Chocks Away

Morning all - well, I hope it is when this appears, Blogger took four hours yesterday between my pressing Publish and the post actually showing up.  I know one or two of you are also having this problem.  It's happened before, but it seems quite random.  Hey ho, never mind eh.

My stash of male cards was getting quite low so I thought it was time to do something about it.  Having had a rummage around, I found this neglected Lili of The Valley stamp.

I think the stamp is called Aeroplanes and it was retired quite some time ago.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all Basic Grey from the Kraft pad (not sure if this is still available, I've had it a long time)

MFT double stitched square die

Old LOTV grunge word stamps

Actually, most of the stuff on this card is out-of-date except the die and the inks

but I'm not going to stop using my old stuff, just because it's no longer out there!

So, that's me for today.  I'm back to work and already counting down to the weekend again.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

End of May Weather

Morning all.  How are we?  We seem to be suffering from typical end of May weather.  It's a Bank Holiday in the UK, the kind of day where everyone expects to be able to get out and about with the family in the sunshine.  However, England doesn't always play by the rules.  It may be sunny for some parts, but here in the east it is cold, grey, and starting to rain.  The forecast isn't exactly encouraging either!  Toad and I are still planning a little outing, even if it is only to our favourite garden centre for a cuppa and a fresh scone!

Rosie has demanded entry into the conservatory where she normally spends the day basking.  I have to say that she looked a little puzzled this morning by the waft of cold air when I opened the door.  But she's an optimist, she has taken up position in her chair, ready and waiting.  

So, what can I bring you with a touch of sunshine about it ......  how about this?

I love this Caped Cuties stamp set from Clearly Besotted

There are dies available, but I fussy cut this little chap instead

The sunshine is the Sunny Skies die from MFT

Cloud paper is from Nitwits/LOTV (now retired)

and the lettering is Marker Micro alphabet from Die-Versions

The arched die is also MFT from one of their Stax sets

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

I suppose, if we are going out, I really ought to try and make myself presentable.  I'm not sure nightie and slippers is the accepted look for garden centres.

Have a happy Monday all

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Need A Hug?

Well, would you look at this - two posts in a row, ha ha!  I have just successfully managed to transfer all my picture files from Toad's desktop, via a USB, to my laptop (don't worry, I didn't delete the original files) so I am all ready to blog from my craft space again!

Let's start with a card that I made for a friend who has been an absolute rock to me over the past couple of years.  I ought to say that she is a distance friend, as we haven't met yet, but she knows more about me than most of my local friends, and she still likes me, so how cool is that?!  I'm not going to name her, for fear of embarrassment, but if she is reading this she will know who she is and how much I treasure her.

So, the stamped image is Heidi Needs a Hug from Stamping Bella

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a scribble of Polychromos for her hair

Sentiments are from My Favorite Things

The stitched cloud die is from Lil' Inkers

and the papers are from a retired LOTV/Raspberry Road pad

What shall I do with the rest of my Sunday then?  I need to finish my Father's Day card, a couple of birthday cards, cook dinner and, most importantly, park myself in front of the TV in time for the Monaco Grand Prix!

Hope you are having a wonderful day

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

(bet you have missed this little chap too)

Water Water Everywhere

Happy Saturday all!  Are you having a sunny weekend?

A lot of you have noticed that I have not been around much for commenting and visiting your blogs of late, and for that I apologise.  There is a very good reason and that reason is *****ing technology.

We bought me a laptop about two and a half years ago.  Brand new, from a well known UK computer store.  There was an issue on the day as the one we wanted was the last one in stock and the "display" model.  I asked to speak to the manager to negotiate on price as we had no idea how long it had been on display or what kind of punishment it had taken.  He was the most miserable and uncooperative person, certainly with no customer service training that's for sure.  He offered us a £20 reduction.  I wasn't happy but Toad was agreeable as it was already at a reasonably good price.  So we bought it.

All was going well until about 12-14 months ago when I started having trouble with repetitive key strokes.  You would press, for example, the letter A just once and would get AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.  It was a nuisance, but I could work round it.  Then the problem started to spread, across the whole keyboard, until it got so bad that I couldn't even get through the password stage.  Aarggh.  Toad offered to take it up to the repair place.  Fine.  Except it has taken all that time to get it done.  Him to deliver it I mean, not get it fixed, that only took a week!

I've had to beg, steal and borrow computer time to do the few postings I have managed, but (everything crossed) that should no longer be a problem because I HAVE MY LAPTOP BACK!!  Hurrah hurrah hurrah!

Anyhoo, while Toad was out this morning collecting the laptop, not only did he call in to the bakery next door and come back with two of the fattest cream cakes you have ever seen, but he also called into the neighbouring charity shop.  For the princely sum of 50p he bought me the cutest little porcelain pot that he thought I could use as a water jar for my painting, and he's right, I can!

I imagine it probably had a lid at one stage of it's life, I reckon it was probably a sugar bowl or something similar, but it is really sweet and as I only use bottled water these days for painting, it won't get ruined with nasty limescale inside.  When you hold it up to the light, you can see through it, it is that delicate.  Maybe a mistake giving it to me for holding water then, lol!

Anyhoo, I just wanted to say hi, let you know I am properly back in blogland, and hope to see you all soon!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

PS.  DON'T FORGET THE "WILD THINGS" CHALLENGE IS STILL RUNNING UNTIL 17 JUNE SO YOU HAVE BAGS OF TIME TO ENTER

CAS-ual Fridays

Yes, I know it's not Friday now, it is most definitely Saturday!  I follow the CAS-ual Fridays blog by email, and every week their post pops up, and every week I drool over what the very skilled DT have made.  Every week I think, I love CAS, I should enter this, and every week I am either too late, or too scared.

So, this is a first (or it might be a second, I'm not sure) - I am going to enter the challenge.  I am!

The theme is Birthday Boy.  I really don't mind making male cards, but perhaps that is because of my style, fluff free.  Anyhoo, this is what I shall be entering in a few moments.

I absolutely love this "Surprise" set of stamps from CC Designs, Roberto's Rascals - I have used the two girls for a couple of makes already, but this is the first outing for the little chap.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils for his hair

Sentiment from the same set

Simple white image panel with a coloured mat on a white card base

We have been to the v.e.t. this morning.  The last appointment we had was cancelled as someone wasn't playing fair, but this morning, with Toad as an extra pair of hands, we managed to get her in the carrier.  There was the usual howling in the car but once we arrived she was relatively calm ..... until the worming tablet.  Would she swallow it?  Would she heck.  The poor vet even had to resort to the technique of thumb over the nose, but Rosie is a stubborn girl.  She only consented to swallow once she had so much dribble in her mouth that the tablet must have dissolved on her tongue, and we all know what that tastes like!  So, she is vaccinated for another year, wormed and claw clipped.  Phew.

This is the post-vet-trauma-shock photo

Feeling sorry for her?!

Hope you are having super weekends

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Big Bows or Little Bows

Hello my darlin's!  Welcome to another Thursday of fun, and of course it is fun, it's another challenge from 

AS YOU LIKE IT!

This time, we are asking you to choose between BIG BOWS OR LITTLE BOWS and tell us why you made that choice.

Personally, bows are the frippery of the devil, so I avoid them wherever I can, but, I had to use one for the challenge!  I prefer little to large, so, awkward as ever, this one is sort of medium sized.

So, for this one I have used

CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Cake Nancy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Cardstock is Bazzil Bling that I had in my stash

Bow die is the smaller one from Lil' Inker Designs

(should not have checked for the link, just spotted there is a mini one too)

The sponsor of this challenge is

Sweet n Sassy Stamps

$10.00

OK, all you bow fans, get busy with the fizzy and join the challenge - you have two weeks!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

WILD THINGS (A Squirrel Random Challenge)

Yoo-hoo!

It's time - time for another Squirrel Random Challenge, are you ready?

This time the theme is WILD THINGS

so that could be animals, plants, weather .... you get the idea

The challenge will run from today until 6.00pm (UK time) on

Friday 17th June - that means you have 5 weeks, so no excuses!

There is a whole stack of prizes up for grabs, so we might divi those up if we can't choose an outright winner, or someone is going to be very lucky

I am honoured to have been joined again by my Little Acorns, Annette and Jayne, to bring you some SRC Inspiration, so here we go

Squirrel

Jayne  (Happy Birthday today!!)

Annette

TOTAL coincidence that there are three giraffes as none of us knew what the others were making!

That ought to give you a few ideas, so we can't wait to see what you produce.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowwwl

Hugs,

Squirrel, Jayne and Annette

xxxx

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh, hello, long time no see!

So, it has been a long time, a verrrrrrrrrrrrrry long time, but I have, at last, managed to do it.  I had promised Sam (Whispers Cards) that I would, and I have.

Yay!  I started hauliing my beloved, but neglected, Penny Black stamps out again, whoop whoop!

So, in my excitement I forgot to check the name of this one but it's it just adorable?
Edited:  It's called Peek-A-Boo (thanks Sam)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from a clear set that is unlabelled

Papers were a magazine freebie

Woodware medium retro flower punch

and pink gingham Card Candy to finish

I had forgotten how much I enjoy colouring up these fabulous images.  Rest assured, there will be more to come.

Penny Black And More - May Challenge: Anything Goes

Hope you have an awesome weekend

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Oh, you might want to pop back on Monday - there could be a Random Squirrel Challenge starting

In The Pink (DT) Happy Anything

Hi peeps!  I am on the Big Pink Naughty Step this time around - I should have posted this morning but unfortunately life has a habit of disrupting plans, so here I am now.  The right day, just running a tad late!

Anyhoo, a fabulous new challenge from the IN THE PINK team, and for this fortnight we would like you to celebrate HAPPY ANYTHING - your card can be for any occasion or event so long as it is happy!

Here is my DT card - it's different for me, and could be used for lots of occasions.  I do like to have versatile cards in my stash!

I have used the Penny Black "Petal Party" clear stamp set and two Memento inks

This really was easy peasy to make

Once the base card was stamped with the flower and leaf

I stamped the bigger flower onto the scrap of patterned paper and fussy cut, the leaf was stamped onto white card using the same green as the base leaves

I edged a strip of white card with the pink ink, and layered a white mat over.  

Finally I cut the Mama Elephant happy die from the same paper as the flower and added a Card Candy centre to the bloom

Our scrumdumptious sponsor for this challenge is the amazing Tracy from DIES TO DIE FOR

Two weeks to enter - go off and get happy, but don't forget to come back and enter!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Lili of the Valley May Challenge

Hello peeps, happy Tuesday!

1 May saw the launch of the new Lili of The Valley Facebook Challenge

and this time you are being asked to follow a sketch designed by our very own Jen.

Here is my second make for the theme

I've used a favourite baby image for this one, taken from the Babies clear set (sadly retired)

but still available in rubber as Baby Blanket

The shoes are from the same clear set - they were also released in rubber but have been retired now

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are leftovers from a girl themed baby paper pad I had

Sentiment stamp is also from that much missed Babies set

Here's the sketch

The challenge runs until 15 May so you still have a little bit of time to get your entries in.  There are some super prizes for the winner.

Looking forward to seeing you there

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

LOTV May Challenge

Hi All,  Well, May is here at last with, hopefully, some warmer and sunnier weather!

1 May saw the launch of the new Lili of The Valley Facebook Challenge

and this time you are being asked to follow a sketch designed by our very own Jen.

Here is my first make for the theme

I've used my favourite bear, James with Daisy, which is a retired LOTV stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Nitwits Bonnets & Bowties pad

Sentiment die is Clearly Besotted

Flower dies are MFT

with some gingham Card Candy to finish

Here's the sketch

The challenge runs until 15 May so you still have lots of time to get your entries in.  There are some super prizes for the winner.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Senior Pest Control Officer

One of the pages that I follow regularly on Facebook is that of Felix, the Hudderfield Station Cat.  Felix is the Senior Pest Control Officer at Huddersfield Railway Station.

She even has her own name badge and hi-vis jacket, and she can often be seen out on the station platforms chasing away pigeons and hunting for mice, although she does seem to spend quite a bit of time mooching in the Station office!

When I received the Playful Kittens stamp set from Simon Says Stamp, there was one kitty on that set who, with the addition of a couple of pen lines, was also wearing a hi-vis jacket.

and here is Felix herself

Rosie asked me to post the card to Felix, which I did, and it is on her Facebook today, currently receiving more Likes than I could ever have dreamed of for one of my cards!

Have a super Bank Holiday Monday everyone.

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Surprise!!

Well, three surprises really - the first one is that I am actually here!  I have been a bad blogger lately.  Honestly, if anyone says changing jobs is a piece of cake, I would recommend that you slap them.  I am glad that I made the move, but two weeks in and I still feel like a complete novice, even after 35 years experience!

Second surprise was a envelope of amazing Happy Mail from a dear friend.  I am always cautious about naming friends who send gifts, just in case they don't want it known, so she will know who she is and will know how excited it made me - thank you sweetness!

And the third surprise is here:

Isn't she a doll?!

She is from the new CC Designs Roberto's Rascals Surprise stamp set,

OMG, I love this set sooooo much

I have painted her with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and her hair is done with Polychromos Pencils

That perfect sentiment is from the Casual Fridays Exclamations set

Papers are LOTV/Nitwits (now retired, sorry)

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK, so that's a whole extra day of crafting, which means this little lady may well be getting inky again, lol.

Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope you have a super time, and that we actually manage to get a little bit of Spring sunshine.  It is sunny here at the moment and Rosie has taken full advantage of it.

Speaking of Rosie, oh am I in the Cat House - guess who forgot her 7th birthday yesterday until suppertime.  Whoops.  She must have forgiven me though, because we had a Rosie first this morning.  She came paddling up the bed and gave me a tiny little head-butt/face-rub on my cheek!  She's not been that intimate before, and it was so darned cute.

Anyhoo, have a good one folks.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Animal

Morning all, time for another brilliant challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT team, and this time the challenge is for you to use your favourite animal (and tell us why) for your make.

I found this a really difficult challenge as there are so many animals that I love to use on cards - cats, teddies, bunnies, hedgehogs, but when you have been called Squirrel for 30+ years then what else could it be?!

Loving these Nutty But Nice squirrels from Clearly Besotted

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and cut out using the companion dies

Papers are stray sheets of Basic Grey and Echo Park

and I have used my favourite MFT inside out rounded corner stitched squares

The wonderful word die is a new one, to me, from Paper Smooches

The sponsor of this challenge is

Crafty Ribbons

£10 voucher

Hugs to all, and really looking forward to seeing your critters!

Squirrel xx

Belated Bunnies

I've been wondering which card to share with you today, and I realised that I've not shown you this one ... a little bit late, but better than never!

So, I made this using Gerda Steiner Happy Hoppy stamp set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Cloud stencil and DI sponging for the sky

Sentiments are both from Whimsy

Harlequin and bunny face paper from stash

Well, it's a right gloomy day here, and I think it probably is over most of the country today.  I'm taking mum to the eye clinic at the hospital this morning and as she's not too quick on her feet these days I shall be going armed with a couple of large umbrellas, especially as you can't ever seem to park anywhere near the clinic you need to be at.  Which reminds me that I need to find some money for the parking machine.  I know hospitals have to raise funds these days, but paying to park when you are having treatment seems like the ultimate insult.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

In The Pink (DT) Pearls

Happy Pink Thursday everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from IN THE PINK and this time our theme is Pearls.

We have another super sponsor too, but more of that further down.  Firstly, here is my DT card.

So, what have I used then:

Stamped image is a clear set from Tiddly Inks featuring Ellie Says Be Happy

She's painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils but I have

paper pieced her dress.

Papers are all from the Wild Rose Papermania Capsule Collection

That fabulous sentiment is by My Favourite Things

Pearls are from my stash

Ta-dah!

As if pink and pearls weren't enough to tempt you, there is a prize for the winner from

LIVE & LOVE CRAFTS

You know the rules by now, you have two weeks to enter, please use predominantly pink

and follow the theme.  Easy peasy!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Hello Honey

I was at a loose end yesterday and just rummaging through stamps to see what would inspire me, and I found one that started the ball rolling.  Whether it was inspired or not remains to be seen!

You can tell that the camera doesn't know how to deal with a lot of white space!

So, I started with masking off the edges of the card and then in the centre panel

I stamped with a Woodware Old Letter stamp

Then I stamped, coloured up Honey from CC Designs and fussy cut her

and finally added the Memory Box hello word die

and that's it.

Hope your day is a good one.  It is piddling down here, has been since yesterday afternoon.  Rosie has an appointment with the v.e.t for a claw clipping this morning (if I can catch her) and then it's off to the garage again as the exhaust saga continues.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

update:  claw-clip cancelled. I'm bleeding and she's scarpered in a right hissy fit. The joy of cats. Sigh!

Ooh, Cheeky!

So I have no willpower ..... I hold my hands up to that.  If it's cute and it's rubber, it ends up living with me (grin).

New release from Clearly Besotted last week ...... here's a couple of quick and cheeky little makes.

Both cards using the new Cheeky Monkey stamps and dies

Sentiment on 1 is with the monkeys

Sentiment on 2 is from MFT

Paper on 1 is Dovecraft

Paper on 2 is First Edition

Both painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Don't Worry, Bee Happy

Morning all, how are you today?  It's a bit damp over here, and chilly, and we are having to have a new exhaust fitted on the car this morning.  I hate it when the car needs something done, why can't they make the parts of something stronger?!

Anyhoo, I have a happy little card for you today:

You know by now that I am a sucker for Roberto's Rascals stamps

This little chap is Bee Henry from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Orange paper is a scrap of Basic Grey, that I edged with a Martha Stewart border punch

Matting layer and lettering cut from a sheet of chocolate brown Bazzil Bling card

The happy die is from a Paper Smooches Christmas set

The bee was cut using Memory Box Alphabet Soup dies

Sweet and simple but I hope he makes you smile as much as he does me.

Yesterday was my last day in my job of 11 years.  Crumbs.  It still feels surreal, like it has been happening to someone else, but today I am unemployed.  Don't panic, I start my new job on the 18th, but it means I have a week of "me" time to craft and relax.  Hurrah.  My beloved boss, the lady I have worked with all those years, has also left, and we are going to be starting a whole new adventure together!

Well, that's me for today, have a happy weekend.

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