Things with Wings inspiration...

 

Good Morning Ladies,

It sounds like you are all experiencing this unusually good weather for a Bank Holiday weekend, it was so warm out in the garden yesterday afternoon, I did wonder if we were going to see the sun as early morning was very overcast and breezy, but fortunately it really did brighten up, in fact Paul and I were really hot as we attempted to weed under the Leylandii trees in the front garden, I don't think that anyone has had a fork in that soil for a good 10 years, it's a mass of compacted roots, Ivy that has hit the ground and set down roots everywhere, brambles and Clover, the clover must be a really invasive spreading plant, I have never seen it so prolific.  We managed to get most of the weeds out, enough to sow a box of Bee attracting Wildflower seeds all over the surface and rake them in, fingers crossed we will get some colour at some point, I quite fancy sowing some wild poppy seeds, my Nan used to grow the most incredible poppies, with really densely packed flowers, they were beautiful.

More of the same for us today, the garden jobs just never stop coming, we didn't intend to do the front garden yesterday, I suggested transplanting some of the Golden Rod to that border and we just carried on weeding.  What are you all up to? Did any of you spend the day with family?

I didn't get a card made yesterday as the day just disappeared, so I am sharing some of  my older 'Things With Wings' challenge cards in hope that they may inspire some of you, I have included a few different techniques from Gold embossed backgrounds to Inky backgrounds and some layered stamped backgrounds too. 

Tomorrow we are starting a New Feature suggested by Michele, this first one is  really lovely Fun Fold that Michele has written a tutorial for, so that's something to look forward to.

I hope that you all enjoy the Bank Holiday Monday,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                                                                                          xxxxxx

Your Tag Challenge cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you all enjoyed the warm day yesterday,  we were a bit cloudy and overcast but it was really pleasant to be out in the garden.  We popped put to a village plant sale and then had to go and get some Gro Bags and some pots for my grasses that have really outgrown their original pots.  We spent the rest of the day in the garden.

Now let's look at what you have all been creating....

Brenda 

Brenda's Description:

This is a challenge card, I did make a second one but not happy with it. You will recognise the die I just can’t put it down it’s so lovely, I’ve had the ombré backing paper for ever! I just gave it a little more Ingres using a Julie Hickey stencil.

Oh Brenda I totally get why you love this stamp set, it's one of my favourites too.  I love the colours you have used too thank you so much for taking part XXX

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

"This is my attempt at a tag, Stamperia papers as usual.
Thought I would make more over time and mount them on a canvas, as I have loads of cards already finished.  That way I get to keep my own art work."

Lilian your tag is so beautiful I love the papers you have used and I think that mounting them on a canvas is a brilliant idea, thank you so much for taking part XXX 

Janet 

Janet's Description:

Janet your tag is so pretty, everything works together perfectly. 

Your little Mug Rug is gorgeous,  what a brilliant way to take those first steps into quilting too, you have really inspired me thank you so much XXX 

Karen 

Karen's Description:

Card 1: Oh well I’ve had a go It took me all afternoon to decide what colour to back it all Kraft card seemed too pale to show the stitching (die) So one page of the Stamperia papers and the dies are either x-cut or do-crafts.

Card 2: 

The 4x6 card is almost a copy of a Julie Hickey design I used card that had been Pixie Powdered I stamped the Daisy Tag twice and cut out A Honey Doo cabochon in the centre I had already printed the sentiment and also used pale pink pearls

Oh Karen I love your Mixed Media piece,  those Stamperia papers are beautiful,  I love the stitch die you have used too. It looks so realistic. All of the elements work together perfectly. Your second card is lovely,  so colourful too, I have this stamp and I have lacked inspiration,  you have inspired me to get it out and have a play, thank you XXX 

Michele 

Michele's Description:

Challenge card-I used the free gift from this month’s issue of Diecutting Essentials. Background paper from my extensive stash of papers, flowers cut out of scraps of coloured card. Sentiment cut in white & pink then offset. Added a few tiny gemstones to finish the card

Thank you Michele,  I really do like that beautiful floral die, the colours you have used work perfectly too. What brand is your sentiment die please? XXX 

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

Here are my challenge cards:
I used the stampers anonymous/Tim Holtz Fragments stamp to create my background. The tag was from a pack, and I inked both in a mix of Milled Lavender and Dusty Concorde distress inks. The flowers are Becca Feeken’s Cinch and Go.
A Christmas card, loosely based on Anna Marie’s sample card using Spellbinders dies, Memory Box snowflakes and Sue Wilson’s snowflake border. The papers from my stash.

Sonia you have some beauty lace dies, they really do make a card look extra special, I have a Joanna Sheen that I always forget to use.   The Deer die you have used for your Christmas card is one of my favourite Spellbinders Christmas dies, it's such an elegant looking Deer. Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX 

Maria

Maria's Description:

My card is made up with CE Twill Weave Embossing folder,Hobby Crafts

Sunflower stamp and the Tag is one I found in my stash.

Thank you so much Maria,  I know you have been busy preparing for your new house guest!  I am sure it will all go well, we have done it a couple of times, it's ok once you become comfortable with them being there.  I love your card the lattice background must have taken ages, it really works though, such a bright and cheerful card XXX 

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Thank you so much Ladies,  it's hard to stay in your craft room when the sun is shining, so I really appreciate that you took the time to take part.

I hope you a have a lovely Sunday, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday featuring Michele's Magazine Review

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

I know that for most of us the long weekend doesn't seem much different to any other weekend, for me I get the added bonus of spending an extra day with Paul, as he is going into the office most days of the week now as well as working at home!  So I am very much looking forward to 3 whole days of having him all to myself, we will be spending most of it tending to the jungle that has appeared as a result of all the rain we have had this past month.  

How true is that craft statement above, I have whipped my phone out on many occasions while out shopping when I have seen something I love but could easily make myself.  I also spent a lot more time searching Pinterest than I do searching Google!! I don't have paint in my hair but I would say that I spend at least 2 days a week with ink stained fingers!!  How many apply to you??? 

Karen

I have two great craft projects from Karen this week, the first is a TOTALLY GENIUS idea that Karen thought of to entertain Oscar.....

Karen's Description:

 

I have just finished making these for Oscar He loves loves loves Strictly and knows all of the judges and dancers names He now recognised number I made some out of cardboard last weekend and wouldn’t put them down

Alan suggested table tennis bats and sourced these paddles that were a lot cheaper and came in packs if 6 They are a perfect size

I printed off the numbers and words (thought it might help with the written word) and stuck them to one side. 

Such a brilliant idea Karen, they look really professionally made too, you are so creative, I bet Oscar loves them ❤

Karen's second project is this lovely Bag, I absolutely love it, I think yellow looks lovely with denim, this would be a perfect little summer handbag.

Karen's Description:

Here’s the bag at long last! The colour of the cotton yarn is not my cup of tea I ordered it to make boobies thinking is was a bright yellow! It’s lined using a pair of jeans All I bought is the zip and binding to prevent stretch It’ll be handy when I go to Salsa for my phone and glucose kit No one else will have one like it We’re forever looking under tables in the dark looking for black handbags and shoes at the end of the  evening!

Lots of mistakes but learned loads

Thank you so much Karen for sharing your lovely projects with us 🥰 XXX 

Michele's Magazine Review 

Hi Ladies 

Diecutting Essentials has a lovely Art Nouveau peony die free this month.

Here’s some ideas of what’s inside the magazine.

First feature using the free gift-there’s some lovely card ideas.

More inspiration and not just cards this time.

Lovely pastel shades used on these card ideas.

Dry embossing using your dies creates some lovely cards & so easy to do.

Use your dies & offset them -look
At the effect it creates, just stunning.

WOW-the flower is all made from paper!!’

Different ideas using Alphabet dies. Great inspiration for cards for men.

More ideas.

Flip Flop cards-this stunning technique is quite easy to do and produces amazing cards

Create your own “embossing folders” to produce some lovely backgrounds.

More inspiration.

Card ideas for Father’s Day.

More ideas.

That’s all for this week so
Happy Crafting.

Love Michele

Another amazing Magazine Review Michele, the free die is lovely and so are all of the inspirational projects that have been made using it.  I would love to find out more about using your dies to get the quilted effect on your cards.  Some great ideas and features.  Thank you so much Michele for writing the review ❤XXX

Ladies don't forget to take a quick photo of your crafty shopping to share with us, it's always lovely to see what you are all buying! 

I hope that the Sun shines for all of you and that you have a lovely weekend, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx                            

Your Next Challenge

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are all well, I know it's swear word day for some of you,  I must admit that there is something really satisfying about having the house all neat and tidy with fresh bedding etc ready for the weekend, so we can think about something other than hoovering, dusting and laundry over the weekend,  mind you I always get up on a Monday and go through the house ready for the week ahead.  

It was lovely to see the sun again yesterday and we had another day without rain 😯, I really hope that it stays dry and warm over the weekend, I had actually forgotten that it was a Bank Holiday so that feels like an extra bonus to me!  Then that's another month over, I can hardly believe that we will be in June!  This year barely seems like its started and we are half way through almost!! 

Your Next Challenge 

Chosen by Karen...

I asked for some suggestions for this next Challenge and Karen kindly suggested......

Things with Wings 

So I look forward to seeing your Butterflies 🦋 Dragonflies, Birds 🐦 Bees 🐝  Fairies 🧚‍♂️🧚‍♀️, Dragons 🐉, Airplanes ✈ or anything else that you can think of. 

Thank you Karen for choosing this weeks Challenge, If anyone else would like to choose a Challenge just let me know xxx

I hope that you all have an amazing weekend, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

My final Tag card for this Challenge

 

🎉🎊🎈Happy Birthday Maria🎈🎊🎉

Good Thursday Morning Ladies, 

Please join me in wishing our Lovely Maria a Very Happy Birthday,  I hope that you have a fun day with family, something good to eat and maybe even a little bit of cake 🎂 XXX 

I hope that you are all well, gentle hugs on the way to Margaret,  Lynda and anyone else feeling under the weather.

We had a whole day without rain yesterday,  I feel like that announcement should have started with a fanfare!! 

Today's card is a little 'OTT' I guess but I do love it, it's inspired by Anna Marie, she was on Create and Craft yesterday,  I actually only watch when either Anna Marie or Amanda from Honey Doo is on! I do record them so that I can whizz past the annoying presenters, how the demonstrators keep their patience is beyond me.  There are a few on Craft Store that make me smile, I do like Adam, he is just so funny! He doesn't try and steal the show like some others do!                                                                 The dies I used for this card are all Anna Marie Designs apart from the Tim Holtz tag dies.  I am really experimenting with mixing Blue and Brown, not a combination I have really used but I love it. This is also the first time I did the 'drawing a sketchy line with a fine liner thing', I was a bit nervous but I just went for it, it actually turned out ok. 

I hope that you all have a lovely day, especially you Maria 💗😘

Love and Hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

A tag card without a tag!

 

Good Morning Ladies 

I hope that you are all well my lovelies, I know that we are all getting a bit sick of this terrible weather, we haven't gotten around to preparing the actual vegetable plot yet as we are waiting for the Purple Sprouting Broccoli to finish, the weeds around the Broccoli beds are out of control, they have shot up over the past 2 weeks, I swear that the grass looking weeds are virtually knee height! The good thing is that the ground is so soft that even the toughest weeds are just pulling out so easily that it won't take long to clear it.  Our strawberries are looking the best they ever have, we just need a little sunshine to ripen them!  We are going to net them this weekend so that the birds don't get them before we do.  Another job to add to Paul's list! Fingers crossed that if won't be pouring with rain. 

Now on to today's card, I thought that I would make something to show that you don't necessarily need an actual 'Tag' die to create a Tag for your card. 

I reached for one of my favourite Stampin Up! Stamps  Art Gallery (for today, I will have another favourite tomorrow)! I stamped the flowers and stem and die cut them to add to my tag (label), I used colours that feature in my background paper, Island Indigo and Pool Party. I popped foam pads behind the flower and stem and placed it on my tag, I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with one of the dies that come in the Art Gallery die set, I took my base card 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches and matted and layered my patterned paper and a piece of the Island indigo card for contrast. I used the Island Indigo ink to colour some of the seam binding ribbon to tie through the tag with a piece of white too. 

I hope that you like the card and that it gives you a little inspiration if you don't have a Tag die.

I hope that you all have an enjoyable day, fingers crossed for sunshine,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

An old Tag card

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

I have used an old tag card today for a couple of reasons really, I ended up having a bit of a delayed start to my day as I had a second night with no sleep at all, I'm not sure if its a reaction to the Vaccination or not to be honest but my heart has played up at night for last couple of nights Sunday night was worse, my body also itched terribly from head to toe, it was so frustrating! As a result I just couldn't summon the enthusiasm to make a card, I sat at my desk for a couple of hours but I felt like a zombie!  

After lunch I had a play with the Kaleido machine, so far so good, it does look like you can only use Crafts Too foils though,  I tried a couple of others but they foil stuck to the whole piece rather than just the stamped area. It worked great with Kaleido foil though.  I have used some of the 'Magic Medium' with a stencil and set it to dry overnight so I will update you on that tomorrow.

Today's card details....

The card is made from another Graceful Glass panel that I coloured with Gorgeous Grape and a mix of Lemon Lime Twist and Granny Apple Green, both lovely shades of green, I used watercolour pencils blended with SU Blender pens to colour the Iris and its foliage, I backed the panel with whisper white card and then used Lemon Lime Twist card as my base card and added a matt of white and then Gorgeous Grape, I used Lemon Lime Twist ribbon and used the same colours to make the tag, which I stamped with a sentiment from 'Vertical Greetings'. I finished the card with some Glittered Gems

I have to say that I love this card as much today as I did back in 2018, I think it's the colours and the simplicity.

I had an early night last night, so fingers crossed today I will be ready for a day of creativity! 🤞

I hope that you all have a good day, it would be lovely to see some 🌞 sunshine!

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx 

A Mixed Media Tag card

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

Well what a wash out of a day yesterday was, Paul managed to plant out 32 Sweetcorn plants and I potted up some Geraniums and a few other pots but the rain just became too heavy,  I am pretty sure that the river will have burst its banks overnight because around here the ground is so saturated there is nowhere for the water to go, fingers crossed the news reports of a dry/sunny June are true! 🤞 

Now onto today's card, I started making it on Friday after I opened my parcel from Ben at In2Craft, I have had my eye on Sam Poole's latest stamp collection for a while and I saw that Ben had them at a great price so I had to have them, a while back Karen, Lilian and I were looking at a new line that Stamperia had bought out, I got the 'Journal ' ones, Karen and Lilian were thinking about getting the Sewing themed ones.  I was so pleased that the Journal ones went really well with the Sam Poole stamps, so this is where my card started, I puck 2 pieces of the paper pad and tore  strip off of each tp fit my card base, I inked around the papers with Vintage photo Distress ink, making sure to highlight the torn edge too. I picked a few stamps and added those to different places on the card and on the tag, for some extra texture and detail I die cut some Kraft card with Sam Poole's Cheesecloth die, I inked it with vintage photo and hit bits of it with gold gilding wax, I ended up edging the tag, the torn edges and a few of the elements with wax to tie everything together.   I placed bits of the cheesecloth die cut under opposite corners of the tag, then I found some wide canvas style ribbon so I wrapped some around the tag and used a piece to stamp  'wildflower' on and added it to the bottom left of the card. I used a chipboard piece from the Stamperia Collection to add a sentiment to my tag, the flower beside it is a chipboard too, I did edge both with ink and the tiniest bit of Gilding wax.  To finish the tag I used some seam binding ribbon that I had added a little vintage photo to to make it less white, I also added some twine for that rustic look. I used foam pads to adhere my tag to my card. I really enjoyed making this card. 

Sam Poole's Butterfly Walk

Sam Poole's Nature Finds

Stamperia Romantic/Journal 6 x 6 paper pad

These are the main products I used to make my card, if you would like to have a closer look I have left the links to the products underneath,  just click the blue text and it will take you straight to the product on In2Craft website.

Today I am hoping to play with my Kaleido foiling machine,  I will let you know how I get on. 

Sending love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx 

Your Challenge Cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are all well and enjoying the weekend, the weather is not so great but there is always the option of Crafting!! 😉

Not much planned here today, I do feel much better than I did last time, my heart rate is elevated so Its taking me a little longer to do things and I do have to keep having a rest and putting my feet up, I am however very thankful that I don't have those same awful symptoms as last time, (well not so far anyway), my arm is very sore too, but thats the worst of it. 

So let's get to the main point of the day, your amazing cards.....

Lilian

Lilian has used a lovely Cherry Blossom style silhouette stamp for these lovely cards, I have to say that changing the colour and style of the background really does make a huge difference to the overall look of the card.  I would also like to say that adding the little touch of black to the edges of the coloured card almost calms the colour down so that the stamped image remains the main focus of the card. 

Thank you so much Lilian for 2 very inspiring cards XXX

Michele 

Michele's Description:

Michele I absolutely love your Pixie Powder creations, I know that you don't enjoy 'Messy Crafting' so it meant that you were right out of your comfort zone, you went from creating a few backgrounds to designing 5 amazing cards that make the absolute best of those backgrounds.  My first attempts at Pixie powders went straight in the Bin!  I was so pleased when you said that you enjoyed it so much that you were ordering more, I felt excited for you!  Thank you so much for 5 amazing Silhouette cards XXX

Karen

Karen's Description:

Card 1: The colours I used were Picked Raspberry Carved Pumpkin and Squeezed Lemonade Just finished this simple card using same colours and a freebie stamp Must be the simplest I have ever made I think 

Card 2:  Here’s a silhouette cc

I inked a background with DO Added an Aall & Create background stamp A bit of gesso on an Aall & Create stencil and an A&C die cut that Kat sent me.

Karen I love both of your cards, those colours blended together are just the perfect match, what a way to make the most of a 'freebie' stamp!

Your second card is stunning, I love the bold design in the centre but my favourite part is the layers of detail that you have created in that amazing background! I am in awe of both your skill and courage, I would not be brave enough to take a Fine Liner pen to such a gorgeous background for fear of messing it up!  You 100% nailed it though!  Thank you so much Karen for taking part and inspiring me XXX

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

Here’s my cards. First one, stamped Inkylicious ‘Make a wish’ stamps on watercolour background of Speckled Egg and Iced Spruce distress oxides. Second and third cards I used the new Sue Wilson Flowering Dogwood floral panels with distress ink watercolour backgrounds.

Wow Sonia three absolutely amazing Silhouette cards, the background on your first card is stunning, I haven't used that combination of DO's before but they are now on my 'Combo's to try' list!  

I now have the SW Dogwood dies thanks to lovely Ben at 'In2Craft'  so I will having a play, your cards have really inspired me, these both work brilliantly for Silhouette cards, I can't wait to see what else you do with them.  Thank you so much for taking part my lovely, I hope you get to spend some of your days off at your craft desk. XXX

Maria

Maria's Description:

1/  My card with the Silhouette Beach Scene is by Creative Expressions. 

Used Distress Inks to give it some colour .

2/  The other card is a Silhouette stamp from china I think, no name.

Stamped on green paper and layered with black. No sentiment yet.

Maria your beach scene card is just stunning, I absolutely love all of the detail in the stamp from the little dog playing fetch to the child on Dad's shoulders, it's one of those scenes where you see something new each time you look. It has worked brilliantly, I love the colours you have used too. 

Your second card looks just like the lane we used to walk down with Harley, I could see this card in a frame on the wall, it is lovely.  Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX

Janet 

Janet's Description:

My first CC for this week is not a card but the first page of my new 'CHALLENGE CARD' Journal and is made using CRAFT OCLOCK parchment for the base and LABLANCHE Puffy Stickers for the SILHOUETTEs.

My next two cards were made in March and July 2017 showing SILHOUETTES.  

What a BRILLIANT idea Janet, creating a Journal from the different techniques that we use for the Challenges each week, absolute genius idea, I have been wanting to start an 'Art Journal' for  ages but lacked inspiration for different pages etc, but tying it into the challenges is a fantastic idea, THANK YOU. Your page is just fantastic, it looks like you have stamped on material. 

I do love those 1920's Art Deco style images on your third card Janet, I think that that style is timeless and looks simple but elegant at the same time.  The vintage look on your second card is lovely too, I love the modern twist with the embellishments. Thanks so much for taking part Janet and for the incredible inspiration! XXX

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What an absolute pleasure and privilege it is to be able to create this blog post every week with your amazing card designs ladies. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart XXX

Sending love and hugs to all of you, extra gentle ones to Margaret, Lynda Maria and any of you that aren't feeling 100%,

Sandra

xxxxxx