Your Challenge Cards

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

Your favourite day of the week and mine too, I love showcasing your work, especially those of you whose work would otherwise go unseen.  Sharing your work really inspires others too, so many of you have said 'I liked ***'s card so I thought I would have a go' or something similar, actually the same goes for sharing our shopping etc, you can always count on one of our lovely ladies to find a bargain somewhere.

oh actually while I remember Aldi's have Grime Boss wipes for £1.99 at the moment, they were £4.99 at Ally Pally !!!

Anyway enough procrastinating, lets see your cards...…

 Karen

Karen has made 3 very different cards for this weeks 'Background' challenge, I love the results of each of the techniques you used Karen.

"Here’s 3 cards for you The Christmas card is engraving board (or similar) embossed with falling snow EF from Crafts Too sanded back to reveal the gold
The second is a note-let card with a Sharpie pen technique on glossy card and the 3rd one is a piece I found in my stash doing the shaving foam technique
I have quite a few PP’d backgrounds Shaving foam ones etc from ages ago I really ought to use them now I have some stamps!"

Thank you so much Karen for your cards and description, as you know I have already ordered some 'Rubbing Alcohol' from Amazon that should arrive either Tuesday or Wednesday, I am going to try that 'Sharpie' technique but with Alcohol pens.

Thank you so much for inspiring me and for 3 stunning Challenge cards.

XXX

Lynda

Just went over round mask with fossilized Amber oxide & a little fired brick

This background I put pieces of masking tape over card then just rubbed over with oxide ink pad..

Venetian Gold Granite Paste

Wavy Mask with Gold Texture Paste

Wavy mask green sparkle texture paste B/G

Granite Paste: Cecilia Gold

Granite Paste Background: Venetian Gold

Stamped stag then put round mask & Blended Mustard seed & evergreen bough & Stormy sky distress oxide

Lynda has made an INCREDIBLE 8 cards for this weeks Challenge, you have made such a great start to you Christmas card list Lynda.  You are such and amazing crafter, you try just about every different craft medium at some point and make me want to buy them all!!

I would like to try all of the different techniques that you have used on your Challenge cards, your blended Oxide ink backgrounds are seamless, your blending is perfect and you choose perfect colour combinations too.

Thank you so much for your incredible contribution to this weeks Challenge Lynda.

XXX

 Margaret

Margaret did make two cards for this weeks Background Challenge but I just couldn't get the first one to upload.  We were having internet issues over the weekend, not sure if that was problem, I had trouble uploading Lorraine's too and had to get her to send it in a different format.  I will feature your card Margaret, one day in the week.

This card is so beautiful Margaret, using one of the Apple Blossom Embossing Folders from CraftStash to create the embossed background, Margaret has then added colour to the 'Let it Snow' text and the added tiny little delicate flowers all along the borders. 

Such a lovely Christmas card Margaret, thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge, I apologise about your first card though.

XXX

 Michele

Michele has used Indigo Blu 'Mega Flake' for the Background to her Challenge card, the dies Michele used is Sue Wilson 'Tiled Square' Striplet die.  

The Mega flakes give off so many different colours Michele, this would be a great Man card too.

Thank you so much for taking part.

XXX

Lorraine

Lorraine has made a lovely Christmas Slider card this week, that Penguin in the background is just so cute, as are the gifts.  Your 'Merry Christmas has a lovely font too.

Thank you so much for taking part Lorraine, it's lovely having you back on the list.

XXX

 Victoria

Victoria has gone for a super shiny background for her challenge card, she had the fantastic idea of using Tin Foil through the Stampin'Up! 'Tufted' embossing Folder.  It really is a great effect and makes a great background for your floral arrangement. I love your bright cheerful colours too.

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely.

XXX

Maria

Maria has made 4 amazing cards for this weeks Background Challenge, using a range of different techniques. 

Maria's first card has and embossed background with a lovely die cut sentiment, Maria that die is so pretty, can you tell what make it is please??

I want to thank you also for inspiring me.....I would have never thought about using that 'Netted Star' background die to just emboss with, it looks absolutely amazing as an embossed background and completely different to when it is die cut.  I would have never guessed that that was what you had used.

Maria's second card has a Gilding Flake background, I really love the effect they give, it looks so textured even though it is completely flat. I hope it wasn't too messy Maria!!

Maria's third card and this is a technique I am also definitely going to try...using Pixie Powders on Acetate with kitchen roll for texture, what an amazing effect!! Maria is going to turn this background into a Birthday card for Christian.

The fourth card has a beautifully stamped snowflake background, I love your random stamping Maria and the colours that you have used too.

Thank you so much for such a huge contribution to this weeks challenge my lovely.

XXX

Lilian

Lilian had used some of her gorgeous 'Graphic 45' papers for this weeks challenge card, I'm guessing that this card is winging it's way to someone special.  Lilian had stamped over the beautiful background with a lovely script style stamp, it really has enhanced the paper, giving it more detail and interest.

Thank you so much Lilian for another stunning Challenge card.

XXX

Brenda

WOW Brenda, two stunning cards from you for this weeks challenge, both using the same 'Wavy Lines' Mask but both look completely different.

Brenda has used the same mask for both cards, the first card has Black Texture paste through the mask, Brenda has them sprinkled Micro Beads on top of the Texture paste, It gives such a luxurious finish to the card.

The second card looks like gold or copper colour texture paste with micro beads on top too, the design is detailed enough that the cards just need a simple sentiment a beautiful floral arrangement, which Brenda gets absolutely spot on every time.

Thank you so much Brenda for sharing your cards for this weeks challenge, I have just bought some copper glitter texture paste and I will be giving this a go!

XXX

 Sue

Now I will admit that this was quite a surprise when it popped into my 'Whatsapp' box yesterday!

Because it certainly wasn't the card that Sue was working on on Wednesday! But I don't know why neither of us thought that she wouldn't be able to share the card she was 'actually' making, as it would spoil the surprise!! 

Anyway Sue said she quickly put this card together instead!!   it certainly doesn't looked 'quickly put together'!  But don't you think that's sometimes the way the best cards turn out, when we don't overthink what we are going to do?!

Sue had used the Crafters Companion 3D Snowflake Embossing Folder on white card, she then added CE Enriched Gold Metallic Gilding Wax over the Snowflakes, three different sized Cream Pearls in the centres of the snowflakes add that extra special finishing touch! The sentiment is Elizabeths Design 'Season's Greetings' die, die cut in gold glitter card, which works perfectly. Sue has then matted the top piece onto gold and then onto a white base card.

Sue what a stunning Christmas card, thats another one off your list, we will have to have a marathon Christmas card making day, everybody welcome!! 

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely, I know you weren't feeling great so I really appreciate you going to the trouble of making a replacement card.

XXX

WOW ladies an amazing 27 cards in this weeks challenge, thats just incredible, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the time and effort you put into making your cards, especially you Lynda, 8 cards all with different backgrounds must be some kind of record, I would love to have seen the state of your craft room afterwards!! 

I hope that you all have a lovely relaxed Sunday, Paul is hoping to go to the allotment today, after dropping the girls at the Wildlife Park.  We managed to get his Rotating Composter together yesterday (that I bought him for his birthday), it is really sturdy and has a really large capacity, it looks like a huge Tombola ticket holder!! The lawns in this house are rather large and we were struggling to find room to put grass clippings in our small composter, we have lots of trees too, so lots of leaves to be raked too, maybe I should get him one of those blowers for Christmas, mind you a vacuum would be better than a blower don't you think, do they make such a thing??

Our village hall had a Macmillan Coffee Morning yesterday, we managed to make it for the last hour, we were warmly greeted by Mr Sainsbury and his wife Sue and for the first time got to chat to quite a few of our neighbours.  They were telling us about different houses for sale and what a lovely place the village is at Christmas, they have a Christmas Carol group that go round all the houses, stopping at different places for Mulled wine and nibbles!! It's such a shame I can't sing a note! Can you imagine poor Paul's face as he wheeled me round the village!! Hehehe 

It was nice to feel welcome though, we bought a rather delicious Lemon sponge cake ( it was a posh one from a Garden centre), I think I have mentioned before that I have a thing about buying homemade cakes from unknown origin!! You just never know, my Mum's friend always brings her apple pies that she has made that seem to have more hair in than apple! Such a shame as I am sure Mum would love to eat them. 

Karen I hope you have had a lovely crafty weekend with your friend, I bet you were crafting into the night, crafting is so  much more fun with friends, thats why I value Sue and Pat coming over, although I have missed Pat since before we went away.  I can't wait to see the results of your weekends crafting xxx

Pat I do hope that you and Pete are managing to enjoy the weekend after your busy week at the hospital, sending you both hugs xxx

Brenda your Foamiran Rose was absolutely stunning, John was right, it looked freshly picked, I will share it with the ladies next Saturday, thank you for sending me a photo, did you use the Silk Foam we bought at Ally Pally, also did you heat it?? xxx

Enjoy your Sunday ladies,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx