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

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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

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Christmas Sentiment

 Only one more week and you'll hear me screaming, but for now it is simply a whimper!

It's time for our last As You Like It Challenge of 2021 and the theme is

Favourite Christmas Sentiment (and why)

I use all sorts of sentiments at this time of year, some are chucklesome, some sarcastic, but my favourite is any one that mentions Christmas, whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, or, in this case Best Wishes for Christmas.

Your Next Stamp - Very Merry Wise Men

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers

HobbyArts Christmas Sentiments

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and badly fussy cut!

Our fabbie-dabbie sponsor for this challenge is

LEE HOLLAND DESIGNS

The AYLI team are taking a brief break at the end of this challenge, but we will be back in 2022, coming soon to a craft room near you.

Hugs

Deck The Halls (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, how are you on this chilly Saturday morning?

In amongst the chaos that is my dad, mum had a drama.  A couple of years ago she surrendered and accepted that she was struggling with her hearing.  She invested in some very expensive hearing aids, and has looked after them better than she would a new baby.  However!  On the night of dad's last fall, she was so confuzzled that she didn't put them on charge in their usual place.  This time she put them on the set of drawers outside the bathroom door.  The next day, the ear pieces were missing, along with the wires that connect them to the magic parts.  She said it was odd because one of them wasn't even sat in the charger properly.  The only conclusion we could come to, having searched high and low for the missing bits, is that the mice have made off with them.

They are all repaired now and working again but the big question is what the heck the mice would want with them in the first place!

Clearly Whimsy Stamps Deck The Halls Mice WS-DP1079

MFT Stencil Card Sized Star Confetti MFT-ST-120

Impression Obsession word die Ho Ho Ho IO-DIE595-B

Lawn Fawn 6x6 paper Snow Day Remix LF2083

Stars inked with Distress Oxides (Fired Brick and Rustic Wilderness) and mousie was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

There are only two more posts to come from me before I step down from the Design Team at Christmas.  I've been working with this fabulous team for several years now and it has been a really hard decision to make, but I will still be around on the Facebook pages, you don't get away that lightly!

Hugs

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Dies To Die For (DT) Gnomes With A Secret

Morning all.  Well, another dad episode I'm afraid, he had another fall this week and we were woken by a phone call from the neighbour at 5.00am Thursday morning.  Dashed over there to find him on the floor but seemingly unhurt, the neighbour didn't want to move him (and would have struggled on his own) so between the three of us we got him up and into a chair.  There is some mystery as to how this happened but he'd been off-colour for a couple of days with a chill, so it's possible he woke up disorientated and wobbly, and down he went, bless him.  My gift to him this week has been a Zimmer frame.  I can hear the protests now but I'm not taking any nonsense from him!

Oh, and mum is missing the ear pieces for her hearing aids.  She thinks mice might have made off with them.  Sigh.

Anyhoo, on to this weeks make for Dies To Die For

Stamping Bella Gnomes With A Secret sb-EB802

MFT Background Stamp Best Friends MFT-BG-140

MFT DieNamics Stitched A2 Circle Stax MFT-1675

MFT DieNamics Stitched Mini Slimline Stax MFT-2117

Lawn Fawn papers

Great fun inking this one up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

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As You Like It (DT) Favourite Christmas Embellishment/s

Wow, it's the first Thursday into December and time for another new challenge

from AS YOU LIKE IT

Our theme this time is perfect if you are, like me, still frantically making cards

Your Favourite Christmas Embellishment/s (and why)

For me, it's SNOWFLAKES!  I do love a nice snowflake, they are so pretty, and make me feel festive, especially if I am snug and warm by the fire while they are doing their thing outside.

 So for this one I have used

CC Designs - Stack of Snowmen (long since retired)

MFT DieNamics Stacked Merry die MFT-1832

MFT DieNamics Sweet Snowflakes dies MFT-1852

MFT DieNamics Stitched Snow Drifts dies MFT-546

A splash of Distress Inks (ReInkers) and an assortment of card and paper from my stash

Our sponsor for this challenge is

LAWN FAWN

Looking forward to hearing all about your embellishments

Hugs

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

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Dies or Stencils

It's time for another challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT team

and this time your choice is Dies or Stencils

 OK, I couldn't choose.  I use dies a lot, but I also love stencils for making pretty backgrounds, so I decided to rebel and combine them.

MFT Clear Stamps - This Hug's For You MFT-CS-616

MFT DieNamics Stitched Mini Slimline Stax MFT-2117

Stamperia Christmas Rose - Flowers stencil

Bear painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and background

stencilled with Distress Inks (Oxide)

Our super duper sponsor for this challenge is

DIES TO DIE FOR

Hugs

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

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Dies To Die For DT - Oddball William

  Wow, look at this, on Saturday, and early!

Now, please don't get me wrong, I normally adore anything that Stamping Bella produces, but....when the Oddball collection came out, I was very "meh" about it.  However, the longer it has been around, the more I am warming to it, and this one in particular caught my fancy.

Say hello to Oddball William from Stamping Bella sb-EB1006

Sunny Studio 6x6 papers

Sentiment all my fault

William painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Circular Embellishments

 Gosh, the year is galloping away from us isn't it - another two weeks gone, so it's time for a new As You Like It Challenge

This time we're asking you to use Circular Embellishments

(pearls, gems, flowers etc)

Now, I'm not good with embellishments, they bring me out in a rash, so I took the easy way out and punched my circles (snowflakes) from the same paper that I used for the snowy ground, at least this way I know they coordinate properly!

MFT Pure Innocence Freezin's Greetings MFT-PI-327

and matching dies MFT-2120

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers Watercolor Wishes

MFT DieNamics Stitched Snow Drifts MFT-546

MFT Bitty Holiday Wishes MFT-CS-417

The winky face on the snowman is not part of the original stamp, I added that with my set of Your Next Stamp Fun Faces

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our lovely sponsor for this challenge is

Looking forward to seeing what you do with your circles

Hugs

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.

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Dies To Die For (DT) Bright Holidays

  Hello peeps, sorry I was MIA for my DTDF post last week, life just got the better of me I'm afraid.

Anyhoo, the preparations panic continues for Christmas

Stuff used

MFT Pure Innocence Bright Holidays stamp MFT-PI-326

and MFT DieNamics Bright Holidays die MFT-2090

Mama Elephant Holiday Messages ME-18-95

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers - Knit Picky

Your Next Stamp 6x6 papers - Winter Knits

The frame used is from MFT - the square one is not longer available at DTDF but

the Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frame still is

and there are other brands of scallop edged frames on the website too

Bright Holidays was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a little Stabilo Fineliner scribble for tree texture

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) People or Critters

 I knew something was amiss with this post, but didn't realise until 10 minutes ago that I hadn't actually drafted it.  Huge apologies to Red Leader for being a nugget.

So, this AS YOU LIKE IT challenge is a choice - which is your favourite (and why)

People or Critters

Now I do like a critter on a card, they are just so darned cute, but I also love it when I can match a people image to a person, like this card for instance, it was made as a thank you card for the nurse practitioner and her colleagues at the hospital who have looked after my dad and his injury so brilliantly.  Thanks to them and their care, we are hoping that this week might be his last appointment before he is discharged into the tender mercies of my mum and her dressing skills!

I've used the MFT Birdie Brown stamp set (and matching dies)

Call The Shots MFT-BB-76 and MFT-1578

DCWV cardstock for the border punched layer, using a Martha Stewart punch

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our super sponsor this time is FANTASTIC RIBBONS

Hugs

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

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Not A Card

Hello all, welcome to Thursday and another new challenge theme from

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time around it's a non-card project

 If I'm not papercrafting, I'm playing with woolly balls - very much a beginner at crochet, and most definitely not the quickest hooker in the world, but it keeps my hands busy while I'm watching tv and it's possible someone will get something warm at the end of it.  This one is for me, very much a work in progress, an oversized wrap.  Four balls in, four to go.

I'm using Stylecraft WonderSoft Merry-Go-Round "Dark Rainbow"

and a very simple V-stitch - TR1 CH1 TR1

our sponsor for this challenge is

LILI OF THE VALLEY

Looking forward to seeing your projects

Hugs