AYLI (DT) Embellishments

Yoo-hoo folks, happy Thursday to you!  Alternate Thursdays mean a new challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT and this time around we would like you to share with us your Favourite Embellishment(s) and tell us why they are your favourites.

You may have guessed that I didn't choose the theme!  Embellishments, phooey!  I'm a clean and simple kinda girl, some days more simple than others (ha), so I tend to restrict embellishments, a lot.  Rather than being able to add lots of stuff skillfully, my makes tend to look a little, shall we say, rugged.  So I keep it simple.  I love die-cut embellishments but try to use them to echo the theme, like this one with the stars

So, for my simple card I have used:

CC Designs - Dancing

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Joanna Sheen Starry Night Border Die

Sentiment from who-knows-where but it was one of those "that'll be useful" purchases years ago

MFT 6x6 Tribal Prints

DoCrafts wood pattern paper

Our sponsor for this challenge is CRAFTS U LOVE

Looking forward to seeing how much you can attach to a card all your beautiful and creative uses of embellishments!

Love and hugs

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Papers

Hello AYLIers, it's your favourite day chaps, time for a new challenge with the talented

AS YOU LIKE IT team

This time the challenge is a tough one, it's your Favourite Papers - and please remember that you need to tell us why they are your favourites.

What a silly thing to make us choose!  Favourite papers, favourite pet, same thing.  OK, if I am forced to make a decision based on what papers do I go to most often, then it's going to be Nitwits, which is what I used for this card.....or Dovecraft, which I didn't.

So for this I have used one of the Flower Fairies from Wee Stamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) to match with the

Country Lady paper pad from Nitwits (sold by LOTV)

Sentiment is by Kaisercraft

Top die is from Tonic, one of a set of three

and the one underneath that is a Joanna Sheen edger die I think

and of course we have a super sponsor for the challenge and it is

Crafts U Love

£10 voucher

It's your turn now, you have two weeks to rummage through that stash of papers and choose YOUR favourite!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Bling It On

It's another pink day chaps, and over at IN THE PINK this time the challenge is BLING IT ON

so we'd like to see your sparkle!

I may have gone a little over-the-top

OK, so I made the gift box with pre-glittered cardstock by First Edition

and bordered it with some beautiful cotton lace that I had in my stash

The enormous flower was punched from some self-adhesive holographic foil and then

I layered on the gorgeous fabric flower with the gemmed centre

The ivy swag is a Joanna Sheen Signature die which I cut from kraft card and then green glittered the leaves only, leaving the stems bare

I cut the sentiment from the same foil with Lawn Fawn Scripty For You die

Gems and pearls from stash

It's quite spectacular in the sunshine!

Of course, we have a sponsor for you too and it is the lovely Tracy

from DIES TO DIE FOR with a £10 voucher for the winner

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

IN THE PINK (DT) A Favourite Stamp

This time at IN THE PINK the challenge is to use a favourite stamp.  It doesn't have to be THE favourite, but one of your favourites, and of course it needs to be pink!

I found it really hard to choose so I went with a stamp of my favourite character

This is Angel Twila from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencils for hair

Papers are Wild Rose Studio from a Bella Christmas collection

Joanna Sheen Signature die - Starry Night Edger

and the pink stars around Twila are the waste from the die cut

A Favourite Stamp challenge is sponsored by

BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS

So, off you go, two weeks to get pink!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Making A Stand

Hello chaps, I hope this finds you well and a little bit warmer than frosty yesterday!

Today the time has come, I am making a stand!  Facebook has become a menace to Blogland with all the immediate and instant gratification, along with the one click Like without the need to make an effort to leave a comment.  However, many of us have been forced into using it as a way to get our work seen and, like it or loathe it, it seems to be the place to be.  However, Facebook has done untold damage to Bloggers and this is where I make my stand.

I used to post here, and add a link with a photo to Facebook.  In my naive little world, I had thought that this might bring more traffic to my blog but, in the one-click world, it has had the opposite effect.  So, from now on:

• I shall be seriously reducing my Facebook time 
• I shall only post a link back to the blog post for that day with a partial photograph
• Yes, I shall probably continue to post Rosie updates if anyone is interested enough but otherwise they will be here, on my blog

How many hours do I waste trawling through posts about who had what for dinner and where they have been shopping?  Is it really funny to have the F and C words used so much?  What does that really add to anything?

One voice in millions won't change the way Facebook works, but if more of you are brave enough to take the same stand, we might make Blogger the thriving community it once was, without all the dross.

Anyone out there prepared to join me to try and make 2016 a Blog Year?

When I was rummaging for stamps last week, I found poor old neglected Henry and thought it was about time that he came out to play again.

This is Skating Henry from Whiff of Joy (retired I think)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a pad of BoBunny that is at least a couple of years old

Sentiment die from Clearly Besotted

Starry Night Edger from Joanna Sheen Signature Dies

Hugs to all, and solidarity to Bloggers!

Squirrel xx

Today's The Day!

Are you ready for it?  Yes, today the Special Offer from Lili of The Valley starts and includes many, many gorgeous stamps that you really do need to have in your stash!  The offer runs from today until Sunday so make sure you get over there for a peek, it will be first come first served so don't be late.

There is also a challenge running from today on the Lili Facebook page so please do come and join the fun.

As I mentioned on Monday, the Design Collective have been making cards like crazy to inspire you with the offer stamps, and this is my second card.  If you missed it, my first one was Teddy With Penguin.

OK, for this one I have used Playtime Kitten - awwwwh

(there is a Playtime Puppy available too if kitties are not your thing)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all from the LOTV/Nitwits pad - Perfect Pair

Stars border is a Joanna Sheen Signature die - Starry Night Edger

Sentiment is a banner flag stamp from Clearly Besotted

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Christmas Shopping

No, I haven't started mine yet!  I've barely made a dent on the Christmas cards, so the shopping will be it's usual last minute frantic silliness.

Christmas Shopping is the name of the stamp I've used for the first of my September Design Collective pieces for Lili Of The Valley - you didn't seriously think I was really shopping did you?!

Christmas Shopping stamp from Lili Of The Valley

Papers are Dovecraft: North Pole

Dies used are MFT double stitched square and Joanna Sheen ivy corner

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

It looks like the list should be longer but I put that down to there being a lot of layers!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Does Ivy Have Berries?

Morning all.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Although Toad is back to work today, I'm not.  This is my last day's leave before Christmas now, but I kinda forgot myself so when the alarm started ringing, instead of giving it a good slap I got up.  I came shuffling downstairs in my very old and very tatty dressing gown (towelling dressing gowns and cat claws don't make good companions - both Mollie and Vince have had a go at this one over the years) and my fleecy slippers and nearly gave Toad a funny turn as he was shovelling in his cereals.  Yeah, I could have gone back to bed I suppose, but I had such a rubbish night that I didn't hold out much hope of any decent sleep.  I might have a nap later.

Is there an award for woffle?  I think I may be in contention for it.  Anyhoo, does ivy have berries?  Well, yes, it does, but they are not glossy and bright like holly or hawthorn, they are small and dull and black, rather boring really, so I feel something needs to be done to brighten them up and make them more attractive.  Why?  Because I feel something is missing from this make, and that something might be berries......

Lili of The Valley stamp - Cosy and Warm

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Sentiment is from a Personal Impressions set

Joanna Sheen Signature die - Ivy Corner

Tonic layering rectangles dies

And a hole punch dot to finish

Artistic Inspirations - Anthing Goes: Warm and Cozy
Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends

I miss having an open fire.  We have central heating plus a flame effect gas fire but we hardly ever use the fire, in fact I think I can count the occasions on one hand that it has been switched on over the past 17 years.  Mum and dad still have an open fire and it always feels so much warmer and welcoming.  I don't miss the mess they create though!

Right, that's my ramblings done for today and as I am up and about already, that will mean more crafting time, whooo, I just hope Mr Mojo plays ball today.  I have put the heater on in the studio for him just in case.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) October: Boo!

Morning all, you know the drill, first Monday of the month means a new challenge over at Without Words and this time the Word Weird Birds have gone all out to frighten you with our theme of Boo!

Actually, she's not all that scary is she!

This is a Tiddly Inks stamp from the Hello Pet set

She's been coloured with Polychromos Pencils for her hair, and Distress

Inks (ReInkers) for the rest of her and the dragons

Papers are from various pads of LOTV/Nitwits, plus WHS black card

I've used the Martha Stewart goo punch for the central border

and a Joanna Sheen Signature Die - Ivy Corner

(I could have sworn I had a cobweb die but must have dreamt it)

Because the ivy was so big, I trimmed a couple of leaves off and used those for the bottom accent

I do hope you will join in this month

The rules are simple

Handcoloured image on a CAS card

Ta-dah!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

PBSC For The Men

So, how has your day been then?  Have had a pretty frantic time at work as we are very short staffed at the moment (and no change in sight) and I've still been trying to get the boiler man out with his first aid kit.

Anyhoo, a card for this week's PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE who are making men's cards this time, the wicked pixies!

Penny Black stamp, Joanna Sheen red and black ginghams, Dovecraft black and white papers, ProMarker edged matting card, Card Candy.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

My Favourite Colours - LOTV

Hello all, and a Happy Friday to you - and a Happy Birthday to my darlin' dad, he's 77 today and still going strong thankfully!

The theme of the challenge over at LILI OF THE VALLEY this week is My Favourite Colours.  This one took some thinking about as my favourites change all the time, depending on my mood, but my faves this week are a purple and green combination.

Sorry for the iffy picture, I made the card last night when it was too dark to photograph and only had time to take a quick pic on my phone this morning.

I've used the beautiful Rosie with her flowers from LOTV, and she is painted with distress inks.  Loving these new papers from Dovecraft Back To Basics II, the gingham is Joanna Sheen.  Flowers done with EK Success retro flower punches, Martha Stewart branch punch for the leaves, an X-Cut 6mm hole punch for the larger dots, my Japanese screw punch for the tiny dots and Card Candy for the large flower centre.  Quick Woodware peel-off greeting and all done.

Sorry that I've not been around much this week, it's been a nightmare at work and I've been too shattered in the evening to even think about blogging, but I'll catch up with you all soon.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Afternoon all - hope it is warmer where you are!  There's a lazy wind that is creeping around to the north and when the north wind blows .......... it gets chuffty cold for Squirrels!

Anyhoo, been having a sneaky play with Tilda (naughty, I should have been busy DTing) and would like to enter her into a couple of challenges:

Totally Tilda Challenge - Icy Christmas (blue and silver)

My Partner In Crafting Crime - Marker Madness

Papers are a right ol' mix of Joanna Sheen gingham, Dovecraft and textured mirri card.  Tilda coloured with ProMarkers.  Martha Stewart punches for border and snowflakes, and LOTV Sentiment.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Four Challenges and a Big Nose

Hello everyone, just a quickie from me this time - one card for four challenges
Cute Card Thursday So Egg-Citing (or an oval shape)
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Check It Out
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge How Does Your Garden Grow
Sketch Saturday Challenge Terry's Week 

And here is my card

Penny Black stamp "Yearning", coloured with Copics, papers are 7Gypsies, Joanna Sheen and Papermania, flowers punched and pearls from stash.

And before I dash off - His Royal Highness, Prince Vincenzo Spaghetti is back to helping his mum out ......

Not his best profile but when you are royalty, who cares!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge # 21 - Something Sweet

It's the weekend, yaaaaay! And it's also the start of the 2010 Formula 1 Season - double yaaaay!

This week, those lovely ladies that are Totally Gorjuss have a sweet little challenge for you - we'd like to see something sweet on your cards.

The DT have come up with some amazing work so please do remember to check out their individual blogs.

Here is my GDT card for this week

I adore this little Tilda with her spoon and apron - she's coloured with a mix of Copics and ProMarkers.  The cake paper is from a pad of Forever Friends paper and is almost good enough to eat!  Purple card for mats from Joanna Sheen, yellow spotty paper from stash and sentiment is Personal Impressions.

Hope you have fun playing and I'm looking forward to seeing all your delicious entries at Totally Gorjuss

Right, I'm off to watch twenty three delicious young men, and Michael Schumacher, in their very fast cars!

Catch ya's all later

Hugs

Squirrel xxx

Ooh You Cheeky Monkey!

And a happy Monday afternoon to you guys!  Because of circumstances at work last week, there wasn't an awful lot for me to do today so on the spur of the moment I decided to take this afternoon as a half-day.  How decadent is that?!

One card today, for three challenges -
Cards For Men Paper Piecing
Die Cut Dreams No Flowers Allowed and
Double Dutch Challenge Boys Only

I've used Cherry Chip Chimp from High Hopes and coloured him with ProMarkers, octagon shapes cut with Nestabilities, and a right mix of papers - PaperMania Sweet Nothings (cake icing), Forever Friends (cake case), Joanna Sheen (tartan), Papermania (stripes), Joanna Sheen (orange and dark marble).  Sentiment is Personal Impressions. Choc chips are done with a dark brown glitter glaze and cherry is glossed.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

High Hopes Challenge AND Some Exciting News!

Bet you didn't think I'd be back again today did ya!  Could not resist having a go at this weeks High Hopes Challenge - it's a recipe of orange and brown plus a circle.

I thought long and hard about this one, all of thirty seconds anyway, and I just knew this was the perfect excuse to use my fabulous Leo stamp

How handsome does he look?  For a long and complicated reason to do with cycling, all lions in our house are known as Alan, so I've imaginatively renamed this stamp as Alan!  Worrying isn't it,  He's coloured with ProMarkers, the brown and orange cardstock is from Joanna Sheen and the animal print paper is from a pack that sadly has no title but I think its by PaperMania.

And my exciting news?  Well, those insane girlies over at Totally Gorjuss have asked me to go and play with them on the Design Team!  How mad is that?  Do they know what's coming their way?

I'm just a teensy bit excited and I shall be expecting you all to have a go at as many of their Saturday challenges as possible.  Else I shall be sending the girls round, right?!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Earlier Post Today: Penny Black Saturday Challenge 

Back In The Challenge Swing!

Hope you are all having a good weekend and a happy Sunday.  I've got a touch of the "back to work blues" at the moment as it will be back to the office tomorrow for a full 50 hour week.  We've had more snow overnight and another couple of heavy-ish showers of the stuff today - nothing too much to worry about though, which is good.  One bonus of going back to work is that I shall get an uninterrupted 30 mins each morning to blog hop and have a catch up!

So, thought I would have a go at just two or three challenges today and my first card to show you is for Cute Card Thursday No 93 Sketchtastic

For this card I have used some gorgeous papers that I received for Christmas from my pal Zippy (thanks babe), some DCWV card stock and the cutest, teeniest Penny Black mouse ....

My second card today is also from a sketch and is for the ever fabulous Sketch Saturday Challenge - I must again take the opportunity of thanking the Sketch Saturday gang for making me so welcome during my December GDT with them.  Simonne has produced a really elegant sketch and it was a joy to work with.

As well as entering this card for the Sketch Saturday Challenge I would also like to enter this one into this weeks Totally Gorjuss Challenge

I've used a Tilda (I think she is the New Year Tilda) and a mix of Papermania, Joanna Sheen and DCWV papers and cardstock. Flowers were a gift from the supremely talented Marcea (mwah), spacers from Bunny Zoe and brads are Woodware.

Thanks for dropping by this afternoon, lovely to see you.
Hugs, Squirrel xx

Penny Black Sketch Challenge Plus One For Wishcraft!

And a very Happy Advent to you all, hope you are having super Sundays whatever you are up to.

I'm very behind with my challenges this week, in fact I may not get any more done but the reasons will be revealed before too much longer ..... but, I have done this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is a fab sketch by Beth

For this one I have used My Mind's Eye Papers (aren't coordinated double sided sooooo useful?), a new Penny Black stamp calleed Brimming With Love and a Personal Impressions sentiment stamp (any spelling errors are due to Vince sat right in front of the screen - he is certainly testing my touch typing skills this morning).  Image is coloured with a mixture of Copics and ProMarkers

I love that little cat, looks like he's just scoffed all the marshmallows off the mug of hot chocolate!

My dear, sweet, blogging mate Lisa Wishcraft sent me a fabulous selection of images this week - thanks babe - so this is what I did with one of them

I have no idea of who/what the image is but I really do love him!  Have used Joanna Sheen tartan papers, Little Sizzles card for matting and a Woodware peel-off greeting.  Image coloured with ProMarkers.  Really simple, straightforward card but I think it works.  Thanks Lisa, you are a star.

Oh flip, now the cat's curled up on the mousemat - do you think he's trying to attract my attention by any chance?

Hugs 'n' stuff

Squirrel xxxx

Sketch Saturday No 79

Hello all, and what a grey day it is too - started off beautifully sunny but is now horribly dull and miserable and ready to rain (deep sigh).  So to lift the spirits a bit I've had a go at this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge No 79

I've rotated my sketch but you can still see the original idea ....

The papers are mostly Papermania, with a sliver of Joanna Sheen tartan.  I've used the gorgeous Tilda with her spoon, coloured with ProMarkers, gems are from stash, and sentiment is handwritten. 

Hope your weekends are as fabulous as you are!

Hugs

Squirrel xx

High Hopes Santa Challenge

Didn't quite get done it time before I lost the light this afternoon so photos are a little "soft focus"!

How could I resist the High Hopes Santa Challenge this week .... I adore the HH santa, AND it means I've only got a couple more Christmas cards to make!

I could not decide which Santa to use ..... so you got two!  I've used Santa Portrait and Large Stackable Santa, coloured with ProMarkers, Nestabilities labels, Papermania and Joanna Sheen papers, mirri card and gems from stash.

That's me done for today, going to have a quick cuddle with a feeling-sorry-for-himself Vince, nice hot cuppa tea and I suppose I ought to be thinking about dinner.

Must say a big thank you to Terry for suggesting that I also enter this card into the challenge at Tellen's Place Embellishments so I shall add Santa to their Mr Linky now!

Thanks for popping in, great to see you as always

Hugs

Squirrel xxx