WELCOME!


Welcome to Squirrel's slightly nutty world of rubber stamping, papercraft, cats, Formula 1 and a variety of other off-the-wall topics. It's fabulous to see you and I hope you enjoy your time here. Please do pop back and visit me again soon!


Thursday 31 December 2009

Me And My Shadow - A Problem!

Afternoon all - after so many days of not crafting I really wanted to make the most of today with Toad being at work, but you know how it is, things never go to plan!

Anyhoo, had a little stamping and masking session with my Tilda's this afternoon and had a contented hour colouring away with the ProMarkers and Copics until I was happy - and then I noticed the problem .....


The grey Copic that I used for the shadow around Tilda on the bench has bleached out the underneath brown ink!  Any ideas on how to resolve this please? 

It was all going so well too ..... sigh.

Then I found this stamp that has lain neglected for ages and it seemed the perfect opportunity to use my new Martha Stewart border punch - it's a very simple card but I think the punch works well with the stamp (Hero Arts Sketch Vase)


If things pan out right tomorrow I am hoping to tackle a couple of challenges (how easy is it to get out of the habit) so do pop back then and see what else I've managed to make a mess of !!

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Tuesday 29 December 2009

First Easel Card

Never being one to be ahead of the game at anything, it has taken me until now to make my first easel card ...





















I've used Tilda with Sunflower, Sizzlets Flourishes, DCWV Kitchen Stack and Papermania papers, finished off with gems and peel-offs. Tilda is coloured with a mix of Copics and ProMarkers.

Don't know what took me so long to try this, it was really easy so now the first one is done I shall be more adventurous next time!

Also decided that I need to recoup some of my spending - thought I might put a notice up on the board at work as a starter, do you think this would be ok?


Would be interested to hear views from those who do sell their cards at work.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Monday 28 December 2009

Pink Gem Candy - 6 Stamps

The very talented Janet over at Pink Gem Designs has some wonderful candy on offer - 6 Pink Gem stamps of your choice.  Winner will be chosen on 18 January.

If you have not used Pink Gem stamps before, I urge you to go and have a look.  Janet designs the stamps and she has created a wonderful range of gorgeous characters and the stamps are just lovely to work with.


Hugs, Squirrel xx

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Dentist - Quick Update

Thanks to all of you who sent very kind wishes during the absess incident a couple of weeks ago.

Went to the dentist on Monday.

Extraction - scheduled for 23 January.

Under sedation (sedation?  Just shoot me)

£325!

Yours, shaking in her boots
Squirrel xx

Tuesday 22 December 2009

The Last Two - Yipee!

Here's my last two Christmas cards for this year (I hope) - sorry for photos, only had time for a quick snap on my phone before they had to be sent.  Both are for friends at church and Toad only reminded me about them Saturday morning!



Now I can start thinking about the three million birthdays I've got coming up in January, February and March!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Monday 21 December 2009

Merry Christmas My Friends

Hello m'darlin's
No card or challenge attached to this post - it's simply a message to wish each and every one of you a peaceful and joyous Christmas.
I've had a fab first year in blogland and it is all thanks to you, thanks for your support, your kindness, your generosity and your friendship.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and here's to a happy and healthy 2010 for all of us!
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sunday 20 December 2009

Totally Gorjuss Challenge - Tag!

Great idea this week over at Totally Gorjuss as the the challenge is for a tag - don't know about you, but gift tags are nearly as difficult to choose for a person as the card and present!

Anyhoo, this creation is to be stuck on mum and dad's big present - I can almost hear dad saying "are you sure that's ours?" so it seemed appropriate.


I've used Little Miss Attitude, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, red card from stash and gold textured mirri card from Create & Craft, handwritten sentiment (and I smudged the exclamation mark, grrr).  Organza ribbon from The Range.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Three Wise Women!

On struggling through the snow into church this morning, we were given the latest edition of the parish magazine and on the back page was this little gem that I thought I would share with you because it made me smile:

Imagine if the Three Wise Men had actually been Three Wise Women - they would have asked for directions, turned up on time, cleaned the stable, delivered the baby and brought practical gifts!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Saturday 19 December 2009

Sketch Saturday GDT No 3 - last one, sob!

Ooooh, just under a week to go now chaps - are you all prepared?  I know I'm not!

If you are currently thinking "oh to heck with it all", why not take some time out and hop over to Sketch Saturday Challenge where there is another wonderful sketch for you just crying out to be played with.

Because I am Christmassed out, I could not bear to make yet another card so this one is a bit of a girlie birthday card for you


That cute little kitten at the letterbox is from a clear set of stamps by Buzzcraft (they also do teddies and puppies by the way, but you know me and cats!), papers are MME, flowers done with Woodware punches, gems and peel-offs from stash.  Image coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you to Jeanette and the crew at Sketch Saturday Challenge for giving me the wonderful opportunity of being their Guest Design Team Member for December.  I've thoroughly enjoyed it and just wish it could go on a bit longer - one day perhaps.  Thanks guys, you are such stars.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Friday 18 December 2009

A Slightly Chilly 24 Hours!

Evening all (as PC George Dixon might say), hoping you are all safe and well.

It's been a tad on the chilly side in the East of England (the lumpy bit on the right hand side) this past 24 hours.  It started snowing about this time last night and settled fast.  I got home from work ok but it took poor Toad nearly 2 hours to do 6 miles to get home from the station later in the evening.

This morning, on opening the curtains, we were greeted by a blanket of nearly pristine snow (I say nearly because there is always someone who has to stamp through it to spoil the effect LOL).  Toad decided, wisely, to leave the car at home and went to get a bus in the hope that the London trains were running.  I rummaged about in the wardrobe and ferreted out my thermal long-johns and, duly attired, put on three pairs of socks and my floral wellies.  I trekked off for the bus, half expecting to find Toad still at the bus stop but he'd gone by then.  Bus turned up on time but it took nearly 1 1/2 hours to get into town.

The office were sensible about the snow and let those of us who'd struggled to get in leave early.  I left the office at 3.30 and spent 50 long, bitterly cold minutes waiting for a bus home.  When it did eventually turn up, it was like sardines.  I've only been in a few minutes (2 hours later) and have got my toastie slippers on and a mug of hot chocolate on the go.  I think I might dip my feet in it as I can't feel my toes yet.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are safe and warm with your loved ones.  Hoping mine won't be too late getting home tonight!

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Tuesday 15 December 2009

And The Winner Is ......

Thanks to everyone who took part, by blog and by email, in my Tilda Mini Candy.  It's been lovely to see you all and to meet some new bloggers too.  Hope you enjoyed my little corner of blogland enough to come back and see me again sometime.

Got things organised a little earlier than anticipated so am pleased to announce the the winner is (selected completely randomly by Vince playing with all the little slips of paper and chewing one) is ......

Drum roll please ......

Fanfare ......

It is .......

Mandy at  A Sprinkling Of Glitter

Well done hunny, you have been chewsen (groan).  Email (link in my sidebar) me your details babe and I'll get the stamps whizzing their way off to their new home.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sunday 13 December 2009

Totally Gorjuss Free & Easy


Now I have been a bad blogger lately and not taken part in as many challenges as I would like - mostly that is down to time of year I think, I don't seem to have a second to turn around at the moment - and yesterday I got a little nudge from my mate Sarah about it so this morning I sat down to have a go at this week's Totally Gorjuss Challenge and the theme is Free & Easy, so a nice relaxing challenge pre-Christmas ......

I had no clear ideas when I sat down, except what stamp I wanted to use, so this card sort of evolved as I went along - which could explain the end result!


I've used Sugar Nellie's oh-so-cute Manga Fairy, coloured with Copics, the papers are from Papermania Spring Burst collection, peel-off borders and gems from stash.  And that's it, really simple and let's the image do the talking I think.

Hope you are having a good Sunday, we're off to a Carols By Candlelight service this afternoon and then it'll be a dash round to get sorted for going back to work tomorrow. 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Saturday 12 December 2009

Penny Black Saturday Challenge & A Bedtime Story

Earlier Posts Today:  Sketch Saturday No 81

Could not resist today's Penny Black Saturday Challenge with a Red and Gold theme - I mean, just how Christmassy can you get?!


Even in daylight at the moment my camera is not light sensitive enough to take a decent picture and with all that mirri card I daren't use a flash!  Here's a close up -


I've used "Merry Wishes" by Penny Black, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust (Just how fine is that stuff? you should see Vince now!), Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Deep Heart Lattice border punch (arrived in post this morning, yippee), Cuttlebug Ice Crystal snowflake and lots of gold sparkling gems.  Gold mirri card and red cardstock from stash and red tartan paper is an offcut too.  Thought this one would be ideal for my mate Julie-Pig!

And now for the bedtime story:  NEVER, and I mean never, never, ever, let your man go bed shopping on his own.  For months now we have been talking about replacing the old divan in the front bedroom (it was only a cheap tide-us-over bed 12 years ago) as it was looking very worse for wear and my darling Mollie found it was just the right height for her arthritic hips to use as a scratcher.  Occasionally, when we've seen a furniture shop, we've popped in and had a nosey round but never found the right one.  That is, until last weekend when His Nibs went out alone .... he came back and said, quite proudly, that the new bed was being delivered next Saturday (today).  New bed??  Oh, ok then, you've chosen one. 

It duly arrived this morning, on schedule, and all the bits (yes, bits) were brought upstairs by the nice delivery men who said that putting it together was "easy".  Now, where have I heard that before?  Anyway, turns out that His Infinite Wisdom has bought the shop display model.  Nice bargain in fact.  Except, there are no (expletive deleted, please insert own one of choice) instructions with it.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  I repeat, never, never, ever let your man go shopping alone!

Hope you are having fabbie weekends, and many thanks for popping in to see me.
Yours, bruised, battered and with splinters
Squirrel xxxxx


Sketch Saturday 81 and my GDT No 2!

Morning all, and a Happy Weekend to you ..... 12 December already, how scary is that - less than two weeks to go!

Anyhoo, to take your mind off the madness, Sketch Saturday Challenge  have another fabulous sketch for you this week and it's sponsored by Simon Says Stamps so get yourselves busy and give it try .... Thanks to Jo for her continuing and amazing hard work and to the DT for another week of stunning example cards!

Now, please understand that I love and adore my daddy to pieces - but there is an ongoing tease about his advancing years.  Not sure how he's going to take this one!


I've used Norman Goat from High Hopes stamps, papers from Dovecraft and sticky ribbon from stash.  Norman is coloured with a mix of Copics and ProMarkers.

Thanks for dropping in, I know you are all busy with the upcoming festivities but it is still important to take a little time out for you.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Thursday 10 December 2009

Mum & Dad's Tri-Fold Marathon!


If it had not been for my beloved parents, we would really have been up the proverbial creek without the legendary paddle this year.  They were absolute angels during the five months after my operation when I was immobile for many long weeks and we could not have managed without their constant, unquestioning, love and support.

With this in mind, and because they are really special people anyway, I wanted to make them a Christmas card that was a little more memorable than usual.  So, with this in mind,  I got stuck in yesterday afternoon and, after three hours, this is what I had made

I've used the High Hopes stamp Christmas Kitty Fun which I coloured with Copics.  I think it's come out ok and I'm quite pleased with the wrapping paper and cardboard box!  For papers, I used a selection of Papermania vintage Christmas papers, I love that soft beige. 

I wanted this to be a more-than-ordinary card so I made a tri-fold by sticking two 6x6 cards together (hope they stay stuck) and covering just about every surface of it that I could find, apart from the back!

With the front opened and

Fully opened - I've left the panel on the right empty so I've got somewhere to write.

Once all the papers were on and I was happy, I stamped the central panel with a Penny Black sentiment.  I used a set of Nestabilities labels to get the framed look.  Then, out came the peel-off borders and a happy half-hour or so sticking and trimming every page.

Toad saw this when he came home from work last night and he thinks mum and dad will be thrilled with it.  I hope he's right, they are the most wonderful parents a girl could have. 

Hope you don't mind me sharing my slice of sentimentality with you this morning.  Off to deliver a nativity set to my mum now, complete with stable that has a cat-chewed roof (don't even ask!) on loan for a children's carol concert next week.

Hugs
Squirrel xx


Wednesday 9 December 2009

Tilda Mini Candy Reminder - Closes 14th December

Just a quickie to say if you've not put your name down yet and want to have a chance to win the two Tilda stamps on offer (link in my side bar), the closing date is 14th December.

Had a marathon card session this afternoon - 3 hours, 1 card!  Too dark for decent photos now so will post those tomorrow.

Hugs,
Squirrel xx

Passion For ProMarkers Mega Christmas Challenge



How excited did I get when I saw the Passion For ProMarkers Mega Christmas Challenge ?  I bought a new stamp (yes, another one) from High Hopes a little while ago that I've been itching to use and also wanted to make an Advent Calendar so this seemed the perfect opportunity to combine the two -


Sorry for the poor quality of this photo but I took it on my phone after I'd done the colouring but before I'd laminated the calendar.  I'm really chuffed with how this beautiful Nativity scene worked, especially the donkey.


I had a tinker on the PC to produce the calendar part, did a little bit of matting and layering and then stuck it all together and layered on to a sheet of stunning satin mirri card, the photo doesn't really do it justice.  Should have taken a photo before laminating so sorry for the glare.  A little bit of organza ribbon for the hanger and hey presto!

I had great fun making this, and hubby spotted it straight away when he got home last night.  Hope you like it.

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Tuesday 8 December 2009

High Hopes Challenge 56 - Tall Cards



It has been so long since I made a tall card that I went quite giddy with excitement when I saw this week's High Hopes Challenge - in fact, it's been soooo long that I don't have any DL cards kicking around so out came the 12x12 and the guillotine!

I've used the yummy Dapper Dan snowman stamp from High Hopes, Bazzil cardstock, Doodlebug and Papermania papers, Penny Black sentiment and glitter stands from little pot on the windowsill.  Dan is coloured with ProMarkers.



Pleased to report that I am feeling much better today, although I am still having to struggle with "thin" food (crackers mostly).  Antibiotics are kicking in and the hamster look is subsiding.

Thanks for popping by, hope Dan makes you smile as much as he does me.
Hugs
Squirrel xx



Sunday 6 December 2009

Just Magnolia & Cute Card Thursday

Hi All.  Hope your weekends are going well.  I'm sat here feeling a tad off colour - ended up at the out-of-hours doctors' clinic last night - and I'm back on anti-biotics.  According to the duty doctor, he suspects a wisdom tooth absess so it looks like I'll be making a dental appointment tomorrow ....... and this morning Vince decided to throw up his breakfast, under the dining room table and into a pair of my shoes.  Yuck.

Anyway, not feeling on top form I've only had a go at a couple of challenges today .... the first is Just Magnolias Special Monthly Challenge A Card For Someone Special


I've used Tilda in Overalls and masked the Winter Night Scene.  Coloured with ProMarkers.  The backing paper is Daisy & Dandelion and large snowflakes are punched from pearlised paper.  Little snowflakes and greeting are peel-offs by Woodware.

Second challenge is Cute Card Thursday whose theme this week is Swirly Girly


I've used a Sarah Kay stamp, coloured with Copics.  Paper is from stash.  Flourishes are Sizzlets and flowers are Prima (they are actually beige, not pink or red - could not get decent photo this time of the afternoon).  Brads are Woodware and spacers are from Bunny-Zoe's Crafts.

Thanks for calling by this afternoon.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Saturday 5 December 2009

Penny Black - Christmas For The Girls


Over on the wonderful Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week it is Christmas For The Girls.  Time to break out those feminine colours and sparkles!

For this one I have used Penny Black "Snow Fun" coloured with ProMarkers - and don't those girls just wanna have fun!  Papers are a mix of stash, and that pink Christmas collection.  Snowflakes and border are Martha Stewart punches, snowflakes covered in pink glitter strands and little pink gems from stash.  Sentiment is a Penny Black stamp as well.

Loving the pink and purple combination and had great fun with this one.  Hope you like it.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Earlier posts today:  GDT Sketch Saturday Whoo Hoo

GDT Sketch Saturday - Whoo-Hoo!


Remember about a month ago I mentioned some really exciting news?  Well, today is the day!

The wonderful, fantastic, fabulous challenge that is Sketch Saturday have asked me if I would be their Guest Design Team member for December!  Whoooo-hoo!  How excited am I?  Cannot begin to tell you how much.  I am nervous as well though since I have discovered that there is a HUGE difference between making a card for fun for the challenge and making one to show you guys.  I only hope I can do justice to their wonderful sketches.

So, for my very first ever GDT slot, there is a stunning sketch from the uber talented Jeanette



And this is what I have done with it .....



I have used the High Hopes Snow Family stamp, coloured with Promarkers, papers and mirri card are a mixture from stash, ribbon is from The Range, flowers are Prima and snowflakes are Dovecraft. 

Millie is the first grandchild of Pauline, one of my friends at work (yep, got more than one!) and this card will be winging its way to her shortly from her grandma.  It'll be a bittersweet Christmas - Millie's dad (Pauline's son) is in the navy and now away on a six month tour of duty so he will miss her first Christmas and the family will be missing him very much.

This is such an amazing sketch to work with and I hope you will all give it a go this week.  I'll do my best to pop round and see you all.  You will be stuck with me again as GDT next week so don't say you haven't been warned LOL!!

Before I scamper off, must just say sorry for being such a poor blog visitor over the past couple of weeks - things are all just getting a bit blarrrrrrrrgh at the moment, both at work and home - not touched any crafting for a week either - but come Christmas things should settle down again (or else) and I shall be back to popping in to check out your amazing creations.

Thanks for dropping by, always fab to see you
Hugs
Squirrel xx
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