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

Winter Memories

Hello everyone!  And a warm welcome to my new followers.  Hope you are all keeping well.
It's a lovely bright, crisp and sunny day here in West Yorkshire...feels so good to see some sunshine once again!

Today I have a two cards I made to say thank you to some lovely friends.  They are both made with papers from Tilda 'Winter Memories' hence the title.....

I fussy cut and decoupaged my images, then added some dies and a little glamour dust.

Here is my second card...I love the little bird delivering my note of thanks...

Again I decoupaged the images and added a Spellbinders die...

I would like to enter both my cards into the following challenge...

Play Date Cafe - PDCC 169 Warm and Inviting

Thank you for stopping by

Enjoy a lovely weekend!

Sasha xx

Flourishes February Beautiful World Tour - It's A Sketch!

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Flourishes Beautiful World Tour.  This month our hostess is Iwona, and she has created a beautiful sketch for us.
So once again it's time to sit back, travel the world with us, and see what each DT member has created using their fabulous Flourishes stamps.
As always, to join in with the fun, you will need to leave a comment on each designers blog by 28th February to be in with the chance of winning.....A FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!!
If you arrived here from Anne-Elise's blog then you're in the right place.  If not, then you need to hop back to the Flourishes blog, and start your tour from there.
Here is Iwona's sketch...

and here's my card...

I embossed the top third of my card, and then added my Cheery Lynn doily die.  I stamped the beautiful rose bouquet from Flourishes - 'Roses are Red' set of stamps onto a Spellbinders circle die, and coloured with Pro Markers. I then added my Venetian red seam binding bow.  My sentiment is from Flourishes - 'Sentimental Favourites' set of stamps.

I decided to make a matching tag.  The image is also from 'Roses are Red' set, and 'Smile' is from 'Taglines'.

All stamps are from Flourishes and my seam binding is from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

Thank you for visiting me today.  Your next destination is Iwona, in beautiful Australia.

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

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Challenge - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Cute & Girly Challenge - Roses Are Red

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop February Challenge - Anything Goes!

Good morning everyone...and a warm welcome to my new followers.

It's been a month since I last blogged, but as most of you will know there's been a good reason for that.  Unfortunately my craft room is no where near complete.  But I do have my computer and some essential crafting supplies set up in our dining room, for now.
Today brings another lovely challenge at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Peet has challenged us all to a nice 'n easy 'Anything Goes'.  Here is what I created...

I used two sizes of ovals from 'Spellbinders Grand Ovals One' and I embossed the smallest of the two dies. I then stamped my 'Stampendous - Ruffled Corset' and coloured with PM's.  I cut it out and popped it up onto my oval.

I went around and in-between the two ovals with 'Pink Cut Out Hearts Ribbon'.  I then attached a fussy bow using 'Siam Pink Seam Binding', and added another little fussy bow using 'Candy Pink Bakers Twine'. Finally, I added some  'Heart and Diamante Pins'.  I coloured them to match using PM's.

Please stop by the blog and see the lovely creations by my team mates.  Then why not join in with us for the chance of winning something pretty.

All ribbons and embellishments used on my card are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

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

Craft Your Passion - Pastels

Inspired by Stamping - Colour Challenge 44

Whimsy Stamps - Fancy Edges

Mygrafico - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by

Hugs, Sasha xx

Sorry For My Absence!

Hello dear blogging friends. Hope you are all keeping well.
Thank you! to those of you who have asked if I was okay. I'm fine, apart from feeling quite stressed.
I'm sorry for not being around for the past few weeks.  This is mainly due to my dear husband deciding to take on a refurbishing project all by himself.  Just over a week ago, I arrived home after a day out to find that he had boxed up everything in my craft room and moved it into the spare room.  Nothing labelled!!!  Just tons of boxes piled on top of one another!!!  He said he thought he was doing me a favour...LOL!!!  Also, my computer had been disconnected!!!
To be fair, he had been asking me to do this for weeks, but it just seemed too much to take on.  There are over twenty years of stash in those boxes.  I am no where near seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  I've come across things I didn't even know I had!!  Our local home for adults with disabilities have said they would welcome anything, and I am now in the process of trying to sort things out for them.
Dear husband has re connected my computer and the modem for today, but I may not be able to get around to visit you as I still have so much to do, replying to emails and trying to help hubby.
At the end of all this up evil, I should have a nice new and tidy craft room.  Goodness knows how I managed before with all the cutter. When I see all these boxes I feel quite ashamed that I had become a hoarder.
Take care everyone.  I hope to be back in Blogland and visiting you all soon!! xxx

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop January Challenge - Flowers & Ribbons

Please scroll down for my Flourishes - January Beautiful World Tour Challenge card

Hello dear blogging friends. Hope you are all well.
It's the first Monday in January and time for another challenge at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  This month it  was my turn to host the challenge, and I have chosen flowers and ribbons as the theme.
For my first card I used Spellbinders - 'Fancy Lattice' die as my background. I then stamped and die cut several layers using Justrite stamps and the matching Spellbinder - Labels Twenty dies.

I embellished with White Carnations,  White Rosebuds, Pearls and 25mm Sheer Elegance Ribbon from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

For my second card I used Mariposa backing paper and dies from Spellbinders - French Frills.

I embellished with rhinestones from my stash.  My flowers and seam binding are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

Do stop by the blog and see the beautiful creations from my team mates. It would be great if you could join in with us this month.  As always, you will be in with a chance of winning something pretty.

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

4 Crafty Chicks - Ribbons and Bows

Crafty Bloggers Network - Flowers

Fashionable Stamping Challenge#38 - Surprise Us - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by

Sasha 

xx

Flourishes - January Beautiful World Tour - Create A Tag

Hello everyone and welcome to another Flourishes Beautiful World Tour.  This month our host is Meredith, and she has challenged the Beautiful World Team to create a tag.

Once again it's time to join in with us and travel the world and see how each DT member chose how to create their tag using Flourishes stamps.

As always, to join in with us, you will need to leave a comment on each designers blog by 31st January to be in with the chance of winning...A FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!!

If you arrived here from Naomi's blog in beautiful B.C. Canada, then you are in the right place.  If not, then you need to hop back to the Flourishes blog and start your tour from there.

Here is my creation...

For my tag I cut several layers and a frame on my Silhouette Cameo.  I inked these with Victorian Velvet distress ink and layered them on top of one another.  I then stamped 'Sturt's Desert Rose' three times using Flourishes - 'Blooming Aussie Florals' set of stamps, and coloured with ProMarkers. I cut these out and layered them to create dimension.

On to the bottom of my tag, I cut, inked and layered, Spellbinders - 'Persian Accents'. I then added some rhinestone bling from my stash.  I added a seam binding bow and hanger. Finally, I stamped 'For You' using Flourishes - 'Tag Lines' set of stamps.

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

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

CR84FN69 - Color Challenge

Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes with Ribbon

Butterfly Magic

Happy New Year everyone!!  I hope you will all have a healthy and very happy 2013!

Thank you so much to those of you who left kind thoughts and words, they were very much appreciated.

Today I have a card made with the Spellbinders 'Butterfly Magic' die that was a Christmas present.  It's quite a large die and it does take a bit of fiddling about with, but it's worth it in the end as I think it makes such a lovely background.....

As you can see I used white on white throughout.  I added some glimmer dust to my butterfly, some tiny heart pearls for the body and some white satin ribbon, both from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

I cut an extra butterfly to layer and give dimension, to which I added the glimmer dust.  My sentiment is from Flourishes - 'Inside & Out Just Because'  stamped onto a label from Spellbinders 'French Frills'

Sorry for the poor quality photo's, but it's been like night here for the past three days.  I think I may have to invest in a light box.

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

Flutter By Wednesday - Add a Fairy or Butterfly

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes 

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - New Something

Totally Gorjuss - New

Thank You for stopping by

Sasha xx

Flowers for a Friend

Hello everyone! And a warm welcome to my new followers.
Just a reminder that there is a sale on at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop  with lots of lovely bargains.
Hope you all had a great Christmas!! Ours wasn't a happy one, I was ill and we had some very bad news about a very tragic event that I cannot discuss right now.  It effected my will to create, hence my lack of posting...but life must go on, and so yesterday, I managed to muster up some mojo and I created a bright and cheerful card and a small gift box for a friends birthday...

I used Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals for my card. I layered and embossed with Spellbinders M-Bossabilities 'Venetian' folder.  I then added the very pretty 'Apothecary' label from Stampin Up, which I coloured with PM's.  My pretty flowers and ribbon are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  They were white and I coloured them with PM's to match my card.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and lovely comments throughout this year, and to wish you all...

A Very Healthy and Happy New Year!!

Thank you for stopping by

Love, Sasha xx

Bauble and Bling!

Hello everyone, and a warm welcome to my latest followers.  Hope you are all doing well in the run up to Christmas.
I'm really busy with one thing and another. Quite a few commissions to complete within the next couple of weeks...Yikes!! I'm in a bit of a panic mode right now, as I still haven't been given full details/instructions for some of the cards.  People seem to be under the impression that I am both psychic and that it only takes minutes to make their card.....I wish!
Today I have a card that I completed a couple of weeks back, but hadn't got around to sharing.  It has quite a lot of triple embossing and bling! Sorry for the poor photo quality, but the sun is very low in the sky and I just couldn't get a decent shot, the embossing and bling look lovely, but in my photo's they look quite dull...

The bauble stamp and sentiment are both from JustRite 'Merry and Bright' set of stamps. I stamped and embossed the bauble and sentiment in gold, and then coloured with Sakura glimmer pens. I cut some Spellbinders dies from the 'Ironworks' set and triple embossed them in gold.  I then used them to decorate my bauble and I also made a border.  I added some bling to everything!  The ribbon for my bow, and my flower are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges...
ABC Challenges - Holiday Cards with Bling!
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #126 - White Christmas

Thanks for stopping by

Sasha xx

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - December Challenge - It's Christmas!

Please scroll down for my December Flourishes Beautiful World Tour Challenge card.

Good morning everyone. Wow! December already...Yikes!!
This month at the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop our challenge is to make a card or project with the theme of Christmas.
So, without further a do - Here are my two cards...

For my first card I embossed the background with Spellbinders 'Garden Lattice' M-Bossabilities. I then added one of the Spellbinder 'Holly Motif'  dies to which I added some glamour dust.

I then added two glittered Magnolia Snowflake dies, and another snowflake cut on my Cameo.  To this I added a metal snowflake and pearl from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. I printed a digi sentiment from Pink Petticoat onto a Spellbinders 'Fancy Framed Tag' and added some pearls. Finally, I added my bow made from 15mm Silver Lame ribbon from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

For my second card I completely embossed the base and then added the Cheery Lynn French Pastry doily.  My sentiment was computer generated onto one of the Spellbinder 'Splendid Circle' dies.

I added some Magnolia Mistletoe die cuts, which I inked, then added some pearls. Finally, I added my ribbon bow made from 15mm Hunter's Green Gingham ribbon.

Why not join in with us this month for the chance to win something pretty. Also, do pop over to the blog and take a look at the fabulous creations by my team mates.

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

Papercraft Star Challenge #122 - Holiday Greenery 

Cheery Lynn Callenge #57 - Happy Holidays

Thank you for stopping by

Sasha xx

Flourishes - December Beautiful World Tour - Add Some Shine!

Hello everyone! We have another fabulous Beautiful World Tour for you this month.  Our hostess is Naomi, and she has challenge the Beautiful World Team to...Shine!!
It's time to travel the world and see how each designer chose how to add some shine to their Flourishes stamped creations.
As always, you will need to leave a comment on each designers blog by 31st December to be in with a chance of winning a FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!!
If you arrived here from Kathy's blog in Australia then you're at the right destination.
Here is my creation...

I decided to make a festive wall hanger, which could also be used as a large gift tag.

First, I cut two ovals with one of the Spellbinders 'Grand Decorative Ovals'. Onto one of the ovals I stamped 'Happy Holidays' from the 'Naturally Merry' stamp set.  I then stamped three poinsettias from the beautiful 'Poinsettia and Pine' set. I coloured my poinsettias and foliage with ProMarkers, then cut them out and layered them on top of one another. To add some 'shine', I covered my berries, holly leaves and poinsettia stamen with glossy accents.  I then added three red glass dewdrops to the bottom of my design.

To complete, I added some glitter to my poinsettia leaves and snow accents to my pine branches.

I then glued both ovals together and inserted my ribbon and bow hanger between them. Finally, I tied two silver bells to my bow.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. I hope you enjoyed your Beautiful World Tour.

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

Papercraft Star Challenge #122 - Holiday Greenery

Make My Monday - Favourite Flower

Sasha xx