Sketch Challenge cards

 The Sketch

My Challenge Card

 Hazel's Challenge Card

Angela's Challenge Card

Angela's 2nd Challenge Card

Brenda's Challenge Card

 Janet's Challenge Card

 Janet's 2nd Challenge Card

Jean's Challenge Card

Jess's Challenge Card

 Lilian's Challenge Card

 Lilian's 2nd Challenge Card

 Lynda's Challenge Card

Maria's Challenge Card

 Margaret's Challenge Card

 Maureen's Challenge Card

Maureen's 2nd Challenge Card

 Michele's Challenge Card

Michele's 2nd Challenge Card

Sonia's Challenge Card


Special Addition

Beth's Mothers Day card

Good Morning Ladies,

Firstly I would like to wish all our Mum's a very Special Day, I hope that you all get spoilt today, just as you all deserve xxx

An amazing range of Challenge cards again this week, once again everybody's cards are so different,  you would think that we would all end up using some things the same, but there isn't even a duplicate in the papers used.

Hazel, you have created a beautiful card once again this week, simple and very elegant, a perfect anniversary card, would make a nice Wedding Invitation too, thanks for taking part xxx

Angela, two lovely Easter cards from you this week, I love the spring colours you have chosen, those papers are pretty too, thank you for taking part xxx

Brenda, Such a beautiful card, so pink and girly, I see you have used some of your MDF shapes that you bought from Farnborough, they colour really well don't they. The layers of  New York border die look like Guipure lace. Thank you so much for taking part xxx

Janet, I think you have used your new Crafts Consortium paper pad for your cards this week, I love that subtle colour palette, two gorgeous, totally different cards too, thank you xxx

Jean, oh my, I love that paper you have used, please let us know who's it is, your card is just so pretty, I love that Lace border too, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Jess your card is beautiful, I love the butterfly papers and the Butterfly embellishments finish the card off perfectly, thank you for taking part xxx

Lilian, two beautiful cards from you this week, the first one with the Dragonflies is just so delicate and pretty, the second one is so gorgeous, I love the papers you have used and those darling flowers with the pearl centres are just beautiful, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Lynda, I have to say I think this is one of your nicest cards ever, I love that paper you have used at the bottom of your card Lynda, please tell me who makes it, your poppy is gorgeous too and your ribbon looks very luxurious, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Maria, your gorgeous card would be perfect for Mothers Day as well as a Thank you card, such a cute image, I love the pretty spring coloured papers you have used and that lovely sentiment die cut too, thank you for taking part xxx

Margaret, a gorgeous card from you again this week, I love the colour and the papers of course, I really love that stamp you have used too, a recent purchase by any chance, stamped perfectly too, putting Sue and I too shame, hahaha, thanks so much for taking part xxx

Maureen, so organised betting your Christmas's cards started already, I love the leaping deer in your design.
Your second card is just as amazing, I love the owl and the verse, what is the embossing folder you have used?  Now, am I the only one that can see a face in the blue inked part of the card???? It looks like a lady looking to the left !!
Thanks for taking part Maureen, xxx

Michele, two perfect cards from you this week, I love the bright and cheerful papers and design, you really did get your 'mojo' back this week, you made loads of cards, so happy that you managed to take part this week xxx

Sonia, I love your design, such a gorgeous card, I am amazed at how well the Kraft card sentiment stands out on the Kraft card background, simple elegance describes your card perfectly, thank you so much for taking part xxx

Now for our added treat this week, Beth (Hazel's Beth) had made this absolutely gorgeous card for her Mum for Mothers day, it fitted in perfectly for last weeks 'Gatefold' Challenge but Beth was away skiing so couldn't take part.  I didn't want any of you to miss out on seeing Beth's design as it is fantastic inspiration for all of us, just look at the detail, the heart on the front is perfectly aligned with the heart inside the card, such an eye for detail Beth, I can't wait to see more of your cards, I hope that you can fit the Card Challenge in with your School work each week, thank you so much for taking part, look in tomorrow for this week's challenge xxx

The girls planned a lovely evening last night as Paul was working, it was just the three of us, they had been out and but us individual tubs of ice cream, in our favourite flavours,  bars of chocolate too and some salted cashews as they are my favourite, we watched Chicago together, it was such a lovely thought xxxx

Not sure what's been planned for today, whatever you are all doing have a fantastic day,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxx

Michele's Cat & Dog cards and a Sparkly Dress Form Tag !

 Michele's Cat Card

Michele's Cute Handbag Dog card

Dress Form Tag 

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I hope that where ever you are you aren't snowed in, please go careful it's sure to be quite icy !! Will it be 'Frozen Pitch' today I wonder? Or will the girls have to go play football in the freezing cold?!

Michele has clearly got her 'mojo' back, as she sent me four cards to share with all of you yesterday! 

I love the cute Cat image on the first card, with the pretty flowers on its colour, it looks as though it is sitting outside someones door waiting to be let in!  

Lovely card Michele, thankyou for sharing xxx

Now the second card reminds me of my 'Grand' dog Diego, he is a handbag dog 

If ever I saw one!  Such a cute image, beautifully coloured Michele, a gorgeous card to bring a smile to anyone's face, thanks again Michele xxx

Now then, I have been buying Somme different materials to have a go at mixed media, I already have lots of bits to play with but I have ordered some pretty lace and ribbon to have a play with the 'Shabby Chic' trend!   But last night I thought I would have a play with myb Tim Holtz Sewing Room Die, I die cut the Dress form and decided to make it into a pretty tag.  I die cut a piece of double sided adhesive to fit the 'bodice' part added it to Dress form, peeled backing away and put a Special Touch Mask on to the adhesive, I then used a baby blue and a pink Martha Stewart glitter, adding the blue first, make sure your tap all excess glitter off and then peerl off the Mask and then added the pink glitter to the remaining exposed adhesive, it created a pretty floral pattern that worked well as a dress or top. I then decided to make a super pretty skirt, by layering some Pink Silky Crush Ribbon with some fancy glittered Tulle over the top, I added some Grosgrain Ribbon in pink and some pearl trim to the waistband, I decided to add nothing but a couple of pearls to the top, it was sparkly and pretty enough, I added the same pearl trim to the neckline too.

I then shaded the Dress form top and base with a little blue ink.  I did exactly thee same background effect with the glitter on the Tag, placed a Doily to lay Dress form on, added a few pearls and some ribbon and tulle through the whole in the tag to finish!  It's very girly and was quite fun to make too! 

Not much doing here today, Paul will be sleeping off nights, ready to go in again tonight and the girls have a football Match.  Hoping to do Somme crafting!

Love and hugs to all

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Teal treat and my guilty secrets!

 My Teal Floral Card

 Some pretty things 

 Some MDF shapes to Alter

 A few of my Farnborough buys

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Some Bargain bits and Gorgeous stamps

Good Morning Ladies,

How is it Friday already???? It doesn't seem 5 minutes since we were planning to go to Farnborough!  My shopping from Farnborough is pictured above.

  Nice treat today as Paul is around because he goes onto nights tonight, its lovely to have a day to ourselves.  

Onto my card, I am not sure what inspired me to create this card, I think it was the flowers, I was having a little sort out of my flowers to make an order with Wild Orchid Craft, wow that shopping basket soon mounts up!! Looking forward to my 'happy post'!

I took the flowers and pulled together a few bits that complimented them, I die cut the Creative Expressions Caribbean Background to use as a frame for my flower arrangement.  After placing the flowers I added some white pearls around the frame and matching teal/aqua pearls on the outer areas.  I tied an organza bow, added some pearl string and some matching narrow ribbon and a Decorative Pearl embellishment to the centre. I hope you like it xx

My Shopping Confessions this week are mostly from Farnborough, I wanted some MDF shapes to decorate so I visited the MDF man and bought some hearts, tags and a butterfly, I am looking forward to making them look pretty!  

I didn't really go too crazy at Farnborough, I had a list that included Embossing powder, some pearls, scissors, some dies from Pink Frog crafts to make some flowers,

I wanted a 'Wink of Stella' clear pen to add some sparkle to flowers etc.  I got a bargain Tonic sentiment die, some white card, its so frustrating that Anna Marie changed their 300gsm white card supplier as I loved that card, it was perfect for everything from stamping to die cutting and making card bases, the one they have now is slightly textured, and cracks when creased, so the hunt is on for a new 'perfect card', we did get some at the show so watch this space for an update.

The 'Every Crafts A Pound' stall had to be visited for some more amazing scissors, flat back pearls and some spray ink.  I got some of Sue's new stamps too, which I can't wait to use. The Ross Paper stand had some really pretty sparkly Tulle, I couldn't resist so I bought some pink and white. I tried to find them online to see if you could order their products but that don't seem to exist! 

The top photo is the parcel from Jennings Boutique, some really pretty things but a good few things missing, I have now been refunded though.

Pat, thinking of you and Pete today, love and hugs to both of you xxx

I hope you all have a good day,

Love and Hugs

Sandra 

xxxxxx

A Little Thursday Treat from Cheryl & Janet

 Cheryl's Stylish Stiletto Shoe card

Janet's Pretty Floral Silhouette Card

Good Thursday Morning Ladies

I am excited to share with you today two beautiful cards created by our incredibly talented friends

Cheryl and Janet.

Cheryl has used a very Stylish Stiletto die (Tattered Lace)? and the Spellbinders Triple Flip die to create this

lovely card perfect for Teenagers and Ladies alike, Oh how I would love to be able to strut around in a pair of shoes like that, I wouldn't even be able to stand in them!!  Although I am sure that I am not the only one amongst us that has this problem, Cheryl I could imagine you wearing these at one of your Charity do's though!! hahaha, I love this card Cheryl, it would be perfect for my daughter Becca, thank you so much for the inspiration and for sharing your card with all of us xxxx

Janet, your card is just so pretty, mixing the pretty floral card with the silhouette just works so well, I love the combination, trimming the aperture/frame with pearls works really well,  your floral embellishment and bow give the perfect finish to the card.  Thank you so much for inspiring us Janet and for allowing me to share your beautiful design xxxx

Not too much on the cards today, Sue and I ended up having a Road Trip yesterday afternoon, Sue kindly offered to take me and my broken Guillotine back to the Range, who couldn't have made the whole thing more difficult !! The blade/handle kept tightening with each use, after 4 or 5 cuts it became impossible to use, Paul kept loosening it off for me but it would soon tighten again, so I decided I had had enough and returned it, hoping to be refunded so I could buy a new one, but oh know, even with the proof of purchase I could only have a store refund card !!  We obviously had to have a little look in Hobbycraft but we did't buy very much, the only think I did get was some kids fancy cut scissors as I had given mine away thinking I wouldn't ever use them, but I found out that they are the key to making multiple different flowers from one die, so watch this space.  Thank you so much Sue I had a lovely afternoon xxxx

I am waiting for the Tumble Dryer Engineer to come today, so lets all place bets on whether he will have the right part to fix the dryer (I did explian the full extent of problem on phone), it is one of the problem dryers and the fluff did catch light on the heating element but no further damage was caused, but I have a feeling this may drag on!!

I will call in later,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Guilty Secrets....Mega Buys this week!!

 Angela's Farnborough purchases

 Brenda's Farnborough Purchases

Janet's Crafty purchases 

 Lilian's New Pens

 Lilian's New pens

 Margaret's New Craft Stash

Margaret's New Craft stash

Margaret's New Craft essentials

Michele's  Bargain of the week 

Pat's Farnborough Purchases

 Sonia's Farnborough Haul 1

 Sonia's Farnborough Haul 2

 Sonia's Farnborough Haul 3

 Sonia's New Die Storage

The last of Sonia's shopping

Sue's Farnborough Purchases

Good Morning Ladies,

What an amazing shopping week we have had this week, I think that the Bargain of the Week goes to Michele who got her Grand Spellbinders Dies for £5 (i think) but only because she was honest, or she would have got them for less!!

Sonia is our 'Shopper of the Week'  but she has been saving for a long while to go to Farnborough and stock up, you got some amazing goodies Sonia, I love all of your dies and Stamps, Inkyliscious have some amazing stamps to choose from, I couldn't make up my mind!  I am really looking forward to seeing what you are going to create with all of those new goodies, thank you for sharing your shopping xxxx

Margaret, as your friend it was so exciting seeing you so excited about buying all of your brand new craft tools and basics as well as some extra bits and storage, you are probably sick of advice by now, but you really did make some great choices, a fabulous Tonic glass mat, Tim Holtz pokey tool, great Glue choice, some lovely stamps with a good range of messages, a couple of greetings dies too and of course some card and paper, the world is your oyster now as they say, I feel so privileged to be able to be part of your craft journey, I am also very much looking forward to watching your cards change as you grow in confidence and having the use of more crafty goodies, thank you for allowing me to be part of your shopping experience xxx

Brenda, I am so happy that you got your Label die, and you bartered for a good deal, well done you, I love your Lilli of the Valley pads too, you got some lovely stamps and some new bits for your Groovi plate, your bag must have been like Mary Poppins bag as it didn't look like you got all that in there!! Thank you for sharing your purchases with us xxxx

Janet I love your Butterflies, you have the knack of placing them perfectly on a card too, they never look out of place, that Lace is gorgeous too, I see you 'needed' some more craft papers too, did you get any more craft goodies for your birthday??? thank you for sharing your Range shopping treats with us xxxx

Lilian if Julia recommended those pens, then it is only right that you buy them, what more of a reason do you need!!! They look a really good range of colours in one pack, a good make too! thank you for sharing xxxx

Sue and Pat, well what can I say, I think you were both very reserved this weekend, I guess you are waiting for Ally Pally?!  Thank you both for sharing your goodies with us xxxx

Well ladies, my fingers are just about dropping off after that lot of confessions, the craft market is a lot richer this week, that's for sure!!!

Sheila, you are in our thoughts at this tough time xxxx

Barbara, I am so pleased that your flowers arrived, just a small token to show you how much you are cared about by your friends here in the Cafe xxxxx

Pat, safe journey to Essex, I won't say have a good time, I hope all goes well, you and Pete will be in our thoughts xxx

Sue is coming over today, that means I have to clear a space on the dining table! Soup has been made, rolls are ready for baking, cookies waiting to be consumed !! Hurry up !!!!! xxxx

Sending Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

Stunning Views

 The view from Anne's house of Gairloich Village & Torridon mountains

The View from Anne's house across to Isle of Sky in the distance

Anne's very cute 'Get Well Soon' Card

Good Morning Ladies,

Today we get to share the breath taking views from Anne's home in Scotland, 

It looks so beautiful, like the air is so fresh it cleanses you!!

The first view is looking out across Gairloch Village onto the Torridon Mountains off in the distance.

The next view has the Isle of Skye off in the distance, Anne said that it looks miles away but there is no zoom on the IPad.

Anne's 'Get well card' would bring a smile to yourself no matter how poorly you were feeling!  I think it is a Lilli Of The Valley image that Anne has matched beautifully with the backing papers, I love the way that you have got the little straps holding the focal image up!  The daisies give the perfect finishing touch to this gorgeous card, thank you so much for sharing it with us Anne xxxx

Have a great day everyone, Pat & Sue please send me your new stash photo's!

Love and hugs

Sandra xxx