Flourishes Beautiful World Tour - Summer Citrus Colours

Hello my lovely friends and followers! I do hope you are all well. Sorry for my lack of blogging....I will reveal why I have been absent in a later post and catch up with you all.
Today is the first Monday in July, and it's time for another globe trotting trip on the Beautiful World Tour. You should have arrived here from Aleksandra's blog, but if you didn't and you would like to join in you will need to start your tour back at the Flourishes blog in Florida. By visiting every designers blog on the tour, and leaving a comment, you will be in with the chance of winning a FREE Flourishes stamp set!!!
This month it was my turn to host the challenge. I love citrus colours, so I challenged the BW team to create something using these lovely bright and juicy summer colours.
Here is the card I created...

I used Spellbinders dies, which I embossed and also used the letterpress technique on some of them. I coloured them with distress inks and chalks.

My image is from the beautiful Flourishes 'With Gratitude' set of stamps, coloured with distress inks and markers. My sentiment is from Flourishes 'Tulips for Friends' set of stamps.

Thank you for visiting me today.  Your next stop on the tour is Naomi's blog in beautiful British Columbia Canada...

Blog Problems!!

Hello everyone.  Hope you are all well.
Sorry I've been missing for so long. We had a three week holiday, and since we got back I have had problems with my blog.  I have now changed over to Bloglovin, and I'm hoping I don't encounter any further hitches.
I hope you can all still see my blog and that you will continue to follow me.
I will be back to visit you all ASAP....Lots of love, Sasha xx

Flourishes Beautiful World Tour - Neutrals With Texture

Hello, dear friends and followers.  I am on holiday right now, so here's hoping that Blogger has behaved and that this scheduled post is up and running.
It's the first Monday in June, and time for another Flourishes - Beautiful World Tour.  Once again we invite you to travel the world with us for the chance of winning a FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!! To be in with a chance of winning, you must leave a comment on each designers blog by 30th June.
This month Meredith is our hostess, and she has challenged us to create something using neutral colours with some texture.
Here is my card, and for some reason the colours look much darker than they really are.  My roses are light cream in real life.....

I used a cream base card, and added some embossed card stock in dark beige and pale peach. I then added some ribbon lace from my stash. My sentiment label is from Flourishes 'Country Charm' set of stamps. I stamped with cocoa chalk ink onto cream card and coloured with markers in pale peach. The sentiment is from Flourishes 'Sentimental Favorites' stamped with cocoa chalk ink.

I cut some roses from cream vellum on my Silhouette Cameo  and edged them with peach chalk ink. I then die cut some leaves. I laid my spray of roses onto some cream skeleton leaves.

I'm the last on the hop. But if you get lost along the way just hop on back to the Flourishes blog and start from there.

Thanks for stopping by! See Ya Soon!

Love Sasha xx

On Your Special Day

Hi all...another quick post from me today.  I am up to my neck in commission cards, and need to get them all done and dusted before we go on holiday.
I don't usually show my commissions, as they are personalised.  But this one is for a lovely lady who is in a nursing home and will be soon turning 90! A friend asked me to do this for her, and requested that I didn't put 90 on her card. So this is what I came up with...

It's a large 8"x8" card and I used two SB dies for the centre, one from 'Floral Ovals' and the other from 'Grand Decorative Ovals'. I also cut a butterfly from 'Les Papillons Two'.  All wording is computer generated.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Sandy's Crafty Creations - Anything Goes (With A Twist)

Sugar Creek Hollow - Spring Flowers

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by

Sasha xx

Tulips For A Friend

Hello everyone! It's still cold and rainy here in West Yorkshire.  Hope it's a better day in your part of the world.
Today I have a card made with Spellbinders 'Gold Ivy' dies, embossed with a Darice folder and stamped with a beautiful image from Flourishes 'Tulips for Friends' set, which is appropriate, as my card is for a friend...

I inked around the edge of my die and also sponged with Memento, 'New Sprout'. I coloured my image with water brush and distress inks.

I cut a card to fit the shape of my die and embossed that with the Darice folder.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Craft Your Passion - Floral Delights

QKR Stampede - Spring

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by

Wishing you all a lovely weekend

Love, Sasha x

FlitterGlu & Gilding Flakes!

Hello lovely people...and a warm welcome to my new followers!
This is a quickie post from me today.
I tried something a bit different. I bought the IndigoBlu FlitterGlu and Gilding Flakes and had a play.
Here is the finished result...

Sorry for the poor quality photo, but it's like winter again here today...dismal, raining, very dull and blowing a gale!!

I also have some sad news to share. Because of ill health, Sarah has decided to close the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  But the good news is, she is having a Mega Sale, and there are lots of fabulous bargains! So just click on the link below to go straight to the shop...

Thank you for stopping by

Sasha xx

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop May Challenge - Lace

Please scroll down to see my May Flourishes BWT Post

Hello lovely friends and followers. It's time for another challenge at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, and this month our lovely Marlies has asked us to create a card, or project using lace.
Here is what I created...
For my first card I used an Anna Griffin embossing folder a SB die from A2 Filigree Delight and a flourish die. I made a flower and bow using blue 38mm sheer wrinkle edge ribbon. I added some white 22mm cotton lace and pearls. All from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. I computer generated my sentiment.

My second card uses an image from the 'Frou Frou' CD. The image was very pale and blurry, so I re- coloured it with ProMarkers.

I added some beautiful guipure lace, tiny heart pearls a ribbon bow from white 25mm organza ribbon and some white hip rosebuds, tinted  with PM's.

Do pop over to our blog and see the beautiful creations by my team mates. Then why not join in with us for the chance to win something pretty.

Thank you for stopping by

Sasha x

Flourishes - May Beautiful World Tour - A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Hello everyone! It's the first Monday in May and time for another Flourishes Beautiful World Tour. Once again we invite you to travel the world with us for the chance of winning a FREE Flourishes Stamp Set!!! But please remember, that to be in with a chance of winning you will need to leave a comment on every designers blog by 31st May.

If you arrived here from Meredith's blog in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, then you're in the right place. If not then you will need to start your travels back at the Flourishes blog in sunny Florida.

This month Kathy is our hostess, and she has asked us to use an image and no sentiment, and to give our reason for why we chose that particular image.

If you know me you will be aware of my love of flowers.  For my image I chose the beautiful blossoms from the new 'Garden Gate' set of stamps. I chose this image as the blossoms signify the arrival of our long awaited Springtime here in the UK.  I just love to see the trees bursting with blossom at this time of year.

I embossed my background and also used Spellbinders. I coloured my image with markers and I sponged with spun sugar distress ink. I then added a fussy white and silver bow.

Thank you for visiting me today. Your next destination is Kathy in Australia

Have A Beautiful Day!

Hello dear friends and followers, hope you are all well.
Sorry for my absence, but with one thing and another, until this evening, I just haven't had time to blog. But I promise to catch up with you all A.S.A.P.
When I saw the beautiful Spring colour palette for this weeks challenge at 'Colour Throwdown #239' I just had to make a card.  But I'm working very close to the edge, as the challenge closes very soon.
Here's my card...

I used white, lemon and pink card stock. Cheery Lynn - Sophia's Heart and SB circle dies. I cut some roses and leaves from white vellum and tinted them with PM's. My sentiment is from the 'Tulips for Friends' set by Flourishes. Finally, I added a fussy bakers twine bow and some swirly pearl accents.

Here is the gorgeous inspiration photo...

I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges

Stampin' for the Weekend - Die Cuts and or Punches

Die Cutting Divas - Flowers

Love to Create Challenge #63 - Punches and or Dies

Thank you for stopping by

Love, Sasha x

Friendship

Good afternoon dear friends and followers. Hope you are all well.
Just a quick post from me today.
I recently got the SB 5x7 Enchanted Labels 28, but haven't had the chance to have a play until this morning.
Here is the card I created...

I also used one of the SB labels 28 as a layer and embossed it. Both my stamps are from Flourishes sets...'Cherry Blossoms' and my sentiment is from 'Sweet Days of Summer'

My ribbon, tiny heart pearls and decorative pins are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Sarah has a Spring Sale on right now, so pop on over and grab yourself a bargain.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

'ABC' Challenge 24 - Easy As 1-2-3

Thank you for stopping by today

Love, Sasha x

Spring Blossoms

Good afternoon dear friends and followers.  Hope you are all well.
Today I have a card created from Flourishes beautiful new release stamp set called 'Spring Blossoms'...

As you've probably guessed by now, I adore flowers, and floral images are my favourites to colour. 

I stamped my image onto a SB oval die then mounted it onto the lovely SB A2 Filigree Delight. I coloured with ProMarkers.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and for those of you in the UK who are going to Ally Pally...enjoy a fabulous time! I am so envious!!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Spring Into Spring

Allsorts Challenge - Spring Has Sprung

Crafting For All Seasons - Floral Delights

Milk Coffee Challenge - Welcome Spring

Thank you for stopping by

Love, Sasha xx 

Wishing You The Happiest Of Days

Hello dear friends and followers, and a warm welcome to my new followers. Hope you are all well and enjoying some Spring sunshine, which here in the UK we have longed for!
Today I have a card made with a cut down version of the SB Framed Labels Eighteen 3D M-Bossabilities, and using the letterpress technique. For this I used the Brilliance 'Aurora' multi coloured ink pad.

My sentiment is by Anna Griffin, stamped with black memento ink onto a SB Labels Eighteen. For my flower I used several silk flowers and a decorative brad, both from my stash. My leaves are cut from a Marianne die.

My new craft room is almost complete.  I have had the most horrendous customer service from the company who supplied my stationery cupboards. It's taken weeks for them to get my order right.  They sent damaged doors, wrong replacements, missing parts...a complete shambles!! On a brighter note, I ordered a storage system for my ProMarkers from CardCraft-UK, which was the best deal on the internet, and their customer service was second to none...free P&P too!! 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Make My Monday - Create Your Own Background

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Spring Into Spring

The Pink Elephant - Use Spring Colours

Thank you for stopping by today

With My Love, Sasha xx

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop April Challenge - Spring Is In The Air!

Please Scroll Down For My April Flourishes BWT Post

Hello dear blogging friends, I hope you are all well. First of all, I would like to thank all of you who left me such kind messages on the loss of our sweet girl, Cookie. It meant so much to us.

I must apologise for being such a bad blogger, but I have had a few health issues and I'm still waiting for a scan.  I promise to visit you all ASAP.
Here is my April DT post for the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.
This month our lovely Brenda has challenged us to make something with the theme of  'Spring Is In The Air'. So a nice easy challenge with lots of scope.
Here are my creations.....

For my card I used Spellbinders A2 Bracket Borders One and Les Papillons Two, with a little embossing. From the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop I used 15mm Pale Pink Satin Ribbon - Pink Cherry Blossom, Pearl Pin and Small Pearl Hearts.

My second creation is a hanger...

 

From the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop I used - Yellow Gingham Ruffled Ribbon -Yellow Sweetheart Blossoms - Cosmos Daisies - Parrot Green Satin Leaf Trim - Butterfly Charm. I also used Spellbinders - Grand Decorative Ovals one, and Perfectly Pierced Victorian Oval Template Die. My stamp is from Flourishes - Old Fashioned Florals and I coloured with ProMarkers. 

Please pop over to the blog and see the beautiful creations by my team mates. Then, why not join in with us for the chance of winning something pretty?

Sarah has a 'Spring Spectacular' Event running right now...so pop along and grab a bargain!

I would like to enter my hanger into the following challenge...

I Love ProMarkers Challenge #161 - Spring is in the Air

Both my cards into the following challenges...

Stamp and Create - Use at least one die cut

Lexi's Creations Challenge #87 - Use punches and/or dies

Thank you for stopping by

Love, Sasha xx

Flourishes April Beautiful World Tour - Childhood

Hello everyone and a warm welcome.  It's April 1st and time for another  Flourishes Beautiful World Tour. Once again it's time to travel the world with us for the chance of winning a FREE Flourishes Stamp Set!!!  But please remember that you will need to leave a comment on every designers blog by the 30th April to be in with a chance of winning.
If you arrived here from Dina's blog then you're in the right place...if not, you will need to start your tour back in Florida at the Flourishes blog.

This month, Anne-Elise has challenged us to create something with the theme of 'Childhood'.
When I  was a little girl I spent many happy and long sunny days in the garden with my lovely dad. He gave me my own little patch and taught me how to sow seeds and I grew my own flowers and veggies.  The image I used is from the Flourishes 'Sweet Days of Summer' stamp set which was a perfect choice for me...

For my image, I first sponged my colours and then stamped my image with tuxedo black ink. My sentiment is also from the 'Sweet Days of Summer' stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Your next destination is Aleksandra in beautiful Slovenia...

A Sad Goodbye To Our Sweet Gentle Giant, Cookie

Hello everyone.  Sorry that I haven't been around for a few days. But our family have been trying to come to terms with the loss of our beautiful sweet gentle giant, Cookie.
She started to be ill on Saturday afternoon, sickness and losing blood. We phoned our vet and they told us to monitor the situation, as it could be something that had upset her tummy.  We sat up with her all night. But by 3.00 am Sunday morning she had become much worse, she didn't even have the strength to stand.  Michael and Ross had to carry her to the car. She weighed 120lbs!! We rushed her to the vet, and they said her vital signs were very bad. After watching her go down hill fast, and with no positive results from any treatment, we couldn't bare to see her suffer any longer, we had to say good bye.  Fortunately, being that time in the morning, we were the only ones in the surgery, so we had some quiet time to lay with her, gently hug her and tell her how much we loved her. It was absolutely heartbreaking.  It upset us even more when the vet couldn't find a vein to insert the cannula, her pulse was so weak.  It took 30 minutes of poking and prodding before they finally managed it.  But, Cookie being the beautiful girl she was, didn't make any fuss.  She just let them get on with it...Bless her! She finally went to sleep at 6.00 am.
I'm still feeling very weepy and even finding one of her hairs in the carpet sets me off. I know some people may think it's stupid when she was a dog.  But to us she was a big part of our family and we all loved her and miss her so very much.
She's free of pain and suffering now, and in my mind she will be running and playing in beautiful green fields, with sweet smelling flowers, which she loved, and I know we will meet her again one day.
Here is our beautiful girl Cookie in happier times...

Fun in the park!

Patiently waiting to go for walkies.

Her favourite place in our garden, sleepy in the warm sunshine.

And finally...with our son, Ross...they adored one another!

Please forgive me if I don't get around to visiting you all in the next few days. 

Thank you for stopping by

Lots of love, Sasha xx

Flourishes March Beautiful World Tour - Bookmark

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Beautiful World Tour.  It's my turn to host the challenge this month, and I challenged the Beautiful World Team to create a bookmark.
Once again it's time to join in with us and travel the world to see how each DT member created their bookmark using Flourishes stamps.
As always, to join in with us, you will need to leave a comment on each designers blog by 31st March, to be in with a chance of winning a FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!!
If you arrived here from Iwona's blog, then you're in the right place.  If not, you need to hop back to the Flourishes blog and start your tour from there.
Here is my bookmark...

For my bookmark I used Flourishes 'Botanical Bookplates Vol.1' stamp set, along with the coordinating 'Taylor-Made Classic Bookplate' die. I also cut two slightly larger layers by hand and coloured them to coordinate. I then layered my bookplate on top.

Finally, I topped my bookmark with a butterfly from Spellbinders Les Papillions Two.  I coloured my violets with markers and distress inked my butterfly.

Thanks for visiting me today. It's now time for you to fasten your seat belts and jet off to your next destination, which is Aleksandra in beautiful Slovenia.

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop March Challenge - Happy Birthday!

Good morning everyone. Hello, and a warm welcome to my new followers. Hope everyone is well.
Today brings us a new challenge at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop where the theme is 'Happy Birthday'. A nice and easy challenge, as we all need to make birthday cards, and projects for birthdays.
Here is my first card...

I embossed my background onto Whitewash cardstock and sanded. I used JustRite 'Ooh  La La French Frills' stamps with 'French Frills' Spellbinders, and coloured with ProMarkers.

I also used Spellbinders Borderbilities at the bottom of my card and overlaid them onto 25mm Salmon Pink ribbon. I used the same ribbon to make my flower and to trim, along with the black cotton lace. I coloured some 3mm clear rhinestones with PM's to coordinate. All from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.
Here is my second card...

This card was made with Spellbinders Labels One, and Decorative Labels One. Sponged with Tumbled Glass distress ink. I embellished with Saxe Blue Ribbon and 3mm pearls from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

Do stop by the blog and see the beautiful creations by my team mates. Then why not join in with us for the chance to win something pretty.

Thank you for stopping by

Hugs, Sasha x

Berry Sweet Birthday Blog Hop

Light the candles, cue the music and get ready for a little bit of birthday fun!  It will SOON be a very special lady's birthday, and so we rallied the troops to send some birthday wishes her way a little early!
On Monday, February 25th, Jan Marie Caruso, the fearless and creative force behind Flourishes, will be another year older.....what a wonderful thing to celebrate!  So, we've asked Flourishes' designers from all of our teams to join us to make this day super special, with a.....

Here's the scoop, there's a way YOU can help Jan celebrate, and you can win some Flourishes stamps as well! HOW?  We just love creative challenges here at Flourishes and so, why not usher in another one!  One random drawn winner will get a $25 gift certificate to the Flourishes store, just for playing along. You can enter by creating your card and linking it up to the Flourishes blog.

Here is my birthday card for Jan Marie 

I wanted to send a sweet cyber bouquet across to Jan Marie, so I used the beautiful 'Garden Picks' set of stamps, along with my sentiment from 'Tag Lines'. I haven't gone exactly with the colours of the inspiration photo, but I did use most of them. 

Jan Marie...wishing you a fabulous birthday and a wonderful year to follow...Sending you cyber (((hugs))) xx

*One extra note* Jan may be the head of this company but one thing she doesn't get a ton of is happy mail from customers using her stamps.  Let's change that for her birthday and flood her with some creative "love" by sending her your Berry Sweet Birthday Blog Hop creations!  Here's her address so you can pop them in the mail!

Jan Marie Caruso

4140 Lyric Lane

Pensacola, FL 32514

I know she would love to see in "real life" the beautiful work you all do, and I know it would bring a huge smile to her face.  So, join us in singing her a special little birthday song!  Be sure to check out all the fun and festive birthday wishes, and grab some great ideas for birthday cards along the way.

Just hop on over and take a look at what all the other designers have created...

Christine Okken 

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Heather Jensen

Julie Koerber

Silke Ledlow

Stacy Morgan

Allison Cope

Broni Holcombe

Cindy Haffner

Maki Jones

Aleksandra Mihelic

Dina Kowal

Iwona Palamountain

Kathy Jones

Meredith MacRitchie

Deborah Anton

Amanda Havon

Thanks for stopping by and helping us wish Jan Marie a wonderful and fabulous BIRTHDAY on Monday!

Just A Note

Hello everyone! Hope you are all keeping well.
It's a beautiful bright and sunny day here in West Yorkshire...perfect weather for half term school holidays!
Today I have a card that I completed last Friday, but only just found the time to upload.  It's my second entry for this weeks Play Date Cafe challenge - Warm and Inviting PDCC169 

I don't think my first effort was suitable.
Here is my card...

For my card I used Spellbinders 'Adorning Squares' and 'Marvelous Squares'.  My sentiment is by JustRite stamps. I created a flower by folding and pleating some pink 25mm organza from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. My fussy bow was made with seam binding from my stash. Bling is from my stash.

I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges...

Tuesday Throwdown #134 - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime Challenge #4 - Sentiment Stamp

Thank you for stopping by!

Sasha xx