As You Like It (DT) True Love or Fabulous Friends

 Hellooo (waving), Happy Thursday peeps.

It's the start of a new theme over at As You Like It Challenge and for this fortnight we're asking which type of cards you like to make, either for your True Love or Fabulous Friends.

I prefer making cards for my friends, although the hubby does get his share of lurrvve cards, because I can be quirkier with them and they don't have to be too mushy.

I have used Whimsy Stamps (Lee Holland Collection) Mouse With Rose

A Li'l Inkers sentiment stamp from an old set called Between The Lines

(you need to read the small print)

Doodlebugs gingham paper

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Scallop die

and mouse painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

I cut part way around the rose so that I could tuck the gingham paper behind it.

You have a fortnight to enter the challenge, so looking forward to seeing what you come up with,

Hugs

AYLI (DT) Skin/Fur Colour Combo

Morning all.  Today I am feeling pawly and a bit ruff ......

It's the start of a new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT and the theme for this fortnight is your favourite colour combination for skin or fur.  

I tend to colour far more critters than I do human beans, and over time I have discovered that my favourite combination of Distress Inks for a golden fur colour is a base coat of Scattered Straw, washed over with Tea Dye, and Brushed Corduroy for shading.  If I am feeling particularly brave I will use Walnut Stain for darker areas, and on a particularly courageous day, Black Soot might make an appearance.  Another combination is a very simple Antique Linen/Frayed Burlap pairing, but the golden theme seems to prevail in my world!

as you can see, the little dog is peeking through the window, but what on earth is

he standing on?

what a cheeky pooch!

For this make I have used

MFT You Make My Tail Wag stamps

Die-Namics You Make My Tail Wag dies

MFT Four Legged Friends stamps

Die-Namics Square Peek-A-Boo Window

Doodlebug pawprint paper

and of course

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Prizes: - 3 digi stamps voucher worth £6.75

Do come and share your colouring secrets with us!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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

AYLI (DT) Favourite Markers Inks or Pencils

Morning all, and happy Thursday.  It's another new challenge over as AS YOU LIKE IT today, and it's a fun one.

We would like to know about your Favourite Markers, Inks or Pencils and why.

I've tried various types markers (personally, I like Copics the best) but when I discovered the Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks ReInkers for watercolouring I knew I had found MY happy medium.  Occasionally supplemented with pencils for fine detail because I'm not that clever, or patient, with a brush.

Love these little guys!  Stamping Bella Honeybear Stuffies

Watercoloured with DI ReInkers

Background papers are a mixture of Basic Grey and Doodlebug
Sentiment is Lili of The Valley

Not sure what has happened to my formatting today, text alignment and font choice are all over the place.

The sponsor of this challenge is

Prize - £10.00 Voucher

digistampboutique.co.uk catalog

digistampboutique blogspot

OK, you have two weeks to get colourful, just remember that you need to tell us why you used what you did.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Spoke Too Soon

The laptop glitch is back.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!  That was me screaming, not the laptop sticking.  Yesterday was a day for consigning to the tip.  The appointment with the kitchen design was disappointing - we had originally been told they could deal with the building regulations and garage conversion work, but now we have been informed that we should never have been told that because they don't.  Believe me, if we had known to start with, we wouldn't have gone back to see them!!!  The only light in the dark tunnel is the prospect of a Smeg range oven!

Anyway, you didn't come over to hear me ranting and raving so let me show you a card.

I'm sure everyone is aware by now of the most recent release from Wild Rose Studio

This one is Fox On Branch

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) (what else would you expect?!)

Papers are Doodlebug

Corner die is a magazine freebie

Image panel and mat shaped dies are Nestabilities

Pearls are from stash

Have a fun Sunday everyone, whatever you are up to

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Everything's Looking Rosie

OK, so it's Monday, and I am back at work today so you wouldn't think things were too rosie at all.

However, having failed miserably with the New Year Resolution of cutting back on spending on rubber, I thought it only fair to share one of the culprits that had me falling off the wagon so soon, and she certainly is rosie.

 

This little lady is Rosie from CC Designs

with matching die

Coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Sentiment is from Clearly Besotted

The cross stitch border dies are Memory Box

and the double sided blue graph/chevron paper is Doodlebug

The little hearts are the punch waste from a Martha Stewart corner punch

 

So that's me done.  Hope you have an absolutely super Monday.

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 38 - Splish Splash

When you are a squirrel with a thick coat of fur, summer heat is not ideal - things start to go a bit frizzy.  What you need to do is cool down with a nice shower of rain - oh if only!  Welcome to the TOTALLY GORJUSS challenge for this week and our theme is WATER.

Yes, we would like to see your water themed cards - be it puddles, rain, goldfish bowls, an ocean cruise - anything wet.

Thanks for all your fabulous entries to last week's sketch challenge - you really rocked the boat with that one! Don't forget to check the TG blog for the winner.  And while you are over there, do check out the DT cards for this week's inspiration.  We welcome on board two guest DTs, Nina and Mary J.

So here is my DT card for this challenge

I've used this gorgeous "By The River" stamp from Lili Of The Valley - don't you just want to swap places with him?  I'd have my paws in that water in a flash (probably kill all the fish though).  Papers are Making Memories and Doodlebug, sentiment is Craftwork Cards and I've gone for the "fake" button look with my Nestabilities and Japanese screw punch.  Image is coloured with Copics.

So what do you have planned for your weekend then (apart from making your TG entry)?  I have a weekend of sofa sport lined up - first two days of mountain climbing for the Tour de France and a whizz around Silverstone with the British Grand Prix.  What more could a squirrel ask for - apart from a nice, cold shandy?!

Oh and this is your last chance to enter my Tilda wedding candy - it's closing on 16 July - so get your name down if you fancy either of those cute little stamps.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Tilda No 1 and Just Magnolia No 62

I just could not resist combining these two challenges - but I did have to have a little chuckle to myself along the way.

It is JUST MAGNOLIA Special Monthly Challenge and there is a wonderful tutorial from Jeanette on how to make a Criss-Cross Pocket Card.  At first I was a bit daunted, but then seeing how clearly Jeanette explained it all, I just had to have a go.

And it is the first TOTALLY TILDA CHALLENGE with the theme of Chocolate.  Which is where I started giggling.  My craft room is in our conservatory and it is roasting hot out there - if the Chocolate got by me then it wouldn't live long out there!

Four photos, so please bear with me.  Materials are Bazzil base card, Bazzil mat (red) card, Doodlebug papers, and Rymans 200gm white coated card, Copics, Martha Stewart zig-zag border punch, Personal Impressions sentiment collection and Cuttlebug alphabet and of course two adorable Tildas.

I was really pleased with how easy the card itself was to make and will certainly be having a go at another one soon.

Thanks for popping by to have peek.  I'm now off to relax with my boys in lycra.  Phwoar.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia + Just Cute Bears

Afternoon all - how are we doing today?  Had my dose of excitement for the day with the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix so been calming myself down with a couple of challenge cards.

The first is for JUST MAGNOLIA Hot & Spicy challenge

My inspiration for this one came from Chef Edwin, reminds me a little bit of James Martin (phwoar)!  I paper pieced his trousers with a scrap from a Little Sizzlets pad, the main papers with the spicy colours are Basic Grey.  Background recipie is Chicken Jalfrezi!

Second card is for JUST CUTE BEARS Thank You challenge and you might need sunglasses for this one!

Who could resist this little Lili Of The Valley ted with a huge bouquet of flowers?  Sentiment is LOTV as well. Papers are all Doodlebug and matting is DCWV.

Well, that's me nicely serene and calm again, so off downstairs to get dinner sorted so I can be a couch potato in time for Terry Pratchett's "Going Postal" that's on Sky 1 tonight.  Can't wait!  Catch you all tomorrow.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

PBSC + Sketch Saturday + Secret Crafter + Totally Gorjuss + Stamp Something

Hello all, and a happy Saturday to you too!  The sun is shining brightly (hurrah) (retract that, just seen the most enormous, blackest, horriblest snow cloud out the back) - the sun WAS shining brightly this morning, although crisp and cold, it was wonderful after a week of such greyness.  Pleased to say that most of my germy cold has gone and am now just left with the snuffles.  Feeling loads better in myself.

Today, I've gone for five challenges for the one card, although think I might be disallowed one of them!!
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Colour Combo Pink Green and Yellow
Sketch Saturday No 91
Secret Crafter Mother's Day
Totally Gorjuss Flower Power and
Stamp Something Touch of Spring

I have rotated the sketch 90 degrees and come up with

I have used Easter Bonnet by Penny Black, stamped in Memento and coloured with ProMarkers, papers are Doodlebug and Cosmo Cricket, sentiment is Hero Arts, leaves Sizzlets, flowers Woodware, pearls from stash.

Thanks for dropping by - stay warm!
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Bubble Love

Earlier post today: ABC Christmas Challenge B is for Bells

This is the last you will see of me today - going to curl up with hot-water bottle and Vince shortly, but before I do, I've made this one for four challenges
Passion For ProMarkers Cool Aqua and Cocoa
High Hopes Challenge 58 Put A Bow On It
Cupcake Craft Challenge 73 Going Girly and
Flutter By Wednesday Challenge 92

I've used High Hopes "Bubble Love" from Bunny-Zoe's Crafts (she's sooo sweet), coloured with ProMarkers, brown papers are Doodlebug, blue is DCWV, flowers are Prima, brads are Woodware, spacers from Bunny-Zoe's, sticky ribbon and bow from stash

I enjoyed this colour challenge, and will use these two together again sometime.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

High Hopes Challenge 56 - Tall Cards

It has been so long since I made a tall card that I went quite giddy with excitement when I saw this week's High Hopes Challenge - in fact, it's been soooo long that I don't have any DL cards kicking around so out came the 12x12 and the guillotine!

I've used the yummy Dapper Dan snowman stamp from High Hopes, Bazzil cardstock, Doodlebug and Papermania papers, Penny Black sentiment and glitter stands from little pot on the windowsill.  Dan is coloured with ProMarkers.

Pleased to report that I am feeling much better today, although I am still having to struggle with "thin" food (crackers mostly).  Antibiotics are kicking in and the hamster look is subsiding.

Thanks for popping by, hope Dan makes you smile as much as he does me.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

And Two More For Fun

I'm back!  I was only at the garage for all of three minutes - loose connection so no £ charge.  Phew!

If you saw my earlier post today you will see that I'm having a Tilda Revival Moment!  Could not resist another one today ....

I love this Tilda, she always make me smile.  Papers are Doodlebug and from stash.  Corners are Sizzex Architectural Accents (wish I had more of these) and the sentiment is Magnolia too.  Coloured with Copics.

Ooh, did I tell you that I am in love with another man?  Yeah, 's true - here's a picture of him .....

Aint' he just the most handsome fella?  He's Dapper Dan from High Hopes stamps, and I think he is just sooo gorgeous!  Papers are that pink Christmas stack, you know the one, and Dan is coloured with ProMarkers.

That's me about done for today - unless I get a burst of energy later - so I'm off to do something decadent, have some lunch and sit down for an hour or so with George Clooney!

Hugs

Squirrel xxx

Passion For ProMarkers Plus One

I'm on a roll today .........

This one is for the Passion For ProMarkers Challenge and this week it is Grass and Canary colours. Have to admit, that for an Ipswich Town supporter, Norwich City colours are rarely allowed in this house!

This little cutie is a Sugar Nellie called "Baubles" and she is, of course, coloured with ProMarkers. Backing papers are a freebie from Making Cards plus cardstock from stash. I used Labels Six from Nestabilities for the shape, ribbon from stash and Candy Dots for the corners.

Then I suddenly realised the date and that I hadn't posted a friend's birthday card - actually, I hadn't even made it so out came "Painting Rainbows" from Sugar Nellie and some rather stunning Doodlebug Design papers.

She's coloured with ProMarkers and the sentiment is a Personal Impressions one. I didn't realise until too late that the white card I used has a blue speckle but maybe it adds something?

Off to Tesco now to get something for dinner tonight.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

High Hopes Snowflakes!

Morning all. Felt so bad during the night that at 2.30am I was furtling about under the sink for the brandy bottle. I had to admit defeat and phone for a doctor's appointment this morning. Duly trundled off to be poked and prodded and have come home with a bucket full of antibiotics for a sinus infection. It's got so bad it's making my teeth and ear ache :-(

Anyway, thought I would have a go at this week's challenge from High Hopes which is Snowflakes.

I used the Three Pane Christmas stamp, which would make a great companion to the Three Pane Santa stamp that is on offer as this week's prize. I love the little Rudolph in the middle. Papers are a mixture of Doodlebug, Papermania and Anitas. Mirri card is from stash. I used a Cuttlebug die and a Woodware punch for the snowflakes.

I hope you like it.
Hugs
Squirrel xx