Annie's Challenge at Teddy Stampers-DT

TGIF... and welcome to another challenge at Teddy Stampers.  Our very talented Annie has set the challenge for this fortnight... you need to make a card using a square, a circle and a rectangle and you can vary it by using 1x square, 2x circles and 3x rectangles if you like... let's see how creative you are... Our sponsor this week is Whiff of Joy.  Here's my little card for your inspiration.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

The image is one of Cuddly Buddly's teddy bears.  Isn't she a honey?  Coloured her with Copics.  Sentiment is also one of Cuddly Buddly's. I am using them quite a lot as I really love the circle sentiments.  My card is a square, my sentiment a circle and my image and nestie are 2 rectangles.  Now, how easy was that?

Added some dimension glaze - just love this stuff!!  This card is a lot smaller than my usual one's and I like it so much that I think I'll be making some more of them for my own use to send to friends.

Thanks for popping by. Hugs Sharon

New Stamp - Mimosa

I received this stamp during the week and just love her to bits, she's Mimosa from the house of Bildmalarna and I purchased her here.   Just had to introduce her to you all.  I tried entering this card into the challenge at Bildmalarna, where they'd like you to use some form of embossing on your card, but my card didn't link up... will keep on trying.  And... then seeing that I had purchased it from Wags n Whiskers, I thought I would enter it into their challenge, as they'd like you to use real or faux stitching on your card.  Unfortunately, this image does not qualify. 

Brown AC cardstock forms the base of this card. Gingham paper is from a pad I purchased at a local scrapbook shop. Pink DP, not sure!  Sentiment, Cuddly Buddly's range. Coloured Mimosa with Copics and chalked around the image with my new pastel chalks. Nice thing with chalk, if you don't like what you see, you can always rub it out!  Flat-backed pearls from my stash, purchased from Paola's shop. Plenty of faux stitching and embossing.

For a change, I've decorated the inside of the card as well. Thanks for popping by once again and for leaving a comment, they really make my day. The weekend is almost here... have a good one.  Hugs Sharon x

It's Blue and Green at Isabella Sketchbook

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to another challenge at Isabella Sketchbook.  Today we'd like you to "chill out" and make a card using the colours of Blue and Green.  I've kept my card very simple this week, as I want to focus more in this gorgeous image of Isabella's called Sweetheart Flower which you can purchase here.

I hope my friend Paola visits me today so that she can see that I've used the lovely swirl template she made for me.  The tiny pearls arrived in time for this challenge, so I've used them on this swirl.  I absolutely love this die by Nellie Snellen and will have to invest in at least one more.  Image was coloured using Copics and I cut 2 of the bigger flowers and raised them for a 3D effect, which you can see better in the pic below.

If you haven't visited Isabella Sketchbook's challenge blog yet, please do so now, you won't be disappointed.  Isabella has revamped the blog and I think it must be one of the prettiest challenge blogs I've seen in blogland. 

The winner of our challenge will win 2 Isabella images and the I Won badge to place in their sidebar.  So... what are you waiting for... see you at Isabella's.  And remember, you need to use an Isabella Image for this challenge.

Thanks for popping by. Hugs Sharon x

Lili of the Valley Challenge #58

Evening everyone... it's about time I enter a few challenges again, am feeling a bit rusty...lol  With that thought in mind, I made a card this afternoon with one of my new Lili of the Valley fairies.  There's a sketch for you to follow by the very talented Bev, which makes it a lot easier than having to think one up yourself.

I've coloured our little fairy with Copics and used some dimension glaze and glitter on various parts of her dress, shoes, flowers, etc. 

I have so many new stamps and am just not getting around to inking them all. Will definitely have to make a plan this week.  Well, that's it from me... I'm going down the rabbit hole to have some tea with the Mad Hatter and Alice... catch up with you all later in the week.

Tons of hugs and thanks for popping by, Sharon xoxox

Challenge # 3 at Kenny K's

Good morning friends... here's wishing you all a wonderful Sunday.  Pop along to Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge blog where we have a super challenge for you today.  It's a sketch by Donna this week, now how easy is that...

This week I thought I would showcase the cute guys from the ALL STARZ group which you can purchase from Kenny's Shop, link is in my sidebar.

Isn't he a cutie?  He really looks as if he means business.  Image was coloured in with Copics. I used chalk for the shading.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly.  I think the yellow paper is from Kaisercraft. Thought I would just doodle around the edges a bit. Ribbon and buttons from my stash.

Hope you feel inspired to play along with Kenny's Girlz this week.  We have been astounded at the support Kenny's received and your cards have been amazing on the eye!  Well done!  But there can only be 1 winner.  As you know, 1st place gets to choose 3 digistamps, 2nd place, 2 digistamps and 3rd place 1 - so hurry along now and good luck!

I was hoping to showcase 3 photographs, but am really having a problem with this post. Scheduled it a while ago and when I logged on this morning the main pic was not there - yikes. Tried endless times to see what was wrong and then had to delete the post and redo. Now I can't add the past pic.  What on earth does a person do in a situation like this? Not like there's a manual one can do a quick search. 

Thanks for popping by and for leaving such lovely comments, I love reading them... happy crafting, hugs Sharon xxoxox

I love Lili of the Valley stamps

Greetings dear blogfriends... I made these 2 cards a while ago and was going to send them to a local magazine for publishing, but decided against it for personal reasons...

I thought they are just too cute not to share, so here they are for my and your enjoyment.  I just love these Lili of the Valley stamps and will have to start taking part in some of their challenges. I've ordered some of their new Christmas ones and can't wait for them to arrive.

Image coloured with Copics. Kept this very clean and simple.

Added loads of Rangers Stardust to the water to give it a bit of a shimmer. Just love this cute stamp. I don't own many male stamps and have decided that I must have a good balance, so you'll be seeing a few more  male cards between all the girls every now and again!

I used my new Nellie Snellen die for this cutie pie. Just love it and can't wait to use it again. Image coloured in with Copics. I used the Blender a lot to get the whiter look, seeing that we don't have all those 000 /0000 pens in SA right now.

Thanks for popping around and leaving a comment. It really makes it all worthwhile. 

hugs Sharon x

More Cards for CANSA arriving...

Hi dear blogfriends... just a quick update on the Cards for CANSA project I'm working on.  They are arriving fast and furious now and I've become quite a regular at my local Post Office. Valencia at the counter and I are big buds and every time I receive a notification in the post I call her to get my packages ready for when I collect them after work. She goes off duty by the time I arrive and the 3 chaps that are on duty when I call are just so sweet. Naturally they're all very curious at all the post I've been receiving lately, so I gave them a quick explanation. They were VERY impressed!

So, today I am sharing cards made and received from our RSA members:  Paola Levi, Moz Roberts (bookmarks), Lynn Madgin and Theresa Gerber.  Note: I cannot take pics of all the cards, there are just so many, but these are just a few samples to share with you all.

Beautiful work Paola, just love that bra and those punches.

Stunning bookmarkers Moz. Excellent attention to detail.
Moz dedicated these to her Mom who died from cancer in 1999. These are so special.  Thanks Moz.

Stunning work Lynne. Love the embossing.

Lovely work Theresa. Thanks so much for these too.

I will keep you updated as and when the Cards for CANSA come in, until I receive each and every one of them.  Thanks for your hard work ladies, our Cancer Survivors are so going to enjoy receiving these.  What makes them extra special though are the special messages/sentiments inside.

Thanks for popping by, hugs Sharon x

Isabella Sketchbook Challenge

Hi Everyone and welcome to another challenge at Isabella Sketchbook.  This week we'd like you to Cut-it-Out, 3D or Decoupage your creation.  The DT have some stunning creations for your inspiration, pop around and pay them a visit.

This week I've used the adorable Suitcase Stack from Isabella's boutique. Now if I had to travel, these are the colours I'd choose for my suitcases - pink and brown, one of my favourite colour combinations.  The paper is from Queen of Hearts (thanks Paola for correcting me).  Striped paper is In Love - Be Mine and the spotted paper is In Love - Crazy Love.  I've cut out my suitcases and layered them for a decoupage effect, which you'll pick up in the photograph below.

I hope you'll feel inspired to take part in our challenge this week.  Isabella has a sale for 1 day only and today is the day, so have a browse and spoil yourself, you deserve it!

Wednesday, July 21 ... all digi stamps will be $2.00!

Thanks for visiting and leaving me such sweet comments.  Hugs Sharon

Cards for CANSA rolling in...

Hi blogfriends... just a quick update on the Cards for CANSA project which I am running for my cousin's wife (herself a cancer survivor), for their Relay for Life project in October.

As mentioned previously, the RSA stamping group took up the challenge and the cards are literally rolling in.  I can't show each and every one of them, but thought I would just share some with you which I've received from Marilyn Murphy and her wonderful team of helpers, Shereen Julius, Glenda Leigh from Australia and Rosemarie Gibson.  Thank you ladies, your cards are stunning!

And just because we had super sunny weather today, I thought I'd share a pic of some of the fruit we had for lunch... hmmm yummy!

Wishing you all a pleasant week ahead, blessings Sharon xoxox

I Won Elisabeth Bell's Definitive Blog Candy

Oh my goodness me... what a beautiful Sunday this is.  The sun shining in Cape Town today, but even if it weren't, my day would still be sunny. 

I was woken to the good news by my friend Paola in Johannesburg that I had won Elisabeth Bell's Definitive Blog Candy.  To say I was shocked is an understatement. As you all know, I punt EB quite a bit as I use a lot of her images and to be blessed with winning all this Candy is beyond my wildest dreams. As everyone is blogland says... WOOOHOOOOOOO!!! 

I know I am a very lucky girl and am sure next time Lady Luck will smile favourably on you too, so keep on entering those Blog Candy's, don't give up, next time I'll be congratulating YOU on your win.

Thank you Elisabeth, your talent is amazing and I am so blessed to have the opportunity of playing with some many of your delightful images. Thanks too to the wonderful Belles 'n Whistles, SCACD and Whiff of Joy companies that have sponsored this amazing gift.  This was very generous of you. 

I was hoping to paste a pic of the Candy, but can't seem to copy and save it.  So for those of you who are curious to know what stamps there are in this delightful Candy, visit Elisabeth's blog and click on the pic to get an enlarged view.  Looking at it once again, I am amazed at what I'll be receiving.  Shew... am I going to have FUN! ;)

Thanks for all the emails and sms's of congrats. I really appreciate them all.

Hugs and smiles from a very happy bunny.... Sharon xoxoxoxox

It's another challenge at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz

Welcome Blogfriends... It's Sunday and Kenny K's Krafty Girlz second challenge.  Our very talented DT sisters in Team B have created an awesome selection of cards for your inspiration.  The challenge this week is for you to make a card based on this sketch....

 I thought I'd play along this week, as I can't resist these adorable Diva's.  

Here's Uptown Angel.  She must be my ultimate favourite Kenny K image.  You can purchase her here.  I've coloured her with Copics, adding some dimensional glaze to those sneakers.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly. 

Here's a close up.  The nestie is a Spellbinder Label 4 which I purchased from Scrap-a-Doodles in Pretoria. The DP is from MME.  The flowers, pearls and ribbon from my stash.

Remember there are three prizes up for grabs each week, so hurry on over to KKKG challenge blog.

 
1st - 3 Digi stamps of your choice
2nd - 2 Digi stamps of your choice
3rd - 1 Digi stamp of your choice

Our Team B are standing ready to visit you, to see your creations.  Thanks for visiting and your comments.  Take care, hugs Sharon

IT'S SALE TIME at ISABELLA's for ONE DAY ONLY!

Hello dear blogfriends... a lot of my friends have supported Isabella Sketchbook in the past few months and I'd like you to know that Isabella is having a SALE on her digistamps for ONE DAY ONLY on Wednesday, 21 July. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with Isabella's digistamps, please pop around NOW and pay her a visit.  She has some awesome digi's for you to play with.  We have a challenge every Wednesday and you can win some more digistamps and the I Won badge to display on your blog.

So... what are you waiting for... head on over there now to make your selection and  don't forget to go back on Wednesday to make your purchase.  Thanks for your support!

Hope you're all having a super weekend.  Whilst many of my blogfriends in the northern hemisphere are enjoying a wonderful summer, we are freezing in Cape Town, but I am not complaining.   Take care, hugs Sharon

The Definitive Elisabeth Bell Blog Candy Giveaway

Hello friends... the very talented artist Elisabeth Bell is giving away 36 stamps including Whiff of Joy, Belles 'n Whistles and SACD to 1 lucky winner.  You need to pop around here to read all about it and enter.  Better hurry now, as you only have until tonight to enter.  hugs Sharon

Teddy Stampers - ANYthing Goes-DT

Hello Bloggers, a very warm welcome to another Teddy Stampers challenge.  This fortnight we invite you to take part in our Anything Goes Challenge.  Yes, that's right, you can make any card you like, as long as you use a Teddy Bear rubber or clear stamp on your card or project. 

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights and today I am using one of their digistamps called Celebration Charlie. You can purchase him here.  Isn't he just the most adorable digi teddy ever ?

I absolutely loved colouring him in. For a change, I thought I would share what Copic colours I used:
     Teddy:  E13, 15, 19, 51, 53
     Hat (partly): YR00, 02, R35
     Balloons: YG7, G40, B41, 23, 32, YR04, 02, 00

The DP is stunning, lots of glitter and is double-sided. I forgot to take the name down, sorry!  I cut a round "ball" for our teddy to sit on, so it doesn't look as if he is floating in the air (smile).  I stamped the image twice and cut out the balloons to raise them with sticky foam for dimension. I think I must do this more often. I like the final effect.

Here's a side pic so that you can get a better view.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly's range of sentiment stamps. I coloured around the sentiment with my new chalk purchased from Scrap-a-Doodles (I am so loving the pastel shades I chose).

Further embellished with buttons, which I use far too seldom.

I hope you'll feel inspired to play along with us this fortnight. Please pop around to the Teddy Stampers blog to see what the rest of our DT have come up with.  You will not be disappointed!  Not only is this team highly talented, they are a super bunch of ladies to work with. Love you girls ~ mwah!

Thank you so much for visiting me once again, I appreciate each and every comment, hugs Sharon

SNOW near Cape Town

Hello my dear blogging friends... I have a little story to share with you this evening.  As many of you who have been following my blog for a while and visiting regularly will know, our family moved to the UK when I was 3 years old and we lived there for 3 years.  I am therefore familiar with the snow I've seen in so many of the beautiful photographs some of you have shared with us just recently during your Winter.  Although I was very young, I can still remember the intense cold and how thick the snow really falls overseas.  OK, let me get to the point...

We hardly ever get snow in South Africa in Winter, but when it does fall in the beautiful Ceres Mountains, just a few hours drive from Cape Town, then  the locals get in their cars and take to the hills, so to speak.  Well... whilst I was at work today, thinking my lovely daughter was doing the same... she, her boss, his children and parents took a drive to Ceres to see the SNOW!  I can't tell you how excited she was to tell me about her little trip to the country when she came home.  It's the first time she's seen snow in person and touched it and I just can't help smiling...  So, something my lovely northern hemisphere blogging friends take for granted each year, is a real thrill for we South Africans, as it's such a rare occurrence in our country.

So... here are a few pics Kendall took with her Blackberry today, which I would like to share with you.  

A pic taken en route to Ceres, see the snow-decked mountains in the background

Great excitement. The weather is changing, getting a lot colder now as they near the mountains.

YAY!  They finally stop so that Kendall can touch the little bit of snow that's on the ground. A brand new experience for her (smile).

Not much, but it's SNOW!

Thanks for popping by and reading this post. I told you it was cold in Cape Town.  Take care, hugs Sharon

It's Punch Up at Isabella's

Well... the World Cup Soccer is something of the past and now I can concentrate on all entering some challenges, as I've only been concentrating on my DT commitments for the past month (smile)!

It's mid-week and that means it's another challenge at Isabella Sketchbook. We'd like you to use punches on your cards this week.  Don't forget to use one of Isabella's images which can be purchased at her boutique here. 

I've used Isabella's Apple Basket coloured in with Copics and added some dimensional glaze to the apples. I've punched out some leaves and butterflies to add to my card this week for our challenge.  The patterned DP and flat-backed pearls are from Paola's shop.

The winner of our challenge will win 2 free Isabella images and the I WON badge.  Good luck, we look forward to seeing what stunning creations you come up with.

Challenges
I am entering this card into the Simon Says Challenge this week, as they'd like to see some FRUIT on your card.  Pop around and pay them a visit, their DT have created some stunning cards for your inspiration.

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments, they really make my day.  Hugs Sharon

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz First Challenge-DT

The day you've all been waiting for has  FINALLY arrived!  What am I talking about??  Well, blogland has been abuzz this past month and the name Kenny Kiernan must be familiar to you by now.  It's the first challenge over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge blog, so hurry on over to check out what all the fuss is about.  Our DT members have created some stunning cards for your inspiration.  We have a super talented bunch of ladies on this Team, you are going to be blown away.  The challenge this week is to create a card with Pastel shades, now how easy is that?

The gorgeous Diva I've used for our first challenge is Movie Star Diva.You can purchase her here. Ain't she just too gorgeous!  Had to use lots of glitter (Ranger's Star Dust) for this diva and managed to give her a belly stud too ;)  Coloured in with Copics.  The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly's range of sentiments. This one just seemed so appropriate for our diva - Congratulations Girl, you are a STAR!  Welcome to Blogland!!!

A nice close up shot for you to check out all that glitter.  Further embellies are gorgeous rhinestones and a star brad from my stash.  I hope you feel inspired to visit Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge blog. The DT and I can't wait to see what creations you come up with. 

There are three prizes up for grabs each week
1st - 3 Digi stamps of your choice
2nd - 2 Digi stamps of your choice
3rd - 1 Digi stamp of your choice

Thanks for popping by and don't forget to leave a comment, I so enjoy reading them.  Hugs Sharon x

Cards for CANSA have started to arrive!

Good evening friends... as many of my regular visitors will know, our lovely group of RSA stamping friends rose to the challenge to assist me in getting 100 cards or more made for the Relay for Life event in Worcester in October.  The response, as mentioned previously, was overwhelming and now the cards have started to arrive in my postbox. I asked permission from Carol to post a pic of her cards on my blog and here they are... Aren't they fabulous?  The message inside is so inspirational, I am sure it will mean alot to our cancer survivors.  Thank you Carol, your cards are stunning.

I was listening to Radio CCFM on the way home from work this evening and the Western Cape team of CANSA were talking about the Relay for Life event. It was so informative, wish you could have heard it.  They are doing such good work, bless them.

Hugs Sharon x

It's Anything Goes at Isabella's

Here's wishing you all a happy Wednesday... it's half way to the weekend, so cheer up and get those crafty tools out, we have a super challenge for you at Isabella's Sketchbook this week... Anything Goes!  You can design just what you like , as long as you use an Isabella image.

I've chosen to go with this lovely stamp called Wandering. I've been looking at her for a while now and I wonder what she's thinking.  Do you think she looks happy or sad?  You can purchase her here.

You will notice that this stamp looks a bit different to Isabella's, that's because I've used my wooden stamp reeds in water on either side of the rock our little girl is sitting on.

The cardstock is Bazzill in pale lilac.I used a deeper purple to mat my designer paper on to and used the same paper as a frame for my image. The image is coloured in with Copics. I've added some Rangers  Stardust to the water to make it sparkle. The sentiment is my own. The flower was made by Paola and the flat-backed pearls were purchased from her shop.

I hope you'll feel inspired to join us in the challenge this week. We had an amazing response to our first Blog Hop at Isabella's and we'd love to see the winners join us going forward. We'd love to see what creations you come up with using your new Isabella stamps.

Thanks for visiting and as always, thanks for the comments you leave me. I really appreciate them. Hugs Sharon x

Could someone answer this Question please?

Hello again dear blogfriends.  I've been blog hopping and leaving comments on a few blogs, but I find it most annoying to receive the message that my comment will only be posted once approved !   Now why would one select this option?  I can't believe that any of us would leave a nasty comment on someone else's blog, so why have this option?

I may happen to visit the same blog twice, but because my comment is still awaiting approval, it doesn't show. I somehow know I've been here before, but because the owner has not approved my comment yet, I may comment again thinking I hadn't done so previously.  Hope this makes sense.

Would those who have this option advise why they've selected it. It may help me to understand next time I receive this notification. 

hugs Sharon x

Winner of the Isabella Sketchbook Blog Hop is....

Morning dear friends... a beautiful morning in Cape Town this morning.  Thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments during the Blog Hop over at Isabellas Sketchbook.  I have just been informed that the winner from my comment list is ........ Menel's Scrap Chat.  Congratulations!

Well done Maryke, I am so thrilled for you. Please pop over to Isabella's Boutique to choose an image from her wonderful selection and then email Isabella at isabellassketchbook@gmail.com informing her that you're a winner and the image you would like.  I hope you'll then take part in the challenge which closes on 6th July.  Good luck to you.

hugs Sharon x

Love My Teddy - Teddy Stampers

Hi there all you Teddy lovers... have we got a super challenge for you this fortnight at Teddy Stampers...  We'd like you to make a card that has a teddy bear on it, but the teddy doesn't have to be the main focus, for example, a stamp with someone hugging a teddy or sleeping with a teddy, or having tea with a teddy, let your imagination run wild...

As all my regular visitors know, I love my cute girly (and pink) cards, so this challenge was just up my street.  For my image I have chosen an Elisabeth Bell design called Beary Big Hugs from Belles 'n Whistles. I just adore her images and this one is sure to become a huge favourite.

Cardstock: Pink AC; DP: Making Memories; Ribbon: Creative Talents;  Cherry Blossom & Roses: Charmaine's Shop; Pearls: Paola's Shop; Image: Beary Big Hugs, coloured in with Copics. Sentiment: Simon Says Stamps.

Please visit the Teddy Stampers blog to view the rest of our DT's cards.  I am sure you are going to be inspired to take part in this challenge.  Our sponsor is Cornish Heritage Farms.

Take care, teddy hugs, Sharon xoxo

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Design Team Announcement - I'm IN!!!

Firstly, a very warm welcome to my new Creative Friends.  Thank you so much for joining my Blog. I am so pleased you found something of interest which inspired you to join.  Always a pleasure seeing new faces. I look forward to getting to know you better and will pop around to visit you soon.

Baie dankie ook aan al die Suid-Afrikaanse vriendinne wat by my Blog aangesluit het en die baie e-posse wat ek ontvang het om my in te lig dat julle geinspireer was om self 'n blog te begin, nadat julle by my kom kuier het. Mooi so! Ek is so trots op julle. Julle gaan so baie pret he!

I have HUGE news to share with you all in Blogland.  A few posts ago I mentioned that I was going to try out for Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Design Team and I am very pleased to share the news that I have been selected at a DT member. Wooohoooo!!! How cool is that!!!  I cannot tell you how excited I am and I look forward to getting to know the rest of Kenny's Girlz.  Well done ladies. I am sure we are going to have huge FUN together!  Please check out my side bar for the rest of Kenny's Girlz and pop around if you have time and show them some love.

Our first challenge at Kenny K's Krafty Girls Challenge Blog starts on 11th July, so please visit Kenny's Shop NOW, as he has the awesome Dixie Daisy as a free download for July.  Kenny's Glam Gang will knock you off your feet, if you haven't seen them yet and he has just added a super All Starz team to his collection.  You will NOT be disappointed, so get those fingers moving now.

Hugs, Sharon xoxoxox