Lili's Little Fairies

Hello chaps!  Hope you are all well.  Sorry if my visits have been ultra-brief or non-existent this week, I am trying hard to get to you all but I am now realising just how much I relied on the laptop for blogging!  Hopefully it won't be too much longer before I can persuade Toad to part with some cash to get a new one as I am starting to getting bloggy withdrawals.

Well, it is Liliday today and the LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES challenge this week is Anything But Square.  Team B are in charge this week so no DT card from me but I do hope you will still find time to pop over and join in the fun.

Even though I don't have a DT card for you, I do have a Lili card to share:

It was my best mate Ali's birthday on Monday and she just adores LOTV bears, so this one fitted the bill perfectly.

For this card I have used:

LOTV - Teddy Bouquet

He has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sorry, forgot to keep a list of colours this time

Papers are all First Editions but from a mixture of pads

Whimsy corner dies, Martha Stewart border punch, Crafty Devils pearls

And the sentiment is LOTV from the Happy Circular Sentiments set

I just realised that it will be 1 February tomorrow, so only 13 days to the start of Lent.  I always try and give up something and I image that it will be spending on craft items again (trust me, this is a huge sacrifice).  But it does mean that by Easter my bank balance will look a bit healthier - and what better reason than to share it with you by way of a Spring Candy - keep an eye out, I will post the details soon.

Hugs, Sxx

A Less Is More Sketch

Although I've never done very well with the challenges, I still like to play along with LESS IS MORE and this week is no different with their deceptively simple sketch.

Here is the card I made:

I did this in 6x4 format rather than the usual 6x6 as I think the proportions work better, but I expect I'll get slapped wrists for it.  

I used a strip of NitWits paper from the Bear Girls Too collection, cut with a scalloped Nesties rectangle and embossed the edges, I overstamped it with a Hero Arts butterfly border in Memento Toffee Crunch ink, and distress inked the scallops with the same colour, the punched butterfly is Martha Stewart from a scrap of Bazzil brown cardstock, I added heart shaped crystal gems for the body, and finally the sentiment is LOTV stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa.

I really wasn't sure about this sketch to start with, but I am thrilled with the end result!

Hugs, Sxx

Bobbing Along

Hurrah!  The snow and ice have gone!  We have gone from January to March overnight - today has been a wonderfully mild and sunny day, although a bit windy.  Hopefully the nastiness is now behind us, but I won't hold my breath too soon!

One card for you today but for three challenges:

• Allsorts Challenge - Masculine
• Cards for Men - Transport
• Here Come The Boys - Bingo Board (Blue, Free, Image)

So, the things I have used for this are:

LOTV Stamp - Bobbing On By

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy,

Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Spiced Marmalade,

Chipped Sapphire, Mustard Seed, Stormy Sky

Papers are downloaded Nitwits, Papermania and Prima - all from leftovers box

Sentiment is Craftwork Cards, pearls from Crafty Devils, black line borders from stash

Thanks for dropping by - your visits mean so much.  Our laptop is definitely deceased so my blogging time has been heavily reduced until we can afford a replacement but I will do my best to visit in what restricted computer time I have.

Hugs, Sxx

Itty Bitty Bear

Morning all - just a quickie from me as I am doing this at work.  This week I have overindulged in Fizzy Moon and the parcel of cuteness arrived yesterday.  I had a little play last night and here, complete with rubbish photo, is a tiny Fizzy Moon bear

 

 

These minature bears (none of them are much more than 2" tall) are so sweet - there are 20 in the collection from Dovecraft and at 99p each who could resist.

 

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and teamed up with some NitWits downloaded papers.

 

Sorry this is so brief, will have a proper catch up with you at the weekend hopefully.

 

Hugs Sxx

 

Lili's Little Fairies (DT)

Hi all, welcome to Liliday!  Well, I hope it is Liliday - really sorry about the gremlins that have crept into the challenge since Christmas, poor Mummy Fairy has been computerless and the rest of us left helpless.  Oh how we do miss you Mummy Fairy, come back soon!!

Anyhoo, we should have a LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES challenge for you this week, and it is ANYTHING GOES!  We know how much you like this one.  Just make sure that you use a LOTV image, either stamp or die-cut or mini-masterpiece, on your work for your entry to be valid.

And as an extra bonus, you have double the inspiration this week as Team A and Team B have come together in harmony for your delight and delectation.

 

I've used the LOTV stamp called Pots of Love, and the sentiment comes with it

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The calander easel was made without the aid of a safety net - no template, I just winged it

and I've made it rigid so it doesn't collapse halfway through June!

Calendar tab is Anita's

Flowers and leaves all from Wild Orchid Crafts

 

So, let's see what you make for Anything Goes - I shall be looking forward to popping round and seeing what you are up to.

 

Sorry for my lack of posts and visits since the weekend - our aged laptop has been playing up and finally suffered the blue screen of death.  I thought I had managed to get it going again but it had a relapse and now won't do anything.  So, it means I am having to fight Toad for the pc upstairs or try and get to work early so I can blog in the mornings.  Neither is being particularly successful this week!

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

 

 

Less Is More - Friends

Hello all, from a very snowy Suffolk!  This week's LESS IS MORE challenge is a theme, and that theme is FRIENDS.

I've had this Stampavie/Gillian Roberts stamp called Kittie's Bow for an absolute age but this is her first inking.  I don't know why I've not used her before but I shall certainly be inking her up again before too long!

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) - take a deep breath - Picked Raspberry, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Victorian Velvet, Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, Peacock Feathers, Dusty Concord, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood, Old Paper

Sentiment is from a Hero Arts set of friendship sentiments and it is stamped in Memento Elderberry.  The matting layer and punched dots are a sheet of Papermania from a Capsule Collection.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Mojo Mojo, Wherefore art thou Mojo?

Oh Mojo, why hast thou forsaken me?

Morning all, how are we today?  Most of the UK will have some sort of snowy/frosty covering I am sure but wherever you are, I hope you are all warm and safe.

We've had a good dose of cold this week - there was one night when it plummeted to -15C here in Suffolk, and trust me, for this part of the country, that is REALLY cold!  My poor creaky knees felt like they had been whacked with a baseball bat.  Which could explain why I am sat here with my thermal PJ bottoms on under my trousers!

In my naivety, I had thought that once Christmas was over and we got back into the routine of work and craft that my Mojo would make a return ..... oh go on, call me a fool, the little devil is nowhere to be seen.  If he has any sense he is snuggled up under the duvet but that means I am struggling for ideas and inspiration with my cards, as has been pretty evident lately.

But I am not one to give in lightly so I've had a play this morning (well you didn't think I was going out there did you?) and have made a card for CARDS FOR MEN who have Men At Work for their theme.  Yeah, I know, this is pretty loose interpretation but what the heck.  I thought it would fit well for any man going to work in HR ......!!

A bit of an eclectic mix of ingredients for this one:

Image is LOTV Walk The Plank

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Main DPs are Prima Craftsmans Journey and the red is from NitWits GingerFellas Solids

Sentiment is LOTV

Photo Corners are Sizzix

I have some DT work to be doing so first I must go searching under the duvet - wish me luck.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Karaoke Gnome

A while back, I made a get-well card for a friend using one of the Wee Gnomes from Whiff of Joy.  They are quirky and fun so I kept my fingers crossed she would like it - she loved it thankfully, and has just asked me to make a birthday card for a friend of hers using a different gnome.

Yeah, I know it is a really silly card, but I kinda like it!  I've used papers from my scraps box and I stamped the "I Serenade You" gnome onto the yellow paper to get the music notes placement.  I then stamped, painted and fussy cut the gnome on Bristol Board.  Sentiment is from a Hobby Arts set.

Distress Ink (ReInkers) colours used are:

Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Dusty Concord

Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Pumice Stone, Black Soot

TIP OF THE DAY:  For those suffering from freezing temperatures (it was -10C this morning) and who have to use public transport (buses only put the heat on in the summer), take a hot water bottle.  My legs were lovely toasty warm this morning.  AND it had a second use of the hot water defrosting the office car park padlock!).
 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Anything?

So, I thought I would join in with Ellie's Word Play Saturday (her fun monthly challenge) and this first month's word is "Anything".

Sometimes "anything" can be harder than "something", if you see what I mean!  At first I thought "whoopee" and then my brain went into free-fall.  So I had a rummage and hoiked out my new Stamping Bella purchase.

So, this is my first Uptown Girls stamp "Victoria and Juliette's Night Out" - after seeing so many wonderful uses of these fun and funky stamps by the very talented Mary J I just couldn't resist any longer!

I used papers from a Papermania pad, I think they are called Regency but they are a couple of years old now and my memory isn't what it used to be.  As you can see, I paper pieced the girls dresses with some of the backing papers, and what's left of them I painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The chocolate brown and gold sentiment circle is Craftwork Cards, and those yummy brown pearls are from Crafty Devils.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

LIM Sport

There is always a great debate about whether or not fishing is a sport.  Those who do it say it is, and those who don't say it isn't.

And then there is me who has done it but still doesn't see where the sport is because I end up feeling sorry for the fish!

Anyway, that brings me to my card for this week's LESS IS MORE challenge who have the theme of Sport or Exercise, and it is a one layer card week.

I've used Gone Fishing from the Wild Rose Studio For Men collection, and the sentiment is from a Hanglar set of fish and seahorses.  Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and that's it!

Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Bundled Sage, Forest Moss, Faded Jeans, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Dried Marigold,

Wild Honey, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Scattered Straw

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Phew!

Finally, that first full week back at work over with - I began to think it would never end!  Amazing how five days can feel like a fortnight, lol.  Anyhoo, that means we are now back on the hamster wheel of life and getting back into a proper routine, which will hopefully mean I can get back to some regular crafting and blogging at last!

Last Sunday afternoon, when I saw the new challenge from HERE COME THE BOYS and the fabbie sketch I just knew I had to have a play.  I made the card, but have had to wait a week to be able to take the card in daylight!  I've been going out in the dark, and coming home in the dark - I think the office would have thought me slightly odd if I started hoiking out cards onto my desk to take pictures in daylight - actually, maybe that's not such a bad idea ..........

Anyway, here is the card I made:

Ingredients for this are:

A fabulous stamp called Champion from Crafters Companion Everyday Mulberry Wood Collection

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The papers are from an old set of Masculine Dovecraft papers - have had them ages and they are about to come to an end, sob

Sentiment came with the stamp

Here is the sketch - will be saving this one to use again

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Charming

Hello chaps, it is charming to see you here again ... see what I did there .... it is Lili's Little Fairies Challenge day again and our theme for this week is Charming (honestly, I can be so corny sometimes I actually make myself laugh, worrying isn't it).

Really sorry about the hiccup with last week's challenge, not sure what happened but it would seem that gremlins got into the system somehow.  Hopefully things should go smoother this week.  So, we would like to see your Lili cards with a charm attached .... how you attach it and how you use it is up to you.

The A Team DT have come up with some real charmers for you, and then there is mine - I think my Mojo got packed away with the Christmas decorations (I may have to haul the tinsel out again at this rate) but that hasn't stopped me from making a start on my 2013 collection of Christmas cards!

A very simple card for you, featuring LOTV Bird Houses - Baubles and have painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The papers are from the LOTV Classic Christmas paper pad (this is so gorgeous).  I have attached that sweet bird charm with a Papermania brad to a strip of Dovecraft seasonal ribbon.

Hoping that by the time you see this, the challenge will have posted on the Fairies blog.  See you there!

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) January

So here we are with the first Monday of January, and that means the start of a whole year of monthly challenges with the WITHOUT WORDS gang!

If you haven't heard of Without Words yet (where have you been?), this is a challenge asking for Clean & Simple cards, focusing on hand-coloured images, with minimal or no embellishments.  Sentiments are allowed.

So, to the challenge, it's January and Baby, It's Cold Outside - the theme is snow, lots and lots of lovely snow!

And, we are proud to have as our sponsor for this month the wonderful QUIXOTIC PAPERIE and Elaine has a £10 voucher for the prize.  Wouldn't mind that myself.







The Without Words Design Team have created some chillsome wonders for your inspiration this month so please do hop over to take a peek at their amazing work.  I am blessed to be able to work with such a talented bunch.

Here is my DT card:

I've used Whimsy/Wee Stamps Angelica and painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The backing papers are LOTV Frosty Christmas and

the sentiment is half of an LOTV Handwritten Christmas Phrase

Matting layers are white card edged with Copics

Hope you can join us in January with your CAS snow themed creation!

Hugs, Sxx

Another Baby!

Afternoon all - how are we today?  It's been a grey and overcast Saturday in Suffolk so I have made the most of the chance to have a play without feeling too guilty about it (the housework is still nagging but what the heck).  Lots of "new" themed challenges around at the moment, so I have played with a new stamp and created a new card...and guess what, it's a for another new baby!  2013 better deliver lots of babies, otherwise I'll have a good stash of cards ready for when they do start arriving, lol.

First of all the list of challenges

Stamping With The Dragon - Anything Goes

Fussy And Fancy Friday Challenges - Furry Friends

Totally Papercrafts - Anything New

Cute Card Thursday - Something New

By The Cute And Girly - Cute and Girly

Bunny Zoe - Celebration

Simon Says Stamp - New Something

Stamping For The Weekend - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - Clean and Simple

And the ingredients for the card are:

Stamped Image - Lili Of The Valley Playtime Puppy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Victorian Velvet, Spun Sugar, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mustard Seed, Dusty Concord, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose, Black Soot, Festive Berries - yes, there really are that many colours in this!

Sentiment - from Papermania Anniversary Collection

Dienamics - Crochet Border die

Cheery Lynn Butterfly die

Papers from scraps box, pearls from stash

Thank you so much for popping over to visit - I love to have friends round.

If I've not been to see you lately, please be patient, I am slowly catching up with you all.

Hugs, Sxx

I wasn't going to do this

....but what the heck.  I'm not a great one for looking back on things so to start with I wasn't going to join in with Debby's Favourite Five but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Here they are, in no particular order and without the links for the posts (I'm not that organised, come on, be fair) but they do represent some of the designers/stamp companies that I love the most

Stamping Bella/Mo Manning

House Mouse

Lili Of The Valley

Penny Black/Mo Manning

Lili of The Valley

So that's me done.  Can I sit down now?

Hugs, Sxx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Two Backing Papers

Whoo, welcome to the first challenge of 2013 with LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES!  Happy New Year to you all.

So, what do the Fairies have for you to kick off the new year - we would like to see you use Two Backing Papers.  Just two.  Easier than it sounds!

It is actually Team B's week for this challenge but I'm sure they won't object to a little one tagging along.

So for this little darlin' I have used

Rosie with Presents from LOTV

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender

Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap

Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar

My two backing papers are both from Dovecraft Back To Basics

Tonic Retro flower punch, spotty Card Candi and

Sentiment from LOTV Vintage Labels Occasions

Looking forward to seeing your wonderful makes!

Hugs, Sxx

The First of 2013

First card of 2013, made on New Year's Day .....let's see if you like this one better than yesterday's, if you like cute and fluffy then this is just the ticket!

I've used a new stamp - Lili Of The Valley - Playtime Kitten

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Main papers are Little Sizzlets and I've had them since I started crafting!

The darker blue matting layer is DCWV

Whimsy Corner dies, Nestabilities die, LOTV sentiments

Gold borders and star outlines from stash

And a few challenges for this one

Ready Teddy Go - Something New

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs - New

Bearly Mine - Something Old Something New

Everybody Art Challenge - Anything Goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Bright and Happy

Vicki's Challenges - First Challenge

See you tomorrow with a DT card for Lili's Little Fairies Challenge.

Hugs, Sxx

Can I Come Out Now...?

Is it all over? Can I come out yet?

Picture heavy post - make a cuppa!

Happy Tuesday all - oh, yes, and a Happy New Year, welcome to 2013!  I thought, being the contrary little squirrel that I am, that I would start the New Year by showing you the last two cards I made in 2012.

I wasn't going to show you this first one after I had seen what the wonderfully talented Elise did with the stamp but hey, in for a penny as they say - but her colouring skills make me want to weep and crawl into a corner!

Just love this If Friends Were Flowers stamp from LOTV, you can do so much with it

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Fired Brick, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Shabby Shutters

Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold

Bundled Sage, Brushed Corduroy, Faded Jeans

Papers are from one of the few Basic Grey pads to escape the damp incident because it was on my desk and not in the box with the others, Nordic Holiday

Martha Stewart border punch to finish off

And the other one I am really not so sure about - I'm having a love/hate affair with these Saturated Canary images - I see some of them and fall in love and others just leave me cold.  I think it is the quirkiness of Geekin' It that appealed to me, and she has books, which is always good.

This started out with the intentions of being a bookmark, but it got too wide as I added layers so she's ended up on a 6x4 card.

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Too many colours to list, sorry

Papers are from a Papermania collection but cover lost so no name

Gorgeous sentiment from LOTV Sentiments to Fit Scroll

And as you can see from the scalloped edged Nestie, I have been embossing with the Calibur!

The part I'm most pleased with is the apple on her head!

Which brings me to New Year Resolutions - are you making any?  I always start the year with the best of intentions but fail miserably by the middle of February, so this year I am being more realistic and only making one Resolution and that is simply to practice, practice, practice and improve my painting skills.

And to put that Resolution into practice now, I am off to make a card for a couple of challenges, see you tomorrow! (Back to work for me, ugh - think of me crawling out of the duvet at 6am).

Hugs, Sxx