HELLO

Hi Everybody

Well it is well over a year since my last post, of which I am ashamed. I have not been able to get interested in crafting for such a long time. Which has been hard to understand when I was so passionate about it in the past. Well i've had a week's holiday from work this week, and yesterday I went to CRAFT DEN, with my lovely sis Ann. Didn't go to craft but just to visit and let Lynne the owner know I was still alive. Did a bit of merchandising for her, as she has a lot of lovely new stock since I last went. I bought 2 magazines, The magnolia mag & Simply Homemade, both well worh buying, both had lovely free gifts with them. I also bought one of the Memory box dies called fairytale flower border.
Well I have at least been inspired enough to venture into my craft room to go and have a look & a sortout, which I am going to do over the weekend, and well lets see if that helps.
I also just want to let everyone know I am still around and do miss all my crafting buddies, and hope once my craftroom is sorted I might be back with a piece of work to show you.
One of the last things I did make was a quilt which I did put a lot of work into, but never finished the quilting or binding, and Lynne tried and tried to get me to finish it. Well in the end she gave up and she, being the very special person she is, did it for me. She made me feel very special to do that for me, to which I said to her friends who quilt together stay friends forever, and I hope we will be friends forever. Even though I don't go to see her all the time, each time I do go I always truely feel welcome by her, and her lovely Hubby BOB.

Love to everybody
Always Sandra xx

FRIENDS GIVE YOU A WARM FEELING INSIDE

I had a really lovely night last night. I went to Craft Den, which in my opinion is the best crafting place in the world. It is made more special because of the people I have met there, people who have become great friends. Last night because it's my 50th birthday on Friday 17th  Feb, they got together, and gave me a surprise party.  Ann my fab sister & friend  helped keep the surprise, and even my lovely niece helen came and joined in. We made a book with a sewing theme, had lots of lovely food mostly made by Mary, who had not just made food, but had made free foods that we can eat on the slimming world diet, well that is apart from the cake she made aswell. Although it was part on our 5 a day because it had fresh strawberry's on it. The lovely Jill did make her famous pud though called tiffin, the least said about the sins in that the better I think. well worth putting a couple of pound on for though. I got some of the most beautiful handmade cards from everybody, which I will take a photo of and post soon, and a card with some money in to spend on something nice. There was a very special Guest at my party by the name of Ava, well what can I say about Ava apart from she is the most beautiful, cutiest little girl, and kept us all entertained with her singing. She came to our last sewing class and it was the best class we've ever had because she was there. I want to say a massive thank you to everybody and thank you for giving me a warm feeling inside, and making me feel so special. Love you all. Love Sandra xx

LOTS OF FOLDS

The theme at Anything Goes this fortnight is to use more then one fold. I decided to enter two projects in this time. I had already  made a 50th Birthday card for Sue who goes to Craft Den. It's an easel card and as I always seem to make easel cards  I thought I would make another project too. It's a gift box I learnt to make at a Stampin up party. They are very easy to make, folding an A4 piece of card. I have also added what we call the Craft Den butterfly.I remember the first time lynne at Craft Den gave us the template for it,we wondered what it was, but once it was cut out & folded, and a bit of craft wire added, Hey Presto, you have a butterfly. The sentiment is Stampin up too. It was a set of 4 stamps and then they fit with their own punches. Hope you like them both. Oh and don't look too close at the sewing on the card, it's a bit wonky. Love Sandra x

BRILLIANT DAY

I have had a great day today at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ . I have had my first sewing class since school, don't ask how long ago that was. The tutor was the very patient and lovely Jo from http://daisy236.blogspot.com/ .

I can't believe I have made a bag, and on the way home, I've used it. How great is that. We had a fab time, such great company, and a lot of laughs, mostly at Jill and her mum.

Near the end I found I had put my handles on wrong ( don't ask ) . Unpicked them and did it again, and one of the handles was through the button loop.

So after unpicking again ( good job I can laugh at myself). I'm very pleased with the finished bag, and I have got somebody very special in mind to give it to.

I would also like to thank Bob for the lovely cheese salad sandwich he made me.

Amy has just come in from meadowhall, and she can't believe I've made it, and she has already put an order in for hers.

Love Sandra x

HERE COMES SUMMER AT ANYTHING GOES

First of all the winner of my blog candy that has been running for the last 2 weeks is----------Tracey at http://littlethingsicreate.blogspot.com/ I went along to have a look at Tracey's blog and she is new to blogging, Tracey I have tryed to become a follower but it would't let me, so I have put your blog on my sidebar. Love the cards you have made so far, and look forward to seeing more of your work.

Anyway this is my entry for the Here comes summer challenge. I have made a easel card, they are so easy. The stamp is Tilda in the sea, and the bunting is a magnolia stamps too. Bunting always reminds me of summer. I once made lots of bunting for Daniel and Amy's primary school for the summer fair and I think they still use it, thats right I don't think it fell to bits even though I made it. The papers I have used are from a 6" x 6" pad that I got free in a craft magazine months ago, they are My minds eye. As always I have used prima flowers & martha stewart punches. Hope you like it. I am looking forward to seeing what all you talented crafters come up with and I will be able to comment on them this time after all my problem with blogger, and all your great tips on what to do. They all work. So thankyou for that. Congratulations to Tracey again on winning the candy, and all the other winners of the other DT candy's. Love Sandra x

HELPPPPPPPPP I WANT TO SCREAM

Blogger is driving me mad now. I can't comment on anybody's blog and I am not happy. I have been looking at everybody's blogs and have seen some fab cards, layouts and projects. I hate not been able to comment, because I know how much I love to get my comments for my work. So I am so sorry. When I try and sign in, it just keeps going back to the sign in again. If anybody knows if there is anything I can do, please let me know. Love Sandra x

BLOG CANDY & MY CARD

Sorry this is in two posts, blogger is so annoying. Here is a picture of my blog Candy & card. Love Sandra x

COME AND JOIN THE BLOG HOP

Anything Goes is a year old this week, and we are having a blog hoP to celebrate, with Prizes. I have also got a blog candy too. It's two stamPs a Pack of Prima flowers and a little easel, just big enough to show your cards on. All you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment on my blog. Anyway the theme this fortnight is masking, and I have made a card, and I have masked swing tilda on a swing. I've added stickles, flowers and a little wooden heart. The Punches are Martha Stewart of course. Anyway now you have visited my blog you will be moving onto StePhs blog http://honeybootique.blogspot.com/ and looking to see what her hidden letter is, hoPe you have found mine. Good luck with the hoP. Love Sandra x

BINGO BOARD CHALLENGE

Well here I am, back after 5 long months. Lynne at Craft den has been so patient with me, and still kept me on the design team, and said I could join back in whenever I was ready. I haven't done any crafting at home for so long, I just haven't had any real interest in it. It's strange how you have no interest in something you love so much, when you are going through such a sad time. I am feeling so much stronger now, lots of people said I would. I have the most wonderful family who have helped me through. And I am so ready to move on. I am going to do lots more crafting, I'm going to join Slimming World tommorow, as I have been eating one to many chocolate bars lately ( comfort eating ). And I have asked my lovely Sister Ann to come along with me, so we can support each other.

Anyway this my card for the Bingo Board Challenge, I must admit when Lynne said the theme was Bingo, I thought I would decide to come back this week, what the hell am I going to do for Bingo, and it was a big relief when I found out what it really was. I have done a twisted Easel card, Sarah at Craft Den sent me one for my Birthday, and I loved it. I did the row on the bingo board diagonal which was Punches/die cuts. Flowers, and Lace/ribbons. All of which are my fave things. I do hope you like it. I would just like to say thank you to Lynne for being so patient, and having me back on the team. I am looking forward to working with all the new members of the design team,that have joined while I have been away. Looking forward to seeing all your work. Love Sandra x

ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE WEEK 28

Hi everybody, another week gone, and what a week, so much snow. Just want it to go away now. Been walking to work and back, and I think I am getting too old for it, I have to say. I'm Knacked. I haven't been to my Favorite place http://www.craftden.co.uk/ for what seems like ages. Missing it so much. Anyway enough moaning, it's week 28 at the Anything Goes challenge, the theme is coloures of the rainbow, and this is a card I made for my eldest Sister Pauline for her birthday at the end of October, and she has still got it up, she said it's too beautiful to put away. I love making cards & things for Pauline, I know how much she loves what me & Ann make for her, and she keeps everything. Bless her. Love her so much, she has been such a Rock while I am going through my separation from Stewart. The card is made with Magnolia papers, and of course the images are Magnolia's. I have used three images, I have used prima flowers from my stash. A craftwork cards Special Sister sentiment. I made some of my own pins with crystals, they are very sparkly, and just finished off with a made with love charm, beaucause it was made with love. Hope you like it. Love Sandra x

OSCAR IN BLOGLAND

Oscar has been very busy today, he has been blog hopping all day. He was very impressed with all your creations. Anyway I have sent him to bed now so I can have a go on my laptop. Hope you like the photo's. Love Sandra x

PLEASE NO MORE SNOW

OMG, how much more snow is there going to be. Not seen snow like this for years. Do love to see it, but it does disrupt our lives doesn't it. Wanted to go sledging but nobody wanted to go with me, proper Billy No Mates. Asked Ann & Ivan, I can't repeat what they said. Amy got up late, no surprise there, but she was surprised when she saw how deep it was, and I said well when I was your age........ as she was yawning. Anyway here are a couple of photo's of Amy on the Patio. Hope you are all wrapped up warm, Oscar & Chester are snuggled up with me on the Sofa. See you all soon hopefully. Love Sandra x

WEEK 27 ANYTHING GOES

The weeks are going by so quickly. The theme this week at Anything Goes is Congratulations. So I thought I would enter the scrapbook pages I started at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ last week. Lynne has got some stunning papers by Best Creation Inc. they are Mr & Mrs, but most of them could be used for Anything else. The photo's are of my Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, with there two beautiful daughters, Jemma & Brittani. Bob and Mandy were renewing their wedding vows. As some of you know Bob died of Cancer in August. I am making an album for brittani, and these two pages are the start of it. Brittani is only 13, so sad to lose your Dad at such a young age. All the flowers are cut from the papers, the papers don't need much adding to them as they are glittered and embossed. The little sentiments are cut from one of the papers too, also used a two grey tones of Bazzill to cut some more flowers and the hearts, which are a martha Stewart punch. The tag is a Magnolia Die, and to that I have added silver grey Organza ribbon, and one of the flowers. Everything I have used is from Craft Den. Hope you like what I have done. Looking forward to visiting all your blogs to see what you do. Love Sandra x

WEEK 26 ANYTHING GOES

The theme is Animals, and have I got two gorgeous little boys, oscar & Chester. This is a scrapbook page that I did at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ but never finished off. So I thought I'd finish it off for this weeks Challenge. I didn't join in last week with the DT, I'm not feeling 100% myself at the moment, and have lost my Mojo. Even thought of selling my stash a few times lately. Sure I could get a small fortune for the amount I have got. Anway the papers Blonde Moments, as are the sentiment stamps. The frame is cut out using a template, can't remember whose they are, they are fantastic for scrapbooking, and come in various shapes & sizes. Everything is avalible from Craft Den. We have had some brilliant entries for the challenge, and so many. Keep up the good work all of you. Love visiting all your blogs. Love Sandra x

WEEK 24 ANYTHING GOES

Week 24 and the theme is embossing. So I thought I'll have a go at embossing using powder and the heat gun. Hardly ever do this kind of embossing these days. I used a versamark ink pad and Silver embossing powder. The stamp is one of my all time favorite stamps by Penny Black. Love the face on the last snowman. It is a long stamp but I have cut into three. Then I mounted them on to blue bazzill. The paper on the background is one I bought last week from http://www.craftden.co.uk/ it's a Bo bunny Christmas papers, it's embossed with beautiful snowflakes. Then I have cut Martha Stewart snowflakes in two different blue bazzill cards, and some out of the Bo bunny paper. I have used them to make a wreath, added gems and Bo bunny spotty organza ribbon, with a pearl brad in the middle. I got the idea for the wreath from the latest magnolia Magazine. Everything I have used is available from Craft Den. Hope you like it. Love Sandra x

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS

Today it's my lovely sister Ann's Birthday. I don't tell her often enough how much I love her ( usually too busy taking piss out of her that's why ). Today is the perfect day to tell her how much I do, and how much I appreciate the way she is always there for me, as a lot of you know I am going through a bad time right now, and Ann is always there for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that. Anyway I only finished making her cards this morning, so she didn't get them untill dinner time. I have made her 2 cards, and a gift bag to match. Lynne at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ showed us how to make the bag on Wednesday night. Love it, and will be making more. The papers I have used for them all is Bo Bunny, Bo bunny ribbons, Magnolia stamps, Prima flowers, and made my own pins. Beacause she's worth it. Love you lots sis, and a very Happy Birthday. Love Sandra x

WEEK 23 THE LETTER B

Hi, over at the Anything Goes Challenge blog, it's week 23, and the theme is the letter B. I have chose to show you a card that I made for Natasha, who goes to http://www.craftden.co.uk/. Well she won't be going for a while, because she is going to be very busy being mummy to a Beautiful Baby Boy called Jake. This is the card I made for her, and of course what colour do you use for boys BLUE. I have got a plain white card, and cut my own appature with a round nestability. The stamp is a Forever Friends stamp, which I have coloured with distress inks, and mounted on to a scalloped circle nestability, and dangled it in the middle of the appature with Ribbon. Made an insert for the card with Bo bunny Dotty card, dotty on one side and same plain colour on the reverse. Love this paper, it comes is so many colour's. Used the same paper to make a paper ribbon, and put on a bling ribbon slider. The flowers are prima with leaves attached from my stash. You can't see it on the photo but I have added glossy accent to the teddy blanket and the tag. The It's a boy is a brad that I have had since I first started crafting. Hope you like it. Had some fab entries last week for the Halloween Challenge, enjoyed going round everybodys blogs, there is some very talented people out there. Thank God for blogs so we can get to see everybodys creations. Love Sandra x

WEEK 22 AT ANYTHING GOES

Hi All. Sorry this is late. Hope it works this time, been having problems. I decided to do something other then a card for the challenge, so I have made a little trick or treat bag, made and gave it to chanelle one of our other DT members, it matches the card I have made her, and if anybody doesn't know it's her Birthday on Halloween. She loves all things Halloween, even put her a few treats in it. I have used Bo Bunny double dot card to make the bag, then made a band to go around the box out of a Bo Bunny Halloween paper. I have stamped Witch Tilda with pumpkins, coloured with Distress inks, and cut her out to stick on the bag. They are all avaliable from http://www.craftden.co.uk/. The ribbons and fibre are from stash. Oh and the tag is a Magnolia Die, love it. The trick or treat message is some letter stamps I have had for a long time. Hope you like my Bag, and can't wait to see what you all come up with this week. Fingers crossed this works, it will be time for week 23 before I know it. Love Sandra x

ANYTHING GOES 21st CHALLENGE

Week 21, can't believe it. The theme this week is Black & White. I had to make a card for my Sister-in-Law Jackie who is 60 on Thursday, and one of the other DT members Sue at http://beyondablandblog.blogspot.com/ gave me an idea for a card for special BIG birthdays. Using Tilda with all her newspapers, coloured in distress inks. The papers are Magnolia which fits perfectly. Lynne at http://www.craftden.co.uk/ stocks lots of magnolia's. Stamps, papers, and the new Xmas magnolia Mag is due in tommorow too. We all get very excited when the new Mag is out. It's always worth the wait.I have used some black paper from Lynne's pick and mix for behind the magnolia paper, so that the card wouldn't get too heavy with card behind. The punch is a martha stewart ( lots of new one's of those in at Craft Den too ). I have also added ribbon across the card. Added a bit of Prima bling, and various flowers in black & white. Made the pin with crystals and a few beads. The letters are cut using the storybook cricut cartridge. Thankyou Sue for the idea. Great entry's again last week, hope we get even more this week. Hope you like mine. Love Sandra x

WEEK 20 CHALLENGE ON ANYTHING GOES

The theme this week is Ribbons, and when I came to look at my ribbons, I haven't got as many as I thought. So I may need to buy a few more from http://www.craftden.co.uk/ when I go for my scrapbook class tommorow night. The image I have used is shopping Tilda, coloured with Distress inks. The papers are from a Prima pad that Lynne gave me to have a play with. I have always been a big fan of Prima flowers & bling, but now I have discovered the papers, well what can I say, Happy Days. The flowers on this card are Prima. I have also used my nestabilities, where would us Crafters be without them. We have been getting lots of Fab enteries on the Challenges, there are some very talented people in Craft land. Hope you like my entry. I hope it publishes my post tonight, wouldn't last night, very annoying. Love Sandra x