A Z-Fold Card using Paperbox Card and Paper

Good morning Ladies,

A bit of a cooler day yesterday, overcast too, the lambs were able to spend the day in the garden though which is nicer for them and less messy for me, they seem so much happier bounding about out there. Not sure what will happen as this rainy few days hits us, just as they have gotten used to roaming free outside.

A few weeks ago I was approached by a company called 'The Paperbox Ltd' they asked if I would like to try some of their products in return for my opinion, so of course I said yes, they really focus on selling just about every type of craft paper and card stock.  They sent me a lovely selection of Spring colour themed card and paper, with matching envelopes.  

So yesterday I sat and had a play with some of the card, I used it to make this Z Fold Card, the colour I chose was 'Lavender Pearl Card' which I can honestly say cut and folded like a dream, there was no cracking or damage at all, which is so important when you are making Fancy Fold cards as all the folds and creases are on show, the delicate lavender colour worked really well with the Papermania Nature's Grace paper collection too, so that it what I used to embellish the card, I love all the greys, shades of lilac, purple and yellow. I used the more neutral rose patterned paper for the background, the lilac shade of some of the flowers worked perfectly with the card base.  I chose one of the bright, vibrant yellow papers for the bar across the card, it picks up the yellow in the background paper.

I picked a piece of the lilac paper from the Card collection to die cut a circle matt for my topper, I stamped a Stampin Up! sentiment onto lilac pearlescent card (same as base) I then added silver embossing powder and heat set, leaving a lovely silver sentiment.  I attached the Z fold bar over the card base added my central focal piece with sentiment and then added some paper flowers on either side sentiment and another in the top corner of the base card.

I hope you like my card.

I would totally use the card and paper from 'The PaperboxLtd'' and will leave the link to their website below.

https://www.thepaperbox.co.uk/

Janet, I hope the packing is going smoothly, I guess you are out of practice as you haven't been able to go as regularly.  The medication is the one thing I always worry about, as if I were to run out, there would be serious issues, so I always over compensate, just in case. Does Jim look at what you are packing and frown?  🤣 I know Paul does, I don't think they ever understand why we need so much of a variety of card colours and weights etc. I know that you already have a good stash of craft stuff in Marigny too, so I guess you take mostly consumables, paper' adhesive etc.  

I hope you have a smooth crossing and journey my lovely xxx

Lynda, I hope that Terry was feeling well enough to take you on your errands yesterday, give him a hug from me xxx

Hoping to see Sue today, I hope that you all have a lovely day, however you are spending it.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra 

xxxxxxx

This Time last year....Throwback Tuesday !

Good Morning Ladies,

Do you remember these cards???  

I decided to do a 'Throwback' post and so 'threw back' to this time last year, I couldn't go back to the same actual day and that was a Sunday and that would mean too many cards to share for a Tuesday post.

Brenda had the same Stampin Up! 'Berry Burst' addiction that I did last year, she has used to stamp to create that gorgeous Flourish background, its stamped with  HoneyDoo 'Flourish XL'  Stamp, I'm  not sure if Brenda stamped and embossed or if she did the Emboss/Resist technique, adding the Berry Burst ink afterwards.

Brenda's second card uses the 'Waves' Mask from 'That Special Touch', we have all seen Sue Wilson use it plenty of times, I have it but never remember to use it, this had truly inspired me , both cards are as always with a Brenda card, finished to a very high standard, your handmade ribbon roses are simply stunning.  

I hope you like having a chance to see them again. XXX

(I will add Brenda's description below)

"Brenda's first card is stamped with the Inkyliscious Flourish XL Stamp and Stampin'Up! Berry Burst ink (i must have missed this stamp Brenda otherwise I Am pretty sure it would be in my possession!) .
It has stamped beautifully Brenda, the simple Berry Burst Foil Edged ribbon bow is the perfect finishing touch.
Brenda's second card was made using the 'Waves' mask with glitter paste through it, finished with Berry Burst Ribbon and a beautiful flower spray that features Brenda's handmade ribbon roses, some die cut leaves and a pretty wired pearl spray."

Thank you Brenda for such lovely inspiration xxx

Janet, I am so happy that you and Jim are getting away to Marigny, you must be over the moon at the chance to get away to your little paradise for a couple of weeks.  Please don't worry about the Café, I will move the lambs in the back garden and take over from you for a couple of weeks, hopefully Margaret will help me too, her cakes will bring in lots of new visitors.  

I hope you both have a lovely break and that all is well when you arrive, I bet the garden will be bursting with beautiful spring flowers, I look forward to some photos, oooh and Friday cake descriptions!! xxx

Karen messaged me last night to say that she was struggling to comment, she had a lovely break although the weather was miserable.  It's lovely to have you home Karen xxx

We had a lovely day yesterday, Paul got to spend a couple of hours pottering at the allotment, we bought back about 30 strawberry plants to pot on and add to our existing crop, hopefully we will get enough for a bowl full this year, luckily the plot was fairly tidy and there weren't too many weeds as Paul put loads of rotted down leaves over the top of the beds and they have stopped most of the weeds!  We popped to supermarket, picked up something for lunch as nobody fancied a big roast dinner that we had planned, they were too tired from work and too hot, so we had a lovely Quiche and salad.  We spent the afternoon watching the lambs spring around the garden, they were having an absolute blast, at one point all three lambs were chasing Harley round and round Matts car, it was hilarious, then tables turn and Harley was chasing them (purely for fun), its not often you get to sit and have a good belly laugh. Paul did get to video one of them bouncing around, I will try and upload it for you in next couple of days. 

Today will be spent in my craft room, I have some catching up to do, I also have a Mummy/Daughter date with Lucy for lunch, which I am really looking forward to too.

Have a lovely day, however you are spending it, I wish that we could hold onto this weather for a few more days.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Maria's card for Rick's Birthday

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you had a lovely day yesterday celebrating Easter.  We had a lovely quiet afyernoon on the garden, doing a bit of weeding, pruning and then just sitting and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Today's lovely, fun card was made by our Maria for Rick.  Maria you have coloured the lovely image beautifully,  i love the bright colours you have used, the man looms like he is wearing a trendy leather jacket and matching shoes, with a snazzy pink shirt, would Rick wear those colours? Paul is very conservative when it comes to clothes colours, except on holiday,  he doesn't mind a bright t shirt then. Lol.
The beautiful carpet of flowers in front of the bench really draws your eye up to the couple on the bench.
I bet Rick loved it, especially as you put so much work into it. 
Thankyou so much for sharing your card with us today.  XXX

Paul wants to go to the allotment today to have a tidy up, other than that not much planned.

I hope you all have a lovely day,

Love and Hugs to all,

Sandra
XXXXX

Your TicTacToe Challenge Cards

To all of you 

Good Morning Ladies,

Happy Easter to all of you, I hope you enjoy your Easter Sunday xxx

I hope you enjoyed another beautiful sunny day like we did yesterday, we didn't do anything exciting, we went to the Household Recycle Centre with some rubbish out of the garage etc, I honestly believe that Pauls hates going but I find it somehow 'Cleansing', after we did that we went to buy some chocolate for the kids, bought some food shopping and then came home to chill out. we let the lambs roam about the garden for a while but they are a bit like goats and want to eat anything other than grass, little bits of slate that we have in plant pots were a favourite followed by plastic, mud, plants, anything that you don't want them to eat is their main aim.

Anyway lets get on with your cards......

Lynda

Lynda has used a Sue Wilson die called 'Teardrop Daisies' and for the first time in a long time Maria has used the same die!! Although their cards look completely different.

I will add Lynda's description below:

SW tile collection
Teardrop Daisies
I covered with double sided sticky sheet  to my base card then took front side off carryer sheet & put ice snow over top of the sticky piece. Made a frame using
Northern lights pad
Added JL dragonflies & some gems.

Die Cuts/Floral/Blue

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely xxx

Maria

Maria has also used the Teardrop Daisies, she has paper pieced all the daisy petals back into the die using different shades of blue card.  I love the finish you got Maria it looks like a SW card.

Maria used catergories: Birthday/die cut/ribbon

Thank you so much Maria for taking part XXX

Brenda

Brenda has used Tim Holtz's Funny Birds which she has coloured perfectly, the background was made by randomly stamping the birds and using a Sun Ray mask with some ink to create some depth and dimension. A die cut Happy Birthday and number 17 and the finishing touches to Brenda's card.

Brenda used categories:  Embossing/Die Cut/Birthday

Thank you Brenda for such a lovely, fun card , I hope you had a lovely family day at Debbie's XXX

Janet

Janet has made 3 incredible challenge cards this week, they are all so pretty. I will add her description below....

1 E.boss/die cut/birthday

2. Die cut/floral/birthday

3. Pattened Paper/blue/ribbon/e.dots

 Thank you so much for taking part in the weeks challenge Janet XXX

Karen 

Karen went for a lovely card design with an Embossed background that Karen has highlighted ever so lightly to make the word stand out.

A pretty ribbon and the die cut /stamped tags, so the categories Karen used are

 Diecut/Emboss/Blue

Thank you so much fot taking part Karen, I so hope you are so enjoying your holiday. XXX

Lilian 

Lilian has picked one of my favourite colour combinations, Purple & Green, they look amazing together, it doesn't really matter what shades of the colour you use as they all work.

The flower stamp is a Honey Doo stamp that Lilian has coloured  beautifully and the background is a little foliage stamp that lilian has, the flowers were arranged upon a pretty green doily, which sets them off perfectly.

Lilian has used catergories: Die cut/Flowers/ Gemstones (in flower centres) XXX

 Margaret

Margaret has chosen a super cute card for this weeks challenge, using those darling Penguins, who wouldn't love those little things?!  A simple punched sentiment finishes the card brilliantly.

Margaret used Categories:  Blue/Punch/ Gemstones (eyes)

Thank you so much Margaret for taking part XXX

Michele

Michele's card is beautiful, just look how deep that embossing is, such a beautiful embossing folder too.  The die cut sentiment sits upon 2 layered die cut nesting labels that fit the embossing folder perfectly. I love your card Michele, thank you so much for taking part. XXX

 Val

Val has used an absolutely stunning background paper that features stunning daisies, that Val has adorned with Gemstones.  The focal point of the card is that sunning fussy cut daisy that Val has embellished with a matching green button tied with twine.

Such a gorgeous card Val, thank you so much for taking part. XXX

Thank you so much ladies for another amazing display of cards, you just amaze me every week.

Mixed Up Saturday Featuring Michele's Mag Review

Good Morning Ladies ,

How was the start of your Easter weekend? We spent the day mostly in the garden, it was lovely and warm.

Our first card today is Janets first attempt at Groovi, the card has a pretty blended background on to which Janet has placed her beautifully embossed   'Groovi' piece, which features two stunning corner pieces around a decorated central circle. 

Janet you would never guess that was your first attempt, you are clearly a natural 'parcher' !  I know pat has said that the 'White work' was tricky and very time consuming.   Have you bought many plates etc?.  I can't wait to see your next piece .  Thank you so much for sharing it. XXX 

The lovely covered Notebook is from my swap partner Sue Bishop over on our 'Riley &Rose' facebook group.

Sue has covered the notebook in the most amazing cover that she has personalised with our Group name, the cover was made using the 'Faux Leather' technique and let me tell you it really feels like soft leather, if you zoom in you can see the texture. Inside thete are two notebooks and two pens, a little book of sticky notes too.  The outside is finished with a pretty dangle charm. 

It's an incredibly detailed project and i love it xxx

 Michele

Michele has very kindly shared some of her Animal themed cards to give you all a little inspiration for this week's challenge.  

Such a lovely assortment of creatures, I think my favourites are the Owls and those darling hedgehogs.  

Thank you so much my lovely for inspiring us all. XXX 

Talking of Michele, here is this weeks ....

Magazine Review 

Hi Ladies

Here’s two magazines being reviewed today.
First is Cardmaking & Papercraft which has a bumper set of stamps as a free gift. There’s something there for everyone. 

Here’s some ideas using the free gift. 

This article features a new fold-Quarter fold cards, they don’t look too difficult to create either. 

Next up is Simply Cards & Papercraft which has two fantastic free gifts-Cardmaking Magic Stamps & Dies. 

 The lovely free gifts. 

This is the first feature using the free gifts. There’s a 2 page interview with Christina Griffiths and she’s made 2 cards using her products-see second photo.

Another feature by Christine Smith (craftipotential blog)

This article features Floating Diecut flowers which give can amazing effect. They suggest transferring the flowers(once you’ve arranged them how you’d like them to show on your card) onto a transfer sheet but I reckon you could use thin Acetate and I’m sure we’ve all got some if that in our stash!


That’s all for this week in the magazine review section.

Love Michele 

PS I apologise for the lack of comments but google has decided to be difficult and I just haven’t had the time to create yet another account. 

Thank you so very much Michele for this weeks fantastic Magazine Review.  XXX

Last but by no means least today is something to bring a warm smile to your faces.......

Such a lovely photograph of Lynda & Terry (CU) with little Harry. Just look at his face, what a sweetheart, you can tell he loves you both very much, thank you for sharing your special photo with us Lynda xxx

That's all from me today ladies, I am writing this as we drive home from my Mum's, as i think i will be straight to bed when we get home.  

Enjoy the rest of your weekend my very dear friends.

Love and hugs to each and every one of you,

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Happy Easter Card from Michele

Good Morning Ladies,

Well the long weekend is here at last, it looks like the weather is going to play nice too, which makes the weekend so much more enjoyable, the Garden centres will be doing well this weekend!!
We popped to the Supermarket last night and all Barbecue foods were gone from the shelves, there was barely a sausage or burger in sight, we weren't shopping for any so it wasn't an issue, although the one thing I did want there was no sign of.....plain, ordinary Hot Cross Buns!! Aldi had Salted Caramel Hot cross Buns and believe it or not Rhubarb and Custard Hot cross buns!! but no plain ones, neither of those exotic flavours appeal to me in the slightest I'm afraid.  Would you like them, or do you like me prefer the simple taste?.

Now onto today's card, this was some lovely Happy Mail that I received on Wednesday, a lovely Easter card from our Michele, it's beautifully made in lovely bright colours that remind me of those lovely Mini Eggs, it looks to me like Michele has done a bit of stamping too, the little eggs on the background and around the topper and the 'Happy Easter' look like Michele has stamped them (either that or it is computer wizardry)!😜
Michele has picked out the purple colour from the papers and used that as an accent colour, covering the join with a lovely gingham ribbon, the card is finished with silver 'Card Candi' in each corner.
Thank you so much Michele for such a lovely card. XXX

I have never really got into making cards for Easter, I don't think that it was ever a thing a few years ago, but he card shops do like to cover every possible event for a bit of extra cash, I must admit though they are cute cards.

Next Weeks Challenge Theme

I thought that as it was Easter/Spring a time of new life that it would be nice to have an Animal theme for this weeks Challenge, now when I say Animal, I will include just about any living creature …….

From....

Dogs to Donkeys

Birds to Bears

Bees to Butterflies

Goats to Giraffes

Sheep to Shoals of Fish

Just about anything living thing that isn't human !!

Have fun with this challenge, I can't wait to see your cards !




We are off to my Mum's today, fingers crossed the traffic won't be too crazy, we thought that if we go today we have the rest of the weekend to relax, my sister did say that she was going to bring my Mum over to us this weekend but I guess it slipped her mind!😕

I hope that whatever you are doing you have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx

My First attemot at Foil Quill on Scan & Cut

Good Morning Ladies,

What a beautiful day we were treated to yesterday, I managed (with Sue's help) to wrangle the lambs into their pen in the garden and made it secure enough to contain them.  I was so relieved to get a few hours peace and quiet, they need to be outside but kept escaping so I had to stay out with them, which meant I literally got no time to myself at all during the day and was completely exhausted by the evening so not up to crafting, I ended up having a bit of a tearful meltdown yesterday as I am so frustrated at not being able to craft, when I have snatched an hour to go sit in my craft room I have been so tired I have zero creativity, although I was desperate to create something.

After a little bit of playing around I managed to create this pretty vase of flowers with the Foil Quill tool on my Scan & cut, I took a bit of messing about to learn how to alter the size etc.   I wanted to place the sentiment of the same piece as the vase but sadly on this first attempt lining it up was just not happening, so I die cut them and mounted them separately.  I have to say though that both Sue and I were amazed at how perfect the foiling actually is, we were both mesmerised, you basically fit a little pen nib sized thing in the blade housing of the scan and cut, it has a tip that heats up, you basically choose your image and put the card plus foil on the cutting sheet and feed it in to your machine, you then set the machine to 'Draw' the image you have chosen and the hot nib draws the image over the foil, which is transferred onto the card, its fixed permanently too, it looks such good quality even up close.  I like that you can now foil anything that you can upload or scan in, in any size you want, no having to buy plates or dies.  I just need some practise!

I am looking forward to the lovely long weekend, Paul's last day today, Hooray!! We don't have much planned for weekend as yet, we are thinking about going over to my Mum's, but not sure as yet.
What do you all have planned ?

It looks like we might have some good weather, fingers crossed!!

Have a lovely day today my lovelies,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx