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!


Saturday, 25 May 2019

Dies To Die For (DT) Fluffy Hanging In There

Hello peeps, are you ready for the start of a (UK) three day weekend, yaaay!

I started a new job a month ago, well, when I say new, I mean I have gone back to a firm that I left 14 years ago.  It has been sooooooooo strange, the building itself is so familiar (even the carpets are still the same), and there are still a few old faces there, but I'm having to learn new people as well as a new-to-me IT system!  I think I may be sleeping a lot of this weekend.

Anyhoo, it's been a while since I hoiked this family member out of the darkness, so I
thought it about time he (or she) got inky again!


So, the things I have used from the Dies To Die For store are


Fluffy has been watercolour painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers).

The Sunny Studio paper is double-sided and it is such lovely quality - that purple background is one sheet, I simply cut it in half and flipped one piece over.  I have used it a lot and need to restock for myself!

Anyhoo, have a super weekend, whatever you are up to, have fun

Hugs



Thursday, 23 May 2019

As You Like It Challenge (DT) His or Hers

Morning all, another Thursday, another challenge!

The team over at AS YOU LIKE IT are asking which you prefer to make
For Him or For Her (and please tell us why)

I would guesstimate that 95% of my makes throughout the year are for the girls so I really
quite enjoy the change of making for the boys, and their cards are very much like the
boys - much simpler!!



So, the bits and bobs used for this one are
Like an idiot I didn't write down the word die, but I think it is MFT Die-Namics
MFT 6x6 Watercolour Wash
Martha Stewart grass border punch
Joy Crafts 6x6 brick pattern paper
Young fella-me-lad is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Thanks to those of you who took the time to participate in the AYLI birthday blog hop, the winner of which is announced over on the challenge blog!

Finally, the sponsor for our His or Hers theme is

Polkadoodles Ltd


Hugs to all



Saturday, 18 May 2019

Bundles of Love (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, how is your weekend panning out?  Too early to tell?
Well, I really hope that it is everything you want it to be.

I'm not sure why, but the Pure Innocence girls from MFT don't seem to do as well in the UK as they
do in the US, which is a real shame, because they are such cuties, and so versatile.  I really like them so I shall continue to share them with you until you surrender!



Of course she has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I have used
a tiny layer of kraft card to separate the yellows from each other

Hugs to all





Sunday, 12 May 2019

Bring Out The Sunshine

Hello peeps!  Sorry, didn't mean to startle you by sneaking up on you on a Sunday!

It's back to work tomorrow, after a week off, and to distract myself and try to postpone the Sunday blues, I got the inks out this afternoon.  It must have worked, because I totally forgot I was supposed to be batch making pasta sauce, so that is now bubbling away and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is cold enough by bedtime to pop in the freezer.

Yesterday, the Mister ran the gauntlet of our Royal Mail/Post Office parcel collection depot.  It is something of a challenge, and certainly not user friendly as it is (a) a 12 mile round trip (b) in the centre of town (c) the parking is atrocious.  Anyhoo, the little red card had said there were two items to collect, and one of them was all mine!  I love happy parcels.  This one was from the fabulous Dies To Die For store and contained my latest purchase from the new MFT release (grin).

As today is the first dry day we have had this past week, this little lassie seemed the right choice.


I really did enjoy colouring her up with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
(the little bird is in the set, I masked him onto her hat)
Sparkly enamel dots from stash

There is a matching die to go with the stamp set, but I opted to fussy cut

All of the linked ingredients above are available from Dies To Die For Online Store

Okay then, best I get back to the pasta sauce cauldron before it becomes BBQ sauce!

Have a great week everybody.

Hugs


Saturday, 11 May 2019

Polly (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, and a happy weekend to you.  Me and the Mr have been on holibobs this week.  It wasn't the best week weather-wise (we have been soaked through more than once while out and about, yesterday pelted with hailstones - it's MAY for heaven's sake!) and I've had a streaming cold for a few days, but it has been good to catch up on some sleep after the stresses of the last few months.

Anyhoo, I've long had a love affair with the Whimsy Stamps/Wee Stamps, so I thought it was about time I brought this little lady out of the dark again.



Polly has been painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, and I used a fine-liner brown art pen for her hair detail.

You have been hugged


Thursday, 9 May 2019

Non-Card Project (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Guess what!  It's Thursday!

Of course you know what alternate Thursdays mean, and that is a new challenge from

This time, we are pushing the boundaries and asking for a non-card project.  Have a look at the DT makes for inspiration if you are stuck.

Unfortunately the first ever granny square crochet blanket isn't finished yet (so near yet so far) so here is something else!  I love making gift wrappings, either boxes or bags, that can contain a few luxury chocs.  Here is a little bag I made.
("Uff Da" is an expression of surprise)


So, I have used
Fussy cut and painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Martha Stewart grass border punch

and the chocolates are ALL mine!!

There's a wee anniversary blog hop happening so you'll need to visit each of the team, leave a comment, and then a final comment on the AYLI challenge - there's a surprise gift for the right person!

Right then, as well as the hop, the sponsor for this challenge with the prize of
an A5 stamp set is
Lili of the Valley

Hope to see you there
Hugs


Saturday, 4 May 2019

Curvy Girl Is Busy (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello folks, here I am, at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend - I would say  lovely Bank Holiday weekend, but it is cold and wet so far, how marvellous (but we dooooooooo so need the rain).

I started my new job two weeks ago, so I would like to think
this Curvy Girl is like me, surrounded by paperwork and Post-It Notes but
unfortunately my legs will NEVER be that long!
Mind you, they might be that shape soon, there are a LOT of stairs in the building.


Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Is Busy Cut It Out Die (on website but link not working)
Sentiment is selected text from that which comes with Curvy
MFT 6x6 Country Fair Plaid (sorry, it's retired since I made this)
but Farm Fresh Gingham would work nicely

I used an old MFT Die-Namics Insert It 3x4 Notebook die (long since retired I think) to create the note cut from the School Days paper, and then cut it down to fit the sentiment.

Curvy Girl painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I added to her hair with a fineliner pen.

Hugs to all

take a peek at what my ultra-talented teamies have been creating
go on, break into that piggy-bank


Saturday, 27 April 2019

The Gnome & The Letter (DT) Dies To Die For (UPDATED)

Happy Weekend everyone!

I'm hoping that by the time this posts, the DTDF website problems will have been resolved, but at the time of writing they aren't so I will pop back to add the ingredients links for you.
UPDATED:  ALL THE LINKS NOW ADDED


Gnomie coloured with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

I decided to stack the HELLO so cut four layers of thick white card, and one of the MFT paper, and got sticking.  Shame you can't see the "popping off the card" effect in the photo!

Hugs to all

DIES TO DIE FOR ONLINE STORE


Thursday, 25 April 2019

Ribbon or Flowers (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Well hello there chaps!  How are you on this fine Thursday?  You do know of course that with it being Thursday it is time for another fortnight's challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT gang.

This time, the theme is Ribbons or Flowers (Your Favourite and Why)

I have more of an affinity with flowers than I do with ribbon, although I don't use either that much really.  However, for this challenge I was going to make an effort and out came the flowers, only to find that my silicon glue is a solid lump in a tube!  So, I had to resort to flat flowers ..... (I can hear Red Leader grumbling from here)


So this ADORABLE little chap is new and he is
I don't have the die, but there is one available, so I had to fussy cut
He is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours
The leafy stem is a Tonic die and
the flowers are various sizes of Woodware punch, with Card Candy centres
(didn't have the right colour so inked up a cream one with a yellow pen)
The layered Hello die is from Create A Smile
Papers are Sunny Studio (purple) and Prima (blue)

So there you have it - except for our wonderful sponsor for this theme who is

£10 voucher from
Fantastic Ribbons


Hope you will take time in your busy schedules to come and join in the fun.

Hugs


Saturday, 20 April 2019

Violet (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning everyone, happy Saturday to you all.

In this funny ol' world that we live in, I don't think we say thank you enough, so
why not change that and say thank you to someone today.



Ingredients used

Versafine Toffee and Vintage Sepia for the background stamp and
Distress Inks (ReInkers) for Violet.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Hugs



Saturday, 13 April 2019

Bears (DT) Dies To Die For

Oh my goodness, sorry about all that delay chaps, right then, puff puff pant, I am finally here and
with a card to share

I received a bundle of happy mail from DTDF this week (grins) so it only seemed
right to get one of my new stamps inky.

This goes to show that you can make a pretty card with only a few simple ingredients



Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and breathe


Thursday, 11 April 2019

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Favourite Animal

So, here we are at Thursday, crumbs they come around fast, anyone would think that
we get one at least once a week.  What do (alternate) Thursdays mean?  Of course they do, it's
a new challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT crew!

The theme for this fortnight is Your Favourite Animal (and why).

I am a huge animal lover, and if it is furry it has a place in my life.  I have shared many more years than I care to count with cats, and on a day-to-day domestic level I wouldn't choose anything else, BUT if I could then it would have to be Sciurus vulgaris, the Eurasian Red Squirrel.  They are such endearing little chaps, and as a rare native British squirrel, they deserve a lot of love and care to ensure the survival of their species in this country - it would fill my heart with joy to see a glimpse of red amongst the tree branches


and the matching die set

I had a happy Sunday afternoon colouring up the squiddles with Distress
Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours

and the sponsor for our animal theme is



Hugs to all



Saturday, 6 April 2019

Birthday Bears (DT) Dies To Die For

Hello peeps, a very tired Squirrel here today but thankfully we have nothing planned so am hoping that this post has scheduled and I am upstairs and still snoring!


This simple little card uses

Images painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) as watercolours, and the stencil is simply Distress Ink dabbled on with a finger dauber.


So that's me for now, hope to see you later in the week
Hugs to all



Saturday, 30 March 2019

Monkeys (DT) Dies To Die For

Morning all, hope you are all ok!

Firstly, I am really soooooo very sorry about the quality of the photos - I thought I had taken pics in daylight but suddenly realised I hadn't so had to try and get something in artificial light, and the results aren't all that great!


and the inside


Honestly, these are so much nicer in real life!

So I have used

Times they are a changing; I made this card for my boss who left work yesterday to move on to a new job and a new challenge.  I have worked with this particular lady for 14 years and some of you will remember that we left "the old firm" together to join where I am now.

Whilst the front of the card says I Will Miss You, my handwritten text inside says
"I will miss you, for three weeks anyway"
Yup, I'm on the move again, and joining her at the new firm after Easter.  Eeeeek!

Images all painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs to all



Thursday, 28 March 2019

Your Favourite Colouring Medium (DT) As You Like It Challenge

So, it's time for another new challenge with the AS YOU LIKE IT team!

Our challenge this time is for you to share your Favourite Colouring Medium with us, be it marker pens, pencils, paints, you name it, if you can colour with it and it is your favourite then we want to hear about it.


I'm fairly sure that it won't come as any surprise to you that my favourite medium are the Distress Inks (ReInkers) used as watercolours.  I have tried many options over the years but ever since the discovery of the DIs they have become my happy place and I come back to them time and time again.


So I've had a go at the no-lines technique (hmmmm, not cut out for this I think)
Clearly Besotted : Apples & Pears
Stamped with MFT Hybrid Grey Grout ink on Langton Hot Press (Smooth) Watercolour Paper
Bazzil Basics cardstock
and an old Clearly Besotted sentiment set embossed in white detail powder


The sponsor of this challenge is


I do hope you will be able to pop over to the challenge and join in the fun

Hugs






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