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

Strike Up The Band (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, it's the weekend again, hurrah!

Before we get to today's card, thank you for all your well wishes for dad.  We went back to the hospital on Wednesday for a wound check and dressing change.  The nurse practitioner was a little concerned about some blistering of the skin that was torn in his fall, but after some thought she decided to take the steri-strips off.  Poor dad.  He has hairy arms.  They aren't quite so hairy now.  Anyhoo, long story short, the hospital are "cautiously optimistic" that healing is underway (it's going to take months) and redressed it with a lighter dressing.  He goes back again on Monday for another check.

So, to crafting.  The inspiration for today's card was actually a commission - a dear friend requested a card for her brother-in-law who is a musician.  Well, there was only one stamp set that I could possibly use for that!

I adore these bunnies, they make me happy

Ingredients

MFT Birdie Brown Strike Up The Band stamps MFT-BB-93

MFT DieNamics Strike Up The Band dies MFT-1676

MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes stamps MFT-CS-398

Sunny Studio 6x6 paper Subtle Grey Tones SSPP-118

Red card from own stash

The backing paper was just stripes, so I randomly over-stamped with the musical phrase accessory stamp from the Band set.

Bunny Band has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

Hugs

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Hog Heaven (DT) Dies To Die For

  Piggy, Piggy, Piggy

Oink! Oink! Oink!

Morning all, hope you are ok.  What a week it has been.  My poor old dad had a nasty fall late Wednesday night; mum had to get the neighbour round to get him off the floor.  He'd hurt his arm badly and the ambulance was called, but they were a no-show. unfortunately.  I didn't hear about any of this until Thursday morning (!) so I took dad to the GP surgery who took one look and packed him off to A&E.  Getting dad in and out of a car and into a wheelchair these days is a challenge, but at least he was sitting down.  I won't give you the gory details (it was pretty horrible) but I'm taking him back this afternoon for a wound check and a dressing change.

Anyhoo, on to something happier.  I made this for the Toad's 60th birthday which was, guess when, yes, Thursday!  Not the best way to spend your birthday, bless him, but I couldn't have done it without him.

Ingredients

MFT Birdie Brown - Hog Heaven stamps MFT-BB-131

MFT DieNamics Hog Heaven dies MFT-0912

MFT DieNamics A2 Double Stitched Rectangle Stax MFT-2055

MFT DieNamics In Stitches Lower Case Alphabet MFT-2041

MFT 6x6 papers

All the images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs, or is that hogs?

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I'm sure I don't need to tempt you too much, but Tracy has had lots of yummy new things arrive in store

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Autumn or Winter

 Hello folks, it's time for another new challenge over as AS YOU LIKE IT and the theme for this fortnight is Autumn or Winter (please explain your choice).

Autumn is my most favourite season of the whole year, although I don't mind winter that much.  There is so much loveliness about autumn, the cooler mornings, the temperate days, the cooler nights.  I love the warmth of the light, the rich colours, the smells, I don't even mind it getting dark early, I just close the curtains and snuggle up indoors with himself and the cat.  I love being able to get out and about without having heatstroke, and on the cooler days I am happy to pull on a woolly pully.  I am definitely an autumnal squirrel.

Stamping Bella - Curvy Girl Loves Autumn (no die available, she was fussy cut) sb-eb989

Newton's Nook Designs - Shades of Autumn (background leaves, fabulous linen effect on these) NN1709S04

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers - Watercolor Wishes LF-1355

MFT 6x6 papers - Keep Me In Stitches MFT-EP82

Spellbinders (Nestabilities) Tall Scallop Oval die

Crealies - Open Scallop Square die CLNestXXL70

Distress Inks (ReInkers) and pads

With Love sentiment die might be Tonic, but I have no packaging for it now

Our sponsor for this challenge is the ever adorable LAWN FAWN

Come on over and share your favourite (autumn or winter) season with us.

Hugs

Polar Bear Pals (DT) Dies To Die For

  Yes, yes, I know .... but it is still Saturday!

And the ingredients used are:

MFT Birdie Brown Polar Bear Pals stamps - MFT-BB-40

MFT Clear Stamps Bitty Holiday Wishes - MFT-CS-417

MFT DieNamics Stitched Tag Corner Square Stax - MFT-1225

MFT DieNamics Sweet Snowflake dies - MFT-1852

MFT 6x6 papers Cheerful Plaid - MFT-EP-80

Hugs

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Birthday Besties (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, I'm here, but I think I should change my middle name to "sorry I'm late again" - there is just so much going on at the moment that I really don't know my knees from my elbows.

Anyhoo, I have a sweet but very simple birthday card to share with you today

I have used

MFT Pure Innocence Birthday Besties MFT-PI-301 (there are two girls in the set) 

MFT DieNamics Birthday Besties MFT-1705

MFT Itty Bitty Birthday MFT-CS-586

MFT 6x6 paper Rainbow Plaid MFT-EP-78

I have paper pieced her dress from the gorgeous plaid papers - I love this set of papers, they all coordinate colourwise so beautifully

The rest of her is Distress Ink'ed (ReInkers)

It's my mum's birthday today, so we are about to dash off to visit with her presents and a yummy cake, and a bucketful of blackberries that Toad picked for her yesterday

Hugs to all

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Round or Straight (Circles or Squares) (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Morning all, just popping by with my DT make for the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

The theme for this fortnight is Round or Straight (Circles or Squares)

and please remember to tell us about your choice

I have nothing against circles, don't get me wrong, but I do prefer the nice symmetry and straightness of a square.  In fact I have used lots of squares here.  Can you count how many there are?

Wild Rose Studio - Milton With Gifts

MFT 6x6 papers

Impression Obsession Happy Birthday die

Milton was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and the matting layer and Happy Birthday were Copic coloured

Our sponsor for this challenge is

CRAFTY RIBBONS

Hugs

Warm & Feathered Hugs (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello chaps, I'm here again with another Dies To Die For DT post, and this time with something

warm and feathery

This is

MFT Stacey Yacula - Warm & Feathered Hugs

MFT-SY-02

The stamp and die sets are available together for an excellent price at DTDF

The rather messy night time sky was done with Distress Oxides, and I cut a mask out of a Post-It Note for the snowy ground.

A very simple card, but that owl does make me smile.  He was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

Hugs

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The Walrus, The Polar Bear, And The Penguin (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, sorry I was MIA for my DTDF post last week, I was laid low by a rather unpleasant bug, which knocked me off my feet for four days.  Still not 100% but am getting there.

Anyhoo, today's offering reminds me of a joke

A penguin walks into a pub.  He goes to the bar and says to the landlord

"Have you seen my brother?"

The landlord looks at him, scratches his head, thinks for a minute, and asks

"I'm not sure, what does he look like?"

Sooooooooo, on to today's make then

And the lovely things used are

Stamping Bella - The Walrus, The Polar Bear, And The Penguin : sb-eb602

Your Next Stamp 6x6 paper - Winter Knits - YNSPP004

MFT DieNamics - Sweet Snowflakes : MFT-1852

MFT Clear Stamps - Birdie Brown Greetings Galore : MFT-CS-335

The image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut - I don't know if there even was a die  issued for this stamp but, if there was, I don't have it, so back to the trusty scissors and the craft knife for the nooks and crannies.

I was a bit frugal with the papers as there are only 2 sheets of each design in the pad, and they are all so lovely, so I was a miser and only used one - I did the technique of cutting from the centre of the sheet so I had my mini matting layer and a hollowed out bottom layer - I "patched" the hole (slight overlap) with the white card.  I'm not sure which stitched dies I used for the white, but I think it might have been my Crealies set.

Hmmmm, I've not had a Penguin in ages, but I know where there is a stash of dark mint Kit-Kat

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Wild Animal

 Oh dear, I really am on the naughty step, so sorry I am late, about 12 hours late to be precise.

It's new challenge day over at AS YOU LIKE IT and this time we want you to tell us all

about your Favourite Wild Animal

Hmmm, did I really need to think about this one?  Actually yes, because I love ALL animals (so long as they are furry and don't have more than four legs), and the Big Cats are high up on my list, especially the beautiful and magnificent leopards and jaguars, but on a less exotic level, my favourite animal is the humble British (and European) Red Squirrel - I mean, they are just so flippin' cute!

MFT Birdie Brown Squirrel! stamps - MFT-BB-75

MFT DieNamics Squirrel! dies - MFT-1574

MFT Stencils

Slimline English Brick Wall Stencil  MFT-ST-160

Watercolor Wash Square Stencil MFT-ST-158

I've gently stencilled the brickwork stencil through the watercolour square stencil, so my background has softer edges

Squirrel! has, naturally, been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is

DIES TO DIE FOR

and I have linked my items used straight to the right pages on the website for you

Looking forward to hearing all about your favourite wild critters

Hugs

Pile On The Hugs (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, here I am again.  One of my Dies To Die For teamies has shamed me into making a start

on the C cards, and it is still only August.  I may never recover from this.

So, I have used

MFT Birdie Brown stamps - Pile On The Hugs MFT-BB-115

MFT DieNamics dies - Pile On The Hugs MFT-1879

MFT Birdie Brown stamps - Holiday Penguins MFT-BB-113

MFT DieNamics dies - Holiday Penguins MFT-1841

MFT DieNamics Stitched Snow Drifts MFT-546

MFT DieNamics Sweet Snowflakes MFT-1852

MFT 6x6 papers - Perfect Plaid MFT-EP-79

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background sort of went a bit streaky, but I quite like it, it looks like the wind is whirling the snow around.

Additional blobbed on snowflakes added with an opaque white detail paint which I am still trying to clean out of my brush.

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Primary Colour

 Hello peeps, hope you are all well.

Today, the new theme over at AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

is for you to tell us all about your Favourite Primary Colour.

(if you are not sure, there are only three, Red, Blue, and Yellow)

I am rather partial to a splash of yellow, it is such a bright and happy colour, and it makes me think of Spring.

So, for this I have used

MFT Birdie Brown - Rain or Shine stamps MFT-BB-58

MFT DieNamics - Rain or Shine dies MFT-1308

Mama Elephant Mixed Wishes Greetings

MFT 6x6 papers - Poppin' Polka Dots MFT-EP-76

Images painted with Zig Real Color Brush Pens as watercolours

and the yellow matting layer is simply white card edged up with a Copic pen

Our sponsor for this challenge is

POLKADOODLES

So, what's stopping you, come on over and get colourful with us!

Hugs

Saddle Up & Celebrate (DT) Dies To Die For

  Morning all, it's a damp and dreary day here in the east of England, but I have something bright and cheerful to share with you.

I got a little bit excited last month when MFT did a Vault Release of a lot

of their Birdie Brown designs - it meant I have been able to top up my collection!

For this slimline card (9x4) I have used

MFT Birdie Brown Saddle Up & Celebrate stamps MFT-BB-135

MFT DieNamics Saddle Up & Celebrate dies mft-1359X

Whimsy Dies Slimline Connected Rectangles die WSD551

Whimsy Slimline Paper Pack Buttercup WSDPS04

Images all painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours.

Yee-haw!

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Mon Cheri (DT) Dies To Die For

  Ooh la la, bonjour mon petite pois!

You know you can always rely on me for a little bit of class.

Today's goodies used are:

MFT Birdie Brown - Mon Cheri stamps MFT-BB-130

MFT DieNamics - Mon Cheri dies MFT-2035

Sunny Studio 6x6 papers

MFT DieNamics Stitched Basic Edges 2 MFT-1015

MFT DieNamics A2 Circle Stax MFT-1790

MFT Sassypants Birthday Greetings 3 MFT-CS-582

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Au revoir!

Hugs

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Favourite Pet Animal (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 The new challenge starting today from the AS YOU LIKE IT team is

Your Favourite Pet Animal

(and please do tell us why)

I'm a crazy cat lady I'm afraid.  There has always been a cat in my life right since I was a baby.  Even during a couple of years where I wasn't able to have my own, I still had the pleasure of the furry residents at my parents.  I have been owned by several hairy overlords over the years, and I am currently owned by Rosie who was adopted from the Blue Cross six years ago.  She is twelve now but shows no signs of relaxing her reign of terror.

For my card, I have used a stamp from Gerda Steiner Designs - Only For You

and teamed it with a die-cut from MFT DieNamics - Twice The Hugs

Papers are a mix of Lawn Fawn and MFT

Stamped sentiment is Lawn Fawn

Our sponsor for this challenge is

FANTASTIC RIBBONS

and we have a new DT member so please do pop over to say a warm hello to the fabulous Chrissy from Chrissy's Cardland

Hugs