The Outlawz (DT) Birthday Challenge

Welcome to another challenge at The Outlawz.  The Birthday Challenge this Monday requires that you make a card with Hearts and Ribbons... now how easy is that?

I had such fun putting this one together... I have loads of stamped and coloured images that I am determined to use and this little HAngler and StAngler is one of them.  Fortunately I had paper amongst my stash to match...

As you can see a very simple card, just used various cardstock to punch out some hearts and decided to dangle some ribbon from 2 of them and thought the pearls would be a nice little touch too.  The patterned paper is from W&M's range of papers purchased from Merrypak.

Sadly, this is my last card as a member of the Outlawz DT.  Thanks to Colleen for the opportunity.  I will still be an active member, as I've met some wonderful friends there.

Cheers, Sharon

World Cancer Day - Friday, 4th February

A very dear friend of mine lost a beloved Sister to cancer a few years ago.  I too have members in my family who have passed on and who are survivors of cancer... so, when I received this request to keep the candle burning in memory of those who have been struck down or who are still living with cancer, I thought why share it with just a few friends, why not post it on your blog to share with everyone ?

So... if you have lost a loved one to cancer or there are any loved one's who have survived this disease in your immediate or extended family... let's remember and honour them by keeping this Candle alive...

A Candle loses Nothing by lighting another Candle.  Please keep this Candle going.......

Friday, 4th February is World Cancer Day

Susan, my ou maat, die pos is spesiaal vir jou in herhinnering aan Antoinette en ook vir my familie-lede... Obie, Tannie Lorraine en Oom Frans.

Thanks for popping by today... hugs Sharon xx

The Outlawz (DT) Birthday Challenge

Good Morning everyone and welcome to another Birthday challenge at The Outlawz.  If you haven't joined this community group, please consider doing so... within 2 weeks the membership has grown to 190.  So nice to see some familiar South African faces too. 

As jy nie 'n blog het nie, kan jy nog steeds aansluit by die gewilde groep.  Jy sal sommer baie pret hê.  Dis 'n geleentheid vir jou om jou pragtige projekte met die hele blogland te deel. Jy sal nie spyt wees nie hoor.  Stuur maar vir my 'n epos as daar enige vrae is.

The challenge for you this week is to make a Birthday Card (it is the Birthday Challenge after all...lol) using Red as your primary colour.   Here is my DT card for your inspiration...

The image is a design of the super-talented Elisabeth Bell. I cannot remember with which set I received this, but I love this bouquet in the vase.  I coloured the image with my Faber Castell pencils this time, for a change.  The red spotted paper is from my W&M range of papers, love them!  The mustard spotted paper is what I've had for ages in my stash. Added some roses and included my pearl pins which I haven't used for a while.  The sentiment is from Happy Daze.

Added some dimension glaze to the image to make it pop a bit and to finish off some dewdrops and ribbon.

Thanks for popping around and leaving a comment, I really enjoy reading them and hope to see your card at The Outlawz.

Enjoy the rest of your week, I'll catch up with you all later. Sharon x

New Dutch Magnolia Challenge Blog

Happy Saturday everyone... there's a new Magnolia challenge blog in blogland... a Dutch one.   The link is here. Why don't you go and have a peek... should be fun once they're up and running.  Another opportunity for us to use our lovely Maggies hey!

Catch up with you later. hugs Sharon x

And the Winner of my Blog Candy is....

Thanks to those who entered my Blog Candy which I had on offer, which was a gesture of appreciation for reaching 200 Followers. 

I called on the assistance of Deidre.org to read through the responses and we then  decided on 4 finalists.  We wrote these names on pieces of paper, folded them and shuffled them around.

Then Deidre selected 1 and the Winner is....

LINS.... CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!

I will be forwarding your email address to Tab at 7 Kids College Fund, so that she can email you the US$10 Gift Certificate you have won.  (Note: 7 Kids College is not sponsoring this prize, this is for my own personal account).

It was such fun reading through your lovely comments, I really appreciate the kind words mentioned and value your friendship, it makes blogging all the more worthwhile when you know there are friends out there who appreciate you and your work.  I feel very humbled... you are all so special.   Perhaps we should do this again when I reach another milestone... what do you think ?

A huge thank you to my special friend Deidre for assisting with this exercise.  She said she really enjoyed it, so hopefully I'll be able to call on her again in the future.

Enjoy your weekend girls, I am so pleased it's just around the corner.  Take care, Sharon x

Teddy Stampers-DT

Hello and a huge welcome... not only is it Friday and the start of yet another weekend, but it's challenge time at Teddy Stampers.  We are really thrilled that so many of you popped around to play with us this past fortnight... we definitely want to see you again!

Our new challenge this fortnight should appeal to everyone... you can really go wild, as it's Anything Goes !

I've decided to produce a Birthday Card to add to my personal stash.  I am introducing a new Teddy I came across whilst browsing in blogland.  She is called Teddy Bea.  You can find her at the Teddy Bo.com website.  She's a creation of Fairy D and if you are not aware of this site, then you are really missing something.  I notice that Fairy D has added some new images for you to play with, so pop on over and pay them a visit.

Isn't she ADORE-ABLE !!!  I fell in love with her the minute I saw her and just had to have her.  Hope you feel the same.  I have had this gorgeous piece of DP in my cupboard for absolutely ages and have finally got to use it.  The sentiment is a local one and I really love it.  Decided I must start using some of my paper flowers which I've had for ages as well. The beautiful dew drop in the centre of the flower on bottom right is from Andrea's shop over at Annabelle Stamps in Oz.  Pop around and pay her a visit, she has a variety of colours for you to choosen from.

Our sponsor over at Teddy Stampers is Ellephantastic, so please join in the fun so that you can win a prize from them. 

Challenges:  I haven't entered a challenge for quite a while now but will be entering this one in the Teddy Bo Challenge.  There are so many beautiful entries.  Wow, I am really blown away by the wonderful talented crafters out there.

That's it friends, enjoy your weekend.  Thanks so much for popping by.  I hope you get some crafting done (I need to catch up on some DT cards) and I'll catch up with you again soon.  ~ Sharon

p.s.  I will be back later in the day with the winner of my Blog Candy, so watch this space!  Thanks to those who joined in the fun... I can't wait to see who the Gift Certificate is going to!

R.I.P Tammy... we'll never forget you!

Dear friends... it is with a very huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes that I write this post, but this is the least that our Tammy deserves.  For those who have been following me for a while now, you would probably have seen this picture of her somewhere on my blog during this time.

Sadly and so quickly, our darling maltese poodle, Tammy, passed away earlier this evening.  Perhaps I am biaised, but I think this is fault of all doggie owners... we think our pets are beautiful.  We used to get so many compliments about her good looks, it was unbelievable!  Not only a beauty to look at, but a wonderful nature as well.  We A-D-O-R-E-D her, she was like our child.  I swear she could understand everything we said... we often laughed and said that all she must do is open her mouth and talk, now wouldn't that be something!  She loved it when people came to visit and would jump and greet them as if she hadn't seen them for ages.  We used to laugh and say "now calm down Tammy...", as she got so excited.

A lot of people call maltese poodles "yapping dogs", that may be the case, but Tammy was an excellent watchdog... she could smell trouble a mile away...  She somehow knew when we were coming to visit as my Mom would often say "she heard you coming before you even got here", as she'd always be at the door when we pulled into the driveway, ready to greet us with a lick, a happy little dance and a yap!  Oh Tammy, my heart is absolutely broken... we are going to miss you so very much!

I'll never forget how Kendall used to dress you up in the most weird outfits when she was younger and you never, ever complained... you just sat there, like a little doll, allowing her to dress you up in these ridiculous outfits, sunglasses and all... just so that we could have a laugh!  You will forever be in our hearts and we just feel so blessed as a family to have had you in our lives, even though it was only for 11 years.  You brought such a lot of love and laughter with you. 

My Mother is heartbroken and devastated, as are we all, because as a housewife she spent most of her time with Tammy and nursed her through this very short illness... which started just before Christmas 2010.  She will miss her the most.  Thanks Mom for the wonderful care you took to ensure that Tammy was so well looked after and loved, especially this past week.  Little did we know that it would end this way!

Rest In Peace dear Tammy... at least there is no more pain, which was so unbearable for us to see... thank you so much for the happy times, we'll never ever forget you!

TAMMY KEANLY ~ 26.11.1999 - 19.01.2011

With love from your very heartbroken human family xoxoxoxox


[Edit] Thank you to my dear friend Deidre who brought these beautiful Tulips for me, to work today (20 January). They really made my day.  Also for the special jewellery bookmark given in memory of dear Tammy.  Thank you also to all my dear blog friends for your wonderful messages of love and support... much appreciated.  hugs Sharon xx

Have a Sunshine Day

Hello bloggers... I am so frustrated with myself... I was convinced that one of my DT cards had to have 2 ribbons on it and so I spent Sunday evening making this card... then when I went to upload it to the challenge group, I notice that I had it wrong....urghhhhh!  Feels like such a waste of time... I hate that, as time is so precious you know, for a working gal!

Well... I need to showcase it or else it will just gather dust...  Hope you like it...

The stamp is one of Elisabeth Bell's and the sentiment is from our local company, Great Impressions.

Thanks for popping by and for leaving a comment. hugs Sharon

Birthday Challenge @ The Outlawz

Greetings to you all and welcome to another Birthday Card challenge at The Outlawz.  Thanks to everyone who joined our challenge last week. We hope you'll play along this week as well.  Remember, in order to do so, you will need to become a member of this lovely community group.  I am so pleased that so many of my South African blogfriends have joined... it's great seeing so many familiar faces there.  As jy indien belangstel om by 'n groep mense aan te sluit waar jy baie pret kan hê, sluit gerus aan by Die Outlawz. Jy sal nie spyt weet nie. Jy hoef net kaarte of enige ander projek te maak. Jy kan enige stempel gebruik, ens.

The challenge for this week is to make a Birthday Day card with the colours Pink, Brown and Green... I hope this little card will inspire you to join in the FUN!

Thanks for popping by and leaving the nicest comments. They really encourage me to continuing doing what I'm doing.  Tons of hugs, Sharon

It's CAS at The Outlawz

Hi Everyone... welcome to my Kardz Korner...

It's a Clean and Simple (CAS) Challenge over at The Outlawz this Sunday.  Hope you'll pop around and enter this week.   Wow... the Outlawz was launched last Monday and already we have 130 members... how cool is that ???

Here is my card in support of the challenge. Maureen asked for mostly white, 1 embellishment and a bit of red... how simple can that be... Yeah right ??   This was very difficult for me, as I like to decorate my cards with lots of colourful paper, etc.   Well, a challenge indeed, so   I hauled out my embossed plates to use for the background. Stamped a flower stamp in red and just placed on red cardstock to give it a thin red border. I then placed my new card candy in the centre of the flower, which is my only embellishment.  This candy can be purchased from Emma's Store in the UK.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, hope it is a blessed one. Thanks for popping by. Sharon

Casting Crowns... Who Am I

Morning bloggers and blogfriends... I wish you all a blessed Sunday.  It's early and I've just been listening to my favourite Christian CD by Casting Crowns and thought I would share my ultimate favourite song with you all... Who Am I. 

It gives me goosebumps, brings a tear to the eye and just makes me feel so blessed that Jesus died for you and I on the Cross.

This video is freely available on You Tube, so I hope I'm not infringing on any copyrights.

Please pop around later at 3pm today, where I will have another post for you with details of the Sunday Clean and Simple challenge at The Outlawz.   As The Outlawz is a US-based community group and because of the 7-hour time difference, it's only fair that I post this at that time or do you feel I should post at my local time?  I'd be interested to hear what you think ? Cheers till later, Sharon

Blog Candy and Thank You

Hi Everyone

I have just noticed that my Creative Friends list (followers) has reached the 200 mark.  How absolutely awesome is that !   I am honoured that you have found my blog worthwhile of visiting and following.  Thank you so much for contributing towards this milestone.

We need to celebrate this occasion, right ?  Riiiiight! 

I have therefore decided to offer you a chance to win a US$10 Gift Voucher from one of my favourite online stores, 7 Kids College Fund.  Please note that I am NOT being sponsored by 7 Kids College Fund.  This gift is a personal one, from me to you ! 

To qualify you need to

• Be a follower or become one, if you are not one already
• Answer this question:  Why do you think you should be the lucky winner ?
• Next to your answer, leave your email address, so that I can find you (should you win)
• No need to post this on your blog

The Winner will be drawn by Sharon.org and announced on... hmmmm, let's say, Friday 21 January 2011.

Good luck! 

Thanks for popping by and taking part... hope you have fun as you leave your comments. I'm really going to enjoy reading them... hugs Sharon

A New Challenge Group

Greetings fellow crafters... have I got some awesome news for you.


We have a new Craft Community on the Ning Network called The Outlawz. This is the brainchild of Colleen Holmes from A Cards Delight.  I was invited to join the Outlawz Girlz DT and accepted.

This community caters for all interests and there are challenges for just about every day of the week.  There is a huge selection to suit all your crafty talents. We hope you'll be inspired to pop along to find out what it's all about and then we'd really love you to join our network group and experience this awesome ride with us... yeehaaa !!!

And... as it is Monday, we are kicking off with our first Birthday Challenge.  It's ANYTHING GOES this week. Please pop along and join in the FUN!  It's the start of a new year and we all need to have birthday cards right? 

I couldn't wait to use my new Tilda stamp, Peachy Tilda. I purchased her from Tab's shop at 7 Kids College in the USA. The dotted DP is Kaisercraft's Sugar Sugar and the striped DP is Fabscrap's Urban Chic Stripe.  I just finished off with a few peach roses, pearlised pearl and hatpins and some paper string.

Thanks for popping by once again and for leaving a comment. I so enjoy reading them. ~ Sharon

Teddy Stampers - Celebrations (DT)

Hello to all my fellow bloggers... welcome to the first challenge for the new year with Teddy Stampers and a very warm welcome to our new TS Teamies that are joining us for the first time today.

We are Celebrating at Teddy Stampers... be it a birthday, anniversary, new baby, whatever... we'd like to see your card/project depicting any celebration.  Don't forget to use a STAMPED teddy image though, to be considered for the prizes on offer.

Our sponsor this fortnight is Whimsey Stamps and today I've used one of Meljen's designs...

The paper I've used is from W&M and rest of the embellies from my current stash.

I hope you feel inspired to join us this fortnight and we look forward to viewing your stunning creations.

Thanks for popping by, all comments are welcomed.  ~ Sharon

Hello

No card today, just logging on to say Hi (wave).  It is hellishly HOT in Cape Town today... 35 degrees celsius.  Our cricket side are playing a 5 day game against India, today being the 4th day, and I have no idea how they can stand playing in this heat!!  The commentator just said that it is 46 degrees celsius in the middle of the pitch... yikes!!!  It's days like this when I wish we had a house with a swimming pool!

This is my last week of being on leave... not a good thing to dwell on... quite depressing actually to think that I start the new work year on Monday... But once there, I am sure things will just return to normal.

The nice thing about being on leave is that you get to relax and do things that you don't normally have the time to do.  I managed to read the all 3 books in the Twilight series... and I watched all 3 movies... I'm definitely a Team Edward fan...  and I cannot wait for the final movie to hit the shelves...

I also read the first book in the Spud series and went to see the movie this morning.  Let me tell you, that was the best place to be in this heat... it was super cool in the movie house, but when we got outside... arghhhh, that heat just killed me!!!

Other than that, just relaxed and spent time with the family.  Hope you were able to get some leave this time of the year and that you've had a good rest. 

Thanks to my blogging buddies Catherine, Debbie, Gail, Lia, Lins and Sandra for their absolutely beautiful hand-crafted Christmas cards which I received.  

Catch up with you soon... there's a new challenge over at Teddy Stampers on Friday, so watch this space for my DT card... Sharon

Happy New Year

Woohooo.... Firstly, a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!!   Sadly, the owners of the PTT Challenge Blog where I was invited to serve on their DT have decided, for personal reasons, to discontinue the challenge blog for now.  I was really looking forward to this new post and had already worked through a few of the challenges, that is why you are seeing so many Birthday Cards... Oh well, I am sure there will be other DT posts coming up soon, so I'll just keep my eyes and ears open...

I purchased this beautiful Birthday Stamp from my stamping friend, Debbie Harris.  I fell in love with it when I saw it and decided just to use my Chalk to give it a bit of colour.  The papers are from MME.  Pearls and ribbon from my stash and the white flower was a gift from another friend, Amelia.  I just love the way this card came out and will keep it for myself as part of my birthday card supply for the year.

Here's another side view to give you a peek of the inside of the card...

And finally, here's the inside of the card...

I made the flowers myself, using various sized flower punches and of course the gorgeous border punch too.

Thanks for popping around to pay me a visit, I so enjoy reading your comments.  Wishing you a super day with your loved ones... hugs Sharon