Something Old/Something New

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

I hope you are all well,  this week is going fast! 

Janet your garden sounds idyllic with the Autumnal Trees. I am genuinely so pleased that you are able to be there at last, you have both need and deserve the break.  I can't believe its your Cake day tomorrow,  I am looking forward to reading your description.   We found that a lot of the cakes contain alcohol.   I remember years ago we were holidaying on France and it was Matt's birthday so we went to one of the big supermarkets and he chose this amazing cake the have a lovely glaze that looked like the sea, there was an actual sail boat in the centre, he loved it so we bought it, the lady boxed it up and was excited for him.  The next day he blew out his cancelled and all of them were excited for a piece of the cake, we cut it and gave them all a slice,  their faces told us straight away that something wasn't right, so Paul and I had took a bit and oh my goodness it was awful, it was Rum soaked sponge!! I'm glad they didn't eat it as they would have all had bad tummies, mind you they might have slept well.  We look back on those photos and chuckle 🤣😂 I do wonder why the lady in the bakery didn't say anything,  she was interacting with Matt while he was choosing.  

Do you enjoy going to the Supermarkets Janet ? 

I love the French Supermarkets,  everything is so fresh and there is so much choice,  they are amazing compared to even the nicest ones here. 

Today's card is one I made yesterday using the new Indigoblu Magazine that I bought last weekend.  I bought an extra die that went with the kit too. It's a wreath style die,  I couldn't help myself.  The papers on the kit are amazing,  thick and really good quality. This is one of the cards featured in the magazine, just simply matt 2 different pieces of the patterned paper onto black card and layer up, I then fussy cut the Snowflake and cut a piece of thick card to give it some strength, popped a foam pad on the back and added it to the card, I wound some Hemp twine around the card and then stamped and fussy cut that little tag.  To add a little sparkle I added some tiny diamontes to the centres  of the snowflakes on the left hand side of the card. 

I hope that you all have a good day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Another Merriest Moments Christmas card

 Good Morning Ladies, 

How are we all today? Bit of chilly wet day here yesterday, although I struggled in bed as I felt too hot ! As soon as Paul got up I flung the bedroom window open, it felt so relieving, as it was on 5.15am I managed another hour sleep 😴! 

I then got up to resume my decluttering, I really wished I hadn't started but when i saw the box's piling up in the kitchen,  it felt really good, 

A lot of the boxes were packed with off cuts (old bit boxes) but my thinking was "if I haven't used it in 3 years I'm not likely to use it going forward "!  So its off to recycling!  

I stopped when Paul came in and we had lunch I then carried on decluttering,  I looked at the clock on the cooker and saw it was past 5pm so I sat and put today's card together. 

I used Night of Navy and Very Vanilla and the Merriest Moments Stamp/die set/embossing folder collection, the folder has a die that fits in to the folder,  so it cuts and embosses all in one pass.  

I embossed the Navy background with the same folder as Monday's card but this time I used the die to cut an intricate piece for the focal point of my card,  I stamped the sentiment and added a tiny layer of Night of Navy to go on top of of the die cut. I love the classic colour combination, it looks completely different to Monday's card, where I used embossing folder on it's own. 

There are still more combinations to discover with this set!  

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx 

Maria's Son's Birthday card

 

Good Morning My Lovelies, 

I hope you are all well,  sending gentle hugs to Our Lynda & Margaret, I miss hearing from you both each day and want you to know that you are both always in my thoughts xxx

Well yesterday turned out to be a bit of a "I wish I hadn't started that ' kind of day!  I am struggling for space in my craft room so I decided to have a bit of a declutter and reorganise,  I was looking for some metal embellishments at the same time, frustratingly they didn't turn up, my reorganising moved out of the craft room to the cupboard under the stairs, which isn't tall enough to stand up in, we used it to store all of my craft stuff that didn't fit in my room, it goes back about 10ft and is packed to the door, I managed to get rid of a huge pile of cardboard and the packaging from parcels ( that i was saving for goodness knows what reason), i ended up (with Paul's help) pulling most of the stuff out and sorting through it, I put a huge pile of Magazines in recycling and that made room to move some stuff out of my craft room into the cupboard.  One of the biggezt hoards i have is card, from back when Sue, Pat & I would visit those Pay- Per -Box places where you cram a box with as much card as you can for about £5, also from buying at shows, I have so much but the only coloured card I use now is either black or Stampin Up  card because it matches my inks. The other thing I have but can't throw out is Hunkydory/Kanban "All Occasion" card kits, I can't see myself ever using them to be honest.  Anyway I ended up having to give up because I was in agony, I will finish it today 🙄 (hopefully)

Thankfully Maria shared the amazing card that she made for her Son Christian's 30th Birthday.  It's a really lovely 'Shutter Card' that Maria has made perfectly,  the matting and layering on these cards can be really tricky but Maria has mat & layered hers perfectly.  Such a lovely,  personalised card, I bet Christian loved it !  

Thanks so much for allowing me to share Christian's card Maria, its Amazing XXX 

I hope you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs 

Sandra                                

Something Old/Something New Challenge card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you all had a lovely relaxed weekend,  ours was totally relaxed, which we both needed. 

Janet, I hope that you arrived safely and that everything was ok after being empty for so long. It must feel so lovely to be back at your special place 

Today's card I made yesterday afternoon using Stampin Up  'Merriest Moments ' stamp, die and embossing folder.   I embossed white card, the emboss was lovely and crisp, I stamped and die cut the Poinsettia and leaves and arranged them in the corner of the embossed piece, I layered onto Blushing Bride card to match the flowers,  the sentiment was stamped in that colour to tie everything together.  A little faceted pearl finishes the flower off.  Now I have finally used this collection I can't wait to play with if again. 

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx 

Your Challenge Cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

We are having a lovely relaxed weekend, I hope you are too.  We needed to slow the pace down after our busy week in London, we loved every moment but life is a totally different pace, living there must be exhausting,  everyone seems to be in a hurry! 

Now lets get down to the highlight of the Week,  your amazing Challenge cards ........

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Card 1:  Hi, here my Christmas card for this week. It’s a metal stencil, from sweet poppy.

Ink is broken China mixed with bundled sage.

Stamp is from Lavinia stamps.

Card 2:  Hi, another Christmas card for this weeks challenge, it’s from a Utube video by Jo Rice. Sorry the wreath is a bit crooked, I should use a circle mask to get it even. 

Oh Lilian your cards this week are so inspirational,  those Lavinia trees inside that beautiful Bauble stencil just work beautifully,  you could create so many amazing scenes inside that Bauble.   Your wreath card is also stunning !  I love the green with that gorgeous pop of red. 

Thank you so much for two amazing Challenge cards.XXX 

Sonia 

Sonia's Description:

Card 1:

Hi lovely,  here's my first card.

I've used Milled Lavender and Speckled Egg inks for my background. 

I inked and heat embossed the Tim Holtz snowflake and added the LOTV sentiment. The little snowflakes are from a punch.

Card 2:

I inked the back of a piece of vellum with Milled Lavender, and stuck it behind the Sue Wilson background die (sorry I can’t remember what it’s called) I stamped and heat embossed the medium sized Christmas Rose from Chloe’s Creative Crafts, and die cut them. I inked the backs with Speckled Egg and Milled Lavender. The sentiment also inked in Speckled Egg is from My Favourite Things.

OH wow Sonia, two stunning Christmas Challenge cards, I don't know where to start, I'll go with the obvious...the Texture on that beautiful Snowflake 😍!  Did you spray the background or 'smoosh' the inks ? I love the mottled effect , its just an inspirational card, the sentiment works perfectly too!  A real trendy/modern Christmas card.

Card 2 is beautiful and delicate and much more Feminine,  I know these are Christmas roses but this card could be for any occasion. Those flower centres are some of the most effective I have seen and would work independently as snowflakes. 

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

Karen

Karen's Description:

I tried to replicate a card Jo Rice did with texture paste and Brushos 

I used PP’s instead but went a bit overboard with them I think on top of the Panache stencil

MARIA kindly gave me the die set after I’d commented on a card she made - she is naughty

Used Wilted Violet to stamp and mounted on a black shadow and foam pads.

A real WOW card Karen, I love the variation in depth of intensity of the blues, it just looks stunning, that stencil is lovely and works so well with this technique,  I really want to give this technique a try .  Thank you so much for taking part and for inspiring me XXX

Janet

Janet's Description: 

Here are my offerings for this week. As usual I hope you like them.

HUGE HUGS A ND LOADS OF LOVE.xxxxx

My first Challenge card this week was made using:

LABLANCHE- this year's SEASONAL KIT

For my second and third cards this week they also were made using LABLANCHE but this time her ROYAL CHRISTMAS KIT which is also new for this year.

As you can see they are a mixture of Modern and Traditional.

Oh Janet these cards are so beautiful,  that first card with that beautiful floral paper and the Deer is so, so pretty, the cottage in the background is pretty too, I love your dedign.  

The other two cards are equally as beautiful,  those LaBlanche papers are stunning,  that border is so beautiful,  the Poinsettia is a perfect balance of vintage and traditional.  Thank you so much for inspiring us with 3 beautiful challenge cards XXX

Michele 

Michele's Description:

Card 1: kraft Card with Winter Wreath die set (that I have had in my stash for a couple of years and not used) .you 

Card 2:  Saw so many lovely cards made using this this that I just had to buy the magazine! It’s navy & white.

Michele its so lovely to be featuring your cards on our Sunday Gallery , you have created two absolutely stunning Christmas Challenge cards, two classic  colour combinations that give a real WOW effect .

Thank you so much for allowing me to share your cards XXX

Maria 

Maria's Description:

The first card is from the pack you saw yesterday from my shopping,

they are all pre-cut so pretty easy to put together.

My second card Is craft card and silver with a bit of green to break

it up a bit.

My third card I used a die to cut through the base card and then 

I found a paper that I thought was quite app for the die and a simple

sentiment.  Hope you like them.

Oh Maria three beautiful Christmas Challenge cards, I can really see the glitter of the snow in your first card, I love all of the little elements that you have added to enhance your design, those little arrows draw your eye into the design. 

Your second card reminds me why I love Kraft card so much, using the Silver Mirror card is such a great idea the fir branches were a genius addition,  perfectly placed to ground the carol singers! It works great with the Kraft card too. 

Your third and final card is so amazing the paper you have used for the background looks incredible, what make is that die please,  I also REALLY love your sentiment,  a perfect Clean & Simple card. 

Maria thank you so very much for taking part in our Christmas Challenge,  you have really inspired us XXX

Brenda

Brenda's Description:

The stamp is an old one I can’t remember who made it.
It’s a lovely stamp to use with children, I have coloured it with Copic pens.

Oh Brenda such a sweet Christmas card, beautifully coloured too. You don't see many cards depicting the Nativity these days, such a lovely card to send to children or for children to give.  Now I had a brief look for the stamp on line, Wild Rose Studio do a similar one, the sentiment reminds me of the 'Just Inklined' stamps from a few years back.  Wherever its from its lovely and your colouring has bought it to life.  It reminds me of the pictures we used to get behind the number 24 on our Advent Calendar when we were children, I still remember the excitement,  we had to take turns in opening the doors, we also had to be gentle so it could be used next year!!  Now they make no reference to the true meaning of Christmas and can contain anything from Coffee to Candles, Lego to Lipstick!! 

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

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Ladies thank you so much once again for supporting the challenge and inspiring everyone with your incredible designs. X❤X

I hope you all have a lovely enjoyable Sunday,

Love and hugs to all of you 

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

Janet I hope you are having a great journey and that your crossing was smooth. 

Today I am excited to share the cards that you all made using the butterfly stamp.  Janet I have stamped some for you too,  if you would like to have a go. 

Karen

Mine

Brenda

Sue

Maria

Lilian 

They are all absolutely amazing,  I love when we all take part in a joint project,  I have to say a HUGE thank you to Our Karen for suggesting we all have a go at this particular Jo Rice card.  Maybe we could all do another one, let me know your thoughts.

Thank you so much to all of you for joining in XXX

Craft Shopping 

Lilian's Shopping 

Lilian's Description:

"Here is my shopping for this week, the fabric is from Tim Holtz. Just fell in love with the colours."

Oh Lilian I agree with you, that Tim Holtz Fabric is amazing and you can really pick out some of the really popular colours.  It would make a lovely journal cover, you could then carry the colours on through the pages. 

I love those Aall & Create stamps, the poppy is beautiful. Iced Spruce is a great colour and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Villainous Potion.  Thank you so much for sharing your shopping with us XXX 

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Cheryl's Shopping 

Cheryl has outshopped us all !!! You have some lovely  Halloween stamps,  I bet Milly-May loved playing with those.  What a fantastic box of SU stamps, all for £35 thats an amazing bargain!! 

Finally a lovely range of Dies and Stamps from John Lockwood to Pink Ink, so much to play with.  Thank you so much for sharing your shopping Cheryl XXX

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My Shopping 

I ordered the new Villainous Potion in Distress and Distress Oxide inks, I have been using my original Distress inks more and more lately,  incredibly they are still full of ink, some of them are 7 years +, unlike my Versafine Clair that has barely lasted a year!!  Now onto the A&C stamps,  I have seen some lovely Christmas cards made using the Pinecone stamp I bought last week and this Blackbird stamp, the leaf stamp I have seen some lovely little elements to add to cards made with this stamp and the Ready Reckoner stamp is a Tracy Evans staple.

I look forward with having a play with this little lot. 

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Brenda's Shopping

Brenda has bought a lovely selection of Stampin Up goodies, those papers  are stunning, you have bought a lovely stamp set too and a lovely embossing folder.  I cannot wait to see what you make with this lovely lot, thank you so much for sharing them with us XXX

Maria's shopping

Maria has shared her shopping too, some lovely card, stamps, sentiment dies and Hunkydory Die cut book.  Thank you so much for sharing your shopping my lovely XXX

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Ladies I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Your Next Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

Happy Friday!  This week has certainly flown for us, it always does when you are on a holiday or trip away, I remember when we arrived at the hotel on Monday thinking wow we have 4 hole days to fill, we must have blinked and then it was Thursday morning. 

The Cinderella show was fun, it was a modern version I guess it was set in a town called "Belle Ville' in this town the women look like the stereotypical perfectly turned out young lady of today kind of like the Essex girls portrayed on TV  thick make up, huge eyelashes, perfectly straightened hair,  all over tan etc, the men were as manicured as the women, it was hilarious,  cinderella was portrayed same as in fairytales, wicked stepmother and mean stepsisters etc, it took some different twists and turns but ended up the same as the fairytale, it was a little adult I guess but without being blatant,  the theatre was full and everyone enjoyed it.  

Your Next Challenge 

For our Challenge this week I'd like you to make any card but I want you to use something from your stash that 'you haven’t used yet', it could ve something you have had for a while but not gotten around to using Or something new that you are yet to use!  I know that you all have something unused,  I have a whole basket (or two)! 

I hope that you all enjoy the challenge my lovelies!

Bon Voyage Janet, safe journey, We are all looking forward to hearing about your happy place xxx

Have a lovely weekend Ladies, 

Love and hugs to all

Sandra 

xxxxxx