Cupcake Cutie (DT) and cheerio to Dies To Die For

 Yoo-hoo, hope you all had a super Christmas and were

on Santa's naughty list (much more fun!).

 This is it then folks, the last DTDF make from me.

Whimsy Stamps - Big Hugs Die Set - WSD390a

MFT Tiddly Inks - Cupcake Cutie stamps - MFT-TI-006

MFT DieNamics - Cupcake Cutie dies - MFT-2043

MFT DieNamics Fine Finish Edge die - MFT-2147

MFT 6x6 papers Festive Celebrations - MFT-EP-85

Memory Box Open Studio Christmas Fairy Jewels - mb-JWL005

Tiddler stamped on Canson Bristol Board and inked with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

So, I would just like to finish with a THANK YOU to Tracy and my

team mates for the opportunity, and for putting up with me over the years, it's been a blast, and

you all have a very special place in my heart.

And a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to pop over on a Saturday to see what I have been up to.  It's all been for you actually.

BIG HUGS

One final time

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Dragon New Year (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello peeps, just popping in today.  Yes, now, I know that the Chinese New Year isn't Dragon this time around, but who can resist a bit of Dudley having his own party?!

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Dragon New Year : WS-DP1054

Whimsy Dies Celebrate Word And Shadow Die Set WSD377

and a mix of papers from various brands

Dudley and his balloon painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with just a smidge of white highlighter.

That's it from me today.  This afternoon's adventure is to try and get over to see the Oldies.  Whilst the main roads are now clear of snow and ice, the side roads and village roads are still like glass, so it will be a bit of a white knuckle ride I fear.

I'll see you for another DTDF DT post next Saturday, but do pop over to the Inspiration Blog during the week for some amazing creations from my teamies!

Hugs

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Dragon New Year (DT) Dies To Die For

  Hello everyone.  Well, despite my best intentions, this year is a continuation of last year......when you are convinced your pal's birthday is February but it isn't.  Sigh.

There actually wasn't any need for me to sign the inside, she saw "that word" and just knew!

Everything (except papers) is Whimsy today

Whimsy Stamps : Dragon New Year WS-DP1054

Whimsy Stamps : Cheeky Sentiments - CWSD153

Whimsy : Oops! Word and Shadow Die Set - WSD465

Rainbow paper pad from WH Smith

Scarlet cardstock from Rymans

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours on Bristol Board

That's me done here for today - everything has been topsy-turvied as the Oldies are finally booked in for their Covid vaccinations this evening, so it has been all hands to the pump arranging the logistics of it all, borrowing a wheelchair for dad, clearing all my crap out of the car so there are seats, any actually checking that I could fold and unfold the wheelchair, and lift it in and out of the boot.  I have phoned mum and told her to get dad to practice with a mask this afternoon!

Hugs

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Santa's Helpers (DT) Dies To Die For

  I need more than Santa's help this morning, this new Blogger interface is arrrrgh!  I really, really, dislike change for the sake of change.  I wouldn't mind so much, but the bit that has been changed is the bit behind the scenes that only us get to use, and it is frying my brain this morning.

I'm a bit later than usual today as I overslept this morning.  Not by much, but enough to put me behind.  Mind you, I was home-working on Wednesday (having returned to the office on Monday) and hubby woke me up with a "It's 8.45 you know" - flipping heck, I'm supposed to be logged on by 9.00!  That was a very quick lick and a promise in the bathroom and Weetabix induced indigestion.

I am finally getting my a**e into gear with the C** cards, I thought it was about time that I made a start.  This is my fourth this year.  Only another 46 to go, gulp.

I've had this stamp a while, but I have only just plucked up the courage to deal with the colouring of all the details!

So I have used:

Whimsy Stamps - Santa's Helpers WSMF124

Whimsy Stamps - Slimline Bunting Border Dies WSD478

Lawn Fawn - Mini Snowflake Dies LF995

MFT 6x6 paper - Buffalo Brights MFT-EP66

and an older, retired, MFT Chevrons pad

Imagine entirely painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours.

So, that's that bit done, now I need to think about getting a chunk of gammon in the oven to roast!

Hugs

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And as I haven't entered a challenge for a very long time, I'm popping this little lady into the

Anything Goes Challenge over at Word Art Wednesday

Cats or Dogs (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Hello peeps, I hope this Thursday finds you well and that life is being kind to you.  We all need a little kindess.

There is a new themed challenge at AS YOU LIKE IT today, and that theme is Cats or Dogs (your favourite, but please tell us why).

I've had cats in my life since I was born, literally - Sam, the farm tabby, used to sleep under my pram in the garden and wouldn't let anyone near, he was a fierce guard cat!  I can't imagine being without one now, with their cuteness (when they want), their calming purrs, their antics, scheming, mischief, all in all life would be dull without a furry feline buddy.

For this bundle of fuzz, I have used:

MFT Birdie Brown - Cat-Astrophe stamps MFT-BB-104

and the matching dies

a mixture of MFT and Honey Bee papers

a Whimsy ribbon slider die

Two sentiments - one from the cat stamp set, the other from Personal Impressions

and, shockingly, a beautiful piece of rainbow organza ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons

Kittens all coloured up using Zig Clean Colour Pens

Our sponsor for this challenge is

POLKADOODLES

Looking forward to meeting all your furry friends!

Hugs

Bear Calories!

Well hello Mr Weekend!  Blimey, that's been a long time coming, but here it is and I am going to enjoy every cotton pickin' minute of it!

Anyhoo, hands up who here likes a cupcake (or buns as we used to call them)?  They do seem to have come up in the world rather from their humble beginnings to confections of incredible detail.  They are certainly a good way of providing cake to an audience who may have wildly varying tastes and/or dietary requirements

And of course, they are simply delicious too!

This little chap looks happy with his cake anyway

CC Designs - Bears Clear Stamps CCD-0137

Whimsy Stamps - Calories Schmalories CWSD277

Whimsy Stamps - You're Birthday CWSD278

(the grammar queen in me says Your Birthday, but hey)

Whimsy Stamps - Birthday Word and Shadow Die WSD391

MFT Stencil - Card Sized Star Confetti ST-120

Bear and cake combined images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Confetti stars stencilled with Distress Inks and Distress Oxides

That cake is making me feel peckish......

Hugs all

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Celebrating Squidgy (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, just popping by with my DT for today before we get togged up and head over to the Oldies where we have a little job waiting for us of shifting half a trailer (and I mean tractor trailer) load of firewood into the shed in the dry!

Something a bit busier for you than usual today, I got a bit carried away with pretty colours.

So for this cheekycreation I have used:

Stamping Bella - Celebrating Squidgy

Stamping Bella Cut It Out die Celebrating Squidgy

Die-Versions Express Edges - Celebrate

MFT Pure Innocence - Birthday Cutie

Whimsy Shapeology - Stitched Tag Dies

MFT Die-Namics Stitched Flowers

MFT Die-Namics Stitched A2 Rectangle Stax

MFT 6x6 paper Graphic Grid Pastels

MFT 6x6 paper Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Pastels

MFT 6x6 paper Lucky Prints

MFT 6x6 paper Dots and Stripes Sorbet

The Squidy is painted with Distress Inks ReInkers and I used some fineliner pens to add colour to the champagne bottle labels .  After she was die-cut, I popped her onto to some foam pads to lift her away from all those papers and give a tiny bit of dimension.

OK, time for me to strap my knee up and put my big girl boots on ready to go lumberjacking!

Have a super weekend everyone

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AYLI (DT) Favourite Way To Add A Sentiment

Hello peeps, is it warm enough for you?  Over here in the east the wind has been so bitter that I have had to resort to my Savage Squirrel pink bobble hat, which has caused one or two raised eyebrows at work!

Right then, it's Thursday so that means the start of new challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT team.   This fortnight the theme is Your Favourite Way To Add A Sentiment (and why).

My most often way to add a sentiment is to stamp it direct to the image panel.  Unlike some of my teamies, this has never scared me and with the aid of an acrylic block I can usually get it straight!  I have an enormous library of sentiment stamps now, but there is always room for more.  I do love a sentiment with a good pun in it too.

As a bonus, I have added a stacked word die to this card, simply because it worked so well with the stamped words

For this little one I have used:

CC Designs "Fawned" stamp set

(sentiment came with the fawns)

Friend word die from Whimsy, cut three times from 300gsm card, and once from the Dovecraft paper so it's a nice deep stack and really stands off the card

Crealies XXL No 70 - Square With Open Scallop

Image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Our sponsor for this theme is 

CraftsULove

Hope you will find a way to have fun with your words and share them with us

Hugs to all

Squirrel x

Reindeer Games (DTDF DT)

Hello peeps, happy Christmas Eve Eve, I'm here with my Dies To Die For Inspiration Blog post and if you have already been over there you will know I have a little challenge for you

Can you name me all 10 of Santa's reindeer?

On your marks, get set, go!
(and no cheating please, it's Christmas after all)

The correct answer will be at the end of this post.

Mama Elephant - Reindeer Games

Die-Namics Stitched Tag Corner Square Stax

Whimsy Shapeology Dies - Corner Die Set

I used Die-Versions A Hint of Lime for the lettering but any font of the

right size would do, or even a Merry word die like this

Lawn Fawn Scripty Merry

Everything on the image panel painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Thanks everyone for all your visits and your loving support during my first

year on the DTDF team, it means a lot.  All that remains for me to do this week is

to wish you all a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hugs, Squirrel xx

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(please note that orders placed over Christmas will not ship until 2 January)

So, the reindeer
Dasher and Dancer
Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
Donner and Blitzen
Rudolph and Olive

What do you mean, you have never heard of Olive?

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.
Olive the Other Reindeer used to laugh
and call him names.....

Rose With Balloon (DT) Dies To Die For

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope everything is sunny in your world today.

It is of course my day to post on the DIES TO DIE FOR blog

CC Designs Rose With Balloon

MFT Dots and Stripes Confection 6x6

Die-Namics Stitched Basic Edges 2

Die-Namics Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2

Whimsy Dies WSD383 Smiles Happy Celebrate

Die-Namics Peek A Boo Dots

all the links will take you to the right places in the Dies To Die For store

I think you might be able to guess the additionals by now

Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Polychromos Pencils

Custom sized card base

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

DTDF (DT) Frog Prince

Morning all.  Now then ladies, who amongst you will admit to having kissed a few frogs before they found their prince?  Strangely, I kissed the frogs but married the Toad!

I'm here today with my make for the DIES TO DIE FOR blog 

Quite a list of ingredients for this one, all from the Dies To Die For store

Whimsy Stamps - Frog Prince

Die-Namics Double Stitched Square Stax

Die-Namics Tag Builders Blueprints 6

Die-Namics Diagonal Sentiment Strip Cover Up

Whimsy Dies Smiles, Happy, Celebrate WSD383

MFT Trail Mix 6x6 pad

MFT Tribal Prints 6x6 pad

MFT County Fair Plaid 6x6 pad

in addition I have used Distress Inks (ReInkers), Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and Bristol Board

plus a custom sized card base

I wanted to try a new colouring technique with the DIs and have been so inspired by

Tamara.  I think it will take a lot of practice, and it really isn't as easy as it looks.

Less really is more in this case.

That's all from me today, so I hope you have a super weekend

Hugs

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Fairies or Teddies

Now, the choice that AS YOU LIKE IT are asking you to make this week is which is your favourite, Fairies or Teddies ......

Having had a run of challenges where I have really struggled to make a choice, this one has been an easy decision.  With apologies to the Fairies, but if it is furry and huggable, then I am there, a Teddies girl all the way!

So this happy hula bear is by Lee Holland from Whimsy Stamps

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Clouds are sponge inked with a homemade template

MFT Die-Namics double stitched circle die

Whimsy Dies double scallop doily die

Sentiment from Personal Impressions

Papers are Prima All About Me

Hobbycraft gold pearlised card

The sponsor of this challenge is

Dies to Die for

£15 voucher

I do hope you will be able to join us for this super theme!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Look Who's Back !!

Those clever girls at LILI OF THE VALLEY know what we like - in fact they know what we like so much that they are re-releasing some of the gorgeous stamps that had previously been retired.

The first two to make a come-back are Spring Bunny with Daffs and Balloon Bunny - they are available on the website RIGHT NOW!  Limited numbers so be there or be bunnyless.  Over the next few weeks there will be more stamps making a return so keep your eyes open for them.

I think you might be able to work out which one of the two that I have used for this card for the Design Collective.

Lots of ingredients for this J fold card so here we go

Well of course it is, Spring Bunny with Daffs!

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is LOTV Scroll Sentiments

Papers are all old K&Co (the daffodil pad and the daisy pad)

Border die is Magnolia (think it might be Swedish Lace)

Corner dies are by Whimsy

Three toned green ribbon by Anita's

Resin flowers bought in Lakeland (been waiting for a chance to get them out again)

I hope you are having a Happy Friday!

Rosie sends her love ....

Hugs to all

Squirrel xxx

Gone Fishing

Well, it's Monday and it's back to work for me after a week of chillin' (snuffling with a stinky cold) and crafting, so this morning is going to come hard.  If only I had bought that winning lottery ticket this week!

I could get used to a life of leisure, just like this little chap for my second LOTV Design Collective card for November.

This is LOTV Gone Fishing

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back to Basics

Die is from Whimsy

Baker's Twine from stash

I chose not to add a sentiment until he was needed as I couldn't decide what occasion

he would suit best

Now, where did I put my worms...?

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Feelin' Purple

It's Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaaay!  Whoop whoop!

Morning all, and Friday at last, hurrah, the weekend starts in nine hours, and can't get here soon enough.  This horrid shingles virus hasn't gone completely yet and I am absolutely shattered by the end of each working day, so you can imagine how tired I am by the end of the week.  A lot of sleep is on the menu for Saturday and Sunday!

Anyhoo, I am bobbing by with my second outing for October for Lili Of The Valley Design Collective.  You might have noticed a lot of purple featuring in my cards of late, and this one is no different.  I blame that Mr Holtz and his new Wilted Violet Distress Ink, it is just so yummy.

Of all the Odd Dog characters from LOTV, I think this one, Mug Of Tea, is my favourite

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers (more purple) from LOTV/Nitwits Promises pad (patterned and solids)

Sentiment is LOTV Happy Circular Sentiments Set 8

Papermania enamel dots (purple, lol), MFT double stitched rectangle die, and the twiddly bits poking out from under the sentiment are two cuts of a Whimsy corner die back-to-back

So, that's me for today.  Keep an eye on this space for some exciting Lili news coming soon.  Also, if you weren't already aware, Lili have recently moved (same site, different address) and will shortly be opening a COFFEE SHOP!  Oh how I wish I could pop upto Leeds and back in a couple of hours, lol.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Sweet Dreams

Today, after many months of deliberating, I thought I might have a rant and rave about the insidious/invidious nature of Facebook v Blogger, but you know what? I really haven't got the energy as I might well be talking to myself the way things are going these days.

Instead I bring you another Odd Dog sneak peek from Lili of The Valley - these little cuties will be available to purchase on 4 July.

This little chap is Sweet Dreams

Papers are LOTV?Raspberry Road Shabby Shack

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is an old LOTV one (retired)

Pet tag and bones are Whimsy dies Pet Accessories

Shaped die is Nestabilities

This grumpy old Squirrel will get grumpier as the week goes on, with the increasing temperatures and lack of sleep, but I will still be posting.  Visit if you dare!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Smile! (It's Monday)

Flying visit for a Monday morning - a very joyful little bundle plopped on to the doormat on Friday so even though you probably saw enough of these in sneaky peeks, here is what I did with them:

One of the LOTV Happy Bears

Painted in Distress Inks

Die-Namics Stitched Snowdrifts border

Basic Grey papers

and another Happy Bear, again ReInkered

Whimsy tag die

Clearly Besotted sentiment

Hope you all have an absolutely super Monday!

Hugs, 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