it's cheating a little bit but I won't tell if you don't!)

The papers are a little 6x6 pad from K & Co.

I'm off to look around at peoples lovely blogs now...

*sparkles*

Sarah x

My New Blog

Hello!

I've thought for a while about setting up a blog but didn't know if I'd have the time to post regularly...

I've finally taken the plunge mainly so that I can play along with the many cardmaking challenge blogs and hopefully meet some like minded crafters (most of my friends really don't get my paper and all things sparkly obsession!)

Hopefully I'll post some crafty creations soon :-)

Sarah