Well Would You Believe It - A Christmas Card!!

How is it that just when you think you are coming to the end of making Christmas cards you suddenly find another section in your address book that had slipped the net ...... hey ho!

Sorry for the slightly out of focus photo - my normal camera has thrown a wobbly so I've had to use another one but it has a weird macro that I just cannot get the hang of.

For this card I've used the Lili of the Valley Party Pup - Christmas Card stamp and painted him with Distress Inks.  Isn't he just the sweetest little fella?  Papers are a mixture from Christmas past of DCWV and Anitas.  Sizzix Architectural Corner dies and gold gems for the finish.

Right, off downstairs to tackle the next one ...... hope your weekends are going well.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge - X is For Xmas (DT)

Morning all, hope you are well and itching to get stuck into the next ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE which this time is X for XMAS (well, what else could you have for X that that Christmas themed?!).

We had a bumper crop of entries for our Winter Wonderland challenge and the design team have had a really tough time choosing the Top 5.  Your talent never fails to amaze us!  Do check back to the main blog to see who was selected as the overall winner and who the Top 5 are.

Our X for Xmas challenge is sponsored by Wild Orchid Crafts who have offered a fabulous prize for one lucky crafter (wish I could enter!).

Here is my card:

I've used one of the new Tildas from Magnolia and she is coloured with Copics.  Papers are from an old pack of Christmas papers that have long since lost their identity.  Flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts, Martha Stewart leaf punch, and Craftwork Cards sentiment.  The swirls are Sizzix dies which I have glittered (and the cat) with Art Institute glitter.

Now I know you are now up to your elbows in making your Christmas cards, so why not enter our challenge!  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Maid In Britain

Did anyone else put on a performance of "Joseph" at school?  And it rained and rained and rained and rained and rained ...... great UK Bank Holiday weather we're having!  It's the annual classic car rally from Ipswich to Felixstowe today, poor devils - not going to be too warm or comfortable for them.

Anyhoo, over at High Hopes Challenge today the theme is Home Country Flag, well, at least something inspired by the colours of your home country flag.  This had me stumped for a while until, whilst ferreting about in my stamps, I found Dress-Up Danni - and this is what I did with her

Stamp is Dress-Up Danni by High Hopes, coloured with Copics and ProMarkers, gems for her necklace are from stash.  Papers are leftovers from my Little Sizzlets collection so not even sure which pad each one is from now.  Anyway, this is my red, white and blue Union Jack themed offering, she was great fun to make.

Now going to sort out dinner and then it's off to the theatre to see the Hairy Biker's Big Night Out - I might even pick up a recipe or two, who knows!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Penny Black Saturday - Monochromatic Brown

Hi all, hope you are ok today.  Still got sore wrists so only a short post .... it's Saturday (yay) so that means it is Penny Black Saturday Challenge and this week it is Monochromatic Brown.  I knew instantly which stamp I would use but the rest of it just sort of "evolved"

Penny Black "Transported" stamp, Daisy & Dandelion papers, Bazzil cardstock, dies a mix of Nestabilities and Sizzix and Woodware daisy punch.  Image coloured with Copics and border punch is Martha Stewart "Grass".

Thanks for taking time out of your day to come by and see me.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Just For The Fun Of It

Happy Sunday all!  Two cards for you, no challenges, just for the fun of it

Whiff of Joy Willow, Copics, Forever Friends and Dovecraft papers, Martha Stewart border punch, Craftwork Cards sentiment and

Honey Bee Tilda, ProMarkers, Doodlebug papers, Sizzix leaves, Woodware punch flowers, Craftwork Cards sentiment

Edited: Thanks Mina for letting me know about this week's challenge from Just Magnolia - I shall link Tilda there now.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Just Magnolia - Birthdays

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you are having a good day - it's nearly the weekend.  Had an aberration this morning and tidied up my craft space.  Took ages but I was ruthless and got rid of all those tiny scraps of paper I've been hoarding (yes, I know the rule - I'll need one of them tomorrow).  I'm glad it's done now, it was starting to stress me out everytime I wanted to play!

And so to my challenge card for today - a lovely theme over at Just Magnolia this week and a very useful one too - Birthdays!

I've used one of the newer Tildas (packet was untitled so I shall call her Happy Dance Tilda) and coloured her with Copics and ProMarkers.  DPs are Basic Grey Porcelain and DCWV Nana's Kitchen (glittered).  I'm obsessed with these Sizzix die-cut leaves at the moment and sticking them everywhere! Good old faithful Woodware flower punches, spacer and brad.  Lettering peel-offs from stash.

You timed your visit just right, I'm now putting the kettle on - hot chocolate anyone?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

A Gem Of A Passion

Yes, it's me! Mid-week (almost)!  Yippee - using up the last two days of my banked holiday from last year (use it or lose it scenario) and I just fancied a four day weekend.  How marvellous is that.

I've been in such a tizz lately that I've missed out on entering a lot of challenges but this morning I was determined to squeeze a couple in. 

Have been wanting to enter Pink Gem's A Gem Of A Challenge since its launch on 8 February.  So pleased Janet got bullied (sorry, persuaded) into this as her stamps are gorgeous.  I'm combining this with a colour combo of Baby Pink and Tulip Yellow from Passion For ProMarkers but I've just realised I've missed the additional theme of stitching! Perhaps the buttons on her coat will count LOL!

Fabulous sketch from Pink Gem which was lovely to work with.

I've used Kaya with Daffodils and she's coloured with ProMarkers (naturally), papers are Papermania (yellow) and DoveCraft (pink), flowers are Woodware punched, leaves are Sizzix dies, both using DCWV cardstock, candy dots are Pebbles Incs, pearls are from stash, pink brad is Woodware, spacer from Bunny-Zoe's Crafts, and peel-off text from stash.

Lovely to see you today - I hope your Thursday is going well, whatever you are up to.  Off to have another little play, you never know, I might be back again later!

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

Penny Black + Cute Thursday + Sketch Saturday

Isn't this sunshine wonderful?  We woke up this morning to a thin covering of snow that positively sparkled in the sun.  It looked like the world had been sprinkled in glamour dust!

And so to today's card - I hope this one will fit the following three challenges:
Sketch Saturday Challenge Week 88

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Someone Special (Week 88) and

Cute Card Thursday Blooming Gorgeous (Challenge 97)

I made this with my new sister-in-law in mind, it's her first birthday as a member of the family in a few days time.

I've used Penny Black's adorable cat (I think the stamp is called You're The Best but I forgot to check) and he's coloured with Copics and ProMarkers.  Papers are from K&Co - Tim Coffey's Daffodils pad and Daisies pad.  I love these bright, zesty, springy colours.  Flowers, spacers and sparkly gems are from stash and tiny golden brads are Woodware.  Sentiment is Personal Impressions.  Flourishes done with Sizzix dies.

Thanks for popping over to see me, always fab to have friends round!

Hugs, Squirrel xx