This Week's Guilty Secrets

 Lilian's New Goodies

 Brenda L Ally Pally Haul 

 Lynda's 1st Ally Pally Haul

 Lynda's 2nd Ally Pally haul

 Pat's Set Craft goodies from last week

 Pats Ally Pally Haul

Pats 2nd lot of Ally pally goodies

 Margaret's Ally Pally Haul

 Maria's Ally Pally Haul

Sue's Ally Pally Haul

Good Morning ladies,

Well as you can see everyone did really well with their craft shopping this week, boosted of course buy our visit to Ally Pally on Saturday, we all had such a good time, the only thing I missed was seeing Sue W crafting, as every time we went to see her she was away filming for Hochanda live !  

I am not sure who is the biggest spender this week, its a close one between Brenda and Lynda !! Brenda managed to get some of the Chameleon Pens, they look easy vto use but i'm not sure they are, I have been fooled before !!! Haha 

Today Sue and I sat down to play with our colour cloud inks, very mixed results, it seems to depend on what card you use, some that I used just absorbed the ink and made what i thought was a 'pretty pink' into a bit of an odd colour, Brenda do you have the pink ???

 Sue then went on to play with her new Groovi plate, along with Pat, both learning from each other, Pat, I must say you make me cry with laughter sometimes !!

Angela, I am so pleased you are on the mend, enjoy your weekend away! Will you have finished your medication?? I hope so, so that you  an relax and have a Gin or two xxx

Lilian, if you are looking in, I hope you are feeling better in yourself, sending hugs xxx

Janet, I have to ask in case Jim has forgotten.....have you booked the ferry and hotel, or are you left to swim after your purchases in the Scrimpy's sale last night!!? X

Paul and I are going to have a lazy day today, I am a little worried as the symptoms of my UTI haven't gone, so I may need some more antibiotics, I am sure I usually have 5 days not just three! Fingers crossed it improves.

Have a lovely day ladies x

Love and hugs

Sandra 

xxxxx

Cards from Jess and Michele today !

 Jess's Anniversary Card

 Michele's Crossword Card

Good Morning Ladies,

I am treating you to two card designers today, we have some lovely cards from both Jess and Michele.

Jess's Anniversary cards are first up, they are both amazing, The first card Jess has used the Creative Expressions 'Lyra' die from their Gemini Die range.  

The second card Jess had used the 'Tethered Heart' Striplet die, also from Creative Expressions, both of these dies were designed by the Amazing Sue Wilson.

I love what you have done with both cards Jess, the flowers and flourish die work so well with the Lyra die and the pearls and beautiful blue ribbon give the perfect finishing touch to the Striplet Card.

Thank you so very much for sending your cards in for me to share.

Michele designed the card for her boss, what I want to know is... where is the clue for 4 Down ? there must be a word that fits in there! I love the design of this card Michele and how easy it is to personalise. Michele also gave her boss a Tutorial DVD for Book Folding, something I haven't tried although I love the look of some of the things that I have seen.

Sue and I are off to Pat's today, which I am looking forward to, my only concern this week is that I can't go to the loo at Pat's as it's upstairs, (i can't get upstairs), on an ordinary day I just manage but having this infection might make it a little tricky, I will wait and see how I feel in the morning, fingers crossed plans will remain the same.

Angela, I hope your mouth is feeling better, hopefully it will heal quickly and you'll be back on the Gin soon, you could use it as medicinal mouthwash in the meantime! xxx

Lilian our thoughts are with you at this difficult time, we will be here to support you when you are strong enough to come in, gentle hugs on their way to you xxxx

I hope every one has an enjoyable day.

Can I have all purchases in for tomorrow please ladies, we have some lovely things to show this week.

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxx

Good Morning Ladies,

I thought I would make you an alternative 'tag Card' just to give you a little more
Inspiration.
It also gave me the chance to use some of my lovely laces that I have bought from

scrimpy's Lace Closet   (contact Amanda Charles worth on fb )

The papers I have used are the Trimcraft 'Sweet Paris' collection that I got in that bargain pack from the Range, 8 x 8 pad, embossing folder, die set, hat pins and  vintage buttons! All for £9.99 .
I teamed it with some Kraft card and some flowers from my stash.
I made a tag using  a piece of the Sweet Paris paper which I adhered to some card for strength. I then added some leftover bits of lace and trim and a few pearls, the 'paris' die cut is part of the colkection, it fits nicely into the pocket and give some interest to the card.

Now I am so excited to be able to share with you my DT kit from Scrimpy's Lace Closet (Amanda)

My DT kit from Amanda (Scrimpy's Lace Closet)

I am quite excited to get started, I have never really 'altered' anything, so deciding what to do with the Suitcase will be a fun challenge.   I don't think I will have any problem using the laces though! They are all so beautiful and top quality as is always the case with Amanda's products. 

How are you all finding the challenge? I am looking forward to seeing your designs.

Have a fabulous day everyone,

Love and hugs

Sandra 

Xxxxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

 My Challenge Card

This weeks Sketch 

Good Morning My lovelies,

I thought I would challenge you all to make a 'Tag' card this week, they aren't to difficult really, the 'pocket' for the tag is just like another layer on your card but just with glue applied to the bottom and two sides (leaving the top free to slide your tag in), you can decorate as you please, I kept it super simple this week, mainly because my body wasn't as enthusiastic as my mind!!  purely as a result of all the fun I had on Saturday.

But you can get the idea, I will have a prettier one to share with you tomorrow!  You can keep it as simple as you like though, I am just looking forward to seeing what you all come up with.

I hope that all of you ladies that were suffering yesterday as a result of Ally Pally are feeling a little better today.  I wish we didn't have to wait six months for the next one,

I would love to meet up like that every month, we never seem to have enough time when we are at Ally Pally, especially this time as it was so busy with Hochanda being there. I have never seen the queue to get in so long!  

We went over to see Matt and his new born lambs yesterday, oh my, they were so cute, one had only just been born! The ones that were born a week ago were running and jumping around in the field, I could watch them all day, it doesn't matter how you are feeling they will make you smile.  I am so proud of Matt he has achieved so much, you could see the joy it bought him to show us round the barn with all the sheep pens he had built etc. A perfect end to the weekend.

I hope that you all have a good day xxx

Love & Hugs

Sandra 

xxxxxx

Sketch Challenge Cards

The Sketch

My Challenge card

Janet's Challenge Card

Cheryl's Challenge card

Lynda's Challenge Card

 Maria's Challenge Card

Lilian's Challenge card

 Val's Challenge Card

 sue's 1st Challenge Card

 Sue's 2nd Challenge Card

 Hazel's Challenge Card

 Anne's Challenge Card

 Michele's Challenge Card

Margaret's Challenge Card

Jess's Challenge Card

Karen McClures challenge card

Good Morning Ladies,

What a day we had yesterday, some fabulous crafts on display, some lovely things to buy too, I think this year there were more different die companies available than ever before, some fantastic stamps too, it's so inspirational to be able to watch so many craft experts using there products too!

But best of all was meeting up with the most amazing ladies anyone could wish to meet.....I met Karen (lotty) for the first time, what a beautiful warm and friendly lady, we got talking straight away like we had known each other for years, I definitely want to meet up again soon!  Brenda was there too and Brenda (littlelamb) also, with her beautiful granddaughter Scarlett, what a polite young lady, a real pleasure to meet. Lynda & Terry were there too, Terry was as hilarious as always, he even tried to steal my wheels !! Lol 

Our Maria joined us too, it was so lovely to catch up, Maria tried very to keep us in order, I'm not sure she managed though!! 

Sue and Pat were as always great company, we laughed all the way home.!

Another gorgeous range of cards this week, you never cease to amaze me Ladies, your cards are all so gorgeous,  I can't manage to go through card individually this week as I am exhausted after spending so many hours at Ally pally!!

I am just going to say that each and everyone of your cards are beautiful,

Each bone different, Anne I love your "Loch ness monster'' card, its just so funny, yet so funny.  So many of you have used a beautiful heart die cut on

Your cards,  some real pretty hearts !!

I will be busy planning tomorrows card sketch all day today, 

Have fun whatever you are up to today,

Love and Hugs

Sandra xxxx

Allsorts Saturday xx

 Angela's Beautiful boxed card

Angela's Card in Box

Pats's Granddaughter Amber's Cake for Olivia

 Margaret's Cross Stitch Card

Beautiful Birthday Girl Nic  (Jeans's Daughter)

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

So looking forward to today, meeting up with so many of you lovely ladies !!!

I have left some goodies for those of you that can't make it, so enjoy the delicious cakes !

Now onto todays crafts and as usual we have a very varied range of crafts, Cards, Cake & Cross Stitch, all the C's today (no I didn't plan it)

First up is the Beautiful, delicate card that has been designed and created by Angela, it looks like Angela as used a Robert Addams All Occasion Die for this card.  It is like a concertina in that it folds flat to go in the box and pops up when taken out. I love the way you have decorated the card and the box is just fabulous, thank you so much for sending your cards in for me to share Angela xxx

Now just look how amazing Amber's Cake looks, there looks to be every kind of delicious goody on top of that cake, chocolate fingers, marshmallows, Aero mint balls, cookie pieces and lollies, oh my goodness Amber what a heavenly mix, I am sure that Olivia absolutely loved her cake, did she share any of it, (i don't think I would) its too yummy!  Thank you Pat for sending the photo in xxx

How beautiful is Margaret's Cross Stitched 25th Anniversary card, what a beautiful keepsake, so special because somebody has taken so much trouble to create it for you and it is personalised, the one thing we card makers have over the shops, nothing more special than a handmade personalised card.  Just to give you advance warning Margaret its our 25th this year too, but you have until september ! hahaha, thank you so much for sharing your card xxx

Now I am so thrilled to be able to share this beautiful photograph of Jean's daughter Nic and her Daddy blowing out the candles on her delicious looking birthday cake.  Thank you so much Jean for sharing this wonderful photo with all of us xxx

Well I must away  have got lots to do to prepare to Ally Pally, have a lovely day everyone,

Love and hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

This weeks guilty secrets, Val's Gorgeous Card

 Val's Gorgeous, cute card

 Brenda's Bargain shop !

 Janet's luscious laces

 Lynda's lovely laces

 More of Lynda's lovely laces

 Sue's early Birthday present

My gorgeous laces 

Amanda's craft purchases

 Michele's Guilty secret

Michele's other guilty secret !

Good Morning Ladies,

Just look at how cute the card that our Val has made for her daughter Lynn's birthday, Val I just love that little kitten image, it is so cute, your card is fabulous, I love the curled corners, your amazing sticknpins too, the butterflies and flowers are beautiful too, I am so grateful that you took the trouble to photograph and send it in for us, thank you so much xxxx

Now onto this week's purchases, there is a bit of a common theme.....Amanda is to blame I'm afraid !

Brenda.....wow what a lovely haul you got from Every Craft's a pound !! Some gorgeous paper pads, some lovely lace, those little scissors are really sharp and only a £1 ! the biggest bargain though was the pastry cutters, they were supposed to be £14.99 but only cost Brenda £4.99 ! Thank you so much for staying up late to send me your photo Brenda, I really do appreciate it xxxx

Janet....Well, what can I say.....just gorgeous, the laces are all so pretty, I really can't wait to see what you make with all of them Janet, I can just picture one of your gorgeous 'Altered' boxes covered in these lovely laces, hurry up and make one, I just can't wait, also team them with your Fernli designs goodies, match made in heaven! thank you Janet xxxx

Lynda.... two photo's to fit all of your laces in, so pretty, I can't imagine how your smuggled them past Terry, I can imagine you looked like 'lumpy' boobs, rather than 'DB', I picture you sneaking past him with bits of lace sticking out of your top !! laces...what laces???!!   I have already seen your challenge card this week where you have used some of them, so pretty, thank you xxxx

Sue......I am so happy that you got the Groovi starter kit, I know how much you loved it when you had a go with Pat's, a perfect birthday gift for you, well done Chris and Margaret !! I can't wait to see you using it, I know how much you love parchment craft but with your hands being so painful it has been impossible up until now !!!! I am so pleased it arrived in time for you to be included in this weeks 'guilty secrets' although yours was a total secret! xxxx

My purchases... yes you guessed it..more of lovely laces from Amanda, I have a whole draw organised now with laces and doilies.  Watch this space to see how I use them..

Amanda.....well Amanda had a trip to Ikea, supposedly to buy storage for her daughter Alexia's play room, but clearly she got distracted... lovely pair of Lanterns Amanda, I am really looking forward to seeing what you are going to with them !! Some sparkly Washi tape, essential Gesso and some beautiful Floral Muse papers, thank you for sharing your purchases Amanda xxxx

Michele....2 fabulous sets of dies, the Memory Box Poppy Stamp is fabulous, I have that one and I have seen some amazing cards made with it.  The First Edition Weather Stamp set, now this is going to cover so many different cards from using the Umbrella for Baby shower cards, to a 'feeling under the weather' card, the Snowflakes perfect for Christmas too, thats just off the top of my head, a great purchase Michele, thank you for sharing xxx

Well ladies are your fingers twitching to go and buy some of the lovely craft goodies shown today?

I know a few of us are trying to be good this week to save money for Ally Pally on Saturday, I have started making my list, I don't really 'NEED' anything but have a few things on my 'WISH' list.. the Colour Cloud inks for one, some Decopatch glue, also I am really struggling to find a proper pretty baby pink card stock, most of the ones I thought were ok had like an orange tinge to them, hard to explain, maybe I am too picky!  I will be looking out for some of that too.  Sadly Lilli of the Valley aren't going to be there this time, I love their stand ! But I am sure that I will find something to spend my money on! 

Now just to tease you tomorrows post has a photo of a Beautiful Birthday Girl and gorgeous Birthday cake that will have your mouth watering, If any of you have anything for Mixed crafts I would love to include them too.

Love and Hugs

Sandra 

xxxxxx