Chirpy

Morning all, how are we today?  We'll be off to Mass this afternoon, with fish n chips on the way home, but at the moment Toad is playing with his new mountain range model train landscape, Rosie is sunbathing in the conservatory and I'm sat here still in my dressing gown!

Anyhoo, I thought I would share another little Easter card with you this morning.

Mr Toad bought me this Chirpy Chicks stamp set from Clearly Besotted

for Valentine's - he's finally worked out what makes this girl happy!

Sentiment is from the same set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Corner punch from Woodware

Matting card by DCWV

Simples, does what it says on the tin.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Fit and Elfy

Morning all.  How are you doing?  I am finally starting to get rid of Toad's germs and beginning to feel like a squirrel again.

There's a fab challenge going on over at The Cutie Pie Challenge that is right up my street which is Simply Cute and Christmassy and you all know how much I like my clean and simple designs.

So this little chap, and his tree, are from the MFT Die-Namics set Santa's Elves

and I used the matching dies

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a very old pad of DCWV papers

MFT pierced circle die

Tonic scalloped circle die

Sentiment die from Clearly Besotted

And that's it, clean and simple!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

The Apprentice

Morning all.  Bit late for me today, but there is a reason......the same reason that I have not been able to get near my craft space for a week, grrrrrrrr.

We have lived here 17 years.  The house was 8 years old when we moved in, so built in about 1990.  By a big name developer.  Who you would think would have higher standards.

Now, I have absolutely nothing against apprentices.  I did a type of apprenticeship myself when I left school, and it was brilliant.  However, I do have something against unsupervised apprentice plumbers!  On Friday night, we discovered the third major plumbing cock-up in this house and this one involved the kitchen sink and a LOT of water - all over the kitchen floor.  As I type, our own plumber is downstairs with his head in a smelly under-sink cupboard trying to sort out the mess.

I know the builders that work for the developers are on a tight time schedule, and an even tighter budget, but honestly, the plumbing is nothing short of shoddy!

Anyhoo, enough of me woffling on, you don't want to know that I was up to my elbows in drain rods and black slime on Saturday, so let me show you a happy card.

This is Tiny Townies Bree Loves Buttercream by Stamping Bella

She was sent to me by my darlin' bloggy friend Annette.  Annette had bought Bree for herself, stamped her twice, had a nervous breakdown over the hair and dress and promptly sent the stamp to me!

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from MFT

Fuschia pink matting layer by DCWV

Another CAS card from me, but that's the way I roll.

I can hear a lot of muttering from downstairs so either the plumber is having problems or Rosie has her nose in the cupboard with him.  I had better go and see.

Will be back tomorrow with something exciting.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

September

Do you remember, dancing in September?!

I've had that tune in my head (Earth Wind and Fire) for days now, and there is a good reason why.  At the end of this month, Lili of The Valley have another release, and part of that release are the Calendar Fairies.  I have already showcased one version of my sample stamp, November, and although I resisted, I ended up with the full set of Fairies.

Oh you are going to love these little cuties!

Stamp: Fairy September from Lili of The Valley

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Leaf paper from an old DoCrafts pad

Coloured cardstock is DCWV

Stitched Leaf dies from Lawn Fawn

September die from Die-Namics Accent It Months Of The Year

Stitched circle die from MFT

Scalloped edge circle die from Tonic

There will be another couple of Fairies to come from me before the launch next weekend.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Another Bear

Afternoon all.  Just popping by quickly with another bear card to share with you:

Another first for me - a side stepper card, and made without a safety net or a template, just a lot of guesswork and a trail of failed attempts in the bin!

I have made myself a very simple template for this so if anyone would like a copy just email me and I will whizz one over to you - this card is 6x5 but you can adjust the width easily

So, LOTV James Bear: Snow Angel

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are an old pad - DCWV Christmas Stack

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Tag is a Whimsy die

Snowflake is a Spellbinders die

Pearl brads are from stash

Additionals: Viva Pearl Pen and Glamour Dust

Dammit, that bear is handsome.

Oh, if anyone is wondering about the colour of his coat - it's Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean that I mixed in the palette.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Oh Baby!

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?!  My boss discovered that she has become an auntie again this week, a baby brother (as yet unnamed) has arrived for her niece, Isabella, so she asked if I would make a card for her to send to her brother and his partner (like I needed to be asked twice!).

And the card I have created fits perfectly with three of this week's challenges:

Creative Card Crew - New Beginnings

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - New Beginnings

Cute Card Thursday - Out With The Old

I simply adore this LOTV Baby Blanket stamp, I have used it soooo many times in the last year.  Image is stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink onto Bristol Board and then watercolour painted in Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  To qualify for Cute Card Thursday you have to use old papers etc, and these papers definitely fit the bill - they are from a DCWV Stack that I must have had for about four years.  The card stock is Coordinations and of course I used my trusted Nestabilities on the Cuttlebug for those perfect circles.  The sentiment is also LOTV.  Buttons and DMC embroidery thread from stash and finished off with Pebbles Inc Candy Dots.

Here's a close up of the little fella:

Thanks for popping over.  Just about to put the kettle on - anyone fancy a cuppa?
Hugs, Sxx

You might also like:

Lili Of The Valley - Lena's Sketch

Totally Gorjuss # 60 - It's Snowing!

Morning all, hope you are ok and that if you are one of the poor souls still swamped in the white stuff you have plenty of food and warmth. 

Thanks for all your entries last week with Net's super sketch, check out the lucky winner on the main blog.

Another Saturday nearer to Christmas and at TOTALLY GORJUSS we are continuing the Christmas theme by asking you to show us your SNOWY cards and creations this week.  The DT have produced their usual high standard of cards for you so it would be nice to snow them (geddit?) your appreciation (oh all right, I'll shut up). 

But before I do, I must tell you that our sponsor this week is Meyer Imports - a website well worth checking out if you've not come across them before.

Here is my DT card:

Still having camera issues so it is the photo that's a tad fuzzy, not your eyes!  Image is from the Mimi Christmas clear stamp set by Penny Black, coloured with ProMarkers.  Papers are from an old DCWV Christmas Stack, small snowflakes are an EK Success punch and the large blue one is Martha Stewart which I punched from a sheet of glittered Papermania paper.

Thank you for taking the time to pop over and see me and I do hope you manage to squeeze in a go at the challenge amongst all your Christmas planning.  Next week, challenge 61, will be our last challenge of this year so craft now while you have the chance!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Well Would You Believe It - A Christmas Card!!

How is it that just when you think you are coming to the end of making Christmas cards you suddenly find another section in your address book that had slipped the net ...... hey ho!

Sorry for the slightly out of focus photo - my normal camera has thrown a wobbly so I've had to use another one but it has a weird macro that I just cannot get the hang of.

For this card I've used the Lili of the Valley Party Pup - Christmas Card stamp and painted him with Distress Inks.  Isn't he just the sweetest little fella?  Papers are a mixture from Christmas past of DCWV and Anitas.  Sizzix Architectural Corner dies and gold gems for the finish.

Right, off downstairs to tackle the next one ...... hope your weekends are going well.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

LOTV 75 Bev's Sketch + CCT 140 Blast From The Past

Whooooooo, look at meeee, with the day off and the not working and the sitting here blogging!  Hope you are all having a fabbie Friday - mine started well, I got discharged by the physio after four months of treatment!  I've got to be a good Squirrel and continue with the exercises though, otherwise my neck will seize up again and I'll be back to square one with the numb fingers and weird elbows!

To celebrate, I went into town, aiming for Aldi, for a few bits and pieces.  Oh my, the traffic at 9am!  Now I understand why I go to work at 7.30.  Anyway, duly loaded down with Jelly Babies and some delicious chilled espresso lattes I got home and got stuck into two challenges.

LILI OF THE VALLEY are featuring one of the amazingly talented Bev's sketches

And CUTE CARD THURSDAY are having a Blast From The Past where you choose a previous challenge to reuse.  The only problem I had with this was choosing which one to go for as they are all such fun.

Anyway, here's my card:

For the Lili Of The Valley challenge I have used Bev's sketch (of course, d'oh) and the LOTV stamp I Baked A Cake.   For the Cute Card Thursday challenge I've opted for Challenge 55 Marshmallows & Chocolate.  All the papers I have used are from Dovecraft Piece of Cake collection and the matting layers are DCWV Neutral Stack.  Sentiment is also LOTV, from the new range of circular sentiments and I love them to pieces!  Image is painted with Distress Inks and I've finished off with a Martha Stewart border punch.

Right then, next job on the list is to go to the Post Office to collect a mysterious package.  Anyone sent me a present that won't fit through the letterbox?  Puzzled now.  Then it'll be on with some DT work and, before the Toadster gets home, some internet shopping for his Crimble present!

Thanks for popping over.  I've rambled on again haven't I ............ ?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

If at first you don't succeed ........

........ just keep trying until someone takes pity on you!  Yep, it is LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge time again and it has become like a cracked tooth for me - you know it's there, you want to ignore it but try and try as you might, you just can't leave it alone!

So here I am again for another attempt.  This week the wonderful Bev has produced one of her fab sketches to play with:

Thank you Bev, I really enjoyed this one and will no doubt use it again and again.  Anyway, here is my entry:

Lili of the Valley stamp, of course, which I have coloured with the distress inks, papers are from an old Christmas stack by DCWV.  Sentiment is LOTV too.  Stars done with Nestabilities.  Rhinestone Stickles to finish with gems from stash.

Thank you for taking the time to pop over.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

It's Getting Closer .....

... Christmas that is.  Scary how quickly it is creeping up on us.  Having realised yesterday how many more cards I need to get made, here are two that I've done today.  No challenges, just for the stash.

The first card is a LOTV stamp, Woodland Christmas and the papers are from a very old DCWV Christmas Stack, except for the lime green strip of Basic Grey Jovial that was just laying on my desk from yesterday. 

The second card is High Hopes Bearly Swooshin', again very old papers, this time from a Papermania collection that I just can't seem to use up despite it coming out every year!  Both cards done with Distress Inks.

Two down, several more to go .......

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Creative Card Crew + Incy Wincy + Pixie Dust Challenges

Hello all, hope you are having fabbie weekends....it's our anniversary today...12 years, can you believe it, feels like the blink of an eye at times....other times, it really does feel that long LOL!  Only kidding darling husband, you know I adore you.  Off to aunt and uncle's golden wedding party this afternoon, a nice opportunity to catch up with family that I've not seen since the last big party last year for my parent's golden bash.

Anyway, enough of all this wedding talk, I've got a couple of cards for you - I've been persevering with the Distress Inks and I think I am now slowly getting to grips with them.  Still need to widen my colour range so any advice on which is preferable - pads or reinkers - would be appreciated.

First card I would like to enter into this week's Creative Card Crew and Incy Wincy Designs challenges as both are looking for autumn/fall and mushrooms always make me think of autumn. 

I'm loving these meece from Meljen Designs, they are so sweet, if only all mice were this cute (actually, they are).  Papers are Wild Rose Studio and matting card is DCWV.  The red isn't really that red in life, not sure what happen in the photo process.

And would you believe it, after hundreds of Christmas challenges around I'm struggling to find just one this week!  So, this card will be entered to Pixie Dust Studio's challenge looking for animals in their Fur Or Feathers challenge

These Lili Of The Valley James Bear Christmas stamps are to die for, just brilliant to use and colour.  Papers are a mixture of Anita's and Dovecraft and I've used my new fancy border Nestabilities die.

Thanks for popping over to see me, you make it all worth while.

Hugs,

Squirrel xx

LOTV Challenge 61 - Away In A Manger + A Spoon Full of Sugar

How could I resist a sketch by the incredibly talented Bev over at LILI OF THE VALLEY this week?

Here is the sketch ....

And here is my card

I adore this little nativity scene from LOTV, it is so full of innocence, just gorgeous.  Papers are Dovecraft, an oriental pack, and Papermania Henbury Lane, with mat card being DCWV.  Sentiment is Woodware, pearls and peel offs from stash.

I'd also like to enter this for A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR challenge who are having Christmas in August!

Thanks for popping by,

Squirrel xx

Simons Says + Cute Card Thursday

Well - I have a husband who doesn't like to be beaten at anything.  I wouldn't say he is competitive but he does like to be ahead of everyone else.  Sooooo, when I mentioned that the challenge over at Simon Says is Sing It Baby (song titles) he spent a happy half hour coming up with really obscure ideas and getting grumpy when I could find stamps to suit.  He really thought he'd got me with this one, so I sent him out to get some cat litter while I merrily crafted ...... I'm also entering this for Cute Card Thursday's "Whateva" challenge.

I've Got You Under My Skin

Ha!  That'll teach him!  Fabulous image called "Cat-ching Rays" by Dustin Pike for High Hopes Stamps.  Coloured with Copics.  Papers are Basic Grey, stash and DCWV.  Sentiment is Lili Of The Valley.

Earlier posts today can be found here

Spiderman (new Vince pictures)

Lili Of The Valley Candy

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 42 - Sketch

Thanks for popping over to me see.

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge # 42 - A Sketch

It feels like flippin' months since I sat down and made a card, but it's really only just over two weeks.  Thank goodness for some normality lol!

So, here we are again - time for a new challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS, and as it is the first Saturday of the month our leader, Net, has created one of her sketches for us to play with.

Now, what I had in my head for this was simply stunning.  I really must learn how to get thoughts onto paper.  Anyway, here is my DT for this week

I love these City Girls from Whiff of Joy don't you?  Coloured with Copics and a dash of Glossy Accents on her glasses.  Papers are all from a DCWV Black & White collection that I'm not brave enough to use very often.  Woodware medium daisy punch and Pebbles Inc Candy Dots for the flowers.  Black card is DCWV Neutral Stack and red card from stash.

Hope you all have a super weekend lined up and that the school holidays aren't sending you daft already.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Thinking of You - Totally Gorjuss Challenge 39

Ooh my word, you ladies loved the water theme!  Now I've dried out a bit I can say thank you for all your wonderful entries.  Do check the TOTALLY GORJUSS blog to see who was chosen as our winner.

The theme for this week's TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge is one of my favourites, Thinking Of You.  This covers so many areas - it could be a sympathy card, an I love you card, a friendship greeting or simply I'm thinking of you.

As always, the DT are providing you with some wonderful inspiration so do check our those beauties.  Here is my little offering:

I love this little Tilda with her flower from the Wedding Collection, she's such a sweetie and a dream to colour with Copics.  DPs are all Basic Grey and matting card is DCWV Bright Stack.  I've used my new set of Nestabilities labels 10 and a couple of Martha Stewart punches with the sentiment from Lili Of The Valley.  Pearls are from stash.

Thanks so much for popping over to see me.  I was at work all day yesterday on my birthday and the Toad has abandoned me today (he's on a course - no, not golf - until late this afternoon) so after I've had my tail trimmed and re-touched, I'm having lunch with my wonderful parents and then an afternoon of creating.

Hope you all have a super weekend.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

LOTV Challenge 57

Oh my giddy aunt, it's hot hot hot!  Hope you guys are keeping cool and refreshed.  It was 35C (that's 95F in old money) in my craft room this morning so I've had to wait for the sun to go round for it to drop to an only-just-bearable 30C so's I could dash out, craft, dash in. 

Even Vince, normally a heat seeking missle, is flumped out on the floor in my bedroom.  Poor little love, he really doesn't know what to do with himself.  This year he has decided that maybe the fan in the living room isn't a big bad monster and he will share the room with it, but not too close you understand, just in case it turns nasty on him.

Anyhoo, I digress (what's new I hear you cry) - over at LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge this week is a fab Dawny P sketch  -

For my card I have used one of the recently released Busy Bears "Busy Baking" and she's coloured with Copics.  Papers are Basic Grey and DCWV Bright Stack.  Woodware daisy punches with corners and pearls from stash.  Sentiment is also LOTV.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugs, Squirrel xx

They Think It's All Over ......

...... looks like it is now!  Two losses to Germany in one day - Formula 1 and Football.  Oops.  Anyway, not bothered about the footie - it means the Toadster will be able to get his cheap underpants sooner than expected - and the next F1 is the British, yay!!

Over at HIGH HOPES STAMPS challenge today the theme is "super star" and I just knew I had to use this fabulous starry paper from the Forever Friends Party Time collection.  But what image to use with it? 

Well what else could you use but a chameleon (spelling?), called Leon!  Coloured with Copics, mats are Bazzil Bling and DCWV Brights.  Stars (now I know why I hoard things) from stash.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Penny Black Paper Patch Puss!

Afternoon all, pheeww what a scorcher!  It's our next-door-neighbour's twin girls birthday party later and we have seen a succession of young ladies arriving already - neighbours have warned us that they are getting the pool ready so it might get a bit "screamy" later!  Yep, looking forward to that ........!

Anyhoo, over at PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE the theme is Paper Patch.  "Ooh" says me "I can do that", and I did, but it took a lot longer than planned but never mind, done now, and here it is -

I've used Tulip Jungle for the image, coloured with ProMarkers.  The papers are three sheets from the Dovecraft Back To Basics collection, all cut into neat little squares (!) for my quilt.  Yellow and purple mat card is from DCWV Neutral Stack.  Sentiment is a-la-squirrel - I think it is the sort of thing Vince would say if he was popping out of the tulips!

Hope you are having a fabbie weekend - don't forget to slip-slap-slop!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

One Card = Five Challenges

Yeah, I know - five challenges doesn't sound a huge amount - especially when I know there are some of you who manage to find ten or twelve at a time, but it's enough for me to be going on with! 

So, the challenges are

High Hopes - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers - Sketch & Male Theme

Just Cute Bears - Monochrome

Creative Inspirations - One For The Boys; and

Cupcake Craft Challenge - One For The Boys

So here is my card ..........

I've used High Hopes stamp "Beary Sweet Sign", Basic Grey Kraft paper, DCWV Neutral Stack, and loads of ProMarkers - Sandstone, Tan, Caramel, Pastel Beige, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Terracotta, Burnt Sienna and Walnut.  The sentiment, which I think fits Bears sign perfectly, is Lili Of The Valley.  I used Rich Cocoa Memento ink for main image and sentiment.  I wanted to use buttons but didn't have any brown ones so had to fake it with the help of my smallest Nestie circle and my Japanese screw punch.

Thanks for dropping by.

Hugs, Squirrel xx