Creative Inspirations No 29

Morning All! How are we on this rather grotty Wednesday? Halfway through the week at least.

Anyway, as fortune would have it, I made a card last night that would seem to fit nicely with Creative Inspirations Challenge No 29 - sorry for the poor photo but I took it on my phone.



The challenge is to use letters and/or numbers.

I used Gorjuss Girls Little Miss Attitude, coloured with ProMarkers, and papers from a pad of Making Memories. I used a Martha Stewart border punch on the pink card and the flowers are done with a Woodware daisy punch. Ovals cut with Nestabilities and the text message is handwritten (which is probably why it's not very legible!).

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Two Cards, Three Challenges

Evening All! Hope you have had a brilliant weekend.

Unfortunately, thanks to Mr Button in Singapore I've lost a lost of precious crafting time so it's been a bit frantic this afternoon - managed to get two cards made - the first is for Penny Black Saturday Challenge No 68 and the challenge is a fabulous colour combo of pink, lemon and chocolate



As is always the way when I'm in a rush, I forgot to note down any of the details. Will come back and edit later.

And the second card is for Cute Card Thursday No 79 who's theme is Buzz Off, or black and yellow!



I'm also sneaking this one in under Sketch Saturday Challenge No 70 even though my sentiment is off centre, I had a bit of bother with me bee!



Thanks for dropping by, it's really lovely to see you, as always.

Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia Colour Combo

My first challenge card of the weekend (I'm having to sneak them in now I don't have so much time for me)!

Over at Just Magnolia the Week 24 challenge is a colour combo of pink and grey with optional black. Don't know about you but I love pink and grey together. Anyway, had a little play and this is what I've done



I wish the Tilda stamps had more memorable names, but I love this one anyway. It's the first time I've used her and she's not been a red-head or blonde. Ninety percent of the papers used are from the DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas Stack and any others are from my stash.

Thanks for finding the time to come over and see me. Have a happy weekend.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Bunny's Been Framed!

During my earlier mentioned visit to The Range yesterday, I bought an 8x8 box frame, almost on impulse - I do love having pictures around the house and thought it would be quite nice instead of always making stuff for other people to actually sit down and make something for our home.

Before I started my craft-stash-diet I bought some High Hopes stamps and one of the cutest, if you like rabbits that is, is Bunny Blooms



I wanted the picture to be bright and cheerful so had a rummage through and found a selection of DCWV cardstock and some Making Memories paper that seemed to go together and then set about colouring Bunny with ProMarkers, making sure that his flowers picked out the colours of the background cardstock.

Unframed


Without the glass


With the glass


The flowers are Flora Doodles and the large gems are E Line Pearls & Crystals. I'm never quite sure how best to attach flowers so these are stuck on with a large helping of dries-clear Art Institute glue!

Toad came home last night, very tired and grumpy, and when I showed it to him he said he loves it and I'm not to give it away - bless him.

Thanks ever so much for popping by on this Friday afternoon, I hope you all have a fab weekend (Singapore Grand Prix - come on Jenson!!) and I'm off to have a browse for some of my favourite challenges. See ya soon.

Squirrel xx

No Card This Morning But A Bit Of A Moan

Morning all and TGI Friday!
I will post yesterday's little project when I get home this afternoon after I've taken some photos of it but in the meantime, I want a little grumble -

I popped into The Range on the way home yesterday (and before my craft-stash-diet-overseers start, it was an ESSENTIAL) to get some more Bristol Board. Since I discovered ProMarkers I am going through the Board like it is going out of fashion - the lady on the till gave me a funny look too (I bought 4 A5 pads as they don't have that size in stock regularly).

Anyhoo, while I was in there I had a wander round (but didn't buy) the pretty papers and in particular the Christmas section. And here is the grumble - why is it impossible for manufacturers to print a true red or green Christmas paper? Don't get me wrong, the papers they had were really nice, but the reds and greens where either really pale and washed out or so very dark they were nearly black. What happened to traditional Christmas colours? Am I being an old stick-in-the-mud or does anyone else find this as well?

OK, moan over. Please do pop back letter to see Bunny's Been Framed!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Bunny-Zoe Blog Candy

The wonderful Nikki over at Bunny-Zoe's is celebrating over 150,000 hits on her blog (way to go Nikki)and is offering a fab £25 voucher candy for her store. Candy is open until 4 October so pop over there now and show your support.



Squirrel xx

Three Cards No Challenges

Got home from work about 3.30 this afternoon, having ended up working more hours than I am supposed to for this "phased return". It seems that "phased" has a definition that I am not aware of! Anyway, I wanted to get on with some Christmas cards this afternoon but got a little sidetracked - in fact, so sidetracked that squirrel-scrambled-egg-for-brains forgot to make a note of any of the papers I used!

First one is Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girls Sent With Love - I think the papers are from a Forever Friends pack - she's done with ProMarkers. Is the shading too subtle? I'm always afraid of overdoing it and not being able to put it right.



Then we have Penny Black To Have And To Hug, again done with ProMarkers, and using Daisy & Dandelion papers.



And finally, High Hopes Bearly Swooshin' but this time he's watercoloured. I think the backing paper is Papermania. Snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder used but debossed instead.



Right then, it's Mr Toad's birthday so I'm off downstairs to do something with a couple of steaks and to saute some potatoes ..... Nigella Lawson I am not!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Eli, Frogger & Bear

Now that I'm extending my hours at work (heading back towards to full time - ugh) I am miffed that I'm losing so much play time and everything feels like it's being done in a rush. Deep sigh.

Anyhoo, enough of my moaning - regular visitors will know that my beloved is known affectionaly as Mr Toad and it's his birthday tomorrow and I've been in a bit of a panic about his card (the cat had already made him one) and then during a furtle through my stamps I rediscovered Eli & Frogger by Whipper Snapper - perfect!


The more observant of you may notice that Eli has acquired a smile and there is a reason for that - Mr Toad has a real issue with no mouth faces, he hates Tilda with a passion, so I simply had to put a smile on this fella.


And while I had the ProMarkers out I just had to have a play with Beary Sweet Sign from High Hopes, I love his furry little face.


Thanks for dropping by, it's lovely to see you.

Squirrel xx

Let's Talk Turkey

Something I have always wanted to have a go at is a double-fronted card so whilst I had the time this afternoon I gave it a go.

Here it is with the front all done up


And then with the double front open


Apparently it is a worrying sign when you laugh to yourself but I am afraid I have been chuckling for about half an hour, I just love that turkey's expression so much!

Ingredients for this card:
High Hopes stamps Tom Turkey and Tom's Plea both coloured with ProMarkers
Holographic star print card from stash
Red pearl card from stash
Peel-offs from stash
Nestabilities Classic Circles and Labels

Thanks ever so much for coming over, it's always lovely to see you.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Arianne's Sketch

This is my first encounter with Sunday Sketch & Stamp and after this week, I shall be going back! This is their No 11 Challenge using Arianne's Sketch.



And this is what I made



Ingredients for this card are:
Penny Black stamp Country Lady which I watercoloured
PaperCellar Black & White papers
Bazzil red card
Woodware small peel-off greeting
Nestabilities Classic Rectangles

Thanks for dropping by and taking a look, you are always welcome.

Squirrel xx

WOJ Candy from Cats Whiskers

There is a yummy candy on offer from the exceptionally talented Jacqui at Cats Whiskers - the offer is a WOJ stamp "Henry Mouse Sitting On Candy Cane" - and Jacqui's artwork is stunning. To check out this little darling get yourself over to Cats Whiskers before 23 September.



Go visit and see how delicious this is. Thank you Jacqui.

Squirrel xx

One For Three!

Afternoon all! You can tell I'm short on crafting time when I'm trying to see how many challenges I can cram into one card - I think three is enough for this one. So, we have: Cute Card Thursday No 78 Hidden Treasure which is the one that started today's headaches, combined with
A Spoonful Of Sugar Challenge No 69 Fall Into Autumn and High Hopes Challenge No 45 Favourite Stamp

For the Hidden Treasure part of the challenge, I remembered seeing in an issue of Making Cards the instructions for a slider card. "Oh it can't be that hard" thought I "I'll do that". Ha! Anyway, won't bore you with the details but dearest Toad did ask me twice "Are you still making that same card?". For the Fall Into Autumn part of the challenge, I used some wonderfully rich papers from My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow and some autumn leaf stamps by Komodo, also autumn is kitten season which lead me beautifully into High Hopes Favourite Stamp of Andreas Kitties .....



And this is it with the slider open -


Ingredients:
High Hopes stamp Andreas Kitties
Komodo stamps Autumn Leaves
Hero Arts sentiment stamps (lost the packet so don't know which set)
My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow papers
Bazzil cardstock
ColorBox Fluid Chalk
Crystal Elements red and gold gems
ProMarkers

I'm off for a lay down now before I tackle anything else! Thanks for dropping by on this wonderfully sunny autumn Sunday.

Squirrel xx

One Plus One

Afternoon all! Hope you are having a gorgeous Saturday - it's been lovely here, the sun came out this morning and it's mild but not too hot. A perfect autumn day. Been off to a food tasting at a local farm shop this afternoon, oh so many yummy things - everytime I turned my back Mr Toad had disappeared, but I needn't worry, I knew he'd be at the sausage stand (have to admit, those little chipolatas were amazing).

Anyhoo, on returning home I thought I ought to pull my socks up and get on with a couple of challenges - ended up combining two in one card so I hope you don't mind. This card is for Sketch Saturday Challenge No 69 and here is their brilliant sketch.



And the other challenge is this weekend's Penny Black Saturday Challenge Lace & Pearls



For this card the ingredients are:
Penny Black stamp "Looking At You" which I've watercoloured
My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus papers (broke my heart to use them)
Chocolate brown card from stash
Woodware self-adhesive paper lace
Crystal Stickers Pearls
Woodware medium and small flower punches
Pebble Inc I-kan-dee Pearlescent Chalks
Nestabilities Classic Ovals

I know it looks as if I was a bit tipsy when I took the photo but you can blame the cat for that one! I was trying to get it done quickly before I got his tail in the picture and fur all over the card. Honest!

Thanks for dropping by today, hope to see you again soon.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Thank Crunchie It's Friday!

Well, that's my first week back at work over with, and am I glad!

Anyhoo, had a little play this afternoon and came up with



Now, I had thought about the Just Magnolia Challenge but then, d'uh, I realised I had completely forgotten to check to see what the flippin' challenge is for this week! Oh well, gives me an excuse to get Tilda out again at the weekend.

Ingredients: Magnolia Tilda with Bee and Sweet Jars (masking used for stamping), watercoloured, DCWV Old World Matstack (the purple background card), PaperCellar Easter/Spring collection, Flora Doodles, Ribbon from stash.

Then conscience got the better of me and I did a Christmas card



I love this little guy - he's Woodland Santa from High Hopes stamps and he's so cheeky! Papers are Papermania and Bazzil card. Peel-off greeting coloured red to match. Santa coloured with ProMarkers.

Think I need to have a decent night's sleep before I think about any more challenges!

Thanks for dropping by this afternoon - wishing you all a wonderful weekend (it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow and I've been promised Chinese food, yum).

Squirrel xx

Told You I Liked It!

I think I may have said how much I like the current sketch from Sketch & Stash Challenge No 19 - in fact, I like it so much, I'ved used it twice again today!





I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I had forgotten that I owned this gorgeous little lass from Sugar Nellie but I am so pleased I rediscovered her. Papers for the card are a mix of Papermania and Anita's and I think the stamp is Nellie With Hat And Scarf.



The Columbo impersonator is Little Sleuth from the unbearably cute High Hopes stamps. I won't even bother to try and tell you what the papers are as they all came out of the leftovers box so, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea as to their identities (sorry).

I made this one for a dear mate who is moving on to pastures new very soon - our loss is her new firm's gain, the woman is a star. Here's the inside:



Thanks ever so much for coming to see me, and listening to me ramble on .....

Squirrel xx

What Is It With Men?

Just when you think you know what's going on with men, they go and do something silly, like move house!

One of Mr Toad's friends, and an old work colleague, sent an email to say he is moving at the end of this week. Now, I don't know Reg that well but I do know he's a single man in his 60s so I kind of guessed he wouldn't be wanting a card plastered in fluffy flowers.



I tried to make the cream patterned paper look like it is peeling wallpaper but I'm not sure how well that works. What do you think?

Ingredients for this are a bit haphazard as I didn't check the brand or name of the stamp before I came upstairs! The papers and mats are all Little Sizzles and the sentiment I did on the PC and then cut with Nesties.

Thanks for popping in to have a peek. Sorry that it's such a damp afternoon, hope you didn't get too wet!

Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash Challenge No 19

Having just caught myself asking the cat "duz oo wanna dinka milky moomoo den" I thought it was time I did something constructive with my afternoon .....

A fabulous sketch over at Sketch & Stash Challenge and it is one that I'm saving to use again, it's perfect for landscape cards and I've not made enough of these lately.

Had a good old rummage about in the stash and came up with this



Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp Xmouse Ornament (watercoloured)
Silver textured mirricard and blue pearl card
DCWV Neutral Mat Stack
Joanna Sheen dark tartan paper
Stampendous peel-off Merry Christmas oval
Woodware snowflake punch (for silver snowflake)
Woodware peel-off Wire Snowflakes
Sticky ribbon

Had great fun making this one so "thank you" Sketch & Stash!

Squirrel xx

Passion For ProMarkers Blog Hop

The wonderfully talented gang over at Passion For ProMarkers are holding their first Blog Hop. It's open until 9pm Thursday 17th Sept and the randomly selected winner will be announced the following day - and the prize? Thought you'd never ask! It's all 56 new colours of the fabulous ProMarker pens.

Actually, now that I've entered, maybe I shouldn't have told you lot ...... kinda reduces my chances .......!

Squirrel xx

How Things Do Change

Well, I survived it - my first morning back at work after five months on sick leave! I am only doing mornings for now, a phased return the doc calls it, and that's enough - I left just before lunch feeling absolutely shattered, but not so shattered that I wasn't able to have a little play this afternoon!

It was like starting a new job completely - couldn't remember how the phone system worked (to be fair, it had only been in place for about a month before I went off), couldn't remember my password to log on to the network, couldn't find my mouse or wastepaper bin and, most importantly, I couldn't find my coffee mug coaster - so I spent this afternoon making a new one .....



This adorable little fella is called "Sensible Squirrel" (guess I'm not related to him then) from the Messy Rabbit range of stamps from Joanna Sheen. The papers are also Joanna Sheen though not sure from what collection as they've been kicking about for ages. The coaster itself I picked up from a cross stitch show about five years ago (see, typical squirrel, hoards everything)!

Well, I think I'm going to try him for size before I take him to work. Now, where's the kettle .... ?

Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia - Embossing

A fab challenge over at Just Magnolia this week - it's week 22 and the theme is embossing.

Having just bought a new Cuttlebug folder, there was no option but to go for roses all the way!



Ingredients for this card are:
Magnolia stamp - Tilda with bunch of roses (watercoloured)
Bazzil card embossed with Cuttlebug roses folder
Papermania backing paper from Blueberry Hill collection
Ribbon from stash
Sentiment from Personal Impressions clear set

Thanks for popping over to have a look, hope to see you again soon.

Squirrel xxx

Sketch Saturday Challenge No 68

I am in love with the Sketch Saturday challenges! I shouldn't wish my time away but I can't wait for Saturday mornings now, and this week's sketch is a beauty.



It was a bit of a game trying to find a stamp that would fit where the image was meant to go - I won't admit how many stamps I had out of their boxes for this! Anyway, this is a lovely sketch to work with and I shall be saving it to use again for other occasions so a big thank you to Sketch Saturday Challenge No 68 for coming up trumps again.



Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp "Buzz In The Air", watercolour painted
Bazzil cardstock
Papermania Sweet Nothings papers
7Gypsies 5th Avenue Journey Collection papers
Crystal Stickers self-adhesive Pearls
Hero Arts Happy Birthday sentiment from a clear set
Woodware flower punch

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to drop in, hope to see you again soon.

Squirrel xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge No 66

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge No 66 is Domi's Sketch.



And what a challenge this turned out to be! My first attempt failed because my colour choice was terrible, the second failed because I was totally distracted by my beloved playing Raving Rabbids on the Wii (don't even ask) so hopefully this one is third time lucky!



Ingredients:
Penny Black snowman from "Holly Jolly" clear set (coloured with ProMarkers)
Papermania A Wonderful Christmas Time papers
Pebbles Inc Candy Dots
Cuttlebug Snowflake die
Ribbon from The Range (can't find a brand name) - and I tied the bow myself!
Self-adhesive lace borders by Woodware (I think)

Thanks for coming by to have a look, lovely to see you.
Squirrel xx

Get Well Giraffe

One of my dearest friends, Sheila, was due to go into hospital on Tuesday (I say "was" because the hospital phoned her this morning to postpone) to have her gallbladder removed and a hernia repaired. When I saw this little fella in the Lofty & Co range on Joanna Sheen's site the other week I knew that I had to get him specifically for Sheila.



I deliberately kept this one simple so that there were no problems with it going through the post.

Ingredients:
Dr Lofty by Lofty & Co from Joanna Sheen
Papermania Sweet Nothings papers
The "Get Well Soon" tablets are part of the Dr Lofty unmounted stamp set
Painted with watercolours

Teen Birthday

I have a mental block when it comes to teenagers cards, especially girls, so when my mate Samantha asked for one to be made for Abbi, a friend's daughter, who was 15 yesterday, my heart kinda sank a little bit - but, never being one to turn down a challenge, I had a go anyway.



I had no ideas as to what colours to use but knew that I just had to use a Gorjuss Girl and this particular one "Sitting" was crying out to be stamped. The rest of the card just sort of fell into place. I coloured her with a mix of Promarkers and Ciao Copics.

Ingredients:
Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girls "Sitting" stamp
7Gypsies 5th Avenue Journey Collection papers
The H and B of Happy Birthday are from a clear set of Hero Arts letters and the appy irthday are from an unbranded set I bought from Create & Craft
Woodward flower punch
Purple glitter paper and gems from stash

Thanks for popping by.
Squirrel xx

Congratulations Helen's Craft Haven

My very dear crafting friend and inspiration, Helen, is celebrating her first "blogoversary" over at Helen's Craft Haven and is offering an incredibly sumptuous and delicious candy!



This is just yummy so get yourself over there and have a look. Helen's offer is open until 13 September.

Helen is one of the most talented, generous and supportive crafters that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing so please pop over and show your support.

Squirrel xx