Belated Birthday wishes and pretty cards

A Beautiful Get Well Soon 

A Fabulous 'Just Because'

Sonia & Angela

Good Morning Dear Friends,

I am going to start today's bloig post with an apology, I feel so terrible, whilst I was updating the Blog Contact list to send out to you all last week I needed to contact a couple of people to ask for details and that's when I found out that it was Angela's Birthday on 16th of May, so Angela I am sending you Belated Birthday Wishes, I hope your day was filled with fun and laughter!

I also discovered by going back to the very first email that Sonia sent me that it was also her Birthday on the 16th May, I am so very sorry that I had missed adding this information sooner, I am also sending you Belated Birthday Wishes, I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends, there is a big chocolate cake in the chiller, you don't even have to share it!  I promise you my card will be first through your door next year! Xxxxx

Now onto today's cards, the first card is so beautiful, I couldn't capture clear enough the amount of detail that Lilian put into fussy cutting the outline of the bird on this card, it actually looks like he has 'ruffled his feathers'!

Thank you so much Lilian, your card warmed my heart, it is so uplifting to receive such a beautiful surprise when you are feeling low xxx

The other fabulous card I received with a little parcel of delights was from Michele,

So very kind and thoughtful Michele, it also arrived on Friday, while I was home alone and feeling a little fed up, such a lovely surprise.  I believe its the Spellbinders Gold Elements Die and Spellbinders Butterfly die too! 

Thank you so much Michele, there is no better card than one out oif the blue. Xxx

Thank you all for stopping by, if you are just popping in for a peek, please stop and say hi, I am so very lucky to have a wonderful group of friends here that Are ready to make you very welcome.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra 

xxxxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

My Sketch Challenge Card

The Sketch

Good Monday Morning Ladies,

I hope you are all enjoying this lovely long weekend, for a Bank Holiday the weather so far hasn't been too bad. (I hope I haven't jinxed it now) particularly as I need 

Paul to get out and cut the grass, he did it two weeks ago but with the rain we had its almost a foot high, the daisies and buttercups look so pretty though.

Now onto this weeks Sketch, and before you say it, it's a brand new one, we haven't had this one already!

It's a fairly straight forward sketch, you can of course choose whatever colour you like and you can choose a tag shape OR you can pick a shape of your choice to put your sentiment on, same with the band across the centre, I think that it would look equally nice with one of Sue Wilson's Border dies,you could quite easily make it a Masculine card, particularly with Father's Day a couple of weeks away, (although I am thinking of having a man themed mini challenge). 

So I will leave you with this weeks Sketch and look forward to seeing your designs, I get quite excited opening up your emails with your challenge cards attatched, its 'virtual Happy Mail'!!!

Have a lovely relaxing day ladies whether you are spending it in the garden on the craft room, maybe we could have some photos sent in featuring your garden or a favourite area in your garden, what do you think?

Love and hugs to all

Sandra

Xxxxxx

Sketch Challenge Cards

My Challenge Card

The Sketch

 Anne's Challenge Card

Lillian's Challenge Card

Val's Challenge Card

Sonia's Challenge Card

Brenda's Challenge Card

Michele's Challenge Card

 Janet's Challenge Card

 Janet's 2nd Challenge Card

 Lynda's Challenge Card

 Margaret's Challenge Card

 Maria's Challenge Card

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

Now I have to ask you all, did you spot the big mistake I made when I chose this sketch last week???? Or where you all being super kind to me?!!!

We had this very same sketch a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't feeling my best last Sunday (that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!) I scanned through  a few sketches, thought ahh this one is a simple one and posted it, it wasn't until I was uploading some of your cards, as I was adding them the card that Anne made for this sketch last time came up, I thought goodness that's a similar style to this one, checked back and spotted what I had done!!

Just a quick peek back at what you did last time, amazingly quite different!!

 Jean's 1st card

 Janet's 1st card

 Lilian's 1st card

Margaret's 1st card

Maria's 1st card

Michele's 1st card (a)

Michele's 1st card (b)

Sonia's 1st card

Val's 1st card

 Brenda's 1st card

Ciara's card from last time x

Isn't it amazing that all of these very different cards came from the same basic layout?!  We have cards for occasions from Christmas to a very beautiful 'Thank you' card, a lovely 'Get well' card too, its so lovely to see Ciara's cute card again too.

Thank you all so very much for taking part in the Sketch Challenge again this week, the fact that you keep delivering amazing cards each week, no matter what you have going on really does warm my heart, I will continue to put a challenge up each week for as long as you want them! 

Look out for your next challenge card tomorrow and don't forget the mini challenge !!

Have a lovely day ladies,

Love and HUGE hugs,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Crafts Saturday

 Christina's Mr Peacock

Another View

 Lynda's Mixed Media Tag

 Janet's Altered Box

Side view of Janet's Box

Good Morning Ladies.

Welcome to the weekend and its a long one!! yay!!  I hope you get lots of time to craft and get out in the sunshine (fingers crossed)!  We (well Paul really) has made great progress with our allotment,

we have managed to get some, French Beans, Borlotti beans and Peas and sweetcorn grown and set out in the ground, I have some Cauliflowers growing, along with Spring Cabbage and Kale, in the Polytunnel we have tomatoes x 5, some novelty ones this time, one is a tomato that tastes like Melon, (hmmm) we will see, they were reduced in the garden centre so Paul decided it would be fun, we also have a cucumber, various leaf salads, radishes, Pak Choi, peppers, chillies, aubergine, I have also sewn a good few trays of Sweet Peas (as I love them), and Marigolds as they are a good companion plant for keeping bugs off of your crops.  We have some fruit bushes too, Raspberries, Blackcurrants, Gooseberries, strawberries and lots of Rhubarb! 

I do the seed sowing and Paul does pretty much everything else, he loves it though and so do I, its so peaceful up there, it feels like you are a million miles away from anywhere!

Do any of you grow your own food?

Now onto today's amazing selection of crafts........

Christina (Janet's Daughter), ladies I was so delighted when Janet sent me the updated photo of the finished Mr Peacock and placed in his new home in Christina's Courtyard Garden, Oh my goodness Christina, he is so Majestic, I love him, he must be worth an absolute fortune, although I know you wouldn't part with him, as I said when I saw your Winter Goddess, I could see him standing in the entrance of our very expensive local Garden Centre in Burford, they have similar sculptures that are priced in the thousands!  I hope that you can see him from your windows, as I am sure he would bring a smile to your face every time you looked out!  Thank you so much for sharing your Sculptures with us Christina, I cannot wait to see your next project xxx

Lynda, you really have got the but for Mixed Media haven't you, you have done more MDF Altering than I have, this is another of your fabulous tags, I love the colours you have used in this tag, its very vintage, where do you buy all of your little metal charms from Lynda? they are fantastic and you have used such a variety, your vintage image is so beautiful and I love how you have decorated the frame to match the background colour.  I so wanted to get my hands on that pink lace that you have used but I wasn't fast enough, maybe next time!  Thank you so much for allowing me to share your latest project Lynda, keep them coming please. xxx

Janet, you have created another one of your beautiful Altered Boxes, so pretty with the white and cream, it would make a lovely Wedding Keepsake box, have you decided what you are going to use it for? maybe for some of your laces or trims?!  You have used some beautiful lace on this box with some pretty Appliques in the corners of the box, with some pretty pearl floral trim and that beautiful resin lady in the centre, all of the elements work so well together, you must be so thrilled,

I hope I don't get the blame when you and Lynda and Cheryl have no money left, as this is a very addictive hobby, it works so well along side card making too.  Thank you for sharing your latest project Janet, I am very much looking forward to seeing your Lace book xxx

Thank you all for popping in today ladies, have a lovely weekend.

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Happy Birthday Maria & This Weeks Shopping

Q

Happy Birthday Maria 

 Lynda's Craft Shopping

Michele's Craft Shopping

Lilian Craft Shopping

Lilan's Craft shopping (2)

Brenda's new craft goodies

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope you will all join me in wishing our Dear Friend Maria a Very Happy Birthday, Maria I hope you have a wonderful day, I hope that you get thoroughly spoilt and get lots of new craft goodies for your birthday xxxx

Now onto your craft shopping this week........

Lynda has treated herself to the amazing Creative Expressions Lattice Stitched Frames die set, I know that you will love this die Lynda and I can't wait to see the cards you make with it, thank you so much for sharing xxx

Michele, your new dies look very interesting, I haven't seen them before, Tattered Lace Tuck In dies, they look like they will give different background effects, I can't wait to see what you do with them, the Spellbinder Emoji Dies are on my list, I think that they will be so useful for those more awkward cards, you can also die cut them out of funky foam and use it as a stamp! looking forward to your creations, thanks so much for sharing xxx

Lilian has treated herself to a Debbie Shore Magazine this week, I like the look of your second buy, the Elizabeth Dies and Flower Shaping Tool set, you really do see a difference in your flowers when shaping them, I look forward to seeing your results. Thanks for sharing xxx

Brenda has treated herself to some pretty Joanna Sheen paper pads and some of Leonie's new masks, they look really fab Brenda, I am excited to see what both you and Ciara create with them! Thank you for sharing xxx

I hope that you all have a great day, especially you Maria,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Milly-May Photo and Mini Challenge

Our Cheryl & Milly-May

Mini Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,

Oooh it turned chilly yesterday afternoon, Paul even put the heating on!! I did read an article yesterday that said Scotland is in for its Warmest Summer for years, although I have heard that before about UK in general, I do wonder if the tourist industry are behind these headlines. Fingers crossed its true though.

How much has our little Milly-May grown?! Wow I was surprised when I opened the photograph that Cheryl sent me yesterday. She is beautiful, I do see a little mischief in those eyes though, they are so adorable at that age, where they are just starting to develop a proper personality.  Thank you so much Cheryl for sending the photo in xx

Now onto your mini challenge, should you choose to accept it!! 

I would like you to create a card with the main focus being an Embossing Folder, it can be any Embossing Folder you like, you can add whatever else you like to the card except dies, No dies at all this week please. (I found that quite a challenge in itself)!
I will share the cards you make next Thursday.
I used Creative Expressions Pin point Embossing Folder-Rose Blooms, I added some colour using Basil Leaf Colour Cloud and Angel Pink Memento Ink pad, I then brushed over thee flowers with my Clear Wink of Stella sparkle pen and added a pearl to the centres. a little bit of ribbon layered up with a satin flower trim and and a few pearls finishes the card.  I hope you like it.

Have any of you done any craft shopping this week? If so send me your photos, I will share them tomorrow.

Have a good day ladies,

Love & Hugs

Sandra
xxxxxx

A fabulous Man Card from Anne

Good Morning Ladies,

I just love this Man card that has been made by our Anne.  Anne your cards are always so professionlly finished!

I believe that todays card is has been made using a Pinflair Easel, I seem to remember them being on C&C a few years ago, I never even considered them back then but seeing how amazing you have made them look Anne I am quite tempted, I have jut checked and they are on the Pinflair website and cost £2.99 for a pack of two, which includes the envelopes.

The Stamp that Anne had used is a Just Inklined 'Men at Work' Stamp, oh my goodness Anne you have bought this image to life, it looks like a watercolour painting, look at the beautiful colours in that sky and the water is actually sparkling around the boat, your colouring skills are incredible Anne.  Your work of art deservesto be displayed on an easel !

I love how you have created the picture frame out of embossed card, it really does draw your eye in to the painting, the colour works perfectly too.

I think that the garden centre that sells your cards will be onto a good thing, they will fly off the shelves. Thank you so much for allowing me to share your work xxx

I have Pat and Sue coming over today, which I am looking forward to very much, I hope that you all have a lovely day however you are spending it.

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

My sketch card

Good Morning Ladies,

Well it was the only thing I managed to achieve yesterday and I finished it at 22.50pm but now I feel that I given a little inspiration for this weeks challenge, although I did get a little carried away with beads and trim!
The image is from a Lilli of the Valley Art Pad, the die I used to make the frame is from Creative Expressions Austrian Collection, 'Innsbruck' die, designed by the incredibly talented Sue Wilson.  The papers I used were also from Lilli of the Valley, the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Now I don't expect you to add quite as much to your cards of course, although I have noticed one or two of you adding lace to your cards, it really makes a difference, I'm not sure if its because its a different material but either way it really works.

Are you all up for a mid week challenge this week? I will try to do one every other week so that you don't get to overwhelmed with challenges.

Lucy and Sophie's prom dresses arrived yesterday, both beautiful, Lucy's fits perfectly, Sophie's will need taking up, so I need to find a seamstress to do that pretty soon, I am so relieved that they arrived though.

Well that's all from me today, will call in later.

Love and hugs

Sandra xxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

The Sketch

Inspiration Card

Good Morning Ladies,

Here is this weeks sketch, I am hoping that this is a fairly simple one for you all this week, you could use a Sue Wilson background die for the centre section if you have one of them. 

The centre shape could be a rectangle if you like, to make it can little easier.

I have to apologise to all of you as I was too poorly to make an inspirational card for you, I have used the one that came with the sketch, I don't usually like to use them as I want to inspire you myself!  

I do have an extra treat for you though.........

Michele's New Bathroom

 Hand basin & Bath

 Heated Towel Rail/ Radiator

 Shower

Toilet and lovely new flooring

Wow Michele you must be so thrilled with your new bathroom, it looks amazing, so clean and fresh looking, I love the storage under the sink, I have the same towel rail/radiator in my bathroom and it works really well.  Its a shame you didn't take a 'before' photo!! 

Thank you so much for sharing, we have Maria's new kitchen to look forward to next!

That's all from me today ladies, I will try to get a Sketch Card done for your today, I am hoping to be feeling better by the time you are all reading this.

I am now pretty sure that its the new stronger antiobiotics that are making me feel so unwell, they seem to me disagreeing with my usual medication.

I am hoping that the Cranberry Capsules that I have will take the place of these awful antibiotics and the prebiotic tablets will hopefully work on restoring my very upset stomach back to being calm.

Sorry once again, I know that you will all understand.

Love and huge hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx