My Favourite Idol this Season...

We South Africans got to see the American Idols 10th Season Finale on Sunday.   It was my favourite Idols Season yet... we just loved Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as judges (yes, there is life after Simon Cowell).

Despite being extremely happy with the outcome, as we are huge Country fans - Scotty and Lauren were amongst our faves, little Haley Reinhart was definitely MY ultimate favourite. That VOICE is so raspy and sexy, I certainly hope she'll go places in the music world. 

Here's a clip of my ultimate favourite Haley performance, her rendition of The Animals... House of the Rising Sun.  Enjoy!

There's a PAR-TAY going on at The Outlawz

SAVE THE DATE

There's a Summer PAR-TAY going on at The Outlawz

With SUPER sponsored PRIZES to be WON

Remember... you've got to be IN IT to WIN IT!

See you there from 5 - 11 June

hugs Sharon 

Totally Gorjuss (GDT) - Strings the Thing

Happy Saturday and welcome to another challenge at Totally Gorjuss.  The challenge is Strings the Thing, so put on your thinking caps and get those creative juices flowing.  Initially I was a bit stumped with this one, but then the ideas just started flowing and I hope you'll be inspired to join us this week.

I've had this little bag lying around for a while now and it came in so handy for this challenge. I've altered it into a little Thank You bag by cutting a piece of lilac cardstock for the front.  Onto that I adhered some patterned paper and used a doily behind my gorgeous new Molly Bloom image, which is being showcased for the first time on my blog.  Don't you just LOVE her ?  She and a few of her other friends are newbies purchased from Which Craft in the UK.  I was so impressed with the service I received that I'll be ordering some more Molly Blooms from Paula in future.

I've used some yellow string which I've threaded through a lovely purple button and have further decorated my bag with some flowers, ribbon and pearls. The border die is one of my new one's from Marianne Designs.  The Thank You sentiment is a Fokus stamp, purchased from our local Merrypak store.

Our sponsor this week is Horseshoe Crafts.  As I hadn't heard of them before, I went for a browse and you've just got to pay them a visit.  Happy shopping!

Thanks for popping by for a visit. I'd love for you to leave a comment as I so enjoy reading them. Take care, hugs Sharon x

p.s. Not sure what the heck is going on with Blogger, but I am getting so annoyed, as I am unable to leave comments on the blogs I've been visiting. To the regulars I visit, please don't think I've been ignoring you... I've tried at least 3x on each blog, with NO succcess!!  I hope Blogger gets his act together soon.... grrrr!   [Edit 30 May : If you follow the instructions left by Lynn (Jimlynn) and Jennifer, you'll be sorted. Thanks ladies... I am able to leave comments now... shew!)

Totally Gorjuss (GDT) - Water... water...

Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to another challenge at Totally Gorjuss.  Have we got a lovely challenge for you this week...  We'd love to see you make a creation with WATER!

I was really stumped with this one... didn't have a clue what I was going to do, but then my friend Paola reminded me of this cute little Tilda that's been collecting dust in my Magnolia box.  Hope you like her...

Patterned paper is from my Wilson & Maclaghan range again.... just love them!  This Miss Tilda is called BeachTilda.  I have been practising the masking technique.  The rock and grass stamp is from a local company, Great Impressions, purchased from Merrypak.

And here is a side view to give you a peek at the inside of the card, which I like to decorate.  The sentiment is one of Lili of the Valley's.  The card candy is from Crafty Emma's Store and the ribbon from... uhhh, not sure, but isn't it a lovely colour...LOL

I added a little bit of Rangers Stickles, Stardust purchased from Paola's Store to make the water stand out!  Nesties are from Spellbinders range of nesties.

Thanks for popping by.  We hope to see you at the challenge.  Take care, hugs Sharon x


My friend Paola has some awesome Candy on offer.  You'd better hurry along to her Blog to enter... See pic in my side bar... good luck!

New Stash...

Hello friends... I did some retail therapy yesterday and this is what I came home with... doesn't it look lovely ?  All purchased from The Scrapbook shop, High Level Street. 

As you can see, some sentiment stamps for those C&S cards I want to make.  Some stunning sheets of paper. There's my MM distressing tool, a new pair of embroidery scissors, a lovely snowflake stamp and 2 little Momento Dew drops. And of course, you got to have glue too (as if I don't have enough...LOL)...

Ooooh yes... and for the first time The Scrapbook shop had some Martha Stewart punches in store and I grabbed this one from the 3 that was left.  It's the Pop-up Butterflies punch. 

That's it for now, thanks for looking. Take care, hugs Sharon x

Tilda with Lace Jeans...

Good morning and a wonderful Sunday to you all... it's 8.26am as I type this post and there is heavy mist outside. I have the window slightly open and the cool breeze and smell of the ocean is just wonderful... Hope you all have a super day!

I made a card late afternoon, early evening with my new Tilda with Lace Jeans which arrived from 7 Kids College Fund.  I don't use purple/lilac that often, but the Fairy Flora 6x6 paper pad I received from Crafty Emma's Store is just filled with the most beautiful colours and designs.  I am going to have such fun playing with these.

So, here is my little creation for your enjoyment and mine.  Lots to type, so please bear with me...  My regulars will know that I am trying to master the vintagey/chic look, so I bought myself one of those distressing tools from our local The Scrapbook Shop (High Street) and I just hope I've done it justice.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Use an old stamp (the corner stamps and music sheet are old but have NEVER been used)
* By the Cute and Girly - Anything Goes
* Magnolia Down Under - Your Favourite Things (the new die from Marianne Designs is an absolute fave, but then so is everything else
* Just Magnolia and hAnglar stAnglar - Make It Lacey (my new crocheted lace)

And here is a side view, so that you can get a glimpse of the inside too.  Believe it or not, but I have used 3 different shades of lilac for my bow. Tilda has been coloured with Copics. The heart-shaped pearls are also from Crafty Emma's Store.

Thanks so much for popping by, I appreciate all comments, so don't be shy!  Going to make another cuppa coffee, so I'll catch up with you all later, hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (GDT) - Not Square

Hi there friends and family, hope you're all well?  Welcome to another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. Our challenge is for you to make something other than a square card.  Our DT have come up with some wonderful creations for your inspiration, so do pop around and have a look.  Our sponsor this week is Crafter's Companion. Thanks so much to those who took part in our Sketch challenge last week. Your creations were absolutely stunning!

I've chosen one of the pre-cut cards I bought from Crafty Emma's Store.  I just took this beautiful Annalee paper, also from Emma's store, layered it over the card and cut around it by hand (I don't have one of those grand machines unfortunately).  The paper was too beautiful to cover with loads of embellishments, so I've kept them to a minimum by just adding a few flowers and some pearls. 

The beautiful dragonfly stamp is from a local company, Great Impressions (no. M1565), bought from Merrypak. I stamped it with Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, Vintage Photo and smudged it to create a vintagey look.  Took some coppery glitter to highlight a few of the images on the stamp. 

Our Tilda with Hawaii Flower is a newbie from 7 Kids College Fund.  My order arrived in SA but was sitting at Customs for ever and a day. I thought it had got lost in the post.  Now that they are here, I can't wait to play with my new girlies.  I also received 2 new Magnolia magazines, the Easter and Valentine collections and I just loved looking at all the beautiful creations therein... wow!

Thanks for popping by and apologies that I haven't posted last week, but work and life outside of blogland, has kept me busy.  Take care, hugs Sharon xx

Totally Gorjuss (GDT) - A Sketch

Happy Saturday and a warm welcome to another challenge over at the Totally Gorjuss challenge blog.  Net has provided a wonderful sketch for us to work with, I am sure you will use it over and over again...

Here's my interpretation thereof.  I hope it will inspire you to make a card of your own. Our sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen.

For today I have used a double-sided cardstock for my card, no white base card (huh?).  This is a first for me and it really helped cut down on time, which we all have such a little of nowadays...  The paper was quite sturdy and could stand quite easily without flopping down.  My image is the lovely Margeaux Painting by Stampavie, a Sarah Kay design. 

Thanks so much for popping by and leaving me a comment, they are much appreciated. Hope to see you over at the Totally Gorjuss challenge blog, our DT have created some beautiful cards for your inspiration.

hugs Sharon x

Mother's Day Cards to share...

Well, good evening all... Yep, now that I'm back at work, this is the time I get to craft. It is wonderful and peaceful... Kendall is studying for her Conveyancing exam next Wednesday... please hold thumbs for her... so I quickly put 2 Mother's Day cards together, as I need to take them to work tomorrow for 2 clients...

This is such good practice for me... I couldn't do anything else at this short notice but make 2 C&S cards again... hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them.  Thanks to my regular blogfriends that visit, your comments are so encouraging...

The DP is so lovely, I have left this as the main focus.  Don't you just love that lace... remember a while back I mentioned that I had some pink lace, well here it is.  As you can see very clean and simple lines.  The sentiment is the main focus too.

I've also kept the inside decoration to the minimum, just enough to compliment the outside.  There are my butterflies again, they make such a lovely focal point.

I found this scalloped cardstock whilst rummaging through my stash and decided to use if for my second card.  Wish I'd bought some more, but they only had this colour. Will have to check with Maryke from Scrap's Delight, as this is where I purchased it from.  Once again, the sentiment is the focal point and I got an opportunity to make the double bow again.  How did yours go Lynn?

A side view pic to give you a peek of the inside. Also kept this simple and added to circles to compliment the patterned paper on the outside and added a butterfly where the 2 circles join.

Thanks so much for popping by and do leave a comment if you have the time, as I really appreciate them.  A warm welcome to my new followers, always nice seeing a new face amongst my Creative Friends on top.

I've still got to make my GDT card for Totally Gorjuss, so let me get back to the craft table... nighty night all !  hugs Sharon x

Practising my C&S cards...

Good evening friends... it is way past my bedtime again and here I am still at the computer...  I've been browsing through an awesome blog and taken in a lot and couldn't wait to try my hand at another Clean & Simple creation... am I a sucker or what ?? I WILL master this, I tell you.... LOL  Just give me time to practice aLOT more...LOL 

So, here's my little creation, which I made this evening, just for the fun of it... hope you like it...

Are you impressed with my double bow?  Thought I'd try it out.  As the card is on the small side, I couldn't go too big... but this was only a practice session after all (wink wink)

No image, just a lovely Thank You sentiment...  I'm quite happy with the result and can't wait to try making a few more.  Thanks for the lovely comments received on my previous post.  As a few of you have asked, my client was most impressed with the cards... wonder what she'd think of this one ?  LOL

Thanks for popping by, now it really is time for me to hit the sack.  Good night all and sleep tight.  Chat soon, hugs Sharon x

End of the holidays and my attempts at C&S

Oh dearie me... what a wonderful rest I've had these past 10 days... such a pity that it has to come to an end... uhhh, anyone know when the next Public Holidays are ???  LOL

I was asked to make a few Clean & Simple cards for a colleague and you know me... clean & simple and I just don't gel that well !!!  I told a friend of mine that I wasn't going to showcase these, but here I am, bearing my soul to the whole of blogland by showing you my feeble attempt at C&S... LOL  You must admit, clean and simpler you just will not find anywhere else... LOL  [Be kind now people, be kind !]... OK, here goes...

Hmmm, doesn't look too bad, now for set no. 2

hmmm, now for set no. 3

And finally, set no. 4

NO stamps, NO colouring tools and NO embellies other than left-over paper which we all have in our baskets, from other cards that we've made.  I was sorely tempted to get out ribbon and brads and pearls and did cheat twice by using small pieces of ribbon on two of the cards, but I was determined not to use anything else... shew!  Thank goodness this exercise is over with. You see Sandra, I made it after all !!!

I've been leaving comments on the Totally Gorjuss entries that have already come in and everyone has risen to the challenge beautifully.  Well done!

Wishing you all a good week ahead, hugs Sharon x