Another Bear

Afternoon all.  Just popping by quickly with another bear card to share with you:

Another first for me - a side stepper card, and made without a safety net or a template, just a lot of guesswork and a trail of failed attempts in the bin!

I have made myself a very simple template for this so if anyone would like a copy just email me and I will whizz one over to you - this card is 6x5 but you can adjust the width easily

So, LOTV James Bear: Snow Angel

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are an old pad - DCWV Christmas Stack

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Tag is a Whimsy die

Snowflake is a Spellbinders die

Pearl brads are from stash

Additionals: Viva Pearl Pen and Glamour Dust

Dammit, that bear is handsome.

Oh, if anyone is wondering about the colour of his coat - it's Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean that I mixed in the palette.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Sorry Marianne!

A little while ago, my bloggy pal Marianne made a comment that made me smile - she said she wasn't very keen on pop-up boxes as they don't seem like real cards to her.  Little did she know that I had just made my first two of these cheeky little rascals!

I didn't have a template for this, I just winged it after reading the construction instructions in a recent magazine

I've used a ton of old Papermania Colossal Christmas papers

Stamp is CC Designs Snow Flake

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Various lengths and angles of acetate strips

A few punched snowflakes which I glued and Glamour Dust-ed

Sorry Marianne, but I had great fun making it!

Sweet Stampin - Let It Snow

Hugs to all for a super weekend.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Tangled Tinsel

Morning all, how are we today?  I am hoping for a teensy bit of brightness today - yesterday afternoon I had to check the clock as it was so dark I was beginning to think it must be nearly hometime - and it was only 2.30!  It doesn't help that my window at work has a tinted film on the glass, so even daylight can look a bit dirty at times.

Anyhoo, on days like this we need a little something to cheer us up, and a never fail is that gorgeous and handsome bear, James.

I make no apologies for this being a CAS card!

This is LOTV James Bear (now retired)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Green glitter is by Papermania

Green gingham paper is from Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Sentiment is from Whimsy Snarky Christmas set

Gold/clear rope border from stash

Bet that's put a smile on your face, it certainly has mine!

Hugs to all for a happy Thursday

Squirrel xx

Cheers Bird

I use a lot of terms of endearment in my everyday speech as well as in my writing.  Little things like "sweetheart", "love" and "hun" - and some more quirky ones likes "petal", "flower" and "bird".  I use "bird" quite a bit with my mates.  So if I say "Cheers bird", I am saying thank you.

On the subject of thank you, the challenge I made this card for is Tiddly Inks Challenge - Gratitude And Joyfulness  and I have combined the birds from one set of stamps and the perfect sentiment from another.

All stamps are from Tiddly Inks

Pink feathered paper is from Carta Bella "Wildflower" pad

Blue paper is a scrap of Crafters Companion

Dies and punches: Spellbinders Borderbilities and Martha Stewart

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

And that's it, sweet and simple

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Does Ivy Have Berries?

Morning all.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Although Toad is back to work today, I'm not.  This is my last day's leave before Christmas now, but I kinda forgot myself so when the alarm started ringing, instead of giving it a good slap I got up.  I came shuffling downstairs in my very old and very tatty dressing gown (towelling dressing gowns and cat claws don't make good companions - both Mollie and Vince have had a go at this one over the years) and my fleecy slippers and nearly gave Toad a funny turn as he was shovelling in his cereals.  Yeah, I could have gone back to bed I suppose, but I had such a rubbish night that I didn't hold out much hope of any decent sleep.  I might have a nap later.

Is there an award for woffle?  I think I may be in contention for it.  Anyhoo, does ivy have berries?  Well, yes, it does, but they are not glossy and bright like holly or hawthorn, they are small and dull and black, rather boring really, so I feel something needs to be done to brighten them up and make them more attractive.  Why?  Because I feel something is missing from this make, and that something might be berries......

Lili of The Valley stamp - Cosy and Warm

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Sentiment is from a Personal Impressions set

Joanna Sheen Signature die - Ivy Corner

Tonic layering rectangles dies

And a hole punch dot to finish

Artistic Inspirations - Anthing Goes: Warm and Cozy
Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends

I miss having an open fire.  We have central heating plus a flame effect gas fire but we hardly ever use the fire, in fact I think I can count the occasions on one hand that it has been switched on over the past 17 years.  Mum and dad still have an open fire and it always feels so much warmer and welcoming.  I don't miss the mess they create though!

Right, that's my ramblings done for today and as I am up and about already, that will mean more crafting time, whooo, I just hope Mr Mojo plays ball today.  I have put the heater on in the studio for him just in case.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Snow Pals

Morning all, how are we today?  Thanks for everyone who asked after mum - I am pleased to report that the endoscopy last week didn't reveal anything and she is slowly improving.  The poor old girl managed to pick up a dose of campylobacter (a food poisoning bacteria) and has been really poorly.  I didn't appreciate just how serious this particularly bug can be and what permanent damage it can do (heart problems, paralysis, and in worst case, death) so dad and I are somewhat relieved that mum is now, after five weeks, starting to feel brighter.  Thank you for all your good wishes.

Right, parental report over, let's do a card shall we?

So, what do we have here then:

Stamp is Snow Pals - a Mo Manning design from Stamping Bella

Painted with a limited palette of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose, Black Soot, Weathered Wood

The trellis die is a Spellbinders one but I have cut it down to fit

Papers are a mixture of Nitwits/LOTV pads

Woodware and X-Cut snowflake punches

Sentiment was a magazine freebie

Sparkly silver border peel-off from stash

Our old car (17 year old Toyota) went in for it's MOT on Friday and thankfully it passed but needed a new wiper blade and we have an advisory note for two front tyres so we are pretty pleased.  When we picked the car up there was no Pass certificate with the other paperwork (which I didn't notice at the time) so we are popping down to the garage today to collect it.  Which gives us a great excuse to have a wander around town looking for Christmas presents.  And Toad can buy me lunch, although I haven't told him yet.

Have yourself a happy little Monday.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Final Reminder

Morning all.  Brrrrrr, tis becoming November like now!  Anything planned for your weekend?  I hope it is something nice.  It's the last long weekend for me this year - four days, hurrah, as I can't take any holiday in December (not that I would want to).  I have a feeling that there might have to be some C Shopping crammed into the time off.

Well, I am here today with the final reminder for the Snow-vember challenge - there is just one week left to enter so if you are making a snowman/snowwoman/snowanimal card and would like to share it with us you can enter the challenge here.

This is an LOTV stamp called Gifts On The Tree

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from the Whimsy Snarky Christmas set

Papers are Dovecraft Kraft Christmas

and the white blobs snow is Viva Pearl Pen

I would like to thank everyone who has entered so far - the winner will be announced here a few days after the challenge closes - but I would like to give a special thanks to my fellow Snowflakes, Annette and Jayne, for all their hard work and for helping me with this silly idea,

I know a lot of you also enjoyed the Penguin challenge, so if you would like to me to do another themed challenge sometime into the New Year, please don't be afraid to leave a comment to tell me.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Where's the candle gone?

Morning all.  Sorry?  Yes, it is morning, yes I know it is dark but, really, it is the start of the day, not the end.

I'm not working today as I am chauffeuring mum to the hospital later for some tests (she's been a poorly little thing of late) so before I go and put the Nurse Squirrel uniform on, I thought I would drop by with this little number: 

This is one of my new Stamping Bella stamps - it's a Mo Manning image called

Birthday Hamster

(I am a bit worried about where the birthday candle might have gone)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment comes with the stamp

Papers are Nitwits/LOTV Up And Away

Dies used are from the Die-Namics Blueprint 13 set

I can see this little chap being used for so many occasions - sorry, thank you, birthday, and he would be great for his or hers cards.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Dammit

Evening all.  I'm running a bit late today but poor Toad is running even later, which gives me time to post this now!

Have you every merrily sat down to colour, got almost to the end of the job, taken a look at your image and thought "dammit"?  Yep, one of those moments.

This little cutie is called "Kisses" from CC Designs Roberto's Rascals

She is coloured with Polychromos Pencils and Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is Nitwits Snow Princess Solids

5x5 scalloped edged card base

Sentiment is from Whimsy's Snarky Christmas set

Corner rounder and hole punch to finish off

Have you spotted the deliberate mistake yet?

Yep, I have coloured the mistletoe in as holly berries.

BUT in my defence, since when did mistletoe have prickly leaves?

That's my excuse, and I am sticking to it.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Overwhelmed

A month ago, two of my dearest crafty buddies got together and plotted and schemed.  I won't name anyone as I don't want to embarrass them but I was so overwhelmed by their kindness.  When we lost Vince we were faced with a big vet bill.  I had only a few days before placed a large crafty order so I emailed asking if it could be cancelled as the money was needed for the vet.  So, that was all sorted out.  A week later, I reordered a small part of the original order, with the intention of going back and completing the order a few items at a time.

So you can imagine my surprise (that has to be an understatement) when my smaller order arrived, together with another package from the same company.  I thought at first there had been an enormous mistake and that my original order wasn't cancelled after all - and then I found the note.  And I cried.  A dear and loving friend (who is more special than I could ever say) had gone into cahoots with the store owner, and between them had sent the rest of my order.  There were a lot of tears.  I am a very emotional little squirrel - but they were happy tears, and shocked tears, and full of love tears.  

There are times when friends can take you so totally by surprise that it takes your breath away.

This was made with one of the stamps in my order for one of the two naughty pixies - I am still planning something for the other one.

This is Callista Loves To Craft from Stamping Bella

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from Crafters Companion

Pearls from stash

Scalloped edged dies are Tonic

Sentiment is Paper Smooches

Like a numpty I forgot to take a photo of the inside which is another Paper Smooches sentiment

from the same set which says

Thank you from the bottom of my [he]art

So, to the two naughty pixies (you know who you are) - I love you!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I rediscovered some photos of Vince on the external hard drive so thought I would share these two with you.  It was a very sunny day and he was lounging about on the carpet in a patch of sunshine from the front window.  Toad grabbed his camera and got down there with him.  Vince didn't bat an eyelid but happily posed for several shots.  I think he knew how handsome he was.

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwn

Morning all.  I don't know what has happened to the bright eyed and bushy tailed me this morning, it is more of a flumpy slightly grumpy me today.  I had a nice lay in, and I am still in the dressing gown and slippers, we have nothing much planned for today apart from a visit to the Oldies and a meal out tonight with friends, so there is nothing to explain this.  Maybe a nice bowl of porridge to warm me up will do the trick (tis a bit chilly and quite foggy out there today).

Anyhoo, it's not quite this cold.

These two always made me smile!

CC Designs Meoples - Snow Cute

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas and Kraft Christmas

and that's it

As well as this being a reminder for Snow-vember I shall enter it at

Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Snow People

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Get Well Soon (Edited)

It's wet, it's windy, it's dark and it's Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiday at last, hurrah!

With apologies for the dingy photograph - this was last night, with lots of white lights, but it still came out on the gloomy side.

Taken with a different phone camera under the same conditions - what a difference! 

This is Alfie Bear from Craftwork Cards

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Papers are First Edition

Flower centres are Creme Viva Pearl Pen

5x5 scalloped edged card base

Wishing you all a good day, and hopefully a dry-ish one.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Furry or Hairy?

Morning all.  It does seem a long time since I posted, when it fact it was only Saturday!

Over at The Cutie Pie Challenge the theme this month is Festive Furry Friends - well I couldn't resist that one could I. 

However, there is a little bit of a debate over whether this fella is furry or hairy.....

Yes, it's that Rodney again, from CC Designs this is Rodney's Ride

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a foiled pack I bought last year but I can't remember the brand

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

And speaking of whether something is furry or hairy (oh you lot are disgusting!!), Toad is taking part in Movember and is growing a tashe.  At the moment, I have to say he is bearing a striking resemblance to George Roper (some of you will remember - actor Brian Murphy).  The tashe is now being called Colin (the Caterpillar) and is developing his own personality.  Apparently it was Colin who stole the last square of my special Roasted Sesame Lindt chocolate, and it was Colin who forgot to lock the front door last night.  Colin needs to watch himself, or he might find he is not quite so hairy when he wakes up in the morning.  There is a threat that Colin might become purple for the last day of the month, so if anyone wants to see a purple caterpillar attached to my husband's face, don't forget it is in aid of a brilliant charity and donations to Movember are more than welcome. 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

11-11-11 - Remember

The Perfect Snowman

Morning all, hope this finds you well.  Slightly later than planned because I have been for the six weekly tail trim and wasn't organised enough to schedule this, so you have a live Squirrel today!

I seem to be making a lot of these 6x4 CAS cards this year so I hope you are not getting too fed up with them.

You might have guessed this is a reminder for the SNOW-VEMBER challenge, so if you haven't got your snowies inky yet you have until the end of the month to enter.

For this one I have used:

LOTV stamp - The Perfect Snowman

Sentiment - Hobby Arts

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer from scraps box and a 6x4 card base

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Morning Sue

This could almost be me in the mornings - except I'm not that skinny and don't do PJs because I suffer from that strange "hot legs in bed" syndrome.  I can't bear anything on my legs at night because after half an hour I am wrestling to rip them off before my knees spontaneously combust.

Anyhoo, I made this for a friend's birthday - I am sure she is more glamorous in the mornings but it just made me laugh.

This is "Morning Sue" from Roberto's Amigas at C C Designs

Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils

Matting layer from a pad of Forever Friends papers (because the stripes matched the PJs)

Paper Smooches sentiment

Happy Friday everyone

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Snowy Stepper

On Sunday afternoon, I had an urge to dig out one of the very first stamps I bought, way back in 2005.  My first love in rubber was (and still is) Penny Black and I could not resist owning this adorable snowman.  He has been used many, many times since he arrived here.

So, this is Penny Black "Snowy"

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a good helping of Glamour Dust

Stepper die purchased from the lovely Sarah Wright

Snowy's panel die is Nestabilities Labels 11

Holographic card from stash

Snowflake paper is LOTV Frosty Christmas

Sentiment is Hero Arts

And a variety of snowflake punches to finish off

And of course he is the perfect thing to remind you about the SNOW-VEMBER challenge that is running here for the whole of November, so get those snowies inked up and come and join the fun!

 

I know that I don't need to apologise because so many of you understand but I will anyway.  I am sorry if I have not visited you recently.  I have been in quite a dark place since we said goodbye to Vince and I am finding it difficult to focus on much.  I promise that I will try to do better, and thank you for your patience and kindness, it means a lot.

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) November

Hello my little muffins, how are we on this first Monday of the month?  I had a fright and a half last week when I realised that is now only just over 7 weeks to Christmas.  SEVEN WEEKS!  Ohmygosh.  So if, like me, you are still in headless chicken mode, the challenge for November at WITHOUT WORDS might just help you out.

The theme is PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS - so we would like to see your festive makes this time.

Here is my DT card:

 Looks like Bamboo is busy getting his cards ready to post!

The stamp is Crafter's Companion: Party Paws - Sending Love

Papers are previous seasons' Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Sentiment is erm, oh, err, oops, need to check that one for you!

What would a challenge be without a brilliant sponsor prize? This month we are pleased to welcome back the ultra-talented Elaine from QUIXOTIC PAPERIE with a £10 store voucher for the winner

As always, CAS cards please with a hand-coloured image, minimal or no embellishments,

and yes, you can use a sentiment.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

IT'S SNOW-VEMBER!

Yes, it's a new challenge!

We suspect you might have guessed from the countdown clues this week but the theme this time is
SNOW-VEMBER

That's snowmen, snowwomen, snowanimals - lots and lots of lovely snow.

My fellow Snowflakes have been busy so here is some inspiration to get your own flakes a fluttering

Squirrel

Annette

Jayne

Squirrel

Annette

Jayne

Squirrel

So you know the routine by now

• Get your snowy entries made
• Enter using the link tool below
• You can enter up to three times
• Any technique for your cards
• Please link your entry to your challenge card only, not your whole blog
• New projects please, no backlinking to something you posted a month ago
• No obligation to promote the challenge on your blog, but it would be fab if you could
• Challenge closes at 6.00pm (UK) on 30 November
• There will be a prize for the winner

Edited to add that Mary from THE RIBBON GIRL has very kindly offered to sponsor this challenge with a £10 voucher for the winner.  Thank you Mary, you are a star!

The most important thing of course is to have fun!

Snowy hugs

Squirrel, Jayne and Annette

An InLinkz Link-up