WELCOME!


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, 20 April 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Flowers

Yes, yes, I'm still hanging around, like the smell of boiled cabbage.

It's time for another new themed challenge with the
and this time it is Favourite Flower/s 


I like most flowers, perhaps with the exception of orchids (I find them to be  a bit creepy) and those odd ones that translate from the German (or so I was told) as "willy on a plate".  Anything that grows in the garden is good with me.


I made this one for my dear mum for Mother's Day
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment and little dots from the same stamp set


The sponsor of this challenge is





Hugs



Thursday, 6 April 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Pearls or Gems

 I had started this year with the plan of blogging more often, but here we are into April and I'm actually blogging less than before.  Sigh.  Must try harder.

As it is a Thursday, you just know I am here with my DT card for the new challenge over at

and the theme this time is Pearls or Gems (please explain your choice)

There's a time and a place for blingy gems, and that, for me, is Christmas for that little bit of sparkle. For the rest of the year, a more subtle effect is required, and that demands the softness of pearls.  I actually shocked myself by how many of both I have stashed away!


So for this little chap I have used
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours
I've used a selection of old Nitwits paper pads (because the colours were right and they make me think of spring tulips)
A little snippit of Lawn Fawn 6x6 Really Rainbow
and some pink and blue pearls from my bottomless stash

Our sponsor for this theme is the lovely Tracy at


Do come over and share your fabulous makes with us

Hugs







Thursday, 23 March 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Animals or People

 It's Thursday.

So that means.....

A new challenge theme from AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

and this time it is
Your Favourite - Animals or People
(and please explain your choice)

Now, I'm nothing if not contrary, and I use a lot of animals on my makes, but recently I've been
using a lot more people!  There are no many great character stamps out there.
One of my favour people designers will always be Birdie Brown.


This is Bring Out The Sunshine (Birdie Brown) from My Favorite Things
Coloured up with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours
Funky flowers in the background are an accent stamp from a Personal Impressions
sentiment set, inked with Memento Inks
and the sentiment is destined to be anonymous unless someone recognises it!
Layering paper is a paisley design from Whimsy Stamps


The sponsor of this challenge is




Come on over and join us - challenge runs for two weeks

Hugs


Thursday, 9 March 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Easter Critters

 Well, before you  ask "what are they playing at", it's actually not that far away!

The new theme from As You Like It Challenge is
Easter Critters (tell us about your favourite)

I know it is predictable, but I do love a bunny - they are soft, they are fluffy, and
they have the cutest twitchy noses and whiskers.  I have had bunnies, my last one used to chase the neighbour's cat around the garden, and not in a friendly way either!


So I have dusted off one of my first stamps from Penny Black (Margaret Sherry Collection)
and inked him up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
The background stencil is a Gina K Mega Flowers done with DI Oxides
Backing paper is Lawn Fawn Spring Fling 6x6
MFT Sentiment 

The sponsor of this challenge is






Go and get your critters on!



Hugs



Thursday, 23 February 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Freestyle or Stencil


Hellooooooo!

Thursday again chaps, they come round fast, and here we are with another
new challenge theme from the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time the theme is
Your Favourite (Background) Freestyle or Stencil

My collection of stencils has been slowly growing over the past couple of years, I have formal ones, casual ones, graphic ones ..... they all have their uses.  I've now started to stencil through stencils (which pleases me no end) which is how I formed this heart shape.


Taylored Expressions "Flickering" stencil inked through a home made heart stencil
Lawn Fawn 6x6 papers
Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Ink Pads

The sponsor of this challenge is






Hugs





Thursday, 9 February 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Love or Friendship

 So, here we are with another challenge from

and this time our theme is Love or Friendship

I love making for friends, there doesn't need to be a particular reason other than
letting you know you are thinking of them


I've used this super cute pre-coloured digi from Amanda Jayne Designs
called Friends Forever
I've used Crealies circle dies
A Lawn Fawn love die, which I have stacked to give depth
and loads of papers from the Papermania blue collection

The winner of this challenge will receive a digi prize from:






Hugs


Thursday, 26 January 2023

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite (mostly) One Colour

Oh goodness me, so sorry I am so late with posting, this week has conspired against me, and tonight a 20 minute bus journey took 90 minutes (thank you Anglian Water, again!!)

So, anyhoo, our AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE theme this time is
Your Favourite (Mostly) One Colour (and why)

For me, at this time of year my thoughts turn to Spring and the better days ahead, so I find my makes full of bright and warm yellow/orange tones


Both the image and the sentiment are from my extensive collection of
Lili of The Valley stamps

And that is handy because our sponsor for this theme is



Hugs



 

Thursday, 12 January 2023

AYLI (DT) Favourite Reason To Craft

 Crikey, it's been a month since I last blogged anything - is there anyone still out there?  Faith, are you there loyal buddy?!

So, 2023 and off we go with the first AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE of the year
and the theme is Your Favourite Reason To Craft
(birthday/Christmas/just because....)

For me it's birthdays, they are what I make the most of during a crafting year, and I love to be able to make them personal.


Bet you would never guess that my boss has had her 50th now!

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and paper pieced
Background entirely from the same autumnal themed paper pad

The prize for the winner of this challenge is an 
invitation to guest design with the team for February!

Hope you will join us.

Hugs



Thursday, 8 December 2022

Anything Goes For Christmas (DT) As You Like It Challenge

 Well, here we are then, the last challenge theme of 2022 at

The theme for this one is Anything Goes For Christmas
(no favourite to choose from - it's all up to you this time)

I love the leadup to Christmas in that there is always new crafty stuff just begging to be bought and who doesn't love new craft stuff?  My excuse is that I need something that the husband won't have seen
before, and I am sticking to that one!


So I have used
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
LawnFawn Snowflake border die
Mixture of random snowflakes for the background
Matting card and paper from stash

The sponsor of this challenge is




This might be the last challenge of 2022, but don't forget to watch out for 2023 when we start a whole new year of challenges for you to have fun with!

It's not been the best year for me personally, so I am looking forward to January and a fresh start, hopefully I'll be blogging a bit more too.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas


Hugs




Thursday, 24 November 2022

AS You Like It Challenge (DT) Non-Traditional Christmas Animal (penguin free zone)

 Here we are again, for a new themed challenge from

This time it is Non-Traditional Christmas Animals
(and it is a penguin free zone - so no penguins at all please)

I'm sure there will be many arguments and discussions about what is "traditional" and how long does something have to be used before it becomes traditional.  For me, traditional Christmas animals are donkeys, robins, teddies, deer, but I am not sure that mice fall into that category so that is what I have used.


I've had this Penny Black stamp Carolling Trio for many years and absolutely
love it, it just feels sooooo cosy
Stormy night sky done with Distress Inks (Oxides) and the
mice watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Word die from Sue Wilson, and cut from glitter card
Matting layer from an ancient Dovecrafts Back To Basics Christmas pack


Our sponsor for this challenge is the lovely Tracy from


Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Hugs




Saturday, 19 November 2022

Knights In White Satin

 Now I have reached that certain age where I just don't give a fig what anybody thinks, I believe it is time for me to admit that for absolutely years I thought the Moody Blues song was Knights In White Satin.  It was always a puzzle because surely Knights are roughty toughty and wear armour and don't go rolling around on silky bedsheets.... 


Anyhoo, I made this for a friend's husband for his birthday

Whimsy Stamps (Dustin Pike) Knight Dragons stamps

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours

Matting paper is MFT 6x6 Floor To Ceiling

Sentiments are from a retired set of Clearly Besotted stamps


Thanks for popping by

Hugs


 

 

Thursday, 10 November 2022

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

Hello peeps, so here we are, heading towards mid November and only
six and a half weeks to Christmas.  Eeeeeeeek!

So, if you are behind with your Christmas makes, AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE
are here to encourage you with the new challenge of
Your Favourite Non-Traditional Colour for Christmas

For me, it's purple, I think it just feels a little bit luxurious, especially if it
is paired with with a glint of silver or gold


So, for this one I have used
High Hopes Stamps - Stackable Santa
Nitwits (LOTV) Snow Princess papers
Spellbinders Large Scallop Circle dies
Sentiment from Lili of The Valley
Mini snowflake punch from Hobbycraft
Santa watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers)


The sponsor of this challenge is



 
Hope to see you there

Hugs


Thursday, 3 November 2022

Oddball Teacher

 Are you keeping up with me?  I'm not sure that I'm keeping up with myself, must be a rush
of blood to the head this week.

So, another made but not posted card.  This one was for a dear colleague who left work for new pastures last month.  I do miss him a lot, a really dry sense of humour and a little bit whacky.  As I said to a junior once, when you get past the weird you will love him.


Yes, I know this is a "teacher" stamp, but the similarity to my colleague is scary
Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Polychromos Pencils
Old sentiment frame and stamp from Lili of The Valley

Hugs





Monday, 31 October 2022

Birthday Witches

 Three days in a row, whoop whoop, don't worry, it won't last and will soon
revert to the usual chaos.

A friend and work colleague has a Halloween birthday.  She is also addicted to coffee, you rarely see
her around the office without a mug of java in her hands, usually in a takeaway cup.


Told you there would be another witch from the
Sentiment made up from an older Honey Bee set that I can't find a link for any more
Image painted as watercolour in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Will I make it back for another posting this week, or will I make you wait until the weekend...guess it'll be a surprise!

Speaking of surprises, a few years ago I bought a Halloween themed bowl from a local discount store.
I'm going to fill it with Toad's "favourite" things for this evening ..... heheheh.

Hugs all




Sunday, 30 October 2022

And Another One...

 Hello peeps, yes, me again (twice in two days, aren't you the lucky ones) with another
card made but not previously posted.

When Toad worked in London, one of his team was a fabulous Brazlian lady who we are still friends with and keep in touch with, even though it has been almost three years since he left that job.

She lurrrves Halloween and witchy stuff, in fact Toad used to call her Witch (in affectionate
terms of course) so it has become a tradition that I sent her a witch themed card at the 
end of October.


When Whimsy Stamps released this set, I just knew I had to have it
sentiment from the same set
Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Purple paper from an old Dovecrafts Back To Basics set
Green and black card from stash

There'll be a different witch from this set here tomorrow

Hugs


Saturday, 29 October 2022

Another Catch Up

 Morning all, hope you are ok today.  I'm pleased to report that apart from some bunged upness in my nose and ears, and being very tired, I am just about back in the land of the living after Covid.

So, I'm here with another catch up post and this one was a birthday card for my BFF.


I've combined two stamp sets with some masking
Gerda Steiner Designs - Monster Party
Sentiment from the same set
Whimsy Stamps Calories Schmalories
Papers are Echo Park Birthday Girl
Purple card from stash
Images watercoloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs


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