As You Like It Challenge (DT) Feminine or Masculine

 Hello peeps, remember me?  I seem to have been away a while.....but I have still been crafting, honestly.

So, it's a Thursday, and that means it is time for another new theme with

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time we'd like to hear which is your favourite type of card to make

Feminine or Masculine

The majority of my makes are for the ladies, but I do really enjoy the boys cards because I can get away with simplicity without losing impact.

So for this one I hauled out one of old LOTV rubber stamps for this one

and he is one of my all time favourite boys

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

Sentiment is from a very old set with no packaging left, but I think it's Hero Arts

Simple as!

The sponsor for this challenge theme is

Polkadoodles

I know the weather is getting nicer now, but that is no excuse - get crafting!

Hugs

Blossom

Brace yourselves!  I've made a card that's not DT, I made it all for me for fun!

Yesterday I spotted the Sweet Stampin' Challenge Stars and Stripes

and as I have lots of both I thought it was about time to join in

with a challenge that I love but have not had a chance to do for absolutely ages

So for this little cutie I have used

CC Designs Pollycraft Blossom stamp

Die-Namics Double Stitched Rectangle Stax

MFT Sweet Celebration 6x6

MFT Lucky Prints 6x6

and an old Hero Arts sentiment

Image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Embossing

Hello chaps, time for another challenge with the super talented AS YOU LIKE IT team!

For this challenge we would like you to use EMBOSSING

either HEAT or DRY, and you must remember to tell us about your choice.

Here's my DT card

I used to heat emboss all the time when I first started card making but that was before there was the choice of so many inks to stamp with.  Since I've been using Memento I have hardly used the heat gun.  I've been experimenting recently with embossing cutting dies, some successful, some not so, but it is a fun technique and I am learning a lot about what will work and what won't.

So, the stamped image for this card is April from Penny Black

Fussy cut by me

The die that I embossed with is Die-Namics Chicken Wire

and the Hello die is from Hero Arts

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and I promise that the Hello is smothered in clear Wink of Stella

Our sponsor for this challenge is FRECKLED FAWN

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

Without Words (DT) October

First Monday of the month, so that must mean it is time for a new challenge over at Without Words

The theme for October is

PURPLE and GREEN (but NO Halloween)

For my CAS card I have used

CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Fairy Twila

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are an assortment of LOTV/Nitwits

The "hello" die and stamped sentiment are from the Hello Hero Arts set

Custom sized card base

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

A New Challenge

Morning folks!  There is a new SRC coming in an hour's time (Squirrel's Random Challenge) - I won't tell you any more except to show you my first make for it.

This (complete with Rosie hair in the corner) is Puddle Jumper Twila from CC Designs

She's been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for hair

The stitched clouds border is from L'il Inkers

Purple papers from different LOTV pads

Sentiment by Hero Arts stamped in Grape Jelly Memento

My talented little helpers, Annette and Jayne, have both made some fabulous inspiration pieces for the challenge so best you come back later this morning - and of course we want you to join in the fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Sorry Marianne!

A little while ago, my bloggy pal Marianne made a comment that made me smile - she said she wasn't very keen on pop-up boxes as they don't seem like real cards to her.  Little did she know that I had just made my first two of these cheeky little rascals!

I didn't have a template for this, I just winged it after reading the construction instructions in a recent magazine

I've used a ton of old Papermania Colossal Christmas papers

Stamp is CC Designs Snow Flake

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Various lengths and angles of acetate strips

A few punched snowflakes which I glued and Glamour Dust-ed

Sorry Marianne, but I had great fun making it!

Sweet Stampin - Let It Snow

Hugs to all for a super weekend.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

A Squirrel First

Morning all.  It would seem that yesterday's penguins didn't really float your boat as much as they did mine!  Sorry about that.

Here is a real soft and cutie for you today, and a first for me.  I cannot believe that I had never attempted a rocker card before now:

LOTV stamp - Big Hugs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment from a Hero Arts set

Slightly lairy cardstock from anonymous heap in my stash

Lacy edged circle die - Grand Nestabilities

Normal circle dies - Nestabilities Classic Circles

I was making this as a thank you card anyway, so maybe fortune smiles on the brave because it is a Thank You theme over at Crafty Catz this week

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Pop(py) of Colour

Morning all, hope this finds you well.  For anyone looking for The Great Penguin Challenge 2014, you can find it here or there is a link at the top of my sidebar.

TIDDLY INKS CHALLENGE this time are looking for a Pop of Colour, and here is the inspiration photo.

and here is my make

I have used Purfect Birthday Wryn clear stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Coloured cardstock is Papermania

Pierced fishtail dies are MFT Die-Namics

(they are much longer than this so I had to do a bit of tweaking)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Also entering at Treasured Times Stamps - Anything Goes

Hope your Sunday is a super one.  When I go back to work tomorrow the holiday countdown will officially begin - nine working days to go.  That will brighten up Monday!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

It's Still August

Afternoon everybody, how are you?  We are having a quiet Sunday - I've been faffing about with a couple of cards and Toad has been building a station for his model railway layout.  It struck me as very funny that you could buy flat-pack buildings.  You should see how tiny the pieces are - iddy-biddy - and it even comes with tiny sets of curtains for the windows!

With all the Christmas cards I've been making lately I've had to remind myself that it is still August and have made a summery feel CAS friendship card today that I would like to enter in the CRAFT Challenge of Fairies.

This is another stamp that I'd been hankering after for a little while and it finally plopped onto the doormat last week.  It's "Faye & Freddie" from Sugar Nellie.  I've painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and used some Prima papers to frame it and for the corners that are Cheery Lynn dies.  The sentiment is Hero Arts.

I've also been playing around with a Less is More challenge card but I think I might have to bin it and start again - it's just not floating my boat at the moment!

Hugs, Sxx

Just Magnolia And Hanglar & Stanglar - Anything Goes

When my most recent ebay purchase plopped onto the doormat this morning, I could not wait to get it inked up and, as the challenge at JUST MAGNOLIA AND HANGLAR & STANGLAR is Anything Goes, I thought why not.........

........I got a bit carried away and forgot totally about the optional glitter, but hey, the word is optional, and I couldn't really think of anything that I could get away with glittering once the card was made!

I've painted the H&S image with distress inks, and I've 3d his little cart with two more layers, one for the cart and the next for the wheels.  The papers are all from the MME Fine & Dandy: True Blue collection.  These colours are just screaming to be used for male cards.  Sentiment is from a little Hero Arts set.

Might have known that it was going to be one of those days - the car battery is dead, again, poor old Toad's i-Touch crashed and burned, and I've just broken a tooth on a Galaxy Counter of all things.  That'll teach me for having sneaky chocolate before dinner.  Guess that'll be another ££££ appointment coming up.  Hmph.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

An Anya Thank You

It's not often that I am tempted to buy stamps on ebay, but when this little Anya came up and knowing where she came from, I just had to get the bid in for her - it's one I've often admired when others have used her so now I am proud to say that this one is all mine! 

I think the Less Is More challenge is beginning to take hold ...... how CAS is this?!  Anya is coloured with ProMarkers and I've cut her legs out to sit over the border of starry Dovecraft paper.  The sentiment is from a tiny little Hero Arts set.  Ooh and the sparkling flower gem on her hat ribbon is Hero Arts too.

Simple, but very sweet.

Hugs, Sxx

Little Old Ladies ..........

Monday again then......sigh....oh well, never mind, soon be the weekend again!  Now then....one of my mates, who is also one of my best customers for cards, made an interesting comment last week....she said "you don't have any old lady cards".....now, that made me think a bit.....did she mean cards picturing little old ladies....or cards for little old ladies.....the sort I would have given my nan.....lavender, lace and flowers...anyway.....here is a quick and very simple one.....any of you little old ladies like it?  (stop throwing things at me!)

Now they don't come much simpler do they.  Hero Arts Floral Wreath stamp, coloured with ProMarkers, a Penny Black sentiment stamp and a lovely Nestability shape.  I can see I need some practice with these L.O.L. cards.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Time for Tilda?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  This new picture upload system that we now have is driving me nutty!  Occasionally it works, but more times that not the little dotty circle seems to whizz round and round forever and nothing else happens.  Is it just me suffering from this?  Getting a tad annoyed with it.

Anyway, I popped up here (braving the home brew fumes) to show you the card I have done today for the Special Monthly Challenge theme over at JUST MAGNOLIA is "Anything Goes"

Here's my card:

This loves-me-loves-me-not Tilda has to be the one of my reasonably sized collection that I have used the most, she is just such a little darlin'.  The papers are Basic Grey from the Porcelain collection but overstamped with two Hero Arts stamps - the small clocks are Time To Stamp and the large clock face is just called Big Clock.  Sentiment and flower centres are Craftwork Cards, Martha Stewart doily border punch, Tilda coloured with Copics, and EK Success Retro flower punch.

That's Nic for alerting me to the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge of Tic-Toc - shall link it up now!

After all that faffing, I've run out of time for any more blogging today so I'll say cheerio, hope you are having a good Sunday, and see you later in the week!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Twinkling Tilda

Well, it's grey, it's wet, it's cold, the grand prix was not the most exciting race I've ever seen and Toad's not only doing another batch of home brew but he's managed to blow a socket in the kitchen.

So what I need in my life is definitely some Glitter & Sparkle and that arrives courtesy of this week's TOTALLY TILDA CHALLENGE!

I think is this "Circus Tilda" although why she's called that is anyone's guess but she is still a little cutie.  Coloured with Copics, Art Institute ultra fine glitter for her frock, shoes and hairband.  Background is a Hero Arts frame stamp, again coloured with Copics, border of frame and centre of large flower dripping with Rhinstone Stickles, Basic Grey dp with gems and glitter letters from stash.

I tried with and without the flash as she really is more dazzling than the photo above shows.  Here's the one taken with the flash

Lots of sparkle!

Thanks for dropping by. Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss # 46 - Sketch

Happy Saturday everyone!  What are you all up to this weekend then?  Got time for some crafting?  I certainly hope so, especially as it is the first Saturday of the month which means that TOTALLY GORJUSS are bringing you another fabbie sketch to play with!

Thank you everyone for your fantastic Christmas In August cards - my word you lot are getting yourselves organised early this year.  Some wonderful entries so please do check back to the TOTALLY GORJUSS blog to see who was the winner of that challenge.

Right then, on to THIS challenge - the Gorjussettes are thrilled to be sponsored by JOANNA SHEEN and we all know what Joanna stands for = fabulous crafting goodies!  Whoo-hoo!  Here is the sketch for you....

And here is my DT card

Can't believe it is only 4 September and the light for taking photos is appalling already!  Anyhoo, this is the first inking of this little love by Gillian Roberts from Stampavie, spotty background paper is, erm, err, Dovecraft I think, but the old grey cells are whithering, the text is Friends Definition stamp from Hero Arts (one of their Clings) and the splotty sploggy matting paper is what I did with ink and a sponge.  Think it came out quite well really.

Hope you do find time to create - we'd love you to come and join us - see you there!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash 33 + Sketch Saturday 100

Hello all, hope you are having a good weekend.  We had wall to wall sunshine yesterday and it was glorious, not too hot but beautifully bright, but today has been overcast and grey with a couple of April showers so far.

Two sketch inspired cards for you today - the first is for Sketch & Stash Challenge 33 which is a challenge I haven't done for a while because I've just not had enough time to fit it all in!

And here is my card.  Background paper is from stash and I've overstamped it with a Hero Arts cling stamp with VersaFine Deep Lagoon for all those lovely spots.  Pink/lilac checked and striped paper and turquiose card stock also from stash (feeling virtuous here) and the Whiff of Joy stamp of Willow with her mug of something yummy .... well, I've had it a while so technically that's stash too!  Woodware punches for flowers are old friends.

And then it is on to Sketch Saturday Challenge who are celebrating 100 challenges this week, that is some achievement!

It's Willow again, living it up on the dancefloor this time.  Got a bit retro with this one, has a definite late 60s/early 70s feel.  Papers a mix of Basic Grey and from stash.

Both images coloured with a mix of ProMarkers and Copics.

Thanks for dropping by me to see me this afternoon.  Don't forget, my blogoversary candy ends at midnight on 30th April so if you haven't put your name down yet, now is your chance.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Well, what happening to the sunshine then?  Lashing down with rain and our eucalyptus tree is trying to touch it's toes in the wind.

I've had a go at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is a sketch this week, but I've had a little bit of assistance

As you can tell from the ear position - he's a tiny bit catnipped!  That'll teach me for giving him a couple of extra treats.  And yes, that's the unflattering rear view of the Toad, Wii-ing in the corner!  Anyhoo, the sketch -

I've done a strict interpretation this week, no faff or frills, just straight from sketch to card

And yes, I know it's green, again!  Image is Buzz In The Air by Penny Black, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, pink frame is Cuttlebug, cardstock is DCWV Neutral Stack, green papers are PaperCellar Wedding Collection, pink striped is 7Gyspies (I think) and the friendship definition text stamp is a Hero Arts Clings.

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

Totally Gorjuss + ABC Challenge

Afternoon all - hope you are having a good weekend, whatever you are up to.  What a contrast to yesterday!  It's been really overcast all day and not a single peep of the sun - it's just gone 3.00 and it's almost dark already.  Toad's "man flu" continues with some very noisy coughs and sniffs!

Two challenges for one card today - I love the simplicity of the sketch over at Totally Gorjuss this week and decided to combine it with the ABC Challenge N is for New 

I've used my new super-cute Magnolia Tilda "Love News" stamp and she is coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.  The navy/white paper is Papermania and the pink and green are Making Memories.  Martha Stewart punch used for the floral ribbon and the tiny newspaper I did on the computer.

And while I had my new Tildas out of the wrapper, I had a little play at masking "Tilda with Diary" with a gorgeous frame from Hero Arts Cling range, this one is Scroll Frame.  The papers are Basic Gray "Origins" (I nearly cried, they are just too beautiful to use).  Tilda coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.

Lovely to see you, enjoy the rest of your day

Hugs,

Squirrel xx