Shades of Blue at Allsorts

Happy Saturday everyone. I hope the weekend has good things in store for you...including crafting!!

Liz has chosen our optional SHADES OF BLUE theme this time at

I panicked a bit and actually thought I might have to buy some blue papers!! But thankfully my extensive paper mountain came to the rescue and I discovered a 15cm x 30cm paper pad that I bought in The Range years ago.

They had a distressed look so I tore the mat and used a doily and layers to add to the shabby style.

The Stamping Bella stamp and sentiment is one that I have used lots, it is so easy to colour (with Promarkers) and is the perfect size to be framed by a more busy card style.

One of my colleagues/friends will be celebrating her 70th next week so I wanted the card to be special so added a hidden tag that slides out from the mat. I heat embossed the 70 with glittery embossing powder and added a cherry cake charm too. 

I am so cross with myself that I didn't stick the spotty mat on straight, it looks like the card is wonky!! I might just have to do a rescue if the foam pads aren't stuck fast!! Ooops!!

It's worth sharing an entry or two because there are...

 Two prizes of Lavinia Stamps and stencil (photos not to scale). Please note, we (Lavinia) cannot provide exchanges/replacements/refunds for any products received through this third-party giveaway.

See you there!!

Bear Hugs

 Welcome friends and visitors.

I've another cute card to share with you today. It's my DT piece for

where the new theme is BEAR HUGS, now if that doesn't give you a warm fuzzy feeling, nothing will!!

Here is my adorable bear, Harry the Stuffie, another Stamping Bella set.

He's coloured with *Prism markers and matted to match the background paper. He came with the sentiment that I added to a banner. It looks flat but the mats are actually raised up with foam pads for a little bit of dimension.

We hope that you will dig out your cute bear stamps and bring them along.

I hope you have a good week xx

* ( I bought these to test the quality when my Promarkers of a similar colour were getting a little bit dry. If you are thinking about doing the same please don't, I have been really disappointed as they've dried up in months unlike my beloved Promarkers that have lasted fifteen years or more)

Spots &/or Stripes

 Happy weekend everyone.

Spots and/or Stripes is order of the week at Allsorts challenge although we welcome your Anything Goes makes of course.

I couldn't resist and used both by teaming some lovely (very old) Foundation papers. Remember them, double sided and in wonderful colours, I still have quite a few left that I discovered when tidying my craft room back in January!!

I don't normally choose lilac/purple tones but these colours went so well together that it was a shame not to. The adorable bunny and sentiment is a Stamping Bella stamp set that I coloured with Promarkers. 

Prizes from Stampendous

While you are here please take a look at the invitation to a rather special event that is happening next week.

Allsorts is 15!!!! and I can't tell you how proud I am to be on the Design Team.

It would be lovely if you could join the celebrations!!

Rose #2

 Hello friends, hope you are all managing to keep well. I managed to grab myself a spare few minutes yesterday so made this so that I can join in at Allsorts Challenge.

You might remember me saying here that I always felt intimidated by the petals on this stamp and have only ever coloured it the once. I decided to dust off my Lyra pencils this time with a bit of blending solution and surprised myself, it was so much easier than with my Promarkers. I still kept the card simple as she really does deserve to be in the spotlight doesn't she?! I found some little cut outs from a Julie Loves kit from way back and used those for the sentiment.

It's been a horsey kind of day today, the ponies had their feet trimmed and then Wills had a visit from the vet for his annual vaccinations so while waiting I took some pictures using my phone. He loves a selfie!! Not sure I am particularly pleased with my chins though!!

I reckon we have the same smile there!!

See you soon xx

Some other challenges

Crafty Calendar February - Anything Goes

The Cuties are 10!!

 

            Happy Birthday to us,🎈🎈🎈

Happy Birthday to us,

Happy Birthday Cutie Pie Challenge,

Happy Birthday to us!!

Hello everyone, there is a bit of a party going on at The Cutie Pies this time as it's our

10th Birthday 

It's a pleasure to be on this Design Team, indulging my love of all things cute and I just want to thank Lisa and Sue for doing such an incredible job keeping us cuties in line and making sure that the challenge blog runs like clockwork.

Here is my Birthday card for your inspiration...

...once again using older "stuff". The paper is from a very old pad. Little Hoppy poppy (Stamping Bella) is such a cutie blowing out her candles. She was coloured with Promarkers and I added die cut stars to echo those in the paper.

I really hope that you will join in with our celebrations, we have several sponsors this time to tempt you!!

See you soon xx 

Rose

 Well, having no broadband was a stressful affair!! Two engineers later and we are back up and running. Our line goes through some trees and they had worn through the cable over the years apparently!! 

A couple of challenges caught my eye at the weekend and as I deserve a bit of crafty time I have just made this...

I bought this Stamping Bella beauty some time ago and have lost count of the times I got her out of the packet and promptly put her away because I didn't think I could do her justice. I conquered my fear and coloured her up with my Promarkers using the packaging as a guide. She looks just right with the simple dots I think.

We finally had some rain in the night and the temperatures look to be rising so fingers crossed we can dodge the showers over the weekend and get a few jobs done. Some grass seed needs to go in and I have seedlings in the greenhouse that need potting on.  

Thank you for stopping by and see you soon xx

These challenges inspired me

Little Red Wagon #599 - Smell the roses

Allsorts #621 - Any three colours of the rainbow (red, green and blue)

I love Promarkers #434 - AG +/- Girly

Passion for markers #589 - Sentimental

Do you die cut or fussy cut?

 Hello friends, hope this week is treating you well and that you are finding time to do some crafting.

This fortnight at 

we are interested to know whether you prefer die cutting, fussy cutting or even use an electronic machine to cut your images.

 Nine times out of ten I die cut my images using a round or square die to mount on my card blank. For this DT piece I have done just that but also paper pieced her arm chair which meant some fussy cutting. Not quite as good as Pauline but I made an effort!! 

The sweet stamp set was a Birthday present and I really enjoyed colouring it with my Promarkers. Allsorts Challenge theme this week is YELLOW, so I used that as inspiration for the colourway and the cute chicks were the starting point. Hope I have included enough of the sunshine colour!! the pretty papers are from an old Pebbles inc pad, Tealightful.

Thank you for stopping by. See you soon xx

Some Challenges

Allsorts Challenge #614 - Use yellow

Christmas Teddies

 My word, these Monday's roll around so quickly, it's not usually my favourite day of the week as it is my long day at work (7.30am to 6.30pm...urghhh!!) however, I don't mind the Mondays where I get to share a little bit of Christmas cheer by way of a DT piece for

and this time we would LOVE to see your Cute Christmas Teddies.

Here's mine.....

...such a cutie and just look at the dinky little mouse on his head!! 

Now, I really kicked back and went a bit wild on this one. No papers for a start, just look at all that white space too and guess what? I have been playing with inks...Oh I bet you are proud of me Brenda and Chrissy , not quite to your standards but I loved trying it, so thank you both for the inspiration you share and keep a look out for more inky cards in the future!! Anyway, the Stamping Bella stamped image was coloured with my Promarkers and the little sentiment was part of a set that came free with a magazine.

So, that's about it for today. Like everywhere, there is nothing much happening here but I do consider myself blessed to have my animals to keep me sane and in some kind of normal routine. The walks with the dogs are getting more colourful, although the storms of the weekend have stripped quite a few leaves off the trees. I have also started to do some Christmas shopping, from the sofa. For a few years now I have tried to source, at the very least, items made in the UK and this year have even managed to find gifts that were produced right here in Dorset.  

Thank you for your continued visits and words of encouragement. It is much appreciated. 

Hope this coming week is a good one. Take Care xx

His or Hers at AYLI

Hello peeps. Hope you are well today. 

I have my DT card to inspire you to join in at

It's His or Hers this time.

Here's mine and I went for "Hers"

I have soooo much girly stash in my collection that it just had to be. I am not  a pink person myself but my friend Eve is, so this was made for her upcoming Birthday. I also don't mind admitting that I am a tiny bit scared of making male cards and, no matter how hard I try, am rarely happy with the finished item. Anyway for this sweet girly card I used a Studiolight die for the base. The paper is from a 12x12 pad that I picked up in The Works some time ago. Such good quality it is too. 

The adorable Hoppy Poppy stamp was coloured with Promarkers and the flowers were made using one of the first MFT die sets I ever bought.

So...what are you waiting for?!! 

Well, my afternoon tea last week was delicious. Their scones were as light as air and I have never tasted anything quite like the blackberry choux buns!! A return visit is a certainty!!

See you soon folks xx

Some Challenges

Allsorts Challenge 520/1 -  Happy 10th Birthday

Passion for Promarkers #494 - Special anniversary Challenge

Penny Black and More - May challenge make it feminine

Bear Hugs

Helloooo!! It's time for another challenge at

So, the intention was to use a rather cute digi image from my stash but unfortunately I talked myself into pre-ordering  one of the latest releases from Stamping Bella so I just had to use that instead!! 

Now tell me that's not cute!!

I coloured them with Promarkers to match the scrummy papers from  Doodlebug Designs (Milk and cookies). My new (longed for) Tattered lace dies got their first airing too which was exciting!! I just think crafting is fab, in that so much pleasure can be gained by some paper, metal and a bit of rubber!! Designer shoes and handbags? Not for me!! Actually it's more like horse shoes and rugs!!

Anyway, you have a few weeks to dig out your bear stamps, papers, toppers or dies and join the Cuties...look forward to seeing what you make!!

See you later in the week with more Christmas!! xx

Some challenges

Christmas Card Challenges #25
Crafty Friends #70 - Christmas
Craft Rocket #43 - Christmas is coming
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #8
Crafty Animals #8

AYLI Favourite Medium

Happy Thursday everyone, it will soon be the weekend...Yay!! Before that and to give you a a crafty project (should the weather be rubbish!!) it's time for a new challenge at

where the theme is an easy peasy one

share your favourite colouring medium and don't forget to tell us why!!

It will come as no surprise when I tell you that my medium of choice has to be Promarkers. They were my first brand of alcohol markers and although I am dipping my toe into the Spectrum Noir Illustrator markers, I still go back to my Promarkers. I just know which colours blend well and go together, as demonstrated on my DT piece.

I really enjoyed colouring this stamp to match the papers that came from The Range. I used a Tonic punch for the flowers and then used a linen effect embossing folder for texture, an Impression Obsession tag die and (oops) a new Tattered Lace deckle edge die set for the mat that Miss Pussy Cat is sitting on.

Have a good day, whatever you are doing xx

Some challenges

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - More than one die/ punch
Seven Hills Crafts - Animals, embossing, patterned paper
Creative Inspirations #271 - Anything Goes

Make a Wish

Happy weekend everyone. I have a card to share that is a little bit more "me" today.

Vintage Christmas is all well and good but it will take me ages to recover!! Anyway this little cutie is Hoppy Poppy who was coloured with SN pencils to match the sweet papers. The die cut circle (among others) came with the stamp so I thought it would be rude not to use it!! A few more flowers and some clear gems from my stash to finish and the job's a good 'un!!

Some challenges

Crafting for all Seasons #102 - Four of something
 (Papers, squares, flowers, gems)
Creative Fingers #80 - Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds #3 - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft #4 - Anything Goes (optional CAS)

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are xx