Stepping out the Box...

Yep... that's right!  I am becoming very brave now and stepping out of my comfort zone. I am getting a bit bored just making the same old cards all the time, whilst some of you are really top notch papercrafters out there... so, I decided to "step out the box" and spent the better part of Saturday evening making a box and here it is.... ta-raaaa

I made this from scratch.  For the base I used a sturdy piece of kraft cardstock and just white for the lid. I then set about decorating the lid, as if I were making a card.  This week I received some cut-outs from a SA stamping friend, Debbie, and I have made a flower from 2 of them.  I hope she's impressed...lol  I thought it would work well with the flower this little clown is holding. This is yet another image I won in the Elisabeth Bell Definitive Blog Candy and as you can see, I am having such fun stamping all these new images.  Once again I have used the freebie paper from MME which came with the August issue of Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine which I purchased recently. Such a good buy these mags, as you always get something free with them.

Another few pics from different angles of my very first box... woohoooo ... lol

I decorated the edge of the lid with black and white spotted ribbon and then punched some yellow flowers to place along the ribbon. In the centre I added a flat-backed pearl.

I am entering this creation in the Crafty Emma's Store Challenge.  It's Anything Goes !

Thanks so much for popping by.  I'd love to hear what you think of my little box.  And finally, but certainly not least, a very warm welcome to my new Creative Friends. I will pop around and visit you soon.  Take care, hugs Sharon x

It's a Blog Hop at Kenny K's

Happy Sunday everyone and welcome to another Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenge.  Today sees the launch of the new ROCK SQUAD in Kenny K's Shop and to celebrate we are doing another Blog Hop.  Each DT member will be featuring 2 or 3 images from the new release and the theme for this week's challenge is MUSIC!   

If you have arrived from Jackie's blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you need to go back to the beginning of the Hop at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge Blog and start from there.

I am showcasing Hip Hop Drummer and Tracey Chapman for you!  Are they cool or what!!!!

I have chosen to make a slip-cover for a CD instead of a card.  It was so easy to make!  Ideal for putting that CD gift into. The CD peeking out is Eric Clapton's Greatest Hits, just in case you were wondering ;)

The next stop on the hop is Donna.  Remember to keep bopping... uhhh, I mean HOPPING ;), for to be eligible to win the GRAND PRIZE you must leave a comment on each blog and then leave your name on the Inlinkz at the last blog in the hop. The challenge closes on Saturday evening and the winner will be drawn by Random.org.

There will also be prizes along the way, but you will have to hop to each design team members blog to find out who has them.

We appreciate our sponsors for this week

Cult Pens are offering £25 worth of copic markers and a wallet for storage

Link to their site is http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Copic.html

Fantastic Ribbons is offering 10 rolls of ribbon of the winner's choice

Link to their site is http://www.fantasticribbons.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

Bearly Mine Designs is offering a Digi Set of the Winner's choice

Link to the site is http://bmd-creations.blogspot.com/

Wild Orchid Crafts is offering a package of pearls and flowers

Link to their site is http://www.wildorchidcrafts.co.uk/

 

and finally Kenny K is offering 3 Digi's of the Winner's Choice and 5 Decoupage Sheets

and the link to his site is http://www.kennykdownloads.com/

So... what are you waiting for?  Enjoy the Hop... hugs Sharon x

A Birthday Card for Katherine

Happy Saturday everyone... gosh, where has the time gone today.  Yikes!  Just one of those hectic, shopping days again... gotta eat you know...LOL... but I managed to snatch a few hours this afternoon to make some cards for a few friends...

The first one is for Sherlene's little girl who will be turning 1 year old on Wednesday next week. Her name is Katherine and she is adorable!   As I have all these new Elisabeth Bell stamps to play with, I thought I would use little Eden for her card.  I coloured her with Copics and then used my new Nellie Snellen die to frame her in.  The paper is MME's freebie pack which I received in the August issue of Cardmaking Magazine. The dew drops are gorgeous and were a gift. Thanks so much my friend. They really compliment this card.

I hope you like the card I have made for Katherine.  Thanks for popping by and leaving a comment. I really appreciate them and enjoy reading what you have to say.

Hugs Sharon x

A Sketch at Teddy Stampers

TGIF and welcome to another challenge at Teddy Stampers.  This time the lovely Jerusha, owner of Teddy Stampers, has designed a sketch for you to follow. And a lovely one it is too...  Our sponsors this fortnight are Die Cut Dreams.

I have chosen one of Elisabeth Bell's images for my card, from Belles n Whistles, called Child's Prayer.

I am loving my new Fiskars border punch, Sunburst and have combined this with a lovely spotted ribbon from my stash.  The corner punch is also new. The leaf was punched out using my McGill Pine punch 1 x 1.5 inch.  

We'd love you to pop around to the Teddy Stampers challenge blog to see what the rest of our design team have created. I hope you will feel inspired to join us.

Take care, hugs Sharon x

An Award from Sandra

Hello blogfriends... hope you are all well ?  Firstly, a very warm welcome to my new Creative Friends. Thanks for joining. I will pop around and visit you soon.

Just a reminder that tomorrow is another challenge at Teddy Stampers, so I hope you'll visit again to see what we have in store for you.

I received this beautiful Award from my friend Sandra.  Isn't it a lovely one?  As a recipient thereof I now need to do the following:

1.  Thank the person who gave it to me.  Thanks so much Sandra dear.  2. Put it on my blog.  Done.  3. Mention 3 things that I love doing.  Easy... Shopping for craft paper; crafting and relaxing at home.  4. My favourite picture... I have plenty, but will share this one with you - if I could paint my dream home, this would be it...

And then finally, to pass it on to 5 other bloggers.  Never an easy task this one, but I'd like to pass this on to Amelia, Colleen, Debbie, Cherie and Christine. Thanks for making me smile when I visit your blogs.  You are all so talented. I just love reading your posts, as they are so interesting.  Enjoy!

hugs Sharon x

Mel Waving at You

Gosh, what a super day for crafting once again in Cape Town. It's been raining on and off the whole day... perfect weather for hot chocolate and crafting...

Isn't this a cute digistamp? It's called Mel Waving Hi and can be purchased at the Digistamp 4 Joy website.  This is a brand-new initiative by a fellow South African crafter called Mel and we need to show our support here.  So... pop along and see what lovely images she has available for you to play with.  Exciting things happening over at Digistamp 4 Joy Blog. They have selected a brand new Design Team which will be introduced to use all on 1 September, so watch their space!

I love the image and found her quite easy to colour. Went for shocking pink and lilac as I had this lovely paper lying amongst my stash that was screaming to be used. Thought I'd use a few of the stick-on flowers and butterflies I've had for ages, for a change. The sentiment is also a local one and using my Upikit heart border punch, which has sadly been neglected for quite some time ;)

Hope you're having fun wherever you are.  Take care, hugs Sharon x

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge DT Card

Morning everyone... here's wishing you a wonderful Sunday... We have another challenge for you over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge blog and this week it is a sketch by the lovely Donna

And here is my take on the sketch. It is the first time I am using Troublemaker. Isn't she an absolute doll?  Just love those dreamy eyes of hers...  You can purchase her here.

My paper is from W&M, just loving them right now. The sentiment and embellies from my stash.

As you know, I love to complete the inside of my cards and have kept this very simple. Am loving my new flower punch Kendall bought me about a week ago.

I hope you will feel inspired to join in the FUN at Kenny K's this week.  The DT have come up with some amazing work,so  please pop around and show them some love.

Remember there are SUPER prizes to be won once again.  First prize, a choice of 3 Kenny K digistamps; Second prize, a choice of 2 digistamps and Third prize, a choice of 1 digistamp.

Thanks for popping by.  If you feel like leaving a comment, please do so, as I really appreciate them all. Take care, hugs Sharon x

Totally Tilda Challenge

It is pouring with rain as I type this post... I just love it!  Perfect weather for crafting which is what I have been doing the whole afternoon, whilst drinking copious amounts of tea and enjoying some lovely pancake which Kendall made for us.  Not good for the figure, I know (lol), but perfect weather for it, I am sure you'll agree...

Here's a little card I put together for the challenge over at Totally Tilda.  They want you to use Stitching on your card and I've gone for the faux look.  I only found it a few weeks ago and this is my first challenge entry.

I haven't used lilacs for a while. Am so pleased I did. The border punch is new which I purchased over at a craftshop at the Somerset West Mall last Sunday. It's called Sunburst and is so dainty, I just love it.

Well, it's back to the crafting table for me.  Thanks for popping by, and a very warm welcome to my new Crafty Friends.  Don't forget to take part in the Blog Candy I am offering.

Hugs Sharon x

Blog Candy from Me to You...

A very warm hello to everyone who visits my blog to read my posts and view my cards... I appreciate every visit, follower and nice comment that comes my way... 

I currently have 144 wonderful people who have joined my Creative Friends Gallery and have around 14937 hits on my blog.  These figures astound me each time I log on and once again, a huge thank you to those who have made this possible.

As my regular followers will know, I was very fortunate to win the very talented Elisabeth Bell's Definitive Blog Candy a few weeks ago.  I am pleased to report that the Candy has finally arrived (safely) and it just blew my mind when I got to view my winnings.  Gosh, it's like winning the flippin' Jackpot!  16 months ago I didn't own 1 single stamp and today I feel I have enough to last me a lifetime... (smile)

Because I feel so blessed, I have decided... ta-ra... to share some of my good fortune with 1 lucky person, so that she/he too can experience the joy I am feeling right now.

This is the Candy I have decided to offer one lucky individual... for now.  Yes... I have more than 1 gift to share with you all, but for now it is the Aladdin 1001 Nights Stamp Kit.

To qualify as an entrant for this Candy, there are a few minor stipulations.  You need to:

• Be a Follower of my blog
• Become a Follower, if you are not one already. Ideally I would like to push my Creative Friends list to over 150 and my Hits to over 15 000. 
• Advertise this Blog Candy in the sidebar of your Blog until the draw date, which will be 17th September 2010
• And finally, when leaving a comment tell me why you think you should win this Candy

This invitation is open worldwide. I will cover the postage and packaging fee and will add a few bits and pieces, including one of my own creations, with this stamp kit for you to enjoy!

Oh yes, and as I will be reading each comment, Sharon.org will be selecting the winner and not Random.org.  

Thanks for joining in the fun and good luck!

hugs Sharon x

Cards for CANSA - last updates

Good evening friends... this will be one of my last updates concerning the Run for Life (Cards for CANSA) project that I am running with.  The response from the South African stamping friends has been remarkable.  Not only have we exceeded the 100 cards I initially asked for, but have as of this evening DOUBLED that amount.  Woohooo... you ladies rock!  Thank you so very much for responding to the cause... I am sure the Cancer Survivors taking part in the Relay for Life in Worcester, Western Cape later in October this year, will appreciate receiving one of YOUR cards in their gift bag.

So, here are a few cards I received this evening from the lovely Charmain Harris, who is the first blogfriend I have met in person. Lovely meeting you Charmain - I hope to keep in touch, as I so enjoyed our chat. Thank you to you and your friends, Sandra and Brenda for the awesome cards you have made... they are beautiful!

A week or so ago I received these lovely cards from Gail Grant. Thanks Gail, your cards are stunning!  Just love that embossing and your sentiments are so special. Need to find out where I can get some of those...

And last, but certainly not least, are cards received from Ursula Uphof and Hayley McIennan.  Beautiful cards ladies, thanks for your hard work!  Such a lot of detail. A real labour of love...

I am sorry that I've been unable to post each and every card, that is why I encourage you all to start a blog of your own, so that we can all view your beautiful creations. We have so much to learn from each other.

This project is nearing closure now, as all cards must be received by me by the end of this month.   It has been very heartwarming hearing how Cancer has affected each and everyone of us in some way, either directly or indirectly. Thank you for sharing your stories with me.  I hope we have the privilege of working together on a similar type of project in the future. 

Blessings, Sharon x

Get Well cards...

Good morning and welcome to my blog... no challenge today, but thought I would share these 2 cards which I made yesterday afternoon. We have 2 family members who have been ill and I thought I would make them a card each to cheer them up...

You all know how I just love these LOTV stamps. This little cutie pie has been inked and coloured for the first time... isn't she adorable? 

 Coloured in with the trusty Copics.  For the SA girls, Paola Levi is the sole distributor in SA for Sketches, so pop her an email if you want to order some...

My stamping was a little light in the centre, but I didn't want to waste the image, so continued to colour nevertheless.

Almost time for me to get ready for work... so here's wishing you all a super week ahead.  Mine is going to be a very busy one... Sharon x

Kenny K Challenge - Bold and Brights this week

Wishing all of you a blessed Sunday... whatever you're doing today, I hope you have loads of FUN!

Over at Kenny K's Crafty Girlz this week, they'd like you to come up with something BOLD and BRIGHT!  Our Design Team for this week have come up with some awesome creations for your inspiration, so pop around and show them some love. You will not be disappointed!

Super prizes to be won as usual:

1st Prize - a choice of 3 Digistamps from Kenny's shop
2nd Prize - a choice of 2 Digistamps and
3rd Prize - a choice of 1 Digistamp

and you get to display the I made the Top 3 Badge on your Blog

Catch up with you all later. Hugs Sharon

A Challenge at Crafty Alley...

Hi everyone, I hope you're all having a super crafting weekend... I've decided to take part in one of the challenges set by the lovely Michele Roos over at Crafty Alley. Here is the sketch she'd like you to follow...

And here is my submission...

I have gone with Kenny K's Queens Cutie, which I had coloured ages ago. She's been lying on the shelf for far too long now, so here she is...  I love this paper which was part of a scrapbooking pack Kendall had purchased a while ago. Just lying around, so I just grabbed it. Super colours. The sentiment is a new one, which I'll be using quite a bit. It's a local stamp and I just love that font. The pearls are all flat-backed, bought from my friend Paola's shop.

As you browse through blogland you pick up little tips here and there and I've decided to try something new when sticking down my sentiment. In the middle I placed sticky foam and at the ends just plain glue or sticky tape. Gives it that bent sort of shape. I quite like it.

That's it for now... catch up with you later.  I see a lot has been going on in blogland. I've tried to leave some comments on a few of your blogs, but it is going so slowwww, that I gave up. Will try again later or else I'll run out of airtime, so apologies.

Take care, hugs Sharon x

Teddy Stampers DT - Teddy Bear Picnic

Happy Friday everyone... it's weekend... woohooo!  Welcome to another challenge at Teddy Stampers.  Our theme this fortnight is Teddy Bear Picnic.  Do you remember the Teddy Bear Song?

If you go out in the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise

If you go out in the woods today

You'd better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.... and so on..

Our sponsor this week is Sew Many Cards.

I hope you manage to find some teddies who are enjoying their picnic, so that you can play along with us.  If not, pop around to the Isabella Sketchbook Boutique to purchase this digistamp.

Wishing you all a super creative weekend ahead.  Sharon x

Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine (UK)

Good evening folks... hope all is well in blogland and with you all... I came home this evening and found that there was a parcel at the Post Office for me. Thinking it was some more cards for CANSA, I immediately rushed to the PO before they closed and on opening the envelope found a complimentary copy of the UK's Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine ~ September 2010 issue.

As many of you who follow me regularly will know, I just love these mags. They are super eye-candy for me. I read it from cover to cover. There is such a lot to learn and those freebie gifts are a real treat.  So... I thought that perhaps the ladies at C&P would like to hear how much their magazine means to little ol' me from SA and... they loved it!!  So much so, that they published my letter in their September issue (see below) and to top it all, my letter won the Editor's Choice and I get a BP15.00 gift voucher from Crafter's Companion. Woweeeeeeee... can't wait to receive their email notification so that I can go shopping!!!

The 2 cards featured are my own (of course) using Elisabeth Bell stamps. Thanks for sharing this with me.  hugs Sharon x

Young Alexa and I Love You This Much - Elisabeth Bell stamps

Good afternoon to all my blog and stamping friends... I hope you're having as much fun as I am!  I've been up since 4.30am (I kid you not!), not sure what woke me, but never one to let the grass grown under her feet... I immediately got to work on a few cards so that I could share them with you.

I've organised all my stamps into see-through CD cases and I was amazed (and shocked) to see how many stamps I actually have!! (By my standards at least... as I know many of you have so much more). I was just telling my lovely friend Sandra that all 15 CD cases I received as a birthday gift have now been utilised... it helps when your friends ask you what you need when your birthday comes around...lol   I feel truly blessed to have reached this stage in my life where I can afford to have a hobby and I am really enjoying it...

I'd love to introduce you to Young Alexa, an Elisabeth Bell creation. I don't see her much in blogland, which is such a pity as she is utterly adorable...

Don't you just love my new paper by Wilson & Maclagan?  I told you in an earlier post to stick around, as I have so much more to share with you... woohooo!   You all know how I love to decorate the inside of my cards... when I have the time... so here's a side view of my card, so that you can get a peek of the inside... nothing fancy, but it makes such a difference doesn't it ?

And then we can't let Elisabeth's new digistamp sit on the shelf, so here for your and my enjoyment is I Love You This Much, which I'd like to dedicate to all my Crafty Friends, the people who visit me regularly, leave comments and make me smile each day...

I will be entering these into the Elisabeth Bell Digi DT Call.  If you'd like to try out with me, then click on the link in my sidebar to check out the details on Elisabeth's blog.  Have fun and good luck!

Tons of hugs, Sharon x

Kenny K Challenge ~ DT card

Morning All and happy Sunday... today we invite you to join us at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz for another challenge and this time it's Summertime... The DT have come up with some stunning creations for your inspiration, so pop around and pay them a visit...

This week I have chosen one of Kenny K's new digistamps called Girl Batter.  Isn't she stunning?  This would be a super image to use for someone who is sports-minded... and that is what Summertime brings to my mind... lots of warm, sunny days with all sorts of sports on the go...

I went shopping on Friday at Merrypak, not too far from where I live, as I was on a day's leave and bought some stunning Wilson & Maclagan 12x12 paper packs. I have the most AWESOME paper to share with you. I just love them, so keep watching this space!!!

The lovely satin ribbon and sentiment was a gift from Paola for my birthday. Flowers and buttons from my current stock. Added some glaze to that bat, ball and sneakers of our Girl Batter.

Pop around to our challenge blog for details concerning the prizes you can win. You will not be disappointed.  Link is in my sidebar.

Thanks for visiting, hugs Sharon

EB Digi DT Call Submission

Hi folks... I am sure you've heard that Elisabeth Bell is having a Digi DT Call and the closing date is next Friday. Here is one of the cards I will be submitting for consideration... The stamp is a new one from her range of digi's and this cute poppet is called Sweet Sundae... sure looks like she's enjoying every mouthful....

The papers are from my new collection of Wilson & Maclagan paper packs which I purchased from Merrypak on Friday. I bought about 4 sets of 12x12 packs in various shades and will be showcasing them here. Super quality, a bit thicker than other papers I've been using and lignin free.

Same card taken from a different angle so that you can see how I've popped the image and sentiment.  The sentiment is from a local company in SA, called Acorn A10D which I purchased from Paper Paradise at Tygervalley Shopping Centre.

And then the final pic so that you can admire all that glitter on my MS butterfly.

Thanks for popping by once again, happy crafting friends, hugs Sharon x