Nice Day For A White Wedding

Hello chaps, just popping by to share a simple wedding card with you tonight:

Make It Crafty - Geeky Kiss from Geeky Love Wedding Set

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papermania Capsule Collection papers and silver textured mirri-card

Papermania dewdrop gems

LOTV Circular Sentiments

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Beautiful

Afternoon all.  I made a "just because" card today as I wanted to play with one of my new Whimsy stamps that arrived this week.

Sylvia Zet (Wee Stamps) has come up with two stunningly gorgeous Native American Indian girls in the July release - I got them both but the one I have used is Wyanet (Beautiful).

I used to be fascinated by the Native American Indian culture and read a shed load of literature on the subject.  I have tried to identify which tribe the name is most closely linked with but have had no luck so far.  If I track it down, I'll let you know!

Whimsy/Wee Stamps - Wyanet (Beautiful)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mixture of Basic Grey and My Minds Eye

Sentiment is from LOTV Mixed Circular Sentiments

Butterflies are Cheery Lynn and pearls are from stash

Dies are Nestabilities Labels 11 (Standard and Grand)

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Hello Kitty

Morning all, it's the weekend, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  Hope that whatever you are up to, you have some fun along the way.

Toad has just got back from the Post Office collecting a parcel for me and it's my new batch of Distress Markers, the ones Ranger finally brought out to match the "Seasonal" inks that are now part of the main collection.  Guess what I will be doing later?

But before I disappear to get inky I have a card to share with you:

This is Life Preserver Kitty by Chrissy Armstrong from Whimsy

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Papers are Little Sizzlets and Nitwits

The only additional thing used was the corner rounder punch

Don't you just love the look on his face?!

Vince looks like that when he gets a pouch of food that's not on his favourites menu.

I've been playing with the PIXlr.com photo editing suite and turned him into a canvas

for this shot.

Hope you all have a brilliant weekend, despite the forecasted thunder storms later

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Monochrome

A very quick Liliday post from me today - new challenge over at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES and our theme this week is MONOCHROME!

Here is my DT card

Ingredients are

LOTV stamp - The Charleston

Papers - Dovecraft Back To Basics

Bow die from Little Inkers

Fern die from Memory Box

Scalloped die from Nestabilities

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment from LOTV Sentiment Tags

Our super sponsor is MY CRAFTY HEART

Ta-dah!  Hope you will be able to join in the Fairy fun!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Simply Silly

Phew, it's a warm 'un.  This is one squirrel whose tail has gone more than just a little bit frizzy today!

Just popping by with a simple little card for you today, one that made me smile because it's silly but I love the image so much

This is "Twirl" by Christine Grove from Stamping Bella

and the "impossible" sentiment comes with her

I bought mine from Quixotic Paperie and you can find her here

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

DP is Dovecraft Back To Basics

Hero Arts Happy Birthday sentiment

X-Cut medium star palm punch

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Can You Tell What It Is Yet?

Hope you are all having a happy Sunday.  The sun has just frightened off this morning's cloud and it is getting warmer and humid now.  Had a really lazy morning as I had such a bad night coughing again so Toad sweetly left me to doze.

Here Come The Boys - Anything Goes

Not much too this card really apart from

Stampendous stamp painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Backing paper from a piece of leftovers

Copper border peel-offs from stash

and that's it

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Never Use Glitter With The Fan On

Afternoon all!  How are we today?  For those of you still struggling on in the heat, you have my sympathy, but thankfully, she says gloating, it is about ten degrees cooler here.  What a difference it makes - I have spent all week struggling to breathe and coughing and spluttering, but although I am still full of cold I can at least manage to get some air into my lungs - which always helps!

And because it's cooler, although not cold, someone thought it would be a good idea to have a pork roast for dinner, lol.  Only a Squirrel huh?  Anyhoo, it is bearable in the studio so I thought I would have a go at three challenges:

Addicted To Stamps And More - CAS

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Christmas In July

Addicted to CAS - Glitter

And here is my card:

This stamp is from one of the Kanban sets I managed to grab from Funky Kits

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from the same set

Matting layer is Dovecrafts Back To Basics Christmas

And the glitter - yes, I really did have the fan on - is Art Institute "Fairie" yellow

The joint is done, Vince is settled down on Toad's knee to watch this afternoon's penultimate stage of the Tour de France, so all I need to do is put some washing on the line, clear up the surplus glitter, and then sit down with a cuppa myself.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Twas The Nightmare Of The Tiny Buttons

Morning all.  I can't believe that I have posted something every day this week - what a difference it makes not being at work, lol.  Shame I have to go back on Monday, especially in this heat.  It will be furnace temperatures in my little corner as the room I share gets the sun all day.  Blergh.

Well it's ages since I did the Papertake Weekly Challenge but I am having a go at their Buttons n Bows challenge with this card

Another of my new Wild Rose Studio stamps - this one is Emily Walking

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Cool Summer by Carta Bella

except for the ribbon stripe and the bow which is Craftwork Cards Tutti Fruiti

Bow die from Little Inkers

And those squitty little buttons which were a nightmare to nab out of my button tub

without tipping the whole lot out are, I think, Hero Arts

And I have a very proud husband at the moment - this is the first of his attempt at potato growing

To be honest, we have no idea what variety they are - it was just from a spud in the box that had sprouted!  But he is pleased, and I am pleased that he's pleased, if you follow.  I just hope they cook up ok.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Christmas In July

It's Thursday, it's Liliday and as it is so darned hot this week, what else would you expect from LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES but Christmas in July!  Honestly, it didn't seem so silly when I did the challenge list when it was cold, wet and bleak!!

Here is my DT card:

This stamp is LOTV James Bear Sledging Along

Seriously, he so cute I could scoff him all up in one sandwich

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Arched dies are MFT Die-Namics Rounded Banner Stax

Papers are Bo-Bunny

Sentiment is Little Claire's Sentiments Christmas

Snowflakes are a Woodware Punch

Silver squiggle border from stash

And our sponsor this week is  with a fabbie store voucher

Hope you find time to put away the sun cream and come and be Christmassy with us this week

And I would also like to enter this in
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - July

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Cute Fairy

Morning all!  Thank you so much for all your wonderful birthday wishes for yesterday - I was inundated with cards, gifts and messages and truly made to feel very special indeed.  Big hugs (mwah) xx

Plans changed a little bit; we had thought about a trip to the seaside but I was so slow in getting my act together that all we did in the end was a trip to a local garden centre for a fresh cheese scone and a cuppa, and then back home to play silly games on Wii Resort.  It was a fun day, and Toad still can't beat me at wakeboarding, no matter how hard he tries, rofl!  So it will be the seaside today as I have set the alarm clock for the one and only time this week.

I had a chance to play with some of my birthday goodies in the afternoon and here is what I did

This is Cute Fairy from the last LOTV release

I was very lucky in that Toad bought me the whole release, bless his heart

The fabric effect papers were also a birthday gift from a very dear and special friend and they are delicious!

They are Tilly Daydream by DoCrafts and I will be getting more of these, I know it

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Star border is a Martha Stewart punch

And the dies are Memory Box Precious Stars with a little added Glamour Dust

Sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Emily With Ted

Morning all.  We went to see Despicable Me 2 at the cinema yesterday.  It was brilliant, and the cinema was air conditioned, which helped with breathing through the snuffles.  If you loved Despicable Me, then this film is one for you!

It's my birthday today and we haven't planned anything but I fancy a trip to the seaside.  Will see if I can persuade Toad that it's a good idea.

Anyhoo, I have another of the new Wild Rose Studio stamps to show you this morning

This is Emily With Ted

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from LOTV

Papers are all First Edition - a mix from two pads

Candy Dots are Pebbles Inc

And the button dies are Impression Obsession

Hope you have a super day, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Teddy Present

I had another little play with my Kanban Santa Bears on Saturday - one of them is laying on his tum, and the first thing that popped into my head was that he needed to be on top of a big Christmas present, so here he is:

Isn't he such a sweetie?

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Festive Berries, Aged Mahogany and Weathered Wood

Very simple present made with LOTV Classic Christmas Papers

Background is LOTV Krafty Christmas

Bow is from Impression Obsession

Gold border from stash

Simples!

Christmas Cards All Year Round - July: All About Santa

Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - July

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lots of Fur

Afternoon all.  I'm not happy.  No, really, I'm not.  Having spent almost four weeks getting over a summer cold from hell, I woke up at 3.00 this morning with glands like footballs and struggling to swallow.  I feel like I have been run over by an Intercity train.  Bah!

And speaking of trains, has Blogger been taken over by Network Rail?  Yesterday I posted two cards and it took nine and four hours respectively for them to appear in the Reading List, by which time I suspect most of you had given up and gone to bed - I certainly had!

Oh do shut up Squirrel and get on with the post about today's card.  Right then, here it is and for two challenges 

Allsorts Challenge - Fur n Feathers

My Creative Moments - July Wordplay: Birthday

I cannot blame Kate (Downrightcrafty) or Lorraine (Lorraine's Loft) for this one as I had actually got the stamps on order before I saw them on their blogs!

So this stamp is from Wild Rose Studio - Elsie and Squirrel (well I just had to)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Papers are Neighbourwood by Helz Cuppleditch

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you are enjoying your Sunday a little more than I am.  Sniff, cough, sneeze.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Happy 90th!

Well, I thought it would be too hot in the studio for crafting today but having flung the windows open early and got the fans on it was tolerable if a little sticky but I did manage to get a couple of cards made this afternoon.

Months ago, one of my friends from Church asked if I would make her a 90th birthday card for a friend for August.  Now, I don't know if many of you realise this but my day job is working in a solicitors office in the Probate department (which is basically dealing with peoples money and possessions after death) so whether or not it was the caution of that, or simply not wanting to tempt fate but I left it until now to make the card!!

I am always a bit nervous with order cards but am very pleased with how this turned out

I have stamped the new LOTV Sweet Peas

Painted them with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Used a mixture of papers from Nitwits/LOTV pads Promises and Petal Fresh

A deep lattice border punch from Martha Stewart

and the Happy and Birthday dies from Cheery Lynn

And of course my most used dies from Whimsy for the corners

I have decorated the inside too with another sheet from the Promises pad and a Hero Arts sentiment

that says Wishing You A Day Full Of Sunshine And Smiles

Fingers crossed she will like it!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Without Words - Midway Reminder

Hello All, hope you are ok and enjoying this burst of summer - we have a Heatewave Warning for East Anglia, which means they expect the temperatures to exceed 30C.  I love the sunshine but 18-20C is more than enough for this little critter!

But while we are talking about summer, how about a midway reminder for the July Challenge over at Without Words where our theme is Summer Picnic - you can go with the colour theme of strawberries, cream and cucumber sandwiches, or with the picnic theme.

I went with the colour theme for my DT card but for the reminder I have gone colour and picnic!

This LOTV Strawberries stamp could have been made for this challenge

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Teamed with papers from Nitwits and Forever Friends

Personal Impressions sentiment

Heart border from stash

So there you have it, a tasty CAS card - why not have a go this month, especially as we have two

tempting sponsors for you

See you there

Hugs, Squirrel xx

No Embellishments!!

Hello all.  I have a card today for you with no embellishments.  Shocked aren't you, lol!  Oh come on, how could I ignore a challenge of N is for No Embellishments, which is what the theme is this time over at ABC Christmas Challenge.

I have been very naughty over the last week with ordering new stamps, and when I saw a set of Christmas bear stamps from Kanban over at Funky Kits I could not resist them.

Just been over to Funky Kits to find the link and both the stamp sets I ordered have been removed so it looks like I was lucky enough to get the last ones

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from Hero Arts

Paper is LOTV Classic Christmas

Gold border is from stash

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Happy Birthday

Hello all, yes, it is LILIDAY again so that means another new challenge from LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES.  A bit of self-interest here as it is my birthday next week, lol.

This week our theme is HAPPY BIRTHDAY so not only do we need a Lili image, we would also like to see a birthday sentiment on your card.

As always the DT have pulled out the stops for your delight and inspiration.  Here is what I made:

For this one I have used Watering The Flowers

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Sugar n Spice

Sentiment is from the LOTV clear set Greetings Postmarks

Extra large retro flower EK Success punch

Whimsy corner dies

And a single Craftwork Cards Card Candi to finish off

Whilst I'm not expecting an overflowing postbox next Tuesday, I hope you enjoy making something

for our Happy Birthday challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Ladies, a word of warning for all of you who carry a tube of anti-bacterial hand gel in your bags.

Check it regularly!!

I have just discovered a horrible, sticky, soapy mix of leaking gel and handbag contents, the majority of which are ruined.  Handbag might be ok if it survives the washing machine, but my diary, notebook, pens, tissues, saccharins, tape measure are all bin fodder.  Thank goodness my phone was in a separate pocket.

When I had a look at the tube, there was a teeny tiny split in the seam.  Be warned!

Lost Balloon or Lost The Plot?

Evening all.  Let's see what happens tonight, as I am posting this at just before 6.30 - last night's card took four hours to appear in the Reading List (you must have thought I keep late hours when in fact I was tucked up in bed when it finally appeared!).

These little sweeties are from LOTV and called The Lost Balloon

Doesn't his sad face say it all?  Awwh.

Papers are from Wild Rose Studio

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Whimsy corner dies

I should mention the tiny weeny bow but have temporarily forgotten the make (oops)

Fancy scissors for the central border trim, although it doesn't exactly stand out in the photo

Oh, and of course, image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I cannot believe how far behind I am with visiting you all, three weeks without a pc has felt like a lifetime, and now I'm back, I can't catch up.  Really sorry if I've not popped in yet, but I will do as soon as I can.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sweet Thing

Evening all!  Well, I've just tucked into a diet ruining plate of bubble n squeak and am waiting for tonight's episode of Only Connect so thought I would pop in with a card I made yesterday but which fits nicely with the Penny Black And More Challenge for July of Dies and Punches.

So, I've used this Penny Black stamp featuring Mimi called Sweet Thing

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Tea Party

Gold borders are from stash

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

And the dies used are Nestabilities Classic Circles

Nestabilities skinny oval (suspect this is not its real name, lol)

Little Inkers Small Bow die

Thanks for popping in.  Sorry there's no cake.  Plenty of grapes though!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lighting Up

Are you all getting ready to settle down for an afternoon of epic tennis then?  The tv is on in the "studio", as are the fans, so I'll be heading out there shortly for a craft and a watch of what could be British tennis history...

But before I do that, Penny Black Saturday Challenge have Christmas in July as their theme and I just had to take part for two reasons, I need to get on with Christmas cards and its been far too long since I used one of my beloved Penny Black stamps!

So, for this one I have stamped PB Lighting Up

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Twinkling H20s

Paper is from the Nitwits/LOTV Cake & Candles pad

Holographic mirri card is from stash by I think it originally came from Create & Craft

Sentiment is by Little Claire

Memory Box dies used are Festive Lights and the smaller one of Precious Snowflakes

Square crystal gems are from stash

I did the lights by running the main part of the die through with gold mirri card, and then used the bulbs part of the die with the red, blue and silver mirri card.  It was a challenge to glue the individual bulbs to the string part so a steady hand and fine tweezers are recommended.  I used Impex Hi-Tack Glue for this as the surfaces were shiny.

An enormous cheer has just gone up so I assume the players are now on Court ..... sees ya later!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Uptown - Twice

Phew what a scorcher!  Afternoon all - how are you?  We have been out and about this morning and having spent far longer than is healthy stuck in traffic jams in town (the Highways Department have a LOT to answer for at the moment) I was more than glad to get back home in the cool.  All this fur is too much for this weather and my tail is wilting.  

Toad has braved the conservatory but poor little Vince has slunk off upstairs to find somewhere quiet to stretch out and sleep.

Anyhoo, I am slowly making progress with this new computer and finding out how to do things.  On the death of the old pc, I lost Photoshop which was my fave editing programme but I read about a free online system recommended by Which magazine, so thought I would give it a try.  It is pixlr.com and so far, so good, it seems to be user friendly, which is what a technologically challenged squirrel needs.  One of the jobs we did this morning was to take an external hard-drive to the computer hospital to get the data transferred from the old pc, so hopefully I will have my pictures back soon!

After all that, I've got a couple of cards to share with you today - not one, but two!  Both feature Stamping Bella Uptown Girls and I blame that Mary J for leading me astray with these beauties.  If only I could get them to look as good as Mary does!

This one is Bianca Loves Her Big Cake and she was so much fun to paint with the Distress Inks (ReInkers). The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set and that lush backing paper is from the Basic Grey "Wisteria" pad.

And this lady is Opal The Optimist - the sentiment comes with her - again painted with Distress Inks.  The papers are from a coverless pad in my leftovers box.  Those fabulous purple dewdrop gems are by Papermania.

I bought both stamps from the wonderful Elaine at Quixotic Paperie - and she has done her fair share of leading me astray lately too!!  If you have not shopped here before, I urge you to take a look - so much choice, and a brilliant service with super fast delivery.  Thanks Elaine.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Red White & Blue

Hello chaps, it's Liliday again and I am back at the LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES helm this week.  My hugest of thanks to Fairy Jayne for holding the fort in my absence.

 

So, what do we have for a challenge this week?  Well as today is 4th July and in honour of our US blogging friends we have gone for RED WHITE & BLUE.

 

For me, this just cried out to use a boy stamp but the DT have created some super inspiration for you to ooh and aah over, do take time to have a look.

 

 

I have used one of the older LOTV boy stamps but he is still one of my favourites

This is Sailing Boat

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Ahoy There collection from Papermania

Matting layers are white card edged with a ProMarker

Sentiment is from the LOTV Happy Circular Sentiments set

 

And our sponsor this week is CRAFTY RIBBONS with a brilliant £10 voucher

 

Hope to see you all there when the challenge goes live at 9.00 this morning, just remember to follow the theme and to use a LOTV image (stamp, die cut, Art Pad).

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

 

 

Without Words (DT) July: Summer Picnic

Morning all, sorry I'm a bit late with this but having lost our old computer to the great motherboard in the sky, I haven't got access to all my pictures yet so I had to wait to nab my photograph off the challenge blog!!

 

So, it is a new month at WITHOUT WORDS and for JULY our theme is SUMMER PICNIC.  You can either go with the colour theme of strawberries and cream and cucumber sandwiches (red, cream and green) or with the picnic theme, the choice is yours.  I went with the colour option:

 

 

I have used the Butterfly Blossom stamp from Little Claire

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) in Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Antique Linen, Mowed Lawn

and Gathered Twigs

Butterfly is a Cheery Lynn die, with Papermania gems

Martha Stewart border punch, and a gorgeous Nestie die

 

As it is July, and my birthday month, we have double sponsors this time so I hope you get time to play as there are two prizes up for grabs!

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx