As You Like It Challenge (DT) Harvest Colours

 So, here we are, just over halfway through September and into the

very beginning of autumn.  This time of year is always the time of harvest festivals

and that is why for this challenge at AS YOU LIKE IT

we're asking for your favourite Harvest Colours

I love the warmth of harvest colours, the golds, reds, and greens of ripe

fruit and vegetables, a season of plenty, a full table of tasty things,

Like this little chap with his golden beetroot, delicious!

Stamping Bella - Gnome Farmer

Honey Bee - Giddy For Gingham

MFT - Diagonal Gingham

Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Polychromos Pencils

Sentiment by Penny Black

Our sponsor for this theme is the ever fabulous

DIES TO DIE FOR

Hugs

Knights In White Satin

 Now I have reached that certain age where I just don't give a fig what anybody thinks, I believe it is time for me to admit that for absolutely years I thought the Moody Blues song was Knights In White Satin.  It was always a puzzle because surely Knights are roughty toughty and wear armour and don't go rolling around on silky bedsheets.... 

Anyhoo, I made this for a friend's husband for his birthday

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Knight Dragons stamps

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Matting paper is MFT 6x6 Floor To Ceiling

Sentiments are from a retired set of Clearly Besotted stamps

Thanks for popping by

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

Happy (no, really) Birthday

 My favourite cousin and I are only 10 weeks apart in age (he's the eldest), and we've done a lot together over time - right through school together, learning to drive at the same time (I passed first), you get the idea.  And even though we are now heading towards a certain age, we still like to remind each other of how old we're getting.

I don't know why, but this just made me laugh - I hope he saw the funny side too.

A very simple card but I used

Stamping Bella Oddball Mom And Dad

Stamping Bella Oddball Family Pets

Stamping Bella Happy Birthday To You sentiments

Coloured with a mix of Distress Inks (ReInkers), Zig Clean Color Pens, and Polychromos Pencils

Honestly not sure what make the striped paper is

Hugs

Dracula

 So, I'm sat here swearing at the laptop (situation normal) as I'm trying to transfer a chunk of photos from my phone to the hard-drive, and I have spotted a few cards that I haven't posted yet, mainly because they were for customer orders rather than DT posts, so I thought I'd drip feed them to you.

You will notice that they will appear to be out of season!

This one was an order from a friend who wanted a card for her brother who had his birthday at Halloween, and she wanted to make something of that.

So we have a real mash-up of products used here

Dracula is from CC Designs

painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Oval dies are Crealies

Happy is half of a Impression Obsession Happy Easter die

40 is MFT Die-Namics stitched numbers

Papers are whatever was to hand in the right colours

Goo border is a Martha Stewart punch

Apparently he was thrilled with it and, rumour has it, it is still on display even now.

Hope you have a fab weekend.

Hugs

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

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

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

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

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?

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

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

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

As You Like It Challenge (DT) His or Hers

 Hello peeps, Squirrel here today.  I hope you are all ok as we venture into the second UK lockdown.  I will be working from the office this time, hopefully in splendid isolation as so many changes have been made to keep those who have to be in there nice and safe.  It'll be a case of suck it and see for a while, if too many people decide they can't work from home then there will have to be a rethink.

Anyhoo, I'm here with my DT make for the new AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE theme, and this time the theme is HIS OR HERS (your favourite to make for and why).

Most of my makes tend to be for the ladies, but I do really enjoy making for the boys, especially if they are young enough for me to get away with cute, or if they are too old for cute then for me to be cheeky.  Male cards tend to suit my clean and simple style much better.

I actually made this one for a commission earlier in the year so have been saving it just for this challenge!

 The images are CC Designs "Surprise" and Whimsy Stamps Calories Schmalories stamp set, both coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

I'd love to give you the details for the dies but .......... the letters, number, and tag are all MFT Die-Namics.

And the papers, I think those are Echo Park, but I cannot be 100% sure.

And after that vagueness, our sponsor for this theme is POLKADOODLES (I can remember some things, honest)

Hugs

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

Saddle Up & Celebrate (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, I'm here today, in the saddle as you might say!

A little something for the boys for a change.

Yummy things used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Saddle Up & Celebrate MFT-BB-61

MFT Die-Namics Saddle Up & Celebrate MFT-1359

MFT Cling Rubber Stamps - Circle Celebration Background MFT-BG-114

MFT 6x6 Watercolor Wash

Lawn Fawn 6x6 Spiffy Speckles

I used an old MFT Die-Namics die set called Grassy Edges which has long retired but

you can still get the MFT Tall Grassy Edge die

Images watercoloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens - I admit it, I am in love with these pens, they make an ideal companion for colouring on the move (or even stationary, like I am mostly) as all you need is a waterbrush.

Yee haw!

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

As You Like It Challenge (DT) His or Hers

Morning all, another Thursday, another challenge!

The team over at AS YOU LIKE IT are asking which you prefer to make

For Him or For Her (and please tell us why)

I would guesstimate that 95% of my makes throughout the year are for the girls so I really

quite enjoy the change of making for the boys, and their cards are very much like the

boys - much simpler!!

So, the bits and bobs used for this one are

CC Designs Clear Stamps Rocker Boys

Like an idiot I didn't write down the word die, but I think it is MFT Die-Namics

MFT 6x6 Watercolour Wash

Martha Stewart grass border punch

Joy Crafts 6x6 brick pattern paper

Young fella-me-lad is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Thanks to those of you who took the time to participate in the AYLI birthday blog hop, the winner of which is announced over on the challenge blog!

Finally, the sponsor for our His or Hers theme is

POLKADOODLES

Hugs to all

Baseball Squidgy (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, or should I say Strike One!

I am getting to be a terror at forgetting birthdays until after the event, so this little chap works well for my newly acquired but really annoying failings,  It has become something of a joke these days so that's what I am turning it into "Yeah, I failed again, but I know I did"

Lovely things used

Stamping Bella - Baseball Squidgy

Honey Bee - Blah Blah Blah

My Favorite Things - Mini Cloud Edges Stencil

Versafine Onyx Black Inkpad

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInker)

Red cardstock from Rymans

Enjoy your Bank Holiday (UK) weekend folk!

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

Boom! (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all,  I.m here today with a little one suitable for the fellas

Your Next Stamp - Boom (stamp set)

Your Next Stamp - Boom (dies)

Your Next Stamp 6x6 Birthday Boy

Die-Namics Firework Display

My Favourite Things - You Wow Me

Die-Namics Single Stitch Line Rounded Square Frame

MFT 6x6 Dots & Stripes Sorbet

Hugs to all

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DTDF (DT) Space Explorer

Morning all, a bit of a snuffly Squirrel today.  I am soooooo fed up with germs.

So anyhoo, it is Daddy Squirrel's birthday tomorrow, and I would normally go something with gardening or DIY themes, but this year I wanted to show that "actually Houston, we have the problem covered"

MFT Space Explorer stamp set

MFT Die-Namics Space Explorer die set

Lawn Fawn - Lawn Cuts: Snowy Backdrop die

I've painted all the image bits with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I used a sheet

of old Basic Grey for the background as once I cut with the Lawn Fawn die, it did, to me, look like a scene from a science fiction movie!

Hugs to all

Dies To Die For Inspiration Blog

Dies To Die For Online Store

Viking Henry (DT) DTDF

Hello peeps, and welcome to the first Saturday of the New Year!  I'm here today with a dose of adventurous spirit for those men in your life (young or old) for my DIES TO DIE FOR

inspiration make.

and the list of wonderfulness used is

CC Designs: Viking Henry

CC Designs: Birch Trees Stencil

Memory Box: Bamboo Shoots

Memory Box: Delicate Fern

Die-Namics: Pierced Fishtail Flags Stax

The font set used is "A Hint of Lime" from Die-Versions (bought from DTDF a long time ago) but any small font would work, this one is only 1/4" (6mm) and was a challenge!

The Impression Obsession Alphabet Plain LC would make a good substitute.

Image was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

The background green paper is from an old pad of Basic Grey and I stencilled the Birch Trees with Gathered Twigs Distress Inks

Hugs to all

DIES TO DIE FOR Inspiration Blog

DIES TO DIE FOR Online Store

DTDF (DT) Lumberjack Guys

Morning all, I'm here today with one for the boys as my

inspiration piece for the DIES TO DIE FOR blog

Yesterday was young Sam's birthday, well I say young, he is well into being

a teenager now, and teenage years are when the cards start getting tricky.  Thankfully

Sam is a softie so I am certain he will appreciate the small and furry element!

CC Designs: Lumberjack Guys (set of 4 stamps)

MFT: Sweet Forest Friends

MFT: Birthday Greetings

Die-Namics: Stitched Hexagon Stax

Lawn Fawn: Knit Picky 6x6

The gold star peel-offs that I layered over the Lawn Fawn paper are a staple

in my stash, and (oddly) always make their annual appearances round about this time of year

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a wee smidge of Polychromos

Have a lovely crafty weekend all

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For online store