As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Love or Friendship

 So, here we are with another challenge from

AS YOU LIKE IT

and this time our theme is Love or Friendship

I love making for friends, there doesn't need to be a particular reason other than

letting you know you are thinking of them

I've used this super cute pre-coloured digi from Amanda Jayne Designs

called Friends Forever

I've used Crealies circle dies

A Lawn Fawn love die, which I have stacked to give depth

and loads of papers from the Papermania blue collection

The winner of this challenge will receive a digi prize from:

Amanda Jayne Designs

Hugs

Best Friend Forever

 Crafting brings us together doesn't it?

After many years of card making now, I have made some absolutely fabulous and lifelong

friends in the crafting community, but there is always that special someone who you just

click with and the longer you know them, the more you discover they are more like family

than a friend.  A sister who I would have chosen.

I have one BFF who owns a large chunk of my heart, and I like to tell her that from time to time.

For this small, sweet, and simple card I have used

MFT Yuzu - Shout It From The Rooftops MFT-YUZU-003

Painted with Zig Clean Colour Brush Pens as watercolours

MFT Die-Namics Fine Finish die MFT-2147

and a left over sheet of pretty pink paper that I have no idea which pad it is from

Hugs

As You Like It (DT) True Love or Fabulous Friends

 Hellooo (waving), Happy Thursday peeps.

It's the start of a new theme over at As You Like It Challenge and for this fortnight we're asking which type of cards you like to make, either for your True Love or Fabulous Friends.

I prefer making cards for my friends, although the hubby does get his share of lurrvve cards, because I can be quirkier with them and they don't have to be too mushy.

I have used Whimsy Stamps (Lee Holland Collection) Mouse With Rose

A Li'l Inkers sentiment stamp from an old set called Between The Lines

(you need to read the small print)

Doodlebugs gingham paper

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop die

and mouse painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

I cut part way around the rose so that I could tuck the gingham paper behind it.

You have a fortnight to enter the challenge, so looking forward to seeing what you come up with,

Hugs

Dies To Die For (DT) Gnomes With A Secret

Morning all.  Well, another dad episode I'm afraid, he had another fall this week and we were woken by a phone call from the neighbour at 5.00am Thursday morning.  Dashed over there to find him on the floor but seemingly unhurt, the neighbour didn't want to move him (and would have struggled on his own) so between the three of us we got him up and into a chair.  There is some mystery as to how this happened but he'd been off-colour for a couple of days with a chill, so it's possible he woke up disorientated and wobbly, and down he went, bless him.  My gift to him this week has been a Zimmer frame.  I can hear the protests now but I'm not taking any nonsense from him!

Oh, and mum is missing the ear pieces for her hearing aids.  She thinks mice might have made off with them.  Sigh.

Anyhoo, on to this weeks make for Dies To Die For

Stamping Bella Gnomes With A Secret sb-EB802

MFT Background Stamp Best Friends MFT-BG-140

MFT DieNamics Stitched A2 Circle Stax MFT-1675

MFT DieNamics Stitched Mini Slimline Stax MFT-2117

Lawn Fawn papers

Great fun inking this one up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs

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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

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

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Occasion/Reason

 These weeks are galloping past, how is it possibly another AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE already?!

Well, it is, and this time our theme is

Your Favourite Occasion/Reason for Sending A Card

(please explain why)

So, the majority of the cards I make are for birthday, but my favourite reason to send cards is for friendship, there is nothing quite like receiving a card out of the blue from someone who cares about you.

MFT Birdie Brown - Mice Day to Celebrate

MFT-BB-120 (stamps) MFT-1938 (dies)

MFT Slimline Stencils - Clouds (ST-149) Hills (ST-150)

MFT 6x6 papers - Road Trippin' (MFT-EP-71)

Coloured up with

Mouse - Zig Clean Colour pens

Background - Distress Inks and a finger dauber

Our sponsor for this theme is

POLKADOODLES

Hugs

Curvy Girl Baker (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, a very slow Squirrel here, everything is on a go slow today, but maybe that is what Saturdays were made for.  I'd intended to have a bit of a lay-in this morning, but woke up early, then cat-napped until the alarm (with Rosie on my pillow, snoring) and then got up feeling grot.  Should have got up when I first woke!

Oh well, never mind eh.  So, snow and blizzards forecast for us in the east tomorrow and Monday.  I'm a little bit excited about it, I love to see fresh snow, but also dreading it.  Thankfully I am working from home until Wednesday so maybe the roads will have cleared by then!

Anyhoo, here is what you came over for:

I adore these Curvy Girl stamps from Stamping Bella, although they are still enviably tall, at least their legs are not like matchsticks!

Stamping Bella - Curvy Girl Baker : sb-EB856

MFT 6x6 papers selection

Curvy Girl has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I just used a little Hobbycraft heart punch to take the bareness off that section of the card.

As you can tell from the lack of ingredients, this is definitely a CAS card.

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE  (lots of new goodies have arrived this week)

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True Love or Fabulous Friends (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Hello peeps, Thursday again, and that means another new challenge from the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time our theme is True Love or Fabulous Friends.

Rather oddly, although family never make a comment on the cards they receive, I soon hear about it if I miss an occasion with one, go figure.  However, friends on the other hand always appreciate the time and effort a handcrafted card takes, and have been known to say "I am getting one of your cards aren't I?" which always feels like a veiled threat somehow, so I really do make more for friends because I know they will be going to a good home!

Bits and bobs on this one are

Stamping Bella - Bundle Girl With Snowdrop

and the matching Cut It Out die

Whimsy 6x6 papers - Pretty Pastels

Tonic top fold pop up border die

Not sure about the sentiment, or even where I got it from, but it's lovely

Heart punch from Hobbycraft

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our sponsor for this challenge is LILI OF THE VALLEY

Hope you can join us!

Hugs

Tea Party (DT) Dies To Die For

  SNOW!  We finally have snow (we're usually the last, or miss out entirely), so this little Squirrel was very excited to see it all beautiful, crisp, pristine, and white, this morning.  Mind you, it's all slushy and horrible now so not quite so much fun!

Anyhoo, from the sublime to the ridiculous, last week I used about a billion items on my DT make, this week just three.

This dinky little card features:

MFT Stacey Yacula Tea Party stamps - MFT-SY-27

MFT DieNamics Tea Party dies - MFT-1890

MFT Stencil - Micro Cloud Edges MFT-ST-145

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, clouds stencilled (DI Broken China pad), and grass splodged on (DI Peeled Paint pad) with a finger dauber.

And that's it, just like me, short and sweet, LOL!

Hugs

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Favourite Colour Duo (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Whoo-hoo!! It's the start of the 2021 challenges with the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE!

So, to kick off the year, our first theme is

Your Favourite Colour Duo (and please explain why)

I like lots of colour duos, and use them in phases, but it always comes back to the same one - brown and turquoise - I love the earthy, warm, tones of the brown contrasted by the bright, ethereal, sky quality of the blue.  Land and sky is what is comes down to, I am a squirrel of the soil.

So, I have used

CC Designs : Roberto's Rascals Hearts To You

MFT DieNamics : Sending You Hugs - MFT-1888

MFT 6x6 paper : Party Plaid

Trimcraft First Edition 8x8 paper : Wild At Heart

Nancy has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor for this challenge is

LAWN FAWN

Looking forward to hearing all about your favourite colour duo choice.

Hugs

Woof Pack Catastrophe (DT) Dies To Die For

 Hello peeps, I hope you are all doing your best to keep safe and well in these troubling times.  For anyone who is unfortunately ill with this damnable virus, I wish you a good recovery.  For the rest of us, HANDS-FACE-SPACE, it is important, now more than ever.

Right then, on with today's make

Lots of goodies used on this one, all from DIES TO DIE FOR of course

MFT Birdie Brown - Woof Pack stamps : MFT-BB-105

MFT DieNamics - Woof Pack dies : MFT-1765

MFT Birdie Brown - Catastrophe stamps : MFT-BB-104

MFT DieNamics - Catastropher dies : MFT-1764

MFT DieNamics Stitched Rolling Cloud Edges dies : MFT-1791

MFT Clear Stamps - Loveable Leopards : MFT-CS-203

MFT 6x6 papers - Gift Wrap : MFT-EP-73

MFT DieNamics - Grass Edges

Phew, a lot of stuff for a wee card!

Images were stamped onto Langton Hot Press (Smooth) watercolour paper, painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, and die cut.  The bird from the Leopards set was direct stamped onto the background paper (MFT Watercolor Wash - sadly no longer on website).

Right, I'm off to rescue a pork loin joint from the oven - guess what we are having for dinner tonight!

Hugs to all

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Let's Curl Up (DT) Dies To Die For

  I can't think of anything better to do today than curl up, preferably under the duvet, but I have a beef casserole to get prepped and in the oven for a slow cook for dinner, and another batch of Bolognese sauce to get made for the freezer.

Did you all manage to have a good (under the circumstances) Christmas?  I heard a lot of "oh, that is Christmas ruined" but, seriously, Christmas wasn't ruined, it was the expectation of a house full of over-fed relatives and bored children that was ruined!  We managed to get to Mass on Christmas morning as even though we are now in Tier 4 it is still permitted, so that started the day off well.  Then it was home for a bacon sandwich, present opening, a nap, a film, and a turkey dinner.  It was perfect, just me, him, and Rosie Pud.

Boxing Day was a little different.  I would normally cook a meal for my parents, take it over, and we would sit down to eat together.  However, this year I took the decision that (as I had been mixing with people at work, and Himself has been mixing with Church people)  it was too much of a risk that I wasn't prepared to take, sitting around a dinner table for a couple of hours in close quarters.  I think mum and dad understood.  In the end, I packed them up a picnic tea and took it over in the afternoon so that they could dive into it whenever they felt like it.  I spoke to mum the next day and she said they were still munching, so that sounds like it was a success.

I've had a much needed two weeks away from work but will be back in on Monday.  Not sure how I feel about that yet - getting up at 6.00am is going to come hard after a couple of weeks snoozing until 8.30.

Anyhoo, you came over for today's DTDF post, so here it is.

Lovely things used from DTDF for this card are:

MFT Clear Stamps : Let's Curl Up - MFT-CS-529

MFT DieNamics : Let's Curl Up - MFT-1894

MFT Pure Innocence : You Sleigh Me - MFT-PI-314

Background paper is a scrap of MFT 6x6 True Blue Houndstooth (retired)

The plain circle die I used was from a Tonic set because it was just the right size for what I wanted, but any similar sized circle die would have done.

I stamped the foliage items with Tuxedo Black, Grape Jelly, and Morocco Memento inks onto white Bristol Board and I Distress Ink painted the leaves.  Foxy was stamped onto Langton Hot Press (Smooth) watercolour paper, again painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and die cut.  I added him using foam pads to raise him up a little bit.

So, that's me done for today.

Hugs & Stay Safe

Best In Show (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, I hope this finds you all safe and well and with a good stock of loo rolls.

Just lately we have had occasional visits from my boss's dog to the office, Bertie is so much fun and just loves people.  He's a very happy dog but has a cheeky streak.  Only yesterday we had a small chase around trying to retrieve a roll of green ribbon that he'd run off with.  He thought it was the best game ever.  His energy and good nature inspired this tiny make.

MFT Birdie Brown Best In Show MFT-BB-69

Combined stamp set and dies offer

scrap of MFT 6x6 paper

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a scribble of Polychromos shadow

Stay safe

Socially distanced hugs

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Bundles of Hugs (DT) Dies To Die For

  What's a girl to do when she sees cute squirrel stamps?  Foregone conclusion.

Whimsy Stamps - Bundles of Hugs KHBBOH

MFT 6x6 - Party Plaid MFT-EP-67

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment stamped in Memento Ink "Morocco"

Hugs

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Unicorns & Glitter (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning peeps, yes, I am late with my post today.  Having now returned to the office for work, rather than home-working, my routine is well an truly screwed, and I am a creature of habit so any changes like this really throw me off kilter!

Anyhoo, over on Instagram, I follow a lot of kitten fostering pages, and through one of those I have made a new friend, Danica, who is as mad as a box of frogs but I still adore her.  A while ago she dropped this not so subtle hint that it was her 30 birthday this year and how she would absolutely love to receive one of my cards (told you, mad), so this is the little make that went winging its way to Canada a couple of months ago.

Sorry about the photo - I think the sensor on the camera got confused by the blue and white!

MFT Birdie Brown - Unicorns & Glitter stamp set MFT-BB-100

MFT 6x6 papers - Spring Whimsy MFT-EP-61

A bit of masking on this one, before the background was sponged with Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers, little girl painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, base ground of the grass was Distress Inks and then detail added with Polychromos Pencils.

Hugs

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MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #479

Amazing isn't it, I don't post from one week to the next and suddenly I'm here twice in one day, you lucky things, lol!

I saw the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge # 479 this morning, and immediately a stamp set came to mind for the layout, and it is one that I have been wanting to get inky again for some time.

I used

MFT Birdie Brown Space Explorer BB-43

and the matching die set MFT-1058

The black card I had in my stash so stamped that with a random dotty stamp in Distress Ink Picket Fence

The backing paper is a pad of watercolour effect from my scraps box

The astronaut and the planets I have "watercoloured" with Zig Clean Colour pens

I promise, you (probably) won't see me again until Thursday now.

Hugs