Birthday Card for Mum-in-Law

Hi folks!!

Wow this card took an age to make.  I was pushing paper around all  yesterday evening and in the end I just gave up.  Have spent most of today making it too.... my poor house is really suffering.  Am going to have to do some 'housework' soon. Mum-in-Laws birthday is tomorrow so the pressure was on to come up with something...anything.  In the tradition of Sandra Dry card making this one had got so much stuff on it it could prop up a fly-over! 

I followed quite a few challenges.  The Sketch is from Friday Sketchers,  Just Magnolia was asking for pink &  green (one of my fav colour combos) Stamptacular wants to see charms this week,and over on the Cupcake Crafts Challenge it's 5 different embellishments.  I think I've covered this one with 1. die cut flower, 2. leaf charm, 3. fibre, 4. Butterfly button and 5. circles & hoops.  Tilda & the bench are both Magnolia stamps coloured with Copics and distress inks. The Designer paper is by K& Co.  I have also used my Nestabilities, Quickutz, Bosskut and Sizzix dies to make this card.

Hope Mum-in-Law likes it :o)

Thanks for all your encouraging comments.  I haven't had much time of late to come and visit you all.... now if I could only just speed up my crafting  ;o)

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx  

Sketch Saturday #48, an Anniversary card

Hi folks!!

I love this weeks sketch over on Sketch Saturday, such a pleasure to work with. A huge thanks to Jo for giving us such great sketches to use every week. It's the last Saturday of the month and so The Craft Barn are sponsoring us. There are two stamps up for grabs. One of them is 'Huggles' which I drew for the Kadoodle range. There is lots of fabulous inspiration from the DT and also a beautiful card made by our Guest DT Diane *thanks* for being such a star Diane :o)

I made this card a little while ago as I knew I would be busy this weekend. It's the twins birthday party today and we've got 19 kids coming to their Peter Pan & Tinkerbell bouncy castle party.

Anyway, back to the card.... I love the base layer of this card, it's a DCWV embossed white card blank which I chalked. I've used my Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, Prima flowers, Woodware punches, self adhesive pearls, Velvet ribbon and Go Kreate alphabet dies. The image is the gorgeous Hanglar and Stanglar wedding couple which I have coloured with distress inks.

I was asked to make this card by my friend Lee. He has already given it to his wife, and I'm thrilled to report that she loves it so much she's framing it!!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Ciao for now!
Sandra xx

DU2DS #4 'Things with Wings'

Hi folks!

Wow... it's week 4 already over on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and the theme is 'Things with Wings'. There are lots of ways to include 'winged things' on your design; backing papers, charms, die cuts or the digi image itself to name but a few. Would love to see what you come up with this week. If you need some inspiration then search no further than our fabulous Design Team.

I have used Surahbi from my new Bollywood collection. I painted her with koi watercolours and added glitter and gems to her outfit and jewels. She has a Cricut die cut bird (from the Storybook Cartridge) perched on her hand. I also used the Cricut to cut the shape of the card (Dreams Come True cart) I cut it 3 times in black, mirri green and mirri gold cardstock, hand cutting away l little more of the scroll and flower design to reveal the colours underneath once stacked together. The inside panel is cardstock from the new DCWV Taj Mahal stack.

Two Awards!!

Thank you Cato for nominating me for this award :o) I'm to choose 5-10 folk who show 'great attitude and gratitude' so here goes... Chris, Evelina, Sue, Dawn, Pinky, Lisa, Alexandra and Tracie.

Larissa has given me this cute award. I'm so pleased my blog makes you smile Larissa :o) I'm to pass it on to 5 people so here goes... Coco, Heike, Mariska, Janet, Maddy. Yes, your blogs make me smile ladies!!

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Ben's little Hanglar boy card

Hi folks!
Well here's Ben's card as promised. The twins had a great day yesterday. Had lots of fun and ate lots of cake. Thank you for all your kind birthday wishes which I passed on. Not forgetting a huge thank you to my good friend Chris. She made a little boy and girl very happy with some beautiful cards (if you'd like a peak they are on her blog)

This card is a little different for me. Not hugely embellished. I like to make my cards so that the card base groans with the weight ;o) I followed the fab sketch over on Paper take weekly and the Reuse, Recycle theme The Pink Elephant has set. I have used a piece of cardboard salvaged from a box that arrived with.... crafting goodies of course!

I snipped off the tiny line which was the string that the Hanglar boy is holding in his hand so I replaced it with some thread from my sewing box. I have also used some glossy accents on the truck to make it glossy.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Birthday card for my Beautiful 'Belle

Hi folks!

My twins are 4 today..., where do the years go? I can't believe that they start 'big school' in September. Here is the card I made for Isabelle. Will share Ben's tomorrow. Another late night crafting for these babies.

I followed some challenges which really helped me to focus on what I needed to do. The sketch is from Just Magnolia. It's their launch week and I just had to join in (looks like everyone else in blogland is having fun with this sketch too :o) Cute Card Thursday is asking to see flowers. Over on the Saturday Challenge they want us to create a scene. Lastly my dear and uber talented friend Chris Dark has set the challenge over on Colour Create which is to use Pink, Black and white with the option of polka dots. A delish colour combo I 'm sure you will agree.

So 4 challenges for a four card for a little girl who is turning 4.... (fork handles anyone?...tee hee)

Back tomorrow with bonny Ben's card.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

A card for Lewis

Hi Folks!

Welcome to the weekend! If you are wondering who Lewis is, he is a good friend of my twins and it's his 4th birthday party today. He loves knights and dragons. Lucky for me I had the perfect stamps and sketch to make is card. Jo, over on Sketch Saturday has done it again with another fabby sketch. This week is being sponsored by Emma Lockley. Emma is a UK independent Stampin' Up demonstrator. Hop over to the SS blog to see Emma's take on this weeks sketch and details of the great prize she is offering. I would also like to welcome Diane, our Guest DT for the next two weeks, who has also made a stunning card alongside my fellow DT.

To begin with I used some really sturdy dark card as a base. Stamped and embossed the edges with this great clear stamp, another purchase from QVC. The square panel is actually from the DCWV Once Upon A Time stack but I managed to cover all the gorgeous glittered crowns with other elements! I cut the vertical band directly from the cardstock from the stack. I used my Cricut to cut the dotty frame and adhered some faux coins. They have been in my stash for agesand I was glad to get them out. The dragon and knight are from Whiff of Joy and I coloured them with distress inks. The letters are rubs ons which also came in the DCWV kit.

I hope Lewis likes his card and has a great birthday.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

DU2DS Week #3 Pink & Green

Hi folks!

I can't believe we are onto week 3 of the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge already, can you? Where does the time go? Anyway, I decided to make a 12 x 12 scrapbook page this week. For me Pink & Green means 'fairies'.

I printed out the picture of my daughter onto linen cardstock which gives a lovely textured, mat finish. The scalloped card is by DCWV. The green and pink patterned paper is by The Paper Company. I folded two long pieces of pink tulle and attached to the back of the p.paper. I flipped and re sized Rosabella Wish before printing her out. She has been coloured with Koi water colours and glitter. The swirls and 'Beautiful' title I cut using my Cricut. I added glitter to the flowers and leaves on the title. I cut Isabelle's name with a Sizzix alphabet called Sprouts. The flowers are a Boss Cut die and I have finished them off with self adhesive pearls that I coloured green with permanent markers.

Don't delay, hop on over to the DU2DS blog today. You will find loads of inspiration from my fellow DT to get you started on this weeks challenge. There is also a prize of 2 digi stamps up for grabs this week.

Hope you can join in with the fun.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Introducing Adrian Dry, The Bollywood Collection, and a prize for me Yay!

Hi folks!

I hope you don't mind but I have lots to share with you today. Not long now before the kiddies go back to school... more crafty time for us mums ;o) I'll have more time to visit your blogs, please excuse my lack of commenting this week.

I am introducing my new range over on Sandra Dry Digi Stamps with a card I made with three challenges in mind. Cupcake Craft Challenges wants to see 1 layer cards, A Spoon Full of Sugar is asking us to use die cuts or punches and Lili of the Valley has a theme of 'fun' this week. I don't know about you but I always have fun when I'm dancing. Admittedly it's usually Salsa but Saloni looks like she's having fun on my card.

I printed The Royal Pavilion onto red card to create the background. The corners are a Cuttlebug die that I used to cut into gold mirri board. You can just about see the sheer gold ribbon and bow that I added (I didn't want to cover the background image too much this is also the reason the Tag didn't make it onto the card). Saloni has been coloured in using Koi watercolours. I used an embossing pen and gold embossing powder for the trim on her outfit and part of her headpiece. I added two tiny gems to her headpiece and one to her naval. I finished off the card by adding more gems to the black base layer.

My husband, Adrian, drew The Royal Pavilion years ago and I am thrilled that he has let me produce it as a digi stamp to compliment my Bollywood dancers. I remember it took him a very long time to draw but it was well worth it. I absolutely love it (puts my drawings to shame). Let me know what you think and I will pass on your thoughts to him.

(Edit: Have added the option to buy The Bollywood Collection as a set for only £4.99 here, scroll down to the bottom)


Lastly..... I'm this weeks winner over on The Pink Elephant Challenge!!!! I can't believe it!!! I am elated. Thank you so much for choosing me... I shall display the badge with pride. Click here if you would like to be taken to the winning card.

Ciao for now!
Sandra x

Chocolate-Coffee-Cream anyone...?

Hi folks!

What delicious colours have been chosen for this weeks challenge over on Colour Create, Chocolate-Coffee-Cream, good enough to be devoured! For this card I also followed the sketch offered by Friday Sketchers but I have turned it upside down as I wanted the character to sit on the ribbon, which also meant using an oval frame rather than solid shape.

The sepia roses paper is from the DCWV wedding stack and the ribbon from American crafts. Little Tilda had been coloured with Antique Linen and Black Soot distress inks and I have added a little chalk to her cheeks. I have used my QK swirls/flourish die to cut through an adhesive sheet which I then covered with Making Memories brown glitter. I made the flower by layering Prima flowers (inked on the edges) and punched flowers (the larger one inked the small one covered in glitter) The sentiment is a stamp from Hot Off The Press and I have finished the card with a few flower gems.

Have you got any fun plans for today? It's looking pretty dull and dreary outside for this Easter Monday :o( All those planned bbq's!!! Come on sunshine!! where are you!!

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #46

Hi Folks!!

Hope you are having a great Easter weekend and still managing to squeeze a bit of crafting and blog hopping too :o) Over on Sketch Saturday this week Jo has come up with another fabby Sketch. Clare Chanter who owns Thread Bare is sponsoring this weeks challenge, more details on the blog about the prize. It's also Broceliane's second week as our Guest DT. Be sure to check out her beautiful card and that of the rest of my fellow Designers.

I made this card for my buddy Christine Dark. Please join me in wishing her a HaPpy bIrThDaY today!!!! The papers for this card are by Imaginese. I punched a strip of vellum with my Martha Stewart punch. I think the ribbon was a freebie from a magazine. The cute Tilda is from the Spring kit. As usual I have chopped of the ladybirds antennae and replaced with curled wire ones. I coloured the image with my koi water colours. The flower and leaves are from my button box and have been adhered with dimensional glue gel. The sentiment is a Papermania sticker and I have finished the card off with some lush red self adhesive pearls. Not sure if you can see or not but I gave Tilda some eyelashes which help her to look ultra cute ;o)

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

BLING week on Dare U 2 Digi-Stamp

Hi folks!!

What a fantastic response to our first week on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp. Thank you to everyone who joined in and spread the word. It was great to be able to visit all of your blogs and enjoy your creations. The challenge this week is to use 'Bling' on your projects and of course a digi stamp or download. Want some fabulous inspiration to get your creative juices flowing? Then check out the DU2DS Design team, a real mixed bag this week... something for everyone :o)

My project is a Bind-it-all book that I made for my good friend Christine Dark. It's her Birthday tomorrow....Happy Birthday!!!! I covered the front and back covers with some card that came in a kit from Create and Craft many moons ago. I adhered this with book binding glue to ensure a good bond. I inked around the edges. The glittery pink and black die cut flowers were also from the kit. I curled and inked the edges before adhering to some tulle with dimensional glue gel. The monochrome panel behind Rosabella fairy is from the Die Cuts With A View Glitter Stack and has been cut and embossed with my Nestabilities. Rosabella is one of my own Digi stamps and I have coloured her with distress inks and glitter. The sentiment is a pre made self adhesive word. I thought it was perfect for this weeks challenge. I added some black pink and white ribbons to the wires of the book and finished off the cover by adding flower gems to the flower centres and Rosabella's hair.

I hope you will be able to join us for this weeks challenge.

Ciao for now!
Sandra xx

a card for my niece...

Hi folks!

Hope everyone is managing to find time to craft over the school Easter break. My kiddies are keeping me busy during the day.... by night I become a secret crafter (tee hee). Was up until 3am crafting last night! Made this card for my niece. I followed the sketch on the new challenge blog Stamp with Fun. My Time To Craft was asking for projects jeans/denim inspired. A Spoon Full of Sugar would like to see a card with the recipients age on. Lastly The Pink Elephant is asking for stamping, embossing and punching on a project. I actually stamped and embossed both of the images, I find it really helps when water colouring and I quite like the glossy slightly raised line on the image too.

The papers I have used are K&Co ( I have stacks of these to use up as they came bundled into a lovely storage file... you guessed it I bought more than one as I like the file. Doh!) The cute cat is a Whiff of Joy stamp and the Sweet girl is from Artful Inkables. I have coloured them in with distress inks. I have used my Martha Stewart Doily punch and die cut Quickutz photo corners and number dies for this card. The panel behind the cat I made by sponging some white linen card with Antique Linen Distress ink. I stamped the swirls on (QVC foam backed stamp), punched it using my Bind-it-all and ripped through the neatly punched holes so it looked like it had been torn out of a notebook. I finished this card off with some self adhesive pearls and a sheer ribbon bow.

Hope you like it :o)

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

...grab your tea and biscuits for this post!

Hi folks!

As the title suggests, this is gonna be a long post. I have so much to share with you, I hope you don't mind. Firstly my card. I followed 3 challenges when creating this one. The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is asking for stripes, one of my favorite types of paper (along with floral and gingham) The Colour Create Challenge this week is Duck Egg Blue and Rose and the optional extra is stitching. I stitched the little 'New Home' sentiment. Stamptacular would like to see cards made on a theme of 'New Beginnings'.

I have used one of my lastest designs 'Home Sweet Home' which is exclusively available as a rubber stamp at The Craft Barn. If you like the stamp then hop on over to the Kadoodle blog where it is up for candy this week. I coloured this image with my koi watercolours and a little glitter for Loupy's wings. The gorgeous paper is by The Paper Company and the sheet I used is has flocked flowers across the bottom. The swirls I die cut from an adhesive sheet and glittered. The fabric flower is from a 'Mother's Day' craft kit from Sainsbury's. I layered this with a flock flower cut from the paper and a floral gem. I hand stitched the sentiment on Martha Stewart punched scalloped hearts and finished off the card by adding flower gems to the middle of each flocked flower.

6th & 7th June

Extravaganza Weekend

at

The Craft Barn

I am pleased to announce that for the second year running I have been invited to demonstrate at the June Extravaganza Weekend at The Craft Barn in Lingfield. I am so excited!! There will be 17 demonstrators there for the whole weekend, tonnes of inspiration and something for everyone. It's being held at different premises this year, I'm looking forward to that :o) Please hop over to The Craft Barn website for more details and to be able to book onto workshops.

I am currently working on some exciting new designs that I'm hoping we'll be able to launch at the Extravaganza weekend.

Here is a list of the ladies you won't want to miss!

Carol Cann

Kay Carley

Carol Cockbain

Jane Colleman

Christine Dark

Sandra Dry

Leandra Francik (PaperArtsy)

Jayne Harvey (Stamposaurus)

Lindsay Mason

Jenny Mayes (Hobby Art)

Beatrice Neumeister (KatzelKraft)

Paula Pascual

Christine 'Kiki' Quincy

Francoise Read

Sue Roddis

Carol Staples

Lexie Wilson

I do hope you will be able to come and share in the weekend. If you do please introduce yourself, I would love to meet some of my blogging friends.

Top 5 for CupCake Craft Challenge

I am also excited to anounce that my Hanglar card was chosen as one of the Top 5 cards of the week over on the CupCake Craft Challenge....Thank you!!

Have you finished your cuppa yet? I'm off to make myself one now..

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #45 & a sneaky peek of Rosabella Flower

Hi folks!!

It's Sketch Saturday time again. This week is special as it's DT week and Tracie's turn to host. She has come up with a great sketch, and personally donated the fabby prize of two Penny Black stamps. Broceliane is our fabulous Guest Designer for the next two weeks. To see her gorjuss card and those of my talented fellow DT be sure to visit the challenge blog.

For my card I have used some yummy Imaginese papers, I just adore these soft colours and patterns. I have embossed the rectangle panel using my Cuttlebug. I punched another strip of vellum with the Martha Stewart Doily punch. I had fun stitching on some pink tulle and ric rac. I think you may be seeing lots more sticthing on my designs. Rosabella Flower will be available soon. I have coloured her using my Prismas, Koi watercolours and glitter for her wings. The leaves are a Woodware punch and the flower a little wooden embellishment I have has for ages (so nice to be using some of my ancient stash) I finished the card off with some pretty pink self adhesive pearls.

I've got a long weekend of work ahead of me :o(..... I'll be back soon with details of the new Kadoodle candy and the ,not to be missed, June Extravaganza at The Craft Barn :o)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Hugs
Sandra xx

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge #1

Hi folks!

Well, it's Friday 3rd April which means only one thing... the first Dare U 2 Digi stamp challenge is finally here. This week is a sketch by my good friend Christine Dark and the sparkly new Design Team have done an amazing job. There is a great prize bundle up for grabs for those who enter the challenge. Don't forget you can use digi stamps/downloads from any company and combine your challenges.

My card is a mixture of old and new. The Meerkats you see here are from my new releases and are available here. These cheeky chappies are called the Meerkat Amigos! I had to dig deep into my craft Mountain for the animal print paper which is from a Joanna Sheen paper pack. I have been reliably informed (thanks Chris)that the base paper is called 'banana paper'. It has a lovely texture and real pressed leaves in the paper itself. These papers, as with the animal print and the tree buttons, have been waiting to be used for many years. I'm one of those...'I'm sure it will come in handy one day' type of crafters. The string is from under my kitchen sink. Just the job. The sentiment is cut using Go-Kreate dies. I coloured the image in with my koi watercolours and this has been layered onto mulberry paper.

I do hope you are able to join in with our very first challenge.

Ciao for now

Sandra xx

ps. Thank you all for your sweet comments about my not so lost mojo. I fear I may have confused crafting vvvvvveeeerrrrryyyyy slowly as my mojo being A.W.O.L. Any tips on how to speed things up gratefully appreciated :o)