Mixed Craft Saturday

 3D Origami Portrait

This is what the portrait are is created with,!

Janet's Altered Box (top)

Janet's Altered Box (front)

Janet's Altered Box (side)

Sonia Memory Album

Sonia's Memory Album

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

Wow, some beautiful pieces of work to show you this week, you are all bloomin amazing!!

Karen was so excited to share with us a project that she saw at The Discovery Centre at the Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire, this stunning 3D Portrait of The Mona Lisa has been created by their Office Cleaner, she folded each piece of paper several times as you can see in the second photograph.

I am absolutely blown away by how mind blowing this piece of art is, sadly we don't have the ladies name to give her credit, but Karen wanted us all to see how amazing this project is, how incredibly inspirational, thank you so much Karen for discovering this piece xxx

Janet, WOW !! Your altered box is just so beautiful, I can see that you have used some Floral Muse paper, a Resin Frame and flourishes from Anita at the Crafty Insomniac and some of Amanda's pretty laces, you have turned the box into a stunning work of art, I love that Lace Flower you have created, it really sets the top of the box off, that gorgeous little image that you have framed is so sweet.  I hope that you are enjoying your 'Altered' journey Janet, I am certainly loving seeing your work, keep it coming please. xxx

Now I have been so excited to see this Incredible Memory Album that our Sonia has created for her Mum & Dad's Golden Wedding Anniversary, I love the beautiful frame that you have created on the front, also the different photo mats through the album are all so pretty, you have done an amazing job. including all the photographs of special moments, that will evoke wonderful memories for your Mum and Dad, you even left spaces for photographs on the actual Anniversary.  Sonia, you have done an absolutely amazing job, your parents will love it, so will any family member that gets to look through the album, I know that it has taken you a while and has been a real labour of love, but it is oh so worth it.  Thank you so very much for sharing this very special project with us xxx

I will announce the winners of Friday's Draw tomorrow, so make sure you pop in !

Thank you so much for taking part today ladies, you are all so incredibly talented.

Have a lovely day Ladies,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Dies of Old Challenge

Karen's Old Die card

Lilian's Old Die Card

Maria's Old Die Carc

Michele's Old Die Card

Michele's 2nd Old Die Card

Val's Old Card

Anne's Old Die Card

Janet's old Die Card 

Sonia's Old die card



My Old Die card

My second Old die card

Good Friday Morning Ladies,

Another week has flown, doesn't seem  5 minutes since Christmas/New Year and here we are almost half way through the year!!

I have really enjoyed seeing the cards you have made using your older dies, I hope it has inspired you to get some of them out and use them again.  Val's friend Wendy told me that last year she set herself a challenge of using all of the dies in her collection, one every day, how amazing is that? It would take me about 2 years atleast!  

Now tell me, would you like more "mini challenges" ? I would love to hear any suggestions that you have for the challenges too.

We have had such a good range of dies used, Val's and Karen's were very similar Tree dies,  but cards are different. 

Anne went back to the basic Square and Round dies that are must have dies, perfect for making card bases and matting and layering, as well as cutting apertures in cards too!

Janet has used the Spellbinder Gate die to create a really lovely background, such a good way of getting more out of our dies!
Maria's card is cute, using The Austrian Background die from Creative Expressions, with a cute little bear holding a "The cafe" sign !! So cute x
Lilian's card is so pretty, I couldn't find the die online though so hopefully Lilian will pop in and enlighten us later , such a realistic looking Hydrangea though, was it an Impression Obsession Die Lilian ??
Michele has used a combination of dies to create these gorgeous pop up cards, with the cutest owls, butterflies, dragonflies etc, I am looking forward to Michele telling us exactly what was used to make both of these gorgeous cards.
Sonia has used the Joy Craft Celtic Circles dies to make this gorgeous card x

My cards used some really old dies, the fleur de lys border die was one of the first dies I ever bought when Sue used to demo Spellbinders on Create and Craft, I got that Square Spellbinder die at the same time, I still love them both soi am going to leave them out!  The other card is one already made using one of the many Birdcage Dies I have, this one is as Marianne Die I believe, it cuts a really pretty birdcage !

I will put all of you that have taken part into a draw for 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize later today, just in Case we get any last minute entries.


Had Lucy back to doctors yesterday as she has continued to deteriorate health wise, it looks like she has Glandular Fever, bought on by stress of exams with the addition of her double vision to deal with and her immune system being weakened by a recent week long virus, she is incredibly lethargic which is so unusual as my girls are both very sporty! With her GCSE's a week away this is the most frustrating situation, lots of TLC was prescribed by GP as well as a few different pills and potions to alleviate her symptoms.

Ladies we all need to send our dear friend Lynda lots of love and hugs as she too had a horrible GP visit yesterday!  Lots of love and hugs to you Lynda xxxx

I will pop in later to check all is well, until I am off to get my nurses hat on !!!

Love and hugs
Sandra xxxx

This Weeks Guilty Secrets

Maria Craft Shopping

Michele's New Die

Janet's Craft Haul 

My Scrimpy's Prettiness

My New Flower Die

The actual Die

Presscut Heart Dies

New Ink Pads

Happy Birthday Hazel

Good Morning Ladies

A few 'Guilty Secrets' this week, I must say that most of you have been very good girls this week, but there were a few of us that couldn't resist !

Maria, couldn't resist buying a few goodies when she attended Julia Watts Demo Day recently, she bought a couple of Woodware Stamps, they always stamp really well I find.  Maria also picked up a

couple of what looks like Mini Masks and a Phill Martin Alphabet stamp, thank you for sending them in for me to share Maria xx

Michele just loved the font on this die set, I find that word dies are so useful, I think the words are

'Celebrate', 'Cheers', and 'Happy Birthday'.  Thank you for sharing Michele xxx

Janet,Wow, what an amazing haul, it looks like you have bought some gorgeous goodies from The Range, I love those hearts, (are they hessian)?, some pretty material too, I will leave you to tell us what other goodies you bought, thank you for sharing your shopping xxx

Now onto mine, I will say that some bits were last weeks buys!! My first photo is of my fabric and feathers from Amanda, with some heart and leaf pearl trim too, the next two photos are of the Black Eyed Susan Die that i bought from A Maze of Memories, it was £12.99 which I thought was a good price, Sue and I spotted some flowers made with it while we were there on Saturday.  

The two heart die sets, one scalloped and one straight were really good value

There are 27 dies in total, I think they were about £25 combined son not even a £1 a die, I use hearts quite a lot and had no scalloped hearts so couldn't resist, they cut really well too.  Last but not least two Memento ink pads, two colours that I had as the mini teardrop shaped pads, but soon used them up! 

Thanks ladies foir sharing xxx

Lets Wish Hazel a Happy Birthday, hopefully you might pop in and see this today, have a fab day x

I hope that you all have a great day, however you are spending it x

Love and hugs

Sandra







Baby Card & Box

The Card Box

The Card

Close up of Bow and Stickpins

Good Morning Ladies,

A bit of a change to our week this week, Sue is away in the Forest Of Dean and Pat has managed to get a cancellation appointment with her hip surgeon, so no meet up this week!  Wow we will have so much more to talk about next week!!! 

Now onto today's card, I was asked to make a card by a colleague of Becca's to give her daughter abs Son in Law, thanking them for the gift of a Granddaughter.  A wonderful gesture, but I have never come across such a card before.  

So I decided to just go with the New Baby Girl card, with a bit of added lace and a thank you sentiment.  

Thankfully, the Lady loved it !

I found a lovely Scrapbooking shop nearby (well 30 miles away), thankfully they stocked Bazzill card so I could stock up on baby pink card, you just can't buy a particular colour of card online.  Having said that now I know the names of the colours I like buying online will be easier.  It is can lovely shop though, A Maze of Memories is the name, but sadly they don't sell online, shame as they stock just about every brand of stamp and die. 

I got the card, I needed, made an easel card using an 8 x 8 base card, matted it with baby pink card, added a strip of Lace which I had woven some baby pink ribbon through across both the top and bottom panels of the card, I printed the babies birth details and die cut it with a heart die, I then added a layer of pink lace and added it to the middle of the top panel.  I then printed out the 'thank you' message and die cut with a Spellbinders squared die, I trimmed it with pearls and backed it with lace to match the heart, added it to the bottom to create the stopper for the easel card.

I added a couple of bows, some flowers and a couple of stick pins to finish the card.

I then made a box and decorated it to match the card.

What do you think?

Please don't forget to send me....….....

Your guilty secret purchases for this week....

Your 'old die' mini challenge card 

Also anything you may have for mixed craft Saturdays.

I am so grateful for all of your input, its what makes my blog so special xx

Love and hugs

Sandra

Xxxxxx 

Anne's Tag & Abi's card

Anne's Tag & Card 

Anne's 'Altered' Tag

 Abi's Card For friend

Actual Instagram image

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you all enjoyed the Bank Holiday Weekend, I don't know where ours went, it just flew!! We went down to the May Fair, the weather wasn't the best which I always think is so sad when people go to so much trouble to arrange these events and organise things like the Dog Show etc only to have it ruined by the Great British Bank Holiday Weather!!! I was looking forward to seeing our "Granddog" take part in the various categories of the Dog show, it would have been hilarious, he usually wins on cuteness!! 

I feel so privileged to be able to share with you Anne's first ever attempt at 'mixed media' or Altered Art' !!  Anne, I cannot believe that this is your first attempt!!, I can see that you have added texture to the background by using a mask and what looks like texture paste, they really do add colour and dimension as well as giving texture, I love the colours you have used too, blending them to cover the tag so perfectly, then picking a ribbon to add that picks out one of the colours perfectly.  The little touch of lace and the die cut doily behind your gorgeous Julie Nutall Stamped Doll really adds the perfect finishing touch, giving yet more texture and I love how you have taken your design 'over the edge' of the tag. I hope you go on to make many more Mixed Media projects Anne as you are naturally talented, I am sure it will be very well received by Amber, who will hang it in her room with pride! Thank you so much for allowing me to share your first ever project xxx

Abi, your card for your friend is just a genius idea, after all what teenage girl doesn't use Instagram these days!!  You have made a perfect replica of the Instagram logo for your card design which just shows amazing talent, you should be very proud of yourself!! I have added the actual Instagram logo so that anyone looking in can see how accurate your card is.  For those of you that are wondering what Instagram is ....

"Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. Snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose a filter to transform the image into a memory to keep around forever" 

There, you have learnt something new today, every day's a school day !!!

Thank you so much Abi, for letting me share your card today xxx

Sue I hope you have a fun week away with Chris, RJ, Gemma and Christopher, it sounds like it will be a few days of rest and relaxation, enjoy, you need to take it easy, you are getting old now you know !!! Lol xx

Pat, I hope you can get Doreen seen today some time as her legs sound a little worrying to me, yes you expect swelling in the newly operated leg but not the other one, does she not still have her compression stockings on?? It isn't right that you and Pete are taking full responsibility for her care, its not fair on you, plus I know that you aged going to be busy with trips for most of May and are worried about her coping!  Make sure you go in with her and have your say! X

Sonia, so glad you finished your parents Album at last, I hope you have taken lots of photos, I would love to feature it for 'mixed craft Saturday' if you don't mind xx

Brenda, hopefully a quieter day for you, until there is all the unpacking to do that is !!

Please take it easy my lovely, I don't think you have sat and relaxed all week! Xxx

It was lovely to receive some of your challenge photos yesterday, both for this weeks Sketch and the "old die challenge" thank you xx

I hope that you all have a good day !

Love and hugs

Sandra 

xxxcc

Monday Sketch Challenge

My Sketch Challenge Card

The Sketch

Good Morning Lovely Ladies,

How is your Bank Holidays Weather?! It's quite chilly here, I am hoping it will be dry today as there is a May Fair on in town, it usually has plant stalls, craft tent, dog show so I have asked Becca to bring Diego, (I just hope its not a test on Obedience)!! There will no doubt be a car boot sale too!  Do you all have any plans?

Now onto today's Sketch, as you can see it is a really simple one this week, my Challenge card crosses both challenges this week, its an olderd die that I haven't used in months and its this weeks Challenge card too.

I used the central decorative die out of the Classic Adorned  Rectangles from the Noble collection of Creative Expressions dies, I then used the outside edge and inner frame to make a plain lilac mat to go under my decorative piece, I used foam tape to lift the frame slightly, I then used some matching Anna Marie Designs Dotty card to create the background.  I ran a piece of lilac ribbon across the card front, tied a knot at one end and topped it with a satin flower and a pretty little acrylic flower for the centre of the flower! I added a few purple/lilac flowers too!,

I hope you like my card today, its very simple!,

Cheryl I hope you are feeling a little better today my lovely, sending lots of hugs to  you! xxxx

I hope the rest of you are OK too, have a wonderful Sunday Ladies,

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
Xxxxxxx

 My Challenge Card

The Sketch

 Janet's Challenge Card

Margaret's Challenge Card

 Maria's Challenge Card

Anne's Challenge Card

 Ciara & Brenda's Card

 Hazel's Challenge Card

 Jess's Challenge Card

Karen's Challenge Card

Karen's Challenge Card

Lilian's Challenge Card

 Michele's Challenge Card

 Sonia's Challenge Card

Val's Challenge card

xxx Happy Birthday Sue xxx

Good Sunday Morning Ladies,

Firstly I would like to wish my Very Special Friend Sue the very Happiest Of BIG Birthdays xxxx

What an amazing display of Challenge cards once again this week, you never cease to amaze me ladies,

each and every one of the cards above are fantastic xxx

Can you believe that we have covered every theme of card this week, from those adorable little Gnomes on Anne's card to Snowflakes, Cupcakes, Paint splats, Pets, flowers and the cute little Owls, Birds and Butterflies on Ciara's card.
Ciara, I am so grateful that your helped Grandma to get her Challenge card made this week, although
I understand that you did most of the work!! Thank you so much Ciara for entering your card xxx

I would like to thank each and every one of for taking part this week, you all know by now how much my blog means to me, having you go to so much trouble each week is so very much appreciated.
I hope that you are building up a great stash of cards too.

Now onto our afternoon at the Card Class yesterday, Christina at 'Maze of Memories' is so lovely, a very patient and talented instructor, we shared the class with a lovely group of ladies, lots of fun and laughter, Sue and I got in a right mess too, but we enjoyes ourselves, learnt a bit more about Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powders too!  Sue said that she enjoyed her birthday gift so that made my day too xx
Next month they are doing classes on the Gilding Polishes that Creative Expressions has just launched.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday,
Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxxx