Vintage card with a Cardmaker's Delights topper

Good Afternoon!

Last week I had a lovely email from Tracy at Cardmaker's Delights

and she offered to send me a sample pack of the card toppers she sells.

I had a look at her website and jumped at the chance to have a play with them :)

They are excellent quality and the colours are beautiful.

I made this card using the topper from here.

It's for my Mother-in-Law for her birthday next month.

I started by distressing the edges of the topper with this little tool and then inked them with vintage photo distress ink.

I layered it on black card and distressed the edges of it too, then machine stitched them together.

The papers from a Prima Almanac 6x6 paper pad and I inked the edges of the cut pieces before machine stitching them.

The flourishes are cut with a Sizzix die and the layered butterfly with a Martha Stewart punch.

The lace, pearls, pins and button are from my stash and I tied black hemp twine through the button before attaching it with a glue dot.

The weather here is just beautiful and as I'm feeling much better

Mum, Lydia and I went for an early morning walk by the river, a short drive from where we live.

The sun was shining and the birds were singing, it was so good to get out of the house!

I really hope you are having a lovely day wherever you are :)

Thanks again for coming to visit

and I will have a Father's Day card to share tomorrow.

Take care

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Divas by Design ~ flourishes

Just Keep on Creating #2 ~ anything goes + travel stories (Best holiday ever was St Lucia, beautiful scenery, delicious food, fantastic beaches, great company)

The Sisterhood of Crafters ~ old fashioned

Penny's Challenges ~ anything goes

Bunny Zoe's ~ anything goes

Whimsy Stamps ~ vintage / shabby chic

Creative Craft Challenges ~ distressing

Die Cuttin Divas ~ buttons, banner and / or birthdays (die cut used Sizzix flourish)

Party time Tuesdays ~ vintage or shabby chic

Sweet Stamps ~ anything goes

Party boxes/cartons

Good Morning!

Thank you so much for all the get well messages.

It's lovely to be back!

Sorry I didn't get to post these wee boxes yesterday.

Just when I thought I'd got rid of the bug ... It came back with a vengance.
Thank goodness for anti-sickness tablets today :)

....and now my wee project.

It was Caleb's birthday nearly two weeks ago

and I made these cartons on the morning of his party in about 2 hours.

They were simply decorated so the children could colour in the pictures at home.

The images are from DigiStampBoutique and I printed and cut them out with the Cameo

(just in case you think I was mad enough to fussy cut them all) lol.

The cartons were also cut with the Cameo using a file bought from Silhouette America.

 They were filled with sweets and tied at the top with raffia.

I think I'll go and have a wee lie down on the sofa in the conservatory,

maybe the sunshine will help me recuperate!

Thank you for visiting today :)

and I'll be back tomorrow, all being well, with a card.

Take care,

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

MIM #90 ~ anything goes

LEJ Designs ~ anything but a card 

and two weeks later....

...I'm back!

I have been so sick with a horrible bug

but thankfully today I am feeling a LOT better :)

I've even got a little bit of crafting done.

The Less is More challenge this week is for

a Baby or a Child.

I just love making baby cards so any excuse to make another one....

The teddy image is a digi from Dilly Beans and I've coloured it with Copics.

I decoupaged the bow and added a little button in the centre.

Then layered the coloured image on blue gingham card and adhered it to a 15cm card blank.

The sentiment is computer generated with a font called 'twelve weeks pregnant'!

I feel so out of the loop with not getting to visit your blogs

but I'll do my best to catch up!

Thank you so much for visiting me today

and I hope to be back tomorrow with some party boxes.

Take care :)

Sarah xx



Party Invitations

Good morning :)

Today I have some party invitations that I hastily made last night,
for Caleb to bring to school today.

It's his birthday on Friday and as he had a party last year for most of his classmates,

we were just going to have a small family party at home this year.

But...on Sunday, Mum (feeling sorry for Caleb)

offered to have a party at her house for his cousins and a few school friends!

While I'm not a big fan of children's parties, I don't mind making the invitations...

any excuse for a chance to craft ;)

This is what I came up with

I've used the Silhouette to cut everything,

which does make it a lot quicker once you have the files made.

The library pocket is a file from Silhouette America which I resized to fit a C6 envelope.

approx ~ 6"x4" size.

I cut it from Bazzill kraft card and decorated it with paper from Crate Paper ~ Orbit range.

I love this paper and have been hoarding it for ages...

 A view of the back.

I wrapped 'oyster' Baker's twine twice around the card and tied it in a knot at the front.

 The invitation base card is red Bazzill swiss dots card

and I printed the details on white paper (using print and cut) and taped it to the base card.

The little pile of completed invitations.

Just in case you think I got carried away and made an invitation for Caleb himself....

(sometimes I have done, lol)

It's actually for his best friend who is also called Caleb and whose own birthday party is on Thursday!

So this week I'll have to make 'boy' birthday cards and think of something

for party bags...eek!

Thank you so much for visiting today:)

and a very warm welcome to my new followers.

Take care,

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter it in the following challenges:

Come and Get it ~ let's hear it for the boys

The Craft Place ~ one for the boys

Sparkles #31 ~ men only

Little Spring Wryn

Good morning!

Oh it's a cold, wet and miserable morning here and my tumble dryer has just broken down....

You don't realise how much you rely on something until you don't have it any more.

I have resurrected an old wooden clothes horse which I used to dry clothes on in front of the fire

 and Phoebe thinks it's hilarious!

When I was small, my mum used to dry clothes on a clothes horse or on a line strung across the ceiling above the fire.

In those days we didn't have radiators or tumble dryers.....

Oh my goodness,

I'm thinking back to the good ole days.....lol *cringe*

For my card today....it's Wryn again!

I just love colouring these wee images.

  The papers are Crate Paper ~ Paper Doll

and they are layered on a 15cm white card blank.

The sentiment is computer generated ~ 'the cool' font and cut out with circle Nestabilities.

The image is coloured with Copics and cut out with a Nestabilities labels 1 die.

The butterflies and buttons are from a Making Memories set and I added some mini gems to the centres of the butterflies.

Thank you all for visiting today,

I'm still catching up on commenting,

there are so many wonderful blogs to see, it's easy to get lost in them!

Mum and Dad have just phoned to see if we'd like a fry...

Well, it would be rude to refuse wouldn't it!

The diet can start tomorrow ;)

Have a lovely  day

and I'll 'see you soon' :)

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter it in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad ~ girly girls

The Squirrel & the Fox ~ one for the girls

Catered Crop ~ the letter 'B' (buttons & butterflies)

By the cute & girly ~ spring is in the air

Just Tracy's craft challenge ~ anything goes

Catch the Bug ~ anything goes

Copic Challenge ~ celebrate!

Crafty Calendar ~ things with wings

Craftymess ~ pink and cute / anything goes

Marks Finest Papers ~ use 3 of something (buttons)
C.R.A.F.T ~ buttons

The colour YELLOW!

Hello again!

I'm back with my 2nd post today for the Less is More challenge this week.

I couldn't believe it yesterday when I was showCASed for my little baby card.

Thank you so much Chrissie and Mandi!

It's only sinking in this morning and I'll tell you why at the end of the post ;)

The challenge this week is to use yellow on your card!

I love yellow as it's such a happy colour.

 The mug image is from DigiStamp Boutique

and I paper pieced it using Echo Park summertime paper.

The little tea bag tag is made using print and cut with the Silhouette.

I folded it in half and punched a tiny hole for the string with an SU punch.

I can't remember the size of it but it is really teeny and perfect for mini tags :)

I also made tiny holes in an oval shape with the Silhouette

for threading yellow baker's twine through. 

I have been overwhelmed by the lovely comments and emails you have been sending me.

Thank you so much ~ it really means a lot!

I haven't been round to visit you all yet, but I will catch up with you later tonight :)

I think I better explain my absence yesterday.....

As some of you know, I've been having problems with pins and needles down my arms and into my hands (not great for crafting)

so while we're waiting for the results of my MRI scan to come back

my Doctor suggested I try a new tablet to try and ease my symptoms.

The only thing is, he said, they may make me feel a little hungover in the morning.

Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.....

I took one at 10pm on Thursday night and when Friday morning came,

I could hardly open my eyes!

By dinner time I still could hardly stand!

By 11pm last night I was beginning to feel half normal having spent most of the day in a blur.

I know I've sent emails but I imagine they're all gobbledy gook!

Suffice to say I didn't repeat the performance last night.

On the plus side ~ I didn't have any pins and needles....... :)

Thank you for visiting :D

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

I better go now and catch up with the horrible housework :p

See you soon,

Sarah xx

I'd also like to enter this in the DigiStamp Boutique monthly challenge.

May DT scrapbook page for Creative Craft World

Good Morning :)

I hope you're all enjoying the start of the bank holiday weekend!

As it's the first Saturday of the month it's time for

a new scrap map challenge at Creative Craft World.

This is the page I made using the sketch.

(shown at the end of this post)

The papers are Cosmo Cricket ~ Snorkel

and the starfish and octopus are matching chipboard pieces from the same range.

I cut the photos, sun and lettering with the Silhouette,

 and the clouds and 'sandy toes' I cut from another sheet of paper.

I also doodled dots along the bottom of the word 'beach' to try and imitate sand.

The words 'beach babies' is a sticker that I added to the middle of the photos.

These photos were taken last year when we were on holiday in the South of Ireland :)

Looking at the girls in their t-shirts, you would think it was a beautiful warm day

but in reality it was sunny and freezing!

I think Caleb was more sensible wearing his fleece! lol.

I always like to add a journaling spot to my pages but usually keep it hidden

as I hate my handwriting!

I haven't had time to add anything to this tag yet but I will soon :)

I did like this page when I was finished until Caleb said. 'Mum why are there fish in the clouds'......

What could I say!

This is the sketch for May and to enter the challenge all you have to do

is make a layout using this as your starting point.

Then link your blog post to the challenge blog here.

I look forward to seeing your pages!

Thank you so much for visiting today

and I hope to be back later with a LIM card :)

Take care

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Emergency Crafters challenge ~ bold and bright

Inspire me Fridays ~ anything goes

The Poodles Parlour ~ anything goes

Our Craft Lounge ~ let's scrap (national scrapbooking day)

MAWTT ~ summer sunshine

Rainbow Lady's challenge ~ memories (of a fun summer holiday!)

Best Friends ~ Lili of the Valley

Good Afternoon!

I hope your weather is as lovely as ours is here.

We've had sunshine all day :)

I've had a lovely morning shopping for fabric and got a few wee bargains too!

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my quilt yesterday :)

Clare if you'd like some help,  get in touch ~ sarahmcards@hotmail.com.

My card today is using papers and a stamp that I've had for ages

and I'd like to enter it in Lisa's (Wishcraft) Waste not Wednesday challenge.

 The papers are Laura Ashley and the image is from Lili of the Valley.

The lace and button I've had for ages too.

The flowers and leaves are cut out with the Silhouette.

After cutting the flowers, I crumpled them up, then opened them out and layered them.

Then sponged ink around the edges and added a pearl to the centre.

The sentiment is also by Lili of the Valley,

stamped using SU Elegant Eggplant marker and then layered on bazzill card.

I sponged the edges of the papers with Antique Linen distress ink.

Thank you for visiting again today :)

I'll be round tonight to catch up on some overdue commenting.....

'See you soon'

Sarah xx

I'd also like to enter the following:

Creative Monday ~ anything goes

Crafting for all seasons ~ handmade flowers

Truly Scrumptious ~ distressing & die cuts/punches

Little Darlings ~ Flowers

Papertake Weekly ~ anything goes with optional extra of lace

Sassy Cheryl's #113 ~ May flowers

Craft your passion ~ texture

DYSU ~ circles

Incy Wincy ~ Mother's day or girly

Lili's little Fairies ~ anything goes

My 'primitive', 'rustic', 'old-fashioned', 'country style' quilt!

Good afternoon everyone!

A while ago I showed a peek of the flannel quilt I was making

and although I finished it in March, I'm only getting the photos uploaded now,

so here it is!

I never know how to photograph quilts so I laid it over a bed....

The squares were machine sewn together but the hearts and stars and quilting were all sewn by hand.

 I love the material on the back of the quilt and you can just about see the quilted shapes in this photo.

Just a close up of the hand stitching...it really was a labour of love and it'll be a while before I do it again :)

Thank you for stopping by today :)

I'll be back tomorrow with a card.

Take care,

Sarah xx

Thank you card

Good morning :)

I have a quick(ish) card to share today...

It's made using die cuts and the only stamping is the sentiment.

 The card base is A6 size, landscape.

I used the Silhouette to cut the flower and scallops and layered them on the card.

Then I stamped the sentiment (Personal Impressions) on scrap card using SU markers

Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red.

After cutting it in a rectangle I rounded the corners with a WRMK corner chomper.

It's one of my favourite tools especially for rounding the corners of chipboard :)

I doodled the dots using a More Mustard SU marker.

I placed the tape along the bottom of the scallops only, so they would raise up slightly at the top

and create some texture on the card.

I better go and get something done before Phoebe gets home from school

and regales me with tales of all that went on.

It's a novelty to hear it from her since my other two never told me anything at that age!

I have to be careful what I believe though, as she's been known to embellish

her stories for greater effect...

I had to laugh the other day

she came home from school and said

 'Guess what mummy?'

'What?'

'Jonah was wearing a skirt today!' (he sits beside her in class)

'Really?'

'Yes, he really was, I could see his bare legs'

'Are you sure he wasn't wearing shorts?'

She thought for a minute and then it dawned on her,

her wee cheeks turned pink...

'hahahahahahaha! That's so funny mummy, I thought it was a skirt!'

Sometimes I wish I was 5 again :)

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

I hope you have a lovely day.

Take care :)

Sarah xx

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts ~ anything goes

The Pink Elephant ~ springtime

TSG ~ May flowers

Truly Madly Crafty ~ handmade flowers

Victorine Stamps ~ flowers

Pan Pastel ~ springtime
Tuesday Alchemy ~ May day