Guest Deigner Day.... Janet's Gorgeous New York Card!

Good Morning Ladies,
Just look at Janet's card it is simply stunning, beautiful composition, gorgeous colour combination,
the flowers and stick pins are to die for! its Just WOW Janet, thank you for sharing!
Janet will call in later and give us a brief description on how she achieved this masterpiece!
I would just like you to know that I emailed Cameeli yesterday, she is ok, she just needed a break to focus on looking after her parents. She is hoping to come to Ally Pally so I am hoping to get my hugs finally!
Pat, I will be thinking of you this morning as you go for your long awaited appointment, lets hope there is a fast solution, so we can get you back to being the fittest one of our trio!
Theresa, I hope you feel up to popping in this morning, we are all gathered round to give you the biggest virtual hug ever!
Ladies don't feel the need to worry or ask if you want to leave long replies to any of the others, I love how you all rally round to help each other, it warms my heart, this blog is craft based but its equally friendship based and support is what friendship is all about, you are welcome whether you want to join in with everything or sit quietly in the corner!
Sue, any news?????
Steph, did you get any cards ticked off that list?
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxxxx

Pretty Peach Wishes



 Good Morning Ladies,
Here we are at the start of another week, are you all excited for the draw tomorrow, I have everything crossed for all of you, lets please hope that the prizes go to regular bloggers.
Todays Card was made using an apricot/peach colour card for the top of the card and coconut white for the bottom. I started with a an 8 x 8 white card and added a pierced mat of white card, then  I embossed the peach colour card with the Creative Expressions Eternity EF, the bottom card I put on the Hougie Board and scored lines all the way across, I then cut both pieces of card on an angle (inspired by Sue ) and stick this to the base card.  I added some cotton lace across the join sticking with Cosmic Shimmer Glue and tucking the edges under the side of the card. Before sticking down I weaved some apricot coloured seam binding through the lace, as I thought it would look pretty! I tied some more of the ribbon into a messy bow and secured a heart shaped dazzler in the centre, I made one decorative stick pin in matching peachy tone beads and a couple of plain pearl pins too.
I cut the Oslo outside die as a matt, I then cut it again with the decorative edge in place, after embossing I inked through with Tattered Rose Distress Ink, which matched the peach colour perfectly, this gave a little definition to the die cut. I then cut the largest of the two inside dies in the peach card then stamped my sentiment onto white card and die cut with the smallest inside die.
I matted these all together using very tiny foam pads to raise the top decorative die cut from the base.
I added just three tiny matching Mulberry roses in the bottom corner with a couple of white rose buds and some foliage and one in the top corner for balance.
I look forward to reading your comments today.
I wonder how many blog posts Sue had today, do you think that they will start to decline already?
How did you all enjoy Sue's shows this weekend, anyone have a favourite show/demo.
I am not going to ask if you bought anything as I would be amazed if you had at those prices and then the postage on top!  Although I will admit I was tempted by those new E folders and the packs of ribbon, but I am sure they will be cheaper at Ally Pally or online.  Some of those dies were £5 more than Icon, then you had to add £2.99, its extortion.
I was quite shocked when Sam was saying that her friend that was on the other day had to give 60%
of what they sold, plus some exclusivity deal no doubt, no wonder they are clearing off to that internet channel!
Right I must get on, cards to make, blogs to look at!
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxxxx

Splendid Swirls Sunday

 

Good Sunday Morning,
Here is the promised photograph of my 3 Beautiful Girls, Sophie, Becca & Lucy.
Now that I have uploaded this card I am not too sure that the ribbon works, In real life the colour matches a lot better than it does on here.
Anyway I have used the Creative Expressions Union Square Die, designed by our Sue Wilson, I cut all the squares and central element from this set. I layered up the colours and placed them on the card base that was matt and layered with dark red and cream American Crafts Card, on the point of the square giving it a diamond look.

I cut 4 lots of Sue's new Splendid Swirls dies, (I haven't quite worked out what to do with the little swirls yet), I placed these flourishes with the little 'curly q's' as Sue calls them just hanging on to the edge of the largest square at both bottom and top of the card. These are symmetrical so it works perfectly to put either side of anything.
I then tied a bow with a cream colour wrinkle edged ribbon and popped and matching red brad through the centre. I then cut multiple pieces of the same card as I made the card from, and put them on a foam mat and formed them with a ball tool! I then layered them up and place them on some leaf dies on the opposite corner to the bow!
Let me know what you think below.
Well I have everything crossed that Creative Expresssions has found some new stock for Sue to play with tomorrow, I will be gutted if they scrap her shows, she is on so rarely, I think there will be a

rebellion!
Well I have the arrival of my WOW card to look forward to this week, YAY!
its an extra surprise as I have no idea which one it will be.
What are you all up to this Sunday Morning, I have cards to make and cakes to bake, then roast beef  and Yorkshire pudding for tea, as requested by my daughter Becca.
Mind you I had such an early start to today I am not sure what time I will wake up!
Whatever you are doing today, I hope you have an amazing Sunday.
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxxxxx

Myra's Fab Man Card & 1st showcase of Sue's New Dies

Good Morning Ladies,
Just look at this FABULOUS male card from Myra, She is first past the post to show a card with Sue's fabulous die's. Myra will hopefully stop by later and give us a run down on how she achieved this amazing card, I can see some Anna Marie Dotty card and Sue's new dies and the classic bows of course! I think this is a bright, fresh, modern card that men of any age word appreciate!
I am sure Myra would love to hear your comments.
Well I can guess what most of you will be doing today, watching our Sue do as only she does best,
lets bombard her with emails to show our appreciation, be amazing if one of our friends received a card, mind you I email in every show she is on and haven't been read out at all for a years!
I love seeing the delight on her face when she recognises a name.  Myra I think you should definitely send a pic of this card in to the show, it may get shown on the TV, Sue always keeps them too!
So we all have something to look forward too!
How many of you are thinking of going to Ally Pally, we will go on the Saturday, as we always do, it will be so lovely to meet you all.
I will pop back during the day, we can meet back here after the shows to hear what we all feel about the show!
Coffee Shop will be open for business at 6am as per usual, but self service is 24/7 for fellow insomniacs! The cakes are baking and the beans ready to grind!
Love and hugs
Sandra xxxxxxx

Janet's Knit and Natter Card!

Good Morning Ladies,
Thank you for holding the fort yesterday during my absence, I just didn't seem to stop all day!
Anyway you have my undivided attention today as I have to have a relax day, otherwise my outings and sleepless nights will catch up with me.
Today's card is the amazing card that Janet designed for her Knit and Natter ladies, who then went on to complain about it! WHY!!!!!!!
It is beautiful, I love it Janet, the bow goes so well with the outer part of the die, Sue is a genius isn't she?  I love the focal element too Janet, that rose is stunning!
Hopefully Janet will pop in to enlighten us as to how to recreate this WOJ (wonder of Janet)!
Steph I hope your treatment is well underway and not giving you too many side effects.
Pat, it was so lovely to see you yesterday, at the not so posh, posh hospital, I don't know what I was expecting but that wasn't it!   Although Pat did have afternoon tea delivered while we were there, which included a proper china pot and cup and saucer, not the luke warm muck I had when I was in, when I enquired why it was never hot, I was told it was health and safety, to avoid scalding!
Anyway Pats was hot and she had a lovely chocolate tart accompanying it with a half strawberry in top! Sue and I were drooling a little, we were kind of hoping that we may have been offered a cuppa but no! Anyway as we arrived Sue declared that we needed to look the part and put our hats on, I was puzzled at first but then looked over at Sue as she produced two Christmas Cracker Paper Crowns!
I said I would put it on but only when we got to Pats bedroom door! it was worth it to see the smile on Pats face, I think she secretly thought we were mental! Well .....she isn't that far off the mark really!
I wonder how Sue is enjoying her cruise around Norway, I really do hope that she gets to see the Northern Lights!
Well I must go and get myself a drink as all this talking has left me parched!
Thank you to all of my lovely Café friends, my life is so much richer with you all in it.
Anyone looking in and thinking about joining us, come on, you will love it, its the friendliest place
ever, most of us on here barely knew each other this time last year and I am still amazed every day at how lucky I am to have such a wonderful group of friends around me.
Love and hugs to you all,
Sandra
xxxxxxx 

 Good Morning Ladies,
Todays card is Pats trip down memory lane card,
it reminds her of her trip to Rome. I am hoping Pat will stop in later and enlighten us.
The lower pic is of the insert, which matches the front, it looks like Pat has used a script stamp for the background and a nice border stamp for the top bottom and sides.
I think it will do Pat good to have a trip down memory lane today.
I would like to thank each and everyone of you that has offered Pat your support, I know how touched she was to see all of you commenting and wish her well. We both had a lump in a our
throats.
I know I keep saying it and I am probably boring you all to death, but I just love how you all interact with each other and show such love and support for each other it just warms my heart!
Thank you all so very much.
Who has a favourite of Sue's dies so far?
there are quite and mix this time.
I wonder if the shows at the weekends will be sell outs? it seems that Sue is taking them to TV quite early in the launch this time, I know some people will be wanting to wait and see if they win in the draws before buying, mind you I don't think many of us will be paying C & C prices!
But I can't wait to see all the samples Sue will have made, I will be recording it for sure, don't want to miss all that inspiration!
Anyway I must go and have a shower, the girls are in the kitchen decorating cakes to take to school tomorrow, (oh I don't want to look at the mess)! Then we have promised to play one of their games
with them! yawn yawn!!
Tomorrow, I will be blogging from my bed!
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxxxxx

Special Guest Designer!!!!

Good Morning Ladies,
I have a stunning card to show you today, isn't it beautiful, I am so proud to say that this card was made by none other that Janet (Echo Sheffield), Our very own French Country Lady has very kindly allowed me to show you the cards she has sent to me, there may also be some photos of her French country home, we all have a picture on our minds as Janet has described her daily routine to us, either huddled in front of the log burner or eating scrummy pastries.  I am hoping Janet will come across today to see her card and to leave a message to tell us how she created such a gorgeous card.
The mainly white with a splash of purple is absolutely stunning!
Please ladies if any of you would like to share your cards I am more than happy to share them, I love hearing the positive comments you get from our friends in the 'coffee shop', it gives you a real confidence boost, so please get your camera's out and send me an email.
Theresa I have two very good recommendations about your cards, so maybe you would like to send me a picture, Steph, I have seen yours and it was quite simply stunning!
Sam, your cards are fabulous too!
Well the girls thoroughly enjoyed their birthday, we ended the day with a family meal out, the girls were embarrassed at the end of the meal as Becca's boyfriend decided to organise an impromptu singing of 'Happy Birthday' both over the restaurant music system and the staff and fellow diners joining in! they were both as red as beetroots bless them.
Well another exhausting day for me, I am absolutely shattered, but worth it to see those two smiley faces!
Janet thank you so very much for allowing me to share your card.
Sending each and every one of you Love and huge hugs,
Sandra xxxxx