As You Like It (DT) Favourite Christmas Critter

 Hoorah!  It's Thursday, it's challenge day, and I'm ON TIME!

Yes folks, it's another challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT team and this time around

the theme is Your Favourite Christmas Critter (and why)

I do love a teddy at Christmas, they're cuddly, cosy, and oh-so-comfy to squeeze, there is

something reassuring about a snuggly bear, especially a slightly plump one

So we have

Whimsy Stamps Teddy Bear Christmas Eve

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

absolutely no idea about the Christmas word die (sorry)

the wishes word is from a Clearly Besotted typeface set

Matting layers, including Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers

and please don't ask me about the stencil

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Halloween or Fairies

 WhoooooooooooooOO!  

As You Like It Challenge

has gone a bit supernatural for this theme and are asking for

Halloween or Fairies as your choice (and your reason)

We don't celebrate Halloween at home, but have friends who do so I always end up

making a card or two, especially if we haven't seen those friends for a while.  Anyhoo, I don't really

need an actual excuse to get a a gargoyle out!

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Gargoyle And Friends

Lawn Fawn 6x6 Papers

Sunny Studio 6x6 Papers

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Alphabet

Martha Stewart Goo Border Punch

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Our sponsor for this theme is

DIES TO DIE FOR

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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

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

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Flowers

Yes, yes, I'm still hanging around, like the smell of boiled cabbage.

It's time for another new themed challenge with the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time it is Favourite Flower/s 

I like most flowers, perhaps with the exception of orchids (I find them to be  a bit creepy) and those odd ones that translate from the German (or so I was told) as "willy on a plate".  Anything that grows in the garden is good with me.

I made this one for my dear mum for Mother's Day

It's a stamp from My Favorite Things (suspect it might be a peony) SY Gathered With Love

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment and little dots from the same stamp set

Backing paper is Lawn Fawn 6x6 Knit Picky Fall

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lili of the Valley

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Pearls or Gems

 I had started this year with the plan of blogging more often, but here we are into April and I'm actually blogging less than before.  Sigh.  Must try harder.

As it is a Thursday, you just know I am here with my DT card for the new challenge over at

AS YOU LIKE IT

and the theme this time is Pearls or Gems (please explain your choice)

There's a time and a place for blingy gems, and that, for me, is Christmas for that little bit of sparkle. For the rest of the year, a more subtle effect is required, and that demands the softness of pearls.  I actually shocked myself by how many of both I have stashed away!

So for this little chap I have used

Whimsy Stamps Early Birds DP1018

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

I've used a selection of old Nitwits paper pads (because the colours were right and they make me think of spring tulips)

Mama Elephant Mini Everyday Messages

A little snippit of Lawn Fawn 6x6 Really Rainbow

and some pink and blue pearls from my bottomless stash

Our sponsor for this theme is the lovely Tracy at

DIES TO DIE FOR

Do come over and share your fabulous makes with us

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Easter Critters

 Well, before you  ask "what are they playing at", it's actually not that far away!

The new theme from As You Like It Challenge is

Easter Critters (tell us about your favourite)

I know it is predictable, but I do love a bunny - they are soft, they are fluffy, and

they have the cutest twitchy noses and whiskers.  I have had bunnies, my last one used to chase the neighbour's cat around the garden, and not in a friendly way either!

So I have dusted off one of my first stamps from Penny Black (Margaret Sherry Collection)

and inked him up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The background stencil is a Gina K Mega Flowers done with DI Oxides

Backing paper is Lawn Fawn Spring Fling 6x6

MFT Sentiment 

The sponsor of this challenge is

Last Minute Manda

Go and get your critters on!

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Freestyle or Stencil

Hellooooooo!

Thursday again chaps, they come round fast, and here we are with another

new challenge theme from the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time the theme is

Your Favourite (Background) Freestyle or Stencil

My collection of stencils has been slowly growing over the past couple of years, I have formal ones, casual ones, graphic ones ..... they all have their uses.  I've now started to stencil through stencils (which pleases me no end) which is how I formed this heart shape.

So I have used Garden Dragons from Whimsy Stamps

Taylored Expressions "Flickering" stencil inked through a home made heart stencil

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers

Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Ink Pads

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) African or Australian Animal

Time for another challenge from the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time the theme is

Your Favourite African or Australian Animal

I had to think long and hard about this because I have a lot of favourite animals, so I had to narrow it down by working out which was the one I was most likely ever to get a cuddle from.

Koala!

Except there is a rumour they'll wee on you.  I'll chance it.

 

So I have used

Gerda Steiner Designs - You're Koalafied

Simon Says Stamp hugs die

Sunny Studio 6x6 neutral papers

Lawn Fawm 6x6 papers Flower Market

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

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

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Pawly Plushies

 Happy Saturday everyone!

I've been a busy little Squirrel this morning and already have a mahoosive pan of Squirrel Stew bubbling away on the stove (for those who don't know, it's a hybrid of bolognese sauce and chilli - it goes with rice, pasta, and jacket potatoes beautifully).  So that's tonight's dinner sorted, and about six boxes for the freezer.  The whole house now stinks of onion and garlic!

Anyhoo, today I bring you a get well card.  My boss of 17 years has recently been in hospital for surgery and is now, thankfully, recovering at home.  I wanted to send her a card from our team at the office so got busy the other weekend and made her this,.

I used the Clearly Besotted Pawly Plushies stamp set, and because I couldn't choose just two or three bears I used them all.  My fingers after fussy cutting them all were a wee bit sore!

I used a MFT Die-Namics Cover-Up die, lots of Lawn Fawn paper, and sentiments from Personal Impressions.

A fair quantity of Distress Inks (ReInkers) was also used.

Hope your weekend is a restful one.

Hugs

AS You Like It Challenge (DT) Sketch

 Hello peeps, almost time for the Bank Holiday (UK) weekend, hurrah!

Now, before you all dash off to the beach or out to the barbeque, it's time for another challenge over at

 the As You Like It Challenge.

Our theme for this one is Favourite Sketch (and please explain your choice)

We all get stuck for ideas from time to time, of course we do, and it is so easy to repeat something over and over because you feel comfortable with it, so when I get stuck or need something fresh I pop over to the MFT Blog for a mooch through their library of past sketches.  I have used 2 or 3 of them a few times but this one is winning at the moment as my favourite.  It's very simple, but can be very effective with the right choice of papers and little extra details.

For this I have used

Stamping Bella - Mini Oddball Has A Present

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Zig Clean Colour Brush Pens

Papers are Lawn Fawn 6x6 Flower Market

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Rectangle

Mama Elephant Mini Everyday Messages

Our sponsor for this theme is

Lee Holland

Hugs

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

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

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

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG