Halloween with Making Cards Magazine & Penny Black Stamps!

This month I have two cards featured in Making Cards magazine, both using some of my favourite Halloween stamps by Penny Black, here is a little sneak peek at one of them...

You can get hold of the issue in your local craft shop, WH Smiths or here on the Making Cards website.

As I mentioned in my last post, this weekend I met Emma at Ally Pally (via Murderville as I got lost on a wrong bus! - lesson learned, don't listen to the online journey planner website, it isn't quicker - or safer!!! - take the tube!) we had a fab day catching up, bumping into and chatting with some lovely crafty peeps and of course, SHOPPING! Here is a little peek at my new stash... (if B asks, everything here was in a BIG sale ;o) mwahahahaha!)

Between this little lot, my own range of new products that turned up last week, a few other crafty bits I couldn't resist and some things from clients I am overrun with new stuff at the moment, which of course means my mojo has up and left - if you spot it, spank it and send it back to me please - naughty mojo!

Until inspiration strikes, I am working on some new kit and product designs and organising new products for my NOTHS shop - I spent Monday researching something brand new and I'm pleased to say it's viable and will be launching in about 2-3 weeks, cannot wait!

Now I'm going to fire up the Dolce Gusto, make a big mug of hot chocolate and get back to work! I'll have some exciting news about my Design Team and some submission information regarding the Lookbook volume 2 for you this week, so keep a look out!

Thanks so much for dropping by today
Sarah x

Sparkles & Shopping

Firstly, I want to share a card I made last night, my first attempt at an 8 x 8 card, not sure why but this size intimidates me a bit, I'm never quite sure how to fill the space (I'm fine with A5 and even A4 though, odd!) but with some new stamps to try out and my crafty mojo having returned (who knows for how long!) I thought I'd give it a try...

The stamps are from Lavinia Stamps, I added extra details and colour with distress inks and then worked over the top with my Kuretake Wink of Stella pens, I'm not really a glittery girl but I love the subtle shimmer of these pens! I had to take this pics in just the right light to try and capture the detail... (you can see better if you click on the pics to enlarge them)

   

The new stamps were part of my weekend haul! I took a trip to the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking show at Ally Pally on Saturday where I also met up with Emma and Kim, this was my first time to just visit as I usually demo at the show, so nice to just enjoy it (and shop of course!) and shop I did, oooops! (it's only twice a year though, lol)

Funnily enough I bought hardly any paper (my usual weakness!) but lots of stamps, although I do need to expand my collection and Clare from my design team has me hooked on lots of new brands, I was particularly excited to get this bag...

I'm loving LOTV stamps! Lots of colouring in ahead for me! :o) and of course a few more Lavinia Stamps for my collection which I used in the card above and some gorgeous little bits from Artistic Stamper to use in future projects - they do the most adorable little things for your printer trays and vintage style projects, I got dominos, keys, chipboard angel wings and lots of other little trinkets, just fab!

Now I'm back to work on deadlines for my new craft ranges (of course!) with my pre-Christmas releases all wrapped up I'm now working on the designs for my big launch at the trade show early next year (sounds ages away, in fact I have about 6-8 weeks to design a gazilion ranges and add-on products!!!) and I have a few illustration pieces to finish up for the Frankfurt Book Fair which is just around the corner as well as my usual mag projects and bits and pieces and some other exciting projects I can't share just yet - this is literally the most exciting time ever, but I'm so busy, the other night I actually didn't go to bed at all, I just didn't have time to sleep! LOL (I did get in trouble from B who woke up for his early shift and found me still awake from the previous day though - oooops!)

Sarah x

More Halloween Inspiration & a Free Halloween Digi Stamp!

As promised today I'm sharing lots more lovely Halloween projects from my Design Team (unfortunately mine still isn't finished, where does time go?! but I will share it when I have) using the new kits I launched this week. I also have a Free Halloween Digi Stamp for you which matches the 2 kits and the range of Halloween character digi stamps I released today (yay!) all available pre-coloured or in black and white for you to use with your Promarkers - get your kits and digi stamps here!

So, first up, lots of lovely Design Team projects to inspire you...

Jaine

Jaine made this lovely Arch card...

 

and this lovely 'Trick or Treat' bag...

Jess

Jess made this fantastic coffin shaped card...

Claireliz

Claire made this gorgeous spooky pumpkin layout...

 

Clare

Claire made these gorgeous jars (one contains her homemade jam - she puts Nigella to shame, I tell you!) all using the Whimsy Halloween kit

and this party invite and party blower (that actually works!)

Elaine

Elaine also made a layout, using kraft card (my favourite!) as a base to perfectly match the elements from the Vintage Halloween kit.

I hope thats given you lots of inspiration and ideas of things to make with the kits!

Finally, today I'm giving away a free Vampire Girl digi stamp, pre-coloured (the black and white version is available to buy in my shop for a bargainous £1 along with the other characters - get them all here) To download your free stamp just click on the picture below!

Please do come and share your makes with these new releases, either by leaving your blog link in the comments or posting them to my Facebook Page - I'd love to see!

I hope you have lovely weekends, this Saturday I'm off to the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking show at Ally Pally, very excited as its my first time to not be demo-ing at it, I'm just visiting (shopping!!! LOL) if you see me wandering about do say hello! and on Sunday, of course, I am back to work! 

Sarah x

Ally Pally

Have just finished boxing the last of my stock for Ally Pally after spending the day helping Karen crate all her stock - I'm now officially EXHAUSTED! and have to be up at 6.30am tomorrow! Tomorrow is set-up day - I hope you will come and check out all the fabby special offers Saturday and Sunday!!!

Sarah x

Crazy Day!

Today (well, yesterday now!) I've been helping at ScrapShed preparing for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking show at Alexandra Palace - it was a CRAZY day trying to get everything ready, remember everything etc etc... although I can't wait - I get to demo my products for 2 days - yay! I've had lots of lovely messages from peeps to say they're coming and will drop by and say 'Hi' so can't wait to meet some new people :o) You will have to excuse the luggage under my eyes tho - I'm sooo tired!! (the sugar from the snickers I'm munching on is the only thing keeping going through this blog post!) I will smear a whole Touche Eclat under each eye in the vain hope I may resemble something human and not frighten anyone!

Anyway, bed for me now, tomorrow I'm going back to help finish off packing the crates and prepping my demo kit and stock so this time tomorrow expect to just hear the loud snores of me a dreamful sleep - nite nite zzzz.......

Sarah x

New Halloween Stuff!

Just a quick post as its STUPID o'clock in the morning and my eyes feel like I've been poked in them with sharp sticks but I just HAD to get the new halloween stuff online before I had any chance of sleep!

As you know the new 'Twilight' spray inks are in stock and proving VERY popular so snap yours up here!

As I just LOVE Halloween I've also started uploading some of the stuff I've been designing (there is more to come very very soon - yay!) tonight I uploaded a few more sheets and this fabbo mini digi kit...

Grab yours here for an absolutely bargainous £2.00!

Now I'm off to bed as I have a LOOOOOONG day tomorrow of sample making (I will be at Alexandra Palace at the weekend for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show) and demo prep - I will be showing some fab techniques with the spray inks and Ink-A-Balls and generally hovering around the ScrapShed stand trying to be useful :o) thats stand 50 by the way so come and say hi! (and watch my demos - I think I'm on at 2pm both days - will confirm!)

I'm just going to write a quick post for the Afternoon Tea with our first DT showcase in readiness for the big reveal and subs details - I should have some news on when that will be very very soon - I'm itching to get my first kit and I know the other DT girls are too!

Sarah x

Wednesday Already!!

Why didn't anyone tell me how fast the week was going?! Still so much to do and never enough time, isn't it always the way....

The lovely Debs has now launched her new Challenge website I mentioned earlier this week, it's especially for children which I think is a fab idea, everyone says how kids only love TV and video games these days but give them some paper, felt, glue, paint etc.. and they love to get creative, I can't wait to get my little squishies (thats sisters to normal people ;o) ) involved and was happy to help by designing their blog badges and sponsoring some challenges - please pop over and follow and get your little ones involved - you can find Messy's Mini Missions here!

Thank you to everyone who has ordered the 'Twilight' Ink Spray set, it's been a great response! If you haven't got yours yet go here to grab one before they're gone!

For those of you that asked, yes I will be at Ally Pally (The Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show) I'm there with ScrapShed - stand 50 and will have all my products there for sale and will be demoing both days so I hope you will come and watch! Please be kind, I've been used to demoing in a studio with noone heckling for the last few months! LOL

Tomorrow is my anniversary (me and OH will have been engaged a year - a whole year!!) it still feels like yesterday and hasn't really sunk in yet (and no, we haven't yet set a date but we have bought a wedding magazine (which neither of us have had the courage to read yet) and decided we want to get married on Halloween (one year, we aren't sure which, LOL) we aren't very good at this wedding malarky are we?! but we will get there eventually!

Anyway, thats all from me tonight, see you all tomorrow!

Sarah x

Apologies!

Just wanted to apologise as I havent blogged in absolutely AGES!!! The reason being I've had a rotten chest infection thats proved near enough impossible to shift - Im still coughing now, 2 weeks on :o( Anyway, enough moaning. Now I'm (hopefully) on the road to recovery let me catch you up!

Last weekend I was at Ally Pally with ScrapShed, I was too unwell to demo but had a lovely time meeting lots of people and spending my pennies on some lovely new products. It was a busy busy time on the ScrapShed stand and the two days along with being ill completely wiped me out! It even took me two days to unpack my goodies - how shocking is that!

Since then I have been resting up and making plans for a new and exciting project which I hope to be able to reveal in the next few weeks, sorry to tease but I literally can't keep it in, yet I can't let it out either!

Today I have finally finished my website revamp so it matches my Blog and Business Cards - I NEEDED to have clouds and rainbows on everything! Just need to find a way to incorporate some red and white polka dots on the next revamp and I may be happy with it forever. Please take a look and tell me what you think - www.sarahhurley.com

Ta V Much! x

Happy Easter..!

A bit late I know but the Easter weekend seems to have passed in a complete blur! After a flying visit up north to see my family, my sister and her boyfriend drove me back home (via Krispy Kreme - yum!) to spend Easter weekend with us. We have spent the whole time relaxing, eating, drinking and laughing - exactly what Easter is all about!! When they left it was sooo quiet - mainly due to the fact my squishies trap wasn't flapping (she's v loud, LOL) and Belle wasn't jumping on them every time they moved - she does love visitors and she's barely slept the whole time they were here - I've got one very sleepy doggy now, she's spent all day sleeping on my feet while I'm scrapping or on my lap while I was re-reading Twilight (still good 3rd time round!)

I've also got to wish a Happy Birthday to my Daddy! he thought I'd forgotten - pah! As I was thinking of him today I made this LO all about him - aren't I sweet? thats why i'm his favourite daughter (shhh, tell don't tell the other 3, mwahahaha)

I used one of the Rusty Pickle ranges for this - I love this one - will have to stock up now they have sadly decided to close.

Thats all for me today as I have loads of samples to finish for ScrapShed for Ally Pally this weekend - I hope you'll pop by and say "Hi" at the weekend if you're there - I've never been before so quite excited!

Hope you've all had a lovely Easter!

x