Making Cards Magazine Cover Mount!

This month there is another Sarah Hurley cover mount on the front of Making Cards magazine!

This time, a cute bunny stamp! Here is one of the projects I made with mine...

I'd love to see what you make with your stamp, please leave me your links or post them over on my Facebook Page or Making Cards Magazine Facebook page

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Making Cards Magazine Cover Mount!

This month, we have our first ever covermount gift on the front of Making Cards magazine - so exciting!!!

Here is a little picture courtesy of Mountain Ash Crafts (where you can buy your copy) that I found on Facebook of them ready to go off to their new homes...

I'd love to see what you make with your card making kit, please leave me your links or post them over on my Facebook Page or Making Cards Magazine Facebook page

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

October Afternoon & Personal Impressions Christmas Cards

Today I'm sharing two cards you may have seen recently in Making Cards magazine. For these I used one of my favourite ever Christmas lines by October Afternoon (Holiday Style) with my Christmas stamps for Personal Impressions...

This first card uses the Christmas Tags stamp set, stamped in Staz On ink and distressed with Distress Ink in tea dye to make them more vintage looking to match the papers...

This second one uses the Christmas Postcards stamps, again stamped and distressed...

I kept these ones very quick and simple but they are still some of my favourite makes of the year!

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

January Craft Magazines

This month I've popped up in two craft magazines, I hope you can get hold of copies! First up, a little peek at some cards for the January issue of Making Cards magazine, I made three cards for this set but they only had room for two of them, so here is the third!...

This set of cards uses masking and Promarkers along with some gorgeous Paper Smooches stamps from Make the Day Special - love them!

I'm also the guest expert for Papercraft Inspirations magazine this month with some tips and tricks for selling your hand made cards.

Now I must be off, busy day today and I'm now prepping some stuff for something brand new I'm bringing you in a few weeks, I'm SO excited I can't tell you! I'm revealing all to my Design Team tomorrow and my tummy is all in knots, lol.

Thank you for your well wishes by the way, I'm most definitely on the mend now and although I'm sad I won't be going to CHA after all (a combination of illness and deadlines made it just impossible in the end, boo!) I am looking forward to getting a new pooter instead - a little treat to cheer me up while I look forward to the next one!

Thanks for dropping by today!
Sarah x 

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

Magazine Projects & Great British Craft Festival!

a scheduled post from me today as I'm packing and leaving for the Great British Craft Festival at Donington this weekend - if you're coming along I will be on the Aceville / Crafts Beautiful stand demoing for Sizzix - I hope you'll drop by to say hello, I have some fab new embossing folders and dies to show - I can't wait to get started! :o)

I also wanted to show you a little preview of one of the cards I have in this months issue (the September issue) of Making Cards magazine...

I have three sets in there and here is a peek of one of the cards...

This card rocks (literally!) - so fun for a little boy!

You can pick up this issue in your local craft shop or WH Smiths or from the Making Cards Magazine website.

Thanks so much for dropping by today!
Sarah x

p.s. Just a quick reminder that you only have until midnight Friday to enter the Documented365 giveaway - you just need to leave a comment on this post here

Vintage Lady card for Making Cards Magazine

Today I'm sharing another card I made for Making Cards magazine recently - this is part of a set of 3 (I'll share the others another time!)

The stamp is from one of my favourite Hero Arts sets of vintage ladies, I stamped and watercoloured it. The papers are from Cosmo Cricket - love these too! I may have a few extras of these stashed away ;o) which I distressed around the edges with my scissors and then Tea Dye and Walnut Stain Distress ink (what did I do before those colours came along!) and stitched together (I stitch by hand as I've never got to grips with using a sewing machine) The flower is from the Tattered Florals die byTim Holtz for Sizzix, I cut it from kraft paper and layered with a brad through the centre.

This set was featured in the July issue of Making Cards, if you don't have it I think there are still a few copies available on their website here. My friend and DT lovely Emma also has a fabulous set of cards in there you just have to see, one of them is on the cover, fabulous!

Now I must be off, today is a rare day off for me and desperately needed if I'm honest! Of course I have a few emails to catch up on first... ;o)

Have a fab weekend (I'll be in my studio working on some projects - yay!) and thank you for dropping by.
Sarah x

October Afternoon Rocket Boy Card

Today I'm sharing another of my cards that was recently featured in Making Cards magazine!

This was made using October Afternoon's 'Rocket Age' papers and stamps, coloured with Promarkers. The lined kraft card is from a Docrafts pad I have (it has lined, grid and plain - fabulous!) which I've punched at the top to make it look like notepaper.

This weekend, I didn't make it to my studio unfortunately, I'm working flat out on my new craft ranges and products as well as some bits and pieces for some of my clients (more details when I can - very exciting!) Today has been a super busy one too, hence why I'm posting my blog post so late! Now I must get back to my illustration - lots to do so I can start revealing some more of these secrets I have bottled up! lol

Thanks so much for dropping by today
Sarah x

Quick & Simple Kaisercraft Hummingbird Cards

Today I'm sharing a set of quick and simple cards that you may have seen as they were recently featured in Making Cards magazine (yay!) For these I used the Kaisercraft Hummingbird range which features one of my fave colour palettes - teal, red and yellow - delish! (You can click on these pics to see them bigger)

These were made using papers from the range along with the die cut shapes pack and a few of the stickers from the sticker sheet. For stockists of this range you can email Jones & Co, the UK distributor. The only extras I added were some twine, gems and stamped sentiments from one of my fave Hero Arts sets.

Each card took around 10 minutes to make - perfect for when you're in a rush or making lots!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!
Sarah x

Making Cards Magazine & Lets Make Cards Magazine

This month I was lucky enough to be featured in two wonderful craft magazines, firstly I was asked to be one of the 'experts' for Lets Make Cards magazine's 'Ask the Experts' feature...

and secondly I have some of my cards featured in this months Making Cards magazine...

I hope you will be able to get hold of copies and let me know what you think!

Today has been a busy day working on lots of new designs, catching up on some book research and sorting out more filming dates. I had hoped to get round to some baking but I think that may have to wait until tomorrow now. I am cooking dinner tonight though, trying out another new recipe! I'll have another one to share with you all soon :o)

I will also be posting up the winner of the Rico giveaway and stockist information for you very soon, I haven't forgotten!

Thanks so much for dropping by today
Sarah x

Just a few days left!...

...to get hold of the January issue of Making Cards magazine featuring a set of cute Woodland Whimsies cards made by me!

The set was made using my Woodland Whimsies stamps (coloured with Promarkers) and Kuretake papers.

You have until the 12th January (when the new issue goes on sale) to get hold of a copy from your local craft shop or online direct from the Making Cards website.

Thanks for looking!
Sarah x

Making Cards Magazine Bonus Projects (July Issue)

For those of you with July's Making Cards magazine I hope you are liking the papers and projects I designed for the summery issue, lots of ice lollies and deck chairs and cold drinks! You can see two of my cards on the front cover (center and bottom right)

Here are some bonus projects for you to get some more out of your papers!

Summers Day Collection

On the Beach Collection

All papers are free with the magazine or available from their website. All ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons.

There will be another fab card with these papers from Clare on the Challenge Blog tomorrow, so look out for that!

Sarah x

Basically Bare

I have been dying to get stuck into the box of DT goodies I received from Basically Bare and I had the perfect opportunity while I was scrapping the other night to use the doll form (and I couldn't resist one of the banner pieces as well!)

I covered the bottom half of the chipboard doll form with one of the canvas doll form pieces (also from Basically Bare) you can paint ot colour / ink these canvas pieces but in this case I left it bare and stitched on some gathered tulle. I hid the stitching with some ribbon and a tiny bow made with cord from Crafty Ribbons. (All papers are Cosmo Cricket Material Girl collection.)

I also used one of the chipboard banner pieces at the top, covered it with paper and adding a thicker with Xena's initial

You can see the chipboard and canvas pieces a little bit clearer in this picture

This is some of the best quality chipboard I've used, it feels lovely and smooth (some I've used feels a bit cheap like a cardboard box and I want to cover it up, this looks nice enough to be left bare) and its nice and thick and sturdy (I had a sticky dots incident covering the banner piece and thought it would split but it done no damage at all, didn't even bend!).

I'm already working on my next project!

Apologies for the late post today, I think it will be pretty much like this for a week or so, this is one of the busiest times for me, I just have so much on, I hope to tell you more about it all by the end of the month!

I have also been answering some of your questions on Formspring as promised, so if you have a question please pop over and ask!

Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments about my papers in this months Making Cards magazine - I can't wait to see your makes!

Sarah x

Making Cards Magazine

The new issue of Making Cards magazine is out now! and I am the Guest Designer (yay!)

So quick, rush and out and buy your copy!! Or get it here online. Would love to see anything you make with my papers, come and share on my Facebook Page!

Thank you all for your Birthday wishes on Friday, I had a lovely day with B and Fuzzybutt and then drinks with friends in the evening followed by a fairly relaxing weekend (actually had little choice in that as I could barely keep my eyes open, ME relapse urgh!) but I'm starting to feel perkier which is lucky because I have SO much going on for the rest of this month - yay!

Also a big 'Thank You' to those who have already pre-ordered my new 'Oz' CD - the packages are here, all labelled, just waiting for the CD's to arrive so they can be packed and posted!!!

Sarah x

Making Cards Magazine - Bonus Projects!

For those of you who got a copy of May's 'Making Cards' magazine (if you haven't got yours yet its still in the shops for another week or so or you can order from their website) I have a few bonus projects to share made with the free papers I designed (you can see two of my projects there on the front cover to the left, woo!) and there are 10 in the magazine!. So here you go, some more cards for inspiration...

Up in the Air Collection

 

Down on the Ground Collection

All papers and embellishments are designed by me and free with the magazine and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

I hope you like them!

Also, thank you everyone for your lovely comments on my tutorials yesterday, now I (kind of) know what I'm doing there will be more soon, promise!

Sarah x

 p.s. today is your last chance to enter the Blog Candy - don't miss out!!

Making Cards Magazine

Today the new issue (May) of Making Cards magazine was released featuring 2 collections of papers designed by me! :o) as well as lots of cards for you to make from them (you can spot two of them on the left of the cover) as well as lots of other lovely things of course! I hope you will pick up a copy and make some fab projects with them, please share on my Facebook page if you do, I'd love to see them!

I'm still recovering from my big day yesterday but today I started work on some designs for a new project - no rest for the wicked!

Sarah x

Woooooooooooo!

So today I got some of my REALLY good news confirmed and I can tell all tomorrow - yay!

I have to admit the email came at the exact right time, today I was feeling a bit yucky, despite getting a good nights sleep and all that I woke up feeling weary and achy - it makes me so angry that I never know how I going to feel I just have to ride the wave and see what happens! My MIL took me shopping and I got a pink doughnut which did lift my spirits somewhat and I managed to get myself back to working this afternoon which I LOVE. I love to work so much and find it sooooo frustrating when I can't! this afternoon I was working on an article I have been asked to write about domestic violence, this is not an easy thing for me to do but I know it will help to raise awareness and so I'm determined to do it! Just as I'm feeling a bit sad and a bit blue and a few tears, the email lands in my inbox, shortly followed by a funny from my sister Taz who always seems to have a knack for sending me a funny email or text just when I need it - she says its because we're psychopathic - I say she needs a dictionary :o)

The countdown to Christmas has begun, snow is on its way (apparently) and my mum is giving me daily updates on pressie deliveries, food situation etc etc... I cant believe we are now counting down in days rather than weeks! You know its close to Christmas when M&S start selling their festive loo roll - voila!......

How cute is that? it's almost a shame to use it, although essential obviously!

Last week I got a huuuuge box of goodies from A Cherry on Top in the USA. I finally got my hands on the lovely Paris Anthology line from Pink Paislee - I had the stamps already but none of the "stuff" so now I have "stuff" too - the flowers and papers are just gorgeous! I love the album and I just can't wait to use it all!

I also finally got hold of the October Afternoon 'Modern Homemaker' range - I've been waiting for this since I saw the sneaks!! and some of the Cosmo Circa 1934 range. A BIG thanks to Vanessa at Papermaze for being so quick with getting it to me and adding stuff I'd forgotten to my order afterwards - I'm a nightmare customer! LOL Can't wait to get around to playing with all this stuff, have soooo many projects to get done so all this will be gone very soon!!

And finally, a big woooooo! as my products are in 3 (yes 3!!) magazines this week!

My Christmas Cheer! CD was named one of the "5 best" in the Making Cards Christmas Special. The Ink-A-Balls were featured in the latest Making Cards issue and my Winter Warmers collection (soon to be available on the website) and projects are in Complete Cardmaking due out this week (issue 27) - and it's only Tuesday! I wonder what the rest of the week has in store for me......

We are working on lots of Christmas projects for the new Xmas Crafting blog so if you have something you want to share then email me or leave your link and you could be featured.

Sarah x