Favourite Dies at Allsorts

 We would love to see your favourite dies at As You Like It Challenge this time.

My most used dies are probably my Tonic Essentials scalloped circle and square sets. 

As well as being perfect for mats and frames I decided to do something a little bit different with them and made some festive decor.

I die cut graduated sizes in two different colours of holographic card then stacked them with foam pads between for dimension. I then made holes top and bottom and popped a jump ring and chain at each end, one to hang and the other for some charms. I am going to pack them away for now and find somewhere to hang them in December!!

Thank you for sharing your day with me, it's much appreciated xx

Lots of White at Allsorts

 Hello friends. Ellie has chosen Lots of White for our optional theme at 

it's a bit out of my comfort zone but put on the big girl pants and made this...

I heat embossed multiple snowflake stamps and a lovely Noel (very old from Clarity Stamps). To begin with I tried white only but it just didn't do anything for me so after a rummage, I found some silver glitter board and hey presto...much better!! Good old Tonic dies provided the mats and I fussy cut more snowflakes to finish it off.

Three prizes, AALL and Create border and floral stamps

 I am planning a holly hunt this afternoon when we take the dogs out. I've not made a wreath this year (just in case we get more gales and storms) but plan to put some holly and seasonal bits and pieces in a vase. We'll see.

I hope that you have a good weekend and that your Christmas prep is underway. If you find yourself with a spare minute or two you will be assured a warm welcome at the challenge.

See you soon xx

Allsorts - For the Love of Animals

Saturday again and I am here with my inspiration for

We are Anything Goes but the optional theme is 

For the Love of Animals, one that is right up my street!!

The Sponsors for this months' winners are

Aldridge Crafts, Aall & Create, Oakwood Direct, Ruth Hamilton Designs and Stamp Addicts

I love all animals with, perhaps, the exception of spiders so making a decision about what to feature on my card was tricky!! In the end  I went for a red rubber Cuddly Buddly pony stamp and coloured it with Promarkers. The papers are from a very, very old DoCrafts Forever Friends, Kraft Notes pad. I created a rosette effect with Dies from Tonic Studios.

This was the first horse stamp that I bought, way back when, at the start of my crafting journey  and I have always coloured it like my Darling Surprise who crossed the rainbow bridge last year. 

 Here we are...about fifteen years ago, my favourite picture of us and how I remember her.

This cheeky boy makes me smile every day though and is doing a grand job of filling the void

and I musn't forget  Bowie (right) and Bumble (left) our lovely Sprollie twins!!

If you are still with me Thank you for your visit today and I very much hope you will take inspiration and join us at Allsorts with your animal creations.

Have a lovely weekend and see you soon  xx

AYLI favourite die

Gosh, aren't these weeks flying by? I can hardly believe that it's our second challenge at

We would love to see your projects showcasing your favourite die.

It was a no brainer for me. My Spellbinders circles, my Tonic scalloped circles and my Lawn Fawn banners are my most used dies. I love that the scalloped circles are large enough to make an almost 15cm card base that, in this case, I covered with some LOTV paper.

 The cute little stamp is from a very, very old Kanban set and I coloured the sweet little pair with Promarkers.

It would be lovely if you could join us.

Thank you for your visit, I know that many bloggers are also using other social platforms these days but, for me, blogger is still far more personal and I shall continue to post here as long as my blogging buddies keep visiting!!

See you soon xx

Some challenges

Little Red Wagon - Round

Crafty Creations #358 - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner #157 - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky #377 - Girly

AYLI Favourite Paper Pad

Hello everyone. Here I am to shout about the new challenge starting at

As You Like It

Your Favourite Paper Pad.

What???? I couldn't choose if my life depended on it!!  However...I somehow managed to subscribe to the Craftwork cards Julie Loves collections and have really been enjoying using these wonderful kits. I love the sweet Ditsy prints which I really like to use on my cards.

I used a couple of papers here to create a little background scene for Lazy Daisy. The cute little pair were coloured with Promarkers and I added a fence to finish the scene. We had a pony on the yard once that used to lie down when he thought he had worked hard enough,  rider and all!!

Before I go here are Surprise and I coming back from a walk a couple of weeks ago. She is much better now, thankfully.

Stylish I know...wellies and shorts!!

Thank you as always for your visit xx

Some challenges

Passion for Promarkers #413 - The great outdoors
The Ribbon Girl September Any Image
Digi Choosday #38 - Anything Goes
A gem of a challenge #203 - Fun Outside

AYLI Favourite Reason

Hello lovely people. Don't these weeks just fly by? It doesn't seem possible that I am here shouting about another new challenge at

which is Your Favourite reason to send a card (other than a Birthday!!).

Other than Christmas, mine is a Just Because card which I make and send to friends that I haven't seen for a while or to those I haven't even met (but hope to!!). Let's be honest, there is nothing nicer than receiving a card totally out of the blue is there?!!

Like many, I am sure, I just had to have one or two (maybe a few more!!) of the newest LOTV images and I am so glad I chose this little darling as she was a delight to colour. I used Promarkers to compliment the papers that I picked up in The Works. I found the layout somewhere and cannot for the life of me remember where, so to whoever it was...I thank you!!

Right, that's me for this week. I hope you have a good weekend, when you get there. We have Mollie Rose's Christening, to look forward to, on Sunday so I hope the weather will stay reasonable for us. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Until next time xx

Some Challenges

Creative Inspirations #276 - Favourite things (LOTV & dies)
Digi Choosday #22 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girl- Use any image

Party Chooks

Hello everyone and Easter Blessings on this Good Friday!!

In keeping with this time of year I have some chicks to share today in the shape of a Birthday card.

This little group of chicks is Party Chooks available here. They were coloured with  all of my yellow Promarkers to match the papers which were free in a magazine.

I wish you all a lovely Easter Weekend whatever you are up to.

Until next time, keep crafting!! xx

Some challenges

Polkadoodles Week 15 - Anything goes
Crafting With Friends #41 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #339 - Anything Goes

Cute Bun

Hello friends, here I am again...twice in one week is a bit rare these days!!

I have Cute Bun to share with you today. Yet another cute image from

Here she is recharging her batteries in preparation for Easter!!

She was coloured with Promarkers and had a squirt of stickles to the bow, which sadly looks rather orange here...I blame the light!!

I fancied something different than a square card base so used my Tonic layering dies for the scalloped base and layers and then continued the theme with Memory Box stitched circles. The sentiment was from a Taylored Expressions set.

Hope you have had a good week, mine has been the first "normal" week since before Christmas when we had two new members of staff. I have been nipping in and out of work for extra hours here and there which has been a right nuisance!! Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me!! 

Hope to see you soon,  until then take care xx

Some challenges

Little Red Wagon -  #387 Hippity Hoppity

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....

Hello friends, it's time for a new challenge at

and this time we would like to see a project to showcase your favourite film or song.

Now I could have chosen quite  few films but decided upon one that I watch every Christmas and quite often throughout the rest of the year, it's White Christmas that inspired this card.

I just love this film, the costumes, the songs...just love it. 

Hope I have inspired you to come and join in this time, you will be most welcome.

Thank you for your visits and lovely comments xx

I am joining in at these challenges

..........

Walking in a WOW Winter Wonderland!!

Hello peeps...me again, two posts in one day...get me!!

(My AYLI DT piece is here)

I have looked in awe at the fabulous WOW cards that have made an appearance in blogland this week in support of the latest Winter Wonderland Challenge and decided I MUST have a go. It was also a good excuse to play with a Tonic die set that was given to me for my Birthday and hadn't been used.

Normally I struggle with this kind of work but I really enjoyed making this one and am SO pleased with the result, I only wish I'd cut more pieces at the same time and made more!! I used Centura Pearl card for all the elements which is why I think this was successful. When I've done these before I have used up scraps of white cardstock and as we all know these vary so much in colour.

Hope you are bathed in sunshine like we are here...it's a miracle really, I never thought spring would ever arrive!! On that note, I'd better go and drag the lawnmower out!!

Thank you for sharing your day xx

Man at work?....yeah right!!

Hellooo!! It was just over twenty two years ago that I gave birth to our second Son...how the heck did that happen??!! Anyway here is the card that I made to give him yesterday.

I was inspired by the number of shaker cards that have been showcased recently so decided to have  a go myself. It was a bit of a faff but well worth the effort as I was really pleased with the result and the "the kid" in Connor enjoyed shaking the sequins!!

 I won the image in a Little Claire challenge and though it would make an amusing card. There is little chance of him lying in a hammock drinking this year...he is coming to the end of his degree, working as well and is in the process of buying an apartment with his Girlfriend!! The papers are Nitwits Collections Winter Wishes and the image was coloured with Promarkers. the mats were cut out of Desert Storm card with Tonic scalloped dies.

Some Challenges

I love Promarkers #304 - Men at Work

Simply Papercraft challenges #25 - Anything Goes

It's Martin's weekend off and, as we were both unwell last time he was off, we are hoping to go to Weymouth for a browse followed by a delicious lunch on the way back. The weather looks promising so fingers crossed!!

Whatever you are doing I hope it's a good weekend for you xx

Spotty and Stripey Christmas

It's time for my my monthly Christmas make for

Christmas Cards All Year Round

where Spots and/or Stripes is the order of the month and mine features the adorable Stanley 

I coloured him with Promarkers to match the paper (no change there then!!) and used glamour dust for a bit of sparkle. The purple yarn was a perfect find in my stash. The scalloped mats were done with a Tonic set. I have no idea where the papers are from but I thought they made a rather nice change from traditional red and green.

Some challenges to join in

Christmas Card Challenges #30 - Anything Goes

See you tomorrow!! xx