My Own TicTacToe/Your Next Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well and looking forward to the weekend.

We have nothing planned as you can imagine, trying not to think of what we 'should have been doing' however I am happy to be sat here with Paul 'hopefully ' on the mend!! 

We have lots to do in the garden to keep us busy!  Weather permitting of course, the larger veg protection cage i constructed earlier in the week is holding up to all weather elements.  We are expecting some very strong winds this weekend so fingers crossed it will stay put!  I also want some time in my craft room. 

Your Next Challenge 

Now, I just couldn't make my mind up for this weeks challenge,  there were so many things circling around my brain but I couldn't comfortably choose 1, I like to choose things that all of you will enjoy taking part in.

With that in mind I looked at so many TicTacToe grids but there was always something that didn't work, so I made my own TicTacToe Grid !! 

Just choose any 3 categories and have fun!! 

I cant wait to see what you come up with, it's extra special this time as it's my own version. 

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I would love for you to let me know what categories you'd like to have included in the next one.

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx

   

Throwback Thursday

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Almost the end if another week, I feel terrible that I have only managed one new card this week, I just don't seem to have had the time or energy to sit and craft  I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to create, to be able to concentrate and be inspired,  it usually takes me longer to decide what to do than it does to actually make it.

So I have added a couple of cards from 2017, they all use patterned papers so fit the challenge.  I am sorry for not fully inspiring you with new ideas my lovelies xx

I have spent last three days trying to get Paul's follow 14 day appointment booked, what a bloody nightmare.  Monday's call promised a Supervisor was calling me back, Tuesdays was the same, Wednesday I actually demanded an answer,  explaining that the Consultant was concerned about inflammation/ infection at our last appointment which means this next appointment was even more important. I got a call back explaining they literally have no appointments at all.  They are having a meeting tomorrow and will get back to me!!!! So watch this space 

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Purple Daisies

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are all ok, sending special hugs to all those that are feeling under the weather xxx

Talking of weather we had a funny day yesterday, it was full blazing hot sun one minute and light rain the next, as I am writing this it looks like the heavens are about to open once again, no thunder so far today though.

Today's card is one I made on the day that Paul came home unable to see clearly, with all that commotion going on I totally forgot that I had made it so I was delighted when I came across it while tidying my desk yesterday afternoon. 

I used the latest SU 'In Colour' patterned paper pack (6x6 inch) to cut to size to fit my 41/4  X  5 1/2 card base, I then took some Elegant Eggplant card to die cut the daisies and the scallop circle for the back of the sentiment piece.  I gave the daisies a little bit of a shape and stuck two together, finishing the centres off with a diamante.  I used some green card to cut some foliage ti break up the purple shades.  I stamped my sentiment in Elegant Eggplant and die cut the circle, backing it with the scalloped circle and placed it down on my card, I then arranged the flowers around the circle and added the leaves.

Quite a simple card but I quite like the simplicity and the tone on tone colours too.

Have a lovely day ladies,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Some more Decorative Paper Cards that work for this weeks challenge

 

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well and I want to reach out and send out caring thoughts and hugs to those of you that are going through a rough time. Being isolated with lockdown etc can make some things that we normal handle without too much trouble a lot harder to cope with, I for one know first hand that being stuck in the house for weeks really did bring back the severe anxiety that I suffered terribly with a few years back, I really couldn't leave the house back then. I honestly have suffered those same feelings going out recently.  Going to the hospital with Paul was the hardest thing I have done mentally for a very long time, because he was the vulnerable one, it wasn't him looking after me as it usually is and I really struggled to hold myself together, when he went into the consulting rooms I sat in the waiting area trying my absolute hardest not to fully breakdown, I was trying to supress having a full on anxiety attack. It was one of the hardest days in my life, suffering terrible anxiety and feeling so helpless at a time when Paul needed me to be strong.  I have continued to stay strong for Paul but every morning I have to almost 'have a word with myself '  that I have to be strong for Paul, I feel that once Paul over this injury I will drop, although I will do my best to fight it.  I don't think I would have been as bad had things been normal and I was used to going out and not have the added anxiety of the Covid Virus. I think an awful lot of people will suffer setbacks from the after effects of Lockdown and Isolation. 

Now I just couldn't muster the energy to create a card for today's blog, I was doing my best to solve a 'situation that had occurred in the vegetable patch'. our Winter vegetables are really well established now and it would be so frustrating to watch them be eaten by bugs! So I was trying to add new protection to cover them all, I could only manage a few minutes at a time, it was so frustrating. I think it was 6.30 by the time it was sorted with Paul's help, gosh he can be a stubborn mule! 

Todays cards both showcase the Decorative paper as the main feature of the card, on the first card I used two sheets of the same decorative paper and fussy cut the flowers to Decoupage them onto the pretty paper, I have used a doily as the base to place the Sentiment on to make it stand out from the background. 

The second card is a much simpler design, I used the paper to create a 'Spotlight' card, the spotlight was created by adding colour to one element of the decorative paper, so that your eye is drawn straight to that one element. I mounted the stamped sentiment onto black card to make it stand out from the black and white background .

I hope that these cards give you a little inspiration my lovelies.

Have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

An Amazing but Very Different Birthday Card

 

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well and relaxed after the weekend.  We had a quiet weekend, we celebrated Paul's Birthday yesterday,  Becca invited us all out for lunch and her Pub, We had an amazing lunch, she even had a cake made and came out singing Happy Birthday with some of her Waitresses,  such a lovely gesture.  

Becca now manages 2 pubs in Burford (Cotswolds) they are opposite each other on the High Street, she was telling us that all 18 rooms of her Hotel were booked out and Burford was heaving with people from all over the world, you'd never think we were all supposed to be Social Distancing, the shops and Tea Rooms  Pubs and Restaurants were all packed!  It felt good to drive away!! Although it is a stunning place, the massive hill makes it tricky to navigate both in a wheelchair and on on Crutches. 

Today's card is Very Different,  Paul and the Girls love a programme called 'The Walking Dead' (its all about Zombies (very bizarre and not my cup of tea)!

Sophie made this card on Saturday evening, the outside or front of the card is a scene in the show, its a boarded up hospital ward,  with the warning daubed on the door in black paint, she had captured so much detail,  from the grain on the wooden plank that holds the door closed to the shiny kick panels on the bottom of the doors. I also love the red on the edges of the doors which is blood,  you will see the same blending on the inside of the card too.

The card opens up to reveal a cutout of Paul made to look like 'The Governor' with Zombie hands grabbing for him, the attention to detail is just amazing,  needless to say Paul loved his card. 

I hope you all have a lovely day ladies,

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                            xxxxxx 

      

Your Challenge Cards

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

I would like to start the day by wishing my Best Friend & Soulmate that I am also lucky enough to call my Husband a Very Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 xx 

Your favourite day of the week is upon us again, let's look at what you have been making.

Brenda

Two beautiful Challenge cards featuring the gorgeous Rose stamp from Honey Doo stamps.

Brenda's Description:

I’ve managed to make to challenge cards if you look closely you will see I haven’t stopped yet and the yellow one I haven’t worked out what sentiment will be , but here goes as you will see I used the beautiful Honeydoo rose for both cards, for the pink one I use my Coppic pens and the yellow was coloured with my Polychromos

Thanks so Much Brenda for two beautiful challenge cards XXX

Lilian 

A gorgeous Summer Flower Challenge card from Lilian for this weeks challenge.

Lilian's Description:

Stamperia papers, took ages fussy cutting the trellis and the flowers. Years since using staple to cut decoupage.

A beautiful card Lilian, your fussy cutting is just incredible, thank you so much for taking part XXX

Karen

Karen has made two fantastic challenge cards for us featuring Summer Flowers for this week.

Karen's Description:

Here’s a cc It’s a Christine Emberson charity kit and thought it’d fit summer flowers I added a few Honey Doo gems as I managed to snag one of the patterned papers! I have a few of her kits that I need to make! 

Here’s another cc for you I was watching an Oakwood Archer show on Hochanda and the lady (Karen) from Pink Frog did something similar The die is from WISH

Thanks so much  Karen for two lovely challenge cards XXX

Janet

Janet has created two beautiful Summer Flower Challenge cards for this week.

Janet's first card features a panel of the prettiest paper, the pretty frame creates a 'Spot light' feature, drawing your eye into that beautiful paper, Janet has finished the card with that gorgeous Ribbon Rose Trim.

The second are Janet has made features a background that has been created with Texture Paste and a mask, the focal point of the card is that beautiful rose plaque.

Thanks so much Janet for two gorgeous challenge cards XXX

Michele 

I am tempted to buy the Ella's Design CD Rom's a little bit more every time I see another one of your cards featuring them Michele, four amazing cards from you for this weeks challenge.

4 cards with summer flowers on them. All made using Ella’s Design CD-ROM (various ones)-all made a while ago as I haven’t been able to craft in this heat after work.

Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge Michele XXX

Sonia

Oh Sonia, your cards always amaze me, I love your design style, this particular card is stunning.

Sonia's Description:

The stamped image and sentiments are all from LOTV. I coloured the flowers with ProMarkers. Butterfly from Tim Holtz.

Thank you so much Sonia for such a lovely challenge card XXX

Maria 

Two lovely cards from Maria, both showcasing beautiful Summer Flowers for this weeks challenge. 

Maria's Description:

Summer flowers in a vase I used Spectrum Noir to colour it all in after 

I felt the pencils looked to wishy washy.

The second card is made with stamp and dies that came free with a

magazine, layered Peonies, think they are summer flowers  

Thanks so much Maria, you have had a busy week with the horrendous heat to deal with too, so I am really grateful that you took part in this weeks Challenge XXX 

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Thank you so much Ladies, you have made some incredible cards, given the extreme heat we have all suffered I think you are all amazing XXX

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday featuring Michele's Magazine Review

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Welcome to another weekend full of your amazing crafty makes. We also have another fantastic Magazine Review from our Michele,  so without further delay let's see what we have today? 

Starting us off today is Sophie's Portrait of Sue's Granddon 'Little Chris', I love this particularly Portrait as it has really captured his personality.  Sue had it done as a gift for Chris (Sue's husband). I believe he was delighted with it. Thanks so much Sue for allowing me to share Chris's gift. XXX

Sophie Dad and I are always so incredibly proud of all of your work XXX 

Janet 

Janet has shared her latest craft creations...... (by the way Janet you have same sofa cushions as we do, we have the matching curtains too!!) 

Janet's Description:

Here are three 'hoop' embroidery scenes from ANNIEMORRIS who is a contemporary design stitcher. The pattern is on the material ready for stitching and any form of stitching can be used. I have never done any contemporary stitching before but as the patterns are bold and not fiddly they are easy on the hands.

I absolutely love these Janet,  I remember doing something similar called 'Long Stitch years ago, I love the designs and they are so bright and cheerful,  thanks so much for sharing them with us XXX

Lilian 

Lilian has shared her beautiful little storage case for her ink duster brushes,  what  a brilliant Idea Lilian,  do you have any other craft storage ideas?.

Lilian's Description:

"I made this little case to put my ink duster brushes in, if you are short of things for tomorrow feel free to , understand if you don’t need it, not very exiting. Lilian"

Thanks Lilian for sharing your latest make XXX

Michele's Magazine Review 

Hi Ladies 

Papercraft Essentials has 2 free gifts this month.

Here’s some ideas of what’s inside the magazine.

First article using one of the free gifts-the Embossing Folder & Dies.

More ideas.

This article shows some ideas using the Wrap & Reveal kit.

Some more inspiration using the Embossing Folder & Dies.

And even more ideas.

More inspiration using the Wrap & Reveal kit.

Make cards using the Embossing Folder-always great to have ideas for the dreaded Male themed cards.

And a couple more ideas .

Lovely Diamond gold cards.

This article shows how you can use stitching on your cards.

Shadow box cards-always look fabulous & fold flat for posting.

Here’s some inspiration for anyone thinking of buying Creative Stamping or if you already have some wildlife stamps.

More inspiration.

Great ideas using a limited amount of stash. I love that wreath Die.

More ideas.

That’s all for this week so
Happy Crafting

Love Michele

Thank you so much Michele for another fantastic Magazine Review XXX

I hope you have enjoyed today's blog features Ladies,  enjoy the rest of your weekend. 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx