Beside the seaside, beside the sea

 Happy Weekend!!

The Allsorts gang are off to the seaside this time (your Anything Goes entries are also welcome!!). A lovely seasonal option chosen by Christine.

Two prizes each of two Sentimentally Yours stamps from Grafton Crafts, a well stocked bricks and mortar and on line shop offering fee p&p on all orders over £15

I have used some old 12 x 12 scrapbook papers to make my cards. The first was cut with an Aall and Create die to make the collage frame effect. The stamp set is probably an antique one from Marianne Designs that was all things nautical. I stamped each of the little plates with various stamps from the set in different colours of ink.

I had a fancy to used kraft for these to continue the vintage/olde worlde look. The toppers on the second card were on the reverse of the papers and I simply added some twine to the tag for a little extra. 

We are having a bit of a heatwave here in the UK at the moment so a perfect time for a trip to the coast, hope you will join us!!

See you next time 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

Masculine at Allsorts

 Happy weekend everyone. It's been a bit cooler in the UK this week and oh my, the mornings are darker and the nights are drawing in too. Anyway, weather report over and the real reason for my post today.

We are Masculine at Allsorts Challenge this week, a genre that fills me with dread when the need arises. However LOTV came to the rescue by way of one of their little, once available, Sketch books that you colour in yourself. I coloured this little fellow and his dog with my Lyra pencils.

In my part of the UK lots of properties are built of hamstone which is quarried from Ham Hill about eight miles from where we live. It's honey coloured so I tried a hamstone wall which really hasn't photographed well!! I was,however, very happy with his flat cap!! 

It's been a very long time since I've been happy with a man type card but I am happy with this one. I hope that you will join us and if, like me, you are not keen on cards for the fellas you can always opt for our Anything Goes.

As always, we have some fabulous sponsors and now that my laptop is behaving I can share a little teaser of what's up for grabs for this and the coming challenges and the links to our generous sponsors.

Prizes from Craft Stash, Anna Marie Designs, AALL and Create, Oakwood, WOWVOW 

Many thanks, as always, for sharing your time with me xx

Lads and/or Dads

 Well that weekend whooshed by and, as predicted, my waistbands are definitely a little snugger!! Worth it though because we celebrated Martin's birthday in style!! Back to buiness now with my card to tempt you into joining us at 

where we've gone all masculine with a 

Dads and/or Lads theme...cute of course!!

I thought it was about time I aired my pencils and, once again, had a jolly good rummage in my stash. I loved the Molly Blooms range of stamps and used Mischevious George here (you can get the mini version, and many others, at Sir Stampalot). Once colourd up I sat him in a heat embossed splattered circle and found scraps of paper and card to match, risky for me as I normally choose paper first and colour to compliment!! Phew it worked out okay!!

Thank you for stopping by. Looking forward to seeing what you share with us x

Sailing by...

 It's raining again, so tinkering about in the stables has met an abrupt end so what else can I do but craft!! It is my Uncle Dave's Birthday at the end of the week so I made this. 

It is two thirds of a very old Woodware stamp that I coloured with Promarkers and mounted on some coordinating card. It looked a little flat so I added a bit of sparkle pen to the waves and used glossy accents to add some sheen.

Honestly, that tile looks orange but it is actually the same red as the mat, how does a camera do that? 

Thank you for dropping in xx

Some Challenges

Allsorts Challenge #631 - Sun, Sea and Sand

Crafty Calendar July challenge - Anything Goes

My time to Craft #460 - All things Beachy

AYLI, Rubber, Clear or Digi?

 When I started stamping, there were really only red or grey rubber stamps on wooden mounts and with limited brands too. How times have changed, multiple stamps in a single themed pack and we can now even resize digi images and/or sentiments to suit. 

Our prompt for you this time at As You like It is for you to share your favourite type of stamp, and don't forget to tell us why.

I have been having a little bit of a tidy up and have made a rather large pile of stamps that haven't seen ink for a while, this is one of them (no longer available in rubber but as a digi). My stamping platform makes perfect stamping so much easier and there isn't the worry of smudging the printer ink with my alcohol markers.

I coloured Oliver with my Promarkers and die cut a football to stamp the sentiment on to. The brickwork is a very old embossing folder, wood grain one side and brick the other, possible Spellbinders? 

Anyway that's all for today. 

Keep well everyone xx

Some Challenges

Cardz 4 guyz #264 - CAS

The Boys are back in town

 Hello friends. I seem to be on a run of good luck at the moment in finding stuff that I wasn't actually looking for!! Anyone remember the Daisy and Dandelion products from about ten years ago!? Well I found some sheets of pyramage and just had to use them as my DT piece for the new challenge at

where the theme is The Boys are back in town.

Just look at little Dandelion taking it easy by the river bank!!

And here is a better look at the layers.

The paper (I suspect is MFT) and mat were in my box of scraps (which incidentally, I am intending to actually use this year!!) and matched the topper perfectly. All that I needed to finish off was some co-ordinating bakers twine for the tag, which was also on the sheet.

I am now ready for my Brother-in-Laws Birthday next week!!

I hope you are all doing okay and crafting to keep your minds off the scary times that we find ourselves  living in. I have to admit that I am more afraid now than I was at the start. I know that technologies record every single event now which means we are all in the know on a daily basis. On a positive note, I was proud to be a part of the very first Covid Vaccination Clinic for our Primary Care Network last week and admit to feeling very emotional about being involved in such a historic event. We are expecting to vaccinate 1000 patients every week for the forseeable, so it may be a little quiet here!!

That's all for today. See you later in the week xx

Let's hear it for the boys!!

Blimey...that title is a flash back to the 80's!! Remember Denice Williams? 

Anyway, my post today is a special one as I am guest designer over at the lovely Jo's

  Tales From The Craft Room

It's a male flavoured challenge this month and I made this...

Yes, I cheated by using a printable from LOTV's Etsy Shop. Sorry...not sorry!! I could never colour Oliver as well as that and time was running out to make a card for a 14 year old lad so he fit the bill perfectly. I used spotty paper from a MFT paper pad and that was that.

Thank you again Jo for inviting me to join in and also for taking the time to host this challenge each month and ( I know from personal experience) offering such lovely winners' prizes too.

I must apologise for my lack of visits what with holiday cover at work and other commitments I have found little time to spend blogging. We had a bit of a sudden loss recently, my lovely Mo, the yard cat was run over while sleeping in the sun. She was laid to rest with Mog and Suzy amongst the spring bulbs.

R.I.P Mo the cat

This was her with "the boys" chilling while I was mucking out a couple of weeks ago.
She moved in during the 2012 Olympics, hence her name. She was in a right old state, thin, scraggly but very friendly and made herself right at home in the hay barn.
Sometimes she would wander up the field to the house and sit outside the patio doors meowing until we let her in. Would stay just long enough for a cuddle and then take herself back to the barn. She will be missed but, as she was the second cat to have found us , I live in hope that perhaps in time, another will choose to move in...who knows?

Thank you for your time today. See you soon xx

Some Challenges

Crafty Calendar June Challenge - Masculine
Crafty Friends #111 - Men/Boys
Pearly Sparkles #41 - It's a mans world
Cute Card Thursday #584 - Masculine

Layers...one or many?

My word don't these weeks zoom by in a flash!?? I can't believe that I am here again to encourage you to join the latest challenge at

this time the theme is

Layers...one or many?

Although recently I have dabbled a little more with CAS, my love is with patterned papers and layers, so I did this...

I used a very old DSB digi (still miss them!!) and made this fold back card with layers of coordinating cardstock and patterned paper on each of the panels. He was coloured with Promarkers.

Another simple boy card for the stock box...that's two this week, there must be something wrong with me!!

I think our lovely weather is coming to an end so I will leave you with some pictures of our walk yesterday morning.

See you soon xx

Standard or shaped...what's your favourite?

Hello bloggers hope this post finds everyone happy and well.

Its new challenge day at

where we are dying to know what your favourite card shape is...

Standard or shaped? (remember to tell us why too!!)

Easy peasy for me...square...no question.

I love symmetry and order and generally a square card base indulges my need perfectly!!

Shame about the photographer though and I was quite sober when I took this photo too!!

This was a very quick make using a new paper pad from Craftwork Cards called Coastal. The stamp is Wavy Seascape  from Little Claire Designs that I coloured with pencils.

An up to date pup picture

Bowie (the biggest pup) had finally managed to get himself on the garden bench so we had to let Bumble join him!! Don't they look important!!

Before I go and link up at some challenges I want to thank you all for your kind messages about Suzy, they meant a lot.

Until next time xx

I am playing along here

Crafty card makers #171 - By or under the sea
A gem of a challenge #176 - Summer fun
Come and get it - Summertime
Penny Black and more - Anything Goes with a stamp
Crafty Calendar - Summer Fun

Wild Things

Hello fellow crafters. 

I have a card to share that I made to support 

I have been "meaning to" since Squirrel launched this brilliant challenge and took the opportunity of a rainy evening to do so (and, truth be told, buy a new digi image for the purpose!!)

Anyway, here it is...

 ...and I make no apology for the wonky snap (before you ask, I have not been at the Pimms!!), I mentioned rain but what I failed to say was it is accompanied by horrendous claps of thunder so my photography was rapid to say the least!!

I used scalloped tonic dies for the base and mat and coloured the Di's digis image with Promarkers to match the papers which are from a SheryK Designs digi paper set.

Anyway, can't hang about I'm a bit scared so need to seek refuge!!

Thank you for visiting and for your comments on my recent work, it's much appreciated xx

Oliver

I have chap type card today to share with you, it's my DT card for

where the new fortnightly challenge starts today.

Here is your quest

Embossed or Patterned Paper

A no brainer for me as I am Sarah and I am a patterned paper addict and I DO NOT want to be cured!!

This is Oliver - Kicking About, the second of my recent LOTV purchases and he was coloured to match the MME Lost and Found Oliver papers...spooky!!

Some Challenges

Creative Inspirations #250 - For the boys or something sporty
Craft Your Passion #310 - Anything Goes
Penny's Papercrafty Challenge #276 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #110 - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination #84 - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with stamping

Whatever type of paper you are addicted to it will be most welcome...hope you will come along!!

Until next time xx

A Freebie!!

Hello lovely people of blog land.

There are loads of new releases today at

Sasayaki Glitter

and if you go to the Challenge Blog here you will be able to grab a freebie for just today.

Here he is...Dino and Ducklings

I went for a simple design here as I thought it will probably be useful for a lad. The Doodlebug designs pad was still on my desk so I went with green, coloured Dino, with Promarkers, to match and simply added some enamel dots and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

See you soon xx

January Blues

Hello peeps hope you are well today. 

I struggle with cards for men so am going to make an effort to join in with more male orientated challenges this year to increase my stock. So, here is the first attempt ( as promised Julie)!!

Now, I really didn't need any more stamps BUT another accidental purchase happened after Kat shared a couple of cards using the Taylored Expressions Party Grumplings so, unfortunately, I had to get them!! They are just right for man cards so I am intending to get value from them. He was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers and the spotty paper was from a Craftwork Cards pad. The perfectly coordinated button was from my button tin and I added some hemp twine to finish off.

I am playing here

Cardz 4 Guys #103 - Blue is the colour

Ruby's Rainbow #121 - Animal Magic

Sparkles Monthly challenge #76 - January Blues

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Create with critters

Ribbon girl challenge - Any image

Dream Valley challenges #123 - New (my stamp!!)

Love to scrap #70 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion #295 - Anything Goes

I'm off to do more of my crochet blanket, and to keep warm while in the process!!

Have a lovely evening xx

Down the local!!

Hello everyone, unusual for me to be here on a Sunday evening but have managed to grab a few minutes to myself for a bit of blogging and thought why not?!! Anyway, I know I am not alone in saying that the male species are often difficult to make cards for. However, I think this one fits the bill for almost any age.

 It's a digi from Buddly Crafts called " Down the local" that I coloured with Promarkers to compliment the digi papers, also from Buddly Crafts. The pint's "head" was glittered, the glass had a touch of glossy accents and I added the button and twine from my stash to finish off. 

Some challenges to play

A Gem Of A Challenge #155 - Spots and/or stripes

That's Crafty - Boys will be boys

Cardz 4 Guys # 91   - Button it

Enjoy the rest of the day xx

She sells seashells on the seashore...

I have had this fabulous Marianne Design Cutting Sheet sat on my desk for some time and finally (after rediscovering another unused paper pad) decided what to do with it...this

The background paper is from Prima Seashore pad and complimented the seashell cut out perfectly. To butch it up a bit I used some string to make a frame and squished some cheesecloth into my linen DI pad to dirty it up a little and stuck it behind the frame. The seashells in the bottom left corner were cut from the sheet and decoupaged with glue gel for some dimension.

Here are the challenges I would like to play along with

Creatalicious #78 -  Summer Fun at the beach

Ooh la la #187 - One for the boys

A bit more time to craft #2 - Anything Goes

That's Crafty -  Under the sea

Craft Your Passion #275 - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals #32 - Any holiday

The Crafter's Cafe #129 - The great outdoors

Thank you for stopping to take a look and for your lovely comments xx

Garden Friends

Hello everyone, hope you all had a good weekend.

I thought it was about time I shared more gorgeousness from Cuddly Buddly and this time I went for a male flavoured card.

This little chap is called Garden Friends and I really enjoyed getting to work with the Promarkers. The shed was actually made using Kim's "free" Bird house template which I altered to suit. I used a SB embossing folder for the wood effect and a little scrap of gingham for the shed trim. 

I really am such a lucky girl to be on this Design Team and share such wonderful images!!

With the garden in mind I want to share another visitor to my garden. Connor had the grill pan rather high and caused a bit of "heat" in the kitchen shall we say, so I put the grill pan outside to cool down. A little later Suzy was growling so I went to have a look and found a fox up on the seat licking the grill pan!! It jumped off, sat down, looked at me and kindly posed while I took this snap!!

Some challenges to enter before I head off to work

Crafty Calendar FEbruary - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Cottage #33 - In the garden
Penny's paper crafty challenge #214 - Embossing
Crafty Gals #6 - Anything Goes
Sparkles Monthly Challenges #65 - One for the boys
Addicted to Stamps #98 - Embossing


Thanks for visiting xx

Cheers my dears

Hello my crafty friends and I hope Wednesday finds you well. 

I have a "man" card to share today inspired by some current challenges.

I used the adorable James and coloured him with Promarkers to match the papers. The sentiment is from a Paper Smooches set.

Here are the challenges I am entering

Crazy 4 challenges #271 - Male Birthday

PB & More - Anything Goes

Cards Galore Encore - Use a stamp or Digi

Cardz 4Guys #56 - Kick back and relax

Through the Purple Haze #76 - Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers #282 - One For the boys

Have a lovely day and see you soon xx