Allsorts Stencil

 Happy Weekend everyone!! So glad you enjoyed the party at Allsorts Challenge last week and well done to the lucky winners.

Back to business as usual and this weeks' optional theme is Stencils.

I do have stencils in my stash and like inks get a mental block when prompted to use them but this time I had SO much fun!!

I bought the stencil (a very long time ago) from Funky Fossil and used a selection of three Distress Inks and went to work. I die cut the Live, Love,Laugh die from the middle of the stencilled work and layered it up twice with white and once with black, which I offset. All that it needed was some gems. 

Our Sponsors for the month of June are below

Prizes from Sizzix, AALL and Create, Aldridge Crafts, Lavinia and Ruth Hamilton Design

I hope you will take inspiration and join in.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, we are in for an extra day off work, here in the UK and it looks like it's going to be a sunny one. Yay!!

See you the other side of the Bank Holiday xx

Simple at Christmas

 Hello and welcome!! I hope that you had a lovely weekend, we were blessed with some sunshine so did lots of pottering in the garden and playing ball with Bo and Bumble. Anyway, less of the sunshine, it's Christmas here today with my monthly contribution for

This month we are Simple and here's what I made.

I used an adorable image from Amanda Jayne Designs (again) and coloured him with Promarkers. A scrap of LOTV paper and LOTV digi sentiment finished it off nicely.

We are very much looking forward to seeing your makes.

Thank you for dropping in xx

Happy Birthday Allsorts Challenge!!!

 Happy Weekend everyone and there's lots to be happy about at

Allsorts Challenge this week as it's 14 years old and there are fab prizes up for grabs if you enter!!

Prizes from AALL and Create: A4 stamp set Blooming Field and coordination die, 2 A5 stamp sets, 2 DL stamp sets plus stencils and A6 stamp sets.

When I started my crafting journey it was one of the challenges that I supported regularly and look at me now, so incredibly proud to be part of the super talented Design Team. Thank you Brenda!!

Here is my make

I know that many of you visit Sam Calcott of Mixed Up Craft for inspiration. My card is similar to one that she shared earlier in the week. I used some Creative Expression floral dies that I cut from Centura Pearl card. I then inked them to match the pretty backing paper (The Range this week...ooops!!) and added a sparkly gem in the middle. I love that the pearly lustre shines through the inks although they did take a while to dry out. 

It looks like it might just be another dry day here. I hope that wherever you are in the world, that you have a good day and that some crafting is included.

See you for a bit of christmas on Monday xx

Boys or Girls

 It's a super easy theme at As You Like It today...

Boys or Girls

That was an easy one for me, I have so much girly stash that it is never difficult to put something together at the drop of a hat. That said, it has a been a bit hectic chez Wills so I actually had to look in my draft folder for something suitable as a back up!!

This card is one of a set of girly cards that I made, some time ago, using free papers from Making Cards. 

All I needed was some black card stock for the mats and my Mama Elephant tag and sentiment set.

We look forward to seeing your lovely makes.

Thank you for your much appreciated visits and comments xx

Allsorts Embellishments

 Well, Covid Clinic was bonkers!! On the plus side it was in the village hall but the wi-fi was not great and checking in 300 patients and the associated vaccination recording for each one took a very long time!! 

Still, it's lovely to have your company today and I hope you can be tempted to join in at

Allsorts Challenge #728 this week where the optional theme is

Embellish it.

When my crafty journey commenced I LOVED nothing more than throwing all the embellishments at my cards, ribbon. pearls, paper flowers, die cuts, you name it, I added it (example here). 

Nowadays, with the ridiculously high cost of postage I am a little more pared back but do enjoy a bit of faffing from time to time. This card was one such creation.

Ooh I had such fun. Pearls, doily, button, tag, twine and various off cuts of ribbon, seam binding and lace. I had also forgotten about the therapeutic qualities of decoupage, another long forgotten pile of A4 sheets that I discovered and thoroughly enjoyed doing.

Your embellished cards will be most welcome and we have some wonderful sponsors this month too.

WowVow, Oakwood Direct, Craft Stash

Before I leave you I would like to give you a heads up because Allsorts have a Birthday event next weekend so please have a read and do come along, you will be most welcome!!

I hope you have a lovely weekend. 

Bye for now xx

Four Legged Cuties

 Welcome everyone. I have more furry cuteness for you today. This time for the new challenge at

I am holding the fort over there and the theme was my choice...

Four Legged Friends...cute of course.

I am extrememely proud of myself as I have really been trying hard not to buy crafting supplies (except for the odd paper pad or two that I attract in The Range and/or The Works, should I fall in those types of shops when out and about!!)

On this occasion I have used stamps that were magazine freebies a very long time ago. I knew that they would be shiny so sanded them first and they stamped really crisply. Such a wonderful sentiment too and something, I suspect, all dog owners do, at every given opportunity throughout the day, every day!!

I mean it has to be done, it's the law for dog parents!!

Isn't he adorable?! Hardly any colouring and a really quick card to put together.

Wishing you a good week ahead, a one day week for me thanks to King Charles. We are doing Spring Covid boosters for the over 75's and immunocompromised on Thursday so that will keep me out of mischief.

See you at the other end of the week xx

April Showers bring May Flowers

 Hello everyone on this right Royal Saturday. (Edit... This should have appeared this morning!! Guess who forgot to set the right time?!!) I am planning a little Afternoon Tea for Hubby and I later by way of celebration. There is a street party going on in the village but we aren't ones for hordes and much prefer the company of our hairy kids so it will be just us at home. Whatever you are doing to commemorate the day, or not, I hope you have a good weekend.

The optional theme at Allsorts Challenge #727 today is

April Showers bring May Flowers

Now, it won't come as a surprise when I tell you that I have loads quite a few cute stamps and not too many florals in my collection (most of them have come from Allsorts wins in the past actually). Those that I do have didn't really fall into the May Flowers category. Shame on me, I found an unused Spring Wreath stamp and die set from Crafters Companion that fitted the bill perfectly.

I die sut the wreath shape in simmery cardstock and stuck underneath as a drop shadow. I really enjoyed the layering technique here and am really cross with myself for having not used it before.

Anyway, that's all for now. I hope you have an enjoyable Coronation Weekend if you are here in the UK and an equally enjoyable weekend wherever you are in the world.

See you soon xx

AYLI Spring or Summer

 Hello Friends. Can anyone tell me how it's May already!? At least for us in the northern hemisphere it might mean some warmer temperatures. I still haven't put my winter woolies away yet !!

On the subject of seasons over at

our theme this time is Spring or Summer.

I am not a fan of summer heat so it's Spring for me, when the bunnies appear and the garden bursts into life. I have used digis from our lovely sponsor

Amanda Jayne Designs

I used  Alphabet Bunnies and some beautiful papers from this set. Honestly if you've never visited her shop please do, there are some wonderful images and papers and she often has incredible offers too.

I made the DL card blank from kraft card and coloured the bunnies with Promarkers. It's for a friend whose Birthday is next month and LOVES pink here is one I made a couple of years ago for her (must get that stamp out again actually!!).

Thank you for your visit today. See you on Saturday xx