Scrummy Stash Cafe sketch.....

I made this card using sketch on the Scrummy Stash Cafe blog. I used a 7 gypsies tag, pp and bits and pieces from stash. The pocket is acetate sewn on, I don't think it really shows in the photo.

Sarah x

4 of the best..

I had a bit of craft time yesterday so I had a chance to make 2 cards for the daring cardmakers Challenge this week;

Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style.

Buttons and ribbons-would be rude not to have a go at this dare wouldn't it?
I have made 2 New year cards for this dare;









pp, figgy pudding scraps, music paper unknown, new year sticker Melissa Frances, everything else from stash.

I also made a couple of really quick Birthday cards to try and stock up my card box as it is very empty at the moment. I am trying to use up some of the thousands of plain brads I have so these cards use 8 on each!

I had a few nice stash pressies for Christmas including a cropadile which is great. Hope you all had a great Christmas!



Off to try and catch up with a few blogs now.

Sarah x

Feebies...

It's been another busy week hasn't it? I am nearly done for Christmas now, just need to get my veggies and tidy the house up a bit. I have to work on Christmas Eve until midday, and then it will be chaos until after Christmas dinner here.

I have managed to have a go at the Daring Cardmaker's challenge this week;

Now, on to this weeks dare. Christmas is an expensive time of year (although every day of the year can be potentially expensive to us Crafters ! ;) Anyway, we thought it would be a good idea to run a dare that was 'inexpensive'..This week, we the DCM team, would like you to design a card using a magazine 'freebie' . Either a craft magazine freebie, or indeed any other magazine freebie, papers, embellishments, tools, etc. anything really, as long as it came from a magazine.

I have to say that I don't usually keep my magazine freebies( I tend to give them all to my neighbours daughter) but occasionally I will keep the odd pack of ribbon. I need to make quite a few cards to replenish my card box as it is quite empty, and you never know when you may need a card! So over Christmas I intend to make a few birthday cards up. I have started with this very simple card, using some free ric rac from Papercraft Inspirations magazine(Easter edition). I used my whale of a punch for the green flower and hand cut the pink one around it. I added a bit of doodling and another freebie - the flower centre is a zoomz ( I was sent 3 packs of these from the lovely Julie and Crissi from Artygirlz). These zoomz are completely new to me, but are really fabby, you can stick them to your project with a dollop of glossy accents. And there are hundreds in a pack!

I made this one as well but not for the dare.

I don't think I will have much time now before Christmas to blog so to anyone who visits and to all my fabby blogmates and forum buddies out there - Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Sarah x

Inside and out...

A post two days running!!! I haven't managed a Dare for sooooooooooooooooo long 'coz of Christmas and my new job, but Gillian's dare was too tempting!!!

I dare you to take the design of your card to the inside as well as the outside.
Add a little finishing touch to match the theme on the outside,or Surprise the receiver with a flap, foldout, decorated journal block to write on,or one of those pop-out delights....It really adds so much to a card when there is attention to detail on the inside as well as the outside. I know some of you are finished your Christmas cards already so this week it's Any theme, Christmas or not But make the inside count too :)

Gosh aren't children rude?!!!!I had made DD2 a card for Christmas already but when she saw it she said "Mum, What were you thinking!!!??!! That is horrible!"


Grrrrrrrrrhhhh - 36 hours on the naughty chair for her!!

So I made her this card instead - she lurrves Jo Kill's cards(don't we all) so this card is 100% inspired by Jo. I didn't even use my sewing machine! Unfortunately I don't yet have any Pink petticoat downloads so had to use a bit of basic grey instead. If she doesn't like this I am going to put her up for adoption!!! Or maybe just buy her a card instead!

I added a little Christmas tree inside as well.

Sarah x

I'm a runner up!!!...

Ooops norty, norty blogger again!!! I just don't know where the time has gone this week!!!

I had a bit of good news yesterday, I am a runner up in the Card Designer of the Year competition in Simply Cards and Papercraft!!! I got a lovely box of stash delivered for my prize which I can't wait to play with! I was a bit silly as I totally forgot to take any piccies of my entries, but you can see one of my cards if you have the current issue. (my card is the NOEL one)

I only have a couple of Christmas cards left to do now for my family, which I hope to do this weekend using the Daring Cardmakers challenge this week.

I made this card yesterday for a lady I used to work with, more scrummy BG figgy pudding papers(I think this is my favourite sheet) and a little bell - I just want to put these little bells on everything Christmassy at the moment.Sorry photo is pants!!!

I recently treated myself to a bind it all, If you haven't got one you definitely need one!!!!

This Birthday book is for a forum friend as a little early Christmas pressie. I can't wait to make a few more books with it.

It's not long til Christmas now so I hope to be posting a bit more regularly soon.

Take care,

Sarah x

Tempting Template....

Ooops I haven't posted for ages! Been a busy girl sorting out Christmas and making lots of cards! Today I needed to make a male card (dust off the sizzix star die yet again!!!!) so I used a template over on the JB forum designed by the very talented Sue. A very cheeky (and some might say quite rude) little Elf has appeared on the forum and is setting daily challenges at the moment. This card is for todays challenge - although I am sure that little elf will have great delight in telling me I am a LOSER yet again!!

Well today my daughter Leah has been putting up the Christmas tree so we are all felling quite festive here. I will try and post a bit more frequently next week!!!

Sarah x

Arty Girlz challenge.....

OMG!! December is here already!! I've had no crafting time again this week as I need to get prepared for Christmas. Today I took a bit of time to make a Christmas card for the Arty Girlz challenge;

This week's challenge is 'squares' so we'd like to see squares somewhere on your project :)
You could use a square card, do a 12 x 12 layout, a 4x4, inchies, use square brads..........anything as long as there's at least one square ;)

A nice simple challenge, I have continued with a similar design to my last lot of cards using up scraps of pp and ribbon. I am lovin' putting these little bells on my cards this year!

Gotta go now and wrap a few more pressies!
Sarah x

Now bring us some Figgy Pudding.....

I've been a norty, norty blogger!!! Sorry, I 've been really busy with my new job and a few card orders so I haven't had much time for updating my blog or looking at everyone elses. I have 2 days off now so I will have a catch up.

This week we'd love to see you making cards on the theme of Baubles, Bells & Bows See how much of a dent you can make in the "I need to make X number of Christmas cards" list with this one.

I am lovin' BG Figgy Pudding papers!! In fact I love the papers so much that I made 3 cards for the DCM little extra this week!!

Baubles - I used a mm metal bauble embellishment.


A bow;


And a little bell - I think I salvaged this from the rather scrummy Lindt chocolate bunnies you get at Easter. ( a good excuse to go and eat a few of the chocolate reindeers I think - well I need a few more of these bells don't I?)

pp BG figgy pudding, stickers Melissa Frances, ribbon from stash and my trusty sewing machine.

Apologies for poor photos - it's so dark here!

Sarah x

Getting Corrugated....

My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...

Hhmm I don't know how Jo Kill does it, but she even manages to make corrugated card look trendy on a card! Well actually everything Jo puts on a card looks great!

I'm not a fan of corrugated card because it reminds me of some of the first cards that I made which to be honest were quite pants really!!!! I thought I had thrown away all my corrugated card but I found a few old bits in my scrap box, right down at the bottom! I used a sizzix die for the holly and a small round punch for the berry. The pp came from some blog candy and these are the last few scraps of it- it's lovely stuff with glitter on it. I finished off with a bit of stitching and a few rub ons.

I am getting a bit bored with making Christmas cards now, I don't think I will be making all of mine, I will have to buy a box as well.

Sarah x

Two posts in one day!!!..

Had a bit of crafting time today, so managed two more cards for a challenge on CBC to use something in your sewing box. Well I do like a bit of sewing on a card so I have made these. The glossy accents on the Christmas card bubbled a bit but never mind tis done now. I hope I have time to alter a couple of items this week as I have a week off before I start my new job.

Sarah x

A couple of challenges....

I have had a busy weekend so far but I wanted to complete a few challenges on the CBC forum.

I made this card for a challenge set by Sue, using rubberstamping for the background and the main image. Well I am no stamper, but I have started buying a few stamps lately and Last week I bout a heat gun for embossing. This is my first attempt at using it!! I have lots to learn and need some tips please ladies!!

This next card was made by my Daughter Leah, isn't she clever?!!!! She made it for her Nan, and I have to say I have tried to make these cards and failed miserably, I cannot seem to get the folds to meet properly. I think she has more patience than me!

Well I am off now to do some more challenges.

Sarah x

And Cut ...

I have carried on with my Christmas cards for this weeks DCM dare;

Any theme goes, so for those of you needing a break from Christmas crafting this is the perfect opportunity to have a change. All styles are welcome but there MUST be an element of handcutting somewhere. It could be a greeting, a shape, letters printed on your pc and handcut, anything goes as long as you did it by hand.

I am not a big fan of hand cutting, but I do hand cut these letters by tracing round the BG chipboard letters first. I wish I could afford to buy these and use them on my cards but they are tooooo expensive to use all the time, so I keep a chipboard set which I use as templates. I have used BG fruitcake papers, and a few embellishments for the letters. I actually cut and decorated 2 identical sets as I want to make a different card using the same word.

Off now to have a look at the other cards.

Sarah x

DCM Little Extra Recipe....

The ingredients you need to use on your cards are:
4 brads/eyelets
3 circles
2 rectangles
and lashings of ribbon!
What sort of card you make is up to you this time - as long as you've got all those ingredients on there the choice is yours.

I do love the DCM recipes! I cut my circles in half and used them to create a scalloped edge - I hope that is not cheating!

pp BG blush, prima flowers, papermania brads, sizzix label holder and May Arts ribbon.
Sarah x

DCM Ribbons galore....

So this week we'd love you to join in and make Christmas cards using lots and lots of fabby, yummy ribbon - now that shouldn't be too hard, after all we all love ribbon, don't we?


No problems with this dare well only one - which ribbons???? I chose some Christmas ribbons for this card which I have used on the 2 tags. I love tags and making pockets on cards so this time I have included two, I know I got this idea from a blog tutorial I saw a while ago but I cannot remember which one it was, if anyone knows let me know and I will leave a link.

pp. DCWV (I know- you thought you had seen the last of these!!!!!!) ribbon and brad papermania, flowers and everything else from stash.

Also made this card for my lovely Auntie who told me about a job that was available at the Doctor's surgery she works at. I applied and got it! I start in a couple of weeks, and it will be a big change from working in a school with teenagers but I am so looking forward to something different.



pp. Melissa Frances,Sarah's blooms, ribbon and everything else from stash.

More Challenges..

This weekend Bex and the team have set loads of fab challenges on the JBforum and although I don't have a hope of completing them all I have managed a few. This one is one of my favourites, as it involves a bit of tarting! The challenge was to tart up something you use for storage in your craft space. I have had this tin on my prima shelf for ages and it's not very pretty.

I never really use orange much in my craft making but one time I will make an exception is when I am using BG gypsy papers! I love these papers and orange and red works so well with them. So here is my tarted tin!

I think that will look a lot better when it goes back on my shelf.

The next challenge was to make 3 gift tags, I love making tags as it uses up my scraps, and I have plenty of these. These I will use for my friends little ones.

Sarah x

Christmas is coming...

Something a bit different from me today, but still with a Christmas theme to it. Sue set a challenge on JB forum to make a wall hanging or sign, and this is what I came up with. My girls are a bit old for this sort of thing now but my next door neighbour's little Granddaughter is only two so I made this for her to hang on her door on Christmas Eve. I hope she likes it!!Sarah x

Happy Birthday Daring Cardmakers!

Congrats to all the girls on the Daring Cardmakers Blog! Well done to you all for keeping the dares interesting and fun!

The subject is, as in our original dare "friends", but this time the title is CIRCLE of FRIENDS and we'd like you to incorporate at least one circle into your card.

This has taken a bit of time this morning but I do love making these kind of cards!

It's a card in a sleeve and as it's my friend's birthday next week the dare was perfect for making her a special card!

Here is the circle, a bit hidden but it's there!

Sarah x

Oh Christmas tree....

"O Christmas Tree. O Christmas Tree" Want to guess what needs to be featured on your cards this week? Yes, we want to see lots and lots of Christmas Trees.

My card is a bit late for the Daring Cardmakers little extra this week. I liked the cards I did in the last post so much I decided to carry on with the same design! This one has a Christmas tree on the brad.
Sarah x

Alternative Christmas..

This challenge on JB was to create 5 Christmas cards using patterned papers that are not for Christmas.

I used some really cheap chipboard letters and kept the design really simple. I quite like the finished result.

Sarah x

Wild thing...

Hellooooo, Kathy here to set you a really Beastly dare this week! The theme is ANIMAL and you can use anything that's animal inspired - not those diddy little ones like bugs, birds and butterflies (though you can include them in your design of course) but what I'd really like to see is bigger, wilder, more fabulous or fantastic creatures

Ooh Kathy this was really tricky!!!! I don't have much that could pass for wild or beastly, so I had to delve deep into my stash, and use my quickutz(which I rarely even look at these days!).

I think you would have to agree though this little fella is pretty wild..................................NOT!!!!

Sorry I have failed miserably, no stash to accommodate this dare just a cute little penguin! Funny though I made a card that looks like something I would have made years ago with die cuts and even a bit of glitter glue!And I just realised I have used up a bit more of the DCWV paper!!!! Oh well I know that my Nephew will like this(my girls will send it to him).

Sorry Kathy I will try and do better next week!!

Sarah x

Recycling for the little extra this week..

Whenever I buy 12 x 12 papers from my local craft shop they put them in these lovely paper bags. It seemed such a waste to put them in my recycling bin so I decided that they will make great gift bags for all my Christmas pressies this year. I have altered this one for my Mum's pressie using scraps of basic grey. I think I need to add a few more ribbons to the handles, but basically I have a supply of gift bags for free now!

I made the tree by just sewing random lines with my sewing machine,and added Basic Grey letters. I didn't get a chance to do the Daring cardmakers little extra this week so I am hoping they will let me use this as it kind of fits the challenge.

Sarah x