from the Hanglar Spring Kit (..and a.w.o.l. mojo)

Hi folks!
Anyone seen my mojo moping around anywhere? Have had to knuckle down and catch up on some housework and I'm afraid I must have offended my mojo who had abandoned me!! This card has taken the best part of two days to make. It covers a few of this weeks challenges. the sketch is from Cupcake Craft Challenges. Paper Take weekly is asking us to use 1 circle, 2 ribbons (I have layered 2 on my card) and 3 stamps (the butterflies are two different stamps from the Magnolia Spring kit) The Secret Crafter asked for stitching so I got my sewing kit out and did a bit of stitching on my card, something I haven't done for a long time and will definitely use again. Lastly the colour combo on Colour Create is Lilac and Blue. I really struggled with these colours...am just not a 'lilac' person.

The papers and card are K&Co and DCWV. This is my favourite stamp from the Hanglar Spring kit and I have coloured it with Prisma colour pencils, sansador, paper stumps and glitter. The Magnolia butterflies have been coloured with glitter and I added some wire antennae. The corner punch is from the Anna Griffin collection. I finished the card off with some self adhesive pearls.

Please, if you find my mojo send it straight home....I think we're gonna have to have words!

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Introducing the Meerkats...Simples!

Hi folks!!
I've been meaning to draw these little fellas for a while now. The Meerkats are available now on my Digi Stamp blog. Hop on over to meet Meerkat Amigos, Meerkat Dancer and Meerkat Youngster. Something a little bit different that can be used for male cards too.

I followed three challenges when making this card. The sketch is another great one from Friday Sketchers. Cute Card Thursday's theme is 'family affair' they are asking for cards made for a member of the family, here I have made a card for Dad. Lastly Charisma Cardz have challenges us to use our favourite things. My favorite thing at the moment is making cards with my vary latest digi stamp releases.

The papers and tag embellishment are all K&Co. I have used my Nestabilities and WRMK compass cutter to cut the circles. All the embossing has been done on my Cuttlebug. I printed 'Love You Dad' on some ribbon using my Xyron Design Runner and cut the sentiment from funky foam using 'Amsterdam' a Go-kreate alphabet. As I have already mentioned 'Meerkat Simples!' is a digi-stamp and I have coloured him using koi watercolours. I have added glossy accents to his eyes and nose. Don't forget you can re size Digi stamps and print them out to whatever size suits your project.

I hope you like my Meerkats and look forward to reading your comments.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #44 & 'Huggles' Kadoodle Candy

Hi folks!
It's Saturday and time for another one of Jo's fabulous sketches over on Sketch Saturday. Lots of lovely circles on this one. The Craft Barn are sponsoring this weeks challenge and the prize is, not one but, two splendid Whiff of Joy stamps. Our Guest DT, Dawn, has made a beautiful card to inspire you as have the rest of the Design Team so don't forget to visit their blogs for an abundance of creative ideas.

For this card I used Papermania designer papers from their 'Sweet Nothings' range. I added iridescent sequins to some of the dots on the patterned paper. The ribbon is by American crafts. I cut the circle and scalloped circle using my Nestabilities. I then embossed the lilac layer using my Cuttlebug and lightly inked with Crimson copper Brilliance ink. The fabric flower was a bit if a find. I was in my local Sainsbury's yesterday and they had reduced their Mother's Day lines. In amongst the chocolate and scented candles were a couple of kits to be made up as flower garlands for mum. The kit was £1.24 reduced from £4.99 and contained about 20 fabric flowers, in 4 colours, 1 yard of pink ribbon, some glitter glue, thread and a bag of sequins. Great value! (I just had to have it) I have layered the fabric flower with a felt flower cut with my Cuttlebug and finished off with a plastic pink dot (not sure what these are called) I cut the sentiment with Go-Kreate dies. The stamp, coloured in with Koi watercolours, is one of my own designs available at The Craft Barn. 'Huggles' is also being offered as Blog Candy on the Kadoodle blog this week.

That's enough rambling from me. Have a great weekend.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Design Team!!

Here they are.... the fabulous, and totally gorgeous, Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Design Team!!

Hope you are able to join us on Friday 3rd April for our first challenge. There will be a prize up for grabs. Don't forget you can use digi images from any company and combine your challenges too.

If you want to visit our lovely ladies.... and gentleman you can find them here:

Caroline CJS Creative Cards

Chris Sketching Stamper

Donna Donna's Doodles

Fabrizio Crafting Mad

Karen Karen's Cards

Kim Simply Fairies

Larissa Car-D-elicious

Michele Midnight Crafter

Sandra, Cherry Pickins

Sandra (that's me ;o)

Wendy Crafty Butterfly

Thanks to Chris for the lovely noticeboard of 'mug-shots'

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Cute Little Hanglar Girl and some Awards!

Hi folks!

Boy has this card taken a long time to make! I'm afraid the cute little Hanglar girl is still having a 'bad hair day'... oh well, I won't dwell on it too much. I followed the sketch on Truly Scrumptious, a great design that I'm sure I'll use again. I also had this weeks Cuttlebug Spot challenge in mind which is 'Celebrate Spring' but I think this card has rolled into Summer... let's say late Spring then ;o)

The papers, ribbon and brad are all from a QVC Bo Bunny kit. I used my Martha Stewart Doily punch along a couple of the papers. I made the large flower using a Sizzix die. I glittered the Cuttlebug embossed panel so that birds and vines would be more prominent. I coloured the image with Copics, koi watercolours and twinkling H2O's. I finished the card off with black self adhesive pearls in the corners. I do hope you like the card... still not sure if it's blog-worthy.

Some Awards!

The wonderful Poppy has given me a Hug and a Lemonade.... just what I needed this afternoon. Thank you!!

I would like to pass these awards to:

Chris

Ruby

Heike

Ria

Tracie

Mariska

Mandy

Jo

Jeanette

Gill

Debbie

Coco

Jacqui

Marlene

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Hanglar Cutie Challenge Card

Hi folks!!

Hope all you Mum's out there enjoyed your day yesterday :o) I managed to squeeze in some crafting time towards the end of the day and this is what I came up with. I followed the sketch over on Friday Sketchers. Colour Create have another great combo to use. I tried ever so hard not to use designer papers but I just had to give in to this piece of K&Co, it was too perfect for the Navy, Lime and Turquoise combo. It did make me get my embossing powders out, which is great for me as I haven't used them in ages (lost my heat tool in the craft room 'move' back in November... have just replaced it). Don't know about you but the card I'm working on is always my favourite, so I'm hoping it's ok to enter this one to The Saturday Challenge who are asking for card made with your favourite colour.

I stamped and embossed the first layer with a swirl stamp (those foam ones from QVC) the embossing powder is by Debbie Moore. There is a strip of vellum over the K&Co patterned paper which I punched using the Martha Stewart Doily punch. I embossed the blue panel with my Cuttlebug. I used Co-ordinations and so was able to sand it to reveal the core colour. I coloured theHanglar image (hope you like it Heike ;o) using distress inks (for the first time), my koi watercolours and glitter. Was a I had to cut his antennae off, so I made him, some new ones with wire and a couple of blobs of liquid pearls. I layered a button on more card. The leaves were also in my button box. Lastly the sentiment is K&Co.

Have just noticed I forgot to give this poor chappy his rosey cheeks... Doh!

Hope you like the card,

Ciao for now!
Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #43, An Award & Kadoodle Candy

Hi folks!

Hope you are enjoying this glorious Saturday morning. It's time for another one of Jo's fabulous sketches over on Sketch Saturday. This weeks sponsor is Dream2Stamp who have offered some really cute stamps for the prize (I wish I could enter... they are gorgeous). We are also lucky enough to be joined by Dawn who has agreed to be our Guest DT for the two challenges. Check out her stunning card and those of my fellow DT over on the blog.

For this card I printed out some background sheets onto linen card from my new Crafter's Companion Flower Fairies Friends CD rom. The final square panel is Vellum as I didn't want to loose all the beautiful detail from the card underneath. The large swirl under Rosabella is a We R Memory Keepers adhesive rub on that I covered in glitter (it's much more sparkly in real life) The leaf tags and tiny dragonflies and butterfly are Quickutz and I have cut them in Vellum. I added some glittery dewdrops to their tiny bodies and some rub on sentiments to the tags. One says 'loving' and the other 'butterfly kisses'. Rosabella Wish is one of my Digi Stamps available here. I have coloured her using Copics, Koi watercolours and glitter.

An Award

I am honoured to receive this award from the talented Ruby over on Ruby 2 Shoes. (Thanks Ruby!!) and would like to pass it on to... All My Followers!!!! So if you are one of my fabulous followers then grab this award, and thank you dearly for all your support and comments.

There is new Candy up for grabs over on the Kadoodle blog. This week it's one of Carol Staple's designs... 'Pa Iggly'. Curious? then hop over and have a look.

The Design Team call for Dare U 2 Digi Stamp is open until 24th March. Details on how to enter are here.

So sorry for the looooong post. Had lots to share with you today :o)

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Multi Challenge Birthday Card

Hi folks!

I made this card for a friend of mine over on the Crafttelly forum and had fun following lots of challenges to complete it. The first being Sketch and Stash who have a wonderful Sketch up this week. It's the first time I've inked up this Whiff of Joy stamp and I've had it such a long time. Next is Papertake Weekly Challenge who have asked for something edible. The Pink Elephant wants to see buttons on our creations this week. It's Gems for a Spoon Full of Sugar and lastly a request for flowers from the ABC challenge.

The papers for this card are made by 'My Mind's Eye'. As mentioned above, the image is by Whiff of Joy and I have coloured her using Coloursoft pencils, Sansador and paper stumps. The Flower is punched, inked, curled, glued and finished off with a blue gem. The vines, decorative corners and faux buttons are all Quickutz. I have threaded and knotted some sheer ribbon through the button holes. The Scalloped strip is from the Doodlebug range.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ciao for now!
Sandra xx

Kadoodle blog Candy and Charisma Cardz Challenge

Hi folks!

Here's a card I made using one of my new Kadoodle designs 'let it grow'. This particular stamp is being offered as blog candy over on the Kadoodle blog. Hop on over if you would like to enter. It's open until Friday as new candy will be up again on Saturday. Good job it's not 'Sweetie' candy, our teeth would have rotted away ages ago.

I am entering this card in to the Charisma Cardz Challenge as this week the theme is 'something for the guys'. Have lost the label strip for the patterned papers, sorry, but I know they are available from The Craft Barn. I cut the rectangles and scalloped rectangles using my Nestabilities. The flowers are made using a Cuttlebug retro flower die set. They have been die cut, inked, curled glued and finished off with a self adhesive pearl. I looped some green ribbon and poked it into the dimensional glue behind the flowers. The sentiment is die cut funky foam and I have used the Go-Kreate 'London' alphabet. I coloured the image using a mixture of copics and watercolour paints. (I have to make do with this combination until I am able to buy more copics)

Ciao for now ;o)

Sandra xx

Made on Demo Day

Hi folks!!

Please excuse my lack of coming to visit all you lovely crafters and leaving comments on your blogs. I have been so busy with family commitments. My eldest is on a residential school trip to an outdoor adventure centre (cannot believe the amount of 'stuff' he had to take!) so I should be back on form this week as I only have the twins gorgeous hubby here.

Anyway, enough about me. Here are some snaps I took at The Craft Barn of one of the cards I made last Saturday. It was great to be in the shop. I just love talking to people that share my passion for craft. I was thrilled to meet the uber talented Debby. I think she survived the big bear hug I gave her (sorry Debby, Couldn't help it.... was soooo excited to meet you!) I also met Ruby of Ruby 2 Shoes, another exciting and vibrant crafter... just check out her blog! (edit: thank goodness for spell check, or you would have been checking out her bog!) As well as lots more lovely ladies and gentlemen including Marie (*waves*) I think she actually lives at the shop and just goes home to sleep....only joking ;o)

For this card I used Basic Grey papers and some pink and brown Co-ordinations card. I embossed the pink panel with my Cuttlebug. The flowers were punched inked, curled, glued and finished off with a self adhesive pearl. I nabbed the Butterfly sentiment from the bit box in The Craft Barn Studio. I didn't have my QK flourishes with me so I used my Cuttlebug corner and double heart dies. Just a snip here and there and a little repositioning. The curly heart made the cute swirls at the bottom of the flower. The stamped images were Whiff of Joy. These are available to buy at The Craft Barn. I have coloured them with Coloursoft pencils, Sansodor and paper stumps.

Don't forget that that this week Kadoodle have Blog Candy that's very easy to enter.
Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Ciao for now,

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #42 and some News

Hi folks!
It's Saturday again, and I don't know about you but for me it seems like March is speeding along at a cracking pace. It'll be Easter before we know it. I'm scheduling this post as on Saturday morning I shall be travelling up to The Craft Barn in Lingfield to demo Whiff of Joy stamps. That's right, you can buy Whiff of Joy Stamps at The Craft Barn, just give them a call and they will sort it out for you.
Have got lots to share with you if you haven't had a chance to scroll down at my previous posts, but more about that a little later.
Firstly, this week over on Sketch Saturday Jo had given us a wonderful sketch to work with. I hope you like my take on it. The DT have come up with some fab creations. Quite a few of us have gone a bit MS doily punch mad! It's the first time I've used it on a card and I love the delicate effect it gives. Our talented Guest Designer Shary had made such a cute card you need to hop over and check it out. While you are there you will see the fabulous prize kindly offered by this weeks sponsor The Cutting Cafe.


My card has been made using Rosabella Waterlily, a digi-stamp available at Sandra Dry Digi Stamps (that's my first bit of exciting news :o) I have coloured her using Prismas, Sansodor and paper stumps. Her wings have been glittered. For the dots and vertical panel I have used Velacetate (sp?) which is, I think, what they call self adhesive vellum. I didn't want to completely cover the pretty background paper so this was perfect. The ribbon is from my stash mountain and the butterfly and corner stickers are K&Co.
My last bit of news is of the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp, a new challenge blog. My good friend Chris and I have put out a Design Team call for your chance to come and join us for some good, clean digi stamp fun. Details of the DT call are on the blog. The weekly challenges commence Friday 3rd of April. Hope you come and play.....go on....I dare you ;o)
Ciao for now!
Sandra xx

Design Team Call for 'Dare U 2 Digi Stamp'

Hi folks!

There's a new Challenge in town and it's the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Friday Challenge. Hop on over to the blog for details of the DT call. (Chris is so much better at words than me ;o)

I hope you will come and join in with the fun.

Ciao for now!

Sandra xx

Sandra Dry Digi Stamps is now Open!!

Hi folks!!

The fairies have finally landed. Sandra Dry Digi Stamps is now officially open!! Hop on over to see the Rosabella Fairy collection. I hope some of them will flitter and flutter their way by magical digi dust to your house.

For this card I followed a few challenges. The sketch over on Mojo Monday is another cute one which was fun to follow. Cupcake Craft Challenges has the theme of Spring this week. A little fairy with fresh flowers in her hair remind me of Springtime. The Cuttlebug Spot is challenging us to use embossed Serendipity's (see their blog for a tutorial). I have embossed my Serendipity panel, alas my photography skills are not advanced enough to pick it up for you. It's a pretty simple card. Lots of layers adhered with glue gel to add dimension. The papers are K&Co. The sentiment, from Crafters Companion has been cut with deckle edge scissors, matted and cut again. Then I shaped it to produce quite deep undulations and adhered with dimensional glue gel. Rosabella Sitting, has been coloured in using promarkers and glitters. I also highlighted the embossing by painting with cosmic shimmer Aurora Sparkle glitter paint. I finished of with a knotted ribbon.
That's all for now
Hugs
Sandra xx

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 2

Hi Folks!

A quickie card from me today. I needed a card as my twins were off to their friend Alfie's bouncy castle party yesterday. So I turned to the great sketch over on the Truly Scrumptious challenge blog for some inspiration. None of my usual little details on it but works fine as a card for a little boy.

For this card I used DCWV patterned papers and textured cardstock. I just cut a series of squares using my guillotine, inked the edges and layered them up. The circle and scalloped circle are cut using my Nestabilities and then embossed using my Cuttlebug. I knotted some ribbon and adhered to the circle using dimensional glue gel. I stamped Edwin (a Magnolia stamp) and coloured him with Koi watercolours. He has been closely cut out, shaped a little and also adhered with glue gel. I cut the name using my Sizzlet alphabet 'Night and day'. That's pretty much it.

For those of you waiting on news of my Digi-download site, I'm still working on it. It's taking a little longer than expected. Just wish there were more hours in the day! I'll keep you posted. Thank you so much for hanging on in there :o)

Hugs,
Sandra xx

Loupy Lou Kadoodle Candy and Sketch Saturday #41

Hi folks!!

Lots to share with you today so straight down to it! Hope you like the stamped image on this card. She's my very own design, Loupy Lou and here she is 'Just Posin'. The Craft Barn have a huge 1st birthday Fest on this weekend with demonstrators galore for your inspiration. So wish I could be there but it's my long weekend at work :o( Keep reminding myself - I need to work to buy more crafting goodies - so it's not so bad. Please hop on over to the Kadoodle blog where you could be in with a chance of winning Loupy Lou as she's being offered as candy.

Also, over on Sketch Saturday it's Ria's turn to create the sketch. I'm sure you will agree with me that she has done a wonderful job. Thanks Chicken!! The Challenge is being sponsored by Funky Fairys Papercrafts, more details of the fabulous prize on the blog. Don't forget to check out all the great cards created by my fellow DT.

For this card I used papers by My Mind's Eye. For the stripy panel I used a Fiskars border punch and covered the tiny apertures with red and green coloured papers. I then filled them with glossy accents. The stamped sentiment is by Studio G. I punched, inked, shaped and layered the flowers. I used glue gel to adhere and poked in some small bits of dark green ribbon. The flowers were finished off with a self adhesive pearl. I used my Nestabilities to cut the square and scalloped square. Loupy Lou has been coloured in using my Koi watercolours except for her wings where I used art intitute glitter (flax). Just a little bit of chalk around the image to take away the white glare of card and voila! Finito!

Have a great weekend and thank you all so much for your wonderful and much appreciated comment.

Hugs
Sandra xx

Multi Challenge Card featuring Tara and more Awards!

Hi folks!!

I made this card following quite a few challenges. The First being the great sketch over on Mojo Monday. This weeks Cuttlebug Spot Challenge is to use Bows. Papertake weekly has set a challenge to use Orange, Pink and Brown. The Pink Elephant challenge blog is asking for Ribbons and die cuts and A Spoon full of Sugar is looking out for torn edges.

For this card I used DCWV designer papers, (one of them had all different words for 'Mother' on it) I thought it would make a nice Mother's day card. I die cut the corner flourishes with my Cuttlebug. I think the ribbon came free with a magazine. It's been in my stash mountain for a long time. All the layers are adhered with dimensional glue gel. The beautiful image is one of Chris' new release Digital Stamps. If you haven't used a digi-download before why not consider having a go for one of these challenges. They are easy to use. You can download them instantly (no more waiting for the postie) and one of the greatest advantages is that you can re size them to fit with your project. I coloured the beautiful Tara with koi watercolours and rubbed some 'fruit punch' stickles over the flower petals. I think you can just about see in the close up that I have used glossy accents on her eyes to make the most of her wonderful features. I finished off the card with some self adhesive pearls.

Awards!

I have been chosen by fellow Sketch Saturday DT member Ria for the above two awards, thank you so much!, and would like to pass them on to:

Phree over on Ink Stain Survivor

Brandi over on Barely banana days

Dawn over on Crafty Ramblings

Lyn over on MickysMate

Poupette over on Le Blog de Poupetteval

Pinky over on Pinky's World

Alison over on Ali's Stamping Heaven

Desire over on Doing Life

Tara over on Happily Ever Crafting

Tara over on Inking on the Edge.

We are so lucky to have so many talented ladies blogging and sharing their ideas. You are such an inspiration to me. Keep up the good work.
Hugs
Sandra xx

New Look Blog & Bobo kickin' back

Hi Folks!!

What do you think of my New Look Blog? It as all courtesy of my fabulous friend Christine. I couldn't have done it without you...thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!

For this card I followed the sketch over on Cutie Sunday. It's a great one if you are partial to circles. I have used one of my new stamps available at The Craft Barn called Kickin Back. I wanted to create a dreamy, floaty feel hence the calm serene colour pallet. The designer paper is Cosmo Cricket. I have inked the edges with blue brilliance ink pad. I stamped and coloured the image with my Koi watercolours; cut it out with my scalloped circle Nestabilities and inked the edges with black ink. I cut a two vellum circles with Nesties, embossed them with my Cuttlebug. I adhered using wacky tack and added a little glitter glue to the velum. This did crinkle the vellum slightly but I quite like the effect. It glistens much more in real life. The sentiment is die cut using the Amsterdam Go-Kreate die adhered to a metal rimmed tag which has been threaded with ribbon. I finished off the card with white brads in the corners.

My new Digi-Download-Design blog is near completion...I'll keep you posted regards the launch!! (I'm soooo excited..... can you tell? :o)

Hugs
Sandra xx

21st Birthday Card & Award

Hi folks!!

I made this card for my niece's boyfriend who recently celebrated his 21st birthday. I followed sketch over on Lili of the Valley Challenge blog. Quite an imaginative sketch which was fun to use.

The backing papers/card/glitterboard are from my stash mountain.... sorry but I can't remember where they are from. I have used my Cuttlebug to emboss two of the panels. I have coloured Edwin (Magnolia) using a mixture of Copics and koi watercolours. I have not been able to pick it up on the photos but I have added glitter to the glasses. The '21' is die cut using a Cuttebug alphabet and i added the name 'Steve' which is cut using the Go-kreate 'London' alpha. I attached the ribbon with a star brad. I added most of the elements with glue gel to add dimension.

An Award

Huge thanks to Pamela for this wonderful award. I am delighted and honoured that you like the cards on my blog.

I have to pass this award on to 10 people.... here goes:

Chris over on Sketching Stamper

Mariska over on Sending you a little smile

Jeanette over on Happy thoughts and inkspots

Jacqui over on Cats whiskers

Joey over on Joeys world of stuff

Heike over on kreative-stempelwelt

Debby over on A Scrapjourney

Kim over on Cards by Kim

Poppet over on Poppet's Place

Janet over on Pink Gem

Thank you so much for the wonderful inspiration ladies
Hugs
Sandra xx