DTDF (DT) Hoola Twila

Hello peeps, I'm here today with a little bit of happy for you

I do have a real soft spot for the Roberto's Rascals characters, especially this

cheeky little girl, Twila - there is just something so absolutely joyful about her, whatever

she is doing, and she always makes me smile - I hope she will do it for you too!

So, the things I have used:

CC Designs: Roberto's Rascals - Hoola Twila

Lawn Fawn "Scripty Happy" die

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Basic Edges 2

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2

MFY 6x6: County Fair Plaid

MFT 6x6: Watercolour Wash

MFT 6x6: Roses All Over

Twila has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos detail for her hair.

Whatever you are up to, have a wonderful weekend!  We are off to visit my Oldies in a little while, then dashing back for me to make a "Somerset Pork Casserole" for dinner, and watch the F1 qualifying for the China Grand Prix.  In there somewhere I intend to have a good inky session!

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

Stamp Journal

I have been wanting to start a stamp journal for a long time.  Finally, in Paperchase, I found just the sort of book I wanted.  I bought 5 of them.

They have been staring at me, accusingly, for a while.

No more!  Today, I have finally made Page 1 inky/pencilly.  I even made a panel for inside the front cover.

I have used CC Designs: Dear Diary

Some old Basic Grey papers

Your Next Stamp: Alpha Bold

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Hugs to all

Squirrel

DTDF (DT) Puddle Jumping Twila

Hello chaps, hope this Saturday finds you fine and dandy.

Sorry for the absence from blogland and social media over the past ten days, I've been a

"bit" under the weather, but am hopefully now on the mend.

Speaking of under the weather, my DIES TO DIE FOR make today shows that

even the weather needn't get you down

With the right pair of wellies, a girl can do anything!

And the lovely things used are

CC Designs stamp: Roberto's Rascals Puddle Jumping Twila

My Favorite Things: All About You sentiment set

Die-Namics: You Trio

MFT 6x6 paper: Graphic Grid

and the MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil

Image has been painted, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and I used the Faded Jeans Distress Ink pad for the clouds

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DIES TO DIE FOR online store

So much love in the room ......

..... I am exhausted, emotionally and physically.  Yesterday was the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Thetford so off we went, having set Wayne, the SatNav, with the postcode.  Now, Wayne is a bit thick.  He gets it into his tiny little chip which direction he wants you to go, even if it isn't the route you want, and he is determined to get you that way.  We experienced that on the way to the Lake District.  We wanted the M6, he wanted us on the A1.  We were nearly to Manchester before he actually gave in.

Yesterday was no better.  He wanted us on the A14, we wanted the A140/A1066.  If he said "recalculating" once, he must have said it about twenty times as I confidently ignored his instructions (well, you do when you are on local roads don't you).  It was a very pretty drive up through Suffolk and into Norfolk - a route I hadn't been on for several years.  However, as much as it pains me, for a shorter journey (not by much mind) and a quicker route, the blasted SatNav was actually right!  But if we had followed him we would have had a journey of HGVs and a boring duel carriageway.  Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Anyhoo, we got there safely, and within two minutes of entering the hall, I was swamped in Dies To Die For hugs!  Finally, I get to meet my precious girls - Annette, Sue, Tracy, Faye, Kat, Debbie, and of course Tracy's amazing man, Andy!  

Lots of squeals and giggles.  At which point, Toad is a bit outnumbered and overwhelmed so he took himself off for a nice swim in the pool next door, bless him.

I did some shopping (cough), a lot of chattering, some more shopping (sorry Andy) and cemented some already longstanding friendships.  I didn't want to leave.

But leave we had to, and actually listened to Wayne on the way home.  He didn't have to shout at me once.

So, today I am off work (holiday) and recovering.  I know how I feel so dread to think how tired and aching the others must be who had far longer journeys.  Yes, bits of me ache that I had forgotten could ache, but it was soooooooooooooo worth it to be able to meet my gorgeous teamies.

So, after all that ramble, I do actually have a little card for you - and this sums up yesterday.

When one heart isn't enough, make a string of them!

This little lass is Twila from CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals String of Hearts

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencil for hair detail

A real pick n mix of paper and card, I can't even remember which pad the heart paper came from

Spellbinders dies - I've lost the label but they are probably large scallop something

Thank you girls, it was a blast!

What goes on tour, stays on tour (and Debbie, I am sorry about Toad and your camera!)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Fave Colour Combo

So, it's AS YOU LIKE IT challenge day today, and this one really had me scratching my head.....we would like you to use your favour colour combo please!

I thought I knew what my favourite colours were until I started, but then I had several combinations competing with each other to be used, so I went back to my ink palette to see which colours I use most often, and they are .....

Pink, turquoise and purple

So, I have used one of my favourite stamps - this is Happy Twila from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT stitched circle frame

Dovecraft Happy Birthday banner stamp

and the box made with my WRMK Box Punch Board

Papers used are an assortment of whatever was to hand in the right colours!

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts

£12 gift voucher

OK, so off you go to find your favourite colour combo, and then come back and share it with us

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Photo Inspiration

Good morning pinkies!  How are you all today?  Feeling fine and dandy I hope.

For the new challenge over at IN THE PINK we would like you

to be inspired by a rather delicious photo

How you choose to be inspired is up to you, it could be simply cupcakes, it could be the colours (naturally we want more pink than anything else), it could be the flowers or the bows, lots to choose from

Here is my DT make

I was inspired by the cupcakes and the pink/cream colour theme

Isn't she sweet?  I was so chuffed with how she turned out.

This is CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Cupcake Twila

There are three sentiments with the image stamp, and this is one of them

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for her hair

Matted with a piece of pink Crafts Too paper

and finally finished off with a tiny Tapestry flower stamp dotted around the image panel

Our sponsor for this high calorie challenge is

THE RIBBON GIRL

We would love to see how the photo sparks your imagination, remember you have two weeks to enter and you must use pink!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

It's That Girl Again

I was reminded on Thursday by FaceBook about a couple of cards I made this time last year.  I was in love with the stamp and couldn't decide on a colour scheme so I made two cards.  You can see those ones here.

Apart from astonishing me that a year has passed, it also nudged me into getting that stamp out again, because she is just too cute to resist.

Yep, it's Bunny Twila by Roberto's Rascals from CC Designs

The egg is from the Easter Funnies set, also CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut

Papers are First Edition Hideaway

MFT double stitched rectangle dies

Sentiment from Crafters Companion

That's me done for today, we're off to take the Easter goodies to the Oldies this afternoon but have to make a detour to find some fat balls for dad.  Well, not actually for dad, he wants them for the birds!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

A New Thank You

I'd like to say that the New Year is going well ..... it was until last night when I cracked a tooth on a rather hard almond.  So that will be my crafting allowance spent on dental bills then.  Ever since I broke my jaw in three places (in 1988) I have had a very real fear of dentists so at the moment I am not sure which is worse, the pain or the treatment.

On a happier note, I did make a card yesterday, which I would like to share with you and enter into a few challenges.

This is Happy Twila, one of my new CC Designs stamps

and the sentiment is also a new one for me from Clearly Besotted

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer papers from LOTV/Nitwits

Allsorts Challenge - What's New

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Something New

Crafty Friends Challenge - #22 Use Something New

Inkspirational - #99 Thank You With Something New

Just Us Girls Challenge - Thank You

Thanks everyone, see you soon.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

IN THE PINK (DT) A Favourite Stamp

This time at IN THE PINK the challenge is to use a favourite stamp.  It doesn't have to be THE favourite, but one of your favourites, and of course it needs to be pink!

I found it really hard to choose so I went with a stamp of my favourite character

This is Angel Twila from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for hair

Papers are Wild Rose Studio from a Bella Christmas collection

Joanna Sheen Signature die - Starry Night Edger

and the pink stars around Twila are the waste from the die cut

A Favourite Stamp challenge is sponsored by

BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS

So, off you go, two weeks to get pink!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

It's been a long time coming.....

.... I've got a couple of days off this week, using up holiday before I lose it, and although the weather is rubbish it doesn't matter, Rosie and I have been busy in the craft room, her sound asleep in the chair and me painting away like a mad thing.

In between DT jobs I decided that it was finally time for me to make a start on something I have wanted to do for a long time, and that is do an Art Journal.

I'm a self-taught colourist but am so inspired by the talents of so many crafters, it wouldn't be fair to list them all here in case I accidentally missed someone off, but take it from me, there is some amazing talent out there!  I will never reach those dizzy heights but even I can see how much I have improved over the years and my style has changed too, I have become more confident with colour and shading and I am no long afraid of the dark!

Anyhoo, here is Page 1 of my first Art Journal and as it is October, what better to start with than a pumpkin.

It's my favourite girl!

CC Designs Roberto's Rascals - Pumpkin Twila

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos hair

Die-Versions Marker Micro alphabet die for her name

Papers are random Basic Grey pages and a page of black art card

MFT double stitched rectangle die

I can see this becoming addictive

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) October

First Monday of the month, so that must mean it is time for a new challenge over at Without Words

The theme for October is

PURPLE and GREEN (but NO Halloween)

For my CAS card I have used

CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Fairy Twila

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are an assortment of LOTV/Nitwits

The "hello" die and stamped sentiment are from the Hello Hero Arts set

Custom sized card base

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

A New Challenge

Morning folks!  There is a new SRC coming in an hour's time (Squirrel's Random Challenge) - I won't tell you any more except to show you my first make for it.

This (complete with Rosie hair in the corner) is Puddle Jumper Twila from CC Designs

She's been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for hair

The stitched clouds border is from L'il Inkers

Purple papers from different LOTV pads

Sentiment by Hero Arts stamped in Grape Jelly Memento

My talented little helpers, Annette and Jayne, have both made some fabulous inspiration pieces for the challenge so best you come back later this morning - and of course we want you to join in the fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Beach Baby

If I had a choice today, this is what I would like to be doing

Yes, the squinty, one-eyed, wonky photographer is back in town!

Stamp is CC Designs Roberto's Rascals - Beach Babe Twila

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are a mixture of Dovecraft and First Edition

Sentiment is Paper Smooches

Doodling by Squirrel

Who knows, I might even get the chance to do this next week!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Inkidinkirinkistinki PINK

Happy Good Friday everyone!  We are off to Church this afternoon for the Good Friday Mass so while we are pootling about with one eye on the clock, I have been having a play, just finishing off a couple of projects and then making this one.

The theme at IN THE PINK is Celebration Time.  I knew I wanted to use some new rubber that plopped through the door this week, but it wasn't quite right so this is a "cut and shut" card, rofl.  You will see what I mean in a second.

So, what we have here is

Twila With Lamby from CC Designs Roberto's Rascals (minus Lamby)

Instead of Lamby I have used the cupcake from the Lili of The Valley Little Fairies clear set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for Twila's hair

Papers are from an assortment of pads

The Celebrate die is, erm, oh flippin' heck, I must be getting old - will edit to add detail when I have checked the manufacturer.

So, there you have it, my celebration in pink.

OK, now I am going to share a secret with you, but you must keep it to yourself, otherwise I will have to kill you.  Tomorrow morning we have an appointment with The Blue Cross Animal Rescue Centre to go and meet two young kitties ....... I won't say any more now as we still have to be approved as suitable parents, but as we have adopted from them in the past I am keeping everything crossed.  Please send your positive vibes this way!

Before I go, here is a close up of Twila, simply because she is soooooo delicious.

Have a fun day everyone.

Lots of hugs

Squirrel xx

Seeing double

Now, I own up, I get addicted to things very easily, I have that type of personality.  Find me something I like and I will come back to it time and time again, until I find the next addiction to add to the list.  

I am addicted to caffeine (especially chilled espresso lattes), nicotine (oh the shame), chocolate, M&S gooseberry fool, lemon sherbert popcorn (try it, it's amazing), and of course rubber stamps.  One of my addictions in the rubber stamp category is C C Designs Roberto's Rascals and, in particular, a little character called Twila.  She is such a cheeky little minx.

So, when CCD released Bunny Twila I was right there with the PayPal button and got very impatient for her to arrive.  When my happy mail did arrive, she was the first one to get inky and I used her twice on the same day.

So, both painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

with added Polychromos Pencils for hair detail

Papers on both are Nitwits/LOTV

Dies on first are Nestabilties Labels 18 and

on second are Tonic layered ovals

Sentiment on first is from Clearly Besotted

Custom sized card base for both

I hope little Twila has made you as happy as she does me.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx