Another 'very ' old paper, new die card

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you have all had a good week,  my thoughts are with our lovely Maria today,  I hooe that you arrived in Sweden safely my lovely,   your Mum is going to be so surprised to see you my lovely,  its such a lovely thing to do.   I hope it ends up being easier than you were worried about.  I am always at the end of the phone if you need a chat, I have to say that you are far braver than I am, flying all that way on your own 😘

I like this reminder and the artwork 😊 

Onto today's card,  now...I had a proper rummage about in my boxes of paper for today's card,  do you remember back in the day when we all liked the 'Ann Marie Designs' Dotty card, it had matching stripe and floral too I believe,   it used to work really well with Sue Wilson dies,  I must be going back ten years here,  I had it at bungalow for sure. 

I picked out this pale grey one for this card,  now....I have a confession the topper is actually back to front 🤣😂, the large flower was meant to be pointing to the left originally but because the 'linen' embossing folder which is also quite old has a really good emboss and deboss I clearly couldn't tell the difference and stuck the foam pads on the wrong side!!!  I was going to start again but I was done by this point, so I adhered it the wrong way around and added the yellow dots as a contrast to the grey.  I die cut the 'smile' 3 times and stacked it for bigger impact and added it above the small flower.  

Quite clean & simple I think 🤔 

I hope that you all have a lovely Friday,  

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

Very Old papers New die card

Good Morning Ladies,  

Welcome October,  a month I love,  the colours,  looking at the changing trees, warm cosy evenings, it's like a big cosy hug. 🍂

(I asked ChatGPT to help me design the Welcome October sign above 😊) 

I think this is an odd 'reminder'  because I'm not sure who would feel the need to 'apologise for being who they are' unless it's means when someone feels they need to apologise for being an untidy crafter etc 😉🤣

Today's card features a VERY OLD set of 'Mixed Media Papers' from Bee Crafty, I have had them atleast 10 years,  they were a bit of an 'oops' purchase,  I bought them and just couldn't think of anything to do with them.

Until yesterday,  I took a piece of one of the sheets 

and used it to create a mat on my cream card base, I used the same cream linen card and cut a slatted circle using my NEW Craftaddiction Dies                     I then fussy cut a butterfly that perfectly matches the background I used for the mat.  I placed a foam pad behind the butterfly and placed on to the circle.  Then I used my NEW Gummiapan 'Happy Birthday die to finish the card. 

I hope the cards I have made this week have showed how easy this challenge can be.  

I hope that you all have a good day,

Love & hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

A Quick card for today..

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies,

Just a quick one today,  I had a good day yesterday,  Lucy and I popped out for a few bits to make some different soups,  I saw the Ninja soup maker on offer a week or so ago and so i ordered one,  we have wanted one for a couple of years but talked ourselves out of getting one.  

I also asked ChatGPT to help me devise a healthier eating plan for Oxtober so that I can go into this surgery as healthy as possible,   he asked me some background information, I explained that GP had suggested a 800 calorie diet,  which it thought was ridiculous.  It said I need to concentrate on having good protein intake as its essential for building muscle etc,   so it is devising a healthy eating plan as we speak.  

Another very true reminder, although they can easily get overlooked.  😘

Today's card is another using that same lovely paper collection 'Beautiful Gallery' that I used for yesterdays card,  this time I paired with 'Mossy Meadow' a lovely dark green that I used for Becca's wedding invitations. The card is 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inch I cut a panel of card 1/4 inch smaller and covered it with a piece of the paper and a piece of embossed Mossy Meadow card as a contrast,  I covered the join with a lovely linen ribbon. 

Now,  I wasn't sure where to put the sentiment so I showed both options , I think I prefer the first option!  

I hope that you all have a lovely Wednesday,  

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx 

My first "Old /New" Challenge card

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

Well I did finally get around to making a card,  it took me most of the day as I was busy on the phone on and off for an hour or so, trying to find the right department at the right hospital 🙄,  that's the problem with being referred out of your area.  I think they originally referred me to Warwick/Stratford & Coventry because I had been to the surgery in February or March after having that Endoscopy,  the GP I saw confirmed that I had a Hernia but wasn't sure which type.  I left the surgery waiting for a referral and around 8 months later while on a phone consultation with GP about bladder issues I said how disappointed I was that I had heard nothing more about Hernia and told her that the GP I saw actually wrote on my notes that he would update me in 3 weeks.   

She could clearly see that nothing was done so I think she referred me to the hospital with the shortest wait list.   It is totally out of our NHS (Gloucestershire).  Which is ok apart from the fact that they have no access to any of your medical records.   The surgeon I saw was so lovely though, so fingers crossed all will be well,  Surgery is booked for late October. 

This is such an important reminder, if you don't take care of your mental health it will eventually affect your physical health.  It is very hard to manage though.  😘

I finally managed to sit and create something yesterday,  for our new Challenge I picked the papers I got on Friday from Stampin Up and for the old I used Arch dies that I bought in a Spellbinders sale a few years ago and I'm not sure I have ever used them either 🙄,  the Embossing folder is old too, as is that narrow crocheted lace.  

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love & hugs to all,

Sandra xxx

Welcome to the start of a new week

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

Here we are at the start of the last week of September!   I hope that you all had a lovely weekend.   Ours was quite relaxed,  it was raining yesterday afternoon so no gardening,  so we decided to go looking at Televisions,   we have needed a new one for a while,  my goodness I wasn't prepared for how overwhelming  TV shopping was going to be,  there were so many different options,  the majority of which were enormous!  I don't mind advice etc but the chap who was showing us one particular tv (like he must have more commission on that particular one) turned out to be a pest,  I ended up asking him and then 3 others to let us just have a look at the different options.  

I think its time for a new challenge,  as I explained on our messenger group the other day I asked ChatGPT for some suggestions,  I really liked the 'what was I thinking'  challenge BUT I'd like to wait until everyone is ok to join in.  

So for this next challenge I am going to go with....

Old Meets New – combine one older craft item with something newer.

I know that we all have plenty of 'old' 🤣😂 and I'm pretty sure we all have something relatively new.  

So it could be a project using a new paper collection cut with an old die.  OR the other way round.  

It can be using old stamps on a journal page with your newest stamperia collection.  

I have some Tim Holtz embellishments that I have hoarded for years, ephemera too,  this would be the perfect challenge to use them.  

If you would like anymore suggestions just ask,  I particularly like challenges that encourage us to use our old stash,  after all we all have plenty of it🤣😂. 

I hope that you all have a great start to your week, 

Love and hugs to all of you , 

Sandra xxx

Let's look at what we made this week..

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,  

My contributions are a little disappointing this week,  I just couldn't summone the enthusiasm, forcing it doesn't work either, you end up with something you just aren't happy with.  

Let's have a look at what you have been making...

Karen 

Karen's Description: 

I haven’t done any card making but have been able to crochet with thicker yarn and hook than I’m used to 

I was gifted this yarn and thought it was perfect for autumn colours It has red,green,brown and grey - from Aldi, their rainbow range

So I made this Toft Labrador for the Ukraine charity box. 

Oh my goodness Karen both the yarn and your Labrador are gorgeous,  the colours are just perfect Autumn,  I could sit and look at him all day.   

It doesn't matter that it isn't a card or journal page, what's important is that you made it !!  The title of todays post is 'let's look back at what you have made this week ',  you definitely made it so it qualifies.  

Thank you for sharing your lovely labrador with us XXX 

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:  

Here is my page at last. It’s a simple Stamperia page, using page from the junk journal plus cut out and ephemera. The gold and iridescent are from the little tubes of paste.

Lilian there is beauty in 'simplicity ', your journal page is definitely beautiful,  such an idyllic Christmas scene.  Those cheeky little dogs add a bit of fun to the page too. 

Thank you so much for creating this lovely journal page Lilian, I hope that you didn't make to much mess in your craft room while looking for your junk journal 😊 XXX

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

Here’s a card for Sunday my lovely. Sending it now as I’m not sure what signal we’ll have on our holiday 🙂

I made a Christmas card to add to my stash. I’ve used papers and ephemera from Prima Marketing ‘Christmas Blush’ collection. I inked all edges with Walnut Stain distress ink. 

I’m not 100% sure about it, think it’s too busy! Probably would have been better with a plain background xx

Oh Sonia your card is so beautiful,  that Prima Christmas Blush collection is so pretty and its very 'you' 

Thank you so much for creating this lovely card, especially as you were busy getting ready for your holiday.  

I hope you are having a great time XXX

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Thank you all for sharing your makes,  I promise to do better this week 🤣😂

I hope that you have a lovely Sunday,  

Love and hugs to all of you

Sandra xxx 

Our last September Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

I love today's craft quote,  if this is true I should be giddy with joy this week 🤣😂😅!! 

What are you all up to this weekend,   I know Sonia and Gina are off on their holidays this week. Gina is off to Bournemouth for the week,  Sonia has booked a lovely little cabin in the beautiful Somerset countryside.  I hope you both have a lovely relaxing week xxx

I did laugh when this was today's reminder,   as I said to Paul this 'exact' statement about this Cpap machine !! 🤣😂  I think we all try our best every day in one way or another 😘

Gina made this adorable sheep Crystal Art piece for Ron's Aunt.  It is such a cheerful little piece Gina, Ron's Aunt will be so delighted ☺️  Thank you for sharing it with us XXX 

These are a few of the bits I got in my 'Box of Joy' 🤣😂  from Stampin Up,   I can't wait to have a play.  I have a few new bits to play with but tiredness has killed my ability to sit and craft this week.  I had a decent night last night though so fingers crossed my creativity will reappear 🤞🤞🤞🤣

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend, 

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

Some throwback Autumn bits

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

Phew thank goodness it's Friday!  This week has not been the best for me if I'm being honest,  purely because of this bloody CPAP machine.  At this point I want to send it back but in my mind I know how detrimental Sleep Apnoea can be on your health particularly with dementia etc, so I desperately want it to work, my goodness I am trying,  I had a night off Cpap to sleep last night as I was exhausted.  

Today I am sharing some older Autumn projects with you all.  I hadn't realised how many I had made and these are just a few of them 

Brenda I hope you are on the mend after your recent 'trips' 😉 Are you able to get about easier ?  I think you'll be like me and miss getting to sit out in the garden as it gets cooler,  I think that when you are stuck at home day in day out just getting out in the garden for an hour or two can make a real difference.  Sending you big hugs xxx 

Karen I hope that your eye is recovering nicely,   not long now and it will all be over.  I understand how frustrating it must be though, particularly as you are so active xxx

Lilian I'm sorry to read that you are still struggling with pain,  I know from a friend that knee surgery was more painful that hip replacement.  Hopefully the physiotherapist can suggest something to help you manage the pain,  it must be so hard having this pain on top of everything else.   Sending you hugs my lovely xxx

Maria I hope that you aren't getting too stressed as your visit 'home ' gets nearer.  You will be fine and try and remember its just for a few days,  then you will be back home with Rick, are you staying in a hotel?  Hugs on the way xxx

Gina I hope that you are well my lovely,  have you got any more trips planned before Christmas?  How are those cards coming along?  Sending hugs xxx

Sonia are you all packed and ready?  I hope that you both have a lovely week away together,  you have had a busy few months and definitely deserve a lovely break,  where you are doing nothing other than relaxing.  I can't wait to see the photos of the beautiful countryside.  I do wonder....will you stay off of ChatGPT or will you be creating some more lovely collections? Sending hugs xxx

Sue What a busy week you have had, how is Ros doing?  How is that craft desk etc coming along,  I am looking forward to seeing a photo of it all newly organised (while it is still organised) 🤣😂 I hope you have a more relaxing weekend,  sending hugs xxx

I hope that you all have a great day  

Love and hugs to all  

Sandra xxx 

A 'faux' Eclipse card

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

Yesterday just flew by,  I was busy all day doing bits and bobs,  I just can't sit and relax at the moment,  I want to empty every cupboard and drawer and get rid of everything we don't use,  yesterday I did the little cupboard that we keep tea bags and hot chocolate bits in,  surprisingly there about 10 different teas !!  I got rid of ones we hadn't used in a while,  we had three different types of mint tea bags 🙄!   I bought some lazy susan trays for the pantry but hadn't used them so I checked to see uf they fitted in the cupboard we keep the herbs and spices in,  they did, so I got Lucy to help me get all the jars out, wipe the cupboard out and then arrange the herbs on one and spices on the other on the shelf above.  It looked so much neater and was much easier to pick something that you need.  I bought some herbs last week when we were out with Becca,  so I planted them out in the high troughs we bought earlier this year.  These are little 'niggly' jobs that keep put off!  

It sometimes feels like the most trying things in life seem to go on forever,  however they do pass eventually and those clouds will pass and allow the sun to brighten our days.  🌞 ☀️ 🌤 

Today I am sharing an anniversary card that I made using ChatGPT, I wanted to create a 'faux' Eclipse card, so I found a floral spray that I liked,  I then asked ChatGPT to resize it to use on a square card,  I asked for the letters to look as though they are part of the background but raised, I couldn't work out how to add a drop shadow.  Anyway with many edits I was happy with the image.  I went to print it using the Epson Smart Panel but it kept going to 'fit to page' which was way too big,  so I asked ChatGPT to turn it into a pdf so that I could print it on A4 card and cut it to 5 1/4 inch square.  

I then matted it onto a shade of green that picked out some of the colour of the foliage. Then onto a  6 x 6 inch card base that I made from an A3 piece of card.  

Its great for posting as its flat,  however I do feel that I 'cheated'  somehow,  I wouldn't want to use it all the time as I'd miss the physical crafting.  It is perfect for personalised cards though. 

Soph and I are off out for brunch today,  which I am looking too. 

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx

An Autumnal Tag

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies,  

Just a quickie blog post today,  lets have a look at todays reminder...

I don't remember seeing this one before but I love the sentiment,   I'd say we aren't proud of ourselves often enough. 😘

I started this tag on Monday,  using the Aall&Create #28 Tag, I used the inner part of the die to cut a piece of Stamperia Golden Harmony card,  the outer I used to cut a piece of Kraft card.   I then fussy cut the boot and other bits of ephemera,  edged them with vintage photo ink and built the focal point of the card.  I used a flower die set to cut the flower and coloured it with Mustard Seed, Fired Brick & Vintage Photo ink,  I used my small Gelli plate to put the die cut flowers on to colour them, it was so much easier as I didn't have to hold them down,  the ink blended beautifully on the gel plate too.  I cut leaves from a piece of paper in the collection and inked the edges.  I shaped the flowers and adhered them to the tag.   A piece of crocheted lace and some splatters finish the tag oh and some little cork buttons in the flower centres.  I just need a sentiment or phrase!  

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all

Sandra xxx

Sonia's Beautiful Christening card

 

Good Monday Ladies,  

We were blessed with a glorious day yesterday,  Paul and I sat outside after he finished work for a couple of hours,  Paul was reading his book I was doing a crossword, it was lovely, you could tell the difference when the sun started to go down though.   

This one goes without saying my lovely friends ❤️

Sonia 

Today I am sharing the absolutely gorgeous Christening card and Album  that Sonia made for her Great Niece.

Sonia's Description:  

I designed this last minute card on ChatGPT for my great niece who is being Christened tomorrow 😊 I’m now going to the ceremony with mum and dad. It’s very simple but I really love the pale colours and the overall image. I had a chose of about 6 but this was my favourite 😊

I also wanted to take a little gift, so decided to make a little memory album. Again all designed on ChatGPT.

Here is the Album ...

Sonia what a beautiful card and perfect gift,  they could use the Album to put photos of the Christening in.  Such a lovely idea and awesome Keepsake.  Your design is so beautiful, the florals are do delicate,  I love the little floral charm too. 

Thank you for allowing me to share your lovely card & album XXX

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Karen's Autumn Challenge card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies,  

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary Sonia & Mark, have a lovely day, even better a lovely week away next week celebrating 🍾 🥂

Well yesterday was a busy day,  I did another area of the pantry,  shifted areas that didn't work and creating new ones.  We got three loads of washing done and dried,  Paul cut lawns and did hedges.  Then we cooked a lovely roast dinner,  to celebrate switching the Aga back on.  I will say I did slightly regret the Aga being on as it was a warmer day yesterday and the kitchen was hot.  

This reminder is a very important one,  as Mum's and wives (although most of us are very lucky and have amazing husbands) we can feel guilty when recovery takes longer than we thought and hoped,  seeing our families doing the tasks that we usually do for more than a few days can evoke feelings of guilt,  although this could be just me as I have a huge mental issue with feeling like a burden, it doesn't matter how many times I'm told I'm not,  whether it's needing one of them to have time off to take me to an appointment, the most common one is watching Paul and occasionally the girls do dinner after work.  Despite any feelings of guilt Healing time is so important, especially after surgery.  😘

I feel terrible that I forgot to share Karen's card yesterday,  I don't know whats happening with my memory lately 🙄  I usually scan through everyone's messenger page to check for cards, although I do normally save them as they come in.  Anyway Karen and I have chatted a bit this week so her card was hid further back up the chat.

Karen's Description:

I started this card on Friday and had a complete disaster with Nuvo drops 

I had enough brown card to die cut the Memory Box die again and layer on top of original Added brown pearls 

The background is a piece of card from a photo frame (I think) Added a few gold splatters. 

I know how frustrating Nuvo drops can be when it comes to making a mess,  especially when you are adding them as a finishing touch and they end up spurting out ruining your whole page🙄.  

The background is lovely and proves the point that these things we hoard do actually come in handy,  there is no better feeling than creating something pretty with something most people would throw away!  That piece is a perfect Autumnal background,  your die cut flower compliments it perfectly.  You would have no idea looking at your card that you had had any kind of mishap! 😂

Thank you so much for sharing your card and I hope it isnt too long before you are back in your craft room.  XXX

I hope that you all have a great start to your week, 

My love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

A look back at our makes this week

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,  

I hope that you are enjoying a lovely weekend,  a quiet one over here,  I was generally pottering around yesterday,   I spent a good part of the morning (2 + hours) on the phone with Matt,  sadly Haze (Alex's Dog) who is over 10 years old,  has been off his food and lethargic,  so they took him to the vets and it turns out poor boy has a large tumour on his spleen,  they aren't sure if it has spread and he's not strong enough for surgery to find out,  the tumour is more than likely pushing onto his stomach which is why he is off his food.  They have given pain medication and anti sickness for now,  sadly it's just a waiting game.  They are going to spend the next few weeks spoiling Haze and spending quality time with him.   This is the hard side of having pets, over time they become family members,  making times like this hard to cope with.  

I also carried on with re-organising the pantry,  three bin bags filled so far this week,  bloomin Flour weevils don't stick to Flour!!  I have no idea how they get inside sealed plastic containers,   which makes me think they come in the actual bag if flour, which is so frustrating!  We also had quite a collection of out date spices,  you buy them for a recipe needing only a tablespoon or two, they get put in your spice box and forget about. The other thing was cereals,   the girls occasionally pick a cereal, try it a couple times and then decide they don't like it.  Paul and I are boring he likes weetabix and I have porridge,  Granola or cornflakes!  

I am looking forward to having a very organised Pantry though.  

Let's look at what you have been making....

Lilian 

Lilian's Description :

Hi, here is my challenge card for this week.

It is meant to Autumn, but it is more summer.

A bit of stencilling, a fussy cut robin, with some washi bits and pieces. 

Such a perfectly designed Autumn card Lilian,  I think Robins are my favourite bird,  he looks so majestic on that fence post.  The flowers you have added really enhance the Autumnal feel. 

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely card XXX

Maria 

Maria's Description:

Crafting this morning but it did take me some time to get moving because of looking at Pinterest 🤭😊

I took a piece of ice blue card and ran it through a snowflake embossing folder.

I then used some stickers that I bought from temu and placed them down before splatter with white paint all over and me as usual 🤭

Maria your card is amazing, the background you have created works perfectly with the images you have used.   The scene you have created with the stickers is so lovely,  it could be a pre laid out scene from a Stamperia collection.  A perfect Christmas card.  Thank you so much my lovely for creating something for today's blog post XXX

Sonia 

Sonia's Description:

To fit the challenge, I took one of Shaylee Morehouse’s AI prompts to create some bookmarks. I chose the Seasons theme. They are ready to print and be made into bookmarks 😊

Wow Sonia your bookmarks are perfect depictions of every Season.  I love them all,  my favourite is definitely Autumn,  those colours are beautiful, although  Summer is a very close 2nd. 

Thank you so much for creating your lovely Seasonal Bookmarks,  such a lovely idea for a little gift for someone XXX 

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I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,  

Love ams hugs to all of you,

Sandra xxx