Simon Says stamp facebook giveaways

Hi all

Simon Says Stamp has a new facebook page and are giving away Shopping Sprees in honor of their new Facebook Fan Page! One winner per day for 7 days will receive $25 shopping spree to spend in their online store!! To become a fan and be in with a chance of winning click this here and good luck!!!

Poppy background stamp

Hi all

Well I couldn't resist having a quick play with one of my new stamps last night! I am sure I have issues as I swing between manic eagerness to use new craft stuff or on the contrary trying to preserve it in it's new state for as long as possible haha. This poppy stamp I couldn't wait to ink up but I have other stash still in its packaging that I occasionally take out, stroke it, ooh and aah over it then put it back unused... wonder if there is a condition for this?



Tried to keep it simple, didn't really want to distress the sentiment but I was so tired (and impatient) and just wanted to get the card finished last night, when I put the sentiment on the card stock looked a bit creamy so rather than print another one off and waste a whole sheet of card I decided to distress it with Tim Holtz ink.

The Hero Arts Poppy stamp I first inked with gradient Versacolor Mocha Truffle, I then inked an Anitas stamp with some script and love hearts on it in a darker brown, with the ink still wet on both stamps I "dabbed" the script stamp onto the poppy stamp to transfer some of the darker brown ink onto it, stamped it onto white card stock and coloured with chalks.

The pink card stock is K and Co Bailey Mat pad (love these and this is one which I couldn't bear to cut into when I first got it).

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Polkadoodles - Hearts or flowers or both LOL

Oooh My Simons Says Stamp prize has arrived!!

Hi all

I am so excited cos today my Simon Says Stamp prize has arrived which I won on Sketch Saturday for entering their weekly challenge with my baby card. I won $25 to spend in Simon Says Stamp they generously pay the P & P too so more money for spending on crafty stash LOL!!

Of course I was refrained and tried to keep within the $25 but was tempted by some other stuff and went over by $10.95.... not bad considering my wish list is much much longer... Martha Stewart Punches etc!!!!

I have drooled over the new Hero Arts cling stamps since I first saw them and this is what I ordered with my prize:

Hero Arts Cling Stamp DANDELION FRAME Rubber Stamp:



Hero Arts Cling Stamp POPPY BACKGROUND Rubber Stamp:



Cuttlebug Embossing Folder ARGYLE:



Core'Dinations NOSTALGIA Cardstock:



Stickles Glitter Glue CRYSTAL:

C.R.A.F.T DT pocket card

Hi all

This is my second week of being GDT over at C.R.A.F.T challenge blog... can't believe it has been 2 weeks alread but they say time flies when you are having fun!!!

This week it is digi colouring and I have used the super cute Bertie Butterfly which Andrea sent me... how cute is he??

I have made this pocket card and tag as a little gift for my Mum and enclosed a Debenhams gift card, I have coloured Bertie butterfly in water colours. The papers are MME Pretty Please Spring Papers and I am just loving these at the moment. I have used the Martha Stewart doily border punch and nesties. The flowers are made using 2 different sized punches and the gorgeous ribbon I received in a swap.

Once again my photographic skills or rather the lack of them have made each photo come out looking a different colour even though I took them all in the same light and have messed around adjusting the Brightness and contrast... oh well!!







I am also entering this into the following challenges:

Quixotic Challenges - Tag it (to include a tag somewhere on your creation)

Totally out of my comfort zone with this one!!

Hi all

I have made this card for a challenge over at Daring Cardmakers. Their theme is carrying on the theme of birthstones, as February's is Amethyst. Totally love this colour! This is the first time I have joined in a challenge over at Daring Cardmakers but wanted to take myself out of my comfort zone and make something that is not my usual style. Actually it was reading Cheryl's blog this morning that reminded me of a card I had seen in Craft Stamper last year sometime and I have always wanted to make something along the same lines!!

Incidentally Daring Cardmakers have the added bonus linked to this weeks challenge in that Craft Obsessions have donated a wonderful Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch and Stamp set as a prize, how cute is that punch.... it has been on my wish list for ages!!! I have bought lovely crafty goodies from Craft Obsessions in the past and I can highly recommend their service as they get your stuff out to you nice and fast - if you're anything like me there's nothing worse than waiting for your new stash to arrive, I turn into craftzilla LOL!!!

I have used an iridescent card which I have had in my stash for ages but never had a project to use it with!
The backing paper I did myself by randomly stamping a butterfly (Basic Grey flutter) stamp in Versamark then embossing with clear powder. I then used the felt pads with the Tim Holtz applicator tool to apply Brilliance ink in Crimson, pearl lavender and pearlescent orchid and built up the layers until I was happy with the colour. I then stamped the sentiment and layered it on nesty petite scallop. The larger butterfly I stamped onto some newspaper which I had stuck to some cardstock. The medallion is another Basic Grey stamp and on top of this I blinged it up with Basic Grey "Bling it" rhinestones. The leaves are the larger butterflies wings stamped onto green bazzil (actually from Craft Obsessions) then I cut them out and curled them a little. The border is more Bazzill which I stamped with large brackets and then cut round them.



I *think* I like this card it just is so different from my usual style (whatever that is). Think I will carry on being more adventurous and you never know I may just venture into doing that long thought about scrap layout haha.... watch this space.

Anyway, just on the off chance you are still on the same bus as me I apologise this has turned into a mammoth post ;-)

Oh and I almost forgot, yes I am waffling now I am also entering this into Priscilla Styles Midnight Madness challenge 40 as I followed their sketch for the layout!!

How old do I feel??? I have a 15 year old!!!

Hi all

My oldest son Riaz was 15 last week.... flipping heck I can't believe I have had him for so long LOL...!

This digi image from Mo Manning "Paul Texting" sums Riaz up to a tee. Sometime I wonder if his phone has become an extension of his arm and will need to get it surgically removed hahaha... teenagers eh??!!

If you have any teens in your life you seriously need to check out Mo's Digital Pencil Shop as she has some images just PERFECT for teenager cards!!

I wanted to use quite a clean and crisp look for this card and love the colour of the backing papers. I have coloured the image using pro markers and cut out using a nestie. The arrows are made from wood which I painted and them wrote on with a CD marker the greetings in text talk.... funny really as I had to google how to write Happy Birthday in text language (I know I know I feel as old as I sound but when I text I still use "proper" English) - can you believe there are actually online translation tools for it!!!!!



I am entering this into Mo's Digital Challenge blog - the theme this week is "Wood" or "would".

I am also entering it into the following challenges:

Lexis Creations - Spotted or striped (I've got both)
Cards for Men - Sketch
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Monochrome tones of one colour and white
Rosie-D's Challenge blog - Just for men
Lucy's cards - Polka Dots

Hi all

So sorry, didn't mean to post a blank message LOL!

I am off work with the mother of all migraines today, I have had it since Thursday and I *hope* it has reached its peak today!!!

Take care all

Sarah x

Sir Stampalot challenge and blog hop!!

Hi all

Some exciting news to share of a challenge and blog hop, join in for your chance to win...... wait for it.... nothing less than a BIG SHOT how amazing would that be of a prize!!!!!!



The Challenge and blog hop will run for two weeks closing at midnight GMT on 13th February 2010. The challenge theme is:


"MOVING"

All the details and conditions of entry can be found over at Floral Fantasie blog

I have made a card for my niece Hannah and am entering it into the challenge incorporating movement into my card with a seesaw!!

I am also entering it into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Passion for Promarkers - "All creatures great and small"
Magical Crafts - Something for the kids
Tuesday Taggers - Teddy bears!

In the mood for LOVE... GDT spot card

Hi all

Here is my card for my first GDT on C.R.A.F.T challenge blog



I have cut out a heart shape aperture out of the white card stock. Under this I have used some black backing paper with music manuscript printed in red. I have then cut out by hand some stencil letters and overlayed this onto more red backing paper and embellished with red diamante. The poppies were bought from a garden centre and I dismantled them. Charm is from my stash.

There is a lot of LOVE around in blogland this week so I am entering into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Love Actually
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Hearts
Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturday - Open theme
Magical Crafts - Valentines
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - All you need is love!
Crafty Cardmakers - Hearts and romance
Creative Belli Blog - Ribbons
Sophisticat Challenges - Love
ABC Design blog - I love you sweetheart
Creative Card Crew - Valentines
Lili of the Valley - Valentines
Charisma Cardz - I love you!
Pile it on - To the one you love

Whoo hoo GDT spot!!!

Hi all

I am so over the moon to report that the lovely Andrea over at C.R.A.F.T challenge blog has picked lil old me to be GDT for February!! I have been so excited about it since she contacted me!!

My first creation starts this week with a LOVELY challenge lol! Here is a sneak peak of my card!



I have had a sneak look at the upcoming challenges for the month and they are amazing. Go over and take a look for yourself C.R.A.F.T challenge and join in the fun. The new challenge starts tomorrow...