Gina's Crystal Art Card

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies,  

I hope you're all having as good a week as possible.

My day took somewhat of a downward spiral yesterday,  that was before my 'Pre-op Assessment'! I have had bladder 'niggles' since bladder clinic last Thursday,  not especially painful but a lot of pressure and a bit of frequency,  I thought it was down to not drinking as much as I would if I was at home, I do take my water bottle everywhere,  its not the same as drinking by the glassful at home though.  Anyway I had a bit more intense pressure on Monday night, needless to say yesterday morning bought me the full UTI symptoms, the Ialuril is a double edged sword really,  I think its been the actual 'instillation' that has started the infection the last two months,  I took my sample with me to drop off at surgery,  the nurse at the Pre-op assessment said she could dip it, however my gp would probably reject it if she did,  anyway she looked at it and said she could tell without dipping it that I had infection,  as it was so cloudy and bitsy!  She said that I needed it clearing up ASAP.      I have to be at hospital at 12.30pm on day if surgery, which is unusual, nothing to eat after 7am, then clear fluids until 11am.  I have to bring my CPAP machine as they will put it on me in recovery. All being well I can go home same day.  I was lucky that I hada phone consult with GP booked in for Uti as I needed to ask for Omeprazole to reduce Acid an anti sickness medication to take on the morning of surgery.  It's all getting a bit serious now, I am kind of terrified.   I asked about my recovery as I use my abdominal muscles to compensate for lack of hip and thigh muscles,  she said that it will complicate it, I just have to prepare to be super aware of every movement that might involve my abdominal muscles.  For instance going up and down stairs , getting on /off bed,  standing from sitting and the reverse.  I'm going to have to be very patient! 🤣

I understand this reminder but still think its a bit of a strange one 🤔 

Today I am sharing a lovely Crystal art card that Gina made for her friend to go along with some beautiful Coasters that I will share with you on Saturday.  

Gina your friend will feel very special when she opens her beautiful card and gift.   Thank you so much for sharing it with us XXX 

Karen, Sostrene Green is Lucy's favourite shop in Cheltenham,  we have found them in a few towns,   they have some lovely little 'bits and pieces ' including craft stuff, paper craft,  crochet & knitting,  jewellery making etc.  Some lovely home decor bits too.  

I hope that you all have a good day,

Love and hugs 

Sandra xxx 

A Stamperia 'Our Way' Journal page

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Well my body decided it needed a much needed rest day yesterday,  I did very little in the morning,  mostly catching up with Matt & Becca etc.  Then I sat and went through emails and then tried to decide what to create.  I have had the new 'Our way' collection from Stamperia sat on my desk for over a week so I wanted to have a play with that.

I cut a piece of patterned paper down to 5 x 5 inch, grunged up the edges and added some orangey red and very dark brown ink around the edges allowed it to dry,  the paint is meant to look messy as you add itcl with a spatula!  After it dried I inked around the edges and enhanced the rough bits with ink.  To finish the background I added some stamping and added some splatters (from that left over paint.  

I pushed out some of the elements and inked them up and then arranged them over the background,  building up around the camera.  I love the Autumnal colours on this page.  

I hope you all have a good day,   I have my Pre-op Assessment today!  

Sending my love and hugs to all,  

Sandra xxx

Karen's Old/New Card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies,  

Welcome to the start of a new week,  I hope that you all had a good weekend. 

Sending get well wishes to our Sonia who has Covid, I hope you are feeling a little better today my lovely 😘

I had to do exactly this last night,  we were sat in traffic for about an hour, not long after we set off from Bodmin,  we sat watching our arrival home time get later and later,  added to the fact that we hadn't eaten since breakfast as I am writing this its 21.11pm.  Oh apart from a scone and Lanhydrock National Trust house.  I am so grateful to Karen for coming to my rescue ❤️

Karen's Description:

This card is almost a copy from a magazine I enjoyed following instructions 

Old - dies from a magazine and was/is a “why did I buy that” and a Pixie Powder piece which must be at least 5 years old matted onto mustard and navy card 

New - sentiment from the latest magazine I bought

It is a quirky die, however I really like what you created with it.  Your Pixie powder background is beautiful and you captured the sparkle really nicely in your photo.  

I have quite a few "why did I buy that'  items,  I definitely think it should be a challenge,   after all we must all have atleast one!  

Thank you so much Karen,  I am incredibly grateful,  I managed to get the blog done in the car, so I could go to bed when I got in, as I was exhausted ❤️

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

Love and hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx 

A look back at your lovely makes

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you all had an enjoyable Saturday,   we were lucky with the weather yesterday,  it was perfect for wandering through the gardens at Eden project.  I hired an electric scooter so that Paul could walk beside me, plus there are some pretty steep hills!  But I think it was 'daylight robbery', it was £20 to hire for the day!!  I enjoyed the independence though.  The Mediterranean Biome had much more in this time, so many varieties of chillies and tomatoes,  different variations of herbs.

The day was finished off perfectly spending the evening with Lilian & Roger,  I know you'll be shocked to know that we chatted so much the evening just disappeared,   we got there around 5.15pm,  we had a lovely fish & chip tea,  the fish was incredible, with crispy  light batter😋,  you can tell when the fish is freshly caught.  We sat and chatted after dinner and before I knew it it was after 9pm,  I felt terrible,  as we only planned stay a couple of hours!   I think thats the definite sign that you are with enjoyable company.

Thank you Lilian & Roger for a lovely evening and delicious fish & chips 😘

Karen, did you buy anything at the lovely sewing/fabrics shop you visited yesterday?? 

Let's look back at some of your makes....

Lilian 

Lilian's Description :

Hi, here is my card for tomorrow, sorry it’s late.

Lavinia stamps for the wreath, hobby art for the cottage and stickles for the berries. 

I am sharing a throwback card from November 2023 for Lilian..

A perfect Christmas scene in a beautiful frame Lilian.  I'd rather enjoy Christmas in that little cottage 😄

Thank you for sharing it with us XXX 

Karen 

Karen's Description:

Here’s a challenge card

Lilian inspired me to get my SueW New York dies SueW poinsettia dies Nuvo drops and do you remember the TL dies - the long fronds but can’t remember name

JL leaves (mulberry?)

New latest Merry Christmas stamp heat embossed in old copper powder

I just love clean and simple cards and this one is beautiful, the vellum poinsettia adds to the simplicity,  it makes the poinsettia look so delicate. 

Thank you so much my lovely for a sharing this pretty Christmas card to inspire us XXX

Sonia

I used a card from October 2023 for Sonia for this week....

Sonia's Description:

I used an Amazing Paper Grace die set and Tim Holtz butterfly. The sentiment is from JustRite stamps. The papers were free online ☺️

To me Kraft card is as Autumnal as it gets, I really love that die too. Thank you so much for more Kraft Inspiration XXX

Maria

Marias Description:

Hi  here is my card for this week. 

I used some stamps I hadn't used before so here they are.

The card got a bit dark but hey ho... 🤭😊 All products are from Temu.

Maria what a lovely card, I don't think its too dark either,  its a lovely dark Autumnal red.😍

I love how you have added sparkle/splatters around the dandelions,  it looks like their seeds are dispersing.  

Those are two brilliant stamp sets too,  you should challenge yourself to how many combinations you can make from them. 

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful card with us XXX 

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

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,  

Love to all,

Sandra xxx 

Happy Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,  

As I am writing this we are on the journey from Brixham to St. Austell,  it's later than we planned but our visit Paul's Mum was lovely,  we went out for Dinner/Supper and the time just disappeared,  so we left Brixham a couple of hours later than we planned,   we crossed into Cornwall at 9pm,  I am looking forward to getting into bed.  I am struggling to keep my eyes open,  probably because I have got into a habit of not being able to sleep until 3am,  yesterday was partly due to my bladder reacting to the treatment!!   

ChatGPT insisted that I had to bring my CPAP machine and my Blood Pressure monitor as my readings have been all over the place this week.  (I asked it if it was totally necessary) 

 

Another fun piece of Artwork,  although I'm not quite sure what the message is 🤣😂

Maria

How adorable is this lovely traditional Santa Crystal Art  piece that our Maria made for her Mumma ❤️ 

The pearls make it even more special my lovely, he looks like he is holding the 'Magic Key'  we had one of these to hang on our front door so that Santa could come in and leave gifts, as we didn't have a chimney back then!  

I know your Mum will have him out where she can see him for all of the Christmas period.  

Thank you for sharing him with us my lovely XXX 

I hope that you all have a good Saturday,  

Love and hugs to all of the,  

Sandra xxx 

A throwback card & technique

Good Friday Morning Ladies,  

As you are reading this we will be on our way to Brixham to see Paul's Mum,  I wonder if we will pass Sonia as she is driving back up with her parents 🤔   

I like this reminder, particularly as we all progress in many different ways, in our own time, whether it's recovery or learning something new for example The 😄

Now today's card is a throwback but I thought I would include the whole technique,  as you could create this background and use it in many different ways,  however I thought if you used it and added a new stamp or die cut over it it would work for our New/old challenge,  as if you are anything like me you have had your distress oxides for years (so they are old) ! 

Here is the technique using scrunched up tissue paper.....

 I had a play with some ink pads and tissue paper to create backgrounds, I saw Marion Emberson try this technique with different products.  I used SU ink pads for this first one.  With the addition of some Gold Watercolour paint for added sparkle. 

Its so simple.....

Take some Tissue paper and scrunch it up, the more creases the better,  you then tap your scrunched tissue into your ink pad and randomly tap it onto your card, I masked off a square for a neater look, it dries quickly, I wanted a touch of shine, so I scrunched another piece of tissue and dipped it in my gold watercolour paint and did the same as with ink pads, I wasn't sure at first but as soon as I peeled the low tack tape off I loved it !! 

I hope that you all have a great Friday, 

Love & hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx

Lilian's Birthday card

 

Good Thursday Morning Ladies,  

Ooh it was much cooler yesterday,  Autumn was definitely in the air.  

I had a bit of a troublesome day,  for some reason my blood pressure has dropped very low (for me). First thing it was 93/62,  I felt a bit rubbish too,  so much so that I took myself to bed after lunch,  which I never do.  It did rise later in the afternoon but only to 97/63.  So I did a bit of research online as I didn't know whether to take my BP medication,  my BP is usually in the low 120 /90,  but the surgery just told me to fill in a 4 day form and told me to ring the local pharmacy,  which I did,  he said that he wasn't qualified to tell me whether to take the Amlodipine or not and to call the surgery back,   I did but got told to fill in form! It rose a bit in the evening but was still low so I didn't take my Amlodipine.  I will call GP this morning if its still low today,  especially as we are going away tomorrow.  

A lovely reminder today, we all definitely are stronger than we think we are 🥰

Today I am sharing the card I made for Lilian's birthday in ChatGPT,   I will explain the design as it looks a bit busy. 

I know Lilian liked the artist Klimpt so the main part of the card is a nod to 'The Tree of Life' I also wanted to include things that are important to Lilian,  so there are sewing elements,  scissors,  spools of thread etc,  the Bees are to represent Lilians work (making beekeeper hoods). After seeing the absolutely stunning quilt Lilian created I wanted to include that too. 

I will say that this was another example of card making a huge difference to how your artwork comes out of the printer....

This was on Highlight crafts smooth printer card

This was Canon Matte photo paper!  I was gobsmacked. 

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love and hugs to all of you  

Sandra xxx