A Bit box journal page

Good Friday Morning Ladies,  

Well what another beautiful day we had yesterday,  I did make the mistake of going out at 9am in a t-shirt though,  it was very chilly out of the sun!  

I set up the sleep study equipment as per the instructions,  I found the nasal cannula very frustrating,   I was also concerned that the little monitor box that you strap across your chest had no lights, nothing on the display,  it looked like it wasn't charged or switched on,  but the instructions that come with the equipment tell you not to press any buttons,  I had a lousy night sleep,  weirdly I kept having dreams about going back to the hospital and finding it hadn't work and having to syay in hospital to have a sleep study!  I was up and down with uti and eventually got up at 6am and took everything off and filled in the paperwork.   When we got to the hospital I just mentioned to the receptionist that I was concerned that it hadn't worked, she called through to 'Respitory' and a chap came out,  he explained that he was with a patient,  but said he'd take the device and download the data and let us know if it worked,   we went for a coffee and when we got back he came out carrying the little blue case, my heart sank,  he said that only part of the data had recorded, but luckily he had a spare machine  that he had programmed for two nights just to be safe 🙄, we can return over the weekend or by monday latest,  so lets see if it worked this time! Fingers crossed 🤞 

I love todays reminder,  although the illustration had me confused, it looked to me like her reflection in the mirror had her top pulled down to her abdomen!!  But looking closer its her arms 😂🤣

Today's journal page was made using a Gelli plate background I made during a Tracey Evans workshop a good while ago.  I added some black ink splatters,  then I die cut some of my new Tim Holtz Artsy Stems to add to the background,  I added little dabs of  Fossilised Amber to the tips of the flowers, to tie in with the colours in the background.  I finished with some white splatters and a fun sentiment "I've got it all together,  but I forget where I put it"!! 🤣😂

I hope that you all have a good day, 

Love & hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

A card from an Alcohol ink background

 

Good Morning my lovelies, 

Well yesterday's appointment turned out to be a bit of an adventure,   we followed the directions (postcode) that was in the 'pick up and drop off sleep study equipment " box,  which took us to Warwick Hospital,  which made sense as they were the ones that requested the study and called me to organise it.  We arrived in plenty of time, Lucy came with us in case there was no parking like the last time we went there.  However we drove in and got a space straight away,  so we all went to the outpatients reception as directed,  but the receptionist said she didn't have me on her list,  I gave her the letter, she looked on her computer and said 'ahh you are supposed to be at Stratford Hospital Diagnostic centre',  we said that it didn't say that on the letter,  she just said there's been a mix up 🙄.   So we set off for Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital,  which took about 20 minutes, I had phoned ahead and explained,   when we got there the man that we saw was so lovely,   he apologised for the mix up and explained how to use the equipment,  it's basically a nasal cannula,  a chest strap with monitor, a waist strap and one of those pulse/oxygen things that goes on your finger.  I hope it all stays in place!   It won't be helped by the fact that I have ANOTHER uti so will be up at least 3 times in the night. 

Now  today's reminder is something I really do have a problem with,  I will do everything I can to not stay No, mostly because I feel so incredibly guilty refusing any one help,  even it's to me own detriment.  How about you ladies?  

Today's card comes from my bit box...

This is the one I used, its an alcohol ink background. 

I used my new Tim Holtz Leafy twigs die to cut a piece of white card, I laid this over my alcohol ink background, using my fine tip glue press to add tiny blobs of glue on the leafy parts. 

I took this photo to show off the shimmer from the silver mixative that I added to the alcohol ink/blending solution mix.

I cut a frame to neaten the edges of the die cut, to finish the card I added a butterfly and a small sentiment.  

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

A little mini Challenge

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies  

We had a lovely sunny day yesterday,  it was chilly in the wind though.  Lucy treated me to brunch at our favourite little place,  then we had a browse around M & S,  ours isn't very big, it's clothes style has really changed though,  we looked around for nice t shirts for when it turns warmer,  I would say the majority of the ones they had were 'cropped ' t shirts,  how many 50+ women wear cropped t-shirts,  it's probably ok if you are petite,  I'd struggle to get them past my boobs 🙄🤣  i really would like to support local shops so we don't lose more shops from town but they need to maybe cater to the demographic, I'm pretty sure that the population that shop in Witney are 60+.  It's hardly a trendy town.  

A great reminder today, you really do need the patience of a Saint sometimes, I struggle with it if I'm honest, especially when it prevents me from doing something I really want to do.   There is no point stressing and getting frustrated,  if you rush it you'll end up being having to spend longer healing. 

Now I am not changing the challenge fully but I saw this quote while looking for Saturday quotes and thought it would a great little challenge for us to have a go at.  

These are just some of the pieces of inking, gelli plate backgrounds,  alcohol ink experiments I have in my scrap/ bit box.  Hopefully I can make something with a couple of these backgrounds 

If you don't have any then feel free to carry on with the Aall&Create challenge.  

I hope that you all have a good Wednesday,  

Love and hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx 

Birdsong & Blossom

 

Good Morning Ladies,  

It was a lovely day here yesterday,  although I didn't gp outside,  my legs, particularly knees are too sore after the gardening I did yesterday,   I cannot tell you how frustrating it is,  I knew it was coming as the weight of our super light duvet was too much, I ended up putting my dressing gown on for warmth and then just had the sheet over my legs,  it's at these times and when its hot that I am glad I am old fashioned and have a top sheet under the duvet,  the girls don't, I couldn't bare having the duvet on me.  Do you use top sheet?  Mine has to be 100% cotton and white 🤣

Haha  it's this one again,  sadly my growth is the wrong kind !! 🤣😂

Today I am sharing a journal page that I started on Friday,  I saw VickyP’s version of this on Instagram  and loved it,  I have three Maremi's Illustrations books 

This is one of the them, they have beautiful images inside to fussy cut etc,   I have one that had lace and music score sheets for backgrounds too.   I used torn pieces of this for the background,   then added some Salvaged Patina paint across the page,  I took a stencil and embossing paste for some texture and interest,   some stamping and a few black splatters complete the background.  I fussy cut the bird and branch and added that across the page and added a little apple blossom on the end of the branch.  I added some scribbles with fine tip black and white pens and then finished with splatters and a sentiment that I printed on my mini printer. 

I hope you all have a great day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,  

Sandra xxx

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

Welcome to the start of a new week,  what have you all got planned? I have to go to Warwick Hospital on Wednesday to pick up my 'Sleep Study' equipment,  then we have to return it on Thursday morning before 12pm.  Fingers crossed it comes back ok as I really don't think I could use a C-pap machine due to my claustrophobia, we'll just have to wait and cross that bridge when we get to it. 

We had a lovely and very busy day in the garden,  I put some alpines in that we bought a couple of weeks ago,  I potted on some Cauliflowers,  then prepared pots and planted some of my new dahlias, we need some more soil though,  Paul was super busy finishing off the lawns,  trimming bushes and hedges and putting in his new Raspberry plants.  We were both really ready for a cuppa and a biscuit at 5pm!  

Another great reminder,  recovery from mental,  physical or emotional pain can take a lot longer than anyone can imagine.  It's something that needs to be slow & steady and at your own pace. 

Today's card I made last week and thoroughly enjoyed the whole process,   I started by stamping my TH Floral Trim stamp in Black Archival ink on watercolour card,  i heat embossed it to make colouring easier.  To colour the card I used Distress Mica Stains, I popped a little into a palette and used my paintbrush dipped in water,  before adding any colour I wet each flower and then gently dotted the volour at the base of each petal allowing the ink to flow up the petal, adding a little more colour as necessary.  Now i must add that I am very much a novice when it comes to watercolour,  however I really do love it.  I coloured the leaves in the same way, I got some fresh water and a clean brush, added a wash of water over the rest of the card and then added a light wash of blue.  The mica is very subtle, you need to turn it to the light to catch it,  I prefer it that way.  To finish the painting I added a little Harvest Moon Mica stain to the flower centres.  

I was undecided when it came to matting and layering, I decided to go for Kraft card and then onto a white card base.  A simple sentiment that allows most of the floral trim to shine and that's it finished.  I really,  really enjoyed getting lost in colouring this one. 

I hope that you all have a lovely week, 

My love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx 

Let's look at this week’s makes

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

We had a cool but sunny day yesterday,  Paul was busy out in garden,  he managed to get the lawns cut too, it makes the whole garden look so much tidier.  I was mostly inside sowing and potting on seedlings,  Kale, Tenderstem Broccoli,  Cauliflowers, French Beans & Carrots. Then flowers : Nasturtiums, Marigolds, sweet peas & Lavertera

Another great reminder, I am getting better at asking for help,  although that doesn't make it any easier.   I have tried to be stubbornly independent so many times and it has backfired.  

That was my 'thing to proud of' for yesterday! 

Let's look at your 'reasons to be proud' .....

Karen 

Karen's Description:

Card 1:  

I made this card for OH 

A DL card with a very old heart die that replaced into card over gold mirri card The sentiment was created in Serif

I also made a small square box with a matching heart on the lid

Card 2:  

Here’s a “spinner” card using one of those spinners you kindly sent me 

The bow tie spins - not brilliantly because it’s 3 dimensional Would do again with a “flat” bow tie especially with the foam mounted hat and moustache

Update:  this card has Karen's revised 'Bow Tie' that she printed from internet and fussy cut.

I have uploaded the video Karen sent me of the Bow Tie spinning,  not sure it will work,  if not I will share it on our chat group. 

Two amazing cards Karen, I bet Alan loved the Anniversary card that you made him,  he appreciates words so I am sure he would love the countdown of time you have been Married.  

Its a real buzz using our old dies,  I have this die too, from a good 8 to 10 years ago. 

Your Spinner card is bloody Brilliant Karen, what a genius idea!  It works so well too,  this card would bring a smile and a giggle to anyone's day,  it could be for anything from a get well card to a birthday card.  

Thank you so much for sharing your cards with us my lovely XXX 

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Here is my journal page for this week.

The theme is nature.

The hare stamp which is the focal image is one from of Indigo Blue . Not quite the perfect colour, used my Tim Holtz water colour pencils.

The other stamps are from some I got from Amazon. The little birds and butterflies are from Stamperia house of roses.

It was lovely to get back to stamping again, seems ages since I’ve done any.

Lilian I absolutely love your stamped cards,  I can see that you really enjoyed building the scene and colouring it all, its beautiful,   the Stamperia birds & butterflies are the perfect for a finishing touch.  I am so happy that you enjoyed creating your journal page for this week. 

Thank you so much for supporting the challenge and creating such a lovely Spring page XXX

Sonia 

Sonia's Description:

I used the papers from the Baby Girl collection I bought at Sandown, the sentiment is cut from one of the pages too. The clothes and line dies are from Temu. I cut a rectangular frame from Gummiapan. This was for my Nephew and his wife on the birth of their first baby girl Millie 😍

Oh Sonia what a beautiful Baby Girl card,  look at the detail in those darling baby clothes,  you'd never believe it was a Temu die with all of the incredible detail,  the embossed detail makes them look so realistic!  

I love your composition and the beautiful shade of pink that you have used. 

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

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I hope that you all have a lovely relaxed Sunday, 

My love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx 

Mixed up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,  

I hope that your weekend has started well,  we have no rain forecast today,  so thats a bonus,   its going to be around 16° so not too chilly either!   We have lots of planting and sowing to do so the weather is perfect   

This is something I have been trying to focus on lately,  I tend to think negatively and I naturally focus on the things that I struggle to do,  however since I have started reading positive affirmations etc I have started making myself think of something that I have managed to acheive each day,  I can be something as simple as making a card or journal page or completing a chore that I have been potting off, I even class getting outside in the garden a mini victory!   I encourage you to try it my lovelies x 

Another daffodil variety,  how adorable are these little things, I think that they are actually Narcissus.

We have a passion for carnivorous plants in our house, we have had this one for about 2 years and it has tripled in size,  it tempts the flies in to those big tubes and the way that the hairs are angled flies can't get out.   Usually it recommends that you remove flower spikes before flower develops as it drains energy from the plant,  as ours is big and healthy we let it flower this year and my goodness it was worth it, the flower is beautiful.  Our other varieties are still to young to flower butvI am excited to see what their flowers will look like. 

and finally I am sharing my bargains from Sizzix sale....

It looks like a lot but there were some absolute bargains and some of the dies I've wanted for a long time!  Some of these things were 75% off!   I can't wait to play but don't know where to start ! 🤣😅

I hope that you all have a great Saturday , 

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra xxx