Happy Birthday, Deidre

It is my friend Deidre's birthday today and now that she has received her card, I can showcase it on my blog.  She loved it and I hope you do too.

 

Once again, I am using the Art Pad 3 from LOTV. They are super beautiful pre-coloured images.  The gorgeous sentiment is designed by a local company.  For the local girls, here is their website Country Crafts and Stamps and Facebook page.

Oh my HAT!!  I see that I have uploaded the wrong photograph, as I had placed a pearl on each butterfly.  It felt like something was "missing" after I viewed these pics on file and now I've uploaded the incorrect one...duh!!!  Oh well... sorry about that, you can just use your imagination now...lol

I am just throwing in this pic as well.  These are the delectable eats she brought for us to enjoy at the Office today.  Those biscuits are DIVINE.  That means extra walks around the block tonight for me, but it was worth it!...lol

Thanks for sharing these pics with me.  Wishing you a fabulous, crafty day.  It is almost WEEKEND!  Yay!!!

 

Thanks so much to the regulars who visit, you really make my day, I just love reading your comments.  And to the not-so-regular visitors, I appreciate your visits whenever you can make it and your comments too...lol

hugs

Simply Magnolia (DT) - Easel Card

Hello lovely people

Thanks so much for popping around to see what I've created for the Simply Magnolia challenge this fortnight.  A warm welcome to another new follower who has joined my blog. 

Our challenge at Simply Magnolia is for you to make an Easel Card.  I haven't made one for absolute ages, so this was a real challenge for me too.  

Aren't these new Christmas Tilda's just too gorgeous ? Love them!  Tilda with Two Gifts was a purchase from Sir Stampalot.  Excellent service!  This one has been coloured with copics and mounted with double-sided tape onto to Marianne die.  The background paper is from the Nitwit collection, which you can purchase from LOTV.

The Christmas tree is unfortunately the last one I have...boohoo... cut for me by one of my bloggy friends.  The sentiment is also one of Magnolia's.... Northpole 25.

Here's another view from the side.  Please pop around to view the other DT girls creations, they are awesome eye-candy.

 

Thanks once again to our wonderful sponsor for this challenge, Creative Treasures.  Please pop around to view their awesome products, you will not be sorry! I have purchased from them before and their service is excellent.

That's it from me.  If you have the time, please pop around and leave a comment as I really enjoy reading them.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

hugs Sharon x

Simply Magnolia (DT) - Sparkles and Swirls

Here's wishing you all a blessed Sunday.  Thank you for popping around to see what I have created for the Simply Magnolia challenge today... it is all Sparkles and Swirls.  You will have to pop around and join in the fun, as my lovely teamies have created some gorgeous cards for your inspiration.

Another Christmas card to add to my collection using Unwrapped Tilda from the So Jolly Collection...  The stunning papers are from the Nitwit paper pad collection, Frosty Christmas, which you can purchase from LOTV.  I hope you readers don't get too bored seeing another Christmas card... ;)   It is the only way that I am going to get my collection to grow.  Life is just so busy right now, that I don't have much time to sit and play at my craftdesk. Please forgive me for not popping by more regularly to visit your blog, I am hoping to catch up on some blog hopping soon!

 

Our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is Tilda's Town.  Do visit their store for all your Magnolia favourites.

Thanks for popping by.

hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Thank You

Hi everyone, welcome to my new followers.  I am so thrilled you found something of interest here on my blog.  Thank you so much for joining.

Welcome too to another challenge with the Totally Gorjuss girls.  Net has chosen a lovely challenge for us... we can always do with a few THANK YOU cards now can't we?  I hope my little creation will inspire you to take part.

I have used a gorgeous stamp, Me and my Cat from Lili of the Valley and coloured it in with Copics. The papers are Me To You's Spring Chic.  I am using these so sparingly as they are too beautiful for words.  Finished off with a lovely satin white bow and a pearl centerpiece for effect.  Not sure where I got the sentiment from but methinks it is the first time I am using it.

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is The Hobby House. Do pop around to visit them for all your crafty needs.  And don't forget to pop around to the other Gorjusette's blogs for further inspiration.

Wishing you all a super weekend.  It's a Public Holiday in SA on Monday, so it's a long one for us and guess what I'll be catching up with... yep, crafting!!!

hugs Sharon x

New Stash....

Good morning dear crafters

If you're a regular follower, you MUST know that I just LOVE paper... and ribbon... and lots of other goodies, but PAPER must be top of the list, as I am sure it is with all of you...LOL

I just had to share my new purchase with you which has safely arrived from the LOTV store... yes, it's the new NITWIT papers which I have been admiring for sooooooo long, but as they only came in digi format, I did not purchase any.  Am so hoping that they or any other company, will do the same with Donna's gorgeous digi paper over at Bearly Mine Papers... (hint hint)...lol

As you can see, I purchased 4 out of the 6 designs available... naughty naughty.  Just could not bring myself to get all 6 right now.  That's for another purchase.... I bet my friend Sandra has fallen off her chair...hahaha!  We have such fun teasing each other with our excessive shopping habits...lol

And as if that weren't enough, this also arrived in the post from Paola's shop.  A new Tilda and some carnations.

Can't wait to use them!!!  Hope this has inspired (tempted) you to go do some shopping of your own.  Now I must dash.  Take care, happy crafting!

hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Baby...Baby

Hello friends and Totally Gorjuss fans

We have a super easy challenge for you on the Totally Gorjuss blog this week... It's Baby...Baby.... so let your imagination run wild. I had to make a card for someone in Kendall's office whose wife is expecting a baby boy, so this challenge came at the right time.

I don't have any baby stamps, except this gorgeous one from Sugar Nellie, called Cute and Cuddly.  I have used it on more than one occasion and it comes in so handy, especially for those parents who have elected not to know what gender their baby is.

The image was coloured using a combination of chalks and pencil crayons.  The paper is a mixture of K&Company and one of my other 6x6 paper pads in my stash.  The ribbon I bought ages ago... one of those that you want it as you know you're going to need it at some stage.   The sentiment is one of Annette's (Netty's Cards) freebies.  Note:  If you use any of Annette's freebies, please make sure you are a Follower of her blog and that you give her credit.  Thanks Annette, this is a lovely sentiment.

Here are a few pics to give you a peek at the inside.  No matter WHAT I do... whe I take a pic of the inside of the card, it is always blurry, so a peek will just have to do I'm afraid!  I've used the ribbon inside as well.

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is Lili of the Valley.  I know they have some super Baby images and sentiments in their store, so do pop around and visit them.

Do visit the rest of the TG design team will you.  They have some awesome cards for your inspiration.

Thanks for popping by.  Do leave a comment if you have the chance, as I so enjoy reading them.

hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Let It Snow

Oh my gosh, we're getting closer and closer to Christmas aren't we? 14 days to go!   Hope all your shopping is done or nearly done.  It's a nightmare on the roads now with all the holidaymakers from upcountry flocking to the coast where I live.  We love them as it's a boost for our tourist industry, but the queues at the ATM is so much longer this time of the year and at the tills too, which is not so nice for us locals!  Oh well, it's only for a month ;)

We have a wonderful challenge for you this week at Totally Gorjuss... Let It Snow!  Get those little snowmen images out of the drawers and let's see what you've got.   I've gone for a gorgeous LOTV image this week.... Only realised when I was colouring her in, how adorable a stamp this actually is.

Now ain't she a cutie pie?  Once again I have used my chalks for colouring and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy using them.  I am able to create those "white" patches so perfectly, which I really struggle to do with the Copics.  I have used Copics though to colour her skin.

Here's the rest of the card...

I created some snow around her by using some acrylic paint and then going over it with some glitter to give it loads of sparkle. 

Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are Crafter's Companion.  Do visit them for all your crafty needs.

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to leave a comment that would be AWESOME!

Take care, 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

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

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Birds of a Feather

Welcome to another challenge at the Totally Gorjuss blog.

It's Birds of a Feather this week.  You can use anything birdy or feathers or both on your creations this week.  I don't really own any birdy stamps, but managed to find this gorgeous postbox with 2 birdies perched on top of it, amongst my stamps.  It's from Great Impressions, a local stamp company, purchased from Merrypak.

My image has been coloured in with Copics and I hope you can see the CLOUDS that I've made...woohooo!  I am so thrilled with the result that I want to add clouds to all my stamped images...hahaha!!!  Just love this gorgeous wide satin ribbon too, which I think I'm using for the first time since I purchased it!

Added some Dimensional Magic glaze to some flowers, leaves, butterflies and the birdies to make them pop !

Our wonderful sponsor this week is Lily of the Valley, so I'd like to encourage all my stamping friends from South Africa and overseas to join in the FUN !

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to leave a comment, that would be appreciated.  hugs Sharon x

Birthday Card (DT) - Simply Magnolia

Woohoooo.... I must be the happiest girl in blogland right now... I am thrilled to be on the Simply Magnolia DT.  Thanks so much to all my lovely blogfriends who left me congratulatory messages, I value your support so much.

For those of  of you who don't know, our challenges are bi-weekly and we'd like YOU to make a Birthday Card, using a Magnolia image of course.  I really hope you'll feel inspired to join in the FUN, as there are wonderful prizes to be won. Our sponsor for this challenge is De Egel Kaartenmakerij.   The prizes shouldn't be your only incentive to enter though, think how many new Maggie-lover friends you'll be meeting.  For me, that's the most exciting part!

For my first DT card I've used Tilda with Balloon.  I've gone for the distressed look which I'm really into right now.  I hope you like it!

I was thrilled to receive my new Postage Sentiment stamps from Whimsy Stamps... isn't this one on the left just too gorgeous???  The sentiment on the bottom right is from LOTV.  The flowers are from my stash.  The image was kindly stamped for me by a dear friend in Belgium, thanks Lins.  Plain cardstock is Bazill purchased from my favourite local store The Scrapbook Shop in Bellville. Estelle is the Manageress and she's a honey !  Visiting the store is NEVER a 5 minute affair, as Estelle loves to chat...LOL.  The pink satin ribbon is new - I bought it in 2 sizes and whole rolls of it!  The lovely scalloped card was purchased from Creative Treasures - love them!

Wishing you all a FABULOUS crafting weekend.  I hope to see your name on our list of entrants.

[Edit: It appears that the challenge date and day on our DT blog did not coincide, apologies for that. My post is therefore a day early.  Please pop around to the SM challenge blog tomorrow as challenges run bi-weekly on Sundays. The positive is that you have a whole day in advance to think about what you'll be making for the challenge...hehe]

hugs Sharon x

Tilda with Hawaii Flower

Hello friends... I made a cute little birthday card for a crafty friend of mine and thought I'd showcase it this evening.  I've used Tilda with Hawaii Flower for the first time, ain't she sweet?  I received quite a few Maggie stamps that I haven't inked up yet, but now that I feel like stamping and playing again, you'll be seeing them soon.

For this card I used the lovely sketch from Simply Magnolia's challenge blog and will be entering it into their challenge.  My stunning designer paper is Wild Rose Studio's Lilac Mist paper back, purchased from Crafty Emma's Store.  There are some really stunning sheets for you to play with.  The craft candy was also purchased from Emma's Store.  The stunning scalloped card was a purchase from Little Claire Designs.  I am soooo happy with this purchase.

I think this sentiment is one of LOTV's. Have you also noticed, I am using a SWIRL for the first time... woohooo... I was complaining to my friend Paola the other evening that I don't have any swirls, when my eye fell onto a gorgeous Marianne Design Die set and lo and behold, there were 2 swirls in the pack.  Funny how your eye just focuses on one thing hey!  Maybe you should look at your things a bit closely now, you may be surprised at what you will find...lol

Here's a final pic for you to look at... you'll notice that I kept the inside very simple this time... Loved using my MS Scallop Dot punch again.

I really had such fun making this card. The colour combination was just so perfect.  Thanks so much for popping by and only 2 more days until the weekend....yayyyy!!!

Warm greetings from a cold and wet Cape Town, hugs Sharon x 

p.s. A suggestion:  Next time you post a link, why not insert a link to the Town you live in, so that we can all see what your part of the world looks like... should be FUN!

Totally Gorjuss (GDT) - Flower Power

Hello friends... it's Saturday again and what does that mean... it's another Totally Gorjuss challenge...  Have we got a lovely one for you... it's Flower Power... so get out all those lovely floral designer papers and flowers and come join in the FUN.  Our wonderful sponsor is Crafters Companion.

I decided to make an easel card for a change, seeing that I haven't made one in absolute ages.  I forget how nice they actually are to make.  For this card I've used 2 stamps from Magnolia's range of stamps, Jam Tilda and Spring Fence, both purchased from 7 Kids College Fund.



Miss Jam Tilda and the Spring Fence were coloured in with Copics.  I used some foam tape to pop her onto that fence.  I then punched a tiny butterfly to pop into the corner of the gorgeous floral DP, which didn't have a name on it, sorry!

I cut out one of the lovely flowers from the DP, matted it onto brown cardstock and then placed it in the corner of the card. The birthday sentiment is an old one from Lili of the Valley.  I also put together a lovely arrangement of flowers to compliment our theme. Some were bought and others were gifts from my lovely crafty girlfriends.

I hope I've managed to inspire you to take part in our challenge... please visit the Totally Gorjuss blog to see the rest of my TG Teamies creations... you will love them!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
   Do you Stack up - Birthday
   The Outlawz - Summer
   Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Anything Goes
   Official Magnolia Inspiration - Birthday

Thanks for popping by and I'd love for you to leave a comment as I so enjoy reading them. 

Tons of hugs, Sharon x

Another Wedding Card

Good evening friends... gosh, it is way past my bedtime, but I am frantically trying to catch up on some orders.  As I only have the evenings and weekends to craft, I'm kinda being a bit anti-social right now and just putting my head down and crafting like mad.... so to the regular friends that I chat with... I'll catch up with you over the weekend... still love ya...!!!

I was commissioned to make a Blue & Silver/Grey wedding card before my dad was rushed to hospital, and you know how long ago that was.  Kendall kindly reminded me that the wedding is taking place next weekend, so I'd better move it... and this is what I've been busy with this evening... hope you like it, but most of all, I hope that the person who ordered it is happy with it...

Once again, like in the Pink & White wedding card, I've used this gorgeous couple from Lili of the Valley.  He looks so eager, doesn't he?  I just love this cute couple.  The sentiment is also a Lili of the Valley one... just love these!  A gift from a crafty friend, thanks so very much. They arrived just in time for me to use.

I love decorating the inside of the card as well and have used a nestie inside where the message will be written.  The nesties were a gift from one of my crafty friends, thanks so much.  Added a little butterfly too and the spotted blue paper was also used.  I did take a photograph but it came out too blurry to use... sorry!  I just can't seem to take them properly, which is very frustrating!

Added a bit of glitter to her dress and flowers (one of my crafty friends would say "that's not ENOUGH glittah Shazi"...LOL).  The flowers and ribbon were purchased from one of our local stores in Cape Town, Merrypak.

That's it for now... thank goodness it's Friday tomorrow and then it's weekend... Thanks for popping by.  I am so enjoying reading all the lovely comments you've been leaving, they make this all so worthwhile.   Until the weekend, sleep tight...  g'night Sharon x  

Here Comes The Bride....

Hello friends, family and blog buddies... I hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday.  My dear Mom is visiting and had lunch with us today and has now fallen asleep on my couch... bless her... it's been a tough week for us with my Dad being admitted to hospital last Sunday. He is looking much better, but is still in ICU.  Sincere apologies if I have offended anyone by not calling them personally, but life has just been far too hectic this past week.

Whilst lunch was on the go, I managed to put this little Wedding Card together, which I've been commissioned to do for a colleague at work... her taste in cards is C&S, but she said I could do my own thing with this one.  I didn't go overboard (LOL), but kept it as plain and simplish as I could.  I really hope you like the little creation I'm sharing with you all today...

Looking at this card, I feel so blessed.  Time and time again I mention what wonderful friendships I've made through my blog and my hobby and this little card is testimony to just that.  The embossed border on the left, the Lili of the Valley image and the white heart were all gifts from my blog friend Debbie, who also lives in Cape Town.  Thanks so much Debbie, much appreciated. 

The lovely white bias binding, little pink hearts and flowers are from my other dear blogfriend, Amelia, who lives in Pretoria.  Thank you so much, these crafty items came in so handy.  The sentiment is from my own stock and was purchased from Merrypak. The image was coloured with Copics.  I've also dusted some chalk around it for softness and for completeness added some pearls and a lovely heart ribbon. 

As this is a wedding card after all, I've used some Stardust glitter on the Lili of the Valley image. I'll probably have to buy this stamp, to add to my collection, as it is such a cute one.

Someone mentioned that they'd like to see the inside of my cards, so I thought I'd add this pic to show you how I've decorated the inside.  I've used my gorgeous large Marianne Die again.

Shew... well done if you've managed to stay with me until the end of this post... thank you so much. I was so happy with the outcome of this delightful card, that I had to showcase it to it's fullest.  I hope the recipient is just as pleased, as I really enjoyed making this one.

Challenge:  I am entering this card into the Paper Take Weekly challenge. Their challenge is Triple Tastic and as I have 3 flowers on this card, it certainly qualifies.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday... we'll be watching American Idols later and then it's back to the hospital to visit my Dad.  Take care, hugs Sharon x