Ellie Says Hi

It must be the time of year, as I have heard many others complaining that this virus has affected them too.  It seems to start mid July and last right through to the first week of September.  It's a really nasty germ too, it leaves you feeling very "meh" and limp.  No one has found the cause of it, or the cure, but it does seem to spontaneously vanish.  Of course I am talking about the dreaded "nomojoitis".

I've had my fair share of nomojoitis this year, so I was very happy when it suddenly decided to bugger off and leave me and my mojo alone, at least for a little while.

I had a glorious inky session with this card.

and even if I do have to say so myself, I think she's super!

Ok, so what I did was, stamp the image (Tiddly Inks - Ellie Says Hi) and then mask her with Eclipse masking paper, added the speech-bubble (can you believe it is a WH Smith Sticky Note?), and then got the Ink Duster brush out and got messy with Distress Inks, Broken China, Worn Lipstick and Dusty Concord.  Still with the masks in place, I stamped the swirls (free magazine stamp).

After peeling the masks off I stamped the Personal Impressions sentiment, and sat happily colouring up Ellie with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos pencils.

A couple of matting layers of white card edged with ProMarkers and job done.

It seems like a good card to enter at

Tiddly Inks Challenge - Anything Goes

Hope you are having a super weekend

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Happy 21st

Own up, who likes cake?  Who likes a really big cake?  Who would like a cake nearly as tall as they are?

 

Well yeah, I think we have all dreamt of a cake like that but actually faced with it we might feel a bit differently about it, lol.

 

This is a commissioned 21st birthday card - one of my ladies from Church, Doreen, asked for "something young" for her granddaughter, and what could be more young than an Uptown Girl!

 

So this is Bianca Loves Her Big Cake (Uptown Girls) from Stamping Bella

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are my new favourites from LOTV/Nitwits - Country Meadow

LOTV sentiment

Lots of Nestabilities dies - oval, scalloped oval, circles, and flower

Wild Rose Studio - Corner Flourish die

8x8 card base

 

and for the inside, another piece of that pretty paper, and I have simply stamped Opal The Optimist (with her champagne of course), and a Paper Smooches celebrate sentiment

 

I am so confused over the days this week - how can a four day week at work feel like a fortnight?  I might eventually suss it out in time for the weekend.  Just so long as I don't turn up at the office on Saturday morning!!

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

The Last One

Morning all, and welcome.  It is my final card for The Stamp Basket DT, my how the last six months have flown.  I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Janet for the opportunity, I have had a blast, and she has been so kind, encouraging and patient with me.  Thank you hunny, I will miss you.

So, what do I have for you for my last card?  Well, it is another of those super gorgeous new Wild Rose Studio Christmas releases.

Ingredients that are available from The Stamp Basket Store

Stamp - Wild Rose Studio - Girl With Xmas Presents

Stamping Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - Wild Rose Studio - Holly Lane

Corner die - Wild Rose Studio - Snowflake Corner

Dies: Nestabilities - Classic Ovals

And from my stash, pencils, Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals, and plain card base

 

Can I just say, if you have never tried the Wild Rose Studio dies, you have been missing out.  They cut beautifully, first time every time, and there is none of this struggling to get the paper out of the die.  Like the summer collection, these winter ones almost fall out on their own.

 

So, that's me done, thanks to everyone who has been so supportive of my time as a member of The Stamp Basket DT, including my amazing and talented teamies, Annette and Deb, and of course Janet.

 

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Twist and Shout!

Happy Bank Holiday Monday to all my UK bloggie pals, and a Happy Monday to anyone overseas.  Today is forecast to be wet and windy so Toad and I are heading off to a favourite garden centre this morning where they sell homebaked cakes, bagsy a cheese and ham scone with a big mug of latte!  Then we are popping over to see the Oldies to make sure they aren't up to any mischief.

Speaking of the Oldies, it is my beloved mum's birthday in a couple of weeks and I wanted to make her something a bit different from my normal.  So, when a pal suggested I make a twisted easel card I thought she had lost her mind, I don't do complicated.  But I sat down and watched a tutorial on YouTube and wondered why I had panicked - if someone had told me before it was only one fold I would have been turning these out by the bucket load.  I made my first one on Saturday (can't show you that yet) and my second one yesterday, which will be mum's birthday card.

Really sorry about the dark/light photo - it was a bugger to get a good shot of this.

So, LOTV James With Daisy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

LOTV/Raspberry Road papers Baskets & Bunnies

Wild Rose Studio dies - Rose Corner and Wild Rose

Sentiment stamps from Personal Impressions

Pearls from stash

I made a little triangular block for the sentiment so it was raised at an angle, but it has more angle than originally anticipated, so it will be difficult to shove into an envelope.  Next job, a shallow box!

Thanks ever so much for popping over today.  I know I am way behind (again) with visits and comments so I really appreciate you taking the time out to still come and see me; it means a lot.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Fight!!!

Morning all.  How are things in your world?  Good I hope.  It's a bit of a meh morning here.  I was late getting up after a much needed lie in, didn't get dressed until an hour ago, and now I'm at a bit of a loose end.  Toad has already been out and about collecting a parcel from the people who had tried to deliver it twice in the week and now he is upstairs furtling about with cables and plugs.  I can hear the odd bad word coming down the stairs so I shall be keeping a low profile before a fight breaks out.

And speaking of fights (see what I did there, clever huh, lol) here is a simple card I made in the week.

It's LOTV's Jack, Patch and Puss having a Snowball Fight

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment banners are Penny Black

Gorgeous stripy paper is LOTV/Nitwits from Twas The Night pad

and that's it.

At work last week, my boss picked up one of my card mags and was flicking through it when she came upon the entry for the Cardmaker Of The Year 2014 competition.  Somehow (and I am still not certain how this happened) she has talked me into entering this year.  I know that I don't stand a snowball's chance in hell as my stuff is so no-frills but if it keeps her happy, and kind of to prove my point, I shall have a go.  I must admit though, I am a little bit frit.

Hope you have a super weekend (+1 for the UK) and have fun in everything you do.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Hello Little Frog

I've been wanting to use this little frog since he arrived on my doormat so that I could make a card for my darlin' Toad.

Love that expression!

This is Broasca Frog from Little Miss Muffet

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the LOTV/Nitwits Twas The Night pad

Green pearls from Crafty Devils

Sentiment from Paper Smooches

Inside, with more Paper Smooches sentiments, it says Love & Kisses Forever

It cheered him up.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Say A Little Prayer

This was not my finest hour with a paintbrush and red ink.  There is something about red.  It has a mind of it's own and can be very stubborn and when it decides not to shift, then shift it doesn't.  It's like Vince in his litter tray with constipation.  Oh the other hand, it can also spread itself all over the place, also like another litter tray issue.



LOTV stamp - A Little Prayer

Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos pencils

LOTV Sentiment

LOTV/Nitwits Twas The Night papers

Hobbycraft bow stamp

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Plain And Simple

Morning all, as it is Wednesday I am here with my DT card for The Stamp Basket blog.  Only one more week before I step down so I am feeling a little sad.

Today's card isn't so much CAS as PAS, plain and simple, but it does use such a super sweet image and very pretty papers.  Are you ready?

Ingredient available from The Stamp Basket store

Stamp:  Wild Rose Studio - Girl With Penguin

Stamping Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black

Papers:  Maja Design - Life In The Country

Pearls - Hobby House Ivory Silk

Card Base: Craftwork Cards - Straight Edge

and from my stash, pencils and sentiment

Snowflake die is from a Shapeabilities set that I bought from The Stamp Basket

(not sure if this will come back but I hope it does, the set is gorgeous)

Loving these Wild Rose Studio stamps, each one is so darned cute!

And don't forget, the Summer Sale is still on so you still have time to snaffle a bargain or three.

 

ABC Christmas Challenge - Q is for Quick & Easy

Love n hugs

Squirrel xx

CCT CAS TI CC

Acronyms are us!  Cute Card Thursday, Clean And Simple, Tiddly Inks Christmas Card!

Quick Cards magazine freebie Tiddly Inks Stamps

Fa La La sentiment from stash

Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos pencils

LOTV/Nitwits blue paper

Cute Card Thursday - Clean And Simple

Done.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Not My Retirement!

Happy Sunday everyone.  A while ago I was asked to make a retirement card for one of the ladies at work.  It had to be big enough for the whole office to sign, which was a challenge in itself, but I accepted and off I went.

So I stuck four 8x8 card bases together to form a concertina card with lots of pages

Main image is a Stampendous stamp Vase Bouquet (CRR170)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Then out came a couple of old but pretty Papermania Colossal paper stacks

I made the patchwork background on a square of card and then shoved it through the Calibur with a Grand Label 1 Nestie.

The image shape is also Nestie and is Labels 11

Memory Box Vivienne butterflies

LOTV retirement stamp

Inside I used more Papermania sheets, and stamped each page with a different LOTV sentiment

It ended up with nine signable pages

When the lady was given her presentation, we were amazed to hear that she had been with the firm for 45 years - that is one very well earned retirement indeed.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Howzat!!

Afternoon all!  How is your weekend going?  I had my six-weekly tail trim this morning and am feeling much better for it.  I swear we have fertiliser in our water as my hair seems to grow like a weed at times.  Remember the immortal line in Despicable Me "It's sooooo FLUFFY"?  Yeah, that was me before the trim.

Anyhoo, a quiet couple of days for us as we are both shattered after a hard work week, so I have been crafting this morning.  I seem to have a lot of significant birthdays this year to deal with, some for friends, some for customer orders.  This particular one is for a former boss of mine.  Ever since I have known him, which has been many years, he has been fanatical about county cricket.

The stamp is an old one from Wild Rose Studio when they did a quirky range of stamps for men

I collected a few of them but wish there were more

Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils

Memory Box Typewriter dies for the letters and numbers

Green paper is from the LOTV/Nitwits Bonnets and Bowties Solids pad

We have Hoi Sin Pork for dinner tonight.  Toad found it in the supermarket reduced-to-clear corner so wish me luck with it.  We have had some very hit-and-miss dinners from that corner but no harm in trying something new, huh.

OK then, I have orders for 18th and 21st birthdays to deal with so best I get on with it.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

ALBC Midway Reminder - Sew What?

Happy Friday all!  Just popping by with a midway reminder for the Sew What challenge over at A LITTLE BIT CRAFTY this month.

Stamp is a Penny Black favourite of mine called Mice Day

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The sewing themed papers were a magazine freebie

and the bow die is from Sue Wilson Finishing Touches 3D Dotty Bows

and that's all there is to it!

 

And sneaking this in for the Penny Black And More August challenge

Anything Goes

Just to prove that I can actually do more than make basic cards, here is another sewing project I did

Small sampler design from an old Cross Stitcher magazine

DMC threads

Coaster from Heritage Crafts (as it was then)

Although I have only been with ALBC for six months, this is my last post as a DT member as I have stepped down from this one as well.  I would like to take the opportunity to thank Paula for having me on board and the wonderful team for all their support.  It's been fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Is it a bird, is it a plane....?

Well no, actually it isn't, and it isn't Superman either!  Morning all, welcome to Wednesday and my DT day with The Stamp Basket.

In case you hadn't spotted them yet, the delicious Wild Rose Studio Christmas stamps (and soon the new dies and papers - on preorder now) are in stock so I have been having a happy play with one of them.

Ingredients for this card which are available from The Stamp Basket store are:

Stamp: Wild Rose Studio - Reindeer Flying

Ink & Medium: Memento Tuxedo Black and

Ranger Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Pads

Papers: Wild Rose Studio - Bella and Bluebell

Card Base: Craftwork Cards - On The Edge Elegant

Extra:  Glamour Dust - Crystal

From my stash: sentiment

For the background on this one, I stamped the Reindeer, made a mask (we lost a hoof and half an antler during the cutting out!) and then with DI pads of Dusty Concord, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot I got inky with a big stiff bristled brush.  The little stars I did with a punch and the masking paper.  Which was fine until I inked over them and then couldn't find them to peel them off!

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

You have a what in your tree?

Morning all!  Sorry I wasn't around at the weekend, we had a busy one and I had very little crafty time (boo hiss) but I intend to make up for it this coming weekend as I have some orders to get done.

When LOTV were showing us the sneak peeks for the recently released Christmas stamps, there was one in particular that caught my eye and it went straight to the top of my "must have" list.

A very simple card, but boys prefer simple don't they?!!

Stamp is LOTV The Perfect Tree

Well it has to be perfect with a squirrel in it!

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and teamed with the new LOTV/Nitwits Festive Trimmings papers

Sentiment is Hero Arts

 

LOTV Ideas to Inspire Challenge - Christmas In August

Sweet, simple and squirrelly!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Creative Bloggers Hop

Morning all.  I have been asked by the lovely JANINE at CRAFTING CRACKERS if I would like to take part in this Creative Bloggers Hop, which is a continuous hop every Monday with a host of creative and inspirational bloggers taking part.  JANINE is part of the Sugar Nellie DT, a very talented crafter and an amazing colourist, so I was very flattered that she has asked little ol' me to join in with this.

Only four questions, which on face value seemed ok, until I tried to form my answers, lol.  Let's see what happened shall we:

1.  What Am I Working On At The Moment?

I was going to say "not so much" at the moment as I have just surrendered three of my four design team posts, but then I realise that I really need to get cracking with the Christmas stuff.  Out in the "studio" (ha) I have lots of images stamped out ready to get coloured up.  I have been toying with various mediums lately but still come back to the Distress Inks (ReInkers) for watercolouring with, although I am developing a love affair with the Polychromos pencils.  I have lots of new rubber sitting around and (oh the shame) more on the way, so I think I know what I will be doing now that I shall have more time for me as I won't have the DT demands to squeeze in.

2.  How Does My Work Differ From Others In My Genre?

There are many answers to this, but none that you want to read!  Honestly?  I'm not sure that it does really.  For sure, I have my own style - I imagine regular followers can spot one of my makes from a mile away - so maybe what I do is different simply because of the way I combine a clean and simple design with a (hopefully) well coloured image.  I have never been able to get to grips with over embellished cards and although I did wrestle with them for a while, I came back to what is me, straightforward!

3.  Why Do I Create What I Do?

Addiction!  I started card making as an occupation therapy during a post surgery recovery.  Now I need therapy for the therapy.  I have quite a stressful full time job and it is all too easy to allow that stress into home life, but I only need to sit down with a stamp, inks and a paintbrush and within minutes I can start to feel the tensions ebb away.  I can lose myself for hours in colour.  Apart from that, everyone now seems to expect a handcrafted card from me, so the process it self perpetuating.  It is such a good job that I love it!

4.  How Does Your Creative Process Work?

You will hear crafters say that they choose their papers and then design from there.  My head doesn't quite work like that.  I have "a lot" of stamps and an image will pop into my mind and I know that is the one I want to use.  The tricky part is tracking down that one particular stamp!  The colours I choose to use depend very much on my mood, and then once the image is ready I have to sit back and think what to do with it, and try to find papers to match.  I really ought to learn that it is easier to allow the papers to dictate the colour scheme rather than the colour scheme dictating the papers.  If I have gone too random with my colour choices, then it often becomes a very simple CAS card.  So, it isn't so much a creative process, more of a creative chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

So now it is my turn to nominate - there should be three crafters here but with prior commitments and holidays I was only able to twist the arms persuade two lovely ladies to join me, but oh boy, are they quality!  You will be able to see their contributions to the hop on Monday 18 August.

Annette @ Netty's Cards

I've been a fan of Annette's work for ages, so it was a real joy for me when we DT'd together, twice, at Lili's Little Fairies/Crafty Little Fairies.  Annette has such style and the knack of being able to choose the perfect papers for an image, and her colourwork is awesome.  She can also seem to turn her hand to almost anything - doesn't matter how complex or straight foward, nothing seems to phase her.  Not only that, she is also a fabulous person and a dear friend, despite the fact that she is such a bad influence on my spending habits.

Bridget @ Curlybearcrafts

Bridget is one of my Word Birds team mates at the Without Words challenge and has to be one of the most understated crafters!  Her work is amazing (oh my, just check out her colourwork) but she goes about it so quietly and calmly, a fabulous influence on a frantic Squirrel.  Not only is Bridget a team mate, she is also such a caring and considerate person.  Definitely a lady on my crafting heroines list!

Thanks for joining me today for the Hop, and I hope you will enjoy Annette and Bridget's posts next week too.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Claudia's Kitty

Morning all, it is almost the weekend, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It was the first birthday of a very special little lady this week and this is the card I made for her.

Stamp is Claudia's Kitty from Little Miss Muffet

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Maja Designs - Life In The Country

Sentiment is from LOTV

And gold borders are from my stash

 

That's it from me today, not sure when I shall see you again as it's a busy weekend lined up.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Crafty Little Fairies (My final DT) Cute n Cuddly

Morning everyone - it's August, it's the first Thursday, so guess that means a new challenge with those CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES.

The theme this time is a favourite - it's Cute n Cuddly, so time to get the awwh factor going.

This is a sad post for me as after almost two years at the helm of the Fairies and going through some major changes (rebranding, new team members, weekly to monthly) I feel it is time for me to hang up my wings and move on to pastures new.  

Another very CAS card from me today.

Image is Gathering Bunnies from Stampavie (Penny Johnson)

Coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos

Sentiment is LOTV Handwritten Phrases

Mattings layers are LOTV Nitwits Solids

So, thanks for your company over the past couple of years, it has been hard work but it's been a blast and I have had the privilege of making some true and lifelong friends along the way.  What more could a girl as for.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx (back to being Mavis)

I Love George

Hello chaps, it's DT day for The Stamp Basket and today I am using one of my newly favourite Christmas stamps.

This is very much one for the boys!

Ingredients available from The Stamp Basket store

Stamp:  Snowball George by Molly Blooms

Ink and Medium:  Memento Tuxedo Black and

Ranger Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: First Edition - Bella Rose

Pearls:  Hobby House

Card Base: Craftwork Cards - On The Edge Scallop

And from my stash, the sentiment and a snowflake punch

Don't forget, the Summer Sale is on, with many great discounts.  Also, if you are starting on the festivities, those gorgeous new Wild Rose Studio  Christmas stamps have arrived!

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) August

Well you know by now what the first Monday of the month means - it's a new challenge from

WITHOUT WORDS

Before I tell you what this month's theme is, we have had a few questions about why the challenge is called Without Words when we do actually use sentiments - at the top of the challenge is the quote from Horace (a Roman poet) that actually inspired the creation of the challenge

"A picture is a poem without words"

which, when you consider that our focus is on handcoloured images and encouraging you to practice and improve your colourwork rather than hiding behind embellishments, you can see why that quote is so perfect.

But yes, we still use sentiments (because we can)!

Right then, onto our new theme and it is an old theme

USE A PREVIOUS CHALLENGE

The past challenges are all listed on their own page, so it is your choice this month, just remember to tell us which one you have chosen

I chose Beach Holiday from August 2013

This is Pollycraft Nipper from CC Designs

Coloured with Polychromos Pencils and Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from odd scraps of Basic Grey pads

and the sentiment is Casual Fridays

There are two years' worth of themes for you to choose from, so no excuses!

Hugs to all, Squirrel xx

Is there a doctor in the house?

Afternoon all - it's a warm one here in East Anglia but I understand some of you are having a cooler day, you lucky things!

Now then, I am a great believer in giving credit where credit is due, so I have to mention Faye (Stampin Fluffnstuff) at this point.  The first time I saw this stamp being used was by Faye, and I just knew that I had to have her in my collection (the stamp, not Faye).  Unfortunately it also lead to me indulging in more stamps than anticipated ....... so I think I now have all but one of the A Random Fan stamps that have been issued in rubber!  Thanks Faye!

This is Dr Autry by A Random Fan (Sherri T Designs)

Coloured in Polychromos and Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are LOTV Nitwits Country Meadow

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

What I have done is not a patch on what I have seen elsewhere but I still love her

I'm off to get inky with some of my new LOTV rubber for the rest of the afternoon, but do pop back tomorrow as it is time for a new challenge from Without Words

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Cream, Magnolia, Ivory or Off White?

Happy Saturday everyone, hope this finds you ok.  I'm spending the weekend chasing my tail trying to catch up on stuff (mostly the mountain of washing that is slowly seething its way across the landing) and prepping for the craft "exhibition" next weekend that my mother signed me up for.  Sigh.

Now then, I made this card for a bitter sweet occasion.  Our caretaker/handyman/all-round-marvel is retiring in a couple of weeks.  The ladies of the office are distraught.  But we are happy for him in that he is finally able to hang up his tool box.  Over the years, he must have repainted the building, top to bottom, in magnolia/cream/ivory/off-white (call it what you will) about ten times, and that is what inspired this make:

LOTV stamp - Lick of Paint

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are LOTV Nitwits - Up And Away

Pierced Fishtail Banner dies are MFT Die-namics

Splat stamps are Kaisercraft and Visible Images

Silver rope border from stash

Sentiment from my tiny brain

Alphabet Challenge - M is for Men Only

Have a super weekend, whatever you are up to - just don't ask me to bail you out!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

ALBC (DT) Sew What?

Morning all!  Well it is the 1st of the month, so that means it is time for a new challenge at A LITTLE BIT CRAFTY and this time around the theme is Sew What?

The clue is in the title but we would like to see some reference to sewing in your make please.

Here is my DT card:

I've used those super cute Makey Bakey Mice from Crafter's Companion

This stamp is called Stitched With Love

Coloured with Polychromos Pencils

Papers are from the Kaisercraft Confetti collection

Stitching detail stamps are LOTV

Sentiment came with the mice stamp

Button dies are from Impression Obsession

As always, Paula has lots of delicious prizes lined up for you to win, so looking forward to seeing all your fabulous sewing themed entries!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx