Welcome to thestart of a new week

Today's Gentle Reminder 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

Let's welcome in this new week,  although the weather isn't very welcoming is it,  it's not as cold but the wind and rain have been battering us all night.  Before the rain started, earlier in the day yesterday I was excited to see all of the bulbs coming through,  as you drive into the village all of the snowdrops are out,  they are so beautiful,  I really love seeing those very early signs of the garden getting ready to burst into life 😍

Today I am sharing a journal page that was a little more involved than others that I have done,  I enjoyed every minute of creating it. 

I started by using a Stamperia stencil to cover the page with wild flowers,   when this was dry I added green paint, then added Old Ivory while green was still wet,  I then replaced the stencil and wiped some of the lighter colour off of the stencilled flowers to try and make them stand out more.  

Next came stamping and white splatters.  You won't get perfect images stamping over the texture paste but it adds extra interest.  

On the tutorial I was following the lady used this numbered circle die cut which I didn't have but I loved how it gave the page a focal point so I wanted to add something similar,   so I had to get creative,   I die cut a couple circles,   tried one without any stamping but it didn't look right,   I then added some script stamping but that looked too busy against the background.  So I thought I'd try and recreate the piece that was used ...

I bought these calendar stamps from Temu a while ago to use as background stamps, but I haven't used them so far, so I decided to cut one up into the individual numbers.....

Its definitely not perfect but it will do the job,   creating little bits like this, improvising and making something that works is a real buzz,  it took my a while mind !! 🤣

Now I had the background complete and all the elements ready I was ready to do the fun part, assembling a of the elements to create a lovely page. 

I started with the border strip and built the rest of the elements around it, I like having different textures so added that little piece of hessian.  You can see my little hand stamped dial in the background too.  These die cuts have a gold shimmer to them that I'm not keen on but you it doesn't stand out too much.  

I really do enjoy all the little techniques involved in these journal pages,  I hope you don't get too bored of seeing them.  

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

Love & hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

Let's look back at our projects from this week ..

 

❣️ Today's Reminder ❣️

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,  

I hope that you are all having a good weekend,   I am glad to have the house back to some kind of normal,  as Paul finally got all of the Christmas boxes back up in the loft,  no more having to breathe in on the landing to get past the boxes, the room that was stacked the most was the spare room,  I mean it makes sense as its the 'spare ' room but I use it every day as Lucy and Soph got me a vanity unit ( kind of a desk with a drawer and a cupboard)  they put a big mirror on and storage bits for hairdryer, straighteners,  makeup brushes etc,  it was a great stool too,  I thought it would be something I would rarely use but couldn't have been more wrong,  I struggle to stand long enough to dry my hair,  let alone have the upper body strength to hold the dryer up long enough,  having all of my face creams, lotions and potions all organised in front of me is so useful,   I was a bit naughty and wouldn't bother with face routine etc but I have made it a habit.   For Christmas this year Lucy researched the best skincare for my skin and wrote me a daily schedule 🥰 .  Now I didn't realise how much I'd miss going in there each morning and evening,  sadly any obstacle in my way makes it too hard for me to even attempt,   so I was so grateful to have it all cleared yesterday,   I went in and gave it a quick spring clean, so it's all ready to go,  I will add that the girls both use it almost as much as I do.  

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

Gina

Gina's Description:

I made this card, it's well outside of my comfort zone,  Butterfly is an old Crafters Companion stamp, base card is Kraft card,  embellishments are Rub-ons,  which is my first time using them.  The background detail is a very old Sentimentally Yours Honeycomb stamp.  

Wow Gina!  It might be your first mixed media style card but you'd never know,  all of the elements work, love that honeycomb stamp, it makes a great background,  that butterfly is very 'majestic!  Love the colours you have used too,  I am sure that the lucky recipient will have a huge smile when they open it.  

Well done for pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, it really did pay off !!!  Now.... what's next ?! 

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely card with us and supporting the blog. XXX

Karen

Karen's Description:

Feel better now that I have turned it into a card So 2 things possibly 3 things that I haven’t done before 

A gel plate print

Used a sentiment never used before from Craftipotential

And possibly first time I have cut a corresponding mat for the sentiment on ScanNCut

Karen that Gel plate background works perfectly as a background,  it has real 'Tim Holtz ' style,  those little bits of stamping really add to the look,  I really love the blue/purple colour too.  

This would make a great mixed media journal page background too!   The sentiment you have used stands out so well with that perfectly cut white mat behind it !   That was the main reason I wanted the S&C for but I just have never got my head around using it, which really frustrates me,  but never mind,  I love seeing what you do with it.  

I am so happy that you  managed to acheive 3 firsts yesterday,   it really is a buzz isn't it!  

Thank you for another inspiring project Karen and for your continuing support XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Here is my card for this week, once again using Stamperia papers.

They are all from quiet days, which is one of my favourites at the moment. The stitch stamp is also from quiet moments.

Aww Lilian,  another beautiful card, that stitch stamp really works,  it draws your eye into the main focus of the card.   I bought the Quiet Days collection before Herbarium,  but it arrived just before Christmas so I put it to one side,  then Herbarium arrived (after you tempted me 😉) and I haven't wanted to stop creating with it.  However after seeing your last two cards I am going to get it out and have a play.

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing card with us and for always supporting the blog  XXX

Sonia 

Sonia's Description:

Card 1:   Made this for my Niece’s partner. I used one of my new stencils on the background with Lost Shadow distress oxide. The cake and number dies are also from Temu. I used some Tracey Hey papers for cake and numbers. Sentiment is from The Stamp Market.

Card 2:   Made for my Dad’s birthday. Papers from stash, which I inked round edges with vintage photo distress ink. Die cut the stars and embossed with a crafters companion texture folder. The stamp sentiment from stash and the die cut letters are from Memory Box.

Its so lovely seeing you getting back in your Craft room my lovely,   you have made two lovely cards,   your Niece’s partner has probably never had the gift of a hand made card, so will feel really special knowing that you sat and made that card for him. 

Your Dad would love anything that you made Sonia,  this one is a perfect 'Man' card. 

Thank you so much for sharing your cards with us and of course I thank you for your ongoing support. XXX 

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Today's positive affirmation is so very true,  you are all loved very much,  

My love & hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx 

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,  

Thankfully we were very lucky Storm Goretti didn't hit us too hard, we have a fence panel that was blown loose,  so Paul needs to a fix that,  I got excited when I was up multiple times in the night to go the bathroom,   we did have snow, the car rooves were covered,   but then it warmed up and rained and washed it all away 😔.  There was snow on the ground 10 miles up the road in Stow though,  we saw as we drove through to go to shops.  

Today's Gentle Reminder.....

I know that I have personally felt that I was at breaking point,  I think most people do at some point,  however we manage to dig deep and manage to acheive more than we ever thought we could.

I am finding these little 'affirmations' quite helpful, if nothing else it makes you look back and see how far you have come.  🥰

I did a bit research yesterday into what Papercraft trends will be big this year and looked at the 'Pantone' colour of the year. 

I like the idea of our projects becoming more  'tactile',  funnily enough I started a journal page that had hessian on it and got out my lace box the other day, this trend is something I like the sound off, whether its simple embossing or something more exotic having a surface to feel is definitely a bonus. 

Ooh we love a 'kinetic' or fancy fold card don't we😊  I downloaded a tutorial for a new one last week ! 

Adding stitching to your cards or tags etc is becoming more and more popular,  creating your own 'washi' tapes too, I'd love to see is all experiment a bit more this year ! 

I feel like we already pair neutraks with bright accent colours,  I do love the Jewel tones though. 

I really want to have a go at flower and leaf pressing,  the ephemera you can buy is becoming more and more realistic so why not have the real thing,  I am guessing it takes a while though.

A nice idea, I have started a few scrapbooks over the years but lost enthusiasm due to lack of inspiration,  I do think that they are a valuable gift to leave our children and grandchildren. 

Some fun ideas, whether they become 'trends' remains to be seen. 

Colour Trends

Cloud Dancer does seem to be the main 'Colour of the Year'  it was mentioned in that research that I did too.  I does just look mostly white though 🤣

Some lovely colours in this 2026 Colour Palette

Aventurine is another predicted popular colour too. 

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Gina' Shopping 

Gina's Description:

You have some lovely new stash to play with,  I have those Spellbinder Squiggle dies, they add some lovely,  fun detail to flower sprays.  I can't wait to see what you create with them.  

The Napkins were a great Charity shop bargain,  have you got any plans for using them? ?

Thank you for sharing your shopping with us my lovely XXX 

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I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,  

Love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Our Next Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies,  

Firstly today I hope that you are all safe, warm & dry and that Storm Goretti has missed your area.  

We had all weathers yesterday,  well apart from sunshine!  We started with fog so dense that the hills usually easily visible were totally invisible, then came rain,  in the afternoon the temperature dropped and it got really windy,  then torrential rain that turned to sleet,  as I am writing this snow is apparently on its way!  

This first Challenge after New Year is always a tricky one, I want Spring Flowers and all things Spring but it seems a little early for that, Seasonally we should be making Valentines cards but we don't all make them abd those of us who do only make one!  

So for now we will go with 'Anything Goes' which is something we had talked about, it was Our Sonia that suggested it yesterday. 

'Anything Goes' means you can use any new stash or old stash yet to be used.  It would be a great time to try a new technique too.  

I hope that you enjoy the challenge my lovelies x

Here is todays Gentle Reminder....

This is so incredibly true,  I didn't believe it but I think we have all proved it to be true at some point. 

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

Love & hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

A Silent Sea Journal page

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

This first week of January is flying by,  Paul is back in the office today, I really miss him after having home for 10 days.  The girls are home though so won't be as bad.  

I think we are having a 'making' day today,  I got Lucy a Kokedama Kit,  you make a ball of moss around the roots of plants instead of pots,  you then wrap it in twine.....

They are lovely to look at,  she made one with Paul on Boxing day,  it's not as easy as you might think and is definitely a two person job.   

We popped out to the Garden centre yesterday so she could pick out a plant to make into a Kokedama. 

They are both in the middle of building lego kits too.  I hope to finish a bigger journal page that I started yesterday.

Today I am sharing a Silent Sea journal page that I made last week,  it started with a rice paper background halved diagonally I then covered the rest with Ivory acrylic paint, slightly blending over the rice paper.   After that was dry I stencilled over the background with texture paste, after it dried I blended over the page with Stamperia coffee ink (which is like vintage photo).

Next came the fun bit, adding the ephemera, most of these ones are die cut stickers (not something I thought Id use but they look ok)  I added gauze as to me it looks a bit like the foamy top of waves.  The wax seal just added another fun texture,  the wax is white I added gold gilding wax to highlight the details.  

I think I might do a 6 x 6 page as I have a collection of tiny shells that we have collected over the years from Spain.  

I hope that storm 'Goretti' doesn't bring you any problems,  I think you may be in for some troubling weather as it starts Lilian,  so please stay safe.  

Sending my love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Thrinchie 64

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies,  

It doesn't feel like it's only a week ago that we were getting ready to go out to see in the New Year!  It feels like a month ago! 

Now I hope you don't mind me sharing this.... I bought myself a book of 'Gentle Reminders '  for 365 days.   I think that positive affirmations can change the way you think at times,  for instance yesterday's (6th Jan)  was "Its ok not to be ok"  which is so true.  I think we are all guilty of saying I'm OK, when we aren't because it's easier than being honest!  

So here is today's......

You are worthy!!  😍

Yesterday was a slow day, the whole morning was a write off as I was awake most of the night, in pain and the discomfort that accompanies Uti.  I followed GP request and called my consultant's secretary, after a lengthy period on hold, a lady answered the phone and informed me that the Secretary was off sick,  I left a message but will try again on Thursday.  

It was freezing here yesterday,  literally,  it was below freezing most of the morning.  Definitely a day to stay wrapped up, we had a bit of snow but nothing significant.  

Today I am sharing the partner to the thrinchie I shared on Monday,  I stamped the background in 2nd generation Portabello Versafine Clair,   then stamped the light bulbs in first generation so that they stood out.  I coloured the images with Prismacolor pencils,  then stamped the clock and pheasant to tie in with Thrinchie 63.  I added the sentiment and some white splatters to finish the Thrinchie.  I added a black mat but I haven't actually stuck it down. 

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx. 

Lilian's adorable Stamperia Card

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

My goodness its cold,  we didn't get above freezing here yesterday,  I have been getting great use out of my heated fleece blanket,   I pop it in bed while I get ready for bed, so its lovely and warm when I get into bed and when I am in and out of bed all night going to toilet I can flick it on for a few minutes to warm myself up, it's also handy to have downstairs  during the day when it's this cold, saves flicking the heating on!! 

I struggled all day yesterday to get warm, I felt rubbish,   as I had thought I'm back on Antibiotics for atleast next two weeks 🙄! 

Today I am sharing Lilian's super adorable card, that she has created using both Stamperia Quiet Days and Herbarium Vitae collections.....

Lilian's Description:

Not sure if you wanted a card this week, but thought I’d send this on that I made this morning. 

I used two different Stamperia pads. 

Quiet moments and the latest one, herbarium vitae.

Oh Lilian,  you wouldn't know that you'd used two different collections,   they both work together perfectly,  that little dog is so cute,  it would bring a smile to anyone's day.  

Thank you so much for sending me your card to share,  I really appreciate it, as always  xxx

I was feeling rubbish yesterday,  so wasn't thinking straight,  I spent best part if 1/2 hour writing a blog post,  describing the card that I shared last friday!   🙄 what am i like?!  Thankfully I had Lilian's card to use instead,   here's hoping antibiotics kick in quick and I feel up to crafting today,  

I hope you stay warm and cosy,  

Warm hugs all round, 

Sandra xxx