A beautiful card from Janet

 

Good Wednesday Morning Ladies, 

Half way through the week already and the last day of November,  my goodness time is flying!  The girls and I have an appointment with our hairdressers today so it's back to Carterton for a couple of hours,  I think I'll be exhausted after venturing out, luckily  Freya has a little salon built on to her parent's house so its just us and her, she has become a lovely family friend over the years so it will be nice to catch up with her.  I think it will straight back for a 'Nana Nap' afterwards.  I think my body is just exhausted from absorbing antibiotics 🤢

Today's card is one of Janet's beautiful creations,  

Janet's Description:

I cannot remember whose die this is. I think it's a  CRAFTER'S COMPANION EDGE die. The flowers and card are from my stash.

Janet your card is exquisitely beautiful, that edge die is stunning, as is the pretty paper, I love your gorgeous flower arrangement too, it's the perfect embellishment, lovely to see the Hat pins back in use again, I have loads of them somewhere, gathering dust!  

Thank you so much my lovely friend for sending this lovely card to help me out, I really do appreciate it. ❤️ 

I did manage to almost finish my card yesterday,  so it should be ready for tomorrow xx

Maria are your SIL and family coming to you for Christmas day?  

I hope that you all have a lovely day,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx

Good Morning Ladies

 

Good Morning Ladies,

Just a quick one today,  I ended up back at the Dr's as this damn UTI is remaining resistant to antibiotics, it's  Co-Amoxiclav's turn to try and beat it.  My body is exhausted,  I did try to get a card made yesterday but after struggling to die cut a few pieces I ended up giving up for the day 

I will have another go today, its so frustrating 😫!!

Sending love and hugs to you all,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

A Monday Memory

 

Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

I think  'Monday  Memories' might become a thing as I always seem to run out of time on Sunday's for crafting,  mind you yesterday I ran out of time because I was sorting through my old dies, we are talking 2010'ish when the collection started, back then Spellbinders where the main die company, Sizzix were a bit slower to get to the thin dies.

Paul bought me these old Aircraft Service Folders home from work, so I covered them in paper and decorated them (hideously when i look back) 😳! I was shocked at how many I had, all of which I haven't touched in years, then we get to the Sue Wilson dies, I started like most of us with the Californian Collection and loyally bought most of whatever followed, until it became too much !          I must try and make an effort to use them!  

When did you all start collecting dies and do you still use them?  

Today I am sharing some more of  the cards I made using these older dies, the cards are from 2014, scary to think thats 8 years ago!! 

I know our Maria loved the first card, I don't think that they have dated too much. 

I hope that you all have a great Monday, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra                                                                                  xxxxxx 

Your Amazing Challenge Cards

 

Good Sunday Morning Ladies, 

I hope that you are all enjoying a lovely relaxed Sunday Morning, thats what we have planned.  If the weather stays 'fair' we will go out and finish putting our bulbs in, we bought a 'bulb planting tool ' to make it easier, I can't kneel down to dig holes so we bought a long handle device, I did laugh when it arrived though as Lucy came in absolutely in hysterics.....

Saying "Mum, Mum, someone's sent us a Nimbus 2000"  I have to admit that it looks exactly the same shape as the Harry Potter Broomstick ..

I said "I'm sorry to disappoint you but its not that exciting "  🤣😂

Let's have a look at your Shape themed Challenge cards....

Your Challenge Cards 

Karen 

Karen's Description:  

Card 1 : Here’s a really really easy Christmas card It looked good even without the triangular trees

Gold Posca pen splattered onto a card blank and then some Creative Expressions trees (I tried to gold emboss gold stars on the top of the trees but didn’t work I hope the red gems disguise it OK)

Card 2: A Thrinchie using Aall & Create items

Two amazing Challenge cards Karen,  I really love the simple style of your first card, it's an absolutely genius to idea to use a Posca pen background with those simplistic trees, it's such a brilliant modern look.  

Your second card is stunning, I love everything about it, the colours, the stamps you have used & the background all work so perfectly together. 

Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX 

Janet

Janet's Description:

Card 1:  My first card for this week's Challenge is made using TONIC CIRCLE DIES and their card.

(it just happens that this could also be used for this week's Challenge of 'Old Dies')

Card 2:  My second card for this week is made using STAMPERIA SET 'CATS AND ORCHIDS'. This fits the Challenge using SQUARES.

Two fantastic Challenge cards Janet  your first card reminds me of the fancy 'zodiac' charts you see, its gorgeous,  opulent, the ribbon adds that touch of luxury,  definitely a card for someone special. 

Your second card is just so pretty, the orchids are beautiful and that cute little cat makes the whole card adorable.   Thank you so much for taking part my lovely XXX 

Sue

Sue's Description:

Card 1:  

I’ve gone for diamond and rectangles for this weeks challenge card. I tweaked a card I found on Pinterest. 

I cut 3 different coloured layers from a Sue Wilson die set, used Spellbinders Poinsettia dies with a bit of fluffed up twine behind. The Noel is from a magazine freebie from a couple of years ago. 

Card 2:  

Another challenge card. This time using ovals. Again inspired by one I saw on Pinterest. 

The large oval die is from a Press cut set.

The flowers are freebies from Die cutting magazine a few months ago. 

Small stitched oval is from a set of 6, but I don’t know the company. 

Oh Sue your cards are AMAZING,  I love them both, Ithe sentiment on the 1st card looks amazing on the vellum, but the colour of the 2nd one makes it my favourite 😍.   Thank you so much for these two stunning cards XXX

Lilian

Lilian's Description:

Hi, here is my card for this weeks challenge.

I chose stars as my shape, and used tumbled glass oxide ink for the background and the large stars, small stars are clear ink with sparkle embossing powder, plus some stars from peel offs.

Lilian I love the effect you have achieved with the star stencil,  at first I thought this was an Aall&Create card.  This would work as a Masculine birthday card as well as a Christmas card.  Thank you so much taking part my lovely XXX 

Sonia

Sonia's Description:

On both cards I’ve used My Favourite Things ‘Merry Christmas’ circle die. I die cut a Stamp Market wreath in white and gold glitter card on the first card. The poinsettias are from Britannia dies.

Oh Sonia you have designed two stunning Christmas cards, both cards are a 'Clean & Simple'  style, they look like cards you'd find in a high end department store.  Thank you so much for taking part and creating two very inspirational cards. XXX

Maria

Maria's Description:

My shaped cards are one with Hexagon's and the other 

one is made with Rectangles. All made with paper and 

bits that I have got in the bit boxes.

Maria thank you so much for creating two amazing 'Shape challenge ' cards,  such a brilliant idea to use your 'Bit Box ' to create them too, I wish I'd thought of that ! The card you have used for the flames really glows! The papers you have used for the hexagons are so lovely,  I love those little snowflake corners too, such a perfect finishing touch, thanks again my lovely XXX 

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Ladies, thank you all so very much for that amazing display of cards above, you are all amazing and I really appreciate you taking part in the Challenge ❤

I hope that you all have a lovely day, 

Love and hugs to all of you, 

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Mixed Up Saturday

 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies, 

What a wet and dreary weekend,  Our Matt is off to Winter Wonderland in London today, its a shame that the weather is better. He'll have a good day no doubt, when Paul and I went it rained so hard I was wet through to my  underwear!!  We still haven't managed to book our London trip 😕! 

What do you all have planned?  Anything exciting?  After our trip food shopping yesterday I felt absolutely wiped out, it was my first full day out of bed yesterday, so food shopping was maybe a trip too far!  So an easy weekend for us  hopefully some crafting!!  

So many people have already put their Christmas decorations up, it's crazy, have you ladies starting early?? We definitely are not! 

Maria

How beautiful are these Crystal Art Paintings by our Maria?!  Such gorgeous scenes Maria, you pick some amazing designs and they look like they take hours and a lot of patience.  I am so happy that you have another craft that you enjoy so much,  thank you so very much for sharing them with us. XXX 

Creative Stamping Magazine 

Issue 115 

This issue has some fun free gifts, a lovely stencil that will work for creating backgrounds for the Free stamps that also come with the magazine.  The stamps feature some very popular 'Gnomes'and lots of dies to create scenes for them , I love that big tree, the stamps are made in conjunction with the Colorado Stamp company.  

The first feature uses both the stamps and the stencils to create some lovely backgrounds,  I think that these cards would make great cards for men, with the darker colour way, you could definitely lighten them up though. 

This feature would have been perfect for last challenge as Sarah has used the free stamps to create a range of cards all influenced by triangles. 

Another Masterclass that focuses on Embossing Powders,  this feature shows how to create some different backgrounds, the different embossed backgrounds look great. 

Some lovely Festive cards from this Designer, I love the clean and simple style.

I included this feature to give some inspiration for anyone with a 'Media ' or 'Gelli' plate.  Stamps have been used to create some gorgeous cards.

Some great ideas for using your free stamps to create some fantastic Gift wrapping. 

How lovely are these village scenes created with the free stamps.  Some really lovely ideas.

This last feature shares inspiration for cards for all occasions,  showing that the stamps aren't just for Christmas. 

The magazine has lots of other features, from companies sharing their latest products, there are giveaways too. 

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Sonia

Sonia has treated herself to some new crafty bits, I absolutely love those dies Sonia, those Snowflakes are gorgeous.  The colours of the' gumdrops'are so lovely,  I love muted tones. Thank you so much for sharing your shopping with us XXX

Ladies,  I hope that you all have a lovely weekend, 

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx