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

Ribbon or Flowers (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Well hello there chaps!  How are you on this fine Thursday?  You do know of course that with it being Thursday it is time for another fortnight's challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT gang.

This time, the theme is Ribbons or Flowers (Your Favourite and Why)

I have more of an affinity with flowers than I do with ribbon, although I don't use either that much really.  However, for this challenge I was going to make an effort and out came the flowers, only to find that my silicon glue is a solid lump in a tube!  So, I had to resort to flat flowers ..... (I can hear Red Leader grumbling from here)

So this ADORABLE little chap is new and he is

Stamping Bella Flowery Gnome

I don't have the die, but there is one available, so I had to fussy cut

He is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours

The leafy stem is a Tonic die and

the flowers are various sizes of Woodware punch, with Card Candy centres

(didn't have the right colour so inked up a cream one with a yellow pen)

The layered Hello die is from Create A Smile

Papers are Sunny Studio (purple) and Prima (blue)

So there you have it - except for our wonderful sponsor for this theme who is

£10 voucher from

Fantastic Ribbons

Hope you will take time in your busy schedules to come and join in the fun.

Hugs

Little Duck (DT) Dies To Die For

So, I am getting excited about Spring putting in an appearance, as it is my favourite season, and have been inking up Spring themed images in readiness

For this cheeky little chick I have used

Wild Rose Studio - Little Duck stamp

Die-Namics Double Stitched Circle Stax dies

this is the link to the Stitched Circle Stax

MFT 6x6 County Fair Plaid papers

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Scalloped circle die is from Tonic

Whatever you are up to this weekend, stay warm, stay safe

Dies To Die For Inspiration Blog

Dies To Die For Online Store

AYLI (DT) Favourite Die

I'm scheduling this post for Thursday and our new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT - I hope by then we might have had a little bit of sunshine because, seriously, I am starting to feel like a mole with all this darkness.

Darkness is my excuse for a not very good photo this week, I had to take it under artificial light, which never gives a true reading of colour.

Anyhoo, our theme for this fortnight is FAVOURITE DIE (and why).  This was so difficult, it was like asking me to choose my favourite pet, impossible.  I use a lot of stitched effect dies, and I absolutely love these double stitched ones, they just finish the image panel off beautifully.  This simple square is one of my most used.

So, the things I have used to make this are:

CC Designs: Roberto's Rascals - Shopping Nancy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Die-Namics Double Stitched Square Stax

Not sure about the border die, so if anyone could shed light on that I'd be grateful

LOTV: Circular Sentiment stamp

Die-Namics Stitched Circle Stax

Tonic dies (it's a scalloped frame from within a set (label long gone)

MFT 6x6 Dots & Stripes

Lilac cardstock from Rymans

and our generous sponsor for this challenge is

Prize:

That's all from me folks.

Hugs

Happy Birth Day

No, it's not a typing mistake, I really did mean Happy Birth Day.  My mate at work has become a second time grandma and I made this to celebrate the birth of baby Jack and his safe arrival.

I have entered it as a twist on the Happy Birthday theme on the Lili of The Valley FB Challenge (1-14 May)

I think the stamp is perhaps called Special Delivery but it is one that I forgot to write the name of on the packet when it arrived.  It is most definitely LOTV though!  (EDIT: "Just Arrived")

I have painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from an el-cheap-o pad that I bought from The Works, but they

seem to be ok and certainly cope with wet glue so I may well get some more

Die-Namics Double Stitched Circle Stax die

Die-Namics Stitched Sentiment Strips die

Crealies Double Dots Squares die

Tonic Scalloped Squares dies

Clearly Besotted sentiments from their baby stamp set

Stars done with a shaped hole punch

For a simple card it seems to have a lot of ingredients!

Anyway, my mate was thrilled and she has had it on display on our reception desk

all week for everyone to see, even our clients, bless her

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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

Happy Bird-Day (DT) Dies To Die For

Happy Squirrel day everyone!

Well, it's not Squirrel day, it's Saturday, but that's the same thing in my book (grins), especially as it is my day to showcase over on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog

The linked products are all available on the Dies To Die For store

Whimsy (Chrissy Armstrong Collection) - Happy Bird-Day stamp

Die-Namics Double Stitched Circle Stax

MFT Tribal Prints 6x6 pad

and the extras used are

Tonic layered circle dies

A small star punch and a corner punch that I used to nibble away at

the sentiment panel to give a rustic look

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

As you can probably see, this is one of those odd shaped cards - I marked out the circle from

mid-line in pencil and then carefully cut with a knife so that half the circle overlaps the

inside of the card, which is where the contrast paper layer is, so I got the circle shape without

adding an extra layer

It's the first time I've tried this and I really like the effect, it just gives a CAS

card that something extra without being cluttered with other stuff but I could really do with

practising my knife skills!

I'm off for a tail colour and trim at lunchtime, and then it will be an afternoon of

clipping back shrubbery in the back garden.  I would be much happier sat

with a paintbrush in my paw

Have a super day, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Dies To Die For online store

In The Pink (DT) Special Lady

So, now we are into March - so it must be Hello Spring at last!

Today, over at IN THE PINK the theme for the next two weeks is SPECIAL LADY which is perfectly timed for all of you out there making Mother's Day cards.

Here is my make:

So I have used:

Stamping Bella: Squidgie - Smoochie

Tonic heart dies

Poppy Stamps Bubble Daisy Border

Doodlebug paper

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

and our sponsor of this challenge is ALL DRESSED UP

So, what's stopping you, go and get PINK!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Ribbon or Lace

Morning everyone!  It's a new challenge from those lovely ladies over at AS YOU LIKE IT and this time your choice is RIBBON OR LACE.

Whichever is your favourite, please remember that you must tell us why, otherwise you may not be considered for the Top 3/Winner slots.

Most people know that I consider ribbon to be the frippery of the Devil, and if I am honest, lace isn't far behind - neither of them really suit my CAS style, but for this one a faux lace matting layer actually worked well enough for me to have a little smile.

This one was a card order from my mum, she wanted one for a friend of hers.  The friend, and the friend's husband, are greatly amused by me being called Squirrel, and often tell mum if they have heard me on the local BBC radio station.  So, when mum said "I want a Squirrel squirrel card" I wasn't sure what she meant - I didn't hear the capital letter, and then the penny dropped.

Lili of The Valley - Squirrel Presents Trio

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment from Clearly Besotted

Papers are all Papermania

Martha Stewart - Punch Around-The-Page - Eyelet Lace

Die-Namics stitched circle

Tonic scalloped circle

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Crafty Ribbons
£10 voucher

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Papers

Hello AYLIers, it's your favourite day chaps, time for a new challenge with the talented

AS YOU LIKE IT team

This time the challenge is a tough one, it's your Favourite Papers - and please remember that you need to tell us why they are your favourites.

What a silly thing to make us choose!  Favourite papers, favourite pet, same thing.  OK, if I am forced to make a decision based on what papers do I go to most often, then it's going to be Nitwits, which is what I used for this card.....or Dovecraft, which I didn't.

So for this I have used one of the Flower Fairies from Wee Stamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) to match with the

Country Lady paper pad from Nitwits (sold by LOTV)

Sentiment is by Kaisercraft

Top die is from Tonic, one of a set of three

and the one underneath that is a Joanna Sheen edger die I think

and of course we have a super sponsor for the challenge and it is

Crafts U Love

£10 voucher

It's your turn now, you have two weeks to rummage through that stash of papers and choose YOUR favourite!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Patterned Paper or Embossed

It scares me sometimes how quickly these Thursdays come round!  Blink, and suddenly it is time for another challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT.

This time around, the challenge for you is to choose your favourite between Patterned Paper or Embossed Paper.

I'm pretty sure that our Annette will have something to say about me and my love of patterned papers!  I have never really found the love for embossing, but I have certainly found it for pretty papers.  I love the challenge of being able to match the design to an image!

Here's my card

See, tiny pink cups!

Image is LOTV Jasmine Coffee

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT double stitched circle die

Tonic plain circle die for matting

Dovecraft Tea House papers with Basic Grey Kraft papers

Sentiment is LOTV from Set 103 Sweet and Simple

Martha Stewart border punch to finish off

It's a digi sponsor this time, so for all you digi lovers out there

The sponsor of this challenge is

All Dressed Up.

2 digital images of winners choice

from Wendy’s Etsy shop

All Dressed Up Challenge Blog.

Now it's over to you, you have two weeks to show us your make AND tell us why you made the choice you did.

Have fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Anything But A Card

Hello chaps.  It's Thursday, but not any ordinary Thursday, it's my last Thursday and penultimate day  in my current job.  Tonight, a gang of us are hitting the town .......I may have a sore head tomorrow, which considering I don't drink shows my current state of mind, lol!

Anyhoo, Thursday also brings us a new challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT team and this time it's

 ANYTHING BUT A CARD (and why - you must explain why it's your favourite style).

I love the excitement of receiving interestingly wrapped gifts, so I always try to make the effort to give in the same way.  I am really into gift bags and boxes at the moment, bags for the awkward shapes of course!

By the time this post is read, this gift bag may be looking a little weary as I am filling it with yummy biscuits for my department colleagues!

I have used

Tiddly Inks - Cookie Wryn (she was perfect for this)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Tonic oval dies

Crealies stitched rectangle die

Papers from Nitwits and the gingham is from Create & Craft

Martha Stewart border and corner punches

L'il Inkers bow die

Purple gems/dots from Papermania

The sponsor of this challenge is
Lawn Fawn
A stamp set and 6x6 pad of the winner’s choice






Looking forward to seeing all your non-card makes!

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Lili's April Facebook Challenge

For all you fans out there of LILI OF THE VALLEY there is a new challenge happening over on the Facebook page.  It started on 1 April and closes on 17 April, so you have bags of time left to enter.

It's a colour themed challenge - choose any three of the following five:

• A - aqua
• P - pink
• R - red
• I - ivory
• L - lilac

Here's my card, I chose aqua, red and ivory

So, I have used April Fairy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT double stitched circle die, with Tonic plain circle die for mat

Crealies XXL die

Martha Stewart crochet loop border punch

Papers are Nitwits and a piece from my leftovers

Sentiment is from a set that Lili has now retired (sorry)

Right, that's me done, it's over to you now - looking forward to seeing your Lili makes.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Spring Flowers

Hello Pink Fans, it's that time again - a new challenge from those lovely ladies over at

IN THE PINK

As we are almost at the Spring equinox, what better time to look forward to SPRING FLOWERS

Here's my DT card

Sorry for the squint, there's been a lot of that lately!

Image is a retired LOTV stamp

painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Tonic Square Lattice die (you'll be seeing this more often) with pink card behind

Personal Impressions sentiment

MFT stitched rounded rectangle die

Woodware small retro flower punch

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabulous

THE RIBBON GIRL

Just remember, you need to use lots of pink and follow the theme to qualify for the sponsors prize.

Unless my appointment is cancelled again, I shall be going into hospital tomorrow morning so won't be around for a little while but I hope to catch up with your entries before the challenge ends.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Shape or Fold

Well hello there!  Welcome to another Thursday at Squirrelville where it is DT day for the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE.

This time the challenge is SHAPE or FOLD (and you must tell us why you made your choice)

It was a tussle whether to do a fold or a shape, and ended up combining the two into a "fol-ape".  I think it qualifies more as a fold though.  I love to see both, they always make cards feel more special, I'm just not very good at thinking outside the square

So I found the tutorial for this on SplitcoastStampers and it was really easy - of course, I added to it by punching the top border and then swearing because it wouldn't line up at the join, lol.

Stamped image is a Wryn from Tiddly Inks

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are all First Edition from the Paper Flowers collection

Sentiments and banner from Clearly Besotted

Oval dies by Tonic

Border punch is Martha Stewart

Here's a picture of her flat and ready for the envelope

Our sponsor supporting this challenge is

Sweet Stamps with a $10 store voucher

You have two weeks to get folding or shaping, and remember to tell us why you made your choice

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Just keep swimming, swimming......

I love Finding Nemo, it's up there in my Top 20 films.  Mind you, I love anything Pixar so my Top 20 is a bit crowded with their animations.

Anyhoo, I was thinking Finding Nemo when I made these two cards for the Lili Of The Valley Design Collective

The stamps are from the recent Little Critters release and this one is Little Fishes (you get all three fish, the bubbles, and more!)

Both cards painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Card 1 - papers are Wild Rose Studio and I used dies from MFT, Tonic and Memory Box

Card 2 - papers are Crafters Companion, the circle die is CC Designs and the "weed" frond is a Martha Stewart border punch

Sentiment is LOTV Vintage Labels Set 28 with a slight adjustment with the letter F

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Anything Goes

OK, so we are a week into it now but still wishing you all a Happy Pink New Year!

It's the first IN THE PINK challenge of 2016 and to ease you in the theme is

ANYTHING GOES (so long as there's a lot of pink)

Yes, I was spoilt at Christmas and have had to make a lot of thank you cards!

So, this stinkin' cute little critter is a Stacey Yacula image from Purple Onion Designs

Icicle (Polar Bear)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all Tonic "Woodland Friends" collection

Dies used are Crealies stitched rectangles

Cheery Lynn Celtic border

Martha Stewart heart border punch (just the hearts used)

Sentiment from Clearly Besotted Fancy Sayings

There is a super pink prize for the winner from our sponsor THE RIBBON GIRL

So now it's over to you, go and get pink!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx