Long Time No See (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, happy weekend to you.  Now that we are in to September, my crafty mind has gone into panic Christmas mode.  Why do I always leave it so late?!

I crocheted the husband a bobble hat earlier in the year.  Despite very careful and repeated measurements it came up rather large, it will certainly keep his ears warm, and probably his knees as well - a bit like this one.

Do penguins have knees?

Gerda Steiner - Long Time No See stamp

Lawn Fawn - Mini Snowflake dies

Taylored Expressions 6x6 - Playful Patterns - Holiday

MFT Sentiments - Bitty Holday Wishes MFT-CS-417

Penguin coloured up with Zig Clean Colour brush pens used as watercolours

All I can say is thank heaven for "Stick It" adhesive sheets, I would have got in a real mess with that delicate snowflake without it.  I discovered the joy of it some time ago and used to be really sparing in how often I used it, but I must be getting lazy in my old age as I find myself reaching for it time and time again these days.

Hugs

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Rain or Shine (DT) Dies To Die For

I'm here today, with another little sprinkle of Birdie Brown!

It's my dear mum's birthday the week after next (no danger of her seeing this, she doesn't have internet out in the wild end of Suffolk).  Because she is a garden lover, her passion is so weather dependent, so if she had a rainbow umbrella she'd be set for rain, or as a sunshade.

Ingredients used:

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

MFT DieNamics - Rain or Shine (dies) MFT-1308

MFT Clear Stamps - Purr-fect  MFT-CS-388

MFT Stencil - Rolling Clouds  MFT-ST-143

MFT DieNamics - Grassy Edges

MFT 6x6 paper - Woodgrain Whimsy  MFT-EP-62

MFT 6xt paper - Party Plaid  MFT-EP-67

Images coloured with Zig Clean Colour Real Brush pens and Distress Inks (ReInkers).

It's been a funny old week.  I have been working right through lockdown from the back bedroom/study and initially I really struggled with it.  However, somewhere along the line my mind adjusted and I have been relatively content, especially as the commute to and from work has been so short.  This week we had been told that our department will be returning to the office soon, and I admit it, my anxiety kicked into overdrive.  Am I really so scared to go out there again?  Actually, yes, I am terrified.  I know I need to get it into perspective, and this county has one of the lowest infection rates in the country, but that doesn't stop these irrational feelings of fear and trepidation.  I simply do not want to be mixing with people again!  I know that once I have actually done it, I will feel a bit better about things, but honestly, there are several sleepless nights coming up!

Anyhoo, enough of my ramblings, off you go and enjoy your weekend.

Hugs

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Ribbon (DT) As You Like It

Yes, you read that title right, I am being forced to use ribbon!

The new challenge theme over as As You Like It is your favourite way of using ribbon.

I rarely use the stuff, mainly because I can't get to grips with it, and it always looks like I have just thrown it at a card, so when I do have to use it, I keep it really really simple.

So, for this I have used

MFT Birdie Brown - Happy Pawlidays (stamps)

MFT Die-Namics - Happy Pawlidays (dies)

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers from Lawn Fawn and Bo Bunny

AND a piece of 6mm red satin ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons

Speaking of which, our sponsor for this challenge is

FANTASTIC RIBBONS

The irony here is that it was me that chose this theme!

Hugs

Mermazing (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, how are we?

With all the hot weather we have had lately, I could really do with a paddling pool for dabbling my hot and sticky paws in, but I'm not a swimmer so this is unlikely to be me ...........

Ingredients used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Mermazing stamp set  MFT-BB-45

MFT Die-Namics - Mermazing MFT-1098

MFT Spotlight Sentiments MFT-CS-478

MFT Die-Namics A2 Circle Stax MFT-1790

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 paper - Cosmic WSDP19

Sunny Studio 6x6 paper - Summer Splash SSPP-114

MFT Stencil - Perfect Pool Water  MFT-ST-141

Perfect Pool Water stencil inked up with Distress Inks Broken China, images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours.

Corner punch is a cheapy I picked up on impulse from Hobbycraft, I think it adds a nice finishing detail.  Now if MFT Die-Namics ventured into corner dies, I would be a very happy little critter!

Anyhoo, the closest I'll get to being a mermaid is in a deep bath (but not too deep, I'm short)!

Hugs

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Magical Friends (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, happy Saturday to you.

I'm here with a little bit of magical stuff  from my favourite designer, Birdie Brown, for you.  I bet, at some point in our lives, we have all wished to have a dragon as a best friend, for protection, for wisdom, for granting wishes, and of course for story telling.

MFT Birdie Brown - Magical Friends stamps MFT-BB-92

MFT DieNamics Magical Friends dies MFT-1671

MFT 6x6 - Buffalo Brights MFT-EP-66

MFT 6x6 - Party Plaid MFT-EP-67

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours.

Small heart punch from Hobbycraft.

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Pink Plus One

Hello chaps, hope you are all ok this rather "warm" Thursday.  When I say warm, I do mean chuffin' hot, it's averaged 33C for the last week, and I have just about reached the end of my tether with it!

Anyhoo, you didn't come here for me to rant about a heatwave, so let me tell you about the new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT.

Our theme for this challenge is a colour theme - we would like to see PINK PLUS ONE (the plus one is your choice of main colour, but please explain).

I've perhaps paired my pink with a slightly unexpected colour, and have chosen brown.  The reason why is that pink and brown together remind me so much of the "mallow cones" that our local cake shop used to sell, and they were always a treat for special occasions - an ice-cream cone, filled with pink mallow, dipped in chocolate at the top, and covered with sprinkles.  A blast from the past, although if you hunt far enough, you can still find them!

I've used a real assortment of products:

MFT Stamps - Friends Furever

MFT DieNamics Hugs dies

MFT Stitched Blooms dies

Sunny Studio 6x6 papers from stash

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor for this challenge is LOTV (digi images - the new Christmas ones are released this week)

Hugs

Happy Birthday (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, I am here today with something a little bit different for me.  I was inspired to make this by something I saw on Instagram last week made by Peppermint Patty.  She used different ingredients and her make was more sophisticated, but I just loved the idea of making the letters floral.

I think I spent as long assembling this as I would have done colouring an image!

Honey Bee Stamps - Bee Bold Lower Case Honey Cuts

MFT 6x6 papers - Fun In The Sun MFT-EP-64 

Summertime Polka Dots MFT-EP-65

Spring Whimsy MFT-EP-61

Party Plaid MFT-EP-67 

MFT Die-Namics Peek A Boo Dots

I used a tiny flower punch from Hobbycraft rather than messing about with repeated die-cutting.

And that's it, colourful, but not a drop of ink anywhere.

Hugs

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Lessons In Love (DT) Dies To Die For

Yes, I know I'm late again........ sorry!  I didn't sleep well last night, and then managed to oversleep this morning.  Isn't that just the way of it?

I do love me a versatile stamp - this one was designed with teachers in mind, but I think

she makes a great secretary/PA

Things used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Lessons In Love  MFT-BB-82

MFT DieNamics Lessons In Love MFT-1601

MFT DieNamics Stitched Basic Edges 2 MFT-1014

MFT 6x6 papers - Positively Peppy MFT-EP-63

Image coloured with Zig Clean Colour Pens

Hugs

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Cats or Dogs (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Hello peeps, I hope this Thursday finds you well and that life is being kind to you.  We all need a little kindess.

There is a new themed challenge at AS YOU LIKE IT today, and that theme is Cats or Dogs (your favourite, but please tell us why).

I've had cats in my life since I was born, literally - Sam, the farm tabby, used to sleep under my pram in the garden and wouldn't let anyone near, he was a fierce guard cat!  I can't imagine being without one now, with their cuteness (when they want), their calming purrs, their antics, scheming, mischief, all in all life would be dull without a furry feline buddy.

For this bundle of fuzz, I have used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Cat-Astrophe stamps MFT-BB-104

and the matching dies

a mixture of MFT and Honey Bee papers

a Whimsy ribbon slider die

Two sentiments - one from the cat stamp set, the other from Personal Impressions

and, shockingly, a beautiful piece of rainbow organza ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons

Kittens all coloured up using Zig Clean Colour Pens

Our sponsor for this challenge is

POLKADOODLES

Looking forward to meeting all your furry friends!

Hugs

The Gnome And The Bird (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all.  What's it like where you are?  It's a bit dingy here, I think we might be in for some much needed rain today.  I only hope it lets my towels get dry first!

There have been a lot of gnomes about on the crafting scene for a while now, and many of them are super cute.  However, when Stamping Bella released their new batch of Gnome stamps I am sure

you will have heard my squeal about 500 miles away.  The only thing about them that scares me are the beards!

Stamping Bella - The Gnome and The Bird

Memory Box - Nottingham Border die

MFT 6x6 papers - Buffalo Brights

Sentiment comes with the Gnome stamp.

Sparkly yellow dots from stash.

Image coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens and a Derwent grey ink drawing pen.

Hugs

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All The Cupcakes (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, here I am, on time for a change, and officially another year older than I was last week!

Let's face it, it doesn't matter how old you are, there is no better way to celebrate a birthday than with a great big cake (or lots of  smaller cakes).

And the lovely things used for this are:

MFT Clear Stamps - All The Cupcakes stamps MFT-CS-489

MFT DieNamics - All The Cupcakes dies MFT-1781

MFT Clear Stamps - Big Birthday Sentiments stamps MFT-CS-133

MFT DieNamics - Stitched CU Comp Vertical MFT-767

(I used the cover up die cut as a stencil for my background inking)

Vertical die has gone from website now, but the Horizonal one MFT-768 is still available

As mentioned above, I used the die cut as my stencil, and then inked up with Distress Inks and my Picket Fence brushes to get that soft marbled effect.

All the cakes were watercoloured with the Zig Clean Colour Pens.

We didn't do much for my birthday on the day, but we did take a trip to the seaside yesterday, got a fish and chip takeaway and sat down on the seafront to scoff it.  On the way back to the car, I caved in and got my first Costa Flat White in four months, it was like nectar!

Anyhoo, that's me for today, see you soon.

Hugs

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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

Birthday Bear (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all (just)!  Today's lateness is easily explained, I had a surprise visit from a friend who was dropping off a birthday present, and as we haven't seen each other since March we had a socially distanced catch-up in the front garden.  It must have been entertaining for the neighbours as friend has quite a distinctive laugh, bless her.  It was certainly good to see her, and the urge for hugs was huge, but we were both very well behaved.

And on the theme of birthdays, Facebook asked me if I would like to do a fundraiser for my upcoming day - a bit eager I thought, as it was then still a week away, but what the heck.  I chose to raise funds for Cats Protection and I cannot say a big enough thank you to all who have donated so far, it's only been up for two days and I am already only £11 off target.  It would be lovely to burst that target into tiny pieces and benefit all those cats and kittens who so desperately need help.

Also on the theme of birthdays....

Lovely things used

Gerda Steiner - Birthday Bear stamp set

MFT Stencil - Mini Cloud Edges MFT-ST-100

MFT 6x6 paper - Summertime Polka Dots MFT-EP-65

The bear and the bird are separate stamps in the set (don't look too closely or you'll see the join) but they work so brilliantly well together!

All painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The purple matting layer is just white card edged with a Copic - it was the closest match I could get to the Wilted Violet DI used on a couple of the bunting flags.

Anyhoo, that is me done for today so I am off to fry some sausages!

Hugs

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Strike Up The Band (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, I am getting later and later with my posts.  I had intended to do this last night, but then I started watching Vera and before you know it, I was snoozing in the armchair.  By the time the husband woke me up, it was time for bed, and too late for sitting down with a laptop!

Anyhoo, I've been wanting to use this stamp set again for quite some time, but was getting a bit flustered because when I bought it I didn't buy the die set (oh hindsight is a wonderful thing you know) and the watercolour paper that I normally use is too thick to cut happily with a craft knife.  However, I bought a new type of Bristol Board to try, so gave it a go.  It is thinner than the watercolour paper, and much whiter, which suited the rabbits, but the ink doesn't move around as well.  It is a bit of a compromise paper if I'm brutal.  However, it did mean that I could actually fussy cut the bunnies without crippling my hands, so that is what I did.

Ingredients used for today's make are:

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

MFT DieNamics - Collage Cover Up MFT-1257

MFT 6x6 papers - Positively Peppy MFT-EP-63

Looks like the MFT Graphic Grid paper has now been retired (sorry)

Bunnies are all watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and sentiment was stamped with Bahama Blue Memento ink.

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) Farm or Jungle

Thursday again chaps!

Here we go with a new challenge theme from the

AS YOU LIKE IT team.

This time around, the theme is Farm or Jungle

(and please please please tell us why you made the choice you did)

I was born and raised in the countryside, surrounded by farms and the usual collection of farm animals, cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and the occasional goat, so having them around me all the time, and probably influenced by televisions shows like Daktari, Tarzan, and Animal Magic, I found the exotic animals to be far more interesting than a black and white milk cow!

So I went off on a tangent, and created an urban jungle!

Lovely items used are:

MFT Birdie Brown - Sweater Weather On Safari MFT-BB-79

and the matching dies MFT-1599

MFT SY Kissing Booth MFT-SY-17

(didn't use the dies for this, fussy cut instead)

Clearly Besotted Build It Stencil

and a gallon of Distress Inks and Zig Clean Color pens

The winner of this challenge will be invited to guest design with the team for August!

Looking forward to seeing all your creations.

Hugs