Monday 14 November 2022

New Week, New Start !!




Good Monday Morning Ladies, 

I hope today finds you feeling fresh and relaxed after the weekend ☺️.  We just 'pottered' most of the weekend,  yesterday afternoon was lovely here, I wanted to go outside with Paul but just couldn't bend to put bulbs in (which is what I needed to do), so I gave up on the idea of going out in the sun, then I heard Paul calling me so went to see what he wanted, bless him he had set the garden shredder up with a HUGE pile of branches  and old Raspberry canes, he asked me if I minded helping him (I knew he had just created the job to get me outside)  so I stood and did as much as I could, after that we prepared Roast chicken dinner with Apple crumble, I sat and made today's card while Paul peeled vegetables etc.  Nothing very exciting but I am perfectly happy doing anything in Paul's company x

Today's card is made using a Hero Arts die that I bought a long time ago and have never had it out of the packet, after buying it (from a seller on fb for £4) I just couldn't decide what to do with it, so after a bit of googling Background die cards I saw something similar to this so set about making it.   I die cut the background 3 times, adhered 2 together (for depth) and used the 3rd to cut up for the flower embellishments, I coloured those with my StampinUp Alcohol pens, I stuck the background down to my Balmy Blue card base and I was going to add the flowers but decided that looked a bit 'flat' so I decided to cover the coloured flowers with Versamark and then cover them with clear embossing powder and heat set, wow did it bring them to life!!


 I stamped my sentiment and die cut and added a narrow white mat.  I arranged the flowers around the sentiment and popped some coloured glossies in matching colours on the flowers in the background.  

It was finished.....


Without white background 


With white background 



But for some reason it didn't look right, or maybe it looked unfinished,  so I sat, deflated for a few minutes and then I thought  πŸ€”  Put it on a white card base!  So I trimmed along the top and then cut a card base 1/4 inch bigger and adhered my card front. That was it, it looked finished,  sometimes it can be the simplest things that can make so much difference,  like adding a coordinating mat to a card or adding a few gems or flowers, so before you discard something you have been working on walk away and have a think about how you could change it,  or message me and I will suggest something,  Karen and I often do that, Sue and I too,  You just need a fresh pair of eyes to look at it, it's always something super simple.

Brenda,  I agree with you 100% about the Diecutting Essentials Magazine,  I remember when I first subscribed last year the first few dies were awful, then there was a good run of nice dies.  I have found the Techniques a bit 'samey'. The ones in Creative Stamping magazine have been better.  Sue bought a couple of her magazines with her on Wednesday and one if the features was a 100% copy of one of my Diecutting Essentials Magazine,  the dies they used were the magazine free gift!  Nobody wants to pay for repeated content,  so I may take a break.  I think it might be better to look at them on a shop and buy if you like the free gift, that way you aren't paying for things that you don't use.  Although it's nice to have some happy mail during the month.  Sue's latest Simply Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine seemed way better value, I'm pretty sure there was a set of masks, stamps and a die and a stencil brush!! So I might look at that one too. XXX

Thank you all for your wonderfully kind and uplifting messages yesterday, it meant a lot ❤️ 

Sending my love and hugs to you all,

Sandra
xxxxxx





6 comments:

  1. Morning Everyone
    Beautiful card this morning SANDRA.

    Sorry I've not been in for the last few days but everything here is upside down at the moment.
    Jim was taken into hospital on early on Saturday morning via ambulance. He was having problems breathing and chest pains. He has pneumonia again.This isn't the first time in fact it's the third time over the last few years. As yet we don't know how long he will be in hospital.
    I will try and get a card done for this week but cannot promise.

    HUGS on their way to you all. Please take care and stay safe.xxxx

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  2. A very pretty card and being able to use one of the dies to create the embellishments makes it super versatile I finished a Thrinchie by triple embossing the embellishment because it just needed that something and it’s made a world of difference I also finished a card (thank you SANDRA for the advice!)
    OH has had raging toothache all weekend so hopefully he’ll be able to get an appointment at his dentist today and maybe it’ll make his “sore head” better!
    Take care everyone xx

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  3. Hi everyone
    I love your beautiful card today, the background die is gorgeous 😍
    Janet, I hope Jim is ok. Sending you all hugs xx
    Karen, I hope your OH gets a dental appointment and is feeling better soon xx
    Sandra, I’m sorry I didn’t comment yesterday on your being low πŸ˜”
    I’m forever grateful for your wonderful blog and the challenges and inspiration you share. If it wasn’t for your blog I’d have probably given up crafting a long time ago! Your friendship, along with all the rest of our lovely blog family is one I treasure the most ❤️
    I hope you all have a good day whatever you’re doing
    Sending hugs to you all xxx

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  4. Hi everyone
    A very pretty card and it does make the flowers pop with embossing them.
    Janet, thinking of you both. Wishes for Jim having a speedy recovery.
    Karen, hope OH get 's a appointment with the dentist . Horrible to have a toothache.
    Sonia, hope you can decide what's best for you in the long run. Hope you have a good day and not just cleaning.
    Brenda, hope you doing alright. Take care
    Lilian, hope you had a nice tome with the family around. A bit quiet now when they have left. Let your body rest.
    I was looking for any kind of background die yesterday but do you think I could find anything ... I cut something out, just before the plate cracked into 2 !! but haven't put it together yet so if time is kind I hope to do it later today. We are off for a few days to see Son and his girlfriend but will try to pop in when I can.
    Have a good day everyone and many hugs are being sent to you all xxx

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  5. Hello All, just come from seeing a solicitor and signing our new wills, I know it’s a grim subject but needed updating.
    Janet do hope Jim feels better soon.
    Sandra such a pretty card today, that embossing makes such a difference.
    After searching through my old dies I have found some background dies that I had totally forgotten about.
    Hugs to you all, Lilian.

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  6. Hello Sandra and ladies, very pretty card today, you have certainly made the floral spray stand out giving it clear Versamark and embossing powder, it works beautifully in a very subtle way. Love it.
    Janet sorry to hear Jim is in hospital I hope he will respond to the treatment and be allowed home soon also hop that you are coping well without him. Take care xxx
    Karen hope OH managed to get an appointment with the dentist and feeling better now.
    Sonia hope your day went well and work wasn’t to exhausting.
    Maria hope you are feeling better and free from the pain you have been having recently.
    Take care everyone, sweet dreams. Love Brenda xxx

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