Michele's New Gemini Die, One Die two ways!

Good Morning Ladies,

Now I have to tell you that Michele told me she wasn't going to but the Die-Cutting Essentials Magazine again, after she was a little disappointed with the first one that she purchased.
But I have to say that I am very pleased that she did change her mind, I believe she was swayed by the free die that came with the magazine....The Creative Expressions 'Pictor Die' from their Gemini Die range, designed by the Incredibly talented Sue Wilson, As we get to see these amazing cards,
both created with the same card and die.
Michele has used the die as a border on the first card, die cutting it in white and then backing it by using the outside cutting edge to cut the lilac mat to go under the intricate die cut, Michele has used one on each end and then cut them to fit down the sides, creating an amazing frame, in the background Michele has used the Stitched Lattice Frame Die, also from CE, the frame has been created with the Frame part of the same die.

The second card Michele has created by using just the Decorative part of the die cut in white to add some beautiful detail around the square frame, it doesn't really look like the same die, just by adding that square frame and adding the die cut circle with the sentiment in the centre has given the die a completely different look.

Thank you so much Michele, it is fantastic to show how very versatile dies can be, you have done this brilliantly today.  I am so very grateful that you allowed me to share your cards with our friends here on the blog xxx

I have some photos of Pat's holiday to share with you tomorrow, one being a very deliscious looking dessert,
I hope she brings us all some back.

Love and hugs
Sandra
xxxxxx

Monday Sketch Challenge

 My Sketch Challenge Card

This Weeks Sketch

Good Morning Ladies,

Welcome to the start of another week, seems strange as its Monday but theres no Uniform been prepared and Paul didn't need to get up earlier to make the girls packed lunch (yes I know they are spoilt) in my day if you didn't get up and make your own, you went without, mind you it didn't take long, you didn't have quite as much choice, chedse , jam or marmite, or sometimes fish paste (yuk) I can still smell it now, it was 'Bloater paste' I think, what on earth was a 'bloater' ?!!  

Now some days Paul does the girls a salad bowl with dressing in a separate pot, or they have Southern Fried chicken salad wraps, he really does a proper job, if it was me, they would be made the night before and would be the simplest sandwich, as making sandwiches is my pet hate, I'd rather cook a roast dinner! 

Anyway I digressed, its Monday, so here is this weeks Sketch, as you can see I went for a 'male' twist on the original, I think I may to a girly ones today sometime!

I used some old Kanban paper pads that I have had for years and embellished with Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets Dies, which I used to cut a variety of metallic card to compliment the background.  I used some card candi in the corners, which I embossed +'s on to make the look like screws, no sure if that shows up though.

I used a Fernli off cut from a bag that costs just a £1 and you get loads on interesting shapes to use, I just stuck a piece of matching paper on, sanded the edges to ensure a perfect fit, then inked around it and added peel offs ! 

Now as usual you can pretty much do what you like, as long as you stick roughly to the sketch, colours, shapes across the centre, all up to you, I also used as rectangle rather than a square.

I can't wait to see your designs later in the week, I will be working on a mini challenge as well this week, might be a stamping based challenge I think !

Have a lovely week,

Love and hugs

Sandra 

Xxxxxxx

Sketch Challenge Cards

My Sketch Challenge Card

The Sketch

Anne's Challenge Card

Brenda's Challenge Card

Janet's Challenge Card

Karen W Challenge Card

 Lynda's 1St Challenge Card

Lynda's 2nd Challenge Card

Margaret's Challenge Card

Maria's Challenge Card

 Michele's Challenge Card

Sonia's Challenge Card

Sue's Challenge Card

Good Morning My Lovelies,

It's Sunday again and you know what that means......it means that I get to show everyone that peeks in the fabulous cards you have all made following this weeks Sketch.

I think that apart from Anne, Brenda and Margaret you have all made 'Male' Cards, what amazes me is that most of you went for men cards and used the same sketch, yet your cards look so different!

Janet and Michele went for the 'Travel' theme for their cards, Janet I love the stamped sentiments on your card, Michele I love those die cuts you have used, both absolutely fantastic cards. xxx

I love Anne's card it is so pretty, those Spellbinder Edge dies make such a pretty effect, the butterflies finish your girly design so perfectly, Brenda H, the way you have bought that little rainbow of colour into your otherwise Monochrome card is genius and works perfectly, I love the stamped images in the blocks. 

Margaret, I think that your card could be used for either a Man or a ladies card, I love the sentiment mixed with the little stamped bird, lovely papers too! Thank you all xxx

Karen's card is a commission, that she managed to work fantastically in with the challenge, I think that the recipient will be really happy with their card.  xxx

Maria has chosen a Gardening theme for her Man card this week, your design works really well, I love the background that you have created, it works perfectly with your theme. xxx

Sonia, you just can't go wrong with a Lilli Of the Valley image, they are so cute and you have worked the image into the sketch perfectly. xxx

Lynda, I just LOVE those letter tiles that you have used, where they an Ebay purchase? I love both of the background effects that you have used, both the faux leather and the Snake skin work so well with the theme  you have used. xxx

Sue, I guess that everyone will be wondering what your cards says, so I will put them out of their misery, 'Dubs' is the name of a friend of Sue's, and I know that he will love your card. xxx

I decided that as I end up repeating myself over and over again I would save my 'thank you's' until the end,

so I just want to say a huge heartfelt thank you for taking the time to design and make a fantastic card for this weeks challenge, as you are reading this I will be setting to work on the next Sketch ready for Monday morning. (unless you are in before 9am, I won't get started until after 9 !)

I want to send special huge hugs to our dear friend Val, you have had to cope with so much this past month, yesterday must have been so very tough, you are in all of our thoughts, each and every one of us are here for you should you need us xxxx

Pat, I hope you are having a fantastic time in Germany, looking forward to your photos xxx

Love and Hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx

More Gardens and Craft

Val's Beautiful Bougainvillea

 Anne's Stunning Border

Maria's Immaculate Back Garden

Maria's Pretty Border

Maria's Fabulous Clematis

Lynda's Amazing Altered Box

Good Morning Ladies,

Welcome to another 'Mixed Up Saturday', I have some more beautiful gardens to share with you, a long with a little craft.

Val explained that she doesn't really have a garden, but she wanted to share her beautiful Bougainvillea plant,

it is such a beautiful colour Val and so full of blossoms, you don't need a garden if you can have containers filled like this around your terrace, is it scented? 

Thank you so much for photographing and sharing your plant with us xxx

Anne your Border looks like one you would see in a National Trust House or stately home, it is so perfectly maintained, so full of colour and plants of different heights and different textures, the perfect mixed border, you are clearly a very keen gardener, thank you so much for sharing your Border with us xxx

Maria, what a well kept back garden, its all so very neat and tidy, a beautiful selection of Roses and shrubs in your borders, your lawn looks perfect too, you have a lovely size patio area, I bet it looks lovely when all of your pots are full of flowers too, it looks like you have the perfect mix of sunny spots and shade in your garden, which makes a huge difference in the summer (well, if we get one)!!  

Your Clematis looks amazing, the flowers look huge and such a pretty colour too.  

Thank you so much for taking photographs of your garden and sharing them with us xxx

Now it wouldn't be Saturday without a little Craft ..........

Lynda has really become hooked on Altered Art, this stunning Box that she has created shows that she really has got the hang of it too, a stunning mix of Flowers and Butterflies, I love the mix of paper flowers and metal  embellishments, it works so well, the pretty lace around the edge of the box finishes it off perfectly.

I am looking forward to seeing your next project already, thank you so much for allowing me to share your Beautiful box. xxx

The girls final exam went well, I think that Sophie's body must have been keeping going until the very last moment as she has come down with a terrible flu bug, fever, chills the works bless her. I dosed her up last night so hopefully she will be better today, never a dull moment in our house.

Looking forward to seeing your fabulous cards tomorrow!

Special hugs to all of you going through a tough time xxx

Have a good weekend ladies,

Love and Hugs

Sandra

xxxxxxx

Pretty treat from Pat xx

Good Morning Ladies,

Just like the proverbial bus, you wait for months for a card from our Pat and then two or even three come along at once!!
So here is another of Pat's fantastic cards, I love the colour combination Pat has used, I love green and pink, the combination of dies works well too, the stunning Melbourne die from the Creative Expressions Australian Collection and the Scalloped Lattice Buckle Bar from their Finishing Touches Collection, both dies were designed by the lovely Sue Wilson. Pat also did the trick that i discovered by mistake, that is running the buckle bar back through the machine with the embossing sandwich with the green card attached to the back, this pushes the green card through the scallops, it looks fab!
The background stamp that Pat has used is so pretty too, I believe it is from Creative Expressions, but I need Pat to confirm that either way Pat has coloured and stamped it perfectly (Pat is a natural stamper)!
All in all a beautiful card Pat, thank you so much for sharing it with us xxx

I must apologise as I haven't organised an extra challenge this week, I have been too busy rolling mini roses and being a study buddy!
Its the girls last exam tomorrow and therefore their very last day of school, goodness me I feel old, on the plus say we have 10 have at home together now.......anyone want a lodger?????

Love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra
xxxxxxx

The Big Reveal

Good Morning Ladies,

Well here it is, my big reveal,I have been working on this card for a few days, after Ben at SET craft said that people were struggling with ideas on how to use this gorgeous die and asked if I could come up with something.  So this is my first idea, a pretty summer garden gate, my arm ached after die cutting all of that foliage, believe me, but I did enjoy this challenge.
The fabulous die is Sue Wilson's stunning Special Occasion Collection- Arbour Gate Die, bought to you by Creative Expressions.

Below is the link to SET Craft should you wish to buy this die £11.75 or any of Sue's new Festive Die launch.

http://setcraft.co.uk/Craft-Dies/Sue-Wilson/Sue-Wilson-April-2016-Range/Arbour-Gate

I used Cosmic Shimmer Colour C!ouds - Summer Sky and Basil Leaf, to colour the background of my card, I used Creative Expressions Delicate Fronds die for some of the Foliage and Impression Obsession Leafy Branch for rest, I had an old punch that I used for the tiny butterflies. Although yoiu have to hunt for them!
I hope that you like my project and that it gives you all a bit of an idea for the die, I have another couple of ideas up my sleeve, so watch this space!

Pat, bon voyage, have a wonderful holiday in Germany, looking forward to the photos, missing you already xxx

Love and hugs to all,
Sandra
Xxxxxxx

Harry's Birthday card and photos

 Harry's Card

 Grandma's Gorgeous Boy

 Harry's Special Birthday Gift

Happy Harry !!

Good Morning Ladies,

Firstly I would like to wish my absolutely beautiful Daughter Becca a very Happy 22nd Birthday xxx

My Beautiful Baby Girl xx

A very special post today, its all about little Harry, I can't believe he's two already!!

Now for those of you who don't know Harry is our lovely Lynda's Grandson.

Lynda's birthday card for Harry is just so fantastic, Lynda has found the perfect image for Harry, he clearly loves motorbikes! Lynda has coloured it perfectly and used Creative Expressions Pierced Rectangles to frame the image perfectly, it looks like a picture that Harry could put in his bedroom!  Its a lovely card lynda, I am sure Harry will treasure it for years, thank you so much for allowing me to share Harry's card. Xxx
I love the photo of you and Harry, you both look so very happy, he clearly loves you very much xx

I would love to have seen Harry's Face when he opened that motorbike, what an incredible gift, Lynda told me that Harry absolutely loves motorbikes so this is the perfect gift, it looks huge though! You'll have to send us a photo of him riding it!!

This last photo is just so gorgeous, Harry looks so, so happy, naturally happy too, what an amazing photo to keep! Its been an absolute privilege to share your family photos Lynda, thank you so much for sharing them xxx

Lovely day today as Sue and Pat are coming over, Pat may not stay long as she is preparing for her holidays, but hopefully she will stay for a cuppa and a catch up, we still need to solve the EU issues!! Hahaha,  We will have to party quietly tomorrow though as our bedroom is next to the lounge and Paul will be sleeping off night shift and he is on nights again tonight, not that we are noisy crafter's!

I hope you all have a good day, I hope that all of you feeling poorly are on the mend xxx

Sending love and hugs,
Sandra
Xxxxxx