Well.........

after 4 months
I thought it was about time I updated my poor neglected blog!
*blush*

It's been a busy few months with GCSEs (my daughter - not me!)
and then the school holidays so crafting was put on hold AGAIN!

Now that they are all back to school, I'm itching to get crafting again :)

I have missed visiting you all so much and have a lot to catch up on.

I thought over the next few days I'd share some scrapbook pages
made in March for Creative Craft World.


This one is of Caleb when he was a few months old.


I found this vellum quote in a book by K & Co that I've had for ages and I love it!

The little banner came with the kit and I cut the paper hearts with my Silhouette.
The little wooden heart is by Studio Calico.

I cut the title with the Silhouette and layered the blue card over the kraft card on the word 'loved'

I love these MME buttons and I used a matching brad to hold back the folded corner of paper.

I'll be back soon with more projects.
and I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs too.

Thank you for stopping by!
Take care :)
Sarah xx 



Mother's Day card

Good Morning!

 

Just a quick card this morning and it's one I made for my Mum for today.

It turned out  a little more detailed than I intended (mum likes plain and simple)

but I think it'll be ok :)

 

Card Supplies

DP - My Mind's Eye 'Dilly Dally' paper pad

Paper pieced image from Digistamp boutique

Font for sentiment - 'the little black dress' a freebie from Sweet Shoppe Designs

Machine stitching

Paper piercing

Butterflies - Martha Stewart punch and a hand drawn butterfly trail

Baker's twine and clear adhesive gems

 

Thank you for visiting today, I still have to upload my scrapbook pages but just haven't had time.

I will soon though!

I hope you all have a lovely day.

Sarah xx

 

March scrap map - tiger teeth!

Good morning!

 

Can you believe it's the beginning of March already?

That means a new monthly challenge at Creative Craft World and we have

a brand new sketch for you to have a go at making a scrap page or card.

 

We're also having another blog hop so if you'd like to join in, just visit each of the DT and leave a comment to say you've visited and you'll be entered into a draw for a prize.

 

You don't have to enter the challenge to be eligible but if you do link up your project to the challenge

you have the chance to win a fab scrap kit and a guest design spot.

All the details are HERE.

 

Here's my take on the sketch

 

I used MME 'Alphabet Soup Boy' papers and I was delighted that the colours of Phoebe's jumper matched them - stripes and all!

Phoebe was always asking to have her face painted and on this particular day Lydia took great delight in painting her as a tiger.  I think she did a great job!

 

 

The metal gromlet is from WRMK and the tiny buttons are Fancy Pants.

 

 

As I had my sewing machine out for another project (and any excuse to sew ;)) I stitched a short zig zag line on 2 sides of the frame.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the sketch

and to continue on with the blog hop you'll find Sarah W's page HERE.

 

Thank you for visiting today

and I'll be round to visit you all later :)

The children are going swimming with their grandparents so I'll have a couple of hours peace :)

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Take care,

Sarah xx

Christmas decorations

Hello everyone!

 

I hope you had a good weekend :)

As we continue with the Christmas countdown at Creative Craft World

it's my turn to share a project and I have chosen to make some decorations for Christmas.

 

I used my Silhouette for these to show that the machine is not just for papercrafting.

You can cut fabric with it and although I didn't cut the felt for my decorations (I think it would be too dusty)

I made templates with the Silhouette designs.

 

Here's a photo tutorial so hopefully you will want to make your own!

 

To start with I cut out the designs from a sheet of 12x12" card

 

Then I kept the sheet of negative shapes to trace around.

 

To make this little lady...scroll on down.

 

 Lay the shape over black felt and trace around using a light coloured pencil.

 

 Lay the traced piece of felt on top of a 2nd piece of black felt (for the back and front)

and cut them out together.

 

Trace and cut out the other pieces of felt the same way.

I used black brads for eyes and stitched a nose with orange embroidery thread and added a red heart before sewing the white tummy to the black front piece with running stitches.

Sew the feet on the front piece as well.

Next lay the back and front pieces together, putting a length of doubled ribbon or twine for the hanging loop in between the pieces at the top.

Sew all around the shape leaving a small gap for stuffing.

Lightly stuff with toy stuffing and sew the gap closed.

And that's it finished!

 

 

The basic instructions are the same for all the felt decorations and you can embellish as you like.

 

 For the fabric hearts, I used a cream linen type material and used my heart nestabilites die to trace around the shape.  I then laid two pieces of fabric, right sides together and stitched following the traced line ~ make sure you leave a gap for turning right side out.  Then stuff firmly, sew up the gap and decorate with buttons and twine.

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it made sense!

If there's anything that's not clear, just email me and I'll try to help.

 

If you don't have a Silhouette you can always use a roller die cutting machine (Cuttlebug or Sizzix)

or even draw your own templates.

 

Thank you for visiting today

and if you come back tomorrow, I'll have the link to Lou's blog where she is sharing a gorgeous Christmas layout.

 

Take care

Sarah xx

Christmas Countdown and a card

Good morning everyone,

 

I have to apologise for being a bad blogger...life is just busy with the children at the moment.

 

But... I have some exciting news!

At Creative Craft World, it has become a yearly tradition to have a Christmas project every day for the month of November.

 

 

I will be posting a link every day to one of the DT blogs and I hope you will visit them

to see the exciting goodies they have made.

My own projects will be shared over the next 4 Mondays.

 

To start us off today,

Sue has made some fabulous Christmas tree decorations

and you can find the tutorial on how to make them HERE
and there's also a prize to be won.

 

 

 

I also have a card to share today!

Phoebe was invited to a 6th birthday party on Saturday and I left it to the last minute to make the card so I hastily threw this together on Saturday morning...not a good idea!

I was stressed and Phoebe was 15 minutes late.... not that she even noticed!

 I cut the shaped card, paper, sentiment and butterflies with the Cameo.

Then tied some pink gingham ribbon in a bow and topped with a pink button.

 

As part of the present I bought this pink fluffy pencil case and made a personalised zipper pull.

This was much to Phoebe's relief....Phoebe has an identical pencil case and Rachel loved it so much that she took it home from school and was reluctant to give it back.

In the end (after a week of pleading) Phoebe told her if it wasn't brought in the next day that I was going to have to tell her Mum and teacher what she'd done and she would be in a lot of trouble!

Thankfully the pencil case was returned the next morning :)

 

 

It's made from felt and is lightly padded. I cut the 'R' from white felt using a Sizzix alphabet die,

then ironed it on with bondaweb and added a couple of 'x' stitches.

 

 

Now I have to make Phoebe a zipper pull too!

 

Thank you for joining me today.

I'd love you to come back tomorrow for the link to Ali's Christmas project.

 I might even have another of my own projects too...

Take care

Sarah xx

 

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

In the Pink ~ clean and simple pink (If mine is not CAS enough please delete it!)

Flutterby Wednesday ~ anything goes but must have butterfly or fairy on it

Nutcrafters ~ Ribbon or twine

Simon Says Stamp ~ shaped cards

Die Cuttin Diva's ~ anything goes (must use a die cut)

Make it Monday ~ anything goes (papercrafts)

 

Mini kit projects

Happy weekend everyone!

 

Today I have some projects I made using the October mini kit from Creative Craft World that

Lou very kindly sent me.

It is a mix of beautiful turquoise and orange from the Teresa Collins 'Tell your story' collection
~ you can see (and buy) the kit HERE.

 

 

All four projects and I still have lots left over to make more!

 

In the kit there are lots of beautiful die cut flowers.  I took the largest of them and sewed messy stitches around the petals with my sewing machine.

The image is a stamp from Crafter's Companion which I coloured with Copics and I took another of the large flowers and paper pieced her dress with it. The pearls are also included in the kit and the ribbon is from my stash.

The sentiment is stamped and was a freebie with a magazine(from last year I think).

 

close up of the layers on the card

 

 This card is very simple to make. I embossed the bottom of the card with a Cuttlebug 'swirls' embossing folder and added a strip of paper and a strip of glitter card from the kit.

I shaped the die cut flowers, layered them together and adhered them to the card with foam pads.

The sentiment is by Papermania and is stamped with a Stampin' Up marker.

 

 This mini carton was cut out with the Cameo and covered with paper from the kit. I then added stickers and gems which are also included in the kit.

I haven't put anything in the box yet but it would make a lovely little treat box filled with sweets or a scented candle.

 

...and lastly I made a tag, which I cut out with the Cameo.

I added a layer of patterned paper and a hexagon sticker (from the sticker sheet also in the kit) and a clear adhesive gem.

 

To enter the challenge, all you have to do is make a project with bling on it and make it smaller than 12x12".

The winner will be chosen by the Design Team and the prize is a fab mini kit, a generous discount at

Creative Craft World and a Guest Design Team spot.

So why not get creating!

 

Thanks so much for joining me today

and I'll be back soon with more.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sarah xx

 

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Make it Monday ~ anything goes

Stampavie #179 ~ stitches (1st card)

Perfect Sentiments ~ happy birthday/anniversary (1st card)

Lady Anne's challenges ~ anything goes (1st card)

Inky Impressions ~ anything but a card (Mini carton)

 

UKS Blog Hop with Creative Craft World - an altered Recipe Box

Good Morning!

I hope you're keeping well today:)

I have to warn you....this is a long post!

It's the day of the UKS Blog Hop and I have made a project for Creative Craft World.

I'll keep it a surprise until you scroll on down..... :)

I've created a shopping list for the project at the bottom of this post

AND

as a special offer today only,

Creative Craft World are offering a huge 20% discount off everthing in store when you use the code UKSBlogHop

AND

if you place an order using the code, you have the chance to win one of CCW's fabulous kits.

AND

MME Howdy Doody Collection is on special offer today too!

(you'll see why later...)

When you visit the Creative Craft World shop you'll find everything on the left hand sidebar and remember to enter the code at the checkout!

and now for my project...

First you need a box with a lid.

This one is from Lidl (I think these Formil tablets are the best washing tablets ever!)

It's a good strong and sturdy box and it has the added bonus of having little tabs to keep the box closed.

Lightly sand the outside of the box with fine sandpaper ~ just enough to take the shine off it and make it easier for the paint to stick to it. 

 Next add a coat of gesso primer and two coats of white acrylic paint.

You really only need to do the edges of the outside and all 4 sides inside but I got carried away and covered the whole lot...!

When the paint is dry, you can cover the box with the paper.

I used My Mind's Eye Howdy Doody collection to create a whitewashed wood effect.

I measured all the sides of the box and cut the pieces from Beautiful Whitewash paper. I then adhered them to the box with this Stix 2 tape along the edges and a spread of tacky glue in the middle.

I cut two rectangles to fit inside the lid and the bottom of the box with

Beautiful Roses paper using the reverse side. 

I picked the heart and decorative round buttons from the Lovely Pins & Buttons set for the front of the box.

Because the box stays closed with the tabs the buttons are mostly decorative but I wrap the twine around them just for added security.

To attach the buttons, I sewed them on with Like twine. I placed the buttons on the box and marked through the holes with a pencil.  Then I pierced the holes with a pricking tool and sewed the buttons on, tying off the turquoise one with small knots at the back.

I sewed the heart button on and left two long lengths of twine and tied a bow twice at the front so it won't open. I clipped one of the lengths shorter and used the other for wrapping around the two buttons.

This is the finished outside of the box and I'll show the lid in more detail further down the post.

For the front I added two 'Lovely Small Stickers' to the bottom left corner and then cut a rolling pin with the Cameo and adhered it over the top.  I added 'baked with love' using print and cut.

For the back and sides I cut the flowers from 'Happy Decorate' paper and dry embossed them on the back with a paper shaper tool.  I adhered them to the box with Pinflair glue gel.

I dotted Papermania purple pearls among the flowers to match the MME rhinestones on the top.

I really enjoyed making the top of the box!

To make the letters, I glued the gingham paper to white chipboard (I got it from The Papermill Shop a long long time ago) and cut the letters and tag out with Cuttlebug 'Red Tag Sale' dies.

I layered the letters onto another piece of white chipboard on top of the tag and threaded lengths of 'Like Twine' through the hole at the end. Then I glued it all to the top of the box.

I'm not really a cook but I love baking! So I thought this would make a perfect box for all my sweet recipes :)  I took two stickers from the 'Beautiful Layered Stickers' set and added them just above the letters.  Then I tucked 2 pins underneath the round sticker, cut the rhinestone flourish in half and adhered it as shown in the photo.

The flowers were cut from 'Beautiful Roses' paper, dry embossed and shaped and then adhered on the top with Pinflair glue gel.

Inside the lid I added the 'Happy Wood Die Cut'  which I sprayed with Mister Huey misting spray in Calico White.

When it was dry, I stamped 'from the kitchen of'' using a Stampendous clear stamp

and then stamped ‘Sarah’ with Doodlebug alphabet stamps.

For the inside I made little divider cards and decorated them with the Howdy Doody papers.

I added embellishments from the list and stamped little sayings from various 'cooking themed' stamp sets.

As there is so much detail on these cards it is difficult to explain everything but if there's anything you'd like to know just email me or leave a comment (my address is on the side bar).

I think this post is already reaching mammoth proportions!

I cut the kraft divider card with the Cameo and doodled faux stitching back and front with a micron pen. 

So I can quickly find the recipe I need, I printed a numbered recipe list on white card and taped it to the back of each card.

This is one of the recipe cards I made in Word, using WordArt and text boxes.

The font is Blessings through Raindrops.

This recipe is one of my husband's favourites!

Even though the embellishements make the box top heavy, it is still sturdy enough to stay upright when the lid is open.

THANK YOU!

for making it all the way to the bottom of this long post.

It took me nearly as long to write the instructions as it did to make it.....lol

This little box has been a pleasure to make and I hope it has given you some inspiration.

They make fab presents.

Please send me a link or a photo if you do make one.

I'd really love to see it :)

I'm going to need some recipes to fill the box so it would be fantastic if you could send me your favourites! 

SHOPPING LIST ~ these are a real bargain today! Just remember the code UKSBlogHop for an extra 20% off the price.

2 Beautiful Whitewash

2 Beautiful Roses

1 Happy Decorate

1 Like Ledger

1 Like Twine

1 Lovely Pins & Buttons

1 Beautiful Rhinestones

1 Happy Wood Die Cut

1 Lovely Small Stickers

1 Beautiful Layered Stickers

1 Baby large Stickers

Baby Journal Card

Beautiful Journal card

Kraft card

 To follow the blog hop, you'll find all the details on the Creative Craft World blog here.

Thanks for for taking the time to visit today

and I'll be back soon :)

Take care

Sarah xx

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

Make it Monday #96 ~ anything goes

CBN Mon #1 ~ anything goes

Stampalot ~ what's your passion? ~ (mine is definitely altering things!)

Tuesday Alchemy #21 ~ anything goes