I Heart You (DTDF DT)

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope your Christmas has been

a good one, whatever you have been up to.

Despite being spoiled by Santa, I may, or may not, have made a little purchase or two from the

latest Stamping Bella release - and then wondered what to do with the stamp.

After a great deal of pondering, as Gru would say ...... Liiiiightbulllllb!

What else do you do with photos of mates - you pin them to your corkboard

along with all your little sticky notes of course!

Stamping Bella : Uptown Girls Snapshots - I Heart You

My Favorite Things : Grateful For You stamp set

MFT 6x6 : Graphic Grid Pastels

See you in 2018

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DIES TO DIE FOR Inspiration Blog

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Reindeer Games (DTDF DT)

Hello peeps, happy Christmas Eve Eve, I'm here with my Dies To Die For Inspiration Blog post and if you have already been over there you will know I have a little challenge for you

Can you name me all 10 of Santa's reindeer?

On your marks, get set, go!
(and no cheating please, it's Christmas after all)

The correct answer will be at the end of this post.

Mama Elephant - Reindeer Games

Die-Namics Stitched Tag Corner Square Stax

Whimsy Shapeology Dies - Corner Die Set

I used Die-Versions A Hint of Lime for the lettering but any font of the

right size would do, or even a Merry word die like this

Lawn Fawn Scripty Merry

Everything on the image panel painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Thanks everyone for all your visits and your loving support during my first

year on the DTDF team, it means a lot.  All that remains for me to do this week is

to wish you all a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hugs, Squirrel xx

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(please note that orders placed over Christmas will not ship until 2 January)

So, the reindeer
Dasher and Dancer
Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
Donner and Blitzen
Rudolph and Olive

What do you mean, you have never heard of Olive?

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.
Olive the Other Reindeer used to laugh
and call him names.....

DTDF (DT) Christmas Mash-Up

Morning peeps, I hope you are all well, that your festive plans are coming along and all is joyful.  Our Christmas is currently going to hell in a rapidly accelerating handcart and I am not sure there are any brakes!

Never mind, it will be what it will be, and we will still enjoy it I'm sure.  I'm fretting somewhat because I still have so much to do, combined with a full week of work to go, and something is going to have to give way, before I do, but in the end it doesn't matter, it's celebrating the event with family and friends that matters the most, and who needs the frills to be able to do that?!

Anyhoo, today I have a little mash-up for you, and I'm not talking potatoes.

So, the list of deliciousness used for this is:

MFT: Jingle All The Way

MFT: Santa's Elves

MFT: Our Story

Die-Namics: A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1

MFT 6x6: Farm Fresh Gingham

Impression Obsession: Ho Ho Ho

The bottom border die is also Die-Namics (I think it is Dainty Doily Border) but it has

been retired by MFT.  

There are still some  related products available in the DTDF store, just search for Dainty Doily.

I painted the entire design with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with the exception of the two

Glamour Dust sections of the tree.

For those of you who haven't attempted masking yet, give it a try!  All you need is a Post-It Note pad (other brands are available) and a steady hand.  You just need to work out whether you want your image at the front (stamp first) or behind (stamp last). 

That's me for today, I'm off to continue my panic elsewhere, we have a lot to do today and there isn't that much time to get it all done in.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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AYLI (DT) Box or Bag (non card project)

Hello chaps.  I'm having a bit of a panic right about now as I have just realised what the date is and how flippin' far behind I am with the preparations for you-know-what.  I'm beginning to reach the stage of "what the heck"

However, for those of you far more organised than I am, there is the start of another new challenge with the

AS YOU LIKE IT blog, and this time the theme is BOX or BAG (this is a non-card project)

I love making boxes, there are endless variations on size, and it is so much fun

to make one tailor made for the gift it contains.  I think I have just about cracked

the square/rectangle, so maybe now it is time to be more adventurous!

So for this cutie, I used my Martha Stewart score board to make the

box, and of course I still forgot which piece was top and which was bottom!

Stamping Bella: Tiny Townie Frida Loves Frosty

A variety of Dovecraft Back to Basics Christmas papers

Nestabilities snowflakes

and Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Sweet Stamp Store

$10.00

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Gingerbread Lucy

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  Well, it is well and truly December this weekend!

I hope all of you that have snow are snug and warm (and safe) indoors.  We haven't had

any of it yet, and although it can be a bit of a nuisance, part of me is really hankering

to see a little flurry or two.  All we have are sub-zero temperatures and an

evil north-westerly wind.  Mind you, rain forecast for tomorrow so I guess that

might just, maybe, turn white and fluttery!

Anyhoo, I am here today with a little heart warmer for you today.  Last week

my DTDF Teamie, Kat, (Festive Bottle Tags) showed you how to use this die as a stunning tag for a

wine bottle, but I have used mine to make a door hanger

(yes, I know it's not on a door, it's actually hanging from one of my saucepan hooks!)

Die-Namics: Wine Tag

CC Designs: Swiss Pixie Gingerbread Lucy

MFT 6x6: Graphic Grid Pastels

Die-Namics: Circle Stax

I have painted Lucy with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and followed

the colour scheme on the stamp pack because it was so warm and cosy.

The gingerbread man background paper is Dear Santa by Helz Cuppleditch (Trimcraft)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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In The Pink (Final DT) Christmas

Hello all.  Normally on a Thursday we would be bursting with happy Pinkness, but today's challenge is tinged with a great deal of sadness.  Today sees the start of the final challenge at IN THE PINK.

Our favourite Pink Lady, Christine, has decided that after five years of dedicating her soul to the Pink Purpose, now is time to call it a day.  We hope that you will take the time to pop over to her own blog to express your thanks/thoughts.

So, for our final theme, it is of course, CHRISTMAS.

CC Designs: Pollycraft Snowy

Impression Obsession: Let It Snow

Die-Namics: Rectangle Stitched Scallop Edge Frame

MFT 6x6 Tiny Hearts Pastels

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a hint of Polychromos

Looking forward to seeing you there one more time.

Hugs, Squirrel x

DTDF (DT) Winter Bunny

Morning all, a somewhat chilly Squirrel here.  The Toad and I have just had our last couple of

days holiday before Christmas and I have to say that Thursday was subzero temps over here.

In fact, it was too cold for the snow that everyone else seemed to be getting (we had three flakes at most) and I felt decidedly cheated!

When it is as cold and windy and snowy (here and there) as the UK weather

has been this week, what you need is a matching hat and scarf combo!

Lovely things used

Whimsy Stamps (Krista Heij-Barber) Winter Bunny

Impression Obsession DIE233-M Holiday Bottom Word Edges

Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Edges

MFT 6x6 Farm Fresh Gingham

MFT 6x6 Tiny Hearts Pastels

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead - I plan to be snug and warm in

the studio and getting immersed in the last of the Christmas cards

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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AYLI (DT) Animal

Hello everyone, doing anything special for the last day of November?  Eeeeek, 

where did that month go?!

As well as that, it's time for another challenge over as AS YOU LIKE IT and the theme

for this fortnight is ANIMALS (your favourite, and why)

Regular readers of this blog will know that I am most definitely an animal lover, and

top of that list is cats (yes, even you Rosie), followed closely by dogs, rabbits, squirrels, donkeys, alpacas, oh let's face it, anything with fur on is good for me!

I could not resist this goofy chap

Isn't he fun!

Whimsy Stamps (Krista Heij-Barber) Merry Moose-mas

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Die-Namics Stitched Basic Edges and Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges

Papermania snowflake paper

Rymans pink and purple cardstock

Clearly Besotted sentiment Say It's Christmas

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Crafts U Love

£10 voucher

Looking forward to seeing all your favourite critters!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Happy Pawlidays

Happy Saturday folks.  The arrival of this weekend is so welcome!

Don't tell Faye but over at the DIES TO DIE FOR inspiration blog

things are starting to look a lot like Christmas C*mas

I imagine that now we have only four and a bit weeks to the C*mas event, us crafters are

probably up to our elbows in festive stuff, so here's a small contribution to this year's

C*mas card mountain - still many more to make, eeeek

And the yummy things used are

MFT stamp set: Happy Pawlidays

Die-Namics: Stitched Square Scallop Edge Frames

Mama Elephant: Snow Flurries

Whimsy Stamps: Holiday Mini Sentiments Clear Stamps

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Polychromos Pencils

LOTV Frosty Christmas papers (retired)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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Filled With Joy

It's been a long time since I entered

the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge but when I

saw this weeks I knew immediately that

I wanted to use my new Pure Innocence stamp

So I have used:

MFT Pure Innocence - Filled With Joy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and Polychromos Pencils

Die-Namics Stitched Rounded Corner Frame

Clearly Besotted sentiment

Die-Namics Stitched Sentiment Strips

Rymans red cardstock and

LOTV papers

Hugs to all

Squirrel x

DTDF (DT) Whimsy/Wee Sarah

Yoo-hoo chaps!

Here I am with my DIES TO DIE FOR inspiration blog make, on what is (here) a rather nippy November day.  It's warm hat, coat and boots weather - all you need is a furry friend to finish it all off

So, the yummy things used here are

Whimsy/Wee Stamps: Sarah

Mama Elephant: Snow Flurries dies

Impression Obsession: Let It Snow DIE593-B

Whimsy Stamps: Double Scallop Doily Die

I painted the image with various shades of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and the papers are LOTV Krafty Christmas

Right then, when did I put my bear ....

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For online store

for all of the above and a huge amount more

AYLI (DT) Favourite Christmas Colours

Good morning peeps, happy Thursday to you.  It's time for another challenge

with AS YOU LIKE IT and this fortnight the theme is Favourite Christmas Colours (and why)

Although I do enjoy venturing into the world of pink and purple Christmas

occasionally, I really prefer the more traditional colours of red, green and beige.

They remind me so much of the seasonal plants we bring indoors to

decorate with, the holly, the ivy, the mistletoe, and they

just make me feel so warm and cosy

I have used

MFT Personal Innocence: Nice List (stamp and die)

Die-Namics: Merry Christmas Circle Frame

and some Dovecrafts Christmas papers from a couple of seasons ago

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I do hope, now that we are all getting into the swing of the festive cards, that

you will find time to join in the challenge.

Our sponsor for this one is

PolkaDoodles

Prizes: - 3 digi stamps voucher

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Edna Needs A(nother) Martini (DTDF DT)

Hello all, here I am again with my post for the

DIES TO DIE FOR Inspiration Blog

You might have noticed this little lady earlier in the week, but hey, I absolutely

love her so why not use her again

Stamping Bella: Edna Needs A Martini

MFT: Because You

Die-Namics: A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax

Die-Namics: Stitched Sentiment Strips

MFT 6x6: Farm Fresh Gingham

Image coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a smudge of Polychromos

Right then, where's the martini ..........

Have a super weekend!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

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In The Pink (DT) Spots/Stripes

Hello Pink Fans - it's a new challenge starting today over at IN THE PINK

and the theme this time around is SPOTS/STRIPES

Once I started looking at my stamps, I was seeing spots and stripes everywhere

but I decided to use this one just because she is sooooo much

fun and a joy to colour

This is Stamping Bella: Edna Needs A Martini

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

the sentiment comes with the stamp

I'm not 100% sure about the striped paper but it could well be First Edition

A very simple card, but Edna doesn't need anything else!

Our sponsor for this challenge is

A DAY FOR DAISIES

You have a month to get your pink on

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Lumberjack Guys

Morning all, I'm here today with one for the boys as my

inspiration piece for the DIES TO DIE FOR blog

Yesterday was young Sam's birthday, well I say young, he is well into being

a teenager now, and teenage years are when the cards start getting tricky.  Thankfully

Sam is a softie so I am certain he will appreciate the small and furry element!

CC Designs: Lumberjack Guys (set of 4 stamps)

MFT: Sweet Forest Friends

MFT: Birthday Greetings

Die-Namics: Stitched Hexagon Stax

Lawn Fawn: Knit Picky 6x6

The gold star peel-offs that I layered over the Lawn Fawn paper are a staple

in my stash, and (oddly) always make their annual appearances round about this time of year

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a wee smidge of Polychromos

Have a lovely crafty weekend all

Hugs, Squirrel xx

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AYLI (DT) Christmas or Non-Christmas

Morning all!  A new challenge starts today over on the AS YOU LIKE IT challenge blog, and our theme for this fortnight is Christmas or Non-Christmas (which do you prefer making for) - you must explain why!

I tolerate Christmas.  I have been up to my ears in Christmas cards since June with orders, and have barely made a start on my own, so right at the moment I am feeling decidedly bah-humbug.  I have to say that I enjoy making the first one or two, but after that I've had enough.  Non-Christmas cards I can happily make all year round with no problems!

Oh, look, a non-Christmas card, lol

CC Designs: Rockabilly Girls stamp set (4 images)

Whimsy Stamps sentiment

Papercraft House floral papers

Martha Stewart border punch

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor of this challenge is

Crafty Ribbons
£10 voucher

You have two weeks - Christmas or not, please do share with us.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Polar Bear Pals

Morning all, me again with another post for the DIES TO DIE FOR inspiration blog.

Am I detecting a nip in the air yet?
OK, I know it is the end of October, and the clocks go back this weekend, but I'm
not sure it is really chilly enough for these two yet.

MFT:  Polar Bear Pals

MFT 6x6: Graphic Grid

Die-Namics: Stitched Circle Stax

Lawn Fawn: Mini Snowflakes

The only additions to this were the Distress Inks (ReInkers), Hunkydory holographic card and
some patient fussy cutting

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Hugs to all

Squirrel x

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In The Pink (DT - belated) Ribbons/Bows

Okay, so I missed getting this made in time for the IN THE PINK challenge of RIBBONS/BOWS (Breast Cancer Awareness) so I'm pretending that this was meant to be a midway reminder!

As this awful disease has no boundaries on age, I used this particular

image to highlight the fact that it can affect young and old alike

CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals: ipod Erica

Pink gingham cardstock from stash

L'il Inker Designs stitched bow die

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

The sponsor for this challenge is

digistampboutique.co.uk

and the closing date is 8 November, so you still have time to enter

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Stamping Bella Chrysanthemum

I'm here today for my DIES TO DIE FOR post with a touch

of autumnal loveliness

Stamping Bella:  Tiny Townie Garden Girl - Chrysanthemum

Stamping Bella: Chrysanthemum Cut It Out Die

MFT 6x6: Farm Fresh Gingham

Die-Namics: Stitched Sentiment Strips

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment from Clearly Besotted

Hoping your weekend is in full bloom.

Hugs, Squirrel x

Dies To Die For online store

AYLI (DT) People or Animals?

I'm sure it is a question many of us have asked ourselves, which do I prefer, people or animals.  

Well, that is the theme for this fortnights challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT but you will of course have to explain yourself!

I do seem to have used a lot of people images on my cards lately, but I prefer the animals, in real life too.  They tend to appeal to everyone, and the same image can be adjusted for either a male or female recipient, and the majority of them are sooooo cute!

Awwwwh!

I have used:

Clearly Besotted: Little Donkey

Clearly Besotted: Say It's Christmas

Die-Namics: A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 1 & 2

Distress Inks (ReInkers) & Polychromos Pencils

and the sponsor for this challenge is

Paper Nest Dolls

Prize is 3 images of winners choice.

The Paper Nest Dolls Blog

Looking forward to seeing your entries.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Puddle Jumping Twila

Hello chaps, hope this Saturday finds you fine and dandy.

Sorry for the absence from blogland and social media over the past ten days, I've been a

"bit" under the weather, but am hopefully now on the mend.

Speaking of under the weather, my DIES TO DIE FOR make today shows that

even the weather needn't get you down

With the right pair of wellies, a girl can do anything!

And the lovely things used are

CC Designs stamp: Roberto's Rascals Puddle Jumping Twila

My Favorite Things: All About You sentiment set

Die-Namics: You Trio

MFT 6x6 paper: Graphic Grid

and the MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil

Image has been painted, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and I used the Faded Jeans Distress Ink pad for the clouds

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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AYLI (DT) Flowers or Ribbons

Hello gang, hope this finds you well.  There's another new challenge starting

over at AS YOU LIKE IT today and the theme for this fortnight is

Your Favourite - Flowers or Ribbons

(and purrrleeeeeeeeease tell us why)

OK, so, here's the dilemma, I don't often use ribbons or flowers!

I have tried in the past, but "dog's dinner" comes to mind, froo-froo just isn't

my style.  So, I furtled about in the stash to see which of the two evils I have the

most of, and was horrified to find a rather sizeable collection of flowers, so I thought I had better use some!

The lovely things I have used

Stamping Bella Tiny Townies Garden Girls: Rose (stamp and die)

Nitwits paper pad (LOTV) Always & Forever

LOTV Krafty Christmas

Die-Namics Bold Stripes Cover Up

LOTV Circular Sentiments

Wild Orchid Crafts - small flowers and rose leaves

Image painstakingly painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Crafts U Love
£10 voucher

and all that remains is to wish our beloved leader, Annette, a VERY happy birthday for today!

Hope you will have a rummage in your own stash and then share your

fabulous makes with us.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx