Your Challenge cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

It was an overcast cloudy day yesterday but lovely and warm enough to enjoy the Village Fête,  we won a few bottles on the bottle tombola, nothing exciting,  but still nice to take part, there were lots of people there which is lovely to see.  They has Morris men which I love to watch my Mum absolutely loved Morris dancers, Matt did too, we camped on a site near Whitby years ago (before we had girls) there was a Morris Dancers convention nearby and most of them were staying on our camp site, Matt was in his element,  he had Paul dragging him around the site day and night,  they always seem super friendly. 

Your Challenge Cards 

Lilian

Lilian's Description:

Hi, here is my card for this week. The stamps are from chocolate baroque, I bought them years ago, never used them, can’t remember why I bought them. Hope you are having a restful weekend.

Lilian What a lovely stamp set, so detailed.  As always your colouring brings the stamp to life beautifully,  your attention to detail is incredible.

Thank you for taking part and inspiring us as always XXX

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

I’ve used Chloe’s Reindeer Couple stamp and die set on both cards. On the first card I’ve used the snowflake circle too and one of the sentiments from the reindeer set. The second card I used an old background stamp and just one of the reindeer.

Wow Sonia I really love that Reindeer couple, there is something lovely about having a pair, they work beautifully on both backgrounds too.  The fact that you got them in the Sale makes them even nicer! Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX 

Karen

Karen's Description:

Here’s a challenge card for this week

I used Aall and Create Daisy Squares #650 by Tracy Evans

I stamped the background in Versafine Morning Mist (grey) and then stamped and coloured it again I picked out a couple of squares and added glossy accents

The Astronauts were an activity that Karen did with Oscar , he enjoyed choosing the colours!  Karen used the Salad Spinner that she had for this technique and not gotten around to using!! 

Karen thank you so much for inspiring me with the all and create card, I too have that stamp and haven't used it yet!! Now I have seen your card I will get it out.  Thanks for sharing Oscars paintings too my lovely XXX 

Maria

Maria's Description:  

I am sending you here some shopping I did for some time ago.

I have used one of the dies, embossing folders , a tag die and

word stamps on the CC for this week.

The card will go to our lovely post woman. Rick was waiting for some very important documents but we needed to get out for a walk Wednesday and of course she's been by the time we came back and a note was laying on the floor. In the afternoon it was a knock on the door and she came back with it  for us after her round was finished so we didn't have to go out the next day.

I made her this card and she get some chocolates too as a thank you. " 

Maria thank you so much for such a lovely card, I love the colour too.  That die is fantastic and so versatile.  

I hope you didn't mind me posting the story about your Post Lady,  it's a lovely thought to thank her for goingout of her way to help you, not something you see often these days XXX 

Janet

Janet's Description:

"My first Challenge card for this week was made using a STAMPERIA KIT 'VOYAGES FANTASTIQUES' I bought some months ago.

My second card is made using PAPERS FROM CRAFTERS' COMPANION 'ART DECO'. I found these papers still in their packet unopened underneath some A3 patterned card I haven't looked at for months and months. Icannot remember when I purchased either the A3 card or this pack.

I have to say a BIG THANK YOU for this Challenge as I have found enough patterned card to keep me going for ages!!!!!!!!!  

Janet thank you for two lovely cards for this weeks challenge,  that Lady is very glamorous,  the paper is stunning, I'm not entirely sure about her hat/hair style though, I wouldn't fancy sitting behind her at the cinema or at the theatre!!  XXX 

Gina

Gina's Description:

  There are four flower stamps that you use four different colour inks for it took ages to find the combination I like because I have many different brands of ink bought over the years and finding 4 that colour co ordinate was difficult.  I scanned the finished flowers into my Serif program so I use use on insert and envelope.  I like to decorate my envelopes as part of the package.

I am glad that you felt well enough to get back to making your cards my lovely,  the effects of Covid can last weeks, so take it easy.  Your cards are beautiful,  its such a lovely idea to have the envelope matching too.  That embossing folder you have used behind the flower on your first card is so lovely, it finishes the card so well, thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge XXX 

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Ladies thank you so much as always for digging through your craft stash to find something that you hadn't used, hopefully like our Janet you have discovered some hidden treasures!!  I didn't even scratch he surface of my unused stash, how about you ladies?? Did you use everything??  Or do I need to repeat this challenge in a couple of weeks?! 

I hope that you all have a fabulous Sunday, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

Mixed Up Saturday

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

Yesterday was an unexpectedly delightful day weather wise, it was 27° and sunny up until mid afternoon when it clouded over, not that we sat out in it, Paul was working until early afternoon and I was making cards, well backgrounds really.  We had lunch then went for my Blood test and then onto food shopping, I definitely prefer doing it on a Thursday or Friday so that the weekend is free for more fun activities!!                                                          Today's fun activity is the Village Fête, fingers crossed for some Sunshine 🌞, they usually have a lovely cake stall and plant sale too. 

I have another Proud Mum Moment,  our son Matt has been on a course for his new job this week,     Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Enforcement,   he was pre-warned that it was a very hard course with strict guidelines to learn, they said to him (his new employer) that he was not to worry if he didn't pass as it was all new to him etc.  We spoke during week and he said that there was so many regulations to remember and learn, he had a 2 hour exam yesterday and acheived 91% !!! Which is by all accounts bloody incredible, we are so proud of him!!  He can go and inspect Fresh Water Fittings with ease now !! 

Oscar's Astronauts 

Karen did some crafting with Oscar this week while he was staying over, just look at what they created!! 

They used the Salad Spinner Paint technique to create the fun backgrounds and then Karen used the Scan &Cut to create the stars and Astronauts. 

Aren't they amazing??? Oscar and Charlie can both have one on their wall in their rooms. Such a lovely idea.  

Karen's Description:

I had a little play with Oscar (not that he was keen) using a salad spinner and paint (also something never used before) He chose the colours and where I had to stick the ScanNCut spaceman and stars.

Thank you so much for allowing me to share Oscar's Artwork 🥰😍

My Distress Oxide Blended Backgrounds

I really love how these blended backgrounds turned out, I used Twisted Citron,  Peacock Feathers & Salty Ocean  Oxide for first one and Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries & Picked Raspberry for the second,  I have turned them both into cards already, I just wanted to share how well the colours worked together ! 

I hope that you all have a lovely Saturday, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra xxxxxxx

Our Next Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies, 

I will be totally honest with you all, this isn't the first post I have written for today's blog!! I had almost finished another blog showcasing a card I made yesterday afternoon,  then Paul came in and said something about it being Friday tomorrow, it then dawned on me that I was in fact a day behind, so the card I was going to show has been pushed to next week!  

I then panicked about coming up with a challenge in a few minutes,  Karen came to the rescue once again, Thank you Karen 😘

Our Next Challenge 

If the cards above haven't given it away the challenge this week is........

Make a Card/Journal page/Tag etc using .....

Embossing Folders/Masks/Stencils 

I am looking forward to this challenge very much.

I can't wait to see what you create!! 

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Did you watch the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony?? Very colourful, it was put together by the man that wrote Peaky Blinders,  it included a lot of the history of Birmingham including a giant Mechanical Bull !! There were representatives from Countries and Territories that I have never heard of, it did drag on though! 

I hope that you all have a fantastic Friday,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx

Shimmer Watercolour Card

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Thank you for your lovely comments on yesterday's card.  I have had a fun couple of days crafting this week, my craft room is a disaster but that's nothing new!! 

It sounds like some of you had busy days this week,  travel planning and Grandparent duties etc. Karen I bet you were glad when it was bedtime!  Janet there is no better feeling than getting things ticked off of  your 'To Do' List.  I have tried a few times this week to get an earlier appointment for my Blood Test, it hasn't been successful,  so I Friday at 3.30pm it is, the bit that puzzles me is that on previous occasions I have been told that they don't usually take any kind of samples on Friday afternoon as they won't get sent out over the weekend, maybe thats ok with blood tests.  I just want to know that I'll be ok to go on holiday.  

Today's card is from my craft session yesterday,  it is one of FOUR cards that I managed to finish, I was going for five but Becca came over and wanted help finishing and printing off some Tickets to an 80' Disco she has organised to raise money for her Skydive, that's right I did say Skydive!!! My most accident prone daughter is going to jump out of an Airplane!  She wanted Neon Tickets, luckily I had a few of the Lidl Card packs and they worked great after I cut them down to A4 to fit through printer. She went happy which is the main thing. 

So for this card I stamped the Passion Flowers onto Pink Frog card, I cut masks for the flowers and added the leaves behind the flowers, I added White Embossing powder and heat set, I then spritzed over the embossed areas and added some Shimmery Watercolour paints, I bought then for half price a couple weeks ago, I just added some purple to the flowers and green around the leaves, I spritzed a bit more water over the painted areas to get the paint moving a bit more.  While that area was drying I added some splatters if the same colour around the rest of the card.  To finish the card I stamped the sentiment in matching ink  mounted onto a matching mat then onto a C6 card base, I then added a few iridescent sparkles.  The shimmer fron these paints is incredible, I was realit impressed, I tried to capture the shimmer in that second photo.  

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx

Another 'New' Challenge card

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Happy 'Hump' day !! I hope that you are all well, hugs on route to those feeling delicate 😘.

Janet I'm so pleased to read that you are starting to get organised for your summer break at Marigny, atleast you can go with a worry free mind, Fingers crossed your Ferry crossing is smooth and problem free, I would love it if you could let me know if the problems around passport stamping have eased.  I bet you cannot wait to get there and put your feet up.  My mouth is watering just thinking about the fresh baked bread and those yummy cakes XXX

Today's card I made yesterday afternoon,  I used the free stamp set that came with the latest copy of Creative Stamping Magazine,  its the one I featured on Saturday,  the stamps are by Christina Griffiths, I followed the instructions for one of the cards featured in the magazine, it was involved as far as techniques go, stamping, masking, stencilling,  more masking, shadowing,  Watercolouring, the part that took me the longest was choosing the colours.  I used Spun Sugar Distress ink for stencilling,  then Picked Raspberry (i blended a lot of it on on scrap paper first)  for the flowers I used Rich Razzleberry and Polished Pink blended with waterbrush. 

It took my a good couple of hours but most of that was fussy cutting 2 masks for each stamp and deciding what colours to use, i stamped a couple of flowers on a scrap piece of card and tested different colour combinations on them.  The finishing touches were a some of the darkest ink splattered around and some stickles ( which I haven't used for year) in the centres of the flowers.                                I really enjoyed making this card, which is surprising as I was on my own,  I'm not sure if it was the more taxing techniques or because it was something different, I was surprised when Paul walked in, where Normally I'm clock watching.   I think I am going to have to choose some quick and easy cards if I want to build a stash for holiday though, I did manage my goal of 2 cards, both needed masking and fussy cutting and colouring though,  my craft desk was a disaster zone when I had finished!!! 

I hope that you all have a lovely day,  

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra                                                                                xxxxxx 

A Monochrome card using a New Stamp set

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

It sounds like you all had a bit of an overcast breezy day yesterday, it was less humid which was a huge relief, I hate that feeling of constantly damp clammy skin, I showered twice and still felt horrible when I went to bed.  It looks like the weather is going to be the same all week so Lilian you may well be right when you said about that Summer was over!  I always feel terrible for people that have paid out enormous sums for holidays in the UK, weather can make a huge difference to your holiday, I think that most tourist areas charge extortionate fees for activities that are indoors, knowing that if you are on holiday with children you will pay it to entertain them.  

Well Ladies I am pleased to report that I did manage two cards yesterday, almost three, I just need to decide on a sentiment for the third one.  I have found it easier to pick our a particular stamp/die set and work with just that, otherwise I end up having about six out on my desk and then ending up on pinterest and 3 hours later no further forward, so for the first day I achieved my goal !!

Today's card was made using a New Stamp set called 'Wonderful World'  I kept the design simple, using Blackberry Bliss as the Colour, I decided to go for a 'Z' fold card with a simple stamped panel on the front that showcases how lovely and detailed the stamp is, I used a couple pieces of background paper in the same colour from a 6x6 pack, one piece has a diamond pattern the other a lovely script.  I added a plain white panel inside to write on, cutting the same size as the largest of the two panels on the fold, to place it so that the front panel covers it perfectly when closed, add your adhesive to the back and then line the front up with the panel on the front and close the card gently, that way you know that the white panel won't show when the card is closed, I added a couple of tiny leaves to the inside panel to tie everything together.  I hope you like it.  

My problem with this challenge is that I have SO many 'new things' (whether they are actually new or things that I have bought off of de-stash sites) that it's hard to decide where to start.  Today I literally shut my eyes and picked one, I might write some of the names on pieces of paper and draw one out a a jar and then the decision is made!

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Special hugs on the way to Our Brenda, Lynda & Terry, Gina and anyone else feeling under the weather!!

Janet, I hope that you got all of your booking done yesterday xxx

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                                                                                          xxxxxx

Maria's Powertex Poppies

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

So here goes the last week of July, barely seems 5 minutes since we were welcoming July in.  It has certainly treated us to some fine weather!  

We had a windy day yesterday,  in fact it snapped the canes on the supports for netting the sprouting brocolli and Brussel Sprouts,  so I did have a bit of a giggle watching Paul battling in the wind to take it down,  we have these really strong support stakes for our beans that I suggested he used they form like a tent shape and he could drape the netting over, he didn't think it was a good idea when I first suggested it but after fighting with canes for an hour he tried my way and guess what,  it worked !!!  He can be a stubborn old mule at times, I kept offering to go out and help him but he said he could manage fine, at one point he looked like he had a bridal veil on as the net flew over his head for the third time 🤣😂 He got there in the end though.  Fingers crossed the white butterflies don't find a way in!!

Today's stunning piece of Art is Our Maria's Powertex Workshop project.  Maria you must be over the moon with how your canvas turned out  I absolutely love it 😍.  Jo Channon who runs the classes (usually) is lovely,  our children went to school together when we lived in Lincolnshire,  she is a genuinely lovely lady.  

Here is a photo of Our Maria and her workshop class.  The pieces all look lovely,  I now want to have a go, the pieces I have seen previously have all been dark and grungy so when I saw your canvas Maria I was really surprised,  I love poppies, like most of us, the finished would look lovely displayed in any room. Did you find it easy to work with Maria??      Thank you so much for allowing me to share your amazing Powertex project ❤️ 

I am challenging myself to make at least three cards every day this week as I need to get enough cards ready to blog while we are away on holiday.  I might have some days as almost a daily journal of our holiday in between cards etc  

I Hope that you all have an amazing day,

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

Your TicTacToe Challenge Cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

How are we all today?  We had a bit of a lazy day yesterday,  didn't really acheive anything other than Paul (with a little help from me) put a protective film on the stairs to try and stop Bella scrapping at the stair carpet, it was a bit of a faff but it's down now.  We did a couple of garden jobs but that was it really, we ordered a few bits for holiday,  we will need face masks (the medical ones are required for some places in France and some shops etc in Spain).

We also need little stickers to change the direction of the headlights beam.  

Karen:  what I meant by our holiday being more relaxing is the fact that we don't have to be ready for meal at certain times, so for instance if we are still on the beach at 6pm we don't have to get back to get ready for dinner,  likewise with lunch etc,  its the 'not needing a watch ' part that i was referring to.  Doing things entirely at our own pace.  We have done package holidays before when kids were young and found it exhausting.   The other hugely stressful thing for me would be getting on and off the plane as I hate being made a fuss of.  I hope that explains what I meant xxx

Gina:    I hope you are feeling better my lovely,  are you still testing positive?? Sending hugs xxx

Now lets have a look at what you made for this weeks challenge....

Your Challenge Cards 

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

Hi, here is my card for this weeks challenge. I used an AALL stamp, it’s large so just used part. 

Lilian used Categories: 

Heat Emboss/Watercolour/Birthday

Lilian the colours you have achieved on your card are simply stunning,  the depth of that blue is just so beautiful 😍 That Aall&Create create stamp is gorgeous too.  Thank you so much for managing to fit a card in after your very busy week XXX 

Janet

Janet's Description:

My first card is made using LABLANCHE kit 'LILAC' tic tac - TAG/BIRTHDAY/FAV COLOUR LILAC.

My second card is made using TONIC MIRROR CARD/VINTAGE IMAGE/sorry I cannot remember the name of the Company my DIE Cut came from.

Tic tac-CIRCLE/DIE CUT/FAV COLOUR BLUE.

Two fantastic cards Janet, thank you so much for taking part.  I know that you have had such a frustrating week waiting for test results so that you can go to Marigny, you may have been relieved in one way as Dover had 6 mile queues up to the motorway as it was (a) the start of  school holidays and (b) Port of Dover was not prepared for number of tourists,  now every passport HAS to be stamped and French Border agency only provided 2 staff members out of 8, so obviously that was a huge factor in the hold up, people missed their ferry and up to 4 after!!  So fingers crossed they will have it sorted before you go.  

Thank you for 2 lovely cards XXX 

Karen

Karen's Description:

A very simple card for this week’s challenge 

Tag-die cut-birthday theme

Simple but effective Karen, I love your tags, such a fun idea for a card. Thank you so much for making time to take part XXX 

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

Card 1:  

I used background stamp, die cutting, birthday theme. Again I’ve used an AALL and Create stamp and Tim Holtz butterfly. The sentiment is from The Stamp Market.

Card 2: 

I used stencil, circle, die cutting. I used an AALL and create stencil, and part of one of their stamps for the circle. The butterfly is Tim Holtz as well as the sentiment.

Two gorgeous cards Sonia,  I love how you have used the Aall&Create stamp on your first card.  That stencil on your second card is stunning,  the Tim Holtz butterfly is the perfect embellishment. 

Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge my lovely XXX 

Sue

Sue's Description:

Hi my lovely. 

I have used Tag, Die cutting, Circles and Favourite colour (blue) for the challenge this week. Everything is from my stash and the circles die is a cheapie which may have been from Wish. 

Sending hugs xx

Sue what a gorgeous little Mixed Media Tag, I love it,  that eyelash trim is gorgeous and I love the vintage lace piece too, those darling little butterfly charms are the perfect finishing touch.  Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX 

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Ladies thank you so much for making time for the challenge, especially during this super hot week.  I really appreciate it XXX 

I hope that you all have a lovely Sunday,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra 

XX❤XX 

Mixed Up Saturday

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

How are we all today?  I hope you are all rested after your housework day yesterday,  getting shopping etc.  I started my lists but so far I haven't much on them, Holiday Insurance is one thing, its so much more expensive this past couple years.  I also checked the Covid requirements for going into France, if you are fully vaccinated you just need to show your NHS proof of vaccination,  if not then you have to have a PCR test proving you are negative.  Ironically coming back into country there are NO requirements!! What does that tell you! 

The other odd thing is that last year it was Compulsory to have a 'Green card' (shows your insured to drive in Europe) but this year you don't need one, so I'm guessing they must have still been ironing out post Brexit rules last year, we always had to get them years ago, hopefully they have made their final decisions!! 

It must be easier to get on a plane and do a package holiday I guess (but i don't think I'd enjoy it as much).  Our holiday is so relaxed,  no getting dressed up for meals, no meal times to adhere to etc.  Will this be the last one ???

Creative Stamping 

Issue 111

This month's issue comes with some pretty stamps, Summer flowers with a Trellis stamp and bonus stencil.  The flowers are all quite pretty and quite decent quality.  There are some lovely inspiration ideas too. 

This first feature is really good, it explains 'No line Watercolouring',  she stamps in Antique Linen distress ink which is a light neutral colour, you can use any similar colour ink.  As you paint the flowers the paint softens the antique linen and it disappears into the painted colour.  The other methods she uses are Emboss Resist,  Guided Emboss Resist,  Simple Masking and Abstract Watercolouring.  I am actually quite excited to try some of these methods.  

Nicky uses the free Stencil and creates a 'Heat Embossed Letterpress ' background,  it actually looks really good.  Here is how she did it (zoom in ) 

She goes on to use a few other techniques with the Embossing folder, all really effective.  

Ranger have a product called Stampin Foam,  this feature explores different ways of using it, you can take anything to create a texture, from buttons, die cuts, natural bits etc, arrange them on the foam exactly as you want them to appear stamped, then heat the foam,  use it and then you can reheat and return it to its original state, ready to use again  quite clever idea.  

Here we are catching up with Christina Griffiths (designer of free stamps)  she shares a couple of projects with us and tells us what she's been up to.

Helen Griffin makes some amazing 3D projects and gifts, she has used this month's free gifts to create 3 beautiful gifts.  That coaster is so lovely 😍. 

Wow these cards are so pretty,  some 'over the edge' stamping  creates some lovely designs,  we havea 'step by step' guide to creating the first card too. 

Vanessa was challenged to design a project using One flower per card using two different techniques.   So she has used 'Ombre Tiled Background',  Watercolour Resist,  White Emboss Resist,  Masked Panel and a Two tone background   so plenty of techniques for us to have a go at. The cards are all really lovely.  

Sue has used mostly yellow and blue to colour her cards using Free stamps, the result..... lovely bright cheerful cards, some beautiful designs. They all look different too. 

Finally an amazing Mixed Media card, now I don't usually share the pages that are basically trying to sell you stuff, this is an advert for Tim Holtz new Product called 'Foundry Wax'.  I'm not really interested in the product but I thought it would be nice to share a lovely Mixed media inspiration piece with you.

Thats all for this issue, my opinion: well worth a buy if you like flower stamps, there are lots of techniques and some lovely inspiration too. 

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Have you all seen the new Distress Colour???

Uncharted Mariner....

Not sure if we need another Blue but I don't dislike it.  I need to see where it sits with all the other blues before I buy it, what are your thoughts?? 

I hope that you all have a lovely Saturday, 

Love & Hugs to all, 

Sandra 

xxxxxx