Scootin' along

Happy Monday folks!  The start of another working week for me, which is really difficult at this time of year with so much still to be crafted for Christmas!  Never mind, tomorrow we can start on opening the advent calendars - and if that doesn't fill you with fear, the chocolate countdown, then very little will, lol.

Mind you, all that Christmas stuff still to be done, and here is me with another non-Christmas card!

It feels like a very long time since I used a WRS cutie but this one was a gift from a dear bloggy friend, and it is just too sweet to ignore!

Stamp is Wild Rose Studio - Bunny On Scooter

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are LOTV/Nitwits

Corner die is also Wild Rose Studio - Corner Flourish

Sentiment is LOTV

Die cut shape is Nestabilities Labels 18

Pearls from stash

Have a good week everyone!

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Evenin' All

Afternoon chaps!  I bet you are all busy busy busy with your Christmas shopping and plans aren't you?  Me, so far I have adopted the Ostrich Principle about the whole thing, but I know that come Tuesday, 1 December, I shall be spiralling into full-on panic mode!

As evidence of the denial that it really is going to happen, I have turned my back on the Christmas cards today and made this little fun one, just because.

So, this is the Little Heroes policeman from Lili of The Valley - he's part of the Cops & Cooks stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

You would not believe the debate that Toad and I had over the colour of a policeman's uniform

Sentiment stamp is from Clearly Besotted

Simple black matting layer

Nothing much going on at Squirrel Towers today, except that we will be popping out later to go and have a look for a dishwasher.  Toad's dream has finally come true.   He thinks the expense of it will be offset by what we save in not getting him Marigolds, lol!  Oh, and a Chinese Takeway in from of the telly tonight for the last F1 of the season.  Feels like Christmas already!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

IN THE PINK (DT) A Favourite Stamp

This time at IN THE PINK the challenge is to use a favourite stamp.  It doesn't have to be THE favourite, but one of your favourites, and of course it needs to be pink!

I found it really hard to choose so I went with a stamp of my favourite character

This is Angel Twila from CC Designs

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

Papers are Wild Rose Studio from a Bella Christmas collection

Joanna Sheen Signature die - Starry Night Edger

and the pink stars around Twila are the waste from the die cut

A Favourite Stamp challenge is sponsored by

BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS

So, off you go, two weeks to get pink!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Making A Stand

Hello chaps, I hope this finds you well and a little bit warmer than frosty yesterday!

Today the time has come, I am making a stand!  Facebook has become a menace to Blogland with all the immediate and instant gratification, along with the one click Like without the need to make an effort to leave a comment.  However, many of us have been forced into using it as a way to get our work seen and, like it or loathe it, it seems to be the place to be.  However, Facebook has done untold damage to Bloggers and this is where I make my stand.

I used to post here, and add a link with a photo to Facebook.  In my naive little world, I had thought that this might bring more traffic to my blog but, in the one-click world, it has had the opposite effect.  So, from now on:

• I shall be seriously reducing my Facebook time 
• I shall only post a link back to the blog post for that day with a partial photograph
• Yes, I shall probably continue to post Rosie updates if anyone is interested enough but otherwise they will be here, on my blog

How many hours do I waste trawling through posts about who had what for dinner and where they have been shopping?  Is it really funny to have the F and C words used so much?  What does that really add to anything?

One voice in millions won't change the way Facebook works, but if more of you are brave enough to take the same stand, we might make Blogger the thriving community it once was, without all the dross.

Anyone out there prepared to join me to try and make 2016 a Blog Year?

When I was rummaging for stamps last week, I found poor old neglected Henry and thought it was about time that he came out to play again.

This is Skating Henry from Whiff of Joy (retired I think)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a pad of BoBunny that is at least a couple of years old

Sentiment die from Clearly Besotted

Starry Night Edger from Joanna Sheen Signature Dies

Hugs to all, and solidarity to Bloggers!

Squirrel xx

Gone Fishing

Well, it's Monday and it's back to work for me after a week of chillin' (snuffling with a stinky cold) and crafting, so this morning is going to come hard.  If only I had bought that winning lottery ticket this week!

I could get used to a life of leisure, just like this little chap for my second LOTV Design Collective card for November.

This is LOTV Gone Fishing

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back to Basics

Die is from Whimsy

Baker's Twine from stash

I chose not to add a sentiment until he was needed as I couldn't decide what occasion

he would suit best

Now, where did I put my worms...?

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Come on baby, light my fire

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  November has arrived at last.  I'm hoping this snap of cold will knock some of those pesky germs on the head good and proper!  I might be slightly perverted but I actually love days like this, blustery and squally showers of sleet, but only when I am tucked up safe and warm indoors, lol.  It just makes me feel even cosier.

Speaking of cosy, there is nothing quite like it for making you feel cosy than a real fire.  That is something I miss in a modern house - the gas fake fire doesn't do it for me, and it certainly isn't the same kind of warmth.  We are popping over to the Oldies this afternoon where it is guaranteed for there to be a real fire in the kitchen, and I'm not talking about mum burning the dinner!

Did you get your fill of the recent release from Lili of the Valley, the Little Folk and Little Critters?  

This simple little card was made using the Little Heroes stamp (fireman and soldier)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment from My Favourite Things

Really straightforward matting with black art card

Custom sized card base

Don't forget there is also the LAST CHANCE TO BUY offer going on at Lili - many stamps reduced to £2.50 each!  They are going fast so be quick if you want to snaffle a bargain.

That's it from me today, I need to get a chicken in the oven, load the washing machine and get myself sorted for the Oldies visit.

Catch ya laters!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Ready for the weekend

Morning all!  Have you heard the forecast for the weekend?  November weather at last, AND there is a chance of a flurry of the white stuff for us over here in the east ...... thermals at the ready!

I received some very welcome happy mail this week, and I could not resist getting this little fella inky immediately.

Isn't he just the most adorable?!

This is Winter Bunny from Roberto's Rascals at CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Dies are Poppystamps/Memory Box Evergreen Landscape and Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillsides

The night sky paper was a scrap that was just laying on my desk

Matting layer is Bazzil Bling Raspberry

Sentiment from Sweet Little Sentiments set by Clearly Besotted

Well, that's me for today - I'm popping into town this morning once my hair is dry, and then this afternoon Rosie has a trip to the v.e.t for her six month check-up.  You may hear the screams about 2.15ish.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Fit and Elfy

Morning all.  How are you doing?  I am finally starting to get rid of Toad's germs and beginning to feel like a squirrel again.

There's a fab challenge going on over at The Cutie Pie Challenge that is right up my street which is Simply Cute and Christmassy and you all know how much I like my clean and simple designs.

So this little chap, and his tree, are from the MFT Die-Namics set Santa's Elves

and I used the matching dies

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from a very old pad of DCWV papers

MFT pierced circle die

Tonic scalloped circle die

Sentiment die from Clearly Besotted

And that's it, clean and simple!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Not Just For Christmas

Morning all (just), hope you are all ok.  I'm running a little late today as I have been for a tail trim and colour, and then I made the mistake of sitting down with Rosie.  It was a bit of an effort to pull myself away if I'm honest.  She makes a great chair warmer.

Back in the summer, Lili of The Valley released their Odd Dog collection.  The stamps are all super adorable and can be used for so many occasions.  I had been looking at one in particular for an idea I'd had and thought "why not".  Here he is for my first November Design Collective make.

This stamp is Odd Dog Handwritten

If he fills that book with Christmas wishes then he must have been a very good pup indeed!

Painted with Distress Inks ReInkers)

Papers are Dovecraft Back To Basics

Dies are Die-Versions Corner Concepts

Sentiment from Trimcraft

With apologies to you and to Lili for this not being a particularly imaginative or ambitious make.  Ever since early September, just before the shingles outbreak, I have felt out of sorts and run down.  I'm really lacking in energy just now.  Hopefully a break from work this week will help sort that out and I might get some of my bounce back.

Hug to all

Squirrel xx

Ramona Shares

I was very lucky to receive some happy mail at the end of last week from a friend that really perked me up no end.  This was just before contracting Toad's filthy germs but I did manage to have a play before the grot set in.

I'm not sure that I would want to share anything chocolate related, but if I was sharing with this cute little fella I may feel differently about it, even if he does smell of fish.

Image is Ramona Shares Her Hot Chocolate from Stamping Bella

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are LOTV/Nitwits Festive Trimmings (retired)

Cottage Cutz holly corner die

MFT double stitched square dies

and the Merry is one half of a Dovecraft Merry Christmas sentiment

I shall share the other happy mail make with you in a day or two.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Pollycraft Candy (Before and After)

Morning all.  Cough cough splutter sneeze.  What a way to start a Monday.  Poor ol' Toad has been really poorly over the last few days with an absolute stinker of a cold, and the rotten meanie has passed it on!  

Anyhoo, some of you may have seen on Facebook on Saturday that we had an inky paws incident.  Here's the evidence.

I thought that I had positioned my elbow in an anti-Rosie place, but she can be a determined little devil.  So, she jumped up, over my arm, and front paw into the inks.  The picture shows Walnut Stain, but my craft bench and her white fur also showed more than a bit of Salty Ocean!  

I almost binned this to start again but a very encouraging blogging buddy convinced me that the image was saveable, and she was right (of course).

So, this is Candy from Pollycraft (CC Designs)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Grand Merry Christmas from Memory Box

Scalloped circle from Tonic

Double stitched circle from MFT

Red card by Bazzil

Snowflake paper by BoBunny

Snowflakes by X-Cut Palm Punch

I may rename her Phoenix

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Remember remember the 10th of November

OK, so it's a little poetic licence, but hey, we don't want you to miss the date for the Lili of the Valley release of the cutest little folk and critters!

Self portrait time today:

This very simple little card uses the squirrel image from the Woodland Friends stamps

Isn't that such a cheeky face?!

Papers are the LOTV/Nitwits Enchantment pad

Sentiment from Personal Impressions

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Scalloped stitched circle dies from Memory Box

Custom sized card base

Remember - 10th November - these guys are going to sell FAST!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

There's a moose loose about this hoose

Oh ok, so it isn't a real moose, after all, you would surely notice if there was one of those on the loose in your house.  The footprints would be a dead giveaway.

I'm showing my age with the title of this post, oh those blissful mornings of Junior Choice with Ed Stewpot Stewart!  And if you are wondering ..... have a listen

Anyhoo, in case you have been living in a cupboard for the past week, there is a new Lili of The Valley release on the way (sooner if you are at the NEC this week) on 10 November.  

This adorable little Harvest Mouse is part of the Woodland Friends stamp (with a Squirrel and a Hedgehog)

I've painted him with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The straw paper is an ancient remnant, in fact I think it was the last of what I had

Brown card is Bazzil

MFT double stitched circle die, Tonic plain circle dies, Memory Box stitched scalloped circle die

Lawn Fawn Scripty For You die (double cut for the shadow effect)

Martha Stewart grass border punch

Viva Pearl Pen - gold

Keep your purse on standby!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) November

First Monday of November, and winter is upon us (well, yes, I know, technically it isn't, but it's dark nights now and cold, so that makes it winter in my book!).

This month over at WITHOUT WORDS the theme is WINTER BIRTHDAY

Here's my make:

Very CAS, but that's what the challenge is about!

Stamped image is CC Designs Latte Sue

I had a ball painting her in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is by Clearly Besotted from the Fancy Sayings set

Matting layer is Dovecraft Back to Basics

The sponsor this month is CLEARLY BESOTTED - it would be silly not come over and join in!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx