Look Who's Back !!

Those clever girls at LILI OF THE VALLEY know what we like - in fact they know what we like so much that they are re-releasing some of the gorgeous stamps that had previously been retired.

The first two to make a come-back are Spring Bunny with Daffs and Balloon Bunny - they are available on the website RIGHT NOW!  Limited numbers so be there or be bunnyless.  Over the next few weeks there will be more stamps making a return so keep your eyes open for them.

I think you might be able to work out which one of the two that I have used for this card for the Design Collective.

Lots of ingredients for this J fold card so here we go

Well of course it is, Spring Bunny with Daffs!

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is LOTV Scroll Sentiments

Papers are all old K&Co (the daffodil pad and the daisy pad)

Border die is Magnolia (think it might be Swedish Lace)

Corner dies are by Whimsy

Three toned green ribbon by Anita's

Resin flowers bought in Lakeland (been waiting for a chance to get them out again)

I hope you are having a Happy Friday!

Rosie sends her love ....

Hugs to all

Squirrel xxx

Button It! LOTV

Hello peeps!  I suspect I may be talking to myself this afternoon as you are probably all outside enjoying this out of season sunshine.  Amazing weather for October!  I prefer a more traditional autumn myself and am looking forward to the slightly cooler days that are forecast for later in the week.  It's all this fur you know, gets a tad warm under this lot, just at a time when I should be growing my winter coat, lol.

And speaking of winter coats .... neat transition huh .... James the Bear looks like he could do with a coat instead of just a hat and scarf ....

Challenge:  Lili Of The Valley - Challenge 114 - Button It

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  LOTV - James Bear In The Snow

Papers:  Dovecraft, Basic Grey, HOTP

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Reinkers)

Extras: Dovecraft buttons, Anita's Glitter Borders

Of all the LOTV Christmas stamps, old and new, this is my favourite of all time, and he is such a joy to colour - I admit I am finding this year's releases to be very detailed and fiddly but I will get there with patience!  Here's a close up of just the image:

He certainly has the "aahhh" factor!

Hugs, Sxx

Love Is ...........

Happy Saturday everyone!  Another grey cloud day but at least the strong winds have died down a bit now - it was a bit of a rough night outside, so glad that we had our eucalyptus tree felled last year otherwise I would have been awake waiting for the sound of breaking glass and crumpled greenhouse.  And these high winds play havoc with tail fur - you should have seen me by the time I got home from work last night - dragged through several hedges backwards!

Anyhoo, it is February and our minds and hearts turn to lurrrve, or to Valentine's day anyway, and squirrels do it too, especially when they are lucky enough to have the perfect Toad.  OK, so he's not exactly perfect....(what man is?) but he is a hunny and I adore him.  So, Love and Valentine themed challenges abound this weekend .....

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE - Love Is (and finished the sentiment)

ALLSORTS - Love Love Love

CRAFTY CALENDAR  - Love

CRAZY 4 CHALLENGES - Valentines

ECP CHALLENGES - Love

SECRET CRAFTER - Valentines

CARDS FOR MEN - Love/Valentines
SIMON SAYS STAMP - Love Is In The Air
STAMPING FOR THE WEEKEND - Valentines

So what did I create.....well, it is for the Toad but it turned out a bit pinker than I had intended, but I know he won't mind that much......I hope:

And here is the inside:

I think this was one of the very first Penny Black stamps I bought and I have loved it ever since, so when it appeared on a clear set too but in smaller form I thought I was in heaven.  Can't for the life of me remember the name of it though.  Both are painted with distress inks and both have lost whiskers due to my wobbly craft knife skills (oops).  Papers are from a Papermania set that is cake themed but there's no cakes on these ones so what the heck, live dangerously I say.  Flourishes are done with Sizzix dies and the gold lettering is Anita's peel-offs.  Well, Anita made them, but they are mine now.

I ramble don't I?  It's the wine fumes you know, there is a beef casserole in the oven and I don't know how Toad acquired the bottle of Merlot that is in there but it is strong stuff for a small furry one to cope with.

Catch ya's later.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

ABC Christmas Challenge = Z for Zero Time Left and A BLOG HOP!

Well here we are, at the end of the ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE alphabet for another year - which means we are only 10 days away from Christmas!  Hope you are more organised than I am, lol!!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the Yuletide challenge, as always you produced some stunning entries and choosing the Top 3 is going to be a tough task for the team.  Do check back to the blog to see who the overall winner and the Top 3 are - it might be a day or two before these are posted so please be patient.

We have something a bit special for you for this challenge.  First of all the theme for Z is Zero Time Left, so this is your last card with us this year and we would like you to reuse your favourite ABC challenge from 2010.

And we are having a Christmas BLOG HOP, so there is even more at stake this time!  And we are proud to have two sponsors for the Challenge and the Hop in the shape of Simon Says Stamp

and Stamp Fairy

So, the rules, starting at ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE (if you have come to me first then you need to head back to the Challenge Blog) work your way through the Team and Sponsors, leaving a comment with each one as you go, and collect a letter along the way.  Once you have collected all your letters, work out the phrase, and then head back to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave a comment with your answer and your entry for Z!  Simples! 

This challenge is going to run until 10pm (UK time) on 1 January so you will have plenty of time to craft and enter.

You should have come to me from the lovely and talented LORRAINE and once you have done your bit here with me your next move is back home to ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE to leave your answer.  There will also be hidden candies along the way so do remember to leave your comment as you visit each blog, you never know, you might find you have won a nice surprise.

And my letter for you?  It is G.

Here is my card for the Z theme:

Techinically this qualifies for two 2010 challenges: F for Frosty and P for Presents, so maybe I'll have a new one of FP for Frosty Presents!  I adore this Lili Of The Valley James The Bear stamp, in fact I think he qualifies for my favourite stamp of the year.  I've painted him with Distress Inks and matted him using Nestabilities for the circles and the loop edged square.  Blue paper is Dovecraft, red is Anita's and I used an EK Success punch for the snowflakes.  The gorgeous circular sentiment is also Lili Of The Valley.

I think that's it then - thanks to each and every one of you who has joined us for all or some or only one of the challenges this year, we couldn't have made it this far without you all and we have loved seeing your amazing work.  I really do hope you are able to join in the Hop and see you in January 2011!!

Hugs, Squirrel xxx

Well Would You Believe It - A Christmas Card!!

How is it that just when you think you are coming to the end of making Christmas cards you suddenly find another section in your address book that had slipped the net ...... hey ho!

Sorry for the slightly out of focus photo - my normal camera has thrown a wobbly so I've had to use another one but it has a weird macro that I just cannot get the hang of.

For this card I've used the Lili of the Valley Party Pup - Christmas Card stamp and painted him with Distress Inks.  Isn't he just the sweetest little fella?  Papers are a mixture from Christmas past of DCWV and Anitas.  Sizzix Architectural Corner dies and gold gems for the finish.

Right, off downstairs to tackle the next one ...... hope your weekends are going well.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Creative Card Crew + Incy Wincy + Pixie Dust Challenges

Hello all, hope you are having fabbie weekends....it's our anniversary today...12 years, can you believe it, feels like the blink of an eye at times....other times, it really does feel that long LOL!  Only kidding darling husband, you know I adore you.  Off to aunt and uncle's golden wedding party this afternoon, a nice opportunity to catch up with family that I've not seen since the last big party last year for my parent's golden bash.

Anyway, enough of all this wedding talk, I've got a couple of cards for you - I've been persevering with the Distress Inks and I think I am now slowly getting to grips with them.  Still need to widen my colour range so any advice on which is preferable - pads or reinkers - would be appreciated.

First card I would like to enter into this week's Creative Card Crew and Incy Wincy Designs challenges as both are looking for autumn/fall and mushrooms always make me think of autumn. 

I'm loving these meece from Meljen Designs, they are so sweet, if only all mice were this cute (actually, they are).  Papers are Wild Rose Studio and matting card is DCWV.  The red isn't really that red in life, not sure what happen in the photo process.

And would you believe it, after hundreds of Christmas challenges around I'm struggling to find just one this week!  So, this card will be entered to Pixie Dust Studio's challenge looking for animals in their Fur Or Feathers challenge

These Lili Of The Valley James Bear Christmas stamps are to die for, just brilliant to use and colour.  Papers are a mixture of Anita's and Dovecraft and I've used my new fancy border Nestabilities die.

Thanks for popping over to see me, you make it all worth while.

Hugs,

Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday + Penny Black

Happy Sunday everyone!  I was woken up this morning in the wee small hours by a Vincent sitting on my head.  That cat has no respect for the sleeping - if anyone has seen the Simon's Cat film called Cat Man Do, then you will know exactly what I went through, except for the baseball bat.

Anyhoo, 12 September means that it is the Italian Grand Prix from Monza and I have high hopes for Britain's chances today of a good result.  Go Jenson!

Enough rambling, onto my card - this week SKETCH SATURDAY CHALLENGE have this sketch

and I have combined it with PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE who want Men/Boy Cards.  Here is what I've done

I've used Penny Black's Hedge-Words stamp, Anita's papers, Copics, and the star Nestabilities. 

And while we are on the subject of Penny Black, it is my lovely friend Uma's 30th birthday today (have a good one hunny, once the hangover has worn off) and this is the card I made for her

Thanks for popping over, hope you have a lovely rest of the day.

Hugs
Squirrel xx

Penny Black Saturday

Hi all, hope you have had super weekends - can't believe it is Sunday night already!  Aaaargh, work tomorrow!!

Anyway, over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge the theme is Red White & Blue and here is my entry

I've used Penny Black "Sweet Thing" coloured with Copics, dps are Anita's (blue) and from stash (red) and card stock is Bazzil.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Two Cards, Five Challenges and Oh Sweet Lord, A Bad Hare Day!

Hello everyone! Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday - here we have sunshine at last.

First of all, my card for my favourite combination of challenges:
Sketch Saturday Challenge No 77 and
Penny Black Saturday Challenge Christmas For The Guys

For this one I used the ever popular Penny Black Snowie stamp and coloured him with a limited palette of ProMarkers. The papers for the sketch are all from Anita's Classic Christmas Blue and the sentiment is a Pink Gem Designs.


Now, bare with me on this one - if ever there was a crafting world equivalent of a bad hair day (or in this case, a bad hare day) then I think this might be it. Everything started off so well and then I had a momentary lapse of taste and decency. I blame it on the fractured skull I had in 1988.

Anyway, bravely, I am offering this for three challenges
Creative Inspirations New Or Neglected
High Hopes Challenge No 53 Recipie and
Sketch & Stash Challenge No 23

For the new and neglected I have used my new High Hopes stamp Bunny With Tulip and he's been coloured with a combination of Copics and ProMarkers, for the neglected we have some very old Joanna Sheen papers. Following High Hopes Recipie there are three flowers, two brads and one sentiment, and the sketch is as above.


Please don't be too hard on me, I am putting this down to a brain-fade after a really horrible week at work!
Hugs
Squirrel xx

High Hopes Snowflakes!

Morning all. Felt so bad during the night that at 2.30am I was furtling about under the sink for the brandy bottle. I had to admit defeat and phone for a doctor's appointment this morning. Duly trundled off to be poked and prodded and have come home with a bucket full of antibiotics for a sinus infection. It's got so bad it's making my teeth and ear ache :-(

Anyway, thought I would have a go at this week's challenge from High Hopes which is Snowflakes.

I used the Three Pane Christmas stamp, which would make a great companion to the Three Pane Santa stamp that is on offer as this week's prize. I love the little Rudolph in the middle. Papers are a mixture of Doodlebug, Papermania and Anitas. Mirri card is from stash. I used a Cuttlebug die and a Woodware punch for the snowflakes.

I hope you like it.
Hugs
Squirrel xx

Sketch & Stash No 20

It's 9.00, it's Wednesday and it's time for CrackerJack!! Blimey, showing my age there aren't I? Actually, it is 9.00 on Wednesday but I'm having a ME DAY - yes, a whole(ish) day, mid week, just for me. How decadent is that!

Which has given me time to catch up on the current challenge from Sketch & Stash - it's challenge No 20 and the sketch is


Now doesn't that look straightforward? Let me tell you, this is one deceptive sketch and needs courage to go naked like that. Anyway, this is what I've come up with

Ingredients for the card are Penny Black stamp "Warm & Cold" which I stamped in VersaFine Majestic Blue. I then used some of the ink to colour parts of the image and a lighter blue to lift it a bit. The ribbon is from my stash, the papers are Anita's Classic Christmas Blue from either last year, or even year before, and the sentiment is Penny Black too. The snowflake brad is from stash.

Thanks for popping by to see me today, I hope the weather isn't as grotty where you are. Do call in again later as I'm now going to tackle a card for a first-time grandma, should be interesting.

Hugs to all
Squirrel xx

Christmas Trio

Getting into a little bit of a panic now, knowing that I am going back to work in 10 days - OMG, only 10 days! - and you know what it's like when you suddenly realise that time is short and you are slow and Christmas is advancing!

When I saw this little fella in the new releases from Penny Black I just knew I had to bring him home - it's a shame he will only come out to play for a few times each year, he is so adorable.



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "An Eggnog", Plum Pudding papers, Elzybells Art Stamps sentiment, Nestabilities

These cheeky little chicks were chosen by my hubby because he said they just made him laugh - they certainly do raise a smile



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "Par Avion", Anita's Classic Christmas Blue papers, Cuttlebug Snowflakes, Woodware Snowflake Punch, PaperCellar pearl blue card

And finally, Little Ted, I did wonder if the card came out too dark but Mr Toad assures me that the dark papers simply highlight the bear - he is learning to say the right things at last!



Ingredients: Penny Black stamp "Dear Santa", Papermania A Wonderful Christmas Time, red card is Bazzil from stash

Right, I'd better get on with making a few more - watch this space!
Squirrel xx

Sketch Saturday No 66

Thanks to my crafting buddies, I am now addicted to challenges so you only have them to blame!

Sketch Saturday Challenge No 66 gave me the inspiration to use one of my new stamps (yes, another one!)



Ingredients:
Penny Black "Overdressed Duck" stamp which I watercolour painted
Papers are a mix of Dovecraft Winterwonderland and Anita's Classic Christmas Blue
Classic Circle Nestabilities and Cuttlebug Snowflakes
Other bits and bobs from stash

Thanks for taking the time to come and have a gander! LOL!

Squirrel xx

Sugar Bowl Challenge 18

Loving the sketch from Sugar Bowl Challenge No 18 this week so thought I'd have a go and combine it with my frantic effort to get some Christmas Cards done. Don't know if the image really works but she's dead cute anyway and too irrestiable not to use.



Ingredients:
Sugar Nellie Gorjuss Girls "Little Goth Girl"
Papermania Ribbon Collection - Spots & Flowers Citrus
Anita's Classic Christmas Blue (papers)
Hero Arts Buttons For Cards
Holographic card, peel-offs, silver thread and text from stash

I had fun making this, hope you think it was worth it!
Squirrel xx