LONG OVERDUE!!!!!

This Blog Candy is now Closed!!

Winner to be announced shortly

This has been long overdue. I have past my First Anniversary of Blogging, passed 300 Followers and way passed 30,000 Visitors.

To say that blogging has changed my life is an understatement but it has. It certainly keeps me busy, but I love it, though I think I have learnt some lessons from other bloggers, the main one being that I am not going to feel pressured to post when I'm busy or tired.

So I have decided to offer out some Blog Candy courtesy of Sugar Nellie, ( If you don't want to join in they are available at Funky Kits NOW).

This has probably been the biggest thrill of Blogging. Becoming a Sugar Babe. I love that too. It has opened up so much to me and I enjoy sharing my hobby.

So I am offering a set of 2 stamps.

These ones:

Belle Flower

Faraway Thoughts

If you scroll to past posts you will see the images I have worked with. These stamps are unused, (as I used the digi images) so they are brand new.

what do you have to do!?!?!?!

You have to leave me a comment, linking to your own blog (so I can visit you), and linking back to my blog and this candy.

That's not all..........................

In your comment I would like you to tell me why you should be the one to give these lovely ladies a home!!!!!

I will pick at random, someone on the 30th April, so you have 10 days to join in.

I really hope that all makes sense.

and it is open to anyone WORLDWIDE!

So get commenting and I see you all soon, hopefully tomorrow with a project.

Take care

Hugs Sarah B X

Princess Charlotte - WOJ

I have been wanting this stamp for ages and have drooled over it and the other WOJ Medieval Collection for quite a while. Finally I got them from a very nice lady from ILWS.

Again sticking with keeping things simple I made this card in super quick time. I have again used BoBunny Papers, which I bought from Blythe Craft Emporium.

My favourite tools at the moment the i-top punches for a lovely focal point. The brad is made using the Papermania Brad Builder kit, Had it ages but only just used it.

Some luscious Retired Stampin' Up ribbon. The holey border was made using a Martha Stewart Border Punch and I cut into it to make it bend around the oval.

Hope you like

Have a Lovely Day

Hugs Sarah B X

A New Broom Sweeps Clean!

I Love this Tilda, and I couldn't resist when I was at the NEC, I had to buy her!

I think she would suit most occasions, particularly Halloween, but also Spring and New Beginnings.

I used some hardware that I have, but unfortunately this set has retired from Stampin' Up but they do have a new one in silver. I used the buckle and Ribbon loop, really as decoration, I quite like how it works, just adds a little different detail.

Again my favourite style of Card: An Easel; and inside I have used another piece of hardware to hold the sentiment, again from Stampin' Up.
The papers are from Tim Holts' New Collection Book, they are lovely papers and have different sizes in one place. The Turquoise is from a set of Core'dinates

A few Prima Blooms and Spirals to finish it off.

Hope you like

Have a good day

Hugs Sarah B X

Hansel with a Flower - CC Designs

Here is Gretal's Other Half. With a lovely flower for her!!

Another new release from CC Designs. They are so sweet.

I have created another Easel card, and it is very simple.
The papers are again BoBunny and similar colours to yesterday's card.

For added detail I used the Edge Punch from Stampin' Up.

The sentiment is from Lily of The Valley.

I'm not at work today. Unfortunately I have damaged a ligament in my hip and really can't drag my self around a classroom so I have to rest today ready for Physio tomorrow!!!!! I always feel so guilty when I'm not at work, its terrible.

Have a lovely day all

Take care Sarah BX

Kercheif Brigitta

Another scheduled post.

Have I ever mentioned I love CC Designs. they are simply cute and fab to colour. This is a recent purchase from All That Scraps, a company in America which makes and sells CC Designs. This image is part of the new April / May releases. They are divine.

I created an easel fold card, cos I love these too!

I need to practise simple as I have a magazine feature coming up soon which has asked for simple quick makes!!!!!! I can do simple!!!!!!

I also am still very much in love with my i-top and its punches. The paper I have used is BoBunny and I couldn't cover up the butterfly, so left it as part of the card.

A few sentiments and punches later and a finished card. The swirly punches are EK Success and the Oval and Scallop Oval are from Stampin' Up (see side bar for a independent demonstrator).

Have a lovely day

Hugs Sarah B X

Milk & Cookies - LOTV

This is a scheduled post

Another stamp purchased at the NEC. I think it is so lovely and a boy on which I desperately needed.

When I showed this to Cameron he asked what it was called. I told him it was called "Milk and Cookies", He though for a while then he said, "When you make a card Mummy, you could put on it 'Milk & Cookies...

...friends & buddies.' ".

So I did!! I though it was inspired and have not thought of it myself.

I used K & Co papers from a lovley Mat Pack, very male but not dull!

Using a small alphabet set I have I printed out the sentiment. I love it!! I think Cameron is going to have to be my Assistant Design Consultant in future.

I dressed the card up a little bit with a Star and a nestie mat, but wanted to keep it simple.

Hope you like have a good day.

Hugs Sarah B X

Rosie Posy - LOTV

Hello everyone. Sorry I have been such a bad blogger lately, but work seems to be take over my life at the moment!! I have also been in a position where I have loads of stamps to colour and use, not been sure where to start so have ended up not doing much at all.

Well This gorgeous young lady was the stamp I bought at the NEC from Lily of The Valley and she is adorable. I did ink her up ages ago and cut her out using a nestie, but there she sat for a while waiting to be used.

Eventually I came up with this using Tiet's Sketch from The Sugar Bowl Challenge. I love Tiet's sketches they always make fantastic cards.

I cut each section out of Rose Red Cardstock and then The new Tim Holts Paper's. Its a very pink card, but I like it.

I used a sentiment from LOTV and mounted it onto a 5 Petal Flower from SU punched out of Rose Red.

I then punched some flowers using the Boho Blossom Punch, also from SU, held together with green brads.

I tied an organza ribbon around the card and

This card has a lot of dimension, which I like about the sketches Tiet's shares.

I hope you like.

I can reveal me fabbo news with you all next week, I'm bursting I can't wait!!!!!!!! But i have to.

I hope you all have a great week. I have scheduled posts for the rest of this week so pop back a have a peek.

Also If you are interested in the New Leanne Ellis Stamps remember to add a comment on the previous post to be in with a chance, It ends on Friday.

Have a Lovely Sunday

Hugs Sarah BX

At Last.........Colouring Hair with Promarkers

At last I have been able to sort out the next part to my Promarker Colouring Tutorial. Work has been so tiring this week, not really been fit for anything by the time I have gotten home.

Anyway hoping to get lots made today's as everything is done, only got the ironing but will do that much, much later!!!!

Ok so here goes,

Tutorial No. 2a: Hair:

I use allsorts of colours for the hair, I particularly like Burnt Orange, looks lovely! But here cos of the papers I intend to use I am going to do Blonde Hair, but this same process could be used for other colours and I'll explain at the end, what I do.

1. Using SANDSTONE I usually colour where I imagine the dark shade is usually with blond it tends to be at the roots. Also where the shadow would be around the face and behind the front sections.

2. Then using MUSTARD I go back over the SANDSTONE and extra leaving the ends for a lighter shade and Highlights. As you can see going over the SANDSTONE with the MUSTARD it blends the two colours together.

3. Then using BUTTERCUP I go over the whole of the hair again, this time colouring all the uncoloured areas. This really blends all the colours well.

4. Finally I go over the darker areas again with SANDSTONE just to give the hair a little more depth.

I hope you have found this useful.

For other colours all I do is choose 3 shades and then do the same again, but make sure the darker is first, followed by the middle shade and finally the lighter shade.

Thanks for all your lovely comments. Which part would you like to see coloured next. For a future Tutorial, I was thinking of making a card from start to finish, I know there are a lot of experienced crafters out there but I'm sure there are some people who are new and hopefully, it will, help so if you have any tips to share, let me know and I'll include them too!

Right I'm off to craft and play. And get ready for my fabulous news which involves my favourite stamps!!!!

Have a lovely day, the sun is shining already and its only 7 o'clock.

Ohhhhh!

Just to let you know I'll be back with some more colouring tutorials asap, hoping to do one tomorrow after work, and I have some very exciting news!!!!!!! Watch this space!!!!!

Hugs Sarah B X

**A Birthday Pressie and Card**

Isn't she lovely. I do love CC Designs they are so cute and soo easy to colour. She just sits there all cute and quiet, so obviously she is made of paper!!!!!!

Before I show the card, here is the birthday present I have made for a very special friend whose birthday it is on Saturday. I have used another of the Scoreboards from Sizzix I bought from the NEC. This one is a post-it Note Holder.

I have used the New MME papers called Quiet Contrary. I love the colours they are so zingy and summery. I also used my i-top to make to flower (total case from Marlene) and then finished it off with a handmade brad.

Here it is open!!

Now for the card. I have co-ordinated it by creating the same flower as the Note Holder but in different sides of paper.

I then decorated the corners using a Cuttlebug die.

Here it is all layered and lovely!!!

The final ensemble. Does the CC look lovely sitting there waiting to surprise.

Hope you like.

Things may be a little quite over the next couple of days, I'm Back at work and very tired, was in bed by 8.30 Monday night, I'm worse than the kids.

Have a lovely evening and see you all soon.

Hugs Sarah B X

Promarker Tutorial Pt 1 - Face and Skin

I thought I would start another colouring tutorial using Promarkers, there seems to be loads of Copic ones around but very few Promarkers.

I really think my colouring has developed since my previous tutorial and I'm so appreciative of all the fab feedback I have received, so here goes.

Tutorial No. 1a: Skin - With the Light from the front:

1. I use the CARAMEL where The shadow would be in this case under the hair line and down the sides of the face, also the neck and where the clothing meets the arms and legs.

2. I then use TAN to lighten the shadow so I go slightly over the CARAMEL with a line of TAN.

3. Then I put two circles of SOFT PEACH in the place you would find the cheeks.

4. I then use BLUSH in a circular motion to blend the CARAMEL, TAN and SOFT PEACH, working from the outside of the face inwards. leaving the middle of the face til last which gives a lighter effect.

5. I think this gives quite a realistic effect.

I hope you find this useful, I would appreciate any feedback. I'll sort out the hair next and upload the pictures. I'm thinking of providing a PDF File for this as well.

I have found the Charts over at Lili of the Valley really useful with the colours to use, which I'd had this when I started out.

Have a lovely day, I have to plan things for school tomorrow but hopefully won't take too long.

Hugs Sarah B X

Pen-ultimate Leanne Ellis Design (5)

Well only one more new Image to share after this one. I'm gonna have to come up with something today!!!!! Here is the second Annie Image Sugar Nellie is releasing soon over at Funky Kits. Have you been over there recently. They are soon to be stocking all your favourite stamps. Go and have a look, but after you have looked through this post!!!

Here is the card I created. I have been spending a few more pennies on some goodies. I popped into Once Upon A Stamp home of Nesties and bought a few ( Circles, Circle Scallops and Squares plus Square Scallops) To my horror they are now stocking Martha Stewart and Scor-Pal!!!!!!! More pennies are needed to spend!!!!!.

I created these flowers using the Five Petal Punch from Stampin' Up, and my i-top. I added a sentiment from SU too! Used the Tag Punches and attached with a Brad ( The Pink Tag was cut free hand!)

I added a little bit of detail to the corners with the Martha Stewart Punch, some bling, paper piercing and card candy!

This is one of the new Sizzix Toys I bought from the NEC - It is a Scoreboard Die - it cuts and scores Chipboard. This one is the Chequebook Cover and I used it for creating a notebook. I have decorated it very simply but to match my card. I love these papers and card. Although you can't really tell the card it sparkly - I think the word is pearlescent and the papers is BoBunny 0 bought these on a trip to Blythe.

And finally I did give in a buy a Score-Pal ( I know I have a Martha Stewart core board, but what can I say I'm obsessed!!!!!)

Look what I made though. Its a cupcake box. Isn't it gorgeous. All the instructions are over at the Scor-Pal site. There is a whole list of projects to create, can't wait to make more!

And the final collection. I really love these colours, I created everything out of the card and papers cos I'm fed up with bits left, but I may just have to pop and buy some more 12 by 12 sheets to keep just in case............

I hope you like, I really enjoyed making these projects, and the tools I have used have made them much easier. I just wish Martha Stewart would create some guidelines for projects, suppose I could use the imperial ones from Scor-Pal.

Anyway I'm rambling, have a lovely day I'm off food shopping with Mum and do battle at the Mobile Phone Shop!!!!

Take care

Hugs Sarah B X