Is Summer Here?

Only me, still playing and learning - now worked out how to get photos on here (I hope I can remember how to do it next time!).  Now just need to retrieve the pictures from our old hard-drive but that will be another week or so.  In the meantime I thought I would share this little chick who obviously feels like I do today!

This is Helga The Hot Chick by Christine Grove from Stamping Bella - yes, the lovely Elaine at Quixotic Paperie keeps feeding my rubber addiction - if only I could say the same for my bank account!  The sentiment is from a Penny Black Easter clear set, corners are Whimsy Dies and the image is, of course, painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I'm Back (sort of)

Afternoon all!  Well we have a new laptop - whoooooohoooo!  Still got a lot to sort out - particularly how to get photos from my phone to the computer - before I will be blogging properly but at least I can get round and visit you all now.  What a relief.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Easy As 1 2 3

Hello, remember me? Still no computer at home (sob) so this is a hasty post from work.
We are hoping to go laptop shopping at the weekend, and then (fingers crossed) get the data transferred from our old pc, so I might (underline might) be back properly by the weekend after.  I seriously hope so as I am getting twitchy now!!
 

This week's challenge at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES is EASY AS 1 2 3 so we would like to see

1 image

2 papers

3 embellishments

Told you it was easy!
 

For this card I have used LOTV stamp Surprise
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are Papermania Spots n Stripes
Sentiment is LOTV Scroll Sentiments
Stars are made from the same papers using peel-off outline stickers
 

My hugest thanks to Fairy Jayne for holding the Fairy fort while I am excommunicated
and to you all for not deserting me completely!

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

As a doornail

This morning my darling Toad killed our computer.  I am unable to do anything blog wise other than short messages from my phone.

It is in Intensive Care now so we'll see what happens but no posts from me for a while.

Hugs Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Get Well Soon

Morning all, it's Thursday again (gosh, don't they come round quickly) and we all know by now that Thursday means it is Liliday and time for a new challenge over at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES!

We have a theme for you this week of Get Well Soon and the design team have made some beautiful cards to inspire you.  It would be brilliant if you have time to visit them individually as they do make such an enormous effort for you.

We don't have a sponsor this week but rather excitingly there is a 2 week GDT place up for grabs, so don't miss you chance to have a go at being a Fairy!

Here is my card:

I have used the LOTV Lilacs stamp

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from the LOTV clear set of Vintage Labels Occasions

And these delicious papers are Nitwits from LOTV Promises

I really do hope you will be able to make some crafty time to join us this week - all you need is a LOTV image, either a stamp or die-cut!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

I'm No Fool - I'm Just Upside Down

Just thinking of those lyrics by Paloma Faith makes me smile, what a fabulous upbeat song that is.  It definitely should have more airtime.

So where is this leading I hear you ask.  Well, knowing my mind, it could take us anywhere, Toad says he has never known anyone to make such rapid, obscure connections mid conversation and completely change the direction of it.  He might not be able to keep up, but it usually makes sense to me!

Anyhoo, where that lyric is actually leading to is my card for today - see, I'm not that obscure really, lol.

This is my second Tiddly Inks stamp and she is Hang In There which I bought from Quixotic Paperie but is also on pre-order at Bunny Zoe's.  This is a super mini set of stamps, the birds were with it, and the sentiment too.

As usual, I have painted the image with Distress Inks (ReInkers), and the matting layer is a sheet from the Prima Jack and Jill pad.  Gold border is from stash.

Hope you like!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

A Simple Christmas

Well, as we are six months into the year I thought it was best that I made a start on my Christmas cards!  Here are a couple of very CAS ones for you using stamps from Stampavie.

This one is by Gillian Roberts - Penguin With Tree, and

This one is a Penny Johnson - Holly Jolly

Both are painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiments are Hero Arts and Woodware respectively

Gold borders from stash

Told you they were CAS!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

A Brief Burst Of Mojo

I am so pleased I cleared my head earlier because it has made room for a brief burst of mojo,

which has been sadly lacking for a while.

I decided to combine some of my favourite challenges for this one

Stamping For The Weekend - Cute

Sweet Stamping Challenge - A Sketch
Totally Gorjuss - Hey Baby

I am surrounding by weddings and imminent babies at the moment!

I have used the LOTV Sleepy Time stamp

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from a Hero Arts set

Papers are Papermania Pastel Spots & Stripes

Memory Box die Perfect Hearts using a piece of Bo Bunny Vintage Double Dots

Gold hearts and borders from stash

Being a naturally modest and self-critical little squirrel, it may surprise you to hear that I am

really pleased with how this turned out!

This is the sketch - I hope I will be forgiven for using an oval rather than a circle

The house is filled with the smell of roast chicken, the Canadian Grand Prix is a live one on the BBC (final practice and qualifying today, race tomorrow), Toad has bought the most naughty looking cake from Marks & Spencer, and all is well in this little world.  Hope your weekend is a good one.

Biggest of fuzzy hugs

Squirrel xx

Get It Out There

Morning all.  What happened to our beautiful sunshine then?  Woke up to a dull grey day.  It's brighter now but no real sun yet.  Mind you, that hasn't stopped the pigeons knowing it is spring - they have been squabbling on the conservatory roof, much to the annoyance of Vince.  Because the roof is opaque he can just see their outline but nothing else, but oh boy can he hear them!  His whiskers are straight out front.

Anyhoo, this week's Less Is More challenge is a one layer week and the theme is Need For Speed.  As soon as I saw it I had an idea, and I just had to get it on card.  It may not be the best idea but now it's out there, it will clear my head for other ideas to have room to move in.

Not sure why the photo came out so pink!  This is a Meoples stamp called Beep Beep.  Isn't she fabulous fun?  Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and paired with a Hero Arts sentiment.  Voila.

Now she is done, I can get on with other things.  I might even have a better idea for this challenge.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Puffing Billy

Phew, it's Friday, thank goodness!  What a week it has been.  Although we have a busy weekend coming up, I am so looking forward to it.

 

One of the things that will be keeping us busy at on Sunday is our priest at Church celebrating his Golden Jubilee, having been ordained in 1963.  Obviously we aren't going to let him get away with not celebrating that sort of an achievement!  His is a huge fan of steam trains so the parish have all chipped in and treated him to a steam train trip on the Settle-Carlisle railway, one of the most beautiful train journeys in Britain.

 

And of course I had to make a card to celebrate the occasion:

 

 

I am going to enter this in the SIMON SAYS STAMP challenge which this week is Masculine/Father's Day

 

I have used:

Engineer stamp by Mo Manning from Penny Black

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Papermania Portobello Road

Diecut numbers using the Memory Box large typewriter set

Gold borders from stash

 

Hope you all have a super day!

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Good Luck

I hardly need to tell you that it is Liliday really - I am sure you can see me happy dancing, even from that distance!

Our challenge over at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES this week is GOOD LUCK - it can be a make for any occasion but we really do want to see the words Good Luck on there please.

Not quite sure why I went Oriental with this, but it was a lovely reason to use this pretty little girl

She is Aimi With Lantern from LOTV

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers, which made me think of cherry blossom, are designed by Lucy Cromwell

Fishtail banners made by me

Butterfly is a Cheery Lynn die

Lanterns are Memory Box

Sentiment is from the LOTV Simply Sophisticated set

And gems are from stash

Hope you will find time to join us this week - there is a superb £10 voucher

from Crafty Ribbons up for grabs!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) June: Hot Colours

Morning all.  Maybe, just maybe, flaming June is going to live up to its reputation of being a hot and sunny month which is why our theme at WITHOUT WORDS this month is HOT COLOURS.

Let's be seeing those oranges, strong yellows, reds, hot pinks this month.

This is a Stampavie stamp called Little Tobi Watering The Roses

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Nitwits download and Prima

Arched die is MFT Die-Namics Rounded Banner Stax

And my favourite Whimsy corners

Sentiment is Hero Arts

I do hope you will be able to find some time in June to come and join in the challenge - the rules are simple

Hand Coloured Image

Minimal or No Embellishments

Keep it CAS

Hugs, Squirrel xx

My Granny Was Called Gertie

Afternoon all - 1st June - can you believe it?  The day started with brilliant and beautiful sunshine but it has clouded over now to a dull blerrgh sort of day.  Fingers crossed that the sun makes it out again before dark.

Did you notice that I changed my squirrel header?  I was browsing squirrel images last night and fell in love with this little chap and just knew I had to use him.

Can I also welcome Aussie Annie and Louise as Followers 599 and 600 respectively - a hugely warm welcome to you both.  I hope I can keep you entertained so you stay with me for a while.

How many of you know who you were named after?  My grandmothers were Kathleen (on mum's side) and Gertrude (on dad's side).  They were known simply at Kath and Gertie.  Both were short, round, ladies which is I guess where I got the genetically doomed dumpy figure from.  But thank goodness I wasn't named after Gertie.  But I did get her middle name as one of my middle names - Ellen.  I like that.  It was my aunt's middle name too so there were no arguments because it came from both sides of the family.  To this day I still don't know what possessed my parents to choose my first name - I have threatened them many times to change it officially to Squirrel as that is what most people (included work colleagues) call me.

Anyhoo, I can hear you wondering what all this is leading up to, and it is my card to enter into this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge who are having one of their ever popular Anything Goes themes.

And this is Gertie (see, there was a link to my ramblings after all, lol)

from CC Designs Sweet November Stamps

This was my second go at it as the first time I got a duff sheet of Bristol Board and couldn't

blend the inks as they soaked straight in into a blotchy mess, grrrrr

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Magical Floral Corners are LOTV stamped in Bundled Sage Distress Ink

Sentiment is from a clear set by Hobby Arts - Sentiments

Vintage matting layer is K&Co

Very thin holographic/gold border is from stash

Crafty Friends Challenge - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes, With Flowers

Right, got a nice piece of orange-glazed gammon roasting gently in the oven so I have got time to crack on with some DT work this afternoon.  No rest for the wicked.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Just For The Fun Of It

Morning all, hope this finds you well, or if you are poorly, I hope you are soon feeling much better.  Last day of May - how is that possible?!

As regular readers will know, Thursday is my only craft night of the week so when I got home (after a bus trip that was furnace hot) I whooped with joy to find my new Whimsy stamps on the doormat.  I opened them, I cooed over them, I stroked them (yep, I really did), and then I used something else!  Just call me contrary.

This is a CC Designs Sweet November Stamp called Patty - the link will take you to the right

place at Bunny Zoe's Crafts, one of my favourite stash buying stores

I have only used Patty once before but she is so full of joy that I could not resist getting her inky again

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The double sentiment is from a Woodware set called Inspirational Verses

Peel-off stars I finally managed to get a re-stock of from Handy Hippo

Spotty papers from scraps box, matting layer is white card edged in Sunflower ProMarker

Image and sentiments both stamped in Memento Inks (Tuxedo Black and Bahama Blue)

Nine hours to the weekend - and counting!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Purple & Yellow

Happy Thursday everyone, it's hard to believe we are still in the same week as the gorgeous weather we had over the Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK.  It has been dull and damp ever since!  So what better way to cheer you up than to announce a new challenge on Liliday!

 

This week we have a colour challenge for you at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES and it is PURPLE AND YELLOW!  You can put the blame firmly at my door for this one as it was one of my suggestions.  However, I suggest holding off throwing any bricks until you have seen what amazing work the DT have done with this fabbie colour combo.

Here is my humble effort:

This is Teddy Flower from LOTV and he is one of my most loved bear stamps

Painted with a light wash of Distress Inks (ReInkers)

And, back from the dawn of time, some Papermania papers

from the Colossal collections of yesteryear (will they ever run out?)

Butterfly and flower punches are EK Success

Gems from stash

 

A simple card from a simple Squirrel!!

 

Hope you are able to join us this week for this super challenge.

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

 

Bamboo You

After yesterday afternoon's disaster card, I thought I would share something more successful with you today.

 

I am totally in love with Bamboo, the adorable little panda from Crafters Companion.  My only gripe is that there are only six stamps available so I am really really hoping that some more are released, and soon!

 

Here is a birthday card that I made using Crafters Companion Bamboo's Favourites

OK, hands up, how many of you said awwwwh?

 

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Nitwits/LOTV Bonnets & Bowties

Sentiment stamps are also LOTV

Grand Nestabilities Oval and Scalloped Oval dies

Whimsy corner dies

 

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Feeding The Bin Monster

There are some you should, and some you shouldn't.  My view is this is one that I shouldn't and I do believe it may be destined to feeding that greedy critter that lives in my bin.  He gets his fair share of fodder so maybe he will see it as a light snack, seeing as how it is only a diddy card.

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Boys

Image is a CC Designs Sugarplum

Part painted (badly) part paper pieced from scraps

Backing papers are all Basic Grey

The Happy and Birthday dies are Cheery Lynn

Design disaster entirely by me

Earlier post today Bella-issimo

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Bella-issimo

Hello folks, I have a couple of little elephant cards to share with you today - no challenges to enter, both are just because.

You will no doubt have seen lots of the new Wild Rose Studio summer collection being showcased by the very talented Kate over at Downrightcrafty and showcased in such an amazing way that I am adding Kate to my "bad influence" list!

This one is Bella with Dahlia

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Matting layers from leftovers box

And this is Bella with Teddy

Again, painted with Distress Inks

That fabulous large sentiment is Hero Arts

Papers are an old Craftwork Cards pack Tutti Frutti

Martha Stewart border punch to finish

I am never really sure what colour an elephant should be - when you watch wildlife films they can be anything from red to almost black, but for the purposes of painting I have used the Weathered Wood Distress Ink, which is a lovely soft blue-grey.

Well, it is back to work for me tomorrow (sigh) so I hope those of you on holiday for this half term week have a super time.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Stealing Buttons?

Afternoon all - how are you this bright and sunny Sunday?  Still a tad chilly first thing, it was shivery cold in Church this morning.  But the sun is doing its best to make today feel like Spring.

It's been a while since I joined in the HERE COMES THE BOYS challenge but I fancied a try at their Must Have Buttons theme this week.

I knew I wanted three white buttons for my card but do you think I could find three in my button box?  I had white ones but they were either square or flower shaped.  Not what I needed.  Ooh, there's a round one, oh, it's blue.  Blast.  At this point I am starting to think about stealing some buttons off Toad's work shirts but before it reached those depths, thankfully, I found three identical white buttons.  Hurrah.

Stamped image is LOTV Playing Golf

now you can see why I wanted round white buttons - golfballs!

Sentiment is also LOTV Vintage Labels Just To Say

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Little Sizzlets Earth Tones

Buttons are by Papermania

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Bubbles

Morning all.  I'm not feeling so chirpy today - can't explain it, just low - so I'll crack on with showing you my entry for this months Penny Black Saturday Challenge - which thankfully is Anything Goes.

I've used "Bubble Boy" which is by Mo Manning from Penny Black

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Swirly dp is from a pad of DCWV Christmas papers!

Thanks for popping over.  Have a super weekend.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Tulips

Morning all!  It is absolutely tiddling down again - just got back from having a blood test done and now, apart from excavating the kitchen, I have the day to CRAFT!!!  What a marvellous start to a long weekend. I feel a teensy bit guilty for having the day off work as poor old Toad has had a rotten week and is exhausted.  It is really him who needs the break.

Anyhoo, before I go and get inky with design team stuff and finishing some orders, I thought I would share this little darlin' with you.

Ain't he just so purrfectly handsome?

This is Tulip Cat - my first ever Little Claire stamp, but probably not my last!

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are by Crafts Too

Sentiment is LOTV

We never had any tulips come up this year.  A few daffs and that was it.  My alium didn't show itself, the spring clematis went backwards, the jasmine had about four blooms, but dandelions - we have a lawn sprinkled with them but the green at the bottom of the road and all the verges are full of World Championship dandelions.  I wonder if they have a garden for those at the Chelsea Flower Show?  Toad has now planted some potatoes.  You can tell he is not much of a gardener as he just shoved them all in together - no early or late crop for us, it will just be whenever they come up!  But bless him, we bought some Blue Danube seed potatoes, we had some reds and some King Edwards that had shot, so we have a Red White & Blue potato bed.  I did try to tell him that the flowers won't be those colours .....

And in amongst all this wet and windy weather, our nice neighbours (hello Paula and Steve) are trying to get some maintenance work done on their house.  You would have thought that with it being the end of May you would be guaranteed some sunshine at least but no, we had hailstones and thunder and torrential rain again last night.  I hope their builder is able to get finished without too much distress for any of them.

Right then, best I crack on ...... have a monochrome project to tackle.  Whose idea was that then?

Hugs, Squirrel xx

PS. Edited to add - more Little Claire on the way ....... oops

Like A Bus .....

I mean wait ages and then get two at once!  No references please to the size of my behind, you naughty things.

Addicted To Stamps And More have an Anything Goes challenge this time around, which is perfect for what I made tonight.  

To be honest, I wasn't even sure this would make it to card stage when I started painting as I decided to use two of the most unruly colours possible - red and black - but with patience and a lot of muttering, I think it reached "acceptable" levels, and thus I set too with a craft knife and more mutterings.  Anyhoo, here is the end result:

Stamped image is part of an SCACD/Sylvia Zet image called "Loli's Dance"

Unfortunately she lost a couple of tiny curls in the cutting out process - sorry Sylvia

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) (and yes, tonight they were distressing)

Papers are a mix of Penny Black and Basic Grey

That fabulous quote is a Penny Black stamp

Nestie classic circle die, scalloped circle die, and a Whimsy corner die

Hugs, Squirrel xx

PS.  Anyone else having issues with Blogger not posting when he should?

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Spots AND Stripes

Well hello Thursday!  Two reasons to be cheerful today, one is that I have the day off work tomorrow so an extra long Bank Holiday weekend for me, and the other is, of course, it is Liliday!

We have a super challenge for you over at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES this week and our theme is Spots AND Stripes.

Now before anyone shouts at me for not using a Lili image for my card, I can 100% confirm that it is - in fact it is the very first Lili stamp I got, and I can show you the packaging as evidence should the need arise.

This is Moggi (needless to say he has long since been retired)

Sentiment is Hobby Arts I think

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Nitwits/LOTV Bear Necessities

Sizzix Photo Corners die

And that's pretty much that!

Spots AND Stripes is always a fun challenge so I really look forward to seeing your makes, please remember that you must use a Lili image for your entry to be considered as a winning one

See you there!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

It's Been A While

I don't have a card for you today (be back with one in the morning) but I thought I would share a couple of photos of Vince with you tonight.  I was looking through files of photos on the pc at the weekend and found these "model shots" that Toad took a while back.

I know he is my baby and therefore I cannot be impartial, but I still think he is such a handsome boy!

See you tomorrow, hugs

Squirrel xx

A Bad Influence

Many years ago, my then best friend's mother told my mother that my friend wasn't coming to my birthday day-out as she considered that I was a bad influence.  I was 12 years old!

 

I have no idea how that idea formed in her mind.  I was a normal child, bit of a tomboy maybe, but not a bad kid.

 

It's strange what we consider to be a bad influence.  Many of my blogging pals are a bad influence, they lead me astray on a regular basis.  OK, there are times when I am easily influenced, it is such a simple job to lead me into temptation.  One of the worst and most frequent offenders for getting me to spend my pocket money is my dear pal Lisa (Wishcraft) who has caused me to buy more dies recently than I care to think about.

 

This simple little card uses one of those new purchases ......

Stamped image is one of the Whimsy/Wee Flower Fairies

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics

And that gorgeous Small Biow Die is from Lil Inkers - love it

Sentiment from Issue 2 of Get Stamping magazine

Brad from stash

 

It's our AGM at work today - I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about that prospect.  Not!

 

Hugs, Squirrel

xx

 

It Takes Two

It does indeed take two when you need to lift a very big cake for a very big birthday - that somewhat nutty but adorable crafting friend of mine, Jayne (Tea Cake & Crafting) celebrated a significant one this week and this was the card I sent her.  Not sure if I need to issue one of those "contains flashing lights" warnings ......

Stamped image is LOTV It Takes Two

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiments are from the LOTV Scroll Sentiments set

Papers are Papermania Spots & Stripes and

Forever In Time Perfect Prints - Celebrate

I will leave you to get over the shock now, and head off for a Sunday afternoon craft

while Toad is puttering about with his new batch of home brew

Hugs, Sxx

Out For A Mouse?

I had an idea fixed in my furry little brain this morning about a particular stamp I wanted to use.  Now, my craft space is a little cramped and, in reality, is far too small for the amount of "stuff" that is in it.  So when I started looking for this particular stamp, little did I know that it would involve so much moving of things around to get to the box that it was in.  Do you remember those little games you used to get as a kid, a square frame with eight (or fifteen, depending on the size of the game) tiles and one gap, and you had to shuffle the tiles around within the space to make the picture eventually?  Yeah, it was a bit like that, and of course the stamp was in the box at the bottom of the pile of boxes right at the back of the cupboard .......and now, having found the stamp and made the card I think I might be disqualified from the challenge I made it for, because of a mouse.

Stamped image is WhipperSnapper - Dog Cat & Mouse

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Matting layer is First Edition Blank Canvas

Challenge is Less Is More Cat and/or Dog

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Thank You

It's Liliday!

It's LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES CHALLENGE and our theme this week is THANK YOU!

Stamped image - LOTV Armful of Daisies

Nitwits papers

Image painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Memory Box Flourish Die

LOTV Scroll Sentiment

Ta-dah, done!

Hugs, Squirrel xx