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!


Thursday 31 October 2013

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) For The One You Love

Morning all!  Now then, I know it is Halloween and all that scary stuff, but at CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES this week we've gone all romantic instead.  So this week we would like your make to be For The One You Love (birthday, Christmas, anniversary, friendship, just because).  Just remember to make sure you use a stamped or digi image.

Ooh, and please remember, we still have our DT call running until the end of this week's challenge.

Here is my DT card:



I've made this for a very special friend
Stamped image is Wild Rose Studio Emily With Ted
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is from Kaisercraft
And the papers are my absolute favourite BoBunny Double Dots

So, everyone has someone they love, and this is your chance to let them know!

Looking forward to seeing your wonderful makes.

Big hugs, Squirrel xx

Wednesday 30 October 2013

In A Pear Tree

Well of course, it's a partridge!  Just a quick post to share a very simple card with you today.

 
The stamped image is (ta-dah) Partridge In A Pear Tree from LOTV
Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Mattting layer is Nitwits/LOTV Simple Joys
Sentiment is Hero Arts
Gold border from stash
 
I think this is the most prepared with Christmas cards that I have ever been.  Now all I need to do is sit down and write them all!
 
Hugs Squirrel xx


Sunday 27 October 2013

Wrestling With My Conscience

Evening all.  Hope this finds you well, warm and comfortable.  Keeping you all in my thoughts for the imminent arrival of the forecasted stormy weather and pray that you get through it without too much trouble.

Now then, I have been wrestling with my conscience.  We have mice.  Again.  We think we know what is bringing the little blighters in - next-door have their guinea pig hutch very close to our garage wall, which I don't mind at all, but I think the mice are being attracted by the warmth and the leftover food, and are finding their way in from there.

It is at moments like this when it is hard to believe that I was brought up as a country girl, able to deal with all sorts of pests, rodents and vermin.  You have to when you store homegrown vegetables, otherwise the critters eat their way, and piddle on, your winter store of food.  We always had professional mouser cats (even though they weren't acquired as such) although I am still not sure whether they kept the numbers down, or just brought them indoors for entertainment.

Anyhoo, for the past two years when the meeces moved in, we have used humane traps, caught the little critters and then took them away the next morning to release them into woodland.  Which is fine, so long as you take them far enough away.  I suspect the ones I released at the bus stop simply found their way back again.  For all I know, it could have been the same one mouse over and over again.

So this year, as they have already started eating our potatoes and carrots, we have taken the hard line.  And I feel awful.  We caught the first one overnight and I got the job of emptying the trap and, forgive me for this, clearing up the mess.  I was in tears.  But what else can we do?  Vince is totally useless, he just sits in the garage and watches them (and I wouldn't want him catching them anyway - worms, fleas, tics and all that).  So we seem to be left with the evil option.  And I absolutely hate it.  I hope the God of Mice will forgive me one day.

So, now I have bared my soul and let you know what a wicked, evil woman I am, here is a card for you.  It's a classic CAS card this time.


I have used the LOTV Festive Tree stamp
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and I tried to keep her vintage
Hobby Arts sentiment stamp
Matting layer is Dovecraft Back To Basic Christmas from last year

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Saturday 26 October 2013

Cold. Not Dead.

Morning all.  Got the hatches battened down ready for the forecasted storm tomorrow night then?  Toad came home from work last night with the most depressing news that most of the lads in his office weren't even born or were too young to remember the last big one of 1987!  I confess, I slept through the 1987 one and remember being surprised to find the bird table at the other end of the garden......!

Anyhoo, you know I am often prepared to share my disasters with you - and this one taught me a couple of lessons.

Lesson 1 - Distress Inks do not dry as fast on an October evening as they do in the summer.  Who heard the wails of despair as Chipped Sapphire bled into Scattered Straw?

Lesson 2 - Blue ink does not lift off!  Some stray colours you can remove with a clean, damp paintbrush, but blue?  Oooh no, blue sticks like glue!

Lesson 3 - Learn to know when to stop, bin it, and start again.


Image is an LOTV stamp James: Snowman
Image painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Edges inked with DI Tumbled Glass
Tag die was a magazine freebie
Sentiment is from a Hero Arts set
Papers are First Edition
X-Cut small snowflake punch
Baker's Twine
Centre panel lifted with foam pads for dimension

So, looking at James' face, what do you see?  Yes, that stubborn Chipped Sapphire
"Oh" said Toad "It's ok, he's in the snow, he's cold"
"Yes dear" says I "But he's cold - not dead!"

I added pink cheeks to cheer him up a bit but think all I did was turn him into a zombie bear.

Sorry James!

Hugs, Squirrel xx



Thursday 24 October 2013

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Anything Goes

It's an Anything Goes week at CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES this time around, and we all know how much you like that theme!

And there is also a DT Call open as we are looking for THREE new Fairies.  If you have ever fancied sprouting a pair of wings and wearing a tutu, this could be your chance.  The DT call will close at 5.00pm (UK time) on 6 November so you have two weeks to impress us with your creativity. 

Here is my DT card:



This chubby little chap is a LOTV stamp called Baby Boy and I think he is one of my favourite baby stamps ever
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are a complete mash up of Basic Grey
Sentiments  and the Scroll are also LOTV

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Sunday 20 October 2013

Brace Yourself - Embellishments Warning!

Afternoon all.  How are you?  We are waiting for a friend's husband to arrive with a tool box to see if he can do anything with our tumble drier that has developed a really annoying squealing noise ..... keep your fingers crossed he can work his magic on it!

Toad is busy bottling his latest batch of home brew.  Honestly, we will have so much beer by Christmas that we might have to apply for a licence.

And so to today's card.  And yes, it does have embellishments.  But not too many!


Stamp is LOTV Surprise
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are BoBunny Double Dots from the pastel and bright pads
La La Land Crafts Banner Die (minus one flag so it fit)
Can't remember what the flower die is but think it is Memory Box
Leaf is a Martha Stewart punch
Sentiment is Hobby Arts
Pearls from Crafty Devils

I feel a bit light headed after this, might need a lie down.

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Saturday 19 October 2013

Inspired by Mrs B

Morning all, hope this finds you well, or getting better if you have been poorly.  There seem to be a lot of germs about already this "winter" and our office is rife with sore throats and coughs and colds, and the heating has only been on a week!  Thankfully I have managed to avoid it all so far, touch wood.

Now then, I don't know about you, but I get a lot of my inspiration from other crafters.  I have no shame in admitting it.  I visit their blogs and gaze for ages at their wonderful creations.  I have many sources of blog inspiration and one of them is the incredibly talented and all round wonderful Lorraine at Mrs B's Blog

So when I saw this card that Lorraine had made I just knew it was one I had to case in my own little way.

Here it is, it's not a patch on what Lorraine made


I have used LOTV Teddy With Penguin
Papers are LOTV/Nitwits Simple Joys and Frosty Christmas
Merry Christmas die from Memory Box
Papermania Glitter Dome gems

Hope you like it

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Thursday 17 October 2013

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Christmas In October

Ho Ho Ho!  It's a new challenge with CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES today so I hope you are starting to feel festive because our theme this week is Christmas in October.

It's Blue Fairy DT week and they have created some gorgeous inspiration for you.

I'm a bit worried that not many of you liked Tuesday's bear card so I am not holding out much hope of you liking this DT card!


Sorry for the dark photo - we didn't get a lot of daylight at the weekend!

Image is L'il Apprentice from Sugar Nellie
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is Penny Black
Gold textured mirri card and muted green card from stash
Tiny stars are the waste punchings from a Martha Stewart border punch
DoCrafts gold glitter

So, if you are behind with your Christmas cards (who isn't?) then here is your opportunity to get another one made and, to add encouragement, we have not one, not two but THREE sponsors this week

Time to get crafting!

Hugs, Squirrel xx




Tuesday 15 October 2013

Attennnnnn-shun!

Morning all.  How are you on this miserable, grey, damp Tuesday morning?  Full of the joys of Spring?  No, me neither.  But here is a bright and cheerful card to lift your spirits at little.
 
My mate Pig's little lad has a birthday coming up.  When he was younger his cards were easy, but now he is pre-teen it is getting more difficult.  I did wonder if this might be too cute for him but on reflection I don't think it will be, knowing what a lovely gentle boy he is.


Stamp is a Forever Friends that I picked up in the bargain basket at The Range
Painted bady in Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are Papermania Portabello Road
Sentiment is LOTV
 
So that's it from me today.  See you soon.
 
Hugs, Squirrel xx



Monday 14 October 2013

Witchy!

Raven hair and ruby lips
Sparks fly from her finger tips
Echoed voices in the night
She's a restless spirit on an endless flight
Witchy Woman - The Eagles

I made this little card for the Less Is More challenge this week, which is a one layer challenge with the theme of Witches or Wizards (or Monsters)

I've had this stamp for a while now, but as we don't celebrate Halloween there isn't much opportunity to use her - but she is far too cute to leave in a box!


This is a Tiddly Inks set called Too Cute To Spook
The sentiment and spider are all part of the set
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Sunday 13 October 2013

I blame Kate

Whenever Wild Rose Studio bring out a new release of stamps I try to avoid Kate's blog - but somehow she always manages to suck me in.

This card is the result of a recent visit ........


This is Bluebell and Presents stamp
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is from the new Penny Black Merry & Bright Christmas Banners set
Backing paper is from LOTV Nitwits Simple Joys pad
Gold border from stash

And that's all she wrote!

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Saturday 12 October 2013

Phffffft

Afternoon all.  How are you?  Sorry that I haven't been visiting you much over the past couple of weeks.  Blame the roadworks.

Ipswich received a European grant of £21.5m to spend on improvements for the roads but one of the caveats was that it had to be spent within a certain time.  So, since last August, Ipswich has become the home of chaos.  One of the busiest roundabouts in town was taken out and replaced with traffic lights, pavements have been dug up and replaced with paving stones at such a ridiculous angle that when we get the first ice every pedestrian is going to slide into the road, every major junction in town is being revamped, both bus stations are being rebuilt (at the same time), all the traffic lights in town centre are being replaced with "intelligent" lights - and the result has been bedlam.  The delays have doubled my journey time to and from work, and that means I am losing my precious 40 mins blogging time in the mornings.  The really depressing thing is that although the authorities have promised that all current jobs will be finished by mid November so as not to hinder the Christmas trade (stuff anyone else trying to get to work for the rest of the time), once Christmas is over they will be starting again on the next batch of projects.  Two years of hell.  And they haven't filled one pothole yet.  The town centre roads will be all nice and sparkly but the rest of the place is sinking without trace.  Bah!  Oh, and the "intelligent" traffic lights haven't been switched on yet.

Anyhoo, before I got on my roadworks soapbox I made a card.  I would like to thank my blogging pal Nic of Coops Cluttered Corner for leading me astray with this one (and how easily I am lead to rubber temptation).


This is Jumbo Top Hat Snowman from Stampendous (and he is jumbo)
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers are a new Nitwits pad from LOTV called Winter Wishes
MFT Die-namics Chicken Wire die
Pink Gem Christmas Rounds sentiment
X-Cut medium snowflake punch

I hope you are having a good weekend, and thank you for coming to see me even when I've not returned the visit, but I will, and soon I hope.

I will be back tomorrow with a Wild Rose Studio card for you featuring the cute new fawn called Bluebell.  And I blame Kate for that one!

Hugs, Squirrel xx



Thursday 10 October 2013

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Pretty In Pink

It's another Thursday so that can only mean one thing, it's CRAFTY LITTLE FAIRIES day!
 
Well done to everyone who managed to track us down last week, we are settling into our new home now and are back with a fabbie challenge for you which is PRETTY IN PINK!
 
The Pink Fairys DT have created some beautiful inspiration for you.  I'm gatecrashing again as I couldn't resist.  Here is my card:
 
 
Isn't she a sweetie?  She is a Tiddly Inks stamp from the Celebrate Joyfully set
Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is LOTV
Papers are from a very old Papermania pad
Martha Stewart doily lace punch
And pink pearls from stash to finish
 
We know that there are a lot of pink fans out there, so we are looking forward to
seeing your wonderful entries.
 
Hugs, Squirrel xx
 

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Enough To Make Your Eyes Twizzle

Hello chaps, just popping by with a little quickie for you tonight, as I've had another play with one of the oh-so-adorable Wild Rose Studio Emily stamps - not inked this one before so thought it was time I put that right.

All was going well, until I got to the papers .....


This is Emily Vacuuming - I can't see Vince sitting there so placidly
Sentiment is Kaisercraft
Papers are all Crafts Too
Arched die is Die-Namics
Gems are from stash

Sorry if it makes you feel dizzy!

Don't forget, tomorrow is a new Crafty Little Fairies challenge so hope to see you then.

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Monday 7 October 2013

Without Words (DT) October: Pumpkins!

Good morning all and a very happy Monday to you!  It's the first Monday of October so that means it is time for a new challenge at WITHOUT WORDS.

So, what do we have for you this month?  Well, as it is autumn and coming up for a certain scary festival we thought we would go with PUMPKINS (think oranges, browns and greens).

The Word Birds had a ball with this one, I think it is safe to say we love this colour combination.  Here is my DT card:


And not a pumpkin in sight, but the colours are all there!
This is a Penny Black Slapstick stamp called The Artist
the image is designed by Mo Manning
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
The papers are from a Bo Bunny pad but I have overstamped them with
Visible Images Ink Splats in various Memento Inks
The sentiment is from SCACD Mechanimals set

Our sponsor this month is MY CRAFTY HEART with a £10 voucher up for grabs

I would also like to enter this into the October challenge at Penny Black And More
where the theme is Anything Goes
and the Allsorts Challenge which is Autumn Colours

Remember, to join in the fun at Without Words, it has to be a CAS card!

Hugs, Squirrel xx


Sunday 6 October 2013

Snowball Fight!

On a day like this?  You have to be kidding, it's a beautiful early autumn day with warm sunshine and a light breeze.

I've been having a Masterchef moment today.  We had a small piece of loin pork in the freezer, too small for a roast, so I thought I'd do some sort of Mediterranean Pork Casserole with it.  No recipe, just winged it.  So pork, red onion, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, butternut squash, oregano, black pepper, garlic salt, tabasco, and vegetable stock.  It's in the oven now so keep your fingers crossed.

I shall be sitting down shortly to watch the Korean Grand Prix highlights and make a card or two.  I have a sneaky feeling the race result will be predictable but there is always a sliver of hope.

So, as I totally missed World Card Making Day yesterday, here is one for you today, and yes, it's a Christmas card.


This is a stamp from LOTV called Snowball Fight
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
More of those fabulous Bo Bunny Double Dots papers
Sentiment from LOTV Christmas Handwritten Phrases
Handcut fishtail banner
Gems from stash
Woodware and X-Cut snowflake punches

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, whatever you are up to

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Friday 4 October 2013

Wee Rowan

It's Friday, it has gone past 4.55 so I've missed Crackerjack, but at last it is the weekend! Whoop whoop!

Evening all, how are you?  Sending big hugs, and even bigger ones to those in need.  No matter how much you think life is under control, sometimes there are Martians lurking around corners, so sending love to all of you whose control has gone a bit wonky.

A very CAS card for you tonight.  I had been itching to play with my new stamp so here she is:


This is Rowan Fairy from Wee/Whimsy, designed by the lovely Sylvia Zet
Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is Kaisercraft
Matting layer and punched dots from same sheet - a Prima pad with no cover


After just one week back at work following our holiday, I am plum tuckered out, so Toad and I are having a "flump" weekend.  I intend to do no more than the absolute necessary and a lot of crafting!

Hugs, Squirrel xx



Thursday 3 October 2013

Crafty Little Fairies (DT) Bows n Brads

Morning all, it's Fairy day, but you need to pay attention!

Crafty Little Fairies has changed it's URL - you can now find us at http://craftylittlefairieschallenge.blogspot.com

Right then, now you know where we have moved to, come and join us for this week's challenge which is
BOWS N BRADS

Here is my simple DT card


Stamped image is a Tiddy Inks
Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Sentiment is from a Penny Black clear set
Paper is LOTV Frosty Christmas
Bow die is from Little Inkers
Star brad is by Woodware
Silver faux rope border is from my stash (which I notice I haven't stuck down properly)
And with apologies for the wonky photo, I was desperate to get it taken before I lost the light

So, please please please do come and find the Fairies at our new home, and
remember that you will need to re-follow us now we have moved

Big hugs
Squirrel xx


Tuesday 1 October 2013

Candy Winner!

Here I am!  So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and crank up Mr Random Number Generator .......

And the winner is:


That is entry number 15 - so ..... who is it I wonder ...... it's ......


Congratulations sweetie - could you ping me an email please

Thank you to everyone who took part.  If you didn't win this time, please don't despair, there will be another candy sometime before Christmas.

Hugs, Squirrel xx
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