Michele's Christmas Crafts

Michele's Hanging Scene Card 

 Matching Box for above

 Michele Round Hanging, Multi level Card

Fully open view of above

Michele's Hidden Panel Card  

Secret Panel revealed !

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

Today's Mixed Crafts have all been designed and created by our very own Michele!

The First multi level hanging card is just so clever, it looks like you would stamp a Christmas

scene and then cut it equally into sections and mount onto card with ribbon through the centre,

Michele has made an amazing matching box to present it in too.

What a totally unique idea Michele thank you xxxx

Next up we have the hanging scalloped circle card, it looks like this one is created by cutiing out

different sizes of scalloped circles in pretty papers, mount them onto card, that has been die cut in the same shape and size as the papers then joined together with ribbon or similar through the centres of the circles so that the card dangles when help up (or hung), Michele has decorated these circles and added a little sparkle and a 'Christmas Greetings sentiment

Fantastic design once again Michele! xx

Last but not least is Michele's hidden Panel card, I will have to ask Michele to talk you all through this one, as I have no idea!

Thank you so very much for allowing me to share your fantastic creations xxx

As an extra treat, we have a photo of Michele and her husband with the 'American Coffey' children at Michele's Brother in Law's home.  I am guessing this was before you became unwell Michele as you look gorgeous in this photo, what a fine bunch of children you have around you!

Thank you so much for sharing your photo with all of us, its good to see who we are talking too! xx

I know this is a little different to our normal mixed craft day but I had all but run out of our usual

crafts, so I decided that it would be a great opportunity to show some of Michele's cards that she has been sending in to me for a while. 

I look forward to hearing all about your weekend, we did have a football match, but thankfully it has been postponed as we were down to 8 girls for an 11 a side Cup Match! The girls are mighty relieved, they are having a relaxed weekend, at last!

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Festive Friday, Handsome Rory & Happy birthday sheila take 2

Janet's Christmas Card

Kirsten, Rory & Our Norah!

Happy Birthday Sheila xx

Good Morning my lovelies,

First up an apology, Sheila I definitely had you on my Birthday list as 8 October, I am sorry for the 

mix up I would like to wish you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today and many, many happy returns!! I hope you have a lovely day with your friends, I am so happy that you are able to celebrate with them today, huge birthday hugs on their way to Prestatyn!!! xxx

Today's Festive Friday treat has been designed by Janet, I love that 'Peace' Die used inside the Noble die, both by Creative Expressions, they work really well together, its good to see a different way of using that die from last years Christmas launch. 

Janet has taken an 8x8 scalloped card and matted some gold and red card, then die cut the Creative Expressions Noble die 'Ornate Pierced Rectangle', placed it on the card and placed the (CE) Peace die

cut in the centre.

The decorative element of the card has been beautifully created by Janet using (CE) Holly Spray die cut in green and the Filigree Poinsettia in gold, finished in the centre with a flat back pearl.

The overall effect is stunning, this is a proper, traditional looking Christmas card, thank you so

much Janet for sharing your Christmas card with all of us xxxx

Now how handsome does Norah's 'Wee boy' look in that wonderful family photo?? Isn't he a strapping young man, Norah, you should be so proud of your children they are both gorgeous,

Kirsten in just like her Mummy, I am not surprised people were asking if you were sisters,

Norah, I think that you are the same age as me, but you look so much younger and you are so beautiful! I just love your outfit and wow that fascinator is just amazing.

Thank you so very much for sharing your family photo with all of us, it is so lovely to get to see a photo of the both of them, we have heard so much about them, its lovely to see them too.

No wonder you are such a proud Mummy!  (I still can't get over the size of Rory and he really suits that Kilt)! x

Well, so much excitement for a Friday morning, just 3 weeks today and we will be even more excited!

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Scarlett's Card for her Mummy & Happy Birthday Sheila

Scarlett's Card for her Mummy's Birthday

XXX HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEILA XXX

Good Morning lovely friends,

First of all I just want to wish our very dear friend Sheila a very happy birthday, we are all here to

celebrate with you today my lovely, champagne and cake behind the counter, so just help yourself.

Don't forget to blow the candle out and make a wish! I would like to wish you a year of new
adventures, good health and happiness xxx

Now Ladies just look at the beautiful card the Scarlett emailed me to share with all of you, she has made this amazing card for her Mummy's birthday! 

How very clever you are Scarlett, your card design is just fabulous, your Mummy will be so happy when she sees that you have been clever enough to make such a beautiful card!

Scarlett has been using some of Nana's dies, the Creative Expressions Delicate Garden Frame and a 

lovely 'Happy Birthday' die too, it looks like the one I got from Joanna Sheen, it could be a Brittania die, Scarlett has used these dies and some really pretty card to make her card, just look at all of those pretty butterflies!

Thank you so much Scarlett for allowing me to share your card with all of the lovely friends here on the blog, we look forward to your next card xxxx

I am going to have a lazy day today,  I had an amazing day with my girls yesterday, although I felt terrible for Pat as once again, another Grand Calibur bit the dust, Pat was just running the snowflake background die through when there was an almighty crack/bang and then it started banging with every turn of the handle! So Pat has emailed Spellbinders to get it sorted, she will need. a replacement for her replacement, I am waiting for a replacement for my replacement for my replacement for my replacement ....bit of a pattern here!
Although I will stand up and say that Spellbinders Customer services have dealt with my problem very quicky !

Tha'ts all for now ladies,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxx

Spellbinders Triple Flip Card

 Good Morning Ladies,
Today Sue and I are off to Pat's to craft, so I am
looking forward to that very much.
I am sharing with you today a card I made yesterday using the Spellbinders Triple Flip Die, I die cut some Navy Blue card with that, and I used the Creative Expressions Noble Pierced Square Dies to cut some mats for each layer of the triple flip card base, I used Papermania Parisienne Blue 12 x 12 paper card for these mats, I also used them for the layers beneath the flaps of the card.
I used Creative Expressions 'Expressions' range 'Ornate Oval Just for You' and 'Ornate Oval On Your Special Day ' Designed by Sue Wilson for the Sentiments between the layers of the card.
I used the CE Classic Bow and Itty Bitty Bow dies to create the Bow in the bottom corner of the card, the decorative centre panel of the card has been made using the centre piece of the  CE Heraldic Square Die, I love this die, (thank you Pat for lending it to me)!
The last die that I used was the CE Trailing Ivy die for the floral arrangement along with some blue and cream colour paper flowers.
A few flat backed pearls added the finishing touches.
I hope you like the card.
I have a special treat tomorrow, Scarlett has made beautiful card for her Mummy and she has sent me a photograph of it in an email, I will share it with you tomorrow.
I am also waiting to hear from Norah, she ('what's app'd) me a photograph of Rory dressed in his wedding Finery, my goodness he is a very handsome fella, he looked absolutely amazing in his Kilt, Norah you must have been bursting with pride the whole day! No wonder the girls have been pestering him, he must be having to fend them off!
Anyway my point was that I asked her to email me the photo so that I can share it with all of you too!
Well I best go and pack my bags ready for my craft trip to Witney!
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Myra's Getting all technical!!!!

Myra's getting all 'technical' with this card!

Good Morning Friends,

Now today's card is one of our Myra's, with this card she is showing us her 'technical' skills, we have a very clever lady amongst us here!

I love the background of the card, using a frame to finish off the embossed card is just genius Myra, I will definitely will be using that idea. I see you have achieved the double piercing by using two of Creative Expressions Noble Pierced Rectangles & Square dies, designed by Sue Wilson, the embossing folder is from Creative Expressions too its called Bed of Roses, It looks like Myra may have used the
'letterpress' technique as I can see hints of blue in the background of the roses, this is done by applying ink to one side of the embossing folder before running it through your die cutting machine with your usual embossing sandwich.
Myra has then made a smaller frame and placed a piece of acetate under the frame, she then 2 of the 'Thinking of you' die from the 'Expressions' Range of dies by Creative Expressions, laying one just ever so slightly offset from the other, giving a tiny shadow, then placing the sentiment on top of the acetate, giving the effect of the sentiment 'floating' !
 ( i think that is how Myra achieved the look, it may just be the shadow from under the acetate)!
Myra has then embellished the card with a flower made using the Camellia Die (also from CE) with a little Tulle and ribbon.
I love everything about this card Myra, its both pretty and clean and simple, if that's even possible.
Thank you very much for sharing your skills and knowledge with us my lovely. xxxx

I think I am going to have to be brave and go to see GP to ask to have my 'good' hip x-rayed, the pain level is becoming unbearable while taking my Morphine, during the night when I try to move the pain is what I would describe as severe! I just don't trust them to not mess it up and that hip is the one that does all the work as the other one has 'gone', I just don't want to be more dependant on anyone, I want to cling on for dear life to the little bit of mobility I have left!!
I think that this cold wet weather isn't helping either, boy did we have some rain yesterday, the first significant rain I have seen since we got back from holiday, guess who left washing on the line over night, oh he wasn't best pleased when he came in, dripping from head to foot at lunch time!
Winter is definitely around the corner, well it must be I saw Mince Pies and chocolate Santa's in Aldi tonight! I think its about 81 days or something to Christmas.
Well that's all for now,
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Man Card Monday!

Good Monday Morning Ladies,
Its now just 3 weeks and 3 days until we all meet up! I am just buzzing with excitement!!!
Now this weeks Man Card Monday is an extra special one, it features a special card that features a very special man and its been created by a very special friend!!
Lynda your birthday card for Terry is just brilliant, I must say that his High Visibility jacket looks very
'clean', maybe he was just 'supervising' on that day! lol
The card must have bought a huge smile to Terry's face, that is the beauty of handmade cards, they are so personal and mean so much more to the recipient, well I know it does to me!
I can see that you have used the Creative Expressions 'Happy Birthday' Die, designed by Sue Wilson,
I love the colours of the card you have used to matt and layer the card with too, are they all Foundation card?? That blue looks like it is.
I also love how you have displayed the card Lynda, thank you so much for sharing such a personal 'Man card' with all of us xxxxx

What have you all got planned this week? I have got some cards to make, I may make a start on my Christmas cards too, I borrowed Pats Christmas Embossing Folders so I must put them to good use.
We are going to Pats to craft this week, with holidays and everything it seems like ages since we have been to Pat's, so I am really looking forward to it, Poor Pete probably isn't quite so excited though!
Although I am not sure why, we really don't make that much noise or mess....do we?? actually Paul may disagree! Just kidding, he doesn't mind at all.
Well that's me off for a cup of tea, catch up later,
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Another Gorgeous Birthday gift x

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,
We had a very relaxed saturday afternoon, the girls were exhausted from football, they do the full 90 minutes now, you can see towards the very end of the game they were all really flagging, but they managed to prevent the other team scoring, although it was a close call at times, plus the other team had subs so could keep changing players and for the past couple of matches we have had none, so the girls are really working hard, thankfully Sophie and Lucy kept up their fitness on holiday, they swam for hours each day and did all kinds of ball games, you can really tell which girls have bothered and which girls spent the summer sitting on their backside in front a lap top!
Now onto today's stunning card, it was my birthday card from Patricia, it was in a beautiful box, the keyring is a cute little gift that was packed in with the card, Paul must have thought it was part of the card! The oriental papers that Patricia has used are just divine and match perfectly, to me it reminds me of the Willow Pattern that my Nan had on great big china plates in her cabinet, she used to tell us the story of the pattern, I remember it started ''two birds, flying by' but the rest eludes me for now.
Patricia has embellished this card with her 'signature' hand made flowers, so pretty and made in matching papers.  I am not too sure what the foliage die is that Patricia has used, but it is so lovely, delicate and not too overbearing, I would love to know please Patricia, they card was beautifully finished off with a Super Pretty Bow.
Thank you so very much Patricia, It really was a 'WOW' moment when i opened the box xxxx
I am hoping for another relaxed day tomorrow, I am going to make Millionare's Shortbread and maybe some brownies with the girls.
Paul went and picked another good pound and a half of Raspberries from the allotment on the way home from work, we must have had a good 5 or 6 pounds of raspberries altogether, which is fine with me as \I prefer them to strawberries.  We have been freezing them on trays and then bagging them up, they are then perfect for our smoothies, Soph and I have been living on them, they include, Kale, frozen fruit (blackberries, raspberries, black and red currants), some frozen pineapple, fresh apple, pear and a banana, a scoop of oats and then some plain greek yoghurt and a little pure juice, I prefer cranberry, but Soph like pure orange juice! I know she is getting her 5 a day now atleast, they are yummy though and really make you feel full and ready to start the day!
Maybe I will bring the juicer into the cafe and you could all make your own?
That's all from me for now,
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxxx