Sketch Challenge cards

 The Sketch

My Challenge Card

 Hazel's Challenge card

 Margaret's Challenge Card

Myra's Challenge Card

 Val's Challenge Card

Beth's Challenge Card  (Hazel's Beth)

Sonia's Challenge Card

Anne's Challenge card

 Janet's Challenge card

Maria's Challenge Card

Lillian's Challenge card

Deborah's Challenge card

Jess's Challenge card

Karen's Challenge Card

Lynda's Challenge card

Jeans Challenge Card

Good Morning Ladies,

Wow what an amazing range of cards you ladies have designed and created this week.  

All from the same basic sketch, yet all completely different!

It is so lovely to be able to share with the Sketch Challenge card designed and created by Beth (Hazel's Beth),  Beth has used two complimentary polka dot papers to create her design and she has finished it with a pretty handmade Bow, thank you Beth for taking part in this challenge, you are welcome to join in any challenge you would like and I look forward to seeing more of your cards.

Margaret, I could have put money on using the Anne-Marie Designs papers, I was thinking about that as I was making my card, I love the colour you have chosen too, those cute little ribbon flowers finish your card beautifully, thanks for taking part xxx (only 6 days until Farnborough, with your new hobby you are going to be like a child in a sweet shop) I can wait to be part of your first card making shopping experience!! Paul thinks he may need to hook on the trailer!! Xx

Val, I feel so honoured that you have gone to the time and trouble to enter the Sketch Challenge,  your card is so cute and beautiful, are your papers from the Be Bunni CD from Crafters Companion? That rose bud paper is beautiful, as is that cute little bear.

I love the little butterfly you have used to embellish your card with.  I would imagine that having craft CD ROMs is vital to you out there in Spain, as you won't have many craft shops selling papers etc.  You must feel like going crazy when you come over here to shop, do you leave space in your luggage, it must be so frustrating having such strict baggage weight allowances! Thank you so much for sharing xxx

Sonia and Deborah, your first Challenge and you both time to create and challenge card, I was so excited when I received them, Paul (my husband) thought I had gone mad, haha, both of your designs are gorgeous and very different, I am looking forward to seeing what you do with next challenge!  

I think that we all have our own signature designs, I can now pick out a 'Myra' designed card or a 'Lynda' card, Janet has a unique design style too, as do all the other ladies, I just used those names as examples, there will be a little addition to the card that will give the designer away, I look forward to spotting your 'unique' signature! Thank you both very much for taking part xxxx

Lynda, I love the papers you have used and those cute little birds too, the thing that touched me the most is that you went to the trouble of making your challenge card despite being so poorly, so thank you so very much Lynda xxxx

Karen, you have made a start on your Christmas cards with your challenge card this week, that is a great idea!! I love the Snowflake theme, thank you so much for taking part Karen xxxx

Jess, I love your 'man sketch card', another fabulous idea featuring time and travel,

Thank you so much for taking part xxx

Lilian, that paper is just amazing, showing the birds and their eggs too,

is it one of your new ones?  I love the birds on a wire image, my children used

Call that 'Bird School' when they saw the birds all sat in rows on the wire, 

thank you for taking part xxx

Janet, your design is simply 'Gorjuss', literally!! I love the colour you have used for her hair, very flamboyant, thank you for taking part my lovely xxx

Myra, I love your design, it could be a birthday or a 'just because' card,
I love that butterfly, thank you for making the time to create your card despite all
Of the mess and chaos that the "singing decorator" caused, xxxx

Hazel, love your bright and girly design, a great card to keep in the standby cards pot,
Either for cards for the grandchildren to give out or for you to give to granddaughters! Thank you for taking part despite all the extra duties you had to
Take on while Charlie recovered from his Shingles xxxx

Anne, I love the purple and heather colours you have used to design your card
with, it has a lovely, almost Scottish feel about it, gorgeous papers you have used,
What make are they, they would be great for both Male and female cards.
As would the Wine bottle topper/stamped image you have used, I really love your design, thank you so much for talking part xxxx

Maria, another fabulous challenge card from you, live your dotty card selection and
how you have carried the 'dots' theme through to the foreground of the card by using
the card candy, this would be a fab card for male or female recipient!
Thank you so much for taking part my lovely xxxx

Well I think I got everyone included, my tablet shut down half way through the post and I didn't have the energy to re-do the whole post!

I am as always hugely grateful that you all take part xx
If any of you would like a particular shape or style of card used just let me know!

Love and hugs
Sandra xxxx

More Craft Rooms

 Angela's Craft Room

 Angela's 'work in progress' corner

 Angela's 'Tech' Corner

Some of Angela's projects

More of Angela's storage and a place to relax!

 Jean's Craft room

Jean's Very Organised storage area

 Johanna's Craft Room

 Johanna's storage area

Johanna's Very organised storage

 Lilian's Craft/Work Room

 Lilian's storage area 

Lilian's 'tech' area and work desk

Lilian's work desk

Janet's Craft Room

Hazel's Craft room

Hazel's die cutting area

Hazels organised Storage

More craft Storage and the spare bed!!

Hazel's card 'construction' area!

Good Morning Ladies,

well as you can see we had a wonderful response to our Craft Room feature, thank you so much to Maria whose idea it was, we all love to be a little bit nosey, don't we?!

First up we have Angela's Craft room, now Angela, I thought that you didn't really have that much craft stash when we were chatting in Spain last year, how WRONG was I, you have an amazing stash,I bet Trevor has no idea!! Haha, you have a lot oif very organised storage going on there, like me you should have shares in that storage box company!!!  Thank you so much for sharing your craft space and I hope you are enjoying Lincolnshire xxxx

Next up we have the VERY organised Jean's  Craft Room, you too have lots of Storage4crafts boxes, they are really sturdy though aren't they?!  Those filing cabinet style draws are fabulous too, I have my Platinum on a Butchers block too, its a good sturdy base for die cutting!  Thank you so much for taking the time to share your craft space with us Jean xxxx

Johanna's craft room is up next, I love the ribbon storage idea, it looks like you have made use of every available inch of space in your craft room Johanna, lots of lovely organised storage too, I would love to have a nosey in everyone's boxes of goodies!!

Thank you Johanna for sharing your craft space with us xxxx

Lilian's craft room is her work room too, as you will notice the lovely robust sewing machine, I bet that large sewing table is fabulous for crafting on too!!
Lilian, were you once a Stampin up rep, it looks like you have a fair few of their ink pads, can I mention 'Alcohol pens' it looks like you have a lovely collection, I would love to spend a few hours at your craft desk, I could play and keep you company while you are sewing??!! I am only joking with you, you are likev me and have been collecting craft stuff for a good few years, you would be a good craft friend to ask advice on which is the best pen range or ink pads though!  Now I know why your cards are so fabulous!! Thank you so much for sharing your craft space with us xxxx

Janet, come on, that looks way too tidy, is that really all of your craft stash??!  I know how much detail and embellishments you go to the trouble of adding to your beautiful cards and I can't see where you are storing all of those lovely ribbons you use, but I guess you have 2 craft rooms, one here and another in Marigny, I bet most of your crafty goodies are over there as you  have more time to craft whilst there relaxing!  Thank you so much for sharing your craft space with us Janet xxxxx

Hazel shares her craft space with the guest bedroom, I bet Patricia loves that when she stays over!  You look very organised Hazel, not a die cut fall out piece in sight!
Did you get more storage or haved you just reorganise after having to shift everything out when Charlie's sister visited?  Hazel not only has all her craft stash neatly stashed in there but all the goodies for her gift baskets, Nappy & Beer cakes too, your room must be like Dr Who's Tardis Hazel, or maybe you are just super organised!  Thank you so much for sharing xxxxx

Well what a super long post today, but a fabulous one, it is nice to try and picture each one of  you sat creating fabulous cards at your craft stations, once again, thank you so much for taking part, I really do appreciate the time you put bin xxx

How about "Show us your 'Bit Box' " for our next feature? A small gift to the most impressive !! What do you think? I won't take part as I have 3 overflowing 'Bit boxes' as Pat or Sue will confirm, in fact I think I have a 'bit corner' !! The following week we could make a card using your 'bit box' contents only!!

If you have any ideas or suggestions for blog features, I am open to pretty much anything!!!

Hugs to our absent friends xxx
Lynda I hope you are feeling brighter today, sending gentle hugs my lovely xxx

Love and hugs to all!,
Sandra
Xxxxxx

 Sophie's 'Luke Dixon' style  drawing of Becca

The photo the drawing was based on

Ciara's Card for  her Grandma

The incredibly detailed back of the card

Good Morning Ladies,

As it's the last day of the holidays I thought I would feature the work of some of our younger blog members.  

The first picture is a Linea portrait in the style of Artist Luke Dixon of my eldest daughter Rebecca, drawn by Sophie as part of her GCSE Art Project titled 'Outline'.

Below it is the photograph of Rebecca (so beautiful) which Sophie used as her 'subject'.  Sophie has almost finished one of her Dad too, which is equally as incredible.  Sophie, we are so very proud of your amazing talent xxxx

Next up we have an amazing card designed by Ciara (Brenda Lello's Granddaughter) for her Grandma.  Ciara, I love your design, the lovely balloons spelling out 'Nanny' is a fantastic way of putting a name on your card, I also love your Union Jacks at the bottom, what an brilliant design, you haven't stopped there though have you, the back of your card is so clever, you have used your name for the company name, you even put a bar code on and put the little bit at the bottom to say that your paper was responsibly sourced!!  your attention to detail is just amazing Ciara, I can't wait to see your next card, make sure Grandma gets a photo to send in to me so I can put it on the blog.  Thank you Ciara for allowing me to share your card xxxx

We have some mores craft rooms to show tomorrow, Janet have you sent me your photos yet?? I am looking forward to seeing your craft space!  Anyone else is also welcome to send theirs in too, the messier the better! Haha 

Sending hugs to all those under the weather and our absent friends too xxxx

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

Xxxxxx

This Week's 'Guilty Secrets'

This Weeks Confessions !!! 

 Lilian's 'Guilty Secrets' ....thats not all....

Lilian's 'Guilty Secrets', well, why not?!

Myra's Storage Unit (it was a bargain though)!!

Johanna 'Guilty Secret'

Johanna's gorgeous card using New Die

Michele's Magazine

And its FREE Die, stamps and embossing Folder

Janet's Beautiful 12X12 Bloom Beautiful Papers

Good Morning Friends,

As you can see we have a lovely range of purchases this week, the winning haul goes to Lilian, you have done us all proud with your purchases, what a fabulous range of 

Goodies! I would really like some of those colour clouds, the seem so versatile and the colours are lovely too!!  I love your Hobby Art stamps too, Jenny's demo's are very inspirational. I spy some Anne Marie card too, you will have fun playing with that lot, I can't wait to see the cards you make with all of it, thank you so much for sharing Lilian, it is lovely to see what everyone is buying xxx

Myra treated herself to somev lovely storage boxes and the stand that goes with them, but she used her Voucher from Create and craft, you know the rules if its a bargain we don't have confess!! I didn't take you long to get it labelled and filled Myra, thank you for taking the time to share xxx

Michele treated herself to the new Die cutting magazine, its look like you get a good range of freebies, a stamp set, dies and papers!  Let us know what you think Michele,

Is it worth the money?? Thank you for taking time to share xxx

Johanna, you made a good choice with the Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles, they are so useful, great for using to make card bases themselves and for matting and layering! I love the card you have made using your HoneyDoo Stamps and your new dies, I have kept the other cards to show another day!  I look forward to your 'tutor' showing you how to send your next batch!! Thank you xxx

Janet, that pack of papers look so pretty, I think they are Craft Consortium, do they all have birds on?  I look forward to seeing what you make with them, thank you for sharing, I will hopefully get the rest of your confessions later on today! Xxx

Well thank you ladies, for taking part, I love sharing your makes and purchases with everyone, keep them coming please!

That's all for today, you will have to bare with me as I am struggling a little at the moment!

Janet, I hope you had a wonderful evening with your family xxx

Sue & Margaret, my thoughts are with you today, have a safe journey xxx

Hugs to our absent friends too xxx

Love and hugs

Sandra xxx

Sheila's Beautiful card

 Sheila's Stunning 50th Birthday Card

 The Beautiful insert

Good Morning Lovely Ladies,

I just could not keep this card under wraps, it was hard enough keeping it overnight!!

Sheila has used the "All Clammed up" Stamp and die Set from Heartfelt Creations, I have to confess Sheila that this gorgeous shoe stamp and die is high up on my wish list, so if any of you see it at a bargain price please let me know !x

Sheila has stamped the shoe and embossed it in Silver, adding some beautiful diamante trim round the bottom of the shoe, for an extra touch of Going! 

She has also stamped flowers onto some beautifully delicate vellum and embossed them, shaped them and used them to decorate the top of the shoe, one of Sue's Noble Dies provides the background, embossed with Bed of Roses also from Creative Expressions, a pretty butterfly adorns the top corner and the 'Glitz and Glamour' sentiment in the other. 

The insert is both beautiful and unique, I love the verse and shall be keeping that for my twins!

All in all a absolutely stunning card Sheila, you should definitely be on a design team, your creations are all exquisite!! Please, please send me more to share!! Xx

Sue and I are off to Pats today (No vacuuming Pete)!!, I am looking forward to it and its a good way to make sure Pat has a day off from her duties! 

Now Myra, you might be interested in visiting a place I have recently bought a selection of goodies to play with from, the lady is called Fiona Jennings, she 'alters' every thing and anything and I know you like to have as dabble at that too, her store Jennings Craft Boutique is an Aladdin's cave of all things crafty, she has the most beautiful lace, vintage and handmade doilies, pretty trims, and just about anything your crafty heart desires from butterflies to flowers and everything in between, she makes you tube tutorials for everything from making your own stickles to 'shabby chic'ing' just about anything, I love her enthusiasm and her willingness to share everything she knows, a true crafter!!  If you have a spare 5 minutes its well worth a browse! 

I will call back later to tell you about our day,

Hugs to Maureen, Margaret, Barbara and Patricia xxxx

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx