PBSC 73 White On White

Afternoon guys, hope you are all feeling fine and dandy because I'm still feeling pretty awful!

Wanted to have a go at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge White On White this week after seeing the fabulous DT cards. I felt really inspired, until I made a start and then I felt grumpy. It's a lot harder than it looks for someone who tends to do colour saturation! Anyway, here's my offering, make of it what you will.

I've used Penny Black "Make Believe" stamp, coloured with ProMarkers, Cuttlebug embossing folders Swiss Dots and Candy Stripes, a With Love border folder, and a Woodware Snowflake punch.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

PS. Now I look at the photo I can see it's on the skewhiff as well. Hmph.

An Apology

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to take the opportunity to apologise for the lack of postings, challenge entries and blog visiting - it's been a pants week at work as my boss is on holiday for the half term week and I've been left to my own devices. To say it has been flat out frantic is the understatement of the year. On top of that I've had a flare up of sinusitis with the accompanying blinding headache so it's been an all round fun week so far.

So, if I have missed any of your wonderful creations I am ever so sorry BUT I have next week off work (hurrah) so hope to have a proper catch up then.

Missing you all.
Yours, ready for hibernation
Squirrel xx

High Hopes + Spoonful Of Sugar

Afternoon all. I didn't think I would be back this afternoon but having seen Debbie's sketch from A Spoonful Of Sugar I could not resist having a go:

I used the sketch for my entry in the High Hopes Challenge 50 All About Kids

The range of cute stamps from High Hopes is too irresistable for me and once I've finished my stash diet I'll be queuing up to buy some more. For this one I have used the Magician stamp, coloured with ProMarkers, and the backing papers are Doodlebug. It's a bit in-your-face but, hey, isn't that what kids like?!!

I had fun making it, hope you enjoy seeing it.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge - Make A Shape!

Morning all, hope you are having a fabbie Sunday - sun is shining here and it's a stunning late autumn day.

This week's Totally Gorjuss Challenge is Make a Shape, that's any shape that's not square or rectangular.

For this little card I've used Gorjuss Girls Little Goth Girl (isn't she just the sweetest). I cut the card with Octagonal Nestabilities and used Nesties for the layers too. Gorjuss coloured with ProMarkers. Papers are Papermania and gems and pearls from stash.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hugs,
Squirrel xx

One Card - Nine Challenges!

Afternoon all, and what a damp one it is in this part of the world. Just got back from an interesting "Hallowe'en" party - a friend of ours is 60 next weekend but as he and his wife are having a weekend in London, the family and friends party was today and disguised as his grandson's Hallowe'en party - ghosts, ghouls and witches abounded in plenty! So, armed with plenty of inspiration and stuffed full of cocktail sausages I got stuck into the challenges.

I don't as a rule do Hallowe'en and only own about three images. This card has been made for the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday No 74
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 72 Hallowe'en
Creative Inspirations No 32 Hallowe'en
Pile It On No 19 Ready For Hallowe'en
Stamp With Fun No 29 Hallowe'en
Cupcake Craft Challenges No 62 Things That Go Bump In The Night
Stamping For The Weekend No 21 A Haunting Good Time
My Time To Craft Challenge No 82 Hallowe'en Colours
Everybody Art Challenge No 62 Hallowe'en


For this card I have used:
Penny Black stamp "Apprentice" coloured with ProMarkers and worried (not quite distressed) around the edges with VersaColour lavender ink
Papermania and DCWV papers
Bazzil and DCWV cardstock
Sentiment is computer generated using "Eddy's Bones" font
Cobwebs and spider are drawn by me (hence spider's slightly manic expression)

Thanks for popping by to see me, hope the rest of your weekend is a good one.
Hugs, Squirrel xx

Papertake Sketch + Stamp Something

Didn't think I'd be back this afternoon but whilst hopping around, I could not resist combining this weeks Papertake Weekly Sketch 26 with Stamp Somethings Hallowe'en Somethings

I've had this little Penny Black mouse stamp for years and confess that I think this is only his second outing! Backing paper is PaperCellar Tartan Collection and cardstock from DCWV MatStack, Cuttlebug embossing folders Cobweb and Swiss Dots, peel-offs and ribbon from stash.

Not really scary is he?!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Ever Had One Of Those Days?

There's a song Elvis sings in the film GI Blues ..... "D'ya ever have one of those days, when nothing goes right, from morning til night, d'ya ever have one of those days?"

Yeah, it's one of those. You know, we all get them, one or two days every few weeks when you just feel it in your water that you should have stayed in bed. And it's my day off too so feeling a bit cheated. Vince has been pleased that I'm at home, although he's not being much help......


As I've been so pants at challenges this week I thought I'd have a go at a couple today. Results are not quite what I wanted but, hey, it's one of those days! First is the Passion For ProMarkers Poppy & Forest Green Challenge and of course my first thought was Christmas -

I've used Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girl Sitting, the papers are freebies from Making Cards and the foil holly leaves and gems are from stash.

Second one is Cute Card Thursday Challenge 83 Candy Corns and I have to admit I was a bit stumped but thought "what the heck, jam is sweet!"

Image is Penny Black Sugar Sweet Dreams which I have coloured (badly) with a mixture of ProMarkers and Copics. Papers are all scraps from stash and sentiment is a PaperMania dome sticker.

Thanks for dropping by to see me, hope you all have fabbie weekends, whatever you are up to!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I Feel Safe To Post This Now .....

.... without offending anyone.



YAAAAAAAAAAAY WELL DONE JENSON BUTTON!! 2009 FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION! YIPEE!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss "Pink"

As soon as the Totally Gorjuss Challenge launched and it was PINK I knew I had to enter! Got a real pink thing going on at the moment, must be my mid-life crisis after years of being a blue babe.



Hope you like! Papers are an assortment from stash.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Secret Crafter "Dig Deep" Challenge

Hello Friends, hope you are having a great weekend.

I'm pleased to report that the Christening Card (Penny Black "Nap Time") was very well received and on the back of that I had another order ... this one for a friend's husband's 60th birthday. I had a stamp in mind for it so when I saw the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge No 54 theme was Dig Deep I rolled up my sleeves and went hunting. It wasn't a pretty sight I have to confess, with my bum in the air, head under the workbench and boxes all over, but persistence paid off and I found the stamp I wanted!

Ingredients:
Paper Nation "Senior Puzzler" stamp
PaperCellar "Celebrations" candle paper
Bazzil cardstock
Woodware "screw" brads
Candles and numbers from stash

If you are curious about the tag-line to the sentiment, the inside of the card says "dentures, incontinence, meals-on-wheels....". It's OK, we know him well, he can take it!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

5,000 Hits Candy!

CANDY LIST IS NOW CLOSED - WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER



Ok, it's a bit late for celebrating my first 5,000 blog hits but better late than never!

Candy contains:
- Personal Impressions Cute Characters Set 1 (clear stamp set)
- Crafters Companion Popcorn Partytime (unmounted stamp set)
- Woodware Ribbons Lavender & Stripes
- Crystal Stickers self-adhesive gems
- Woodware "Magic" anti-static bag
- VersaMark cube - perfect for heat embossing, watermarks etc
- Memento Tuxedo Black ink - the ink of choice for Copics and ProMarkers

All I ask of you is:
- Please add a link to this candy on your own blog
- Please tell your friends

Don't worry if you do not have your own blog, just email me and I will add your name to the list so everyone gets a chance to win.

If you are not already a Follower, it would be lovely if you were (no obligation though).

I'll keep this candy open until midnight on Friday 6 November and will post the name of the winner on Sunday 8 November.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

ABC + PaperTake = Spook Fest

Evening all! When I saw the ABC Challenge F is for Flying this week I just knew that I had to combine it with Papertake Weekly Challenge The Dark Side and the Cute Card Thursday Spook Fest

I don't do Hallowe'en as such, but no Penny Black addict could be without the clear set called "Spooky" ....

I adore this little cat! Papers and cardstock are a mix of DCWV, Bazzil and Dovecraft.

Sorry the photo is not properly in focus, my lighting in the conservatory is "subtle"! Well, that's one word for it anyway, and it's pitch dark outside.

Right then, shortbread biscuit anyone? Shelly, where are you babe? They'll get eaten if you're not quick.

Hugs all
Squirrel xx

Up Up and Away

If you have any doubts about going to see this movie, with or without kids, put those doubts to one side and get your bum to the cinema! Don't be fooled by this being a "cartoon", it is a wonderful piece of entertainment.

Toad and I went today as we had a long weekend and I am sooooo glad we did, except for the 3D glasses which were a nuisance. If you can see the non-3D version so much the better.

Be warned though, for every laugh there is a tear, and I was crying after the first ten minutes.

Another winning film from the Pixar Studio and highly recommended for a lovely warm, fuzzy feeling.

Squirrel xx

PS. The short film before "Up", "Partly Cloudy" is a miniature masterpiece of animation.

Eeeeeek!

You crafty lot have snuck up on me! 5007 hits, and it was only 4,970 this morning! You have caught me on the hop - candy in the planning but not ready yet. Do pop back later in the week when I hope to have it sorted for you.
Squirrel xx

Sugar Nellie Fragile Beauty

Ingredients: Sugar Nellie stamp "Fragile Beauty", ProMarkers, Making Memories papers, bow and gems from stash, Sentiments both Hero Arts

Close-up


Poor biscuit selection in cupboards, will get some shortbread for tomorrow!
Squirrel xx

Three Birds, One Stone

Hello All, hope you are having a good weekend despite the gloomy weather - have to say though, our grass is looking better for a little rain!

Today's card covers three events for me, two challenges and an order.

Firstly, the challenges are Sketch Saturday Challenge No 72 and Penny Black Saturday Challenge Buttons & Bows



Having gone months without an order, I received two this week (I live in one of those quirky places where people tell you that they really like your work but they are too tight to pay true value for one and I have given up on under-selling these days). This is for one of those orders, it's for a little boy's christening and the lady ordering said she wanted "different". Hmmmmmmmmmm! Anyway, this is what she is getting ....



Ingredients are:
Penny Black stamp "Nap Time" coloured with ProMarkers
Making Memories Fresh Anthology - Eliza (all papers)
F initial (for baby's name) from Hero Arts clear set
Classic circle Nestabilities
Buttons and Bow from stash

Got a long weekend as I managed to book tomorrow off work so might even manage another card or two then!

Thanks for calling by, it is always lovely to see you. I'll try to have biscuits next time.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Snow Joke You Know!

Yeah, I know, corny, but it had to be done - phew, I am Christmas carded out today! Did one this morning, and the First Time Grandma Card (if you've not had a peek yet could I be really cheeky and ask you to have a look - I need to know if you think it's ok) and have done five more this afternoon plus two calendar pages! I shall be too tired to go back to work tomorrow.

Anyway, I was colouring an image by Gillian Roberts and suddenly it struck me what it reminded me of .......



Does it work? I'm quite chuffed with it. I made the "globe" just with two part circles cut with Nestabilities.

Thanks again for dropping by, see ya soon
Squirrel xx

5000 Hits Candy

Hi All

That little counter is clicking it's way round again (it doesn't seem 2 mins since I was excited about 1,000 hits) and will soon be marking up the 5,000 hits milestone.

I'm planning a little something but just wondered what you would like to see in candy if you had the choice?

Be interested in your answers.

Squirrel xx

First Time Grandma Card

Now my friends, I would really appreciate your comments on this one - one of my work colleagues, and a very dear friend, is about to become a grandma for the first time and I cannot express here just how excited she is. Her son and his partner live a five hour drive away so she's had her suitcase in the back of the car for over a week. Baby Girl is due to make an appearance this Friday but knowing first babies she could well be overdue.

Anyway, as a department at work we wanted to give her a card and I was asked to make it to celebrate the occasion. I wanted the card to be sweet but not over-the-top sugary so I was rummaging amongst my stamps and unearthed a House Mouse stamp that had never seen ink and I thought it was spot-on.



I coloured the House Mouse with ProMarkers and spent a bit of time fiddling around to get the image to fall outside of the Nestability die.



Other items used are Papermania Regency papers, Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch, Quicklets, Prima flowers, Dovecraft brads, ribbon and lettering from stash.

What do you think? Is it suitable for the occasion? I'm entering this into the "Celebration" challenge No 52 over at The Secret Crafter as a new grandchild is certainly cause to celebrate!

Thanks for dropping in, always lovely to see you.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash No 20

It's 9.00, it's Wednesday and it's time for CrackerJack!! Blimey, showing my age there aren't I? Actually, it is 9.00 on Wednesday but I'm having a ME DAY - yes, a whole(ish) day, mid week, just for me. How decadent is that!

Which has given me time to catch up on the current challenge from Sketch & Stash - it's challenge No 20 and the sketch is


Now doesn't that look straightforward? Let me tell you, this is one deceptive sketch and needs courage to go naked like that. Anyway, this is what I've come up with

Ingredients for the card are Penny Black stamp "Warm & Cold" which I stamped in VersaFine Majestic Blue. I then used some of the ink to colour parts of the image and a lighter blue to lift it a bit. The ribbon is from my stash, the papers are Anita's Classic Christmas Blue from either last year, or even year before, and the sentiment is Penny Black too. The snowflake brad is from stash.

Thanks for popping by to see me today, I hope the weather isn't as grotty where you are. Do call in again later as I'm now going to tackle a card for a first-time grandma, should be interesting.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

High Hopes Trio

Afternoon all, and how are you on this gloriously sunny autumn Sunday? Feeling a bit brighter today but my blocked sinus are still making my teeth ache, which is a bit miserable. Anyhoo, got three cards for you today - all featuring what I think are mega-cute High Hopes stamps.

The first two are nice and simple Christmas cards using Meowy Christmas and Small Stackable Santa. Papers are all from stash and the sentiment stamps are Penny Black.




Then I needed to make a quick birthday card so this time used Small Monkey Mike, papers from stash and a Hero Arts sentiment


I really ought to be cracking on with my Christmas cards - still got loads to do, and now having heard the report that if we want cards to arrive by Christmas they should be posted in the next three weeks (I did check the calendar to see if it was April) I'm in a bit of a tizz. Looks like we might be celebrating Christmas at Easter!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Penny Black Sketch Saturday

Oh I'm so not having a good day! Don't say I didn't warn you.

I like to try and combine Sketch Saturday Challenge with the Penny Black Saturday Challenge and it usually works, but this week I'm not sure.

Sketch Saturday have their Challenge 71 as this sketch from Ria

If I'm totally honest, I found this to be a bit busy for my taste but, hey, it's a challenge after all and it does us good to break away from our own "style" now and again.

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge No. 69 is "Autumn Breeze" and I love using autumnal colours but for a change I've not used an animal ....

Ingredients for this card are Penny Black stamp "Chic", coloured with ProMarkers, all the papers are Joanna Sheen, ribbon from stash (bow missing due to three left hands today), paper lace by Woodware.

Thanks for popping over, always great to see you.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Party On!

Morning all! I had hoped to be full of squirrel bounceability this morning but sadly I am feeling rather under the weather and a bit blerrrrgh.

Two challenges for this card - the first is Cute Card Thursday No 80 whose theme is "First" and the second is for High Hopes No 46 who are celebrating birthdays.

This cute little man is High Hopes Party Cat. I've coloured him with ProMarkers but not very well I'm afraid. The papers are Papermania (starred background) and PaperCellar (birthday). I got the candle from a local shop so can't tell you the brand or anything, but they are very useful.



Hope you all have a great weekend, I'm off to find a strong coffee.
Hugs
Squirrel xx