Sail Away With Me

Happy Monday all!  No, really, I want it to be a happy Monday - so if we all wish hard enough, it just might work out that way.

Unless you have been living in a cave with no wi-fi lately then you know that Lili of The Valley have brought back some of the most popular stamps that had been retired a while.  They are limited in numbers, so if you want one, best order early.  Anyhoo, I was particularly pleased to see two of my favourite boys come back, and this is one of them.

So, this is the Sailing Boat stamp

Painted, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are BoBunny Double Dots

MFT double stitched rectangle die

and the die-cuts are Die-Namics Sea Charms

Custom sized card base

There's something happening over on the Lili Facebook page tomorrow, so do keep an eye open for that, it's going to be fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Rosie With Cake

I'm having problems with Saturday mornings lately, there always seems to be something going on that gets in the way of me being able to blog.  I blame the Toad!

Anyway, just a quick post today to bring you a rather colourful card.  In my head, this all coordinated, but now ........ well, judge for yourselves.

OK, so this is Rosie With Cake - one of those returning images from Lili of The Valley.

I've used her a lot over the years, and she is definitely a favourite of mine.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Goodness knows what the papers are, but they're bright

DCWV purple cardstock

Martha Stewart stars border punch

Germs from stash

Lili of the Valley sentiment from Set 28

That's all from me today

Hugs, Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Occasion

Happy Thursday everyone!  Over at AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE this time the theme is FAVOURITE OCCASION.

We would like you to make your favourite type of card AND tell us why that occasion is your favourite (if you don't tell us, your entry cannot be considered for the sponsor's prize, sorry).

Here's my DT card

I love making birthday cards for friends, to help celebrate their special day.  It's great that you can use such a wide variety of images, and even be really cheeky with them too.

So, I have used Cupcake Nancy from Roberto's Rascals

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is from an old pad by Wild Rose Studio of oriental designs

Banner die from La La Land Crafts

Sentiment - anyone's guess but I think it's MFT!

That's all there is to it, a CAS card that does what it says on the tin.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful Nikki at BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS

You may have noticed that Nikki has decided, after many years selling fabulous products, to close this store.  However, there will be tons of bargains to be had there for the winner of this voucher as there is a big sale on right now.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Three Little Ducks

I was going to say morning all, but see that it is now afternoon.  I obviously spent more time than I thought ranting at Royal Mail about the non-delivery of my happy mail (which I had paid a customs charge on and they'd said would be delivered yesterday).  Still no answer as to where it is, and trust me, if they have lost it I shall be more than ranting at them!!

Anyhoo, on a happier note, I have been playing with a new-to-me Gerda Steiner stamp set.

I had recently been chatting with a friend about stepper card dies and realised that I hadn't used mine lately, so out it came.

Stamp set is Lucky Duck from Gerda Steiner

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Stepper die is from CC Designs

The Hello frame die is a Die-Versions Sweet Frames

Orange card by Papermania

Spotty paper from Dovecraft Back To Basics

Fussy cutting by me

Have yourselves a quacking weekend

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Look Who's Back !!

Those clever girls at LILI OF THE VALLEY know what we like - in fact they know what we like so much that they are re-releasing some of the gorgeous stamps that had previously been retired.

The first two to make a come-back are Spring Bunny with Daffs and Balloon Bunny - they are available on the website RIGHT NOW!  Limited numbers so be there or be bunnyless.  Over the next few weeks there will be more stamps making a return so keep your eyes open for them.

I think you might be able to work out which one of the two that I have used for this card for the Design Collective.

Lots of ingredients for this J fold card so here we go

Well of course it is, Spring Bunny with Daffs!

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is LOTV Scroll Sentiments

Papers are all old K&Co (the daffodil pad and the daisy pad)

Border die is Magnolia (think it might be Swedish Lace)

Corner dies are by Whimsy

Three toned green ribbon by Anita's

Resin flowers bought in Lakeland (been waiting for a chance to get them out again)

I hope you are having a Happy Friday!

Rosie sends her love ....

Hugs to all

Squirrel xxx

In The Pink (DT) So Cute

Morning all, it's PINK day - yes, get your Pink on, it's another challenge from those lovely ladies over at IN THE PINK

This time our challenge is SO CUTE - that leaves you a huge scope to craft with, but remember please, more pink than anything else!

Here's my DT make:

So, for this one I have used

Stamping Bella - Especially For You, Petunia

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background flowery paper made by me!  I used a Tapestry stamp and two colours of Memento ink

Matting layer papers are old Papermania ones

Nestabilities dies for the scalloped die cuts

Wish I could remember where I got the word stamps from .....

Sparkling gems from Papermania

The sponsor for this challenge is PAPER NEST DOLLS

OK, you have two weeks to get pink - looking forward to seeing your cute makes!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Many many layers

Morning peeps.  Today's post title refers not to my card but to me.  It is perishing cold and damp here today so I thought that I should layer-up as recommended by the survivalists.  Only problem is, I may have overdone it a bit, I have so many layers on now that I can hardly bend in the middle, and bits of me are still cold!

Anyhoo, from many layers to few.  I have been such a bad blogger over the last year that I can't even remember the last time I entered one of my favourite challenges so I shall put that straight today.

Sweet Stampin' Challenge are asking for CAS

So CAS it is!

Another fabulous stamp set from Gerda Steiner - this one is Howl Are You?

Yep, and the sentiments too.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is white card edged with a red ProMarker

Custom sized card base - 4x5

Absolutely love this little chap!

Sneaking him in right at the end of the GDT call too

Hope your weekend is a good one, and Happy Valentine's tomorrow for all of you who are still loved up.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Shape or Fold

Well hello there!  Welcome to another Thursday at Squirrelville where it is DT day for the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE.

This time the challenge is SHAPE or FOLD (and you must tell us why you made your choice)

It was a tussle whether to do a fold or a shape, and ended up combining the two into a "fol-ape".  I think it qualifies more as a fold though.  I love to see both, they always make cards feel more special, I'm just not very good at thinking outside the square

So I found the tutorial for this on SplitcoastStampers and it was really easy - of course, I added to it by punching the top border and then swearing because it wouldn't line up at the join, lol.

Stamped image is a Wryn from Tiddly Inks

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are all First Edition from the Paper Flowers collection

Sentiments and banner from Clearly Besotted

Oval dies by Tonic

Border punch is Martha Stewart

Here's a picture of her flat and ready for the envelope

Our sponsor supporting this challenge is

Sweet Stamps with a $10 store voucher

You have two weeks to get folding or shaping, and remember to tell us why you made your choice

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Bit of a Beast

Hello peeps.  Sorry that I haven't been around much lately, there's a lot going on in my life at the moment and my mojo is missing again, presumed dead this time.  Even new stash isn't really lighting my fire that much, which is always bad news, especially taking into account the volume that's been plopping onto the doormat lately.

Anyhoo, I managed to slap this little chap onto Facebook yesterday before work but didn't have time to blog him, so here he is.

I "may" have fallen in love with a new-to-me stamp designer

This critter and the cake sentiment are from the Monster Party stamp set by the lovely Gerda Steiner

If you haven't been over to her site, and you like cute, then you really should pay a visit.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Wood effect paper from Craftwork Cards Potting Shed pad

Happy Birthday sentiment by Hero Arts

Green gingham candy from Craftwork Cards

Goopy border punch from Martha Stewart

Stitched edge die from My Favourite Things

Now that surprised me, quite a list of ingredients for such a simple card!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

PS.  I won't even begin to start ranting about Google blocking followers who don't have a Google account.  Remember, you can still keep up to date with me by Bloglovin' or signing up for emails