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

WLS Spring TIme

Happy April everyone!! A new month and a new challenge at

WE LOVE STAMPING where it's SPRING!! Anything goes is also welcome as long as there is a stamped feature on your card/project.

Two prizes of Lavinia stamps

I have been a little bit naughty and purchased a new digi stamp, Tulip jug from  Lili of the Valley, well at half price it would have been rude not to!!

I did, however, redeem myself by using an old MME paper pad, Fine and Dandy Girl. I picked out Promarkers to match colours in the papers and really enjoyed colouring the tulips.

 The sentiment is from a Craftwork Cards die cut set, goodness knows how old they are and I only have a handful of these oval ones left now, so useful. 

I am pleased to report that I am getting the hang of the pesky laptop and it made me smile to read some comments on my previous post from the vigilant visitors who noticed I hadn't posted my DT piece for Allsorts. 

With Easter a hop, skip and a jump away I will wish you a blessed weekend. I think the Easter Bunny might get a little bit soggy here in rural Dorset while laying out the clues for the egg hunt, but I am reliably informed that she gets any leftovers!!

Toodle pip for now xx

Springtime at Allsorts

 Holy moly, I am going to be sacked!! In my plight with my new laptop I forgot to schedule my post for Allsorts...better late than never.

Hello friends and visitors

It's Springtime at Allsorts Challenge this time (Anything Goes is also welcome though)

Two Penny Black Stamps available from Buddly Crafts

I haven't entered challenges for a very long time but the stamp I am using was a prize from We Love Stamping and it's perfect for this theme. Julie Hickey Designs Peter's daffodils.

I used papers from a Doodlebug Designs pad, the cover is long gone I'm afraid but there was definitely spring in the title. I coloured the gorgeous daffs with my Promarkers, added some ribbon and cotton lace and used the companion tag/sentiment set from Mama Elephant. 

We have had some spring like weather but my word it's been bitterly cold and windy too. Hopefully it will warm up quite soon.

See you next week xx

AYLI Embellishment

Hello everyone thank you for paying a visit.

I am here with my inspiration for the new challenge at

the theme is "Favourite Embellishment"

I love enamel dots. They come in pretty much every colour under the sun and are flatter than pearls so don't leave a dent in the envelope.

 I am still using my stash and found this lovely Woodware birdy and sentiment (Its so old I couldn't find it but there is a similar set here). I knew the kind of colours I wanted to use so found some enamel dots and cardstock scraps first, trimmed them to fit the A5 card and then embossed them using one of my many embossing folders. Then I found the right colour Promarkers and coloured the sweet little bird.

It's a wonder I am here at all. My blogging has been seriously curtailed as my poor old laptop died. I have welcomed a new one into my life but found that I couldn't comment using my blogspot profile, had changed my password and didn't save it...oh my life, what a nightmare!! I am not clever enough to do it on my phone nor was I able to on my tablet. Thankfully (family) IT support helped out so I am playing catch up now and getting to know my new tech.

Thank you for allowing me to let off steam!! I hope that you are all well and that you are tempted to join us with you favourite embellishment.

See you soon xx

Wildlife at We Love Stamping

There is still  time at We Love Stamping so I am here with a reminder to come and join in. 

I have had such a fab time not spending money and using my forgotten stash and this make is just one of the products.

It fits the bill but doesn't look very "wild" though, more like wildly cute!!

 Remember Wild Rose Studio?!! Well, this is one of their elephants that I coloured with alcohol markers that I found in Aldi, and they are blooming fabulous too!! The paperpad is a Trimcraft one and the pretty die cut flower is made with the first floral die set I ever bought, it's a My Favorite things set.

There's ample time to make something to share with us, you'd be made most welcome xx