Using the right sketch this time .....

Good grief, Monday morning again.  How do they come round so quickly?

After the disaster with the wrong sketch for this week's LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge, I had another go using the right one this time!

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  LOTV Balancing Act

Colouring Medium:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers:  Mostly freebies with magazines with a sheet of blue

Dovecraft for matting and a scrap of Forever Friends Christmas Tale

Extras:  Hunkydory Diamond Sparkle Gems

Don't forget that my Henry "Love" candy closes at 9pm tonight so you still have time to squeak in an entry if you are interested. I will announce the winner in a couple of days.

Hugs, Sxx

Soaking up the sunshine

Yeah, I know, it's not exactly the right UK weather for laying out on a deckchair and sipping cocktails, but that doesn't stop that Henry .....

I've used this adorable Whiff of Joy Henry for a retirement card for a friend who left work this week.  I can just see her kicking back and relaxing like this!

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: Whiff of Joy Lazy Summer Henry

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: MME Fine & Dandy - True Blue

Additional Stamps: Hero Arts Seashells and a Hero Arts sentiment

Extras:  Gold border peel-offs

Makes a change from the ever increasing volume of Christmas cards!  I won't be around much for the next week as it's the (turn on the scary music) Craft Fair next Saturday so I shall be sorting last minute stuff for that and will be there most of the day.  I hope to still be able to find time between that, work and sleep to squeeze in a card or two and some commenting but things may be a bit quiet in Squirrel's World until the weekend after.  I hope that doesn't mean you will all forget about me though......

Hugs, Sxx

Bows are the frippery of the devil!

Afternoon all, how are you?  It's late Saturday afternoon, there's an apple pie in the oven and we are considering battening down the hatches as it gets dusk and hanging garlic outside the front door to repel the invasion of witches, spooks, ghouls and vampires.

Now, you might say "Bah humbug" when I say I don't do Hallowe'en.  But, what I mean is, I see no harm in kiddies dressing up, scaring each other, having fun and bobbing for apples - no problem with that.  What I do have an issue with is this 21st century trend of turning everything into a huge marketing tool for the stores and for kids to go out to strangers houses to do what is not far short of begging and intimidation.  OK, I'm off that soapbox now.

And onto my next soapbox - bows!  Something strange has happened between Thursday morning and today because the sketch I printed off from the LOTV challenge isn't the one that's there now, so the card I made Thursday night I can't enter into the challenge and will have to make another one (grrrr).  And it was this card that caused a great deal of annoyance and frustration.

I thought it would be lovely to have a matching Organza ribbon bow on the central ribbon band of this card.  I have a bow maker and a Bow-Easy, so out they came on Thursday night and I sat and I practised.  I was very patient.  I tied a series of cute little bows, each one an improvement on the last, until I was happy I had the hang of it.  My sixth, and last bow, was the nicest with beautifully even loops and a flat middle and neatly trimmed tails.

So why, when I attempted to glue (Pinflair Glue Gel) it to the card did it turn into a wild, savage and totally uncontrollable beast of disproportionate dimensions that not only would not stick to the darned card but managed to smear glue everywhere and certainly did not resemble the perfectly formed ribbon confection that it had once been?!  In total frustration, I flung it into the bin where, once more, it looked like the bow it previously was.  Aaaargh!

And as it was late, I made the hasty decision to cover up the splurge of glue with some flowers cut from the same papers (double sided) that I had used for the base layers.  On reflection, it might have been better to chuck the whole lot in the bin and start again, which is what I've got to do now anyway as I used (somehow) the wrong sketch.  Botheration.

Yours, in a right old humph.

Hugs, Sxx

Winter Wonderland - Clean And Simple (DT)

Hi all, and welcome to another week with Winter Wonderland - if you didn't get the chance to join in last week's challenge (and why not?) this could be the one for you.

It is Team Marianne this time round and our theme for the week is CLEAN AND SIMPLE - I guess the easiest definition of CAS is minimal layers, minimal embellies and lots of white card!  It's really not as scary as it sounds so why not give it a try.

We have another super sponsorship this week from SIMON SAYS STAMP

And of course, the Design Team have created some stunners to inspire you.  Please do pay them a visit to their individual blogs - it means a lot to know you appreciate their efforts.

And could I please repeat the plea for you to turn off word verification?  You can change your settings so that you can approve comments before they are published so you will still have control.  Word verification makes commenting for the DT very difficult and time consuming and although we love visiting your blogs, it makes life for everyone much easier if it is turned off.

Here is my DT card:

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  Sugar Nellie Old Saint Nick

Colouring Medium:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment:  Penny Black Merry Little Christmas stamped in Memento Lady Bug ink

Other:  Papermania Christmas cardstock

So, that's it, clean and simple!  Now it's your turn.  Looking forward to seeing you over at the challenge.  Please remember to follow the theme to qualify for prizes or Top 3 and to get your entries in by 5.00pm on Thursday 3 December.

Hugs Sxx

In days of old, when knights were bold ....

In days of old, when knights were bold
And toilet lights were dim
You'd hear a crash
And then a splash
Oh lord, he's fallen  in

In days of old, when knights were bold
And wenches were aplenty ......

We'll stop it there shall we!  This week's SIMON SAYS STAMP challenge is to be inspired by a Nursery Rhyme or Fairy Tale.  I took this to the extreme with a piece of medieval poetry (circa 1375) called Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - it is an epic, romantic poem and yes, he does fight a dragon.

Ingredients For This Card:

Stamped Image:  High Hopes Sir Dustin

Medium:  Distress Inks

Papers: First Edition Animal Antics

Sentiment: Hero Arts

Extras: Black square gems and black border peel-offs

This truly is a Limited Edition - it took nearly an hour and a half to paint the image, so I won't be rushing to make another one anytime soon!  Here is a close up of the image only

Hugs, Sxx

Less Is More # 38 = Polka Dots

Afternoon all - how are we?  I hope that you are all feeling fine and dandy.  Although it is a little bit warmer than the end of the week, it is still, I think, a tad chillsome but at least we have some beautiful autumn sunshine.  Even though it is cool, I just adore days like this with brilliant blue skies and hardly a cloud to be seen.  Really lifts the spirits.

I've not entered many challenges over the past few weeks, and have missed a lot of my favourites too, but I was determined to enter this week's LESS IS MORE challenge with the theme of Polka Dots.

With some challenges, it takes me a while to think of what to do, but for some reason, with LIM the ideas come immediately.  They don't always work out mind you!  Anyway, here is my card:

Ingredients for this card:

Stamped Image:  LOTV Maisie Two Balloons, Hero Arts Polka Dots

Medium: Memento Inks (Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue, Rosebud, Cantalope and Rhubarb Stalk)

and Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Additional Materials used:  Post It Notes for masking and Staedler FineLiner Pen

Sentiment:  Hero Arts

First of all I stamped Maisie onto my base cardstock.  I then stamped her again onto three separate Post It Notes.  I cut her dress out of the first one, masked the main image and overstamped with the Hero Arts Polka Dots in blue.  I then used the same technique again for the pink balloon and again for the yellow balloon.  Then I did a pencil line about a quarter of an inch in all round the card edge and masked that narrow strip off and stamped in the Polka Dots again - this didn't work quite as well as I would have liked as it is a wood mounted stamp and I couldn't see where I was lining up.  Finally, I painted in the image with Distress Inks and added the sentiment.

Hugs, Sxx

Nature Trail Ted - Penny Black @ Allsorts October challenge

I need a lie down in a darkened room.  Our kitchen man has been back today to measure up a bit more and to discuss plans.  This afternoon we have been trailing around looking at cookers, dishwashers, floor tiles, wall tiles, accent tiles, taps ........ my poor little tail is in such a frizz now.  And who knew that a cooker could cost as much as a small car?!

The only thing that we did agree on, and immediately, were the accent tiles.  Of all the things to agree on, it happens to be the least important.  Typical!

PENNY BLACK AND MORE AT ALLSORTS October challenge is a photo inspiration, and what a gorgeous photo it is too ....

Here is my card

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: Penny Black Nature Trail Ted

Colouring Medium: TH Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: Helz Cuppleditch Neighbourwood, and white card edged with Chesnut ProMarker

So, you can see that not only have I taken the colours of the photo for inspiration, I have also gone done the open air, day in the woods feel as well.

Going to see if I can find a paracetamol now......

Hugs, Sxx

Missing the long summer days already!

Yes, I know, it is only just two thirds of the way through October and, up until this week, it has been warm and wonderful.  Even today has been bright and sunny, although chuffty cold, but oh my, it is getting dark so darned early now!

Thursday night is my one evening for crafting and tonight I made a cute little card for my office mate's 5 year old daughter.  It is bright and cheery and very "little girl" and I want to share it with you, but because it is sooooo dark the photo is totally rubbish.  Toad bought me a light tent earlier this year so I can see no other option but to get that set up and start practising with that to see if it makes a difference.  Oh how I miss daylight!

Here it is anyway - will add a better picture tomorrow.

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: Forever Friends - Christmas Gift - Exclusive to Glitter Pot

Colouring Medium: TH Distress Inks

Papers: Helz Cuppleditch Neighbourwood and Little Sizzlets

Extras: EK Success Medium and Small Retro Flower Punches,

Card Candi, hole punch dots, transparent gold edge rope border peel-offs,

and die-cut 5 from the same Neighbourwood papers

Edited to add slightly better picture - but not much daylight yet but at least you can see the colours better!

 

I have been trying to catch up with my commenting this week and thought I would do it logically by working down my Blogs I Follow list - crikey, it's like doing the weekly file reviews at work - by the time I get to the end it'll be time to start again!  If I haven't got to you yet, I will, I promise!

Hugs, Sxx

I'm in the mood for .....

...... boys!  Ooh-err missus!

This is my second entry into this week's Sweet Stampin' Challenge for the men in your life.

I wanted this little chap in his enormous comfy chair to look like he was in a gentleman's club so it took a bit of furtling around to find papers that I was happy with.  Bit of a compromise but I think they work - mind you, I've never set foot in a gent's club so what would I know, lol!

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: LOTV Happy Times

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment: Hero Arts

Papers: Goodness knows, they were in the left-overs box, but I suspect

K&Co for the lower and Papermania for the upper.

White cardstock coloured with Ruby ProMarker for matting and central stripe.

Extras:  Gold border peel-offs

Having another funny little quirk with Blogger just now - blogs that I thought I had signed up to Follow aren't registering and aren't appearing in my Reading List.  As a temporary get-round I'm adding to my Favourites but obviously this isn't ideal.  Anyone else have similar problems who can offer a solution?

Hugs, Sxx

How much is that doggie .......

Oh go on, admit it, you are all sat there going Woof Woof now aren't you?!

How is your Sunday then?  I've just cat-napped my way through the Korean Grand Prix (no, it wasn't the most exciting race I've ever seen, lol) and Toad's outside cutting the grass while the sun shines, there is a load of washing in the machine and Vince is asleep on the back of the sofa.  A typical Squirrel's World Sunday afternoon.  However, I can feel the going-back-to-work blues coming on so I may go and have a little play in the craft room shortly to cheer me up.

Have you seen the Sweet Stampin' Challenge this week?  The theme is masculine cards so here is my attempt:

Once I got past his patchy eye I fell in love with him - you have to stare at him right in the eyes  to see his cute face, otherwise he looks a bit like Mad Eye Moody (Harry Potter) at first glance.

Ingredients for this simple card are:

Stamped Image:  Helz Cuppleditch Make A Wish

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: An old Joanna Sheen marbled pad, DCWV Neutral Stack

Extra: Old fashioned single hole punch and Nestabilities Deckled Rectangles

That's it, I will have a chance to catch up on some commenting this week I hope, that is on the condition that the bus gets me to the office early enough - I do like half an hour or so with my bloggie buds and a nice coffee before I start work.

Hugs Sxx

And there was George Clooney ......

..... sat in a corner drinking coffee with Brad Pitt!  I mean how lucky can a girl get in one day.  What?  Don't poke me, I'm not dreaming, it was real I tell you, real !!  Well it was real enough, until I woke up to a little wet nose pressed to my cheek asking for breakfast (and no, that wasn't George sadly).

Right, for the few loyal, regular, followers that do visit, let me get on with my cards for today:

A Gem Of A Challenge (No 32) A Sketch and

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge (No 156) White And One Other Colour (Plus Image)

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  Pink Gem Designs Max And Snowman

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Backing papers:  White cardstock stamped with Hero Arts Small Stitched Snowflake and

Hero Arts Cling dotty background - Bahama Blue Memento Ink

Matting Card:  White cardstock edged with Sky Blue ProMarker

Extras:  Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch

Less Is More (Week 37)  Cocktail

Stamped Image:  Inkadinkado 6710.N

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment: Hero Arts

Corners: Lili of the Valley - Stamp I Corners Delicate

Can I just say that the best chicken is a roast one?

Hugs, Sxx

Going to crawl back under my rock now.

Well, why doesn't it go faster?

Yesterday, at the home brew shop, Toad bought himself a bottle drainer - it looks like a glorified red plastic Christmas tree but without the twiggy bits.

Anyhoo, it came in a great big cardboard box which, naturally for my totally untidy Toad, gets left in the conservatory.  Ah, but see, it has a use.  Let me introduce you to Ferrari's newest team member, Vincenzo Spaghetti, racing in his elegant tuxedo colours ......

Or maybe that should be changed to Furrari!

Sorry I've no card for you this evening - I've been churning out "age" cards for the craft fair so nothing too interesting.  Will try harder for tomorrow!

Hugs, Sxx

Winter Wonderland - Robin Redbreast (DT)

Hello my lovelies, how are you all today?  Are you ready for another WINTER WONDERLAND challenge then?  Not that I want to scare you or anything like that but did you realise that it is now only 10 weeks and 2 days to Christmas?

OK, you can come out from behind the sofa now - we have the super challenge for you this time of Robin Redbreast - so, to qualify for the prize or Top 3, you will need to use a robin somewhere on your design.

And we have two sponsors for you so please say hi to

PINK GEM DESIGNS

and

SQUIGGLE STAMPS

The usual rules apply - follow the theme for the week and enter your creation before 5.00pm Thursday of next week (20 October).

And, of course the DT have provided their usual high standard of inspiration for you so please do spend a moment to visit their own blogs to share the love.

Here is my card for this challenge:

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamp Image: Fizzy Moon: Festive Fun - With Love

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Papers: HOTP and Dovecraft

Sentiment: Craftwork Cards

With all the Christmas stamps I have, I surprised myself by having to root around to find a robin - but I am sure you are all much better organised than me so shall look forward to seeing your work over at the challenge!

Hugs, Sxx

LOTV Warm And Cozy

Evenin' all - hope your day has been a good one.  The postie brought me an amazing little surprise this morning - I didn't know you could put animals in the post so you can image my astonishment to find a Koala Bear all the way from the other side of the world!  Thank you Chrissy, you mad mad mad woman (mwah!) - we've called him Wellington (not geographically accurate but near enough, lol).

We toodled off out this morning as the Toadster wanted to go to the home brew shop to get another couple of kits for the next "chemistry" experiment.  On the way back we called in at a garden centre that just happened to have a restaurant and a craft shop attached!

Anyhoo, after a smashing roast dinner - what a treat that was for midweek, and no cooking or washing up involved - we had a nosey in the craft shop.  I felt really disheartened though, hardly any rubber stamps and only a few papers.  Plenty of knitting wool, and a whole aisle of beading stuff but very little in the way of card making except for pre-made toppers.  I did pick up a couple of First Edition pads (Animal Antics and Sweet Owls) and a pack of Bakers Twine but that is the first time I've ever struggled to spend money in there - hope it is not a sign of the times.  We lost it once when Craft Central pulled out and the garden centre decided to try and run it themselves so I do like to try and support them but I suspect it will go the way of a lot of little shops these days.  Ho hum.

So, that's my little groan out of the way - here is my card for this evening:

Challenge:  Lili Of The Valley - Challenge 116 - Warm And Cozy

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  LOTV The Night Before Christmas

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment: LOTV Christmas Circular Sentiments

Papers: Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas / Forever Friends Christmas

Papermania Christmas cardstock / Pearlised card from stash

Extras: Hunkydory Diamond Sparkle gems, gold border peel-offs

And a close up of the darling little bunny in his cozy jim-jams

Thanks for visiting - hope that you will pop back tomorrow!

Hugs, Sxx

Boys Will Be Boys - Tiddly Inks

Back again - two posts from me in one day, you are spoiled!

Well, the builder and kitchen fitter have been with their tapes measures and blinded me with science and technical stuff.  Thankfully the builder is my boss' husband so it doesn't matter if I ask stupid questions as he is used to those from me, lol!  They've gone off with measurements and requirements so the next step is for plans to be drawn up ...... eeeek, why do I suddenly feel it's all out of my control?

Anyhoo, as the building game is principally a male dominated area, it brings me nicely to the TIDDLY INKS CHALLENGE of Boys Will Be Boys (oh bum, when I went to link up I realised I should have used a Tiddly Inks image - blast).

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: LOTV Ooops

Sentiment: Hero Arts (sorry, don't know which set)

Papers: MME Fine & Dandy - True Blue

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Extras: Fine line black border peel offs

And that's it - sweet and simple

Hugs, Sxx

Something A Bit Different (for me)

I am not a domestic goddess, by any stretch of the imagination.  Let's face it, I don't dust until things start growing in it, so when the Toad said about getting a man in this week (while we're off work) to have a look at refitting the kitchen I nearly went into meltdown.  It's a bit like doing the cleaning yourself before the cleaner come in to do the cleaning - I just felt I had to clean the kitchen before it is ripped out!

We started on Monday in the garage - we have one of these really silly "tandem" double garages.  It's only one garage wide but two in length.  So, we had the idea of dividing it up, keeping the front as a usable garage and having the back, which is accessible from the kitchen, as a huge utility/store.  But before we could even think about measuring, we had to find the floor.  How is it possible for two people to accumulate so much rubbish?  I reckon Toad will have at least four trips to the tip.

And as for the kitchen which we did yesterday, why would anyone collect beer bottle caps?

Anyhoo, it is now all clean and shiny and ready for the man with his tape measure at 2.00 this afternoon.

Now, I don't know who talked me into this craft fair but I am beginning to regret saying yes.  I have been using every opportunity to make cards to boost the stash for sale.  Here's a couple I made that are quite different from what I would normally do

I went a bit Hero Arts for these two - the flowers are from the same set, and the sentiments are from two different HA sets.  Papers are from scraps box.

Then, for whatever weird reason, I had the urge to make a Treasure Box.  Not done one of these for a very long time.

Now that's out of my system, I can get on with making a range of "age" cards for this blasted fair!

Hugs, Sxx

Bears

A challenge that I haven't played at for a while is ALLSORTS who this week have the challenge of using a bear.

Ferreting through my bear stamps yesterday I found my Penny Black Message Bears and as I haven't used them in ages I thought they could come out to play.

Ingredients for this very simple card are:

Stamped Images  Penny Black Message Bears

Sentiment Fizzy Moon Little Messages

Medium Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers DCWV Christmas Stack and HOTP

Extras  X-Cut Hole Punch

Hugs, Sxx

Let It Snow - LOTV

Hello peeps.  Sunday hasn't started well - the flipping DVD recorder didn't record this morning's Japanese Grand Prix and it's not on BBC i-player yet so I'm not-so-patiently waiting for the re-run of the race this afternoon!  Oh well, I suppose it is preparing me for next year when the BBC are only showing HALF of the races and Sky showing the other half.  Phfft.

Anyhoo, I have used my time productively (?) and made a card for this week's LILI OF THE VALLEY Let It Snow Challenge:

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image & Sentiment:  Lili Of The Valley Puppy Post 

(bought mine when it was released on an A5 stamp sheet and sentiment came with it)

Colouring Medium:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers:  DCWV Christmas Stack (very old one)

Extras:  Free snowflake stamps from Simply Homemade magazine and

Hobbycraft Snowflake Punch

Right, back downstairs to get on with prepping the veg for dinner in the hope that I can dish up before the race starts!

Hugs to all

Sxx

Less Is More - OLC Heart

Sorry this is brief - back later to fill in the details !!

LESS IS MORE challenge - One Layer Card - Heart Theme

Hugs, Sxx

Happy Birthday Mate!

I know she can't get upstairs to her pc at the moment as the poor little sausage has recently had some surgery on her foot but I would like to wish one of my oldest followers (oldest, as in been with me a long time, not as in ancient, although she is knocking on a bit now, lol) a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZIPPY!

And as she can't get upstairs for at least another week, hopefully the postman will have delivered her card (posted on 3 October - grrrrr) to her before she eventually sees this post.

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  House Mouse - Cake

Paper: Basic Grey and Dovecraft

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Sentiment: House Mouse (from same set as above)

Extras: Hobbycraft Photo Corner punch

Hope you have a good day sweetheart - and go steady on those crutches trying to get to the CAKE!

Hugs, Sxx

Oh Woe Is Me ..... !

Hello peeps.  Actually, that should be hello peepth.  Yeth, I've been to the dentitht again.  Thith time it wath at the hothpital.  What a horrible exthperienthe that wath.

You may remember that I broke a tooth back in March, yes, you read that right, March - seven months ago - chomping on a Galaxy Counter.  You would not believe the trouble that tooth has caused - it has divided opinion between dentists as to whether it could be filled or needed to come out.  In the end, the hospital cast the deciding vote and extraction was the name of the game.  Now, I am a TOTAL wimp when it comes to anyone fiddling with my teeth and have even had fillings done under sedation, so there was no question this time - knock me out or leave me alone.  Simple choice.  I started feeling sick about it on Sunday so by the time yesterday arrived poor Toad more or less had to drag me there for the appointment.

And now I'm suffering the after effects.  No driving or making important decisions or operating machinery for 24 hours after the sedation.  No hot drinks or firm food either.  All I've had since 7.00 Monday night is a bowl of plain boiled rice and a yogart.  Not together I hasten to add.  And to add insult to injury, not only have I lost one of my nut cracking teeth, where the dentist gave me two shots of local anesthetic feels like I have an acorn stuck in my cheek pouch.  More hamster than squirrel today.

Anyhoo, I wasn't sure if "machinery" included a Cuttlebug so I thought I would take a cautious chance and have a little play to take my mind off starving to death.

Challenge for this card:  Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle & Bling

And the ingredients are:

Images:  House Mouse x 2 + House Mouse Sentiment

Medium:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Glamour Dust

Papers:  Wild Rose Studio Wintry Christmas and silver mirri card from stash

Extras:  Sizzlets photo corner die and gems from stash

Sorry it is such a pants photo, cameras seem to be easily confused by sparkle and shine.  Well, I have a cup of latte downstairs going cold so I can drink it and I'm about to rummage in the cupboard to find something soft to eat.  Spaghetti Hoops should do the trick I think.

Hugs, Sxx

LOTV World Card Making Day

Over at LOTV Ideas To Inspire, the girls are asking us to celebrate World Card Making Day (which was on 1st October) by either linking to your own favourite LOTV card made previously or to make a new one.

I've linked up a card that I made back in July - it's a very simple card, but the colourwork came out so well, and I just love it to bits.  This is the link to the original post

Hugs, Sxx

Button It! LOTV

Hello peeps!  I suspect I may be talking to myself this afternoon as you are probably all outside enjoying this out of season sunshine.  Amazing weather for October!  I prefer a more traditional autumn myself and am looking forward to the slightly cooler days that are forecast for later in the week.  It's all this fur you know, gets a tad warm under this lot, just at a time when I should be growing my winter coat, lol.

And speaking of winter coats .... neat transition huh .... James the Bear looks like he could do with a coat instead of just a hat and scarf ....

Challenge:  Lili Of The Valley - Challenge 114 - Button It

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  LOTV - James Bear In The Snow

Papers:  Dovecraft, Basic Grey, HOTP

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Reinkers)

Extras: Dovecraft buttons, Anita's Glitter Borders

Of all the LOTV Christmas stamps, old and new, this is my favourite of all time, and he is such a joy to colour - I admit I am finding this year's releases to be very detailed and fiddly but I will get there with patience!  Here's a close up of just the image:

He certainly has the "aahhh" factor!

Hugs, Sxx

Cupboard Love And A Hanglar Card

It just goes to show that you cannot turn your back for two seconds on a nosey cat .......

I'd been in the cupboard to get out a couple of boxes of stamps.  On attempting to put one away, I encountered something warm and furry that really does not belong there!  Little devil, but I had to laugh at him.

I haven't played at Just Magnolia and Hanglar & Stanglar for a while - not because I don't want to but because I simply don't have enough hours in my days right now.  But, at the sacrifice of some of my more regular challenges, I could not resist having a go with Jane's brilliant sketch this week.

And here is my card - it's a fairly literal translation of the sketch

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  Hanglar & Stanglar Sitting Ladybugs Girl

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers:  Doodlebug, Basic Grey, Wild Rose Studio

Punch:  Martha Stewart butterfly

Extras: Gold border peel-offs

Thanks for coming over for a peek.  And, once again, I am sorry if I haven't visited you lately.  I am trying to keep up with you all but you are just too darned productive!

Hugs, Sxx