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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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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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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Happy Birthday

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

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

SPRING COLOURS

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

What I used:

Birthday/floral Dies - SCP Magazine No 255

Happy Die - The Range

Papers - Papermania

Pearls - The Range

I was very impressed with this birthday die given away with this month's Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine. It's a very versatile die - I've kept the negative letter to use on a future card.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Seize The Birthday #280 - Spring florals

Cardz 4 Galz #221 - Spring flowers/dies

My Time To Craft #530 - multi coloured florals

Cut It Up Challenge #300 - Happy Birthday

Allsorts Challenge #773/4 - keep it simple/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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That's All White

 Just a quick card today to add to my ever growing box of ready made cards...

I've used the following:

6x6 in card base - stash

Key Embossing folder - Couture Creations

Greeting - peel-offs coloured grey

House- wooden shape - The Range

I've added the tiniest bit of colour with a small piece of red card behind the heart.

 

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Daring Cardmakers 2024/01 - It's all white

Pammies Inky Pinkies #2404 - CAS 

Can You Handle The Pressure 2024/01 - AG - TOP 3

613 Avenue Create - AG/New beginnings

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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'Tis The Season To Sparkle

I'm still at home using my time wisely to make more Christmas cards. I've been digging through my unused stash and found a set of cute doggy dies that inspired this card

What I used:

Doggy Die set - X Cut

Heart sequin/glittery dot - Home Bargains

Tartan paper - Jelly Bean Crafts

Shiny Silver Card - stash 

Greeting - Chicken Lovers font

These Scottie dies are so cute and perfect for this CAS Christmas card.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

The Holly and Ivy Challenge #151 - AG

Try It On Tuesday - Sparkle All The Way

Creative Moments #251 - It's alive!

Peace On Earth Christmas Challenge #50 - AG

The Paper Players #664 - tic tac toe (paper/die/dot)

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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CAS Congratulations

An unexpected free day resulted in an afternoon making cards. I'm trying to stock up on cards that can be used for multiple occasions so that I just have to add an appropriate insert - this one can be used for an engagement or a wedding...

It was so difficult to get a good photo because the card was pearlised as well as being all white! I love the effect of white on white - so clean looking.

What I used:

Pearl card - Crafters Companion

Background die - Spellbinders

Heart die - Apple Blossom Crafts

Greeting die - The Range

Pearls - The Range

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

AAA Cards #232 - CAS white on white

Beyond the Blue Challenge #78 - white on white

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Winter Is Coming

 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 and the theme is:

ANYTHING GOES

As always the design team have come up with some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing. Needing to add to my pile of Christmas cards I made this quick card using stickers, peel-offs and a background and greeting from a card-making kit.

What I used:

Reindeer sticker - The Range

Background and greeting - Deco Time

Star peel-off - stash

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Peace On Earth #27 - anything Christmas

My Time to Craft #494 - creatures great and small TOP 5

Dragonfly Dreams (Nov) - Christmas 

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge #620 - anything goes

Craft Rocket Challenges #98 - Christmas/Winter

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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Rainbow 50th Birthday

A quick CAS 50th birthday card for a friend from work...

 

Patterned paper - Papermania

Happy Birthday die - The Works

Number dies - unbranded

Embossing folder - Jellybean Crafts

I'm playing along with the current challenges at:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2223 - AG

Alphabet Challenge - E is for embossing

Through The Craftroom Door (7/6) - AG

Crafter's Cafe #285 - sports or stripes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Good Luck Bling

 Today's card was inspired by the challenges at :

Less Is More

Inspiration Station - TOP 3

Colorful Options

So a blingy four leaf clover it was...

What I used:

Heart die - Diesire

Gems - The Range

Patterned backing paper - Papermania

Greeting - Paper Flowers font

It was sheer good luck that I had a scrap of clover patterned paper as well!

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Pink Cocktails

 Today's card is inspired by the challenge today at Less Is More:

What I used:

Card base - laid card from Ross Papercrafts

Stamps - Clearly Besotted

Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens

It's a very simple design but the laid card makes it look less 'plain'.

I'm also playing along with the challenges at:

Double D - shades of pink

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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Toadstool House

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

This week we are being sponsored by Morgan's Art World 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 - Morgan's Art World (Garden 2)

Background flowers digi - Digistamp Boutique (now closed)

Coloured with - Spectrum Noir

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Crafty Catz #583 - AG

Creative Fingers #225 - AG

Morgan's Art Word Challenge #2 - AG

Colour Crazy Challenge #7 - AG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #176 - 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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Pink Tulips

Once again I have been glued to the TV screen watching curling so the style of today's card was always going to be very clean and simple...

What I used:

Digi image - Digistamp Boutique (now closed)

Coloured with - Spectrum Noir 

Greeting - Pumpkin Cheesecake font

I printed the image twice and fussy cut some of the flower heads and used a tiny foam pad to create depth and interest as the layout was very simple and basic.

 I'm playing along with the challenges at:

CAS on Friday - spring flowers

Crafty Catz #583 - anything goes

Krafty Chicks #599 - CAS

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - slimline cards

Polkadoodles # 8 - anything goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - feminine including flowers

As You Like It #268 - a favourite technique. One of my favourite things to do with a stamped image is to stamp the image twice and use parts of the second image to highlight/decoupage areas of the first image using foam pads

Thanks for visiting

Sharon

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