As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

Hello peeps, so here we are, heading towards mid November and only

six and a half weeks to Christmas.  Eeeeeeeek!

So, if you are behind with your Christmas makes, AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

are here to encourage you with the new challenge of

Your Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

For me, it's purple, I think it just feels a little bit luxurious, especially if it

is paired with with a glint of silver or gold

So, for this one I have used

High Hopes Stamps - Stackable Santa

Nitwits (LOTV) Snow Princess papers

Spellbinders Large Scallop Circle dies

Sentiment from Lili of The Valley

Mini snowflake punch from Hobbycraft

Santa watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lawn Fawn

 

Hope to see you there

Hugs

AYLI (DT) Mainly One Colour

Hello.  I am glad today is Thursday, and that it is AS YOU LIKE IT challenge day, because

it's the first day this week that actually feels like the day it is!

The AYLI theme for this challenge is your

Favourite One Colour (you may use others but your make should be predominantly one colour)

and yes, you need to tell us about your choice please

Here's my make

Like my other team-mates, I do like all colours to a degree, so the choice for this one was determined more by the image than by any particular preference, although I am getting very fond of oranges and yellows lately

I have used:

Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Garden Girls - Carnation

Spellbinders Long Rectangle dies

Spellbinders Long Scalloped Rectangle dies

Lili of The Valley circular sentiment stamp

Tonic scalloped circle die

Hobbycraft flower punch

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts
£12 gift voucher

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

So much love in the room ......

..... I am exhausted, emotionally and physically.  Yesterday was the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Thetford so off we went, having set Wayne, the SatNav, with the postcode.  Now, Wayne is a bit thick.  He gets it into his tiny little chip which direction he wants you to go, even if it isn't the route you want, and he is determined to get you that way.  We experienced that on the way to the Lake District.  We wanted the M6, he wanted us on the A1.  We were nearly to Manchester before he actually gave in.

Yesterday was no better.  He wanted us on the A14, we wanted the A140/A1066.  If he said "recalculating" once, he must have said it about twenty times as I confidently ignored his instructions (well, you do when you are on local roads don't you).  It was a very pretty drive up through Suffolk and into Norfolk - a route I hadn't been on for several years.  However, as much as it pains me, for a shorter journey (not by much mind) and a quicker route, the blasted SatNav was actually right!  But if we had followed him we would have had a journey of HGVs and a boring duel carriageway.  Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Anyhoo, we got there safely, and within two minutes of entering the hall, I was swamped in Dies To Die For hugs!  Finally, I get to meet my precious girls - Annette, Sue, Tracy, Faye, Kat, Debbie, and of course Tracy's amazing man, Andy!  

Lots of squeals and giggles.  At which point, Toad is a bit outnumbered and overwhelmed so he took himself off for a nice swim in the pool next door, bless him.

I did some shopping (cough), a lot of chattering, some more shopping (sorry Andy) and cemented some already longstanding friendships.  I didn't want to leave.

But leave we had to, and actually listened to Wayne on the way home.  He didn't have to shout at me once.

So, today I am off work (holiday) and recovering.  I know how I feel so dread to think how tired and aching the others must be who had far longer journeys.  Yes, bits of me ache that I had forgotten could ache, but it was soooooooooooooo worth it to be able to meet my gorgeous teamies.

So, after all that ramble, I do actually have a little card for you - and this sums up yesterday.

When one heart isn't enough, make a string of them!

This little lass is Twila from CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals String of Hearts

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos Pencil for hair detail

A real pick n mix of paper and card, I can't even remember which pad the heart paper came from

Spellbinders dies - I've lost the label but they are probably large scallop something

Thank you girls, it was a blast!

What goes on tour, stays on tour (and Debbie, I am sorry about Toad and your camera!)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Flower

Hello chaps, and welcome to another Thursday challenge with the girls at AS YOU LIKE IT

This time the theme is FAVOURITE FLOWER

For me, flowers are seasonal, I love daisies all year round, but there are certain flowers that fit the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter slots too.  For Spring, when the air is full of hope and promises, there is nothing like the splash of colour from the nodding heads of tulips to make you think everything is going to be just fine

For this card I have used

Wild Rose Studio - Milton with Tulips

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The word die is from W Plus 9 Design Studio "Sending Hoping Wishing" set and I have made a stack using two layers of kraft card for depth before adding the top layer

The gingham and polka dot papers are from My Favourite Things

and the matting layer is a sheet of First Edition

Die shape is Spellbinders Labels 18

The sponsor of this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts
£12 gift voucher

I'm "hoping" that on this chilly January day, this has helped you feel a little more Springy!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Oxford Blues

Morning all.  It's the last day of my holiday before the weekend, and we're mooching.  We had all sorts of plans for today but I had a rough night coughing and feel a bit limp lettuce, so we haven't really got motivated yet.  Toad has just make me a frothy coffee so I thought I would use the time and bring you a blog post!

I made this card a little while ago but for some reason it didn't get posted, so here we go:

Love this little fella

This is Oxford, a Mo Manning image from Stamping Bella

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from Basic Grey, I think the pad is also called Oxford

Not sure about the blue stripes, they could be from the same pad

Sentiment is LOTV

and a much used Spellbinders die Labels 18

I didn't have anyone in mind when I made this but guess it could work equally as

well for a new job card or starting university

Hugs to all, and welcome to my new Followers who have joined this week

Squirrel xx

Sports - LOTV reminder

Hi all, just dropping by with my second design team inspiration card for the Lili of The Valley June Facebook Challenge - not many days left now to enter so you need to get your skates on!

So this rather colourful card was made using

LOTV Water Babies Little Folk stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The rather loud papers are a mixture from various Basic Grey pads

The ornate oval frame is a Spellbinders die

And the lettering done with the Memory Box alphabet soup die set

Pre-scalloped card base

The challenge closes at 6.00pm on 15 June so better get busy if you want to be in with a chance of winning the fabulous prize.

That's the happy part of this post.

The sad part is that this will be my last ever post for the LOTV design team.

I was over-the-moon when I was asked to join the Design Collective last year, but nothing stays the same forever, and there have been a lot of changes, so, after a lot of careful thought and conscience wrestling, I decided it was time for me to step down.  Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave comments or visit me for my Lili posts, it wasn't a decision easily made but c'est la vie.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Get Your Skates On

Morning all, yawwwwwwwwwwn, had a nice lay-in with Rosie curled up by my feet.  She can be so cute, and in an instant she can be the devil's own!  Just ask Toad - he has an impressive four inch claw slash across his arm.  Totally unprovoked.  She can be such an unpredictable little madam!

Anyhoo, it's the 1st of August, which means it's about time I started thinking about Christmas cards.  Yes I know!  I should have started months ago, but I was in denial that another one could be coming quite so soon.  Sigh.

So, this is Skiddy Skates - from the new release over at Lili of The Valley

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and it was an absolute joy to colour

There's a sprinkle of Glamour Dust on the ice too

Papers are all from the LOTV/Nitwits Twas The Night pad

Sentiments are For Her Sentiments Set 20 and Simply Sophisticated Set 26

Spellbinders Labels 18 die and some festive Card Candi to finish

Now, Christmas Cards are very much like popcorn.  You can resist for so long, but once you start, it's hard to leave them alone!

Have a happy Saturday everyone.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Garfield and Gnomes

In my feelings for Mondays, I'm with Garfield on them, and this one will be worse because it is the first day back after a lovely relaxing week off.

Thankfully for me, and for everyone else around me, the feeling wears off by the afternoon!

Anyhoo, I thought I would start Monday with a smile for a change.  I shall go into work beaming, and that is really going to worry them.

And let's start the week here with a smile too.

So, this is an MFT stamp from the You Gnome Me set

thankfully I got the matching dies, although he's easy enough to fussy cut

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background paper is Maja Designs - Life In The Country

Sentiment by Dovecraft

Shaped dies are by Spellbinders Nestabilities

Hoping your Monday is a good one folks

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) February

Hello chaps!  What a wonderful way to start the week - a new challenge from Without Words!

As it is February, the month of lurrrve, our theme at the challenge is Je t'aime

Yes, we want you to be saying "I love you"

It doesn't have to be Valentine, it could be for a friend, a parent, a sibling, or even a pet, but we want to see you getting loved up and romantic.

Here is my DT card

So, this is one of the four Wee Playful Kittens by Sylvia Zet

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Paper Smooches

Shaped die is Spellbinders

Stitched circle die is MFT Die-Namics

and that really is it - small but perfectly formed, lol

We would love you to join in with the challenge but please do remember to check on the rules first, and step away from those pesky embellishments!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Another Bear

Afternoon all.  Just popping by quickly with another bear card to share with you:

Another first for me - a side stepper card, and made without a safety net or a template, just a lot of guesswork and a trail of failed attempts in the bin!

I have made myself a very simple template for this so if anyone would like a copy just email me and I will whizz one over to you - this card is 6x5 but you can adjust the width easily

So, LOTV James Bear: Snow Angel

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are an old pad - DCWV Christmas Stack

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Tag is a Whimsy die

Snowflake is a Spellbinders die

Pearl brads are from stash

Additionals: Viva Pearl Pen and Glamour Dust

Dammit, that bear is handsome.

Oh, if anyone is wondering about the colour of his coat - it's Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean that I mixed in the palette.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Cheers Bird

I use a lot of terms of endearment in my everyday speech as well as in my writing.  Little things like "sweetheart", "love" and "hun" - and some more quirky ones likes "petal", "flower" and "bird".  I use "bird" quite a bit with my mates.  So if I say "Cheers bird", I am saying thank you.

On the subject of thank you, the challenge I made this card for is Tiddly Inks Challenge - Gratitude And Joyfulness  and I have combined the birds from one set of stamps and the perfect sentiment from another.

All stamps are from Tiddly Inks

Pink feathered paper is from Carta Bella "Wildflower" pad

Blue paper is a scrap of Crafters Companion

Dies and punches: Spellbinders Borderbilities and Martha Stewart

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

And that's it, sweet and simple

Hugs, Squirrel xx