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) Modern or Traditional (Colours)

 Well looky here, first Thursday of November and the Christmas adverts

have started on the telly already!

And speaking of Christmas, the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

would like you to join in with the new challenge and the theme is

Modern or Traditional Colours (and why)

I tend to flip-flop between the two, one year modern, the next year traditional.  This year

traditional is back in favour, I love the richness and warmth of the reds, greens, and a sprinkle

of gold, it's just a lovely cosy feel.

You can't get much more traditional than holly for Christmas

Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Garden Girl - Holly

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Odds and ends of papers from my scraps box

Martha Stewart holly border punch

Crafters Companion sentiment

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

Amanda Jayne Designs

Do come on over and join the festive fun

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Santa or Snowman

 Yes, it is Saturday and not Thursday, so I am shockingly late again with my

DT make for the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time the theme is Santa or Snowman

(please explain your preference)

I love both, and have copious numbers of stamps, but for a burst of colour I tend

to favour a Santa, he works especially well for a simple CAS card

So, I inked a band of Distress Inks colour across the card and overstamped

with the little stocking motif which came with the Santa stamp set

The MERRY lettering is die cut from the 

MFT Stitched Alphabet dies in white card

MFT Yuzu Holly Jolly Santa

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut to add to the card

The sponsor for this theme is

Lili of the Valley

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

Hugs

Christmas In July

 Having a mooch through my phone photos at the weekend, I discovered a

couple of cards that I haven't shared with you yet.

My extremely talented BFF's husband has a habit of commissioning cards from me for her

for special occasions, and this is the one from last Christmas.

So, I used this gorgeously cute chap (well, he was before I got hold of him) from

Stamping Bella - The Gnome And The Christmas Tree

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

The holly die cut border is one I bought online but now I can't remember the make or where I bought it

Rymans coloured cardstock

Tonic word die with handcut shadow layer

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Anything Goes For Christmas (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Well, here we are then, the last challenge theme of 2022 at

As You Like It Challenge

The theme for this one is Anything Goes For Christmas

(no favourite to choose from - it's all up to you this time)

I love the leadup to Christmas in that there is always new crafty stuff just begging to be bought and who doesn't love new craft stuff?  My excuse is that I need something that the husband won't have seen

before, and I am sticking to that one!

So I have used

MFT Coolest Friends

MFT Bitty Holiday Wishes

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

LawnFawn Snowflake border die

Mixture of random snowflakes for the background

Matting card and paper from stash

The sponsor of this challenge is

Polkadoodles

This might be the last challenge of 2022, but don't forget to watch out for 2023 when we start a whole new year of challenges for you to have fun with!

It's not been the best year for me personally, so I am looking forward to January and a fresh start, hopefully I'll be blogging a bit more too.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Hugs

AS You Like It Challenge (DT) Non-Traditional Christmas Animal (penguin free zone)

 Here we are again, for a new themed challenge from

AS YOU LIKE IT

This time it is Non-Traditional Christmas Animals

(and it is a penguin free zone - so no penguins at all please)

I'm sure there will be many arguments and discussions about what is "traditional" and how long does something have to be used before it becomes traditional.  For me, traditional Christmas animals are donkeys, robins, teddies, deer, but I am not sure that mice fall into that category so that is what I have used.

I've had this Penny Black stamp Carolling Trio for many years and absolutely

love it, it just feels sooooo cosy

Stormy night sky done with Distress Inks (Oxides) and the

mice watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Word die from Sue Wilson, and cut from glitter card

Matting layer from an ancient Dovecrafts Back To Basics Christmas pack

Our sponsor for this challenge is the lovely Tracy from

DIES TO DIE FOR

Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

Hello peeps, so here we are, heading towards mid November and only

six and a half weeks to Christmas.  Eeeeeeeek!

So, if you are behind with your Christmas makes, AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

are here to encourage you with the new challenge of

Your Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

For me, it's purple, I think it just feels a little bit luxurious, especially if it

is paired with with a glint of silver or gold

So, for this one I have used

High Hopes Stamps - Stackable Santa

Nitwits (LOTV) Snow Princess papers

Spellbinders Large Scallop Circle dies

Sentiment from Lili of The Valley

Mini snowflake punch from Hobbycraft

Santa watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

 

Hope to see you there

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Fave Christmas Image or Animal

 Would you credit it, just as I start getting things into a routine again, I finally go down with Covid!  I'd tested positive for 9 days and was beginning to give up hope but today is my third negative day so I'm back at work, even though I still feel a bit ropey.

Anyhoo, you didn't come here for that, you came for the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and our theme for the next fortnight is

Your Favourite Christmas Image or Animal

This stamp is a new one to me, but it has already become a favourite - what's not to like, it has a cute bunny in a sweet Christmas scene, and it's relatively quick to colour up.  I shall be going into production shortly.

Colorado Craft Company (Anita Jeram) Getting Ready

Whimsy Stamps Merry Christmas Sentiment Assortment

MFT 6x6 Christmas Text

Snowflake punch from Hobbycraft

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

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

Amanda Jayne Designs

Hugs

As You Like It Chalenge (DT) Warm or Cool Colours

 Yoo-hoo (waving madly), how are you?  I hope everyone is well.

It's time for another new theme from

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time the theme is Warm or Cool Colours

(please tell us about your choice)

I had to have a think about this, because I like all colours, and I'm not afraid to mix it up, but on balance I seem to favour the cool shades more, the blues and purples.

So for this one I've used

Whimsy Stamps/Wee Stamps "Sarah" rubber stamp

MFT DieNamics Modern Serif Alphabet dies

A dotty background stencil, and while I was inking the stencil, I inked up some stripes

from which to cut the SNOW lettering

Sarah is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT 6x6 gingham paper

and I think the Let It Snow is MFT Snow Globe Sentiments (maybe)

In case you're really not sure what's hot and what's not, here's a simple colour wheel to help

And just before I go, our sponsor for this challenge is

Lili of the Valley

Hope to see you there

Hugs

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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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 INSPIRATION BLOG

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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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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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