Freebie Friday! Bulldog Digi Stamp

This week's Freebie Friday is a cute Bulldog Digi Stamp - you may remember he featured in my Britannia digi kit...

You can download this weeks freebie over on my website right here

I'd love to see what you do with yours - leave me your blog links in the comments if you'd like to share :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x

Freebie Friday! Insta Camera Digi Stamp

This week's Freebie Friday is an Insta Camera Digi Stamp...

You can download this weeks freebie over on my website right here

I'd love to see what you make with yours - leave me your blog links in the comments if you'd like to share :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x

Freebie Friday! Camera Digi Stamp

This week's Freebie Friday is a Camera Digi Stamp...

You can download this weeks freebie over on my website right here 

I'd love to see what you make with yours - leave me your blog links in the comments if you'd like to share :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x

Freebie Friday! Easter Girls Digi Stamp Set

This weeks Freebie Friday is a whole set of Digi Stamps! (I got a bit carried away colouring in, lol)

This set contains 4 digitally coloured PNG digi stamps - I've called them Grace, Faith, Hope & Joy (good easter names don't you think!) and 2 Black and White digi stamps for you to colour in, one JPEG and one PNG. You can download this weeks freebie over on my flashy new website (whoop!) right here or on box.com here.

*** I'm going to be a bit cheeky again this week and ask, if you wouldn't mind terribly, in return can I just ask for the teeniest favour??? I've entered the 'Women in Making' competition this year and would love you to vote for me (it's just one click - or two if you have Facebook and Twitter - no form to fill out, nothing to register for and I'd be eternally grateful!) I know some of you may have voted last week but the voting system broke last weekend and all votes were lost (boo!) Please just click here to register your vote - thank you, thank you, thank you!! ***

I'd love to see what you make with your digi stamps - leave me your blog links in the comments if you'd like to share :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x

*New* Oz Digi Kit & a Free Digi Stamp!

Today, we return to Oz! Last year I discontinued a number of kits and craft CD's, one I discontinued was the Oz craft CD and not a week has gone past without me being asked about it and if I will bring it back. I love the Wizard of Oz so I had the perfect excuse to get drawing again and revamp it and recreate the kit, even better than before!

The kit is available for a limited time at the bargainous price of £4.50 here in my shop (it should be £6.50) and as well as papers and embellishments contains a record 13 digi stamps and 6 SVG cutting files! My team have been working with the kit for a week or so and you can see the first project by Ian here on his blog - there will be lots more inspiration with this kit in the upcoming Lookbook magazine (look for more news on that next week!)

To celebrate the release of this kit I've designed a 14th digi stamp which is completely free for you here on my blog today, just click here to get yours (both black and white and colour files are included!)

I'd love to see your creations so please feel free to share here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

Have a lovely weekend...

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

A (special!) New Range - All Sewn Up!

Today is the launch of a brand new range and something a bit different and a bit special!

The range is called 'All Sewn Up!' and I shared this preview earlier this week...

 

You may have noticed, that she is hand drawn! Most of my previous work I altered digitally from my hand drawn sketches, however after putting out my hand drawn roses stamps and receiving a fantastic response, I decided to be braver and share some more hand drawn artwork!

Here are the cover previews for the Digi Kit and Digi Stamp sets...

There is one other thing that is a bit special about this range - a little secret I shared earlier today over on my Facebook page... The range doesn't just have a Digi Kit and Digi Stamps - there are also 2 Clear Stamp Sets AND a Paper Pack - thats right, a real life, touchy feely strokey paper pack!!!!

You can get hold of the whole range here on my website!

You may notice a few other new bits and pieces on my website and I will be filling you in on those, kit club developments, a future DT Call and a new Promarker chart on Friday, its going to be another epic post - don't forget to pop back!

My lovely Design Team have been busily beavering away with this kit to whip up some fab samples to give you some inspiration...

Jess

 

Jaine

Carol

 Nicole

Please click through to their blogs to check out the full projects - they've done an amazing job (as usual!)

Now I must be off, I have a show to prep for - I hope you'll tune in to Create & Craft at 9am tomorrow where I will be showing off the fab Promarker limited edition pens that sold out last time I was on air!

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Create & Craft Tag & Black Friday Sale!

I haven't had chance to come on and thank everyone that tuned into my Create & Craft show this week, I demoed this tag using Aqua Markers, Promarkers & Flexmarkers...

Apologies for the TV pic, I've not had chance to unpack my bag yet so I done a screenshot from the TV instead! Thank you as well to those of you who emailed in or sent me messages about my new Rose digi stamps featured, I'm so pleased by all the feedback and there will be more digi stamps coming very soon - watch this space!

In the meantime, I have a one day only Black Friday sale happening in my store with 15% off of everything, digi kits, embellishment packs, sewing kits, badges, EVERYTHING! This code will expire at midnight tonight (friday 23rd) so be sure to grab your bargains quickly - HERE! :o)

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

First Time Ever! Hand drawn and unedited Digi Stamps...

Today I'm being brave, I've put my original hand drawn and unedited artwork in a new digi kit and as a seperate Digi Stamp Kit... Although I always start with a hand drawn sketch I usually then scan and redraw everything digitally (you can see more about my illustration process here)but these are my original pen and pencil drawings

Here is a little peek at the black and white drawings (which are in the kit) in progress...

I'd love to know what you think? If you want to get hold of them, they are here in my shop. I will be colouring one of them in tomorrow on my Create & Craft show so you'll get a full tutorial on it too! :o)

The coloured versions also feature in the brand new 'I Love Paris' Digi Kit, also released today, here is a little preview...

And if you want a sneaky peek at something else new, I put another picture of something coming soon up on my Facebook page today, I'd love your opinions on that too!

Now, I must be off to finish off some more show prep, I try to have a few new samples on each show to hopefully give you all some fresh inspiration and I have a project in mind, which I hope works and I can get finished in time, I'll keep you posted! lol

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Free Birthday Cocktail Digi Stamp!

The big day has rolled around once again, and if you are a regular follower of mine you will know I like to share a little love on my Birthday. Last year I shared this Birthday Cupcake Digi Stamp and this year I'm sharing another of my loves, a Birthday Cocktail digi stamp!

Click here to download your free stamp (it's Black & White for you to colour!)

So I hope you'll join me for a Birthday Cocktail (shame it can't be a real one! lol) :o) I'd love to see your makes with it if you'd like to share them here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.

If you haven't popped by this week, you might like to scroll back one post to see some exciting news! and scroll back two posts for our DT call.

Thanks so much for popping by today!

Sarah x

Come and Join my Facebook page here for the latest news, projects & special offers!  

My Tips & Tricks - Using Craft CD's

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about Craft CD's - what to expect if you've never used one and some additional tips for those of you that have. Craft CD's seem to be like Marmite, some love them, some hate them but they are incredibly useful and great value for all levels of crafters. They are also a fantastic way to boost your crafting supply very quickly without taking up lots of space!

First, to clear up some common misconceptions that I've seen and heard regarding craft CD's

You have to be incredibly tech savvy to use a craft CD - not true at all! while some craft CD's do have a user interface or software programme built in, this is usually very easy to navigate. Some CD's (including my own) have no in built software, you simply click and print - it couldn't be easier!

You can't use a craft CD if you have a Mac computer - you should check the specific information for the CD that you are interested in but most (if not all) CD's can be used on a Mac, while some of the software may not work, you can usually access the image folder (which is the good bit!)

Craft CD's are for beginners and you can't be very creative with them - One of the biggest misconceptions and not true at ALL! While its true that there are elements of most CD's that are great for beginners (as there are paper products and kits) - pre made toppers etc... at the end of the day you are printing off papers and embellishments, the same as you would buy in a craft shop and what you do with them and how advanced you get with your crafting is totally down to you. I've seen fantastic projects made from beginners and advanced crafters alike with my CD's including cards, scrapbook layouts, 3D projects, altered art and art journaling- for instance, check out this birdhouse made by Claireliz made from my latest CD - fabulous!

Tthe only difference to buying the physical papers and embellishments from the shop is that you get an awful lot more for your money!

You use lots of ink printing things out so it isn't good value - Firstly, craft CD's give you excellent value (for instance, my latest CD has hundreds of pounds worth of papers and stamps on if you were to buy the actual products in the shop - 120 designer papers at approx 99p per sheet + 90 digi stamps at approx £3.00 each is over £380 and thats before adding in all of the embellishments and sentiments!!) it will of course depend on your printer how much you can get from one set of cartridges, I have an HP Deskjet printer and use compatible inks which cost me about £8 each, I can print off a whole CD on one set of cartridges and still have enough ink left for doubles of bits and pieces - so even if you only use the CD once you will be getting hundreds of pounds worth of papers and stamps for just over £30 - thats less than 10% - bargain!!!

And now on to how to get started with craft CD's

Firstly, have a look around and find one that suits your style, if you aren't sure most designers have separate mini kits or digi stamps that you can buy initially to try out and see the quality of the work etc... When you get your CD have a good look round it - you'll usually find inspiration starts flowing as soon as you see all the lovely bits and pieces!

Print your papers and  embellishments onto good quality card or paper - if you print them onto copier paper they will look and feel cheap and you will be put off using them. I use my Rymans coated paper for everything as its great for scoring and folding and I can print my digi stamps onto it for bleedproof colouring with my markers. Using copier paper also uses up more ink as it soaks more up - using a good quality smooth or coated paper will make your papers and embellishments look better and save you lots on ink costs.

Make sure to print your digi stamps onto the appropriate paper for the media you will use to colour them with, I usually print a set onto bleedproof paper and one onto watercolour paper (which I also use for colouring pencils as I like the texture!)

If you plan on selling your work, be sure to check out the angel policy of the designer of the CD, most let you sell handmade cards and projects with the papers and images but please remember how much work a designer puts into making one CD (personally I spend between 40 and 150 hours on each one depending on the size of CD!) and respect their copyright by not reselling or sharing your CD (including anything printed from it) or digistamps, it's very rare that this happens but when it does its very upsetting to have your work stolen and devalued in this way. 

My Tips for using Craft CD's

Like most crafters, I'm obsessed with paper and can spend hours just looking through my crafty stash getting inspired, so I like to print off lots of my CD at once, I keep my craft supplies organised in boxes by brand and I have a 'Sarah Hurley' box for the things printed off my CDs, then it becomes part of your "real" craft stash as opposed to a CD on the shelf.

As I use things up I keep a list of what I need to print out and replace so I never run out, I usually keep extras of neutral patterns such as polka dots which are always running out.

If I'm printing lots of embellishments that need cutting out I make a big pile, get myself a nice cup of Earl Grey and a good film and curl up on the sofa to cut it all out at once, then when you come to use it, it's all ready for you!

Don't be afraid to use things digitally, the files on the CD can be used in digital scrapbooking projects etc... also, it may add a new dimension to your crafting!

Mix and match, use your papers with brands of paper and stamps that you buy, add ribbons, buttons and gems, distress and ink your edges, spray it, emboss it, die cut it, use it as part of your crafty stash and don't keep it separate, you'll get much more out of it this way!

Most of all experiment -  the best thing is, that unlike things you buy in a craft shop, if you mess it up, you can just print out another one!

If you have any other questions about using craft CD's please feel free to leave them here for me in the comments and I will answer them in a future post. You can check out my range of craft CD's, kits and Digi Stamps here in my shop.

Thanks for dropping by today :o)
Sarah x

Mothers Day

Don't forget this Sunday is Mothers Day (in the UK) in case you haven't got round to making your card yet, I'm giving away a free digi stamp today! :o)

 

Click here to download your free Digi Stamp

Here is the card I made with it for my Mother-in Law, the paper is from my Easter Tea Party Digi Kit, which you can find here in my shop. I coloured the stamp with Flexmarkers - the subtle colours were perfect for this!

Have a lovely weekend!
Sarah x

Christmas in July

I know lots of you are starting to make your Christmas cards already (you're far more organised than me!) so to help you along your way, here is a free Christmas bauble digi stamp - click here or on the picture below to download

I'd love to see what you make with it, you can share your makes on my Facebook page!

Sarah x

A Ridiculously Good Special Offer & a Free Digi Stamp!!

As you know I've been celebrating this week, I will be able to tell you why very soon! but in the meantime as I'm in such a stupidly good mood I've decided to share my joy by offering you a fantastic special offer (if you've ever wanted to try CD crafting, now is the time!!) and a free Digi Stamp.

So, firstly, here are all the details you need for the special offer, just click here or on the picture to be taken straight to the special offers section of my shop where you can get your Woodland Whimsies CD's for just £5 each or £10 for the set!! (the matching stamps are also on sale!)

and a free digi stamp, some of you may have this one already from when I first launched Woodland Whimsies but I know a lot of you won't have seen it and I wanted to offer it again as it was so popular last time round (I was sent some lovely pictures of things you made with it, so thank you if you were one of those people!) Just click here or on the picture to get your free digi!

If you would like to share your makes with this or any of my products please feel free to post them on my Facebook page and leave me your blog link if you have one, I'm building an inspiration gallery of projects at the moment and you could be included!

Have a lovely weekend!
Sarah x

Safmat

Recently Letraset sent me a sample pack of Safmat to try out, I'm not sure if you've seen this yet? although they have had it for ages it's only recently that they introduced it to the craft market, its a clear sheet of sticky on a backing sheet that you can run through your printer! So perfect for unusual greetings and titles (where else would I get anything that said 'Fuzzybutt'? LOL) or for adding peoples names to projects or even just if you have a font you particularly love and want to use.

But, the best use I've discovered for it is for using with your Digi stamps! I've got quite a few digi stamps that I love to use for paper piecing techniques but I often find that I waste lots of my patterned paper by doing that because you have to cut the paper down (if it's 12x12" scrapbook paper) or you have to run a whole sheet through when really you just want to use up your scraps.

So.... I printed out my digi designs onto the Safmat, then cut them out, peeled off the backing sheet and stuck to my scraps, rub firmly so the clear backing goes completely invisible (it has a nice matte finish not glossy like laminating) then trim! It now means I can use my scraps up with my digis, yay!

Here is a little card I made with my Butterfly Digi from my Woodland Whimsies CD and some scraps of Crate Paper (the greeting is also on safmat and attached to another scrap of kraft card)

I can see this being one of those 'Craft Cupboard Essential' items!


Sarah x

Free Digi Stamp!

I've had so many lovely comments about my Royal Wedding Digi Stamp Kit and Illustrations that as a 'Thank You' today I'm giving away a free Corgi Digi Stamp.

Just click here or on the image to download the little Corgi in Colour and Black & White (colour with your Promarkers or Pencils)

Also, there is still time to enter the Blog candy competition - great prizes from Letraset, Derwent, Kuretake, Crafty Ribbons and me! click here for all the details.

Sarah x

Blog Candy Reminder

I hope everyone enjoyed the Royal Wedding earlier today, I missed most of it but did see the most important bit of all - the balcony smooch(es!) sweet, didn't they look happy :o) And I saw some of the edited highlights on the news after - I'm sure we'll be seeing those for days and weeks on the news and in magazines! I have my 'Congratulations' card to do this weekend with my own Digi Downloads of course...

I just wanted to remind you all that the Blog Candy is still up for grabs, see here.

Have a lovely weekend!

Sarah x

Excited about the Royal Wedding??

Then I think you'll love the new release for today - Princess Wedding Digi Stamp Kit

The kit contains 6 digi stamps in colour and black and white (use your Promarkers or Pencils!) including the Prince & Princess, the Church and some Bunting (well, it wouldn't be a royal wedding without it!!) You can get your kit for the bargainous price of just £3.50 here!!
I also have a free download for you today, some printable Union Jack Bunting, in two colourways, print off nice and early to get ready for your Tea Party :o) Click here or on the picture to download!

Hope you like!

Sarah x


p.s. Also, don't forget my Craft Candy is still open (see the post below) and I'm still looking for some European crafters and illustrators (non-UK) so please leave or send me your links!!

New Collection - Pirates!

The new 'Pirate' Collection has been launched today, a range of digi stamps, both colour and black and white, you can see and purchase the digi stamps in my shop - Here! There are also lots of other lovely special offers which may catch your eye. My Wonderland CD is sold out for the fourth time (!!!) but new stock is on its way so you can pre-order and I will send it out as soon as it's in, about 3-4 days I think (I won't hold up the rest of your order)

Now here is some lovely work by my Design Team to show you a couple of things you can do with the Pirate Digi's....

Lisa has used them digitally to make this fabulous invitation, great for children's birthday parties!

Melly made these fab cards, colouring in with Promarkers

Camilla made this gorgeous card, loving the string and corrugated card!

Christine made this fab Girl Pirate card - I love the skull bunting!

Claire made this lovely bunting, this would also be great for a party! I love the way she made the girls top stripy :o)

A beautifully coloured card from Jaine!

Siobhan made the pirate ship on this one herself, gorgeous!

And last but not least these fantastic invites from Tammy L - it looks like they have been printed on driftwood or tree bark! Fantastic distressing to get that effect.

Hope you love the new release! There is more coming very soon so watch this space....

Sarah x