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

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

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

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

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

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

Sketch Saturday #40

Hi folks!!

Lots happening today, I'll be posting again a little later about the launch of my new collection, Kadoodle Loupy Loo & Bobo, at the Craft Barn.

But for now here's my DT card for the Challenge over on Sketch Saturday. This week we are being sponsored by The Craft Barn who have kindly given some Paper Artsy mini stamps as this weeks prize. Hop over to the Sketch Saturday blog for lots more details and to be inspired by the wonderful creations by my fellow DT. Not forgetting Susan, our fabulous Guest DT who has come up trumps again with this weeks sketch designed by Jo.

For this card I needed to use a smaller image which meant I had to abandon my usual style of cutting closely around the character and adhering with glue gel. It would have been impossible to cut out all those tiny flowers! I couldn't resist a bit of dimension so the little bird is adhered with dimensional glue gel. The images themselves are Precious Moments. I just adore these. I was lucky enough to get these from the US via ebay. I have coloured them using my Koi watercolours. The designer papers are Paper Adventures and I have used pastel green glitter board for the matting and layering. My Martha Stewart border punch had finally made an appearance. It's been sat on the side for a couple of weeks. I'm very naughty..... I think I just like 'getting' hot products. It then takes me an age to use them.

I stamped the dotty border with a HOTP stamp. The corner flourish is my fav Cuttlebug die (can you tell) and this time I have cut pink funky foam. The sentiment is a metal embellishment that says 'That face!' which I thought was quite apt and I have finished the card of with some self adhesive pink pearls.

That's all for now folks!

I'll be back soon.

Hugs

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #39 sponsored by Emma Lockley

Hi folks!!

Emma Lockley is sponsoring the Sketch Saturday challenge this week. Another chance to win a fabulous prize. Hop over to the blog for more details. Jo has come up trumps again with a fabby sketch for everyone to use. Thanks Jo, you are a st*r.

For my card I couldn't wait to ink up this little beauty from Whiff of Joy, she is part of the new spring set. Hasn't she got just the most adorable expression on her cute face. I have coloured her with my Koi watercolours, highlighted with my white signo pen and added a touch of glossy accents to her shoe. The shapes have been cut using my Nestabilities. The papers are from my Cosmo Cricket bundle that came from QVC... still have so much of this to use up, may take a lifetime! The ribbons are American crafts. The fancy corners are a Cuttlebug die. The ladybirds and 'love' are all buttons and I have removed the shanks. The panel directly behind the image I have stamped with an egg stamp that I have had for a long time. I think the company is Serendipity. I used the masking technique to make it look a bit like a border.

Don't forget to check out the wonderful cards my fellow DT have created, you will not be disappointed.

Hugs

Sandra xx

Sid meets the Colour Create Challenge

Hi Folks!
There's a great challenge over on Colour Create this week. Hop on over there to see their inspiration photo. The scheme this week is red, white and blue and the option is 'Holidays & Travel'.

A union flag beach towel instantly sprung to mind when I saw this challenge and the large backdrop is just that. I also thought my image of Sid relaxing in his deckchair would also fit the bill. He has been coloured using my Koi watercolours. Hope you can see from the photos that I used quite a bit of red on his skin - I think Sid had been out in the sun for too long! The bucket, spade and seagull are all Quickutz dies. They have also been water coloured.

I added glossy accents to Sid's shoes and the bucket and spade. The Stamped sentiment is from my stash (think it 's either HOTP or Heidi Grace) It's been matted onto silver mirri board and adhered over some knotted string... from my kitchen!

The bottom right hand corner looked a bit plain so I hunted through my stash and surfaced about an hour later with this sandcastle sticker. It's a transparent sticker so I stuck it to some white card and adhered with glue gel to add dimension.

It made a refreshing change not to use a square card. I realise I've used more colours than red, white and blue... but they we're my main inspiration.

Hope you like it.

Hugs

Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #38. Sponsors - 'The Craft Barn'

Hi folks!

Saturday has rolled around again and Jo had provided another wonderful sketch to play with over on Sketch Saturday. This weeks sponsors are The Craft Barn. I am thrilled to say that the winner of this weeks challenge will receive Dan & Daisy, both part of the Kadoodle range (which is exclusive to The Craft Barn) and both designed by me! I hope you like them :o) Please be sure to check out all the wonderful designs by my fellow DT, another mixed bag with inspiration for everyone.

I had a comic strip in mind when making this card. I wanted Daisy to be thinking about Dan ( like the comic strip thought bubbles) and of course she had a huge crush on him, hence the heart shapes and all the doodles.
The patterned paper is Hot Off The Press. The notepaper down the side I cut using a Sizzix die from cardstock. I doodled the Daisy & Dan messages onto it before adhering to black card using glue gel to add dimension. The blue circle is cut from funky foam using my Nestabilities. The heart and scalloped heart are from the Doodlebug Cricut Cartridge. I then embossed the white heart using my Cuttlebug. Both the characters have been coloured using my Koi watercolours. I finished the card off with tiny hand tied bows for Daisy's plaits, a button in the shape of an apple and some red gems.
This card took quite a while to make but I had a picture in my head as to what it should look like. I'm quite pleased with the results.
Hope you are able to join us in this weeks challenge.
Hugs
Sandra xx

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Hi folks!
This week over on The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge the theme is recycling. For this card I recycled some ribbon that came from a gift box that was given to my daugther. I was saving it to use in her hair, luckily she likes mummy's card. Looking at it now, I should have ironed it first! I have used my Rosabella & Drake image again. They have been coloured with Prismacolour pencils, Sansodor and paper stumps. I have used some Cosmic Shimmer watercolours for their wings and finished off with some glitter. I used my deckle edge scissors to cut the layered heart from mirri board. Would you believe that the papers are a freebie download from the Papercraft Inspirations magazine. I don't usually use the freebie papers as I find they are quite thin and shiny. However I noticed that you can download as many free sheets as you like from their website. Which means you can choose what to print them on. I've printed mine on the same Linen card that I use to stamp on and they have come out beautifully.

Hope you are having a great day.

Hugs

Sandra xx

Rosabella and Drake

Hi folks!
Just want to start with a huge thank you for your lovely comments about my new character Rosabella. Well here she is again and this time I'd like to introduce Drake too. Don't they just make an adorable couple?


I followed this weeks sketch challenge sk012409 over on Paper Craft Planet. It's the first time I've tried one of their sketches (will have to look into how to post on there/link it up later as I'm off to work in a mo) I haven't tidied my craft table since the last card so, you guest it, I used the same Basic Grey papers again. The flourish boarder is made using my Cricut Expression and that adorable Storybook cartridge. The corner flourishes are a Cuttlebug die. I cut the gold mirri board free hand with my trusty deckle edged scissors. I coloured Rosabella and Drake with my Prismas and added glitter to their wings and to the flower in Rosabellas hair. That's pretty much it.

Thanks also for the photography tips...am I getting any better?

Hugs

Sandra xx

Ismaki Challenge & Demo Day!

Hi Folks!!
You'll have to excuse me today... I'm being a manic mum (shouldn't really be on the pooter) But just had to share with you that I'll be demoing at The Craft Barn tomorrow. I'll be taking this card and more pieces of the 'be mine collection' don't miss out.... come and craft with me.
More details about this card, awards and New Digi shop opening later...


** Hi again folks...

A little more detail about this card.
I followed this weeks Ismaki Sketch Challenge. I found this one a little difficult but I'm pleased with the results. The backing paper has been in my stash for a long time, I think it's DCWV. I have used the 'Divine Swirls' and Swiss Dots' Cuttlebug embossing folders. I have also used my Rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities. I cut the circles with a large sizzix die (it's been a long time since I used any of those) The sentiment is a Go-Kreate alphabet, 'Amsterdam' and the hearts are Cuttlebug. The beautiful lady is my very own 'Petunia', she's part of the Kadoodle range available at The Craft Barn. I coloured her with Derwent coloursoft pencils and Glitter.

My good friend Christine Dark has opened her own Digi Download site... You'll find it if you click Here. I do not need to tell you how talented Chris is as I'm sure you already know. Her designs are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L and very reasonably priced. Hop on over and feast your eyes... then fill your baskets!
Pop back here tomorrow if you'd like to see how I've used 'Bearing Love'

The following is an award that I was given by Heike, thank you so much for thinking of me.

The rules of this award are:
1). Post a link of the person who gave you this award.
2). Nominate 5 other people and give a link to their sites
3). Let your nominators know that they got an award from you.
4). Put a logo of the award on the blog.

Here are my 5 gorgeous lovies who encourage and inspire me..... Thanks ladies!

1. Chris
2. Poppet
3. Jo
4. Sandra
5. Jacqui

Hugs
Sandra xx

Sketch Saturday #32

HaPpY nEw yEaR folks!!

Hope you all had a cracking time seeing the New Year in. I was making my Sketch Saturday DT card when the Big Ben Dongs were going, start as you mean to go on, that's what I say.

I thought I'd use some some nice fresh colours for this card. Had a play with my new Koi watercolours. What do you think? I think I need more practice, but it made a nice change from my prismas. The papers and textured card are DCWV. I have also used some pale pink glitter board. I have used my Cuttlebug to emboss a layer. The flowers are Prima, I have added glitter and a large brad to each. The characters are Precious Moments (a kit from QVC that sold out very quickly and they haven't managed to get back) It hasn't come out great in the photo but I've used glitter on some of the clothing and hair accents. I have also used a Sakura glaze pen over the eyes.

I hope you are able to join in with this weeks challenge. It's a great opportunity to play with your new crafting goodies. If you'd like to share I'd love to hear what Father Christmas brought you Crafty-wise.... you can use it as a confession session if you like ;o) I received my Koi watercolours, the accessories kit for my Design Runner, WRMK Magnetic Cutting mat set, K&Co Mira kit, K&Co Fabric shoulder bag, Papermania alpha stickers (set of 10)and a voucher to spend at The Craft Barn....can't wait to spend that one!! As you can see I've been very spoilt this year.

Don't forget to have a look at the wonderful creations made by my fellow DT members.. they're a talented bunch!!

Just been reminded by Jeanette, and her wonderful blog, that it's Emma who is hosting this week as it's her birthday. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Emma all the best. There is also a goody bag up for grabs provided by the lovely Emma who is also a sponsor.

Hugs

Sandra xx

A winter birthday card.

Hi folks!

Hope you have all had a great Christmas. With the New Year nearly upon us I wonder if many of you will make New Years resolutions. Mine are the same ol' same ol'.... try and eat healthily, do more exercise, spend more time outdoors as a family and of course, try to use more of my stash mountain than add to it.

I made this card a little while ago for a friend of mine in a birthday swap over on the Crafttelly forum. I used the then current Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge Sketch. I think the DP is Dovecraft (do correct me if I'm wrong), one of the layers is white glitter board, I scalloped the edge using my Carl paper trimmer. I used my Cuttlebug and Swiss dot embossing folder on the acetate layer on top of which I placed hand cut vellum flowers held in place by eyelets. I used a selection of Nestabilities to make the next few layers. Embossed Swirls on one. The sentiment is HOTP. The cute image is 'Winter Mimi' over on Pink Gem Designs. I have coloured her using my Prismas and snow writer and glitter for the fir trims.

Lookie here!! I have been given this award buy the wonderful Sandra over on Cherry Pickin's. Thank you so much sweetie.
I think this one has done the rounds so I won't pass it on but how about this.... if you are reading this post and it's still 2008 why not grab it for yourself as a thank you from me for stopping by.

Wishing you all a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2009

Hugs

Sandra xx

Papertake Challenge & Kadoodle Blog Candy

Hi Folks!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my new baby blog. For this card I used Dawny's sketch #4 over on the Papertake Weekly challenge blog. A great sketch with unusual shapes, I enjoyed this one. For my card I have used Cosmo Cricket papers, the solid green layer is textured cardstock from the DCWV range which I embossed with the Fiskars texture plates. It doesn't show too well in the photo but the embossing plate was wood textured. The string is just household (from under my kitchen sink!) and the sentiment is from a stamp kit from QVC (sorry no manufacturers mentioned on it) The stamp is Cowboy Dan. I've coloured him using Prismas, Sansodor & paper stumps.

Cowboy Dan is this weeks blog candy over on the Kadoodle blog where they are giving candy away every Monday until Christmas. Hope you enter the draw for Dan.... I don't want him to get too 'desperate' ;o)

TTFN!

Hugs

Sandra xx