Karen's beautiful Spring card

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies, 

Lucy and I had a lovely day out in Cheltenham yesterday,  we didn't back until after 5pm.  It was lovely to browse around the shops without the pressure of 'having' to find something, I was looking for shoes but didn't find any that I loved. 

We had nice lunch out too, which was Lucy's treat.  Not such a fun day today, bloods to Check B12 & Liver (since starting BP meds) and Thyroid.  ECG too.  

I didn't get a carrd made yesterday so Karen Very kindly allowed me to share this beautiful Spring floral card. 

Karen's Description:  

Here are a couple of cards using oranges and layering stencils 

Squeezed Lemonade

Wild Honey 

Spiced Marmalade 

Crackling Campfire distress oxides

This card has copper/gold paint splats x

The metallic paint adds some gorgeous shimmer. 

This card is gorgeous Karen,  the colour combination is incredible, it looks so bright and cheerful yet soft on the eye at the same time. 

Thank you so much for allowing me to share your card today,  it really took the pressure off.  I really appreciate it ❤️

I hope that you all have a lovely day,  

Love and hugs, 

Sandra xxx 

All back to normal today

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

All back to normal today, Paul is back in work and just like that the lovely long weekend is over!  I enjoyed every second I got to spend with Paul.  

We made great progress on the garden yesterday but after the most torrential rain for most of the evening and through the night I darent' even go and look at the seedlings I planted and the bulbs I put in, I imagine they have been beaten out of the ground! 😔  Paul said sweetcorn and leeks were still ok. 

Today Lucy and I are off out to Cheltenham for the day,  then tomorrow I have Bloods and ECG and Bladder clinic on Thursday,  that's come around quick this time.  

Today I am sharing a quick card using Stampin Up 'Cup of Tea stamp and die set,  similar style to last weeks, this one has a great foliage stamp that comes with it and the tea cup stamp is striped,  the pink accent colour is Bubble bath.  

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all,  

Sandra xxx

Bank Holiday Throwback card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies,  

We didn't actually get the forecast rain or thunder during the day yesterday,   so we got loads of garden jobs done,   the sweetcorn I sowed a few weeks back has gotten that big and strong it needed to go out,  I planted put the last of my Dahlia, Ranunculus and freesia bulbs in.  We didn't finish and sit down until 5pm,  (although I did spend a lot of it sat on my walker/trolley)  it was lovely to just be outside.  

Paul bought some of the patio pots out of the greenhouse,  just look at the climbing petunia from last year  ....

I wasn't expecting it to last into its third year, I certainly wasn't expecting flowers this early either!   Such a lovely surprise. 

Today's card is a Throwback to May 3rd 2020, here is the description....

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 that you all have a lovely start to the week,

love & hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx 

Our makes this week...

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,  

Just a quickie today as I am feeling a bit low,  we all go through these days don't we.  Sometimes things that wouldn't normally bother you really get to you.  

Anyway crafting makes everything better,  although I struggled with inspiration this week,  I have to make myself sit and create something on these days, once I get the idea in my head I generally enjoy creating. 

Let's look at what you have been creating Karen & Lilian.....

Karen

Karen's Description:

Card 1:  A card made with bit box pieces 

A Pixie Powder background, scraps of black card

The white “topper” was a discarded card blank I’d spoiled and blow me I didn’t cut it straight So stuck it on the wonk and added the black pearls

Card 2:  A 2nd card for the challenge using waste/bit box

The HAPPY (a SueW die) is waste from making shaker cards As they were slightly different whites I smooshed DO over them I cut BIRTHDAY in one and backed it in black 

I offset them because I didn’t think I could line them up

Two amazing Bit Box cards,  those pixie powders look so lovely,  the gold mica, love your layout too, adding those black pearls really highlights that offset design. 

You can't go wrong with a DO background,  its good to get those old dies out again too.  Great card for any gender.  

Thank you so much for supporting the blog with two lovely cards.  XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Hi, Here is my challenge piece for this week.

I used pressed leaves, which I shall never use again, as I tried to stick them down they just crumple. The other bits are ephemera from several places.

Oh Lilian,  I know the pressed leaves were a pain to stick but my goodness they are so beautiful,   I love the pinky red tinge to the edges of the leaves, they are so delicate and pretty. 

I love the background you have created and those darling little woodland animals bring the cuteness.  

Thank you so very much for taking the time to create something for today's blog post my lovely XXX 

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

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,  

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are as well as can be expected,  this weather definitely helps lift the mood ! 

I know I say this every month but 'what happened to April '??  I think I had that many medical appointments, one most weeks, that's whats made it fly for me!   We actually go on holiday in about 6 weeks,  that's crazy!  

Anyway Welcome May,  a great month for the garden, all chances of frost should be fading so we should be able to start getting veg planted out. 

Tjhe garden looks a little sad as the daffodils and tulips have mostly finished but you have to leave them to die back which takes patience! 

I had a lovely day yesterday,   I had the 'birthday girl' pop in for a cuppa and a catch up,  I felt very honoured that you'd come to visit me on your birthday,  Sue did confirm that turning 60 felt no different than being 59 ! 🤣   Which is a relief to hear!   Then in the evening we went out to eat with our Alex for her 30th birthday!  

This reminder is both very true and very frustrating!   As you all know. 

I hope that you all enjoy this long weekend,  

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx 

Happy 60th Birthday Sue

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

Please join me in wishing our lovely friend Sue the Very Happiest 60th Birthday,  I hope that you'll be Celebrating all weekend long with your lovely family ❤️ 🥳🎂🍹🎉

A brilliant reminder,  you all matter so very much ❤️ 

Today's card is a 'throwback' from a year ago,  

It was one of of the first cards I created using the colour cube.  Which I must confess I haven't used for a while.  I might start using them to inspire some colour ways for journal pages.  

Here is the description  ...

I used a piece of inked background that I made along time ago, I loved the shades of pink though and thought it worked well with Color Cube card 405.  

I stamped the Taylored Expressions Bouquet stamp onto the inked background and fussy cut it out, I layered the flowers to give more dimension to the card. I stamped the stems of the flowers onto the card front, then placed the fussy cut flowers over the top, so it looks like it was all stamped at the same time. I added the border that comes in the stamp set, then added a sentiment in Garden Green to match the stems and the green on the Color Cube card. 

I hope that you all have an amazing day,  

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx

Tea lovers Card

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

After a frustrating GP appointment Lucy and I had a lovely brunch,  then did a bit of shopping,  interestingly I went into our lovely little Health Shop to ask the very knowledgeable owner about a study I read on Aged Garlic supplements being a good thing to take for high blood pressure and general heart health,  she agreed very enthusiasticly and also was excited to tell me about a long time customer of theirs that has totally turned his high blood pressure issue around and no longer needed the prescription drugs,  wouldn't that be amazing,   even if I could stop taking the Ramipril that is causing me to have the most frustrating cough.                                                              We discussed heart disease and I raised my concerns that my father died at 59, (which I will be this year ) of heart attack from heart disease.  I have a few procedures that she has referred me for including scans, Ecg,  she has also added Thyroid check to my bloid test list for next week.                     I feel like I can't get a break at the minute, its just one thing after another.  I know it's no different to all of you,  but sometimes its just good to write it down,  your support is more valuable than you'll ever know.  😘

How perfect is today's Reminder!!!  For all of us, Karen I know you are going through tests and procedures on top of managing your Diabetes,   Lilian like me you are struggling with physical pain along with heart issues,  our Brenda is our own Wonder woman, or maybe Bionic with your new joint repairs on top of everything else, ourpoor Maria having the constant worry of loved ones on top of her own health issues.  Gina, also a warrior beating the horrendous 'C' word.  Sonia too, putting her own health worries to one side while going through the exhausting job of creating slide shows and displays and memory albums for her parents big anniversary celebration, while also doing everything she can to spend as much time as possible with her two, soon to be three Grandbabies,  despite the long journey!  and Sue, who is really going through it at the minute with cocerns about her liver amongst other things, hopefully you will be well enough to enjoy your Big 60 tomorrow 😀 🤣

You are all super women, incredible role models, the most incredible friends ❤️ 

Today's card is a nod to the 'Tea Lovers ' category of the challenge,  it feels like forever since I used Stampin Up inks as well as dies and stamps.   I'm not sure I love it,  but I am struggling for inspiration this week!   It gets us all at some point.  

I hope that you all have a great day, 

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx