Quit Bugging Me

HAPPY EASTER everyone!  I hope you are having a super day, whatever you are up to.  It was a chuffty cold start to the day but now the sun is shining and it is truly starting to feel a tiny bit like Spring.  Even my daffies are beginning to look as it they might be in flower by June!!

Anyhoo, I have a couple of little bugs to share with you today

Awwh, aren't they just so much in lurrrve?

This is Love Trip from Whimsy/Wee 

(and it is currently 10% off at Bunny Zoe's - the link should take you straight there)

Painted in a wide assortment of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all First Edition: Spring Drop

Floral Oval Nestie die, Whimsy corner die

Weird little sparkly pearls that I probably bought for Christmas as they

look a bit like snowballs!

That's me for today - off to cook dinner now.

See you all tomorrow morning with my DT card for Without Words.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

1,000th Post!!

Good heavens, can you believe that this is my 1,000th post?  Makes it sound like I talk a lot, lol!!

Are you having a good Saturday?  We have been over to see my parents this afternoon and ending up watching a weasel in the garden.  Amazing little critters. Mum reckons it is Dad's friend as it often appears when he is outside.  Perhaps Dad is a Weasel Whisperer.

Anyhoo, the Less Is More challenge this week is Use Scallops - just goes to show that I have been watching too much MasterChef as my first thought was of shellfish ...... but here are two slightly more conventional uses of scallops for you

This is the second card I made but the one I like the best.  I cut a mask using a scalloped square Nestie, and then randomly inked with Distress Inks around the outside to get the patchwork effect, then simply stamped over with the Stampendous flowers and the Papermania word stamp.

This was the first one I made - used a stamp from the LOTV Babies companion set, painted with Distress Inks, used my classic and scalloped oval Nesties, a strip of Prima paper with a Magnolia border die, and a Hero Arts sentiment.

Hope you are having super weekends - remember, if your Easter Egg is broken it is okay, it just means all the calories have fallen out.  Enjoy!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Good Friday Greetings

Morning all!  Easter is nearly upon us, it is 4C with intermittent cloud.  What is an intermittent cloud?  Does it flash on and off like a dodgy strip light?

Sorry I have not been around much this week - it has been such a busy one for me, both at work and with behind the scenes blog stuff but I hope things are settling down now.  At work it is our financial year end and we have been under immense pressure to hit targets, which I am pleased to say we did, but the past month has been pretty intensive for all concerned.  I am so pleased that I am now ON HOLIDAY for ten days, lol.

Anyhoo, because I've been occupied with other stuff, I've not got any crafting done, until this morning.  I spotted a colour theme challenge over at ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE and it feels like a lifetime since I've done one of those so thought I'd have a go.

Here are the colours:

These are Stampin' Up colours so I had to go with what I had in Distress Inks, and came up with this

So, the stamped image is "Cutie" from the Strawberry Kisses collection at Crafters Companion

I've painted her in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Tattered Rose

The papers are a mixture of magazine freebie, Basic Grey and Prima odds and ends

Tonic Retro Flower punch and a Martha Stewart border punch

Craftwork Cards sentiment to finish

You can see that I still haven't got to grips with the camera on my new phone.  The pinks all look washed out  on the image but they are much stronger in real life.  Honestly, this phone does everything except make the tea but I swear the camera on my ancient Nokia was better!

Well, as it is Good Friday we will be off to Mass this afternoon.  Whatever you are doing today, may it be a happy one.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Experimenting

Evening all, chilly enough?  Brrrrrrrrr.

Anyhoo, I had a little play yesterday afternoon with the no-lines technique.  I tried this once before with the Distress Inks and learned a valuable lesson so this time I was more careful.  Unlike with pens, you do still get lines with the Distress Inks but the lines absorb the colour of the ink you are painting with - so you need to be ultra careful as to which section you do with what colour ink!

This isn't perfect by any means, but it is certainly better than the first one I attempted!

I've used LOTV's Playtime Puppy - what a cutie

The sentiment and babygro are from the LOTV Babies Companion set 

Patterned papers are Dovecraft Back to Basics IV

Matting layer is white card edged with ProMarker

Pearls are from stash

Colours have distorted in the photo process so sorry about that, the heart on the babygro is pink!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Four Years

Afternoon all, and hope you are safe, warm and well on this particularly revolting March day.  Yep, we have snow too - it was later getting to us than predicted but by heck it is definitely here now.  Spring? Well, yes, my darlin' Oldies got married on Easter Saturday (28 March 1959) and it snowed on their wedding day almost 54 years ago!

Anyhoo, I am going to get the apology out of the way now.  I upgraded my phone contract this week.  Last time I did that the phone I got I never did get used to and so went back to my old one, my trusty and faithful Nokia 6303 Classic.  But now I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a smart phone.  Oh good grief.  It has just about brought my migraines back.  Anyway, the apology is for the appalling quality of photos until I get the hang of the "intelligent" camera - too smart for its own good if you ask me - so you will have to forgive some blurry and wonky shots for a while!!

Flippin' thing seems to have focused on the flowers so the image isn't very sharp - so sorry, I will practice I promise.

This has been made for this week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin' and it is Lots Of Layers - and yes, there are lots of layers, nine in all if you count the flowers.

I've used the rubber version of Sylvia Zet's (Whimsy/Wee Stamps) adorable Dreamy Dragon

(Dreaming of better weather probably)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs

The papers are all from the Isabelle pad from First Edition

Flowers were in stash, and centred with Card Candi

Lots of lovely Nesties used, standard sized and grand sized

So, what's this about four years?  According to my diary, it is four years today since I started my blogging adventure!  Happy Blogday to me.  And you can join in the celebrations, if you haven't already, with my Spring/Easter Candy which runs til 6 April, so still two weeks to enter

Hugs all - stay safe

Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Spring Colours

Hello Lilifans, a slighter later than usual Liliday this week, and I'm in charge!  Apologies for the missing challenge last week but don't lose those cards you made, we will come back to that theme at a later date.

The challenge for this week at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES CHALLENGE is Spring Colours so let's defy the weather and see lots of pretty shades and sunshine this time.

This is an older LOTV stamp called Spring Bunny With Eggs - how perfect for the season!

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mash-up of bits from the leftovers but are a mix of First Edition and Basic Grey I think

Whimsy die corner and the gold heart border is from stash

Thank you all for your patience in sticking with us.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Another Corner Bow Card

Evening all, ok?  First day of Spring huh?  That'll explain the snowflakes this afternoon!  Anyhoo, just a quickie to share with you tonight...... another corner bow Easter card.

This one uses the LOTV Flower Arranging stamp

Painted in, naturally, Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood

Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Old Paper

Shabby Shutters, Tumbled Glass, Brushed Corduroy, Spun Sugar

Corner ribbon is from a discontinued LOTV set of ribbons and bows stamps

Sentiment is from LOTV Simply Sophisticated set

Matting layer from scraps box

I'm sure you are fed up with these now so I'll try something a little more interesting for my next post!

Hugs Squirrel xx

It's that Bloglovin' Feeling

Hello my lovelies, as many of you will have read by now, there is a very real and present danger that Google Reader is being withdrawn from 1 July.  Which is darned inconsiderate and inconvenient to say the least but hey, what say do us bloggers have huh?

Anyhoo, a very good and simply to use alternative is Bloglovin - it is so easy to register and set up, and you can import all the blogs you already follow with the click of a button.  I think I did it in about 5 mins and I don't have a technical bone in my body!

You will see this button in my sidebar so please feel free to take yourself off over there and sign up.  I would hate to lose any of you precious darlings - after all, it has taken me four years to achieve the number of Followers I have and I intend to keep every last one of you!!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Midway Reminder for Without Words

Hi all, just a quickie to remind you about this month's WITHOUT WORDS challenge

and the theme is A Time Of Renewal (Spring and/or Easter).

LOTV stamp - If Friends Were Flowers
LOTV sentiment - Simply Sophisticated clear set

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Corner bow and ribbon is from an LOTV clear set that now seems to be discontinued
Matting layer is white card edged with Sunflower ProMarker

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Leap Frog

Afternoon all.  Are you ok?  I've just sat through the BBC highlights of the first F1 race of the 2013 season.  I am a little puzzled as to why, when the Beeb have only half the races live, that they insist on giving the results ahead of time on the race-days when they are only screening highlights!  I knew the result at 8.00 this morning thanks to our local BBC radio station.  Not everyone can afford the Sky F1 channel and are depending on terrestrial TV, so perhaps on highlight-only weekends the Beeb could be more discreet about when they announce who has won the flippin' race!!

OK, little rant over.  It would seem that yesterday's Chirpy Chicken card didn't really float your boat, (although I really like it and that's what counts), so let's see if today's appeals to you a bit more.

I've used LOTV stamp Leap Frog for this one - first inking!!

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar

Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood

Papers are Nitwit/LOTV from Perfect Pair (pink) and Bear Necessities (blue)

Matting card is from PaperChase

Sentiment is LOTV Handwritten Phrases

Corners are a Whimsy die

And it is the photographer who is on the squint, not the card!

I couldn't find the safe place where I had put my mask for clouds so afraid the sky is a bit wild and loose with a size 6 paintbrush but I think it works well enough.

Hope you are having a super weekend, whatever you are up to!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Chirpy Chicken

Afternoon all, I've dashed up here quickly in between watching the England v Wales Six Nations decider and cooking dinner so this is a fast one ..... will pop back later to add the challenges I have lined up.

Stampavie (Penny Johnson) Easter Chick stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

DPs are First Edition Spring Drop

Sentiment is LOTV

Matting layers from stash

Border die Magnolia Swedish Lace (I think)

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Easter

Crafty Sentiment Designs - Hello Spring

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Top of the Pops

Yep, it is Liliday again and this week it is the turn of Team B but I could not resist the LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES challenge which is Top Of The Pops - simply be inspired by a song title.  How much fun is that?  I had to restrain myself because even though I made two DT cards for this challenge, I had ideas for many more!

Sorry guys, there seems to be a delay in the challenge posting - hopefully it will be up and running soon for you.
 

So here we go then with card number 1

Song Choice - The Rolling Stones "Paint It Black"

I've used LOTV's Painting Puppy and painted him in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Festive Berries,

Aged Mahogany, Tattered Rose, Old Paper

Papers are from an old Dovecraft pack of black and white papers

Sentiment is from the LOTV Scroll Sentiments set

And of course a trio of Card Candi

And now to card number 2

Song Choice - Elvis Presley "High Heel Sneakers"

Stamped image is LOTV Puss In Boot and again painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge, Tattered Rose, Tumbled Glass

Broken China, Gathered Twigs, Spun Sugar, Pumice Stone

Papers from an old pad of DCWV long since discontinued

Martha Stewart border punch

Tonic medium retro flower punch

Card Candi

Classic Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities dies

I think this was one of the challenges that I have enjoyed most for a while - can't wait to see what you come up with.  Just remember to use an LOTV image (stamp or die cut) and let us know in your post which song inspired your make.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Hanging In There

Morning all, just popping in quickly to share one of those cards with you that started out of nothing and ended up as one I don't want to part with now!

You probably won't be shocked to see that this is another of my CAS cards.  Do I see these as the lazy option?  No!  I spend more time on these than on most other cards!  And why would I want to hide the image behind lots of distractions?  Nah, clean and simple is what you get here, lol!

I've used Wee Stamps "Fluffy Hanging In There" - I used the rubber version but can't find

it in my fave stores any more.  You can still get the digital version from Wee Stamps.

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy, Antique Linen, Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar

Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Old Paper, Iced Spruce

Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint

Sentiment is from an unlabelled clear set stamped in Potters Clay Memento Ink

Matted on a layer of Papermania from a discontinued Capsule Collection

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Spring Time Bear

Yes, I know the Meteorological Office have said that Spring is here, the birds seem to think it is, and the flowers are pushing their way through, but in my book Spring doesn't start officially until 21 March.   I wonder if the MO can explain the snow we had last night and again this morning. Spring?  Who are you guys kidding?!

But if we can't have real Spring yet, at least we can still look forward to it, which is what I had done with this little chap

This is Spring Time Bear from the last LOTV release

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed

Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass

Papers are from the Nitwit/LOTV Country Lady pad

Sentiment is LOTV Scroll Sentiments

Martha Stewart border punch

Memory Box Whimsical Florish (snipped in half to get it either side of the image)

and I can finally name those corners - SCACD Classic Corners - ta dah!

Thanks for popping over to see me.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Spotty Stripes?

Evening all.  Hope you have had a good Saturday.  Thank you to all who left such kind and lovely comments for Toad.  He is a little happier today, thank goodness.

Only had time for a very quick play today so here are two cards for this week's Less Is More one layer challenge of Spots And Stripes ......

A fairly random card but I quite like the end result.  I used the spotty stamps from a freebie Craftwork Cards stamp set, and a LOTV stitches stamp.  Sentiment is Hero Arts, and inks are all Memento.

This one uses Hero Arts Happy Bunting flags and a Craft Stamper magazine freebie stamp.  All inked in Memento again, and the stripes done with PrismaColour pencils.  I think the blue flags look like cheese....

Should have a slightly calmer day tomorrow with more time to craft so hope to see you then.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Phew, it's Friday!

It's been a horrible week.  My poor Toad has been late home every night this week and he is exhausted.  He is having a miserable time at work and it is breaking my heart to see him like this.  Normally nothing gets him down but at the moment it is as if all his oomph has been drained away.

Sorry, I didn't really mean to start the post like that, but I feel so helpless.  If anyone can think of a tonic to lift his spirits I'm open to suggestions.

Anyhoo, I actually popped on to share a card with you for ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE who are having an Addicted to CAS challenge.  I've gone for my usual CAS style ..... so predictable.

This is a Whimsy/Chrissy Armstrong stamp called Fistful of Flowers

I've painted her with a light palette of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose

Weathered Wood, Victorian Velvet, Shaded Lilac, Mustard Seed

Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters

Teamed up with a lovely sentiment from one of my Hero Arts sets

and matted on a layer of plain pink Dovecraft paper

Thanks for popping over to take a look, I appreciate every comment you leave, they are little gems in my day.  And HELLO to more new followers!  Lovely to have you join me on my crafty journey.

I may not be around much over the weekend as we are going to be quite busy but I hope to catch up with you at some point.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) For Mum

Guess what, yes, it's Liliday again!  Ooh, how I love Lilidays.  Thank you for all your delicious entries last week, all those peaches and cream cards really made my mouth water.  So, what do the Fairies have for you this week at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES CHALLENGE?  This coming Sunday is Mothering Sunday in the UK so for those of you who have not made a card yet now is your chance, and if it is not Mothering Sunday where you are, why not make a card for your mum anyway and tell her how much you love her.  Our challenge is, if you haven't guessed already, For Mum.

The Fairy DT have made some beautiful inspiration cards for you.  Here is what I made this week:

Isn't this little chap just adorable?  He is LOTV Woof You

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all Nitwit which I downloaded and printed

Sentiment is LOTV from the Handwritten Phrases set

The punched border is Martha Stewart

And yes, it is those mysterious no-name corners again

A few iridescent gems from stash and done

So your entry must be for mum, and must use an LOTV image (stamp or die-cut) - looking forward to seeing what you clever lot come up with!

Finally, I'm not sure if it is pink enough but I shall enter the IN THE PINK challenge of Floral/Mothers Day with this.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Are You Lost?

Happy Tuesday all, glad to have Monday out of the way this week!  I'm a bit like Garfield I'm afraid, love lasagne and not very good with Mondays!!

Anyhoo, this month over at Penny Black And More the challenge for March is One For The Boys, and at By The Cute And Girly the challenge is Favourite Things.

I needed to make a birthday card for Toad's brother and this is what I came up with

Stamped image is Penny Black/Mo Manning "Explorer"

Painted in one of my all time favourite things, Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sorry, no colour list for this one

The map background is from an old atlas, and the other papers are a mixture of another favourite, Nitwit

The sentiment is yet another favourite from LOTV - the For Him Sentiments set

And of course, delicious Card Candi from Craftwork Cards

Poor little chap, hope he finds his way soon!

I'd like to take the opportunity to say hello to my new Followers who have signed up over the last few days, welcome aboard.  I hope to be able to keep you entertained and informed!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) March

Well look at that, we are in March already, and as it is the first Monday, that must mean it is the new WITHOUT WORDS challenge!

This month the challenge is A Time Of Renewal (Spring and/or Easter) and we are sponsored by the wonderful Pink Gem Designs.

Pink Gem kindly provided the DT with some digi images to play with but I went with one of my older PG stamps and this one is Milly With Chickens (she is available in digi form here).

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and teamed with that gorgeous ribbon and bow from LOTV.  The sentiment is also LOTV.

We had fun creating a Spring feeling this month so I do hope you will be able to join us.  Please please please familiarise yourself with our simple rules though, it is horrible having to discount cards because they don't fit the challenge.

Have fun with colour!

Hugs Squirrel xx

Peaches??

Are you having a lazy Sunday afternoon?  No, me neither, been crafting like a good un and got three cards made today.  Will save two of them for later but will share one with you today.

Now then, yesterday (because we are still laptopless and my computer time is limited - Toad had occupational rights most of the day) I asked my darlin' friend Zippy what the challenge was for this week's Less Is More and she comes back with Peaches n Cream.  Ooh I thought, coincidence, that's the same as Lili's Little Fairies this week.  Never really gave it much more thought ..... until today when I was rummaging through my stamps and found one that I felt was perfect.

I made my card, but now I come upstairs to post it, I find it doesn't fit either challenge properly because Less Is More is certainly a Colour Challenge, and I have some of the colours but probably not enough, and it won't fit Lili because although the colours are right, I've not used a Lili stamp!  That'll teach me to do my own research won't it.  Never mind Zippy love, I am really pleased with how the card came out!

So I've used this adorable Stampavie Gillian Roberts image called Picking Cherries

Painted her in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Dried Marigold,

Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon

Sentiment is from Hobby Art and stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch

Matted on a layer of cream Dovecraft paper

So, a pretty little card but no challenge to enter - hey ho!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I Love You Mummy Bear

Afternoon all, how are we today?  You would not believe how late I slept in this morning!  Never mind eh, doesn't hurt once in a while.

I picked up the new edition of Craft Stamper yesterday and was immediately captivated by a technique demonstrated by Chrissie Stokes.  I knew I just had to try it so after a couple of false starts and wrestling with acetate this is my first attempt.  By no means perfect, it will need shed loads of practice to get it right, but for a first go I'm happy enough.

Four challenges for this card

Ready Teddy Go - Mum's The Word

Forever Friends Fortnightly - Bears
Allsorts Challenge - For a Lady
Stamping With the Dragon - Anything Goes

I've used Alfie Bear from Craftwork Cards

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose

Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord

The faux quilted background is done in Shaded Lilac DI, and the tiny hearts stamped

in the same colour are from a Hero Arts clear set

Sentiment is of course LOTV

Like I said, the quilting technique needs practice, I've not got it very even, and my acetate was too thin I think as it kept wobbling and moving.  But I'll have another go until I get it right.  Chrissie made it look so easy - ha!

Hugs, Squirrel xx