National Squirrel Appreciation Day

Did you know that today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day? How we have survived without knowing about this holiday is beyond me ha ha! I thought it would be fun to make my Dad a card for the occasion. He and the neighborhood squirrels have had a looooong running battle. When we had nut trees in the yard they would make the HUGEST mess and of course eat most of the nuts. One day, years ago, my Mom and I got home from running errands and found my Dad engaged in cutting down the walnut tree in a defensive move. Take that squirrels! Now they attack the apricot trees when the fruit is getting ripe. The battle continues…

I think my Dad liked the card even though I got a big eye roll when I gave it to him LOL!

I love the Karen Burniston pop up dies. They make to so easy to animate cards.

Closeups:

The squirrels are fussy cut from an old fall-themed pad of K&Co paper I have.

I carefully positioned the dictionary page when I diecut the arrows.

I am entering this card into the Craft Hoarders Anonymous January "Choose Your Challenge". You have to choose at least one thing from each category in the chart and incorporate that into your project.

I managed to get quite few:
Coloring Medium: Ink (everywhere!), Spray Mist, Paint
Fiber: fabric scalloped border, stitched buttonhole twist thread
Technique: lots of stamping; die cut branches, arrows and card mechanism, front sentiment; folding in card and pop up part
Texture: sanded to distress, cut branches out of chipboard
Embellish: bling using Stickles on front, ephemera - page torn out of old dictionary

Most of the supplies I used for this card can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10. ;-)

Elizabeth Craft Designs - Lucy Label Pop Up	Sizzix Thinlits - Alphanumeric	Sizzix Bigz Die - Artful Arrows by Tim Holtz	Sizzix Bigz Die - Bird Branch	Stitched Fringe Border Die	Wood Grain Background Builder
Tim Holtz Collection - Steampunk	Tim Holtz Collection - Mixed Media	Archival Ink Pad Designer Series: Wendy Vecchi - Potting Soil	Archival #0 Pad - Jet Black	Distress Spray Stains - Peeled Paint	Distress Spray Stains - Wild Honey
Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Crushed Olive	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Mustard Seed	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Black Soot	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz - Core'dinations Kraft-Core - 12x12 Kraft-Core No. 20	Tim Holtz - Core'dinations Kraft-Core - Paper Stack
Stickles Glitter Glue - Yellow	Tim Holtz Distress Paints - Mowed Lawn	Tim Holtz - Distress Paints - Brushed Corduroy	Tim Holtz Distress Paints - Wild Honey	Inkssentials Glue N' Seal - 1 oz. Matte

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More Reasons to Celebrate

I found some fun new challenge blogs recently, A Vintage Journey (Tim Holtz themed) and Craft Hoarders Anonymous (boy do I need to use up some stash in their challenges!) I made a card to fit both of their current challenges - make something "all about him" and use your hoarded ribbon, twine, etc. I have a friend who is about to finish his Masters degree so I made this card for him:

The "frame" is ribbon and rick-rack stapled together and then painted black to visually unify it and bring out the texture. I think it is also appropriately manly in colors and imagery so it fits the Vintage Journey's All About Him challenge. ;-)

Also, don't forget about the May Celebrate! challenge at Inspiration Journal. You have until the end of the month to link up your project for a chance to win $50 to spend at Inspiration Emporium.

Most of the supplies I used for this card can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10! ;-)

Tim Holtz Collection - Psychedelic Grunge	Tim Holtz Collection - Americana Silhouettes	Tim Holtz Collection - Steampunk	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Paper Stash - Kraft Resist	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Fired Brick	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Crushed Olive
Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Black Soot	Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Wild Honey	Ranger Embossing Powder - Black	Distress Embossing Ink - Pad	Tim Holtz Distress Paints - Black Soot
Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Tiny Attacher	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Mini Fasteners	Archival Ink Pad Designer Series: Wendy Vecchi - Orange Blossom	Archival #0 Pad - Coffee

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