Poor Little LOTV Bunnybun

Next week one of my cousin's, in fact my favourite cousin, is going into hospital for some rather grim surgery and, possibly, even grimmer follow-up treatment so I wanted to make him a get well card that would make him smile.

This week's LILI OF THE VALLEY sketch by Bev has come at the perfect time so I have made full use of it tonight and made the card I needed to get done.

Here is Bev's fabbie sketch:

I've rotated the sketch by 90 degrees clockwise, and here's my card (sorry it's a tiny weeny iddy biddy bit out of focus, my camera doesn't like these dark nights)

I love this little chap, don't you just want to pick him up and give him a gentle cuddle?  LOTV bunny stamp, coloured with Distress Inks, papers are Basic Grey from the Olivia collection, the turquoise paper is Making Memories, EK Success retro flower punch, Card Candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Thanks for popping over to see me.  I know I am way behind on my visiting but hope to get some serious catching up done next week when I'm off work.

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Allsorts Plain & Simple Challenge

There's a wonderful challenging challenge over at ALLSORTS this week with the theme of Plain & Simple.

With so many wonderful papers and embellishments out there, it is sometimes really difficult to resist the temptation and to make the effort to go back to basics.  I really enjoyed this.  Here's my entry for the challenge.

Holly wreath stamp from Stampendous, coloured with Copics, sentiment stamp from Penny Black.  It doesn't come much plainer or simpler than that!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Twinkling Tilda

Well, it's grey, it's wet, it's cold, the grand prix was not the most exciting race I've ever seen and Toad's not only doing another batch of home brew but he's managed to blow a socket in the kitchen.

So what I need in my life is definitely some Glitter & Sparkle and that arrives courtesy of this week's TOTALLY TILDA CHALLENGE!

I think is this "Circus Tilda" although why she's called that is anyone's guess but she is still a little cutie.  Coloured with Copics, Art Institute ultra fine glitter for her frock, shoes and hairband.  Background is a Hero Arts frame stamp, again coloured with Copics, border of frame and centre of large flower dripping with Rhinstone Stickles, Basic Grey dp with gems and glitter letters from stash.

I tried with and without the flash as she really is more dazzling than the photo above shows.  Here's the one taken with the flash

Lots of sparkle!

Thanks for dropping by. Hugs, Squirrel xx

Friday Sketchers meets Penny Black Saturday

Afternoon all - hope you are having great weekends so far.  Just before I settle down for the qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, I have a card to share with you.

FRIDAY SKETCHERS have a wonderful sketch created by Jeanette (one I shall definitely be using again).

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE have the theme of Indian Summer.

Now, a friend of ours is soon to set of for Nepal for three weeks trekking in the Himalayas.  We think he is insane but I've been wanted to make him a good luck card and this all sort of fell into place with the two challenges.

Here is Jeanette's sketch:

And here is my card:

I've used Penny Black's Nature Trail Ted, coloured with Distress Inks, and the papers are all from the Basic Grey Indian Summer collection with the exception of the plain terracotta which is Dovecraft.  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.

Here's a close up of the ted and his backpack

Thanks for dropping by, catch up with you soon.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 49 - Christmas in September

Howdy y'all!  Welcome to another rootin' tootin' round 'em up roll 'em out challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS !  Not sure why I've gone a bit cowboy there, I'll just have a quick lay down and I'm sure I'll be fine.

Thanks for all your fabulous animal entries last week, you certainly love your little critters.  All that's left is for Net to sweep up behind them and announce the winner!

This week we are looking for your CHRISTMAS cards - don't groan at me, it's getting closer and then you'll all moan that you are out of time, so now is your chance to get a head start. Another week of stunning inspiration from the DT for you to ooh and ahh over. Here's mine:

I've used Pile of Penguins from Stampavie, coloured with Copics, some silver mirri card for the matting and snowflakes, and the DPs are Dovecraft (I think), Martha Stewart snowflake punch used too.

I do hope you can join us for this challenge as the DT do love to have a nosey round your blogs!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge - T is for Tree (extra of Buttons)

Hi all, and welcome to another fortnight of ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - wow, we are at T already, doesn't seem possible but, having said that, it will be October next week!

Thanks to everyone who took part in our Santa challenge and to all of you who had a go at my optional extra of no red - we had some super entries.

So, onto this challenge which is T FOR TREE and Jayne is our host with her optional extra of BUTTONS.  Our sponsor for this time is THE CUTTING CAFE.  The DT have come up with some super inspiration for you, here is my card:

I've used a Fairy Doodles Christmas Fairy from Buzzcraft, coloured with Copics.  The DPs are Dovecraft and the red matting is Bazzill.  Sentiment is Lili Of The Valley and the buttons were done with my Martha Stewart embossing button punch.

Creative Card Crew + Incy Wincy + Pixie Dust Challenges

Hello all, hope you are having fabbie weekends....it's our anniversary today...12 years, can you believe it, feels like the blink of an eye at times....other times, it really does feel that long LOL!  Only kidding darling husband, you know I adore you.  Off to aunt and uncle's golden wedding party this afternoon, a nice opportunity to catch up with family that I've not seen since the last big party last year for my parent's golden bash.

Anyway, enough of all this wedding talk, I've got a couple of cards for you - I've been persevering with the Distress Inks and I think I am now slowly getting to grips with them.  Still need to widen my colour range so any advice on which is preferable - pads or reinkers - would be appreciated.

First card I would like to enter into this week's Creative Card Crew and Incy Wincy Designs challenges as both are looking for autumn/fall and mushrooms always make me think of autumn. 

I'm loving these meece from Meljen Designs, they are so sweet, if only all mice were this cute (actually, they are).  Papers are Wild Rose Studio and matting card is DCWV.  The red isn't really that red in life, not sure what happen in the photo process.

And would you believe it, after hundreds of Christmas challenges around I'm struggling to find just one this week!  So, this card will be entered to Pixie Dust Studio's challenge looking for animals in their Fur Or Feathers challenge

These Lili Of The Valley James Bear Christmas stamps are to die for, just brilliant to use and colour.  Papers are a mixture of Anita's and Dovecraft and I've used my new fancy border Nestabilities die.

Thanks for popping over to see me, you make it all worth while.

Hugs,

Squirrel xx

LOTV Candy Winner

Morning all. Wow, so many Lili Of The Valley fans out there! Thank you to each and every one of you who took part in my little candy, and a big welcome to all my new followers - I hope I can keep you all entertained and wanting to come back and visit.

So without further waffling, the winner, randomly selected by my beloved hubby this morning is none other than ........

LORI of My Comfort Cottage

Congratulations hun, email me your details and I will get those little carol singers winging their way to you in the post.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 48 - Wild Thing

Yaaaay it's the weekend!!  Thought it would never get here.  As it is our wedding anniversary tomorrow we're having a bit of a lazy treat tonight and ordering in a Chinese takeaway - I'm already drooling at the thought!

Anyhoo, thank you all so much for your beautiful floral entries into last week's TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge.  We were awash with petals and all were gorgeous.  Don't forget to see who the lucky devil was who won the super prize from Wild Orchid Crafts.

So, onto this week's TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge.  Some of the Gorjussettes can be animals at times (LOL, only kidding guys, honest) so this challenge is WILD THING - we would like to see an animal somewhere on your creation!  Our sponsor is the wonderful CRAFTERS COMPANION. The DT have done it again and provided some fab inspiration for you.  Here is my card

Just love this Whipper Snapper monkey, I've coloured him with ProMarkers.  Nestabilities deckled rectangles for the matting around him, which I also used as a mask to sponge the edges of the white card.  Papers are all Basic Grey and the sentiment is Penny Black.

Come on, now is your chance to go wild (I'm so funny sometimes I worry myself) with your creative talents.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

In The Squirrel Spotlight - All The Things I Love

Hi all, and welcome to another in my occasional series of featuring blogs that inspire me.  This is not an easy concept as there are so many stunning blogs out there!

Today, I'd like to feature a blog that wows me every single day - ALL THE THINGS I LOVE which is run by the amazingly talented Bev.

I am sure that most of you will have come across Bev in one way or another - this lady seems to feature on an awful lot of DTs, and for a very good reason.  Her work is absolutely stunning.  If you have not found Bev before, now is your chance to discover a very rare talent.

I cannot tell you how much inspiration I get from All The Things I Love - Bev's colouring skills are out of this world and I wish I could have just a smidge of her abilities.

Apart from all that, Bev is the most generous crafter, both with her time and her candies, and her blog is a delight to visit at any time.  If you get the chance to read this hunny, I'd just like to say thanks for all you do.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia - Dawny's Sketch

To find today's earlier post for Penny Black/Sketch Saturday click here

I wasn't going to post again this afternoon but ...... I was playing with the ol' Distress Inks (just how long does it take to get the hang of these?) and I ended up with an image that I knew would go quite well with some papers I had.  So, I put them together and thought "yeah, that sort of works" and thus my card was born!

I had spotted Dawny's sketch on JUST MAGNOLIA yesterday and had earmarked it for a play so, bravely, I shall enter my accidental card to this week's challenge!

As my palette of inks is still limited, I only had Tea Dye to do Tilda's hair with, and that was far too ginger, so had to darken it up with a black watercolour pencil.

I love the delicate look of using the inks, must just remember that they dry much lighter!  Anyhoo, Chinese Tilda from Magnolia, Distress Inks, Wild Rose Studio oriental paperpack, Colorbox Q chalk inks for edging.  Here's a Tilda close-up

Quite pleased with the soft blush effect on her cheeks, but I am soooooooo going to have to expand my range of colours!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday + Penny Black

Happy Sunday everyone!  I was woken up this morning in the wee small hours by a Vincent sitting on my head.  That cat has no respect for the sleeping - if anyone has seen the Simon's Cat film called Cat Man Do, then you will know exactly what I went through, except for the baseball bat.

Anyhoo, 12 September means that it is the Italian Grand Prix from Monza and I have high hopes for Britain's chances today of a good result.  Go Jenson!

Enough rambling, onto my card - this week SKETCH SATURDAY CHALLENGE have this sketch

and I have combined it with PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE who want Men/Boy Cards.  Here is what I've done

I've used Penny Black's Hedge-Words stamp, Anita's papers, Copics, and the star Nestabilities. 

And while we are on the subject of Penny Black, it is my lovely friend Uma's 30th birthday today (have a good one hunny, once the hangover has worn off) and this is the card I made for her

Thanks for popping over, hope you have a lovely rest of the day.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 47 - Flowers

Saturday 11 September - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my darling MUM!  Be over to see you in a little while mate.

11 September - Twin Towers.  A day for a small prayer for those who are no longer with us, and for those left behind without their loved ones.

Saturday 11 September - TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge!  Thanks to everyone who joined in with our sketch challenge last week, Net really does come up trumps with these designs.  I'm quite excited this week as our sponsor is one of those sites that I cannot resist.  Our theme is FLOWERS (bit of a clue there) and our sponsor (guessed it yet?) is non other than WILD ORCHID CRAFTS.  Thought that would get your attention!

The DT has surpassed itself and the Gorjussettes are bathing in rose petals.  Here is my offering for the DT.

I've used a Mo Manning stamp (how brilliant are her designs) called End of Summer (seemed appropriate).  Papers are Basic Grey, flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts and sentiment is Pink Gem Designs.

Hope you can all find the time to join us at the TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge, it'd be fab to see you there.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Quick Candy Reminder

Hi all - just a reminder that I have two candies running at the moment -

Closing on 18 September:  Lili Of The Valley Candy

Closing on 30 September:  Autumn Max Pink Gem Candy

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge - S is for Santa

Welcome to another ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE! Wow, how quickly the weeks whizz past - another two have gone in the blink of an eye.  Hugh apologies to those of you who entered our R for Rudolph challenge that I wasn't able to comment on; I'm having broadband/Blogger issues at the moment that are slowing things down to a crawl.  Thank you to everyone who entered and don't forget to check back to the main blog to see who the Top 3 and winner are.

And so to S for Santa.  The extra this time (chosen by me) is for you not to use red!  The Teamies have come up trumps yet again and produced some amazing work to inspire you.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamp, and there is also a GDT spot up for grabs, so if you fancy joining us for the next couple of challenges please make sure you mark your entry with GD after your name.

Here is my DT card

This Santa is from Sugar Nellie and I think he has to be one of my all-time favourites, he's just how I would want my Santa to be.  I've coloured him with ProMarkers.  Good old Nestabilities for the shapes, papers are Basic Grey from the Kraft and Manilla collections, and the sentiment is Lili Of The Valley.  Martha Stewart star border punch.

Anyhoo, hope to see you over at the challenge (you have two weeks) with lots of fabulous colours for Santa!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Going Dotty ..... with Distress Inks

Oh gosh, I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to have the luxury of crafting on a weekday and in daylight!  Makes a change for me, all my crafting is normally crammed in at the weekend or, if an emergency, late in the evening.

Just Cute Bears Challenge this week are asking for us to go dotty!  How could I say no to a challenge like that?!

Now, I ended up with two cards for this challenge, but there is a good reason for it .... read on.  Card No 1 I did late yesterday afternoon.

I've used James from Lili Of The Valley with his box of decorations and coloured him with ProMarkers.  Papers are from a summer collection by Papermania and I used the smaller dots to paper piece the decorations box.  The star has Glossy Accents on it and the tinsel I did with a glitter glue (not appreciating how long it would take to dry!)  Sentiment is Woodware.  So far so good .....

Now, when I looked at it again this morning, the glitter glue (which had been nice and puffy last night) had dried nearly flat so that tinsel look was gone.  Then being in a bit of a picky-pants mood, I decided that the ProMarkers were too strong so I wanted something more delicate.  "I know", says I, "I'll have a go with the Distress Inks, it can't be that hard".  Oh yeah, it was!  Anyway, on my third attempt I think I achieved something acceptable ......

It's going to take me a lot of practice to get the wow factor but I can feel a new addiction coming on.  As I only have four Distress Pads, I had to cheat a bit with some Memento pads for the red, pink and darker green.

Another Lili Of The Valley stamp, papers are Wild Rose Studio Polka Dot Collection and again, the sentiment is Woodware.  This is the card I shall enter into the challenge.

Thanks for dropping by .... I'm now off to browse for some more inks (well, four pads is a bit of a limited palette, so that's my reasoning!).

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Italian Wedding

Second post today!  You can reach the earlier one by scrolling down or clicking here.

This card is for an order I received from one of the ladies at work - you may remember the 100th birthday card I did for her mother.  Well, this one is for her son for his wedding but to come from grandmama.  And it had to have Italian text and incorporate the bride's family tartan!  Have used Jeanette's sketch again from this week's Sketch Saturday but tweeked it a little (told you that sketch was a keeper).

I have no idea who the stamp is made by - it was one of the first I bought when I started crafting.  Papers are a mix of Making Memories and Papermania, and the family tartan, with Martha Stewart heart border punch, leaf frond punch, and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

And I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Stamp With Fun # 75 = Wedding

Paperminutes = Love

Creative Cottage - Celebrations

Allsorts = New Beginnings

Thanks for popping in to have a peek.  Hope you are all ok.  Think I am crafted out for today so am going to see if my broadband is behaving itself enough now for me to do my DT commenting duty.

Catch ya's all later

Squirrel xxx

Sketch Saturday + High Hopes "It's A Girl/Boy"

Hello All, yes it is Monday, and yes, I am here!  Snuck a couple of days off work - it's been so hectic for the past six weeks, and threatening to do the same again shortly, so I thought a couple of days of "me time" were in order.

A brilliant sketch from Jeanette over at SKETCH SATURDAY CHALLENGE this week - this one's a keeper - and I've combined it with the theme from HIGH HOPES CHALLENGE of a card for a girl or boy.  As you can see, I went for boy!

Here is Jeanette's fabbie sketch

And here is my card

It's a High Hopes stamp but I've mislaid the tag so perhaps someone can let me know what it's called.  Papers are Making Memories and matting card Papermania.  Image coloured with Copics.  Border punch is Her Majesty Martha Stewart (all hail the Queen of quality punches!).

Hope you like, and thanks for dropping in to see me, even if I did take you by surprise.  And apologies for those that missed out on the cake .... the middle was a bit "damp" but the edges were yummy!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Golden Wedding ........ ho hum!

In a couple of weeks, in fact the same day as our wedding anniversary, is my aunt and uncle's golden wedding.  50 years.  Cripes!  We've managed 12 so a little way to go yet then.

As there is no danger of them coming anywhere near my blog, I thought I'd share a couple of cards with you. 

The first is one commissioned by my parents and mum dug up a photo for me to use (it's ok mum, I copied it, the original is still safe and in one piece)

If you think it looks familiar, I used a sketch that Bev did for LOTV a couple of weeks ago as I loved the layout so much.  Gold foil spot paper is Craftwork Cards, ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons, large and small roses and the ribbon slider from Wild Orchid Crafts, Martha Stewart frond punch for the leaves, and a few peel offs to finish.  Because of the depth of the roses (they are sooooo yummy) I've had to make a box.  It's very simple white card but I've used a panel of the Craftwork Cards paper to tart it up a bit. 

So that's mum and dad's card for them.  This one is mine

I've not gone completely mad, they are both bird lovers and have an avery in the back garden!  I'd been struggling with what to do and then my dear mate Zippy sent me Making Cards which had these beautiful Nancy Watt papers as a freebie and I thought they'd be perfect.  Not sure why the photo is so on the huh, it looked straight through the viewfinder!

Thanks for dropping by this afternoon.  There is a light fruit cake in the oven, should be ready in about 30 mins if you fancy a slice. 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 46 - Sketch

Happy Saturday everyone!  What are you all up to this weekend then?  Got time for some crafting?  I certainly hope so, especially as it is the first Saturday of the month which means that TOTALLY GORJUSS are bringing you another fabbie sketch to play with!

Thank you everyone for your fantastic Christmas In August cards - my word you lot are getting yourselves organised early this year.  Some wonderful entries so please do check back to the TOTALLY GORJUSS blog to see who was the winner of that challenge.

Right then, on to THIS challenge - the Gorjussettes are thrilled to be sponsored by JOANNA SHEEN and we all know what Joanna stands for = fabulous crafting goodies!  Whoo-hoo!  Here is the sketch for you....

And here is my DT card

Can't believe it is only 4 September and the light for taking photos is appalling already!  Anyhoo, this is the first inking of this little love by Gillian Roberts from Stampavie, spotty background paper is, erm, err, Dovecraft I think, but the old grey cells are whithering, the text is Friends Definition stamp from Hero Arts (one of their Clings) and the splotty sploggy matting paper is what I did with ink and a sponge.  Think it came out quite well really.

Hope you do find time to create - we'd love you to come and join us - see you there!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

LOTV Challenge - Sketch

'ello me darlin's, how are we all?  It's been a mad, mental, crazy, insane week at work for me so I am so relieved it is now officially the weekend!

Fabulous sketch for the LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge this week, I just can't resist a good sketch .....

And here is my card, very simple but I ain't had that much time

Rosie Posie is still one of my favourite LOTV stamps, such a cutie - coloured with pastel Copics.  Papers are Basic Grey from the Porcelain collection.  Nestabilities circle dies, Cuttlebug flowers and label, few gems and peel off words and that's it!

Thanks for popping over to see me.  I'm hoping to have time for some baking tomorrow so next time you visit there might be cake!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Autumn Max Candy

Well, as it is now September, and starting to feel like autumn - how about a little autumn candy?

I have on offer a brand new Autumn Max stamp from Pink Gem Designs - don't you just want to rush out now and find some conkers?!

All you need to do is be a follower and leave me a comment telling me what your favourite season of the year is.  Email entries are fine for those followers who do not have a blog.

This candy will close at midnight on 30 September and the winner will be announced on 2 October.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Blogging Awards

Despite the fact that I am the world's most appalling blogger at the moment, some very sweet bloggie mates have still decided that I might deserve an award!

Award number 1 comes from Sharon (Bonkers About Buttons) - thank you hunny, and it is so good to be reaquainted with you again after all this time.  I have also received this award from Helen (Helen's Craft Haven), one of my fab teamies over at ABC Christmas Challenge, so many thanks to you too m'darlin'!  Helen is currently featured in the Squirrel Spotlight (my little tooting session about blogs that inspire me).

Award number 2 has been given to me by the delectible Delphine (Delphine's Place) - thanks hunny, that is so kind of you, although I'm not sure a squirrel is pet, more of a pest I think!

So cheers guys, it is so nice to know that I am being thought of - naturally there are rules attached to these awards but being the free-thinker that I am (which gets me into soooo much trouble) I am chucking the rules out of the window and offering these awards to all my fabulous followers who continue to support me, even when I'm all behind! 

Hugs, Squirrel xx