Stencil at Allsorts

I am way out of my comfort zone with my card today. Dena is hosting at 

Allsorts Challenge and her optional theme is Use a stencil.

I don't have very many in my crafty arsenal but this Funky Fossil one has been used a couple of times.

A lovely crafty friend gifted me some DI pads so I used those to create the delicate background in pink and lilac shades. The adorable little hippo is Trouble in a Tutu by Clearly Besotted (sadly retired but there are other cuties available!). I coloured her with Promarkers and popped her on the Whimsy Birthday die using foam tape. 

 Prizes from Oakwood (2 x A5 stamp sets) and Highlight Crafts (3 x A5 stencils)

Thank you for your continued support xx

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Hello bloggy friends. Thank you for stopping by today. 

I have a super cute Christmas card as it's time for a new challenge at

We would love to see your CUTE cards featuring a sentiment based on a christmas Carol or Song.

Here's mine

My Christmas Song is We Wish You A Merry Christmas using an old Crafters Companion Bebunni stamp. Isn't he adorable dressed up as a Christmas pud!!

♫ Oh bring us some figgy pudding🎜 

I coloured him with Promarkers and again used papers from Kraft Notes by Do Crafts.

That's another card on the christmas pile.

See you soon x

Balloons

 We are "Up, up and away" at Allsorts this week where the optional theme is balloons.

I have made a little four inch card using a lovely MFT set that was part of a birthday gift from a lovely crafty friend. 

I used a Dutch Dubadoo cloud stencil for the background and coloured the hen and cow with Promarkers.

Prizes from AALL and Create

Thank you for your visit, you are always welcome xx

Clean or Fussy

 Hello friends. It's my turn to host at 

As You Like It Challenge 

and the theme is Clean or Fussy.

I have pared back on enbellishments over the years and tend to go for a flatter card these days. My love of paper pads and my substantial collection means that I use paper wherever I can but still like a clean and symmetrical design. White mats always add to the clean look I think.

Here's my card to inspire you...

LOTV are our generous sponsor this time and I have gone "all out" using a very old paper pack and clear stamp set for the image.

The adorable little critter was coloured with Promarkers.

We are very much looking forward to seeing your take on the theme.

See you on Saturday xx

It has to be Spring

It has to be SPRING at Allsorts Challenge this week and the seasonal theme was chosen by Brenda. You can, of course, choose Anything Goes too.

I chose a favourite character that has had a few spring outings, this adorable rabbit from The Cats Pajamas.

I have the cling version but he is still available in digi form (among MANY others) here. I coloured him with a variety of alcohol markers and used a First Edition paper pad, Spring Drop for the sky. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Prizes from AALL and Create will be drawn at the end of the month.

 I hope I have inspired you. Thank you for your continued support xx

Simply Cuties

 Hello and welcome to another week. I hope yours is a good one!!

I am hosting at

and the theme is 

Simpy Cuties so we would love to see your CAS or simple cards featuring a cute image.

I used a very old stamp that, I think, came from Polkadoodles. She was coloured with Promarkers and I used a simple sentiment from Clarly Besotted.

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you will join us xx

For the Love of Animals at Allsorts

 Lolo is the theme chooser at Allsorts this week and it's

For the Love of Animals, a favourite of mine.

 Now I nearly went with the predictable (for me) dogs and/or horses but, as I am still on a mission to use old stuff, had another treasure hunt in my stash and found a Paper Boutique pad that suits the theme perfectly. 

For something a little bit different I made a journal using some envelopes and armed with the paper pad set to work covering the pages and using the sweet images for journalling tags.

This is the front cover. It fastens with some gaden twine. The label pulls out of a little tuck spot. I think the label itself and sentiment are from a Tonic die set.

These pages have a belly band that holds a journal tag and a pocket with a kraft tag and a sweet hedgehog tag too.

A little notebook, bound with washi tape and a couple of labels on these pages, edged with lace.

These are my favourite pages, I LOVE that sweet fox and am really pleased how the litle notebook turned out. You can see where the Cherish the moment tag pulls out on the right hand side and the paperclip is attached so the little notes can be puled out to write on.

Prizes for weeks 773/4/5 from Highlight Crafts (photo) and Stamp Addicts (2 prizes, stamps and a £15 store voucher)

Thank you for your company today and I wish you a good weekend xx

AYLI Cute or Floral

 Hello peeps, I hope that you had a peaceful Easter and that the easter bunny left at least one egg!!

No eggs here but a bag of carrots for some cute bunnies. It's my inspiration for you to join in at As You Like It Challenge this time where the theme is CUTE or FLOWERS.

I think the image is LOTV. I found it in my "to be coloured" folder so can't be sure. I used pencils to colour this cute image and teamed it with some pretty spring colour papers layered with kraft. The little label is from a Daisy and Dandelion set (remember them!!) that was another long lost find. It says Lots of Love but, as usual, anything silver or gold doesn;t photograph well. 

Thank you for your continued support xx

Christmas with the Cuties

 Happy Monday folks!!

I have a Cutie to share with you today as it's time for our new challenge at

where the theme is

Two or more Papers, with a CUTE image of course!!

Here's mine

using a gorgeous stamp that my lovely blogging buddy Lisa sent me for Christmas (thank you xx). The adorable trio were coloured with alcohol markers and I stamped some fir branches around them and the sentiment too. The papers are from an old, well used, Do Krafts pad.

I hope that you will add to (or make a start on) your Christmas card pile and join us.

See you soon xx

Keep it Simple

Hello everyone and welcome to a new challenge at Allsorts. Its my pleasure to be offering the optional theme this week and it's Keep it Simple.  

I have made a tag.

I used a Daisy Mae arch die cut set for the tag and punched a hole, die cut a reinforcing ring too. The lovely flower die set was a Birthday present that I cut using various scraps of coloured cardstock that I inked for a bit of shading.

There...simple!! We have a lot of family birthdays up until June so it will be put to good use sooner rather than later.

I hope that you will support my theme that is actually running for two weeks.

Prizes for weeks 773/4/5 from Highlight Crafts and Stamp Addicts (£15 store voucher)

I hope you have a lovely weekend xx

Fun Fold at AYLI

 Chrissy is hosting at AYLI today and her theme is Fun Folds

I LOVE trawling through You Tube and Pinterest seeking new and unusual folds and techniques.

This is a really clever, flat to store, box, that's a real fun fold both to make and use.

Flat....

...and fully formed. Ta Dah!!

.

It is large enough to hold several choccies too.

 I had SO much fun that I even made a video actually showing how it pops up!!

Here is the link if you'd like to make one yourself. 

Thank you for sharing your day with me.

See you Saturday xx

Fur and/or Feathers at Allsorts

Ellie is in the driving seat at Allsorts this week and she's chosen a fab theme

Fur and/or Feathers, you can of course go for the Anything Goes option.

It was no contest for me and I went with fur.

My little Sister (by three years) has three  tri-colour Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dash, Milo and Alfie and I try and feature one on her Birthday card every year. I saved this particular image from a slimline calendar that featured doggos. It was a bit too big so I reaized it on my printer.

As luck would have it I found papers to pretty much match the  linen in the laundry basket so was really happy about that. The sentiment is from a Technique Tuesday clear Stamp Set that I bought from Kitty at My Mum's Craft Shop when she had a bricks and mortar shop in Dorchester. Gosh that must be going back quite a few years now. I seem to recall she had a regular challenge blog back in the day with the likes of Joanna Sheen et al. 

Prizes from Craftstash and AALL and Create

If you are still with me, after my trip down memory lane, I hope you have a lovely weekend xx

 

Easter or Mother's Day at The Cutie Pies

 Hello and welcome friends and visitors. It's CUTE time and I've gone a little bit CAS with my card to inspire you to join in at the new challenge at

The theme is Easter or Mother's Day (cute of course).

I've gone with Mother's Day and used a super cute Wild Rose Studio stamp that I found (among others of the same brand) while redecorating my work room earlier in the year. I'd forgotten how sweet they are so expect to see more. Honestly, it's been like going shopping without spending money!!

Anyway, bunny and bouquet were coloured with Spectrum Noir markers and glittered a little bit. I fussy cut the image and mounted on foam pads for some dimension. The sentiment was made using a Whimsy Stamps companion set, another rarely used thing!!

Well that's all for now. Looking forward to seeing your cute makes xx

Allsorts - use Yellow

 Lynn has chosen the optional theme of YELLOW at

Yellow to me means daffodils and I knew that I had some Pink Petticoat daffodil papers in my digi stash so they were the starting point for my card. As luck should have it Di's Digis had a discount so I bagged myself the adorable Daffodil Wendy I coloured her with Promarkers and added a little bit of sparkle to her dress.

Our sponsors...

Prizes from Craftstash and AALL and Create

I hope I have inspired you and look forward to seeing what you make.

Here are the daffs in my garden to brighten your day.

Have a good weekend xx

AYLI Monochrome or Colour?

Hello everyone, thank you for dropping in today.

I am here with my DT piece for

The choice for you this time is

Colour or Monochrome

Well, I am really trying hard to challenge myself this year and make more male cards. 

Our youngest Son, Connor, turns 30 on 11th ( I know I hardly look old enough!!!). He is a HUGE cricket fan and has played since he was a nipper so I knew I wanted to make a card with a cricketer. I have several cute images that I have bought over the years but wanted a more grown up stamp. I managed to find a Woodware stamp that cried out for heat embossing so I made a mono card.

The cricketer was heat embossed in black and the complimentary stamps heat embossed in white to make a background.  I have added a touch of colour though!!

 

He made the Dorset Echo last year!! 

We are looking forward to seeing what you share with us.

Take Care xx

Allsorts Spring

Lorraine is host and optional theme picker at Allsorts Challenge this week.

The theme is Spring, of course you can also go with Anything Goes.

I used a gorgeous Imagination Crafts stamp set that I coloured with Promarkers. 

The background was colourwashed with Creative Expressions mica shimmer powder that I made into a wash. I used a subtle green shade that is visible here.

Our daffodils are looking gorgeous in the pet garden but we don't have tulips because of the windy aspect. We have tried in the past but they just don't survive so it's lovely to be able to see them on a card.

As always, we have amazing sponsors, prizes from whom will be announced at the end of the month.

Prizes from AALL and Create and Aldridge Crafts

Have a good weekend whatever you are up to xx

Santa and/or Snowman Christmas with the Cuties

Hello everyone, welcome to a brand new week. I am back to the grindstone today after a week off. Talking of weeks off, The Christmas with the Cuties team are back from our winter holiday with our first challenge of the year which is

Santa or Snowman,

Now, I am a little bit behind with my Christmas cards this year so have made two. 

I neglected the lovely PB Snowy last year so decided that he should be the first to be inked!!

Then, found an unopened Marianne Designs stamp so used that for my second card.

 I made scenes with scraps of paper and die cuts and both were coloured with Promarkers and then glittered with Glamour Dust and Stickles.

We are thrilled to be back and look forward to seeing your cute Christmas cards.

See you soon xx

Edit...I am sharing snowy at Rudolph Days Challenge

Things that Fly - Allsorts #769

 Liz has chosen our optional theme at Allsorts this week...

Things that fly.

It wasn't until I had finished this card, using magazine freebies, that I thought I ought to check to see if flamingoes fly. Turns out they do...phew!!

This is actually a teeny weeny card and I had great fun making it. Once more, the stamp is a discovery from when I was having a work room revamp. I am certain the set was free with a magazine. One of those that very nearly hit the "cull" pile!!I inked the leaves in different greens for the background and the coloured and fussy cut flamingo was raised up on top. 

Prizes from AALL and Create and Aldridge Crafts

I hope you have a lovely weekend xx

Masculine or Feminine at AYLI

This time at As You Like It, we would love to see whether masculine or feminine is your favourite.

Now historically I would have said feminine but I have challenged myself this year to create more male projects and here are the first two.

 This pair were made by using die cut circles of patterned paper, a sentiment and tag die and a bit of twine. Simple but effective. 

Looking forward to seeing your male or female makes this week.

See you soon xx

Use pink at Allsorts #768

We are all pink and girlie at Allsorts this week. 

Once again, I revisited  my stash and I used a YNS stamp set and Garden Party paper pack.

 

The sweet image was coloured with Promarkers. 

Prizes from AALL and Create and Lavinia

Hope you have a lovely weekend xx

Seeing Red at The Cutie Pies

 Hello friends and visitors, lovely to have your company

It's the start of a new challenge with my pals at

where the theme this month is 

SEEING RED 

use red on your cute cards or share your cute Valentine makes

 I am spreading the LOVE  💕💕💕

I have used  PB Piece of My Heart set and coloured the cute hedgies with Promarkers. I used scalloped Lawn Fawn dies to pretty up the edges of some foundations spotted card. 

Thank you for sharing your day with me, it's much appreciated xx

Hearts at Allsorts #767

 We are full of LOVE at Allsorts this week. Mervi has chosen our optional theme of HEARTS, we also welcome anything Goes too, don't forget.

here's what I did...

After Christmas we gave my workroom a spruce up so it was the perfect oppurtunity to cull and organise. My stamps are now all neat and tidy in drawers and while sorting out I found a lovely Dreamees set which was the inspiration for my card today. Mine doesn't appear to be available but there are still similar here. With the banner made, scrunched up and inked for a bit of age, I looked through my dies and found several hearts that I cut to compliment a pretty ditsy paper that I'd distressed.

A departure from my favoured cute but I like it!!

I hope you will be inspired to join in this week to be in for a chance of a prize from one of the following at the end of the month.

Prizes from AALL and Create and Lavinia

Thank you for your continued support xx

AYLI - Stamps or Digis

Hello crafty friends I hope, wherever you are in the world, that the year is being kind to you so far.

It's Thursday so time for me to share my make for the new challenge at

It's STAMPS OR DIGIS this time and remember to explain why you have made your choice.

 I have rekindled my love affair with rubber/clear stamps this year and have had a great time trawling through my collection. My stamping platform has probably been one of my best crafty purchases ever. Unless I drop an ink pad (come on, you've all done it!!) 99.9% of the time I get a perfect clean impression.

My card was made using an older, super cute LOTV rubber stamp. I coloured with Promarkers and pencils and paper pieced the pooches napkin. The sentiment is from Mama Elephant Make a Wish Stamp Set and I heat embossed it in black for a bit of impact. The stars (also from the same stamp set) were stamped in similar colours as the sentiment alone didn't quite "balance" the card, if you get my meaning.

So, that's me for today. I hope that you will come and support us.

See you Saturday xx