Mixed Up Saturday

Good Morning Ladies,

Another weekend is upon us, they're whizzing by so fast, I can hardly believe we are almost at the end of October. 

Today I am sharing Danni's latest makes, all four items from 1  12x12 sheet of paper.  Danni puts numbers on hers and hides them around the house with goodies in for Advent for her girls.  Such a lovely idea, much more fun than a calendar.!! 

I will leave  a link to Danni's video explaining how she made all of them.  

Thamk you so much Danielle for allowing me to share your projects.

XXX

Karlie 

Karlie has made another beautiful card to share with us.  This one is made using a beautiful, delicate floral paper, which is just so pretty.  Karlie kept the card clean and simple, which allows that gorgeous papee to shine through. The lovely sentiment reads "life is much better with you in it". Which is lovely.  Thank you so much Karlie for making a card for us.

XXX

I have shared a couple more of my Birthday cards below..

Michele

Michele used the 'Swirly Scribbles' Thinlits die ti create the wavy background for this lovely card.  She has then die cut the sentimemt and added lots of individ flowers around the sentiment.  That sentiment just stands out beautifully  die cut in Mirror card.  Thank you so much Michele for a lovely birthday card. 

XXX

Maria

Maria made this gorgeous card for my birrhday, using Sue Wilson's  Weaving Dies  to create the beautiful  pattern featured on this card, placing it on that beautiful embossed background  was such a great idea.

Thank you so much Maria for such a lovely birthday card. 

XXX

Thank you all so much for taking part in todays post.

Have a lovely weekend Ladies,  fingers crossed for sunshine. XXX

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra 

xxxxx

Stampin'Up! Winter Woods New Technique

Good Morning Ladies,

I took one stamp, one ink and Whisper White paper to create this card.
It literally took about 10mins to make this card, I think it looks quite effective too.

I took a piece of Whisper White card and then die cut a circle to use as a moon mask, I held that in place and blended the ink across the card, quite heavy at the top, continuing down to about half way and then blending out to the bottom of the card.  I then Spritzed the card with a fine mist of water, I blotted it off and quickly dried it.  I then took the large Christmas tree stamp and stamped it repeatedly over the bottom half of the card, no need to mask either.
Lastly I tapped a white Posca pen over the card which gave the snow effect and stamped the sentiment inside the moon.
I did two versions, one with and one without the white mat, it looks so much brighter with that white mat, it seems to pick up the white in the card.
What do you think?

I used this stamp set only (no dies).

I felt a lot better by yesterday afternoon thankfully, so managed to get into the craft room to have a play thats how this card happened.  I got very messy I have to tell you, very blue fingers for the rest of the day. I am going to film how I made this card this morning, as its so much easier to show than it is to explain.

I think that we are going to plan our mini-break to London this weekend, I think we will stay at the President Hotel again as it really was lovely and our toom was lovely, walking distance to the centre of London too.  We can't decide on what Show to go and see this time, we are toying with the idea of seeing one of the Classics.  I think 42nd street is going to be hard to beat as that was a real extravaganza! So if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them, we are going for two nights I think, I would like to do three but don't want to push my luck!  Any amount of time with Paul to myself is bliss.xx

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

A 'Simple' Challenge card.

Good Morning Ladies,

I eventually managed to get a challenge card made, just a quick and simple one but a challenge card all the same.

I used papers from the 6x6 In colours paper pad, this particular colour is 'Lovely Lipstick' this card was made with just one sheet of the 6x6 paper. I cut it to size and inked the edges with Lovely Lipstick Ink. I cut a base card 4 1/8 X 11 inch and scored it at 5 1/2 inch. (this way you get two cards out of 1 sheet of A4). It's folded at the top. 

I used an offcut of the Lovely Lipstick base card to make a border piece, I added a piece of Silver foil edged ribbon, topped with a piece of Lovely Lipstick Ribbon.

I stamped a sentiment from the Stampin Up! 'Stitched All Round' stamp set in 'Lovely Lipstick' ink and die cut with the matching Framelits.  

This is the set I used for this card.

I used the flowers from 'Dashing Deer' Suite and die used the Deers Antlers as the flourish to place the flowers upon.  To finish the card I added tiny crystal gems to the centres of each of the flowers and around the label die.

We had another small Riley Drama yesterday, not involving a cat this time though.

We were scheduled to have a landlords Inspection on Thursday this week, they are supposed to come in the first 3 months but this is our first one, although David (Sainsbury) pops round all the time.

Anyway, you know what we are like, I wanted everything perfect before they arrived, so being ill for the part of the week hasn't helped.  Anyway after our night at the cinema I was exhausted Wednesday morning, I clicked on to check that the blog had gone up and noticed that the date was 17th October and it rang a bell so I went to check the letter from the letting agent, guess what.....Yes thats right it was Wednesday they were coming, not Thursday.  I went into a blind panic, nobody was here but me, I had not idea what the upstairs was like as the girls were 'finishing' their rooms when that got back last night!   I felt like death warmed up and so I just called Paul, I asked him to call them and ask them to reschedule.  The thing that worried me was they had said in their letter that if nobody was home that they would let themselves in!  (which I don't think it right).  Luckily Paul contacted them in time and managed to reschedule. Phew drama over! 

I am happy to report that I started to feel a lot more comfortable as the day went on. I even managed to make a card, albeit a simple one.!

I hope that you all have a lovely day, fingers crossed for a nice day weather wise.

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Lynda's lovely 'Eclipse' Card

Good Morning Ladies,

Lynda has made today's card, it is for her daughter Lisa's birthday, I have reminded Lynda not to share in on facebook like she did last time. !!

Lynda has made an 'Eclipse' card in Navy and White, using Dandelion Wishes stamp set and Beautiful You stamp set, both from Stampin up! 

I love your design Lynda and I know Lisa will too, you just cannot beat that sentiment, it is so Sincere and can be used for so many different occasions.  I love how you have finished your card with those pretty sequins that are floating along with the Dandelion seeds.

Lynda I am so grateful that you allowed me to share Lisa's card today, because I just couldn't get out of bed to make a card. Thank you my lovely friend. xxx

Beautiful You

Dandelion Wishes

These are the two stamp sets that Lynda used to make her card. 

I ended up spending pretty much all day in bed yesterday as not having the antibiotics for that extra day really gave the infection chance to take hold.  I managed to fit three antibiotics in in the first 12 hours of having them, because I just couldn't stand the discomfort any longer, this is one of the worst infections I have had I think, how I got through the day and made a card on Monday is beyond me!

I woke with Paul yesterday morning after I finally got to sleep at about 4.15am,  so I had had 1 hr 45 mins sleep, I lost count of trips to the bathroom.  Paul made breakfast and I took another antibiotic belt I felt so nauseous afterwards, as I said yesterday I think that taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen every 4 hours on Monday didn't help.  So Paul made me another hot water bottle and I crawled back into bed, I was shivering!  I think I must have slept from about 8 until 11.30am which I needed, I just rested then as even making my way to the toilet exhausted me, being unwell seems to aggrevate my AF too, which adds to the exhaustion.  

Sophie was the perfect nurse, bringing me toast and tea and keeping my drink bottle full, so I was glad she was home.  I got up and about at about 3.30pm, trying to get myself going as we had booked and already paid for tickets to see 'The King of Thieves' which is the film about the Hatton Garden Diamond Robbery, I wanted to make the effort to go as this was Paul's choice of film to see and he doesn't usually suggest a film.  I am not a fan of Michael Caine to be honest, I think he always plays the same character, (but thats just me being picky), it actually looked like quite a good film on the trailer.  So fingers crossed I make it through without needing the loo!!

Thats all for today ladies, I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Pat, how's Pete doing?  thinking of you xxx

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Trying a new technique!

Good Morning Ladies,

I was browsing on YouTube yesterday afternoon as I was unwell and resting and I always end up watching Jennifer Maguire, she is so inspirational to watch.  She used to fancy stamps to make a card where the stamped image was on a base layer with a second layer has the matching die cut into it creating a frame around the stamped image.  She just used embossing powder on her cards as they were silhouette style, I thought I would use a stamp that I could colour in. 

I used the floral spray stamp from Stampin'Up! Petal Palette to stamp my images in opposite corners, I stamped in versamark added Copper Embossing Powder and heat set.  I then coloured the images with the light and dark Blackberry Bliss and Old Olive Stampin Blends. I then cut a piece of vellum the same size as my the card I stamped on and laid it over my stamped images, I then placed the matching dies over the images and taped them to the vellum, I then cut another piece of Very Vanilla card to the same size and laid the vellum over the card so that it lines up perfectly.  I die cut it and then trimmed about an 1/8 of an inch off each side, so that the top layer was a tiny bit smaller. (which is hard to see of these photos).  Before adding foam pads I stamped my two sentiments in Versamark and added Copper Embossing powder and heat set.  I die cut a small flower spray from another die set twice, once in Blackberry Bliss and once in Old Olive, I cut the flower out and laid over the Old olive die cut, so that my flower matched the colouring and base card.

I then put lots of foam pads onto the back of the frame piece and lined it up over the stamped images.

I added a Blackberyr Bliss gem to the centre of the flower to finish.

Something a little different, you can do this with any stamp that has a matching die.

I am going to keep this post short as I am really not feeling great, I started with another Water infection on Sunday late afternoon, that got worse as the night went on, I was up and down all night which I struggle with anyway.  I have been taking Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and all of my usual medication to try and help with the pain, I had a phone consultation with my GP yesterday afternoon and she prescribed me anitbiotics, she was so helpful, she was only going to give me 6 tablets to last 3 days so I explained that because I have had this frequently I generally need more that three days, so she has given me a weeks worth and told me to stop taking them after three days if I felt better.

So fingers crossed they will work fast so I can get a bit of relief, the other frustrating part is that I am shivering one minute and sweating the next!

I hope that you all have a lovely day my lovelies,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

It's Monday Challenge Time.....

Good Morning Ladies,

Well the weather has caused a bit of a miserable start to the week, but turning that negative into a positive means we have more time indoors to Craft !!!

I decided to go for a Sketch Challenge this week as we haven't had one for ages, I also find them a great solution for those moments when you just don't know what direction to go in with your card making.  I have always thought that too much choice is as much of an obstacle as not enough choice.

So here is this weeks sketch, a fairly simple design, you don't need to use stars of course, you could have flowers, snowflakes, or keep the stars and go for a Masculine design the choice is entirely yours.

The sketch is only ever a basic guideline you can change bits to suit your style of card making.

I look forward to seeing your designs xxxx

Proud Mummy Moment...…

Matt has been wanting a little side line to try and make some extra cash for a while, so he bought himself some Bathbombs/Candles etc and yesterday he had his first stall at a School fund raiser, he has bought all stock and bits to display in about ten days. Paul and I didn't know what to expect as he has never done anything like this before, he hasn't shown any interest in creativity, I helped him with a couple of things, cutting his cellophane wrapping into squares and the only other thing he asked me to help him with was Bows, he has huge hands which are better for farming than crafting, so I had the idea of getting some of those silver bag twist ties and actually placing them in the bow as you tie it, that way he has ready made bows to add to packaging, all he has to do is twist it onto the top of whatever wrapping the customer chooses.

Anyway he sent me a couple of photos of his stand at the event, I have to save I had tears in my eyes as I was absolutely blown away, he did an amazing job, so many great ideas, all of which were his.

I don't think his sales were that great, but I think people were put off because of the weather, it was a garage sale trail, that ended at the school where there were Car boots and inside were crafts and other sale tables.  But I told him not to get disheartened this time of year there are so many craft and gift fairs on the run up to Christmas that there were plenty of opportunities to sell more.  It really does knock your confidence though.  I think his ideas are fantastic and he has many items at pocket money prices and things that would make great teacher gifts so fingers crossed his new venture will turn into a success.

I hope that you all have a lovely Monday and enjoy this weeks challenge.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Your Challenge Cards

Good Morning Ladies,

Some amazing cards from all of you this weeks 'Embossing Challenge',  I have added one of Janet's from a previous challenge because Janet takes part every week and it just wouldn't be the same with a Janet card in the line up!

So lets get on with the show…..

Brenda

Brenda has made a stunning Embossed challenge card, using a Basketweave Embossing folder, I love this folders deep emboss, it looks so good that in the hand it looks real. Now a folder as lovely as this needs little embellishing, Brenda has got it spot on, those three beautiful Foamiran flowers are stunning, the leaves look so realistic too, adding that little bunch of tulle underneath was an amazing idea, it sets that little spray of perfectly.  I would want to frame this work of art Brenda.

Thank you so much for making this gorgeous card for this week's challenge,

XXX

 Michele

Michele has come back from holiday with a bang!  Two fantastic cards for this challenge, the first card Michele has made features a We R Memory Keepers Geometric Embossing Folder and a print out from Ella's Design CD Rom.  

Michele's second card is a lovely shade of purple and white pearl card, which has been embossed with the Folder that came with the Love Cardmaking  Issue 2, the circle sentiment diecut was also a magazine Freebie from Papercrafter magazine issue 125.  which makes the card a real bargain to make, which is just what we expect from Michele.

Thank you for two fantastic challenge cards Michele.

XXX

 Nicki

Nicki (Karen's lovely friend and crafting buddy) has shared 4 fantastic card for our Embossing Challenge this week, the first card features a stunning two step flower stamp, in a repeating pattern, just highlighting that one flower with the darker ink is a very clever trick, using Vellum for the silver embossed sentiment looks perfect, it gives a soft almost romantic feel to the card which is perfect for the theme.

The second card is more of a clean and simple design with a die cut frame that reveals mirror card beneath, then a simple embossed sentiment, sometimes simple cards are the most effective, this one is no exception

Nicki's third card features an Embossed Sunrise at the top of the card, giving the effect of the sun rising over that amazing scene, how clever, just look at the detail in that card, right down to the number on the gate.

Nicki's fourth card has a lovely multi striped rainbow background which has a lovely die cut frame over the top.  WOW this is so effective Nicki, I also love the two types of font for the sentiment, having the 'Wedding' part embossed in copper looks amazing and really stands out.

Four incredible, inspirational cards Nicki, thank you so much for sharing them with us this week, I will send you the challenge as early as I can so that you can get on with the next one.

XXX

 Val

Val has been busy this week, these Christmas cards are just gorgeous, where would we all be without embossing?

Val's first card uses John Lockwood's 'Cut and Emboss' Folder called 'Baubles', which Val has lightly inked over which enhances the embossing, the folder cuts the three apertures '(baubles)' and Val has popped beautiful Christmas Scenes behind them, the top one has the cards sentiment. 

Vals second card also uses a John Lockwood Cut and Emboss folder, this one is called 'Holly and Ivy'.  It works perfectly with that scene you have chosen Val and of course the folder has given the perfect place for your sentiment.  I think that John has hit the nail on the head with these folders!!

I am preparing myself for an influx of cards using these folders now that you have all seen how fantastic they are, I hope he has you on commission Val!

Thank you so much for taking part and creating two beautiful Christmas cards.

XXX

Lorraine

Lorraine has joined in our challenge this week, making this amazing card, I absolutely love that leaf ribbon, one of Stampin'Up! Finest.

Lorraine has written a description, I will add it below:

''I have used my Stamp for Joy card sketch entry together with Cotswold Crafters Card Challenge too.  I have dry embossed the background with Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and then blended with Old Olive Ink.  I punched out the centre with my Starburst Punch.  This I used as the final element on the project with my vellum sentiment (which was gifted to me) which says "THANKS so very much."  The images are from "Animal Outing" and the DSP is "Animal Expedition".''

Thank you so much Lorraine for this absolutely stunning card. so very kind of you to take part in our challenge.

XXX

 Lynda

Two gorgeous works of art from Our Lynda, I will add her descriptions below...….

'' My first cc embossed through Embossing Folder made a poinsettia embossed with a dotty folder. & toned with gold guiding wax added Sue's star prays with Happy Christmas on top''

''Second cc embossed a silver mirri card with butterfly mask in silver Embossing paste backed with black & silver card embossed with dotty folder

Cut a  Happy birthday out of silver & Black off setting them''

Lynda thank you so much for two gorgeous cards, I absolutely love that second card using embossing paste and a mask over mirror card is just pure genius, the result is stunning!

XXX

Margaret

Two fantastic cards from our Margaret, the first card is an embossed Crafters Companion 3D 'Scene' style embossing folder that Margaret has highlighted areas of with her Watercolour pencils.

Margaret's second card features the stunning Christmas tree from 'Winter Woods' stamp set, which Margaret has stamped and embossed and then embellished with little gems, adding the gems in the corner draws your eye into the main focus of the card.  Margaret finished the card with a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment, punched out with the Lovely Label Punch.

Thank you so much for two lovely cards, I thought you might buy that stamp set, there is so many elements to it, you can use it all year round too.

XXX

Janet

I chose this card out of Janet's files (ooh yes, I have files on you all) teehee!

I chose it because I absolutely love the embossing folder that Janet has used, it creates an absolutely stunning frame in the centre of which Janet has added Sue Wilson's Christmas Tree die cut, dressed with a bow.

A simply beautiful card, thank you so much dear friend for taking part in our challenge every week.

XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's card is absolutely stunning as always, I think Lilian has stamped and embossed the background and then inked over the top creating the Resist Technique, that pretty die cut corner reveals a pretty stamped background too.  That beautiful butterfly has had its wings embossed giving them real shine and sparkle, adding the mirror card layer underneath is an fantastic idea Lilian as it really does catch the light.

Lilian has finished her card with little gems down the back of the butterfly and a pretty silver embossed sentiment.

Thank you so much Lilian for taking part in this weeks challenge.

XXX

Karen

Karen has made two 'Embossed ' cards for this weeks challenge, the first one I am in love with, its just gorgeous, I love the colours and those leaves look so realistic! 

''I intended to try and make a “fall” card for last week’s challenge and had inked a piece of card with DO but didn’t use it So in fact this afternoon I made this card and used both dry embossing and heat embossing The leaves are in that Crafters Companion mag we all bought for £1 at AP last year The sentiment was a freebie too from a mag Can’t remember the EF company but it’s called falling leaves''

Karen's second card is an 'Eclipse' card using letters cut on the Scan&Cut, cut and stacked three deep for dimension and to prevent sagging!  The Embossing folder is Sue Wilson 'Snowflake Lattice' folder and Karen has added some 'Artificial Snow' around the edge of the embossed card to make it look a little more festive, (sorry Karen I couldn't spell that word either). 

Two fantastic cards Karen, I know I am not supposed to have favourite but I love your Autumn card, it just feels like you could kick the leaves, like you do in the park in Autumn (well I had a bad experience so I my children didn't really do that,  I got all excited when I saw this amazing pile of orange and brown tinged leaves and couldn't wait to get in them and kick them etc, only the pile I chose had a huge pile of dog poo in, needless to say the mission was aborted and I have never felt the urge since)!! 

Thank you so much Karen, two amazing cards, one warm and autumnal, the other cool, clean and simple.

XXX

Steph

The lovely Steph Stoker (one of Danni's very talented friends) has made this amazing Halloween card for our Embossing Challenge this week.

Steph that embossing folder is amazing, I am not sure if you have embossed black card and used gilding wax or embossed gold card and used black ink, either way your inking has highlighted those skulls amazingly, they really stand proud of the card, using the orange gems for eye was a touch of genius Steph. 

What an incredible card, thank you so much for taking part in our challenge, please come back and take part every week, your cards are incredible. 

Steph makes the most incredible albums too, you can find a lot of her work on YouTube, I am sure if you type in Steph Stoker you will find them, if not I will get Steph to leave us a link in the comments.

XXX

WOW WOW WOW Ladies, some absolutely amazing cards in this weeks challenge line up, so many different styles and techniques, enough to boost anyone's creativity!! 

I bet you all itching to have a go at atleast one of the ideas shown today, I know I am!

Have a lovely Sunday ladies, although the weather is meant to be rubbish!

Stay warm and dry and safe,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx