Feathers or Fur (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Morning all, how are we today then?   After a brief respite from the UK heatwave, it seems that temperatures are on the up again, so I shall be reverting to limp lettuce mode any minute now.

Before that happens, let me tell you about the new challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE and this time the theme is FUR OR FEATHERS (and why)

Whilst I love watching birds at a safe distance, I'm not so keen on them flapping about too close to me, too many run-ins with budgies, pigeons and seagulls perhaps, but I absolutely lurrrrrrrrrve anything in a fur coat.  So, anyway, this is an experiment in furriness

and an attempt to get some texture

So this was made using an old rubber stamp from LOTV featuring that very

furry James Bear

I have painted the bed and stocking with Distress Inks (ReInkers) but I have done

James with traditional watercolours but quite dry so I could get "thicker" paint and the each brushstroke had its own definition

Papers are from old Christmas collections from Dovecraft

Anyhoo, whether you prefer feathers or fur, you may like to know that the winner of this challenge will be invited to join us as a GDT for the first of the September challenges!

Hope you can join us.

Hugs to all

Papertake Sketch + Stamp Something

Didn't think I'd be back this afternoon but whilst hopping around, I could not resist combining this weeks Papertake Weekly Sketch 26 with Stamp Somethings Hallowe'en Somethings

I've had this little Penny Black mouse stamp for years and confess that I think this is only his second outing! Backing paper is PaperCellar Tartan Collection and cardstock from DCWV MatStack, Cuttlebug embossing folders Cobweb and Swiss Dots, peel-offs and ribbon from stash.

Not really scary is he?!

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 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

Sketch Saturday Challenge No 68

I am in love with the Sketch Saturday challenges! I shouldn't wish my time away but I can't wait for Saturday mornings now, and this week's sketch is a beauty.



It was a bit of a game trying to find a stamp that would fit where the image was meant to go - I won't admit how many stamps I had out of their boxes for this! Anyway, this is a lovely sketch to work with and I shall be saving it to use again for other occasions so a big thank you to Sketch Saturday Challenge No 68 for coming up trumps again.



Ingredients:
Penny Black stamp "Buzz In The Air", watercolour painted
Bazzil cardstock
Papermania Sweet Nothings papers
7Gypsies 5th Avenue Journey Collection papers
Crystal Stickers self-adhesive Pearls
Hero Arts Happy Birthday sentiment from a clear set
Woodware flower punch

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to drop in, hope to see you again soon.

Squirrel xx

Get Well Giraffe

One of my dearest friends, Sheila, was due to go into hospital on Tuesday (I say "was" because the hospital phoned her this morning to postpone) to have her gallbladder removed and a hernia repaired. When I saw this little fella in the Lofty & Co range on Joanna Sheen's site the other week I knew that I had to get him specifically for Sheila.



I deliberately kept this one simple so that there were no problems with it going through the post.

Ingredients:
Dr Lofty by Lofty & Co from Joanna Sheen
Papermania Sweet Nothings papers
The "Get Well Soon" tablets are part of the Dr Lofty unmounted stamp set
Painted with watercolours