A Fun card by Michele

Good Morning Ladies,

Did you all enjoy the lovely sunny day yesterday?  We certainly did, we also finally managed to get our compost and grow bags, I will say that B&Q have the most strict restrictions put in place for preventing the Virus that I have seen so far, thank heavens that we had done the 'Click & Collect' as the queue was horrendous, I have never seen anything like it, they were queuing in the full sun too so it must have been super hot, luckily for Paul thee was no queue at all for the click and collect so he was able to fetch everything we needed without waiting for hours in the queue!  The Tomato plants looked so much happier with their feet in a Grow Bag, fingers crossed for some lovely tomatoes!

I loved this card that Michele has made using a La Pashe Decoupage kit, the thing that I love about these cards is the level of detail, there is something different to see every time you look. These cards never fail to make you smile.  The dog has a smile on its face, I imagine its because he is hoping for something to fall from that BBQ.

It's so terribly sad to see that the news about the Virus isn't getting any better, I would be very worried about the country starting to return to the 'new normal', do any of you understand this testing thing, I keep seeing people that are Nannies or Carers that are going to get tested to so that they can go to work but surely they would have to keep going for them?? They might be clear if they get tested today but whats to say they don't contract the virus a couple of days later?  People seem to be talking like they can have one test and thats it, I just don't get it.  My cousin is a Nurse on a busy ward, they were tested routinely last week and she and 4 other nurses tested positive despite having NO symptoms, think how many vulnerable people may have been affected.  I guess its good to know that you have had it, but does that then make you immune?
It just seems that the future is very uncertain until we have a vaccination that will give us a bit of protection.
Rant over, sorry Ladies, I have tried to not talk about the whole virus thing but it's been really worrying me this past couple of days.

Stay safe my very dear friends,

Love and hugs to all of you

Sandra
xxxxxx

Another Background Technique

Good Morning Ladies,

I have been having so much fun experimenting with all of these new background techniques, are any of you tried anything new for this challenge?

We had another lovely sunny day yesterday, so Paul was keen to get down to some gardening when he got home from work, although we have been trying to source some Compost and grow bags, I know that they aren't 'essential' but they are if you want to grow tomatoes and strawberries, we didn't have too much success last year with strawberries, so we thought we would try putting some in grow bags this time, well we will do a mix of some in grow bags and some in ground and see what happens.
After many hours research we have done a 'Click & Collect' at B & Q, we are just waiting for notification of our time slot for collection, watch this space, the local garden centre was doing the same thing but both the Compost and Grow Bags were more expensive. So fingers crossed we should be able to move forward by the weekend, some of the seeds we put in a few weeks ago are ready for potting on or planting out, we have Swiss Chard, Kale, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflowers all coming on nicely, on Monday I put Chinese Cabbage, Beetroot, Peas and Climbing beans in too, I can't to see them all out growing in the garden.


Now let me tell you about the technique I used for today's card, I used Tracy Evans 'Passion Flower' stamp, stamping with Versamark (clear/sticky) ink, the adding White Embossing Powder and hear setting. To create the background I took 3 colours of Alcohol Inks adding a bit of each colour to the blending tool and adding stripes across the card, afterwards I took a clean blending tool and wiped over the embossed area to reveal the white embossed image. To highlight the stamped image I used my Polychromo pencils to some of the colours that feature in the background..
Now I am going to be honest and say that I was tempted to just bin it, Paul said that I should put it onto a card base and see what it looked like with a sentiment added, which  I did and decided it didn't look as bad as I thought!
It's a fun technique to try, we only usually use Alcohol inks on shiny card, it looks completely different and little more subtle on matt card.
The two photos are taken in different light as I tried to show the 'actual' colour, the top one, taken out in the garden is the most like the original.

I hope you all have a lovely day today,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Natural Beauty

Good Morning Ladies,

With Paul being on the early shift this week we get to spend some quality time in the garden, yesterday was a lovely sunny day,  a little chilly but that's fine when you are weeding.

I was inspired by the leaves in the garden while we were weeding yesterday, so many different shaped leaves in so many shades of green, so I decided that I would use some of them to make a card for today.
I picked a selection (pictured above) to use with my Gelli Plate.
I brayered a light green over the plate and took a print, next I added a layer of the datker shade of green, then placed my leaves on the plate and pressed my paper back over (you add tape to one side of your paper to hold it in place), lift it carefully, remove the leaves (all of the vein detail remains on plate), you then replace the paper and rub all over and peel back, this time the intricate detail of your leaves has transferred to the outline.
I was quite pleased with this particular background  so I adhered it to a white card blank and then added two stamped and die cut fern fronds, (free with a magazine). I wanted s simple sentiment so die cut a 'hello' from Spellbinders, placed it in a punched banner.  To finish the card I placed one fern frond, then the banner , topped with the second fern frond, to finish I popped on a SU metal leaf embellishment.
Something different but I quite like it.

I hope that you all have a lovely day,
Love and hugs to all of you,

Szndra
xxxxxx

Another Challenge Card using Resist/Stamping

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are well and have had a lovely weekend.
It was so lovely chatting to you all yesterday afternoon, Zoom was much clearer than Facetime.
Janet & Michele it would be lovely if you could join us next time.  It was so lovely to see Lilian for the first time.

Today's card is one I started a couple weeks ago, following one of Tracy Evans many Tutorials.  The background started as a white piece of card, I did the resist technique and then used a combination of Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide inks, I squished the inks onto a piece of acetate and spritzed with water, i then smoosshed the ink onto my card one at a time and allowed them to dry, I then used a wipe to clean off some of the ink from the resist areas.
I stamped the large flower image coloured it exactly the same as the background and fussy cut it.  I stamped the vase, added a little colour and after it dried I added some versamark ink and clear embossing powder, I did this so that the vase had a shine on it.
I did a little background stamping to add some detail and added the flower and vase.
To finish I added some tiny beads to the centre of the flower and added the sentiment .
I hope you like it.

I hope you all have a great day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Your TicTac Toe Challenge Cards

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all enjoying the weekend the weather has been a bit on and off for us, sunshine  and showers yesterday.  On Friday we went for a stroll around the village while the sun was out, so bright in fact that I had my sunglasses on! We stopped to collect the masks and then picked up some Brussel Sprout plants from a little sale table, as we were walking home the heavens opened, so much that I was wet through to my underwear, thank goodness for the Aga to dry coats etc and to warm up!

Anyway let's look at your amazing cards...…..

Brenda

Brenda has designed two incredible cards, the first one I LOVE, it is 'Bright and beautiful'
The second card is a perfect man card.
Brenda's Description:
"The first one I saw the idea on one of  HoneyDoos videos. Amanda was making a card with a stitch in time stamp and die set. I didn’t have those but I did have the carnation stamp and die set.

The masculine card is a really old JustRight stamp and matching die. I’ve had the vintage car stamped and cut out for a long time it’s been floating around my desk/work area forever, anyway today I found some suitable backing card which I’ve aged and stamped over with Brushed corduroy distress ink. Hope all that makes sense"

Brenda, thanks so much for taking part in this weeks Challenge, your cards are amazing.  XXX

Maria

Two lovely cards from Maria for our Challenge
this week.
The first card is a gorgeous Sunset scene using tge New die that Maria hinted at on the chat group. Your card is amazing Maria,  I love how you have used the die.
Maria's second card features a beautiful die cut flower, perfect for any occasion.
Maria's Description:
"The die I bought was this little pier and I made it with the sun going

down. Heat embossed the happy birthday. Water,Male and die cut.

Female, Favourite colour and die cut for the second card.

Hope you like them."

Thanks so much Maria for two amazing cards XXX

Lilian 

Lilian has created a beautiful nautical scene on her Challenge card this week, I love the texture you have created making the sea look so realistic. The boats and shells that Lilian has are old Sue Wilson dies.

Lilian has used Categories: Water Theme/Simple stamping/Die cut

Thank you so much for taking part Lilian XXX

Sonia

Three stunning cards from Sonia for the Tictactoe. Three totally different designs all absolutely gorgeous. 

Sonia's Description:

"Here are my challenge cards:

The first one comes under the categories of Feminine/Floral/Birthday card/Die cut element. I used Anna Marie Designs papers to cut the butterfly and APG Brillante Rondelle (peaking out from behind) along with the Sue Wilson’s Pierced Flag under the vellum cut one, and finishing off with the sentiment.
The second and third cards come under Simple Stamping/Floral/Feminine. I inked my card pieces before stamping the Gummiapan words stamp, and the Inkylicious Make a Wish stamp. Added a flower from my stash and LOTV sentiment on second card. I framed the stamped image and added the grid stamp for the background on my third card."

Thank you so much Sonia, your cards are beautiful XXX

Sue

Sue has made 2 amazing cards for our weekly challenge, the first card has an amazing background, love the colour. 
Sue's second card is Capt Tom's 100th Birthday card, I love your design Sue!

Sue's Categories: Masculine/Die Cut/Birthday

Thanks so much Sue for taking part XXX

 Janet 

Janet has also designed three amazing cards for this week's TicTacToe Challenge. 

The first is a beautiful feminine card, I love that lacy embossed piece.   2nd card has one of Phil Martin's new stamps, they seem to work well on any style card. Lastly a great man card, those vontage images are perfect Janet and I love your script background. 

Janet's Description:

"My first card this week is made using Floral/Vintage/feminine/Birthday

My second card is made using Floral/Stamping/Vintage/Feminine/Bday

My final card for this week is made using Male/Stamping/Bday.

Thank you so much Janet, your cards are amazing, something for everyone, thanks for taking part XXX

Karen

Karen has designed three gorgeous cards for this week's TicTacToe Challenge,  they couldn't be more different,  the first card uses different ink techniques, stamping etc, the other a delicate printed image with a die cut, simple yet beautiful. Karen's third card is Alan's birthday card, a great design Karen.

Karen's Description:

Card 1:  This card is a take on a Tracy Evans card

Masked off centre and used Squeezed Lemonade Carved Pumpkin and Picked Raspberry to create a blende I then edged in Summer Meadow gilding flakes 

The die is an old Memory Box one The flowers on top are snipped from die and coloured randomly with the DO’s Simple stamped elegant is a Phill Martin one

So Floral - die cut - simple stamping

Card 2: Floral Die cut Fav colour (blue)

Paper is Serif

Die cut is from Wish which I’ve shadowed with the dark blue x

Card 3: "Here’s my final cc for this week
Simple stamping - male - birthday
I stopped myself from stamping bubbles/cheers etc
It’s for OH’s birthday on 16th May I might tweak it a bit and  somehow ground the Guinness glass which is a google image printed on glossy photo paper"

Thank you so much Karen your cards are amazing as always XXX

Michele 

Michele has used an Ella's Design (I think) CDrom to create her TicTacToe Challenge card, I love all of the little details including the grass and the layered clouds.
The Categories: Die cut/Masculine/Birthday

Thanks so much Michele for taking part XXX

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

Thank you so much ladies, your cards are amazing, I am so grateful to all of you, without you taking part this blog would be nothing. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Love and hugs to all you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed up Saturday

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

Well what a stark contrast to last weekend, when we had our breakfast out in the garden, it was a race this morning to see who got the chair closest to the Aga!  

We have lots to look at today so lets go....

Lilian

Lilian has shared this photo of her amazing Clematis 'Montana', what an incredible carpet of flowers Lilian. It's creating a beautiful natural backdrop, absolutely stunning. 

Thank you for sharing XXX

 Lucy

Lucy made some Garlic & Herb Tear and share bread in the week to go with Spaghetti Bolognese,  it was absolutely delicious, both of my girls have really enjoyed cooking since they have been home. 

Sue

Sue shared her 'Proud Granny' moment witb me earlier this week, little Chris sent 'Granny &Grandad a lovely little note and an amazing picture of a Rainbow. His writing is incredible for his age.

I know that opening this will have given both you and Chris a lump in your throats.

The 3rd photo is the lovely birthday gift Sue received from Little Chris, bless him, he heard Sue say she needed more glue last time they were together and the butterflies he wanted as they are Sue's favourite, it shows you how much tjey take in when they are around you.

The last photo are Sue's latest craft shopping from Limetree Crafts, I didnt know that they sold online, mostly because posting card is expensive,  their card is great quality too.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Sue XXX

Michele 

Michele has shared a photo of the amazing prize that she won over on Sue Wilson's Blog, such a fantastic selection Michele, it will take you a while to work through all of those. 

Michele's second photo is of the cute critter that her lovely friend Andrene made for her, the little cutie is wearing Michele's work uniform colours. Such a lovely thought. 

Thanks for sharing Michele XXX

'

Michele's Magazine Review

Hi Ladies,

Making Cards & Papercraft magazine has some gorgeous free papers this month.

This is the first feature using the free papers. They make lovely spring themed card suitable for many occasions 

The second set of papers are really unusual and perfect for using as a background for a male themed card.

Great feee downloads this month that could be used for other occasions not just Fathers Day.

This article shows how you can use Gelli plates to create a silhouette effect.

That’s all for this week,
Happy Crafting

Love Michele



Michele thank you so much, another great Magazine Review, some great features once again, its always good to see some Fathers Day inspiration!  This magazine has always had really goid quality craft papers which is a rare thing in magazines. 
I am really interested in the Gelli Plate article as I have one and  need all the inspiration I can get.
Thanks Michele I really appreciate you taking time to write these reviews.  XXX


Ladies I hope that you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra 
xxxxxx

Your Next Challenge

Happy Birthday

SUE

xxxxx

Good Morning Ladies,

Please join me in wishing our lovely Sue a Very Happy Birthday 🎂, I hope you have a lovely day Sue, I look forward to celebrating with you sometime soon my lovely xxx

Talking of Birthdays did you all see the Celebrations for Captain Tom Moore, how emotional, it was so heartwarming to see.  Did you also see how many cards he has be sent, did you look for yours? hahaha, I'm pretty sure they said it was around 120,000 cards.

Here we are at the end of another week, it barely seems a couple of days since Janet was saying it was 'swear word' day!!
I was confused as I thought that we were having a Bank Holiday this weekend, forgetting that it has moved to Friday to celebrate VE Day, not that there will be much in the way of celebrations, it will be nice to have a long weekend though.

Your Next Challenge

 For this next Challenge I would like you to 'Make your own Backgrounds'.  

You can use whatever method you like to create your Background, whether it is using an Embossing Folder, Distress inks, masks/stencils, you can create your own 'Caught in Crystal' type backgrounds.

You could also use the Resist Techniques, makes textured backgrounds with Embossing Pastes/powders.

For my first Challenge card  (above) I chose to simply Stamp my background, using a new stamp set that I got a few weeks back called 'Very Versailles' (pictured below)

I stamped the Script stamp to add some detail around the edge of my card using 'Crumb Cake' ink, I then stamped the leafy vine in Old Olive over the script.  To finish the background I added that border stamp to opposite corners and embossed them with gold embossing powder. I edged the card in Gold Gilding wax, just a light touch.  For my Focal Element I used a die set called Woven Heirlooms which has a matching pair of Frame die and matching Embossing Folders, they create the most beautiful frames and lovely ornate stamps. I die cut the Rectangle Frame and embossed it, I then used some Gold Gilding wax to pick out the detail of that pretty embossing.  I stamped one of the sentiments in that set and embossed that with Gold Embossing powder, to add some extra detail I stamped lightly over the embossed sentiment with the script stamp and touches of the foliage top and bottom. I centred the frame over the stamped sentiment and adhered it with foam pads.

I backed this front piece onto some Old Olive card which I also added a touch of gold gilding wax around the edge. I mounted the whole thing onto a Very Vanilla card base.

I actually really like how it turned out.

I look forward to seeing what you all create for this Challenge.

Take care and I hope that you all enjoy the weekend.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx