I'm back from our holiday!

It's been school half-term this past week here in England, so hubby and I decided to take dd away for a few days to the Cotswolds. Here are a few piccies from one day of our hols when we visited an animal park....

I have 3 DT cards to make this week, so unfortunately I'll be beavering away but won't be able to show you anything just yet.... :o( Two of these DT cards will be posted on Friday and next Sunday, but I hope to get a few challenge entries in as well.

TTFN! Hugs, Sem x

Sketch Saturday #52: Miss Anya

INGREDIENTS

October Afternoon 'Weathervane' 12x12 paper ('Chilly Mornings' and 'Sweater Weather') : Core'dinations cardstock 'French Roast' : The Greetings Farm Miss Anya stamp : Whispers Dual Tip Marker Pens : Martha Stewart border punch Arch Lattice : Versamagic Dew Drop 'Wheat' : Nestabilities : Prima flowers : Pearls and foam pads from stash

Good morning everyone!

I made this card following this week's fabulous sketch #52 over at Sketch Saturday (I've rotated it 90 degrees to the left). Now I've uploaded the piccie and hopped back over to SS to copy the URL, I've noticed a mistake! ARGHH! I can now see that I've missed out the small strip which should be laid vertically over my dotty paper! Whoops, sorreeee! I hope my card will still count for the challenge, but completely understand if not. (That's the problem having the PC upstairs and the room where I craft downstairs - I usually print off sketches in 'fast draft' and so the sketch obviously didn't print properly! Never mind!)

I'm also going to enter this card into this fortnight's Creative Inspirations Challenge #9, which is to use your 'favourite stamped image'. I adore these Miss Anya stamps. They are so easy to colour, and fit perfectly in my favourite oval nesties!

Okay, well that's all from me folks! No more cards scheduled to post this week, and as we return from our holiday late Saturday, I won't be crafting until early next week.

Ta ta for now, peeps!

Hugs, Sem x

Sketch & Stash, Papertake Weekly & ABC: Whiff of Joy Willow

INGREDIENTS

K & Co Amy Butler Lotus 12x12 Faded China paper pad (Grandiflora and Oxford Stripe): Core'dinations cardstock (Tranquil Blue and Gibraltar) : Whiff of Joy Willow with Sunhat stamp : Whispers Dual Tip Marker Pens : Martha Stewart border punch Arch Lattice : Nestabilities Labels 4 : Versamagic Dew Drop Aegean Blue : Ribbon, jump rings, heart charm, pearls, flower bead caps, blue paper rose and 3D foam pads from stash

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I haven't played along with Sketch & Stash Challenge for absolutely ages, so I thought it was about time I rectified that! This fortnight's challenge #11 is a wonderful sketch, which I really enjoyed using and will certainly use again! I've come to the conclusion that my cards work best when I use 2 different patterned papers (no more, no less!). I'm not sure why! Anyway...apart from following the sketch, the 2nd part of the challenge at S&S is to use your newest stash. Well, my newest addition to my ever-increasing cupboard of crafting stash is the gorgeous Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Border Punch, which I ordered and received last week from The Glitter Pot. Other new stash used on this card are the pearls and the silver flower bead caps (both bought from my trusty suppliers via Ebay). My Nesties Label 4 are only a month old too, but I have already used them before!

I'm also going to enter this card into this week's challenge over at Papertake Weekly which is "Scrap this" - to use your scraps. I do love this K&Co paper, but the last time I used it was back in February on a card using another Whiff of Joy stamp. I always forget that I've got it, as it's a 12x12 pad, and so gets stored away from my 6x6 pads. So I've used the scraps that were left over from my last card on this card!

And last, but by no means least, this week's ABC Challenge is P is for Pearls, and I have used 5 on this card. I love pearls, and it is my aim to accumulate a stash of every colour possible!

I hope this post finds you all well? I'm currently 'on hols' in Gloucester, and posting this card 'remotely' using our laptop and the hotel's wifi connection! Isn't technology great!

Have a great day, peeps!

Hugs, Sem x

Sunday Sketch & Stamp 3: My sketch

INGREDIENTS

Rusty Pickle Pirate Princess 12x12 papers ('Elizabeth Swan' and 'Mary Read') : Core'dinations 'Nightfall' and Bazzill Washboard 'Rose' cardstock : Digital stamp from 'Teen Collection 1' by Crafts 4 Eternity : Whispers Dual Tip Marker Pens : Nestabilities Standard Circle Small S4116 : Cuttlebug Embossing Folder 'Swiss Dots' : Versamagic Dew Drop 'Pink Petunia' : Ribbon from Poppicrafts : Flower gems, Black pearls and Silver heart charm from Ebay

Well good morning, peeps!

Can you believe it's already time for the 3rd challenge over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp? Well, it is my turn to set a sketch this fortnight (....eek! ...very nervous!) and I hope you will all join in! The prize is a set of 8 brand new release digi stamps from Crafts 4 Eternity, who generously gave all the design team a set to play with for this challenge. Make sure you hop on over to Sunday Sketch & Stamp to check out the rest of the DT's cards - they are stunning! - and we've managed to use different stamps in our cards which really showcases these little beauties!

As always, thanks so very much for stopping by my lil ole blog, and thanks heaps for any comments you have - I really do LOVE reading them!

And in the immortal words of the Looney Tunes...that's all folks!

Have a great Sunday

Hugs, Sem x

Sketch Saturday #51: Gorjuss!

INGREDIENTS

MME 'Pretty Please' 12x12 papers ('Full of Flowers' PP1005 and 'Stripes' PP1009) : Core'dinations 12x12 cardstock ('Heartfelt' BR030 and 'Palm Grove' OG020) : Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl 'Sitting' stamp : Whispers pens : Martha Stewart 'Scallop Dot' border punch : Versamagic Dew Drop ink pad 'Sea Breeze' : Nestabilities S4116 & S4117 : Prima & Poppicrafts flowers : Basic Grey brads : Spacers, Ribbon and 3D foam pads from stash

G'day peeps!

This week over at Sketch Saturday there is another fabulous sketch, which I've followed to make this card. Rather embarassingly, I haven't used any of my Gorjuss Girls to date (bought a couple of individual stamps from set 1), so I thought I'd better get on with it! LOL! I know most people seem to colour the Gorjuss girls' hair black, but as my own darling daughter and all-round gorjuss girl is blonde, I went with this colour! I also wanted to use my brand new MME Pretty Please papers that arrived at the weekend. I ordered one of every sheet of the range, as I just know they'll be hard to get soon. I didn't bother to order the MME Bloom & Grow papers when they were first in stock - big mistake, as I've only just got them all after waiting weeks and weeks for stocks to be replenished!

Hope you have a great rest of the day! TTFN!

Hugs, Sem x

Just Magnolia #5: Shabby Chic Tilda

Hey peeps! How are we all enjoying the weekend so far? Today has been full of sunshine and downpours for us!

I found out yesterday that I was the lucky winner of challenge #4 over at the Just Magnolia challenge blog! YIPPEE! This is the FIRST challenge I've ever won! I'm so thankful to win some yummy goodies from The Glitter Garden - can't wait for them to arrive so I can play! The second part of the prize was a position as a Just Magnolia Guest Designer for June! Eeek! I'm extremely nervous, as the entire Just Magnolia DT are AWESOME! I just hope I don't let them down!

My brand new Basic Grey Wisteria 6x6 pad arrived yesterday from Craft Obsessions, along with a pack of ten 12x12 co-ordinating cardstock (a pack that Craft Obsessions put together especially for the Wisteria papers - and it matches PERFECTLY!), and so I decided to use these for the Just Magnolia Week #5 Challenge - a sketch by the wonderful and talented Naoual. I'd added everything to the card except the pearls and flowers, and was pretty pleased with the result. Then ... DISASTER - I realised that I don't have any pearls that match colourwise or any lilac flowers! Pooh! It was all going so well up to this point! So please excuse my poor choice of purple pearls - I know they don't match! I popped a couple onto Tilda's braids to try to 'tie them in' but I don't think it worked! LOL! I'm now off to hunt the online craft shops for some lilac (not purple) flowers!!

Have a fab rest of the weekend, whatever you're up to!

Hugs, Sem x

Just Magnolia #4 meets Sketch Saturday #50: Tilda in Spring Rain

INGREDIENTS

Basic Grey Porcelain 6x6 pad : Core'dinations cardstock (Nightfall) : Magnolia Tilda in Spring Rain stamp : Whisper pens : Prima, Hero Arts and Poppicrafts flowers : Ribbon from Poppicrafts : Pearls and 3D foam pads from stash

Hello everyone!

I made this card this afternoon for this week's Just Magnolia challenge, which is 'in stitches'. I don't own a sewing machine, so I've added some faux stitching around the image - hope this is okay! I'm very pleased with myself, as I've challenged myself to join in every week with this new challenge blog (as I am quite the Magnolia stamps addict!), and so far I have! YAY! I used this week's fab sketch #50 over at Sketch Saturday (their sketches never fail to disappoint!) in its mirror-image.

That's all from me folks! Short post, as I'm just about to fly out the door for the school run!

TTFN!

Hugs, Sem x

The Sugar Bowl #10: Sugar Nellie Country Cousins

INGREDIENTS

MME Bloom & Grow "Grow" 12x12 papers (Spring in Bloom B&G139, Little Blossom B&G135) : Core'dinations cardstock (Seaweed OS030) : Sugar Nellie Country Cousins 'Fragile Beauty' stamp : Whisper pens : Prima flowers : Craftwork Cards 'Card Candy' : 3D foam pads

I have been trying to make a card for The Sugar Bowl challenge #10 (a fab sketch by Marlene) for 3 days now! Yes, 3 days, LOL! I'd picked the papers and coloured this sweet new Sugar Nellie image called "Fragile Beauty" from the new Country Cousins range on Friday, but I just couldn't get any further! When I got up this morning, I was determined to actually make this card! Funny what a bit of determination will do! LOL! I started with a blank white card in front of me an hour ago, and now I have this! The Sugar Bowl want to see buttons on your cards, but I don't have any buttons that are orange or turquoise, so I've gone with Card Candy instead. Hope this still counts? I've purposefully left the top left corner 'unadorned' as that's where I will add a sentiment when I eventually send this card.

It's a gorgeous day here in the South West of England. The sun is streaming through the windows, and the gales of the past few days have gone! We're having a quiet day today, church and then some relaxation (and maybe a bit of gardening) this afternoon, before going to my parents for dinner! A perfect 'easy' Sunday! LOL!

Have a great day, whatever you're up to!

Hugs, Sem x

Sunday Sketch & Stamp 2: Enchanted Lily

INGREDIENTS

K & Co Sparkly Sweet 6x6 pad : Core'dinations cardstock (Tranquil Blue SB010) : Pink Cat Studio Enchanted Lily stamp : Whisper Pens : Versamagic Dew Drop (Sea Breeze) : Nestabilities Labels 4 and Ribbon Tags Trio : EK Success Retro Flower Punch : X-Cut Small Flower punch (xcu953) : Yellow Satin Ribbon from stash

Good morning, my lovelies! How are we all on this wonderful Sunday morn?

Today marks the start of challenge #2 over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp! Huge THANKS to all you lovely people who took the time to join us in our first challenge - we are so grateful for all your support and hope that you'll play along again this fortnight! We have another of Maggie's fabulous sketches to follow, and our prize for challenge #2 is a £10 gift voucher from The Craft Barn - huge thanks to Sandy & Isabelle (they know who they are!!).

This card kinda made itself! I only own one set of Nestabilities labels, and this Enchanted Lily stamp was the ONLY image that fitted the die and the layout of the card!! I sanded the Core'dinations cardstock (although I'm not sure you can really see this in the pic!) and distressed and inked up the edges of the patterned papers. I'm really pleased that I finally got to play with my brand new Nestie ribbon tags too! This card will go into my box of children's cards, ready for one of my daughter's friend's upcoming birthdays!

Well, that's it from me folks! (...for this morning at least! I'm STILL trying to finish my card for The Sugar Bowl...grrrr!) Why don't you hop on over to Sunday Sketch & Stamp and join in with this fortnight's challenge - we'd love to see you there!

Hugs, Sem x

Sunday Sketch & Stamp: Sneek Peek

I know, I know, I'm soooooooooooo sorry! I had planned to make a card every day this week, but unfortunately due to unforeseen family issues, that hasn't quite worked out!! LOL! So I thought I'd post a 'sneek peak' of my Sunday Sketch & Stamp DT challenge #2 card. This is the only card I have made so far this week (today in fact!) - typical that I can't show you properly until Sunday! LOL!

Hope you're all having a great Thursday!

Hugs, Sem x

Just Magnolia #3: Tilda with letter

INGREDIENTS

MME double-sided 'Penny Lane' paper 'Tiny Dancer "Chasse" Graceful Circles' (#PL1179) : Core'dinations cardstock (Aegean, Palm Grove, Amaryllis) : 'Tilda with letter' stamp (Magnolia Valentine 2009 Collection) : Whisper Pens : Martha Stewart Scallop Dot border punch : QuicKutz Revolution Flourish die (REV-0024) : Nestabilities : Prima flowers : Brads, ribbon, pearls, spacers & dragonfly from stash

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend? (especially those of us who reside in the UK, and who have a 3 day break this weekend - woo hoo, long live Bank Holidays!).

I must start by apologising for being absolutely rubbish with my crafting and posting this week - so sorry, guys! I've been incredibly busy with family life, plus I've been beavering away behind the scenes at Sunday Sketch & Stamp securing sponsorships and re-vamping the blog. But I've resurfaced now, and I hope to create lots this week! (Well, that's the plan anyway...LOL!).

Okay, so down to this card. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I've made a wee promise to myself to join in with the new Just Magnolia challenge blog each week. So...this is my take on Bev's sketch set for week 3, and what a lovely sketch it is!

I'm also going to enter this card into this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #30 which is 'flowers'.

I have a teensy, tiny confession to make! I had originally chosen a different Magnolia image for this card (Tilda reading a book), but as I completely messed up the colouring, I scrapped that idea and started again with a different image! I think this Tilda matches the MME paper much better, anyway! I keep forgetting I have a swirl stamp (duh!), and I kinda wish I'd used it now instead of the diecut swirls, but...they're stuck fast, so they'll have to stay! I think I might have to move my swirl stamp out of my stamp drawer and put it in my diecut cupboard so that I remember I have it when I reach for my flourish die cut!

Anyhoo, I'm rambling somewhat now, so I'll sign off! Have a great rest of the weekend, whatever you're up to, and for those of us who have Monday off too....enjoy your extra day, he he!

Hugs, Sem x