Thursday 31 July 2014

Nitwits papers...just my cup of tea!!


Hello my crafty friends Thursday again, my word where do the weeks go?  As it's Thursday my card today is my piece for the


and this time it's easy, we would like you to share a project using your favourite papers together with the reason. My favourite papers are My Mind's Eye and Nitwits. Both ranges offer such diversity for all seasons and manner of reasons and/or projects. On this occasion I chose Nitwits Winter Wishes simply because it suited the style I had in mind for the template that I used from our sponsor.

Shape EZ



Here's what I did


I coloured the sweet stamp with Aquamarkers this time on watercolour card. The hessian and jute ribbon added the texture together with the flower and die cut leaves.

I am entering these brilliant challenges

Allsorts Challenge #269 - Time for tea
Natalie & Amy #23 - Die cuts & Flowers
Craft Your Passion #224 - Flower Power
My time to Craft #254 - Use kraft
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers #230 - Ribbons (hope jute ribbon counts!!)

Before I go I just want to scare you with some snaps of Hubby and I relaxing yesterday after a hard day's work (him, not me) !! Think we'd better make the most of it as it looks like rain may be on it's way :0(




Who needs to fly to sunnier climates...Dorset is fine for me!!




 He said I snapped his best side...of course it's because in reality  he is an international rock star and didn't want to be recognised!!

Thanks for your visit and lovely comments, I appreciate it.

Bye for now xx


Sunday 27 July 2014

Merry and Bright

Hello my crafty friends. I am here to share another Christmas card today and although the temperatures are slightly cooler than of late I don't think we will be getting snow and ice any time soon!! 



I used a sweet Marianne Designs stamp that I coloured with SN pencils to coordinate with the Nitwits papers. I made the poinsettia using a Cheery Lynn set and added a brad to match the papers and the seam binding bow finishes it off, that is apart from Glamour Dust snow of course!! 

I would like to enter the challenges that inspired me

Winter Wonderland - On the move
Crafting for all seasons #82 - Christmas in July
Papertake Weekly - It's A Jolly Holiday (Christmas)

I'm off to have a potter in the garden now, the weather may be dry but the weeds still seem to grow!!
Thanks for your continued support xx

Friday 25 July 2014

You make me smile

Hello folks I hope this finds you well and not suffering from too much sleep deprivation due to the airless nights!!  This reminds me of summers from my childhood this does!!

Anyway I have a dinky little card to share with you today that I created using a couple of scraps or paper and card from my bits box.


The spotty paper is very old indeed and, I think, from Creative Expressions Foundations range. I also found a House Mouse Stamp set under my desk that I had well and truly forgotten, so made use of that too.






It really is a dinky card as you can see from the picture.







We are off to play at these challenges

Chocolate, coffee and cards #70 - Polka dots
Crafting by Designs  - Hats, hats, hats
Crafting from the heart #28 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-crafty #187 - Anything Goes
Pixies Snippets Playground #134

Thanks for stopping by today and see you soon xx

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Ripe strawberries, ripe!!

Roll Up! Roll Up! Come bring your

 Fruit and Veg to the new challenge starting today at


as chosen by the lovely Stamping Mad Janice

I went for fruit and one little mouse with a very full tum!!


Psst, this card was made for my lovely team mate Samantha from AYLI who celebrated her Birthday last week, I'm sure she won't mind me showing off her card as it was her love of animals and homecrafts that was the inspiration behind this creation.

The stamp (the oldie bit) is from the PB T for Transparent set "Homemade", the scrumptious papers and sentiment from Pink Petticoat Strawberry Blooms, and the darling Fishtail Banner from a Cheery Lynn Set .

I would like to enter these challenges

The Crafting Cafe - Feeling Fruity
Fantasty Stampers #15 - Animal Magic
Shopping our stash - Eat 5 a day

Toodles for now xx

Monday 21 July 2014

Love and Marriage...cutie style

Helloo folks, hope you are ready for another week and the start of the School Holidays.

We are starting another challenge at


We've dusted off our hats and are ready for a bit of Love and Marriage.



I thought it was about time I coloured a Barry image so hot footed it over to The Stampfairy and found these two lovebirds that I coloured up with Promarkers.  I love the muted colours of the papers,  and other than a gossamer bow and sentiment thought it needed little else.

We are off to play here

Sister Act #66
Pennys Papercrafty challenge #186  - Anything Goes
Without Words July challenge - Cute and Fluffy

Have a good day whatever you are up to!!

Sunday 20 July 2014

Blue Christmas in July

I have fallen behind with my "Christmas card a week" resolution,  so with a few Christmas challenges around at the moment thought I would get back on track and add to the pile.


I used SN pencils again to colour this darling little angel and added a little bit of twinkle with my stardust pen. The base was covered with paper from Silent Night pad and the banner and poinsettia made with scraps from the same. I used "peace" from LOTV's Handwritten Phrases just to finish off.



I used glamour dust glitter for sparkle around the pretty edge of the die cut.






I would like to enter these Christmassy challenges

Winter Wonderland - Blue Christmas
CRAFT #268 - Christmas
Divas by design - Christmas in July
Sparkles #58 - Christmas in July
LOTV July Challenge - Take Two (stamped image and sentiment)

A quiet day in the Wills household I suspect which will be most welcome after the horrendous storms that we had yesterday!! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your Sunday xx 

Thursday 17 July 2014

Sentimental

Hello my crafty buddies and I hope you are well today, not long until the weekend now!!

It's a very important day today... there's a new challenge at

As You Like It where our theme is Favourite Sentiment

AND it's also Samantha's Birthday, so Happy Birthday Samantha!!

Anyhow, here is my card...


...made using an image from our fab sponsor


I coloured the sweet bear with my Pro/Flexmarkers and plastered the balloon with glossy accents. 

Apart from Happy Birthday (which is always used as a necessity) I couldn't really find a sentiment that I use repeatedly, however I discovered that I quite often use phrases or inspirational verses so took advantage of a freebie that I picked up somewhere recently.

This was one of those "hmmm, not sure I like it" cards until I added the pearls which I think balanced it a little and now it's growing on me!!

Despite the misgivings I am playing along at these challenges

Crafting with Dragonflies #30 - CAS
Brown Sugar #102 - Pink and pearls
Crafting by designs - Use a sentiment
Addicted to Stamps & More #104 - CAS

Household chores and VAT for me today, don't I know how to have a good time!!?

See you soon xx

Monday 14 July 2014

Things with wings and a horse!!

Well, the start of another week!!  The weekend over in the blink of an eye but it was a good one!! Had a good old spend at Hobbycraft... basics and essentials you understand!! Hubby came with me and kept picking up stuff to add to the basket. I couldn't complain could I?! 

Before I shoot off to work I have a bright and cheery card to share with you.


The image (coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers) and paper are from Doodle Pantry and the card style I have "borrowed" from Brenda 

I am entering these challenges

I Love Promarkers #227 - Things with wings
Divas by design - Things with wings
Delightful Challenges - Hot,hot,hot (hope the orange ribbon is hot enough!!)

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it xx



Saturday 12 July 2014

Summer fun, fun, fun!!

....that's what I intend to have today. The sun is shining, pony and dog have been entertained, the cricket tea contribution is cooling ready to be filled and I am off to the brand new Hobbycraft that opens today fairly locally, where I am planning on spending all the overtime payment I have amassed this week...don't tell the Hubster though!!

Before I go here is a little summer creation that I put together inspired by all the summery themed challenges that are around at the moment, and it was also an excuse to have a little splurge at The Stampfairy!!


The image is Lenny Summer Fun and was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers. I found the paper pad in TK Maxx at the bargain price of £2.99. Some card candi and a spotty bow to finish off. 

I am entering these challenges

Open minded Crafting Fun #14 - Water, water, everywhere
Fab 'n' Funky #223 - Feels like summer
Crafty Ribbons #97 - Sunny yellow + ribbon
Allsorts #267 - Splish, Splash, Splosh
Little Claire's #47 - Summer time

Have a lovely day whatever you are doing and thanks for sharing a bit of it with me!! xx



Friday 11 July 2014

Thank crunchie it's Friday!!

Hello my friends, did you think I'd fled the country or been abducted by aliens? Nothing so exciting I'm afraid, just a crap week at work!! Anyway the weekend is here and I have a card to share.

I was the lucky winner of Lisa's  Sugar Nellie Candy a couple of weeks ago (thanks ever so much Lisa for the lovely stamp and for the tip about using an eraser...it worked a treat!!) and this little sweetie now has a home with me.


In fact I liked her so much that I bought the whole set!! She was coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers to match the Tangerine papers and I used parts of Blueprints 3 for the arch, flower and tag. 

I am entering these challenges

Fussy and Fancy #118 - It's all about the girls
 (feel free to delete if the budgie isn't a big enough feature!!)
Cute Card Thursday #329 - Pretty papers
Crafting by Designs - Use Dies

Off to catch up on the housework now...see you soon!! xx

Tuesday 8 July 2014

School's Out!!



It's been a few years since I've had a reason to make a Thank you to the Teacher card, so I had a great time putting this little darling together for my contribution to the DT at

Oldie But A Goodie

where the theme is "School's Out!!"



The Pollycraft digi image was coloured with Promarkers. The paper and die cut border are from a Kaisercraft pad, Class of '87,  in fact everything I have used is over six months old so I am extremely proud of that as I generally slip in a brand "new" item somewhere, though I'm never sure how "that" happens!!

Off to play along here

Sister Act #64
Brown sugar #101 - Anything Goes

Have a good Tuesday xx

Monday 7 July 2014

It's Digi time

Morning all and Happy Monday to hail the start of our next challenge at


Simples this time, as our theme is Use a digi...a cute one though!!


2cuteink are our sponsors and we got to choose some images to play with...here's mine



LOTV Sketch #13 was the starting point and I then printed a trio of Pink Petticoat papers in Pebble Lagoon and coloured the little horse with Promarkers. Some pretty blue pearls and a spotty ribbon to match her spotty accessories is the finishing touch.

I am off to play at these challenges

Aud Sentiments #110 - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons #96 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #42 - Anything Goes
A Gem Of A Challenge #123 - Animals

Talking of cuties, take a look at these bunnies (among many others) that have taken up residence in our paddocks!!


As you can see life is exhausting at Mallows Farm and after eating "meals on wheels", (ready cut beech hedge by special delivery) it's time for a nap!!

Thanks for coming to visit xx


Thursday 3 July 2014

Summer Fun...

...Doesn't that sound good? If you'd like some (Summer Fun!!) join in at 


because that is our theme for July and there are some great prizes for the winners too!!

There is an array of gorgeousness that my team mates have created so do go and have a peep.

Here is my contribution


A little CAS number today. The lovely papers are from Jessica Sprague, which I chose purposely to suggest sea and sand. I got flip flops out again and coloured them with Promarkers. There are a couple of AB gems and the viva decor pearl pen made an appearance too!! The sentiment was printed straight on the paper using Hey Pretty Girl font.

A challenge or two that I am entering

Natalie and Amy #22 - Summertime
Crafting by designs - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps #102 - Make your mark
I Love Promarkers #226 - Anything Goes
Jellypark - Oh we do like to be beside the seaside

 I shall leave you in peace now until next week (unless I manage any crafty time!!) and wish you a happy weekend when you get there!! xx




Animals or people?

Now there's a question...answers please at


where we would love to see your cards featuring People or Animals
(don't forget to tell us WHY?)

My blogging buddies will know that I love animals but aside from that I struggle hugely with colouring hair on people so I find fur is so much easier to colour!! It's also really nice to send a card showing a particular type or breed of animal that you know will strike a chord with the recipient and that's what I did with my card.


My lovely friend and Cutie Pie DT Boss, Lisa, had a Birthday last week and this was the card I sent her featuring a Westie that, I hope, bears a resemblance to her own little dog Nippy ( EDIT I was assured in her email that it does indeed look like her little chap!!). I used a shaped card covered in paper, die cut a
 co-ordinating frame and butterflies and a magazine freebie sentiment stamp.

Crafting from the heart #25 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - July Challenge
My Mum's Craft Shop # 19 - Summer or bright colours
Pennys #184 - Buttons, butterflies and bows

Thanks for calling, you are always welcome xx

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Decoupage revisited

Morning all. I have stepped back in time a bit with my card today.  My blogging buddy Janice recently showcased several DT cards featuring decoupage and it inspired me to drag out long forgotten sheets, get cutting and stage a revival!! . Actually that is a lie as they were die cut, but in my defence I did painstakingly file off all the little pips!!

Here is the result


I used a freebie embossing folder for the mat and I think the stamp came with it too. The papers were in my bits and pieces box and the daisy trim is also a mystery.

So, as promised Janice here is my decoupaged card and some challenges to go with it!!

Fan-tastic Tuesday #42 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - O for Orange
Just for Fun #1 - Anything Goes

Have a lovely day xx