Our Next Challenge

 

Good Friday Morning Ladies,

He we are on the last day of September,  my this month has whizzed by, it barely seems a week since Paul turned the Calendar over to September.  I think that once we get into October Christmas is upon us before you know it.  Having said that the shops are all selling Christmas stuff already,  even Aldi had their Christmas party food in the freezer section.  I honestly think that the shops are trying to sell as much Christmas stuff as they can before the Energy prices soar, that's the only reason I can think of for them starting that much earlier this year. 

We celebrate two of our Ladies Birthdays in October, Lilian and Karen,  I am going to try and put a reminder on each month as my memory needs all the boosting it can get !! 

Another reminder Ladies: take meter readings today so that you can be sure that you don't get charged at the higher tariff for energy used before the price hike !! 

Our Next Challenge 

Like you ladies I tend to get stuck using the same thing over and over again as those products are familiar to us and usually are close to hand. The down side of that is we have half of our craft storage full with products we aren't getting use out of, so I asked you all what you need a push to start using.  

The overwhelming majority was for the things we use for Texture and Sparkle, so Dimensional pastes, embossing pastes, Embossing Powders,  things that we could add colour to pastes too, which I hadn't thought about until a month or so back,  I you have white or translucent paste you can add Mica, Pixie, Brusho,  glitter etc you can add them to your paste to create your own colours or give sparkle to existing colours.  (I tend to only buy white paste) don't forget you can make your own paste with Pva and Talcum Powder too. 

The other products we are guilty of neglecting and I know you all have them....Masks,  Stencils,  Embossing folders, lets add some extra detail to our cards, even if you use patterned papers you can add embossed detail or extra sparkle and shine.  Especially for Christmas cards, if any celebration deserves an extra touch if luxury its Christmas cards!! 

So come on Ladies, let's get a little bit messy, dig out those embellishments you don't use too.  If you want to just add something as simple as an embossed sentiment thats absolutely fine too!  

I hope I have inspired you to have a rummage about in your drawers!🤣😉  I may even run this challenge over two weeks as we all have lots of unused stash! 

I hope that you all have a Fantastic Friday,

Love and hugs to all,

Sandra x❤x

My last Bit Box card this week...

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

What are you all up to today?  Not much happening here, I haven’t felt well for some time now, my whole digestive system seems to be off, the most frustrating symptom is dizziness with nausea, I haven't been sick but feeling nauseous is worse I think!! I will give it a few more days to see if its a bug, if no improvement I will TRY and make a GP appointment.  

Lilian you must keep an eye on your leg ulcer they can take a while to heal, Mum had a couple but hers did heal ok.  I think being diabetic may mean it takes long to heal my lovely,  fingers crossed your Practice Nurse will keep on top of it for you, don't be afraid to shout if you think it's getting worse my lovely XXX 

Janet it sounded like you have had a super busy week, I hope you don't end up exhausted,  if you're anything like me the journey back from France will still be affecting you, we cane back to a full week catching up with family etc, I think that maybe what is affecting me now, I hope things slow down and you get to sit with your feet up for a day or two! XXX 

Now I spent a good hour looking around my craft room at things I wasn't getting use out of so that I can suggest challenges to get us using these things that we spend our money on! PLEASE let me know your least used or unused craft products in the comments below, thank you 😊 

Today's card was one I made yesterday,  I used the the left over bits from this card .....

That I made in August.

I trimmed strips of the pretty Christmas paper to fit

onto my 4 1/4  x 5 1/2 inch card base. 

I fussy cut another posy of flowers and tucked it behind my strips of card, I added some sprigs and foliage which were die cut from scraps too.  I added the sentiment and some gold gems for a touch of luxury.  

I will say that there is something quite satisfying creating cards from left over bits!  Although after making 5 cards I haven't even scratched the surface of my 'Bit Boxes'  so this Challenge will definitely be repeated! 

I hope that you all have a relaxing Thursday, 

Sending my love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx

Circle Corner Bit Box card

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

Happy Hump Day!  Here we are at the middle of the week, the last week of September, if you can believe that!   Paul was in the office yesterday so I had a slow day, Lucy was home so we just chilled out together ❤️  When Paul came home I went and sat at my desk, then came the longest part of card making....deciding what to make.

So I rummaged through my bit box ....

This is just one of my bit boxes, this one has card going back atleast 4 years! I chose my card and decided to go with a simple design.

The paper you choose has to be double sided, you simply punch or die cut a circle from opposite corners and then..

Flip your paper or corners over and replace the circles.  ( I forgot to photo this stage so did demo with different card) 

I used two pieces of card and made opposite patterns, getting 2 for 1 !!!

I added the sentiment and layered the label finishing with gems in opposite corners. 

Quite a simple design but I think it works. 🤔 

I have my companion working from home today so I am going to have a fun crafting day.  What are you all up to?

Sending my love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx

A Quilt Card

 

Good Morning Ladies, 

I today finds you well, my heartfelt hugs are on the way to those of you that are not feeling 100%.

I had a very slow day yesterday after a bit of gardening on Saturday and the excitement of the Craft show at Bedford yesterday.  I will say that it was nice to have plenty of room to get around in the hall but it could have done with a few more stands, I was convinced that Jenny Mays would be there (Hobby Art) but she wasn't, I love watching her demonstrations, we did watch Janet on the Aall & Create stand, she is lovely and very inspirational, she was also so happy to explain anything you asked.  We did laugh though as she was demonstrating a 'Circle Cutter' basically a round tool with a blade that you whiz round to cut different size circles, I couldn't help but say that all of the old craft tools seems to be making a come back, we had circle cutters years ago before dies and die cutting machines,  I  don't think that we need to start going backwards,  Sue and I were talking about it after and she quite rightly pointed out that you would be forever having to buy new blades.  I wonder what else will make a come back!!

Today's card I made yesterday afternoon using the off cuts from that "Fancy Fold' card I made a few weeks ago.  

These were the off cuts! 

I cut some of the bits into 1 inch strips abd laid them on a piece of black card 1/4 inch Smaller than my black card base. I chose a quilting style lay out with 1/8 inch gap between tbe strips. To finish I created a border upon which I stamped the sentiment and embellished with a fussy cut flower from the paper above.

It's quite a quick card once you have chosen your papers and cut them into strips.  

I hope you like the card my lovelies, 

Love and hugs to all, 

Sandra XXX 

My First Bit Box card

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

Well I know atleast 3 of us that will have sore legs today, but it was worth it, so lovely to look at and touch all the craft products, I didn't buy that much, some card blanks, a Sizzix Frame die,  and some HoneyDoo Christmas stamps.  The best part of the day was catching up with Karen, Maria & Sue.  

Today's card was made with a couple of Christmas paper off cuts,  I held them over the corner of the card base and marked the angle then cut the paper, I then used off cuts of Cherry cobbler card to create a narrow mat to make the patterned paper stand out more.  I glued the two off cuts onto the white base layer.  I used a larger piece of cherry Cobbler card to create a mat and layered them onto a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card base. To finish the card I stamped a sentiment in Cherry Cobbler ink and die cut it, I then used various scraps of card to create some foliage in matching colours to add interest behind the sentiment.

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra xxx

Your Cards for Sonia's Christmas Challenge

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

I am really looking forward to today, it feels like I haven't been to a Craft Show in ages, it also feels like we haven't had a meet up in ages too, we must discuss a Watford meet up while we sit and eat lunch too.  

We had a busy day in the garden yesterday, we got a lot of pruning back done,  weeding etc, so much to do in Autumn. 

Let's have a look at your Christmas Challenge cards,  suggested by Sonia. ..

Sonia's Christmas Card Challenge 

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

I’ve used Chloe’s star background die on both, cut in half, and backed with glitter card. The silver card uses one of the Christmas Roses from Chloe’s, and the gold card uses Spellbinders reindeer. The rectangle frame is from a Sue Wilson set. The sentiment and die are also Chloe’s.

Two amazing Christmas cards Sonia, I really love that Star background die,  it's so effective and works perfectly with the Christmas Rose and our favourite Reindeer die! 

Thank you so much for 2 amazing cards and for suggesting this weeks challenge XXX

Karen

Karen's Description:

I’ve been playing with the gnome dies from Karen Burniston.

Card 1: I used a Serif background and some glitter 

Card 2:  I used Serif background and some artificial snow

Card 3:  I used Serif background and a wobbler

Card 4:  Serif background I printed off a street lamp and scanned it into ScanNCut  

The noses are their mouths The moustache their hymn book and the beard and plaits are their hair.

Absolutely amazing cards Karen, I love these gnome dies, they are so just adorable, I am blown away by the last card, you would never believe that those Carol Singers are made using the Gnome dies, so clever and means you get more use out of your dies!  

Thank you so much for taking part in Sonia's Challenge XXX 

Maria

Maria's Description:

Hi

Here is a couple of Diorama 

X -mas cards I made from a kit I found in one of my boxes. Probably a freebie with a magazine ones. 

I also sending a card I made for my Mum who be eighty in beginning of October. 

Maria your Diorama cards are brilliant,  there is so much detail included,  I love the stars held in place with the little pegs on the first card, I love the effect of looking in through a window,  the layers of detail included is amazing too.  Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge my lovely XXX

Janet

Janet's Description:

All the cards have been made using Seasonal Kits (over two years past) by LABLANCHE.

The mirror/glitter card is TONIC card and the sentiments etc are from my stash.

I just have to do the finishing touches like sentiments where needed and stamp the inside of the children's card.

Wow Janet, what an amazing collection of cards, I'm so pleased the weather cooled down enough foe you to craft, it sounds like you made a great start to your Christmas cards for this year.  As always with LABLANCHE kits the attention to detail is incredible, those last two cards are just so beautiful,  definitely in the extra special category!! 

Thank you so very much for supporting this weeks challenge XXX 

Lilian 

Lilian's Description:

 

Here is my card for this weeks challenge. I used Stamperia papers, ( a winter’s tale ) ink back ground with faded jeans oxide ink, stamped the holly over with a small holly from Lavinia stamps , embossed in white.

Such a beautiful card Lilian,  your handmade background works so beautifully with that gorgeous Stamperia paper you have used, it's such a triumph when you find colours that match your papers so nicely,  this is a great way to make your papers go further too! 

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

Sue

Sue's Description:

Hi my lovely. Three simply challenge cards using freebie embossing folders, Stampin’ up snowflake die and SW(?) sentiment.

Three amazing Christmas cards Sue,  simple is perfect for batch card making, I love the Embossing on all of your cards.  Thank you so much for taking part in this weeks challenge XXX 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Wow Ladies, just look at the incredible display of cards that you have created!! Thank you all so much for taking part in the Challenge,  Sonia you must be thrilled with the response to your suggested challenge XXX 

I hope that you a have a wonderful Sunday, I am certainly looking forward to mine! 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

It was so nice not having Paul's alarm go off at 5.30am this morning!  Although Milo has gotten used to Paul getting up at that time si it wasn't long before he was prancing about on the bed for attention!  He does settle down after a while at least!  He has soon returned to his old habit of coming onto our bed about 20 minutes after we go ti bed, he lays himself right up against Paul, stretches from Paul's chest almost to his knee, this means that Paul has to shuffle over to my side of the bed, ordinarily I wouldn't have a problem with that but Wednesday and Thursday night were so warm it was uncomfortable!   Ironically on Sunday and Monday night I needed a hot water  bottle as I couldn't get warm.  😩  

Now we went 3 weeks without a Magazine review, then like buses 3 come along at once!!!  

Creative Stamping Magazine 

Issues 113

Some lovely and very usable Christmas stamps in this month's issue.  The magazine features some great techniques too. 

Some lovely catds that vanessa had designed using the free stamps to create some brilliant backgrounds.

These cards have been created using the free stamps with extra detail being added using gold thread to stitch around the stamps, it looks so effective.

Now I really want to have a play with some of these ideas, Nicky uses Embossing Pens, (Versamark pen)  Embossing pad refills, dauber sponges etc to apply the ink, you then add your Embossing Powders and heat set.  The first card has clear embossing ink painted onto three of the flowers , add to Kitsch Flamingo Glaze and heat set,  the butterfly has clear embossing powder heat set and other layers added for extra shine.  Lots of great ideas to get more out of our embossing powders. 

This little feature shows 3 different ways of using just one of the free stamps.  A very different, the cards are lovely too. 

Grab your Flower stamps,  look at these lovely cards, they have shaped floral flaps on the front, you can use almost any kind of flower stamp to create these lovely cards. 

This feature shows some great ideas for using the stamps to create gift wrapping. 

Finally these cards are all designed in the Nordic or "Scandinavian' style, I love them! 

This photo shows the reality  of photographing  the magazine while being constantly pestered by a 'Needy Milo', I couldn't resist adding this cute photo. 😍 

These are the cards I have made using these free stamps in this issue.  

All in all I think this magazine is good value for money the free stamps are really useful.  

I know I should maybe have 'let it go' by now but Sheena Douglass is everywhere at the moment! She has featured in every magazine recently, promoting her latest release.  Have craft TV and Craftstash forgotten what she did ?!  Using people's personal photographs to create stamps etc.  They could be the most amazing designs but its the principle!! How do we know that the new images are genuinely her hand drawings?!   I would love to know your thought and opinions too!  

Rant over, Soapbox back in cupboard under stairs incase anyone else needs to use it.

I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra

xxxxxx