All Over for Another Year...

So after all the stress and work of the last few weeks.....it's all over for another year. Georgia was very pleased with her presents....she was sooo surprised to get a Nintendo DS, as I told her that she was too young. She was also lucky enough to get a couple of games for it, a couple of Wii games, clothes, PJ's, ProMarkers a CD and a few other bits and bobs. I was a lucky girl this year and DH got me a iPod Nano, Georgia got me a Momiji doll and a charm for my "sweetie" bracelet....a heart with the word "Love" on it.

On Sunday we are out for the day visiting my Auntie who is over from Cyprus for Christmas. She is staying in Maidstone with my cousin (her Son). It will be lovely to see her, if a little sad, as it will be the first time we have seen her since my Uncle was killed in a Motorbike accident in early 2007.

While watching the news today I was so surprised to see the behaviour of people at the Sales.....just watching them all has put me off even thinking about going....not that I actually NEED anything at the moment anyway. This Christmas 80% of my shopping was either done online or in Asda/Tesco while doing the weekly food shopping. Don't know about the rest of you...I just couldn't face the searching for a parking space and the queues in the shops.

Today I have been busy colouring, so hopefully tomorrow I can make them into something....so keeping watching/reading.

Good Night for now.

Twas the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas,
I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa
brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock
or chipboard or lace?
Or a Cricut, I said,
with a smile on my face.
And that's when I heard him,
"Hi Santa, " I said
"You know....good little girls
Should be in their beds."
"I know I should Santa,
And now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited
To see what you brought."
"Well, let's take a look
In this room where you work.
He shook his head quickly,
And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim
As he put it in gear.
"You've got enough crap,
I'll see you next year!"

Final card before Christmas

So here is my final card before the big day....LOL It has only taken me about 10 days to use my new hAnglar & stAnglar stamps. As usual, I have coloured the image with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Ivory (Dress)
Ruby (Hat & Scarf)
Warm Grey 2 (Shoes)
Pastel Blue (Shadow)
To colour the notepaper part of the stamp I have used VersaMagic Chalk ink in "wheat" and rubbed it over the cardstock to distress. I also used Stampin' Up "Choc Chip" cardstock and DCWV "So Sweet" patterned paper, a red heart pin, Stampin' Up "Choc Chip" taffeta, and a Prima Belle Fleur blossom. I have added touches of sparkle with Stickles to the wings and also to the swirls....all finished off with a Prima Crystal, some random bling from my stash and a sentiment from the Stampin' Up Hostess Set.

This will be my last post before Christmas, so I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has read and commented on my Blog, and an extra special THANK YOU to my Blog Followers. I do hope Santa brings you all something lovely this year.
Hugs

Sarah Kay & Aqua ProMarkers

I recently won a Sarah Kay stamp supplied by Silly Monkey Crafts
on the Daring CardMakers Challenge Blog...and this week in between all the chaos I managed to have a stamp and colour of her....with the Aqua ProMarkers. I am starting to get the hang of them, but still need more practice. I have used Basic Grey "Euphoria" papers, Bazzill Cardstock & Tulle and Prima Blossoms. The sentiment is from a Scrappy Cat set that I got for £2.93 from HobbyCraft earlier this week.

We are busy getting ready for the big day...just a couple of things to finalise. I am much more organised this year than in previous years. I made ALL my own Christmas Cards this year, finished my gift shopping about 2 weeks ago, went shopping for the food yesterday, and today have been doing some cleaning. My cold is a little better, although I think I may well need a visit to the Doctors for some antibiotics for my chest.

I have another card made, which I will post tomorrow once I have photographed it etc, but just in case things get in the way I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone of my "followers" and all my regular and occasional readers for their support and for all the lovely emails I have received this year. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and that Santa brings you all something lovely.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 41 "Open Theme"

Over on Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog this week, the final theme for 2008 is an open one. So I have made this Angel Anya card. Anya stamps are by Pink Poison, but in 2009 they will be known as "The Greetings Farm". So I have coloured Anya this time using Aqua ProMarkers. I got these pens a few weeks ago from Silly Monkey Crafts but have only just managed to use them to good effect....because I didn't have the right paper. So after reading recommendations to use hot pressed paper....I went to buy a sheet from HobbyCraft, and this is the result. I am actually pretty pleased as I have real trouble watercolouring in the past...so maybe it was the cardstocks fault and not mine...hehehe.

I have used the following Aqua ProMarkers to colour Anya...
Cadium Red (Skin)
Violet Hue (Hair)
Cerulean Blue (Dress)
The wings of the Angel have added Stickles "Star Dust" and the Halo is Ice Stickles "Mint Ice"...for sparkle. The papers are by Making Memories from an old 6x6 paper pad, and the purple cardstock is by Bazzill from a pack of 8x8 "Fourz". I have added some Prima blossoms with a glitter brad and spacer, and some jingle bells that I got in HobbyCraft (150 for £1.95) they are so cute, finished off with a sentiment by Hero Arts.

Thanks ladies for the fab cards, and for all the inspiration you have provided my in 2008, I look forward to seeing what you bring us in 2009.

New Sugar Nellies & Friday Sketchers - Sketch #32

Finally have also loaded this card using last weeks sketch over on Friday Sketchers. Have used the new Sugar Nellie Range by Leanne Ellis, coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Skin (Blush)
Cocoa (Hair)
Pastel Pink/Lime Green (Jumper)
Ruby (Flowers)
The papers are all Basic Grey "Urban Prairie". I have added StarDust Stickles to the image to make the bubbles sparkle. I also created a paper rose by punching out different size circles, distressing and inking them and then layering them before finally adding a button to the centre. The sentiment is Penny Black...I do love the Penny Black sentiment stamps.....wish they did them in clear versions to save money....and space.

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #29

I have been very slack this week posting new cards...I have this awful head cold...again and have not been online as much.

Anyway, here it is...even if it is a little late. The sketch is by Sketch Saturday and I have used one of the Pink Poison "Anya" stamps, coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Pastel Pink (Hair)
Pastel Green/Pastel Pink (Dress)
Gold (Crown and Wand)
The wand and Anya's eyeshadow have touches of glitter added with a Sakura clear glitter gel pen. The sentiment is by Penny Black and I have added a heart pin, Bazzill Tulle, Fancy Pants buttons and a charm to finish it off.

When I trimmed Anya I deliberately cut off the edge of the image...I saw it done by someone else and thought it looked very "Designer".

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge "Christmas/New Year"

A little late posting this as I have had internet issues on and off for the last couple of days...fingers crossed things are now resolved. So this week over on Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog the theme is "Christmas/New Year", and is our final challenge until the New Year....when there will be a Guest Designer of the Month Anesha and also some changes to rules etc.

I have used the Tilda stamp from the Winter Club Kit coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Pastel Pink (Top)
Ruby (Tights)
The backgroud is using a Fancy Pants "Happy Holidays" journal tag trimmed down to ATC size and I added a ATB parcel brad.

Go over and check it out,,,,fun, and small scale too.

Look who's a lucky girl!!!!

I received this totally gorgeous, beautiful, sparkly, blingalicious bracelet at the weekend from my beautiful and talented friend Marlene...I am such a lucky girl. A few weeks ago I also received a stunning necklace and matching bracelet from my equally gorgeous and talented friend Lynsey....I am so lucky to have such talented friends.

Marlene made this stunning creation for me last month when she made her own Black & White one....which I loved...little did I know she had created one for me with my favourite colours (turquoise)...the photo makes them look more blue, but when the light catches it, it sparkles all colours of the rainbow.....it's dazzling.

So yesterday was the MKScrappers monthly crop and as always it was a fab day...we all bought food and had a buffet, and a secret santa...I got a chick flick and a box of yummy maltesers. I was also lucky enough to get money to spend in the shop from my MIL & FIL.....such a lucky girl....I got a Cuttlebug bag to hold my embossing folders and nesties...and it also has room for the cutting mats, I got some denim Panduro bags to decorate, some Prima frillies, some MME valentine papers, a couple of sheets of Little Yellow Bicycle papers....all in all a fabulous day.

I made a quick card last night, but didn't get time this morning to take a photo...so will add that this evening.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 29 "Happy New Year"

Finally I have managed to upload the card I made for this weeks challenge over on A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge Blog. I have used a couple of the stamps from the Magnolia winter stamp club. All images have been coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Warm Grey 5 (Hair)
Red (Tights)
Vanilla (Top)
Warm Grey 5/Ivory (Clock)
The cardstock is embossed and is part of a DCWV paper pad, which is lush and filled with glittery, embossed cardstock with a theme of cakes and food....just wish I could remember it's name, which is mounted onto some Stampin' Up Choc Chip cardstock. I have also added a Tim Holtz "Adage" ticket, Prima Blossoms, PaperMania glitter brad, spacer from Marlene, letters by Making Memories, and finally some ribbon and a heart pin from my stash. To add some sparkle I have used Stickles on the Prima flowers.

Can you believe it, this morning we woke up here in Milton Keynes and it was snowing....admittedly stopped almost as soon as it hard started, but we did have a light covering all over the road etc...looked so pretty, until all the cars drove through it that is.

I have a busy weekend (are there any other kind)....LOL. Marlene and her Daughter Laurelle are visiting today (fingers crossed, Marlene is busy at work and praying all goes to plan) and staying over. Then on Saturday In-Laws, Pam & Tony are coming to stay, and Pam and I are going to the MKScrappers Xmas Crop in Olney on Sunday....thank goodness there is only one more week of school left.

Angel Anya

As you may have noticed, I am loving these cute little Anya stamps. This one is Angel Anya, and she is such a cutie. I think what I love about these stamps is that they are so easy to colour with ProMarkers, being in the Manga style. I also think that the eyes with the lashed, and being closed make them sooo adorable...the eyes are so hard to colour and make them look realistic (ish). So as always I have used my ProMarkers to colour this image, colours as follows...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Ruby (Hair)
Pastel Green (Dress & Hair Bow)

The wings have added Stickles "Diamond" glitter, and I also added some Pastel Green eyeshadow with a little Sakura clear glitter gel pen for sparkle. The papers are all Baisic Grey "Urban Prairie", and I added some Prima Blossoms, heart pink, Hobbycraft 99p ribbon, PaperMania glitter brad and some random bling from my stash to finish it all off. I also used "Oasis Green" and "Red Magic" Versamagic chalk inks to soften the edge of the main image and patterned papers.

I really love this combo, it just looks so striking. The makers of these stamps have just shown previews of the stamps they are releasing in Feb 2009, and they are more grown up versions of Anya, in really sassy/chic outfits....they are definately going on my wish list...I will be counting down the days to the 14th Feb 2009 when they are released.....ok, so now I am wishing time away, with luck in between now and then I will get to buy some GorJuss stamps from Sugar Nellie...and there is always the anticipation of hAnglar & stAnglars too.

Oh well, better get myself off to work.
Laters...

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge "Frosty Nights"

I am a little late posting this weels ATC over on Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog, but here it is anyway. This week the theme was "Frosty Nights", I have used just one Magnolia stamp to make this card...as Tilda had a snowy background. Tilda is coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Warm Grey 5 (Hair)
Cool Aqua (Poncho, Gloves & Wellies)
Rose Pink/Lime Green (Dress)

I made the dusky background by rubbing a Versamagic chalk ink pad over the back of the card, and the snow was added with Stickles "Crystal" glitter. Next week is our last challenge of the year, so why not pop over and join in. The New Year will see some exciting changes, so stay tuned.

Magnolia v Stampavie Week 6 "Xtra Tags"

This week over on the Magnolia v Stampavie Challenge Blog the theme is "Xtra Tags". I have hand cut a tag from Bazzill cardstock and added pieces of ripped and distressed Scenic Route & October Afternoon papers. I created the music paper by stamping the Magnolia Silent Night background stamp onto white cardstock and the ripping a section off and distressing with VersaMagic chalk inks in "Wheat" & "Jumbo Java" I then added Tilda as Lucia coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Blush (Wreath in Hair)
Ruby (Sash)
Cool Grey 1 (Highlights on white dress)
Pastel Blue (Shadow)

The final touches are a sentiment by Magnolia stamped in chalk ink and distressed, some Stampin' Up Choc Chip Taffeta and a heart pin from my stash. I already have a gift in mind for this tag....obviously one of Georgia's....so that I get it back...LOL

This morning I am back at Georgia's school to take photos of the Year 1&2 school play so that they can be sold at the performances on Tuesday/Wednesday. I am always so nervous about what people will think of the pictures I have taken.....although in the case of the ones last week I sold 107 photos, so I needn't have worried.....I think that may be a record for a school play....I have only ever sold more when it was the Prom photos in the summer. I even got a "Thank You" from the Head Teacher in the school newsletter that went out last week.

**ETA - I am not a professional photographer, strictly an enthusiastic amateur. The school call me their unofficial Official Photographer. One of the Mums of a child in the foundation year is a professional, but she charges, and I do it for free with them making all the money. In the case of the Foundation Year Christmas Play they made in excess of £75 from the 107 photos sold, which means they can fund cooking in class for the next term.**

Apart from processing the pics tonight, I am putting the finishing touches to the Xmas decorations and aslo tidying my craft corner in the lounge....I have a craft room, but like to be downstairs with the family....although I plan to revamp my craft room over the holidays and move back in properly.

Hope everyone has a good Monday, and stays warmduring this cold snap.

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #28

So here is my card using this weeks sketch over on Sketch Saturday, as you can see it is another Anya stamp....I am loving them, they are so much fun to colour. I have used Mermaid Anya and she has been coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Rose Pink/Blossom (Hair)
Cool Aqua (Bikini Top/Gems in Hair/Eyeshadow)
Lime Green/Cool Aqua (Mermaid Tail)
The papers are all Baic Grey "Urban Prairie". I have used a sentiment by Hero Arts and Prima Blossoms.

Well Christmas has finally come to our home....the Christmas tree is now up, and it is snowing in my lounge....well foam snowflakes that Georgia and I decorated last year. This evening I plan to write Christmas cards and if there is time, start to wrap gifts...or before I know it the last Royal Mail posting day will have passed and I won't have sent any cards...and Christmas Eve will be here and no gifts will have been wrapped.

Hope you all have a restful day filled with fun and crafting.

Daring Cardmakers "Be Inspired at Home"

So finally the Xmas Bazaar is all done. It all went well, and the items I packed up for the school to sell went really well. The 10 things I made for me to sell (I had planned to make more, but ran out of time) all sold, and really quickly too. I have loads more, so will carry on making them up, and will sell them off during the year.

So on to my card for this weeks challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers Challenge Blog...

The theme this weeks is "Be Inspired at Home", now while none of my rooms are decorated in teal & red....my gorgeous new bathroom is however white with the teal colour as an accent. I have used one of my cute new Pink Poison "Anya" stamps coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Warm Grey 5 (Hair)
Pastel Green (Eyeshadow)
Pastel Green/Ruby (Nurse Outfit)
Pastel Blue (Cup & Shadow)
The papers are by Crate Paper "Samantha" collection, the "price label" is by CI Creative Cafe, and finally the flower is by Prima held together with a brad by PaperMania and a bead spacer.

After all the stress of the past couple of weeks we are having a quiet weekend. We are putting the tree and lights up, writing cards, crafting and maybe when a "little" person is in bed, we will wrap presents while snuggled up watching tv. Georgia and I have must switched over to Movies 24, as they have Christmas films on all afternoon....and you can't beat Christmas films for putting you in the mood for the big day.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, and not stressing to much.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 39 "Hearts"

The theme this week over on the Cute Card Thursday Challenge blog is "Hearts". For my card I have used a couple of hAnglar & stAnglar images, both are coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours....
Ivory/Blush(Skin)
Cocoa/Henna (Girls Hair)
Warm Grey 5 (Boys Hair)
Ruby/Cocoa (Both Heart sticks)
Pastel Pink (Girls Jacket)
Pastel Green (Girls Dress & Boys Top)
Warm Grey 5 (Boys Waistcoat, Trousers & Both Shoes)
The papers are all the lush new Basic Grey "Urban Prairie". I have also used CI Creative Cafe "Price Labels", Bazzill Tulle, WRMK designer brad, and finished off with a Hero Arts sentiment and some Sakura clear glitter gel pen to her hair and their wings for added sparkle.

Today is the Xmas Bazaar at the school, and it's all systems go.....I am off for Brekkie with the girls, we will not stop all day and so need a good start...LOL.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 28 - Thank You Card

I found a little time last night to make a quick card, as I am still busy preparing for the School Bazaar tomorrow. This is for the challenge over on A Spoon Full of Sugar, where the theme this week is "Thank You". For my card I have used a hAnglar & stAnglar image coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours.
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Warm Grey 5 (Hair)
Pastel Yellow (Jacket)
Pastel Pink (Top)
Moss (Skirt)
Warm Grey 5 (Shoes)
Vanilla (Tag)
The papers are from the new Basic Grey "Urban Prairie" collection (which are lush) and I have added some bling to the swirls and butterfly etc. A very simple card, but I love the colours.

Check out the challenge over on the A Spoon Full of Sugar blog, the cards are fantastic.

Daring Cardmakers Prize

I thought I would share a little piccie of the amazing prize I won over on Daring Cardmakers back at the end of November. Loads of lovely products....thanks so much to Karen over at http://www.charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk/.
It is full of things I will use which was just what I needed on Tuesday when I was off work feeling lousy....a real pick me up. So a huge thanks to Karen for sponsoring the challenge over on Daring Cardmakers, and to the DT over there for their inspiration.

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge "Red & Green"

This week over on the Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog the theme is "Red & Green", now the most obvious thing would be to make a Christmas themed ATC....but as I have made 50 Christmas cards and about 4 or so Christmas themed ATC's...I decided to do something different. My ATC is titled "Wannabe Popstar", I have used a hAnglar & stAnglar image coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Umber (Hair)
Ruby (T-Shirt)
Cornflower (Jeans)
Raw Sienna/Burnt Sienna (Guitar)
The papers I have used are Scenic Route "Appleton". I used my new Nestabilities "Stars" , the die-cut LP is from Shabby Chic Crafts, they recently had some products in the ScrapaGoGo kit...and I loved them, so couldn't resist checking out the site and ordering some more bits. To create the wording, I put a strip of plain white cardstock through my ATB tape writer and to make the text stand out I rubbed a black chalk ink over the embossed letters......and voila...they are readable.

I think he is really cute...I really do love this stamp, and all the other hAnglar's...he was a must have stamp, and I am lucky that I was able to get hold of them.

I didn't manage to clear any of my jobs of my "To Do" list last night as my chest was so tight and I felt bad, but today I am determind to get the things I was making to sell finished.....I can feel a mission coming on after school today....LOL

This morning I am taking pictures of the Foundation class Christmas Playat Georgia's school. Each year I take pictures and get them printed so that parents can order them for £1 per photo. This makes about £50-75 for the school. The foundation year use the money to pay for cooking supplies that they use every week.....

Magnolia v Stampavie Week 5 "Follow the Sketch"

Here is a quick card I nade last night using the sketch over on Magnolia v Stampavie. So on first glance you may be thinking "Hey...he is by High Hopes"...and you would of course be correct.....however I have used a Magnolia sentiment....so I believe I am covered. This was a quick one as I was so busy last night trying to get through my "To Do" list. So back to the card, I coloured Santa with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Ruby (Santa Hat)
Pastel Blue (Shadow)
Ice Grey 1(Highlights on hat & beard)
The papers are K&Co "Peppermint Twist" & KI Memories "Holiday Collection 2006". I have used my nestabilities to cut the circle and scalloped circle for Santa, Magnolia "Santa is Coming" stamp for part of the sentiment, and I have finished off with 3 gems and some Bazzill tulle (can you tell I love this stuff...the bows always look so fab!). I also used another sentiment stamp, the "Ho Ho Ho" is part of a clear set by Hampton Arts.

Last night I managed to clear one of the jobs from my "To Do" list...they 30 keyrings for the School Christmas Bazaar are all packaged ready to be sold. I also made 3 of the little gifts that I am hoping to sell there, so now I am up to 5 sets made. I don't intend to make hundreds.....maybe just 25....time permitting.

I have stayed off work today as my chest is feeling terrible...I really am concerned that if I don't take care of myself I will end up with Pneumonia again....and I don't want that on the run up/during the holidays.

Hope everyone is having a fab day, preparing for the holidays etc.

Sketch Saturday #27

I finally found some time this weekend to make a card. I have been frantically trying to keep all my balls in the air...LOL. I have so many things that need to be done this week...here is a list of just some of them...
Take pics of Foundation Year School Play to sell the following day
Finish packing bits for School Bazaar
Finish things of mine to sell at School Bazaar
Sort out decorations for Santa's Grotto at School Bazaar
Do a VAT return for a client (@ home in the evening)
Find some items to stick in jars for the Jam Jar Tombola @ School Bazaar
Write Christmas Cards for a swap I am in

As you can see from the list, mainly things for the school...and things that HAVE to be done before Friday....I think I need a few more hours in the day.

So after finishing my GoGo Dec DT work last night I thought I would make another card....In think this is number 50, so I hit my target and can stop making them now....LOL. I have used the kissing couple from the Magnolia Winter Club Kit, coloured with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cinnamon (Tilda's Hair)
Pastel Yellow/Mustard (Edwin's Hair)
Rose Pink/Moss (Tilda's Clothes)
Cool Aqua/Cocoa (Edwin's Clothes)
Forest Green/Cocoa (Mistletoe)

The papers I used are all scraps of KI Memories Love Elsie "Noel", as is the chipboard button and the rub-on sentiment. The other items I have used are Stampin' Up Choc Chip Taffeta ribbon and some Sakura clear glitter gel pen on Tilda's hair.

Some amazing DT cards again this week, don't know how they manage it.