It's Been a Long Time...

...about 10 months, in fact!

Where have I been?  Well, you see, there's been a lot happening here in the squirrel's nest over the last year or so.  In June 2013, Mr. Squirrel joined the nest.  In June 2014, Baby Squirrel arrived!  Yes, it's been a whirlwind year full of night sickness and being the most tired I've ever been in my life, then mommy-mode, and now working-mommy-mode!  While I was pregnant, I had NO creative mojo...none, nada, zilch!  But, I've been slowly getting back to the craft room inbetween feedings, diaper changes, and cuddles....oh, and that pesky work thing.

My posts will be simpler, but I'm excited to be sharing my creations once again!

First up is a card that I made for my BIL's birthday.  A bit of Tim and a bit of fun make for a simple masculine card.

Thanks for the visit!

CCC #16: Number One Dad

June and summer fun will be here before you know it, so join us at Creative Cutting Challenge with our two-week “Father's Day” theme and get a jump start on a card for dad's special day!

I paired washi tape with The Creative Pointe's "Number One Dad" SVG file to create a quick and quirky card for my dad.

Some Details:

• I started with Stampin' Up!'s "Confetti White" cardstock.  This had the festive look I wanted, but wasn't quite "confetti enough", so I flicked on some red paint using a toothbrush.  
• After cutting the pieces of "Number One Dad" from cardstock, I added washi tape to the tie portion to create a fun and wacky tie...you know, the kind that dads usually get from their kid's on Father's Day!

• A thick layer of Glossy Accents provides just the right amount of dimension to the "Number One" section.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Confetti White’, ‘Ballet Blue’; Papertrey Ink ‘Smokey Shadow’
SVG:	The Creative Pointe ‘Number One Dad’
Inks:	Americana acrylic paint ‘Cherry Red’; fine tip Sharpie
Embellishments:	Washi tape
Tools:	SCAL; Cricut Expression; toothbrush; bone folder

A Card for Dad...on Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day 

to all the moms out there!

At Card A Day Blog, we work about a month ahead with our themes, so ironically, this week's Father's Day theme starts today!  I'm kicking things off with a fun and easy washi tape card for dad.

A Couple Details:

• This card can be made in a flash!  I just ran rows of alternating washi tapes the length of my card.  I left about 1/8 inch between each strip and tore the ends.  I love the transparency of the tape...seeing a bit of the base color come through really pulls it all together.
• Next, I stamped the fun greeting in black on soft stone stock.  I tattered the edges and added just a touch of color with Distress Markers.  I attached the square to the base with foam tape to give it dimension from the washi background.

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Spring Moss’, ‘Soft Stone’
Stamps:	Inkadinkadoo ‘Happy Father’s Day’
Inks:	Archival ‘Jet Black’; Distress Markers
Embellishments:	Washi tape; Tim Holtz tissue tape ‘Symphony’
Tools:	TH paper distresser; Stamp-a-ma-jig; bone folder; 3M foam tape

Gentlemen, Let's Offer Our Congratulations...

That's what I think Tim's stately gents are saying on this card.  J

We're letting you choose your own theme this week at Card A Day Blog, so as today's featured designer, I'm sharing a card created for my nephew's high school graduation in June.  It needed to be masculine, yet celebratory, so I turned to a bold yellow, black and grey color scheme and a Tim Holtz stamp.  His school colors are gold and brown, so I thought this was a nice nod in that direction as well.

Some Details:

• The bright yellow base was toned down just a touch with my new favorite technique of swiping white acrylic paint along the edges.
• I love the combination of the modern graphic polka dot paper with the vintage gentlemen stamped in black on soft grey stock.  To give the grey a little pop and dimension, I dragged a black ink pad along the edges.  This gave it just the thinnest black edge.

• The bold banner diecut adds to add to that celebratory feel.  This was a straight border diecut that I gently curved and glued into place.  Some black and white baker's twine finishes  off the banner / bunting look.

Although I find I only make them when necessary, I really enjoy the challenge of creating masculine cards.  It's a great re-set to the creative juices!

Challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu: Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations: April Challenge - Special Occasions

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Yo-Yo Yellow', ‘Sahara Sand’, ‘Confetti White’
Patterned Paper:	Authentique ‘Blissful’ 6x6
Stamps:	Tim Holtz ‘Curious Possibility’; SU! ‘Warmest Regards’
Inks:	Archival ‘Jet Black’; Adirondack paint dabber ‘Snow Cap’
Embellishments:	Bazzill Just the Edge cardstock strip ‘Beetle Black’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Black / White’
Tools:	Stamp-a-ma-jig; Memory Maker’s ribbon glue; decorative edge scissors

Teen & Twenties Masculine Pocket Ornaments

In the essence of time on our mad dash towards Christmas day, I'm sharing the pocket ornaments that I made for my older nephews all in one post.  They don't vary much from each other in layout, but the elements are all different.  The age range of the older boys is 16-20, so I wanted these to be youthful and masculine, but not stuffy.

Let's go youngest to oldest, shall we...

Jake's

• Who's my go-to guy for masculine elements?  That's right, Mr. Tim Holtz.  I used Christmas salvage stickers on all three of these ornaments.
• I added some chunky glitter to the top of the "Christmas Snow" lettering for a little extra detail.

• My new favorite way to do banners!  Wrap a short length of ribbon around a wire (or string) and staple very close to the wire with your Tim Holtz tiny attacher.  Cut one end at an angle and cut the other end at the opposite angle to get a fishtail banner.  
• Another fun banner element is to just tie a button onto the wire with baker's twine.

Cody's

• Color is key.  Pom pom trim is not girly if it's grey!  Each one of these pockets is stapled along the bottom with the tiny attacher.  Glitter ribbon hides the staples on the other two and pom pom trim makes for a fun fringe and staple disguise on this one.

• Another easy banner trick that I'm sure you've been seeing out in blogland is to use washi tape.  Just wrap, stick, and trim...cute!

Calvin's

• Look beyond the Christmas stash...this blue glitter star is from a K&Co Americana set and the ticket twill tape is just from the everyday stash, but both add a fun, but grown-up, touch to Cal's ornament.

• I employed my tiny attacher once again here to attach the wire handle to the base.  It's just a heck of a lot easier than running the wire through punched holes and then having to wrap the wire without any sharp ends or ripping your pocket.  Just curl the ends and staple!

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamps: Simon Says...Merry Christmas (Calvin's)

Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge 82 - Traditional Colours (Cody's)

The Crafty Bloggers Network: Challenge #6 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop: December Challenge # 17 - It's Christmas! (Jake's)

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Gift-spiration

Unstampabelles: Challenge #18 - Christmas

Jake’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	DCWV
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ’12 Days of Christmas’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’
Embellishments:	Joann glitter ‘Crystal’; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; wire; Holiday Inspiration glitter ribbon; Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’; K&Co stickers ‘Snow Globe’, ‘Yuletide Border’; buttons; ribbon
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; Zig 2-way glue pen; hole punch; 3M spray adhesive
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Cody’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Real Red’, ‘Sahara Sand’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘Winter Wonderland’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’, tissue tape ‘Symphony’; washi tape; We R Memory Keepers washi tape ‘Red Tape’; Hobby Lobby felt snowflake; K&Co sticker ‘Snow Globe’; buttons; Darice baker’s twine ‘Red / White’; MME Lost & Found Two pom pom trim ‘Breeze’; wire
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; 3M foam tape, spray adhesive; hole punch
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Calvin’s Ornament Supplies:
Cardstock:	Stampin’ Up! ‘Confetti Ivory’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye ‘Winter Wonderland’ 6x6
Inks:	Distress Ink ‘Old Paper’; ‘Faded Jeans’; Distress Stain ‘Barn Door’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz salvage sticker ‘Seasonal’, epoxy sticker; Paper Studio ribbon ‘Ticket Stubs Twill’; Holiday Inspirations glitter ribbon; K&Co die cut cardstock ‘Americana’; wire
Tools:	TH paper distresser, tiny attacher; wire cutter / pliers; Wondertape; hot glue; glue dots; 3M spray adhesive; Glossy Accents; decorative scissors ‘postage stamp’
Misc:	Empty toilet paper tube

Santa’s Noel Bingo Ornament

I have been on a real kick with creating bingo card ornaments lately and here's the first...

A Few Details:

• I created a faux bingo card by layering a printed bingo image onto recycled cardboard covered with a book page.  
• A few swipes of Stormy Sky Distress Stain quickly colors up the bingo card.
• I wanted this ornament to be more masculine, so in addition to the manly denim color scheme, I layered the Crafty Secrets' Santa image onto a scrap of burlap and spelled out "Noel" using rustic wooden letters.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Simon Says...Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays: PTT#96 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Bloggers Network: Challenge #5 - Christmas Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenges: # 206 - Vintage Christmas

Supplies:
Cardstock:
Patterned Paper:	Vintage book paper
Image:	Sum of All Crafts
Inks:	Distress Stain ‘Stormy Sky’
Embellishments:	We R Memory Keepers washi tape ‘red’; burlap; Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cuts ‘Christmas Time’; alpha tiles; Distress Stickles ‘Vintage Photo’, ‘Frayed Burlap’, ‘Fired Brick’, ‘Old Paper’; floral leaves; Papertrey Ink rustic button twine
Tools:	TH paper distresser; spray adhesive
Misc:	Cereal box cardboard

Wind It Up!

This week's theme at Card A Day Blog is "Just for Men".  I made this state-fair-inspired masculine birthday card to celebrate my dear Dad's 77th year.

A Couple Details:

• I love this ticket paper from My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline "Dilly Dally" collection.  It's so whimsical and works perfectly with the collage of ticket stubs, ferris wheel image, and Tim Holtz clock / game spinner. 
• My dad has this...well, let's call it a party trick...where he takes a ruler and says that each inch equals a decade.  The maximum life expectancy of a man is 100 years, or 10 inches, and he'll mark that with one thumbnail....looks like a long time.  He then marks his current age with the other thumbnail.  Hmm...not so long anymore...  It's a sobering way to think of your age!  How many "inches" do you have left?  I starred my dad's approximate age on the tape measure in red pen.

Challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday: Challenge #80 - One for the Men

Cheerful Stamp Pad: Challenge #46 - Numbers

Cutie Pie Challenge: #21 - One for the Boys

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Kraft’
Patterned Paper:	My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline ‘Dilly Dally’ 6x6
Image:	Ferris Wheel - unknown; Tape Measure - Free Vintage Digital Stamps
Stamps:	Cloud 9 Design
Inks:	StazOn ‘Timber Brown’; Stampin’ Up! Writer ‘Real Red’
Embellishments:	Tim Holtz clock face, game spinner, salvage stickers ‘Lost & Found’
Tools:	Zots; Glue Dots; Zig 2-way glue pen; TH paper distresser