Pat's Pretty Wedding Card

Good Morning Ladies!

As Pat is sunning herself in Madiera I thought I would share with you all the gorgeous Wedding card that she designed and created for her friend Doreen to give to relatives.
Pat used Creative Expressions 'Heart Lattice' A4 Embossing folder for the background of her card, Spellbinder Floral Oval to frame the Joanna Sheen Wedding Couple, the sentiment Pat used is from Creative Expressions Ornate Oval Special Day die set, which was framed with a Spellbinders Heart die, the pretty flourish is a Cheery Lynn die, a tiny bouquet of matching lilac and white flowers, tied with matching ribbon and a few pearls finish this gorgeous card perfectly.
Pat then printed a personalised insert for the card, printed on some pretty pearlused paper.
Thanks so much Pat for sharing your stunning card with us, xxxx

Well today is our last full day here, we start packing later today, leaving as little as possible to pack tomorrow, we will then start the long journey home, I am looking forward to getting back to my family, our gorgeous cats, my bed and my craft room, boy have I missed crafting!!

Have a fantastic day ladies,

Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Anne's Stunning 'Anna Marie' style card

Good Morning Ladies,

I can't tell you how blown away I was when I opened the email that had this card attached, my jaw hit the floor!!!
I guess we all have our favourite styles and designs, but this card just ticked all the boxes for me!
Anne was inspired to make this card  by Anna Marie Designs, adding her own finishing touches and techniques.
I can't put my finger on an individual element that places the card up there with my favourites, firstly I think it's the gorgeous delicate blue papers that give the background to the card, giving the effect of the sky, secondly is that gorgeous bird in its adorable, ingeniously designed nest, created with the pretty blue twine and some natural fibres, the way you have arranged those beautiful flowers Anne works so well, it looks as though the bird has just come along and built his nest on the prettiest branch he could find, the whole balance of the floral arrangement is perfect!
The torn, distressed edges give softness to the edges of the card, almost blending the blues with the base card, the pretty little birdhouse finishes the card, Anne put her friends age in the hole of the bird house to personalise the card to its recipient, who I have no doubt will be as blown away as I was and will treasure this card forever!  I would have it in a box frame on my craft room wall !!
Thank you so much Anne for allowing me to share your card, you have my fingers itching to get back in my craft room to have a go and on if these cards, thanks again my lovely xxxxx

I hope that you all have a lovely day, however you are spending it,

Love and hugs

Sandra xxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

My Challenge Card

The Sketch

 Good Monday Morning Ladies,

Thank you so much for your lovely birthday wishes yesterday, I felt better by the afternoon, we had a lovely beach day followed by dinner out .


We are on the run down to the end of our holiday, only a couple of days left, why does it go so quickly?!

I love this weeks Sketch Challenge, I can already visualize some of the gorgeous cards you will be sending in.

You could use a doilly in the centre of your card, I decided to use Creative Expressions Melbourne Die, which I used to cut some Centura Pearl card, for a little extra shimmer on my card.  The decorative papers are (as I am sure you will all know by now ) Trimcraft Floral Pavilion papers, I need to re stock, the reverse of this pretty floral paper is the pink dotty card, so it all worked really well together.  I used CE pierced flags to pop my sentiment on. The sweet little roses are Wild Orchid Crafts!

I hope you have as much fun with this sketch as I did.

I just couldn't wait to share Anne's stunning lillies with all of you......

What a stunning display Anne, gorgeous photos of your Prize winning Lillie's, thank you for sharing them with all of us xxxx

Love and hugs

Sandra
xxxxxx

Sketch Challenge Cards

My Challenge Card

The Sketch

Anne's Challenge Card

Cheryl's Challenge Card

Cheryl's 2nd challenge card

Janet's challenge card

Karen's Challenge Card

Lilian's Challenge Card

Lynda's Challenge card

Margaret's Challenge Card

Maria's Challenge card

Michele's Challenge card

Val's Challenge card

Good Morning Ladies,

I am going to keep this as brief as possible today as I started with a horrible sore throat/ fever last night so I needed an early night, so that I have every chance of feeling better today, as I type this we have just finished a lovely homemade paella, it's Paul and the girls favourite dinner while we are here on holiday, the huge langostines (big prawns) and mussels are so fresh and fairly priced here it would be a shame not to make a meal out of them!

What an amazing range of cards from all of you this week, 

Anne has used all things Anne Marie Designs for her card along with a Spellbinder Edgibilities die for the fancy edge, a gorgeous card, trimmed with a neat black bow, perfect xxx

Cheryl managed to make two challenge cards this week, both very different and both equally as beautiful, I love that rose paper you have used Cheryl, the pearl trim on the second card really finished the look of the card too, xxx

Janet turned the design sideways to make her challenge card, it works just as well too, Janer I love that spray of lillies, it is so pretty, as is the patterned card you have used in the background. Such a pretty card xxx

Karen, I love your little gift card, I believe you said you created it from an envelope, ( I may just have dreamt that though)! I love the image you have used on the front too, it works perfectly with your design, I also love the embossing folder you have used for the flap of the card, perfect little Christmas gift card xxx

Lilian, I love your design for this weeks challenge, it looks like a perfect little clutch bag, that pretty pearl trim works so well around your card, giving it a luxury handbag feel, the buckle is a genius touch too. xxx

Lynda, such a pretty coloured Christmas card, I love your design, It looks as though you have used the CE California Collection for the top section of your card, it works really well too, the pretty christmas tree trimming that pretty white ribbon and bow, finishes your card perfectly xxx

Margaret,  once again you have used some beautiful papers for your card, the scalloped die you have used for the top section of your card works so well, your little ribbon bow is so neat and finishing it with the little flower works perfectly xxx

Maria has used some really pretty floral paper for her card. it looks like you have used a square die for the top of your card, it works so well, Maria has left her card blank so that it is ready to be personalised for its reciprient, I love your card Maria, thank you for taking part xxx

Michele also used the sketch sideways to create her very modern and stylish looking Christmas card, I have to say Michele I absolutely love that black Christmas paper, it looks so modern and fresh, as does your design, not sure why you weren't happy with it, its perfect xxx

Val, om my what a stunning anniversary card, the intricate die you have used for the top part of your card is gorgeous, as is the background paper, I am in love with that embellishment you have used too, it compliments your card perfectly xxx

I just want to thank all of you amazing ladies for making the time to take part in my challenge each week, it means the world, thank you very, very much xxxx

Ps: If I have missed your card, just message me and I will rectify it, our mailbox hasn't work brilliantly our here so fingers crossed they all got through!!  It is currently 11.37pm and I am about to post this blog, so I am guessing that If I haven't received your email by now, they aren't coming, as I said before I will post any that are late, its no problem, thank you all again ladies xxxx

Love and hugs

Sandra xxxxxxxx

Mixed Crafts etc !

Janet's Doilly Dresses

Angela's pretty flowers

Closer view

Karen's Basket Of Flowers Cake

Top View of Basket Cake

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I have a really broad selection of crafts to share with you today.......

First up is a card that Our Janet has created, it isn't the card I am particularly focusing today though, it is those adorable Pretty Dresses made from a paper doilly, what an absolutely genius idea, I have seen them used many ways including parasols etc but this is the first time I have seen these cute little dresses. they look fairly simple to create, I am hoping Janet may be well enough to pop in soon to tell us all how she created them, the addition of a little ribbon and a few tiny gems makes them look more realistic.  Thank you so much for sharing this fab idea with us Janet, I hope and pray you are well enough to join us very soon xxxx

Next up we have some beautiful hand made flowers, these have been made by Angela, who managed to sneak a small box of craft goodies under her seat in the car, I must say you have put them to great use Angela, the flowers are gorgeous, have you stamped them in the centre or is it a smaller die cut flower?  inking the edges has given the flowers real definition, making the petal shape stand out, the petals look a little like Hydrangea flowers to me (although I know the colour isn't right), what die or punch did you use ? I hope to get across to see them 'in the flesh' sometime before we leave!!

Thank you so much for sharing them with us xxxx

Last but by no means least is Karen's amazing Basket Of Flowers Cake that she made a few years back for her Hubby's Gran, Karen your cake making skills are just incredible, you could have easily made a living out of making cakes, the piped basket weave effect around the cake is just so neat and the individual hand turned roses with their foliage are just amazing, all different sizes so that the basket is filled perfectly, Karen did say the photo was really old but you can still clearly see the amount of skill needed to perfect this cake, I am so pleased that you kept photos of them all Karen, thank you so much for sharing with us xxxx

That's all for this weeks mixed crafts, thank you so much ladies for sharing your projects with all of us xxxx

We had another lovely beach day yesterday, we all went in the sea together which was great fun, an evening of games after dinner, we are off to a local market this morning, the girls are after some bags for school, I am hoping that we can barter a deal with them....... wish us luck !

Have a lovely weekend ladies,

Don't forget your Challenge cards!!!

Gentle hugs to those of you feeling fragile xxxx

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Wendy's Pleated Card & Val's Craft Shopping !

Wendy's Pleated card

Val's Craft Shopping 

Good Friday Morning Ladies,

Today I feel privileged to be able to share Wendy (Spanish Crafter)'s version of the pleated card tutorial a couple of weeks ago, I can honestly say I have been blown away by how many of you lovely ladies both from the blog and fb have had a go at making ones of these cards, they are so effective.

Wendy's is so pretty, I have loved that embossing folder since the first time I saw Sue Wilson use it, many years ago, if you look closely you can see that Wendy has echoed the pattern of the embossing folder in that pretty patterned paper, tying the two together perfectly, a truly gorgeous Pleated card Wendy, thank you so much for sharing it with us xxxx

Our Val has treated herself to a Stampeazee and some beautifully coloured Gliutter Card, I just live those colours Val, the Brown one and the one in front of it, they work so well together, what's your opinion of the Stampeazee??? I bought  a few months back and never real found it that helpful, I hope you have more success Val. Thank you for sharing your shopping xxxx

Special hugs to Janet, I hope you get home for the weekend xxxx

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, 

Love and hugs,

Sandra

Xxxxxxx

Lorraine's Challenge Cards & Good Luck Girls!!!

Lorraine's Challenge card from 2 weeks ago

Lorraine's challenge card from last week

Good Morning Ladies,

I am so happy to say that Lorraine and I sorted our lines of communication out, so that I was able to receive these amazing cards that Lorraine had made for our last two challenges, I have to say I was over the moon to see that you had taken the time to take part in the challenges despite feeling so exhausted and poorly.

I promise you that I will make time and space to share any challenge card that you make, it doesn't matter if you can't make the card in time for me to upload on the Sunday, if you go to the trouble I will always share it, I know and totally understand how hard it is to meet deadlines when 'life and your health don't work with you'!!

Your first card is so pretty, the papers you have used are so bright and vibrant, the contrasting plain papers all match perfectly too, the mixture of adhesive gems you have used is pure genius, a fantastic way of matching the colours in your theme and using up those last few gems in different colours!  That pretty pearl trimmed edging yoiu have used finishes your card perfectly! 

Your Challenge card from last week is a stunning Christmas Tag/pocket card, 

The papers you have used are so gorgeous, 'classy Christmas papers', I love the dark almost burgundy red with cream and gold, your beautiful flower sprays in opposite corners give such an exquisite finish to your card, as do the flat back gems around the edge, they really draw your eye in, so you focus on that beautiful tag, it looks like a page from a vintage book, a stunning Christmas card!

Thank you so much Lorraine for allowing me to share your cards with all of our lovely friends here onthed blog, I can't wait to see this weeks! Xxxx

Now please cross your fingers and toes, its GCSE results day today, we have two very stressed daughters this morning, they should get their results at about 10am your time or 11am here, we are proud of them whatever the outcome, they both worked very hard for their exams, I will pop back in later to let you know !

Janet, I hope you aren't in too much pain this morning, sending you lots and lots of love and hugs xxxx

Pat and Sue, I hope you had a fun day crafting together, did you both get your challenge cards made ;) ! I was thinking of you throughout the day, missed you both very much xxx

We had a very relaxing day yesterday, just sat around reading our books and playing a few rounds of Triominoes, a lazy late lunch, Paul and the girls were so warm in the afternoon we walked to the beach at about 4pm, they all had a swim, I just laid and read my kindle, we came back about 7.30pm, it was still so warm and sunny, I could have stayed another hour or two, we had to get back to call Matt to wish him happy birthday though, followed by a lazy, late dinner and an early night.  We have  busy day planned today, hopefully to celebrate the girls results, we are going up the coast to hire one of those boats with a slide on,  we did it last year and the girls and Paul had great fun, I sat on the deck sunbathing!  We will visit the icecream parlour and have a wander around the shops too! 

Have a lovely day lovely friends,

Love and hugs

Sandra

Xxxxxxx

Pat's Nautical Card and Happy Birthday Matt xx

Pat's Natical Card

Good Morning Ladies,

I would like to start today's blog by wishing my Amazing Son Matt a Very Happy 24th Birthday,

he is preparing our caravan today to take it to Dorset Steam Rally tomorrow for the weekend, I hope you have a lovely night out with Alex and your friends tonight, I feel so very proud of all of my children.  Just as an example, while we have been away Becca has had to start injectable Methotrexate as she couldn't tolerate the tablet form due to nausea, anyway her boyfriend has been trained to inject her (as she is a needle phobe and couldn't do it herself), anyway the first one was last week and she was panicking as was Josh and I think that the needle didn't go in far enough, which left her with a yellowish bruise and the drug was bubbled under her skin, she would have normally picked up the phone to me straight away but as we were away she called her brother, who has been injecting himself for the same illness for a few years, he calmed her down, explained what went wrong and is going to go over tonight to talk Josh through injecting her, now when he told me all this at the weekend my heart melted a little, they may not show it often but they clearly love each other very much.  It was the same when Matt got taken into hospital a couple of weeks ago, Becca came straight over, so she could come with us to the hospital.  It's comforting to know that they will turn to each other when we aren't close by.   

Now onto Pat's fabulous Nautical Card, I just love the papers you have used Pat and they work perfectly with the die cut Anchor and Shell you have used, even the grosgrain ribbon has the nautical feel.  Thank you so much for sharing this card Pat xxxx

Janet, sending lots of love and hugs to you today, fingers, toes and legs crossed for speedy surgery, so we can have you back cart Wheeling around the cafe very soon! 

Love you lots xxxx

Pat and Sue, have a lovely day together, wish I was crafting with you today! 

A lazy day here as I have pushed myself too far with trying to walk onto beach each day, so frustrating when you want to able to do things freely and can't !! 

I hope that you are all well, gentle hugs for those feeling fragile,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Janet's next Vintage Lady Card

Good Morning Ladies,

Another of Janet's stunning Vintage Lady cards for you today, the lady herself is just so beautful, it looks like 'natural beauty' too, she isn't caked in make up, no injected lips or eyebrows pencilled on so heavy it draws your attention to them and not the rest of the face, I would love for girls today to go back to this style, so sophisticated!
I adore the die you have used to frame your stunning lady Janet, so swirly and stylish, I think that you have used the Floral Muse papers for the backgroundm the pearl spray embellishment, do delicate, you have used an Applique to sit your focal element on, upon which you have created that pretty tassel, topped with a Resin Fan, the top corner has a multi layered flower delicately places upon it, your eye is drawn in from the outer edges of the card, which is exactly what you want to achieve.
I absolutely adore this card Janet, thank you so very much for sharing it with us xxxx

I hope that you ladies are all well and taking care of the cafe, I hope you get some new visitors!

Love and Hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

My Challenge Card

The Sketch

Good Monday Morning Ladies,

Here is your weekly Sketch card, I went for something a little different this week,  I think that this Sketch looks a little like a handbag front, I thought it would make a perfect challenge card as the possibilities are endless, you could use so many different mediums to decorate it with too, a lovely stamped design would look fantastic, you could bring in lace and fabric, buttons and brads too.

I used Anna Marie Designs papers for the decorative part of my card, the top was created using a Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circle die, trimmed down.  You could use any die shape to form the 'flap' of the bag though, the smaller your card the more choice you will have though.

I hope you enjoy having a play with this challenge, I am looking forward to seeing your designs.

Love and hugs
Sandra
Xxxxxx

Sketch Challenge Cards

My Sketch Challenge Card

The Sketch

My card (tag)

Anne's Challenge Card

Janet's challenge card

Lynda's Challenge card

Lynda's Challenge card (tags)

Margaret's Challenge Card

Maria's Challenge Card

Val's Challenge Card

Pat's Challenge Card (YES PAT'S)!!!!

Good Morning Ladies,

Thank you all for taking part in this week's challenge card, so many different styles again this week, 

I love all of them, 

Anne, I love your funny card, I had to read the comment twice, which I think is the whole point, you have some amazingly funny stamps in your collection Anne, this would be a perfect card for an older man, such a change to golf, beer etc, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Janet, I just love that gorgeous flower on your card this week, and that decorative corner, making the perfect pocket, is it a Justrite Die? A lovely verse finishes your card, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Lynda, WOW, I absolutely love your card this week, the delicate, pretty pink paper you have used, the lovely verses on your tags, most of all that absolutely gorgeous floral spray, such a beautiful card Lynda, you are going to make somebody's day when they open that card! thank you so much for taking part xxx

Margaret, such a pretty card from you this week, I absolutely love that delicate floral paper, along with the contrasting plain card, works so well, the patchwork pattern on the tag brings it all together, the lace trim and pretty corner flourish finish the card perfectly, thank you so much xxx

Maria, both a beautiful card and a perfect way to give a gift from you this week, I love the colours you have chosen and layout, those little flag banners give the perfect amount of detail and the pretty little flower finishes it perfectly, I would love to see that show too, I have seen the film and loved it!

Thank you Maria for taking part this week xxx

Val, another gorgeous Christmas card from you this week, I love the design you have used and that verse is so lovely is it a stamp?? (Val turned the card on an angle so we could read the tag), thank you so much Val for taking part xxx

PAT !!!!  I feel so privileged to have your name on my challenge card list, I know that you will be surprised too, you sent me this card just before I came on holiday and I was amazed that you had created a card that fit this sketch perfectly!!!!  I love the papers you have used, the pretty edging too and the tag, thank you so much Pat for taking part in this weeks challenge xxxx

What a stunning range of cards, thank you again, tomorrow's challenge is all loaded ready for you tomorrow, I hope you like it and find it a fun challenge.  I can't wait to open your emails and see what you have created.

Thanks again ladies, I am as always so very grateful that you take the time to take part in the challenges xxxxxx

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Craft Saturday

Margaret's Stump Work

Michele's Cheese Box Cards

My Fernli Designs Lace Storage Shelf

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I love the eclictic mix of things on a Saturday, pretty much anything goes!

So I have started today's Mixed Crafts with Margarets's piece of 'Stump' Work, I believe that Stump Work is a style of Embroidery where each element of the picture is worked seperately to form little 3D images, in this case the little Dragonfly is in 3D with wired wings, how you got that amount of detail in something so small Margaret amazes me, there is also a little wild rose and some holly,

It is something you could sit and stare at for hours Margaret. Thank you so much for sending it in for me to share xxx

Next up are Michele's 'genius' Cards in a cheese box, that's right they are cards made the same size as a 'Dairylea' or 'Laughing Cow' box, you can then decorate the box and use it to send your card in, it is such a fantastic idea, One of the cards is an easel style card, I have also seen cards that you have attached together with ribbon to form a long string of decorated cards, great for Christmas decorations too.

Thank you so much for sending this fantastic idea to me Michele xxx

Last up is my Fernli Ribbon Storage, it arrives as plain MDF and you construct it yourself, it is so easy to put together, the pieces slot together beautifully. 

I decided to decorate mine with me Floral Pavillion papers, using a pretty blue floral on the back and sides and I use pink dotty on the base of the shelves.  I used the same paper to cover the ends of the ribbon spools, after I had Gesso'd them and added a coat of white paint. I threaded ribbon through the eye of the spools to help to pull them out.  

I decorated around the front of the box with a narrow white lace and a row of pretty pearls, it looks much prettier in the 'flesh', it was hard to capture its beauty on camera.

I hope you like it.

Have a lovely weekend Ladies

Love and hugs

Sandra xxx