Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Last Melon!!!

I don't know how many of you out there have seen the movie Ice Age, but there is this scene were these dodo birds are preparing for imminent catastrophe by hording melons (all 3 of them) to keep them alive when the deep freeze hits. Along comes Sid the Sloth and his friends who have been trying to return a human baby to his father. Junior is hungry and in need of nourishment. What ensues is a free-for-all between the regiments of dodo birds and Sid and his team. When it comes down to "The Last Melon", which falls into the claws of Sid the Sloth, he does a bum's rush, slow-mo dash through the frenzied birds! It's just hilarious to watch!! Sid makes it through to the side where his friends are waiting. He does a victory dance and in a fit of slow-mo excitement, he smashs the melon on the ground, spewing the contents everywhere, rendering it useless for consumption! Sid's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he means well. Really, if you haven't seen the movie, you should, it will make you laugh, possibly even cry!!

Now, why did I tell you all of that? In my family, because we have seen Ice Age so many times and split many a gut on the melon scene, we always refer to the last cookie, the last piece of cake, the last pizza slice, or the last "whatever", as "The Last Melon"!! You know, one of those family quips that some people might "get" or not!! So here it is...wait for it..."The Last Melon" so to speak for the fundraiser cards I did back in March. I have been slowly putting them on my blog and here is #20!!!



It's a simple encouragement card and the image I used is called "Hang In There" ! It can be found in both rubber & digi format, drawn by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps. I used the digi format. I printed out and coloured two identical images and then cut out the shell of one of them and popped it up with foam to give my turtle a more 3D look. I also popped up my flowers by adding 3 separate layers to each one, so not as high as foam would have made them, but 3D nonetheless . It's kind of hard to see in the photo but it gave a nice effect. Inside I used a Penny Black sentiment that reads, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us", which is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Well that's it for me. I'm off to watch Ice Age and have the last melon

a.k.a.

 the last piece of

CHOCOLATE CAKE!!

Thanks for stopping in!!

Hugs,
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Papers: October Afternoon--Lemonade
Leaf Punch: Martha Stewart
Die Cut Background: Spellbinders
Flowers: Prima
Metal Flower: Hobby Lobby
Gem: Dollarama

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Who's Your Favourite Stamp Artist!!

Who's your favourite stamp artist? Do you even have one or do you have many?! I'd love to know, so if you would be so kind, leave me a comment letting me know who they are or who they work for, I'd appreciate it!! I always love finding new artists!!

My favourite artist is also my friend. I first fell in love with her images when she worked as the primary artist for High Hopes Stamps. Being a patriotic Canadian, some of the first rubber images I bought, were her one's featuring mounties, moose and beavers!! I had the pleasure of meeting her in person back in 2009 at a release party she did for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps in Kilworth, Ontario. I then had the immense privilege of being part of her Design Team from April 2010 until June 2012 when she decided to hang up her drawing hat for awhile to concentrate on other things.

Her name is Crissy Armstrong, and she IS my favourite stamp artist.

In celebration of Crissy's talent, I wanted to post a card I made for a fundraiser back in March that features her digital image "Little Artist" !! This image is a mini-Me of Crissy LOL!! I just love it because it reminds me of the wonderful "childlike" imagination that has always come through in the images she's drawn!!

Here's my card...




 I added crystal lacquer to the dollops of paint to make them appear wet and more 3D. Sorry it can't really be seen in the photos, but it was a cool effect.


The sentiment is one I got as a freebie from Create With TLC -- a wonderful site with tons of freebies & vintage images!!

So there you have it! Let me know who your favourite artist is! Leave me a link and I'll come by and see what you've been up to!

Hugs,
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: Karen Foster--Old Script
Media: Copic Markers
Brown Crochet Flower: Scrapbook Memories (LSS)
Pink Crochet Flower: Michael's
Star Spacer Bead: Michael's
Gem: Dollarama

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Celebrate Big!!!

Howdy!! Hope you're having a good day!! I have another fundraiser card to show you and this time it's a birthday card. The image is called "Celebrate Big" (rubber format) and it's another wonderful creation drawn by my friend Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps!!


  It's hard to see it in the photo, but I have added Stickle dots to all the letters--looks really cool IRL!! I like the watercolour effect I got on this image too, even though I used Copics. It was such a pleasure to colour!!


Thanks for taking the time to take a peek!! Leave me a comment and a link to your blog so I can come see what you're up to!!

Have a blessed day!!

☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Stamped On: Neenah
Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: Jillibean Soup--Spotted Owl Soup Coordinating Paper
Media: Copic Markers
Ribbon: Michael's
Metal Name Plate: Dollarama
Stickles: Icicle
Die Cut Letters: Quickutz--Diesel

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Take Time To Smell The Flowers

Hi there!! Happy July!! I trust you're having a restful Sunday!!  If you haven't already heard the Sundays With Crissy blog is closing down. I have had such a blast managing it and have met so many wonderful crafters along the way. I wanted to dedicate my post today to Crissy who has become a dear friend and mentor where card making is concerned. I love her art and the joy of life and laughter she translates through her wonderful images!! She will always be my favourite artist!!

This is one of the cards I did for a recent school fundraiser. I have posted many of them over the past couple of months but this one is my favourite of the bunch. The image is called "Smell The Flowers"  (rubber format) created by Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps and I think it is a wonderful image to celebrate our friendship!! The sentiment is from one of my favourite freebie sites called Create With TLC! Paulette has some wonderful things for sale in her online store too and the prices are great!!



A closer look...


Thanks for taking time out of your day to stop in!!


Happy Canada Day
 to all my fellow Canucks out there in Blogland!!

Hugs,
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Stamped On: Neenah
Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: 3 Bugs In A Rug--A Trip to Paris--Paris Stripe
Media: Copic Markers
Chalking: Colorbox Fluid Chalk--Ice Blue, Lime Pastel, & Dark Moss
Leaf Punch: Martha Stewart
Crochet Flower: Michael's
Rose: Prima Flowers

Monday, June 11, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--2nd Challenge Card

Good Morning!! I wanted to post the second card I did for the Sundays With Crissy challenge for June. The theme is "Tags and Tickets" and for this card I used another one of Crissy's rubber images called "Very Present Helpers"!! This card has a hidden element as well--see pic below. I coloured the kitties to look like my two fur babies--Willow & Yuki. This card is another one of my school fundraiser cards meant for a little girl's birthday.






Thanks for popping by to take a look. There is still time to join in our challenge. Go HERE to check out how you can upload your own "Tags & Tickets" creation!!

Have a BLESSED day!!
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:

Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: The Paper Company--Marseille Motif
Media: Copic Markers
Kitten Stamp: Whimsy--Very Present Helpers
Gift Stamp: High Hope Stamps
Best Wishes Stamp: Whimsy--Adventure Mini Postage Stamps
Surprise Sentiment Stamp: Pink Cat Studio
Flowers: Prima
Metal Flowers: Michael's
Brads: Stash
Stickles: Icicle

Friday, June 1, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--Challenge #30--Tags and Tickets

Hi Everyone!! Thanks for coming by my blog today!! I'm here with the latest challenge from Sundays With Crissy. This month the theme is "Tags and Tickets"!! Open to interpretation of course and you may use one or the other or a combo of both.

For the challenge I used Crissy's rubber image from Whimsy Stamps called "Lend Me Your Ear"! This was another card I included in a school fundraiser package.



 The front sentiment is one I generated on my computer and the inside sentiment is from Create With TLC!!


Now it's your turn to show us your "Tags & Tickets" creation. Of course we love it when you use Crissy's images but you don't have to in order to play along. Go HERE for challenge details and upload instructions. You could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!!!

Thanks for coming by to see my card!! Have a wonderful day!!

Hugs,
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Printed On: Neenah Paper
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: Basic Grey--Little Black Dress/Etiquette &
DCWV--The Pets Stack
Media: Copic Markers
Distressing Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk--Chestnut Roan
Flower Punch: EK Success
Brads: My Stash
Die Cut Letters: Quickutz

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Another SWC Things With Wings Card

I went a little crazy with the "Things With Wings" theme over at Sundays With Crissy. Here is card #6...I love Crissy's "Rose Butterfly" digi image from Whimsy Stamps! You can use any colour combo with it and it can also be used for so many different occasions! This "Thank You" card is another one that I did for a recent school fundraiser!! Turns out that the lady who purchased them has been bidding and winning my cards at the auction for the last 3 or 4 years, which for me is the highest compliment anyone could pay.

 
The sentiment is a digi image from Create with TLC, a great place to find wonderful sentiments and vintage images!!


Thanks for coming by today to take a look. There is still time for you to enter your own creation for this month's challenge over at the Sundays With Crissy blog!! Our challenge ends tomorrow at noon, so click HERE to join in the fun!! You could win 5 free digi images drawn by my favourite artist--Crissy Armstrong!!

Have a Great Day!!
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:

Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: Michael's Recollections--Script Cream
Media: Copic Markers
Gems: Hero Arts
Butterfly Punch: Martha Stewart
Chalk: Colorbox Fluid Chalk--Chestnut Roan

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--Challenge #29--Things With Wings Christmas Cards

Here are two more cards I made for this month's challenge over at Sundays With Crissy. The theme this month is "Things With Wings".



The Inside...




Christmas is only 7 months away you know LOL!! I kept these cards really simple. They were also part of the package I made up for the school fundraiser. I just love Crissy's angels! These images are called "Touched By Love" and "Little Christmas Angel" and they are both digital images that can be found at Whimsy Stamps. Unfortunately, the photos don't show the glitter on the wings of the angels. It's look really pretty IRL...

It's not too late for you to enter your own "Things With Wings" themed card or project. Click HERE for challenge details and upload instructions!! You could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!!

Thanks for taking the time to come by my blog!! May your day be filled with sunshine!!

Hugs,
☺Sarah ☺

Card Deets:

Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: NRN Designs--Holy Spirit
Media: Copic Markers
Ribbon: Michael's
Sentiment: Create With TLC
Joy & Peace Embellishments: Dollarama
Gems: Dollarama
Poinsettia Die: Spellbinders

Friday, May 11, 2012

Okay...It's Me Again!!

Okay don't fall off your chair!! Yes, this is my third post this month!!  Again with the Things With Wings theme from the Sundays With Crissy challenge to boot!! Crissy has so many cute winged creatures and I couldn't resist colouring up this handsome fellow even though Thanksgiving is months away!! It's good to be thankful anytime, right?

The image is called "Stuffed Turkey" and it's from Whimsy Stamps.


 This awesome sentiment is another one from Create With TLC!!


Thanks for stopping by to take a look!! Don't be shy, enter your own "Things With Wings" themed card and you could win 5 free digi images drawn by Crissy Armstrong!! Details on how to add your card of project HERE in my Sundays With Crissy post!!

Have a blessed day!!
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:

Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: s.e.i.--Claire--Sincere
Media: Copic Markers
Picket  Die: Cherry Lynn Designs--Victorian Picket Fence

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Card #2 for Sundays With Crissy--Things With Wings

Top 'o the Mornin' to Ya!! Today's a great day to share another one of my cards for the Sundays With Crissy May challenge which is "Things With Wings"!! 

I used Crissy's digi image "Birdie Friend" from Whimsy Stamps!! I love this image!! The scripture verse sentiment is one of my favourites too and it's from Create With TLC!! This card was also another in a series I made for a recent school fundraiser.



Check out the Sundays With Crissy Blog where you will find all our challenge details! Upload your own "Things With Wings" creation and you could win 5 free digi images created by Crissy Armstrong!! And remember, although we would love it if you used one of Crissy's images, it is not necessary to do so to play along! If you do use one of Crissy's images you will be entered twice in our draw at the end of the month!!

Thanks for taking a look!! Have a BLESSED day!!
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:

Printed On: Neenah
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Media: Copic Markers
Sentiment: Create With TLC
Ribbon: Michaels
Scalloped Oval & Oval Die: Spellbinders

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--Challenge #29--Things With Wings

Greetings Stampers and thanks for stopping by today! Over at Sundays With Crissy we have a new challenge going on and this month it's all about Things With Wings!! So, to join in on our challenge, all you have to do is make a card or project using stamps that have a "winged" theme--that means birds, bugs, angels, flying pigs, etc.

Here's what I did for my card...





I used Crissy's image "Love Birds" from Whimsy for this card. It was part of a package I put together for a school fundraiser.

Now it's your turn to show us your Winged Creation cards or projects! See upload instructions HERE! There will be five free digi's given to one lucky challenge participant who will be chosen by Random.org at the end of the month! You may use images from any company and still be included in the draw for the blog candy prize! Those who use one of Crissy's images, either from her rubber or digital collections will be entered twice in the draw. But please respect the rule of no more than three entries per month. Otherwise your entries could be deleted. Please also remember to link your card/creation to the appropriate post. Although we'd love to surf your blog it makes it very hard for us when we have to go looking through multiple posts to find your entry for our challenge.

Blessings,
☺Sarah☺

Card Deets:
Stamped On: Neenah
Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Bazzill Papers
Designer Paper: Basic Grey--Max & Whiskers--Patches
Media: Copic Markers
Metal Charm: Dollarama
Ribbon: Michael's
Ribbon Holder Die: Spellbinders

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--Challenge #28--Favourite Colour Combo

Greetings Everyone!! Welcome to my blog!!  It's challenge time again over at Sundays With Crissy and this month the theme is to use your FAVOURITE COLOUR COMBO!! Here's my card...



I included this card in a bunch I did for my daughter's old elementary school's fundraiser. I used Crissy's image "New Born Joon" from Whimsy Stamps. I coloured her with copic markers. The designer paper is from Basic Grey--Getting Bigger and from Pebbles--Ever After/Magic Forest. As always, my cardstock is from Bazzill Papers. The crochet flowers are ones I picked up at Michael's and my LSS. The brad was from my stash. The background is done with chalk.

Now it's your turn to share your Favourite Colour Combo!! Go HERE to check out our latest challenge details!! Thanks for stopping by today to take a look!!

HUGS!!
Sarah ☺

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sundays With Crissy--Challenge #27--Animals

Good Day!!! Welcome to my blog!! Today I want to share with you the card I did for Sundays With Crissy!! This month the theme is all about ANIMALS!! Anyone who knows me and my cards knows that almost every card I do has some sort of critter on it--can't help it, I'm an animal lover. This time 'round I used Crissy's sweet image "Bunny With Flowers" from Whimsy Stamps for my card. This one will go along with 19 other cards to help raise money for my daughter's (and mine) old elementary school.


Here's a close look at the art...


I'm not sure if you can see it but I added some white flocking to bunny's tail to make it fuzzy.

Now it's your turn to show us your Animal cards or creations! There will be five free digi's given to one lucky challenge participant who will be chosen by Random.org at the end of the month! You may use images from any company and still be included in the draw for the blog candy prize! Those who use one of Crissy's images, either from her rubber or digital collections will be entered twice in the draw. But please respect the rule of no more than three entries per month. Otherwise your entries could be deleted. Go HERE for details on how you can upload your own cards/projects!!

Thanks for stopping in today!!
Blessings,
☺Sarah☺

The Recipe:

Digi Stamp--Whimsy Stamps
Sentiment--High Hopes Stamps
Printed On--Neenah Paper
Cardstock--Bazzill--Swiss Dots
Designer Paper--Doodlebug
Media--Copic Markers
Metal Flower--Hobby Lobby
Brads--American Traditions
Die Cuts--Nestabilities--Parisian Accents
Pearls--Dollarama

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Sundays With Crissy Challenge #26--Birthdays

Hi Everyone!! Welcome to my blog--so glad you stopped in today!! It's challenge time at Sundays With Crissy and this month it's all about BIRTHDAYS!! I recently stocked up on some of Crissy's rubber images (Whimsy Stamps) and here is the first one I had the opportunity to ink!! The image is called "Tippy By The Tail"!!

I am currently in the process of making 20 cards for a school fundraiser and this is card #1 of the bunch--only 19 more to go!! The goal is to use all Crissy Armstrong (Whimsy) images--both rubber and digi, so over the coming months you will get to see what I did!! This is a boy birthday card, hence, the lack of flowers and bling LOL!! I just love Crissy's tigers (my faves actually) they are such fun to colour!!!

This was my first attempt at doing clouds with copics and I like the way it turned out!! I just used B0000 and C2 with the colourless blender. I love the way the clouds add depth and dimension to the image. Sorry my photos aren't great--the image looks way better in real life!!




Well that's it for me!! I'd love to see you play along with our challenge too. All you have to do is make a card or project(incorporating stamps) with a birthday theme and upload it to our blog--GO HERE for upload instructions!! You could win 5 free Crissy Armstrong digis of your choice too, if you are picked in our random draw at the end of the month!! If you use one of Crissy's images, digital or rubber, from any of the companies she has drawn for, you will be entered twice in our draw!! Although we'd love it if you used one of Crissy's images, it is not necessary to do so in order to play along!! We only ask that you limit your entries to three and that you keep your cards family friendly (i.e. no pin ups or suggestive images).

Thanks for taking a look!! Have a great day!!

Blessings,
Sarah ☺

The Recipe:
Stamp & Sentiment--Whimsy Stamps (Tippy By The Tail)
Stamped On--Neenah Paper
Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black
Designer Paper--Pebbles (New Arrival-Little Angel)
Cardstock--Bazzill Papers
Media--Copics, Multiliner, Sharpie Ultrafine Marker,
Ribbon--Michael's
Metal Clips--Dollarama
Brads--American Traditions
Punch--Whale of a Punch--Deckle Edge Tag
Chalk--Colorbox Fluid Chalk--Chestnut Roan & Dark Moss 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!!! Sundays With Crissy Challenge #25

Howdy and Happy New Year!! It's challenge time again over at Sundays With Crissy and this month we want you to Beat The Mid-Winter Blues!!! That means you can use anything on your card or project that screams beach, seashore, underwater, sunny, tropical...you get the idea.

Now this challenge has special significance for me as I have just returned from a wonderful cruise in the Caribbean. Now I really can't complain because of the snow because, well, here in Ontario, we haven't really had that much and we ended up having a very green Christmas to boot. The snow can stay away as far as I am concerned!! I wouldn't mind a green New Year either...I can dream can't I??

Anyway, back to our challenge...I decided to keep the sea theme alive for this one. Although I didn't see any mermaids at sea (oh I love homonyms) I know they were there. I inked up this little rubber mermaid Crissy did for Whimsy stamps and put her on the front of a travel journal. The image is called "Journey Into The Sea".

 
The Front



  The Art


The Back--I wish I had bought a crate of this paper--one of my life's regrets LOL!!

  Now if you're interested, this is how I made my journal. First I went on a hunt for cheap-o (NON SPIRAL) journals at the dollarstore, Staples, & Michael's. I bought a bunch of different ones but the one I used for this project was a "Sustainable Earth" journal from Staples. I liked it because it had a chocolate brown binding (anything chocolate is good) and the lines were brown inside. I then purchased the biggest Xyron machine I could find (Xyron Creative Station). It's a little pricey (not so bad with a 40% off coupon) but necessary for this project as you need a strong and consistent adhesive to stick the paper down. I cut my paper to size leaving a bit of overlap, ran it through the xyron and adhered it to the journal. I then trimmed the overlap with scissors and then sanded the edges with 220 grade sandpaper. This works best if you sand the edges down towards the inside of the journal or along the edges so you are not going against the adhesive. Sand until the edges are flush and smooth. It makes a BIG mess so be prepared for some clean up. The rest is up to you.

Well, now it's your turn!! Show us how you Beat The Mid-Winter Blues!! Click HERE and you will be taken to our post outlining how to enter your own projects!! You can also win our monthly prize of 5 free digi images by our beloved artist Crissy Armstrong--details on the above post as well. Don't forget, our talented design team will be struting their stuff all thoughout the month just to keep you inspired, so don't forget to come back to the SWC blog often to see what they've come up with.

Thanks for popping in today to take a look!!

New Year Blessings,

Sarah ☺
The Rest of The Dirt:
Designer Paper: Magenta--Bon Voyage--Travel Text
Cardstock--Bazzill Papers
Image Printed On: Neenah
Media: Copics
(BV000, BV00, BV02, BG10, BG15, BG23, Y02, Y11, Y15, Y18, G12, G20, YG03, YG23, E0000 E35, E50, R20)
Gems--Zva