Sunday 31 July 2011

Gonna be a Bright, Sunshiny Day....

The sun is still shining here Hoorah! My hayfever is really bad though Boo! I will be so thankful when the pollen season is finally over, I have been suffering so much this year.

Yesterday my youngest daughter went on a 3 hour bicycle ride, today I think she will be doing much less judging by the amount she was moaning last night about her legs aching!!

Onto todays card, made for 2 challenges Moving Along with the Times - Brand Spanking New,  and Allsorts challenge which is Free and Easy.





This is an old but well used stamp, I really like using it for new baby cards. I have a new passion for this gingham ruffle ribbon isn't it gorgeous? As it's elasticated you don't need very much at all I have stretched it out and secured with a few stitches at each end. I used 2 strips here and added a length of white satin ribbon inbetween them, finished off with a polka dot button. I think I'll be using this quite a lot on my cards.

Stamp - Hero Arts
Paper and button from stash
ribbons from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop


I need to have a tidy of my craft room today, always a mammoth task isn't it?

Thanks for taking the time to visit me I love to read your comments.
Sarah x

Saturday 30 July 2011

Summer Fruits...

It's a glorious sunny day here today so what could be better than the Less is More challenge this week of Feeling Fruity.  Sadly I do not own any fruity stash, no stamps or suitable papers so I have had to go along with a fruity colour on my card.  I chose Zesty Lime as I think it works really well with white.




I made the flower using Sasha's little tutorial HERE I just used plain organza 25mm ribbon from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, and finished it off with a large lime coloured brad. Stamps used were Waltzing Mouse Holiday labels 14 and Fancy phrases in a lovely green ink and just a tiny bit of bling to finish off with, I think it needed this to balance the card out.

I wanted to say what a lovely group of crafters take part in the LIM challenges, so friendly and so many making an effort to leave lovely comments, Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit my blog last week, I really appreciate it .

I am hoping a friend of mine will join in with the challenge this week, I know she loves visiting the LIM blog and she really makes the most stunning CAS cards (you know who you are Miss Pitstop!!) Fingers crossed her blog will come out of retirement.

Thanks again for visiting
Sarah x

Thursday 28 July 2011

Buttons and Bows........

I'm still in Christmas mode here I thought I might as well carry on with another stocking money wallet and matching card as I still have Christmas papers out on my desk. This set is for my Nephew, and another card that can be crossed off my Christmas list.







I made this one for the challenge at Truly Scrumptious - Buttons and Bows and Papercraft Star challenge - Anything Goes. I used button twine for the bow as I dont think my Nephew would like a ribbon bow too much, and a polka dot button to finish off with.






The money wallet has matching papers and button and twine, with a little organza ribbon to hang it from. Have a look at my previous post if you want to see where the money goes.


Stamps used are from Purple Onion, papers My Minds Eye The merry days of Christmas, ribbon, buttons and Button twine from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

Thanks so much for visiting!
Sarah xx

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Christmas Stocking.....

Something a bit different today, the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp challenge is Shaped card/creation - no squares! Well this was a perfect opportunty to try this template for a gift card holder out. It came from Claire Brennan's blog (I think the template is available on Splitcoast stampers somewhere). I make several wallets each year at Christmas for family members who have gifts of money or gift cards so here is the first one.





These are really easy to make and make a nice change from cards plus you can use up lots of scraps which has to be a good thing.

I am also entering this into Stamptacular Sunday challenge which is Hot Pockets.

I can't remember what papers these are as they were in the scraps box, stamps are by Waltzing Mouse,  satin ribbon and bakers twine from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and the snowflake is recycled from a Christmas present last year.

Thanks for looking
Sarah x

Tuesday 26 July 2011

I think I love White Space!

Clean and simple is not really my thing. Well at least it wasn't until I joined in with this weeks Less is More Challenge - Ribbon or Button. Ok I have to admit it I think I am converted!!! I have really enjoyed looking at everyones entries this week and what a fabulous friendly bunch the Limettes are too!

So my first card included ribbon, this one features buttons.




I recently made a picture in a box frame with this button heart design in it for my craft room and thought it would work equally well on a card. Very quick to make as well, I just used glossy accents to attach the buttons and included a little paper rose to add a little bit of interest. I wish I had some square nesties to emboss a lovely deep square on the white card but I have improvised with my scoring board.

Stamp is from Roses in Bloom set by Waltzing Mouse and buttons are from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

If you want to win some pretty ribbon see HERE


Thanks for looking,
Sarah x

Monday 25 July 2011

We Have Sunshine!!!!.........

Yah!!  The sun is shining here at last! Let's hope it will stay for a while. I had a quite weekend here as I have managed to hurt my back so I am hobbling around at the moment. Still managed to make a quick card for the Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge this week. I struggled a bit with this one and I'm not very happy with the finished result.  I think it needs a flower on it somewhere.




My youngest daughter is 17 at the moment but from September onwards all her friends will be reaching their 18th so she will be needing quite a few cards. So I'm making a head start on them and this is the first.

Do you have lots of old chipboard in your craftroom? I have boxes of the stuff, alphabets, shapes and numbers, mini books ready for altering -  the list goes on.  I never use them anymore but these numbers were the perfect colour for this card so I distressed them a bit with sandpaper. I am waiting for 24 new coloured dew drop ink pads to arrive and I would have loved to use a coloured ink for the stamping on this card but the postal service seems to be very slow here at the moment.  So I used black and I dont think it works very well.  I borrowed Clare Buswell's idea (don't you just love her cards? So talented!) of cutting out the sentiment and mounting it on pads.

I'm also entering this card into the Allsorts free and Easy challenge this week.

Sorry it's another aqua coloured card, I had the last few scraps of this paper on my desk so I am using it up. Stamps used are Say it Loud  (can't get enough of this set!) and Vintage Labels 4. White seam binding from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.



Thanks for looking!
Sarah x

Sunday 24 July 2011

Less is More........

Clean and Simple is the order of the day for today's card, the challenge over at  Less is More is Button or Ribbon.  Well I can never miss a chance to add a little bit of ribbon to a card and for this challenge I managed to add two bits!



Still on a mission to use up some scraps I used a small piece of My Minds Eye paper, then I used my paper scoring board to score the piece of card on top.  The ribbon is aqua Sheer ruffle edge with a piece of white organza underneath from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Finally finished off with another of these roses I have been using so much lately and a sentiment from Waltzing Mouse Say it Loud set. 

Now I am off to have a look at some of the other entries.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend, I hope the sun is shining where you are!
Sarah x

Saturday 23 July 2011

Tisn't the Season to be Jolly.........

Firstly my heart goes out to everyone in Norway today, what a tragedy. I can't imagine how all those poor families are feeling, my thoughts are with them all today.


Well it is only July although it feels like Winter with this awful weather we are having!   So I have seen lots of Christmas cards on blogs in the last week or two and I though why not have a go?  Christmas cards are my favourite cards to make and with lots of Christmas challenges in blogland this week I thought I would take the opportunity to make my first one. 




This was made with 2 challenges in mind Winter Wonderland  -Holly and the Ivy and Creative Inspirations -Xmas in July.

I used My Minds Eye papers, Festive Foilage stamp set from Waltzing Mouse, flowers from my stash and seam binding(I think this Moss Green colour is perfect for Christmas projects), button and Bakers twine from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. They have a great offer on Bakers twine at the moment.

How many more Christmas cards do I have left to make I wonder? Quite a few I think!

Don't forget you can win some lovely Ribbon HERE

Thanks for visiting,
Sarah x

Friday 22 July 2011

Where did our Summer go??

There is no sign of Summer here, I hope you are getting a bit of sunshine where you are today. My daughter went to London Zoo yesterday on a school trip and came back absolutely soaked!!

Today's card is for the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge which is flowers. It's a long time since this stamp has seen any ink,  but it's good to feel insired by old favourites sometimes don't you think? I always use paper piecing with this stamp I don't seem to be able to get the desired effect by colouring it.  I love this quote stamp by Penny Black too, it's one I use often.




Papers are by My Mind's Eye (still my favourite company for papers), stamps by Penny Black, more of my favourite wrinkle silk ribbon and pins are both from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. 

If you want to win some gorgeous ribbon click HERE

Thanks for stopping by today,
Sarah x

Thursday 21 July 2011

Baby Blues......and Pinks.....

Over at Deep Ocean challenge blog this week the theme is ribbons! Well I had to join in with a ribbon challenge!  I came across some Mellissa Frances stickers in one of my craft drawers the other day and thought I would try and use some of them rather than let them go to waste.  I have an obscene amount of paper scraps (bet I am not alone there!) so I am constantly trying to use them up.  Todays cards are made using a few of both;







I prefer this baby boy card, I just think it works better somehow, it may also be due to the gorgeous bow tied with wrinkle silk ribbon. I can't get enough of this ribbon it is so flexible which makes it perfect for bows. No stamping at all on either of the cards so they were really quick and easy to make.




I used white satin for this card finished with a cute tag (made with the stickers) and a button tied on with bakers twine. this card is for Lollipop crafts challenge - 'anything goes'

Papers are all from my scraps box, ribbon, buttons and twine all from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop

Don't forget the giveaway for the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop blog click on the photo on my side bar for details on how to enter.

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Design Team News and a Giveaway!!.....

It's time for  a little announcement!! I am so happy to be designing for the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop along with my very talented new team mates. Would you like to meet them??  You are in for a treat as they are so fabulous!

Jane  -  just have a look at Jane's work. WOW is all I can say!

Peet -  I have admired Peet's blog for such a long time I still can't believe I am on a team with her!

Sasha -  Not just a cardmaker, Sasha makes the most amazing crocheted items, and I just love her    style when it comes to cardmaking.

Mina  - Gorgeous cards, and another ribbon addict too!

We will be working on some samples for you to feast your eyes on during the next few weeks and will be announcing regular challenges with  fab prizes too in the near future.

To celebrate the launch of the Design Team, the Pretty Little Ribbon shop blog is having a giveaway.  
Just look at all these pretty ribbons and embellishments.



It's so easy to enter have a look HERE for full details.

thanks for popping by today,
Sarah x

Monday 18 July 2011

Another Sketch...


Here is card made using this weeks Waltzing Mouse sketch. The buttons may be in the wrong place..... but once I put the flower on they didn't look right at the top somehow.  I used some really old paper on this card from Melissa Frances I have had this sheet for a few years in my craft room about time I cut into it I think.



Stamps used were Vintage Labels 4 and Say it Loud, I love the font used on this set, and it's so versatile too. Sea Moss seam binding and hat pin are from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Are you getting fed up with seeing these roses now? I have been using the dies quite a lot - spellbinders rose creations.

I have some exciting news to announce later this week and there will be the chance to win something very pretty! Pop back to see on Wednesday for details!

Thanks for looking,

Sarah x

Saturday 16 July 2011

Out of my Comfort Zone...


Well I certainly am with this card!  Allsorts Challenge this week is Free and Easy so I thought I would try something a bit different and not use any paper but instead just use white card. Have you ever tried this? It's not as easy as I thought.  I made the rose whilst watching TV one night and the rest of the card was pretty quick to put together, just a bit of embossing and stamping and of course some ribbon (gotta have a bit of ribbon on my cards!)




I used WM Fancy Phrases for the sentiment (seriously the best buy ever I have used this set time and time again), and also Seasons of Love - you may just be able to see I have embossed this with white opaque powder it doesn't show up very well in the photo (click on the photos for a better view).  Ribbon is from Pretty Little Ribbon Shop it's a lovely organza stripe.  I used Spellbinders Rose Creations for the flower.

Thank  you so much for for taking the time to visit.

Sarah x  


Tuesday 12 July 2011

Pretty in Pink...

Thank you  to those who took the time to visit yesterday and leave such sweet comments, I really appreciate it.  Today I have a card to share which I made for this weeks The Shabby Tea Room Challenge which is 'Flower Power' and the gorgeous photo used to inspire us;



 Well this challenge couldn't have been more suited to me as I love to use flowers on my cards and I also managed to add another favourite which is buttons.







I used my new Waltzing Mouse stamp set 'You're Lovely' I think I will be using this particular stamp quite a lot. The paper is by My Minds Eye, ribbons, buttons and pins are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and flowers are from my stash.

Thanks for taking the time to visit,

Sarah x

Monday 11 July 2011

A New Start......

 Well I'm back in blogland after a long break, so please be patient with me while I get back into the swing of things. I thought a new start deserved a new blog so here goes with my first post and my first challenge for a while.  I am a huge fan of Waltzing Mouse stamps so it made sense to start with the Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge. Here is the card I made;


I made the rose with Spellbinders Rose Creations dies (I still need a lot of practice with these) and then added some pretty beige seam binding and a hat pin from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  Stamps sets used were Holiday labels 14 and Fancy Phrases. Papers are from Bo Bunny - Gabrielle collection (gorgeous!!). Ive made this for a friend who has been absent  for a while I'm going to send it to her.

Many thanks for taking the time to have a look at my card.

Sarah x