My Final As You Like It (DT) Anything Goes

 Let's face it, if you are going to be late, you might as well be late with style,

so here I am a few days behind schedule for my final DT outing with the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

The theme for this time is Anything Goes

but a little word about why you make what you make would be helpful

I always try to make at least one LOL card each year for a quirky friend, and as soon as I saw this stamp I just knew that I had to have it.  It had me rolling on the floor (well, it would have done if I didn't have a bad back and wonky knees) - I mean, just look at the expression on the reindeer, priceless!

I just LOVE this Oddball Girl with her reindeer from Stamping Bella

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Random Merry Christmas sentiment

MFT 6x6 tartan paper

The sponsor of this challenge is

Last Minute Manda

Well, it's been a blast, I've loved seeing all your amazing creations - keep going and keep challenging yourselves!

Hugs to all

Silver Wedding Anniversary

 Well, I'm not sure how we achieved it, but me and the Toad celebrated

our Silver Wedding Anniversary this past week.

How can it possibly have been 25 years?  That actually scares me to think

how much has happened in that time, but how quickly the years

have flown past.

Anyhoo, we had a lovely day, including a marvellous lunch out, and

are now working on year 26!

C C Designs - Grandparents Clear Stamp Set

(I know we're not, but the image was too cute to resist using)

Waffle Flower Happy Anniversary Duo Stamp Set

a mixture of grey toned papers from Honey Bee, Sunny Studio, and MFT

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours and fussy-cut

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Harvest Colours

 So, here we are, just over halfway through September and into the

very beginning of autumn.  This time of year is always the time of harvest festivals

and that is why for this challenge at AS YOU LIKE IT

we're asking for your favourite Harvest Colours

I love the warmth of harvest colours, the golds, reds, and greens of ripe

fruit and vegetables, a season of plenty, a full table of tasty things,

Like this little chap with his golden beetroot, delicious!

Stamping Bella - Gnome Farmer

Honey Bee - Giddy For Gingham

MFT - Diagonal Gingham

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Polychromos Pencils

Sentiment by Penny Black

Our sponsor for this theme is the ever fabulous

DIES TO DIE FOR

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Autumn or Winter

 Brace yourselves, I'm on time this week!  It's another new challenge from the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE team and this one is

Your Favourite - Autumn or Winter (and why)

With the exception of wasps, I love everything about autumn, the soft light, the gorgeous colours, sunny days but (in theory) cooler nights.  I don't even mind it getting darker earlier because I can be cosied up indoors!

This little foxy is from Lili Of The Valley

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment from My Favorite Things

and a mixture of papers from MFT and Honey Bee

Our sponsor (with a gorgeous range of autumn animals to choose from)

Lee Holland

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Animal

 Oh my goodness me, there is late, and then there is my style of late, so let's pretend

it is still Thursday shall we.

The new challenge theme from As You Like It Challenge is

Your  Favourite Animal (and why)

I love all animals so this was a difficult choice, but in the end I went down the fantasy

route and chose a dragon.  I'm particularly partial to cute dragons, especially this sort.

The joy of them being fantasy is that you can use whatever colour you fancy!

Isn't he just super cute all covered in sugar frosting?!

The things I used for this make are:

Whimsy Stamps DP1052 Birfday Dragons, and

CWSD354 Simple Sentiment Strips

HoneyBee papers HBPA039 Giddy For Gingham

Taylored Expressions papers TEPP120 Playful Patterns Sweet

MFT papers Petite Plaid

and lots of Distress Inks (ReInkers) as water colours

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

I do hope you will find time to join in the animal fun!

Hugs

Addicted To Stamps And More Challenge #453 - Birthdays

As You Like It (DT) Pastels or Brights

Helloooooo!  Time for another As You Like It Challenge

This fortnight's challenge theme is to showcase a project using 

Your Favourite Pastels or Brights (& why).

You MUST explain WHY it is your favourite

Someone not too far away from here seems to believe that I favour the

brights, so just to prove that I can do pastels occasionally...

So, I have used

Stamping Bella Squidgy with Daisy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

a Stamping Bella sentiment

and a mixture of Lawn Fawn and MFT papers

from my leftovers pile 

Martha Stewart "grass" border punch

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

So now it's over to you.

We hope you will join in our challenge and show us your style.

Don't forget, you MUST explain WHY it is your favourite to be eligible to win.

Good luck, and happy crafting.
Hugs

Knights In White Satin

 Now I have reached that certain age where I just don't give a fig what anybody thinks, I believe it is time for me to admit that for absolutely years I thought the Moody Blues song was Knights In White Satin.  It was always a puzzle because surely Knights are roughty toughty and wear armour and don't go rolling around on silky bedsheets.... 

Anyhoo, I made this for a friend's husband for his birthday

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Knight Dragons stamps

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Matting paper is MFT 6x6 Floor To Ceiling

Sentiments are from a retired set of Clearly Besotted stamps

Thanks for popping by

Hugs

 

 

For My Dad

Morning all, hope you are feeling fine and dandy today!

I've been going through a phase of super CAS cards again, but for Father's Day last weekend

I did actually go a little bit (but not much) further.  Dad's not a great one for fuss, and he was

absolutely chuffed as little mintballs with this one.

So, let's see what I used

Lili of The Valley Vintage Boy (from the last time they released some physical stamps)

Lawn Fawn Puffy Clouds edger die

MFT 6x6 plaid papers

MFT 6x6 striped papers

MFT DieNamics Modern Serif Alphabet dies

and a fair splashing of the ol' Distress Inks (ReInkers)

One of his favourite things to do is go for a fish n chip lunch at their local

garden centre, so as well as 1/2 ton of liquorice allsorts and fruit jellies, I gave him

some universal gift vouchers for him and mum to treat themselves.  I made a little gift wallet themed

for the occasion.

Well, that's about all from me folks, I have a joint of pork in the oven (fingers crossed for crackling rather than sogling) and it smells divine, and a washing machine full of stuff that I am about to get out on the line.  If I'm not back within a week then I'm dangling from the washing line still.

Hugs

 

Pure Innocence in the Garden

 Hello folks, if there is anyone left out there that is ..... sorry that I have been missing from blogland so much, but I've been struggling with an evil episode of sciatica.  It's been four weeks now and it is thoroughly miserable!

Anyhoo, as I haven't actually done much crafting for a while, I guess you are going to have to suffer the catch up of Easter makes that I managed to do.

This one was for mum and dad - mum always has the most amazing spring flowers in the garden and this made me think of her borrowing dad's wheelbarrow (it was never where he wanted it to be when he needed it)

This is a Pure Innocence stamp from MFT, but I've had her for so long that she has vanished from the website now.  Shame really, because she is super cute.

Painted entirely with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Backing papers are a mix and match of MFT 6x6 from different pads

Matting layers were just plain white card inked up with Distress Oxide 

Border and corner from stash (so old I'm amazed they still stuck)

Sentiment by Trinity Stamps

So that's it from me for today.  I hope you are all out there having fun in the Spring sunshine.

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Non-Easter Easter Character

 So, here we are again, almost officially Spring!  And in the Spring mood, the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE team are asking for you to share your

Favourite Non-Easter Easter Character (no chicks, no bunnies) and remember that you must tell us why you made your choice to qualify for a sponsor prize

As you are probably learning to expect from me, I have gone a bit off-piste with this but simply because I have fallen in love with these Dustin Pike gargoyles and am trying to use them for every possible occasion!

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Gargoyle & Friends

Impression Obsession Happy Easter word die

Clearly Besotted grass border die

MFT Die-Namics Fine Finish Edge die

Mixture of MFY 6x6 papers

Gargoyle and his pals coloured up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and our super sponsor for this theme is

DIES TO DIE FOR

Hugs

Cupcake Cutie (DT) and cheerio to Dies To Die For

 Yoo-hoo, hope you all had a super Christmas and were

on Santa's naughty list (much more fun!).

 This is it then folks, the last DTDF make from me.

Whimsy Stamps - Big Hugs Die Set - WSD390a

MFT Tiddly Inks - Cupcake Cutie stamps - MFT-TI-006

MFT DieNamics - Cupcake Cutie dies - MFT-2043

MFT DieNamics Fine Finish Edge die - MFT-2147

MFT 6x6 papers Festive Celebrations - MFT-EP-85

Memory Box Open Studio Christmas Fairy Jewels - mb-JWL005

Tiddler stamped on Canson Bristol Board and inked with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

So, I would just like to finish with a THANK YOU to Tracy and my

team mates for the opportunity, and for putting up with me over the years, it's been a blast, and

you all have a very special place in my heart.

And a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to pop over on a Saturday to see what I have been up to.  It's all been for you actually.

BIG HUGS

One final time

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Mini Snowflake Oddball (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, just popping in today, with my penultimate post for DTDF, before I pop over for a welfare check on the Oldies AND (drum roll please) get my first haircut since February 2020!

Stamping Bella Mini Oddball Snowflake sb-EB1086

Mama Elephant Snow Flurries dies me-MEL-162

MFT 6x6 paper Perfect Plaid MFT-EP79

and a sprinkle of enamel dots

Oddball has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a little help from Polychromos pencils for her hair.  I went back to Bristol Board for this one instead of watercolour paper as I wanted a bright white background.

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Snowman Friends (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning chaps, hope this finds you well.

A quick update on dad's poorly arm - he was discharged from the hospital care a couple of weeks ago as he no longer needed wet dressings.  He has been handed over to the care of Nurse Mum who is very experienced with dry dressings, and making sure he does what he's told.  How that horrible wound has healed is nothing short of a small miracle.  He showed it to me last week, and I have to say that it looks marvellous.  Still not quite there, but not far off now.

Thank you for all your good wishes to him, I have passed them all on.

Anyhoo, I seem to be a little bit obsessed with snowmen this year!

Gerda Steiner Designs - Snowman Friends gs-GSD-445

Whimsy Stamps Sentiment Assortment - Merry Christmas CWSD391

MFT DieNamics A2 Stitched Circle Stax MFT-1675

MFT 6x6 papers

Distress Inks (ReInkers) for snowman, a scrap of Dovecraft paper for the snow flecked blue behind him, and a couple of Woodware corner punches to finish off.

Chilly hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Snow Buddies (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, hope you are all ok.  Now, as I was getting ready to leave work last night, I was shocked by how dark it already was at 4.30.  The day before hadn't seemed so bad, but it dawned on me that we are already halfway through November and well on the way to Christmas (I mean, the Aldi advert has started already!).  So basically here we are at the start of winter (yes, I know, not until 21 December if you want to be technical) and 4 months of probably crap weather.  I wonder if that weather will include snow this time.  There will be no such thing as a snow-day for me anymore as we were all set up for home-working during lockdown.

Anyhoo, everyone should have someone to build a snowman with.

MFT Birdie Brown Snow Buddies stamps  MFT-BB-87

MFT DieNamics Snow Buddies dies MFT-1642

Whimsy Stamps Sentiment Assortment Merry Christmas CWSD391

MFT 6x6 papers Cheerful Plaid MFT-EP-80

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Dies To Die For DT - It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas

  Hello peeps, a little Sunday visit from me for a change (it was rather busy yesterday)

Just a quick and simple (but still cute) one today

MFT It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas (stamps) MFT-CS-603

and the coordinating dies MFT-2101

MFT 6x6 paper Christmas Cheer MFT-EP-74

Quick dab of Distress Inks (ReInkers) and done.

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Dies To Die For (DT) Bundle Girl With Winter Branch

Hello peeps, and a happy weekend to you!

Dad continues to improve, he had another hospital visit yesterday, and they are pleased with how things are looking.  He has two more visits scheduled but (keep your fingers crossed) if they go well and the wound is healing as it should, we are hoping he will be discharged into the care of the GP surgery.  That will make life soooooooooo much easier for him.

Anyhoo, I've not made many Christmas cards yet this year, normally I would have started in June, so panic mode is setting in a little bit.  There may have to be a flurry of snowflakes soon.

Lovely things used

Stamping Bella Bundle Girl With Winter Branch  sb-EB1044

MFT Christmas Greeting Background MFT-BG-149

MFT 6x6 paper Christmas Cheer MFT-EP74

Bundle Girl painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I had to get my stamping platform out for the background stamp as it is a biggie, and I cannot get an even coverage just with an acrylic block.  Himself reckons it is because I am too short to get enough pressure on it!!!

That's me done for today - I need to be doing battle with a gammon joint and a selection of winter vegetables.

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Hog Heaven (DT) Dies To Die For

  Piggy, Piggy, Piggy

Oink! Oink! Oink!

Morning all, hope you are ok.  What a week it has been.  My poor old dad had a nasty fall late Wednesday night; mum had to get the neighbour round to get him off the floor.  He'd hurt his arm badly and the ambulance was called, but they were a no-show. unfortunately.  I didn't hear about any of this until Thursday morning (!) so I took dad to the GP surgery who took one look and packed him off to A&E.  Getting dad in and out of a car and into a wheelchair these days is a challenge, but at least he was sitting down.  I won't give you the gory details (it was pretty horrible) but I'm taking him back this afternoon for a wound check and a dressing change.

Anyhoo, on to something happier.  I made this for the Toad's 60th birthday which was, guess when, yes, Thursday!  Not the best way to spend your birthday, bless him, but I couldn't have done it without him.

Ingredients

MFT Birdie Brown - Hog Heaven stamps MFT-BB-131

MFT DieNamics Hog Heaven dies MFT-0912

MFT DieNamics A2 Double Stitched Rectangle Stax MFT-2055

MFT DieNamics In Stitches Lower Case Alphabet MFT-2041

MFT 6x6 papers

All the images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs, or is that hogs?

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

I'm sure I don't need to tempt you too much, but Tracy has had lots of yummy new things arrive in store

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Autumn or Winter

 Hello folks, it's time for another new challenge over as AS YOU LIKE IT and the theme for this fortnight is Autumn or Winter (please explain your choice).

Autumn is my most favourite season of the whole year, although I don't mind winter that much.  There is so much loveliness about autumn, the cooler mornings, the temperate days, the cooler nights.  I love the warmth of the light, the rich colours, the smells, I don't even mind it getting dark early, I just close the curtains and snuggle up indoors with himself and the cat.  I love being able to get out and about without having heatstroke, and on the cooler days I am happy to pull on a woolly pully.  I am definitely an autumnal squirrel.

Stamping Bella - Curvy Girl Loves Autumn (no die available, she was fussy cut) sb-eb989

Newton's Nook Designs - Shades of Autumn (background leaves, fabulous linen effect on these) NN1709S04

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers - Watercolor Wishes LF-1355

MFT 6x6 papers - Keep Me In Stitches MFT-EP82

Spellbinders (Nestabilities) Tall Scallop Oval die

Crealies - Open Scallop Square die CLNestXXL70

Distress Inks (ReInkers) and pads

With Love sentiment die might be Tonic, but I have no packaging for it now

Our sponsor for this challenge is the ever adorable LAWN FAWN

Come on over and share your favourite (autumn or winter) season with us.

Hugs