Sentiment or Not?

 Some more Christmas card from me today. It is becoming a routine to make these as my DT inspiration for

where the theme this time is

Sentiment or Not?

I have chosen to make the sentiment the feature on these cards.

I seem to have a crafty affliction with symptoms of accidental purchases and that is exactly what happened where the JOY die was concerned. I totally blame Crafty Kiwi Mamma for this occurrence and for the Christmas Eve paper pack that fell into my basket at the same time (to be used at a later date)!! The papers that I used here were from a pack from either The Range or The Works.

In my defence I did use a very old LOTV rubber stamp set for the little O's and coloured them with Promarkers and gave a little bit of Stickles Star Dust on the snow. I used some pretty gems as a finishing touch.

See you soon xx

What makes you happy at Allsorts

Gail has given a fabulous optional theme at Allsorts Challenge this time.

What makes you happy? or Anything Goes

Two prizes of a Penny Black stamp and die set from Buddly Crafts

I have lots of things in my life that give me joy and my crafting life features many different types. Aside from papercrafting I have picked up Cross Stitch after a break of a few years. There are lots of amazing patterns available these days and this one really appealed to me after the long wet winter we endured.

I chose thread colours to match the little scrap of patchwork cotton that I found in my sewing box. Once washed and ironed I got the sewing machine out and stitched the aida to the cotton and framed it myself. 

Here is the first photobombed picture that I thought might make you smile...

Honestly, the hairy kids get everywhere!!

I hope you have a lovely weekend and I will see you soon xx

 

AYLI Embossing

 Hello, hello. I hope you are all doing OK. 

I am here today with my DT inspiration for

The prompt this time is your Favourite Embossing method.

I am an enormous fan of heat embossing and still watch in awe as the powder melts.

For this little collection of Christmas cards I used the plaid paper as my starting point. I think it it was quite possibly from Dovecrafts Little Red Robin paper pack.

I stuck the papers on the card blanks and had a rummage through my christmas stamps. This set is from Crafters Companion Sara Signature Scandinavian Christmas Collection (probably still available somewhere!!)

I die cut some postage stamp edged rectangles (a shameful unbranded purchase on ebay) and stamped away. I used red, white and green embossing powders that are probably twenty years old and they still worked brilliantly. More Christmas cards to go on the pile.

See you soon xx

Allsorts Challenge Sweet 16!!!

 There is much excitement at Allsorts as we are celebrating our 16th Birthday and there are four, yes four prizes from Aall & Create up for grabs PLUS for US entrants

A $25 store voucher from Lawn Fawn

Three stamps from Colorado Craft Company

A $25 store voucher from Gina K Designs (Worldwide)

I have Aall and Create dies in my stash but, feeling the need, just had to invest in a few other bits so  made this...

using these accicental purchases

A7 Stamp set #360 Wish, Ephemera #13 Stems & Pods, and Washi #22 Flower Dancing

I had a little canvas that had been shifted from place to place over the years so thought it was about time that it got used. A lovely blogging buddy gifted me some duplicate Distress inks so now that I have quite a range of colours, I thought it was time to play. I am not confident with inking so literally splodged rainbow colours on my craft mat, gave a teeny spritz and squished the canvas down. I am really pleased with the result as the colours stayed true and didn't go muddy, which was my concern. I also had a can of spray and shine lurking so sprayed the inked canvas and sprinkled matching coloured glitters on certain areas and it actually stuck. I coloured the adorable little girl with Promarkers and had a think about her wings. I remembered Jayne Nestorenko on crafting telly years ago with the mandala stamps that she did on acetate and then added glitter on the back so that's what I did with the wings. Sadly my Stazon had gone dry so I used black Versafine which took a day to dry but nevertheless it worked and she has glittery acetate wings!! Finally I stuck some stems and pods down together with a strip of acetate, stamped wish and die cut Birthday and that's that!!

Please come and see us and participate in the Birthday celebrations. I really want to say an ENORMOUS thank you to Brenda who works tirelessly to keep this and other challenges running so beautifully xx

AYLI Sketch

 Happy Thursday everyone the weekend is just in reaching distance!! Before that though it's time for a new challenge at 

As You Like It Challenge

The theme is Favourite Sketch.

My long time followers will know that I LOVE Jules' sketches and I always visit her Sketch library when inspiration is lacking. She has tons of wonderful designs and there is sure to be one that takes my fancy. On this occasion I chose Square #56 

It was the perfect design to show off the lovely Doodlebug Designs Frosty Friends paper pad which perfectly compliments the adorable penguin (Crafters Companion Snow what fun). The sweet little penguin was coloured with Promarkers and I added lots of sparkly glitter too.

My team mates have some lovely inspiration for you so please go and take a look.

See you next time xx

Paper Piecing at Allsorts

 Lynne has chosen a lovely optional theme at 

it's paper piecing.

Here is what I did.

I used a large Woodware cling stamp called Sketchy Daisies as the elements were really easy to cut out. I stamped on lots of different papers from a My Favorite Things pad I tried different colour combos and the one above was my favourite!! The image was framed using a piece of blue Centura Pearl card which, I think, set it off nicely. The banner isn't wonky...I curled it so that there is a little bit of dimension, although I suspect it will go flat once in the envelope!!

We are having a Birthday bash very soon...here is your invitation!!

I hope that you have a lovely weekend.

See you soon xx

Soft or bold at AYLI

Well, where did April go then? Another lovely new month and to go with that  a lovely new challenge at

where the theme is Soft or Bold colours (with your reason to be eligible for a prize)

I love bold colours. Something that is perhaps a little bit different and eyecatching. For my inspiration I have made some Christmas cards using Hobbycraft  paper pads as my starting point. The blue one is very much bolder in colour than the photo would have you believe.

 I was gifted a lovely bundle of Christmas themed goodies for Christmas and was itching to use the little deer die (Simple Creative) so die cut circles of white centura pearl card then cut him out of the middles then layered up as frames with coordinating coloured card. I'm not sure where the Noel die came from but the Christmas Wishes is a favourite from Creative Expressions. I had to give him a red nose so used some pearl card candi from long ago!!

I hope I have inspired you to play along and look forward to seeing your makes.

I am making headway with visiting you and if I haven't got to your place yet, I promise that I will do!!

Take Care xx

Inspired by a Song at Allsorts

 It's my pleasure to be the optional theme picker at Allsorts this time and I chose

Inspired by a song

We are BIG Queen fans in this house, and although were never fortunate enough to see them live have most of their music in LP, Cassette and CD form. Our boys could sing Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen, word for word, from toddlers!!

Anyway, those aren't the titles that I have chosen to inspire you with, I have gone with

Bicycle Race

and

Fat Bottomed Girls

I am a big fan of Jules' sketches and I used Rectangle Sketch # 15 for both of my cards.

The first uses a favourite The Cats Pajamas stamp, coloured with Promarkers and teamed with some free design papers that came with a magazine a very long time ago.

The second is a fabulous rhino from Rhino Rascals by Tracey Hey together with an excellent sentiment that we should all remember girls!! Coloured again with Promarkers to match the  Dovecraft Paper Posies papers.

We have some pretty bluebells down our lane, this was silly o'clock on Tuesday morning!!

NB I am not a weird shape, it's my body protector!! At my age I really should give up extreme sports!!

Thank you for dropping in  xx

CAS or Fussy at AYLI

 I am hosting (except I am probably going to be fired because I forgot!!) at

where the theme is

CAS or Fussy

I have gone bonkers with the fussy layers this time. It was the perfect chance to use more papers and a very much under used die set that was probably one of the first I ever bought. It's a MFT Blueprints set...remember those?

The eye popping papers are from MFT and Bo Bunny paper pads. The white heat embossed sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted stamp set. There's a fair bit of dimension as I put foam pads between all the layers.

Thank you for your company today. I know I have been a little bit economical with my visits lately but there has been lots going on chez Wills so aplologies for that. I hope life is being kind to you.

See you soon xx 

Allsorts Mask or Stencil

Val has chosen our optional theme at Allsorts this time and it's 

Stencil or Mask 

I had a ball with this theme, once again stepping out of my comfort zone and I embraced BOTH!!

Started off with a very old stamp from Tracey Hey when her stamps were available at Mama Makes. I love this cute fox so stamped him twice, once on the marker card and then one on a sticky sheet. 

Masked him up and stuck the funky fossil stencil over the top and got inky!! 

A super prize from from Lisa Horton Crafts, Pansy Corner layering stencils with coordinating die and embossing folder. Plus an extra prize of two stencils....

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I have to say it's been glorious in my part of the world, everything is looking greener and spring colour is everywhere.

See you soon xx

Floral or Cute at AYLI

Hello friends, thank you for dropping in today to see what I have been making.

It's new challenge day at 

and we would love to see your projects featuring Floral or Cute

It will come as no surprise when I share some cuties with you, it's not that I don't like florals, I just like cute more!! These are from a Your Next Stamp set that I have had for a long time but only inked up once so I thought they should see the light of day again.

 The adorable little Easter "rabbits" were coloured with Promarkers and attached to some spotty card scraps. The sentiments were from the same set too.

These will be going to my work colleagues with a little bit of chocolate when the time comes. 

Thank you for sharing your day with me. See you soon xx

Spring Flowers at Allsorts

 Ellie is in the driving seat at 

and has chosen Spring Flowers as the optional theme.

Stamps and stencils (winners will receive random selection from those shown) from AALL and Create 

My garden is alive with colour which, after the seemingly endless winter, is making me very happy. I decided to take my daffs as inspiration for my card and used a very old LOTV rubber stamp. 

I used my Daisy Mae Arched Tag die cut set for the base and even did a shaped insert too. The stamped image was coloured with Promarkers. The tag is also a LOTV set that I stamped and cut out and attached it to the handle of the lovely jug with the thinnest organza ribbon ever!!

Whatever you are up to I hope you hae a good weekend.

See you soon 

Fun Fold at AYLI

 I have a really unusual card to share with you today. Yet another colleague has retired so it was the perfect opportunity to make a very special card which fits perfectly with the new challenge at

It's FUN FOLD and this is my make

and here it is again at a jaunty angle to show the dimension.

I'll be honest, I'm not really in to fun folds because the cost of postage is so high BUT this was hand delivered so I pushed the boat out and strayed from 6x6 tent fold for a change!!

This is a pyramid arrow card that I found here at Created the Ottaway. It is SO effective but very easy to make with a minimal amount of measuring and folding. I layered the back so that I could write a message. The pretty daffodil paper is a digital from The Lovely Studio (no longer available, sadly). The die cut flowers and leaves are a Creative Expressions set, the "happy" die cut is from a Your Next Stamp set and the "retirement" from a Whimsy sentiment set. I am going to be making more of these for Easter!!

Please do join us with your fun folds.

See you soon xx

Make it Feminine at Allsorts

 We've gone all girly this week at 

and Lynn has chosen Make it Feminine as the optional theme.

Music to my ears!! I used an Anna Marie Designs paper pad as my starting point, with a shabby, design in mind. I fancied a bit of paper piecing and found that this super cute Crafters companion grey rubber stamp was perfect (Angelica & Friends - Phoebe). She actually takes me back to my childhood when I used to dress up in my Mum's navy blue patent dancing sling backs!! Nylon nighties were very en vogue in the 70's too and I seem to recall a layered peach number that was a favourite!! I wonder what happened to that nightdress of my Mums!!?

I coloured her with Promarkers and gave her a spotty T shirt and a string of pearls too. The sentiments were from the same set. I made a little "cluster" for the top left corner and cut the tags with a Whimsy Label die. Given that Mothers Day is coming up I will probably give this to my Mum and see if it jogs her memory about the little girl that used to totter around in her nightie and sandals!!

If you have stayed with me this long I should say that there are

Two prizes from Stamp Addicts, stamps and stencils

so well worth an entry or two. 

Whatever you are up to I hope you have a good weekend.

See you soon xx

AYLI - Mono or Colour

 Well March came around quickly didn't it!? Lets hope that it brings some much needed warmth to the UK and some colour into the garden.

Anyway, I am here with some tags wto share in the hope that they will encourage you to join us at 

where Lynne has chosen the theme

Colour or Mono (with your reason too)

I have gone with colour. I have Promarkers in all the colours of the rainbow, and some, and really enjoy colouring my projects with them. In this case I have made a batch of eight gift tags using a gift from a lovely crafty buddy. It's A Studio Light set called Falalalala and is so cute. All the stamped elements are from this set and they were a pleasure to colour.

So that's a start on christmas 2025. what's the betting that I will put them away and forget where they are, come December!!

That's all for now. enjoy your weekend when you get there xx

CAS at Allsorts

 It's Saturday and time for a new challenge at

where our optional theme, chosen by Helen, is

Clean and Simple

I don't mind admitting that I would normally run for the hills BUT my lovely blogging buddy Lisa gave me some lovely stamps for Christmas that just cried out to be used on a CAS card...so here it is!!

The stamp set I used is from MFT named Geometric Greenery and I coloured the leaves ombre style with Promarkers. Sorry to the die hard CAS fans but I had to add a sequin or three!!

I hope that you have a lovely weekend and that you will find some time to join in

Three prizes from Oakwood Direct, A5 stamp set, coordinating stamp and die and stencils

As this goes live I am planning to be walking on the beach at Weymouth. It's been a dire week, weatherwise, so promised a fine and crisp day we are going to make the most of it. I hope the sun is shining on you, wherever you are.

Until next time, take care xx

Masculine or Feminine at AYLI

 Hello and welcome. I am a little bit older than when I saw you last as I've had a Birthday this week, I am also a little bit heavier as I have eaten lots, that said, I am also on annual leave so have ridden the pony and walked the dogs more so that probably cancelled out the cake...what do you think!!?

Anyway, I am here with a card to hopefully inspire you to join in at

where the theme this time is

MALE or FEMALE

Well, I have mountains of pretty papers, oodles of ribbons, many,many cute and girly rubber stamps so it won't come as a huge surprise when I share a feminine make. Aside from the fact that as much as I try I just can't ever make a "man" card that I am truly happy with.

I have been doing a little bit of junk journalling and while getting ideas from You Tube found a fabulous lady called Amanda Charlesworth ( Creating with Scrimping Mommy) who is totally inspirational and a lovely person with it. She has a super Facebook Group and gives weekly freebies if you are a member. She is sharing Mixed Media inspiration this year so I have used one of her free kits to make a really pretty feminine card. There are a couple of tickets from elsewhere and some scrumpled cheesecloth too. Everything is inked with Vintage Photo and I finished with a splatter of white paint which turned pink once it hit the printed papes, it still looks nice though and I won't make that mistake again having now bought some matt medium!!

I hope that you will join us with your Male or Female makes and I will see you soon xx

Shades of Blue at Allsorts

Happy Saturday everyone. I hope the weekend has good things in store for you...including crafting!!

Liz has chosen our optional SHADES OF BLUE theme this time at

I panicked a bit and actually thought I might have to buy some blue papers!! But thankfully my extensive paper mountain came to the rescue and I discovered a 15cm x 30cm paper pad that I bought in The Range years ago.

They had a distressed look so I tore the mat and used a doily and layers to add to the shabby style.

The Stamping Bella stamp and sentiment is one that I have used lots, it is so easy to colour (with Promarkers) and is the perfect size to be framed by a more busy card style.

One of my colleagues/friends will be celebrating her 70th next week so I wanted the card to be special so added a hidden tag that slides out from the mat. I heat embossed the 70 with glittery embossing powder and added a cherry cake charm too. 

I am so cross with myself that I didn't stick the spotty mat on straight, it looks like the card is wonky!! I might just have to do a rescue if the foam pads aren't stuck fast!! Ooops!!

It's worth sharing an entry or two because there are...

 Two prizes of Lavinia Stamps and stencil (photos not to scale). Please note, we (Lavinia) cannot provide exchanges/replacements/refunds for any products received through this third-party giveaway.

See you there!!

Stamps or Digis

 Hello everyone. Two weeks have flown and I am here again with some inspiration for you.

Brenda is hosting and our new theme, to tempt you, this time is

Stamps or Digis.

I really should be using one of my rubber/clear stamps as I have many BUT I have a very good reason for sharing a digi. Our Grandson was two on Tuesday and try as I might I could not find a rubber stamp featuring a digger anywhere!! The beauty of digis is that they can be resized, flipped, they are cost effective and you can hide them from your Significant Other!!

We bought Jackson a little Joey JCB and I wanted to make him a card to match so trawling Etsy I found this digital set of cute Construction digitals from Little Pearly Studio. They are really charming and really easy to fussy cut too. The papers are also digital from here and I used Word to add the personalised sentiment.

Here he is with his JCB and drill (like Grandads)

and this was a little later when he and big Sis Mollie, found the last of our puddles

In true little boy style he got absolutely drenched!!

I am looking forward to seeing what you choose.

Bye for now xx