Thank You - Cute Card Thursday

Can you believe that it is New Year's Eve?  What happened to Christmas?  And hasn't the "festive" tv been absolutely dreadful this year?  Or is that just me getting older and jaded?  On second thoughts, don't answer that!

As you may have noticed, I've stepped down for the time being from the DTs that were kind enough to have me.  Life gets in the way of many things and personal issues meant that I wasn't able to give the amount of time I wanted to so that I could be a good DT member instead of a skin-of-the-teeth one.  In the last ten days I have even considered, very briefly, selling all my stamps and stash (Samantha, sit DOWN!!) but then reason took over.  Put that nano-second of insanity down to too many chocolate brazil nuts.  But just because I'm not DTing, it doesn't mean I'm not crafting.

Here is a little card to end 2010 with for the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge whose theme is THANK YOU. 

I love this little House Mouse image, so useful for so many things.  Coloured with distress inks.  Sentiment is Personal Impressions and papers are a mixture of old ones from K&Co and Making Memories.  Corner die is a Sizzlets photo corner.  A very CAS card but it does what it says on the tin!

Edited to thank Delphine and Ann for letting me know about the Cupcake Craft Challenge and Phindys Friday Challenge who also have Thank You as a theme. 

Anyone making any Resolutions?  The only one that I can publish here is that I will make a bigger effort to hop round and visit all your blogs more often.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, and here's to a better, brighter, happier and healthier 2011 for all of us.

Hugs, Sxx

Christmas Wishes

I am back at work today,
even though my bed was tugging me back under the duvet,
having been laid very low by the lurgy for a week,
and am here until close of play on Christmas Eve so this will probably be my last chance to post a message until after the festivities so I'm grabbing the opportunity to wish each and every one of you, friends and
followers, new and old, a very joyful Christmas.

May the true spirit of the Season
fill your hearts with love.

Hugs, Sxx

A Magnolia (Tilda) Question

Hi all, just a quick question - has anyone in the UK bought from Magnolicious in the US?

If you have, were you happy with their service?

Don't want to put anyone on the spot but I'm always a bit cautious when ordered from an overseas store for the first time and would rather use one that is recommended.

Please email me if you would prefer not to post a comment.  squirrel1964@hotmail.co.uk


Thanks guys
Sxxx

Sketch & Stash # 51 - Your Choice (of Sketch) (DT)

Because I am full of germs today, and really not feeling very well at all, I've cheated with this post and simply cribbed it from the SKETCH & STASH CHALLENGE blog, so apologies to the Team for that.

We are celebrating Christmas early, and our almost 2 year anninversary ... yes the Sketch and Stash has been going for 2 years at the beginning of January, how amazing is that.  So we are doing something a little special this time for you.

 We also have some sad news for you.  Lols has stepped down from the team due to other comittments, and this will be Cathy's last challenge with us.  Cathy was guest designer fro the 1st 2 challegnes, before joining the team fulltime, and Lols was our 2nd guest designr, so both have been here since the beginning.  Thank you girls for you hard work over the last 2 years, and we hope you will find the time to join in our challenges.

OK on to challenge 51 ...

 Your Choice

Some of our regular sponsors are offering up some fab prizes for you and we also are running a scavenger hunt on the DT members' blogs. 

Here are our prizes ...

from our very regular sponsor Simon Says  Stamp we have this fab prize.

Katharina over at Whiff of Joy is offering a stamp of YOUR choice

Elaine from Quixotic Paperie is offering this fab embellishment pack ...

Whimsy Stamps are offering a $15 voucher for their store

Paula from Pollycraft Designs

is offering 2 of her fabulous new rubber stamps ...

As well as offering these fabulous prizes we are also running a scavenger hunt.  Hidden on some of the DT blogs are some mystery  prizes ... if you want to be in with a chance of winning one of these prizes, offered by Meljen Designs and Wags n Whiskers, you need to comment on the DT blogs and enter the challenge  (we will check LOL!!).

OK so to be in with a chance of winning one of these fabulous prizes all you need to do is make a card using one of our last 50 sketches ... yep it is your choice which sketch you use.  To find our sketch catalogue click on the link on the right hand sidebar ... all of them are there for you to peruse!    Please put a pic of the sketch on your blog so we can see which sketch you chose (we will check you have used one of our sketches, so no cheating LOL!!).

OK, so now it is back to me and my DT card - I've reused Sketch No 38

And I've rotated it 90 degrees to the left

I've used a Meljen Designs stamp called Snow Cat - isn't he just adorable?  He arrived in the post this week so he's very new stash.  He's painted with Distress Inks.  Papers are definitely old stash and are a mixture of DCWV from two Christmas Stacks.  The sentiments are also new stash, Personal Impressions.

Thanks for joining us, and we are looking forward to seeing your entries.

Hugs, Sxx

A Couple of LOTVs

As my last card for the LOTV Challenge was on the squint I thought I'd have another go and thankfully this one seems straighter!

And this one was a very quick one using an image I had already coloured and waiting to be used.

That's it for me today - full of coughs and cold and really not feeling very well.  Going to curl up in my armchair with a book and a box of tissues.

Hugs, Sxx

Totally Gorjuss # 61 - For Someone Special (DT)

Morning all!  Well, here we are at the last Saturday before Christmas - and I'm still not sorted yet.  Still got a week to go at work so no time for anything much else.  It's gonna be a tight squeeze to get it all done and I fear some of the niceties may fall by the wayside!

Anyhoo, let's get down to business - it is TOTALLY GORJUSS day, yaaaay!  Thanks to everyone who took part in our snow challenge last week - I hope that wasn't a premonition of what's to come.  Fantastic entries from you all.  Please check back to the main blog to see who was selected as the lucky winner.

And so to this week's theme and as it is our last challenge now until 8 January we would like you to show us your creations For Someone Special.

My fabulous teamies have been working their magic to bring you heaps of inspiration again and I think now would be a good time to express your thanks to them for all their hard work over the past year.  They really are a brilliant crew, and hats off to our Captain, Net, for keeping us all in order and keeping this challenge going.  Net, you are a complete star hunny.

So, enough of my waffle, here is my card (lots of pics)



Front Panel



Inside Panel 1



Inside Panel 2



And the whole thing













As you can see, I got a bit carried away with the Lili of The Valley James The Bear - sorry, but he is just too cute to resist.  I made this card with my darling parents in mind (there is a family joke about Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear) and James seemed perfect.  I've coloured him with Distress Inks and added some Art Institute gold glitter to his tinsel - this stuff is just so sparkly it almost hurts your eyes.  Papers are from a vintage Papermania pad.  I've had these years and love them so am a little sad that I am now coming to the end of the nicest ones.  And of course I had to use my fabulous loop edged Nestabilities for the matting.  The sentiments are both Lili of The Valley too from the new circular collection but, as you can see, I had to slightly doctor one of them!

My thanks to you all for your support during my first year on the Totally Gorjuss Design Team and for all your stunning entries in our challenges.  You are all winners in my eyes.

Looking forward to seeing what you create for your special someone and I hope you have a super Christmas and a stonking New Year.  See you all in January for the 2011 challenges!

Hugs, Sxx

ABC Christmas Challenge = Z for Zero Time Left and A BLOG HOP!

Well here we are, at the end of the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE alphabet for another year - which means we are only 10 days away from Christmas!  Hope you are more organised than I am, lol!!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the Yuletide challenge, as always you produced some stunning entries and choosing the Top 3 is going to be a tough task for the team.  Do check back to the blog to see who the overall winner and the Top 3 are - it might be a day or two before these are posted so please be patient.

We have something a bit special for you for this challenge.  First of all the theme for Z is Zero Time Left, so this is your last card with us this year and we would like you to reuse your favourite ABC challenge from 2010.

And we are having a Christmas BLOG HOP, so there is even more at stake this time!  And we are proud to have two sponsors for the Challenge and the Hop in the shape of Simon Says Stamp

and Stamp Fairy

So, the rules, starting at ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE (if you have come to me first then you need to head back to the Challenge Blog) work your way through the Team and Sponsors, leaving a comment with each one as you go, and collect a letter along the way.  Once you have collected all your letters, work out the phrase, and then head back to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave a comment with your answer and your entry for Z!  Simples! 

This challenge is going to run until 10pm (UK time) on 1 January so you will have plenty of time to craft and enter.

You should have come to me from the lovely and talented LORRAINE and once you have done your bit here with me your next move is back home to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave your answer.  There will also be hidden candies along the way so do remember to leave your comment as you visit each blog, you never know, you might find you have won a nice surprise.

And my letter for you?  It is G.

Here is my card for the Z theme:

Techinically this qualifies for two 2010 challenges: F for Frosty and P for Presents, so maybe I'll have a new one of FP for Frosty Presents!  I adore this Lili Of The Valley James The Bear stamp, in fact I think he qualifies for my favourite stamp of the year.  I've painted him with Distress Inks and matted him using Nestabilities for the circles and the loop edged square.  Blue paper is Dovecraft, red is Anita's and I used an EK Success punch for the snowflakes.  The gorgeous circular sentiment is also Lili Of The Valley.

I think that's it then - thanks to each and every one of you who has joined us for all or some or only one of the challenges this year, we couldn't have made it this far without you all and we have loved seeing your amazing work.  I really do hope you are able to join in the Hop and see you in January 2011!!

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

It's Actually Not A Christmas Card

Honestly, it isn't a Christmas card - it's a winter birthday card

Is anyone having problems leaving comments at the moment?  I seem to be getting good visitor numbers but very few comments.  Just wondered if Blogger was playing up.

Move Over Mr MaGoo!

Over at the LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge this week there is a fabbie sketch from Dena that was so much fun to play with

I really wanted to use these cute little winter bunnies - they have been crying out to me ever since I bought them so this seemed like the ideal opportunity.  I rotated the sketch and then flipped it so that the sentiment came in the right place.

However ........ it wasn't until I was adding the final border that I realised the whole thing is on the squint!  I've been having trouble with my focal range for a while - yes, I know, I am overdue for an eye test - and I spend more time doing close-up work without my glasses than I do with them on.  But it was when I sat back from it that I thought "Oh ****".  Hey ho, guess that is one of the quirks of a handcrafted card!

The papers are old ones from a Papermania Vintage collection.  They have been sadly neglected but I don't know why as the majority of them are gorgeous with deep, rich colours.  Image is coloured with Distress Inks and I've stamped the LOTV sentiment with Paris Dusk Memento ink to try and match the background blue.

My other card today is just a fun one that I have made for the girls in my favourite coffee shop - what else could I use but Whiff of Joy's Henry?!

Again, coloured with Distress Inks.  Pink paper was from a pad free with a magazine, the blue glittered is Papermania.  Sentiment is LOTV and the border a is Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for popping in for a visit.  I've now got to be a good girl and actually sit down and write some cards instead of sneaking off to make them!

Hugs, Sxx

"Surprise Candy" Winner!

Morning all - how are we today then?  I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself.  It seems that everyone around me has a horrible germ of one sort or another and, having resisted them so far, I think I am now coming down with the lurgy.  Oh well, at least it's be over before Christmas, I hope!

A huge thank you to everyone who entered my candy - it is so heartwarming to see how many of you "old" followers are still hanging on in there and popping in to visit.  I just wish I had the time these days to visit you as often as I would like to.

Right then, the "Surprise Candy" winner ..... well, I went for the low-tech option of choosing the winner this time (I printed out the comments, cut them into strips and put them in a brown paper bag).  After a good shake of the bag, I let Vince stick his nose in it.  He might be scared of mice but he LOVES a good brown paper bag.  After a happy ten minutes of rummaging around, the entry that he attempted to hide under the rug was .............. COOPS!  Yes, that's you Nic of Coops Cluttered Corner!  (Fanfare, drumroll, trumpets, hip hip hurrah!).  Coops is one of my earliest followers and has stuck with me through ups, downs and in-betweens.

Email me please hunny at squirrel1964@hotmail.co.uk and I'll let you in on what I have planned.

Hugs, Sxxx

Totally Gorjuss # 60 - It's Snowing!

Morning all, hope you are ok and that if you are one of the poor souls still swamped in the white stuff you have plenty of food and warmth. 

Thanks for all your entries last week with Net's super sketch, check out the lucky winner on the main blog.

Another Saturday nearer to Christmas and at TOTALLY GORJUSS we are continuing the Christmas theme by asking you to show us your SNOWY cards and creations this week.  The DT have produced their usual high standard of cards for you so it would be nice to snow them (geddit?) your appreciation (oh all right, I'll shut up). 

But before I do, I must tell you that our sponsor this week is Meyer Imports - a website well worth checking out if you've not come across them before.

Here is my DT card:

Still having camera issues so it is the photo that's a tad fuzzy, not your eyes!  Image is from the Mimi Christmas clear stamp set by Penny Black, coloured with ProMarkers.  Papers are from an old DCWV Christmas Stack, small snowflakes are an EK Success punch and the large blue one is Martha Stewart which I punched from a sheet of glittered Papermania paper.

Thank you for taking the time to pop over and see me and I do hope you manage to squeeze in a go at the challenge amongst all your Christmas planning.  Next week, challenge 61, will be our last challenge of this year so craft now while you have the chance!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge Blog Hop Alert

Hi Guys

Just a quick heads up to let you know that the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE will be having a super BLOG HOP starting on Wednesday 15 December.

It will be our last challenge of 2010 so join us if you can, we have super sponsors and some great prizes up for grabs.

See you there!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash # 50 (DT)

Another Monday nearer to Christmas - less than three weeks to go now (eeeeek - headless chicken impression) but this should cheer you up - it's SKETCH & STASH CHALLENGE day!

Thanks to all of you who took part in Challenge 49 - wasn't that a brilliant sketch from Sue?  As you have been good, she has done another one for you!

Now, you might be thinking this is a simple sketch - well, let me tell you, it was a tricky little devil, so there is still some serious challenge going on!

We are thrilled to be sponsored by the wonderful Simon Says Stamp so surely you're tempted now?

So, that's the business end of it done, so here's the bit to make you laugh, yep, my card:

As you can see, I've swapped the tag over to the right side but that was because Whiff of Joy's Henry was skating the wrong way, silly mouse!  Henry is coloured with Distress Inks.  Sticky ribbon for trim with glitter gems as I can't tie bows even with a bowmaker.  Good job I'm not entering the challenge as I'd be booted out in disgrace LOL!  Henry is my new stash (actually he is my second Henry, I manage to lose the first one, sigh).  Papers are Dovecraft (I think - so old they've lost their ID card).  Peel-off twinkling lettering, gems and cardstock from stash.  Martha Stewart snowflake punch is last years but the Basic Grey brad is new.

Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries.  Wouldn't it be nice to win a Simon Says Stamp voucher in time for that crafting Christmas present to yourself?!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Well Would You Believe It - A Christmas Card!!

How is it that just when you think you are coming to the end of making Christmas cards you suddenly find another section in your address book that had slipped the net ...... hey ho!

Sorry for the slightly out of focus photo - my normal camera has thrown a wobbly so I've had to use another one but it has a weird macro that I just cannot get the hang of.

For this card I've used the Lili of the Valley Party Pup - Christmas Card stamp and painted him with Distress Inks.  Isn't he just the sweetest little fella?  Papers are a mixture from Christmas past of DCWV and Anitas.  Sizzix Architectural Corner dies and gold gems for the finish.

Right, off downstairs to tackle the next one ...... hope your weekends are going well.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 59 - A Sketch (DT)

Morning all, hope you are ok and your plans for the festivities are going well - three weeks today ........ aargh!  How is the snow where you are?  I've had enough of it now, it was quite exciting to start off with but now it's just horrible.  And it took me over two hours to get home Thursday night and then I fell over in our own garage and left half my arm on the corner of a breeze block.  How stupid can you get?!  So I'm feeling a bit battered and very sore.  And it's my stamping arm too.  Ooh noooo!

Anyhoo, who cares about Christmas when it is TOTALLY GORJUSS day!  We have a sketch for you this week, and a fabulous sponsor.

Yes, as it is the first Saturday of the month our sponsor is Joanna Sheen - and if you can't get what you need there then I bet you find something you didn't know you did need!

Here is my DT card:

I thought it was about time I got this darlin' little Gorjuss Girl out for a play and, as she is holding a star, she seems perfect for Christmas.  Paper is erm, hmmmm, Dovecraft I think, sentiment is Lili Of The Valley, retro flower punch is EK Success and I must continue to thank Kath and Buddy from the Cubbyhole for the endless Craftwork Cards Card Candy!  I'm sure the little mites breed when I'm not looking.

Looking forward to seeing you all over at the challenge.  What do you mean, you've got shopping to do, cards to write, presents to send??

Hugs, Sxx

ABC Christmas Challenge - Y for Yule (+ extras!)(DT)

OOOOOOOOOOOH!  It's 1st December!  Suddenly I feel quite unwell - three and a half weeks to you know what and I am still making cards like a mad woman.  What a very good job ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE is there as incentive to get on with it!

Did you like that lead in?  Clever I thought, LOL.  Yes, it is ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE time again and would you look at that, we are up to Y.  Y for Yule or Yuletide.  Originally a pagan period of feasting lasting 12 days, this has become our 12 days of Christmas.  Traditionally a lot of greenery was involved, with people decorating their houses with holly, ivy and mistletoe and having a Yule Log (no, not the chocolate ones, silly) in the hearth.  So, Yule it is but this time the extra is NOT optional - we would like to see either:  Holly & Berries, or Red & Green, or Candles, or if you are feeling adventurous, all three!

We are thrilled to be sponsored by our very own Lacey and her Wags n Whiskers.

The DT have created their usual glorious inspiration for you so do hop over and have a look at their blogs, they are such a talented bunch.

Here is my DT card:

I went down the Yule Log route with this fabulous stamp from Pink Gem Designs.  And, you can see that it incorporates the Holly & Berries and the Red & Green too (how lucky was that).  Coloured with Copics.  Papers are from an old pad of DCWV Christmas papers.

I know you are all very busy with planning your festivities but I do so hope you will still be able to join us.  You have two weeks as usual.

Before I disappear, can I just say how overwhelmed we were with amazing entries for the X challenge - choosing a winner and the Top 3 or Top 5 is going to be so difficult so please bear with us - the winners will be announced on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog very soon!

Hugs. Squirrel xx

So Who's Got A Big Fat Belly Then??

Totally Gorjuss # 58 = Christmas Tree (DT)

Brrrrrrr, it is chillsome here in the east of England - the wind is coming straight across the North Sea from Scandinavia with nothing to get in its way until it reaches us.  And it is bringing snow with it!  We haven't had much more than a shower but I know some parts of the country are getting it in big, fat flakes so I hope that wherever you are, you are keeping snug and warm.

Despite the cold, it is still Saturday and Saturday means that it is TOTALLY GORJUSS day!  Thanks to everyone who took part in our non-traditional Christmas colours challenge last week.  We had some really super entries and every one was a joy to look at.  Don't forget to check the blog to see who was chosen as the lucky winner.

This week we would like to see a Christmas Tree somewhere on your card - I love Christmas Trees, they remind me so much of my childhood when we always had a real tree.  The smell of the pine was just amazing.  It also reminds me of the day my mum called up the stairs to me that the cat had just pooed under the tree (we always had ours in a bucket full of damp sand).  As it was my cat, you can guess who had to scoop the poop!

Anyway, I'm rambling so let me tell you who our lovely sponsor is and show you my DT card.  Cupid Clear Stamps have very kindly put up a prize for you, and there is the bonus Magnolia stamp to go with that.

And here is my card:

How adorable is this little Penny Black hedgie?  Coloured with ProMarkers, matting with Nestabilities dies, papers are from an old pad of Anita's Christmas papers and that yummy sentiment is from the new range by Lili of The Valley.  The gems that decorate the tree are from stash.

Thanks for popping over and wading through my whitterings, I do hope you still have the energy left to join us for the challenge!  See you there.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

LOTV 75 Bev's Sketch + CCT 140 Blast From The Past

Whooooooo, look at meeee, with the day off and the not working and the sitting here blogging!  Hope you are all having a fabbie Friday - mine started well, I got discharged by the physio after four months of treatment!  I've got to be a good Squirrel and continue with the exercises though, otherwise my neck will seize up again and I'll be back to square one with the numb fingers and weird elbows!

To celebrate, I went into town, aiming for Aldi, for a few bits and pieces.  Oh my, the traffic at 9am!  Now I understand why I go to work at 7.30.  Anyway, duly loaded down with Jelly Babies and some delicious chilled espresso lattes I got home and got stuck into two challenges.

LILI OF THE VALLEY are featuring one of the amazingly talented Bev's sketches

And CUTE CARD THURSDAY are having a Blast From The Past where you choose a previous challenge to reuse.  The only problem I had with this was choosing which one to go for as they are all such fun.

Anyway, here's my card:

For the Lili Of The Valley challenge I have used Bev's sketch (of course, d'oh) and the LOTV stamp I Baked A Cake.   For the Cute Card Thursday challenge I've opted for Challenge 55 Marshmallows & Chocolate.  All the papers I have used are from Dovecraft Piece of Cake collection and the matting layers are DCWV Neutral Stack.  Sentiment is also LOTV, from the new range of circular sentiments and I love them to pieces!  Image is painted with Distress Inks and I've finished off with a Martha Stewart border punch.

Right then, next job on the list is to go to the Post Office to collect a mysterious package.  Anyone sent me a present that won't fit through the letterbox?  Puzzled now.  Then it'll be on with some DT work and, before the Toadster gets home, some internet shopping for his Crimble present!

Thanks for popping over.  I've rambled on again haven't I ............ ?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Bit Of A Makeover .....

D'ya know that feeling, sometimes you just need a change?

Well, I can't do anything much about me that has an instant effect so I've had a go at my blog instead!

What do you think of the new look?

Squirrel xxx

Sketch & Stash # 49 (DT)

I am sure that there are more Mondays in the year than there are any other day - they seem to come round all too often!  But, there are some Mondays that are very special and this is one of them because ..... it's SKETCH & STASH CHALLENGE day! Whooooooo!  Are you excited?  I know I am.

You were loving Challenge 48 so don't forget to check back to see who the winner is!  We had some stunning entries.

Sue has provided another of her superb sketches for you to play with and here it is:

Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful Whiff Of Joy - what more do you need to tempt you?!

The DT have created some brilliant inspiration for you - it never fails to amaze me how different cards using the same layout can look.  Here is my offering:

Ain't he just the cutest pup?  He's my new stash - a Lili Of The Valley stamp of course - and I've painted him with Distress Inks.  The papers are my old stash, the Plum Pudding collection.  The photo tabs were cut using a Nellie Snellen die, ooh and the gems and peel-offs are from old stash too.

Thanks for popping over for a peek, and I do hope you will find time in the next two weeks to join in the fun at the challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Mixed Feelings .....

..... about this card.  It's on of those that seemed so much better when I was planning it in my head but in real life I'm quite disappointed with it.  Hey ho, never mind.