As You Like It Challenge (DT) Fur Feathers or Scales

 I wasn't going to mention this week's weather, but by crikey it has been exceptional - on Monday it was dear old Suffolk that broke the UK high temperature record (obviously exceeded on Tuesday), and I have to say I HAVE HATED EVERY SECOND OF IT!  The forecast for tomorrow is 19C and I cannot wait to be able to breathe again.

Anyhoo, it is time for a new theme at AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE and this time

it is Your Favourite - Fur, Feathers, or Scales (and why)

Soft and fluffy fur!  I quite like feathers themselves, but am nervous of birds, they are so delicate, except for chickens, chickens are sneaky and evil.  Scales are attached to things that freak me out (sorry to the tortoises), so fur it is, it's soft, it's strokeable, it's warm, it's usually wrapped around something I'd like to cuddle.

For this one I have used the Bears set from CC Designs

painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

teamed her with some papers from Lawn Fawn and Sunny Studio Designs

and a die from Crealies

Corner punch is unlabelled so can't tell you what that is

The sponsor for this challenge is the ever popular and talented

Lee Holland

Hugs

Wonder Woman?

 Hello peeps, I hope everyone is ok this morning after Storm Eunice.  I've checked on the Oldies and they are all in one piece, which is more than can be said for the felt on our shed roof, but that's such a minor issue in comparison to what many have suffered.  Did you see the photos of the O2 Arena roof?  I'm guessing that won't be a cheap fix.

So, I have said it before, the Oddball stamps from Stamping Bella are growing on me, and one or two might have snuck their way into my collection.

This one makes me laugh, particularly the sentiment, as I often find myself saying

"I wonder......."

This is Mini Oddball Superhero from Stamping Bella

and I think she is adorable, even if I do need more practice colouring her cape!

The sentiment comes with the image.

Martha Stewart stars border punch, with some of the punched out stars used for accents,

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers from my ever growing stash

And no, it's not your eyes, she does seem to be a little out of focus

Hope you have a good rest of your weekend

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Brights or Pastels

 Hello chaps, welcome to yet another Thursday.  Is anyone else still struggling with the new style of Blogger?  Honestly, it is making me weep.  There is a 16 year old IT intern somewhere going "Oh, I have a great idea, let's completely change something that works perfectly well already, so that I can justify my own existence".  Grrrrrrr.

Anyhoo, you really do not want to hear me on my IT soapbox, so I shall tell you about the new themed As You Like It challenge instead.

So, for this fortnight, your challenge is to share with us your favourite of Brights or Pastels.

Hand on heart, I had to look through some recently made cards because in my head I was thinking "oh easy, it's pastels" but it would appear that I do seem to favour the brights, rather a lot of brights in fact.  So brights it is!

For this showstopper I have used:

CC Designs - 20's Gals stamp set

Whimsy Stamps 6x6 paper - Cosmic

Sentiment die is, I think, by Tonic

Image coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with just a sprinkle

of Glamour Dust Crystal on her frilly bits

Our lovely sponsor for this theme is

LAWN FAWN

I do hope you will have the chance to pop over to AYLI to join in the fun.

Hugs

Say What? (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, how are you this morning?  For some, lockdown is starting to ease, but I am still safely tucked up at home, only venturing out once a fortnight for food.  Monday to Friday finds me nestled into the box room study which has become my home office, so I still very much look forward to my weekends!

Anyhoo, she's bright, she's sassy ...... are you ready?

Ingredients used:

CC Designs - Rockabilly Gals CCD-0128

Clearly Whimsy Stamps - Say What CWSS121

MFT DieNamics - Stitched Ric Rac MFT-1513

MFT Clear Stamps - Purrfect MFT-CS-388

MFT Purr-fect dies MFT-1503

MFT 6x6 paper - Spring Whimsy MFT-EP-61

I loved colouring up this one as I managed to purchase a couple of extra colours for my Zig collection, including Blush and Tea Rose, which will help with skin tone shading.  The husband has already been told that he will be adding to the collection for my birthday next month, LOL!

That's me for today.  Stay safe, whatever you are up to.

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

Flower Bouquet Bunny (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello chaps, it's the weekend, yaaaaay!!

There has been an explosion in the size of the bunny population (which is what happens when you have more than one bunny) here this week and there will be more of those to come soon (they are all incredibly cute!) but today I have one from that very talented designer and illustrator, Lee Holland

So this absolutely adorable little chap is

Whimsy Stamps (Lee Holland Collection) Flower Bouquet Bunny

Your Next Stamp 6x6 Summer Plaid

MFT Birdie Brown Greetings Galore

MFT Stencil Mini Cloud Edges

Image watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Have yourselves a very "hoppy" weekend

Hugs

DIES TO DIE FOR INSPIRATION BLOG

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Dies or Stencils (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Hello my lovelies, and here we are at Thursday again!  I can't believe we are already halfway through March - just what is happening to this year?!  Anyhoo, this brings us to a new challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT team, and the theme for this fortnight is Your Favourite Dies or Stencils.

So, I use dies.  I use them a lot, but just recently I have rediscovered the joy of stencils, especially as there are now some really clever and imaginative ones out there, they are not just background any more, they are an integral part of your design.

So I have used

CC Designs Merkini mermaid stamp

MFT Card Sized Confetti Stencil (2 part set)

Watercolour effect background paper from Hobbycraft

The "bubbles" were inked with two shades of Distress Ink and the Mermaid was

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours.

The detail of her hair has been added with Polychromos Pencils.

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Crafty Ribbons

See you there!

AYLI (DT) Favourite Colouring Medium

Not quite sure where the last fortnight has gone but it is time for another challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT team and this time the theme is "Your Favouring Colouring Medium".

So, I bet you think I am going to straight in there and boldly say Distress Inks (ReInkers)!

You would be partly right, but I have been venturing deeper and deeper into the world of

mixed media, and I have to say, I am surprising myself by how much I am

loving it.

A very simple CAS card, but this shows off the colours very well.

MFT You're Super stamp set

Supergirl is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) but

her hair is done with Polychromos Pencils

and the splatter background was done with Copics and ProMarkers with

the aid of the Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer

I had so much fun splatting the background that I completely forgot I had intended to

stamp and mask the image before getting inky, so in the end I stamped and

fussy cut her.

Our sponsor for this challenge is a perennial favourite

CraftsULove

Hugs to all

AYLI (DT) Favourite Flower

Hello peeps, and a happy Maundy Thursday to you.  There's a new challenge starting today over at AS YOU LIKE IT and theme is perfect for this time of year, we would like to know about your FAVOURITE FLOWER

I love many flowers, one of my favourites to look at is the humble daisy because it is such a happy little bloom, but for fragrance the most evocative for me is lily of the valley.

A very simple design

Stamping Bella - Garden Girls: Lily of The Valley

and the matching die

Die-Namics A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax Set 2

Leftover papers from scraps

and a magazine freebie sentiment

Not a Distress Ink in sight - she's all Polychromos this time

Normally at this point in the post I would tell you who our sponsor is but this time

it is a little bit special as there is a Guest Designer place up for grabs!

OK, time for you to get your blossoms on.

Hugs

DTDF (DT) Rosetta

It's me with a scheduled post this morning because I'm hopefully on the way for a haircut, snow permitting!  I'm sure we used to cope with more snow than this when I was younger, but I guess we're out of practice - or the local authorities are actually now so short of money that they can't get the gritters/ploughs out.

Anyhoo, it's always good to push yourself now and again so I decided to challenge myself and create something more "delicate" than usual.  It was so hard to resist adding more colour!

Whimsy Stamps/Wee Stamps - Rosetta

The butterfly die is old but this one would work beautifully

Memory Box - Rhone Butterfly Wings

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Old papers from Dovecraft with an oriental theme

Hugs to all 

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In The Pink (DT - belated) Ribbons/Bows

Okay, so I missed getting this made in time for the IN THE PINK challenge of RIBBONS/BOWS (Breast Cancer Awareness) so I'm pretending that this was meant to be a midway reminder!

As this awful disease has no boundaries on age, I used this particular

image to highlight the fact that it can affect young and old alike

CC Designs - Roberto's Rascals: ipod Erica

Pink gingham cardstock from stash

L'il Inker Designs stitched bow die

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

The sponsor for this challenge is

digistampboutique.co.uk

and the closing date is 8 November, so you still have time to enter

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Stamping Bella Chrysanthemum

I'm here today for my DIES TO DIE FOR post with a touch

of autumnal loveliness

Stamping Bella:  Tiny Townie Garden Girl - Chrysanthemum

Stamping Bella: Chrysanthemum Cut It Out Die

MFT 6x6: Farm Fresh Gingham

Die-Namics: Stitched Sentiment Strips

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment from Clearly Besotted

Hoping your weekend is in full bloom.

Hugs, Squirrel x

Dies To Die For online store

DTDF (DT) Snail Mail

Morning all - three day weekend, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It's my day for the DIES TO DIE FOR inspiration blog and I have some

Squidgy cuteness for you

I just love receiving letters by post (not those sneaky former-brown-envelopes-now

disguised-as-white-ones) but I cannot remember the last time I actually sat

down and wrote anything other than a card - maybe we should try and

bring back the tradition of proper letter writing, in pen!

Stamping Bella Snail Mail Squidgy

Die-Namics Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges

MFT 6x6 Tribal Prints

Impression Obsession Hello

Coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

DTDF Holiday Closure - see below for details

Have a fabulous weekend, whatever you are up to

Hugs

Squirrel

Dies to Die For online store

Tracy says

HOLIDAY CLOSURE

Please be aware that I will be taking my annual holiday from  Friday 18th August until Monday 4th September.  Orders received after 3pm Thursday 17th August will not start shipping until Tuesday 5th September.  Whilst I am away the website will be updated with any new stock and restocks and you will still be able to place orders online.

DTDF (DT) Beach Babe Twila

Hello everyone, here I am at the end

of a week's holiday - I would like to say I had a chance to do this

but unfortunately it wasn't really a paddling kinda week!

CC Designs - Beach Babe Twila

Impression Obsession Bottom Edger Greetings

MFT 6x6 Tiny Hearts Pastels

MFT 6x6 Farm Fresh Gingham

This is my post for the DIES TO DIE FOR inspiration blog, but it is also a nudge for

SQUIRREL'S NOT SO RANDOM CHALLENGE which is Holiday Fun

Hope you are all having a great weekend

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For blog

Dies To Die For online store

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Summer Fun

MFT Colour Challenge #74

Hello peeps, yes, it is Monday, no, it's not a mirage, it really is me posting on a Monday!

Every week, I have a look at the MFT Colour Challenge (or should I say Color Challenge)

and every week I drool over all the fabulous entries.

Sometimes I have a go, but mostly I just shake my head and fret about it.

However, this week I am not being a wuss and I have squirrelled up and taken the plunge.

and here are the colours/colors that were on the list

Hmmmm, maybe not the best match, but it was the best I could do this afternoon

with the inks

I have used the MFT Mermazing set

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and the paper is MFT Dots & Stripes Confection

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Colour Duo

Hello peeps, today sees the start of another challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT and this fortnight the theme is Favourite Colour Duo (please remember tell us why you made the choice you did)

I have lots of favourite combinations, depending on what type of card I am making, but one of my all time duo favourites is purple and aqua.  It is suitable for so many occasions and has a lovely clean and fresh feel about it.

For this little card I have used

Whimsy/Wee Stamps Iris

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are MFT and Papercraft House

a few dots of the paper created with an office hole punch

and a Woodware shaped corner punch

and Bob's your uncle

Everyone has a favourite colour combination, so please come and share yours with us

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Prizes: - 3 digi stamps voucher worth £6.75

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Anyone can be cool .....

Yoo-hoo!

Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump, I mean, it's Monday and I'm blogging, what's that all about huh?

Well, I had my second mahoosive delivery of happy mail in a week and, like the first lot, I could not wait to get stuck in.  It was just a question of what to do first.  So, after some humming-and-harring, I decided to go with this sassy little lassie and some bright colours.

This is from the last release by CC Designs

Rockabilly Girls set (and they are rubber, not clear stamps - 4 in the set)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from an old CC Designs set called Teen Scene

and the papers are MFT Itsy Bitsy Polka Dot

all together now

"she wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini

that's what she wore for the first time today"

Well I won't be wearing one of those today, I'm on my way to work

Have a fab day everyone - be awesome!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Sweet Honey Bee

Happy 1st July folks!  Cripes, halfway through the year already, so that is six happy months I have been DTing for the DIES TO DIE FOR blog!

Today I am bringing you a dose of sweet summer stickiness.

I love this cute little girl, and she was so much fun to colour with the Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The ARF stamps all have a LOT of hair, so if you love colouring hair then these stamps are the ones for you.  My hairiness was done with the help of a variety of brown toned Polychromos Pencils.

All the linked ingredients are available in the Dies To Die For on-line store

A Random Fan - Sweet Honey Bee

MFT Dots & Stripes Confection 6x6

MFT Tiny Check Brights 6x6

MFT Sweet Celebration 6x6

MFT Tiny Hearts Brights 6x6

Die-Namics Dripping Goo Edge

Die-Namics Upsy Daisy

Die-Namics Stitched Banner Alphabet

Having a buzzing weekend guys

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

While I'm here, the closing date for the SNSRC Fantasy Challenge

has been extended until 30 July

so you have more time to enter your fantasy makes

Yee-haw! (Dies To Die For DT)

Another week has whizzed past, and here we are again at Saturday (hurrah).  As you know by now, it is my day to share something with you on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog.

So, we have a little bit of Bella today, and a very simple design

Stamping Bella - Cowgirl Squidgy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and a matting layer of wood effect paper for that "western" feel

You would not believe the tears I shed over her skirt - I found it to be

a tricky little devil, but my wonderful teamies assure me it's ok!

Have a wonderful time, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For Online Store

In The Pink (DT) Embossing

Hello peeps, it is my turn on the Pink Job-Share with Annette to bring you something for the challenge starting at IN THE PINK today.

For this fortnight's challenge we are asking to see your EMBOSSING - that can be wet or dry, or with dies/stencils - there are a surprising number of embossing techniques so we would like you to show yours.

I have been wanting to try the white outline style of embossing for a while but couldn't see to find the right stamp/image, until I bought a magazine with a fabulous floral stamp/die set as the free gift.

Ooh get me, all subtle!

So the flowers were stamped with VersaMark and I used a fine white heat embossing powder.  I painted the petals and leaves with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and then fussy cut the whole bouquet.

The vase was also stamped, embossed and painted, but there was a vase die with the freebies so that was simple.

Some polka dot and candy striped paper from my scraps box

Tonic scalloped edged dies for a little bit of interest

and a Tattered Lace sentiment die (which was a freebie with their magazine)

We are thrilled to have on board Tracy from Dies To Die For as

our very generous sponsor of this theme with a £15 store voucher for the lucky winner.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) 4 Seasons

Hello chaps, it's Saturday (hurrah), it's a bank holiday on Monday for the UK (hurrah), and I'm on holiday for the week (hurrah hurrah!) but I am here, not to rub it in that I'm not at work next week, but to share my DIES TO DIE FOR make with you.

It is only a wee one today but, with the right design, small can still make an impact.  I have kept this clean and simple.

These links will take you direct to the Dies To Die For store

CC Designs 4 Seasons Girls Clear Stamps

Die-Namics Double Stitched Rectangle Stax

MFT Farm Fresh Gingham 6x6 pad

and in addition

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Polychromos Pencils

Clearly Besotted sentiment

Custom sized card base

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx