Sketch & Stash, and oh the shame of it

Lovely little sketch this time over on Sketch & Stash Challenge and as this is another challenge that I've not taken part in for what feels like months, I thought I'd have a go

Here is the sketch

And here is my card

From the stash, I have used this lovely litttle Sugar Nellie with her birthday cake - I really am embarrassed to think how long she has been neglected.  Coloured with Copics.  The marble background paper is also from an ancient stash, so ancient I have no idea where it came from, and the DP is from a free pack of paper that came with a magazine this summer that I've never used.  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards and Papermania shimmer dots have been languishing in the "pile" for months.

Do you know that feeling - the one you have when you just know you have forgotten something really important but you simply can't put your finger on it?  Then, suddenly, it hits you like a brick wrapped in a wet towel and your stomach drops to the floor in horror?  Yep, I have managed to forget one of my best friend's birthdays.  Nine days ago!  This is going to take some serious grovelling to get over ........ oooh dear.

Hanging my head in shame

Squirrel xxx

Penny Black - Summer Lovin'

Gosh, it feels like an eternity since I've had the chance to enter the Penny Black Saturday Challenge and I am therefore starting a campaign for a bank holiday every Monday so I get more time at weekends!

There was me saying yesterday that Sunday was supposed to be the best day weatherwise and we have had torrential rain here this afternoon.  Sun is out now so let's hope it stays for a little while.  Mind you, Toad did want rain as he sprinkled something on the lawn yesterday that needed to be watered in.  Feel free to blame him if it ruined your bbq!

Anyhoo, here is my card for the challenge of Summer Lovin'

I've interpreted the challenge as loving the Summer rather than being in love in Summertime.  I've used Penny Black Mimi "Easy Rider" stamp, coloured with Copics.  All papers and card are from the pick 'n' mix scraps box so no ID for those.  Martha Stewart grass and picket fence border punches, Woodware small daisy punch, Personal Impressions sentiment and Papermania shimmer dots.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 45 - Christmas in August

Hello everyone, and a happy Bank Holiday weekend to all our followers in the UK.  I see that, at the moment, we have typical weather for a long weekend - Sunday is supposed to be the best day so now you know you can spend all day Saturday crafting!

And as it is Saturday, that can only mean one thing - yes, it's another fabulous challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS!  Our theme for this challenge is Christmas in August (it's not that far away now) and our sponsor is Cupid Clear Stamps.

Here is my DT card

I've used the Carol Singers stamp from Lili Of The Valley (a brand new one of which is my candy - open until 18 September if you've not entered yet) and coloured with Copics.  Papers are from Dovecraft and the fake poinsetta I made with my large and medium Woodware daisy punches.  Leaves are Martha Stewart frond punch, large brad from Papermania.

Thanks for stopping by - now off you go and get festive and I shall look forward to seeing all your entries over at the challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas - R for Rudolph (extra is brads)

So here we are again for another bash at the ol' Christmas cards!  Thanks to everyone who took part in our last challenge, you were certainly loving Samantha's brilliant Quick & Easy sketch.  Don't forget to check out the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE blog to see the Top 3 and ultimate winner.

The challenge this time is being hosted by our wonderful Cathy (so much talent in such a small package) and our theme is R for Rudolph.  Cathy has chosen the extra of brads.  As always, my Teamies have come up with some cracking inspiration for you, and if that's not enough to encourage you to join in, we are also thrilled to be sponsored by WILD ROSE STUDIO

Here is my DT card

I've used Baby's First Christmas from Lili Of The Valley and coloured him/her with Copics.  Papers are Wild Rose Studio and Papermania, star border punch from Martha Stewart, sentiment from Woodware and brads from stash.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by and I look forward to seeing all your wonderful Rudolphs over on the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

Hugs, Squirrel xx

In The Squirrel Spotlight - Helen's Craft Haven

Hi all, and welcome to the second in an occasional series of posts about blogs that are, in my opinion, just brilliant.

This time I would like to bring to your attention HELEN'S CRAFT HAVEN

My first encounter with Helen was over on the DoCrafts forum where we shared a mutual love of Penny Black stamps.  If you also love these wonderful stamps, or are thinking about investing in some, then Helen's blog is the place to be for tons of inspiration.  Helen's cards are always beautiful, light and full of colour and so much style.

Not only is Helen a skilled crafter, she is also a very talented musician, as I discovered last month when I was blessed to be able to meet her at last at Samantha's wedding and Helen played her flute during the service.

If you have not found Helen's blog before, do have a visit, you are in for a real treat.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

A Couple For Fun

No challenge cards today as I've been busy with my DT cards and had my nose stuck in a good book at lot of the time!  Has anyone else read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?  I loved it and have gone straight on to the second in the series, The Girl Who Played With Fire.  Can't put it down and was reading until the wee small hours this morning - no wonder I feel a bit limp today!

Anyhoo, a couple of quick but sweet birthday cards to share with you this afternoon -

I've used Willow Shopping from Whiff of Joy for this one.  I have paper pieced her shopping bags (they are just crying out for that to be done) and the rest of her is Copics.  I wish I could remember where the papers are from but they were just loose sheets in my "pile".  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.

And a Lili Of The Valley Busy Bear, full of style and sophistication!  Isn't she so cute?  Again coloured with Copics.  Papers are Dovecraft and Papermania, with sentiment being Craftwork Cards

Hope you are all having great weekends, whatever you are up to.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 44 - Star!

Hello, and welcome to another challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS - thank you for all your brilliant Aqua entries, don't forget to check the main blog to see who won the Lili Of The Valley voucher.

And this week's theme is "You Are A Star", or something with stars on anyway!!  Design Team have been brilliant again, always a huge inspiration.  Here is my DT offering

I could not resist those podgy little legs - L'il Ballerina from Whipper Snapper, papers are Basic Grey and from stash.  L'il is coloured with Copics and then covered in Art Institute Fine Glitter from the Egg Shell collection.  Nestabilities earned their keep this week.

Hope to see you all over at the challenge.
Hugs
Squirrel x

LOTV Challenge 61 - Away In A Manger + A Spoon Full of Sugar

How could I resist a sketch by the incredibly talented Bev over at LILI OF THE VALLEY this week?

Here is the sketch ....

And here is my card

I adore this little nativity scene from LOTV, it is so full of innocence, just gorgeous.  Papers are Dovecraft, an oriental pack, and Papermania Henbury Lane, with mat card being DCWV.  Sentiment is Woodware, pearls and peel offs from stash.

I'd also like to enter this for A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR challenge who are having Christmas in August!

Thanks for popping by,

Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 43 - Aqua (shades of)

Morning all!  The weekend at last, hurrah.  What a funny week for weather it has been in the UK.  Sunny, rainy, sunny and rainy, hailstones, thunderstorms - hard to believe we are still in August at the "height" of summer.

And so to TOTALLY GORJUSS for this week.  Thanks to everyone who took part in last week's challenge - don't forget to check out who was the lucky winner of the Joanna Sheen voucher.  This week our challenge is AQUA and as always the Design Team have come up with some beauties for you to oooh over.  And we are so lucky to be sponsored this time by Lili Of The Valley!

Because I'm a silly old Squirrel, I ended up making two cards

The first card, with Tilda perched on the anchor, is from the new Magnolia range.  Papers are from Wild Rose Studio and flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. Sentiment stamp is Penny Black.

The second card features a Christmas angel from Lili Of The Valley.  I think the paper is Dovecraft but I've lost the cover sheet so I can't be sure.  Martha Stewart border punch, Anita's sticky ribbon and gems from stash.  Both cards have been done with ProMarkers.

Thanks for popping over for a nosey, and I hope to see you all over at the challenge during the week.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

In The Squirrel Spotlight - Delphine's Place

A new Squirrel feature for you!  As I follow so many wonderful blogs and am inspired by so many exceptionally talented crafters, I thought I would have an occasional item where I "spotlight" one of those blogs.

So, the first to star in the Squirrel Spotlight is Delphine's Place - if you have not found Delphine's blog yet, I urge you to hop across and have a nosey round.  Delphine hasn't been blogging long but oh-my-word, has she already made her mark on blogland with her beautiful cards, abundant talent and sweet nature.

Do pay Delphine a visit soon, you will wish you had done it earlier.

Hugs

Squirrel xx 

ABC Christmas Challenge - Q for Quick & Easy Sketch

Seems strange to be thinking about Christmas in the middle of August but it is scary how time is marching on and before we know it, it will be December and we'll all be in a panic about cards - so now is your chance to get a head start!

This time over at ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE we have reached the letter Q and our lovely Samantha has come up with a Quick & Easy Sketch for us

How gorgeous is this?!  And the extra this time is to make more than one card using the sketch.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Lacey from Stamp and Create and there is a $20 voucher for the winner.  Can it get any better?

The DT have come up with some cracking examples for you so please do check out their blogs.  Here is my offering:

I've used the ultra cute "To Have And To Hug" stamp from Penny Black, coloured with Copics.  Papers are from the Dovecraft Christmas Collection and spots were done with a hole punch from waste card.  Quick, and very easy!

Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Furry Friendship Fun

Not cards for challenges, not cards for DTs, but two cards just because I wanted to!  Both are a bit furry ......

Girl with Cat stamp from High Hopes coloured with Copics, Ticket Sentiment from Pink Gem Designs, papers are Wild Rose Studio, Papermania and Forever Friends, Martha Stewart heart border punch and leaf frond punch, Woodware medium and small daisy punches, Papermania Shimmer Dots

Lili Of The Valley Puss In Boot stamp and sentiment, coloured with Copics, striped paper from a Smirk collection, plain pink and yellow from stash, Martha Stewart doily lace border punch, Dovecraft gems, Wild Orchid aster and gypsophelia flowers.

Thanks for taking the time to drop by.  Hope your weekend is a good one.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Simons Says + Cute Card Thursday

Well - I have a husband who doesn't like to be beaten at anything.  I wouldn't say he is competitive but he does like to be ahead of everyone else.  Sooooo, when I mentioned that the challenge over at Simon Says is Sing It Baby (song titles) he spent a happy half hour coming up with really obscure ideas and getting grumpy when I could find stamps to suit.  He really thought he'd got me with this one, so I sent him out to get some cat litter while I merrily crafted ...... I'm also entering this for Cute Card Thursday's "Whateva" challenge.

I've Got You Under My Skin

Ha!  That'll teach him!  Fabulous image called "Cat-ching Rays" by Dustin Pike for High Hopes Stamps.  Coloured with Copics.  Papers are Basic Grey, stash and DCWV.  Sentiment is Lili Of The Valley.

Earlier posts today can be found here

Spiderman (new Vince pictures)

Lili Of The Valley Candy

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 42 - Sketch

Thanks for popping over to me see.

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Spiderman

You know that moment, the one when you become aware you are being watched ....... you look round, nervously - and then burst out laughing

Grubby little monster!

CANDY - Lili Of The Valley

Morning guys, hope you are all well on this slightly damp Saturday morning.  I'm still full of snuffles and coughs but feeling better in myself.  Nasty germs!

As we are all now gearing up for that big card event of the year - I can hardly bring myself to say the word yet - Christmas (eeeeek) I thought I'd try and help you along a bit by offering some Christmas Candy.

This fabulous Carol Singers stamp is from the new releases by Lili Of The Valley - the winner will receive a brand new, still in the packet version.

So, what do you need to do?

1.  Firstly, I'd prefer it if you were already a follower but new visitors are always welcome

2.  Leave me a comment to this post

3.  Spread the word on your own blog

Email entries will be accepted as I know some of my followers don't have their own blogs.

Closing date for this candy will be midnight on Saturday 18 September 2010 and winner will be announced the following day.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge # 42 - A Sketch

It feels like flippin' months since I sat down and made a card, but it's really only just over two weeks.  Thank goodness for some normality lol!

So, here we are again - time for a new challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS, and as it is the first Saturday of the month our leader, Net, has created one of her sketches for us to play with.

Now, what I had in my head for this was simply stunning.  I really must learn how to get thoughts onto paper.  Anyway, here is my DT for this week

I love these City Girls from Whiff of Joy don't you?  Coloured with Copics and a dash of Glossy Accents on her glasses.  Papers are all from a DCWV Black & White collection that I'm not brave enough to use very often.  Woodware medium daisy punch and Pebbles Inc Candy Dots for the flowers.  Black card is DCWV Neutral Stack and red card from stash.

Hope you all have a super weekend lined up and that the school holidays aren't sending you daft already.

Hugs, Squirrel xx