High Hopes Challenge AND Some Exciting News!

Bet you didn't think I'd be back again today did ya!  Could not resist having a go at this weeks High Hopes Challenge - it's a recipe of orange and brown plus a circle.

I thought long and hard about this one, all of thirty seconds anyway, and I just knew this was the perfect excuse to use my fabulous Leo stamp

How handsome does he look?  For a long and complicated reason to do with cycling, all lions in our house are known as Alan, so I've imaginatively renamed this stamp as Alan!  Worrying isn't it,  He's coloured with ProMarkers, the brown and orange cardstock is from Joanna Sheen and the animal print paper is from a pack that sadly has no title but I think its by PaperMania.

And my exciting news?  Well, those insane girlies over at Totally Gorjuss have asked me to go and play with them on the Design Team!  How mad is that?  Do they know what's coming their way?

I'm just a teensy bit excited and I shall be expecting you all to have a go at as many of their Saturday challenges as possible.  Else I shall be sending the girls round, right?!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Earlier Post Today: Penny Black Saturday Challenge 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Well, what happening to the sunshine then?  Lashing down with rain and our eucalyptus tree is trying to touch it's toes in the wind.

I've had a go at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is a sketch this week, but I've had a little bit of assistance

As you can tell from the ear position - he's a tiny bit catnipped!  That'll teach me for giving him a couple of extra treats.  And yes, that's the unflattering rear view of the Toad, Wii-ing in the corner!  Anyhoo, the sketch -

I've done a strict interpretation this week, no faff or frills, just straight from sketch to card

And yes, I know it's green, again!  Image is Buzz In The Air by Penny Black, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, pink frame is Cuttlebug, cardstock is DCWV Neutral Stack, green papers are PaperCellar Wedding Collection, pink striped is 7Gyspies (I think) and the friendship definition text stamp is a Hero Arts Clings.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss meets Sketch Saturday

It's Saturday and the sun is shining! Wheeeee! Hope you are getting some warmth were you are too.

Only the one card for you today as we've been out most of the morning and there is a rather interesting rugby match on later that I would particularly like to watch and I want to get dinner prepped before the match kicks off.  There could be blood on the carpet as Toad and I will be supporting opposing teams (thought he was going to explode last night because I cheered when Wales scored a try against France, but they were heavily down at the time so it seemed the sporting thing to do!).

Anyhoo, staying with my green theme of the moment, one card for two challenges
Totally Gorjuss It's For You Mum; and
Sketch Saturday Week 92

I wasn't too sure about this sketch until I started working with it and then I sort of fell in love with it a little bit.  I shall certainly use it again another time.

I've used Whiff of Joy Willow Shopping, what a darlin' she is, and coloured he with Copics and ProMarkers.  I have paper-pieced her shopping bags to tie in with the DPs, which are a selection of Basic Grey, Papercellar and Daisy & Dandelion.  Sentiment is Personal Impressions and green gems and greed cardstock are from stash.  Willow is such a babe - so here's a close up ....

Not in a million years would I see my beloved mother going out shopping like this, but I think she does in her dreams.  Love you mum.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

It's Not Easy Being Green

Actually, it is easy being green - just can't seem to leave that colour alone today which is why my second and third cards this afternoon are also featuring it!

Have made the most of my couple of days off, shame they have gone so quickly (why don't two days at work go this quick?) and have made a few cards for my stash.  These two are not for any challenges, just for fun because I was in the mood ....

First card is Magnolia Tilda, I love her sat in an oval like that, reminds me of a cameo brooch, papers are Basic Grey (so gorgeous), sentiment is Cuddly Buddly.  Coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

Second card is Penny Black and I think it's called Loves Me Not but I forgot to check.  Papers are Daisy & Dandelion and Making Memories.  Again coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

Both very simple cards but these seem to be the ones that sell best at work.

And so, it's almost 5.00 which means that .... no, not Crackerjack!  It's the weekend!  Whatever you are up to, have a super one.  Hope to see you tomorrow with a couple of challenges.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Earlier post today: Just Magnolia - Birthdays

Just Magnolia - Birthdays

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you are having a good day - it's nearly the weekend.  Had an aberration this morning and tidied up my craft space.  Took ages but I was ruthless and got rid of all those tiny scraps of paper I've been hoarding (yes, I know the rule - I'll need one of them tomorrow).  I'm glad it's done now, it was starting to stress me out everytime I wanted to play!

And so to my challenge card for today - a lovely theme over at Just Magnolia this week and a very useful one too - Birthdays!

I've used one of the newer Tildas (packet was untitled so I shall call her Happy Dance Tilda) and coloured her with Copics and ProMarkers.  DPs are Basic Grey Porcelain and DCWV Nana's Kitchen (glittered).  I'm obsessed with these Sizzix die-cut leaves at the moment and sticking them everywhere! Good old faithful Woodware flower punches, spacer and brad.  Lettering peel-offs from stash.

You timed your visit just right, I'm now putting the kettle on - hot chocolate anyone?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Parkinson's Law

Now, some of you will have heard of Parkinson's Law - the one that says work expands to fill the available time - but I think there needs to be a Crafter's Law that says stash expands to fill the available space and then overflows.

When I acquired my "studio", as I pretentiously like to call it, (well, it's one end of the conservatory) I thought I would lose myself in all that delicious space.  Big, empty cupboards to fill, miles of lovely clear work surface and all that.  So why am I now restricted to a space no bigger than my cutting mat to work on and have nowhere to hide things any more?!

That's it, housework-allergic Squirrel is going to do something unheard of before (well, certainly in the last five years) I'M GOING TO TIDY UP and I shall be RUTHLESS!

I can feel a nervous twitch coming on .........

Sxxxx

Two For Fun

It's the nephew's birthday in a couple of weeks and he's reached that awkward age of 23 (come to think of it, aren't they are all awkward ages for men?) when he's gone beyond cute but not reached serious.  So I went for funny.  The clue is in what he's up to these days - he's studying for a degree in motorsport engineering .....

I don't know a student who doesn't play computer games do you?  I've used Lili Of The Valley stamp that I like to call "Boy Racer", papers are leftovers, candy dots are Pebbles Inc and peel-offs from stash.  Image coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

And then I cried.  I cried because I wanted to use another couple of sheets of Basic Grey "Origins" and the black floral sheet is just so beautiful and you only get two sheets in a pad and it hurrrrrrrrrrrrt so much!  Sob! Anyhoo, this card sort of evolved around the stamp really, it's High Hopes "Roasting Marshmallows" and I want to send it to a very kind and supportive blogging buddy who has more faith in me than I do in myself.

Text on the front says "A friend doesn't mind if you're a bit odd" and inside simply says "Thank you for not minding".

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Today's earlier post: A Gem Of A Passion

A Gem Of A Passion

Yes, it's me! Mid-week (almost)!  Yippee - using up the last two days of my banked holiday from last year (use it or lose it scenario) and I just fancied a four day weekend.  How marvellous is that.

I've been in such a tizz lately that I've missed out on entering a lot of challenges but this morning I was determined to squeeze a couple in. 

Have been wanting to enter Pink Gem's A Gem Of A Challenge since its launch on 8 February.  So pleased Janet got bullied (sorry, persuaded) into this as her stamps are gorgeous.  I'm combining this with a colour combo of Baby Pink and Tulip Yellow from Passion For ProMarkers but I've just realised I've missed the additional theme of stitching! Perhaps the buttons on her coat will count LOL!

Fabulous sketch from Pink Gem which was lovely to work with.

I've used Kaya with Daffodils and she's coloured with ProMarkers (naturally), papers are Papermania (yellow) and DoveCraft (pink), flowers are Woodware punched, leaves are Sizzix dies, both using DCWV cardstock, candy dots are Pebbles Incs, pearls are from stash, pink brad is Woodware, spacer from Bunny-Zoe's Crafts, and peel-off text from stash.

Lovely to see you today - I hope your Thursday is going well, whatever you are up to.  Off to have another little play, you never know, I might be back again later!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge - E is for Elf

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to another fantastic challenge from ABC Christmas Challenge .  A big thank you to all who took part in D for Decorations, there were some fabulous entries.  Do keep an eye out on the blog for the top 3 and winner for that.

And so to E and we have the cute little theme of ELF (to include elves, fairy type folk and gnomes - just make sure it's Christmassy!) for you and Cathy has chosen the extra of red and green.  We are so very proud to be sponsored by one of the DT members, the fabulous Lacey Stephens from Stamp And Create (take a bow Lacey).

Stamp and Create is an online store specializing in Rubber Stamps with shipping worldwide so do hop on over to the Challenge blog to see what the prize is for this challenge - knowing Lacey it will be a bit special.

The DT have created some wonderful cards so do be sure to check those out too.  Here is my little fella -

I have used Whiff of Joy Wee With Tree, papers are leftovers from last Christmas, ice-crystal snowflake is Cuttlebug, the green glitter card is Doodlebug, white glitter card from stash, red candy dots are Pebbles Inc, and little red star gems are from stash.  Wee is coloured with ProMarkers.

So come on guys, time to get creative - you know it's good for your 'elf !!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Two Quickies Just For Fun

Hope you are all having a great weekend - sorry to hear about more snow in parts of the country.  Thankfully, after a bit of an iffy start this morning, we have got away lightly this time.  Keeping my toes crossed that it doesn't sneak up on us overnight!  I need some sunshine - not too much heat, just the brightness will do me!

Normally we do our grocery shopping midweek after work, when it's quieter, but poor old Toad has been so late home this week that we postponed the inevitable until yesterday morning.  It was absolute bedlam (is is just me or do some folks treat it as a family outing?!) and I think in all the chaos my mojo fell into the freezer section with the sprouts - it's certainly nowhere else to be found at the moment LOL!  Anyway, had a little play, just for fun this afternoon and came up with a couple of very simple and quick birthday cards -

I love this Lili Of The Valley bunny with balloon, and thought he'd be perfect for my morning bus-buddy, James, as it has become compulsory now to count the bunnies on the golf course as the bus crawls past!  Paper/cardstock is PaperCellar and DCWV.  Image coloured with ProMarkers.

And the bunny's cupcake put me in mind of this fab image from High Hopes called Sweet Little Thing.  I had coloured him up before I thought about papers and sentiment but I think the colours in the PaperMania Sweet Nothings works pretty well and the Penny Black sentiment seemed perfect.  Well, it made me smile anyway!

Hope you are having wonderful weekends, whatever you are up to.  Thanks for popping over to see me.

Hugs,

Squirrel xx

PBSC + Sketch Saturday + Secret Crafter + Totally Gorjuss + Stamp Something

Hello all, and a happy Saturday to you too!  The sun is shining brightly (hurrah) (retract that, just seen the most enormous, blackest, horriblest snow cloud out the back) - the sun WAS shining brightly this morning, although crisp and cold, it was wonderful after a week of such greyness.  Pleased to say that most of my germy cold has gone and am now just left with the snuffles.  Feeling loads better in myself.

Today, I've gone for five challenges for the one card, although think I might be disallowed one of them!!
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Colour Combo Pink Green and Yellow
Sketch Saturday No 91
Secret Crafter Mother's Day
Totally Gorjuss Flower Power and
Stamp Something Touch of Spring

I have rotated the sketch 90 degrees and come up with

I have used Easter Bonnet by Penny Black, stamped in Memento and coloured with ProMarkers, papers are Doodlebug and Cosmo Cricket, sentiment is Hero Arts, leaves Sizzlets, flowers Woodware, pearls from stash.

Thanks for dropping by - stay warm!
Hugs
Squirrel xx

A Fun One For My Office Wall

Really couldn't get my head around any challenges this afternoon so just sat and had a quiet colouring session with High Hopes Scuba Cat and Birthday Fish to make this fun little picture to put on my dull wall at work

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss "Feel The Lurve" and one for fun

Morning all, how are you today?  I dill tarn't breed droo by doze!  In a way it's my own fault - I've been cold free for about four years so this one has really taken hold.  Talk about snuffles!  Still, never mind, worse things happen at sea as they say.  

Managed to lose Toad's Valentine card that I made for him (the one with the fabulous High Hopes "Snuggle Lions" that I made a couple of weeks ago).  I'd put it somewhere safe.  Very safe.  So safe I couldn't find it.  Had a bit of a tizz and a cry and had just written him a substitute when I found it, safe and well, nestling in my stamp box cupboard where I'd put it to keep it nice and flat.  Hey ho!

So enough of my nonsense, to the cards ...... the ever fabulous Totally Gorjuss are "feeling the lurve" this week.  It doesn't have to be Valentine, just a love theme.  I had made this card for a very dear friend for whom I have a lot of affection so I hope that counts.

 

I've kept it simple because I think the Whiff of Joy City Girl "Willow Dressing Up" is just such a stunning image and I didn't want to lose her amongst too many embellishments.  She's coloured with Copics, a very limited palette of skin tones plus Egg Shell, Raw Silk and Tea Rose for her dress and I used ProMarkers for her hair.  Martha Stewart punch for the border, paper and pearls from stash, sentiment is Pink Gem.  Here's a close up (but only because I am, for once, really chuffed with the colouring)

And my other card is for my darlin' daddy - I had already made him a card but I'm having second thoughts about it so I did this one as well.  I'll decide on the day which one he gets!

The image is a Lili Of The Valley, coloured with ProMarkers.  Papers are Dovecraft, cardstock is DCWV and Bazzil, peel-off sentiment, corners and borders from stash.  Image cut out using a Nestabilities Pinking Circle.

Off to have another little play now so I may be back later.  Hope you are having a happy Sunday.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas D Challenge + Sketch Saturday

Well it makes a change from Valentine's this weekend!

Morning all, hope this Saturday morning finds you well and full of beans.  Only thing I'm full of today is Mr Toad's germs!  Pesky fella - I've told him, next time he brings home a cold he will be sleeping in the shed.  And I'm blaming the 453 germs causing sneezing, running nose and watery eyes on the fact that my offering today is a bit "not straight" LOL!!

But, before the card, I must say a very big and warm thank you to all you lovely bloggers who left such kind messages of support on my ABC DT message.  Bless your hearts, it really does mean so much to me.

OK, today's card - techinically I don't start the DT spot until the next challenge so that should, in theory, mean I can still enter the one for ABC Christmas Challenge D For Decorations !  And I chose to combine it with the super sketch over at this week's Sketch Saturday No 90

Love this one, and will be using again I'm sure.  And so onto the card (be sympathetic, I am blaming germ number 267 for not being able to see straight this morning)

I've used Magnolia Tilda with her Merry Christmas banner, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, papers are Cosmo Cricket and Basic Grey and an unidentified sheet from stash.  Snowflakes punched with Woodware and Martha Stewart.  And if the ribbon looks like an afterthought - it was!  I forgot all about the extra for the challenge of ribbon so it was a quick wrap and tie (ooops).

Is it my eyes, or is the red spotty paper really not straight?

Anyhoo, that's me for this morning.  Going to chill and have a cuppa now and then brace myself for getting off to the hairdresser this afternoon for a tail trim and colour.

Yes, I know it's February - but if you have a go at the ABC Christmas Challenge now, you won't be running around in a panic in November!  It's gotta make sense.  Hope to see you there.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Bursting To Tell Someone!

The ingenious and wonderful challenge that is ABC Christmas Challenge have today announced the four new members of their Design Team.

AND GUESS WHO IS ONE OF THEM?!  Go on, you'll never guess, really, bet you can't get it!

If you have not yet had a go at one of their challenges (run fortnightly from Wednesdays - the new one went up today) then come on over and have a play.  It's a great way to get some of the Christmas cards done before November, and with prizes too!

This challenge is D for Decorations, with an added optional extra of Ribbons.  This challenge is being sponsored by Simon Says so it's got to be worth having a go.

Looking forward to seeing you there soon!  Right, now, where did I leave my ribbon..........

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss + ABC Challenge

Afternoon all - hope you are having a good weekend, whatever you are up to.  What a contrast to yesterday!  It's been really overcast all day and not a single peep of the sun - it's just gone 3.00 and it's almost dark already.  Toad's "man flu" continues with some very noisy coughs and sniffs!

Two challenges for one card today - I love the simplicity of the sketch over at Totally Gorjuss this week and decided to combine it with the ABC Challenge N is for New 

I've used my new super-cute Magnolia Tilda "Love News" stamp and she is coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.  The navy/white paper is Papermania and the pink and green are Making Memories.  Martha Stewart punch used for the floral ribbon and the tiny newspaper I did on the computer.

And while I had my new Tildas out of the wrapper, I had a little play at masking "Tilda with Diary" with a gorgeous frame from Hero Arts Cling range, this one is Scroll Frame.  The papers are Basic Gray "Origins" (I nearly cried, they are just too beautiful to use).  Tilda coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

Lovely to see you, enjoy the rest of your day

Hugs,

Squirrel xx

Passion For .... Cute Card....Cupcakes!

Happy weekend everyone!  At last, the sun has popped out from behind those miserable clouds and doesn't it simply lift the spirits?  Toad, on the other hand, is very miserable because we have a case of "man flu", poor little soul, he does look a bit pathetic this morning.  As you can tell, he's getting buckets full of sympathy!

Anyway, to the challenges ..... this little fella is for three super challenges this week:
Passion For ProMarkers All Creatures Great And Small
Cute Card Thursday Spots and Dots; and
Cupcake Craft Challenges Four Legged and Furry 

For this I have used House Mouse "Autumn Cruise", coloured of course with ProMarkers, the papers are Cosmo Cricket Early Bird, the sentiment is Cuddly Buddly and the flower is Flora Doodles and Prima.  I had to take a chance with the leaf shapes, because they are not leaves at all.  I really must get my hands on that fabulous Sizzix branch die.

Thanks for popping over, see you again soon I hope.

Hugs

Squirrel xx