halloween is on its way...

... I love this time of year!! It might have something to do with it being my Birthday month, but October has always been a time of year I love, the nights are drawing in and I love all things spooky.... (but cute).

Sorry I've not been around for a while and I sound like such a broken record... but work is manic. Although I very rarely get stressed, cos I do tend to get things off my chest, I think its important to make people aware if things are too much or your not happy!!

I have made a lot of decisions lately. The main one is that I have stepped down from The Sugar Nellie Design Team. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time, but I'm finding deadlines hard to fulfil and I need to make my life easier. I need to get back to Craft being a Hobby, and although being on a DT is fun and has benefits its a stress I really don't need at the moment.

Anyway enough moaning onto what I have to share today. A Halloween Treat or Calendar Page for Anyone for Anya. I have gone for a Halloween Treat.....

His and Hers Halloween Treat Milk Cartons

I have used both images from the Greeting Farm Set... SWEET N TOXIC, from Dies to Die for. They have been coloured with a combination of Spectrum Noirs and Promarkers.

The cartons have been made using my Favourite Milk Carton Die from Sizzix, for the Bigshot Pro!! His was made using Old Olive from Stampin Up which I then embossed using a Tim Holtz texture Fade - it has lots of Halloween Words over it!!

His was made using the Milk Carton Die and Rich Razzleberry Cardstock from Stampin' Up.

Each carton was then embellished using a mixture of Martha Stewart Punches, Stampin Up card and Elzybells Sentiments.

Right now pop on over to the Challenge Blog, here check out the inspiration and who are sponsor is this week!!! Have a go!!!

Take care all.

See you soon

Hugs Sarah B X

autumn fun..........

Second post today!!! scroll down to check out my SN DT Card.

Today I am sharing a card which looks like my garden. We have a beautiful Japanese Maple and It looks beautiful for about one week in the year, when it turns all shades of red, but one gust of wind and the whole lot ends up on the grass, then the leaf fairy comes along and clears them away (that's DH, by the way!!)

I have used Sassy Suzi from The Greeting Farm, I bought her from Dies to Die For and have not done much with her, but her coat and hair, I think, really suits this Anyone for Anya Challenge.

I used the Tim Holtz, on the edge FENCE die, His bare tree die and a maple leaf punch, The backing paper is from MME, and finally the sentiment is from Stampin Up.

Check out the Challenge Blog for more great inspiration and if you join in remember to use a qualifying image - CC Designs or TGF - and you could win a fabulous prize!!

Have a lovely Sunday, I'm off for a well earned break of crafting, Ironing and Planning is all done.

Take care Hugs Sarah B X

back to school........

Oh No, I can's believe where the last 6 weeks have gone!!!!!!

This weeks theme for the Anyone for Anya Challenge is

"BACK TO SCHOOL" or "OCTOBER CALENDAR"

I have used this cute CC Designs image which is called Peter - I Think!!!!!!!

so as we go back to the day to day routine I have gone for Back to School.

Each year I think of ways to encourage the children to read more and these are going to be prizes for the children who read at home!!!!

Have a lovely day lots to do to get organised for work tomorrow!!!!

Make sure you head to the Challenge blog, check out the inspiration (especially Susan's Luv it!"!!!!) and there is a fab prize if you are lucky enough to win!!

Take care

Hugs Sarah B X

AFA Sketch Challenge

I love sketches and this one for this weeks Anyone for Anya, is a fab one. Sketches really make cardmaking so much easier, all you have to think about is the colour combo and images!!!

Here is the sketch.....

Our sponsor this week is Sammi, with a single TGF Image!

I have used a CCDesign image from the new releases Laugh Lines - LAUGH, isn't she sweet!!

I have coloured her with a combination of Promarkers and Spectrum Noir

And here is my completed card.

I used some core'dinations with my sizzix 3D flower dies to create these lovely flowers...

I also used some new MME papers and a sentiment from Stampin' Up

And a bit of dimension!!

Hope you like, and why not have a go. Pop over to the Challenge Blog later today and check out the rest of the Team's inspiration.

Take care

Hugs Sarah B X

giggle..........

Good Morning. Here is another card which for some reason got lost in cyber space. It was for another Anyone for Anya Challenge. It was a colour challenge, a picture of lots of colourful Hot Air balloons.

I used Summer from The Greeting Farm.

I cut lots of balloons from a sizzlet popup die I have,

..... decoupaged Summer's arm.....

For her to hold lots of balloons.

Hope you like.

Take care today, got lots of packing to do, but only crafty bits and pieces.

Hugs Sarah B X

rule britannia...

Good Morning everyone, hope you are enjoying the summer holidays!!!!

A quick post from me today as I have so much to do what with taxiing children and physio appointments, things are a little busy before I go away on Saturday!!!!

The card I am sharing today is another Anyone for Anya Challenge which seemed to get lost in Cyber land!!

It was for a challenge named Patriotic.

I made it into an 8" by 8" card.......

Cute The Greeting Farm Images!!

A Tim Holtz Alphabet die
And a finished card.
Hope you like.
Take care and have a lovely day.
Hugs Sarah B X

I'm back..........

...... although I'll be going off again for a couple of weeks soon for our annual holidays. But I want to come on a share a few things I have been very slack with lately, My DT Work.

Things have been very stressful at work and personally, so unfortunately Crafting has had to take a bit of a back seat, but hopefully with a break away from things I have started to get my head sorted.

I have made a few decisions which I may share over heh next few weeks depends how they pan out. The major one being about me and my health. I not the most active person and love food, but of late have started to be really dissatisfied with my energy levels, so I bought a bike and have started cycling, however that's on hold for a bit as I slipped a disc again at work and have been laid up for the last week, But once I'm back I'll hopefully be back to cycling each night!!

Anyway enough of my personal life, onto some cards.

I have really been naughty and not been promoting my DT duties lately and for that I apologise but hopefully I will organise myself better.

Here are a few cards I have been making for Anyone For Anya, there is a great Challenge this week NO PATTERNED PAPER though, what a challenge!!! Head over a check out the inspiration, there is also a fabulous prize from Tracy at Dies to Die for.

So no patterned paper, instead I went for really clean and simple.

I used a new stamp I bought from Dies to Die For, It from The Greeting Farm and she is called PIPER.

She has really got attitude. I coloured her with the New Pens I bought to cheer myself up The Spectrum Noir, they are fabulous!!!
Hope you like!!

I have to go now as my back is starting to hurt and need to stretch.

I need to sort out the wireless thingymabob so I can post from the settee!!

Have a good day and I'll be back tomorrow with some more very late DT bits and pieces

Thanks also to every ones thoughts and wishes, My friend is totally devastated, as you would be but I think to make matters worse there is no definitive reason why her daughter died, I think they may put it down to a Sudden Death, like Cot Death. She was 16 years and totally beautiful. The funeral was last week, hopefully they can start to build their lives back up, which I know from experience will take a lot of time and a lot of pain.

Regards Sarah B X

a sketch...

Good Morning, Blimey what a week, so much to do before the end of the year and last week was so busy, but felt really cr..!!!!

Anyway here is my card for this week's Anyone for Anya Challenge. Its a nice simple sketch this week so have a go.

I have used a new set I bought from Tracy at Dies to Die for and its on special offer!!!! There are so many stamp accents to go with the main image.

Here is one of the sentiments.........and another one with some luscious Stampin' Up Taffeta ribbon!
Now pop over to the Challenge Blog, check out the inspiration, the sketch and the fabulous prize!!!!!

Enjoy

Hugs Sarah B X

all sewn up.....

Well between Blogger, Broadband and my computer, Technology at the moment is really frustrating! Either the computer is too slow and nothing is happening or blogger decides not to save stuff.

Anyway here is my challenge card for Anyone for Anya!!

This week's challenge is Sewing - Real or Faux.

I went for real!! Not done thisd for ages but I quite enjoyed it and went a bit OTT!!!

I used an Anya Image from The Greeting Farm (Tracy has a good deal on this at the moment, check it out, its called Spotlight).

I'm not 100% happy with the new card I bought at Doncaster, it seems to make my colouring and images look grainy!! Well, you have to try these things!!

Also used up a few odds of ribbon, and added a sentiment, with stitching!!

Here is my final card, I love the colours together, the paper is from Dies to die for too, Echo Park's Summertime, so fresh and summery.

Hope you like
Check out the Challenge Blog for more inspiration and a fab prize, and have a go!!

Hugs Sarah B X

A Colour Challenge..........

I'm not always good with colour challenges , and this new one from Anyone for Anya was a challenge!! Which I loved cos I've been feeling a bit uninspired recently!!

So I thought, right, lets look at the colours..... I used the bun colour as the base - More Mustard from Stampin' Up and inked a complete card blank. The grass and leaves were inspired by the lettuce, the red, obviously the tomatoes / or ketchup, and the creamy colour the mayo!!!!!. Then final the burger colour was used behind the image - Early Expresso!!
This sentiment is from Lili Of the Valley.
The image is again Brigitta from CC Designs! And the scroll pattern in the background is my fav Stampin' Up one - Baroque Motif! And here is the complete card. My friends think its funny that I call it my "Burger Inspired Card"
Just goes to show you can be inspired by anything if you look closely enough.

So do you want a go, head over to Anyone for Anya and check out the inspiration, the fabulous prize up for grabs - from the Cutting Cafe! - and have a go yourself!!!! What could you use for sesame seeds and what about that holey cheese!!

Have fun the sun is shining and I'm off to Doncaster to spend some pennies at Which Craft Craft Show.

Take care

Hugs Sarah B X

Happy Father's Day.....

Good morning!! Well I'm doing well.....

This morning reports are done - All 24 Numeracy Comments in the bag!!! Only taken 3 hours today!!

Yesterday I said I loved the sketch from last weeks AFA, well today I'm sharing the 2nd card I made using it.

I used the gorgeous Ted from Lili of the Valley's latest set of releases.

He is simply adorable!!

Here is the completed card. I made a A5 size one. Not made this size for ages, I quite like the change!

I used Lil' Robot papers from My Mind's Eye, The colours really suit the Bear I think.

Hope you like.

Have a good day, its nice a sunny!!

Hugs Sarah B X

Hello.....

What am I like I can't believe I forgot to post my card for last week's Anyone for Anya........

So better late than never here it is..................

It was a sketch challenge which I loved. I have used this sketch for another card which I'll show tomorrow.

The image is one from The Greeting Farm's Creepin Crew Collection - can't remember if its Tyler or James!! And the Papers are the new Lime Twist pads. Very Yummy!!!!!

A few Stampin' Up embellishments completed my card!

Well as promised I've posted cos I have done my quote of reports today - better than expected - I have completed all Literacy Comments for 24 children - only took 6 hrs!!! - that's 15 minutes per child.....

Right I'm off to nurse a very poorly little boy!!

see you tomorrow.

Hugs Sarah B X