Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Lavender and Lace

Morning all.  My calendar says it is Thursday but my head hasn't got a clue this week!  But I will take the expert advice and assume that it really is Thursday, and you know what that means.  It is time for another challenge from

Crafty Little Fairies

The past couple of weeks don't seem to have taken your fancy but I am certain that this week's theme will really float your boat.  We would like to see your designs featuring

Lavender and Lace

Here is my DT card:

Not too many ingredients for this one

Stamp is Whimsy Fistful of Flowers by Crissy Armstrong

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Spellbinders Timeless Rectangle die

Martha Stewart Punch-Around-The-Page set (but just used as borders and corners)

LOTV sentiment

Bazzill Basics lavender cardstock

Rymans Bright White cardstock

And we welcome a new sponsor in the shape of

STAMP & CREATE

and the prize is a whacking great $20 store voucher!

So come on, let's be seeing those lavender and lace entries.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Wee Amy

Morning all, it is my début post for The Stamp Basket today and I am terribly nervous but here goes!

For this project I have used (all available from The Stamp Basket store)

Wee Stamps - Amy

Distress Inks - ReInkers

Memento Ink Tuxedo Black

Dovecraft Back To Basics II Lilac

Hobby House Pearls - Liking Lilac and Ivory Silk

Bazzill cardstock - Parakeet Green

Craftwork Cards 148x148 White base card

Thanks for popping over to take a peek and thanks also for all your kind words of support.  I only hope that I can do Janet proud.  Time will tell!

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

The News

Last week I teased you a little by saying that I had some exciting news to share with you.  Well, today is the day that I can finally share it.

 

I was approached by Janet of The Stamp Basket online craft store to see if I might be interested in joining her team of designers for the store. 

 

Well, what could I say?  I mean, honestly, it had to be a resounding yes!

 

So I am now officially part of The Stamp Basket DT and Janet made the announcement on The Stamp Basket blog this morning.

 

 

 

And in case you hadn't already noticed, Janet has a huge New Year Sale on at the moment with lots of discounts to be had.

 

Not that I am putting temptation in your way or anything sneaky like that .......

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Neglected

Morning all.  Normally all you would get from me on a Monday would be a grunt, but today I have had a small lie in.  OK, when I say lie in, that makes it sound like it was all snug and comfortable, but unfortunately it wasn't.  I woke up early hours because my paws were freezing and try as I might, I could not get them warm again.  So the lie in was more of a shiver in, but I was too lazy to actually shift out of bed.  But I am up now and the heating is on so I hope to warm up a little bit soon.

I had a bit of a tidy up in the craft room recently and have rediscovered a lot of neglected papers, so yesterday I thought I would have a rummage through and get started on using them.

I also "rediscovered" this stamp, which had hidden itself away in a corner, so that too had been neglected.

I do hope that there isn't a RSPCCS or you lot will be phoning the hotline soon.

So, the stamp is Wild Rose Studio - Bella with Presents

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The papers are My Mind's Eye (can't tell you which set)

And the sentiment is Hero Arts

Given how chilly it is today, I wouldn't be surprised if we get to see some of the white stuff,

and I don't mean Frantage either!

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Shameless CASE-ing

I make no bones about it, this card is shamelessly CASEd from a layout that the very talented Annette uses - I love this twist on a CAS design and really wanted to give it a go myself.  So thanks Netty for the inspiration from your fabulous cards.

This cutie is Stampavie (Penny Johnson) Little Love Bear

and he is currently on sale for an amazing price at The Stamp Basket

I've painted him with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Authentique Floral pad

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Border punch is Martha Stewart

I'm chuffed with how this turned out, although it isn't a patch on Netty's!

Cute Card Thursday - So Sweet

In The Pink - Diecuts and Punching

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Peeping

What-ho chaps!  How are we all today?  If you are under the weather with anything nasty, then I send you big get well wishes.  It has been the laziest of mornings here, in fact I was still in the ol' PJs at gone 11.00.  I do love a good flump at the weekend!

Now then, I saw today's Totally Gorjuss challenge and just knew I had to have a go as the theme is Furtastic, and you know how much I love my critters.  And then I saw the sketch at this week's Less is More and decided to combine the two.

I hold my hand up to not having played at either challenge for a while, usually because the time I spot the TG theme, I have run out of time, and I became rather disheartened with my LIM attempts so I gave up.

And no, it's not squint, it's the angle I held the camera, sorry

I have used the adorable LOTV James Peeping

Painted him in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Aged Mahogany (background) Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap (Bear) Tattered Rose (ears and cheeks)

Paper is from an old Dovecraft pack of 8x8 retro papers

Sentiment is by Little Claire

So there you have it, sweet and simple

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Yoo-hoo

Evening all!  Sorry I am late making an appearance today.  I meant to schedule this last night to post this morning but when Toad got in from work at 7.30 the conversation went something like:

"Tiko (his manager) needs a card for his wife's birthday"

"Oh, ok, when it is?" (already suspecting the answer)
"Tomorrow".  So that was my evening taken care of!

Anyhoo, I just wanted to share with you another card featuring the most adorable bear in the world.  I made this for a dear friend who is having a rough time at work at the moment, just to send a  reassuring squishy hug in an envelope.

This little chap is LOTV's James - Daisy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hobby Arts

Butterfly punch from Tesco!

Subtle corner punch by Woodware

Matting layer and butterflies from white card coloured with a ProMarker

I suspect you may be seeing a lot of James on my blog over the next few months so I will apologise in advance in case you have a bear phobia or something equally odd.  I mean, come on, who could have a phobia of teddies?!

Anyhoo, happy news is I have a long weekend as I have a day in lieu of time worked at Christmas so I am planning a crafty day with cat cuddling interludes (he is back to the vet Monday night) and I am really looking forward to just being able to sit down and play for as long as I fancy without someone worrying about when his dinner will be ready!

See you all tomorrow, probably

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Sport

Good morning all, and a happy Thursday to you!  It's time for a new challenge over at

Crafty Little Fairies

and our challenge for you this week is a bit of a Marmite one, it's

Sport

Personally I really enjoyed this one.  Here's my card:

I have used a retired Wild Rose Studio stamp for this

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and his shirt is paper pieced

Papers are Papermania Spots & Stripes "Jewels"

Sentiment is LOTV

I left the banner part of it empty for now until I decide who is to receive it!

and we have a super new sponsor with us in the shape of

Little Claire Stamps

There is a super stamp set up for grabs, details on the Fairy challenge blog

OK, dust off the trainers, pull on the trackies, and get sporty!

 

Also entering into A Gem Of A Challenge - For The Boys

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Going on a Summer Holiday

Morning all.  Tuesday already.  Wonder if the rest of the week will go as quickly?  It's a weird thing, time, the days can absolutely crawl but the weeks seem to fly.  However it works, I shall be happy to see the weekend again!

Has anyone booked their summer holiday yet?  We won't be going away this year but I have already booked some time off - a week in March, a week in July and a week in September.  Looking forward to it!

And I think this little chap is trying to book his flight on-line if his puzzled face is anything to go by:

This is James Laptop from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Text paper is from a travel themed collection by DoCrafts

Kraft card from Papermania

Border punch by Martha Stewart

Tiny postcard from Little Claire - Postcard Sentiments set

I hope he manages to find somewhere sunny!

LOTV Ideas To Inspire Monthly Challenge - January - Anything Goes

And for everyone who asked about the Really Useful Boxes set of drawers that I got at the weekend, here they are in all their multi-colour glory

Love them!  Might have to invest in another set after my next payday.

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

My Favourite Style.......Predictable!

Afternoon all.  Well, today hasn't quite gone to plan - as it was beautifully bright and sunny (after last night's torrential rain), I had decided to have a crafty day but ...... yesterday we popped up to one of our local retail parks and scooted into B&Q for a nose.  I was looking for some plastic drawer storage, you know, the towers on wheels.  And I found one, made by Really Useful Boxes so I knew it would be good and strong, 8 drawers and rainbow colours.  I fell in love and we brought it home.

Toad had left it standing in the hallway and we were both tripping over it so I set to for a massive tidy up in my craft room and get the stuff into the drawers.  Well, that took far longer than I anticipated as I kept finding stuff that I had forgotten about (please, do NOT let me buy any more DPs for a while) and so I only managed half of the task before my back screamed in protest.

Determined that I was still going to have a play, I turned my back on the chaos and make a card using one of the new LOTV James Bear stamps.  Regular readers will know how much I love this little chap, and now he is available in spring-summer stamps I will be able to really use him all year round!

Over at Sweet Stamping Challenge the theme for this week is Your Favourite Style.  I guess the header of my blog is a big giveaway there, clean and simple designs in a chaotic and cluttered life.  So here it is.

I have used the LOTV stamp James Umbrella

I have painted him with Distress Inks (ReInkers) but paper pieced the upper part of his umbrella with paper from the Nitwit Petal Fresh pad

The gingham paper is from the same pad

The chocolate brown matting layer is from an Authentique pad

That oh so cute little postcard is from Little Claire - Postcard Sentiments

And I used the Alphabet Soup die from Memory Box to finish

LOTV Ideas To Inspire Monthly Challenge - January - Anything Goes

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Have a fairy happy day

Morning all.  How are we?  I've been for a tail tidy already and am now back home slurping a latte.  Wonder if there is any shortbread left from Christmas ...... anyhoo, I have a birthday card to share with you today.  It was the gorgeous Lisa's birthday earlier this week and I made this for her.

Now then, for those of you who have already seen Delphine's version of this image this week, I beg of you, please don't laugh at my effort.  We all know that this delightful French package of artistic talent is one of the Queens of Colour, so please don't view the two side by side!

This little lass is from the Tiddly Inks set Thanks Fairy Much

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

(I am secretly very pleased with how her skirt looks)

Papers are more of the Lucy Cromwell Design Stack (love these if you hadn't guessed)

The sentiment is from the same Tiddly set

Butterfly dies are Cheery Lynn

And the gorgeous gems are Papermania

Fantasy Stampers - Anything with Wings

Thanks for popping over today, I haven't had much blogging time over the last ten days so am sorely behind with visiting but I will make a best effort to have a catch up later.

Something very exciting happened this week, which I can't share with you just yet, so just keep watching.  You won't be able to miss the announcement when I do make it!

Have a happy Saturday all

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) In The Kitchen

Morning all, this is a scheduled post so am keeping my fingers crossed that it is (a) Thursday and

(b) the right time!

We have a new challenge for you over at Crafty Little Fairies Challenge

and our theme this week is

In The Kitchen

As you will see from the gorgeous DT cards, there are many ways to interpret this theme.  Here is my DT card:

Stamp is Whiff of Joy - Willow Chicken Soup

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mish-mash of leftovers

Sentiment is Hero Arts

And our Sponsors are

and

Hope you have fun, looking forward to seeing your entries!

And speaking of being in the kitchen (tenuous link here), I weighed Vince last night.  Some really good news at last.  The last time he was put on the scales by the vet he came in at 4.7kg, and he has now increased to 4.89kg!  OK, it isn't an earth shattering weight gain, only 8oz in old money, but it is a gain, so hopefully we are now going in the right direction and before long he won't look like a skinny stray any more (remember, this is a cat who at his peak weighed in at 7.25kg / 16lb so he'd lost over a third of his body weight while he was a poorly boy).  Fingers crossed we might have made it up to a whole 1lb gain by the time we go back to the vet for the repeat blood tests).

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sick Rabbit

Afternoon all - it's another gloriously sunny day here in the east of England, but by heck it's chuffty cold.  I managed a little Torvill & Dean display in the Church car park this morning, and I don't think it would have scored a 10 for artistic interpretation either!

Yesterday afternoon I sat down to make a get well card for the order that Toad brought home from work from one of his colleagues.  All I knew was that it was for his mum.  Nothing else, no preferences, nothing.  Somehow that was harder than detailed demands!

This poor little rabbit is my go to stamp for get well cards

LOTV Get Well Bunny

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) (second attempt, I ruined the first with too much water and not enough patience)

Papers are from Lucy Cromwell (I'm on my third pad of these)

Whimsy corner die

Woodware daisy border punch

Sentiment from Hobby Arts

Hope you are enjoying what's left of your weekend

Hugs, Squirrel xx

No Pink In Sight

Afternoon all.  How are you lot then?  What has happened to today, can anyone tell me?  OK, I got up late because a little hairy body was enjoying snuggly warm cuddles with his mum, and his mum didn't have the heart to disturb him - that's my excuse and I am sticking to it - so it was ticking on a bit when I finally surfaced.

Then I set too with prepping for a chicken casserole for tonight, and that was in the oven by 1.00.  Toad came home last night with a card order for one of the lads in his office, apparently his mum has broken her arm rather badly and, bless him, he was about to send her, in Toad's words, quite a tacky shop card, and then he decided it would be nicer to send her something unique.  So that is what I have been up to this afternoon, that and some DT work, and suddenly it is time to put some veggies on.

Anyhoo, I do have something to share, and I am going to enter it as this week's Sweet Stamping Challenge whose theme is Girly But Not Pink (oh Samantha, I did think of you bird!).

I have stamped one of the adorable Wee Flower Fairies

Painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The fabulous background shape is a Nestabilities label from a set that a Blogging Santa just happened to shove in my stocking at Christmas (mwah!)

Nesties classic circle dies, and a Martha Stewart heart border punch

Oh, and those all important hole punch dots

The sentiment is an itsy bitsy teeny weeny cutie from a Hero Arts set

Hope your weekend is being kind to you, and I will be back again tomorrow probably

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Capt'n Jack

Now I am not sure if you will agree with me or not, but I think there is more than a tiny bit of romance about pirates, and I am of course talking about the Hollywood version with parrots and pieces of eight, not the sort that roam our seas these days.

In the films, there is always something quite dashing about the lead pirate, you feel you shouldn't like him but you just can't help yourself.  And then there is Capt'n Jack Sparrow, now he's the kind of outlaw that most girls would be happy to be stranded on a desert island with.  Of course it really helps that his alter ego is Johnny Depp - a little bit crazy, but more than a little bit handsome!

So where is this leading?  Well, in a typical squirrelly roundabout way, it is leading to a card of course.  Another of those cheeky little A6 size cards for you tonight.

This stamp is Pirate Henry from Whiff Of Joy

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is a First Edition scrap

Sentiment is Hobby Art

Ships wheel die from MFT Sea Charms dies

And three dots from a simple hole punch to finish

I'm a little bit worried about what Henry is doing.  I really do hope he is not attempting to trim

his toenails with that great big sword!

Hope to catch up with you over the weekend!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Kraft

Happy Thursday everyone - and of course that means it is CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES challenge day.

Our theme for you this week is KRAFT.  For someone who struggles with the stuff, I can't wait to see what you lot create.  My fellow Fairies have been amazing and provided some fab inspiration.  Here is my effort:

The stamp is a Penny Black snowman

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Snowflake paper is Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Kraft card is from Papermania

Frostyville border die is Memory Box

And of course the Nestabilities Classic Circle dies

So that's me done, now let's see what you can do!

Our fabbie sponsor this week is Delicious Doodles, how could you resist?!

I am also entering this at

C.R.A.F.T where the theme is Christmas

and

Cute Card Thursday who have gone Cold & Frosty

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Got Time For A Quick One?

Morning all, how are we today?  Well, I am so relieved that Hump Day has arrived, I never thought it would be so hard trying to get back into a routine.  It seems to get more difficult every year!

As I had very little crafting time over the holidays, in what time I did get I was making quick and simple CAS cards and rediscovering the joys of A6 sized cards.  Here is a little chap that I spent some time with at the weekend.

This stamp is LOTV A Lick Of Paint

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Personal Impressions and highlighted with Mustard Seed DI

Matting layer from scraps box

Voila - quick and simple

I'd like to take this opportunity to say hello my new Followers and welcome aboard!  I hope to be able to pop over and see you soon.  And of course, a huge thank you to all my loyal and regular Followers, without you none of this would be possible.

Biggest of hugs

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) Spots and/or Stripes

Well now, it's the first Monday of the New Year, so that must mean it is January and a new challenge at

Without Words

We are going to ease you back in gentle with a favourite theme of

Spots and/or Stripes

Here is my DT card

Stamped image is Under The Moonlight from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are First Edition: Family Ties

MFT Dienamics Banner Stax dies

Gold rope borders from stash

and that's all she wrote!

Do hope you will find time to come and play this month - there is a £10 voucher for the winner from our super sponsor

Crafter's Companion

Ready....steady.....get crafting!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Gimme a S! Gimme a Q!.....

Morning all, happy Sunday.  I hope it is morning as this is a scheduled post, so it would sound silly if I was saying morning and it was halfway through the afternoon.

Here's a question for you - at what point does evening become night?  I have often wondered that.

Anyway, a card for you.  The challenge at Sweet Stamping Challenge this week is Sport/Fitness.

I wrestled with this one (no, that wasn't a pun) as to whether it would fit the theme or not but I ran it (no, still not a pun) past a blogging buddy who said she considered it would.  

This little cutie is a Mo Manning image from Stamping Bella called

"Gimme a B"

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from a Hero Arts set

Paper is from a very old DCWV text pad

Matting layers are white card edged with Lilac ProMarker

Bunting die - erm, lost the packet, sorry

Hugs all

Squirrel xx

The best kind of bunny

Morning all, happy Saturday to you.  I hope my bloggy pals in the west are all in one piece after yesterday.  It was rather unpleasant here so I dread to think how it must have been for you.  I hope you are all warm and dry.

I noticed today that a new challenge has launched - it is Fantasy Stampers Challenge Blog and it is for stamped images, no digis allowed, so that is my kind of challenge!  Their first theme is Your Favourite Stamp - nothing like making things difficult from the start, lol.

If I were ever to end up on Desert Island Stamps (a new show, like it?) I would have a nightmare narrowing my favourite stamps down to the required number, let alone just choosing one.  So I will qualify this by saying this is one of my favourite stamps of 2013.  

This is Bunny With Cake from Wild Rose Studio

Any bunny that brings cake has to be a favourite in my book

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a teeny touch of white pen

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Whimsy corner die and a simple hole punch

Paper is BoBunny from one of the winter collections, but the pattern isn't obviously winter

Now I have to share very exciting news with the Vince fans out there.  Something happened this morning that hasn't occurred for months!  I was laying there, enjoying that dozey state you get between the alarm and actually getting up.  It was snug, it was peaceful, and there was a paw in my eye.  Yep, Vince was sat on the pillow, pawing at the blanket.  He wanted to come under the covers for a snuggle with his mum!  I lifted the bed clothes and in he came, one turn around and flump, there he was, all soft and soppy.  Still no purrs mind, but this is a huge step towards normal behaviour (for Vince).  

Anyway, I'm rambling, I'm off to make a latter.

Have a good day everyone.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Starting Over

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!  And what better way to kick of the year than with a new challenge from

Crafty Little Fairies

So what do we have to start 2014 with?  It's STARTING OVER.

We would like to see you celebrating something new - job. home, baby, car etc.

Here is my DT card

The stamp is LOTV My Favourite Friends

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are a mixture of Basic Grey

Leaf dies are Marianne Design

Woodward medium retro flower punch

Card Candy, and pearls from stash

Sentiment from an unlabelled clear set but probably Hero Arts

Hope you are able to get back into the crafty mood with an entry for the challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Welcome 2014

Well here it is then, 2014 has arrived.  Hope you aren't too hung over from last night - I'm not, I toddled off to bed by 10.30.  Mind you, I did lay there reading The Killing (the book of the tv series) until nearly midnight so rather than beat the fireworks, I was still wide awake when they started.  I seem to have gotten into the habit of nocturnal reading over the holidays but it's a habit I need to break, otherwise I won't be bright eyed and bushy tailed for work in the morning!

And as well as the New Year arriving, some of those friends who are expecting babies will be producing their new arrivals soon, so I was so pleased that Toad bought me the new LOTV baby collection for Christmas.  Here is my first one:

This stamp is called Just Arrived

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Tilly Daydream from DoCrafts

Kraft card is Papermania

LOTV sentiment and tiny tags

Memory Box Precious Heart die

A little bit of Card Candy and some Glamour Dust

I've no idea if the first one will be a boy or a girl (50/50 chance) so best I make a boy card as well!

This is my last day before returning to work and I intend it to be a relaxed and lazy one.

Hope you are enjoying yours, whatever you are up to.

A Little Bit Crafty - Celebrate

Heck Of A Challenge - New

Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx