Mixed Craft Saturday

 Mixed Craft Saturday

 Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well and relaxed ready for the weekend, as it's Saturday there are some lovely mixed crafts for you to look at.

First up today is the amazing birthday gift I received from Janet, I was absolutely blown away by the amount of detail Janet put into this amazing album.

It was made using so many shades of my favourite colour (Green).  Beautiful ribbons 

Decorate the spine of the album

Beautiful papers used throughout the album, this page had a pretty pocket with

 a lace edged tag inside. Then there was a gentle reminder of my age! Haha

A beautiful sentiment and a lace trimmed pocket and tag, pretty pearl trim too.

I love this page, with the afternoon tea idea, the doilies fit the theme perfectly.

Another very true sentiment, gorgeous papers, the pretty pocket is filled with lovely 

embellishments.

This page features what Janet does best...Vintage!! A pretty vintage image decorated

Perfectly, the little metal charms are stunning.

Even the back of the album is beautiful!!

Thank you Janet for the most beautiful gift, which I will treasure forever.

XXX

Tracy

Tracy sent me some photos of some very pretty things, the first is the amazing cake that Tracy's best friend Janet created, it is absolutely gorgeous, I love the delicately coloured lace on the top and bottom layers, the perfectly made bunting on the centre tier and the flowers on the top of the cake have been beautifully made, such an incredible cake, thank you to Janice for allowing Tracy to share it with us.

Tracy has made these three absolutely stunning cards, I think the first one might be my favourite, I love the script background and that dress is absolutely gorgeous!

Is it a stamp or die Tracy?? 

The second card uses a Sue Wilson Embossing Folder and lattice background die, Tracy you have embellished this card so beautifully, that metal heart charm is lovely,

as are the stunning arrangement of flowers you have added.

The third card uses the SW Heart Lattice E Folder, a pretty Spellbinders Heart die and the beautiful Cheery Lynn Flourish dies. A beautifully designed card Tracy, thank you so very much for sharing your crafts with us.

XXX

Karen

Karen has added a few more of these four tier storage towers to her craft room storage, these are both light weight and sturdy, they also have drawers that you can see through so you don't have to open each one to find what you are looking for! 

Karen bought them from the Range.  I'm pretty sure Margaret has these too and our Michele. Thank you for sharing your shopping Karen.

XXX

I am hoping to get some time in my craft room today, it just didn't happen yesterday, we seemed to be playing catch up all day. I had a pile of parcels that needing posting, because Paul was away all of last week (so I couldn't get anything posted) and then we left early Monday for London, so Brenda, Lynda and Cheryl you have all got something on route and I am sorry for the delay.  Maybe one day I will have the courage and strength to step out of that door without Paul, currently just the thought makes my heart race and nausea start! 

I hope that you all get some craft time in this weekend, I look forward to seeing the results.

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Festive Friday cards from Janet

Good Morning Ladies,

Our Festive Friday treats have been designed and created by our Janet.

Two gorgeous 'Fold Back frame' cards, the first has a stunning Christmas Foliage die cut frame on the front, die cut in Silver, with the gorgeous "Peace on Earth" sentiment in the centre, I love that delicate frame Janet, it looks a Crafter's Companion die but I'm not sure, so I'm hoping Janet will set me straight when she pops in.

The second card is in beautiful, traditional Christmas red and white, such a pretty die cut scene, dies are becoming so much more intricate and detailed, it amazes me how they create these tools that make us look so skilled. I love everything about this card Janet, thank you so much for sharing your special cards with us.  XXX

My Gemini arrived yesterday, I got it unpacked and set up, I tried it out too, it cuts like a dream!  Quicker than I thought too, which is a huge bonus. 

I just get a card made though, I think my 'mojo' is on a delayed coach back from London, I just couldn't make my mind up on what to make. 

I love London but I have to say I truly think it exhausts you, because there is so much going on, the general 'buzz' keeps you on the go, Paul must have pushed me around about 20 miles, navigating huge curbs and very uneven pavements, the other MAJOR

obstacle is people on their flaming mobile phones!! How they don't have bad necks I don't know, we had so many near misses, they have headphones on too, so they can't hear what's going on around them.

Hoping the coach with my Mojo arrives today,!  Have fun whatever you are up to!

Pat & Pete I hope you both have a lovely break together.

Love and hugs,

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Simple but effective stamped card.

Good Morning Ladies,

I'm back !!! Wow those 3 days whizzed past, the hotel was lovely, the staff couldn't have been nicer.  

The Sky Garden was a fantastic experience, it's like going through the airport to get in though, they scan all your bags, you have to go through a scanner too, but it's reassuring to know that you will be safe.  I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone, it's totally free, you just have to book online before you go, they give you a 1hour slot, but nobody rushes you, there is a bar and restaurant up there.  It's like a forest, absolutely amazing.

42nd Street was just the best show ever, Sheena Easton has the lead role, all of the cast sang and danced their hearts out, the tap dancing was incredible, how the manage to do that for that long blows my mind!  The show got two standing ovations, there was a real buzz in the theatre afterwards.

Sadly the Afternoon Tea at the Hilton was absolutely dire and disgraceful !! 

We arrived to find no disabled access, we were left waiting in a back car park as the receptionist forget to send the person that was going to take us through a series of darkened doorways and corridors to gain entrance.  We were shown through to the bar, where a very low coffee table had had a cloth thrown on it, both Paul and I had to manoeuvre our legs to the oddest position to get close enough to the table to be able to reach a cup, we were given a menu to peruse, so we chose our blend of tea which was bought over, we finished the pot but still no food, the waitress came to apologise for the delay, but after about another 20 minutes she returned with our stand of food!  Now the menu sounded very nice, the food however didn't come close to anything described on the menu, firstly the sandwiches, bread so dry you could scratch it, one of the fillings was Smoked ham and wholegrain mustard:

Does this look like a quality smoked ham to you?? To me it looks like the cheap chopped meat that is wet and slimey to the touch, note how the bread lies like a block.  

Then came the scones, microwaved from the freezer, I could not bite through it, oh yes the gave us cream cheese instead of 'Cornish Clotted Cream' , the cakes at the top were cheap precut squares of sponge that you Find at cheap all you can eat Chinese restaurants, the have no flavour at all, there were no 'delightful pastries' 

After we complained they bought out two more scones, on a piece of slate this time, dusted with icing sugar, still frozen in the centre but at least they tried.

The 'ambience' was incredible, a TV on, radio playing and the cleaners vacuuming behind us! 

The management came, offered us Champagne, dinner for two etc, but be just said if a chef couldn't make a sandwich and fresh scones we didn't fancy trying anything he tried to cook, I was also in tears by this point as this was supposed to be the 'icing on the cake' of our trip, Paul was furious (although remained totally calm) as this was my birthday treat.  It no way compared the the amazing experience we had last year for his treat at a hotel that doesn't have the status that the Hilton does. 

We are awaiting an email from their manager.

A frustrating end to a wonderful break, it did us both good to have some 'us' time xx

Today's card was made simply with one stamp set a sentiment and two inks, the stamp set is: Stampin'Up! 'Awesomely Artistic', the colours are 'Island Indigo' and 'Pool Party'.

I stamped around the card with the foliage stamp with the 'Pool Party' ink and then went back and over stamped with the darker 'Island Indigo', I  then simply tied a piece of 'Pool Party' glittered ribbon around the card and matted on to the two colours of card that I had used to stamp with.

A simple method but I like the results.

A slow day for me today, Paul has gone to Thames Water's 'insight Day' where he gets to network with different people to talk about what jobs are available. 

I might make it into the craft room but to be honest I didn't realise how exhausted I was until I got into bed last night, London is a wonderful place but boy does it tire you out.

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx 

Another of my birthday cards, Lynda's lovely card & Happy Birthday' Cheryl

My beautiful Birthday card

Terry's birthday card

Belated Happy Birthday 

Cheryl 

Good Morning Ladies,

Part of the problem of scheduling blog posts is that sometimes things get a little out of sync!  

I would like to send Belated birthday wishes to our dear friend Cheryl, I hope you had an amazing birthday and a year of good health and happiness. Xxxx

I am excited to be sharing another of my amazing birthday cards today, this one is Lynda's.  I love both the colour theme and the 'Double z fold' card.

Lynda used a really pretty vintage paper and then accented it beautifully with the gorgeous 'jewel tone' flowers, the whole card has a real vintage feel, something that Lynda does really well, the greeting is fantastic, I love that musical score die, I have it too but I haven't got round to using it yet. 

Lynda I absolutely love my card, I will treasure along with the others forever.

The second card today is Lynda's card for Terry (aka Captain Underpants), whose birthday was last Friday, another amazing Vintage style card, I love that brick wall backing paper Lynda and how you have used the dogs to frame the vintage steam train image. Personalising it makes it even more special in my opinion, plus as we all get older it's a good way of remembering who we are !! 😉😉😉

I bet Terry loved the card Lynda, thank you so much for sharing XXX

I managed a chat with Michele via messenger on Sunday, I was feeling a little sad as we always chat on a Sunday when she helps me choose the challenge, just as I was saying to Paul how strange it felt up popped a message asking if I had chosen the challenge yet!!  

Michele is having a lovely time in New York, the first photo is of the Empire State Building lit up to celebrate the start of 'Fall', it looks fantastic, Michele took the wrong exit from the subway and happened upon it by mistake!  A very happy accident I think!  

The second photo is of Michele getting settled on her flight, looks like she has the right idea with the glass in hand! 

Thank you for the photos, enjoy the rest of your holiday, especially the craft shopping in Michaels !! XXX

Have a lovely 

Another Christmas card, Cream & Gold Pine Cones

Good Morning Ladies,

When I first saw Sue's (Creative Expressions) 'Pine Cone & Greenery' Die I wanted it straight away, I love the greenery part, it looks like proper pine needles, the pine cones are fantastic too.
So to do this fantastic die set justice I reached into my archive file of dies for the lovely 'Snowflake Background' die (Creative Expressions) and die cut it using cream card, I then cut a 'brushed gold' Mat to mount it onto using foam pads for dimension and to show the detail of the die cut off. I did brush a little 'Enchanted Gold' Gilding Wax over to highlight details of the snowflakes, I used it on the pine needles too.
I cut the Pine cones out of the same card, cream on the back then gold on top, I also added a little 'Iced Snow' to give a little sparkle but I don't think the camera has picked that up too well.
I added a little gold ribbon bow and topped it with a little Pine cone charm, they are Stampin'Up ones and I love them, they are so cute. The sentiment is Stampin'Up! Too it's great how versatile everything is, I like using the best of both worlds at the moment.
I hope you like my 'Old School' card, ,hahaha, I have to say I did have to keep looking at it, it's nice to have a change!

It's Sky Garden and 42nd Street tonight, tomorrow we have river cruise and afternoon tea at Greenwich, we will then get boat back to Westminster and collect our bags and then go to get the bus home.

I hope you are all well, those of you that are under the weather I am sending a gentle hug XXX

Have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Monday Challenge

My Challenge card

The Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,

This week's challenge may look complicated but it really isn't, I have come to the conclusion that the more restricted you are to what products you can use the easier the design process becomes.  I often come into my craft room thinking " great, I have lots of new goodies to play with" but then you can't decide what to use! 

So for this challenge you can Either use both sides of the challenge,(sketch and tic tac toe) Or you can choose either side, so maybe you just want to try the sketch or just the tic tac toe, it's entirely up to you.

I used both, I followed the sketch and used categories:

Tags/Flowers/No patterned paper

I started by creating my own decorative background using my new Distress Oxide inks and the new Creative Expressions 'Floral Happiness Journaling' stamp set (which I love)!! 

I then picked two colours out of the background to use as my accent colours, I went for the 'Fossilized Amber' and 'Broken China' which just happen to match brilliantly with 'Daffodil Delight' and 'Island Indigo' card stock, match made in heaven! 

I matted the background onto the 'Daffodil Delight's card, then created a border strip with the same colour card, adding a piece of matching ribbon and a decorative edge, made by cutting 'Island Indigo' card with the Stampin'Up! 'Ribbon Border Punch' and adhered that to the edge of the border.

I stamped my sentiment using 'Worn Lipstick' distress oxide ink and embossed it, I then added a pretty border using small elements from the same stamp set. I mounted this onto a scalloped circle of 'Island Indigo' card, to finish I added to pierced flags cut from the same card and added a few Gems.

Quite a pretty card I think, I hope you like it.

Hopefully as you are reading this we will become our way to London, we haven't planned much today, as we weren't sure how long it would take to get into London and then get to our hotel, so we will probably just do a bit of sight seeing.

Tomorrow I booked us a slot at the Sky Garden, which is a tower as high as the shard but has beautiful gardens at the top, oh yes and it's FREE! We will have can early dinner and then get ready for our show. 

I hope you all have a lovely week ladies.

Love and hugs to all of you 

Sandra 

Your Challenge Cards

Good Morning Ladies,

Lilian

Lilian has used such a beautiful image on her Challenge card this week, it has been die cut using one of  Spellbinders Grand Decorative Oval dies. An image this beautiful needs nothing to embellish it.  A stunning card Lilian, thank you so much for taking part.

XXX

Karen

Karen has gone for a Christmas card for this week's challenge, Karen I love this Christmas tree, it's so modern! Here is Karen's description........

"Here's my card

I have got curve dies but found this bit of paper in my stash from Serif and thought it'd got a nice "curve" on it!
The dies are Ultimate Crafts - Fancy Tree This is such an intricate Die I haven't used it very often I cut it in a sticky backed piece of white card and covered it with MCS glitter I then added a shadow of dark blue
The sentiment is from CE Paper Cuts - Merry Christmas Santa Bauble which I bought at Ally Pally After cutting the intricate part from the leftover piece of sticky backed card I trimmed it to an oval from ScanNCut covered it in glitter and also cut a shadow in dark blue ".

Karen you are so flipping talented with that ScanNcut, you amaze me every week! I am going to use that thing more if it kills me!! Lol !!

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely!

XXX

Janet

Janet has made a gorgeous Christmas card for this week's challenge, using Sue Wilson's 'Orion' Gemini Die and Sue's 'Filligree Poinsettia' with Holly Sprigs.

A beautifully designed card Janet, thank you so much for taking part .

XXX

 Maria

Maria has designed a fantastic birthday card for this week's challenge, the die was a gift from Brenda, I love how you have used the die for detail on the bottom of your card, like Lilian's card with such a beautiful focal element you really need nothing else, your matching bow is the perfect finishing touch.  I hope you feel better today my lovely.

XXX

Brenda has shared 3 cards that work with this week's sketch, the first and third cards are 'Signature Brenda' cards to me, 'clean and simple' layouts, perfectly made with Brenda's stunning handmade flowers as embellishment. Simply Stunning !!

The 2nd card is a striking design that works perfectly, I love that colour combination too.  

Brenda I hope you start to feel better today, there are a lot of nasty cold bugs going around, Sophie started with one yesterday too, she felt really miserable all day. 

Plenty of rest is my prescription, maybe a little light crafting 3 times a day! 

Thank you for sending me some cards to share my lovely.

XXX

Michele

Michele used the gorgeous Apple Blossom Embossing Folder to create this card, with the matching Die to cut the black bar across the centre. I love this design, Monochrome can look so classy! 

Thanks Michele, I hope you are having a lovely holiday.

XXX

Lynda

Lynda has used one of the Crafter's Companion 3D Embossing Folders to create her card this week, this one is called 'Ornate Lace' , it is so pretty, it actually looks like an appliqué design. Sue's 'Chrysanthemum' Dies create the flowers. I love how you have highlighted all of the design with Gilding Wax Lynda, it really shows the detail.

I hope the 'Grandma Duties' are going well. 

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely.

XXX

Margaret didn't have time to make a card this week, between having an operation and preparing this lot.....

Margaret you are a Superwoman!  you raised £240 for Macmillan, which is an amazing amount, but having tasted your cakes I am not surprised.

What an amazing achievement Margaret. 

Thank you for sharing your photo and fantastic news!

XXX

Well today I will be mostly in my craft room preparing tomorrows challenge and writing the blogs for the next couple of days, we have WiFi in our hotel so I can still update you all.

We leave early Monday for London, we are staying two nights, we are seeing 42nd Street on Tuesday Evening and then on Wednesday we are doing a river cruise and having afternoon tea at an amazing hotel in Greenwich. I can't wait to spend some quality time with Paul. So this is the perfect 50th birthday gift.

Have a lovely Sunday ladies, 

Love and hugs,

 Sandra

Xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday

Good Morning ladies,

I honestly only seems five minutes since I was writing my list for Ally Pally, although I forgot the list and didn't get half the things I was meant to get.  I have since ordered them online (plus a whole lot more)! Sshhhhh!!

So today I have a VERY special memory from our lovely Val, I have to say I was so touched that you sent the photo, while I was reading your message I had tears streaming down my face.  I can really sense how much you still miss Alan, which I find heartbreaking but I know I would be exactly the same, Cheryl feels exactly the same too, I think that in our lovely little blog family we have all been blessed with amazing Husbands, which these days is a rare thing.  So here is Val's amazing photograph and explanation of what you can see.

Here is Val's story..........

"I've attached a very precious photo of mine to maybe show on Saturday which would have been our Golden Wedding Anniversary.

It's a very battered photo as you can see but it's in a frame to keep it safe.

On the back row right to left is my dad auntie and uncle. On the front row my brother is the very thin one on the right with Allan sitting next to him and me next to Allan with the rubber ring. Sadly I can't remember who the girl is next to me. My mum's taking the photo.

This was taken at an outdoor baths which was a big day out for us as we got to ride on the ferry across the Mersey to New Brighton.

Allan and I were born and lived four doors away from each other. He was my brothers best friend and we spent a lot of time together as children in each others houses. We all grew up, then I had a boyfriend and Allan had a girlfriend who we both happened to finish with at the same time. Allan had just joined the Police Force and one day he walked down the street towards me in his uniform and he wasn't just my brothers friend any more, I saw him a total different way. He asked me out and we were married a year later.

As you know Allan sadly died 13 years ago very suddenly at the young age of 59. I lost my best friend and I miss him every day but life goes on. He left me with two great chilrren and wonderful memories so I count myself lucky".

Val, that is such a beautiful memory and look back at times gone by,  thank you so very much for sharing it with all of us. By the way, you haven't changed a bit!! 😉

Maria's photo of all of us at Ally Pally

On the Right you have :

Maria, Brenda, Pat, Margaret and Brenda (Littlelamb)

On the Left you have:

Paul, Me, Karen, and Sue.

I would like to thank the lovely 

Helen Bell, who joined us for lunch and kindly took the photographs for us.

Shopping 

Brenda

Brenda bought some lovely bits and pieces at Ally Pally, in the first photo we can see Oxide Distress inks, some Pebeo Gilding Wax, Honey Doo Mica Powders and glue, underneath those are some Foamiran sheets (a delicate thin foam that you can use to form realistic looking flowers).

The second photo contains: two packs of cards, some beautiful lace from the Button Moon stand, he had some gorgeous lace on sale, very good prices too.

Third Photo shows that Brenda had a 'John Next Door' shopping haul, 2 Embossing Folders and three stencils to be precise. Brenda was inspired by some amazing card samples.

I hope that you have managed to finish your sisters accounts Brenda so that you get time to sit and play with all of your new goodies. 

XXX

Karen

Karen bought lots of essentials as well as some lovely dies at Ally Pally, here is her description.....

Here are my buys

The paint is the perfect colour for my Birthday plaques
The dies are a mixture of what was on my Wish List - the Striplet one is my favourite from Sue's latest release They were all cheaper at the show than online
I just had to get that velvet paper after seeing yours!
The card blanks were exceptionally cheap and the glue is my go to for matting and layering!

Thanks for sharing your shopping Karen.

XXX

Maria

Maria had a very busy day at Ally Pally, along with Pat, they both went a took part in a few ,'Make & Takes', learning some new techniques as well as making a lovely Christmas decoration.  With doing those and having our long lunch I think Maria ended up rushing around to do her shopping, here is her description......

My shopping at Ally Pally became a swirl of stuff I don't really need but I just 

had to get something quickly for the time ran out and my chauffeur was coming

to pick me up  ;-)  Did I get anything on my list as storage for stamps and dies. Heck no so might have to go to NEC  and have a look. Is that anything you ladies ever go to ?

In answer to your question Maria, I have been to the NeC to the 'Hobbycraft' show, it was a few years ago though and at the time it was very busy, too busy for me to get anywhere near the stands to see anything, I believe it is quieter these days though, I was thinking of trying to organise Our meet up around one of the crafting shows,  so I would be interested in your feedback.

Thank you for sharing your shopping Maria.

XXX

Sue

Sue managed to get some lovely Dies and essentials for getting started on those Christmas cards, that 6x6 paper pad was fantastic, some lovely patterns for Men's cards.  Some great basics that we all run out of too quickly, card blanks, ribbon, Brads, then there is some lovely designs of Washi Tape, those dies are lovely Sue, I love the cute Reindeer, the pretty Snowflakes too.  Now that 'Red Velvet' card is stunning, I think that we all bought some, it will make gorgeous Poinsettias. 

Thank you for sharing your shopping Sue.

XXX

Margaret

Margaret was being very good as she is saving up for some more Stampin'Up! Goodies, so she mainly bought 'consumables', so we can see lots of card blanks, some good basic Christmas card coloured /Glitter card stock, some adhesives,  glitter glues etc, that lovely 6x6 Paper pad, (that Sue bought) and Washi Tape, a fantastic pack of Memento ink pads in gorgeous colours.  Then right in the center of the of the photo is Margaret's tombola prize that she won, the Tombola was run by Hochanda.  It was lovely to see that one of won. 

Thank you so much for sharing your shopping with us Margaret.

XXX

My Shopping

I have to confess that this isn't just my Ally Pally shopping, I have spent some birthday money on a few bits and pieces too.

I couldn't resist some of Sue's new Dies, they are so pretty, so I got a few of those, I also had a StampinUp order due, I ordered some of the new Christmas dies, which I used to make yesterday's Blog card. The Merry Little Patterns stamp set was Free with my order this time so that was a bonus.  The Colourful Seasons Stamp and dies set has something for every season, the Snowflakes are really pretty, so are the Autumn Leaves.

I bought some Autumnal card and ink colours too. I think that is one of the things I love most about Stampin'Up!, everything matches perfectly! 

A few more Christmas dies, that I found at really good prices, the make is 'Precious Marieke' they are lovely detailed dies.

Last but not least are the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks, I just LOVE them, I started off with 4, but couldn't resist a few more, sshhhhh!!!

Margaret, I hope that all went well yesterday and that you aren't in too much pain today my lovely, sending you healing hugs xxxx

I hope you all have a lovely weekend,

Love and hugs

Sandra

XxxxxxxX