AYLI Embossing

 Hello, hello. I hope you are all doing OK. 

I am here today with my DT inspiration for

The prompt this time is your Favourite Embossing method.

I am an enormous fan of heat embossing and still watch in awe as the powder melts.

For this little collection of Christmas cards I used the plaid paper as my starting point. I think it it was quite possibly from Dovecrafts Little Red Robin paper pack.

I stuck the papers on the card blanks and had a rummage through my christmas stamps. This set is from Crafters Companion Sara Signature Scandinavian Christmas Collection (probably still available somewhere!!)

I die cut some postage stamp edged rectangles (a shameful unbranded purchase on ebay) and stamped away. I used red, white and green embossing powders that are probably twenty years old and they still worked brilliantly. More Christmas cards to go on the pile.

See you soon xx

Allsorts Romantic Occasions

Liz has chosen our optional theme at Allsorts this week.

It's all about Romantic Occasions if you want to be tempted by a challenge. We'd love to see your Anything Goes makes too. Prizes will be drawn at the end of the month.

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

I have made an anniversary card using a paper pad and die from a Crafters Companion collection called Rustic Wedding. I rather like the earthy tones that really are quite different.

I used an LOTV sentiment and a wooden "love" embellishment that I found in a drawer. I added lace and pearls as a nod to the kind of trim that might adorn a wedding dress. As we are now in July let's hope that the summer brides are going to enjoy some good weather now, unlike the first six months of the year!!

Talking of weather we had plenty of rain yesterday after a dry spell so it was quite nice not to have to water the garden.

Hope that you will join us. Have a good weekendxx

 

Happy Birthday Allsorts!!

There is a BIG party going on at Allsorts Challenge today where we are celebrating 15 years of challenges.

I am truly honoured to be a part of this lovely team and it was a pleasure to make my DT card to inspire you to join in!!

Obviously it says HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I went a bit bonkers with the balloons, making a shaker with a Crafters Companion set that, I think, was a magazine freebie. The die cut Happy Birthday banner is also from Crafters companion and the little balloons were magazine freebies too. I cut those from rainbow coloured bits and pieces of cardstock and paper.

So it's an open invitation to join the fun.

As it's  our 15th Birthday there will be FIFTEEN prizes generously given by Aall and Create!!

See you there!! 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

Something beginning with B

Hello friends. 

The big day is drawing ever nearer and with that in mind I have made more christmas cards for my DT pieces for the optional theme at Allsorts Challenge this week.

"Something beginning with B" and my B is BAUBLES 

 I have used a Crafters Companion die set and cut plain or mirror pieces, and stuck them together. I used a gold or silver marker for the hanging strings and added a bow

I got rather carried away and actually made ten in all so will be ahead of the game for next year!!

Prizes from: Aldridge Crafts, Stampendous, AALL and Create

I wish you all a lovely weekend. More rain for us, if the forecast is right, and no plans to go anywhere today so I think it might be time to get the Christmas tree trimmed.

See you on Monday xx

Christmas Cuties with a die cut

 Didn't I say I would be back on Monday with another card?! Well here I am with my inspiration for

where our just for fun theme this month is

Something (CUTE) with Die Cuts and this is what I did.

The whole card was made using a die cut/stamp set from Crafters Companion. I frosted the "Snow" with Glamour dust and coloured the sweet snowman with Promarkers. The snowy backing paper was a scrap and it's only as I am typing that I've realised I've not added the die cut snowflake that I glittered also...hang on a mo!!

There you go, that's better!!

It's the little things that make all the difference!!

Rightio that's another one for the pile. I really can't believe that in four weeks' time Christmas will be here once more....Can't wait!!

Looking forward to seeing what you bring to our Christmas party xx

April Showers bring May Flowers

 Hello everyone on this right Royal Saturday. (Edit... This should have appeared this morning!! Guess who forgot to set the right time?!!) I am planning a little Afternoon Tea for Hubby and I later by way of celebration. There is a street party going on in the village but we aren't ones for hordes and much prefer the company of our hairy kids so it will be just us at home. Whatever you are doing to commemorate the day, or not, I hope you have a good weekend.

The optional theme at Allsorts Challenge #727 today is

April Showers bring May Flowers

Now, it won't come as a surprise when I tell you that I have loads quite a few cute stamps and not too many florals in my collection (most of them have come from Allsorts wins in the past actually). Those that I do have didn't really fall into the May Flowers category. Shame on me, I found an unused Spring Wreath stamp and die set from Crafters Companion that fitted the bill perfectly.

I die sut the wreath shape in simmery cardstock and stuck underneath as a drop shadow. I really enjoyed the layering technique here and am really cross with myself for having not used it before.

Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you have an enjoyable Coronation Weekend if you are here in the UK and an equally enjoyable weekend wherever you are in the world.

See you soon xx

One for the Girls

 Well, the weather hasn't been exactly kind for my week off but we have still been out and about. Cake, coffee and ice cream was involved!!

It's One for the Girls at Allsorts #727 this week should you choose the optional theme.

Prizes from WOWVOW, Oakwood Direct and Craft Stash (note for DT: prizes for 20/5 our Birthday week will be display separately)

Here is my offering, girly and cute, just as I like my cards!!

The card evolved around the pretty paper (from The Range) that reminds me of rhubarb and custard sweets...remember them?!!

Anyway...I used a sweet stamp from Crafters Companion and used Promarkers to colour the sweet kitten and paper pieced the flower pot.

We have an extra long weekend here in the UK as it's May Day so I hope we get some May type weather!! Perfect for some re-seeding that we are planning today!!

See you soon xx

True Love or Fabulous Friendships

 Hello everyone. So January has been and gone and lovely February is upon us and my promise to craft more has well and truly gone by the wayside. I don't generally ride very much in the winter when it is wet, cold and dark but it's been so lovely and dry that I haven't really stopped. Saying that we are sure to get some nasty weather sooner or later. 

Anyway, I did find the time to make the card I am sharing today. It's my DT piece for

As You Like It Challenge

where we are full of love with our theme of True Love or Fabulous Friendships.

I love receiving a nice envelope through the door so spread the love by sending thinking of you cards to friends that I've not seen for a while. This is one such card that I recently made. She has a labrador so the die cut shape is perfect I think,

I started with a snippet of black Foundations card that I trimmed to fit the 4 x6 card base and then cut the aperture. The die is from Crafters Companion and all I did was backed it with some Doodlebug Designs paper and added a green ribbon. My trusty Mama Elephant sentiment and tag die set came up trumps again to finish it off.

It would be lovely to see your makes over at the challenge blog.

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you stay well. See you soon xx

Some Challenges

Snippets Playground #420 -Rubys Memory

'twas the Challenge before Christmas

 Told you I would be back in a while didn't I!!? With the Cutie Pies still in mind we have brought forward our

 December challenge and the theme is a really good one. We would love you to revisit our challenges from this year and make a card to fit your favourite.

I went with the July Challenge CAS and made this little cutie...

I managed to get the lovely little peek-a-boo snowman stamp and die set and the die cut window arches last year and thought it was about time I actually used them!! The card came together remarkably quickly and all I did was added some snowy backing paper inside and some sparkly snowflakes on the front. 

That's it from me for today. See you later in the week xx

Rudolph and Friends

 

Hello friends. How are you all on this Monday morning? Well I hope.

We have a corker of a theme for you at

Rudolph and Friends...so we would love a cute reindeer on your cards this time. In my quest to use older stash I found several Humphrey's Corner stamp sets. I had forgotten just how cute this series was and had a lovely time colouring up this image of Humphrey and his Sister Lottie dressed as Santa and Rudolph, how adorable!!

It really didn't need too much in the way of frills so I used a little bit of kraft and some gingham paper to break up the red mats.

That's all for now everyone. I hope you have a good week. I am on Annual Leave ahead of Flu Clinics, in the Village Hall for our patients mixed in with Covid boosters together with our local Surgeries.

See you when I do xx

Girls, Girls, Girls...Cutie Pie

 Hello friends, old and new, hope you are all doing okay on this Monday morning. Not usually my favourite day of the week as it's my "long" day at work...7.30-18.30 but on the plus side it is time for a new challenge so I am pleased to be here to share my inspiration.

Our theme this time is girly, so cute, pink and fluffy is order of the day!!

I decided to dig out an older rubber LOTV stamp Feather Boa who is, amazingly, still available as a digi. She was coloured with Promarkers to match an A4 Shabby chic Crafters Companion paper booklet (that I suspect was a magazine freebie). Such pretty colours and gorgeous designs so the card came together quite quickly. All I added was some burgungy coredinations that I distressed with a sanding block and some matching organza ribbon. 

I hope that you will join us.

See you later in the week xx

Some Challenges

Crafty Calendar August - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers #603 - Favourite Colours (pink & green)

Raining Cats & Dogs Cutie Pie style

 Hello, hello. Hope you are all doing okay. This is such an exciting week for me, and I bet I am not alone ladies...I have an appointment for a haircut on Thursday, long overdue. I have had a little hack at it myself and even had Martin trim the back for me!! I can't wait!! Aside from that we won't be rushing to the shops just yet. 

Anyway, it's Raining Cats and Dogs at The Cutie Pie Challenge so I am here to share my cute card and to encourage you to play along.

I had a lovely time going through my rubber stamps and actually found quite a few cats and dogs and eventually decided upon this Crafters Companion cutie.

I am a big fan of Jules' sketches and couldn't wait to try out one of her new rectangle designs here. I used #1 and turned it on its side. Thank you for sharing these!! I wanted an eyecatching colour combo so went with a shocking pink check paper from Your Next Stamp and a navy spot from Bo Bunny. I coloured (with Promarkers) on desert storm kraft card for a change and was really delighted with the outcome. On reflection, I could have gone a bit darker with the grey pussy cat but hey ho!! 

Wishing you a happy week. See you soon xx

 

White Christmas

 Happy Monday peeps!! It's a double whammy from me today with two Cutie visits.

I will kick off with 

where it's WHITE CHRISTMAS

I went with a CAS design and used an uninked stamp set from Crafters Companion.

I coloured, as usual, with my Promarkers using the package as inspiration. The lovely sentiment is from a very old Chocolate Baroque Christmas message set.

See you in a bit!! xx

With Sympathy

I have one of those necessary but not nice cards to share today. It was made  for my Aunt following the loss of my Uncle.

No cute image today only lots of rubber and ink. On a whim, I bought this stamp set a while ago and kept picking it up and putting it back down again with lots of head scratching!! The wreath alone just wasn't enough so I hunted through my stamps and found the flourish in an old Banana Frog Christmas set, which worked a treat with the leaves around the edges. It also fits the theme at these two chellenges.

Crafty Catz #474 - Anything Goes - +/- With Sympathy

Little Red Wagon #514 - In Memorium

It was a lovely weekend here, lots of sunshine and really quite warm during the afternoons. I love walking the dogs early before it gets hot and it was actually a chilly 6 degrees so a fleece was necessary yesterday morning.


An interesting web.

The pups on the lookout for newly released pheasants.

Wills Wills (on the right) catching some early morning rays. Surprise was still in bed!!

I hope you have a good week. See you when I do xx

Flowers or Ribbon

Hello bloggers. Hope everyone is happy and well. Nearly the weekend again so I am very happy!! I am sorry that I still haven't been a regular visitor. I am fed up with bleating about work but it's been relentless...I am hoping to finish with holiday and sickness cover some time in December!! I am missing so much time with my loved ones,  two and four legged and you guys too!!

Anyway today's offering is for the new challenge at 

where we are eager to see your projects with ribbon or flowers...and don't forget to tell us why.

Normally I don't use either on my projects as I am a paper pad fanatic and like to let the papers do the talking!! However I have a chest of drawers full of ribbons  so had a rummage to find something to trim this snow globe. The stripe ribbon was in a bundle that I won from Crafty Ribbons and the bobble trim was lurking in the "red drawer" and seemed perfect!! 

The background was quite technical for me!!  I admired a background that Inky Fingers Carol demonstrated here and decided to have a go ( having first purchased some drawing gum!!). Mind you my snowflakes look rather large so I must perfect my technique further I think!! There is also a lovely shimmer, as I unearthed my Twinkling H2o's as well so that was fun!! The penguin is a die cut chappy from Crafters Companion as was the snow globe actually. 

Anyway I have rambled quite enough!! Hope you will join in!!

See you soon xx

Some challenges

ABC Christmas - Use for unlimited
The Merry Christmas Challenge #37 - Anything Christmas
Crafty Creations #351 - Anything Goes 

Christmas Animals

Hello blog land buddies.  It's new challenge time at

where your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to inundate us with Christmas cards showcasing cute animals....easy peasy!!

Here's mine, featuring a really cute polar bear from our sponsor

PINK GEM DESIGNS

I coloured the little darling with Promarkers and I think I am right in saying that the backing paper is from a Doodlebug pad. My glittery snow is by Marianne Designs and the sentiment from a new Crafters Companion stamp set.

I will see you on Thursday, until then, have a good one xx

Autumn Leaves

Hello crafters. I have an autumnal card to share today that I made for an October Birthday. The leaves aren't quite this colour in Dorset, but they are getting there for sure. I love walking or riding and hearing the crunch of leaves under foot. Autumn is always special to me as we married in November to fit around the farming calendar. It was after maize harvesting!!

Anyway, I used some of the items that came with the Crafter's Companion Autumn Inspiration Pack and was really delighted with the result.

Back to the theme of walking, I had better take Bowie and Bumble for their morning ramble before I go to work!! Have a good day whatever you are up to xx

 

Some challenges

Allsorts #384 - The colours of autumn

Crafty Friends #42 - Autumn Colours

Ooh La La #215 - Shades of Autumn

Congratulations Glam-ma!!

Hello bloggers. I can hardly believe it is the last day of August...how the heck did that happen?!!

Thank goodness I no longer have to panic about the length of school trousers and whether the back pack is up to scratch!! 

Anyway I am here to shout about Sasayaki Glitter and this image is available here.

I chose a round base for this card and used a paper printed from the Verity Rose CD rom from Crafters Companion . She was coloured with Promarkers to match. The message was made using a free stamp set that came with a magazine ages ago. Finishing touches were lace and some sweetheart blossoms.

Some challenges to play

Pennys Papercrafty Challenge #293 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments #101 - Anything Goes

The Crafty Addicts #23 - Anything Goes +/- Lace and pearls

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

See you later in the week...until then take care xx

Favourite paper?

Hello bloggers. How the devil are you? Well I hope. I am beside myself with excitement as Martin and I are taking ourselves off to Cornwall for a few days later today. But before that I am equally excited to tell you that the new challenge is starting today at

the theme for this coming fortnight is

Favourite Paper

It will come as no great surprise when I tell you that patterned paper is a bit of an obsession with me and asking me to choose a favourite is....well....impossible. However I do tend to use Doodlebug Designs paper pads quite a lot as they are such great quality, vibrant in colour and are so versatile too, as in this case, turned into a background scene.

I coloured this sweet Crafters Companion stamp with my Lyra pencils for a change.

Right, better go get organised before Hubby gets home from work. Connor and Laura are in charge of Surprise, Mo the Cat, Suzy, Bowie and Bumble...not sure they know what they've let themselves in for!!

Thank you for your continued support and lovely comments. I am afraid that time is still very much in short supply due to the new family members, but they are growing by the day and learning really quickly so hopefully I shall soon be able to get into my work room and have something to share with you. I have been checking in on all of your lovely work when time allows!!

See you soon xx