Friday 24 December 2010

Play Date Cafe and a card from Dawn!


Woo Hoo would you believe it I found an hour to have a play today and managed to make this card for the current Play Date Cafe Challenge, not colours I would normally use but hey ho love a Challenge!!!!

 Here is a close up of the flower, to brighten it up a bit I have glued on a few seed beads with Glossy Accents to look like dew!

This is the challenge inspirational photograph but I am really bored of Christmas cards, it had to be a Thank You instead.  I will also enter this in the current Hero Arts challenge.

I was lucky enough to receive this stunning card today in the post all the way from Dawn in New Zealand, isn't it stunning,  Thanks so much Dawn I love it!!
Really must do some more jobs now before the big day.  Have a great time everyone.
Hugs
SallyX

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Merry Christmas Blogging Friends!!!

 Well I am well and truly fed up with making Christmas cards but I wanted to make another card for this months Hero Arts Challenge.  This card has lots of shiny bits on it,  The elegant weed stamp has been stamped with  Dusty Concord and then clear embossed, I have also added some gems coloured with a copic marker.  The butterfly is a digital image that I have coloured and coated with Distress Crackle Paint.
 Here is a close up I also stamped the Old Letter Writing stamp with the same Dusty Concord and then distressed the whole of the card.
 I just wanted to show you this beauty as well, it arrived in the post yesterday all the way from lovely Sanne in Denmark , isn't it cute.  Thank you Sanne!!

This beautiful card also arrived all the way from  Stephanie in Canada,  one of our Flickr Hero Arts group members Anita organised a card chain for holiday cards, we all had to make a card for the person below us in the list and hopefully would all receive a card from the person above us. I was thrilled with this card , so pretty in pink!!



































This is the card I made and sent to Celine also in Canada, lots of Hero Arts stamps used here!!

This will probably be my last post for about a week as we have lots planned!  My DD is coming home today for Christmas and then next week we are moving her back from her flat in Bristol.  She is going to be living back home for about 7 months , she has a job as a teaching assistant in a school near here for two terms,  after that she is hopefully going back to University to train to be a teacher.

Sorry for the long post but I want to take this opportunity to wish all my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, thank you all so much for all your lovely comments over the past year, I really appreciate them all.
Hugs
SallyX

Saturday 18 December 2010

A Splash of Yellow!!


These are the colours this week at the Play Date Cafe and as you can see its another colour splash, this time with yellow.




































When I was trying to think of a card to make I kept coming up with butterflies and flowers again but I wanted to steer away from that this time.   This little teacup stamp was a freebie with a card magazine that I sometimes buy and it was crying out to be inked up!!! I have paper pieced with different scraps of yellow PP from my scraps box.  I have had the background PP for years and the grey spots just didn't inspire me,but perfect for this card. (I hope it qualifies as its grey and not black?)

Its been snowing here again today, we have had about 6 inches and the garden is looking so pretty. Hope you are enjoying your weekend, only a week till Christmas now and I have lots still to do!!
SallyX

Sunday 12 December 2010

Case Card Challenge


This weeks "Scrappy Saturday Challenge" at Jenny's blog Wee Memories is to :-
 'CASE YOUR FAVORITE' ... favorite designer, card, layout, sketch etc. Whatever your favorite is!
This was a really hard decision for me as there are so many amazing designers out in blog land but I have decided to CASE a card (or two actually ) by the fabulous Shari Carroll.  Last week she spent a week sharing cards with another flickr member Joy Taylor and I love  this card from day 4. I also fell in love with this one which was from day 1.
This is my card based on both of those!!

I stamped the trees with black memento ink and then added Spun Sugar and Bundled Sage distress ink, to finish I spritzed them with some perfect pearls to create a shine.
I am really pleased with the finished card!!

Hope you are enjoying the weekend, not alot of time for creating at the moment as I have things to do for Christmas.
Thanks for finding time to stop by my blog and leave comments, I promise I will catch up with some blogs soon!
Hugs
SallyX

Supplies:-Hero Arts stamps CL459 Merry Christmas Trees. Distress inks-Bundled Sage and Spun Sugar. Scraps of PP.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Hero Arts Blog Hop!!!!!!!



Have you heard the exciting news?? Hero Arts is having a big fun-filled, inspiration-packed blog hop featuring ALL NEW stamps from the upcoming 2011 Hero Arts Catalogue on Friday 10th December.


 They have sneak peeks on their blog today. I can't wait to see all the stamps in this new catalogue!
 
There will be a hop between the blogs of more than 20 Hero Arts designers and friends, previewing the new stamps and sharing idea after idea. You’ll be able to leave comments along the way for a chance to win fabulous prizes.
Looking forward to Friday!!
SallyX

Ruthies surprise.




































About a year ago, Deborah Nolan, arranged for a group of card makers from the Hero Arts flickr group to start a card shower for Ruthie, one of the group who was unwell. Deborah is such a wonderful organised person and she arranged for Ruthie to receive a card twice a week for 9 months and even her adult children got some cards too. To keep our identities secret and to keep her guessing we all took a fairy name as a pseudonym. My name was Feather Goblinwand and I posted my card so it would arrive around 28th April.
I am pleased to say that Ruth is doing much better now and Deborah thought that  it was time to reveal our identities.
This is the card I made using two of my all time favourite Hero Arts stamps, the beautiful Heart winged butterfly and Antique Brocade background.  The butterfly is stamped on acetate and I added some glitter for sparkle.

Have a good week.
Hugs
Sallyx

Saturday 4 December 2010

Red and White Hearts!!



















This is the inspirational photograph for this weeks Play Date Cafe challenge and I was totally inspired by the DT this week particularly Sarah Andersons beautiful felt heart!!  I have been meaning to make a banner for my daughter for ages we saw one similar to this in the local garden centre and she loved it!!
 She wants one to hang above her bed so the perfect time to create it for her.  All the hearts are hand sewn with blanket stitch and stuffed with wadding for a really folksy feel.
 The gingham hearts and stars were cut on my big shot and stitched on first in just a plain running stitch.

I have stitched the hearts to the cord the little pegs are just decoration.  I am really pleased with the result and much more satisfying making my own instead of buying it!

Hope you are all having a good weekend, the snow has started to defrost but its still really cold here!
SallyX




Friday 3 December 2010

Another Bow!!!

A quick post today with another entry for the Wee Memories challenge . Created the background paper with two Hero Arts stamps Old Letter Writing and Paper Art, used Victorian Velvet distress ink and I am so pleased with the result I have made it in various other colours.  I will post a card tomorrow with the green version!
We still have lots of snow here today so the school is closed again, to dangerous on the roads and the paths are really icy.  I am just going out for a lovely walk across the common which I am looking forward to.
Hope you have a good day.
Sallyx
Supplies. Stamps Hero Arts. S4878 Old Letter Writing. CG198 Paper Art. Digital butterflies.  Distress ink. Bundled Sage.

Thursday 2 December 2010

A couple of challenges and a surprise in the post!!!

 Its been snowing here all night and school is closed so lots of time for crafting!! Yipee!! I wanted to have a go at two challenges and these little gift boxes and tags fit the bill perfectly.  I chose the colours lilac, pink and white to fit in with the current challenge over at The Ribbon Girl Blog. Great little blog and fabulous shop that doesn't only sell ribbon!!
 Here is a close up of both boxes made out of a piece of A5 card and then run through a cuttlebug embossing folder to give lots of texture.
 The box is tied with a piece of white satin ribbon and I have used my favourite gingham ribbon on both tags, as there are a few bows involved I am also entering this in Jenny's challenge over at the Wee Memories blog.
 I was thrilled last week to receive a beautiful card and a little gift in the post from Kathy one of my blogging friends. The gift was some SRM stickers and a Hero Arts clear set.  The set included this tree image, isn't it great, the perfect image for mass production!!!
I embossed the image in green sparkle (doesn't show well in the photograph) then added the red gems, I then distressed with Bundled Sage. The red card has been embossed with swiss dots and then I pop dotted the cards together.  So simple to make and so effective (I have made 10 in one evening), thanks Kathy I am thrilled with these images!!
Hope you are all keeping warm if you are suffering the same weather.
SallyX

Wednesday 1 December 2010

NovemberCCC

I took part in Deborah's Card Chain Challenge again this month, such fun and this month my card actually made it to its destination.  Well done Royal Mail!!!!!
I received not one but two cards from Vivi in Denmark aren't they beautiful. Check out her blog she makes some amazing cards.


This is the card I sent to Jenny in Ireland, I followed some of Jennifer McGuires thinking inking techniques to make this one and I am pleased with the result.  The middle panel looks like material.

It's snowing here again today so I am planning to do lots of crafting.
SallyX

Sunday 28 November 2010

Play Date Cafe #57















When I first saw the colours this week at The Play Date Cafe I  struggled a little wondering what to make, then I found this silver grey card blank in my stash and knew it would be perfect.                                             



































Quite a simple card but I am pleased with the result.  I stamped the Hero Arts Starburst lace stamp and embossed with bronze powder.  The ribbon is brown although it looks black in the photograph!

I have lots of card orders this weekend so lots to do!!  Have a great Sunday.
SallyX

Friday 26 November 2010

Pink Poinsettia

I was really pleased with my Red Poinsettia card that I decided to make a pink one as well!! Unusual colours for a Christmas card but I really like the result!  The flower is cut using a sizzix die and then run through the Houndstooth embossing folder.
As its pink I will add it to Jenny's challenge over at the Wee Memories Blog!

I have just found out that my Red Poinsettia card is the Cup Of The Week over at the Play Date Cafe blog I am really thrilled to win this as there are so many fabulous entries in this fun colour challenge.
Just a quick post as we are rushing out to a school fund raising evening, a quiz and curry supper, should be fun!

Have a great weekend.
SallyX

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Wee Memories Challenge!! PINK!!















This is the challenge over at the "Wee Memories" blog this week and yes I am still making Christmas cards!  I have used this sweet digital image again and its a freebie over at Suze brilliant blog!



 This is such a simple card to make and its used up some old PP that has been in my stash for ages!  After printing out the Robin twice I have coloured with copics and then pop dotted the Holly and Wing!














You can see the added dimension here.

Just a quick post tonight as I am busy with a card order.
SallyX

Sunday 21 November 2010

Play Date Cafe #56



















I Just love the colours set this week by Julie great to make another christmas card!  This week at Play Date Cafe its Player Appreciation Week, pop over and check out all the fabulous inspiration.

After I had made my card I decided to make a little gift box and matching tag as I have the perfect gift to put in this little box!
I made the poinsettia  using a Sizzix Die cut and then running it through a Houndstooth embossing folder to give it texture.  The Olive PP has been pleated and then run through the sewing machine to hold it in place.  This was a really simple card to make, I think I will making a few more as I still have nowhere near enough cards made!!
The gift box is made from a A5 piece of card which I also ran through the same embossing folder before folding it into shape.






















Sorry the photographs are so poor today, its really dull and overcast so not good for photography!
Hope you are enjoying your weekend and thank you so much for all the lovely comments you have left me over the past week I really appreciate them all!!!!
SallyX.

Saturday 20 November 2010

Sweet Robin Freebie!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick post, we are off to a wedding so I have set this post to auto, I hope it works OK!!!
This sweet Robin image was a feebie given away by Suze , don't you just love the patchwork look to it.
I love country looking cards and this image is perfect with the gingham ribbon and distressed edges.

I am doing a happy dance, as this week I was a lucky winner on the Hero Arts blog with my cushion here I have won $50 worth of products and I can't wait to do some shopping, although there is so much to choose from I know its going to be a hard decision!

Hope you all have a great weekend.
SallyX
Supplies: Digital image by Suze. Hero Arts stamps.CG119 Flourish  and CL364 Merry Christmas.  Fired Brick Distress ink.

Friday 19 November 2010

Check this candy out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!















Check out this amazing candy that Jenny is giving away on her blog, she has reached 700 followers so is having this give away.

Jenny has a great blog with a challenge every week and lots of inspirational cards and projects, go check it out!!!
SallyX

Wednesday 17 November 2010

I am one proud Mum!!!!!!!




































As promised a few photographs of Francesca's Graduation ceremony which took place yesterday in Bristol Cathedral.  It was an amazing and emotional day and needless to say we are very proud of our beautiful daughter!!!

This is Fran and her friend Zara, they have known each other since they were 4 years old and have been through School, college and now University together.


A family shot, as you can see the weather was beautiful although extremely cold.  After the ceremony we all celebrated at a fabulous Italian restaurant in the city.
Sallyx

Monday 15 November 2010

Using Patterned Papers!!!













Wee Memories challenge is to use some Patterned Paper and its something I have loads of,  I can't go into a craft shop without being tempted by some gorgeous paper or paper pads!!  The trouble is I get them home and often can't bear to use them, so they sit in my paper box for ages!

 I decided to do some paper piecing and used this cute Christmas Tree from Hero Arts.  I have taken this close up so you can see the shimmer in the background as it doesn't really show in the main photograph.

I really had some fun with this card and used lots of pieces of paper.

I am very excited as we are off to Bristol tomorrow for our DD's Graduation ceremony, I have a new outfit and the weather looks as if its going to be fine, so it should be a great day. I will post a photograph later in the week!

Hope you all have a good week.
SallyX
Supplies. Stamps by Hero Arts, CL467, Sprinkle your Holiday. CG100 Snowflake Circle.  Various patterned papers.  Gold and Silver embossing powder.  Broken China Distress Ink.

Sunday 14 November 2010

PDCC#55















Its been a whole week since I posted on my blog and I have missed it!! :0(   We have been decorating at home and no time for crafting till today.  The colours this week at The Play Date Cafe are a REAL challenge and It took me a while to come up with something that I really liked.

I decided to stick to making a Christmas card as I have no where near enough made yet.  Sorry about the poor photograph but its very dull here today and this card really isn't dull! The background card is Burgundy and the inner is a  pretty pink PP that I have had in my stash for ages.  The circle is made using the embossed resist technique with the Hero Arts Snowflake Circle and Broken China Distress Ink.  I have stamped and embossed the trees with a glitter gold emboss powder to lift the colours and then added the red gems.  Not the usual colours I would use for Christmas but I am actually pleased with the finished card!
I hope to get some more cards made today and hopefully find time to visit a few blogs, sorry I have not made many comments this week.
Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks for looking and commenting on my blog, I really appreciate it!!
SallyX
Supplies: Hero Arts Stamps, CG100 Snowflake Circle, CL459 Merry Christmas Trees. Broken China Distress Ink.