So much love in the room ......

..... I am exhausted, emotionally and physically.  Yesterday was the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Thetford so off we went, having set Wayne, the SatNav, with the postcode.  Now, Wayne is a bit thick.  He gets it into his tiny little chip which direction he wants you to go, even if it isn't the route you want, and he is determined to get you that way.  We experienced that on the way to the Lake District.  We wanted the M6, he wanted us on the A1.  We were nearly to Manchester before he actually gave in.

Yesterday was no better.  He wanted us on the A14, we wanted the A140/A1066.  If he said "recalculating" once, he must have said it about twenty times as I confidently ignored his instructions (well, you do when you are on local roads don't you).  It was a very pretty drive up through Suffolk and into Norfolk - a route I hadn't been on for several years.  However, as much as it pains me, for a shorter journey (not by much mind) and a quicker route, the blasted SatNav was actually right!  But if we had followed him we would have had a journey of HGVs and a boring duel carriageway.  Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Anyhoo, we got there safely, and within two minutes of entering the hall, I was swamped in Dies To Die For hugs!  Finally, I get to meet my precious girls - Annette, Sue, Tracy, Faye, Kat, Debbie, and of course Tracy's amazing man, Andy!  

Lots of squeals and giggles.  At which point, Toad is a bit outnumbered and overwhelmed so he took himself off for a nice swim in the pool next door, bless him.

I did some shopping (cough), a lot of chattering, some more shopping (sorry Andy) and cemented some already longstanding friendships.  I didn't want to leave.

But leave we had to, and actually listened to Wayne on the way home.  He didn't have to shout at me once.

So, today I am off work (holiday) and recovering.  I know how I feel so dread to think how tired and aching the others must be who had far longer journeys.  Yes, bits of me ache that I had forgotten could ache, but it was soooooooooooooo worth it to be able to meet my gorgeous teamies.

So, after all that ramble, I do actually have a little card for you - and this sums up yesterday.

When one heart isn't enough, make a string of them!

This little lass is Twila from CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals String of Hearts

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencil for hair detail

A real pick n mix of paper and card, I can't even remember which pad the heart paper came from

Spellbinders dies - I've lost the label but they are probably large scallop something

Thank you girls, it was a blast!

What goes on tour, stays on tour (and Debbie, I am sorry about Toad and your camera!)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Beary Special at DTDF

Happy Saturday everyone!  I'm pacing the floor a bit today as tomorrow is the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Thetford and if all goes well, I'm hoping to visit.  Not only will the fabulous Tracy with her Dies To Die For be there, but I am hoping to be able to meet some of my new teamies AND my BBFF (that's Best Blogging Friend Forever)!  I have butterflies!

Anyhoo, down to business, it's my day for the Dies To Die For Design Team and here is my make:

So, I have used

MFT Beary Special Birthday
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment from the Beary set - embossed in white

Echo Park Birthday Wishes Girl

Die-Versions Express Edges
I used the Birthday word but the Celebrate one would work equally well
Custom sized card base

Right then, I'm off to run around like a headless chicken - catch up with you soon
with a post Show report!

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For On-line Store

AYLI (DT) Favourite Flower

Hello chaps, and welcome to another Thursday challenge with the girls at AS YOU LIKE IT

This time the theme is FAVOURITE FLOWER

For me, flowers are seasonal, I love daisies all year round, but there are certain flowers that fit the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter slots too.  For Spring, when the air is full of hope and promises, there is nothing like the splash of colour from the nodding heads of tulips to make you think everything is going to be just fine

For this card I have used

Wild Rose Studio - Milton with Tulips

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The word die is from W Plus 9 Design Studio "Sending Hoping Wishing" set and I have made a stack using two layers of kraft card for depth before adding the top layer

The gingham and polka dot papers are from My Favourite Things

and the matting layer is a sheet of First Edition

Die shape is Spellbinders Labels 18

The sponsor of this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts
£12 gift voucher

I'm "hoping" that on this chilly January day, this has helped you feel a little more Springy!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF - the debut!

Morning all, thanks for calling by today, and a huge thank you for all your good wishes!

It's all happened rather quickly, but I have had over a week of grinning and itching to tell you all.

So, today is my debut appearance for the design team at

DIES TO DIE FOR BLOG

and I cannot thank Tracy and the girls enough for the opportunity

So, here we go with my first make

So, I bought this cheeky little chap last year as I thought he could be used for so much more than Valentine's but in the end he didn't get inked until this year - and it's still not for Valentine's

Stamp - CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals Valentine Henry

Sentiment - Whimsy Stamps - Bold Statements
Design paper - Echo Park - For The Record 2

I have painted Henry with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The only extra ingredient is the black card for the matting layer to make him

pop out from the flowery background (which I absolutely lurrrve)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DIES TO DIE FOR online store

OMG! It's Official - Squeeeeeeeeeeeeal !

OK, I can share it with you - it's official!

I am a very lucky little Squirrel - I have been invited to join the incredible Design Team

for the lovely Tracy at DIES TO DIE FOR - Wow Wow Wow!

If things work to plan this evening, you will be able to see my first post for them tomorrow

Giving shelter....

Hi all, hope Tuesday finds you fine and dandy!

I have a wee spring in my step this morning but you will have to wait a bit longer to find out what that's all about (oh I can be such a terrible tease, lol).

Anyhoo, I have been stocking up my emergency supplies and realised that I was out of sympathy cards.  I wanted to make something that was a bit different from the normal flowers so when I saw the stamps with Creative Stamper magazine, I think I had a light-bulb moment - judge for yourselves....

Ok, I didn't say it was 100 watt did I?!

So, the umbrella, clouds and heart shaped raindrops all came from Creative Stamper

The "with sympathy" was also a magazine freebie

Papers are MFT Tiny Check Brights

And a tiny smidge of Distress Ink (ReInkers) on the clouds and brolly handle

I just hope that it's not needed for a very long time to come.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

As You Like It (DT) Favourite Hair!!

Now then, when Auntie Annette chooses a challenge theme, she does choose some crackers, but please don't be as scared of this one as I was when I first saw it!  It's much easier than it sounds, honest.

It's AS YOU LIKE IT challenge day and our theme is FAVOURITE HAIR COMBO

(basically, your favourite way to colour hair, and the colours you use)

Here is my DT card

When I do brown hair (a favourite because it always feels so warm), I use a light wash of Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (ReInker) and then get busy with the Polychromos Pencils (Brown Ochre, Nougat, Bistre, Van-Dyke Brown, Walnut Brown)

Which means that of course I have used Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Tiddly Inks: Wryn - Smart Cookie

Raspberry Road papers Pressed In Time

MFT Die-Namics double stitched rectangle die

and of course you want to know who the sponsor is, and it's

Paper Nest Dolls

Prize is 3 images of winners choice.

The Paper Nest Dolls Blog

So, assuming you are not too freaked out, we look forward to seeing

all your hairy creations!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Puff!

Showing my age here this morning (and certainly feeling it) with a trip down memory lane to Junior Choice!

One of the songs that was regularly played was Puff The Magic Dragon ....

 I have used

My Favorite Things - Magical Dragons stamp set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

"Charming" sentiment from the MFT set

"Thank You" from Clearly Besotted

Green matting layer is a scrap of Dovecraft Back To Basics paper

6x4 card base - custom cut to landscape format

Hope you have a magical Monday

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Anything Goes

Happy Pink New Year to you!  Yep, it's January, it's Thursday and it's the start of a new

IN THE PINK year, and to ease you in gently our first theme is Anything Goes.

Here's my DT card

OK, so the ingredients for this one are

MFT Pure Innocence Bookworm stamp

MFT Our Story stamp set

MFT Die-Namics Window die

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Sentiment Strips

Clouds paper is from Nitwits

Pink card is Hunkydory Adorable Scorable

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and our sponsor of this challenge is ALL DRESSED UP

So, what's stopping you, go and get PINK!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Thank You

As we have had a really quiet Christmas, and neither of us have had to go into work, I have managed quite a bit of play time since Boxing Day - which is good, in many ways, but especially as I had rather a lot of thank you cards to get made!  You may spot a theme over the next week or so, lol.

This first one is for my boss, Emma.  Regular readers will know that Emma is not only my boss, and I went with her when we changed firms in April, but she is also a good friend.  There is a story behind this card, but unfortunately it is not one I can share with you here.

I wish I could remember the name of the stamp, but I can't - 

it's from Lili of The Valley from a few years ago.

Sentiment stamp is a magazine freebie.

Snowflake is an X-Cut small palm punch

Pink card stock from Rymans

and a custom made 6x4 card base

What little colouring there is has been done with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I shall be entering this in the LOTV Facebook Challenge - Anything Goes

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

(Some) Favourite Makes of 2016

OK, so, I have been "encouraged" to share again a few of my favourite makes from 2016.

When I say "encouraged", I think you know what I really mean.  Anyhoo, here's a whistle-stop tour of what happened in the last year with a baker's dozen:

January

February

March

April

May

June

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Blimey, that was a year wasn't it?!  Thanks for sharing it with me.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx