Birthday Witches

 Three days in a row, whoop whoop, don't worry, it won't last and will soon

revert to the usual chaos.

A friend and work colleague has a Halloween birthday.  She is also addicted to coffee, you rarely see

her around the office without a mug of java in her hands, usually in a takeaway cup.

Told you there would be another witch from the

Clearly Whimsy Stamps So Witchy set

Sentiment made up from an older Honey Bee set that I can't find a link for any more

Papers from Honey Bee 6x6 Fresh Brewed

Image painted as watercolour in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Will I make it back for another posting this week, or will I make you wait until the weekend...guess it'll be a surprise!

Speaking of surprises, a few years ago I bought a Halloween themed bowl from a local discount store.

I'm going to fill it with Toad's "favourite" things for this evening ..... heheheh.

Hugs all

And Another One...

 Hello peeps, yes, me again (twice in two days, aren't you the lucky ones) with another

card made but not previously posted.

When Toad worked in London, one of his team was a fabulous Brazlian lady who we are still friends with and keep in touch with, even though it has been almost three years since he left that job.

She lurrrves Halloween and witchy stuff, in fact Toad used to call her Witch (in affectionate

terms of course) so it has become a tradition that I sent her a witch themed card at the 

end of October.

When Whimsy Stamps released this set, I just knew I had to have it

Clearly Whimsy Stamps So Witchy

sentiment from the same set

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Purple paper from an old Dovecrafts Back To Basics set

Green and black card from stash

There'll be a different witch from this set here tomorrow

Hugs

Another Catch Up

 Morning all, hope you are ok today.  I'm pleased to report that apart from some bunged upness in my nose and ears, and being very tired, I am just about back in the land of the living after Covid.

So, I'm here with another catch up post and this one was a birthday card for my BFF.

I've combined two stamp sets with some masking

Gerda Steiner Designs - Monster Party

Sentiment from the same set

Whimsy Stamps Calories Schmalories

Papers are Echo Park Birthday Girl

Purple card from stash

Images watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

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

All Hail

 Yes, I know, I know, I have been totally rubbish at posting lately, but there has been so much going on that crafting has rather had to take a back seat, even though it was probably the one therapy that I really needed.

Anyway, there's going to be a few catch-up posts and this is the first one.

A while ago I made a card with an Oddball stamp that caught the eye of a FB friend and she asked if I could do one for her but as an anniversary card rather than birthday.

Stamping Bella Oddball Julius

MFT SY On Solid Ground

MFT Stencil Mini Cloud Edges

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Sentiment computer generated

Reports back are that the Roman era obsessed husband was pleased!

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Traditional or Contemporary Christmas

 Hello chaps, I'm finally back in the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE saddle, having missed the last few challenges.

For the new challenge starting today, AYLI would like you to share your

Traditional or Contemporary Christmas makes (please explain your choice)

I tend to make quirkier Christmas cards so contemporary suits me well, it allows me to use all sorts of cute character images, some tongue-in-cheek sentiments, and to avoid the traditional red and green combo.

A very clean and simple design 

Lili of The Valley - James In The Snow rubber stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background paper from The Works (Fairytales I think)

and a vertical Merry die from MFT DieNamics

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lee Holland

You have two weeks to enter, looking forward to seeing you all there.

Hugs

Catch Up

 Hello everyone, if there is anyone still out there.  You may have noticed that I have been missing for a month since my last post.  A week before that post (which was scheduled) I had both parents ambulanced to hospital - after seven hours on oxygen mum was discharged same day, but dad was admitted.

He was discharged the next day, Thursday, but readmitted on Friday following a call-back after some blood test results had been rechecked.  Dad didn't make it, he died in hospital on 18 August.

Needless to say, our world has crumbled.  Dad was my hero, my rock, my Yoda, he was my everything, and I am struggling so much with the grief of his loss but trying to stay strong for mum at the same time.

In amongst all the tears and sadness, the world has moved on, mum had a birthday, and we had our wedding anniversary.

Trying to make mum a birthday card this year, between dad's passing and his funeral, was awful.

I eventually settled on this Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Garden Girls Sweet Pea,

Keeping with the pink and blue theme, I used some MFT papers

A Sunny Studio lattice die, a Cheery Lynn butterfly

and a very simple MFT sentiment

Yesterday, the Queen's funeral, was our 24th Wedding Anniversary

Another Stamping Bella image, this one is Mini Oddballs on A Tricycle

Papers are MFT Festive Celebrations

Sentiment is from an MFT Essentials set but can't remember which one

Both cards were painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

========================================

My darling Daddy Bear

18-2-1934 - 18-8-2022

==========================================

  

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Domestic Animal

 Hello chaps, hope you are ok.  I'm sorry I've not been around much (well, not at all) but we've had a bit of a family crisis.  I won't bore you with the details but it might be a while before I'm posting more regularly again.

Anyhoo, you came here because it's AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE day so let's crack on.

The theme for the new challenge is

Favourite Domestic Animal (and tell us why)

This is always a great theme so looking forward to seeing your entries.

I'm an amateur crazy cat lady.  I say amateur because we only have one at the moment, Rosie Pudding, but she is big enough to actually be two cats on her own.  I've always had a cat in my life, even when I had dogs, and even when they haven't always lived in the same place as me.  I cannot imagine my world without a small, furry, demanding, cute, demonic, overlord to look after.

I've used one of the stamps from

Whimsy Stamps Cat Trouble clear stamp set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Cheers word and the word bubble are from an old retired Whimsy set

MFT 6x6 papers - Pawsome Prints

Background stencil from Amazon

and our sponsor for this time is the lovely Tracy from

DIES TO DIE FOR

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

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

For My Dad

Morning all, hope you are feeling fine and dandy today!

I've been going through a phase of super CAS cards again, but for Father's Day last weekend

I did actually go a little bit (but not much) further.  Dad's not a great one for fuss, and he was

absolutely chuffed as little mintballs with this one.

So, let's see what I used

Lili of The Valley Vintage Boy (from the last time they released some physical stamps)

Lawn Fawn Puffy Clouds edger die

MFT 6x6 plaid papers

MFT 6x6 striped papers

MFT DieNamics Modern Serif Alphabet dies

and a fair splashing of the ol' Distress Inks (ReInkers)

One of his favourite things to do is go for a fish n chip lunch at their local

garden centre, so as well as 1/2 ton of liquorice allsorts and fruit jellies, I gave him

some universal gift vouchers for him and mum to treat themselves.  I made a little gift wallet themed

for the occasion.

Well, that's about all from me folks, I have a joint of pork in the oven (fingers crossed for crackling rather than sogling) and it smells divine, and a washing machine full of stuff that I am about to get out on the line.  If I'm not back within a week then I'm dangling from the washing line still.

Hugs

 

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Feminine or Masculine

 Hello peeps, remember me?  I seem to have been away a while.....but I have still been crafting, honestly.

So, it's a Thursday, and that means it is time for another new theme with

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time we'd like to hear which is your favourite type of card to make

Feminine or Masculine

The majority of my makes are for the ladies, but I do really enjoy the boys cards because I can get away with simplicity without losing impact.

So for this one I hauled out one of old LOTV rubber stamps for this one

and he is one of my all time favourite boys

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a hint of Polychromos

Sentiment is from a very old set with no packaging left, but I think it's Hero Arts

Simple as!

The sponsor for this challenge theme is

Polkadoodles

I know the weather is getting nicer now, but that is no excuse - get crafting!

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Blonde or Brunette

 Hello peeps, here we are again, it's time for another new challenge theme

from the

   AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time we're talking about hair, what's your favourite, blonde or brunette

I used to be a brunette, very dark, but in later years it had to have help!  I made the decision to stop colouring it the Christmas before Covid hit us (lockdown was a blessing as no one witnessed the badger phase) and now, weird or what, I'm grey with a blonde tint (natural)

For this one I have used

CC Designs - Hoola Twila

Coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Polychromos Pencils for help with her hair details

Catherine Pooler Scribbled Circles stencil

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 DP Mix and Match 2 WSDP38

MFT Die-Namics Causes for Celebration MFT-972

MFT Clear Stamps Snow Globe Sentiments CS-243

Instead of a sponsored prize for the winner of this theme, it will be

an invitation to be a

Guest Designer with the team for July

(that's how I started)

So, off you go and get hairy, and come back to tell us all about it.

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

Get Well Kitty

 Morning peeps, happy Jubilee weekend to you!  Are you up to anything special?

I've been making a few get well/feel better cards lately to try and keep

my boss cheery while she recovers from surgery.

I'm not sure if this one made her feel better or more worried!

I've no idea what's in the syringe but kitty does look concerned!

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Get Well stamp set DP1033

MFT Birdie Brown Greetings Galore MFT-CS-335

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Sweet, simple, does what it says on the tin.

Hugs