Cheryl's Challenge card

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all feeling relaxed after the weekend, the weather was lovely here, Paul and I managed an hour or two in the garden yesterday, tidying up flower beds and got rid of the last of the Golden Rod dead stems, they really grew high, I was surprised, we managed to get the back and one of front borders done.  I need to do some research into pruning roses before we do the rest of the borders, as they are mostly standard rose bushes, all beautiful with old fashioned  rose scent, i think that they have been here for many years so i don't want to kill them off.

Today's card is Cheryl's Challenge card for last and this week,  (by coincidence), Cheryl sent it to me mid-morning yesterday, so I looked at it and thought it was for the TicTacToe challenge, using Categories: Flowers/Square Card/Decorative Paper.
In actual fact it was Cheryl being super organised for this weeks challenge, as she was digging into her Lace hoard for the first time in months!!
What were the chances of that happrning!!


Cheryl has used Sue Wilson Hexagon dies to create that pretty frame in the centre of her card, Cheryl has used the frame as the base for her stunning floral arrangement, I love the way you have finished the opposite ends of the arrangement with a 'Cheery Lynne ' flourish die cut a a pearl spray, using both together give a real 'professional' finish to your spray.
Chery has used a beautifully detailed background paper, it has a real 'mixed Media' look to it, which is perfect as a card base layer, as it means you don't have to spend time finding perfect coloured card to mat and layer with, Cheryl said that she had used some of her 'hoarded' lace and an Angel as the finishing touches for this lovely card that is a 60th Birthday  card for a friend.
Thank you so much Cheryl for sharing your beautiful card with us. XXX

I hope that you all have a lovely day ladies,

Love and Hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxxx

Your Challenge Cards

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all enjoying your weekend, this unseasonably warm weather seems to have taken the plants in the garden by surprise as we have Daffodils just about ready to burst out into the beautiful golden yellow glory, everything has changed so quickly, I fear that we will have a big frost or snow storm that will come and wipe them all out.  I'm pretty sure we had that last year, not too long after we moved in.  It was so lovely to be out and not be freezing cold though, it makes you want to be out pottering in the garden. It will hopefully do everyone the world of good getting out in the fresh air too, get those germs blown away.  I think that it makes you feel so much better just being out there listening to the birds, breathing in fresh, clean air, I am so excited for another Spring/Summer in the garden here. 

You have made some absolutely stunning cards this week my Lovelies, I am running out of words to describe them, I am so conscious of over using words such as 'stunning' & 'Beautiful' but until I find words that work as well I will continue to use them! 

Here we go with this weeks cards...….

Brenda

Brenda has designed an awesome Spring card for this weeks TicTacToe Challenge, I will add Brenda's description below:

 My categories are not in a row. I can actually pick four boxes from the Tick Tack Toe choices.

1, Yellow and Green

2, Ribbon

3, Flowers

4, Designer Paper.....The Green Gingham is - Joanna Sheens Paper Collections Vol 3

                                                                                (I’ve had this pad for a few years now)

                                     The Yellow spots is - StampinUp 2018-2020 In Colour collection.

Take your pick!!!

Thank you so much for such a beautiful card Brenda, I love, love, love this stamp from HoneyDoo.

It's so funny that you wrote about having the paper pad for a few years but not using it, as that is exactly the theme for the New Challenge!!

Thanks again Brenda.

XXX

 Janet

Three incredible cards from Janet for this weeks TicTacToe Challenge, 3 different occasions too, including a pesky 'man' card.  I will add Janet's details below:

Here are my offerings for this week.

For my First  card I used - Flowers/square card/designer paper.

For my second card I use - Green/Flowers/Dry Emboss

(I had made this card on the Friday as you released the Challenge for this week and couldn't believe that it fitted the brief)

For my Third card I used -Designer paper/square card/my choice

  

Looking forward to the next Challenge.

Your cards are all fantastic Janet, I particularly love the Vintage style card with the 'tea & scones'.

Thank you so very much my lovely.

XXX

Val

Now I know that Val said that she just wasn't feeling up to sitting and making a card for our TicTacToe Challenge this week, which is perfectly understandable given the diagnosis and new medication, so I had a quick look through some of the cards that Val had made for previous challenges and came up with this super cute card.  I just felt sad for Val as she normally contributes to the challenge every week, it just doesn't seem right not having her name on the list.

So his card uses Categories:

Dry Emboss/Square Card/Decorative Paper

I hope that you are starting to feel better Val, I hope that you got my email too. Thank you for such a lovely card.

XXX

Maria

Maria also went for a gorgeous Spring card, which features an adorable little Lamb, surrounded by pretty Daffodils, you have Decoupaged your image beautifully Maria, it really brings the card to life.

Maria used Categories:

Spring/Green & Yellow/Flowers

Thank you so much Maria for managing to fit in a card before you set off on your weekend away, I hope that you had a lovely time, your card is perfect.

XXX

 Karen

Karen has made a start on her Christmas cards with this weeks TicTacToe Challenge and made the one card we all hate having to make.. Sympathy card, I think that you have done a fantastic job Karen, they are best left as a simple design, it can be so hard getting the design right though.

Here is Karen's Description:

 I’ve just finished these two cards for the challenge

I had to do a Sympathy card  I chose flowers-yellow & green- square card
And a Christmas card
flowers-dry embossing-square card

Thank you Karen, you have also had a very trying week, I really do appreciate that you made the time to take part in the Challenge, although I find that crafting is a really great source of Therapy, I wonder if they can start supporting our 'Therapy' with vouchers?? Now there's a thought, don't you think?!.  

XXX

Lynda

Two gorgeous cards from Our Lynda for this weeks TicTacToe Challenge, both feature flowers yet we have to very different looks, here is Lynda's Description:

First: Dry Embossing /flowers /square

Second green/yellow /dry Embossing/ square/ flowers

Lynda, thank you for two beautiful cards, my favourite is definitely the second card, (A) because its a lovely shade of green (B)because I love everything about it, the embossing folder you have used is gorgeous, your flower arrangements are sunning too.

XXX

 Michele 

OMG!!! Michele has gone for the Super Cute/Adorable overload for her TicTacToe challenge card this week, not one but 3 adorable images, here we go with Michele's description, although I think the categories for all 3 cards should be:

SUPER CUTE/ADORABLE/SOOOO SWEET !!!!!

My challenge cards-

Hedgehog cards are Spring/Blue/Flowers. 

Kitten card is Spring/Yellow/Designer papers.

Thank you so much Michele for 3 adorable cards, I love all of them! 

XXX

Margaret 

Margaret has gone for a Spring themed card too, she has made her own design that features Daffodil stamps that Margaret has arranged around the card, to finish the card Margaret has matted the pretty daffodil topper onto Yellow card stock and the sentiment has been stamped onto the same card, then punched out with the 'Lovely Label' Punch (stampin Up).

Margaret's card uses catergories:

Yellow & Green/Flowers/Square Card

Thank you so much Margaret for taking part in this weeks Challenge and creating such a lovely Spring card.

XXX

Lilian

Lilian is also a regular contributor to our Weekly Challenges and as with Val it just doesn't seem right to not have one of her incredible works of art featured on our display on a Sunday, so I went through some of the cards that Lilian has created for our challenges and this one jumped out at me.  I think that it fits the Challenge categories:

Blue/Square Card/ Embossing.

I love this card Lilian and it is SO worthy of a second viewing, I hope that you don't mind me filling in for you this week my lovely, thank you for being so consistently supportive.  

XXX

Well what can I say Ladies, that I haven't said a million times before, apart from THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!! 

You are all amazing and the very best friends that a girl could ask for!!

Sending loads and loads of love and Hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday/ Michele Magazine Review

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

First up today I wanted to share the other project I made for that Banner die I was sent, both Danielle and I tried to think 'outside of the box'  and come up with different idea for the die other than Banners/bunting.

I decided to make a little Keyholder, I used the last of the beautiful Shabby Chic papers that I had left over from my swap with Kay, adhered the paper to a piece of thin chipboard, used my new 'Crop-O-Dile to add some eyelets, which makes such a huge difference, it looks so much neater makes it easier to pull the ribbon through too.

To decorate I die cut a  large 'H' out if chipboard and the rest of 'Home' out if Kraft card and matted them onto a tag die cut, I stamped the word 'Welcome' onto another flag die cut, I made a dangle charm using some 'Lock &Key' charms and some ribbon and beaded trim, I attached a Seam Binding bow to the charm and attached a jump ring to fix it to the Library clip on the top of the Hanger, I thought that would be a good place to hang your keys from. 

Just a novelty decorative item but its fun and gives another element to the die. 

Michele came up with the idea of having a more 'in depth' look at one magazine each week, rather than having little comments on lots of magazines, which I think is a great idea. Today is the first of those, featuring  the 'Papercraft Essentials' magazine and its free gifts......

Michele's In Depth Magazine Review (No.1)

Hi Ladies,

Fist magazine to be reviewed in depth is Papercraft Essentials which comes with this fantastic Cut & Emboss Folder plus stamps. 

Inside there’s a 3 page feature showcasing Circle Dies which definitely makes you think about using them more. 

Also there’s a 4 page article on Faux tie-dye backgrounds which looks great.

This one of the features showing some ideas using the free gifts. 

More ideas, simple but lovely ideas.

Page 3 &4.

Third feature using the free gifts.

I think this issue has a really versatile and great quality free gift .

Next review the following Saturday-Diecutting Essentials. 
Happy Crafting 

Michele



Thank you so much Michele for a fantastic in depth review, its great to see all of the features as it makes it easier to decide if this magazine is something we would find useful.

I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and Hugs to all,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Your Next Challenge .......

Good Morning Ladies,

Here we are at the end of another week, this one flew by too, mind you I have had quite a few things on that 'needed' to be finishes by a certain time so I have been crafting a lot more than usual, so could be the reason that the week has gone quicker. It usually helps seeing Sue in the middle of the week as it gives me something to look forward to and breaks the week up nicely.  You would think that I would have overcome me hatred of being on my own but that is one hurdle I can't manage. I know that some people absolutely love time to themselves, I think it's different if you can choose to have to rather than it being forced upon you.

Challenge For Next week:

I have gone for a something completely different Our Next Challenge:

I would like you to make a card/cards or anything you like really BUT  I would like you to have a rummage around your Craft Room and find something that you bought intending to use on a project but haven't got around to using OR something you haven't picked up in the last year.

I think it is something we have all been guilty of at some point, we see something on TV or at a show, love the idea of it but when we get it home we either forget what the project is or find it wasn't quite as easy as the demonstrator made it look!!

So basically just find something that you haven't used or haven't used for a while and have a play, I have started doing just that I am totally enjoying rummaging through the things that I have bought at Ally Pally etc with every good intention, opened it, had a go and then popped lid back on and put it away.  I could make a huge list right now, don't worry I won't bore you!  Lilian has been doing exactly this recently with using her Stamperia papers, we buy, we stroke, we hoard!!

My card was made using a full set of Distress Inks that I bought from Joanna Sheen after seeing Jennifer Maguire create something, I opened one or two and had a go at blending but nothing much else, so I put them out on my desk so that I would get sick of working around them but was determined not to put them away without using them.
I also bought the latest edition of Creative Stamper Magazine (issue 67) which has a fantastic set of stamps and talks you through making a background step by step using Distress Oxide inks, so it was perfect for me.
I followed it and made the background for this card. The rest of the card is my own design, I used a Spellbinder Edge die that I also haven't used for a while and a new die set that I bought from Christine at Hope & Chances, it has the 'Friend' die and Background and some stamp sentiments to g with the die, fantastic price too (as always from Christine)x
I finished the card with some ribbon and punched flower.

I am looking forward to seeing what you all haven't used for a while.

Have a lovely weekend, I hope that those of you that are feeling under the weather have started to feel a little brighter.

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra
xxxxxxx

Happy Birthday Val

Good Morning Ladies,

Firstly please join me in wishing our lovely Val a Very Happy Birthday, I hope that you feel up to doing something fun with Lynn & Paul, sending Huge Birthday Hugs Sweet friend xxxx

Today's cards are the last of Karen's 'Shades Of' Cards, the first is hilarious, such a brilliant idea for a funny card for men Karen, I love the quote you have picked too, this card was a request from Karen's daughter for a colleague. Although I will openly admit I was expecting something quite different when Karen titled it her ''Shades Of Grey'' card.!!

Karen's second card (3rd Challenge card) Is 'Shades Of Lilac'', this is the card that Karen made for her lovely Mother-In-Law, Karen said that she absolutely loved the card and I can see why, it's a lovely design, in lovely colours.  I love that Frame die that you have used Karen and your Sparkly Dragonflies add the perfect finishing touch.

Thank you Karen for 2 more amazing Challenge Cards xxx

I spent yesterday afternoon in my craft room, frustratingly my heart was playing up all through the night/early am so I got very little sleep, so yesterday morning was slow going for me, I pottered around doing a few bits with the girls but kept having to go lie down as I was exhausted.
The afternoon was spent making a Valentines card for Paul, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I know it's all a bit gimmicky but I love any opportunity I have to tell that man how much I love and appreciate him, I say it all the time but days like this allow you to go overboard.

I don't think we will get to have any romantic meals for two though as Lucy is single, Sophie's boyfriend has gone to New York for work, so I think that means it will be a romantic meal for 4, which is nothing new!  They will ask for steak, I can guarantee it, I would prefer a take-away as it means no cooking or washing up!!  Actually an idea came into my head, maybe we could get the girls to cook for us!!  (the only downside would be a disastrous mess in the kitchen and we would still have to wash up)  We will have to see....watch this space!!

I hope that you are all having a better week, it hasn't been the best start to the week for a lot of you, I hope that things start to pick up and that the week ends better than it started.
I want to send HUGE hugs to those of you that are struggling and in pain xxxxx🤗

Sending L❤ve and hugs to you all,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Different ways to Use a Banner/Bunting Die

Good Morning Ladies,

Danielle and I were both approached through our new Facebook Group by a chap that has designed his first die and had it manufactured, he was looking for Crafters to use the die and give feedback and provide him with some samples to share on his Website.
I will share Danielle's projects on Saturday when I will share my other project too.

This particular piece was to show that the Banner Die can be used for more than just a Banner, I used the die to make a card, I simple took a piece of card and scored it, folded it in half and ran it through the Gemini with top cutting edge of the die just above the scored edge of the card, so that it doesn't cut through.  I used the die to cut a piece of pretty 'Crafters Companion Shabby Chic' Paper, ( I am so disappointed that CC don't make this paper any longer, I had a book of it that came with a magazine and I love it, but this is about the last of it)☹
I adhered the paper to the card base and then started to embellish, the first thing I did was to ink around the edges with a little 'Crumb Cake' ink, just to soften them.  Next came the lace and pearls and a doily, which I added to the side of the card, this was my place for arranging a little spray of flowers, I went with pinks to compliment the paper. I die cut two little tags out of the same paper pad, inking the edges, adding the same lace and pearls, I stamped 'For You' onto a tiny heart and added that to the tag.
I tied a tulle bow through the holes in the top of the Bunting die and tied into a bow, I used the same tulle through the tag.
A very girly card, showing that a Banner/Bunting die can be used for many other things.

I bought myself some Pixie Powders to have another go at using them, I did book a class for Sue and I for her 50th birthday but if we were both honest we didn't get great results, we followed all guidelines and instructions but we just ended up with a muddy mess, so when I told Sue that I had bought some Pixie Powders she was a bit apprehensive.  Sadly we aren't meeting up this week as Sue is spending the day with little Christopher as it is his birthday, I cannot believe that he is 4 already, it barely seems a year since we were announcing his arrival.
I hope that you all have a lovely day Sue, give little Christopher a hug from us. xxxx

Well ladies, I will be getting messy today in my craft room, what are you all up to??

Whatever it is I hope you have a lovely day,

Love and hugs

Sandra
xxxxxx

Sue's 2nd card for 'Shades Of' Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,

Sue had messaged me this card via messenger and sadly I hadn't received it but knowing Sue she had probably sent it to somebody else!! tehehehe🤣🤣🤣🤣
Luckily Sue had emailed it to me and I received it later on Sunday, I always promise to share any cards that you go to the trouble of making for the challenge, so here is Sue's amazing Christmas card, using 'Shades of Blue',  now you see I wasn't going mad, Sue had been die cutting blue snowflakes all afternoon last week, (which confused me when she shared a red challenge card, if you missed the comment on Sunday)!!

Sue has made a Navy Card base and then die cut about 18 of those Snowflakes to create a 'Wreath' effect, the sentiment is also cut in blue and the card is then finished with a pretty blue bow.
A lovely design Sue and a card that works perfectly for a one colour challenge.
Thank you so much for taking part. xxx

Now when you all saw that challenge last week I bet a few of you thought it was going to be super tricky, well you have all shown that it was barely a 'Challenge' at all.!

Here is this weeks challenge again in case some of you needed another look,  I tend to have to check it every time I sit down to make a card.  Luckily this is a challenge with plenty of every day categories that make actually making the challenge card easier.  

By that I mean I made the card I featured yesterday for Ben and I was just luck that it fitted perfectly with the top line of this challenge.  

I can't wait to see all of your cards too. xx

Brenda I hope you soon get the results, your shoulder sounds incredibly painful, my you I hate both blood tests and scans, but they have been a major part of my life unfortunately, you'd think that we would get used to them, no such luck though xxx

Cheryl I was so sorry to read about your sad news, lots of love and hugs on the way, it was so lovely to read your memories though, I hope you have lots of photos too. xxx

Maria, I hope your job isn't too traumatic for you and Rick today, just tackle little bits at a time so that you don't become overwhelmed.  By the way, I have emailed you, I hope you got it ok, I sent it Sunday xxx

Janet, did you get much crafting done??  I hope you had a lovely afternoon crafting xxx

Another day at the craft desk for me, I have a few projects on the go at the moment, so plenty to keep me busy.

I hope you all have a lovely day today,

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra

xxxxxx