Favourite Stamp Brand (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Another fortnight has whizzed past, and here we are with a new challenge from the

AS YOU LIKE IT team

This time, for your delight and delectation our theme is

Your Favourite Stamp Brand

When I first started stamping, I fell in love with Margaret Sherry's cute animal designs that Penny Black Inc turned into stamps, and I built up a rather large collection, so based purely on numbers, I have to say Penny Black are my favourite, especially as I still have them all!

This is only of my first PBs - Bubble of Joy

Dotty edged die is by Crealies

Papers are MFT Hearts & Stripes and Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scallops

The sentiment die was a magazine freebie

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I do hope you will be able to pop over to the challenge and join in the fun!

Hugs

Picture Perfect (DT) Dies To Die For

Good morning peeps!  I'm getting this in early, before it gets too hot and I wilt under a lettuce leaf.

Have you seen the forecast?  28C for here in the east, good grief, I am so glad that the tail is being tidied up and thinned out this afternoon!

Before I met Mr Toad, I lived on my own in a little terraced house quite close to the A12 (by quite close, I mean next to it) and because of the road I was loathe to have a cat at that house, but the house needed an animal so I had hamsters.  The first one was called Windle Poons, she was golden and white, and worked out how to pop her exercise ball open by ramming it into the edge of the kitchen door, and the second one was called Abby, she was a soft grey, and she was an escape-from-a-cage artist (ask my mother about the dining room carpet).  If I had been away for a weekend, a friend or willing relative would take custody of the critter-of-the-moment, but it was so hard to find a "thank you for looking after me" card - that problem has now been solved.  All I need now is a another hamster..... although it possibly wouldn't make a great housemate for Rosie!

To make this I have used:

MFT Clear Stamps Birdie Brown - Picture Perfect BB-70

Whimsy Stamps WSD349 Thanks Word With Shadow Die Set

AlteNew Cross Stitch Canvas die

MFT Stencil Mini Staggered Dots ST-115

MFT 6x6 Watercolour Wash

Hamsters have been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

The base layer of rainbow striped paper I picked up really cheaply in WH Smith, it's an A4 pad too!

That's me done, I'm off to load the washing machine to make the most of this awesome drying weather!

Have a wonderful weekend

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) His or Hers

Morning all, another Thursday, another challenge!

The team over at AS YOU LIKE IT are asking which you prefer to make

For Him or For Her (and please tell us why)

I would guesstimate that 95% of my makes throughout the year are for the girls so I really

quite enjoy the change of making for the boys, and their cards are very much like the

boys - much simpler!!

So, the bits and bobs used for this one are

CC Designs Clear Stamps Rocker Boys

Like an idiot I didn't write down the word die, but I think it is MFT Die-Namics

MFT 6x6 Watercolour Wash

Martha Stewart grass border punch

Joy Crafts 6x6 brick pattern paper

Young fella-me-lad is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Thanks to those of you who took the time to participate in the AYLI birthday blog hop, the winner of which is announced over on the challenge blog!

Finally, the sponsor for our His or Hers theme is

POLKADOODLES

Hugs to all

Bring Out The Sunshine

Hello peeps!  Sorry, didn't mean to startle you by sneaking up on you on a Sunday!

It's back to work tomorrow, after a week off, and to distract myself and try to postpone the Sunday blues, I got the inks out this afternoon.  It must have worked, because I totally forgot I was supposed to be batch making pasta sauce, so that is now bubbling away and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is cold enough by bedtime to pop in the freezer.

Yesterday, the Mister ran the gauntlet of our Royal Mail/Post Office parcel collection depot.  It is something of a challenge, and certainly not user friendly as it is (a) a 12 mile round trip (b) in the centre of town (c) the parking is atrocious.  Anyhoo, the little red card had said there were two items to collect, and one of them was all mine!  I love happy parcels.  This one was from the fabulous Dies To Die For store and contained my latest purchase from the new MFT release (grin).

As today is the first dry day we have had this past week, this little lassie seemed the right choice.

I really did enjoy colouring her up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT Birdie Brown BB-71 Bring Out The Sunshine

(the little bird is in the set, I masked him onto her hat)

MFT 6x6 Bundles of Blossoms Pastels

MFT 6x6 Watercolour Wash

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

Sparkly enamel dots from stash

There is a matching die to go with the stamp set, but I opted to fussy cut

All of the linked ingredients above are available from Dies To Die For Online Store

Okay then, best I get back to the pasta sauce cauldron before it becomes BBQ sauce!

Have a great week everybody.

Hugs

Polly (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, and a happy weekend to you.  Me and the Mr have been on holibobs this week.  It wasn't the best week weather-wise (we have been soaked through more than once while out and about, yesterday pelted with hailstones - it's MAY for heaven's sake!) and I've had a streaming cold for a few days, but it has been good to catch up on some sleep after the stresses of the last few months.

Anyhoo, I've long had a love affair with the Whimsy Stamps/Wee Stamps, so I thought it was about time I brought this little lady out of the dark again.

Whimsy Stamps/Wee Stamps - Polly

MFT Sentiments - Lots of Hugs CS-185

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Ric Rac MFT-1513

Your Next Stamp 6x6 Mint Cocoa Kisses

MFT 6x6 Graphic Grid

Polly has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, and I used a fine-liner brown art pen for her hair detail.

You have been hugged

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Curvy Girl Is Busy (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello folks, here I am, at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend - I would say  lovely Bank Holiday weekend, but it is cold and wet so far, how marvellous (but we dooooooooo so need the rain).

I started my new job two weeks ago, so I would like to think

this Curvy Girl is like me, surrounded by paperwork and Post-It Notes but

unfortunately my legs will NEVER be that long!

Mind you, they might be that shape soon, there are a LOT of stairs in the building.

Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Is Busy stamp

Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Is Busy Cut It Out Die (on website but link not working)

Sentiment is selected text from that which comes with Curvy

Your Next Stamp 6x6 School Days

MFT 6x6 Country Fair Plaid (sorry, it's retired since I made this)

but Farm Fresh Gingham would work nicely

I used an old MFT Die-Namics Insert It 3x4 Notebook die (long since retired I think) to create the note cut from the School Days paper, and then cut it down to fit the sentiment.

Curvy Girl painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I added to her hair with a fineliner pen.

Hugs to all

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take a peek at what my ultra-talented teamies have been creating

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go on, break into that piggy-bank

The Gnome & The Letter (DT) Dies To Die For (UPDATED)

Happy Weekend everyone!

I'm hoping that by the time this posts, the DTDF website problems will have been resolved, but at the time of writing they aren't so I will pop back to add the ingredients links for you.
UPDATED:  ALL THE LINKS NOW ADDED

Stamping Bella - The Gnome and The Letter

Your Next Stamp 6x6 School Days

MFT 6x6 Spots and Stripes Sorbet

MFT Die-Namics Happy Greetings MFT-1103

Gnomie coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

I decided to stack the HELLO so cut four layers of thick white card, and one of the MFT paper, and got sticking.  Shame you can't see the "popping off the card" effect in the photo!

Hugs to all

Squirrel

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Bears (DT) Dies To Die For

Oh my goodness, sorry about all that delay chaps, right then, puff puff pant, I am finally here and

with a card to share

I received a bundle of happy mail from DTDF this week (grins) so it only seemed

right to get one of my new stamps inky.

This goes to show that you can make a pretty card with only a few simple ingredients

CC Designs Bears stamp set

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Hexagon Stax

MFT 6x6 Bundles of Blossoms Pastels

MFT 6x6 Proper Pinstripes Pastels

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and breathe

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Birthday Bears (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, a very tired Squirrel here today but thankfully we have nothing planned so am hoping that this post has scheduled and I am upstairs and still snoring!

This simple little card uses

MFT Birthday Bears stamps BB-21

MFT Die-Namics Birthday Bears dies MFT-720

MFT Die-Namics Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax MFT-839

MFT 6x6 Graphic Grid Pastels EP-48

MFT Anything But Basic Birthday Wishes CS-274

MFT Ray of Light Stencil ST-118

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, and the stencil is simply Distress Ink dabbled on with a finger dauber.

So that's me for now, hope to see you later in the week

Hugs to all

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Super Dog (DT) Dies To Die For

Oh come on, sometimes we all need a superhero!

and for this one the ingredients used are

MFT Super Dog stamps

MFT Super Dog dies

MFT-Dienamics Our Town

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

MFT 6x6 Dots and Stripes Sorbet

MFT 6x6 Farm Fresh Gingham

MFT 6x6 Hearts and Stripes

Lawn Fawn 6x6 Perfectly Plaid Chill

Hugs to all

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It's A Mice Time To Celebrate (DT) Dies To Die For

Squeeek!

Lovely things used

MFT Stacey Yacula It's A Mice Time To Celebrate stamp set

MFT Die-Namics It's A Mice Time To Celebrate dies

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

MFT 6x6 Dots and Stripes Sorbet

MFT 6x6 Hearts and Stripes

MFT 6x6 Graphic Grid Pastels

All of the image bits (including the candle-or-is-it-a-cake) painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs to all

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Saddle Up (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, hope this finds you well.

I'm probably going to be spending the day trying to sort out my increasingly frail but frustratingly stubborn Oldies and attempting to persuade them that they need some additional help in their lives.

Sigh.

Anyhoo, before I go off to tear my hair out, here is a birthday celebration

So for this birthday celebration I have used

MFT BB 61 Saddle Up & Celebrate stamps

MFT Die-Namics MFT1359 Saddle Up & Celebrate dies

MFT 6x6 Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Pastels

MFT 6x6 Proper Pinstripes Pastels

MFT 6x6 Fresh Squeezed Chevron

The corner dies are Whimsy Shapeology and it looks as if they have finally retired.

All images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs to all

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Shape or Fold

Hello everyone, a new Thursday, a new challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT

For this fortnight our theme is going to be

Your Favourite Shape or Fold

I've gone simple with this one, and it is a variation on the square theme

made much easier with the dies I used for the base and layers

MFT You Gnome Me

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Tag Corner Square Stax

MFT 6x6 Proper Pinstripes Pastels

MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil

 Entire scene painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor of this challenge is

£10 Voucher from 

Fantastic Ribbons

I do hope you will be able to join in this challenge

Hugs

Sunday Surprise

It's not often that I get to blog on a Sunday these days, there always seem to be things that steal my time, but today, somehow, not only have I made a large batch of pasta sauces to go in the freezer, but I have also had enough time to have a go at a challenge!  Whoooo, get me!

The Wednesday Sketch Challenge at My Favorite Things is a favourite of mine, I just don't get to join in as much as I would like to, but today's the day that I do it.

The sketch is, as always, deceptively simple.

MFT WSC 421

And as always, I have gone my own way - I followed the general layout but changed up the proportions.

I've used the MFT Birdie Brown set - Beary Special Birthday

Painted him with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and then fussy cut (don't look too closely)

Papers are all MFT - Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Pastels and Proper Pinstripes Pastels

I can't remember the name of the stitched circle frame, but that is MFT Die-Namics too

and so is the  Essential Slanted Sentiment Strip

So, it is absolutely chuffy freezing cold over here in the east, so you will have to excuse me while I dash off for a thicker cardigan and some warmer socks.  I see that the Met Office has issued us with a Yellow Snow Warning for midweek, so I may have to hunt out my thermals as well.

Whatever you are up to, keep warm!

Celebrating Squidgy (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, just popping by with my DT for today before we get togged up and head over to the Oldies where we have a little job waiting for us of shifting half a trailer (and I mean tractor trailer) load of firewood into the shed in the dry!

Something a bit busier for you than usual today, I got a bit carried away with pretty colours.

So for this cheekycreation I have used:

Stamping Bella - Celebrating Squidgy

Stamping Bella Cut It Out die Celebrating Squidgy

Die-Versions Express Edges - Celebrate

MFT Pure Innocence - Birthday Cutie

Whimsy Shapeology - Stitched Tag Dies

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Flowers

MFT Die-Namics Stitched A2 Rectangle Stax

MFT 6x6 paper Graphic Grid Pastels

MFT 6x6 paper Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Pastels

MFT 6x6 paper Lucky Prints

MFT 6x6 paper Dots and Stripes Sorbet

The Squidy is painted with Distress Inks ReInkers and I used some fineliner pens to add colour to the champagne bottle labels .  After she was die-cut, I popped her onto to some foam pads to lift her away from all those papers and give a tiny bit of dimension.

OK, time for me to strap my knee up and put my big girl boots on ready to go lumberjacking!

Have a super weekend everyone

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Teddy Birthday Message (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, I'm here today with a (cough) birthday message from Teddy, the sort that I am sending more and more often these days.  Whoops.

Ingredients for this make are:

Whimsy Stamps - Lee Holland Collection : Teddy Birthday Message

Whimsy Stamps : Cheeky Sentiments

MFT Die-Namics MFT-969 Stitched Flowers

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Basic Edges 2

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

MFT Dots & Stripes Sorbet

I used kraft card for the base - can anyone recommend a good quality one?  This one is a bit wibbly so I've had to strengthen it, nothing annoys me more than a card that bends/curls/sags when you stand it up!

Teddy painted with, of course, Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Happy weekend to all

Hugs

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Friends At First Sip (DT) Dies To Die For

Well, here we are chaps, the first Saturday of the New Year!  You will be pleased to know that the Dies To Die For online store is now fully operational again after the Christmas break.

Today, I have a dose of Birdie Brown to share

So the lovely things used for this one are:

MFT BB-66 Friends At First Sip

MFT Die-Namics MFT-1434 Friends At First Sip

MFT Die-Namics MFT-1014 Stitched Basic Edges 2

MFT Die-Namics MFT-1015 Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

Whimsy Stamps WS-DDB0006 Spring Flowers Background stamp

MFT 6x6 MFT-EP41 Dots and Stripes Bright

All the images I have painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I used (sorry Faye) a Copic

marker to colour up white card for the matting layer and the central border.

That's made me fancy a coffee, so I'm off to put the kettle on.

Whatever you are up to, have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Hugs

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