New Things & Favourite Things!

Another whirlwind week this week, with so much happening behind the scenes, exciting times ahead! But for now...

First up, a scrapbook page of My Favourite Things, I got some time to craft this week, and I couldn't wait to make this...

I've been talking about how important it is to document the everyday moments with the new Documented365 range and this is one for my album, it may not be a big event, but it's the kind of thing that will be great to look back on! here are a couple of close ups...

I used 9 little Prinstagram prints arranged into a grid over some 4 Heures 37, Jillibean Soup and Echo Park Everyday Eclectic (cut into a rosette with a Sizzix die) Papers, Washi Tape and Stickers. The letters are October Afternoon and American Crafts Glitter Thickers. and the lovely Flair button badge and wooden shapes are from.... ME!

So... from favourite things to new (favourite) things... in my shop this week, not only have all my recent Craft CD's been restocked (I know lots of you have asked when they would be back as you preferred a hard copy to the download version, so I've worked on getting them back and I have them all here ready to go!) but I have some brand new things - Wooden Shapes, Acrylic Shapes & Ephemera Packs, here are some pics...

You can see everything properly here in the shop (and everything in the shop has free UK (mainland) postage!)

Now I'm back to the drawing board, kits to finish and illustrations to work on for the upcoming Frankfurt book fair and my as yet secret new development (news coming in the next few days!) I will also be giving you some more info on submissions for the Lookbook Volume 2 in the next few days, so keep an eye out for that (you can send your projects to us here if you have them ready!)

Wow, that was an epic post, you probably need a cup of tea after that, I do!

Thank you for dropping by today!

Sarah x

Memories of Grandad Scrapbook Page

Today I'm sharing a scrapbook page! I haven't shared one for ages as I haven't had chance to do much scrapping recently (I miss it desperately!) and to be honest, I wasn't sure if this one would ever see the light of day as it's so personal and I found it so difficult to scrapbook.

I was very close to my Grandad, he was the strongest male influence in my life for lots of reasons and he died when I was 18, I'm really not one to brood on things or sit crying about things, but I find it very difficult to think of him or talk about him without crying even now, over 10 years later (even writing this is making me cry!) However the layout is done, this was a part of my process with documenting my family history with Ancestry.co.uk (I started with my grandad and am working back mostly on his side of the family) I knew this journey wouldn't always be an easy, happy one, and more than that, I think he deserves a mention on my blog!

The papers and most of the embellishments are from the Echo Park 'This and That' collection, one of my current favourites, that crossword paper fit perfectly as he loved crosswords and it was something we loved to do together! I also got to use lots of washi tape on this one too. I have journaled a few bits on the journaling card at the front but there is more hidden journaling (too personal to share - a great reason for hidden tags!) on the inside tag tucked behind the photo

I will be posting a more indepth update of my Ancestry project in a couple of days so keep a look out!

Also this week, the sneak peeks start! My Christmas stuff is very very nearly finished and I have another product launch for you also before the end of the month, myself and my lovely DT are working round the clock to get some samples ready for you - such an exciting but busy time!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Lots of Birthday Cards!

This month seems to be full of Birthdays, family and friends, so I've been making cards constantly! This weekend is B's sons birthday, you may remember last year my Pirate card was rejected as being too young for a 30-something year old man (ha!) I still say he would have liked it... ;o) Anyway, this year I made a more grown up card using Echo Park's Times & Seasons range...

B's mum also asked me to make her one to send to him, so I used the same range of papers to make this one for her...

It's always difficult making mens cards, but this range was perfect for them! The stamps I used for the greetings are all from Hero Arts.

This week has been such a crazy busy week, I have 6 HUGE projects I'm working on all to be finished by the end of March, thats exactly one week, just one week, 7 short days... not that I'm panicking, honest... I'm sure you can guess what I'll be doing this weekend, work work work! :o)

Thanks so much for popping by, I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Sarah x

A Quick Cheery Card

After blitzing my office and studio clean following the manic CHA phase, (they are so tidy! though I'm guessing not for long, lol) I couldn't wait to start some crafting again, my mojo seems to have gone off with my boxes of goodies to CHA though, so I only managed a quick card...

It did give me an excuse to break out my Promarkers again though, and I used lots of bright colours and papers (from Echo Park) to cheer myself up :o) I can feel my mojo floating back to me slowly...

I love this stamp set from Basic Grey / Hero Arts - I'm sure you'll be seeing more of it soon!

Thanks for dropping by
Sarah x

A Gorjuss Wintery Birthday Card

Yesterday was my MIL's Birthday and I wanted to make her a cute card as I wasn't able to see her in person due to my crazy schedule! I recently got hold of these Gorjuss girl stamps and I just knew she would love them so out came the Promarkers!...

 

 Supply List - Background papers - Echo Park, Stamped Image - Gorjuss, Promarkers - Letraset, Glitter Star & Gem - Paper Cellar, Wink of Stella Pens - Kuretake, Sticker - October Afternoon, Distress Inks, Blending Tool, 3D foam, Glue dots, double sided tape, Shaped Bleedproof cardstock cut with Cricut Expression

Here are some close ups of the colouring and the 3D butterflies (these are from the same stamp set I just secured the middle only with a glue dot so the wings could 'flap' The shaped piece of card I stamped onto was cut using my Cricut Expression, these shapes come on the built in cartridge and are great for stamped images, I've cut a ton of them out of my Promarker paper (I use Rymans coated cardstock) while I've been working this week!

  

Here you can see the subtle shimmer from the Wink of Stella pens, I really love these pens for adding highlights to my colouring, you can use them over promarkers and colouring pencils to add highlights.

I love the paper ribbon detail and I'm loving the glitter stars, I think they are on nearly every single project I've made this past week!

I hope she had a lovely birthday (B did pop round earlier and give her her pressies!) I'll have to ring her tomorrow (see if there is any birthday cake left ;o) hahaha)

Today I have been to London, and I'm still working like a crazy person on my deadlines, it's so exciting to see it all come together! I can't wait to start with the sneak peeks :o) Coffee and chocolate is seeing me through nicely, only now I've eaten the Christmas Matchmakers and the replacement Christmas Matchmakers (ooops!) I'll have to get B to hide the replacement replacement Matchmakers... it's not my fault, they're too delish!

Sarah x

More Scrapping

Today I'm sharing another scrapbook LO, I'm doing very well on my scrapbooking the last week or so!...

 

 Supply List: Times & Season's Paper & Sticker - Echo Park, Kraft Cardstock - Bazzill Basics, Stickers, Journaling Card & Paper Scraps - October Afternoon, Mini Paper Clip - Tim Holtz, Tissue Paper Flower - Jolee's, Ribbon - ATDML

This one is using the new Echo Park 'Times and Season's' line along with a few bits of October Afternoon. Here are a few close ups...

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, this weekend I'm working on some illustration projects and finalising more designs for my craft range. I'll also be spending some time in my studio crafting (while watching Lost - I've just started watching this, proper scary stuff!) working on some magazine projects and making some more projects to share with you next week, I may even get started on my Christmas cards (you never know!)

Sarah x

Retro Fun

Today I'm sharing a quick card made with the Echo Park 'Happy Days' range - I love the retro look of this range and it's great for mens cards as well - something I know a lot of us struggle with!

This card will probably end up going to my Dad...

A quick dinner break for me and then I'm back to my designs and illustration work - I'm trying to work really really hard this week so I can have a half day off on Saturday to play on my Xbox - fingers crossed!:o)

Sarah x

p.s. don't forget to pop pver the the Challenge blog this week where we have a Vintage challenge going on with a wonderful sponsor!!

Echo Park Cards

I recently discovered 'Echo Park' and I love their ranges, they are so bright and colourful and fit totally with my style of crafting! Also they are constantly bringing out new things which is great (B and my bank manager may not agree with that! LOL)

When my first box of goodies arrived I made a ton of projects to submit to magazines so I havent been able to show any of the projects, but I found out this week that this set hasn't been picked up (oh, the rejection *sob*) so now I can show, yay!

 All three cards are made with the Summer Days range of papers and stickers and the dots and stripes paper, so bright and fun!

As much as I love to create vintagey inky / painty / messy pieces (and I really do, you can tell by the floor in my studio, LOL) I love to make things in bright, cheerful colours that are just pretty.

Sarah x

Goth Girl Card

Another project to show you today, today a fun digi stamp card...

The digi stamp is from The Stamping Boutique (pop over to see their range, gorgeous stamps!) which I coloured with my promarkers. The lovely skully ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and the dotty paper is from Echo Park.

I have some more things and fun projects for tomorrow!

Sarah x