As You Like It Challenge (DT) Animals or People

 It's Thursday.

So that means.....

A new challenge theme from AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time it is

Your Favourite - Animals or People

(and please explain your choice)

Now, I'm nothing if not contrary, and I use a lot of animals on my makes, but recently I've been

using a lot more people!  There are no many great character stamps out there.

One of my favour people designers will always be Birdie Brown.

This is Bring Out The Sunshine (Birdie Brown) from My Favorite Things

Coloured up with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Funky flowers in the background are an accent stamp from a Personal Impressions

sentiment set, inked with Memento Inks

and the sentiment is destined to be anonymous unless someone recognises it!

Layering paper is a paisley design from Whimsy Stamps

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lee Holland

Come on over and join us - challenge runs for two weeks

Hugs

Pawly Plushies

 Happy Saturday everyone!

I've been a busy little Squirrel this morning and already have a mahoosive pan of Squirrel Stew bubbling away on the stove (for those who don't know, it's a hybrid of bolognese sauce and chilli - it goes with rice, pasta, and jacket potatoes beautifully).  So that's tonight's dinner sorted, and about six boxes for the freezer.  The whole house now stinks of onion and garlic!

Anyhoo, today I bring you a get well card.  My boss of 17 years has recently been in hospital for surgery and is now, thankfully, recovering at home.  I wanted to send her a card from our team at the office so got busy the other weekend and made her this,.

I used the Clearly Besotted Pawly Plushies stamp set, and because I couldn't choose just two or three bears I used them all.  My fingers after fussy cutting them all were a wee bit sore!

I used a MFT Die-Namics Cover-Up die, lots of Lawn Fawn paper, and sentiments from Personal Impressions.

A fair quantity of Distress Inks (ReInkers) was also used.

Hope your weekend is a restful one.

Hugs

Curvy Girl Gardener (DT) Dies To Die For

Is it just me or is it chuffy cold at the moment?  I'm looking out at all that needs to be done in the garden and thinking "nah, I'll wait 'til it's warmer"

This little lass however seems to be having great results with her blooms

For this I have used

Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Gardener sb-eb790

Sunny Studio dies Comic Strip Speech Bubbles SSDIE157

MFT 6x6 paper pad Spring Whimsy MFT-EP-61

I've painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut (she may have lost a strand or two of hair in the process).

Flowers done with an old Woodware medium daisy punch, with Craftwork Cards foiled Card Candy for centres.  Sentiment is from Personal Impressions.

When I went to attach the Candy centres, I discovered that silicon glue is not nice after it hasn't been used for a very long time.  I appear to currently have a large tube of slimy snot - guess that is heading for the bin.  Thank goodness for emergency foam pads!

Hugs

 

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Cats or Dogs (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Hello peeps, I hope this Thursday finds you well and that life is being kind to you.  We all need a little kindess.

There is a new themed challenge at AS YOU LIKE IT today, and that theme is Cats or Dogs (your favourite, but please tell us why).

I've had cats in my life since I was born, literally - Sam, the farm tabby, used to sleep under my pram in the garden and wouldn't let anyone near, he was a fierce guard cat!  I can't imagine being without one now, with their cuteness (when they want), their calming purrs, their antics, scheming, mischief, all in all life would be dull without a furry feline buddy.

For this bundle of fuzz, I have used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Cat-Astrophe stamps MFT-BB-104

and the matching dies

a mixture of MFT and Honey Bee papers

a Whimsy ribbon slider die

Two sentiments - one from the cat stamp set, the other from Personal Impressions

and, shockingly, a beautiful piece of rainbow organza ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons

Kittens all coloured up using Zig Clean Colour Pens

Our sponsor for this challenge is

POLKADOODLES

Looking forward to meeting all your furry friends!

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Warm or Cool

Hello, and here I am to tell you about another challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT!

The theme for this fortnight is

Warm or Cool Colours

Although I love the warm colours (you kinda have to go warm with many of the furry critters) I do love the sophistication of cool colours too, and cool seems to work so well for the male cards.  Blues, greens, and lilacs are so soothing.

So for this little cutie

Wild Rose Studio - Tilly With Presents

painted in all the cool colour Distress Inks (ReInkers) I had to hand

Blue/Grey/Green papers from a pad I bought in The Works

Gift tag die

Sentiment from Personal Impressions

The sponsor for this challenge is

LILI OF THE VALLEY

So, if you are feeling chilly this winter, you can warm up, and if you are like me with personal tropical moments, you can cool down!  Don't forget to tell us about why warm or cool is your favourite choice for your make.

Hugs to all

Favourite Baby Make (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Happy Thursday folks!  Another fortnight has flown by and that means another new theme from the 

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE team.

This time, we would like you to share your Favourite Baby Makes with us.

I do like to make small keepsakes but as I was told it wasn't appropriate to make a muzzle, I made a door-hanger for the nursery instead, which could double-up as a do-not-disturb when the sprog sweet little thing is sleeping

So for this I have used

Lili of The Valley Babies Clear Stamp Set (retired)

MFT Die-Namics Wine Tag

L'il Inker Designs Stitched Bow die

Personal Impressions sentiment stamp (Baby Girl)

Lili of The Valley sentiment (Follow Your Dreams)

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 papers

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Our sponsor for this challenge is

CRAFTY RIBBONS

Hope to see you there!

Hugs

Anything Goes (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Morning peeps, Happy January to you all!

Well, it is the first AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE of the New Year and

we are starting you with an easy one with Anything Goes

I have been busily making a lot of thank you cards after Christmas and this is the

one that I am sending to my Oldies, not just for Christmas but for being such

wonderful (if worrisome) parents

So for this one I have used

Clearly Besotted Perfect Peonies stamp

with the matching die

Personal Impressions sentiment by Paula Pascaul

MFT 6x6 Proper Pinstripes Pastels

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Hexagon Stax

MFT Die-Namics Stepped Up Chevron

Image was coloured, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge, and one of our leader's favourite stores:

Lili of the Valley Digis

(prize is 3 digis from the Digi Shop)

 

Now all the fuss is over and the kids are back at school, you should have some time

on your hands to be able to join in - looking forward to seeing you there!

Hugs to all

DTDF (DT) Pinkies Cupcakes & Balloons

Phew!  How is the week back at work after a holiday always the toughest?  Crikey, glad that's done with.

Anyhoo, happy Saturday folks, it is my day to design on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog and I have not one, but two, for you today.

OK, so they are verrrrrry clean and simple, but I think it just shows these super cute girlies off beautifully.

From the Dies To Die For online store I have used:

CC Designs - Pinkies Cupcakes & Balloons

MFT Wild Prints 6x6 pad

and in addition:

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Polychromos Pencils

A sentiment from an ancient Personal Impressions set

and an equally ancient piece of a Papermania pad

There is a Pinkies Christmas stamp too called Peppermint, she is cute too so I might use her soon.

That's me done for today so I wish you all a wonderful weekend

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Everyone Should Have A Squirrel

Short and sweet, everyone should have a squirrel (or three), especially red ones!

I have used

CC Designs Rustic Sugar Snowman With Squirrels

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Whimsy Stamps holiday mini sentiments

Background snowflake from a Personal Impressions set

Papers are Nitwits/LOTV Frosty Christmas

Snowflake punches are Martha Stewart and X-Cut

and a single pearl from stash to finish

Hugs to all for a happy Monday

Love

Squirrel xx

Personally, I think everyone should have a Jenson Button too - F1 is going to be poorer without him

Can't wait to see what he gets up to next!

AYLI (DT) Fairies or Teddies

Now, the choice that AS YOU LIKE IT are asking you to make this week is which is your favourite, Fairies or Teddies ......

Having had a run of challenges where I have really struggled to make a choice, this one has been an easy decision.  With apologies to the Fairies, but if it is furry and huggable, then I am there, a Teddies girl all the way!

So this happy hula bear is by Lee Holland from Whimsy Stamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Clouds are sponge inked with a homemade template

MFT Die-Namics double stitched circle die

Whimsy Dies double scallop doily die

Sentiment from Personal Impressions

Papers are Prima All About Me

Hobbycraft gold pearlised card

The sponsor of this challenge is

Dies to Die for

£15 voucher

I do hope you will be able to join us for this super theme!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Autumn Harvest

As you may have seen from my previous post, I had an MFT afternoon on Sunday so I'm here to share my second make from that session.

When this particular set was released they seemed to be rarer than hen's teeth in the UK, so it was quite some while later that I managed to get my sticky mitts on them.

It's one of my trademark CAS cards but I had so much fun colouring these little chaps

My Favorite Things BB Harvest Mouse stamp set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Personal Impressions sentiment

Hobbycraft chocolate brown card for matting layer

Custom sized card base

Love, love, love how this one turned out.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Man's Best Friend?

I hope I am never put in a position of having to choose between cats and dogs, it's not a choice I could probably ever make.  They both have their pro's and con's.  However, what is undisputed is that dogs are always considered to be man's best friend. Thankfully my best friend doesn't drool on my slippers, and she's not a dog either!!

Anyhoo, there is a Man's Best Friend challenge over at Fantasy Stampers so as I already had a suitable stamp out on my craft bench I shall take my chances and enter.

So, this is Harley from Whipper Snapper Designs

(available at My Mum's Craft Shop here)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

with a Personal Impressions sentiment

and bright stripy paper from a Papermania collection

the yellow gingham is from the scraps box

Hope your Sunday is as sunny as Harley's seems to be.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Line (Bingo)

Hello chaps, I wasn't sure if I would scrape this one or not but I managed it - thanks to my wonderful teamies at AS YOU LIKE IT for their support.  As you read this I shall be on my way back to the hospital for my follow-up appointment.  Keep your fingers crossed pleased.

Anyhoo, I am hosting this challenge and it is FAVOURITE LINE

from our Bingo Board (yep, I did that too)

Easy peasy, choose your favourite line and tell us why you made that choice!

The sponsor of this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts
£12 gift voucher

Here's my DT card (sorry, Fairy Squint was on photographic duty)

I opted for the Gems, Purple, Clean And Simple line - it was a no-brainer for me, I simply cannot do fluff!

The stamp is from Molly Blooms - had her a while but it is her first inking.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Flower border is a Martha Stewart punch

Papers are from Nitwits/LOTV Snow Princess pad

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

and the lavender (yes, they are really lavender) gems are from my stash

I do hope you will be able to join in the bingo fun - you have two weeks

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Spring Flowers

Hello Pink Fans, it's that time again - a new challenge from those lovely ladies over at

IN THE PINK

As we are almost at the Spring equinox, what better time to look forward to SPRING FLOWERS

Here's my DT card

Sorry for the squint, there's been a lot of that lately!

Image is a retired LOTV stamp

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Tonic Square Lattice die (you'll be seeing this more often) with pink card behind

Personal Impressions sentiment

MFT stitched rounded rectangle die

Woodware small retro flower punch

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabulous

THE RIBBON GIRL

Just remember, you need to use lots of pink and follow the theme to qualify for the sponsors prize.

Unless my appointment is cancelled again, I shall be going into hospital tomorrow morning so won't be around for a little while but I hope to catch up with your entries before the challenge ends.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Remember remember the 10th of November

OK, so it's a little poetic licence, but hey, we don't want you to miss the date for the Lili of the Valley release of the cutest little folk and critters!

Self portrait time today:

This very simple little card uses the squirrel image from the Woodland Friends stamps

Isn't that such a cheeky face?!

Papers are the LOTV/Nitwits Enchantment pad

Sentiment from Personal Impressions

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Scalloped stitched circle dies from Memory Box

Custom sized card base

Remember - 10th November - these guys are going to sell FAST!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) June: Summer Holidays

First Monday of June and Summer is almost here (believe it or not)

So over at WITHOUT WORDS this month the challenge is for you to be thinking about your

SUMMER HOLIDAYS

Scrapberry stamp "Cherry"

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Dovecraft Bright Spark papers

Personal Impressions sentiment

Yes, now, I can hear you shouting "what's that to do with summer holidays?"

Well, as a child and in my early teens I spent just about every summer holiday there was up at the fields fruit picking, sometimes with my mum and nan on the blackcurrants, but as I got older on my own on any fruit that needed to be done - all to earn a few pennies.  Summer means fruit to me, maybe that's why I don't eat as much of it as I should - I ate it all back then!

Hope you will be able to join in this month - there is a voucher prize from Crafter's Companion for the winner - and we look forward to seeing your interpretation of the theme.  Just remember to follow the simple rules please.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Birgitta has a Birthday

Morning all, hope you are having a happy Tuesday morning so far.  Hugs to everyone in need of one.  Just popping by with a happy little birthday card to share.

This is Birthday Birgitta from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Papers were freebies by Jennifer Ellory

and my new favourite dies that I made the frame with are

MFT Inside Out Rounded Corner Stitched Squares!

Custom sized card base

Love, 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