Simply Magnolia (DT) - Buttons & Lace

Happy Sunday friends... gosh, it seems absolute ages since I posted a DT card for Simply Magnolia... Thanks to those who took part in our challenge and a hearty congrats to the winner...woohooo!

This fortnight we have a stunning challenge for you... a nice girlie one... Buttons & Lace.  My DT sisters have made some stunning creations for your inspiration, so please do visit the Simply Magnolia Challenge blog, we'd love to see your entries.

I've decided to start using some of the Tilda's that have been lying in one of my boxes for what seems ages.  This one is an older Tilda, but still a cutie.  She's Tilda in Cherry Dress, I think.  Some of the copics I own are starting to run dry, so I need to get refills at some stage.... can't shade properly without the right tools, so her dress is a bit dark for my liking ;)!?!?!?!  Sorry!

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is Scrapbooking All Sorts.  Do visit their Online shop for all your crafting needs.

Thanks for popping by and we hope to visit you in the challenge.... hugs Sharon xx

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - I Remember...

Welcome friends to another challenge with the Totally Gorjuss team... we have a fabulous one for you this week... It's I Remember....  Create a card or project that brings back memories for you.  Now how easy is that ?

My purchases from Funky Kits arrived in the post a few weeks ago and this delightful stamp was amongst my new stock.  It's a Sugar Nellie one, called Cute and Cuddly.  I just had to ink and colour it straightaway.  These toys took me back a few years when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Kendall.  I recall purchasing just about every fluffy toy I could find.  Remember the Care Bears, weren't they adorable? I almost had every colour.  Her cot was adorned with all the Care Bears inside, just waiting to welcome her home.  Hmmmm... lovely warm, fuzzy memories.  I am sure you have loads tucked away.  The Gorjussettes and I would love you to share your memories with us.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is Fantastic Ribbon.  Do pay them a visit, they have a stunning range of ribbons for your every need.

Happy crafting, hugs Sharon xx

Dare I say it.... another Bookmark to share

Oh WELL, alrighty then... why not share another Bookmark with you all ?  They are proving to be quite popular and they may just inspire you to make some of your own for those lovely bookworm friends and family of yours.  This time I have used the lovely Tilda with Rubber Boots, which has been collecting dust in her CD case.... I'm sure she's happy to grace the pages of my blog once more, after such a long absence... hehe

I've used Martha Stewart's Pop Up Butterflies border punch, which sadly has also not been used for a while and I quite like the effect of this little scene.

I just placed an order for 2 little Magnolia stamps from the new Christmas Collection (sadly that is all my budget allows at this time, as the shipping fees are so costly to our country), but I really wanted the new Magnolia Christmas Magazine too, so I forfeited purchasing another stamp in favour of the Mag... Can't wait for it to arrive!

It may look as if I've only been making Bookmarks, but I assure you I've also been catching up on my DT commitments, which you'll be seeing in the next few days.  Look out for my card on Saturday on the Totally Gorjuss blog.  I've used a Penny Black stamp which was so covered in dust from misuse, that I hardly recognised it (hehe... you know I'm only joking right?)  Seriously though... sometimes I think 'oh darn, wish I could get rid of these old stamps', but it was really nice using it again after such a long time.

Well enough chit-chat from me... don't want to bore you.  Hope you're having fun whatever you're doing.  Tomorrow is Friday... YAY!!!!   hugs Sharon x

Another Bookmark to share

What a lovely Sunday it is... hope you're enjoying yours ?  My bookmarks are proving to be quite popular and I was asked to make another one.  The recipient apparently loves cats and bright colours.  Thank goodness I remembered that I had this old stamp hidden away somewhere.  Hope she likes it.

Here's a view from the back



Someone asked if there was a tutorial for these bookmarks.  These are my own creations and I've written down a brief instruction how I go about making them, should you wish to try them yourself.

 Click on pic to enlarge

Thanks so much for popping by.  Enjoy what's last of the weekend.  hugs Sharon x





Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Pastel Christmas

Happy Saturday and welcome to another challenge with the lovely Gorjusettes from the Totally Gorjuss team.  Please visit the challenge blog to see who the winner of our BINGO challenge was last week... wow, so many stunning entries, thanks so much!

This week however we have a wonderful challenge for you.... so many Christmas cards popping up all over the place in blogland, but we'd like you to come up with a Pastel coloured Christmas card or creation.  As always, we hope you'll be greatly inspired by the DT's creations. 

Our lovely sponsors this week are Lili of the Valley stamps and I've used one of their fairies for my Christmas card... ain't she adorable ?  Coloured her with pastel chalks. For the darker bits I used Copics. She's on her way to deliver a Christmas prezzie to someone special.  If you enter our challenge, YOU could be the winner of a Lili of the Valley stamp.

I added lots of Star Dust glitter on her wings, the ends of her dress, shoes, prezzie, etc. That's the nice thing about making Christmas cards, you can use lots of bling and glitter.

Thanks for popping by.  Happy crafting, we can't wait to see what you'll be creating for us to view this week.

hugs Sharon x

Sharing another amazing talent - Annette from Devon

It's seems like it's my day for sharing some amazing talents with you all that I've come across in Blogland.  Another artist which I value greatly is Annette from Netty's Cards.  She designs the most awesome Sentiments and I recall approaching her a while ago to design some birthday age sentiments.  These are proving to be extremely popular, she even got to make a 100 aged birthday sentiment... wow!

Please respect Annette's conditions when grabbing a freebie.  It's only right that she receives the credit.

• Become a follower, then you'll see new freebies as they become available, and
• Please don't share my digis directly with others, but I'd be delighted if you send people here to collect them themselves.

After visiting Annette at Netty's Cards, I hope you'll become a follower and enjoy using her many awesome Sentiments on your own creations.

Thanks for popping by, hugs Sharon x

Sharing - Colleen Shaan's Video's on Colouring Folds

Happy Friday friends and family.... it's almost weekend... for us working girls, this is the highlight of the week.  In just a few hours we get to go home to relax and just chill out !!! Can't wait !

I belong to the Magnolia-licious Yahoo group and have found these ladies to be so kind and supportive. Thanks to each and everyone of them who regularly visit my blog and leave comments.

This group also has the most talented crafters and Colleen Shaan is one of them.  I've just visited her blog for the first time. She has 2 video's where she is demonstrating how to colour those "folds" in Tilda's dress.  Now I can't wait to get to my craft table to practice this technique !  If you wish to master this technique, visit Colleen's blog, Distinctive Touches now!  She makes it look so easy ;)

If you've come across an amazing talent that you wish you could share with everyone, why not post it on your blog, so that we can all learn from each other.  I am definitely going to be searching for more of Colleen's video's on You Tube.  Check out her speed colouring of a Mushroom House.... amazing!

Take care, hugs Sharon x

Another Bookmark to share... for Alicia

Well, the bookmark for Ayiesha was so popular, that Alicia wanted one too. She's a Blue girl and loves sunflowers, but as I do not own a sunflower stamp, I thought I'd make her one with daisies and added a few butterflies for good measure.   Hope she likes it !

Here's another pic from a different angle

And another view to show you how I've popped those butterflies

Thanks for popping by and leaving such lovely comments.  It really makes blogging all the more worthwhile. The weekend is just around the corner... and my annual leave is drawing closer (only in December)...yay!

Once again, so disappointed in our postal service... I posted an envelope to a new friend about a week or so ago and she has still not received it.  My friend in the UK ordered new stamps from LOTV and within a day or 2 it was in her hands...  Geez, now that's service!  hugs Sharon x

A Bookmark for Ayiesha

Hello friends... I have a new friend at work who just loves my cards and when she requested a Bookmark today, I thought I'd make her one as a "gift".  She's a pink girl, like me... woohooo, so that made the job so much easier !

I've used the gorgeous Tilda with Hawaii Flower from Magnolia's Butterfly Dreams collection and hope she likes it.  As you know, we can't add too many popped up embellies, as we don't want to ruin the pages of the book when it closes, so this is very flat, I'm afraid.  Nevertheless, I am sure it'll do the job!

Here's another view, just for good measure ;)

The ribbon was a gift from my blogfriend Lynn in Texas.  I've just used a small piece this time, but I've plenty more...  I decided to add the ribbon so that Ayiesha can pull on it to remove the bookmark from the page.  Makes it a lot easier don't you think ?

Thanks for popping by.  If you'd like to leave a comment, that would be great. Hugs to all my crafting friends, Sharon x

Anything Goes (DT) - To The Letter

Happy Tuesday!  Welcome to another challenge at the Anything Goes challenge blog.  Wow, so many entries for our last challenge... we are really blown away by all the gorgeous designs we see !

This fortnight it's To The Letter and let me tell you... this one had me stumped!  But, that's what challenges are all about, isn't it ?  I hope you like my project, as I really had fun making it, once I'd decided what I was going to do !

I decided to break away from my normal cards and do something different for this challenge. I altered the lid of one of the many boxes that I keep in my cupboard (just in case I need it, UKWIM!)  I also have a few chipboard frames in my drawers and had fun altering this one too.   I thought it was also time to use some of those wooden stamps that are collecting dust in my cupboard, so no girlies this time.

Here's a closer look. Don't you just love those flowers? The top left was made for me by my SA blogfriend Moz. Thanks so much Moz, just loved using this one.

Once again, please visit the Crafty Den,  Lynn has some stunning things for your every need.



Thanks for visiting. Please leave a comment if you feel so inclined.  Happy crafting! hugs Sharon x

A 60th Birthday Card to share

Hello friends... I was asked to make a 60th Birthday card for a colleagues' Mom.  Usually one is asked to make a card in certain colours, but I had free reign with this one.  I hope it's not too bright!

Just love this daisy stamp which was one of the very first wooden stamps I purchased when I started this hobby.  I've used it time and time again.  Also, I just loved this design paper.... lovely pink, white, lilac, yellow and orange (my last piece boohooo!).  This is what I managed to create and I thought I'd share it with you all...

I've used MS Cherish Hearts (Dies to Die For) to create a border for the front, so that it wasn't too clean and simple a look.  The stunning sentiment is a freebie from the lovely Netty's blog... You want it, she's got it and if she doesn't have it, she'll create it for you.  How sweet is she?  Thanks so much Netty!  Just click on the Freebies tab when you visit her blog... she has a whole range of sentiments just for you and me.

Thanks for popping by and looking at some different to the usual girlie cards you find on my blog.   Hope you like this one. Happy crafting, hugs Sharon x

Congratulations card to share

Hello friends... I was asked to make an engagement card and I don't really have any engagement kind of images.  I know I had some champagne glasses somewhere, but when I cleared out my craftroom, I put it in a "safe" place... so safe that I can't find it when I need it!  Has that ever happened to you?

So... there I was digging through all the stamped images I have and my eye fell on this gorgeous couple.  I thought it would be perfect for the occasion and hope you'll agree.  I also don't have Happily Engaged or whatever sentiment, but I do have a Congratulations one, so it'll have to do for now.

Don't they look so cute ?  Once again I chose my paper and then coloured my image.  It worked quite well this time.  I'll have to visit the LOTV shop to buy this stamp, as this is the one and only image I had of this couple.

Thanks for popping by.  Hope you're having fun.  Would love it if you left a comment. hugs Sharon x

Simply Magnolia (DT) - Halloween

Hello friends and a warm welcome to my new followers, Peggy and Wendy.  Thanks so much for joining, I'll be popping around to visit you soon

It's Sunday and it's another challenge at Simply Magnolia... wow... 2 autumnal colours in a row for me, hope you don't mind ?

This was another challenge for me, on 2 fronts, as I don't own any Halloween stamps, let alone any Halloween Tilda's, and we do not celebrate Halloween in SA.  A friend kindly sent me this Tilda in the post, so that I could at least produce something Halloweeny. 

Thank goodness for the Internet as well... the Pumpkins for Sale clipart was downloaded and printed from the internet. I gave it a dash of ink around the edges and used some dimension glaze on those leaves too.  Found a Magnolia fence which I coloured in and popped our Halloween Tilda in front of it.  She's selling Pumpkins for Halloween!!!

Added some sunflowers and hand-stamped the sentiment.  The DP looked a bit plain (remember in my last challenge I mentioned that I have no autumn papers), so I quickly stamped a few leaves all over the DP. Quite like the effect.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Jacobi.  Please visit them for all your crafting needs. There are some stunning items to be bought.

Thanks for popping by. If you'd like to leave a comment, that would be great!  hugs and blessings Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - It's BINGO!!!!

Another Saturday and another challenge for you with the lovely Gorjusettes from the Totally Gorjuss challenge blog.  We have 3 new Guest Gorjusettes, so do pop along and show them some love.

Are we going to have fun this week?  Yes, we are... it's BINGO time!!!

You know how to play this, select 3 in a row - horizontally, vertically or diagonally. If you're really adventurous, as Net says, why not select all 4 corners... and away you go!

I chose the first row : LACE - RIBBONS - BOWS

As I was paging through my Stamp Catalogue, I found this Gorjuss Girl called Just a Girl and thought it was time to bring her out to play.  Hope you like her... I had such fun colouring her. The background is one from Whiff of Joy, which has also been collecting dust. 

For the first time in a long time, I chose my paper first (my friend Paola will be so proud of me!) and then selected my colours.  I also decided to make an easel card which I haven't made for a long time.  The beautiful lace was my last piece in this particular style - will have to get some more!

The inside compliments the outside.  The design paper is the other side of the one I used for the front. Both are equally beautiful!  Hope you like it.

Our wonderful sponsor is Simon Says Stamp. Please visit them for all your crafty needs.

Thanks for popping by. I really enjoy your visits and would love you to leave a comment. hugs Sharon x

My Mad Hatter's Cake card

Good evening friends... boy, did I have fun this evening... I popped around to the wonderful network group I belong to, The Outlawz, and met some new friends.  We were chatting away for quite a while... I was just going to pop in to say Hi to my old DT friends, when the conversation just started.  That's the wonderful thing about belonging to this group, there is always someone to chat to.  I'll be sure to pop around more often from now on.


Anyways.... I was telling Cindy and Lee that I had to make a 40th birthday card to take to work tomorrow. The birthday cake has been ordered from Charly's Bakery in Cape Town and as I just love their Topsy Turvy cakes (think, the Mad Hatter's cake in Alice in Wonderland), I thought I'd make a card with a similar cake.  Now, as I don't have a topsy turvy cake stamp, I drew one and cut out the different layers from left over cardstock and this is what it looks like ...

Now that I've experimented with this one, I plan to sketch a few more using brighter, bolder colours for the different tiers.  Should be fun, don't you think ? 

Here's a pic of the inside, sorry it is all blurrish!

And here's a very simple sketch version of the cake, which I drew before making the card...  Think I'll sit down and make a few template variations later.

Here's Charly's Bakery

If you're popping by, I'd love to know what you think.  Hope you're having fun crafting, hugs Sharon x

Showcasing my Friends Talents

Hi everyone... from time to time I love showcasing gifts I receive from my crafty friends.  I received some beautiful handmade flowers over the weekend from the wonderfully talented Moz (All Things Moz).  Aren't they just too beautiful ? I'll be using them on some projects in the not too distant future... So many beautiful colours and textures... can't wait !  Once again, thanks so much Moz.

And then today I received a beautiful Thank You card from another talented craft friend Madeline, who doesn't have a blog just yet.  Her card is so gorgeous that I just had to share it with you all. Don't you think it's beautiful?   Thanks so much honey. What a wonderful surprise this was.

If you happen to pass by, I'd appreciate you showing these friends some love, as I am sure they'll be popping by as well.

Thanks for visiting.  hugs Sharon x

Say Hello to Rocking Tilda

Hi there friends and family... well, I think Spring has well and truly hidden itself away or is it that Summer has been so rude to push herself in front of the row ?!?!?!?!   It has been a scorching 32.5 degrees celsius in Cape Town today and my regular bloggy friends will know that Sharon is not a happy bunny right now...  If this is a taste of what Summer is going to be like, I'm looking for a hiding place until the end of March... preferably a cool place... Any offers?

Whilst skype-ing with a friend last night, I managed to colour and create this little Rocking Tilda.  Shows you what can be accomplished when you're having fun... uh, we finally said "goodnight" at 2 this morning... Now that's really late for me, but then I'd had a little snooze earlier in the afternoon.

OK, enough jabbering from my side, not sure if anyone really reads the posts (I know I do!)... here's my sweet little Rocking Tilda... ain't she a cutie ?

It's taking me forever to type up this post. I started around 5.45pm and then Kendall called me to watch a bit of the X-Factor on telly... Wow, those contestants are better than the kids that try out for Idols.  I read on the internet that ol' Lee DeWyze's recording company cancelled his contract... The poor SA kids that win are hardly ever heard of again... they just keep repeating their winning song over and over again, that it starts working on your nerves!  Where's Jason Hartman today and the girlie that was supposed to have won with him, can't even remember her name... just shows!  Enough chit chat... don't want to bore you all now ! ;)

Here's another angle of the same card.

Welcome to some new followers, always nice seeing new faces.  Am so pleased that you found something worthwhile on my blog to make you join... thank you kindly!

Well, that's it from me.  Happy crafting and thanks for popping by,  I really appreciate your visits and most of all, your comments.  Hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Oooh la la

Welcome to another challenge at Totally Gorjuss. It is our DT sister Marianne's birthday today, so Happy Birthday Marianne, hope it's a good one!

Right... our challenge this week is OOOH LA LA.  Interpret that how you wish and let's see what fabulous creations you're going to come up with !  Our DT have come up with some very ooh-la-la-ish creations for your inspiration... please pay them a visit and give some love!

This cutie is Dress Up Maggie from an older Sugar Nellie range. I've used her now for the second time. She is so adorable though isn't she? Just gotta love that hat and pursed lips...hehe

Another angle, hope you can see the dimension glaze that I used on her handbag and hatband. The lovely summer paper was a freebie pack that came with a magazine I purchased.  A bit bright I know, but so summery looking... which is what we're looking forward to after the winter.

Our wonderful sponsors are Crafter's Companion. Visit them for all your crafting needs.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend, hugs Sharon x

Anything Goes (DT) - Die Cuts/Punches

It's Tuesday and that means it's another challenge at Anything Goes... wow, we had an AMAZING number of entries.  We'd love you to join us again... get out those die cuts and punches and show us how creative you can be!

Here's my little card which I hope will inspire you... I'm showcasing Sugar Nellie's RAVEN for the first time.  She arrived in the post over the weekend and I couldn't wait to ink and colour her.  I've been wanting her for ages...

I've used MS Garden Trellis punch and my sentiment is a die cut.  I punched 2 circles for the numbers and of course nesties are die cuts too which I've used for my image.

Once again, please visit the Craft Den for all your crafting needs. 

Thanks so much for popping by.  Enjoy the rest of your week, hugs Sharon 

Dress Up Maggie

Hello friends... I wasn't planning on making a card this evening... I was just going to colour in a few of the new images which arrived in the post over the weekend from Funky Kits.

I bought 4 new Sugar Nellie stamps and here's Dress Up Maggie... what can I say... you've just got to remember having played dress up in your Mom's old shoes, clothing, make up and jewellery when you were a little girl!  Well, time just passes by when you're busy chatting and skype-ing and before I could wipe my eyes, I'd not only coloured this image but made a delightful card.  I hope you enjoy viewing it,  as much as I enjoyed making it.  I've used colours that are not my usual colour combination...

...but I received some gorgeous paper from a friend in the UK and thought it would match perfectly with this bright pink ribbon!  Dress Up Maggie (M0701) is from the 2007 Sugar Nellie Collection and I think she's on a sale now at Funky Kits.

I added some dimension glaze to her hat and handbag to make it pop and coloured her necklace with a metallic silver pen.  The sentiment was also a gift. Nice to have these quick pop-out ones on hand.

Thanks for taking the time to pay me a visit. As you know I so enjoy hearing from you, so if you feel like leaving a comment, that would make my day !

Happy crafting, hugs Sharon

Simply Magnolia (DT) - Autumn Colours

Welcome to another challenge at Simply Magnolia.  Congratulations to our last winners. Your cards were absolutely stunning.

This fortnight our challenge is Autumn Colours.  Yvonne gave us this lovely pic to work from.

I really struggled with this one.  I realised when I started working on this card that I don't have ANY autumn shaded paper... nope, can you believe it!  I managed to find some tiny piece resembling autumn, as I usually work with pinks, blues, greens, ok I do use browns as well, but that's it!  With my limited supplies, here's what I managed to create...

I am showcasing Tilda Gone Fishing for the first time. Ain't she a cutie pie? 

Ribbon, flowers, sentiment from my stash. Tilda coloured in with Copics, stamped her with Momento's Rich Cocoa.  Love stamping with Rich Cocoa, haven't used Black for ages. Gives the images a softer look somehow - that's my opinion anyway!

Our sponsor is Duymelot, please visit them for all your crafting needs.

Thanks for popping by, hope to see you at the challenge, hugs Sharon

Baby Boy cards to share

Hello friends, are you having a fab Saturday ? Hope so.  Earlier this afternoon I attended a baby shower this some friends... and thought I would share the 2 cards I made, one from myself and the other for my friend Deidre.. hope you like them.  It's not often that I get to make Baby cards, especially Boy cards, so I really had to put my thinking cap on here.

The image above was stamped for me by a friend, sorry I can't remember who, but I'm pleased I kept it as it came in very handy when I needed it !

The lovely Me To You teddy bear stamp was given to me by a friend. I stamped it with Momento's London Fog ink, so it looks like the original printed ones you get on those shop bought cards. Really happy I got that Ink.

Thanks for popping by today.  I'll be relaxing this evening, no card making for a change. hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - A Sketch and our 100th Challenge

Welcome to another challenge at Totally Gorjuss.  It's a special one this week, it's our 100th Challenge... woohooo!  Net is the most fabulous 'boss' and my DT sisters are amazing girls. I really love being a part of this team. 

Our challenge for you this week is a Sketch and our wonderful sponsor is Joanna Sheen.  I received some stunning items from the JS Online store about a week ago and am so happy with the service... a huge PLUS for us that live so far away... postage and packaging is FREE! 

After all the elaborate cards and cubes I've made lately, I thought it was time to do another clean and simple card.  The gorgeous paper and sentiment was a gift from a dear blogfriend Sandra.  Thanks honey!

I haven't used any embellishments except for the ribbon.  Sometimes too much embellies detracts from the paper.

We look forward to you joining our challenge this week.  There's a special prize for our commenters, so don't forget to leave one when you visit the Totally Gorjuss blog.

Happy crafting! hugs Sharon