Heartfelt Thanks

I was greatly inspired today by the current challenge at AAA Cards Challenge - I just love this colour combination!

It's always useful to have a supply of thank you cards.

What I used:

Flower dies - Mariane Designs

Leaf dies - Crafter's Companion

Background hexagon die - unbranded

Pearls - The Range

Greeting stamp - free with Papercraft Essentials

I'm also playing along with the challenges at:

Crafty Catz #693 - May Flowers

Cardz 4 Gals - Flowers

Simply Clean and Simple - CAS Flowers

613 Avenue Create

Just Us Girls #773

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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New Job

It's been a while!

Life has taken over in the last couple of months and I've had no time for crafting. However the Bank Holiday weekend gave me some time to make a card for a friend who has just got a new Job...

What I used:

Letter Dies - from a charity shop - (one of my best finds ever!)

Patterned paper -from stash

Peel-off strips - from stash

Black pearls - from The Range

I kept the layout simple but used rainbow colours to make the letters pop.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

As You See It Challenge #346 - gotta be peel-offs - I still use these a lot and they are often very cheap in 'bargain bins'. I have loads of sheets from when I first started crafting in around 2005. Very handy for stars, lines, lettering and numbers. 

As You Like It - CAS or fussy and fancy

Always CAS - I find CAS cards are easier to 'design'. The less is more style is easy on the eye and easy to fit into envelopes. I love a lot of white (or even black) space - this can have more impact than loads of embellishments.

Just Us Girls #771

Thanks for visiting !

Sharon

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New Year New Focus

 So, I wasn't sure whether to continue with my blog or not - I just don't get the time lately to make cards, and I'm also trying out other crafts, so my focus has shifted a bit. But - I got some 'stuff' for Christmas which is a shame not to use, and I've also had a mad idea of doing some running exercise this year and trying for the 'couch to 5K' challenge.

To keep a record of my journey/progress, I have upcycled a notebook I picked up for free at a jobs fair...

What I used:

Number dies -     Stephanie Weightman

Coloured/mirri card -     from stash

Title -     created in Publisher using Copperplate Gothic font

Silver dots -     peel-offs

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Love to Craft Challenge #84 - AG

Time Out Challenge #279 - Beginnings

Just Us Girls #756 - AG/use dies

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #746 - AG

Crafting Happiness #207 - AG

Thanks for visiting - happy crafting in 2025!

Sharon

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Rudolph

 An even simpler card today - a very contemporary version of Rudolph.

I used snowflake dies for his antlers and a large red gem for his nose. The greeting was created in Microsoft Publisher using the aptly named font - 'Christmas Respite'

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Christmas Crafts All year Round - Reindeer, Deer or Moose

AAA Cards Challenge - AG CAS Christmas

Alphabet Challenge - Q is for quick and easy

Creative Friday - any animal

Simply Clean and Simple - Christmas is coming

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Snow Scene

It's been a while...

I've been struggling with inspiration for some time but today I actually made something - I made a card!

It's a very clean and simple Christmas card The landscape dies came from a magazine some time ago, the scrap of 'snow' patterned paper came from my bits pile and the greeting was created in Microsoft Publisher using Bebas Neue font. The star die is form Hobbycraft.

Baby steps!

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Creative Knockouts - Tis the Season

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #741 - Christmas TOP 3

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #172 - AG

Ellibelle's Corner I Spy #21 - Something for Christmas

Fab 'n' Funky #605 - dies/punches

Thanks for coming back!

Sharon

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Lucy is Sweet 16

It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week we don't have a sponsor so the challenge is just for fun. The theme is:

ANYTHING GOES

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

I needed to create a card for my Niece, Lucy, who turns 16 this week. She's a very girly girl - loves everything pink, pretty and sparkly. I kept the design layout simple but added fancy touches with the scalloped die and the sparkly gems. I love these NitWits papers - so pretty! 

What I used:

Papers - NitWits

Gems - from stash

Scalloped die - Spellbinders

Number dies - Stephanie Weightman 

Greeting - Copperplate font

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

A Cut Above (August) - AG with a die cut

Daring Cardmakers - Lucky numbers

Try It On Tuesday - Make it feminine

Creative Fingers #283 - AG

Paper Minutes - Birthday

Creative Friday #366 - Square

Crafty Calendar August - AG

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Aloha Alanna

 It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week we don't have a sponsor so the challenge is just for fun - the theme is...

Use a hand-coloured image

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

What I used:

Image - Alanna by Conie Fong

Coloured with - Spectrum Noir pens

Papers - from stash

Greeting - created using 'Claire Hand' font

Isn't she gorgeous - she is definitely in a beach bar on holiday  somewhere hot, enjoying a cocktail!

The papers are old - they came with a magazine years ago and I've managed to perfectly match them with her hair and outfit.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Creative Moments #261 - use patterned paper

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2432 - anything goes

Love Those Pretty Papers (August) - Summertime

Allsorts Challenge - Summer days

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Christmas in July

It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week we are being sponsored by The Paper Shelter who have kindly provided images for us to use

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

What I used:

Image - The Paper Shelter

Coloured with - Promarkers

Papers - DecoTime

Greeting - Christmas Respite font

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Daring Cardmakers - Christmas in July

Dragonfly Dreams July Challenge - Christmas in July

Creative Knockouts #526 - Christmas in July

Simply Create Too - Christmas in July

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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CASE-ing Inspiration

I haven't made a card for a while - I'm really struggling with inspiration. So I turned to Pinterest to find something I could 'CASE' - copy and share elements.

I found this card that someone had saved but no link to the original maker so I don't know who made this lovely creation originally. 

It looks so simple but looks are deceiving! At least this gave me the opportunity to use up loads of bits of patterned paper that we all collect!

Here's how I did:

I'm not sure about it - but at least I've made a card!

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Pixie's Snippets Playground #484 - TOP 3 PICKS

Love Those Pretty Papers - anything goes

Creative Fingers #282 - anything goes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Hoppy Birthday

It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week we are being sponsored by Mirtillamente Craft Shop who has kindly provided images for us to use

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

What I used:

Image - 'Froggy' by Mirtillamente

Coloured with - Spectrum Noir

Papers - Crelando

Greeting - Berlin Sans FB font

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Creative Knockouts #523 -  2 or more patterned papers

Creative Friday #461 - layers

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2434 - AG

Allsorts Challenge #784 - AG

Tic Tac Toe #249 - layers,die,patterned paper

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Heartfelt Sympathy

Today's card is a very CAS design for a sad occasion.

What I've used:

Card base - pale grey linen card

Background die - unbranded

Butterfly die - free with a magazine

Greeting - created with Merienda font

Gems/pearls - The Range

I'm playing along with the current challenges at:

Crafty Gals Corner #255 - AG + lace/pearls

A Perfect Time to Craft #6-2024 - AG

Creative Fingers Challenge #279 - AG

Cut It Up Challenge #305 - AG

 

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Thanks Sew Much

A clean and simple card today - a thank you card which I don't often make...  

What I used:

Card base - Hambledon Laid 250gsm

Papers - Pink Petticoat

Sewing Dies - free with a magazine

Greeting - Berlin Sans FB font

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2420 - anything goes

Allsorts Challenge #781 - anything goes (Happy 15th Birthday!)

The Paper Players #690 - humerous/punny

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Lisabeth Wild Daffodil

It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week we are being sponsored by Colour of Love who has kindly provided images for us to use

The theme for the challenge is:

Man or Boy

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card. However, as you can see I had a total brain melt and did a very girly card!!:

What I used:

Image - Lisabeth Wild Daffodil by Colour of Love

Coloured with - Spectrum Noir

Papers - from stash

Pearls - The Range

Greeting - Always Here font

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Creative Inspirations 05/2024 - feminine

Pammie's Inky Pinkies 2419 - AG

A Place to Start 05/2024 - for a lady

Creative Fingers #277 - AG

Get Creative #131 - ladies only

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Buttons and Bows Butterfly

 It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

There's no sponsor this week - the challenge is just for fun.

The theme is:

BUTTONS  AND  BOWS

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

What I used:

Butterfly die - free with SC&P magazine

Vellum - from stash

Button - from stash

Bow - unbranded embroidery thread

Greeting die - unbranded

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Dragonfly Dreams April - use a die

Ellibelle's Corner #14 - something with wings

My Time To Craft #532 - Everything dies

Cut It Up Challenge #32 - starts with a 'B'

Creative Friday #358 - insects

As You Like It - clean or fussy? Clean by a mile! I love the expanse of space that makes a simple image or die pop from the card. 

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Hip Hound

Today's card is for my Birthday box rather than a specific Birthday - it's useful to have a pile of ready made cards!

The papers came with the April 2014 issue of Making Cards Magazine (now defunct) so they are almost vintage! I used cream linen textured card for the base and for matting the image and greeting. Finally, I used two tiny pearl stars (which I found today in the wedding section of a pound shop!) as embellishments.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Crafting Happiness #171 - D is for dogs

Penny's Paper-crafty Challenge #570 - AG

Daring Cradmakers - something old (papers) something new (pearl hearts)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2416 - AG

Time Out Challenge #262 - photo inspiration

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

Model Girl Birthday Card

It's Monday which means there is a new challenge at Dream Valley Challenges ...

This week's challenge is just for fun. The theme is:

MAKE IT FEMALE

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing - here's my card:

What I used:

Image - old edition of Making Cards magazine

Papers - same magazine

Matting card - from stash

Greeting - very old free digi - may be LOTV

Card candi - Craftwork  cards 

I'm entering this card into the 'Anything Goes' challenges at:

Crafty Gals Challenge #254

Creative Fingers #275

Crafty Catz #669

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #227

So have a pop over at the Dream Valley Challenge Blog to see some more lovely inspiration from my teamies on the design team and have a chance at winning a prize.

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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