Make your own Background at Allsorts

 Donna has chosen the optional theme at Allsorts this time (Anything Goes also welcome).

I've said it many times but I LOVE this DT because the themes encourage me out of my comfort zone to try different techniques and that's what I did with this card.

I have no idea where the stencil came from (Probably a magazine freebie from days gone by when I subscribed to a couple of magazines). Although I rarely use them, I do have quite a selection of Distress Inks in my stash, you know what it's like, see a fab technique, buy the stuff and never use it. I digress, I have a lot of inks, some purchased and some gifted so I thought why not, do some blending and that's what I did. I took the inspiration for the rainbow from the adorable Aall & Create Washi Tape, Flower Dancing. I am SO pleased with the rainbow blend that I achieved and mounted it on shiny black cardstock. The Whimsy Birthday die also shines beautifully and the Happy is just a random stamp.

A set of four background stamps from AALL and Create

Thank you for paying me a visit. See you tomorrow xx 

Holly and Berries Stencil - AYLI

 Happy Thursday everyone. I hope that you have had a good week and have something nice planned for the weekend. I am really enjoying my papercrafting again and feel so much more inspired as the daylight is stretching out bit by bit.

That said, the new challenge at

inspired me to try a technique that, although I am well eqipped for, never actually do and that is stencilling. I am probably not alone when I say this, I do have stencils in my crafty arsenal but just don't ever get the inspiration to use them so this theme was a kick up the butt!! On closer inspection I have rather more than I thought but played safe with an Echo Park Holly and Berries 6x6 festive stencil. Once I got going it was actually a lot of fun and I was really pleased with the result!!

I already had the LOTV stamped image coloured up with Promarkers and the little holly and berries prompted me to choose the stencil that I did. I remembered that I had a chalk set that came with a long handled crocodile clip and dinky cotton balls that were perfect for keeping "in the lines". I don't have an extensive collection of Distress inks but two reds and two greens were just right for the soft look I was after. I used a bit of white pen as highlights on some of the berries and squirted some with glossy accents too. The Mama Elephant sentiment finished it off nicely.

I do hope that I have given you some inspiration to do a bit of stencilling, if not, the alternative is a Freestyle background which would be equally welcome.

Sorry, not sorry, for sharing a Christmas card!! There will be another coming along soon too!!

See you soon xx

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