Ombre Style

Hello!

I have been wanting to play along with CASology all week where the cue card is 'Style' but didn't get the chance until this afternoon.

This Clarity Stamp is perfect for the challenge and all I have done is white embossed it on to a piece of patterned paper from My Minds Eye which already had an ombre effect.  It is a very simple card but I love the sentiment and how the embossing looks against the ombre paper. Sometimes you just have to step away.....

I will also link up at City Crafter's Go Ombre challenge - thanks for the tip, Anita :)

I hope you like it too :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Dodecagram

Hello!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend....it is rainy and dull here but we aren't far from Easter break so that is keeping us going :)

This is just a short post with a card that I have made for the March challenge over at Altenew.  It was the perfect excuse to break out the (new to me) Dodecagram stamps:

 

I white embossed the shapes and watercoloured them with distress inks - I love the soft effect it gives combined with the geometric shapes.  In particular I was inspired by this challenge photo:

 

 

I will also make this my last entry in to Darnell's NBUS challenge as this is first time using these stamps and at Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Fun Furballs!

Hello!

I am over at Create A Smile as GD today using these cute mini monsters to make fun cards:

 

I hope you head over to see what happens when they all fall down:)

I will also link up at Addicted to CAS where the code word is Cute - the challenge is sponsored by Create A Stamp too!  Finally I will play along at the Anything Goes challenge at Simon's Wednesday Challenge.

I hope you like them!

Sarah x

Uniko Challenge #19

Hello!

It is already time for a reminder for the current challenge over at Uniko Studio which closes next Friday, April 3rd.  It is a great one to play along with as it is Anything Goes with an optional sketch:

 

You can use any stamps and enter as many times as you would like so there is every reason to play along :)  AND there are prizes up for grabs too....

Here is my second card:

 

I went with the sketch (kind of!) using stamps from the fab Uniko Strike a Pose set.  I stamped a film strip from the sentiments in the set and created a split panel.  I black embossed the camera stamp and popped it up over the film strip.  I added a sprinkling of teal stars (using Winnie & Walter's Confetti set) to add a bit of colour.  The theme is continued inside with the Strike a Pose sentiment and more stars.

Head on over to Uniko to see more inspiration from the lovely DT!

I can't wait to see your cards in the gallery :)

Sarah x

Cosmic Birthday

Hello!

I am over at Make the Day Special Stamp Store today with some birthday cards made using the sweet Cosmic Stars set from Mama Elephant.  Here is one of them:

I watercoloured the cute crab and popped it up on a background stamped with W&W birthday sentiments.  It is really simple but I am pleased with how this turned out.  It would be great if you could check out the other cards I made over at Make The Day Special too!

As this is my first time breaking out the ME Cosmic Stars stamps I will link this card up at Darnell's NBUS Challenge (2nd card) and at Addicted to Stamps Make your Mark challenge.  I will also link up at Simon Wednesday's Challenge - Anything Goes.

 

Thanks, as always, for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Time Out Reminder Challenge #27

Hello!

We are already half way through the latest Time Out Challenge so I am back with a reminder card.  The theme for our challenge is:

CAS with an optional twist of black and white with a splash of one colour

Here is my card:

I stamped the lovely leafy vines from Hero Arts in black and topped with a sentiment from Uniko.  My splash of colour is a bluey/green which I punched from a scrap of card that had been watercoloured and spritzed from a different project.  I also splatted ink on the base card and added some stitching too. 

Check out the great inspiration from the rest of the DT and our lovely GD, Susanne Vargas from Keep in Touch.

Have I mentioned that our challenge is sponsored by CAS-ual Fridays with a $20 gift voucher up for grabs for those who use the twist?

I hope you take Time Out to play along with us :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Spring Chick

Hello!

I don't make many Easter cards but I couldn't resist the cute characters in the Eggstraordinary Egghunt set from Create A Smile:

I watercoloured the cute chick with distress inks and stamped the sentiment on a little speech bubble die from Simon Says.  I added some hand stitching to indicate the grass and sky and left the ends loose.  Not sure I like them - they don't look as scruffy in real life!

This design is a CASE of Anne's great card from Less Is More:

I will also enter it in to Simon's Wednesday Challenge with a spring theme and at the fabulous Darnell's NBUS Challenge:

I hope you like my spring chick - I think that he will pop up again soon :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Spring Fresh + Winner

Hello!

Just a very quick post from me to share a few spring like cards that I have made - blogland is awash with soft, pastel colours and the hope of sunnier days.  Here is what I made:

The background is created with very pale watercolours in spun sugar, tumbled glass and sprayed with shimmer mist.  I combined it with vellum die cut leaves and some pastel butterflies from PTI.  A few enamel dots finish it off.

I will link up at the spring themed challenge at Simon's Wednesday Challenge.

Secondly is a spring dress from Clarity Stamps:

I used their dress stencil and sponged a dotty stencil through it to create a polka dot pattern.  The matching sentiment stamp is stamped in cornflower blue.  I will link up at Inkspirational where the challenge is She Art and at Happy Little Stampers for their sponging challenge.

I hope you like them!

Before I go, I wanted to thank you for your lovely comments on my blogaversary post last week - I really appreciated all of your encouragement and good wishes.  I asked my youngest to pick a number between 1 and 40 and he picked number 26.....Shona Chambers!!  I shall get the prize package in the post to you, my lovely :)

Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Blossoms

Hello!

I hope you have been enjoying your weekend....it goes by too quickly.  I have a quick post to share today with a card for CASology's current cue card: Blossom.

My card is a CASE of this lovely card by my fabulous teamie at Time Out Lynn Mangan - I was lucky enough to receive a variation on this beautiful design and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to use my Uniko Studio Background Builders Vines set.   The sentiment is from Avery Elle.  I hope Lynn doesn't mind my case!

I will also link up at Simon's Wednesday Challenge as the flowers fit with their easter/spring theme.

 

I hope things are turning springlike where you are :)

 

See you again soon,

 

Sarah x

 

Colourful Butterflies

Hello!

You can find my first blogaversary post and giveaway here.....remember to comment before 10pm (GMT) 22 March!

I was over at Make the Day Special blog yesterday sharing a few cards made with Paper Smooches Graceful Beauties set.  Here is one of them:

I stamped the butterflies in bright colours down the edge and combined with a sentiment from Bold Buzzwords.  A few black accents make the colours pop.

I will link this card up at Paper Smooches Sparks current challenge which is Anything Goes.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Uniko Challenge

Hello!

It is time for a new challenge over at Uniko Studio and this is one that we can all have a go at:

Anything Goes with Optional Sketch.

The challenge runs for 2 weeks, closing at 8am (GMT) on Friday, 3 April.  We make it as easy for you to enter as possible - you can use any stamps and combine your entry with as many challenges as you want.  It's all about having fun!

I took a fairly literal interpretation of the sketch using Decorative Doilies - the Hands of Time gold embossed and a sentiment from Fontiments Birthday set.

And did you know there are prizes up for grabs?!  The DT will choose a winner who will get a £20 Gift Voucher for Uniko Studios plus be invited to be a Guest Designer for our next challenge.  Plus the top 3 will all get  a £5 gift voucher.

Any participants who use the sketch will be entered in to a random draw for a £10 Uniko voucher.

Head on over to the Uniko blog to see the inspiration that the fab DT have for you.  We are really pleased to have the talented Amy Tsuruta from Tsuruta Designs as a Guest Designer along with Emily Frasier from Pieces by Emily.  These ladies are both awesome designers and it is great to have them playing along with us at Uniko :)

 

I hope that you can get creative with us over the next fortnight!

 

Sarah x

 

Time Out Challenge #27

Hello!

Are you ready for our next challenge at Time Out?  It was great to see your creations for our first birthday challenge.  This time the challenge is:

CAS with an optional twist of black and white with a splash of one colour

Our challenge is sponsored by CAS-ual Fridays and one lucky player who uses the twist will be in with a chance of winning a $20 voucher!

Here is what I came up with:

 

I masked off a panel and sponged Squeezed Lemonade distress ink over it before stamping these lovely silhouette images from Clearly Besotted Stamps.  Its unusual for me to make a one layer card but I really like this :)

We have a fabulous Guest Designer playing along with us - the lovely Susanne Vargas from Keep In Touch.  Her work is beautiful and her blog is well worth a visit.  The rest of the DT have lots of inspiration over at Time Out. 

I will also link up at Happy Little Stampers where the challenge is sponging.

I hope you are able to take Time Out to play along with us :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

Uniko DT Announcement

Hello!

(For my first blogaversary post and giveaway please click here)

I am so excited to be able to share the news that I am joining the fabulous DT over at Uniko Studio :)  I am sharing some cards over at the Uniko blog today and would love it if you stopped by to see what I have made.

I am a real fan of Bev's stamps and am looking forward to showcasing all of the fabulous Uniko goodies.  Here is a card that I have made using the balloons from Balloon Bash (love the little highlight stamp) and sentiment from All Occasion Sentiments #1:

 

I will enter this card at the Bare Naked CAS challenge at AAA cards :)

 

 

 

Those of you who stop by here on a regular basis will know that I regularly create with my Uniko stamps.  Here are some recent examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are not already a Uniko fan it is definitely worth a visit to the store as there are lots of lovely products to inspire you :)

 

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

 

Sarah x

One Layer Cards

Hello!

My blogaversary post with giveaway is here - you have until 10pm (GMT) on 22 March to leave a comment.

I am just stopping by with a few one layer cards that I made to play along with some of my fave challenges.  When I saw that this week's one layer challenge at Less Is More is Animals I knew that I wanted to break out my new Mama Elephant stamps:

 

These bears are just adorable.  I watercoloured them with distress inks and masked a moon with a post it.  I think the softness of the watercolours suit the images but I definitely need more practice :)  I will also link up at Simon's Monday Challenge which has an animal theme.

 

 

I also made a 'papa bear' version with darker distress inks.

 

 

I also made a card for AAA cards challenge which is Bare Naked CAS - seemed like too good an opportunity to miss :)  I made the most CAS card that I could.....using my Altenew stamps.  I masked a slop and sponged it with grey.  I watercoloured the rock with Pumice Stone distress ink and then masked it to sponge some Tumbled Glass around it. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you like my one layer cards!  Thanks for stopping by :)

 

Sarah x 

 

 

First Year Blogaversary!

Hello!

Today is my first bloggy birthday :)  I really wasn't sure whether I would be able to keep a blog going last year when I started or whether anyone would even visit but I have developed quite a blogging addiction habit and post here 3 to 4 times a week!  I wouldn't have kept going if it hadn't been for all of the lovely visitors and comments that make me smile so thank you very much whether it is your first visit or you call by on a regular basis - I really appreciate your support.  There are so many inspirational blogs that I am truly grateful for anyone that comes by to see one of my cards :)

In celebration of a year of blogging and over 240 blog posts I have put together a little package of stamping goodies to give away:

Please leave a comment on this post between now and 10pm (GMT) next Sunday, 22 March for a chance to win.  I am happy to ship anywhere in the world.  If you want to start following my blog while you are here that would be great but isn't a requirement for the giveaway.

I guess I should also share a couple of cards whilst you are here! 

First up is a thank you card for all of my lovely visitors using a sunburst stencil from Clarity Stamps, sentiment from Simon Says Stamp and bird from Penny Black.  The wood veneer hearts have a generous dollop of glossy accents:

 

I will link this card up at Happy Little Stampers where the challenge is sponging and at Simon's Wednesday Challenge which is Things that Fly.

 

 Next up is a card that I have made for the current challenge at Inkspirational - She Art.  What a cool theme!  This is what I came up with:

 

 

 

 

 

I stamped and masked this figure from Clarity Stamps (I think she is called Rosie) before using their swirl stencil to brush over Squeezed Lemonade, Worn Lipstick and Mustard Seed distress inks, rotating the stencil with each colour.  I sprayed some gold and white sprays over the background as well.  I watercoloured the woman in the same distress inks and created a sentiment using words from Winnie and Walter and a SSS die cut 'you'.  I will also link up at Craft Stamper's Take It Make It Challenge which is Anything Goes:

 

 

 

 

Phew that was a bit of an epic post - well done for sticking with me :)

 

Thanks again for your visit.  I hope you stop by again soon!

 

Sarah x

Bold Florals

Hello!

I have made a few cards with my Hero Art flower stamps recently - hoping that Spring is on the way :)

I heat embossed the lovely flowers from Flower Garden in coloured embossing powders.  The colours were really vibrant so I covered the panel with vellum and hand stitched it at the top with purple thread.  I added a die cut sentiment from Avery Elle in purple cardstock. 

I will link up at Virginia's View where the challenge is embossing and at Hero Arts current challenge which is Nature:

 

Secondly I have made a card with the fabulous HA daisy stamps:

I stamped the flower in Picked Raspberry Distress Ink and added a vellum panel with a sentiment from HA's You're So Kind set embossed in black.  The colours really pop but it is still quite a CAS design.

I will link up at A Blog Named Hero's Bright and Bold Challenge:

You can get any of the Hero Arts sets that I have used here over at A2Z Scrapbooking and, even better, you can get a 15% discount by using the code SARAH15 at checkout!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah x

More Stencils

Hello!

I have been playing with my stencils today having been inspired by the Artplorations blog hop that Shery and the DT held this week.  I have used the gorgeous leaf print stencil again - this time on kraft:

I sponged through the stencil first in Hero Arts White Pigment Ink and then moved it slightly before sponging over again in Hero Arts Field Green.  I love the effect on kraft.  I heat embossed the Hashtag Authentic sentiment in green on kraft card and added some green twine behind it.

I will link up at the Stamplorations flash linky stencil party and also at Addicted to CAS where the code word is Green.  I am also joining in the March challenge at Happy Little Stampers to use sponging.

I also had another play with my gelli plate to create this card:

The stencil is a lovely leafy swirl from Clarity Stamps.  The warm colours and pattern looked African to me so I added an African tribesman silhouette stamp.  The sentiment is from the Hashtag Authentic set by Stamplorations which is white embossed on to black.  This isn't my usual style but I like the rich colours, pattern and depth of the gelli print.

I will link up at Stamplorations March challenge to use stamps and stencils.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Hummingbird

Hello!

Not long to the weekend - thankfully.  I hope your week has gone well.  I haven't had much time to craft this week but wanted to play along with a few challenges and made this very simple card:

I heat embossed this beautiful hummingbird stamp from Uniko Studio in a green/gold powder and combined it with a bud from Altenew's Magnolia set.  The panel is die cut using Lawn Fawn's stitched squares and framed with some dull gold cardstock.  I gold embossed a sentiment inside saying 'Especially For You'.

I will link up at CASology where the cue card is Tropical as I always associate hummingbirds with tropical places.  I will also play along at Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Things that Fly and at Virginia's View Embossing Challenge.

I hope you like it :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

Time Out Challenge Reminder

Hello!

We are already at the half way point of our first year anniversary challenge at Time Out :)  It is a photo inspiration featuring a selection of colourful frames so this is what I made:

I found some old chipboard shapes in my stash and triple embossed each of them with colourful embossing powders before arranging them on top of a panel of white card which I had run through a woodgrain pattern embossing folder.  The sentiment is from Mama Elephant.

It is a very literal interpretation of the photo but you can use any element which appeals for your design.

Remember there are fab prizes from Stamplorations and Uniko Studios up for grabs with this challenge - check them out over at Time Out along with the great inspiration from the Design Team including our lovely GD, Mandi from Faith, Hope and Crafts.

Given all of the embossing that I have included in this card I will also link up at Virginia's View Challenge which is embossing.

I hope you are inspired to take Time Out to play along with us on our first birthday :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Gelli Fun!

Hello!

I blame Shery and the fabulous DT at Stamplorations for forcing me to get out my gelli plate and play with my stencils!!  They have been having a 3 day bloghop to celebrate the new Artplorations stencils and it has been packed with inspiration.

Shery made some fab gelli plate cards and I wanted to have a go too.  I made quite a few backgrounds (I love that they are so quick) and these are two of the finished cards:

 

I used the gorgeous Leaf Print stencil from Stamplorations and their cool Hashtag Authentic bold sentiment stamps.  I simply cut in to my gelli plate panel and popped it up to reveal the sentiment.  I love the graphic feel of the stencil and the grungy look from the gelli print.  The only downside of the gelli is that I never quite know how I achieved the different looks from each print :)

 

Here is a second print combined with a Label Love sentiment from Altenew and some PTI Scribble die cuts.

 

I will join up my first card at the Stamplorations March Challenge to use Stamps and Stencils and at Craft Stamper's Take It Make It Challenge which is Anything Goes.

 

 

I hope you like them :)

 

Sarah x

First Daffodil

Hello!

I wanted to play along with this week's Less Is More challenge which is to use the colours yellow and green.  Given these are fresh and springlike colours I immediately thought of daffodils which I am sure are due to make an appearance any day now!  I used the only daffodil stamp that I have:

This is a lovely stamp by Stamplorations and I coloured it with Spectrum Noir pencils.  The sentiment is from PTI.  I simply popped the central panel up over some green cardstock.

I will also join up at Addicted to Stamps and More where the theme is Clean and Simple.

I hope this brings a little bit of spring to your day!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x