The wheels on the bike go round and round, round and round .....

Afternoon all.  It's been a day of fast wheels for me so far - Malaysian Grand Prix and now my card.  I've had this stamp for ages but this is it's first inking.

I have just re-established contact with a friend that I had lost touch with 32 years ago, and it his birthday on 2 April so this is for him.  He wrote a book to accompany a BBC series about motorcycle safety called "Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You", so I think this might just fit the bill.

Penny Black stamp - Wild Thing

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Paper Smooches

Paper is Authentique

Three challenges

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Transport

Addicted to CAS - Wheels

Less is More - Round and Round

Happy Sunday everyone.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Getting inky

Morning everyone, hope you are all ok.  A couple of days ago my package of new rubber arrived from LOTV and I couldn't wait to play so I had a totally inky session and made this simple looking card, but there was a decent bit of work involved to achieve the look

First job was to shape the edge of the card, which I did with a Spellbinders edging die, but the cardstock is 300gsm so it took four rolls through the machine to get the cut.  Then I made masks for the clouds using Joy Craft cloud dies and Post-it Notes (the new ones that are all over sticky).  I wanted to make a stencil for the grass rather than using my Martha Stewart border punch so I ordered a DieNamics Grass die and cut using acetate so I could use the negative shape.  I inked the grass first with a sponge and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks.  Then I sponged the sky, with the cloud masks in place obviously, with Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Shaded Lilac.

I stamped Annabel Texting, painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and then fussy cut (she is lucky to still have two pigtails), placed her on the card, and then stamped the Paper Smooches sentiment.

Start to finish was a couple of hours, but I am pleased with the end result!

Hugs all

Squirrel xx

Ellie Says .....

I have been waiting for days for enough daylight to coincide with the time to take the photograph, and this morning I am supposed to be on my way to the doc for my blood tests and x-ray results so this is an ultra quickie!

Tiddly Inks clear stamp Ellie Says Happy Birthday

Sentiment from a different TI stamp set

Papers are all by PaperCellar

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Ta dah!

Tiddly Inks Challenge - Happy Birthday

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Tag, You're It! Crafty Little Fairies DT

Morning all, here we are again with another new challenge from Crafty Little Fairies, and this week we would like you to simply Add A Tag

And look who's here, it is James with Daisy from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layers are WH Smith Black Art Card

Patterned paper is from a BoBunny pad

Tags are also LOTV from the Everyday Sentiment Tags set

Hugs, Squirrel xx

A Cupboard Full Of Surprises

Good morning everyone, and a happy Wednesday to you!  It's my DT day for The Stamp Basket and I have  an absolute cutie to share with you.

The following ingredients are available from The Stamp Basket store

Stamped image:  Stampavie (Penny Johnson) - A Cupboard Full of Surprises

Colouring Medium: Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Stamp Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Design Papers: Dovecraft Curiosity Corner

Card Base: Craftwork Cards Straight Edge Size 6

I was a little bit daunted by the detail on this stamp, but honestly, once I got started it was a breeze, so don't let the intricacy put you off, it was great fun to use, and as always with Stampavie products, a great inked impression.

Don't forget, there are still bargains to be had at the Spring Clearance Sale.

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Potting Shed

Morning all, hope you are fine and dandy today.  Glad to get Monday out of the way - I'm with Garfield on that one.  

It's my parents 55th wedding anniversary this week and as they are both gardening crazy, I just couldn't resist using this stamp for them:

The stamp is The Potting Shed from LOTV

(and I am sure their shed has many little furry visitors during the year)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Bluebell collection from Wild Rose Studio

and LOTV/Raspberry Road Shabby Shack pad

I think the Wild Rose Studio Corner Flourish die is going to be a lifetime favourite

Sentiment from Hobby Arts

Small Woodware retro flower punch, and office hole punch to finish

Here's a close up of them meeces, all nine of the little devils

Entered at Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge No 27 - Anything Goes

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Not The Best Advert

Hello everyone, where has Sunday gone then?  I suspect that the wee nappette I had with Vince cuddled up might have had something to do with it, or someone has put the clocks forward a week early.......

I was so excited to get my new bundle of rubber yesterday that I couldn't wait any longer to have a play.  Best laid plans of mice and squirrels and all that, the end result is not the best advert for this stamp!

This is one of my new Stamping Bella Uptown Girls - Jayden Loves To Journal

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

The fabulous sentiment comes with the stamp

Some horrendous ink distressing around the edges and a couple of Visible Image ink splats

Joanna Sheen Calligraphy backing paper on a 5x7 card base

I think I need to send a written apology to Stamping Bella

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Earworms

Good morning all, happy Saturday to you my dear friends.  Here in Squirrel's World it has been a lazy morning so far, and there is the scent of Deep Heat in the air.  Oh how I hate that smell, it permeates everything.  Toad has been rubbing it into his Superhero shoulder injury again - I've told him that he needs to see the doc after this length of time (anything to stop him using the stuff) and get it checked properly.  But will he listen?  Don't be daft, he's a man!

Earlier in the week I was accused of passing on an earworm with my little mouse card on Wednesday.  Do you have one that annoys you on a regular basis? Sometimes it can be the tiniest thing that starts them, a smell, a colour, a sound.  Every time I see a certain brand of stamp mine starts up.  I used to like the song but after many months I am starting to feel a bit cross about it.  But I love the stamps that trigger it, so it's a bit of a trade off.

All together now "Uptown girl, she's been living in her uptown world....."

Loving these Uptown Girl stamps from Stamping Bella (new delivery arrived this morning, yum)

This particular UG is Faith The Fairy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sentiment comes with the stamp

Matting layer is from a pad of First Edition papers

And that's it, ultra CAS today, but sometimes it just suits the image to do that.

Have a busy craft day lined up with a lot of DT work to get done so I'm off to get inky.

Have a fabulous weekend

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Hurrah, it's here!

The weekend, that is, at last.  Crumbs, I have only been back at work a week and could do with another holiday already!

Apologies for today's somewhat later-than-usual appearance but I'm here now.  I am popping in with a little cutie to share with you that I made last night.

So, what do we have?

Well to start with, the stamp is Tulip Bunny from Little ClaireStamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

The background is sponged with Distress Inks (pads)

and the clouds are Whimsy dies which I cut from Post-It Notes to use as masks

Sentiment is from Woodware

and the pretty papers are LOTV/Raspberry Road Shabby Shack pad

And I am entering this little chap at

Cute Card Thursday - It's A Wild World

and

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes

Have you got anything nice planned for your weekend?  I am a little bit excited about a parcel that is waiting for me at the Post Office (new toys) so will be sending Toad out early to collect it (and two of his own).  I have a mountain of DT work to do, and then I might actually manage mum and dad's anniversary card.  Other than that, nowt much else going on in Squirrel's World.  Unless of course I win the lottery (I was poo'd on today by a bird so must buy a ticket tomorrow - this could be the one).

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Down On The Farm

Morning all, and welcome to Fairy day!

It's Thursday so it's a new challenge with Crafty Little Fairies

And our theme, Ee Ei Ee Ei O, is

Down On The Farm

I love this stamp from Whimsy, it's a Crissy Armstrong design called Not Fat, Fluffy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Sentiment is from Woodware

Papers are BoBunny Double Dots Vintage

and that brilliant die I bought especially for this challenge, and it is

Die-Versions Sweet Petites Border Die - Farm Animals

And our super sponsor this week is Little Claire Stamps

check out the challenge to see what the prize is!

Time to get quacking!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I saw a mouse .....

Where? There on the stair, a little mouse with clogs on, well I declare, going clip clippity clop on the stair, oh yeah.

OK, it's on a bluebell, not the stairs, but it most definitely a cute little mouse!  Morning everyone, and welcome to Wednesday, my day for DTing with THE STAMP BASKET.  Before we get onto my card, I must remind you about The Stamp Basket Spring Clearance Sale, lots of goodies to be had at bargain prices, and I know you love a bargain!

So where's that mouse then?  Ooh, there he is!

Oh my goodness, this is a positive feast of Wild Rose Studio - all products listed at available from The Stamp Basket store

Stamp - Wild Rose Studio: Mouse on Bluebell

Stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

Medium - Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and Distress Inks Pads

Papers - Wild Rose Studio: Bluebell

Die - Wild Rose Studio: Bluebell

Base card - Craftwork Cards: On The Edge Elegant White (Size 6)

So there you have it!  Wouldn't you just love to find a mouse like this in your bluebells?

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Hot Diggety Dawg

I have always had a thing about texts and fonts.  I remember the great glee I felt when it was discovered that the daisy-wheel typewriter (remember those?) I had at work had different daisy-wheels available for it.  I bought one that looked like script and kept it in my drawer so that I could use it in my lunch break for personal stuff.  It felt so grown up!

And look where technology has brought us now, more texts and fonts than you can shake a stick at.  But there is something irresistible to me about text stamps - I am addicted to them, and take huge delight in discovering new ones, and adding them to my collection of course!  

This card uses two different sentiment stamps, in different fonts by different stamp companies, but I think they work ok together, and one of them was just perfect for this image .....

The stamp is an old one from WhipperSnapper called Pup n Bone

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Hot Diggety Dawg by Cas-ual Fridays Stamps from the "Exclamations" set

It's Your Birthday by Hero Arts from the "It's Your Day" set

Papers are from my Making Cards magazine stash

Happy Monday everyone

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Boys!

Back again!

Boys huh?!  Today is all about the boys.  We've just sat and watched England thrash Italy in the Six Nations, now it's Wales v Scotland, and later the big one, France v Ireland.  And in between it's the BBC highlights of the Australian Grand Prix qualifying, YES, the F1 2014 season starts today, hurrah!

Personally I am a bit miffed with the BBC.  There have been some significant changes in F1 for this season, redesigned cars, new engine rules, new fuel regulations etc, and for the first race of the season .... we get edited highlights.  Words fail me.  But at least we are getting decent highlights and good commentary, and we aren't paying extra for it.  On principle I refuse to pay Sky a fortune.

And on the subject of the boys, I have a little card for you this afternoon for two good reasons:

Without Words Challenge - And Relax (Hobbies & Leisure) - Midway Reminder

CraftyCatz Challenge - Boys And Their Toys

This adorable little fella is a stamp from LOTV called Playing Golf

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

A mixture of papers - clouds (magazine freebie), green (BoBunny), matting layer (Dovecrafts)

Sentiment from Paper Smooches

Martha Stewart grass border punch

Hope you are having an awesome weekend.

I've just taken a joint of beef out of the oven and the smell is driving me wild.  Can't wait for dinner tonight!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Are We There Yet?

Morning all, just popping by with a midway reminder for the fun challenge of Are We There Yet? at A Little Bit Crafty

These lovely ladies are Stamping Bella Senior-itas Mildred & Maud

Papers are Little Sizzlets

Sentiment stamped using a Hobbycraft Alphabet set

Dotty sunshine stamp by Hero Arts

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs all

Squirrel xx

Bunny Blooms

Morning folks.  Hope all is well with you.  It's foggy here this morning, but that always holds the promise of sunshine to come (fingers crossed) and it is the last official day of my hollibobs (sob) but at least we still have the weekend and, yippee, the start of the 2014 Formula One season.  Oh it is going to be a good year for racing, I can feel it in my whiskers.

Today, Toad and I are heading off to our favourite farmshop.  They have a cafe on the premises and do the most amazing lunches.  And if there were an award for the best coleslaw in the world, then I would award it to them.  I plan on buying the biggest tub I can find.  Honestly, I could eat it straight from the tub so it's probably good that I don't carry a fork with me or it would be empty by the time we got home (although I do always have a teaspoon in my handbag - long story).

Anyhoo, I popped by to share another card with you.  It feels like a lifetime since I joined in the High Hopes  Stamps Challenge so this week, having had the time, I am correcting that situation and have had a play for their CAS theme this time.

I think this stamp from High Hopes - called Bunny Blooms - is the first HH I ever bought

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Pretty papers are from the new Dovecraft release - Curiosity Corner

Matting layer is from a LOTV/Raspberry Road pad

Sentiment is another new acquisition from Kaisercraft

So a tiny bit of fussy cutting for the out-of-frame effect and Bob's your uncle

Right then, I am off to discard the PJs and dressing gown and find some grown up clothes.

Hope to be back this evening to have a long overdue session of commenting.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes for the MOT - mostly it went well but I'm being sent

for x-rays to see if they can, at long last, get to the bottom of this troublesome neck and shoulder pain.

Oh, and the obligatory blood tests of course - that'll be something to look forward to next week.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Like Buses

Yeah, you wait for ages and then two come along together!  Hope you managed to catch my post earlier about the new Crafty Little Fairies Challenge (Things With Wings).

I'm back with a fun card for a colour themed challenge, see if you can guess what colour it is ...... Tiddly Inks Challenge.

Hmmmmm, do you think it might be green?

Tiddly Inks clear stamp - Be My Sunshine

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Basic Grey patterned paper, and white card edged in Grass ProMarker

Sentiment is LOTV from the Everyday Grungy Messages set

Hope all is well in your world today

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Things With Wings

Good morning all, how are we then?  It's Thursday, not my favourite day of the week (if it happens, it happens on a Thursday - and I have the annual MOT at the doc this morning, eeeek) but the highlight of the day is a new challenge with Crafty Little Fairies!

We would like to see you getting fluttery this week as our theme is Things With Wings - so that could be fairies, butterflies, birds, bees, aeroplanes, and if you want to be clever, cars.

I have gone down the flittery fairy route with this little cutie:

This stamp is a Sugar Nellie called Titania

And no inks this time!!  She is coloured with Polychromos pencils

(yes I know, I still need a lot of practice)

Paper is from the LOTV/Nitwits Bonnets & Bowties pad

Sentiment is Paper Smooches

Woodware small retro flower punch, and office hole punch

Gold border from stash

I sent this to a dear blogging friend for her birthday, and for once I was on time, hurrah!

Anyhoo, we have two FFPs for you (that's Fab Fairy Prizes) from our sponsors

Marianne Design

and

Iva Nova Chest

So it's over to you now, happy crafting!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Hayfever

Well, here we are at Wednesday - halfway through the week, and halfway through my holiday (sob) but, do not be sad because it is also my turn to DT at The Stamp Basket!

Before we get to my card, I must firstly tell you about The Stamp Basket's Spring Clearance Sale - lots of bargains to be had on some fabulous items, so time to give the credit card a hammering!

Right then, hayfever season will soon be here so I hope this sweet rabbit doesn't suffer too much.

Isn't he cute, with his ickle pink nosie?

Ingredients for this card available at The Stamp Basket store are

Stamp: Wild Rose Studio - Bunny With Flowers

Papers - (New) Wild Rose Studio - Peach Blossom

Sentiment - (New) Wild Rose Studio Birthday Greetings

Die - (New) Wild Rose Studio - Birdy Branch

Medium (Bunny) Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

Products from my stash - Bristol Board and Polychromos Pencils

Thanks for popping over, do take the opportunity of some brilliant sale prices - and let me know what you bought.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

How would you kiss yours?

Morning all.  Happy Tuesday to you, and I hope the sun is shining in your world today.  We are off to the cinema in a little while to hopefully see The Monuments Men.  Anyone seen it yet?  What did you think?

Edited to add:  Brilliant film - drama, humour, and quite moving in places.  Certainly one to make you realise how little you know of recent history. Highly recommended, and definitely one I shall be getting on dvd release to watch again.

Anyhoo, I just thought I would pop in with a card and a question: How would you kiss yours?

I had such fun with this Penny Black stamp - Bunny Kisses

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

I think the papers are a mix of LOTV Baskets & Bunnies and BoBunny Prairie Chic

Martha Stewart border punch

Martha Stewart heart punch

LOTV sentiment from the Love Sentiments set

Woodware corner rounder and the trusty basic office hole punch

Sending huge hugs, whether you need one or not

Squirrel xx

Warning: May Contain Pink

Well, would you look at that, it's Monday morning and I'm not at work!  Whoop whoop.  I'm with Garfield on the whole Monday thing.  Mondays and Thursdays.  Nothing good ever comes from a Thursday.

Anyhoo, I hope you have your shades on today as I thought I would have a play at the In The Pink challenge who are asking for makes for Mother's Day/A Special \Lady.

I told you there may be pink!

So, what have I used - the stamp is a Wild Rose Studio - probably called Tilly With Roses, but I forgot to check before I put it away again.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

The pretty paper is MME from a magazine freebie set

The pearlised raspberry pink card is from Papermania

The stunning Rose Corner is a new die from Wild Rose Studio

And the sentiment is Paper Smooches

It's not a Mother's Day card, but I shall send it to my mum anyway as I do cherish her.

I am almost ashamed to admit that I am sat here still in my PJs (it feels so daring, lol) but I guess it's time to go and get the squirrel outfit on in the hope that Toad will take me out for brunch.

Hope your Monday is a good one guys

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Fresh As A Daisy

I always greet the first daisy of the year with a big smile, because as soon as you see one, you know there will be a million more to follow and that Spring has really arrived.  I made no bones about it, daisies are my favourite flowers.

The one layer challenge at LESS IS MORE this week is Spring Flowers.  No brainer huh?

This gorgeous bloom and the sentiment are from a set by Whimsy Stamps

Coloured with Polychromos pencils

Crumbs, that's short, even for me!

I can tell, from the mutterings in the conservatory, that the England v Wales rugby match has started.

Can someone find me some earplugs please - I have a feeling there may be some shouting soon.

Hope your Sunday is a sunny one

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Cherry On Top

Hello everyone, and Happy Saturday to you!  The sun is shining, the birds are singing (and they were at 5.30, the little devils), and I am ON HOLIDAY, whooooooooooooooooooooooo!!  I was an incredibly lazy Squirrel this morning and, having turned the alarm off last night, I had a lovely long snoozy lie-in.  Bliss, and long overdue!

Anyhoo, here with a simple little card for you today:

This is one of the new Angelica & Adam stamps from Crafters Companion

and is called Cherry on Top

CC have ventured into acrylic stamps for this range, and at £2.99 each they are a bargain

I will say that I found the stamp a little on the soft and floppy side, but with gentle handling the end result was good.  Press too hard and you would get blurred edges I think.

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Sentiment is from Paper Smooches

Papers are Dovecraft Tea House collection

Whatever you are up to today, I hope it is fun.

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

We're Going To Need A Bigger Boat

Happy Thursday everyone, hope you are keeping well.  Well, you know what Thursdays mean (apart from being so nearly the weekend, and it is payday for me, yippee), yes, of course, it's a new challenge with Crafty Little Fairies.

An intriguing challenge for you this week - Saturday Night At The Movies (film or song title).  The last time we did this one I had too many ideas, but this time just the one.

"Jaws"

I bought this stamp a while back and it is its first inking.

Whiff of Joy Simply Maya - Friend or Foe

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Papers are Papermania Ahoy There

MFT Die-Namics Making Waves dies and Sea Charms
Sentiment by Paper Smooches

Short and sweet, just like me!
Hugs all
Squirrel xx

Bluebell!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  It is my day for DT at The Stamp Basket and I have an absolute cutie for you today.

You can't have missed the new release of Bluebell from Wild Rose Studio so here she is front and centre.

Ingredients for this card available from The Stamp Basket store

Stamp: Wild Rose Studio - Bluebell With Basket

Sentiment: Wild Rose Studio - Birthday Greetings

Dies: Both from Wild Rose Studio - Corner Flourish and Butterfly Burst

Papers: Dovecraft Back To Basics II - Lilac

Medium: Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Extras:  Hobby House Pearls and Gems

Card:  Craftwork Cards -  On The Edge Scallop White Size 6

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

 

And I am sneaking this little dear (geddit) into the Pearls & Swirls theme over at

The Cutie Pie Challenge

Without Words (DT) And Relax

It's the first Monday of yet another new month so that means a new challenge over at

Without Words

Last month we were working 9 to 5 with our Occupations theme, but everyone deserves some time off from work so this time around we are going for

And Relax: Hobbies & Leisure

Here is my DT with a very proud pup and his prize winning flower

If anyone has any tips to stop squinty photos I would be pleased to hear them!

Stamp is LOTV Fabulous Flower

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Bristol Board

Sentiment is Hobby Arts

Papers are from an old pack of My Minds Eye

Border punch is Martha Stewart

My wonderfully talented and inspiring Word Bird teamies have come up trumps again so please do pop over for a nose - you won't regret it.  Donna's card certainly raised a smile for me this time.

Hope you will join us and have fun with colour.

Hugs, Squirrel xx