Phew...It's Friday !!

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies,  

Oh my goodness what an exhausting week, I am so glad it's Friday,  this weekend we can relax, unlike last weekend.  My body is definitely still recovering from Wednesday's trip to London, then up early yesterday to go to bladder clinic !  So I am planning a lazy morning today. 

Our Next Challenge 

I thought we'd do a 'background challenge '  this challenge will be "To use either Background dies or Stencils /masks " to add detail to your cards, journal pages or Snippets etc. 

I hope that you enjoy the challenge, I look forward to seeing what you all create xx

Have a lovely end to your week,

Love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

A Reverse Eclipse Csrd

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

As I am writing this it is 11.30pm, we are on the Oxford Tube heading home,  we will probably get in at 2am!  

The 'Mamma Mia the party' experience was incredible,  there was plenty of food,  Greek themed, you weren't pressured into buying drinks either, that kept refilling the carafes of water on our table.  The show was brilliant it takes place in a Niko's Greek Taverna, there was a special guest playing 'Niko' for this performance, it was Antony Costa from the boy band Blue, the girls had no idea who he was though 🤣 Niko's daughter Constantina has fallen for a British Barman, which goes against his wishes for her to marry a Greek man,  they fit all of the popular Abba songs into the story, there was  a lot of audience participation,   towards the end it felt like you were part of a huge party,  literally everyone was up  dancing and singing, .my ears are still ringing now !  I would 100% recommend it and I'd like to go again. 

Today I am sharing a new technique that I tried after seeing it on a YouTube video by Yorkshire crafter, its called the 'reverse Eclipse card' 

Step 1 :   Die cut two background die cuts that are around 4  1/4:× 5  1/2 and stick them together

Step 2:  choose a stamp, silhouette stamps probably work best, using a stamp platform is easier for this technique as you have to stamp the image in exactly the same place on two different pieces of card cut to same size as your die cuts. 

Step  3:  Lay the background die over the stamped image so that it all fits in.  Then die cut it with that same die.

Step 4 :  lay the die cut stamped image over the twp die cuts so that they line up perfectly and adhere them together . This bit is really important. 

Step 5:  lay your 3 stacked die cut layers over the last remaining stamped image....

Adhere into place and you can now see the full stamped image.  

These two images show the depth of the die cuts and a closer look at the technique.  

Its quite simple but its quite effective I think. 

I hope there aren't too many 'typos' as I am writing on a dark bus with no glasses (as they are in the back of wheelchair stowed at back of bus). 

I hope That you all have a good Thursday,   I have bladder clinic  

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

Lilian's gorgeous floral card

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies, 

It was too hot to go anywhere yesterday we just stayed inside with fans going,  not that we could go anywhere anyway as Lucy's car needs a new battery,  she ordered one and it arrived yesterday,  Paul fitted when he got in late afternoon.                On a brighter note I could see the relief in Pauls eyes when be got in today, he had a very long meeting with the 'BIG' boss and got all of the paperwork for 3 aircraft signed off,  I asked if he told him about the hours he put in, his answer was just what I expected,.....of course he didn't tell him!   It was a relief to see him actually relax when he got in from work,  the girls were out at Becca's painting signs for the wedding,  so we drove down to Bourton and shared a portion of Fish & Chips ( I can only manage a little bit of fish and a few chips) it was quiet there,  all of the tourist coaches had left,  we got a bench, Paul went and got our tea and we sat in peace, people watching and laughing at 2 dogs that were chasing a ball in the river, we were there about an hour and a half, it was lovely. 

Today I am sharing Lilian's other card that she made last weekend,  it is so beautiful,  Lilian's colouring bringing those gorgeous blooms to life.

Lilian's Description: 

The second card is from stamping up. I used my zig pens and water, not sure about the green stencil work. I saw this one on Pinterest by a lady called “ Jan Clotheer” hope that’s right.

A gorgeous card, I love the stencilling,  it adds some lovely interest to the card without taking over.  Your flowers are the stars of the card.  Thank you so much for sharing your card XXX

I hope that you all have a great day,  we are off to London,  

Sending love & hugs to all of you 

Sandra xxx 

My Ticketed Snippet '2'

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

I hope that you all had a good start to the week, I had a busy day yesterday,  doing bits and bobs in the morning,  then I had a shower and did my hair treatment,  my hair has gone 'frizzy' wherever the blonde highlights are, it looks so dry, I hate it,  Becca has a friend that has bleached the life out of her but has managed to repair the damage by using 'Olaplex ' so in order to sort my hair for the wedding I thought it was worth a try,  although I wasn't quite prepared for the cost 😲,  they come in number order, I needed No3 (bond repair) £24 then No4 shampoo & No5 conditioner and £20 each!!  I am 3 treatments in and not much to report so far, I'm not expecting miracles but I would like to see some improvement,  I'm trying not to use heat either but my hair is a bit unruly when I let it dry naturally. The afternoon I spent 'deckling' the edges of the place cards for the wedding, it took my ages, its the last papercraft job that needed doing, they have a slit cut in them ready for a sprig of lavender foliage on the day before. 

Karen I hope you have a lovely week making memories with the boys xxx

Maria I'm sorry you are still feeling rubbish, maybe worth a gp visit if meds aren't working my lovely xxx

Sonia your meal out sounded lovely,  I love lamb, we don't have it very often,  so it would be my choice if its on menu too, are you in work this week? xxx

Brenda I hope that you and John are both ok, your weekend enjoying the views in your daughters garden sounded lovely, they have struck lucky with their new home xxx

Lilian I hope R is recovered from his fall, there is no making these men rest and recover is there?!  I imagine you are over run with tourists at the moment,  Paul's mum said its crazy in Brixham and Paul and I nipped to Co-op in Bourton on Sunday and we have never seen it so busy, the pavements were so full of tourists they were walking in the road, the river was full of little ones and dogs trying to keep cool 🤣😂 xxx

Today I am sharing the matching 'Ticketed Snippet ' to the one I shared yesterday,  its made with same colours, this time I used the poppy stamp and the little crow instead of the chicken. 

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love & hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx 

My first 'Ticketed Snippet'

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you have managed to rest and enjoy the weekend and you are now ready for the start of a new week. 

I spent yesterday afternoon creating a journal page, following a Tracey Evans YouTube video,  it kept me entertained while Paul worked another 11 hours!  I am so worried that he is going to burn out!   I put a piece of brisket in the slow cooker, it cooked all day and it smelt delicious,  we had mashed potato,  spring greens, carrots and Yorkshire puddings,  it wasn't really the weather for such a hearty dinner but we enjoyed it anyway 😋

Today I am sharing my first 'Ticketed Snippet' I followed Tracey’s YouTube tutorial and really enjoyed it, I stamped a little script stamp with Versamark ink to cover the background, added white Embossing powder and heat set, I then taped Tracey Ticket stencil over the inked area and used Distress Oxide Sprays in Salvaged Patina and Villainous Potion to spritz lightly over the Ticket stencil, I removed the stencil and dried the ink,  I cut the stencil out, I used a damp piece of paper towel to clean over the embossed script,  I used Versafine Nocturne to stamp a chicken onto the ticket, I stamped another chicken in black and used the same script stamp to remove some of the black ink, it gives more interest to the chicken,I fussy cut it and added it to the ticket, just in front of the other Chicken,  I added a strip of card from the scrap from around the tickets, to use as base for the chicken,  I stamped and coloured and fussy cut a flower and added it to the ticket, then adhered the ticket into my little square journal,  I added shading then added some stamping beside the ticket. 

I hope that you all have a great start to your week,

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx 

Our makes this week..

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies ,

How are you all enjoying your weekend?  I had a whole unexpected 'bonus' crafting day, as Paul had to work all day,  bless him he worked for 9 hours,  I joined in late morning,  I enjoyed it though,  doing something you love in the company of someone you love is perfect 🥰 

Let's have a look at what you have been making this week..

Gina

Gina made this card that I featured yesterday for a friend to give to her brother.  

The papers you have used are perfect for the style of card, I love the dies you have used too. 

Thank you for sharing your cards and supporting the blog Gina XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Hi here are my cards for this week.

It’s Mimi’s (granddaughter)birthday. It’s from Lavinia stamps.

Lilian made two beautiful cards for this challenge, I have saved one to share in the week.  Mimi is going to love this beautiful card that you have made for her.  I don't generally use fairies but I love to see them,  these ones are so pretty flying about the bluebells! 

Thank you for sharing your beautiful card for the challenge my lovely XXX 

Karen

Karen's Description:

Here’s a CASE card which I don’t think has really worked I think I saw a version on FB where “she” was explaining how to adhere vellum - a finger dobber

I don’t think the roses have worked  Sue W bed of roses EF and a Serif background with a Daisy B sentiment 

This card is so pretty Karen, I love your roses, they are in such a soft pink, that Daisy B sentiment is gorgeous. 

Now I know you were feeling terrible yesterday,  so thank you so much for making a card for the challenge.  I hope you feel a little better today my lovely XXX 

Maria 

Maria's Description:

Hi.

I was inspired by Karen's card the other day.

It is an Eclipse card made by papers from Honkydory called Delightful Daisies. I cut out Happy for the front and will stamp a text inside the card with a Birthday greeting.

Such a pretty Eclipse card Maria,  those papers are beautiful,  so much detail with the music score in the background.

Like Karen I know you were unwell yesterday, so I want you to know how much I appreciate you XXX

********************

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,  

My love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

It's been a chaotic start to the weekend,  poor Lucy was all stressed as her car wouldn't start, she had a warning come up the other day saying 'low battery',  bless her she suffers from anxiety and things like this really upset her,  she must of rang Matt as he then rang me and suggested things to try and diagnose, not something I can do and unfortunately Paul is having to work today and tomorrow due to a nightmare situation at work.  I wouldn't have a clue how to test the voltage going in to the battery!  Years ago Paul, like my dad had all the equipment to diagnose and fix issues like this but cars these days aren't designed for you to be able diagnose and fix yourself!  

Maria

Oh Maria what a gorgeous scene, these Crystal Art companies come up with some beautiful artwork,  this particular one would be loved by any recipient!  I can see why you enjoy creating them, I would soon get addicted! 

Thank you so much for sending in for me to share XXX

Gina

Gina made this card her friends Brother.   What a perfect man card Gina, which are the new dies?...the numbers or the 'brother'?  The frame around the 60 really draws your eye in I also love the little die cut lines behind the age, that paper you have used looks like a really versatile one. 

Gina found this lovely Bee themed paper pad at the Range, it looks like it has both metallic and glitter designs in, I can't wait to say what you create with it my lovely.

Thank you so much for sharing your card and shopping with us XXX 

That's all for today my lovely friends,  

I hope your weekend is having a less chaotic start than mine 🤣😂

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx