In The Pink (DT) Spring Flowers

Hello chaps, it's a new challenge theme over at IN THE PINK today and this time we are looking for you to share your Spring Flowers with us!

I first saw this stamp set being showcased by the very talented Faye when we

went to the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Thetford, and I knew I had to have

it as it is one I can use time and time again.

Mind you, my make isn't a patch on what Faye created!

So, this bright and happy any occasion card has been made using

Paper Smooches - Best Buds (stamps and dies)

Your Next Stamp - Hugs and Kisses 6x6 paper pad

Rymans bright pink cardstock

Lili of The Valley mini tag sentiment

Martha Stewart Flower Border Punch

Die-Namics Double Stitched Rectangle Stax

and a tiny pink dot that was waste from a die-cut as a faux brad!

Image coloured (shock! horror!) with Polychromos Pencils

and to tempt you is a £15 voucher from our sponsor

DIES TO DIE FOR

(all linked items available in store)

I do hope you can find the time to get your petals on and come over to join in the floral fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Mouse With Rose (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello chaps, it is the weekend (yay) and Spring really does seem to have sprung now, at last!  We have a busy weekend ahead, what with Mother's Day tomorrow, Church twice, the start of the 2017 Formula 1 season (yippee!) and I have some special design work to get on with.  So without more ado, here is my make for the DIES TO DIE FOR blog today.

Whimsy Stamps: Lee Holland Collection - Mouse With Rose

MFT Die-Namics Double Stitched Circle Stax

MFT Die-Namics Dainty Doily Die

MFT Watercolor Wash 6x6 pad

Your Next Stamp Hugs And Kisses 6x6 pad

All the linked ingredients are available from the

Dies To Die For on-line store - the links will take you to the right pages

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I used the off-the-page technique

with the rose.  It proved a little tricky with the double-stitched die but I got there

in the end

Heart punch from the bargain bin at Hobbycraft

I have made this for my Oldies' wedding anniversary for this coming Tuesday.

A little while ago I had a phone call from my dad, it isn't often he will make a call so I was a little concerned, but I had to have a chuckle.

Dad:  You know what this year is?

Me:  Yes dad, it's 2017.

Dad:  Me and your mum have been married 60 years.

Me:  No, you haven't.

Dad:  We have.

Me:  No dad, you really haven't.  It's 58.

Dad:  Are you sure?

Me:  Yes dad, you got married in 1959, that's 58 years.  You have 2 years to go.

Dad:  Oh bugger.

😕

Bless his little heart.  But it did give me the opportunity to remind him that it might not be an 0 anniversary, but it is an 0 birthday for my mum.  He was grateful that I had mentioned it, and asked me to remind him again nearer the time!

Hope you have a super weekend, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

DIES TO DIE FOR

AYLI (DT) Favourite Colouring Medium

Hello chaps, today sees the start of a new challenge over at
AS YOU LIKE IT

and our theme is Your Favourite Colouring Medium
(and purrleeease remember to tell us WHY it is your favourite)

I've tried just about everything - watercolour pencils, watercolour paints, ProMarkers, Copics, art pencils ..... but the one I feel most comfortable with and come back to time and time again are the Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours - they are such fun colours to work with and I love how you can create so much depth and tone with them - although as with most water based medium, they can be a little unpredictable at times, but that's half the fun!

So, I have used an older Stampavie image called "Being Together"

and of course, she has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I have sponged the sky with Broken China Distress Ink and a home made stencil

Matting layers are from Your Next Stamp "Hugs & Kisses" and MFT "Watercolor Wash"

Sentiment is from MFT "Lots Of Hugs " sentiment stamp set

I hummed and haard about making her into a card, but instead have added her to a page of my memories book.

Looking forward to seeing you over at the challenge.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Happy Bird-Day (DT) Dies To Die For

Happy Squirrel day everyone!

Well, it's not Squirrel day, it's Saturday, but that's the same thing in my book (grins), especially as it is my day to showcase over on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog

The linked products are all available on the Dies To Die For store

Whimsy (Chrissy Armstrong Collection) - Happy Bird-Day stamp

Die-Namics Double Stitched Circle Stax

MFT Tribal Prints 6x6 pad

and the extras used are

Tonic layered circle dies

A small star punch and a corner punch that I used to nibble away at

the sentiment panel to give a rustic look

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

As you can probably see, this is one of those odd shaped cards - I marked out the circle from

mid-line in pencil and then carefully cut with a knife so that half the circle overlaps the

inside of the card, which is where the contrast paper layer is, so I got the circle shape without

adding an extra layer

It's the first time I've tried this and I really like the effect, it just gives a CAS

card that something extra without being cluttered with other stuff but I could really do with

practising my knife skills!

I'm off for a tail colour and trim at lunchtime, and then it will be an afternoon of

clipping back shrubbery in the back garden.  I would be much happier sat

with a paintbrush in my paw

Have a super day, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For online store

Bluebell (DT) Dies To Die For

Happy Saturday everyone, here I am again with some loveliness
brought to you from Dies To Die For

All the linked items below can be found in the store

Wild Rose Studio - Bluebell With Hedgehog

My Favorite Things - Sweet Celebration paper pad

My Favorite Things - Watercolor Wash paper pad

Impression Obsession - Birthday Top Edgers

Die-Namics - Dainty Doily border

Lawn Fawn - Puffy Clouds Borders
Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I've been under the weather for the last couple of weeks with this hideous cold virus that has been doing the rounds.  It went through our office like wildfire.  I thought I was getting over it and then WHAM! back it came with a vengeance.  Hopefully I am now on the right side of it, hope so, as we are beginning to squabble over the tissue box! 

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For on-line store

Don't forget to check out the Events Page, there could be something

DTDF happening near you!

AYLI (DT) Favourite Stamp Brand

Hello all, hope you are ok - there is a new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT starting today and it is (for me) a stinker!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to tell us about your FAVOURITE STAMP BRAND.

Our Team Leader might as well have said "Oh, just choose your favourite pet"!

Good grief, favourite stamp brand?  Impossible.

OK, so I did the thing of "what do I have most of?" - erm, yeah, that went well, the answer is rubber.

So, next "what have I used most in the last twelve months?" - erm, ok, getting warmer.

This could go on for some time so I am going to plump for CC Designs because I adore the Roberto's Rascals range, especially Twila, Nancy, Sue and Henry, they are cheeky, funny, and just that little bit sassy.

So, when I eventually chose a stamp it was CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Chicky Henry

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a smidge of Polychromos

Papers are Echo Park - Sunny Days Ahead

Matting layers are just white card edged with an orange marker

Sentiment from Clearly Besotted

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Crafts U Love

£10 voucher

OK, get your thinking caps on, and let's be seeing your favourite (and the reason!)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Forgotten What It Feels Like

Morning all, how are you?  I've been away from work for a couple of days with the lurgy, but by the time this posts, I should be shackled to my desk again.

It seems such a very long time that I made a card just because I wanted to (rather than for a DT or for an order) so I really rather enjoyed myself.  Probably disproportionately considering the small size of the card!

Not many ingredients for this one:

CC Designs - Carrot Love

Echo Park papers - Sunny Days Ahead

MFT Die-Namics Double Stitched Rectangle die

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sponged clouds using a homemade stencil

I have added a sentiment since, but it was personal to the recipient, so I took the

card photo first.

Hope your Tuesday is a good one.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Friends Furever (DTDF DT)

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope you have a super weekend lined up!

It's my day to showcase over on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog
and I have been itching to share these cuties with you all week

MFT - Friends Furever

MFT Die-Namics Twice The Hugs

MFT - Lots Of Hugs

MFT Dots & Stripes Sorbet 6x6 Paper Pad
The bears are painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut
There is a matching die set, which I have ordered, but I didn't have it to hand
Hearts are done with a Hobbycraft punch from their bargain bin

And while I was playing with the bears and the Hugs dies, this
little one sort of popped into being as well

and when you open it up

ta-dah!

Anyhoo, that's me for today, so I shall toodle off and
leave you to enjoy your weekend, whatever you are up to

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For online store

In The Pink (DT) Special Lady

So, now we are into March - so it must be Hello Spring at last!

Today, over at IN THE PINK the theme for the next two weeks is SPECIAL LADY which is perfectly timed for all of you out there making Mother's Day cards.

Here is my make:

So I have used:

Stamping Bella: Squidgie - Smoochie

Tonic heart dies

Poppy Stamps Bubble Daisy Border

Doodlebug paper

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

and our sponsor of this challenge is ALL DRESSED UP

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

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Squirrel's Not So Random Challenge #4 - Spring Fever

According to the MetOffice it is the first day of Spring, in meteorological terms anyway, and I'm happy with that, because it means, technically, that the long and dark days of winter are officially behind us!

Apologies to anyone who popped by on 1 February expecting a new challenge from us, things didn't quite go to plan, but here we are now with a theme that should suit you all beautifully for the next couple of months

SPRING FEVER

So, anything Spring related is what we are looking for, it could be your image, the colours you use, flowers, anything that screams Spring at us

Here is what my clever Little Acorns have been up to

Annette

Becky

Jayne

Squirrel

Sue

Don't those just fill you with sunshine?

And of course the long overdue winner from our last challenge

LUCY WOODS

 Your prize will be with you shortly Lucy

Remember, this challenge will run for two months, closing at 6.00pm (UK time) on

Saturday 29 April

Hugs

Squirrel and The Little Acorns

An InLinkz Link-up