Stamp Journal

I have been wanting to start a stamp journal for a long time.  Finally, in Paperchase, I found just the sort of book I wanted.  I bought 5 of them.

They have been staring at me, accusingly, for a while.

No more!  Today, I have finally made Page 1 inky/pencilly.  I even made a panel for inside the front cover.

I have used CC Designs: Dear Diary

Some old Basic Grey papers

Your Next Stamp: Alpha Bold

Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Hugs to all

Squirrel

Viking Henry (DT) DTDF

Hello peeps, and welcome to the first Saturday of the New Year!  I'm here today with a dose of adventurous spirit for those men in your life (young or old) for my DIES TO DIE FOR

inspiration make.

and the list of wonderfulness used is

CC Designs: Viking Henry

CC Designs: Birch Trees Stencil

Memory Box: Bamboo Shoots

Memory Box: Delicate Fern

Die-Namics: Pierced Fishtail Flags Stax

The font set used is "A Hint of Lime" from Die-Versions (bought from DTDF a long time ago) but any small font would work, this one is only 1/4" (6mm) and was a challenge!

The Impression Obsession Alphabet Plain LC would make a good substitute.

Image was painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

The background green paper is from an old pad of Basic Grey and I stencilled the Birch Trees with Gathered Twigs Distress Inks

Hugs to all

DIES TO DIE FOR Inspiration Blog

DIES TO DIE FOR Online Store

AYLI (DT) Fruity!

Hello peeps, it is time for a new AS YOU LIKE IT challenge and this fortnight our theme is

FAVOURITE FRUIT

Your make can either depict your favourite fruit, or be inspired by fruit colours

I'm not a fan of any one particular fruit, but I do love a nice fruit salad, especially if it is accompanied by a good old fashioned dollop of vanilla of ice-cream.  The inspiration for this card came from the backing paper, which made me think of that fruit salad.

CCD Designs - Surprise stamp set

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and Polychromos Pencils

Papers are Basic Grey (old pad, sadly cover page long lost)

Martha Stewart corner and border punch

Lili of The Valley circular sentiment

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Paper Nest Dolls

Prize is 3 images of winners choice.

The Paper Nest Dolls Blog

Come on, come on over and get fruity!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Oxford Blues

Morning all.  It's the last day of my holiday before the weekend, and we're mooching.  We had all sorts of plans for today but I had a rough night coughing and feel a bit limp lettuce, so we haven't really got motivated yet.  Toad has just make me a frothy coffee so I thought I would use the time and bring you a blog post!

I made this card a little while ago but for some reason it didn't get posted, so here we go:

Love this little fella

This is Oxford, a Mo Manning image from Stamping Bella

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from Basic Grey, I think the pad is also called Oxford

Not sure about the blue stripes, they could be from the same pad

Sentiment is LOTV

and a much used Spellbinders die Labels 18

I didn't have anyone in mind when I made this but guess it could work equally as

well for a new job card or starting university

Hugs to all, and welcome to my new Followers who have joined this week

Squirrel xx

Shy Calum

Morning all!  Hope this finds you well and ready for your weekend.

Today I have the last of the chameleons to share with you (for a little while anyway).  I would like to introduce you to Calum.  Calum is quite shy and artistic, and his shyness is why he would not appear without his cousin, Charlie, for company.

Despite Toad's best plans of my having a Kindle reducing the number of books that find their way into the house, I cannot resist a real book!  Of course, reading a real book means needing a bookmark so I shall have Calum and Charlie to keep me company.

Colour Chameleon stamp set from Clearly Besotted

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Your Next Die bookmark dies

Sentiment stamps from the Chameleon set

Papers are BoBunny and Basic Grey

A lazy day ahead, when Toad gets back from his haircut we'll be toodling over to see the Oldies, and then back for some Tour de France and a Chinese takeaway this evening.  Perfick.

I'll be back tomorrow with a make created from my birthday presents!

That's all for now folks

Hugs

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Markers Inks or Pencils

Morning all, and happy Thursday.  It's another new challenge over as AS YOU LIKE IT today, and it's a fun one.

We would like to know about your Favourite Markers, Inks or Pencils and why.

I've tried various types markers (personally, I like Copics the best) but when I discovered the Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Inks ReInkers for watercolouring I knew I had found MY happy medium.  Occasionally supplemented with pencils for fine detail because I'm not that clever, or patient, with a brush.

Love these little guys!  Stamping Bella Honeybear Stuffies

Watercoloured with DI ReInkers

Background papers are a mixture of Basic Grey and Doodlebug
Sentiment is Lili of The Valley

Not sure what has happened to my formatting today, text alignment and font choice are all over the place.

The sponsor of this challenge is

Prize - £10.00 Voucher

digistampboutique.co.uk catalog

digistampboutique blogspot

OK, you have two weeks to get colourful, just remember that you need to tell us why you used what you did.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Sports - LOTV reminder

Hi all, just dropping by with my second design team inspiration card for the Lili of The Valley June Facebook Challenge - not many days left now to enter so you need to get your skates on!

So this rather colourful card was made using

LOTV Water Babies Little Folk stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The rather loud papers are a mixture from various Basic Grey pads

The ornate oval frame is a Spellbinders die

And the lettering done with the Memory Box alphabet soup die set

Pre-scalloped card base

The challenge closes at 6.00pm on 15 June so better get busy if you want to be in with a chance of winning the fabulous prize.

That's the happy part of this post.

The sad part is that this will be my last ever post for the LOTV design team.

I was over-the-moon when I was asked to join the Design Collective last year, but nothing stays the same forever, and there have been a lot of changes, so, after a lot of careful thought and conscience wrestling, I decided it was time for me to step down.  Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave comments or visit me for my Lili posts, it wasn't a decision easily made but c'est la vie.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Chocks Away

Morning all - well, I hope it is when this appears, Blogger took four hours yesterday between my pressing Publish and the post actually showing up.  I know one or two of you are also having this problem.  It's happened before, but it seems quite random.  Hey ho, never mind eh.

My stash of male cards was getting quite low so I thought it was time to do something about it.  Having had a rummage around, I found this neglected Lili of The Valley stamp.

I think the stamp is called Aeroplanes and it was retired quite some time ago.

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are all Basic Grey from the Kraft pad (not sure if this is still available, I've had it a long time)

MFT double stitched square die

Old LOTV grunge word stamps

Actually, most of the stuff on this card is out-of-date except the die and the inks

but I'm not going to stop using my old stuff, just because it's no longer out there!

So, that's me for today.  I'm back to work and already counting down to the weekend again.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Patterned Paper or Embossed

It scares me sometimes how quickly these Thursdays come round!  Blink, and suddenly it is time for another challenge from AS YOU LIKE IT.

This time around, the challenge for you is to choose your favourite between Patterned Paper or Embossed Paper.

I'm pretty sure that our Annette will have something to say about me and my love of patterned papers!  I have never really found the love for embossing, but I have certainly found it for pretty papers.  I love the challenge of being able to match the design to an image!

Here's my card

See, tiny pink cups!

Image is LOTV Jasmine Coffee

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

MFT double stitched circle die

Tonic plain circle die for matting

Dovecraft Tea House papers with Basic Grey Kraft papers

Sentiment is LOTV from Set 103 Sweet and Simple

Martha Stewart border punch to finish off

It's a digi sponsor this time, so for all you digi lovers out there

The sponsor of this challenge is

All Dressed Up.

2 digital images of winners choice

from Wendy’s Etsy shop

All Dressed Up Challenge Blog.

Now it's over to you, you have two weeks to show us your make AND tell us why you made the choice you did.

Have fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) Favourite Animal

Morning all, time for another brilliant challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT team, and this time the challenge is for you to use your favourite animal (and tell us why) for your make.

I found this a really difficult challenge as there are so many animals that I love to use on cards - cats, teddies, bunnies, hedgehogs, but when you have been called Squirrel for 30+ years then what else could it be?!

Loving these Nutty But Nice squirrels from Clearly Besotted

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and cut out using the companion dies

Papers are stray sheets of Basic Grey and Echo Park

and I have used my favourite MFT inside out rounded corner stitched squares

The wonderful word die is a new one, to me, from Paper Smooches

The sponsor of this challenge is

Crafty Ribbons

£10 voucher

Hugs to all, and really looking forward to seeing your critters!

Squirrel xx

Don't Worry, Bee Happy

Morning all, how are you today?  It's a bit damp over here, and chilly, and we are having to have a new exhaust fitted on the car this morning.  I hate it when the car needs something done, why can't they make the parts of something stronger?!

Anyhoo, I have a happy little card for you today:

You know by now that I am a sucker for Roberto's Rascals stamps

This little chap is Bee Henry from CC Designs

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Orange paper is a scrap of Basic Grey, that I edged with a Martha Stewart border punch

Matting layer and lettering cut from a sheet of chocolate brown Bazzil Bling card

The happy die is from a Paper Smooches Christmas set

The bee was cut using Memory Box Alphabet Soup dies

Sweet and simple but I hope he makes you smile as much as he does me.

Yesterday was my last day in my job of 11 years.  Crumbs.  It still feels surreal, like it has been happening to someone else, but today I am unemployed.  Don't panic, I start my new job on the 18th, but it means I have a week of "me" time to craft and relax.  Hurrah.  My beloved boss, the lady I have worked with all those years, has also left, and we are going to be starting a whole new adventure together!

Well, that's me for today, have a happy weekend.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Game On

You MUST know by now that Lili of The Valley have a new release out on 31 March featuring Jasmine and Oliver.  My teamies have been posting peeks like crazy so you may have seen some of them.

I only had the one image - Oliver Game Boy - to sample, I posted my first version of him a week or two ago, but have made two further versions since.  Here they are:

I got really inky with this one making the camouflage background with Distress Inks

Image is painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Cog wheel dies from Memory Box

Sentiment is from Set 101 Teenage Boy Sentiments also being released at the same time

Again, painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The backing paper is from an old Basic Grey pad but the little critters reminded me of some of the Wii games that Toad plays, endlessly!

Spellbinders Nestabilities octagon nesting dies

Again, sentiment being released on 31 March alongside the image stamps

As you can see from the colour choices, you can use Oliver for the younger or older ends of the age spectrum.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

I'm not Lion

Honestly, I'm not Lion.  Would I fib to you?

I've used the lion from the LOTV Faraway Friends mini stamps

The little tag is from LOTV Sentiment Tags - Set 24

(there's a nelliphant and a monkey too)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Memory Box Corner Bow die

Martha Stewart leaf punch

My Favourite Things Wonky Windows die

Papers are an allsorts mixture of old Basic Grey and ancient Papermania

Hugs, Squirrel xx

It's been a long time coming.....

.... I've got a couple of days off this week, using up holiday before I lose it, and although the weather is rubbish it doesn't matter, Rosie and I have been busy in the craft room, her sound asleep in the chair and me painting away like a mad thing.

In between DT jobs I decided that it was finally time for me to make a start on something I have wanted to do for a long time, and that is do an Art Journal.

I'm a self-taught colourist but am so inspired by the talents of so many crafters, it wouldn't be fair to list them all here in case I accidentally missed someone off, but take it from me, there is some amazing talent out there!  I will never reach those dizzy heights but even I can see how much I have improved over the years and my style has changed too, I have become more confident with colour and shading and I am no long afraid of the dark!

Anyhoo, here is Page 1 of my first Art Journal and as it is October, what better to start with than a pumpkin.

It's my favourite girl!

CC Designs Roberto's Rascals - Pumpkin Twila

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with Polychromos hair

Die-Versions Marker Micro alphabet die for her name

Papers are random Basic Grey pages and a page of black art card

MFT double stitched rectangle die

I can see this becoming addictive

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Baker Nancy

Morning all.  Sneeze splutter snuffle.  Hayfever season is with us good and proper now!  Toad has been busy out in the garden this week, giving shrubs a haircut and potting up his tomatoes.  I think the pruning was a bit ad hoc to say the least, so I am a little bit nervous of what will thrive and what will go backwards now.

You would never believe that I was brought up in a gardening family.  I am hopeless.  I can identify lots of things, but I'm not too sharp on growing them.  We had a plant by our front door that was clinging on to life by it's leaf tips but I think the powdery mildew has done for him and he is now a stick in a pot.

Anyhoo, this card has nothing to do with gardening at all.  I own up to having a huge weakness for CC Designs Roberto's Rascals range of stamps, and there are two little ladies, Twila and Nancy, who have stolen my heart completely.  

This stamp is Baker Nancy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Basic Grey, including my last piece of that beautiful watercolour effect, sob

Dies are Double Circles from By DIEzyne

Sentiment is from Clearly Besotted

I can't believe my week's holiday is almost over.  We've not done much really apart from potter around but it has been really nice and I am not ready to be going back to work!  Oh well, lots to do today, including a builder popping in about 11.00ish, so best I crack on with it.

Hugs to all, hope your weekend is a brilliant one

Squirrel xx

Smile! (It's Monday)

Flying visit for a Monday morning - a very joyful little bundle plopped on to the doormat on Friday so even though you probably saw enough of these in sneaky peeks, here is what I did with them:

One of the LOTV Happy Bears

Painted in Distress Inks

Die-Namics Stitched Snowdrifts border

Basic Grey papers

and another Happy Bear, again ReInkered

Whimsy tag die

Clearly Besotted sentiment

Hope you all have an absolutely super Monday!

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Was, Wasn't, Isn't

Evening all, just a quick flyby post from me tonight while I am patiently waiting for a pan full of onions to caramelise to go with the leftover roast beef for dinner.

I noticed that Tiddly Inks have another DT Call open.  I tried for it last time and missed out so I thought I would try again.  Then the old wobbly confidence kicked in and I talked myself out of it after I had made my card.  Then I read the requirements more carefully and as I don't use digi images (I'm a pure rubber girl me) it rather sealed the issue.  

So here is the card that was, wasn't, isn't.

I used the Bloom Beautifully clear set of stamps for the image

and a clear sentiment from one of my many (now unlabelled) sets

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and a touch of pencil to define her hair

Papers are white card coloured with Mustard ProMarker and the chevron paper is Basic Grey

I'm not sure what road signs are like outside of the UK, but this turned out rather

like an AA information sign!

That's me done for tonight - better go and give the onions a prod.

Hope to see you in the morning for the new Without Words challenge.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

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

LOTV Sketch + CCT Spring

Guess what?  I stopped in my little furry tracks this morning because ..............we FINALLY, after four months of standing in the snow, the wind and the rain, FINALLY, we have a new bus shelter!  And it's a posh one, with proper sides and a front and a roof!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  We're having a house warming party on Monday, lol! 

Anyhoo, I made this card last night after seeing Bev's brilliant sketch over on the LILI OF THE VALLEY challenge and, because it is soooooo long since I played there, this is going in to the CUTE CARD THURSDAY challenge who are looking for Signs Of Spring this week.

I'll apologise now for the photo - I had to take it using the flash and then tweek the white balance on Photoshop.  It's not brilliant so I'll try and swap it if we get some daylight tomorrow.

The LOTV bunny is another one of those stamps that is so cute but I haven't used much so I thought it was time he had an outing.  He is painted with distress inks.  Papers are mostly K&Co from the pad that has the daisy on the front, and a sheet of Basic Grey for the bright green bottom layer and the strip.  The white daisy ribbon around the part circle is sticky ribbon (what a wonderful invention).  EK Success retro flower punch with Martha Stewart frond and branch and Card Candy for the flowers.  The little sentiment is LOTV also.

Hope you like it.

Hugs, Sxx

Celebrating Friendship (inc.PBSC January Sales Challenge)

Afternoon all, how ya doing?  It's been another grey cloud day here in the east of England - more of a day for curling up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and good book than doing anything energetic.  We had planned to pop over and see my Oldies today but when I phoned, mum advised not to go over as poor old dad has a streaming cold.  I know you won't read this dad but I hope you are better soon, love ya.

So, as there was no parental visit to do, I've had a little play.  Both these cards are for very dear friends, one for a birthday and one for a "just because".

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE have "January Sales" as the theme this week and I managed to purchase this Flutter Bye cutie in the sales from The Glitter Pot (satisfied grin).

I've watercolour painted Flutter Bye in distress inks.  The layout is borrowed from a Dawny P sketch for another challenge that I have already entered with a different card but the sketch was too fab not to use again!  Papers are Basic Grey from the very first pad of their papers I ever bought, the cover has long since been lost so can't tell you what they are called.  The sentiment is LOTV and the silver peel-off diamond borders are from stash.

My second card today isn't for a challenge, I just thought I'd share it with you.  There was a lot of hair-pulling over this one but it's my own fault for using such a colourful dp!

The image is Painting Rainbows from Sugar Nellie, distress ink painted.  DPs are, I think, Craftwork Cards but from an old collection called Tutti Fruity.  Matting card and corners is Little Sizzlets, the corners done with a Sizzlets photo corner die.  LOTV sentiment, Martha Stewart borders (thought the goo one looked like dripping paint) and EK Success retro flower punch with Card Candy and Martha Stewart frond punch to finish off.  This took an age - firstly with the painting and then getting the colours together.  But I'm happy with the end result - I think she looks as if she is painting the flowers (hopefully!).

Here's a close up:

Right then, that's me done for today.  I'm off to do something menacing to some mushrooms and then sort out work clothes for the morning.  Catch up with you all soon.

Hugs, Sxx