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

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Arianne's Sketch

This is my first encounter with Sunday Sketch & Stamp and after this week, I shall be going back! This is their No 11 Challenge using Arianne's Sketch.



And this is what I made



Ingredients for this card are:
Penny Black stamp Country Lady which I watercoloured
PaperCellar Black & White papers
Bazzil red card
Woodware small peel-off greeting
Nestabilities Classic Rectangles

Thanks for dropping by and taking a look, you are always welcome.

Squirrel xx

One For Three!

Afternoon all! You can tell I'm short on crafting time when I'm trying to see how many challenges I can cram into one card - I think three is enough for this one. So, we have: Cute Card Thursday No 78 Hidden Treasure which is the one that started today's headaches, combined with
A Spoonful Of Sugar Challenge No 69 Fall Into Autumn and High Hopes Challenge No 45 Favourite Stamp

For the Hidden Treasure part of the challenge, I remembered seeing in an issue of Making Cards the instructions for a slider card. "Oh it can't be that hard" thought I "I'll do that". Ha! Anyway, won't bore you with the details but dearest Toad did ask me twice "Are you still making that same card?". For the Fall Into Autumn part of the challenge, I used some wonderfully rich papers from My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow and some autumn leaf stamps by Komodo, also autumn is kitten season which lead me beautifully into High Hopes Favourite Stamp of Andreas Kitties .....



And this is it with the slider open -


Ingredients:
High Hopes stamp Andreas Kitties
Komodo stamps Autumn Leaves
Hero Arts sentiment stamps (lost the packet so don't know which set)
My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow papers
Bazzil cardstock
ColorBox Fluid Chalk
Crystal Elements red and gold gems
ProMarkers

I'm off for a lay down now before I tackle anything else! Thanks for dropping by on this wonderfully sunny autumn Sunday.

Squirrel xx

One Plus One

Afternoon all! Hope you are having a gorgeous Saturday - it's been lovely here, the sun came out this morning and it's mild but not too hot. A perfect autumn day. Been off to a food tasting at a local farm shop this afternoon, oh so many yummy things - everytime I turned my back Mr Toad had disappeared, but I needn't worry, I knew he'd be at the sausage stand (have to admit, those little chipolatas were amazing).

Anyhoo, on returning home I thought I ought to pull my socks up and get on with a couple of challenges - ended up combining two in one card so I hope you don't mind. This card is for Sketch Saturday Challenge No 69 and here is their brilliant sketch.



And the other challenge is this weekend's Penny Black Saturday Challenge Lace & Pearls



For this card the ingredients are:
Penny Black stamp "Looking At You" which I've watercoloured
My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus papers (broke my heart to use them)
Chocolate brown card from stash
Woodware self-adhesive paper lace
Crystal Stickers Pearls
Woodware medium and small flower punches
Pebble Inc I-kan-dee Pearlescent Chalks
Nestabilities Classic Ovals

I know it looks as if I was a bit tipsy when I took the photo but you can blame the cat for that one! I was trying to get it done quickly before I got his tail in the picture and fur all over the card. Honest!

Thanks for dropping by today, hope to see you again soon.
Hugs
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

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 65

The theme this week over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is "Heart's Desire".

Thanks to Pauline at Passion For Papercraft for making me rummage through my stamps - I haven't used this little fella for a while and I totally love him. You can just see how much effort he is putting into that wish he's making!

Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp "Cheesecake Wish"
Hero Arts "Dandelion" (for the backing paper)
Penny Black sentiment stamp "Make A Wish"
Basic Grey papers "June Bug"
Cuttlebug border folder and Bazzil card
And yes, I've watercolour painted him

Thanks for popping by to have a look. Hope to see you soon.

Squirrel xx

Cute Card Thursday No 76 Back To School

Cute Card Thursday No 76 is Back To School and I couldn't resist the chance to use one of the first Penny Black stamps I ever owned.

Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp "Things To Do"
Papers - Making Memories Cheeky Collection "Abbey" and Joanna Sheen Calligraphy Pad
ABC letters are from stash.

I'll be totally honest, this isn't actually a Back to School card, but it would work as one. Promise!

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

Christmas Trio

Getting into a little bit of a panic now, knowing that I am going back to work in 10 days - OMG, only 10 days! - and you know what it's like when you suddenly realise that time is short and you are slow and Christmas is advancing!

When I saw this little fella in the new releases from Penny Black I just knew I had to bring him home - it's a shame he will only come out to play for a few times each year, he is so adorable.



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "An Eggnog", Plum Pudding papers, Elzybells Art Stamps sentiment, Nestabilities

These cheeky little chicks were chosen by my hubby because he said they just made him laugh - they certainly do raise a smile



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "Par Avion", Anita's Classic Christmas Blue papers, Cuttlebug Snowflakes, Woodware Snowflake Punch, PaperCellar pearl blue card

And finally, Little Ted, I did wonder if the card came out too dark but Mr Toad assures me that the dark papers simply highlight the bear - he is learning to say the right things at last!



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "Dear Santa", Papermania A Wonderful Christmas Time, red card is Bazzil from stash

Right, I'd better get on with making a few more - watch this space!
Squirrel xx

ABC Challenge - Circles

I seem to be using a lot of circles on my Christmas cards at the moment (funny how we go through little phases isn't it) so when I saw the ABC Challenge Circles I just had to have a go!



Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp "Xmas Hedgie" coloured with ProMarkers
Plum Pudding paper
Lots of mirri-card from stash and a border embossing folder from Cuttlebug
Text is Woodware Christmas Words

Thanks for popping over for a peek.
Squirrel xx

Altered Paper Bag

Hi All,

A very dear friend in a crafting group I belong to set a challenge to alter a brown paper bag. When it arrived in the post I thought it was to stop me hyperventilating at the thought of the amount of work to be done!

Anyway, I've been putting it off for long enough so today I thought I'd sit down and give it a go. It's been an interesting experience and I'm not sure it's one I would rush into again unless it was for someone very special but it's been fun and I am quite pleased with the final result. I apologise for the number of photos but there are 4 sides and a bottom to the paper bag!

The Front


Inside 1


Inside 2


The Back


The Bottom


Front and Back


Inside 1 and Inside 2


Ingredients:
1 brown paper bag!
Loads of Bazzil spring colours cardstock (pink, yellow, lilac and green)
Various Nestabilities
Buzzcraft Fairy Doodles stamps
Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps (for the closure)
Pebbles Inc Candy Dots (for some flower centres)
Peel-offs borders and corners from stash

Thanks for taking the time to drop by and have a look.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sketch And Stash No 18

I came across this challenge by accident and I am so pleased that I did - the idea is that they provide the sketch and you use your stash to make the card! It's a great motivator to rummage about in the old bits to rediscover hidden treasures.

Anyway, as some of you know, my darlin' hubby is known, affectionately I assure you, as Mr Toad and he would be disappointed if his birthday card did not feature some sort of frog/toad image.

Sketch And Stash Challenge No 18


From the stash I have used:
Papers: 7Gypsies 5th Avenue Journey Collection, miscellaneous bit from stash
Stamp: Hero Arts Sparkles Clear Froggy
Gems: Pebbles Inc Candy Dots
Green card (circles and frame cut with Nestabilities)and little worms are from stash
Woodware small text peel-offs

Thanks for taking time to pop by and have a look. See you soon!
Squirrel xx

Penny Black Saturday No 64 Christmas

Never one to miss the opportunity to use a Penny Black stamp, I am grateful to the Penny Black Saturday Challeng No 64 to give me a push to making another Christmas card - a few down, loads to go!



Ingredients:
Penny Black "A Wish & A Kiss" stamp which I watercolour painted.
Papers are a mix of Papermania "A Wonderful Christmas Time" and "Secret Garden"
Text is from a Hero Arts clear set and the gems are from stash.

Thanks for coming to visit, hope to see you again soon.
Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday No 66

Thanks to my crafting buddies, I am now addicted to challenges so you only have them to blame!

Sketch Saturday Challenge No 66 gave me the inspiration to use one of my new stamps (yes, another one!)



Ingredients:
Penny Black "Overdressed Duck" stamp which I watercolour painted
Papers are a mix of Dovecraft Winterwonderland and Anita's Classic Christmas Blue
Classic Circle Nestabilities and Cuttlebug Snowflakes
Other bits and bobs from stash

Thanks for taking the time to come and have a gander! LOL!

Squirrel xx

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

Tilda & Edwin Get Married!

Hi All,

I've been having a browse through the challenges and this week's Cute Card Thursday - No. 75 - New Beginnings caught my eye.

My best friend's sister is getting married in a month and, I admit it, I have put off sitting down and making The Card. Wedding cards are such an easy thing to get wrong and I don't want to offend anyone! Anyway, this challenge has given me the push I need - the colour theme for the wedding is chocolate and cream:

Cute Card Thursday No 75 New Beginnings.



Ingredients:
Main image stamps are Magnolia - Tilda In Hat and Lucky Edwin - coloured with ProMarkers, mainly in Cinnamon and Ivory.
Tilda & Edwin are layered on Papermania Exquisite, layered on Dovecraft Masculine, layered on Little Sizzles Earth Tones, layered on Bazzil ivory card. I deckle cut the edges of the ivory card and swiped with Chestnut Roan Colorbox Fluid Chalk. The borders and text are peel-offs from stash.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this one.

Am also going to sneak it into the Just Magnolia Ribbons & Bows for this week!

Thanks
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