AYLI Stencils

Happy Thursday everyone!!

I have my As You Like It Challenge piece today and, I don't mind admitting, it was a bit of a head scratcher when I saw the theme...Stencil (See further down this post!!) Then I remembered that when The Craft Barn closed I took advantage of the huge discounts and had a spend on things that would stretch my imagination a little. Among those purchases was a Tim Holtz Poinsettia layered stencil, so armed with that and some distress inks I did this....

...and although I say so myself, I think it's a pretty good effort from a cute image, alcohol marker obsessed crafter!!

EDIT...When I came to post my card I realized that the theme is now Anything Goes
and what a right twit I feel!! I blame it on too much Christmas spirit ( that would be the gin then!!)

I hope that you will join in!!

I am unlikely to post again before Christmas so while I am here I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued visits, support and lovely comments over the past year. I know blogging is not quite so popular as it was, due to the other platforms available, but it's still a community that I enjoy very much and will continue to do so as long as you are there to share it with me. All that remains is for me to wish you all a Peaceful and Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

See you on the other side of the festivities!! xx

Carols or Songs

This time next week it will be Christmas Eve...how about that!!? I shouldn't be surprised really, it is the same date every year!!

Anyhow I am here to share my last DT piece of the year for

we would love to see your cute cards featuring a Christmas Carol or Song

Here is mine...and the song is obvious!!

I made a dozen of these, for my work colleagues, using digi sheets and backing paper from The Lovely Studio and coloured them with Promarkers and glittered them too.

Hope you will manage to grab some time in between Christmas prep to join us!!

Well, Weymouth on Saturday was very very wet!! Storm Deidre was at her most ferocious and we got blown around and a tad wet!! We did, however, have no issue parking and the shops were pleasantly quiet!! When we left at midday though the queue into the town was miles long so we were thankful that we went early...so every cloud and all that!!

I hope this week will be good to you.

See you soon xx

GDT Colour Crazy Challenge - Baby Deer

Hello everyone.

I have another Christmas card to share today. This time for



Let me introduce Baby Deer...isn't she adorable?!

Coloured, as usual, with my Promarkers and this time I inked a stamped background panel with versamark ink and brushed very old Imagination Crafts shimmer powder over the top. For a little dimension I raised the image on foam pads in front of it.

I hope you have something nice planned for the weekend. We intend to go to Weymouth and have a wander around the town and a walk along the beach, although the weather forecast looks pretty ghastly at the moment...fingers crossed!!

Bye for now xx

Some challenges

Christmas at Sweet stampin' - December challenge
Double D Challenge - Run run rudolph

Sparkle with The Cutie Pies

Hello peeps!! Hope you are well and getting your Christmas prep underway. If you happen to be short of a card or two why not join us at...

...although it doesn't have to be Christmas if you are really organised. must be cute though!!

We would love to see your cards with a bit of sparkle this time. Here is what I did using Forest Friends Christmas Foster an image from our sponsor...Little Miss Muffet.

I coloured this cutie with my Promarkers and used some lovely glittery cardstock, glamour dust and stickles too for some real sparkle.

I sent Martin up in the attic to get the trimmings down yesterday so my tree is now dressed and looking very twinkly in the corner. Christmas has now arrived chez Wills!!

Rightio, that is me for today. Have a good week and see you soon xx

Some Challenges

Crafty Calendar - It's Christmas time

Crafty Friends- Christmas

Animal Friends #69 - Everything Goes

Crafty Animals #21 - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet #203 - Anything Goes

Christmas animals at AYLI

As another week draws to an end I am here with my DT piece for

As You Like It

Our theme is Favourite Christmas Animal.

My regular visitors will know that I love all animals so couldn't possibly pick just one favourite so I have gone with Christmas Dog, Cat and, of course, the traditional Christmas robin. The other reason is that Polkadoodles is our sponsor and it was far too cute to resist!!



As usual my image was coloured with Promarkers to match the colours on the paper. I dug out some matching green mirror board for the die cut edge and sentiment.

That's me for now. I hope you will be able to find a bit of crafty time and join in.

See you soon xx

Some challenges

Little Red Wagon #475 - Purrs & wags
Creative Inspirations December - Anything Festive Goes
The holly and ivy Christmas Challenge #42 - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers #473 - Mega Christmas Challenge
Digi choosday week #49

Anything But A card

Happy Monday again...don't the weekends go by in a flash?!!

Can you believe that in a months' time Christmas Day will have been and gone!! How on earth did that happen? I have only just put my summer clothes away!!

Anyway you can stock up  your Christmas creations by joining in at 

where the theme this time is

Anything But A Card

I made a gift bag using an image from our sponsor Crafty Sentiments.

The foliage was cut with a Crafters Companion die and the little fella was coloured with Promarkers. You can just about see that the aperture is covered with snowy acetate too. the bag itself was made using a printed snowy paper from The Lovely Studio.

Rightio, I have scared myself with my comment about the big day being less than a month away so fully intend to get some Christmas shopping done this week...how are you doing with yours?!

that's all for now. See you when I do xx

Some Challenges

A Gem of A Challenge #232 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' - Whatever the weather...SNOW!!

Rubber Stamps or Digi Stamps??

Hello. 

It's time for the new challenge at 

where we would like you to share a project featuring a stamped image...Rubber or digital. Remember to tell us the reason for your choice too!!

I have been a huge fan of both in the past  but I have chosen rubber because that is how my stamping life started and it's also a perfect opportunity to share an image from a recent rubber purchase from here!!

The cute penguins were coloured with Promarkers to match the MFT papers. 

It would be lovely to see you join us!!

Have a good weekend, when you get there.

See you Monday xx

Some Challenges

That's Crafty - Winter Wonderland
Creative Inspirations - November Chill
Sweet Stampers  #26 - Christmas
Digi Doodle Studios #11 - Christmas/Winter
Christmas at Sweet Stamping- November Challenge

A wreath...two ways!!

Morning all, I hope you are raring to go at the start of a new week!! I am back to work today following a week of Annual Leave, so not much enthusiasm from this end!!

Anyway to cheer myself up on my last day off, I sneaked off to my work room yesterday and had a crafty session and made these.....

Right from the launch of Darnell's "twofer"card  challenge  I have had good intentions of joining in (to challenge myself actually) and for one reason or other have never managed it. I have now put that right!! The theme this month is Wreath  and as I appear to I have many wreath stamp sets it was the perfect chance to play along. I chose one from a Cats Pajamas set. Both wreaths were heat embossed with coloured powders and embellished just a teeny tiny bit...which was sooooo hard!! Like many of you, I expect, CAS is a style that I struggle with but, on this occasion, I was delighted with the outcome!!

Well that is me for today. I hope whatever the week has in store for you it will allow some crafty time. I am on Mollie duty tomorrow so am looking forward to that.

See you later in the week, I hope xx

Some challenges

Twofer Card Challenge #11 - Wreath
Allsorts Challenge #494 - CAS Christmas
Less is More #384 - Metallics
Crimbo Crackers #171 - Anything Goes
Uniko #50 - Celebrate +/- Gold
The Cats Pajamas #352 - Winter Holidays

Naughty or Nice?

Hello lovely people. I am here today with my second spot at

Colour Crazy Challenge

As always the theme is Anything Goes but you must use an image that you have coloured yourself.

I used Naughty or Nice? from our sponsor Dr Digi and did this...

Another new paper pad, Dovecraft this time, that I matted onto silver mirri board. I know now why I avoid images with lots of white!! Believe it or not there is a fair bit of shading on Father Christmas' shirt, beard and list...just use your imagination!!

Hope you are having a good week.

See you soon xx

Some challenges

Not just cards - November Challenge Anything goes
I love Promarkers #372 - Anything goes +/- 3 layers
A  bit more time to craft #80 - Anything goes

Winter layers with The Cutie Pies

It's all about layering up at

I have layered my cardstock and my sweet little bunny rabbit is wearing a lovely layer too!!

Cute huh?!!

My Hubby, being 55 years old, recently had an invitation for a Colonoscopy as part of the new NHS initiative to catch any bowel cancer in it's early stages...bear with, there is a point to this tale!! He is very good about things like this ( me working in the NHS also helps!!) so we duly toddled off to Dorset County Hospital for this procedure, which was normal. While he was there I took myself off to The Range and, my word, I had a ball and bought half a dozen christmas paper pads, one of which I used here!!

 I love the unusual black background and it goes perfectly with the little tree light embellishments that were in my stash. The circular sentiment is from a very old LOTV set which is sadly starting to perish, I managed to pull a couple apart when I was taking them off the backing :0(  I heat embossed the stamped sentiment with white powder for a bit more texture.

So, that is me for today. I hope you will join us with your cute image and it doesn't actually have to be a Christmas card, winter will be just as welcome, as long as it's as cute as can be of course!!

I hope you have a good week. See you soon xx

Some challenges

Crafty Catz #347 - Anything goes +/- Christmas

Crimbo Crackers #171 - Anything Christmas Goes
Moving along with the times #84 - Winter Animals
Animal Friends Challenge #68 - Winter

Monochrome or Rainbow at AYLI

Hello my crafty friends. Thank you for stopping by to have a look at what I have on offer today!!

It's my DT inspiration for As You Like It Challenge and the theme this time is 

Monochrome or Rainbow

No contest for me Rainbow!!I love a bit of colour I do and although it's not really a rainbow in the true sense of the word I think this paper does the job and, as usual, I have coloured the image , with Promarkers, to match!!

While I was craft shopping (as you do) I decided to step off the straight and narrow and bought some 4x6 cards for a change and this is the first attempt and I was really pleased with myself. Not such a large space to fill as a 6x6 and doesn't use so much paper...as if I need to worry about that, I will never use all mine in a thousand lifetimes!!

I haven't had time to stop and chat for a while for many reasons, one of them being my Grandma time with Mollie. Her Daddy and Mummy took her to choose a pumpkin the weekend before last...

...so we had a lovely messy time last Tuesday pulling out the flesh after which I carved the face...ooh that sounds a bit macabre!! Anyway here is the result. I did forget the nose though!!

Right, that is me for today. Hope you will join us with your monochrome or rainbow creations.

Until next time xx

Some challenges

Daisy Chain Challenges #25 - Cbristmas/Winter
The holly and ivy Christmas Challenge #40 - Anything goes
Gerda Steiner  - November share your design 

Just for fun!!

Happy New Week Everyone!!

This is a rare occurrence, and no mistake!! In fact I rather amazed myself when I managed to make a card just for fun instead of only DT creations. So here goes...

I watercoloured these cute PB fellas with various Distress Inks splodged on my craft mat. I was delighted that the colours matched the papers so well and will definitely have another go when time allows. 

I hate to say it but it has been rather nice to have a wet weekend so that I could get some time in my work room. I am planning tissue pouches as Christmas presents for the girls at work this year so have been cutting fabric to size ready to have mass assembly one evening. My Christmas card pile isn't looking too shabby either so I am quite pleased with progress. 

If you are out and about at Firework Displays tonight, stay safe.

See you later in the week xx

Some challenges

Winter Wonderland - Colour it

Stamping Sensations - Get ready for Christmas

Allsorts #492 - Pretty Papers

Animal Friends challenge #68 - Winter

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas

AYLI - colours of Autumn or Halloween

I have another DT piece to share with you today, this time for

Our theme is Autumn/Halloween Colours

I have gone with AUTUMN...

...complete with squirrel and some fallen leaves from a Joanna Sheen CD rom. I love the colours that autumn brings with her. The leaves on our trees are really only just starting to take on the golden and russet hues. We were never big on halloween in our house, even when the boys were small and I think I have mentioned before that we are fairly remote and far too spooky for little ones to come trick or treating!! 

I stamped and die cut my leaves and used copper embossing powder before curling them and attaching them to the card for added dimension.

While on the theme of autumn, this was taken on our walk this morning, still quite green although I suspect the forecast frosts may change that a little.

I am not sure what these are, suffice it to say I didn't pick them and cook them with eggs and bacon!!

 

 


So, that is me for this week.

See you when I do xx

Wrap up Warm

It's Christmas with The Cutie Pies time again!!

The theme this time is Wrap Up Warm and my DT piece is wrapped in a very stylish coat and scarf and so is her cute companion!!

She was coloured with Promarkers and the yummy scrummy papers are MFT Candy Land which I scruffed up for a change and kept the card flat for posting by not adding any extra embellishments. If you look closely you can see flocking on the furry elements.

It is hard to believe that we are already hurtling towards the festive season. I have even had my first mince pie of the year!! If you are busy making Christmas cards I do hope you will have one that you can bring along to share with us.

See you later in the week, all being well. Until then, take care xx

Some challenges

Dis digi design challenge - Creepy or cute
Sweet stampin' - Chevrons or stripes

GD at Colour Crazy Craft Challenge

Hello friends.

I am excited to be here today as a Guest Designer for

This challenge is right up my street as it is all about colouring , which I love...when I have the time, it seems these days!! Anyway the sponsor is All Dressed Up, a shop that I rarely visit ( but will be doing so more often!!), and I chose to use Christmas Robins and did this...

Those cute robins were coloured with my Promarkers and I chose Dovecraft's Little Red Robin papers to match. Nuvo glitter drops Ruby Slippers provided the blobs in the corners ( sorry Sue for borrowing your word, but I can't remember the technical term!!). Good old LOTV stamps for the sentiments and a couple of little bells to finish off.

Hope you have a good weekend. Ahead of that I have a visit to the dentist for a check up and after that my car is booked in for it's MOT. Fingers crossed it won't be too expensive!!

See you soon xx

Some challenges

Allsorts #489 - Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - October
Passion for Promarkers #466 - Bingo board
Patterned paper, image and die cuts

CAS or Full of Frills at AYLI

Hello. Thank you for stopping by to see me!!

I am trying to increase my Christmas card pile so decided on a simple card for my DT piece for the new challenge at

Our theme is CAS or Full of Frills

I am afraid my style is actually neither of those but probably more simple than frilly!! I generally let the image or paper do the talking and, in this case, it is the card shape that is in the spotlight, courtesy of a lovely die set from here.

The stamp is from Inkylicious that  I watercoloured using Aquamarkers and added a little sparkle too. I should probably have had a little production line going when I made this one...never mind!!

Until next time xx

Going Girly at The Cutie Pie Challenge

Hello peeps. How are you?
Well, I hope and if not so good I wish you better days ahead.

We are Going Girly at

I used an adorable LOTV digi and coloured it with my Promarkers.

The sentiment is from a LOTV rubber set, which, I stupidly bravely stamped direct to fill an empty space!! Thankfully, it worked!!

I hope the week has good things in store for you.

See you soon xx

Some challenges

Crafting with friends #74 - Anything goes
Creative Fingers #153 - Anything goes 
Little Miss Muffet #199 - Anything goes
I love Promarkers #368 - Anything goes

Favourite Season

Hello :0) 

Twice in a week...that hasn't happened for a while!!

So today I am here to share my DT card for

where we would love to see your cards featuring your Favourite Season.

Normally I would say I am a fan of autumn for the amazing colours that she brings, however, I really enjoyed this summer (although at times the heat was too much to bear) and loved being able to wear shorts pretty much all the time!! I also discovered Plum, honey and ginger ice cream...yum!!

As you can see my CAS card is in celebration of that!!

I used an image from the Scrumptious Treats set by DSB (So sad that these lovely images will not be available any more ) and coloured it with Promarkers, the sentiment was included.

I look forward to hearing all about your favourite season!!

See you next time xx

Christmas Cutie For A Child

Hello. Hope that this post finds you well :0)

The time has come for a new challenge at

Our sponsor Pink Gem Designs provided Penguin with candy cane for me to use and this is what I did with her.

No colouring involved at all as it was a complete card topper kit and it made a lovely change to spend time on the finishing touches. I found some matt mirri board in my stash which I used to make the pretty poinsettia,  using a Marianne Designs die set. It is a perfect match to the pink on the card actually, although it is hard to believe in the photograph.

It has been a busy old time at work again and things at home have a bit hectic with one thing and another so my plans to craft always seem to fall by the wayside!!  It looks set to stay that way for a while unfortunately and the darker mornings and evenings certainly don't help. I feel sad waving goodbye to summer in many ways but at least it won't be too hot to sleep in the coming weeks and months, and I do need my sleep!!

Anyway, I hope that you will share any cute cards that you make with littleys in mind.

Hope to see you soon xx

Some challenges

A Gem of a challenge - One for the girls
Crafty Catz #430 - Anything goes +/- Christmas
Chrimbo Crackers #167 - Anything goes
Fab 'n' Funky #408 - Anything goes

AYLI Boy or Girl?

Hello everyone. An easy peasy theme at

Boy or Girl?

I can't lie...cards of the male flavour scare me!! Cards for girls are so much easier with such  cute images, girly characters, flowers, papers and ribbons  at our disposal  which is why I have a baby girl card to share today. 

I used a super cute digi from Di's Digis and coloured it with Promarkers to make this cute card.

I hope to see you there.

Looking forward to a proper bloggy catch up this weekend and possibly some crafty time too. It has been full on in the Wills household of late and time for myself has been in short supply...never mind!!

See you soon xx

Some challenges

The Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #374 - Anything goes
I love Promarkers #367 - anything Goes

Autumn with the Cutie Pies

Hello and happy Monday to you all.

I have an autumnal card to share with you today to,
hopefully,  inspire you to join us at 

We would love to see your cute cards in autumn shades.

Here is mine

I used my Mama Makes stamp set again, coloured with Promarkers, and Doodlebug Designs paper. The little tag and stamp were magazine freebies.

Nature hasn't really put her autumn dress on quite yet here in Dorset but the mornings are quite chilly now when I muck out and walk the dogs so I expect the colours will soon start to change.

I hope you will join us for our seasonal challenge here.

I will be back later in the week xx

Some challenges

Dream Valley Challenges #185 - Autumn Colours 

Dis Digis - Happy fall y'all

 Crafty cardmakers #217 - All creatures great and small

Non card project

Thursday fortnight has duly rolled around again and I am delighted to be here to shout about the latest challenge at



This time we would love to see a Non card  project.

This time I have put my crochet hooks away, in favour of my skeins of cross stitch thread and aida. My crafty journey evolved via cross stitch actually. I used to buy American cross stitch magazines from an independent newsagent, probably 25 years ago, and made many samplers and such before branching out into stitched greeting cards which soon manifested into a papercrafting obsession!!

One of my lovely work colleagues has just left us in order to move closer to their family and I wanted to make her something to keep and display in her new home. This is the result...

Using a pattern from here (visit with an open mind...there are some "different" designs too!!) and colours from my own thread collection.

Jacqui was very pleased with it and assures me it will take pride of place in their new home, when they find one.

I am very much looking forward to seeing your non card projects.

Until next time xx

Some challenges

Crafty Creations #373 - Anything goes
Love to craft challenge blog #25 - Anything goes 

Cute Snowmen

Hello lovely peeps. A day off for the UK workers, if you are lucky enough, and the last one until  Christmas...eeeeek!! Which brings me nicely to my blog post for today, a new challenge at...

It's (perfect for you Marianne!! ) Cute Snowmen

I used an image from our Sponsor. Very little colouring really but done, nonetheless, with Promarkers. Glamour Dust supplied the frosty snow  and the sentiment was made using a new set from Crafters Companion. Nicely CAS actually!!

Some challenges

Merry little Christmas Challenge #1 - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers #366 - Anything goes +/- die cut or punch
My time to craft  #378 - Christmas in August

If you are in the UK I hope you will be enjoying our August Bank Holiday. It was a tad wet here in Dorset yesterday but it looks like a dry one today so I will be out in the garden I think...better than my usual Monday at work!!

See you later in the week with some cross stitch xx

Black and white +1

Black and white and one other...that is the question at

I used a sweet image from our sponsor

I used pink as my other colour as I always think it looks particularly good with black and white.  I also dusted off my Presscut stepper die, which hasn't seen the light of day for a little while. The little ditzy print is an old Pink Petticoat (The Lovely Studio) printable paper. She was, of course, coloured with Promarkers...so much for me utilising other stash!!

Hope you are having a good week and looking forward to the weekend.

See you soon xx

Some challenges

The creative crafters #7 - Anything goes
Creations in Pink #1 - Anything goes in Pink
The Paper Shelter #349 - Dies and punches
A Gem of a challenge #225 - Breast cancer awareness