Totally Gorjuss Challenge # 25 - Texture

Happy Saturday everyone!  And Saturday means it is time for another challenge from TOTALLY GORJUSS - but first a big thanks to everyone who joined us last week, you all did an amazing job with Net's fabbie sketch.

This week's theme is TEXTURE so we'd like to see lots of touchy feely stuff please!  Once again the DT have come up with some stunning examples so please do pop over to their blogs for a peek.

Here is my offering

As you can tell, I went a bit OTT with the Cuttlebug embossing folders this week!  Image is a Gorjuss Girl from Sugar Nellie, coloured with Copics/ProMarkers and I've paper pieced her dress.  Ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons, Flower put together from my goody bag received from Marcea ages so (so much in it that I'm still discovering things!), gems and sentiment from stash.  Brad is a Basic Grey one.

So what's stopping you? Get texturing!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

On a much happier note!

Morning all, it's been snowing again here in the east of England and is truly chillsome - just returned home from having my tail trimmed and it is decidedly brrrrrrrr around the ear department now!

After yesterday's sad card, I am pleased to be able to bring you one that is so much happier ....

One of our young solicitors at work has become a daddy for the first time so this is to welcome the new and, as yet, unnamed baby boy.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:  The Sugar Bowl Challenge 26 Creative Card Crew Anything Goes Our Creative Corner Clean & Simple and Stamp Something New Somethings 

I've used Little Cotton Rabbit Baby Rabbit from Sugar Nellie, Papercellar Tartan Papers, DCWV Neutrals MatStack, Ribbon and peel-offs from stash.  Coloured with Copics.

New Year Hugs

Squirrel xxx

Totally Gorjuss Challenge - Tag!

Great idea this week over at Totally Gorjuss as the the challenge is for a tag - don't know about you, but gift tags are nearly as difficult to choose for a person as the card and present!

Anyhoo, this creation is to be stuck on mum and dad's big present - I can almost hear dad saying "are you sure that's ours?" so it seemed appropriate.

I've used Little Miss Attitude, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, red card from stash and gold textured mirri card from Create & Craft, handwritten sentiment (and I smudged the exclamation mark, grrr).  Organza ribbon from The Range.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday 81 and my GDT No 2!

Morning all, and a Happy Weekend to you ..... 12 December already, how scary is that - less than two weeks to go!

Anyhoo, to take your mind off the madness, Sketch Saturday Challenge  have another fabulous sketch for you this week and it's sponsored by Simon Says Stamps so get yourselves busy and give it try .... Thanks to Jo for her continuing and amazing hard work and to the DT for another week of stunning example cards!

Now, please understand that I love and adore my daddy to pieces - but there is an ongoing tease about his advancing years.  Not sure how he's going to take this one!

I've used Norman Goat from High Hopes stamps, papers from Dovecraft and sticky ribbon from stash.  Norman is coloured with a mix of Copics and ProMarkers.

Thanks for dropping in, I know you are all busy with the upcoming festivities but it is still important to take a little time out for you.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC + Creative + Catz

Afternoon All!
Only one card from me today - Himself has the day off as well and wants to be "doing things". These things include taking the car to garage for service and MOT and collecting his bike from the repair shop. They just don't understand do they?

Anyway, one card, three challenges:
ABC Challenge G is for Green
Creative Card Crew Ribbons & Gems and
Crafty Catz Challenge 6 Sketch

I've used a Sugar Nellie Santa and coloured him with ProMarkers. I love Santa in his traditional green rather than the caramalised fizzy drink red, he looks so woodlandy, if that makes sense. Papers are a mixture of Joanna Sheen and Papermania. Ribbons, gems and peel-offs are from stash.

Hope the rest of your Friday is a happy one.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Three Birds, One Stone

Hello All, hope you are having a good weekend despite the gloomy weather - have to say though, our grass is looking better for a little rain!

Today's card covers three events for me, two challenges and an order.

Firstly, the challenges are Sketch Saturday Challenge No 72 and Penny Black Saturday Challenge Buttons & Bows



Having gone months without an order, I received two this week (I live in one of those quirky places where people tell you that they really like your work but they are too tight to pay true value for one and I have given up on under-selling these days). This is for one of those orders, it's for a little boy's christening and the lady ordering said she wanted "different". Hmmmmmmmmmm! Anyway, this is what she is getting ....



Ingredients are:
Penny Black stamp "Nap Time" coloured with ProMarkers
Making Memories Fresh Anthology - Eliza (all papers)
F initial (for baby's name) from Hero Arts clear set
Classic circle Nestabilities
Buttons and Bow from stash

Got a long weekend as I managed to book tomorrow off work so might even manage another card or two then!

Thanks for calling by, it is always lovely to see you. I'll try to have biscuits next time.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

First Time Grandma Card

Now my friends, I would really appreciate your comments on this one - one of my work colleagues, and a very dear friend, is about to become a grandma for the first time and I cannot express here just how excited she is. Her son and his partner live a five hour drive away so she's had her suitcase in the back of the car for over a week. Baby Girl is due to make an appearance this Friday but knowing first babies she could well be overdue.

Anyway, as a department at work we wanted to give her a card and I was asked to make it to celebrate the occasion. I wanted the card to be sweet but not over-the-top sugary so I was rummaging amongst my stamps and unearthed a House Mouse stamp that had never seen ink and I thought it was spot-on.



I coloured the House Mouse with ProMarkers and spent a bit of time fiddling around to get the image to fall outside of the Nestability die.



Other items used are Papermania Regency papers, Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch, Quicklets, Prima flowers, Dovecraft brads, ribbon and lettering from stash.

What do you think? Is it suitable for the occasion? I'm entering this into the "Celebration" challenge No 52 over at The Secret Crafter as a new grandchild is certainly cause to celebrate!

Thanks for dropping in, always lovely to see you.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash No 20

It's 9.00, it's Wednesday and it's time for CrackerJack!! Blimey, showing my age there aren't I? Actually, it is 9.00 on Wednesday but I'm having a ME DAY - yes, a whole(ish) day, mid week, just for me. How decadent is that!

Which has given me time to catch up on the current challenge from Sketch & Stash - it's challenge No 20 and the sketch is


Now doesn't that look straightforward? Let me tell you, this is one deceptive sketch and needs courage to go naked like that. Anyway, this is what I've come up with

Ingredients for the card are Penny Black stamp "Warm & Cold" which I stamped in VersaFine Majestic Blue. I then used some of the ink to colour parts of the image and a lighter blue to lift it a bit. The ribbon is from my stash, the papers are Anita's Classic Christmas Blue from either last year, or even year before, and the sentiment is Penny Black too. The snowflake brad is from stash.

Thanks for popping by to see me today, I hope the weather isn't as grotty where you are. Do call in again later as I'm now going to tackle a card for a first-time grandma, should be interesting.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Thank Crunchie It's Friday!

Well, that's my first week back at work over with, and am I glad!

Anyhoo, had a little play this afternoon and came up with



Now, I had thought about the Just Magnolia Challenge but then, d'uh, I realised I had completely forgotten to check to see what the flippin' challenge is for this week! Oh well, gives me an excuse to get Tilda out again at the weekend.

Ingredients: Magnolia Tilda with Bee and Sweet Jars (masking used for stamping), watercoloured, DCWV Old World Matstack (the purple background card), PaperCellar Easter/Spring collection, Flora Doodles, Ribbon from stash.

Then conscience got the better of me and I did a Christmas card



I love this little guy - he's Woodland Santa from High Hopes stamps and he's so cheeky! Papers are Papermania and Bazzil card. Peel-off greeting coloured red to match. Santa coloured with ProMarkers.

Think I need to have a decent night's sleep before I think about any more challenges!

Thanks for dropping by this afternoon - wishing you all a wonderful weekend (it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow and I've been promised Chinese food, yum).

Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash Challenge No 19

Having just caught myself asking the cat "duz oo wanna dinka milky moomoo den" I thought it was time I did something constructive with my afternoon .....

A fabulous sketch over at Sketch & Stash Challenge and it is one that I'm saving to use again, it's perfect for landscape cards and I've not made enough of these lately.

Had a good old rummage about in the stash and came up with this



Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp Xmouse Ornament (watercoloured)
Silver textured mirricard and blue pearl card
DCWV Neutral Mat Stack
Joanna Sheen dark tartan paper
Stampendous peel-off Merry Christmas oval
Woodware snowflake punch (for silver snowflake)
Woodware peel-off Wire Snowflakes
Sticky ribbon

Had great fun making this one so "thank you" Sketch & Stash!

Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia - Embossing

A fab challenge over at Just Magnolia this week - it's week 22 and the theme is embossing.

Having just bought a new Cuttlebug folder, there was no option but to go for roses all the way!



Ingredients for this card are:
Magnolia stamp - Tilda with bunch of roses (watercoloured)
Bazzil card embossed with Cuttlebug roses folder
Papermania backing paper from Blueberry Hill collection
Ribbon from stash
Sentiment from Personal Impressions clear set

Thanks for popping over to have a look, hope to see you again soon.

Squirrel xxx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge No 66

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge No 66 is Domi's Sketch.



And what a challenge this turned out to be! My first attempt failed because my colour choice was terrible, the second failed because I was totally distracted by my beloved playing Raving Rabbids on the Wii (don't even ask) so hopefully this one is third time lucky!



Ingredients:
Penny Black snowman from "Holly Jolly" clear set (coloured with ProMarkers)
Papermania A Wonderful Christmas Time papers
Pebbles Inc Candy Dots
Cuttlebug Snowflake die
Ribbon from The Range (can't find a brand name) - and I tied the bow myself!
Self-adhesive lace borders by Woodware (I think)

Thanks for coming by to have a look, lovely to see you.
Squirrel xx

One For Two

Not had much crafting time this week as it's my last full week of freedom before returning to work and Himself has taken it as a week's holiday - which rather scuppered my plans!

Managed a quick one this morning that fits two challenges this week, Cute Card Thursday No 77 Strawberry Mint Julep and also ABC Challenge D is For Die-Cuts



For this card I used:
Penny Black stamp "Hide Out"
7Gypsies 5th Avenue Journey papers and Papermania Sweet Nothings papers and a paper from stash
Nestabilities classic circle and oval dies done on the Cuttlebug
Ribbons from stash also

Thanks for popping over to have a look.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday DT Application

Over on the Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog there is a search on for a new DT member and although I'm still very new to blogging and challenges I thought I've give it a try.

Ingredients for card are:
Sketch Saturday Challenge DT Sketch (rotated 90 degrees)
Penny Black Stamp "T.L.C"
Lots of Bazzil card for the base (7x7) and matting and layering - I chose autumnal colours as we married in September and the leaves were then starting to turn.
Papermania heart print paper punched with Martha Stewart Scallop Dot punch
Dovecraft male paper
Sentiment from Personal Impressions
Brown and orange self adhesive ribbons from stash

I coloured the image with watercolour paints, still my favourite method for getting depth and tone - here's a close up



I have no idea whether this will be up to SSC's very high standards but if not, at least I tried and have also made our Wedding Anniversary card in the process!

Thanks for popping over for a look.

Squirrel x

Sugar Bowl Challenge 18

Loving the sketch from Sugar Bowl Challenge No 18 this week so thought I'd have a go and combine it with my frantic effort to get some Christmas Cards done. Don't know if the image really works but she's dead cute anyway and too irrestiable not to use.



Ingredients:
Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girls "Little Goth Girl"
Papermania Ribbon Collection - Spots & Flowers Citrus
Anita's Classic Christmas Blue (papers)
Hero Arts Buttons For Cards
Holographic card, peel-offs, silver thread and text from stash

I had fun making this, hope you think it was worth it!
Squirrel xx

Ostrich Principle

Hi All

Working on the Ostrich Principle of if I don't think about Christmas it can't possibly be so close, I decided to make mum's birthday card today. While I've been off work mum has been an absolute godsend and I don't know how we would have managed without her so I wanted to make something that made a statement!

This is my first 8x8 card and I am reasonably pleased with how easy it was to put together, especially as my largest cardstock was only 12x12 so there was a lot of cutting and sticking. Anyway, I used Bazzil cardstock, Papermania papers and Papercellar card (pearlescent blue), and this Penny Black "Sun Dried" image reminded me so much of mum. Flowers, sticky ribbons and peel-offs are from stash and sentiment was done on the computer.



I watercoloured the image (Winsor & Newton pan paints) but was a little stumped about the sky - I wanted it fluffy - soooo, after a bit of thought, I cut a scalloped oval with my Nestabilties and used that as a mask and then gently chalked the sky in. I hope the photo shows it ok - I was thrilled by how subtly effective it is.



Finally the inside, Papermania papers, layered with printed sentiment. Miniature printed version of Sun Dried layered again with the Papercellar card.



This was a full morning's work, but mum is certainly worth it.

Squirrel xx

Two For One!

Hi All, and a Happy Saturday to you!

Still high on winning last week's Sketch Saturday Challenge I'm at it again - cheating a little bit by combining two challenges this week in the one card.

Sketch Saturday Challenge No 65.
and
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 63 Stitching.



Ingredients for this card are:
Penny Black "Easter Wishes" bunny (how cute is he?) which I watercoloured and sponged the edges with ColorBox Chalk Chestnut Roan
Hero Arts "Happy Wishes" from their "Thinking Of You" clear set
Papers are My Mind's Eye "Wild Asparagus" and I nearly wept using them
Dark floral ribbon is Anita's Sticky Ribbons
Flowers punched with a Woodware punch, coloured with a ProMarker (still not quite dark enough) and the flower centres are Papermania Adhesive Shimmer Dots
The faux stitching is hand drawn with a permanent ink pen.

Many thanks for taking a look - your continued support means so much.
Squirrel xx