As You Like It Challenge (DT) Dies or Stencils

It's time for another challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT team

and this time your choice is Dies or Stencils

 OK, I couldn't choose.  I use dies a lot, but I also love stencils for making pretty backgrounds, so I decided to rebel and combine them.

MFT Clear Stamps - This Hug's For You MFT-CS-616

MFT DieNamics Stitched Mini Slimline Stax MFT-2117

Stamperia Christmas Rose - Flowers stencil

Bear painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and background

stencilled with Distress Inks (Oxide)

Our super duper sponsor for this challenge is

DIES TO DIE FOR

Hugs

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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Dies To Die For DT - Oddball William

  Wow, look at this, on Saturday, and early!

Now, please don't get me wrong, I normally adore anything that Stamping Bella produces, but....when the Oddball collection came out, I was very "meh" about it.  However, the longer it has been around, the more I am warming to it, and this one in particular caught my fancy.

Say hello to Oddball William from Stamping Bella sb-EB1006

Sunny Studio 6x6 papers

Sentiment all my fault

William 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

Dies To Die For DT - It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas

  Hello peeps, a little Sunday visit from me for a change (it was rather busy yesterday)

Just a quick and simple (but still cute) one today

MFT It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas (stamps) MFT-CS-603

and the coordinating dies MFT-2101

MFT 6x6 paper Christmas Cheer MFT-EP-74

Quick dab of Distress Inks (ReInkers) and done.

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Dies To Die For (DT) Bright Holidays

  Hello peeps, sorry I was MIA for my DTDF post last week, life just got the better of me I'm afraid.

Anyhoo, the preparations panic continues for Christmas

Stuff used

MFT Pure Innocence Bright Holidays stamp MFT-PI-326

and MFT DieNamics Bright Holidays die MFT-2090

Mama Elephant Holiday Messages ME-18-95

Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers - Knit Picky

Your Next Stamp 6x6 papers - Winter Knits

The frame used is from MFT - the square one is not longer available at DTDF but

the Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frame still is

and there are other brands of scallop edged frames on the website too

Bright Holidays was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a little Stabilo Fineliner scribble for tree texture

Hugs

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As You Like It Challenge (DT) People or Critters

 I knew something was amiss with this post, but didn't realise until 10 minutes ago that I hadn't actually drafted it.  Huge apologies to Red Leader for being a nugget.

So, this AS YOU LIKE IT challenge is a choice - which is your favourite (and why)

People or Critters

Now I do like a critter on a card, they are just so darned cute, but I also love it when I can match a people image to a person, like this card for instance, it was made as a thank you card for the nurse practitioner and her colleagues at the hospital who have looked after my dad and his injury so brilliantly.  Thanks to them and their care, we are hoping that this week might be his last appointment before he is discharged into the tender mercies of my mum and her dressing skills!

I've used the MFT Birdie Brown stamp set (and matching dies)

Call The Shots MFT-BB-76 and MFT-1578

DCWV cardstock for the border punched layer, using a Martha Stewart punch

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our super sponsor this time is FANTASTIC RIBBONS

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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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