Lilian's Flower Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

The day is finally here, no more talk of packing for a few days or looking round thinking what can go next!  All being well, Paul finishes work on time and we can be on our way,  only down to Folkestone tonight but thats far enough when you have to navigate the M4, M25, then M20 on a Friday afternoon!  We have a dinner reservation for 8pm, fingers crossed we make it. 

Lilian's Flower Challenge 

I am so grateful to Lilian for taking over the first Challenge while I am away.  

So Lilian chose Flowers as her Challenge theme.

I can't wait to share the incredible cards that Lilian has created to inspire you all, first one will be on Monday.  

You can create anything you like as long as it features flowers somewhere. I look forward to seeing what you create. 

Thank you so much Lilian for choosing the challenge and making cards for it too XXX 

I hope that you all have a lovely Friday,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

A throwback to August 2016

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

How can it be Thursday already?! We leave tomorrow to drive down to Spain and currently we don't even have a car!!!  Paul put the car in for its annual service yesterday and the lady called at 5pm to say the car was serviced ....but our  rear Shock absorbers on both sides were leaking, so they needed to schedule that in to be fixed, under warranty thankfully!! So I asked her if it would be okay to drive to Spain and back with leaking suspension.....errrr probably not a good idea was her reply,  she asked if we could leave car with them and they would try and sort it today, please cross your fingers and toes for us ladies 🤞🙏            Paul wanted the car fully packed today and the roof bars fitted etc,  I think we will be pushing it a bit, he has to go into work on the morning too ! 😔

So today I needed a card that would cheer me up, so I am sharing this Pleated Card that I made in August 2016, 7 years ago !  That's crazy, how can that be 7 years ago?! 

I did a full tutorial on YouTube, so if you fancy making it again I will add the link below.....

Pleated Card Tutorial

I might even make a different version of it myself, if I have time, I will find the cards that some of you made back then too and share them with you. 

I hope that you all have a Terrific Thursday, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx

Lilian's Sympathy card

 

Good Morning Ladies,

Today we are celebrating Paul's birthday,  not sure what he wants to do to celebrate,  he did say that he would wait until we get back from holiday and finished moving and then have a family meal out to celebrate both, which does make sense, our car is in for a service today too, then Paul wants to pack the car on Thursday, he has to go to work on Friday morning,  we will leave mid afternoon on Friday, all being well. 

Today's card is a Sympathy card that Lilian made, she used SU Hopeful Thoughts, which is a really old one but still a favourite. Lilian used a 'Kaleidacolour' Inkpad, I have one from years ago but don't think I have ever used it.  I really love the rainbow effect Lilian,  such a lovely card, perfect for the occasion.  Thank you so much for sharing it with us Lilian XXX 

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday ,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                    xxxxxx 

Pretty floral paper

 Good Morning Ladies, 

From a bright and sunny Wiltshire, it couldn’t be more perfectly timed as the girls have probably dumped about 6 loads of washing that they need for holiday in the utility room!  That poor machine is on its last legs, we will retire her before we move bless her after 10 years of large loads she deserves the rest.  Also our new house has economy 7, remember that ?!!!, there is no way this machine could be run at night, she is way too loud !! 🤣😂

I hope today finds you all as well as can be expected,  I also hope that you are blessed with this sunshine!  I am hoping that these pesky antibiotics kick back in today as I had another terrible night!  I don't have time to be unwell !! 

Today's card was a quick and easy one to create, layering up that beautiful dsp onto coordinating mats and then onto white card base, it's hard to puck the greens out in the photo but they are definitely there, I picked the sane green for the sentiment (although it doesn't look like it 🤣).

I hope that you all have an amazing day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra xxx

Brenda's Amazing Alcohol Ink card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies,

I hope that you all had a lovely weekend, we have a very wet start to our week, my goodness it's going to be a busy for us this week, I can't even think straight the list is so long!!

First job for today is calling GP, we go away in 4 days, I finished a 7 day course of antibiotics on Friday evening but sadly I woke yesterday with those familiar UTI symptoms,  I just don't know what to do as driving almost a 1000 miles when you have the urge to pee every 10-20 minutes, we won't get to Spain until it's time to leave!  I  hoping that the Bacteria they found was treatable by more than 1 antibiotic! Please cross your fingers for me ladies!  

Today's card is the card that our Brenda made for John using Alcohol inks and those gorgeous Gummiapan Dragonfly die, the colours you have used are stunning Brenda, what an amazing combination!  Your 'signature' Vellum sentiment works so well on that background too.                        Thank you so much for sharing your amazing card with us My lovely XXX  (sorry that I missed it yesterday) x

I hope that you all have an great start to the week,

Love and hugs to all of you,

 Sandra                                                                  xxxxxx 

 

Your Challenge Cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

Well I bet you can all guess how our day was spent yesterday!  The only part of the day I enjoyed was riding so high up in the lorry, you can see so much more!  Getting the van down the driveway of the house was a bit of a challenge though, I didn't enjoy having the responsibility of guiding Paul in, way to stressful, fingers crossed I don't have to do it today, I honestly don't know how Paul manages to druve those huge things!  

Hopefully the sun will shine on us all today, he wasn't about much yesterday, that I can tell you.  

What are you ladies up to today?

Let's have a look at your cards. ...

Your Challenge cards

Sue's Description:

My challenge card. I have used my new falling snow embossing folder that Sonia spotted for me at the Newbury craft show, thank you again Sonia, and a little tree die from Hobbycraft that I picked up a couple of months ago from their sale corner for 50p.

What an amazing Christmas card Sue, I love all of those little snowy trees and the snowbanks you have created in the front. What an amazing find in the Bargain Corner!  I don't think I ever found anything worth buying,  I like how the sentiment cuts out of the tree, such a great idea.  

Thank you so much for taking part in the Challenge Sue XXX 

Karen

Karen's Description:

Here’s a card for this week (in a boring meeting at mo)

It’s a new DaisyB stamp

I managed to get a black smudge on bottom right hand edge So stamped again and fussy cut a butterfly 

Sentiment is a trimmed down Julie Hickey

What a beautiful Abstract Lady, her eyelashes are to die for!  Your colouring and blending is amazing Karen.  

I have to say that I would not be standing so serenely with all of those critters about me!! 🤣😂

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

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Hi this is my card for this week.

It’s all from ingoblue’s last box set.

I used bundle sage oxide in for the stencilling, and the new distress pencils for the colouring. 

What an absolutely stunning card Lilian,  as always your colouring is incredible 😍 The leaves look amazing and so does that gorgeous flower.

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

Maria

Maria's Description:

Hi. Here are my cards for tomorrow. Maybe not entirely right but here they are 😂

1) this card is a very simple charity one from Christine Emberson. 

2) I used an old made background and stamped one of my new stamps. Used a bit of twine and that was it 😊

2 lovely cards Maria, I had that same charity kit card from Christine a few years ago, I love how you have put yours together, I really loved those kits,  great for when your mojo takes a holiday!                  Oh Maria I love your mixed media card too that stamp is so detailed,  it works perfectly on your old background! 

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

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

Card 1:  I stamped and heat embossed the Stamp Addicts Tree Border Stamp. I embossed with Wow Teal Lustre powder. I matted onto a mirror card border. I couldn’t decide on a sentiment, but think it looks ok without one.

Card 2:  I stamped the Stamp Addicts Reindeer Border, and added red glitter glue to their noses. I matted on a piece of Kraft card. The sentiment is from a Chloe’s set.

Oh Sonia WOW, I was with you when you bought those stamps, although I had forgotten all about them, they are amazing,  I absolutely love what you have created with them both, I think my favourite is the one with the Reindeer 😍, just something about their faces and little heart shaped noses.

Thank you so much for taking part and supporting the challenge my lovely XXX 

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Packing, packing and more packing,  I have to keep checking the cats haven't been packed, they are both a bit confused as to what is going on I think.

I hope that you all have a relaxing Sunday,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Sue's 'Margaret' Rose

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I hope today finds you all as well as can be expected, sending hugs to that need one. 

Sue sent me a photo of her 'Margaret' Rose that Chris bought her after Margaret passed away, it is so beautiful,  just as Margaret was.  Thank you so much Sue for sharing it with us XXX

Diecutting Essentials Issue 106

This Month's Issue has a Christmas Die with an added bonus of a Christmas Sentiment Stamp.  There is also a downloadable paper collection to use with the free gifts.

Sarah kicks off the Inspiration for the free gifts with a collection of Christmas cards, she has used the die to create some different folds too, which gives extra interest.  I think it would be helpful to have a set of hexagon dies to accompany the free gift so you can add layers to give more versatility. 

There are some really pretty cards in this  'Technique Showcase' from Cathy Andronicou.

Cathy shares some lovely ideas for adding dimension to your floral die cut cards by adding raised die cuts on foam pads and raising your first stamped layer on foam pads so that you can into the base layer to give even more dimension. There are projects for everyone in this feature, some simple designs and some that take a lot more time. 

I really love those last two cards.

'Back to Basics' :  Sarah has shared some great ideas for adding 'Hinged Die cuts' this gives you some fun places to hide sentiments or hidden messages.  They look great ideas for Man cards, some men appreciate a bit of a technical element!! 😂🤣

'Expert Guide' :  Lorraine shared some lovely inspiration for creating cards with 'Over the Edge' die cutting. Some of the cards feature partial die cutting, others are a bit simpler with the die cuts placed over the edge of the card.

Nicky shares some great little tips for getting the most out of your free dies, little things like ' If you use the hexagon with the point at the top, cut a sliver if card off of the point at the back of the card so that it stands up'.  Or 'If you don't have textured paper, run a piece of paper through a tiny patterned embossing folder'.  Great for new card makers and us experienced crafters with a bit of crafting dimenetia!!! 🤣😂

Ruth has created some amazing Gift Bags, Gift Tags and Cupcake toppers.  Its nice to have something different to cards to create, plus you can never have enough Gift Tags.! 

Skills Booster:  Heat Embossing to add texture and interest to your cards.  Using embossing powders with embossing folders and stencils.  The effects are all different and all very effective. 

That's all for this review, I'm not sure that I would have bought this magazine if I saw it on the shelf, that Christmas die is ok but there isn't much versatility with it.  I think I will end my Subscription and just pick the magazine up if I like the look of it. 

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Janet, I will be thinking of you today, I hope the showing is over quickly so that you and Jim aren't left hanging about.  I also hope you didn't overdo things yesterday preparing for today, hopefully you can spend the next few days feet up and relaxing. xxx

I hope that you all have a great weekend, we will be mostly.....moving stuff !!! 🙄

Sending Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx