Monday 16 March 2015

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

42 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your first year! How exciting! Your cards are both GORGEOUS! I really love the entire design of that first one! Very well done! Thank you so much for playing along with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. happy blogaversary!! always enjoy seeing your pretty cards!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your first anniversary! Love your "sunny" card. So cheerful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. How generous of YOU! Congrats on year one....and many more to come!!

    Hugs,
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cheering and applauding your first year! You're so right: this community is incredibly warm, welcoming and supportive. When my dad fell into a cardiac-arrest coma on Dec. 20th, then passed away on Dec. 30, I found out how incredibly our card-making friends are. Their messages of comfort during the 'not knowing' days, followed by the sympathy cards sent not only to me, but my mom as well...I get all tear-eyed just thinking about it. Blessings, indeed! Anyway...your cards are both stunning...sunny, uplifting and positive. And your generosity with the give-away! My stars...YOU are a gem! Thank you ever so much for sharing your beautiful She Art in the Inkspirational gallery! In awe...
    ~c

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations, Sarah, on your first year! I am so glad that you started a blog and always enjoy visiting! Here is to many more years! Lovely cards, as usual!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats Sarah. Hard to believe you have only be doing this for a year, your cards are so amazing. Your blog is always a joy to visit and today is no different. The sunshine card is just what we need in this dull day and I love you joined us at Ink. The bg here is perfect with the image and the sentiment what we would all like to hear everyday...wouldn't that be nice!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats on your first year blogaversary! I must have found you quite early on, I'm sure I've been following you for most of this first year. I really enjoy your style and designs and look forward to see what you come up with in the future!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy Bloggy Birthday to you ... love your designs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congrats on your blogaversary, Sarah! I love visiting your blog and seeing your lovely creations. The cards you are sharing today are fabulous. Here's to many more years!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats on your one year blogaversary! Your cards are beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congrats on your first blogaversary and here's to many more creative bloggy years!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Blogiversary!!! Absolutely gorgeous cards, I love the swirls!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on your one year anniversary! I have gotten many inspirational ideas from your lovely creations. Thanks for sharing your creativity.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy Blogaversary, Sarah! I'm so glad you started a blog, as I always enjoy visiting! Both of your cards are so pretty...your stenciling is amazing, especially how you varied the colors on the 2nd one...WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yay! congrats and looovvee these cards--the backgrounds are fab!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy bloggy 1st Birthday!!! You'll have many more and you blogging addiction ... lets be honest ;) will probably just get more intense - at least that's what happened to me. I wanted to tone it down a notch in my second year, but just the opposite happened.....Fab cards - as usual - especially that sunny first one! - BTW - that Clearly besotted quilling stamp set clearly has my name written all over it ;) - just kidding, but it has been on my wish list now for several weeks....
    Big congrats again and hugs, Cornelia

    ReplyDelete
  18. Two fabulous cards Sarah. LOVE the bright and sunny hearts with your sweet bird and glossy hearts - adorable. And your "She" card is amazing. Thanks for playing along at Happy Little Stampers.

    Congrats on your 1st blogging birthday!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  19. What fabulous cards and congratulations on your first year Blogaversary!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congrats on your first year! These cards are awesome! I love the fun stenciled backgrounds! Thanks for the giveaway!!
    <3 Emily L.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on your Blogaversary! Your cards are fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fabulous cards ...... Happy Blogaversary too!! Thank you for joining in with the Craft Stamper TIMI Challenge ... good luck! Linda xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Well, first off, Happy Blogaversary! It is amazing how addictive blogging can be, isn't it? Your cards are fantastic! Your She Art card is just lovely. Love the swirly background and the colours. Happy to see you playing over at Ink too! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I still can't believe that it's only been a year!?! Feels like you have been part of the sphere for much longer than that!!! Look how much you have achieved!! Super happy for you Sarah! A very big happy blogoversary to you! If this is an indication of one year.s achievements, well then girl, the sky is the limit!! Oh, and your cards are gorgeous! My heart is with the sunny yellow one and glossy hearts (have a soft spot for little birds! ;) bye for now! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congrats to you! I am thinking of starting a blog so this is nice to see that you enjoyed it, kept it up and others enjoyed it too. Nice cards! That sunburst looks really great!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Happy, happy blogaversary!!!! Doesn't time fly and I bet it seems like you've been blogging for more than a year. This crafting community that we've discovered is so welcoming and supportive. I'm so glad to have met you thru this group and I'm very proud to be on the Time Out team with you too. I always get amazed by your designs every time I visit. And your card making skills are going from strength to strength. Here's to many more bloggy years!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, you are so good in working with stencils and stamps! I just love that! (as you can see on my blog/cards...:) ) These two cards are stunning! Congrats on your bloganiversary!! I had the same doubt by starting one, but it is so much fun to "meet" people from over the world that share the same love for stamps, stencils and ink... Hope you will let us enjoy here of more great ideas that you put to paper!! Hugs, Gerrina

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congrats! I come to your blog for inspiration all the time and the two cards above are just gorgeous! May I ask what brand the swirl stencil is? I just love it and you certainly did it justice! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring me! Cheers to another 12 months and longer!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Congrats to you! It's really cool give away!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congrats on your 1 year blogaversary! I am a brand new follower here, and so happy to have found your blog! That is an awesome prize package you're giving away..... I will have my fingers crossed. Having fun taking a look around your blog and enjoying your beautiful creations! I found you through your Uniko post. Congrats on your DT spot as well!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Haha, it wasn't epic by my standards, Sarah! Happy blog 1st Birthaversary to you and cheers to many, many more!! You are everything your second card declares, which is why it is so easy to follow you! I love both your cards! That sun ray/bird/heart combo card just sings to me!! (Please don't put me in the generous draw as I am a pig with too many schtuffs as it is!!) Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Anniversary, Sarah. Your cards are wonderful. I love that you perched the bird on the sentiment line. That lady stamp is wonderfully colored and the swirl background? Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Happy Anniversary - somehow I missed that one! I think both these cards are lovely. I adore the lady and the swirly background on your card for Inkspirational - it's a wonderful card! xx

    ReplyDelete
  34. Congratulations and Happy Blogversary Sarah ... just stumbled across this post. I'm with you on the addiction / habit of blogging but then there's so many beautiful crafty people out there to get to know! Gorgeous cards again - bright, colourful and spring-like. Hmmm. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  35. Congratulation! I accidentally came over your blog and now come by when I can. I love your cards. They are so simple yet so nice. Keep inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Congrats on your first year blogversary Sarah:-). Wishing you many more years. Your card designs are so gorgeous!!.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Yea Sarah! Congrats on your blogaversary!! So excited for you! And what a generous giveaway you have, So kind of you! Here's to another year in the blogging world!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yay ... many congratulations on your first bloggy birthday, Sarah ... I've so enjoyed watching and sharing your year of fantastic achievements ... and all the inspiration! Fab cards ... the groovy, funky lady is fabulous ... and I adore the sunburst one with that sweet bird and those yummy shiny hearts ... gorgeous! Here's to many more years of addiction/habit!! Anita :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Happy First Blog-iversary! I'm sure that when mine rolls around (guess I should look that up!...) I will not have near as many posts as you! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous cards with us AND for having an awesome giveaway! -Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  40. Congrats on your first year! I, myself have been around for so little time that I didn't even know that you are almost as new as me. I really thought that you are one of those oldies.. In a very very good way! :) Your blog is very fun place to visit and I love the name of your blog! Not to mention how talented you are! By the way, love you Ink card!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Big congrats on your blog anniversary Sarah - your cards are always so gorgeous and your blog is a wonderful place to visit:) hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
  42. Sorry for being so late to the Birthday Party - but I really did want to stop by and say both congrats on the one-year mark and thank you for sharing your wonderful creations. I often pass by your blog - you make great inspirational cards and I love your style! Looking forward to what you are going to be sharing in Year 2!! Cheers! Jill

    ReplyDelete