It's That Girl Again

I was reminded on Thursday by FaceBook about a couple of cards I made this time last year.  I was in love with the stamp and couldn't decide on a colour scheme so I made two cards.  You can see those ones here.

Apart from astonishing me that a year has passed, it also nudged me into getting that stamp out again, because she is just too cute to resist.

Yep, it's Bunny Twila by Roberto's Rascals from CC Designs

The egg is from the Easter Funnies set, also CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and fussy cut

Papers are First Edition Hideaway

MFT double stitched rectangle dies

Sentiment from Crafters Companion

That's me done for today, we're off to take the Easter goodies to the Oldies this afternoon but have to make a detour to find some fat balls for dad.  Well, not actually for dad, he wants them for the birds!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Chirpy

Morning all, how are we today?  We'll be off to Mass this afternoon, with fish n chips on the way home, but at the moment Toad is playing with his new mountain range model train landscape, Rosie is sunbathing in the conservatory and I'm sat here still in my dressing gown!

Anyhoo, I thought I would share another little Easter card with you this morning.

Mr Toad bought me this Chirpy Chicks stamp set from Clearly Besotted

for Valentine's - he's finally worked out what makes this girl happy!

Sentiment is from the same set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Corner punch from Woodware

Matting card by DCWV

Simples, does what it says on the tin.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Line (Bingo)

Hello chaps, I wasn't sure if I would scrape this one or not but I managed it - thanks to my wonderful teamies at AS YOU LIKE IT for their support.  As you read this I shall be on my way back to the hospital for my follow-up appointment.  Keep your fingers crossed pleased.

Anyhoo, I am hosting this challenge and it is FAVOURITE LINE

from our Bingo Board (yep, I did that too)

Easy peasy, choose your favourite line and tell us why you made that choice!

The sponsor of this challenge is

Wild Orchid Crafts
£12 gift voucher

Here's my DT card (sorry, Fairy Squint was on photographic duty)

I opted for the Gems, Purple, Clean And Simple line - it was a no-brainer for me, I simply cannot do fluff!

The stamp is from Molly Blooms - had her a while but it is her first inking.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Flower border is a Martha Stewart punch

Papers are from Nitwits/LOTV Snow Princess pad

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

and the lavender (yes, they are really lavender) gems are from my stash

I do hope you will be able to join in the bingo fun - you have two weeks

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Game On

You MUST know by now that Lili of The Valley have a new release out on 31 March featuring Jasmine and Oliver.  My teamies have been posting peeks like crazy so you may have seen some of them.

I only had the one image - Oliver Game Boy - to sample, I posted my first version of him a week or two ago, but have made two further versions since.  Here they are:

I got really inky with this one making the camouflage background with Distress Inks

Image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Cog wheel dies from Memory Box

Sentiment is from Set 101 Teenage Boy Sentiments also being released at the same time

Again, painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The backing paper is from an old Basic Grey pad but the little critters reminded me of some of the Wii games that Toad plays, endlessly!

Spellbinders Nestabilities octagon nesting dies

Again, sentiment being released on 31 March alongside the image stamps

As you can see from the colour choices, you can use Oliver for the younger or older ends of the age spectrum.

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

Game Boy

Morning all, how's Tuesday for you then?

There's a new release of stamps coming from Lili of The Valley at the end of the month, and it is a return of two characters, Jasmine and Oliver, but my how they have grown!  No doubt you will see sneaky peeks from my Design Collective teamies over the next couple of weeks.  However, there is something very new - these are available to PRE-ORDER NOW!  How cool is that huh?!

Anyway, I have made a couple of versions with the same stamp - Oliver Game Boy - and here is V.1 for you.

As the image has a sketchy feel to it, I left lots of white space around it to keep it

feeling like an illustration.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The Just For You sentiment is from a new set - Set 102 Block Sentiments

I had a rummage and found my old LOTV ticket stamps and grunge words,

they seemed a perfect partner.

Can't remember the maker of the paper, but it makes my eyes wiggle!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Boys to Men

Besotted with Easter

Morning all, hope this finds you well!  I've been making a lot of Easter cards recently, in fact I think I have made enough to last about three years of Easters.  Every year I tell myself that I don't need any more images but then all these cuties get released and resistance is completely futile.  Sigh.

I am currently besotted with Clearly Besotted Easter stamps so you will be seeing a few of these in the coming days.

I adore these Best balloon designs - I already have Christmas and Birthday, so it was only right that I should complete the set with Best Easter (out of stock at the moment, due back on 22 March)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Quirky Quilts papers from Little Claire

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

SuperTed

You might have seen a rather dingy photo of this on Facebook the other night - I was too impatient to wait for daylight - and I'll be honest, this one isn't that much better, but at least you can see it a bit bigger!

Love this new set of Caped Cuties from Clearly Besotted

They are a bit wee though, so the Distress Ink (ReInkers) painting was a challenge

Background stamp is part of the Penny Black Skyline image

Papers are from my scraps box

Image is from the same Caped Cuties set

Doesn't he remind you a little bit of SuperTed?

Hope you are having a super weekend

Hugs to all

SuperSquirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Embossing

Hello chaps, time for another challenge with the super talented AS YOU LIKE IT team!

For this challenge we would like you to use EMBOSSING

either HEAT or DRY, and you must remember to tell us about your choice.

Here's my DT card

I used to heat emboss all the time when I first started card making but that was before there was the choice of so many inks to stamp with.  Since I've been using Memento I have hardly used the heat gun.  I've been experimenting recently with embossing cutting dies, some successful, some not so, but it is a fun technique and I am learning a lot about what will work and what won't.

So, the stamped image for this card is April from Penny Black

Fussy cut by me

The die that I embossed with is Die-Namics Chicken Wire

and the Hello die is from Hero Arts

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and I promise that the Hello is smothered in clear Wink of Stella

Our sponsor for this challenge is FRECKLED FAWN

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Spring in my step

Yoo-hoo!  Hopefully the scheduling has worked and you are reading this on Monday 7 March.  I should have been in hospital for surgery today but it has been postponed, twice.

Anyhoo, this is a toot for the LILI OF THE VALLEY FACEBOOK CHALLENGE (yep, over on Facebook) where the theme is SPRING.  There are loads of generous prizes to win and you have until Sunday 13 March to enter.  Get yourself over there for all the gorgeousness, and enter your Spring themed make (using a Lili product of course).

For my Spring card I have used Balloon Bunny (awwh)

and a retired grungy sentiment

Papers are Angelica and Adam (Female)

Diecut is a Nestabilities set but for the life of me I can't tell you what

the set number is

and of course the image has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

So, you still have quite a few days to enter, but don't leave it too late, Sunday will be here before you know it!

Hugs to all, and hope to see you soon

Squirrel xx

Sail Away With Me

Happy Monday all!  No, really, I want it to be a happy Monday - so if we all wish hard enough, it just might work out that way.

Unless you have been living in a cave with no wi-fi lately then you know that Lili of The Valley have brought back some of the most popular stamps that had been retired a while.  They are limited in numbers, so if you want one, best order early.  Anyhoo, I was particularly pleased to see two of my favourite boys come back, and this is one of them.

So, this is the Sailing Boat stamp

Painted, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are BoBunny Double Dots

MFT double stitched rectangle die

and the die-cuts are Die-Namics Sea Charms

Custom sized card base

There's something happening over on the Lili Facebook page tomorrow, so do keep an eye open for that, it's going to be fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Rosie With Cake

I'm having problems with Saturday mornings lately, there always seems to be something going on that gets in the way of me being able to blog.  I blame the Toad!

Anyway, just a quick post today to bring you a rather colourful card.  In my head, this all coordinated, but now ........ well, judge for yourselves.

OK, so this is Rosie With Cake - one of those returning images from Lili of The Valley.

I've used her a lot over the years, and she is definitely a favourite of mine.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Goodness knows what the papers are, but they're bright

DCWV purple cardstock

Martha Stewart stars border punch

Germs from stash

Lili of the Valley sentiment from Set 28

That's all from me today

Hugs, Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Occasion

Happy Thursday everyone!  Over at AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE this time the theme is FAVOURITE OCCASION.

We would like you to make your favourite type of card AND tell us why that occasion is your favourite (if you don't tell us, your entry cannot be considered for the sponsor's prize, sorry).

Here's my DT card

I love making birthday cards for friends, to help celebrate their special day.  It's great that you can use such a wide variety of images, and even be really cheeky with them too.

So, I have used Cupcake Nancy from Roberto's Rascals

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is from an old pad by Wild Rose Studio of oriental designs

Banner die from La La Land Crafts

Sentiment - anyone's guess but I think it's MFT!

That's all there is to it, a CAS card that does what it says on the tin.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful Nikki at BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS

You may have noticed that Nikki has decided, after many years selling fabulous products, to close this store.  However, there will be tons of bargains to be had there for the winner of this voucher as there is a big sale on right now.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Three Little Ducks

I was going to say morning all, but see that it is now afternoon.  I obviously spent more time than I thought ranting at Royal Mail about the non-delivery of my happy mail (which I had paid a customs charge on and they'd said would be delivered yesterday).  Still no answer as to where it is, and trust me, if they have lost it I shall be more than ranting at them!!

Anyhoo, on a happier note, I have been playing with a new-to-me Gerda Steiner stamp set.

I had recently been chatting with a friend about stepper card dies and realised that I hadn't used mine lately, so out it came.

Stamp set is Lucky Duck from Gerda Steiner

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Stepper die is from CC Designs

The Hello frame die is a Die-Versions Sweet Frames

Orange card by Papermania

Spotty paper from Dovecraft Back To Basics

Fussy cutting by me

Have yourselves a quacking weekend

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

In The Pink (DT) So Cute

Morning all, it's PINK day - yes, get your Pink on, it's another challenge from those lovely ladies over at IN THE PINK

This time our challenge is SO CUTE - that leaves you a huge scope to craft with, but remember please, more pink than anything else!

Here's my DT make:

So, for this one I have used

Stamping Bella - Especially For You, Petunia

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background flowery paper made by me!  I used a Tapestry stamp and two colours of Memento ink

Matting layer papers are old Papermania ones

Nestabilities dies for the scalloped die cuts

Wish I could remember where I got the word stamps from .....

Sparkling gems from Papermania

The sponsor for this challenge is PAPER NEST DOLLS

OK, you have two weeks to get pink - looking forward to seeing your cute makes!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Many many layers

Morning peeps.  Today's post title refers not to my card but to me.  It is perishing cold and damp here today so I thought that I should layer-up as recommended by the survivalists.  Only problem is, I may have overdone it a bit, I have so many layers on now that I can hardly bend in the middle, and bits of me are still cold!

Anyhoo, from many layers to few.  I have been such a bad blogger over the last year that I can't even remember the last time I entered one of my favourite challenges so I shall put that straight today.

Sweet Stampin' Challenge are asking for CAS

So CAS it is!

Another fabulous stamp set from Gerda Steiner - this one is Howl Are You?

Yep, and the sentiments too.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Matting layer is white card edged with a red ProMarker

Custom sized card base - 4x5

Absolutely love this little chap!

Sneaking him in right at the end of the GDT call too

Hope your weekend is a good one, and Happy Valentine's tomorrow for all of you who are still loved up.

Hugs

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

Bit of a Beast

Hello peeps.  Sorry that I haven't been around much lately, there's a lot going on in my life at the moment and my mojo is missing again, presumed dead this time.  Even new stash isn't really lighting my fire that much, which is always bad news, especially taking into account the volume that's been plopping onto the doormat lately.

Anyhoo, I managed to slap this little chap onto Facebook yesterday before work but didn't have time to blog him, so here he is.

I "may" have fallen in love with a new-to-me stamp designer

This critter and the cake sentiment are from the Monster Party stamp set by the lovely Gerda Steiner

If you haven't been over to her site, and you like cute, then you really should pay a visit.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Wood effect paper from Craftwork Cards Potting Shed pad

Happy Birthday sentiment by Hero Arts

Green gingham candy from Craftwork Cards

Goopy border punch from Martha Stewart

Stitched edge die from My Favourite Things

Now that surprised me, quite a list of ingredients for such a simple card!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

PS.  I won't even begin to start ranting about Google blocking followers who don't have a Google account.  Remember, you can still keep up to date with me by Bloglovin' or signing up for emails

AYLI (DT) One or Multi Layers

Yoo-hoo folks, it's Thursday, so that means a new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT

For this challenge we would like you to tell us about your preference of 

ONE LAYER OR MULTI LAYERS

This was a tough choice really as I quite like to play with both, but as my style is principally CAS I have gone with the one layer to show off the image more.

I've used LOTV's James with Umbrella stamp (retired)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and a sentiment stamp from My Favourite Things Blue Skies Ahead set

and that's all there is to it!

Our sponsor for this challenge with a £10 voucher is

Crafts U Love

You have two weeks to enter the challenge, but you must tell us why you chose one or multi layers for your make!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Nutty But Nice

Apparently that's what some people say about me.  A bit nutty, but quite nice really.

Just a little one to share with you today, made as a thank you card.

I've used a squirrel from the Clearly Besotted Nutty But Nice stamp set

and used the coordinating die set to cut him out

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Leafy Branch is a CC Cutters die

and the sentiment is from LOTV Quotables - Friendship - Set 62

Hugs to all

Nutty but nice, 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) Bling It On

It's another pink day chaps, and over at IN THE PINK this time the challenge is BLING IT ON

so we'd like to see your sparkle!

I may have gone a little over-the-top

OK, so I made the gift box with pre-glittered cardstock by First Edition

and bordered it with some beautiful cotton lace that I had in my stash

The enormous flower was punched from some self-adhesive holographic foil and then

I layered on the gorgeous fabric flower with the gemmed centre

The ivy swag is a Joanna Sheen Signature die which I cut from kraft card and then green glittered the leaves only, leaving the stems bare

I cut the sentiment from the same foil with Lawn Fawn Scripty For You die

Gems and pearls from stash

It's quite spectacular in the sunshine!

Of course, we have a sponsor for you too and it is the lovely Tracy

from DIES TO DIE FOR with a £10 voucher for the winner

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx