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Welcome to Squirrel's slightly nutty world of rubber stamping, papercraft, cats, Formula 1 and a variety of other off-the-wall topics. It's fabulous to see you and I hope you enjoy your time here. Please do pop back and visit me again soon!


Thursday, 31 January 2019

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Shape or Fold

Hello everyone, a new Thursday, a new challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT

For this fortnight our theme is going to be
Your Favourite Shape or Fold

I've gone simple with this one, and it is a variation on the square theme
made much easier with the dies I used for the base and layers


 Entire scene painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)


The sponsor of this challenge is
£10 Voucher from 
Fantastic Ribbons


I do hope you will be able to join in this challenge

Hugs




Sunday, 27 January 2019

Sunday Surprise

It's not often that I get to blog on a Sunday these days, there always seem to be things that steal my time, but today, somehow, not only have I made a large batch of pasta sauces to go in the freezer, but I have also had enough time to have a go at a challenge!  Whoooo, get me!

The Wednesday Sketch Challenge at My Favorite Things is a favourite of mine, I just don't get to join in as much as I would like to, but today's the day that I do it.

The sketch is, as always, deceptively simple.


And as always, I have gone my own way - I followed the general layout but changed up the proportions.


I've used the MFT Birdie Brown set - Beary Special Birthday
Painted him with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and then fussy cut (don't look too closely)
I can't remember the name of the stitched circle frame, but that is MFT Die-Namics too

So, it is absolutely chuffy freezing cold over here in the east, so you will have to excuse me while I dash off for a thicker cardigan and some warmer socks.  I see that the Met Office has issued us with a Yellow Snow Warning for midweek, so I may have to hunt out my thermals as well.

Whatever you are up to, keep warm!




Saturday, 26 January 2019

Sweet Pea (DT) Dies To Die For

Good morning chaps!  Thank chuff today is not quite as nippy as the last week has been - I'm off for a tail trim this morning and I'm wondering whether or not to take a woolly hat with me!

So, for today's DT make I am making myself smile with some horticultural happiness.


So for this little lovely I have used
and the matching Cut It Out Sweet Pea die

The Frilly Frames Lattice comes in two sections, so I put them together to create the purple lattice frame, and then cut it again with just the frame die in black so that I could layer them together.  They are not perfectly aligned, but I won't tell anyone if you don't.

Image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on watercolour paper.  I found the Polychromos Pencils don't work so well for hair on this surface, because it is much softer than Bristol Board, so I have been brave and done the hair highlights with WH Smith Artists Drawing Pens, 0.1 and 0.3 nibs.

OK, that's me done for now, have a fab weekend.

Hugs to all



Saturday, 19 January 2019

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:

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


Thursday, 17 January 2019

Buttons or Pearls (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Well hellooo there Thursday!  Morning all, hope you are feelin' fine and dandy.

So, off we go with another challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT
and our theme for this one is
Buttons or Pearls (your favourite and why)

I like using both, buttons particularly for "younger" cards, but for a little bit of sophistication I think pearls just take the edge, particularly for feminine cards.



A simple card
Wild Rose Studio - Milton With Tulips which I have
watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Clearly Besotted - Laugh Out Loud
MFT leftovers from scraps box
and a good old fashioned sprinkling of pearls

The sponsor of this challenge is: 

Hugs to all
Squirrel


Saturday, 12 January 2019

Teddy Birthday Message (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, I'm here today with a (cough) birthday message from Teddy, the sort that I am sending more and more often these days.  Whoops.



Ingredients for this make are:

I used kraft card for the base - can anyone recommend a good quality one?  This one is a bit wibbly so I've had to strengthen it, nothing annoys me more than a card that bends/curls/sags when you stand it up!

Teddy painted with, of course, Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Happy weekend to all
Hugs


Saturday, 5 January 2019

Friends At First Sip (DT) Dies To Die For

Well, here we are chaps, the first Saturday of the New Year!  You will be pleased to know that the Dies To Die For online store is now fully operational again after the Christmas break.

Today, I have a dose of Birdie Brown to share


So the lovely things used for this one are:

All the images I have painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I used (sorry Faye) a Copic
marker to colour up white card for the matting layer and the central border.

That's made me fancy a coffee, so I'm off to put the kettle on.

Whatever you are up to, have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Hugs




Thursday, 3 January 2019

Anything Goes (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Morning peeps, Happy January to you all!

Well, it is the first AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE of the New Year and
we are starting you with an easy one with Anything Goes

I have been busily making a lot of thank you cards after Christmas and this is the
one that I am sending to my Oldies, not just for Christmas but for being such
wonderful (if worrisome) parents


So for this one I have used
Personal Impressions sentiment by Paula Pascaul

Image was coloured, as always, with Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge, and one of our leader's favourite stores:

Shop 





Now all the fuss is over and the kids are back at school, you should have some time
on your hands to be able to join in - looking forward to seeing you there!

Hugs to all

Saturday, 29 December 2018

Make Yourself At Home (DT) Dies To Die For

I don't know about you, but this bit between Christmas and New Year always leaves me scratching my head as to what day of the week it actually is, but the calendar says Saturday so it must be time for my DT post for Dies To Die For!

We are heading fast towards the New Year -  wow, January, won't that feel strange?
Anyhoo, after the frantic rush of Christmas makes, what comes next but thanks you's.


So, this sweet (or not so sweet as modelled on Rosie) little kitty was made with a whole lot of My Favorite Things ingredients

I used the Split Chevron die to make a stencil - as the lines between the blocks are quite fine, I wanted to use something sturdy that would withstand me daubing about with ink, so I used one of the MFT backing sheets that comes in the packets, the one with the logo on, because it is thickish and has a nice shiny finish.  I taped it over the card and gently sponged on Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks to give that soft but worn look.

I stamped the kitty, masked him, and over stamped the sofa, and both are watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The rug was simply die-cut from patterned paper.

And that's it really, quite a simple looking card, but it did take me some time!

Whatever you are up to for your New Year celebrations, I hope you have fun
(just not too many fireworks please - Rosie is terrified)

Hugs to all


Saturday, 22 December 2018

Merry Christmas (DT) DTDF

It's nearly here folks!

No make from me today, but I wanted to let you know about the online DIES TO DIE FOR store Christmas holidays


So, even if you have spent up on other people's presents, you have plenty of time to browse the store and order something for yourself to get the New Year started on the right crafty foot!


Have a great one!

Hugs

and of course there is still lots of inspiration from my teamies on the blog



Thursday, 20 December 2018

Anything Goes (DT) As You Like It Challenge

So chaps, it is the last AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE of the year, and the theme
is going to be Anything Goes



MFT - You Have My Heart stamps
MFT Die-Namics You Have My Heart dies
MFT 6x6 Dots & Stripes Confection
MFT Sentiments - Big Birthday

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and stencil sponged with
Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink

The sponsor of this challenge is









Hugs to all
Squirrel


Saturday, 15 December 2018

Warm & Feathered (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, Virtual Me this morning, the real me is sitting with gritted teeth at the hairdressers having a tail trim and colour.  Still, it will be the longest time I have managed to sit down for this week!

We are rapidly approaching the festivities and this card was made to send
to a very special friend


and the lovely things used were

I used a small punch for the little snowflakes but I could have used my

The background isn't clever inking, it is actually Neon Ombre Paper from Hobbycraft.
I used one of the Snow Drift dies as a guide to draw a faint pencil line where I wanted my horizon, then stamped the trees from the W&F set, then I cut and layered the snowdrifts up to, and slightly higher than, the pencil line.

Ozwald was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Langton Hot Press Smooth watercolour paper.  Someone left me such a kind comment on the Lawn Fawn FB page the other day about how amazed they were by my colouring - they were convinced I had used Copics - and took some convincing that it was inks and a brush!

OK, that's me for today, once the tail is done, it is a case of braving the crowds to get some essential shopping for the Oldies, then popping over to see them, and then back home to
(a) get some cards written, and
(b) get some presents wrapped

The tree will have to wait until next weekend!

Hugs to all


Saturday, 8 December 2018

Winter Skies (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all!

How are your Christmas preparations coming along?  I thought I was doing well, but have suddenly realised what I still have to do and anxiety is setting in - this weekend the first task is getting the cards written ready for posting (except the ones I have already missed the mailing dates for, arrgh)

I have a sweet and simple make for you today



Image painted with Distress Inks as watercolours and fussy cut

Hugs to all



Thursday, 6 December 2018

Christmas Animal - Favourite (DT) As You Like It Challenge

So, here we are again at Thursday, and it is the start of a new theme at the

This time we are asking you to share your Favourite Christmas Animal with us

I've had a love affair with this bear since he first appeared, several years ago now, and every Christmas he has made an appearance in at least one of his many adventures.  It wouldn't be Christmas without him now.


Lili Of The Valley : James Bear Big Star
CC Designs : Snarky Christmas
MFT 6x6 papers : Fresh Squeezed Chevron and Graphic Grid

and our sponsor for this challenge will be



Hugs to all

Saturday, 1 December 2018

Sarah (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning peeps - HAPPY DECEMBER!

What a week it has been, busy, busy, busy, but I am pleased to say that I am getting used to the new oven and having a working fan is a revelation - have done quite well so far, haven't actually cremated anything yet, but the chicken sausages were definitely darker than golden brown!

So, today's make didn't look like this in my head, but all was going well until......

until that last sentiment added went a bit wonky!



Lovely things used:

Hope your Christmas preps are going well!

Hugs


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