A quick card today x

 Good Morning Ladies,
Just a quick card for today, I loved the design that Sue used for her the card she made on Sunday morning,
so I thought I would have a go tonight using a red and white theme.  Its Basically a clean and simple card.
I cut the centre aperture using a Spellbinders Heart & Flutter die (it comes on two parts, a basic heart shape with a decorative inner), I just used the basic outline and cut the aperture.  I had some embroidered heart lace ribbon, which I used around the outline of the heart to give a frame. I put some red card with white Polka dots to put behind the aperture and also used this with the Spellbinders Cinched Flower die (my new favourite die) to make the flower for the card, I placed the flower upon some Spellbinders Foliage die cuts for a bit of contrast.  I then Die cut a Tattered Lace 'With Love' die, which I stuck to the card a little bit wonky (not on purpose of course) I didn't notice until Paul had photographed it ! But never mind, every card is unique!  I popped a little red bow in the top corner of the card for balance and some red pearls.
Something a little different, hope you like it!
Just a quick one from me today, I look forward to reading your comments today,
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxxx

Diane......Paul did it!!!!!!

Good Morning Ladies,
I sincerely hope that those of you suffering from the weekend are starting to return to some degree of normality today!
That includes you Janet, sitting for that amount of time and miles on a broomstick in the dark, looking after Pip the cat must have given you some discomfort, I hope that it was nothing a good rub down with some linament wouldn't have cured! The fact that you made that round trip to Marigny and back across the Channel on a busy Saturday night and still got up in time to open the cafe on Sunday morning was nothing short of miraculous!! You are amazing, thank you xx

Diane, Paul has done it!!!! he managed to fiddle about between Word and Picasa and back again (or something) and he we have your amazing card, the right way up on the blog, YAY!!!!! I couldn't be more pleased, I have been wanting to show these cards of yours for months
I love that you have made a matching card and envelope, the wall on the card looks so 3D with the shading that you have done, I love the butterflies too.  I look forward to you explaining to us how you made the card. Thank you so much for sharing your card with us today (at last), please send me some more of your amazing works of art xxxxx

Paul's first day went well, he has a lot of learning to do this week, but day one went well, I think he will enjoy it more when he feels part of the team and starts the shift pattern.
I have the hospital today at 2.45 ENT appointment, just to make sure that there was no lasting damage from the horrible sinus infection I had earlier this year.  I have my fingers crossed that the WRVS shop has some of their delicious Viennese Fingers left, they are my most favourite cake in the whole world and the only positive to come from a hospital visit!
That's all for now ladies, I will call in through the day,
Love and Hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Man card Monday & group retreat photo

 Good Monday Morning Ladies,
Wow what a weekend! So lovely, such a HUGE!!! deal for me, believe me, I loved every moment, I may have looked a little 'distant' at times but I had to keep pinching myself to make sure it was actually real, Something I have dreamed of for so long, actually taking place! I just kept looking around at everyone, watching them all interacting with one another and crafting together, passing on their knowledge.
We had lovely demonstrations by Hazel and Barbara, Hazel showed us her gift basket skills and Barbara
showed us how she made her Coffee Filter Flowers, genius, I can't wait to have a go! Sue has the Coffee filters all ready to go! Patricia also showed the ladies how to make impressive paper flowers and even provided a gift bag for everyone to make up to put the flowers on!
Thank you ladies for sharing your knowledge.
No Norah, I can't quite believe how many things you donated for the raffle, quite unbelievable, you are so very kind, the greatest gift however would have been to have you there with us xxx
My prize was a gorgeous Lidl card pack and some pearls, it has some lovely papers in that I am looking forward to using on my Christmas cards.  I was so delighted that Sue got the Score board and dvd, she doesn't have a score board so I know she will absolutely love using it!
Norah please thank Tammy for finding our hotel, the Seminar Room we had was perfect for crafting and we didn't even make that much mess! Thank you too to you and Patricia for wrapping the raffle prizes and carrying them in your luggage all the way from Scotland xx
Ladies all I can say about the wonderful ladies that I met this weekend is that they are every bit as lovely and funny as they are on the blog, such a fantastic bunch of ladies!
Christine if you look in we are holding our Notelet Holders on the above photo, this was our Friday night project, although those of us that we a little more tired finished ours on Saturday morning.  We missed you very much but it was lovely to have the kit to play with in your absence! \Thank you for your kindness xxx
Sadly our Stampin Up demonstrator failed to appear, no message, just no show!! The best part of it was that  the flowers that Barbara showed us how to make were made with a Stampin up punch and several of the ladies wanted to buy it, at £19.99 each thats a lot of lost sales!!
But we had so much going on that we didn't really miss the demo!
It really was a fun packed weekend, thank you all for making my dream turn into a reality! xxx
Now the photo above is of all of us on the Sunday morning! Back row from right to left......
Hazel, Pat, Myra, Maria,Patricia, Diane and Cheryl, Front row from right to left........
Maureen, Me, Barbara, Jess, Sue & Brenda !
Today's Man card has been designed and created by Anne, using a Lily of the Valley image and Creative Expressions Bevelled Striplet Die, designed by Sue Wilson. Anne has decoupaged the little lad and his paint splashes, making the card 3D and look fabulous.
Thank you so much for Sharing your fantastic man card with all of us xxx

I hope that all of you lovely ladies got home safely xxx

That is all from me for today, today will mostly be a 'bed' day, I am exhausted, but for once it was so worth it and I would do it again in a heart beat, (but not for a couple of weeks) hahaha
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Another of My Beautiful Birthday Cards

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,
Today I am excited to share with you the beautiful Birthday Card I received from Myra, it was so beautifully packaged in Foiled Butterfly Tissue paper, a real gift, I was like my birthday all over again unwrapping this card.  I can see that Myra has used Creative Expressions Basket Weave Embossing folder, and their Itty Bitty Bow die, which she has decorated with a pretty pink flower.  I am unsure of the pretty die that Myra has used though, hopefully she will have the time to pop in today to let us know what the die is.
Thank you Myra for the most beautiful birthday card. xxxx

Well today we will all be saying our goodbyes, I for one will have a lump in my throat, I have been excited about this weekend ever since the idea came into my head many, many months ago!
I hope that everyone will have enjoyed this weekend as much as I have.  Thank you to all of you that made it so special.
Love and Hugs
Sandra
xxxxxxx

Mixed Craft Saturday

One of Hazel's Gift Baskets

Patricia's Labels One Bag

A selection of Brenda's Pottery

Good Morning Ladies,

Welcome once again to Mixed Craft Saturday, we have another amazing range of Handmade Crafts,

made by our very talented Cafe members.

First up we have one of Hazel's fabulous Gift baskets, they look amazing, giving that extra special touch to your gifts, jazzing up what could be quite ordinary toiletries.

We are hoping to learn how to put one of these together this weekend, Hazel is going to demonstrate how she has created this gorgeous basket.

Thank you Hazel, for sharing your gift ideas with us xxxx

Next up we have Patricia's amazing Spellbinders Grand Labels One die Handbag, so simple yet so effective,

it also looks like there isn't too much measuring and cutting involved, so perfect for quick and easy cards, that's the fabulous thing with these features on the blog, often it's just the idea you need, that's exactly what this is, an fantastic idea, Patricia has decorated the bag with her signature flowers and Spellbinders Foliage die.  Thank you for sharing your gorgeous bag with us Patricia xxxx

Last but not least we have a selection of Brenda's Pottery, (well it wouldn't be Mixed Craft Saturday without it) !  We Have a fantastic selection here, a gorgeous pink glazed plate, a Purple Heart Plaque, an absolutely amazing glazed blue plate and what looks like a Tankard, also blue with a gold colour edge and decoration.
Brenda I look forward to hearing how you created this amazing range of crafts, they are just brilliant, thank you so very much for sharing xxxx

Well ladies, we are on day 2 of our retreat, we have a Stampin Up Demo later on today, I wish that all of you lived near enough to drop in for the day, you would be more that welcome!
We will all pop in during the day, thank you for keeping the cafe going while I am away!
Love and Hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Festive Friday & Belated Birthday wishes x

Anne's Version of Sue's inlaid (flowers) Snowflakes in this case!

Belated Birthday Wishes Karen (lotty)xxxxx

Good Friday Morning Ladies,

Well the day is finally upon us, our Retreat starts today, I am so excited and a little nervous, but mostly 

excited to meet everyone.

I would like to apologise, I missed announcing Karen's Birthday yesterday, so I would like to wish you

a very happy belated birthday, I am so sorry for being late, this is the second time and today I discovered why today, I have copied all the birthdays down into my diary but into the 2016 calendar and not this years,

so I thought it was your birthday tomorrow! I have even told people that the retreat started on Friday 29th!

Once again, I hope you had a lovely day xxxxx

Now on to today's Festive Friday card, this week it is Anne's card that we are sharing, Anne has done a Christmas version of Sue's inlaid flowers card, now I haven't seen Sue's card, but I totally love your version Anne!

I can see that you have used Spellbinders Floral Oval die and Creative Expression Swirling Holly Embossing Folder, I will let Anne tell us what else she has used and how she created this gorgeous Christmas card,

Thank you so much for sharing Anne xxxx

Well I must get on, so much to do before we leave today, I have a huge pile ready to pack!

We will keep you all updated on our activities this weekend,

Lots of love and hugs

Sandra xxxxxx

Pretty Floral Card

Good Morning Ladies,
I am sorry that I have not been around too much over the past couple of days, I have got lots of bits and pieces to get organised for the weekend, both for those of us that are going and for the family too!
Sophie and Lucy are off to a Halloween Party on Saturday so they need organising too, luckily Paul is
fantastic and he can do all the meals etc, so no organisation needed there, thankfully.
I have started packing the boxes of bits and pieces to bring, I haven't even thought about clothes!

Today's beautiful card has been designed by Pat, before Pat discovered dies she made most of her cards
with stamps, this is one of them and it is fantastic, a breath of fresh air almost, It looks like Pat has stamped onto patterned paper and cut it out, (but I may be wrong)!
I can see that Pat has added some glitter to the centres of the flowers, giving that extra bit of sparkle.
The finishing touches that Pat has added really draw your eye into the focal element of the card, those dots and dashes around the edge of the card look fantastic too, no other decoration or embellishment is necessary.
I love this bright, cheerful card Pat, thank you so much for sharing it with us. xxxx

That's all from me for now, so much to do, so little time!
Love and Hugs
Sandra
xxxxxxx