Bright Lights

Hello!

Just popping by with a quick post to share a card that I have made for this week's Merry Mondays Challenge to use Christmas lights and glitter.  The only Christmas lights I have are in a Simon Says set and they are perfect for the job:

This card came together very quickly as I simply die cut the lights out of different coloured glitter papers and popped them along the stamped wire.  The sentiment is from PTI.

This would be one that I could batch make if required and it is satisfying to use up all of those scraps of glittery paper that sit neglected from one Christmas to the next!

I will also play along for a third time at Simon Wednesday's Challenge which is Anything Goes and at Addicted to Stamps and More where the theme is Holiday cards.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

Less Is More Sketch

Hello!

I hope your week has been going well.....another weekend is just around the corner :)  Which means I am nearly out of time to play along with this week's Less is More Challenge.  It is a sketch this week which I probably like less than one layer....sketches just don't 'speak' to me!

Anyways, I came up with this design after a few attempts....

 

Hopefully it is ok to lift the panel and sentiment further up the card and the sketch still comes through!  I simply used a Penny Black die cut in black against an inky background and simple sentiment.

 

 

I then made a few further cards on a similar theme using PTI stamps (the thank you sentiment is from Altenew).  They are very simple one layer cards but I tried to add a bit of interest by applying different coloured inks to the image.

 

 

 

I will link up at Simon's Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes for a second time too.

 

I am hoping to get crafty this weekend so hopefully will be back with more to share soon :)

 

Sarah x

 

Time Out and Uniko

Hello!

As a former member of the DT at Time Out it is always fun to be able to play along.  Uniko is sponsoring this challenge where the theme is Christmas with an optional twist of pink or purple.

I have used Uniko's beautiful winter vines set - it has beautiful little poinsettias, snowflakes and images which are perfect for wreathes and a host of pretty festive designs.

I stamped the images around a circle using purples and lilacs and a few touches of gold.  The sentiment in the centre is from Uniko's Rustic Christmas.

Check out the rest of the fab designs by the Uniko and Time Out DTs - I am sure there will be lots of inspiration!

I will also link up at Simon's Wednesday Challenge where it is the ever popular Anything Goes theme :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

All Wrapped Up

Hello!

Happy weekend :)  I have been looking forward to some down time all week AND the clocks go back which means an extra hour in bed.  Can you tell that I am feeling a bit tired?!

That is why I made a fairly simple card to play along with this week's challenge over at Simon's Wednesday Challenge using the fab Avery Elle Beautiful Bow set:

I silver embossed the bow to create the look of a wrapped gift and combined it with a tag and sentiment from the same set.  The card panel is matted on dark blue card.

I hope that my stamped ribbon will count instead of the real thing :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Sarah x

ATCAS #75

Hello!

Are you ready for another challenge over at Addicted to CAS?!  The Code Word is Spooky and our host is the lovely Ceal.

This is such a fun code word and perfect for the run up to Halloween.  My boys aren't that bothered about the dressing up these days but they certainly like the sweets :)

 

I lightly inked through an Artplorations stencil to create the starry background and combined it with a cute ghost (sorry, I don't know where I got it from).  The speech bubble die is from Lawn Fawn and I white embossed the sentiment from Lil Inkers on it along with a few stars. 

 

It is a simple card but hopefully it will make you smile rather than scare you away :)

 

I hope you decide to get spooky with us over at ATCAS.  Do check out what the DT and our fab GD for the month, Joyce from Cards by the Sea have to share with you.

 

 

I will also play along at AAA cards where the theme is Clean and Simple Halloween and at the Inkspirational challenge - Cute Halloween.

 

See you again soon, I hope!

 

Sarah x

Uniko Challenge Reminder

Hello!

I am just popping by with a reminder card for the current challenge over at Uniko - Geometric with an optional twist of circles or squares. 

I used the fabulous Background Builders: Round in Circles to create some baubles.  I stamped them in gold and black and combined them with the bows from Balloon Bash and a sentiment from Pure Florals: Poinsettia.

 

 

I added some diamond stickles to the black circles for a bit of extra festive bling.

 

I hope you are able to play along with us but first check out more fab inspiration from the rest of the DT and our wonderful GDs Julia and Rahmat over at the Uniko blog.

 

Thanks for stopping by :)

 

Sarah x

Christmas Night

Hello!

I wanted to play along at Merry Monday's Challenge this week where the challenge is to include a frame on your design.  Here is Santa flying over the rooftops on Christmas night:

 

I used a Lawn Fawn polaroid die  and stamps by Inkylicious.  The night sky is sponged using distress inks and I used a Simon Says Snowfall Stencil on the black card base.

It isn't my usual style but I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

Speed Crafting

Hello!

I hope you are having a happy autumnal weekend :)  I had to make a very quick card yesterday as my eldest was going to a sleepover and casually mentioned that he needed a card!  This is what I came up with using the (new to me) MFT Rock On stamp set:

I stamped and embossed the sentiment and fist icon and added several colours to the flames.  It looked a bit stark so I added some stencilled stars (using a Stamplorations stencil) in the background.

This appeared to meet the requirements of my 12 year old customer who nodded, said it was 'sick' and wandered off with it!

I shall link up at Less Is More's Masculine challenge given the 'rock' style images and with CASology where the cue card is 'You'.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you have a creative week ahead!

Sarah x

Bright Geometrics

Hello!

I am popping in today with the latest challenge over at Uniko.  The theme this time is Geometric (with an optional twist of circles or squares) and Uniko have some great sets to enable you to build patterns with squares, circles and, most recently, triangles.

I have used the fab Triangulate set to create this bright card:

I stamped the small triangle border stamp to create brightly coloured stripes on the base card and then popped a panel on top featuring the recently released Thanks sentiment from All Occasion Sentiments #6.  I coloured it with some bright promarkers.  A thin strip of black card adds a bit of contrast.

I do love how geometric stamps can be used to create background patterns and they can be used in so many configurations.

We have two amazing guest designers this month who cause me regular card envy!  I can't wait to see what Julia from Just One More Card and Rahmat from Cards and Cooking Corner have come up with.  Check out their designs along with the rest of the lovely DT over at the Uniko blog.

I really hope that you find time to play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sarah x

More Autumnal Cards

Hello!

There are a number of challenges with an autumn theme at the moment so I have been playing with my distress inks and stencils.

First up I used a Clarity leaf stencil and sponged through with a range of distress inks before stamping a sentiment from Avery Elle in the centre.  I covered the leaf back up and added some splatter to give a sense of the leaf blowing across the card.  As this is a one layer card I shall link up at Less Is More's current one layer challenge.

 

While I was playing with distress inks I got another Clarity leaf stencil and added a selection of leaves to the right hand corner of the card base.  Another sentiment from Avery Elle and a sprinkle of sequins completes the design.

 I will link this card up at Time Out's current challenge inspired by the phrase, Autumn - the year's last, loveliest smile.  This is my second entry :)

I should really get back to making Christmas cards.....

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Geek Chic

Hello!

I have been playing with some new to me MFT stamps this weekend - my husband is proud to be a geek so their Geek is Chic set offer the chance to make some cards that he would appreciate!

 

My hubby loves comics and super heroes so I thought he would like to be compared to superman :)  I die cut the star in several sizes and popped the MFT specs over the top.  I originally went for black but they didn't show up enough against the dark blue base.

I stamped the specs in the background in pale grey and added a pair of die cut specs on top along with the sentiment.  Very simple but a good one for the guys.

I will link up at CASology where the cue card is Silly.  Hopefully these fun cards are silly enough :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

Perfect Poinsettia

Hello!

Today I am stopping by with a Uniko Revisit post where the DT have fun with one of the fab Uniko sets.  This month we are using the fabulous poinsettia set.  The flower is just gorgeous and makes a substantial focal point.  I decided to watercolour it....

I white embossed the flower and used my real colour markers to add watercolour.  I added some Wink of Stella for an extra bit of shimmer and combined it with a black die cut circle. It is a simple design but I think the beautiful poinsettia really pops.

Head over to Uniko to check out what the rest of the DT have made to inspire you to play with the poinsettia stamp.  Now is the perfect time to get it if you haven't already!

I will also link up at the Christmas challenge over at Happy Little Stampers which is poinsettia, at Virginia's View Challenge to colour and finally a last entry at Simon's Wednesday Clean and Simple Christmas Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah x

Autumnal Kraft

Hello!

Have you been enjoying your weekend?  I have to admit that I like the slightly chillier days when it starts to get dark early and the leaves are turning although I quickly change my mind once the snow arrives!  Talking of autumn I wanted to play along at Time Out with my friends especially as I have a stamp which is the same as the inspiration phrase - Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

I got out an old Clarity stamp and decided to stamp and colour on kraft for a more muted look.

I like the soft effect the pencils have on kraft - what do you think?  This image makes me want to go on a country walk but I think that I will just head back to my craft room instead :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah x

ATCAS #74

Hello!

Are you feeling sparkly today?!  That is the code word that the fabulous Sarah has chosen this week for our latest challenge at Addicted to CAS....

Given that I am trying to keep up with my festive card making I took the opportunity to make a few Christmas cards featuring the gorgeous Holiday Bow set from The Ton.  The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

I stamped the bow in gold and copper inks (it is very easy to layer up) and matted on some foiled striped paper and gold glitter card.  It is a very easy design which lends itself to batch making hence I have put together a version in red:

 

I hope you like the sparkle on my cards and check out the rest of the inspiration from the fab DT over at ATCAS!  This challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers :)

 

 

I will also play along for a second time at Simon's Wednesday Challenge to make a clean and simple Christmas card.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Sarah x

Christmas Jewels

Hello!

I have just found time to make a quick card to play along with this week's Less Is More challenge which is to use jewel colours on our creations.  Given I am on a mission to make as many Christmas cards as I can in good time this year I decided to use the lovely Christmas ornaments from Hero Arts:

 

 I watercoloured the ornaments with the Zig real colour markers and used Wink of Stella to add some shimmer that you can't see!  The sentiment is also from Hero Arts and includes the lovely merry die.

I hope that the greens, pinks and purples have captured the right jewel tones!

I will also link up at Simon's Wednesday challenge to create a clean and simple Christmas card and at Virginia's View to use colouring on our designs.

I should be studying so better get back to my books - thanks for stopping by though!

Sarah x

Honey I Shrunk the Kit #3

Hello!

Shona, Hazel and I are back with our 3rd mini kit which the lovely Shona put together.  It is gorgeous with a fab combination of patterned papers and stamped images which has enabled me to make 4 cards :)

 

 

I die cut a heart out of the lovely patterned paper and combined it with these sweet bunnies which I lightly coloured with pencils and fussy cut out.  The kraft and aqua mats pick up the colours in the patterned paper.

 

 

 

 

I cut a frame from the patterned paper to make a shaker card.  I used an umbrella die cut from the kit but messed up the white card so used it as a template and hand cut a brolly from the patterned paper.  I die cut the sentiment out too.

 

 

I used the inside of the frame to create a little panel and combined it with this cute bird - he does look a bit sorry for himself!

 

 

This very simple card features a die cut flower from the kit which I coloured in and stuck on top of a lightly inked card base.  Shona even included enamel dots - my favourite embellishment!

 

I can't wait to see what Shona and Hazel have created with this kit:

 

I will link up at Simon's Wednesday Challenge which is Anything Goes.

 

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

 

Sarah x

 

 

Something Shiny

Hello!

Today is my last DT post over at Make the Day Special - I have had a wonderful time being part of this talented team and if you don't already make a habit of visiting regularly I highly recommend it!  I am sharing several festive cards that I have made with the fabulous Beautiful Bows and Fa La La sets from Avery Elle. 

I will just share one of them here so that I can play along with this week's Less Is More challenge where we are asked to include something shiny on our cards.

I have gold embossed the ribbon and matted the front panel with some gold mirri card so it is full of festive shimmer!

And of course we all love to play along with Simon's Wednesday Challenge when the theme is Anything Goes so I shall link up there too.

I hope you like my shiny creation and do head over to MTDS to see the rest of the cards that I made with these stamps.

Thank you for stopping by!

Sarah x