Not Exactly A Little Red Corvette.....

Evening all.  It's still sunny, whoop whoop.  Can I start off by saying a big squishy thank you to everyone who left me such sweet comments or emailed when I was having a major wobble the other day.  Your gentle words and kind thoughts really did lift my spirits.  Thank you so much, I feel humbled.

Right then, down to business - the new challenge at Bearly Mine is an Anything Goes challenge.  

A friend at work has just passed her driving test after *** attempts so this is for her!

The stamp is LOTV Mini Bear - he is in the Boys/Men section - bears and Minis are not just for boys!

Part painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and part paper pieced,

some metallic ProMarker on wheels and radiator grill

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Rainbow holographic border from stash

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I'm A Little Pixie

Somewhere in my very strange mind is a fancy that this ought to be a song title .... perhaps it is, my internal filing system is not known for it's efficiency.  Having requested a search of the database, the result will probably ping up at 3.00 tomorrow morning.

I made this yesterday afternoon for Toad's niece, it was a case of third time lucky (!) the first two attempts being fed to the Bin Monster.

I took the card to work with me today so I could get it in the post, and then remembered I hadn't taken a photo of it, so it got a quick whizz through the scanner ......

CC Designs - Spring Emma

Magnolia - Old Fence 

(the fun came trying to get placement when masking and stamping the two)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are My Minds Eye and First Edition

Hobby Art grass stamps

LOTV sentiment

And I shall leave you with my thought for the day - a 90m roll of tin foil has a stronger gravitational pull the further you carry it.

Hugs, Sxx

LIM Sketch

For this week's LESS IS MORE challenge which is a sketch

Stamped image - part of Loli's Dance from SCACD

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Scroll from LOTV

Sentiment from an unmarked clear set

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Yee Haa!

Morning all.  Is it National Wonky Photo day and no one has told me?  I've taken six photos of my card and every single one is on the squint, so this one is the lesser of six evils.

Stamped image is LOTV Yee Haa

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mixture of bits from the leftovers box

Sentiment is LOTV from the Just To Say set

Martha Stewart border punches and a few stars used from the waste punching

Memory Box Precious Stars die

And three challenges to enter with this one

Cards For Men - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Anything But Birthday

My card box is very low on cards for men/boys so I am making an effort to put that right.  You may see a few more male cards here soon!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Inspiration Photo

Morning everyone - it is an earlier start for Liliday today, and hopefully this will remain as the new going-live time for the challenges at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES.

Sorry I have not been around much lately - I have a lot going on behind the scenes, and my already fragile crafting confidence took rather a large knock recently and that has taken the wind out of my sails more than expected. It has even raised the old "why do I bother" question but it's because I love it so I shall carry on I suppose.

Anyhoo on a much happier note, over at Lili's this week we have an Inspiration Photo for you to have a look at and hopefully be inspired by!

This is just so pretty - I wish my garden looked like this

Here is my DT card

I have used the Foxgloves stamp from the last LOTV release

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Papermania - Lucy Cromwell design collection

Nesties, Martha Stewart border punches and an LOTV Scroll Sentiment

Simple, but still pretty I think

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Inspired

Morning all, yes, it is Monday and I am posting, how scary is that!  This month's Craft Stamper magazine features a stunning butterfly card that totally inspired me yesterday so here is my version of it.

 

 

Hero Arts Antique Engravings clear stamp set

A lot of masking, stamping and painting with Distress Inks

Craftwork Cards sentiment

 

Post-It Notes now do some notes with edge to edge sticky, and they are just fantastic for masking.  Hopefully they will bring out bigger pads soon.  The 3x3 deal with a lot of things, although for larger images I have had to do them in sections, but it still works, so all is good.

 

I know it is a diversion from my normal cute clean and simple style, but I am really pleased with the end result.

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

 

Who would have thought 2 could be so difficult?

Happy Sunday everyone.  Are you up to anything nice today?  It's sunny, the neighbours have left the lawnmowers in the garages so it is nice and peaceful, and I've had a happy hour stamping and painting.

After yesterday's not so great card, I've gone back to basics and a CAS card for you today:

I have used Wild Rose Studio's Teddy With Present stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Ornate Corners are from a LOTV clear set stamped in Rose Bud Memento ink

Sentiment is from a Hero Arts set stamped in Grape Jelly Memento Ink

Matting layer is from a Nitwits download from Fairytale Solids

And the difficult 2?  I've been hovering between 598 and 599 followers (I say between because it has been up and down like a small yo-yo for the past ten days) - sooooooo close to the nice round 600 but never quite there.  Anyone fancy signing up just to make me happy?!!

I'm off to have another little colouring session while the light is perfect and later will settle down to watch the BBC highlights from the Bahrain Grand Prix.  If you have seen the race already on Sky, please don't mention the result until at 7.00 tonight!!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Glamour Girl

Morning all.  Chilly but a day full of promise here, the sun is out, the birds are singing, I think Spring might truly have arrived at last.

I'm in a funny old mood these days, not sure what's wrong but I think I need a kick up the behind.  Motivation and mojo have both deserted me.  Maybe I need a little spending spree to get the creative juices flowing again - not that I need any encouragement, but Nitwits have a sale on (ending today) so that must be worth a look.

 I started this card Thursday night and have been faffing with it ever since, and now it's made, well, I'm not all that happy with it.  

This glamorous girl is from SCACD Oddly Sweet collection - she is called Lovester

I got mine here from Quixotic Paperie

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Papers are from Dovecraft Back To Basics IV

And one little piece of gingham Card Candi

Hope you are having a super Saturday!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Seeing Double

Well would you look at that .... it's another Liliday already!  Are you ready to have fun with LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES this week?  I do hope so.

So, our challenge for this week is SEEING DOUBLE!  Yes, we would like to see a card made with two character stamps, or one stamp featuring two characters.

The Design Team have pulled out all the stops again this week (those Fairies really have been sprinkled with the magic dust).  Here is what I made:

I have used:

LOTV Football Crazy (on the left) and Super Striker (on the right)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers and Markers)

I hold my hand up, I made a total hash of the football so that is from another stamp

entirely and laid over the top!

Papers are from the Nitwits/LOTV Candles and Cake paper pad

And the sentiment is from LOTV Vintage Labels Just To Say clear sentiment set

And the additional pearl gemmie things are from stash

So, if you love making cards using LOTV images, come on over and join us! 

And this week we have a little prize for the winner from  STAMPOSAURUS in the shape of two very cute stamps (wish I could win these)

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Big Hug

Unless you have been living on Mars for the past couple of weeks you will know that there has been another release of Lili of The Valley stamps.

Here is what I did with one of my new ones:

This one is Big Hug and features the new characters, Jack (rabbit) and Patch (dog)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Nitwits/LOTV pads of Country Lady and Country Gent

Scroll is from the Geisha Girls companion set

Sentiment from the Scroll Sentiments set

Woodware retro flower punch, Card Candi, and hole punch bits

Martha Stewart border punches

Hugs, Squirrel xx

You Make Me Smile

It's not often I post twice in one day so hope this hasn't confused you too much.

There is something of an old romantic about me at times, and I adore seeing people in love, particularly the older generation.  It must makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I see them being so tender with each other, even after many years of marriage.  Awwwwh.

So where is this going?  You'll see in a second.  This week's Less Is More challenge is a one layer week with a theme of "A Film".

And the film?  It's "Cocoon".  I know it has a daft plot, but honestly, I could watch it over and over, and I do need tissues for a few scenes.  Stunning cast list too.

I've used a Stamping Bella stamp of a Mo Manning image "Jack & Ginger"

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

De-bossed Nestabilities circle and a Hero Arts sentiment

Today's earlier post - Gissa Cuddle Then

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Gissa Cuddle Then

Afternoon all.  Hope you are well.  The sun is shining (the central heating turned off at last), Jenson managed to get his car into the top ten for tomorrow's China Grand Prix, there's a huge casserole in the oven and I'm off to the studio for a play in a few minutes, but just before I do I thought I would share my second entry for this months Ready Teddy Go challenge of Anything Goes

Looks like David Bailey has taken the day off - sorry for the wonkiness

Doesn't this little bear look so cuddly?  I've got a tum like that too, lol.

This is Teddy With Balloon from LOTV

Painted mostly in Distress Inks (ReInkers) but the balloon is paper pieced

I used the same paper from the Bonnet & Bowties Nitwits pad for the balloon and the ribbon/bow

The ribbon and bow stamp is LOTV but no longer available

Background paper is Papermania - Lucy Cromwell - and so gorgeous

Sentiment is Hobby Art I think, and gold border trim is from stash

So that's me for today, just a quickie, and I'm now off to make something else!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Clean And Simple

Yooo-hooo!  Hello all, how are you on this wonderful Liliday then?  Blimey, when I offered to help out Mummy Fairy while she has a well deserved rest, little did I know what I was taking on.  This Fairy lark is hard work!

Anyhoo, we have another super challenge for you this week over a LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES and although I am expecting to hear lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth, I know you will still produce some amazing work - our theme for this week is CLEAN AND SIMPLE.  My favourite!

Here is my effort

Easy-peasy lemon squeezy

I have stamped LOTV Blooming Wheelbarrow

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Used some offcuts of LOTV/Nitwits Perfect Pair papers

A Martha Stewart border and corner punch and a sentiment from the Scroll Sentiments set

Voila!

The DT Fairies have created some beauties for you this week so I hope you are inspired to join us.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Candy Winners!

Evening all, just popping in with the details of the two winners of my Spring/Easter Candy ....... I won't keep you hanging around in suspense, Random Number Generator has done his thing and ---

THE WINNER of PRIZE 1

£20 LILI OF THE VALLEY VOUCHER

is

No 20 and that is you CLAIRE DAY

Claire's Crafty Corner

and

THE WINNER of PRIZE 2

THE SURPRISE ASSORTMENT BOX

is

No 16 and that is you CAZ

Caz's Crafty Snug

Well done ladies - could you email me please so we can sort out your prizes

Squirrel

Thank you to everyone who took part and sorry if you didn't win this time.

There will be more candy in a while so keep visiting, wouldn't want you to miss the chance.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I Love You Slow Much

Afternoon all, another beautifully sunny day, but I have the Sunday afternoon blues - yep, it is back to work tomorrow after my holiday.  Bah!

While Toad was doing technical, and potentially dangerous stuff that us girls don't need to get involved in, like soldering a new set of points for his model railway ...... I disappeared out into the studio for a bit of a play.  I didn't have anything in mind so just rummaged through my stamps looking for inspiration and came upon the recently delivered I Love You Slow Much by Sylvia Zet (Whimsy/Wee Stamps).  The card sort of designed itself and ended up somewhat larger than anticipated.

So, we have I Love You Slow Much - Whimsy/Wee Stamps

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Not organised enough today to have kept a list of colours

8x8 pre-scored white card base

Grand Nestie - Labels 11

SCACD Classic Corner die, Woodware retro flower punch, Card Candi

Hero Arts sentiment

Nitwits/LOTV Petal Fresh papers, edged in Rich Cocoa Memento ink

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Some You Win .....

Afternoon all - hope you are ok and enjoying this sunny Saturday!  We've been out in the garden this afternoon.  What started as a pruning session of a shrub in the side border ended up as removing the self-seeded laurels from behind the shed, a hacking back of the out-of-control rambling rose, striping our side of the fence of next-door's rampaging ivy, me getting whacked in the face with a tree branch and picking up a hidden slug with bare hands.  Blerrrrgh!

Anyhoo, a couple of cards for you today at opposite ends of the contentment scale.  The first is for the Anything Goes challenge at Ready Teddy Go

This is Party Paws from Crafters Companion which you can find here

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Black Soot, Weathered Wood, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Old Paper

Papers are from an old pad of DCWV called Far East

Sentiment is LOTV from the Scroll Sentiments set

And Some You Lose .....

This one is for the Addicted to CAS challenge of Friend

This is the Thinking Of You stamp from LOTV

Part painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and part paper pieced

Postage Stamp X-Cuts die

All papers from scraps box

This was my third attempt at this one - all I salvaged from the first two tries was the little bear in his envelope.  I was determined that I wanted this to be a postage stamp for a "first class friend".  I still don't think it has worked that well.  Hey ho.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

More Cake!

Hi All, I am so sorry that I have not been around enough to visit you much this week - we are on holiday (back to work on Monday, bah) and have been out and about quite a lot.  It wouldn't normally have been my choice to take time off during school holidays but it just worked out that way for what we had planned.  I should be able to get back into a routine next week so I shall be popping in then.

Those lovely ladies over at ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE are having an Addicted to CAS challenge this time around, and you know me and my CAS!!  And as I had a new bunch of stamps arrive this week and couldn't wait to have a sneaky little play with them ......

I think this Bunny With Cake is my favourite of the new Wild Rose Studio stamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany,

Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye, Old Paper

Matting layer is white card edged with Spun Sugar Distress Ink

Sentiment came with the stamp

Papermania gems from stash and ta-dah, finished

Right then, we are off out again this morning and, hopefully, will end up at our favourite farmshop for a delicious lunch.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) All Stitched Up

Yoo-hooo!  It is Liliday again, don't they come round fast, and Fairy Mavis Squirrel is still vaguely in control over at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES CHALLENGE.

This week the theme of the challenge is ALL STITCHED UP so we are looking for real (if you are brave) or faux stitching on your makes.

Afraid I went a bit overboard .....

LOTV Stamped Image - You Are My Sunshine

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mixture from the leftovers box

Sentiment is from LOTV Handwritten Phrases set

Stitching stamp is from LOTV Little Stitches set

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Funny Men?

I know we all like a good challenge, and it is good to have a challenge that really makes you think, you know the sort - the ones that make you go arrrgh occasionally.

I saw the challenge at CARDS FOR MEN and thought I'd have a go, and then I thought arrrgh!

The theme is April Fools and they are asking for humorous cards ...... yeah, well, anyway, this is what I made for it.  You can make your own minds up!

This is DIY Man from Wild Rose Studio

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Prima Craftsman

Sentiment is stamped from an alphabet set I got from Paperchase

Blue pearls are from Crafty Devils

Would you let him in your house ......?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Ooh, I Want A Slice Of That Cake!

Afternoon all, are you enjoying the sunshine?  We whizzed down the A12 to Colchester today as Toad wanted a new home-brew kit and on the way back we called in at the garden centre that just happens to have a craft outlet (snigger snigger) and, according to the thermometer on the car we reached the heady heights of 10C!  Whoooo, when was the last time we were in double figures then?  Mind you, that wind still has a nasty bite to it but it is almost Springlike out there today.

My lovely blogging pal and virtual sis, Zippy, treated me to some delicious Wild Rose Studio stamps for Easter.  What's a girl to do when faced with the choice of rubber or chocolate?  Well of course the rubber won hands down.  Here is one of the stamps she gave me:

This is Birthday Girl from Wild Rose Studio, and she is a rubber cling stamp rather

than the normal clear acrylic

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry

Papers are all from a new Papermania pad that I picked up yesterday but I

forgot to make a note of the name of it (d'oh)

Martha Stewart border punch, Papermania gems and a Personal Impressions sentiment to finish

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) April

First Monday of the month means a new Without Words challenge so what do we have in store for you for April?

Well, in sync with the season (ha!) our theme is LITTLE APRIL SHOWERS and we would like you to focus on the colour blue this month.  You can go for the damp and puddly idea, or go off on a wild tangent, so long as your design is principally blue!

Here is my card:

Oh how I love colouring this little beauty

This is Shelley from Whimsy/Wee (Sylvia Zet)

Painted with every blue Distress Ink (ReInkers) there is!

Spotty papers are Nitwits/LOTV

Matting layers are white card edged with China Blue ProMarker

Craftwork Cards Card Candi

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

The winner of the March challenge will be posted in a couple of days so don't forget to pop back and check it out on our Stars Of The Month page, it could be you!

We do hope that you will be able to join in the fun for April, not only do we have another fabulous

sponsor (Bunny Zoe's Crafts), but I think you will have a ball with blue!

Remember, a CAS card with a hand-coloured image, minimal or no embellishments!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

And if you like Wee stamps, you might like yesterday's card