Monday 29 August 2016

Guest Designer Spot for MUSE

Hi there crafty friends I've got some mega exciting news for you in this
post as I'm Guest Designing for The Muse Card Challenge today!

Whoa! I was speechless (for just a second) when I received the message
from Ardyth asking if I'd like to create a card for this fabulous challenge!

Without thinking too deeply about what I'd create, I zipped a message 
straight back with a HUGE 'Yes Please!' so here's my card 
and I hope you'll feel inspired to play along this week!


If you follow my blog regularly you may remember I attended the
Happy Little Stampers craft retreat in Swindon, UK last month.
As well as meeting a bunch of equally excitable crafty ladies we were 
introduced (some for the first time) to the magical properties and uses 
of Brushos by our super host and organiser Kylie of Happy Little Stampers.

So I'm 'hooked' and here's another example using Brushos to create a heart-shaped 
 jigsaw ... it really was tough piecing this one back together and had me wishing 
for a little piece of that Press n Seal stuff that so many American crafters use.

I love vibrant colours and die-cuts on my cards and here I've used the Neat & Tangled 
Heart of Gold die along with a 'Sending' word die by Simon Says stamp. 
The 'Hugs & Kisses' sentiment is by Clearly Besotted and to enhance the 'yellow' 
 in my 'brusho' heart I've added a strip of designer paper from Echo Park.


I can't wait to see how you are inspired by my card, perhaps using die-cuts, brushos,
the layout or maybe the colours. Whatever takes your fancy and I'm certainly 
looking forward to visiting your blogs this week to see how you've 'cased' it.

Here's the link to the Muse Challenge blog to play along.


I'd also like to enter my card at the Happy Little Stampers Challenge 
... Anything Goes with Dies
It would be rude not to as Kylie (owner of HLS) taught me all I know
about Brushos! LOL!


Thanks as always for stopping by my blog and huge thanks to the
 Design Team at Muse for asking me to help out this week.
Sarah

Sunday 28 August 2016

AAA Cards Challenge #72


Morning friends and I'm here again with details of the latest challenge
over at AAA Cards. Our theme for this one is to use a
New To You Technique 

For me I'm kind of hooked on Brushos following my attendance
at the super duper Happy Little Stampers weekend retreat in Swindon.
I can't believe it's a whole month since! Kylie (of HLS) was an excellent 
teacher and a star player with the Brushos so she shared some of her
stunning tips and tricks with them and one I've not tried previously is 
to use laundry starch instead of water to activate the colours!

WOW! The vivid colours and spectacular patterns they create just 
encourages me to make more and more background panels!!!!
So here we go 


To maintain the clean and simple look I've hidden some of my Brusho
'master piece' behind a die from Sizzix but not before I'd die-cut the 
dragonfly by Clearly Besotted from the same piece! The sentiment
is also Clearly Besotted from their Brushed Greetings II set.

I can't wait to see how you play with this challenge and I'm hoping to 
learn lots of new techniques over the next fortnight! As always my
teamies have made some spectacular cards and if you head over to the
main AAA Cards blog there's links to their blogs 




We are also joined by Alexandra of Made by Alexandra who is our
Guest Designer for this challenge and a previous winner of our challenge.
Please head over to her blog and give her a friendly welcome!

Our sponsor for this one is Stampendous so our lucky winner will 
be in line for a prize - hope you feel inspired to play along!


Thanks as always for stopping by and I'll catch up with you again soon.
Sarah

Saturday 27 August 2016

Less is More #291


Morning crafty friends it's that time again on a Saturday! 
Yep time to announce our latest challenge over at 

Less is More

It's recipe week and we'd like you to use a sticky label, sticker or peel-off
on your creations. I'm not sure about you but I have tonnes of those 
silver and gold peel-offs; in fact it makes me want to cry thinking how
much I've spent on them over the years and they sit in a drawer ...
 until TODAY that is!

But first up I created by own sticker using an Avery mailing label!


Using the Lawn Fawn: Flying By set I stamped the paper aeroplanes
onto my label then coloured with Promarkers before 'sticking them to the 
the card base. Then with a stitched cloud border die from Mama Elephant
I created a 'cloudy' sky for them to fly above! The sentiment is from the
same set and I added a strip of washi tape with a sliver of black card stock
at the base of the card.

Over at Time Out Challenges this week they are casing an awesome card
by Julia Altermann (Just One More Card) and her idea inspired my card
so I'd like to head over there with this one! The aeroplane theme got me 
thinking, I stuck to the same sentiment as Julia and added the striped
washi tape to the base of my card to 'match' Julia's background!



Next up I went for the peel-offs and decided to go with a Christmassy 
theme ... I could really do with using a few more of these as this is one
of the first Christmas cards I've made this year so I'm going to have to get
myself organised pretty quickly otherwise it'll be shop-bought all the way!


I've dry-embossed my card base with a snowfall embossing folder before
creating a mini snow scene using Zig Clear Brush pens for the sky and glitter
card for the snow. The snowman and 'flakes' are peel-offs along with the sentiment.

The cue word over at CASology this week is 'Fun' and I can't think of
much that beats Christmas-time, building snowmen with the kids and
 snowball fights for fun! Or how about translucent snowmen where you can 
see the sky through their fat round tummies or blue snow perhaps!!! 


So I'd like to pop this card into their challenge plus it's 
back around to the 'holiday' theme at Addicted to Stamps & More 
and I'd like to stop by that challenge with my card too!


As always my teamies have worked their sticker magic talents with 
this challenge so please head over to the LIM blog HERE where there's
links to their personal blogs too. 

I hope you feel inspired to play along with us this week and as always
thanks for stopping by - it's always a pleasure to read your comments too.

Sarah

Friday 26 August 2016

Uniko Challenge #35 - Reminder


Hi there friends, I'm back with sneaky little nudge and reminder
for the current challenge over at Uniko! This month we'd like you to
be inspired by songs when creating your cards and explain the connection.

I love making Baby congrats cards as it's such a happy and exciting event.
I've used the images from Sweet Baby here and had the song 
'(Let me be) Your Teddy Bear' by Elvis Presley in my head!
Yes a bit of an easy one to guess I imagine but hey-ho! 


To create the background I used my Zig Clear Brush pens and water the
heat embossed the images once it was dry. The teddy is coloured with 
Promarkers and the sentiment is from the Simply Said set.



There's plenty more inspiration over on the Uniko blog HERE plus
we are also joined by one of our previous challenge winners;
Glenda of My Paper Cat so I do hope you'll pop along to her blog
and leave her a friendly word and compliment her creations.

The details of prizes that are up for grabs can also be found on the 
Uniko blog and you have until midnight (BST) on Friday 9th September
to link up your card(s) and join in the fun.

Thanks so much for calling by and I'll catch up with you tomorrow
morning when we'll be announcing our latest challenge over at Less is More.

Sarah

Wednesday 24 August 2016

Muse Challenge #180

Hi friends, I'm zipping in with a card I made today to enter in the current challenge
over at Muse. I was on a roll at the end of last year, and tried to enter every week
but I seem to have lost the plot or not had time to create as much since then!

 Today, as luck would have it I already had a panel of blended Distress Inks 
in just the colours of Marilyn's card, sitting on my desk, so I decided to
 have a little play and here's my CASE of her card.



Having inked my panel using: Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin
and Picked Raspberry I did my favourite little trick of spritzing with a water
and perfect pearl mix which adds a stunning shimmer to the inky panel. I'm not 
sure it's obvious on the photo however. Using the MFT Blueprints 15 I 
die-cut a 'wonky-angled' rectangle then inlaid a poppy die-cut by Memory Box 
using some white glitter card. The poppy silhouettes are by Inkylicious 
and the sentiment is by Clearly Besotted from the Sweet Little Sentiments set.

Here's Marilyn's card


Edit: I knew there was a Silhouette challenge about but could I find it when
I posted this an hour ago!!! Thanks to Sandie- spotted it as soon as I visited
on a comment trail!!!

So I'd also like to link this one up at Addicted To CAS - Silhouette!


I hope you like how I was inspired by the card and thanks so much
for stopping by my blog today!

Catch up again soon!

Sarah

Sunday 21 August 2016

Inkspirational #115

Hello friends, I've a card to share today using some designer paper
by Echo Park! I have lots and lots of fancy papers that are just too
gorgeous to use so they sit in a drawer! Anyone else do that?

So when I saw the challenge at Inkspirational I decided I could spare
a teeny bit although I've not twisted with stamping on it!


This uses:
WOW: Metallic Brass Sparkle EP
Altenew: Inks and Painted Butterfly Stamp set
Avery Elle: Sentimental
Mama Elephant: Landscape Trio dies




Hope you are having a fun and crafty weekend and
thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Sarah

Saturday 20 August 2016

Less is More #290


Morning friends, time to announce this week's challenge over at 

Less is More
It's theme week and we've chosen the word Exotic


This one uses a Paper Smooches set called Get Outta Town.
The images are coloured with Promarkers and I've used a 
frame die from Pretty Pink Posh then 're-sat' the 'piccys' inside
again once coloured and popped it up on fun foam for added dimension.

I'd like to pop this one in at Addicted to Stamps and More where
it's the 'Make Your Mark' Week

Our Current Challenge



I couldn't resist creating a creating a card using this fantastic
'Paradise' set from Uniko and if Paradise isn't exotic then I'm stuck!
(Looks like Sarah G and Sharon also had the same idea!)

I decided to show-case the sentiment and keep that panel clean and simple
with the exotic hibiscus blooms in the background.

My teamies have been up to their usual brilliance so please head over 
to the Less is More blog HERE where there's links to their blogs 
and you can swoon with delight at their creations.

Hope you feel inspired to play along and I'll catch up with you soon.

Sarah

Friday 19 August 2016

Uniko Challenge #35

Hello friends, I'm here to announce our latest challenge over at 

Uniko

and our theme for this one is
To use a Song Title as your inspiration

Here's mine and it's pretty obvious I think ... 99 Red Balloons by Nena.
Please don't try to count the balloons as I lost track at 79 and some are
hidden behind the cloud of course!!!


This uses Big and Bold Wish plus the Balloon Bash set.

.

The theme at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge this week
is "Make for the Border" so as I've used one of my Mama Elephant
border trio dies I think I'll head to SSS with this one.

Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog

The cue word at CASology this week is 'Dream' so I'm tentatively 
heading over there too - is making a wish like having a dream???


There's more fabulous ideas on the main Uniko blog HERE by my 
fellow teamies so please head over for links and details of prizes!

I hope you feel inspired to play along and rack those brains for some songs!
Have fun and I'll be back tomorrow with the latest challenge from
Less is More so hope to catch up then!


Sarah

Sunday 14 August 2016

AAA Cards Challenge #71


Hi there crafters it's time to introduce the latest challenge from
AAA Cards

This time we'd like to see some BLENDING on your cards but please
keep the design CLEAN and SIMPLE.

In the end I've made 3 for this challenge and having made my second one first ... if 
that makes sense, I decided I'd rather go bold, fun and funky and slightly WILD!

... and as that's the theme at this week's Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge
I'd like to slot it in there too!


This one uses that funny silly stamp set from The Alley Way Stamps called
Face-It! I started out by inking my panel with various 'rainbow-type' coloured
Distress Inks before heat embossing my images. For added detail I dry-embossed
the card base using a 'next level' embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers.
The inky panel is die-cut using a frame die from WPlus9 Sunshine layers then
to finish a sentiment from Mama Elephant, Up, Up and Away.


Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog


Here's the first card I made!

A couple of challenges ago we had our 'Stash Favourites' and I used
this same die by Neat and Tangled. Here I've created a mask with it, 
adhered it to my card then blended distress inks in Spun Sugar and 
Worn lipstick to create an ombre look to my card. I couldn't resist a quick
spritz of Perfect Pearls and water although it's not obvious in the photo. 

The sentiments are from Avery Elle: Sentimental with the elephant from
Clearly Besotted Baby Shower stamp and die set.

My cousin and his wife are about to welcome a little girl to 
their home ... in fact at the time of 'typing' she could well be putting
in an appearance so this card will be heading over to them ASAP!


 Last but not least and because I love getting inky ...


First of all I masked off a strip approx 3cm wide on my card base then
inked the 'un-masked' area with Distress Inks in: Cracked Pistachio, 
Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers and Blueprint Sketch.

My favourite little addition with inky blending, spritzing, flicking and 
drizzling water and perfect pearls onto the area, although this isn't watercolour
card therefore not too much of a dowsing! I mounted 2 pieces of white card stock
on Fun Foam before adding my die-cut elements which are both by Clearly Besotted. 

There's loads more inspiration from my fellow teamies so I do hope
you'll want to play along with this one and have some fun.

We're also joined by a super talented Guest Designer for this challenge and I do 
hope you'll call in at Michelle's blog, Passionate Crafter and leave some love!


Our sponsor is Happy Little Stampers
Picture

with our lucky winner receiving a $20 gift certificate to spend in store.


Thanks as always for stopping by and catch up with you soon.

Sarah

Saturday 13 August 2016

Less is More #289

Hi there, time for some more fun at Less is More with a new
ONE LAYER CARD week! 
The theme we've chosen is 'Something FRENCH'

Just the one from me for this week as I completely ran out of time - 
actually I was too busy playing with my Brushos, having learnt some
new tricks at the HLS retreat and I couldn't tear myself away from all
the wonderful colours and patterns they create. Think I'm 'hooked'!


Using the Je T'aime stamp set from Clearly Besotted I stamped the lower half of 
my card with the Eiffel Tower, rotating it up and down for added interest. In keeping 
with the colours of the French flag I've stamped the words in those colours too. 
As luck would have it I spotted the 'Bonjour' sentiment in the Lawn Fawn Gleeful 
Gardens set that was on my desk so that was added too. 

The 'Paris' speech bubble is left over from a previous Honey I Shrunk The Kit set 
and I've 'cheekily' inlaid it among the images and sentiments. 
  
To finish the red, white and blue French theme I found some matching bakers twine 
and added a couple of glossy hearts die-cut from a mini Paper Smooches die set. 

The theme at Time Out Challenges is 

'Holidays with the Optional Twist of No Stamping' 
(stamped sentiments allowed)

I've certainly NOT twisted here but I think my card has a definite 'holiday' feel
about it so I'd like to pop it in at Time Out too.

Grab Our Badge!

As always thanks for calling by my blog and I'll be back tomorrow
with another new challenge for AAA Cards. 


Sarah

Friday 12 August 2016

Happy Little Stampers August - part 2

... and I'm back with another Brusho inspired card which I'd also like
 to enter at the Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies Challenge!

If you read my earlier post you'll see I'm completely hooked on Brushos
following the fabulous weekend I spent at the Happy Little Stampers
retreat in Swindon 2 weeks ago. Kylie, the queen of Brushos, taught us
some wonderful techniques with this medium and I'm literally awash
with ready prepared Brusho panels!!!! 

This one uses a die by Sizzix (Mixed Media #2) by Tim Holtz which I've die-cut 
twice at both ends of the front panel. It was quite tricky to remove all the little pieces as 
it's such an intricate die but I've now investedin a metal shim for my Big shot, 
with some birthday pennies, which is working a treat now!


I've popped the Brusho panel and die-cut overlay onto fun foam for some 
added interest and dimension. The sentiment is by Avery Elle: Sentimental.



Ok that's all for now but I'll be back tomorrow with a new
challenge for Less is More so hope you'll join me then!
Thanks for stopping by!


Sarah

Happy Little Stampers Challenges August


Hi there crafty friends I'm here with a couple of 'Brusho' styled cards!
Having spent a brilliant weekend in Swindon at the Happy Little Stampers
retreat with a bunch of fun and talented ladies, oh and Kylie of course!!!
I've come away addicted to Brushos and think I've now got enough backgrounds
to see me well into next year at least! 
I have to admit that I was pretty scared of these messy 'pigments' having had a timid 
play with them a while ago BUT Kylie was a fantastic teacher and shared some fun and 
fabulous techniques so here's the first one that I made at the retreat using a beautiful
 Memory Box die (Gardenia) - thanks to the lovely Julie Beech for suggesting it and
 loaning it to me, which started quite a craze with it! In fact I don't think you can 
purchase this die anywhere in the UK at the moment!!!

I've also used my 'Smile' word die by Lil'Inker which is winked with Stella
and glossied to the max! I can't remember where the 'it's your day' comes from
as there was so much borrowing of each others stash that I've forgotten!

I'd like to pop this one in at the Happy Little Stampers - Anything with Dies
... it would be rude not to don't you think? I'm a little tardy in adding this
but my husband was away with work this week and disappeared with the
memory card for the camera with all my card photos on! Only just retrieved it
this evening and note to self: copy them to the PC ASAP in future!!!



 I hope you aren't bored of Brushos as here's another!


This time I heat-embossed a mass of butterflies from the Butterfly Birthday set by 
Happy Little Stampers before sprinkling 3 colours of Brusho over my watercolour card 
then spritzed with a mixture of water and perfect pearls! I luuurve the colour combo
it's created but sadly you can't see the wonderful shimmer in the photograph.

I've added a couple of gems also by Happy Little Stampers, the 'friend' die-cut is by
Paper Smooches and the 'you are awesome' is by Winnie and Walter.

I'd like to pop this one in at the Anything Goes with Happy Little Stampers challenge.


Oooh I've just found another Brusho pieced card so I'll be back in a mo with that one!


Thursday 11 August 2016

Uniko Revisit Pure Florals: Chrysanthemums


Hi friends, this month at Uniko we shaking down and dusting off
a previously released set to give it a new lease of life.
Bev has chosen the Pure Florals: Chrysanthemums and 
here's what I've done with it. 

I've stamped the outline image in Versamark ink before heat setting 
with clear embossing powder to create a tone on tone look against the 
pink cardstock. On a piece of watercolour card I've inked again with
Versamark but heat set with white embossing powder before water-colouring
the image with Distress inks. The sentiment is from Simply Said: Birthday.


Don't forget to hop across to the main Uniko blog HERE where there's
links to my fellow teamies' blogs and their fabulous cards, made 
using this blooming set! All the details you need about prizes too
can be found there and I hope you have some fun joining in our 
traditional Revisit Day Hop!

Thanks for calling by and I'll be back tomorrow to announce
another new challenge from Less is More. 


Sarah