Less is More - Take 2

Here we go with a last ditch attempt at this week's LESS IS MORE challenge - what have Chrissie and Mandi done to me?  I cannot stop thinking about this challenge!

I wanted the Hero Arts sentiment to take centre stage so I've kept this very simple.  Striped paper is from Craftwork Cards Vintage Rose collection, it reminds me of freshly washed cotton sheets.  Martha Stewart border punch top and bottom and a small EK Success retro flower punch for the little pink flowers.

Hugs, Sxx

LOTV Sketch + CCT Spring

Guess what?  I stopped in my little furry tracks this morning because ..............we FINALLY, after four months of standing in the snow, the wind and the rain, FINALLY, we have a new bus shelter!  And it's a posh one, with proper sides and a front and a roof!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  We're having a house warming party on Monday, lol! 

Anyhoo, I made this card last night after seeing Bev's brilliant sketch over on the LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge and, because it is soooooo long since I played there, this is going in to the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge who are looking for Signs Of Spring this week.

I'll apologise now for the photo - I had to take it using the flash and then tweek the white balance on Photoshop.  It's not brilliant so I'll try and swap it if we get some daylight tomorrow.

The LOTV bunny is another one of those stamps that is so cute but I haven't used much so I thought it was time he had an outing.  He is painted with distress inks.  Papers are mostly K&Co from the pad that has the daisy on the front, and a sheet of Basic Grey for the bright green bottom layer and the strip.  The white daisy ribbon around the part circle is sticky ribbon (what a wonderful invention).  EK Success retro flower punch with Martha Stewart frond and branch and Card Candy for the flowers.  The little sentiment is LOTV also.

Hope you like it.

Hugs, Sxx

My Favourite Colours - LOTV

Hello all, and a Happy Friday to you - and a Happy Birthday to my darlin' dad, he's 77 today and still going strong thankfully!

The theme of the challenge over at LILI OF THE VALLEY this week is My Favourite Colours.  This one took some thinking about as my favourites change all the time, depending on my mood, but my faves this week are a purple and green combination.

Sorry for the iffy picture, I made the card last night when it was too dark to photograph and only had time to take a quick pic on my phone this morning.

I've used the beautiful Rosie with her flowers from LOTV, and she is painted with distress inks.  Loving these new papers from Dovecraft Back To Basics II, the gingham is Joanna Sheen.  Flowers done with EK Success retro flower punches, Martha Stewart branch punch for the leaves, an X-Cut 6mm hole punch for the larger dots, my Japanese screw punch for the tiny dots and Card Candy for the large flower centre.  Quick Woodware peel-off greeting and all done.

Sorry that I've not been around much this week, it's been a nightmare at work and I've been too shattered in the evening to even think about blogging, but I'll catch up with you all soon.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Celebrating Friendship (inc.PBSC January Sales Challenge)

Afternoon all, how ya doing?  It's been another grey cloud day here in the east of England - more of a day for curling up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and good book than doing anything energetic.  We had planned to pop over and see my Oldies today but when I phoned, mum advised not to go over as poor old dad has a streaming cold.  I know you won't read this dad but I hope you are better soon, love ya.

So, as there was no parental visit to do, I've had a little play.  Both these cards are for very dear friends, one for a birthday and one for a "just because".

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE have "January Sales" as the theme this week and I managed to purchase this Flutter Bye cutie in the sales from The Glitter Pot (satisfied grin).

I've watercolour painted Flutter Bye in distress inks.  The layout is borrowed from a Dawny P sketch for another challenge that I have already entered with a different card but the sketch was too fab not to use again!  Papers are Basic Grey from the very first pad of their papers I ever bought, the cover has long since been lost so can't tell you what they are called.  The sentiment is LOTV and the silver peel-off diamond borders are from stash.

My second card today isn't for a challenge, I just thought I'd share it with you.  There was a lot of hair-pulling over this one but it's my own fault for using such a colourful dp!

The image is Painting Rainbows from Sugar Nellie, distress ink painted.  DPs are, I think, Craftwork Cards but from an old collection called Tutti Fruity.  Matting card and corners is Little Sizzlets, the corners done with a Sizzlets photo corner die.  LOTV sentiment, Martha Stewart borders (thought the goo one looked like dripping paint) and EK Success retro flower punch with Card Candy and Martha Stewart frond punch to finish off.  This took an age - firstly with the painting and then getting the colours together.  But I'm happy with the end result - I think she looks as if she is painting the flowers (hopefully!).

Here's a close up:

Right then, that's me done for today.  I'm off to do something menacing to some mushrooms and then sort out work clothes for the morning.  Catch up with you all soon.

Hugs, Sxx

2 Cards = 7 Challenges!

Happy Saturday everyone!  Ooooh, this has to be my most favourite day of the week.....work is over for a couple of days......I can chill and relax......no going to bed tonight worrying about Monday morning.....some decent easy-viewing on tv tonight......and it's Squirrel Stew for dinner!  What more could a small furry mammal want, apart from a little bit of crafting......so that's what I've been doing!

My first card for you started off with one challenge in mind, and then I went on a blog wander, and found a few more that I think it would fit nicely, so if you are sitting comfortably.....

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Buffet (choose 4 items from 6 to use) (papers, 3 flowers, 3 gems, metal charm)

Our Creative Corner - Let's Play Dress Up (a simple sketch to fiddle with)

Oldie But A Goodie - Bright And Cheerful (PB stamp Butterfly Wishes)

My Partner In Crafting Crime - Something New (papers and big, fat pearls)

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - With Love

I've used Penny Black's Butterfly Wishes stamp, watercolour painted with distress inks (it was a bit of a challenge to make him look rounded - I've still got more of a tum than he has!), the papers are from my latest purchase of Papermania Capsule Collections - these are Blueberry and Boysenberry, and for once, all the papers in each collection work together really well, Sizzlets photo corners die, EK Success retro flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, those huge fat pearls are new to my stash but the tiny ones have been with me a while, can't tell you who made the sentiment - I got it from Lakeland when they still did craft stuff in their shops, and the metal charm paw print was from stash too.

Before I go on to my second card, I've done something stupid........I signed up for the Crafty Blogs rankings.  Considering I started the week at 923, I am thrilled to see that I'm slowly crawling my way up but.... I'm getting obsessed with it!  I know I'll never reach the top, but I'd be dead chuffed with being in the 100s, so come on over and visit me as much as you can, pleeeeeeeeeeeease!

Right, serious stuff, here is my second card and this is for

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - All Stiched Up

Poor Henry (Whiff of Joy), this is the third time he's been used - and all three times have been for knee replacement operations for friends!  This one is for our dear friend Ken, from church, who goes in on Monday.  He's been waiting for ages for the op and I think it is going to make such a difference to his life.  Papers are from a masculine collection by Dovecraft that I've had a while but still think that they are fabulous - isn't it a shame when really good collections vanish?  Orange and brown cardstock is Papermania.  I've painted Henry with distress inks (fast becoming my favourite method, as if you'd not guessed - and yes, I know, I still owe you a tutorial - when the weather improves I promise I'll do it), Martha Stewart border punch to add some interest, Martha Stewart button punch and hole punch for the frilly bits.  I went around the image with my pokey tool again and a Marvy le Plume pen to create the faux stitching, loving this technique just know (and it's all Helen's fault - she'll have me distressing next!).

Sorry that I'm rambled on so much, hope you are still awake - if you are, there is a technical question I'd like to ask you clever bloggers - anyone know how to make the panel (the bit with all the posts on) of my blog wider?

Anyhoo, now off to link to all those challenges, hope to see you later.

Hugs, Sxx

ABC Christmas Challenge = Z for Zero Time Left and A BLOG HOP!

Well here we are, at the end of the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE alphabet for another year - which means we are only 10 days away from Christmas!  Hope you are more organised than I am, lol!!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the Yuletide challenge, as always you produced some stunning entries and choosing the Top 3 is going to be a tough task for the team.  Do check back to the blog to see who the overall winner and the Top 3 are - it might be a day or two before these are posted so please be patient.

We have something a bit special for you for this challenge.  First of all the theme for Z is Zero Time Left, so this is your last card with us this year and we would like you to reuse your favourite ABC challenge from 2010.

And we are having a Christmas BLOG HOP, so there is even more at stake this time!  And we are proud to have two sponsors for the Challenge and the Hop in the shape of Simon Says Stamp

and Stamp Fairy

So, the rules, starting at ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE (if you have come to me first then you need to head back to the Challenge Blog) work your way through the Team and Sponsors, leaving a comment with each one as you go, and collect a letter along the way.  Once you have collected all your letters, work out the phrase, and then head back to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave a comment with your answer and your entry for Z!  Simples! 

This challenge is going to run until 10pm (UK time) on 1 January so you will have plenty of time to craft and enter.

You should have come to me from the lovely and talented LORRAINE and once you have done your bit here with me your next move is back home to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave your answer.  There will also be hidden candies along the way so do remember to leave your comment as you visit each blog, you never know, you might find you have won a nice surprise.

And my letter for you?  It is G.

Here is my card for the Z theme:

Techinically this qualifies for two 2010 challenges: F for Frosty and P for Presents, so maybe I'll have a new one of FP for Frosty Presents!  I adore this Lili Of The Valley James The Bear stamp, in fact I think he qualifies for my favourite stamp of the year.  I've painted him with Distress Inks and matted him using Nestabilities for the circles and the loop edged square.  Blue paper is Dovecraft, red is Anita's and I used an EK Success punch for the snowflakes.  The gorgeous circular sentiment is also Lili Of The Valley.

I think that's it then - thanks to each and every one of you who has joined us for all or some or only one of the challenges this year, we couldn't have made it this far without you all and we have loved seeing your amazing work.  I really do hope you are able to join in the Hop and see you in January 2011!!

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

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

Time for Tea? LOTV - Bev's Sketch

Morning all.  Hope your weekend is a good one so far!  I've had a pretty mad week back at work after my holiday so it came as a really nice surprise to realise that I also have a four day weekend - wheeee!  I didn't get much crafting done last week so I intend to try and remedy that before I crawl back to the office on Wednesday.

Over on the LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge this week is a fabulous sketch by the ultra talented Bev and I could not resist having a little play.  Here is Bev's sketch:

I had intended to do a "straight" interpretation of the sketch (mainly because Mr Mojo is on a no go) but because of the image I used I ended up mirroring the design, but as Bev is so sweet I'm sure she won't mind!

I've used the Tea Party stamp from the Girlie Collection at Lili Of The Valley and coloured her with Copics (face and arms) and Distress Inks.  Classic circle Nestability, inked round with Colorbox Q chalk ink, ivory picot ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons, papers are all Dovecraft Back To Basics, sentiment is Paula Pascaul, retro flower punch by EK Success, flower centres from Craftwork Cards, peel off border from stash.

Thanks ever so much for popping over.  I know I caught up with some of you last week, but I still have a lot to visit - bear with me, I'll get there eventually!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Time for Tilda?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  This new picture upload system that we now have is driving me nutty!  Occasionally it works, but more times that not the little dotty circle seems to whizz round and round forever and nothing else happens.  Is it just me suffering from this?  Getting a tad annoyed with it.

Anyway, I popped up here (braving the home brew fumes) to show you the card I have done today for the Special Monthly Challenge theme over at JUST MAGNOLIA is "Anything Goes"

Here's my card:

This loves-me-loves-me-not Tilda has to be the one of my reasonably sized collection that I have used the most, she is just such a little darlin'.  The papers are Basic Grey from the Porcelain collection but overstamped with two Hero Arts stamps - the small clocks are Time To Stamp and the large clock face is just called Big Clock.  Sentiment and flower centres are Craftwork Cards, Martha Stewart doily border punch, Tilda coloured with Copics, and EK Success Retro flower punch.

That's Nic for alerting me to the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge of Tic-Toc - shall link it up now!

After all that faffing, I've run out of time for any more blogging today so I'll say cheerio, hope you are having a good Sunday, and see you later in the week!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Poor Little LOTV Bunnybun

Next week one of my cousin's, in fact my favourite cousin, is going into hospital for some rather grim surgery and, possibly, even grimmer follow-up treatment so I wanted to make him a get well card that would make him smile.

This week's LILI OF THE VALLEY sketch by Bev has come at the perfect time so I have made full use of it tonight and made the card I needed to get done.

Here is Bev's fabbie sketch:

I've rotated the sketch by 90 degrees clockwise, and here's my card (sorry it's a tiny weeny iddy biddy bit out of focus, my camera doesn't like these dark nights)

I love this little chap, don't you just want to pick him up and give him a gentle cuddle?  LOTV bunny stamp, coloured with Distress Inks, papers are Basic Grey from the Olivia collection, the turquoise paper is Making Memories, EK Success retro flower punch, Card Candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Thanks for popping over to see me.  I know I am way behind on my visiting but hope to get some serious catching up done next week when I'm off work.

Hugs, Squirrel xxx