Cats or Dogs at AYLI

 Hello and welcome. We have a lovely theme for you at

it's a simple one Cats or Dogs and we would love to know why.

For me it's DOGS. Our current hairy kids are Sprollies (Collie x Springer Spaniel) we've had both breeds over the years and were fortunate to find a mixed litter available at the right time when they joined our family eight years ago. They are such a brilliant mix of both breeds, loyal, intelligent and loving. The card I'm sharing is for a Cavalier King Charles loving friend.

I think that the image is a Hunky Dory one. The background paper and spotted mat were bits that came from my scrap box. Both sentiments were on the die cut sheet too and I added some pearls and gems to add a bit of glamour.

I will leave you with a recent pic of the "boys" Bowie and Bumble. It's one of those moments when Bo gets the ball and will NOT  give it up. Honestly he is a little tinker and poor Bumble looks on lovingly until Bowie gives it up!! Not really brotherly love is it Bo!??

Oh and Wills Wills looks like he wanted to join in the fun as well. He is no stranger to the ball flying past him at 30mph from the ball flinger and the dogs charging after it!! 

I can't wait to see your cats and dogs. xx

Pigs in blankets anyone?!

One of the best parts of Christmas lunch is most definitely pigs in blankets, they just don't taste the same at any other time of year. Nor do they look as cute as these...

The new challenge starts today at

and the theme is Clean and Simple.

I know, my cards aren't quite that but there is a fair amount of white space so it's a pretty good interpretation!! I bagged the cute stamp set from Clearly Besotted in a sale a while ago. Coloured all the different piggies with Promarkers and fussy cut them and stuck them on little plaid bits of MFT paper.

 They are all matted on silver mirri but, as you all know, that does not photograph well!!

I hope you will be inspired to join in.

Thank you for visiting xx

Flowers at Allsorts

Happy weekend everyone. I hope that you have something good in store. Here in the UK there are flowers in abundance so our theme at Allsorts this week, chosen by Lynn is

FLOWERS

a lovely theme for the time of year but you can, of course take the anything goes route too.

I love bright bold colours so, to start with, die cut some patterned paper and shimmery cardstock using a Sue Wilson floral die set. They looked a bit lost without a background so I chose a Crafters Companion die set (I think from the Downton Abbey Collection) and cut the background in black. It looked much better so I didn't use as many flowers as I'd intended but have saved them for another day. The "Birthday" is a favourite Whimsy one and I found a simple wishes stamp to finish off the sentiment. I hope I've tempted you to join in our floral extravaganza and very much look forward to seeing what you make.

Prizes (drawn at the end of the month) from

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

See you there!!

 

Use Circles at Allsorts

Lorraine is in charge at Allsorts tody with an optional theme of 

CIRCLES (Anything Goes also very welcome!!)

I went all out and made a circle card base using a Tonic Essentials scalloped circle die. In my stash I found a bazzill paper pad that had an embroidery hoop design...more circles and I employed my neat and tangled embroidery hoop stamp and die set for the main feature. I didn't like the look of the stamped image on white so rifled through my massive collection of paper pads and used a coloured one from a Marianne Designs pad that looks far more in keeping.

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

I am very much looking forward to seeing what you share with us.

Non Card Project AYLI

 Lynne has chosen the new theme at

and it's Non-Card Project

I love paper and I cannot lie BUT I did not use any of my stash to make this tag journal. I was tempted by Tracie Fox Creative channel and just couldn't resist buying the kit. Honestly it was so much fun to make and I learned so much about construction. Who knew that old bed sheets would make such perfect hinges and there's such a thing as altered paperclips!!

You can see my first attempt at an altered paperclip on the slanted pocket above. I also stitched some of the removable tags too.

I hope you've enjoyed my project and that I've inspired you to share a non-card project.

See you soon xx

Beginning with B at The Cuties

 Hello  friends. I hope this week has good things in store for you. I love starting the week with a cute card and this one is my DT piece for

where, this month, we are looking forward to seeing your incredibly cute cards featuring things beginning with B.

I've chosen to showcase Bunny, Bike and Blooms.

I have used my favourite bunny rabbit from The Cats Pajamas. I used the cling version but you can get him in digi form here, as well as lots of others!! I coloured him with Promarkers to match the 30cm x 15cm paper that came from a pad that I found in The Range a long time ago. As it was of a good weight I simply folded it in half for a square card base and matted some matching cardstock to frame the stamped image.

Thank you for dropping in and thank you for your comments and support.

Allsorts Romantic Occasions

Liz has chosen our optional theme at Allsorts this week.

It's all about Romantic Occasions if you want to be tempted by a challenge. We'd love to see your Anything Goes makes too. Prizes will be drawn at the end of the month.

Prizes from Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

I have made an anniversary card using a paper pad and die from a Crafters Companion collection called Rustic Wedding. I rather like the earthy tones that really are quite different.

I used an LOTV sentiment and a wooden "love" embellishment that I found in a drawer. I added lace and pearls as a nod to the kind of trim that might adorn a wedding dress. As we are now in July let's hope that the summer brides are going to enjoy some good weather now, unlike the first six months of the year!!

Talking of weather we had plenty of rain yesterday after a dry spell so it was quite nice not to have to water the garden.

Hope that you will join us. Have a good weekendxx

 

Way to Grow at Allsorts

 Gail has chosen the theme at Allsorts Challenge this week.

Way to grow (Gardens, Plants, Children etc) a good one don't you think?!!

I had great fun colouring Clementine from The Stamp Fairy and paired her with a piece of MFT paper.

I created the sentiment in word and made a little banner. Simples!!

As always there are fabulous prizes which will be drawn at random at the end of the month.

 Highlight Crafts,  AALL and Create and Stampendous

Whatever you are up to I hope it's a good weekend. It very much looks like it's going to continue to be dry here so a spot of gardening will probably be on the cards.

Thank you for your visit, it's always appreciated.

AYLI - Favourite colour combination

Hello everyone and welcome. 

It's the launch of a new theme at

get your thinking caps on and share your favourite two colour combination with us. Don't forget we are also keen to know why they are your choices.

I have gone with my tried and tested favourite "favourite". Pink and green, it's Mother Natures favourite too. Whatever shade of either colour they always go together.

I used a digital freebie from Making Cards and coloured her with Promarkers to match the pretty backing papers that came from The Range.  I discovered the sentiment in a cross stitch book that I was thumbing through and it struck a chord!! The layout is courtesy of Jules (thank you x) #56 this time.

I flipped it though to suit.

I hope you will join us. This time we're sponsored by Dies to Die For.

Thank you for dropping in and I hope the week has been kind to you.

See you in a day or two xx

Festive Bears and other B's

 Merry (six months until) Christmas...yes it really is getting close!!

At Christmas with the Cuties we would LOVE to see bears on your cards or other festive things beginning with B.

Now, Christmas would not be the same without a visit from James the Bear who I have used (in rubber form) to decorate this card.

I used a bauble paper from a Penny Black pad and coloured James to match. It's really hard to tell but the tinsel is hairy glitter!! The baubles were glazed with glossy accents and I die cut a Crafters Companion bauble and covered it with glittery sticky backed plastic!! The sentiment is also from a Christmas set by LOTV.

I am looking forward to seeing what you make for us!!

Bees, Butterflies and Blooms

Happy weekend everyone, I hope it's going to be full of good things wherever you are in the world.

Summer is in full swing here in the UK and the optional theme at Allsorts this week is perfect.

Bees, Blooms and Butterflies

Here is my card to tempt you.

 I found a perfect red, rubber, Whimsy Stamp in my collection and coloured it, with Promarkers, to match a ditsy print paper pad that came from The Range. I used an old Impression Obsession butterfly die set to embellish the card. The sentiment was made up from two stamp sets, both magazine freebies, back in the day. A work colleague is retiring next Friday so I made this card for her.

Prizes from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create

This was earlier in the week. A long awaited summer morning.

It's lovely to have your company. See you soon xx

Masculine at Allsorts

Hello everyone. We are all about the fellas at Allsorts this time. Brenda has chosen masculine for the optional theme.

I have been trying really hard to make more masculine cards this year and I have enjoyed hunting through my stash and on this occasion found a lovely paper pad featuring Wellington the bear.

I made a card and a tag too using images from the pad and the accompanying papers.

I even got a little bit arty and ripped and inked strips of papers and, get this, splatted the tag with my white posca pen.

Prizes from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create

I hope you have something nice planned for this weekend and wherever you are in the world that the weather stays fine. 

See you soon xx
 

With or Without Words at AYLI

 We have a new challenge kicking off at

With or Without Words

Here is my inspiration for you using an image from our sponsor, 

it's called Hot Air Balloon 

I inked the sky first, using Tumbled Glass DI, then coloured the image with Promarkers, ummed and aaaahed about whether to leave the balloon white or not and after much deliberation decided to use a very pale pink chalk. The message was created in word and both the image and sentiment matted on a lovely navy blue card which looks black here!!

I hope that you feel inspired to join in this time and if you do we would love to know why you made your card with or without a sentiment.

See you on Saturday xx

Dads and/or lads Cutie style

 Father's Day is next Sunday in the UK so we are all about the Dads and Lads at

I've made a card for Martin from Bowie and Bumble.

I used a Whimsy dog stamp and sentiment and then found a similar font and printed the additional sentiment on the digital backing paper. Layered up with navy cardstock it looks just right. The sweet dog was coloured with Promarkers.

We have been enjoying some reasonable weather here and our lane has dried out suffieicntly for us to actually get out on our pushbikes, which we always enjoy at this time of year. It was nice enough on Friday to stop at the little shop in our neighbouring village and have a pot of tea outside. Typically I am on annual leave this week and it looks like the rain is coming back.

I'll leave you with some blue sky from last week.

I will see you later in the week. Until then, take care xx

Flowers Galore

Saturday again so you know that means a new challenge at Allsorts where Lolo has picked 

Flowers Galore as your prompt.

I know I say it regularly but my wonderful team mates certainly make me think out of the box with my makes and this one was no exception. 

My "go to" is cute so floral is quite alien to me BUT my crafty treasure trove came to the rescue!! A long time ago I subscribed to the Julie Makes Collections by Craftwork cards and dug out the Tapestry set that was chock full of gorgeous florals. I used the suggestion sheet to help me put my card together and this is what I made. I have lots of these left so will definitely be playing again.

 I inked the edges of the pretty flowers for a bit of definition on this gatefold card and added a touch of crystal glitter here and there for some interest.

If florals aren't your thing, you can always take the Anything Goes path. 

Prizes from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create

See you the other side of the weekend xx

Lots of Layers

 It's my pleasure to be the chooser of the optional theme at Allsorts Challenge this week.

I would be thrilled to bits if you would support my challenge and share your cards featuring 

Lots of Layers

I used one of my many paper pads and put this card together to inspire you.

I used a Doodlebug Designs pad and coloured the adorable Stanley (from the no longer trading Digistamp Boutique) to match. I had a lovely time cutting and layering the different papers on to kraft card. This card was CASed from this one that I made in 2015 and I used the same paper pad and image too. It was lovely trawling back through my makes and I am going to have a go at making more of the same but different!!

Anyway I hope that you will play along whether you are tempted by my theme or take the Anything Goes option. There are always lovely prizes up for grabs.

See you Soon xx

Favourite way to Emboss

 Thank goodness it's Thursday  for two reasons, there's a new challenge at As You Like It Challenge and the weekend is looming, it's been a busy week at work!!

Our new challenge is to show us your favourite way to EMBOSS.

The process of heat embossing never fails to excite me, it's like magic!!

I used an ombre type paper pad (from The Range) and stamped the pretty flower from an old Woodware set  then heat embossed with white detail powder. The floral stem also came from the same set. Happy Birthday is from a Clearly Besotted sentiment set. I fussed and faffed with white and black mats and finally decided that the black looked much better!!

We very much look forward to seeing your favourite way to emboss, and your reason why.

See you soon xx

Blue and White

Another Monday rolls around and a little bit closer to Christmas!!

There's bags of time to make your cards but if you want to get ahead of the game we have a new challenge starting at

the theme is Blue and White.

I made a sweet pair of cards using a Crafters Companion die set to make the penguin and a lovely background stamp from Hunky Dory. I heat embossed the background in white and used mica pearls wash over the top then rubbed it back with a soft cloth so that the embossed detail would show through.

Here is an angled close up so that you can see the sheen.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope the coming week is kind to you xx

 

Blast from the Past

 We are stepping back in time at Allsorts challenge this week where Ellie has chosen 

Blast from the Past (Vintage/Retro/Art Deco etc) as the optional theme. Anything Goes is also welcome.

I have gone back to the 70's with my card.

The adorable stamp is by Stampberry (it was part of a collection that I bought many, many years ago) and coloured her with Promarkers. The papers are equally aged and were within an 8x8 Paper Pizazz paper pad. 

Prizes from Stampendous

Thank you for popping in today xx

Happy Birthday Allsorts!!

There is a BIG party going on at Allsorts Challenge today where we are celebrating 15 years of challenges.

I am truly honoured to be a part of this lovely team and it was a pleasure to make my DT card to inspire you to join in!!

Obviously it says HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I went a bit bonkers with the balloons, making a shaker with a Crafters Companion set that, I think, was a magazine freebie. The die cut Happy Birthday banner is also from Crafters companion and the little balloons were magazine freebies too. I cut those from rainbow coloured bits and pieces of cardstock and paper.

So it's an open invitation to join the fun.

As it's  our 15th Birthday there will be FIFTEEN prizes generously given by Aall and Create!!

See you there!! xx