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

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

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

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

Friday Sketchers & Cute Card Thursday Challenges

Hi folks!

Here is another of my images, this time 'Rosabella Wish'. For this card I have followed the sketch over on Friday Sketchers. Had a bit of a struggle threading the ribbon through and attaching it to the back... I went all a bit fingers and thumbs as I used sheer ribbon with ric rac layered on top. I didn't let it beat me and am glad with the result. The papers are the same as those on my previous post. I think they suit little Rosabella really well. I've had the metal coil on my stash for ages and the leaves and flowers are from my Storybook Cricut cartridge. I have coloured Rosabella with my prismas and glittered her delicate wings. They are much more sparkly in real life.

Any tips on photographing my card would be gratefully received. I am also entering this card into the Cute Card Thursday challenge which is to create a scene. Do hope you like my card.
Hugs
Sandra xx

A multi-challenge layout

Hi Folks!!

I have been meaning to do a bit more scrapbooking. Looking forward to keeping my creations rather than giving my cards away. (How greedy am I!) and.... I have discovered some cracking scrapbook challenge blogs that work along the same lines as the card challenge blogs that I am more used to. Thought I'd give it a go. For this 12 x 12 page I followed this weeks challenge on A Page From My Sketch Book, by Liz Weber. As you can see I haven't strayed too much from the sketch this being my first go at a scrapbook challenge.

The papers, grand adhesion's and chipboard stickers are K&C0. The 'mimi' cardstock stickers are Papermania. I cut the bracket using my Cricut Expression and Storybook cart. The blue die cut flowers are a Boss Cut die that I have. I finished off with some ribbon from my stash.
The photo's are of my daughter Isabelle (who we lovingly call Mimi) taken back in Nov 2006. She's one of my twins and found it funny that there were two pictures of her on a layout and not one of her and one of her twin brother Ben.
I am also entering this layout in The Saturday Challenge where it's 'anything but a card' week. Over on Lili of the Valley challenge blog it's an anything goes week. Also it's the first week over on Charisma Cardz Challenge the theme is 'pink'. I'm hoping there is enough pink on my creation to qualify.
Have a great Monday evening!
Hugs
Sandra xx