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!


Friday 31 July 2015

Sweet!

I am sneaking this one under the radar for the soon-to-end challenge over at House Mouse & Friends.  The theme is House Mouse and A Friend OR Anything Goes, and I have chosen the latter option.


This stamp from House Mouse is called "Carry Mints"
The sweets reminded me of those yummy fruit and yoghurt candies, hence the colours.  
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is from Personal Impressions
Coloured cardstock from Papermania
Custom sized card base


I am also going to "squeak" this in at As You Like It for their Fur or Feathers challenge.  So why do I prefer fur to feathers?  Well, I have had some strange experiences with birds - for one, I am scared of chickens.  Yes, chickens, they look at you sideways just before they attack you.  When I was little, our budgie fell off his perch halfway through The Archers, I have been sworn at by a cockatiel, and as for seagulls!!!  Anyway, I prefer the comforting softness of a warm and furry body, that I can stroke, and cuddle and sniff.  And then find the Savlon afterwards (cheers Rosie).


Hugs to all
Squirrel xx


Thursday 30 July 2015

March

This is the last of my sneak peeks for the Lili of The Valley release on Saturday, and this little lady is the March Fairy.


Don't you wish Easter Eggs were really that size?!

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Striped paper from a Papermania Capsule Collection
Spellbinders loopy square die
Woodware flower punches and a smidge of Card Candi

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Simplicity

I have another couple of cards for you today that I made using the November Calendar Fairy that is being released, along with her 11 sisters, on 31 July from Lili of The Valley.

The key to these two is simplicity!


Fireworks always make me think of bright and vibrant colours!
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Glamour Dust

If you order the full set of 12 Fairies, you get the set of word stamps too as a bonus.


Again, simple little card but this time with some paper piecing of her coat to match the matting layer
Distress Inks for the rest of her with Glamour Dust wings and sparkler
Sentiment from Hero Arts
Papers by Dovecraft
Speech bubble die from Die-Namics

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx


Tuesday 28 July 2015

July

Yes, believe it or not, it is still July, brrrrrrrrrrrr.  Lol, you just can't win with the British weather!

Anyhoo, you might have twigged by now that at the end of this week, there is another super duper Fairy and Christmas stamps release coming from Lili of The Valley.

I am officially in love with the Calendar Fairies.  Here is a little peek of a summer one for you.


This little lady is the July Fairy
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are LOTV/Nitwits Bonnets & Bowties Solids
Thinking of You die and Butterflies dies are Impression Obsession
Border die is Joanna Sheen "Samantha" Signature die
Custom sized card base

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Sunday 26 July 2015

September

Do you remember, dancing in September?!

I've had that tune in my head (Earth Wind and Fire) for days now, and there is a good reason why.  At the end of this month, Lili of The Valley have another release, and part of that release are the Calendar Fairies.  I have already showcased one version of my sample stamp, November, and although I resisted, I ended up with the full set of Fairies.

Oh you are going to love these little cuties!


Stamp: Fairy September from Lili of The Valley
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Leaf paper from an old DoCrafts pad
Coloured cardstock is DCWV
Stitched Leaf dies from Lawn Fawn
September die from Die-Namics Accent It Months Of The Year
Stitched circle die from MFT
Scalloped edge circle die from Tonic

There will be another couple of Fairies to come from me before the launch next weekend.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Saturday 25 July 2015

Odd

Morning all.  Wow, what a night, wind and rain from midday yesterday right through the night and into this morning.  Last night was brilliant, as I laid in bed with Rosie, the wind was howling through the bathroom window and the rain was lashing against the glass.  It was so good!

Anyhoo, I have something a little sunnier for you today.


This is Odd Dog - Flowers for You from Lili of The Valley
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
MFT Die-Namics Stitched Speech Bubble die
Lawn Fawn Scripty Thanks die
Papers are scraps from the box

A simple little card, but, love it or loathe it, that's the way I roll.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Thursday 23 July 2015

Strum Along With Me

This is my third July posting for the Lili of The Valley Design Collective, and today I am showcasing a stamp and papers that have been around for a little while now, but are still absolutely adorable.


Papers: LOTV/Nitwits On A High Note
Sentiment: LOTV Set 27 Vintage Labels
Medium:  Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils
Extras:  X-Cut Postage Stamp die, MFT Music notes die set
Card Base: Custom sized Advocate 300gsm Brilliant White

What tune are you now humming?

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Sneak Peek 1

Guess what?!

There is another new stamp release from Lili of The Valley at the end of the month!  Whoop whoop!

You will be getting Part 1 of the Christmas release, AND a whole new batch of Fairies, in fact a whole year's worth, and I cannot begin to tell you how cute they all are.

As a member of the Design Collective, I was lucky enough to be assigned a Fairy to showcase for you, and here she is


This is November Fairy - isn't she just darling?
I have painted her with my beloved Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a smidge of Polychromos for her hair
Her wings have A Wink Of Stella which the camera hasn't picked up but which looks so pretty shimmering in sunlight so you will just have to trust me on that one
The papers, which made me think of fireworks, are all First Edition New Bloom
The sentiment is from LOTV Set 23 Girlie Banners, which I trimmed down to remove the curls
Stitched stars are from Memory Box, and the smaller stars are an X-Cut punch

My fellow DC pals have the other 11 Fairies to share with you, and some have the Christmas stamps, so there will be loads of sneak peeks for you to look out for over the next 10 days before the release.  Perfect amount of time for you to decide which ones to buy - it's going to be hard to choose, I promise.

Hugs to all
Squirrel (LOTV DC)
xx


Monday 20 July 2015

Garfield and Gnomes

In my feelings for Mondays, I'm with Garfield on them, and this one will be worse because it is the first day back after a lovely relaxing week off.


Thankfully for me, and for everyone else around me, the feeling wears off by the afternoon!

Anyhoo, I thought I would start Monday with a smile for a change.  I shall go into work beaming, and that is really going to worry them.

And let's start the week here with a smile too.


So, this is an MFT stamp from the You Gnome Me set
thankfully I got the matching dies, although he's easy enough to fussy cut
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Background paper is Maja Designs - Life In The Country
Sentiment by Dovecraft
Shaped dies are by Spellbinders Nestabilities

Hoping your Monday is a good one folks
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Saturday 18 July 2015

Fancy a Cuppa?

Morning all, hope this finds you well on what is, in Suffolk, a beautiful summer's morning, very sunny, very warm and a light breeze.  I feel as if I ought to be out there but the call of the studio is too strong to resist!

There is something very British about having a cuppa.  It seems to solve so many things.  I stopped drinking full strength tea and moved over to decaff about ten years ago, (roughly when I started card making, lol) and I could never go back to real tea now.  I did try a variety of the herbal, fruit, flower, who-knows-what teas, but they really didn't float my boat.  I never tried acorn though.....


Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are Dovecraft Bright Spark (green) and True Blue (brown)
Sentiment made up from one of the new LOTV sets but I can't find it on the website now
Border punch by Martha Stewart
Dots punch by Rymans Office Stationery

That's put me in the mood for a cuppa now - anyone else fancy one?
There's bisquits.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx




Friday 17 July 2015

Midway Reminder for Without Words

It's halfway through July so the perfect time to fly-by with a midway reminder for our challenge over at WITHOUT WORDS where the theme is BLUE & BROWN.

There have been some superb entries so far, but there is always room for more!



Oh yes, it is my most favourite Christmas bear EVER, it's James Snow Angel from LOTV
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papermania Kraft Card
Sentiment from Paper Smooches
Snowflake die from Noor Design

Some of you will no doubt mention the snowflakes.  Yes, they are embellishments, but minimal.

Don't forget that you have until the end of the month to enter, so even with the school holidays (bah) you should still have enough time, and there is a fabulous prize on offer from our new sponsor


Hope to see you there

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Thursday 16 July 2015

Yay!

Morning all.  How are you?  I can't believe that it is already over halfway through my holiday week, sob.  Still, it has been a lovely and relaxing week, which is just what the doctor ordered, and I have managed to get some crafting done, not much, but some.


I could not resist this little guy from the latest Stamping Bella release
He is called "Milton"
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is from Paper Smooches and just seemed to match his expression so well

Hugs to all
Birthday Squirrel xx

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Dainty Dancing

Morning all, how are you today?  We are having a relaxing, mooching about, hollibob day - Toad has popped out to get some stuff to repaint the shed so that will be a fun (!!) job for this afternoon if it doesn't rain.

In the meantime, I am popping by with my second July card for the Lili of the Valley Design Collective


Sorry, I should have warned you it's a bright one!

Extras: Nestabilities Superellipse dies and Poppy Stamps simple banner die
Medium:  Distress Inks (ReInkers), Polychromos Pencils and paper piecing

I am so sorry that I haven't been around much, and certainly huge apologies for the lack of comments over the past few months.  Some of you may know that my mum has been really unwell so it has meant, naturally, that blogging has had to take a back seat.  It has been all I can do to keep on top of my DT commitments.  Thankfully, mum now seems to be on the mend at last so I am hoping that I shall soon be able to have the time needed to come and visit you all again.

Hugs to anyone still out there who visits
Squirrel xx



Saturday 11 July 2015

Front Step?

Hi all, slightly later than normal for a weekend but I am here at last.  We took my best friend's son to the cinema to see The Minions Movie as a treat for him.  I think it is the first time I have seen an animated film accompanied by a child!!  Mind you, it's not fair to call him a child any more, he is taller than me and a lovely young man.

Anyhoo, earlier in the week I bought the Quick Cards magazine and noticed the Front Step cards that had been designed by the lovely Kitty Frampton, and I really wanted to give one a try.  However, I kind of added in some adaptations...... so now it is a Front Step Easel Secret Drawer card!!

Apologies for so many photos:











Stamped image:  Stamping Bella Tiny Townies Hayley The Hero
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are Little Claire Quirky Quilts and Ombre
Sentiment from My Favourite Things
All mistakes entirely my own

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx


Friday 10 July 2015

For all of you .....

I was feeling a bit sentimental when I made this one, and it got me thinking about all my friends, at home and here in blogland, so this one is for you guys.


Stamp is LOTV Little Pals
Hugs die is from Lawn Fawn
and so is the cloud border die
Butterflies are Impression Obsession
Papers are LOTV - blue (Nitwits) Bonnets & Bowties Solids, and pinky orange (Raspberry Road) Baskets & Bunnies
Painted by my own fair hand in Distress Inks (ReInkers) on Daler Rowney Bristol Board
Pearls from stash

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Beach Baby

If I had a choice today, this is what I would like to be doing


Yes, the squinty, one-eyed, wonky photographer is back in town!

Stamp is CC Designs Roberto's Rascals - Beach Babe Twila
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils
Papers are a mixture of Dovecraft and First Edition
Sentiment is Paper Smooches
Doodling by Squirrel

Who knows, I might even get the chance to do this next week!

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx


Monday 6 July 2015

Without Words (DT) July

Welcome!  It's the first Monday of July and it means the launch of a new challenge over at WITHOUT WORDS

The theme is
BLUE and BROWN

and here is my card, which I am doubling up as my first July Design Collective card for
Lili of The Valley


This little chap is Super Striker from LOTV
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are LOTV/Nitwits Country Gent and Dress Shoppe
Sentiment tags are from LOTV Set 24
and, oh my goodness, embellished with one pearl from my stash



The Word Birds are joined by a new sponsor too


If you haven't shopped at CLEARLY BESOTTED yet, then you are missing out!

Hope you are all able to fine some time to come and play - challenge starts at 8.00am this morning

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Saturday 4 July 2015

A Review of Peeks

Morning all - yes, it's today, the Lili of the Valley release

I feel I have overwhelmed you with sneak peeks this week so I am simply going to do a round up




1, 2, and 3 - Summer Bunches


Odd Dog - Balloon


Odd Dog - Sleepy Book


Odd Dog - Handwritten


Odd Dog - Mug of Tea


Odd Dog - Sweet Dreams

I must just make it clear that Summer Bunches was my sample stamp, the Odd Dog stamps I bought myself because they were just too darned cute to resist.

Have fun choosing which ones you will buy!

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx





Friday 3 July 2015

Mug of Tea

Only one more sleep!

The new Lili of The Valley release of Odd Dogs, Flowers, and Teenage Girls
plus other exciting new things will be tomorrow - 4 July


Odd Dog - Mug of Tea
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment from Mama Elephant Sunday Sentiments set

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Thursday 2 July 2015

Balloon

So only two days to go now before the new stamp release from
Have you chosen your favourites yet from all the sneak peeks?

This little chap is definitely one of mine


Odd Dog - Balloon
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Pearls from stash

One more Odd Dog to come from me tomorrow

Hugs
Squirrel xx


Wednesday 1 July 2015

Summer Bunches - Take 3

Happy 1st July everyone!

Popping by with a third version of the new Summer Bunches stamp, soon (very) to be released from Lili of The Valley


Have kept this one fresh and clean and simple
Summer Bunches stamp
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment from All The Best Set 91


Will be back again tomorrow with another Odd Dog for you.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx
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