AYLI Layered or flat

 Hello all, I hope that your week is going well. 

As it's Thursday I am here to encourage you to join in at

where the theme is Layered or Flat

As I LOVE patterned papers, and have a few in my stash, I generally go for layered cards in a bid to use at least some of them!! This one features a Digistamp Boutique doggo that I coloured with Promarkers to match the papers, all from various MFT paper pads.

Thank you for stopping by, your time is much appreciated xx

Lots of Layers

 It's my pleasure to be the chooser of the optional theme at Allsorts Challenge this week.

I would be thrilled to bits if you would support my challenge and share your cards featuring 

Lots of Layers

I used one of my many paper pads and put this card together to inspire you.

I used a Doodlebug Designs pad and coloured the adorable Stanley (from the no longer trading Digistamp Boutique) to match. I had a lovely time cutting and layering the different papers on to kraft card. This card was CASed from this one that I made in 2015 and I used the same paper pad and image too. It was lovely trawling back through my makes and I am going to have a go at making more of the same but different!!

Anyway I hope that you will play along whether you are tempted by my theme or take the Anything Goes option. There are always lovely prizes up for grabs.

See you Soon xx

What's your favourite shape then?

 Hello friends. How did it get to be September? The leaves are turning and there are so many acorns on our oak trees already. Sloes and blackberries in abundance so I think some of those might just find their way into some gin and/or vodka ready for the season of goodwill.

With those festivities in mind I have a Christmas card to share with you today. It's the start of a new challenge at 

where we are looking forward to see ing your favourite card shape.

Now I like an ordered life and like symmetry so, for me, it had to be a 6x6 square card. Easy to get a symmetrical layout and they work well as a tent sytle too. 

Here is my square, complete with belly band...

...and then when you open it....BOOM!!...an explosion!!

I took inspiration from Sam Calcott here. It looks impressive but was actually really quick to assemble (once all the mats were cut). I used a Nitwits digital paper matted on to kraft card for the panels. The adorable digi is from the long ago closed (and much missed) Digistamp Boutique and was coloured with Promarkers. I think the Christmas is from Crafters Companion, but there are lots of similar dies available and the pine cones (which are actually embossed!!) from Joanna Sheen (also now closed).

It's a bit fat when folded so this will be hand delivered to someone special, come December.

I hope that I have whetted your appetite and look forward to seeing your favourite card shapes. If you are looking for more inspiration please go and visit my teamies here.

See you soon xx

Passion for Markers #656 - Christmas

Add some Sparkle!!

Hello my blogging buddies. Hope you had a good weekend and are refreshed for the week ahead and whatever it throws at you!!

To start mine off I have my DT inspiration piece for

An easy one this time...Add Some Sparkle to your cute card.

Little DSB Rosie was so cute I made two!!

I fussy cut the frame and mounted it on a mat that I made using sparkly texture paste and a snowflake stencil. The frame was glittered with some super sparkelicious glitter from Chloe. I coloured them with Promarkers and finished  off with a tag and some twine.

Thank you for visiting xx

Relax...you are only 60!!

I am out on the tiles tonight with my work colleagues, one of whom will be celebrating her 60th Birthday on Monday. Her fella is taking her away to Florence next week so we are starting the celebration early.  As well, as being one of the Surgery's Dispensers she also teaches yoga so this new addition to my  crafty arsenal was perfect.

I really enjoyed colouring her and managed to refrain from adding too much patterned paper...so unlike me!!

April showers are here in force today, I got soaked walking the dogs so fully intend to stay put in the dry...until the next outing that is!!

Whatever you are up to I hope you have a good day.

See you when I do, a busier time next with with courses and such so crafty time may be in limited supply!! xx

Some Challenges

Addicted to stamps and more #289 - CAS
Papercraft challenges #10 - Clean and Simple

Happy Birthday Dec

Hello everyone. It's sunny...yay...and warm too...double yay!!! My cherry tree is bursting with blossom, the grass is growing like billyo (and what a bummer...my lawnmower is in hospital!!) but so are the weeds!! Doesn't it make you feel better though to see a bit of sunshine, I know I certainly do.

Anyway, it has been a week since my last visit so I thought I would share the card I made for Declan who enjoyed a Birthday earlier in the month.

He is too old for Thomas the Tank Engine these days (although I am reliably informed that his cake resembled aforesaid engine!!) so good old DSB came to the rescue with Harry and Beer. Coloured with Promarkers and matted on to a Lovely Studio digital paper. I found a Son stamp in my stash, it was a free one, I think and the Happy Birthday is from Clearly Besotted.

I will leave you with a picture of  Declan and Mollie, taken in the snow last month!!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend xx

Some challenges

Colour Crazy Challenge week 16 - Anything goes
Daring cardmakers - Feeling Blue
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Only for boys
Back to basics and  beyond challenge #1 - Matting and layering

Winter Dan

Hello everyone.  I can't believe that it has been over a week since I posted anything...where has that time gone?!!

 I was looking through my digi folders and found Winter Dan from Digistamp Boutique so thought I would have a play.

 

I bought the papers in Hobby Craft last year as I rather liked the unusual colour way which seems to suit a male flavour card perfectly!! He was coloured with Promarkers. The plywood snowflake was in my stash and a perfect colour match too. My Go Kreate frilly dies made the base.

Looks like we may be getting some snow here in the UK over the next few days, not sure how I feel about that when there is so much Christmas prep still to do!! It's  jolly  nice to look at, as long as you don't have to leave the house!!

Anyway, I am waffling. I will be back on Monday with  little bit of Cutie Pie goodness!!

 Until then stay safe, whatever the weather.

Some challenges

Digital Boutique December Competition 
Kitty Bee Designs #109 - Anything Goes +/- Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes
I love Promarkers #348 - Autumn/Winter
Passion for Promarkers #424 - Mega Christmas Challenge, Add a sentiment

Christmas with the Cutie Pies

     Hello everyone. It's such an exciting day today as it's the launch of the very first challenge at

I am honoured to be part of this fantastic team and am proud to share my inspiration for the first challenge.

I think you will agree she certainly hits the spot in the CUTE stakes!! I found some very old Christmas papers in my hamper so used those lovely colours as a base for colouring little Rosie. She was coloured with Promarkers. I did a bit of "duffing up" with my distressing tool for a change and sparkled the snow with stickles. I liked my Gemini very much BUT now I LOVE it. The intricate snowflake border cut with one pass and, better than that, every single little bit came out cleanly !! Brilliant!!

Anyway, I do hope you will support Lisa and the rest of her wonderful team and come and pay a visit and join in, I am sure that there will be mince pies and mulled wine on offer...after all it is Christmas...with the Cuties!!

Before I go here is a recent picture of my hairy kids...

...when you are bored of watching Mum crafting!!

Until next time xx

Some challenges

Crafting With Dragonflies #71 - Whatever the weather...snow
Creative Corner Challenges - Winter
Winter Wonderland - Poinsettias or snow is falling
Crafty Catz - anything goes +/- a tag

Favourite Christmas Colours

Morning crafters, as promised here I am again. This time to share my DT inspiration for

Our challenge is just right for this time of year it's

Favourite Christmas Colours (remember to tell us why)

Our sponsor on this occasion is

and I used Polo and Oreo for my card. It's actually a CASE of one that I made last year for my buddy and DT colleague Annette. I was so pleased with it that I made it all over again, the only difference being I had to colour the edge of the card with Promarker as I didn't have purple cardstock to make the base.

Hope you will pop over and see what my team mates have made to inspire you and perhaps play along and add to your Christmas card pile!!

See you again soon xx

Challenges to join in

Digistamp Boutique Customer Competition

Whimsie Doodles - Anything Goes with a Christmas twist

So Special

Morning bloggers...I am exhausted!! Its been such a long time since there were pups in the house and I had forgotten how much like babies they are!! In fact it's a wonder I am managing this post at all, so I had better be quick!!

We want to see your "trademark" at

all the details are on the challenge blog.

I really cannot define my style. I love patterned papers too much for it to be CAS, yet I don't over do the embellishments so not quite fussy and fancy.

I am just ME!!

No time to list my ingredients today, if you are interested just ask!!

some challenges

Fab 'n' Funky #313 - Add a Sentiment
Create and Inspire #49 - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread ~19 - Anything Goes

See you soon xx

Rosie and Ice Cream

Happy Thursday everyone...long time no see!! No excuses really other than life, family, animals and their associated issues!! 

Anyway I am here to share my DT piece for

where our theme this time is a good one...

Markers, Inks or pencils? Don't forget to tell us why!!

It will come as no surprise to my regular visitors that I had to choose Promarkers. They were my first love when I joined the world of rubber stamping and although I have dabbled with various other colouring mediums I always reach for the old Promarkers first. I love the solid tips, the way they lay down the colour and their seamless blendability which I have failed to achieve with other alcohol markers.

are our sponsor this time and I chose to showcase the delightful Rosie and Ice Cream. I thought being as it is the last day of June we might be crying out for something cool...not so much here in Dorset, especially after the deluge yesterday!! More Doodlebug Design paper and one of my MFT Blueprints sets got an outing for a change.

It would be lovely to see you at the challenge, it's perfect for everyone!!

I am joining in at these fab challenges

Digistamp Boutique June Customer Competition

Crafting by designs - Anything Goes

See you tomorrow xx

An Easter butt... I mean bunny!!

Hello everyone...me again with yet another wabbit!! This time it's a cheeky one, rather like the ones that live in my garden. They ate all my crocuses, have nibbled the primroses and are now digging great big holes in my lawn!! What does Suzy do?? Sit's and watches them...such a diva!! Ah well, the joys of living in the country,

The cute image/sentiment is from Digistamp Boutique. Doodlebug papers, a very old Provocraft EF and some trusty dies, went to make up this card.

I'm going to join in with these seasonal challenges before work...my last day before Easter...yay!!

A Gem Of A Challenge #165 - Easter
Allsorts Challenge #355 - Easter
Sunny Day Crafting #3 - Spring/Easter
Ribbon Girl - March Any Image
Double D Challenge - Easter
Crafty Boots - Easter
Digistamp Boutique - March Customer Competition

Have a lovely day everyone xx

Paper or Not?

Hello, here we are hurtling towards another weekend and I am here to shout about the first 

As You Like It Challenge of 2016!!

Our theme this time is

Paper or Non-Paper projects...simples.

I enjoy most crafts including sewing, knitting  and am actually crocheting a throw at the moment (my biggest project yet!!), however I LOVE paper and stamping most of all. There is so much scope with paper, the possibilities are almost endless.

We are sponsored by

who are offering a £10.00 spend!!

I made a gift bag using Ballerina Isla and some more papers that came free with a magazine. She was coloured with Promarkers to match. The sentiment came with her and I just added a coordinated bloom to the banner for a bit of decoration.

Another gift bag to put away for when the need arises.

I'd like to join in at these challenges

I love Promarkers #300 - Use something new (Isla digi)
Penny's Papercrafty challenge #260 - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks #61 - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #294 - Anything Goes
In the Pink #85 - Anything Goes
Digistamp Boutique - January Customer competition

Hope you will find time to come and play along xx

Z for Zoo Animal

Ooooh, only two more sleeps, I am beside myself with excitement!! 

Anyway (with grown up head on!!) I am here to share my last GDT card for

ABC Christmas

where the last challenge of the year is

Z for Zoo Animal

As a Digistamp Boutique fan, I could not resist the Oreo and Polo Winter Set and had to use them on this card. To keep the chilly feel I used Snow Princess paper, white pearls, white mats and die cuts . Bears coloured by Promarkers with a little bit of seasonal sparkle for good measure. Finally a Craftwork cards sentiment.

Right...things to do still but before I go I must say a massive thank you to Samantha for inviting me to guest at ABC.

Merry Christmas to my crafty friends, near and far and I hope you have a peaceful Christmas time with your loved ones.

Until next time xx

Some challenges

Digistamp Boutique - December Customer Competition
Di's digis - Anything Cjristmas
Creatalicious #82 - Something old (paper pad & dies) Something new (digi stamp)
Live and Love Crafts #42 - Sparkle

Deep blue sea

My card has a seaside flavour today being all things blue. This ties in rather nicely as the new

 As You Like It Challenge

is Favourite single colour (and don't forget to tell us why)

My favourite single colouring colour is blue...and as it's not a colour I wear I really can't explain why... other than it being associated with summer skies and blue seas and the fact that I replace more blue Promarkers than any other colour!!

I used a Digistamp Boutique image and Pink Petticoat paper for this card, the blue Promarkers and DI pads had another outing and it looks like tea green is on it's way out...again!!

I'm entering these challenges

Crafty Catz #287 - Summer time
Fussy and Fancy #143 - Beach Fun
Little Claire Digi Challenge #7 - Holidays
Natalie and Amy #34 - Summertime
Creative Corner Challenges - Summer Fun
Crafty Cardmakers #143 - Water
Bunny Zoe's - Summer Breeze
Cute Card thursday #382  - Water
Digistamp Boutique - July Customer Competition

I'm intrigued to find out what your favourite single colour is and hope that you will play along, we'd love to have you AND we have some new Design Team playmates so go give them a warm welcome!!

See you soon xx

Gnome-ing me, Gnome-ing you....

aha...sorry couldn't resist it!! 

I haven't followed a sketch for a while and so last evening while Hubster was in bed and Connor at cricket I had a play with the latest Sketch Saturday layout.

I was lucky enough to have previously won the customer competition at Digistamp Boutique and  had to have this adorable set which I coloured with Promarkers to compliment the fabulous Doodle bug papers, Sunkissed and Kraft in Colour. The black mats really enhance those gorgeous colours ( see Michelle, it's rubbing off on me!!)

A challenge or two that caught my eye

Sketch Saturday #368

Allsorts #318 - How does your garden grow?

Graphit Colour Challenge - Pink Orange & Yellow

Dis Digi design challenge - Celebrations
Simply papercraft #8 - Anything Goes
I love Promarkers #276 - Summertime

Hope it's a good week for you xx

Spotty and Stripey Christmas

It's time for my my monthly Christmas make for

Christmas Cards All Year Round

where Spots and/or Stripes is the order of the month and mine features the adorable Stanley 

I coloured him with Promarkers to match the paper (no change there then!!) and used glamour dust for a bit of sparkle. The purple yarn was a perfect find in my stash. The scalloped mats were done with a Tonic set. I have no idea where the papers are from but I thought they made a rather nice change from traditional red and green.

Some challenges to join in

Christmas Card Challenges #30 - Anything Goes

See you tomorrow!! xx

Dogs or cats

Hello everyone, I can't believe it's Monday, who stole last week!!? Anyway, it's Cutie Pie time again and this time we would love to see your 

CUTE Cats and/or Dogs.

I used Stanley and coloured him with Promarkers to match the Doodlebug papers that were matted on some turquoise pearl card. My MB stitched dies have put in an appearance again, both square and circle sets were used this time and the sentiment is from an LOTV set.

I am playing at these challenges

CCC Digi creations #26 -  Layer it up
Creative Ladybirds Creations #4
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Challenge - Use your dies
Digi Choosday #22 - Use kraft
Sweet Stampin' - Old and New (old digi, new paper)

Hope you have a good week xx

Nell and flowers

Hello crafty peeps and I hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday Weekend (if you are in the UK AND lucky enough not to be working), to the rest of the world Happy Monday anyway!!

I just could not resist this little darling from Digistamp Boutique and used Promarkers to colour her.

The cheery papers are by Taylored Expressions and my other most favourite die set came out to play again.

Some challenges to play along

Creative Corner - Anything Goes
 Crafty Catz #280 - Kids
Aud Sentiments #132 - Cute + a sentiment
Digi Choosday #18 - Anything Goes
Digistamp Boutique - May customer Competition

Have a lovely day xx

Life's a beach...

Happy Thursday everyone. The new challenge is starting at

As You Like It Challenge

today and our theme this time is LAND or SEA - remember to tell us why when you link up.

It may surprise you that on this occasion I have chosen sea and the reason is that when my Sister and I were growing up we were lucky enough to have a static caravan at West Bay on the Dorset coast so almost every weekend and school holiday after Easter was spent there with Dad and Mum. It was called Bon Terra (Goodland which was my maiden name). I have happy memories of seagulls tippy tapping around on the roof early in the morning, being fascinated watching Mum or Dad trying to ignite the funny little calor gas mantles that gave us light. Of course the sea was the best bit and we spent happy hours on the pebble beaches. 

Anyway here is my card not quite a six berth caravan but beachy nonetheless!! 

The image and sentiment  is a set from Digistamp Boutique that I coloured with Promarkers.

The stepper is a new, and very much loved, die (so be prepared to see lots of it in the coming weeks!!), even the scalloped panel dies came with it too and I used kraft and a freebie paper for those. 

The sun was cut using a Lil' Inker die and I popped a candy dot on the top.

I've found some challenges to play

Crafty Time #1 - Anything New (My new stepper die)

Crafting Musketeers #25 - Use a die cut (My new stepper die)

Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a Book or Film - Beaches

Be crafty and craft #1 - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers #295 - Keep Calm and Chill Out

 (perfect at the beach!!)

I Love Promarkers #268 - Anything Goes

Digistamp Boutique - May Customer Competition

That's all for now folks, see you soon, until then take care xx