Anything but Square at Allsorts

 Christine has chosen the optional theme today

Anything but Square (Anything Goes also welcome)

Two prizes from AALL and Create

I used a favourite arched die set cut in black card. I cheated with the inky background and used a Lavinia A5 background that, I believe, I won from this very challenge several years ago!!

The sentiment was left on my desk from another project that suited perfectly. The gate die was  from The Cats Pajamas, another shop sadly gone. 

Thank you for paying me a visit, it's always appreciated. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

See you soon x

Bright or Pastels at As You Like It Challenge

 Welcome everyone. 

It's new challenge day at

where the theme is Bright or Pastels(with you reasons too)

I love a card to stand out on the mantelpiece so my makes tend to be on the brighter side.

More old stash was used on this sweet card. 

Dovecraft Garden Party paper pack was the starting point for the lovely colour combination. A Tattered Lace die set was used for the frames and then I matted the papers on the middle blanks. I inked one of the clear stamps from Easter Florals which is available in digital format from LOTV and coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is also from LOTV, again a clear set that I punched out and added a gem to the centre for a little bit of bling.

I hope that you'll join us. 

See you soon xx

WLS SpringTime reminder

 I am here today with a reminder post for our current challenge at

WE LOVE STAMPING - Spring (or anything goes)

there is still time to join in.

I have used yet another very old stamp set that is still available here. It was my first set that had the grey spongy backing...that old!! First of all I inked the background then stamped the flowers, then stamped the heads again, coloured them and then stuck them to the base. I heat embossed all the words from the set and then cut them out and made up the sentiment. It looked a little bit flat so I added some pretty sequins for a little bit of shimmer.

Talking of spring, it's reverted to being a tad chilly and grey here in Dorset but we are promised some warmer days ahead so, fingers crossed.

Whatever your weekend has in store I hope you manage some crafty time.

See you soon xx

In the Garden at Allsorts

Hello friends and visitors it's time for a new challenge at 

Allsorts where the optional theme, chosen by Gail, is

In the Garden (anything goes is also very welcome)

Two prizes of Lavinia stamps 

Here is my contribution to the inspiration

I used a grey rubber LOTV stamp (and sentiment) for this little card. It's another very old set that I had shamefully forgotten all about. It was lovely to colour and I chose a favourite colour combo blue and Kraft. The papers are old and the cover missing but I think they might be Bo Bunny and Doodlebug Designs. For an added gardeny extra I added some bakers twine.

I have been on annual leave the past week and, my word, we've had ALL the weather. Frost, icy winds, rain and 23 degree sunshine too. We took a trip to the coast on Wednesday and it was glorious to enjoy an ice cream in shirt sleeves. We bought a new rambling rose, clematis and some shrubs to go in the borders, it was so good to get in the garden again. Speaking of which we would LOVE to see your garden themed cards/projects so hope that you will play along.

See you soon xx

NOTE TO SELF, PUBLISH YOUR POST WHEN YOU EDIT, NOT UPDATE!!

Simple or Fussy at AYLI

 Hello and welcome. I have a man card to share with you today.

It's James the Bear and he is my DT make for the new theme at

where the theme is

Simple or Fussy

You will know by now that I have enough paper pads to last me several lifetimes so I like to include them on my cards wherever possible. That said I don't usually use frills, gems, ribbon or the like and keep my designs fairly simple to showcase the papers. Simple cards are also slimmer and therefore less costly to post. 

He never fails to make me smile and is always a joy to colour. He is grey rubber and one of the early Lili of the Valley stamps. He was coloured with Promarkers to match the backing papers, the check from a My Favourite Things pad and the spot from a Bo Bunny pad. I "glassed" up his lager with glossy accents. The postmark sentiment was also a LOTV  stamp set, clear this time, but, again, fairly old.

Man cards aren't my favourite to make but I made an exception with this special card, made for our eldest Son who had his Birthday on Easter Monday. I surely can't be old enough to have a 36 year old!!

Anyway, we have had some super weather here for two whole days, the jumper and wellies came off and we even took a trip to the coast yesterday where it was actually too blooming hot!! A good excuse for an ice cream though!!

Wherever you are in the world I hope the weather is being kind.

See you soon xx