Your Challenge Cards

Good Morning Ladies,

Here we are at our favourite post of the week,  I really enjoyed making my card, the challenge gave my mojo a boost too.

Let's get straight on with the show, we have some of the lovely ladies from our Facebook group joining in today too.....

Janet 

Here are my CCs for this week.

For my first card I used:- Texture/Neutral/Birthday.

for my second  card I used:-Circles/flowers/ribbon

For my last card I use:-Texture/Circle/Birthday/Ribbon

Janet, thank you so much for three gorgeous cards.

I hope your journey is going smoothly, we couldn't have timed our long travel days worse, I'm guessing you had it even hotter than we did !   Hopefully today will be a little cooler for you. Safe travels my lovely XXX

Lynda

Lynda has chosen a gorgeous,  fresh, summery colour for the theme for her challenge card.

Lynda's description:

My CC

I Used the mask

Geometric star

With soft green crackle paste

Flowers from wish

I put some crackle past on some white card & when dry cut the flowers out & small circles from wish. Hope that makes sense.

Lynda, thank you so much for making such a beautiful card for this weeks challenge XXX

Michele

Michele has designed two lovely Feline themed cards for this weeks challenge, both cards feature some lovely crisp embossing,  some pretty gingham ribbon and those cute Cat silhouette die cuts. 

Thanks Michele for two fantastic cards and for taking part despite being so unwell XXX

Lesley 

Lesley did something I  have never seen before for her stunning challenge card, she took the categories quite literally, each square of her card represents the corresponding category on the grid!! 

What an inspired idea Lesley, absolutely brilliant,  I love your card!

Thank you so much for taking part XXX 

Toni

Toni made this absolutely gorgeous card for this weeks challenge, I love the vintage/mixed media look you have designed. All the elements you have used wprk together beautifully. 

Thank you so much fo

At 3am this morning I had an idea so I got up and made this, not quite as I planned as I didn't have everything I needed, but near enough. I hope you like it. I didn't bother going back to bed as it was 6.30 by the time I'd finished it. Flowers/texture /neutral. Tic tac toe

Melanie 

Melanie your card is simply stunning,  I love the shape, the colour and your design.

Melanie's Description below:

Made a start...Circles, Birthday, neutrals, flowers/ribbon/Human animal, textured card...more to follow, enjoying this x

Thank you so much for taking part Melanie xxx

Ladies what a lovely display of incredibly beautiful cards, thank you so very much for the time and effort you have put in to supporting the challenge each week. 

As i writing this we are 2 hours into our journey home from my Mum's,  it is 9.10pm and 29 degrees !! I can't wait to get home, shower and collapse into bed !

A relaxed day for us today I think! 

I hope you all have a lovely relaxing Sunday too.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Craft Saturday with Michele's Magazine Review

Danielle 

Good morning Ladies,

I hope that you have all planned  to do something to do in the cool today, unlike Janet and I who will be sitting in a hot car for most of the day, well Janet will be travelling a few hours more than we will (I hope)! Our journey is about 160 Miles each way to my Mum's and then another 30 miles  on to my sister Emily's house, so all in all around 380 Miles for us, on the hottest day of the year!! I think we are planning leaving early before it gets too warm. I am looking forward to seeing my sisters new house and celebrating Mum's birthday with everyone.

Danielle made her first Exploding Box last week, I have added photos above, its amazing, there's lots of places to put photos and keepsakes so would be a lovely wedding  gift or even for someone going on a special trip or to a special event.

As always Danielle has done a YouTube video showing you how to make it, she has always re-started her Blog and would really appreciate you stopping by.

Here is the link:

DaniellejRose.blogspot.com

Michele's magazine review 

Hi Ladies,

Double the amount of craft magazine review today.

Papercraft Inspirations has a brilliant set of Tropical stamps this month.

Here’s some ideas from the magazine.

Making Cards & Papercraft has some very modern papers free this month.

The article below shows you what you can make using one set of the papers.

This is the feature using the second set of papers.

Interesting article on Embossing, great results without having to buy an expensive foiling machine.

That’s all for now,
Happy Crafting

Michele 

Two fantastic magazine reviews Michele, thank you so much,  I really wasnt expecting one this week with you being under the weather,  so an extra HUGE thankyou coming your way xxxxx

Michele's Prize

Michele wss lucky enough to win a prize over on Sue Wilson's Blog, she recently launched her Christmas 2019 die collection.  Michele won this lovely Ponsettia Square die, I think this would look lovely with some Crystal Tints.

I can't wait to see what you do with it Michele, thank you for sh

Thats all for today ladies, I hope that you all enjoy the glorious weather while it lasts,

Love and hugs to all of you

Sandra
xxxxxxx

Something A bit different for me and Next Weeks Challenge

Good Morning Ladies,

WooHoo it's Friday!!! Thank goodness its almost the weekend, we are going to be busy as it's my Mums Birthday so we are off to Colchester tomorrow, we are going to be picking Mum up and taking her over to my Sister Emily's new home for a Barbecue, my Brother and Niece and are hopefully coming too, so it should be really nice, the weather is supposed to be lovely too, the only down side is that my sisters house is half an hour on from my Mum's so that will put another hour of travelling time on to the day.

Today's card is very different for me but I absolutely loved making it, I ordered the Woodware Clear Singles 'Afternoon Tea' stamp from Ben at In2craft, with some Distress Oxide Sprays, I used all of those to make todays card, I started by spritzing a piece of white card with Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide Sprays, I dried it and rubbed over it with an anti static bag before stamping the that gorgeous stamp over the inky background, I added clear Embossing powder and heat set. I mounted this piece onto a black layer and set to one side while I made my background piece.  I used the same inks but this time sprayed them through a mask and then I took a butterfly and post mark stamp to create a background, I dried it with my heat tool, I used a Tim Holts Background die to cut those background pieces, to give some interest, I didn't want my sentiment to obscure my focal point so I used the Intricutz 'Intricate Sentiment' die set, you can use both the letters that cut out and the waste as the main focus with this set. I placed the sentiment around the corner, for a different look.
I wanted to add something in the bottom corner so I coloured some white seam binding with the leftover ink on my craft mat, spritzed with some water, I scrunched the ribbon into the inky mess and dried it with my heat tool!
A couple of gem stones finish my card, I hope you like this different look.

Next Weeks Challenge

A simple challenge for this  week, I thought we should go for a  'Colour Theme'  Challenge.

I would like you to make a card using 'Shades of  any colour you choose' , I went for Shades of 'Green' for my card.
You can add Black and White to your cards too, you the 'Shades' are  your accent colour.

I am looking forward to seeing your cards ladies,

Have  a lovely day, try and stay cool,

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Rambling Rose card

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all well, how is your week going so far?

Yesterday turned out to be a lovely day, Sue came over, we have fun packed day, I can't remember everything we did but we had cuppa and a catch up, then had some lunch and another cuppa, then we got onto the subject of 'is it a plant or a weed?'  as Sue asked we what one of the weeds was called in the garden, well in the back its dispersed like a weed but in the front it's in the borders, its called ''Fox & Cubs''

It referred to it as a Perennial Plant of the Daisy family, when the heads go to seed they look like dandelion clocks.  So would this be a weed or a plant to you??

This  next one is called Purple Toadflax and is a Plant of the 'Plantain family, again it doesn't refer to it as a weed but we have had this in several of our gardens, it springs up in the oddest places so we thought that this was also a weed, how about you?!

After we had done the 'Horticultural' part of our day we went out to watch the lambs, one of which is super friendly and comes up to you for a fuss, she likes her head scratched bless her.  

Now it was time to craft, we were playing with Foamiran making flowers, I was making a royal mess with my Distress Oxide Sprays, I did make some lovely coloured flowers though, Sue was beavering away making flowers too, before we knew it, it was 6pm and time to pack up.  

Those few hours absolutely flew by and boy did we put the world to rights!!

Thanks Sue for a lovely afternoon xxx

After Sue had gone I realised that with all my experimenting with flowers and making a mess, I hadn't made a card for the blog today, so after dinner I went back into the craft room, not realising that it was after 9pm, I emerged at 11.50pm with the card above, I just can't do 'Quick Cards', I am far too indecisive, you know it took me about 40 mins to decide on which background paper to use, let alone which one of 5 Flower Edger dies!

I decided to go with the 'Rambling Rose' Edger Die (creative expressions), the background paper is from 'The Paper Boutique' its called 'Springtime Blooms', I liked this particular sheet as it was a lovely shade of pink with Polka Dots and it also had a gorgeous flower border which I thought added some lovely detail to the edge of the card.

The only trouble was that I did not have the right shade of pink ribbon to tie a bow, so I went routing again and found my old faithful Sue Wilson Bow Die and cut a bow that matched perfectly out of the same paper, I finished it with a little pearl heart  and the 'Just for You' sentiment.

I hope that you like my late night make, I hope I don't wake in the morning and find that all the colours are wrong in natural light!!

A much quieter day today, as we had a very disturbed night after getting back from the Cinema on Tuesday evening, we got in at about midnight, so Paul made a cup of tea and we went straight to bed after, Milo was in and out and up and down and just wouldn't settle, he then disappeared for about half hour, so we thought 'peace at last', I heard him come back in, now Milo is a creature of habit, he does the same thing every night, he comes back in for a 'wee and a biscuit' and then goes back out, (I think we have the only cats that will only ever go to the toilet in their litter tray, they will not do it outside), anyway I go hear him bouncing around the hall so I woke Paul and said that I thought Milo was playing with 'something' in the hall, so Paul gets up, I hand him my phone torch and he goes to investigate, ''quick get a box'' was all I heard, so I asked if he could catch it, Paul thought it was dead, until Milo let it go and it ran into the lounge, where Paul, the mouse, Milo and a little while later Bella too remained for the next 90 minutes, it was about 3.45am when Paul finally got back into bed, so Milo is back to being 'frisked' before entering!  Flippin Cat!!   Needless to say that Paul was exhausted when he came home from work last night.

Michele, I hope you are feeling better today my lovely xxx

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

My Challenge Card

Good Morning Ladies,

I finally made my card for this weeks TicTacToe Challenge, I chose Categories:  Neutrals/Texture/Ribbon.

I used a Wreath die that I bought from the 'Inloveartshop.com'  shop on AliExpress, it's the one that Danielle is on the DT team for, it is such a big solid die, I was really surprised when I opened it, they weren't the £1/£2 dies that you some times see on AE but was still only around £5 which is still amazing price for such a big sturdy die. So I based my card around this die, I also wanted to use Kraft Card to go with that lovely Hessian Ribbon that was an amazing bargain if you look at the background of my card there are two ribbons, the hessian/burlap ribbon on a neutral cotton ribbon with a pretty scalloped edge, I got both of these from the Wedding Section in Home Bargains, you get 3metres for around £1, its really great quality too, the hessian feels almost wired (it isn't) as it holds its shape beautifully.
So I folded an A4 piece of Kraft card in half to make an A5 card and used a piece of the A3 peaches and pinks Crafters Companion card that I have almost run out of! I wanted a script type look in the background and that piece worked beautifully, I inked around the edges and added it to my card base, I then layered the two ribbons up and placed them down the length of the card and die cut two of the wreaths and layered them for strength and attached them to my card front, adding foam pads for dimension.  I decided to keep the colours fairly neutral and love how it turned out, all of those flowers that I have used are from a company called 'Little Birdie', both The Range and Hobbycraft stock them, they are really great quality flowers, so I arranged a few of them around my wreath frame.  I die cut a flag style label and added 'With Love' which is made up of totally different die sets, I coloured it with Distress Oxide ink to match my flowers.
I added three more little flowers in the bottom corner of my card with some leaves, for some extra colour and interest.
I tied a bow with the hessian ribbon and attached it to the top of the ribbon border, I then had a bit of an issue as I had run out of the yellow flowers, so I found a similar shaped flower die and die cut a couple, coloured them with the same Distress Oxide ink as I used for the sentiment, I gave the flower a bit of a scrunch and popped a sparkle in the centre, it doesn't look too out of place does it?!

I did have a much quieter day yesterday, I went Dr's with Lucy, then spent the rest of the day pottering around, I finally got the inspiration to make my challenge card and thoroughly enjoyed making it.
Paul came home and fancied going to the cinema for a change so that's what we did, it didn't start until 9.30pm though, so a late night for us!!
I think I have Matt and the girls home today, so no peace and quiet here!

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxx

Lynda's last 2 challenge cards

Good Morning Ladies,

Oh my goodness wasn't it humid yesterday,  it was hard to do anything,  mind you I think that was partly down to me trying to help paul in the garden yesterday, I can't remember the last time my back and hip hurt that much, it may also have been travelling down to Bournemouth with Sophie on Friday, the journey ended up taking 5 hours altogether and her car is very low down for me, she is a very confident, safe driver, I felt totally at ease.

So I started my day feeling very tired, stiff and very sore, Paul just said  "just lay down and relax today......that turned out to be a bit of a joke......

As Paul left our bedroom he almost tripped over a dead mouse and shrew,  just outside our bedroom door, not the best thing to see as you open your eyes,  i was awake most of the night and Milo was very active, in and out all night!  So Paul despatched the 'gifts' that milo had treated us to, as he did that he disturbed the lambs, who started holloring! 

Matt was here as he had day off to move some sheep, so he quieted them down,  peace at last (7:30am) all was quiet for a few hours and after breakfast and a chat, I took some pain killers and went for a lie down to watch some craft tv, I must have nodded off  as I awoke with a start to a very loud noise, one of the lambs had the confidence to just walk in and was outside my bedroom door!! My poor heart!! 

Lucy came flying down stairs and we encouraged her outside, she was one of our babies so she is very friendly bless her.

Peace was reinstated, we all went back to what we were doing for an hour or so,  then Sophie and Lewis were going to watch a movie in the lounge and the next thing i heard was "OH NO, OH NO, OH NO MUUUUM" , i made my way to the lounge to be told that Milo was playing with a live mouse in the lounge floor, it was currently under the coffee table!  As i am writing  this some 90 minutes later, they have moved all the furniture in the lounge and the mouse is still at large!! Thankfully Paul will be home very soon.

What a day so far! Can you top that?? 

Onto the highlight of the day....Lynda's last two  "Favourite' Challenge cards.

Two more beautiful cards from Lynda,  both completely different styles, showing how wide Lynda's range of craft techniques reaches.
I will add Lynda's description below:

My CC no 3:  beautiful you SU stamp Blended background with distress oxide
Fossilised Amber &
Carved pumpkin
Frame & corners from stash

No 4: Die from wish l placed over some Northern lights paper then put foam pads on & put that on another one of same paper

Thank you so much Lynda for 2 more stunning challenge cards. XXX

I am hoping for a quieter day today ladies, maybe I shouldn't say that!!

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you

Sandra
xxxxxx

Lynda's Challenge cards

Good Morning Ladies, 

It turned out to be quite a lovely weekend weather wise, Sunday wasn't as nice as Saturday, we had a few spilits of rain here and there during the afternoon but nothing much, it really felt like there was a storm brewing though but as I am writing this post there was no sign of a storm, it just feels very 'close and humid'.  

Matt moved four lambs back to the garden on Saturday to take advantage of the very long,  lush green grass, they have had their heads down munching away constantly since they arrived.  Hopefully it will fatten tjem up before they go off to live with the rest of the flock in the fields.

Today's cards are Lynda's 'Favourite' Challenge  cards that she designed for last weeks challenge,  I had definitely downloaded them so I have no idea why they didn't make it onto the list,  the upside of my error is that Lynda's cards get to be the main feature of today's post, in fact I have split them into two seperate posts (as it maked life so much easier for me)!

I will add Lynda's descriptions below:

No 1 I Blended some of base card stamped  a Heartfelt Creations stamp. In black embossed with clear powder. Then die cut happy birthday put on right & a couple of sequins.

No 2  I used a background stamp which I hadn't used before. Then stamped base card then used two flower stamps from stash lightly coloured in with water colour pencils

Lynda, I love both of your cards today,  I am pretty sure I have that Heartfelt Creations stamp, You have inspired me to go and dig it out as I love what you have done with it.

I love the background of your second card too, it works beautifully with those wild flowers that you have watercoloured perfectly, the colours really 'pop' against that script background .

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely,  to make 4 challenge cards while being in so much pain is a huge acheivement, I really do appreciate it. XXX 

I am hoping to get my craft room unpacked and back to a workable state today, we spent most of weekend outside so it never got done after BT came.  Then I will sit and make my challenge card.

I hope you have  lovely day too,

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx

Your Challenge Cards

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

Well I loved this Challenge and it looks like you all did too, some lovely cards this week, thank you so much ladies xx

Karen

Karen really enjoyed this challenge, although I think she was like me in that she just couldn't pick one particular thing as a favourite!

Cards 1 & 2:  These two are with the very first stamp I ever bought because I loved it so much I haven’t ever used it much before getting a stamping platform! It’s by JL when he was at CE

I was watching Phill Martin yesterday and he stamped with a couple of DO’s So I have used Picked Raspberry and Wild Honey on one and Broken China on the other The sentiments are Hunky Dory in the The appropriate colours and heat embossed
I used. Nuvo drops Another happy accident I thought the stamping was dry but can you see how the drops have picked up some of the colour underneath
Drops = Gloss white and Carnation pink and Caribbean ocean

Card 3:  Here’s a cc using my favourite Christmas die from Intricate Crafts and my favourite EF SW’s lattice snowflake The background is Serif I spritzed it with water before I embossed it - happy accident it lifted the ink and looks like a DO background! I lightly sanded it to reveal white card underneath

The die makes simple but very effective cards Ideal for batch making

Card 4:  Another friend became a grandmother for the first time last Thursday so I made a card over the weekend using my all time favourite New Baby dies They’re by Sue W

Thank you so Karen for 4 amazing cards, I love your favourites, I can also see why they are your favourites as you have made some amazing cards with them. XXX

Janet

Janet also loved this Challenge and she chose her Favourite card style = Vintage.

I am very much with you on this one Janet, anything that requires lace and flowers is a favourite in my books too!

Janet's Description: 

For all three Challenge Cards I have used 'LA BLANCHE' for the toppers.

The backing papers/flowers/stick pins/lace etc have all come from my stash.

Three lovely, lovely, lovely cards Janet, thank you sooooo much for taking part xxx

Lilian

Now I gave myself a little 'pat on the back' as I correctly predicted Lilian's 'Favourites, hahah

But once again I can see why they are your favourites Lilian, firstly those Stamperia Papers, in fact ANY Stamperia papers would top my favourite list, I have loved every single one that you have used to date.

As for your Watercoloured card, it speaks for its self, if you hadn't told us we would never have know that the card had has a skydiving adventure! The colours look very much like Old Olive and Berry Burst but I am probably wrong, I can tell you that have used MY favourite Spellbinders Die ever as your frame.  Your fussy cutting is incredible too, oh how I would love to open that card on my birthday! 

Lilian thank you so very much for taking part, I honestly love opening your emails and waiting in anticipation as your cards download. xxx

Margaret 

Margaret, I am so thrilled to see that you are back in your crafting seat, I have really missed your cards each week my lovely.  You have come back with two amazing cards too.

I know that both of these cards feature your Favourite Stampin Up Punch, it's called 'Lovely Label' and thats a perfect description for it, it's also so convenient having a punch for sentinments, particularly for you who is not fully back into card making, so haven't got all your Gemini plates to mess with etc.

I believe that you have used your Favourite 'Sweet Treats' paper pack too.

Thank you so much Margaret, it's great having you back on the display xxx

Michele 

Two familiar Favourites from Our Michele, firstly Michele's favourite and 'Go To' Designer ……..
Ella's Design.
The second Favourite featured in Michele's cards is the animals, Michele loves both Hedgehogs and Squirrels.
I love both of these cards Michele and can see why Ella's Design makes it to the top of your Favourites list.
Thank you so much for taking part my lovely xxx

Brenda

Brenda has turned back to some of Sue Wilson's original and best (in my opinion) dies, The 'New York ' collection, for her favourites and has selected two of the most exquisite cards as examples. Your cards are just pure elegance Brenda, adding the simple, delicate lace between the layers lifts the card to something special, the thing that makes these cards really special is Brenda's handmade ribbon roses.

Thank you so much Brenda, for sharing your beautiful cards xxx

Sue

Sue has shared her 'Favourites' with us too, she has made two fantastic cards to show her choices....

The First of Sue's cards is the amazing Anniversary card that she made for Chris as they celebrated their 33rd Wedding Anniversary,  Sue this card is brilliant,  I love it, adding the hint of pink as a reminder of your wedding colours, I also  love how you have used the sentiment, sending 33 hugs!! 

Sue's second card uses one of her favourite  'go to' dies that was a magazine freebie.  O teally love that die, it can be used for so many occasions, i can see why its a favourite.  

Thank you so much Sue for taking part. Also congratulations for your 33rd Anniversary xxxxx

Maria

Maria made time during her packing and preparing for her holiday to make her challenge card this week.  I knew that one of Maria's favourites would be 'cute images', you have made some gorgeous cute cards Maria. 

This card is just so pretty as well as featuring a cute elephant,  I love the green background which you have accented perfectly with those gorgeous pink flowers.

Thank you so much my lovely.  I hope you and Rik have a lovely holiday, I wonder how much it has changed since you two met there all those years ago?! Xxx

Ladies, what an incredible display of cards this week, I can totally see why you all have your favourites, your cards definitely show how much you enjoyed making them.

Thank you all so much!!

Well done Michele, you had a great sale table this time, so pleased for you xxx 

Sending love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx