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 

A spring tag

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies, 

Early start today as I have a Gp appointment this morning to discuss my on going heart issues,  I want some actual answers not just more medication to paper over the cracks.  Lets see what she has to say.  

After this Lucy and I are going out for brunch and a bit of shopping.  

I had a fun little craft session yesterday making this tag,  inspired by Emilia Sieradzan.   I used Worn Lipstick & Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide sprays as the base colour, I spritzed with water to add some extra interest,  when it was dry-ish I used a stencil and some texture paste,  now this did absorb some of the background colour, so I replaced the stencil (after it was dry) and added some white ink to enhance the embossing.  A bit of stamping finishes the background.  

For the 'pretty bits' I used some 49&Market From the Market die cuts,  it's all very Spring themed and sitting in the garden at the weekend watching the birds gathering bits for their nests really inspired me,  so when I saw this with the nest box, I added some cut up strands from gauze (for nest building 😉) behind the book and then added some flowers and a little bird on the front of the nest box.  I chopped up the little phrase so it didn't dominate the tag.  Some white splatters finished the tag.  

I love this make,  its fun and pretty 😍 

I hope that you all have a great day, 

Love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx

Another background challenge card

 

Another great reminder x

Good Morning Ladies,  

Thank heavens for another lovely day yesterday to make for Sunday spent in the car ! 😂

I planted some leeks that I sowed a few weeks ago, early yesterday morning before it got too warm,  just hoping the birds that were looking on leave them alone.  

I spent the rest of the day crafting,  well, mostly procrastinating and looking on Pinterest, I did finish two cards,  one of which is today's background challenge card.  I embossed the piece of inked background and then spritzed it with pearl spray for extra sparkle. 

You can see a little of the shimmer at the top of this close up.  

I wanted the background to shine so I simply added a Julie Hickey Sentiment and die cut.  

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra xxx

Karen's Under the sea Page

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies,  

Our quiet day in the garden never actually happened yesterday,   we had to 'pop' to Stratford upon Avon hospital to return the Sleep study equipment,   what a joke that was,  we left mid morning intending to drop it off, pick up a bit of shopping and get home before lunch,  that was before we discovered the main road in closed,  we weren't sure why until we got closer to Stratford Upon Avon,  the road we needed was the route for the Shakespeare Marathon,   add in the traffic flooding in to 'Shakespeares' birthplace,   there were celebrations for his 462nd Birthday too,  needless to say that the 40 min journey took over 2 hours on the way in,  I am sat writing this while we  wait for the road to open at 3pm ( 20 minutes away) rather than sitting in traffic through little residential roads for 1hr 45 mins like we on the way in. I am praying this is the right choice as its my idea and Paul is getting frustrated,  mostly because the road we need to go down is blocked by road maintenance van, loaded up with cones, cars are coming through from the opposite direction,  so Paul can't see why they can't let us down there!  Not the best end to a Sunday afternoon. 🙄

Today I am sharing Karen's page for Challenge number 17 'Under the Sea' 

Karen's Description :

Number 17 Under The Water done

I mixed Mermaid Lagoon DO with translucent paste with a circle stencil So a bit dark in my opinion 

The background is Serif has Indigo Blue stamp in Mermaid Lagoon 

Reeds cut from a beach hut template in ScanNCut coloured with various DO The fish are Serif

Silver splatters which I think I’ve done too much and Glossy Accent bubbles x

Karen your imagination is absolutely incredible,   how do you even begin to imagine something amazing?!   I love the fish,  having them swimming through reeds is brilliant and the fact that you created them from something else is even more amazing.  I definitely don't think you over did the silver splatters,  they add shimmer and sparkle that you'd expect from water.   You have bought so mant different elements together to create something so brilliant,  we should definitely do a Saturday post showing them in batches of 10 maybe. Let me know your thoughts on that.  

Thank you so much for inspiring us all with your brilliant ideas for this challenge.  XXX

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

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Lets look at our makes this week

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,  

I hope you were all blessed with the beautiful weather that we had yesterday,   we had lunch out on the deck but I had to come inside out of the heat for a while, so I am writing this post  while cooling off.   

Today's reminder couldn't have been more true for me yesterday,   I had the worst night (Friday night to Saturday Morning)  I was sat on the edge of the bed in tears at one point as I just couldn't sleep,  the more frustrated I got the worse I felt, I was itching all over, so consequently I was covered in scratch marks,  I had the worst headache, just from exhaustion I think,  so believe me yesterday I had to do a little and keep taking breaks.  Fingers crossed for a better day today. 

Let's look at your makes....

Karen 

Karen's Description:  

Card 1:  

My first attempt with new stencil and die

I used DO

Spun Sugar

Kitsch Flamingo 

Picked Raspberry 

Seedless Preserve

And cut the die in CE glossy black

Trimmed stencil down and matted onto a piece of inked Picked Raspberry card

Die comes with Have a Wonderful Day sentiment but leaving it blank for now

At a push I think it could be used as a Sympathy card too.

Card 2:

For the mini challenge 

Because I print a lot of items I have a lot of white card in my bit box But I found this piece of leftover “fire/ice” I made donkeys years ago Can’t tell how I created it I’ve forgotten🤦🏼‍♀️

A JL butterfly cut in vellum and white

The sentiment is die cut from my new Belle of the Ball set

Doesn’t photograph very well but there’s quite a bit of gilding flakes caught in the acetate x

Two amazing cards Karen,  sorry I forgot to show your new Stencil and die yesterday!  The card you made with it is stunning,  I love that little black edging that the die cut gives,  it sets the whole thing off.

Your little section of 'Fire & Ice' background has made a lovely card, the colours and inclusions you used are beautiful,  isn't it a pain when we can't remember what we used,  I wonder if I go nack through the blick archives I'd find it ?? 

That thin strip is just the perfect size and the mat you used works great at highlighting the colours in the strip too. I REALLY love that sentiment!  

Thank you so much my lovely for two Incredible cards XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's Description: 

Hello, hope all well with you and family.

Here is my challenge piece for this week.

Used the quote “ cat lovers” for inspiration this week.

Bought the cat papers from Sandy rose digital art.

I managed to get some to open, but others no joy with.

The other bits are from Stamperia . Can’t remember where the little wooden birds came from.

Wow Lilian I love your double page journal spread,  being a 'cat lover'  I can really appreciate this one,  Sandy Rose has created some beautiful designs,  those cats are magnificent!  I love the embellishments and background you have created.

Thank you so much for taking part and sharing your lovely challenge piece.  XXX 

Maria 

Maria's Description:

Here are my cards 

One is a very sort of quick card, well it only took 2 hours so a quick one for me it was 😂. I forgot totally making a card for my dear husband until the afternoon before, I know very bad or what but you said that the month was going fast 😊

Luckily I had this pack for men by Honkydory so it had to be a couple of hearts with things he likes, like holidays, walks and photography taking and of course football 🤭😊. 

I had this background in the draw of off cuts.

  I had played with leafs from the garden that had fallen off in the autumn and used some Momento Inks to colour them up and then stamped them onto the card. A villa, looks Italian and a few words finish the card off. 😊

Two lovely makes Maria, I bet Rick loved his birthday card, you certainly covered all of his interests!  Some times the quick ones are the best 😉

Your leaf background is beautiful, it looks like you have stamped it,  that villa is gorgeous,  I want to move right in ! 🤣  It looks like the ones near where we stay in Spain,  your little sentiments match perfectly too.

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely makes with us 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,

Ooh I hope the lovely weather we had yesterday lasts through the weekend,  the sun was that hot that my face got slightly pink while I waited for Paul while he ran onto Sainsburys,  he was only about 10 minutes and I have factor 50 in my face cream!  I was shivering yesterday 🤣😂

I was a little frustrated yesterday as I had to turn down a date for my Hernia surgery,  the lovely lady called from Warwick Hospital,  offering my dates for mid May,  frustratingly it would only be 4 weeks before we go on holiday,  at first she said that I'd probably be ok after 4 weeks but thinking about it sensibly I don't think a wound on my abdomen would be sufficiently healed for me to go in the sea/ pool etc,  I just think I wouldn't enjoy the holiday as much if I couldn't swim,  I have to use my crutches on the beach too, I use my abdominal muscles to move my leg as I have no hip muscles on the right side.  She did say not to worry, they would call me again in beginning of July, so wouldn't have to wait too much longer.  

Love this reminder,  you are all incredibly important ❤️ 

Maria

Oh Maria this has to be your most adorable Crystal Art you have done so far,  that mischievous look on those little Westies faces remind me of Boo !! 

Thank you so much for sharing it with us XXX 

I hope that you all have a great Saturday, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra xxx