As You Like It Challenge (DT) Your Favourite Person To Make For

 Hello chaps, hope you are all keeping your toes toasty warm in this

little cold snap, anyone would think tomorrow was December!

So, before I tell you about the theme for this challenge, I have a little bit of news for you.  This is my penultimate post as a DT member for AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE.  After several years of putting up with my scatterbrainedness, insanity, and hysteria, the team have finally sacked me.

KIDDING!  But I am stepping down, it wasn't an easy decision, and I'm sure I will regret it by January, but I need some time to recharge some creative batteries.  I have had a blast with the team, will miss all my teamies, and I should say that I will miss Red Leader, but she doesn't get rid of me, mwahahahahaaaaa.

ANYWAY - the theme for this challenge is

Your Favourite Person To Make For (and please tell us why)

For me, it's my darlin' mum, she loves receiving something unique that she knows has been

hand crafted just for her, and I know she stashes all her cards in a drawer in the dining room (she thinks I don't know about that)

What could I use for Mummy Bear other than the adorable James Bear from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from a set of rubber stamps (ancient now) from C C Designs

Papers are from two different Christmas sets from Dovecraft

Star punch from Hobbycraft

Red cardstock from somewhere random on Amazon

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lee Holland

I do hope you will be able to pop over and join the fun, after all, everyone has someone to make for

Hugs

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) Plain or Patterned Papers

 Yes, I know, I'm late - sorry chaps, should have been here Thursday but was feeling a

bit under the weather, so our Beloved Leader was very kind and didn't shout at me when I

promised I would catch up!

So, if you haven't already seen it, the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

this time is Plain or Patterned Papers (explain your choice please)

I'm a complete and absolute sucker for patterned papers, they can add so much to a card, they can be subtle or in-your-face, but add instant interest.  I love it when manufacturers coordinate colours throughout their range so you can choose papers from any pad they've made and know they will still work together nicely.  I've gone for contrast in this one, spots and stripes, with complementary yellow and purple, and coloured up my image to pick out those colours

I've used these cute meecies from the CC Designs "Celebrate" clear stamps set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Used a tiny birthday sentiment

and teamed them up with delicious Lawn Fawn papers

The winner of this challenge will receive a digi prize from:

Amanda Jayne Designs

 Hugs

Party On .... But Not Too Long

 Aren't we all our own worst critics?  I know I am, and am particularly hard on

myself at times.  However, now and again I make something that I am really chuffed

with, and this is one of those - it very nearly didn't get sent to the recipient (but

she's special so it did get there!)

So, I used one of the Rockabilly Gals from CC Designs

painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut

For the background, I cut a stencil using an older Spellbinders Nestabilities die

and then stencilled through that with Gina K Daisy Chain stencil with a

Distress Ink Oxide pad

Corners done with an old Woodware punch

and simply layered with some pink paper from my stash

A couple of sentiments from the MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 3 set

and that's it, it took all afternoon, but I really, really, enjoyed making it

Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes (14th Birthday) Week 729

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Fur Feathers or Scales

 I wasn't going to mention this week's weather, but by crikey it has been exceptional - on Monday it was dear old Suffolk that broke the UK high temperature record (obviously exceeded on Tuesday), and I have to say I HAVE HATED EVERY SECOND OF IT!  The forecast for tomorrow is 19C and I cannot wait to be able to breathe again.

Anyhoo, it is time for a new theme at AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE and this time

it is Your Favourite - Fur, Feathers, or Scales (and why)

Soft and fluffy fur!  I quite like feathers themselves, but am nervous of birds, they are so delicate, except for chickens, chickens are sneaky and evil.  Scales are attached to things that freak me out (sorry to the tortoises), so fur it is, it's soft, it's strokeable, it's warm, it's usually wrapped around something I'd like to cuddle.

For this one I have used the Bears set from CC Designs

painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

teamed her with some papers from Lawn Fawn and Sunny Studio Designs

and a die from Crealies

Corner punch is unlabelled so can't tell you what that is

The sponsor for this challenge is the ever popular and talented

Lee Holland

Hugs

Out with the Bunting

 It's Jubilee Friday, the sun is shining, there are parties everywhere .... and I'm loading the

washing machine, LOL!

As there is so much bunting around, I though I'd get out one of my older CC Designs stamps

OK, it's not red white and blue, but she is definitely party ready.

Somehow, in between making the card and blogging it, I've managed to misfile the stamp, but after a bit of Googling she is C C Designs Swiss Pixies Banner Heidi

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 Mix n Match 2 papers

MFT Die-Namics word dies

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Martha Stewart corner punch

Hobbycraft tiny flower punch

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Hugs

Dracula

 So, I'm sat here swearing at the laptop (situation normal) as I'm trying to transfer a chunk of photos from my phone to the hard-drive, and I have spotted a few cards that I haven't posted yet, mainly because they were for customer orders rather than DT posts, so I thought I'd drip feed them to you.

You will notice that they will appear to be out of season!

This one was an order from a friend who wanted a card for her brother who had his birthday at Halloween, and she wanted to make something of that.

So we have a real mash-up of products used here

Dracula is from CC Designs

painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Oval dies are Crealies

Happy is half of a Impression Obsession Happy Easter die

40 is MFT Die-Namics stitched numbers

Papers are whatever was to hand in the right colours

Goo border is a Martha Stewart punch

Apparently he was thrilled with it and, rumour has it, it is still on display even now.

Hope you have a fab weekend.

Hugs

As You Like It (DT) Interactive Or Not

 Well hellooooo and welcome to another Thursday!

Over at As You Like It this time the new challenge is

Interactive (at least one moving part) or Not

For me, it's a not.  I have tried many, many, times with the ol' interactive but we really don't see eye to eye so for me, I'll stick with what I do best thanks.

I've used one of the Rockabilly Gals from CC Designs

and the sentiment that comes with the set

A stencil by Stamperia and a lot of Distress Ink (ReInkers)

The sponsor for this theme is

Lawn Fawn

Hugs

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

Favourite Shape (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 So, here we are at Thursday again, so that means it is a new theme from the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time around AYLI are asking for your Favourite Shape for a card

(but NOT a square or rectangle please)

Personally, I love squares and rectangles so I had a bit of a job with this one.  I cut circles and ovals, and weird shapes, but somehow none of them floated my boat (or would stand up) so I'm afraid I ended up with a rather predictable hexagon card.  I do like a good hexagon and use the shape a lot ON cards, but haven't made many AS cards.  I quite enjoyed it!

I have used:

Rodney from CC Designs

MFT Bitty Holiday Wishes sentiment set

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers - Snow Day

MFT DieNamics Stitched Hexagon Stax

Rodders has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I used a tiny bit of some thick and goopy white paint that I bought for his freckles.  His nose highlight is just bare paper.

And this is the FIRST of my Christmas cards made this year!

Our sponsor for this challenge is

LILI OF THE VALLEY

Did you know that LOTV are doing stamps again?  Hurrah!  They have recently released two polymer stamp sets, one for the boys, and one with cupcakes and cute animals.  I had to have both, naturally, but hubby has bought me one of them for my birthday (grin).

Anyhoo, let's be hearing about your favourite shape for card base (that isn't a square or a rectangle)

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Way to Add Ribbon

 Thursday again folks, so that's another new challenge from the

As You Like It Challenge

This time the theme is

Your Favourite Way to Add Ribbon

Is it very wrong of me to say I don't enjoy using ribbon?  It never stays where I put it, unless it's nailed down, and bows are the frippery of the devil.  However, I did make an exception with this rather sexy piece of black ric-rac ribbon, which was nailed down with ultra-sticky double sided tape.

This very 1920s style card was made using

CC Designs 20's Gals

CC Designs 20's Fellas

DoCrafts Foiled Art Deco card stock

Simon Says Stamp - Big Greetings 1

and yes, ribbon - black ric-rac ribbon from stash

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor for this challenge is, appropriately

FANTASTIC RIBBONS

I do hope you will be able to join in with the ribbony fun

Hugs

Favourite Colour Duo (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Whoo-hoo!! It's the start of the 2021 challenges with the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE!

So, to kick off the year, our first theme is

Your Favourite Colour Duo (and please explain why)

I like lots of colour duos, and use them in phases, but it always comes back to the same one - brown and turquoise - I love the earthy, warm, tones of the brown contrasted by the bright, ethereal, sky quality of the blue.  Land and sky is what is comes down to, I am a squirrel of the soil.

So, I have used

CC Designs : Roberto's Rascals Hearts To You

MFT DieNamics : Sending You Hugs - MFT-1888

MFT 6x6 paper : Party Plaid

Trimcraft First Edition 8x8 paper : Wild At Heart

Nancy has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor for this challenge is

LAWN FAWN

Looking forward to hearing all about your favourite colour duo choice.

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) His or Hers

 Hello peeps, Squirrel here today.  I hope you are all ok as we venture into the second UK lockdown.  I will be working from the office this time, hopefully in splendid isolation as so many changes have been made to keep those who have to be in there nice and safe.  It'll be a case of suck it and see for a while, if too many people decide they can't work from home then there will have to be a rethink.

Anyhoo, I'm here with my DT make for the new AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE theme, and this time the theme is HIS OR HERS (your favourite to make for and why).

Most of my makes tend to be for the ladies, but I do really enjoy making for the boys, especially if they are young enough for me to get away with cute, or if they are too old for cute then for me to be cheeky.  Male cards tend to suit my clean and simple style much better.

I actually made this one for a commission earlier in the year so have been saving it just for this challenge!

 The images are CC Designs "Surprise" and Whimsy Stamps Calories Schmalories stamp set, both coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

I'd love to give you the details for the dies but .......... the letters, number, and tag are all MFT Die-Namics.

And the papers, I think those are Echo Park, but I cannot be 100% sure.

And after that vagueness, our sponsor for this theme is POLKADOODLES (I can remember some things, honest)

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Brights or Pastels

 Hello chaps, welcome to yet another Thursday.  Is anyone else still struggling with the new style of Blogger?  Honestly, it is making me weep.  There is a 16 year old IT intern somewhere going "Oh, I have a great idea, let's completely change something that works perfectly well already, so that I can justify my own existence".  Grrrrrrr.

Anyhoo, you really do not want to hear me on my IT soapbox, so I shall tell you about the new themed As You Like It challenge instead.

So, for this fortnight, your challenge is to share with us your favourite of Brights or Pastels.

Hand on heart, I had to look through some recently made cards because in my head I was thinking "oh easy, it's pastels" but it would appear that I do seem to favour the brights, rather a lot of brights in fact.  So brights it is!

For this showstopper I have used:

CC Designs - 20's Gals stamp set

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 paper - Cosmic

Sentiment die is, I think, by Tonic

Image coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with just a sprinkle

of Glamour Dust Crystal on her frilly bits

Our lovely sponsor for this theme is

LAWN FAWN

I do hope you will have the chance to pop over to AYLI to join in the fun.

Hugs

Summer or Autumn (DT) As You Like It

Here we are again, another alternate Thursday which brings a challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT.

This time our theme is Summer or Autumn (your choice, but please explain)

I'm not a huge fan of summer (surprising really as I was born slap bang in the middle of it, today in fact) as I struggle with the intense heat.  I much prefer the more mellow days of autumn, the warmth is kinder, the light is softer, and I love the rich tones of the foliage changing from green to gold.  I don't even mind the evenings getting shorter, it's nice to be able to close the curtains on the world and be safe and snug indoors.

I have used Playful Henry from CC Designs.  The stamp is no longer available but you can get him as a digi.

I stamped Henry and his leaves onto kraft card and coloured the leaves with Polychromos pencils.  I stamped Henry again onto watercolour paper, colouring him with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Zig Clean Colour Pens, fussy cut him, and laid him over the previously stamped outline.

For the leaves, I got messily inky with some Distress Inks and then die-cut with some Lawn Fawn stitched dies.

The sentiment stamps are a Whimsy set.

Finally, some matting and layering with autumn tones of plain papers.

Our sponsor for this challenge is

CRAFTY RIBBONS

I do hope you will find time to come and join us.

Hugs

Say What? (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, how are you this morning?  For some, lockdown is starting to ease, but I am still safely tucked up at home, only venturing out once a fortnight for food.  Monday to Friday finds me nestled into the box room study which has become my home office, so I still very much look forward to my weekends!

Anyhoo, she's bright, she's sassy ...... are you ready?

Ingredients used:

CC Designs - Rockabilly Gals CCD-0128

Clearly Whimsy Stamps - Say What CWSS121

MFT DieNamics - Stitched Ric Rac MFT-1513

MFT Clear Stamps - Purrfect MFT-CS-388

MFT Purr-fect dies MFT-1503

MFT 6x6 paper - Spring Whimsy MFT-EP-61

I loved colouring up this one as I managed to purchase a couple of extra colours for my Zig collection, including Blush and Tea Rose, which will help with skin tone shading.  The husband has already been told that he will be adding to the collection for my birthday next month, LOL!

That's me for today.  Stay safe, whatever you are up to.

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Creating A Scene (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Thursday again peeps!  I'm not sure where the weeks are going, but I think the last time I checked the calendar it was only Easter.

Anyway, you know by now that alternate Thursdays mean a new challenge theme from the AS YOU LIKE IT team, and this time around it is to Create A Scene (Or Not) - the choice is yours, but please do remember to tell us about your preference.

I'm really lazy when it comes to creating scene cards - don't get me wrong, I will do them, but sometimes the faff required is more than I can face, so I do tend to make more subtle scenes, i.e. not much in them!

Ingredients for this simple card are:

CC Designs - Foxes CCD-0196

CC Designs - Create A Scene CCD-0148

MFT Birdie Brown - Greetings Galore MFT-CS-335

and lashings of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I had trouble with the photo on this one, not sure what happened but the expose was off, and trying to tweak it so you can actually see it has caused the sky and foreground grass to fade to almost nothing.  Bah!

So, that's me done, but you will be wondering about the prize for the winner - one lucky person will get to be a Guest Designer with the AYLI crew for July!

Go on, go and get scene-ing.

Hugs to all (socially distanced of course)