New Beginnings

That's the theme for todays Waltzingmouse Blog Hop but it applies to my life and this blog as well. I can't believe it has been nearly 5 months since my last post. Life has been a rollercoast, full of ups and downs and will take a few posts to get everyone up to speed.

The card I am showing today was made for one of the recent "ups" - my son and daughter-in-law's new home. They are just over the moon and we are all so thrilled for them.  I started with an old Stampendous cottage image, colored it with Copics then built the card around it. Not my usual method but it worked.

Stamps: WaltzingMouse - Cottage Home, Heirloom Patterns, Irish Blessings; Stampendous Cottage
Embossing Folders: StampinUp
Dies: Spellbinders, StampinUp
Cardstock: StampinUp
Other: Copic Markers & Air Brush System, Flowers handmade by me, Quickutz leaves, Martha Stewart fern

Til next time...

2 in a Row!

Hot stuff! Another post in the same week. Try not to get too spoiled. LOL  Today's post showcases a Christmas card I made with stamps from WaltzingMouse. I have loved Claire's work even before she started designing her own stamp line and I just adore her designs. With this card I was able to combine 3 of my favorite things - WaltzingMouse Stamps, Copic Markers and watercolor crayons. I'm not sure if you can see it in the photo but I also added a bit of sparkle to the tree with Copic's  atyou Spica Glitter Pens.

Stamps: WaltzingMouse

Cardstock: StampinUp River Rock, Soft Suede; Neenah Classic Crest Natural White

Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede; Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Copic Markers, Spica Glitter Pens, StampinUp Embossing folder  & watercolor crayons, Papertrey Ink Jute Button Twine

Til next time...

More Wild Colors for a Challenge

I have stepped soooo out of my box for this one! And I've used a few things that have been tucked away too long so at least that's a positive.  Had nothing planned for Labor Day and was recuperating from the previous day's Mountain Man Rondezvous in Wyoming so decided to tackle Waltzingmouse's Sketch Challenge #63.  This is what I ended up with.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Cameo To Go, Faux Fun Circles

Paper: Prima - 6x6 Madeline; StampinUp - Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Ink: SU - Chocolate Chip, Rose Red

Dies: PTI - Lace Doily; Spellbinders - Fancy Label; Sizzix - 3D Flower, Branch with Leaves, Embosslits Butterflies for SU

Other: EKSuccess - Border Punch; Rangers Liquid Pearls

Til next time...

Kooky Kolors for a Baby

Not that I'm a little behind or anything, but this card was made for Waltzingmouse Sketch #61 found here. It's a bit of a mish mash of techniques including making my own custom ribbon with Copic Markers (a Make It Monday challenge), making a custom brad with stamps and Glossy Accents, and doing a Tim Holtz Distress ink thing. I don't know why I chose this color combo other than it appealed to me. I created the paper that the birds and brad piece were stamped on using the Wrinkle Free Distress technique with a bit of a twist but I may have used a bit too much water.

Over all I am rather please with this project even if it is a bit weird for a baby card.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Celtic Heritage, Faux Fun, Fauz Fun Circles, Fancy Flourishes, Vintage Circles

Ink: Distress - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Black Soot; StampinUp - Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray

Paper: StampinUp - Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Basic Black

Other: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Circle Dies, Copic Markers, Grosgrain Ribbon from Michael's, Glossy Accents from Ranger



Til next time...

The Big Cheese!!!!

W00T W00T!!!!  I made this week's Big Cheese over on Waltzingmouse with this card.  The prestige is good enough but I actually get a $10 discount on my next order of stamps for winning. I make cards because I enjoy it and because I like to give them to people. I don't do it to win awards but sometimes a pat on the back feels so stinkin' good!
I don't have a card to post today because I have been working on my entry for Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop tomorrow. It's a cutie so be sure to stop by.

Til next time...

Waltzingmouse Sketch #60

I had so many ideas running through my head for this weeks Waltzingmouse challenge but this is something I have wanted to try for a while.  It is a bit of a stretch but it fits. Hope you like it.

Hatbox Closed

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Asian Gardens Additions, Eat Cake, Very Vintage Christmas, Very Vintage Labels #5, Fancy Phrases

Cardstock: StampinUp - Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: StampinUp - Rose Red, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

Misc: Spellbinders Die - Labels #5, Organdy Ribbon & Ribbon Roses from stash










Til next time...

WaltzingMouse Sketch 58

Have I mentioned how much I love making my own backgrounds?  For this weeks WM Sketch Challenge I made a background using Dainty Doilies and Cameo Maker that is just perfect for a baby card. And just in time too because my friend Jamie is having her baby girl today.

All stamps are from WaltzingMouse; Ink & cardstock is StampinUp; Offray Ribbon; Cuttlebug Embossing Folders; K&Company brads; Spellbinders dies.


Til next time...

Waltzing with the Mouse Again

Did you ever have a project that just refused to cooperate? I decided to do this weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge found here and had a card pictured in my mind but it fought me tooth and nail. I lost track of how much paper went into the recycle bin. It still isn't exactly what I planned but this is about as close as my ink and paper would allow.

I used several stamp sets, all by Waltzingmouse, cardstock and reinkers from StampinUp, Versamark, and glittery embossing powder from my extensive collection.  The sentiment was cut out using a cute little die set from Verve.

Til next time...

What the Cluck!

I just had to show this card I made for a friend's 50th Birthday. He was so impressed with my chickens that this spring, he got 3 of his own, hense the chicken card.

The chick and party hat are from a Crafty Secrets set called Farm Chicks , Candles with stars are from a See D's Birthday set I picked up used, Gingham background stamp is from Waltzingmouse, sentiment was made with a JustRite alphabet and the cardstock is StampinUp's Real Red, Baja Breeze and Whisper White. Ink used was SU's Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink and Copic Markers.

Til next time...

Back & Up for a Challenge

I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I have posted anything.  I know I've been very busy but just not sure with what. I've made a ton of great projects but forgot to photograph any of them before sending them off to their recipients. Hopefully I can get back in the swing of things starting with this sketch challenge from Waltzingmouse.

The colors used were Real Red, Peach Parfait, So Saffron and Certainly Celery in inks and cardstock from StampinUp. Rubberstamps are from Waltzingmouse, Dies from Spellbinders, border punch from EKSuccess and ribbon from my stash. Flowers were colored with Copics in the colors shown.

Tomorrow I will be posting my card for PTI's Make It Monday Challenge.

Til next time...

It's almost here!

It's 6 AM on Christmas Eve as I type
this. We are having our big family dinner and gift exchange today because our oldest son is a chef and will be working tomorrow. I can't wait to see my husband's expression when he discovers the big surprise I have for him. I am so excited! And NO, all you comedians out there, I am NOT pregnant!

Here are the last of this years cards. This first group features stamps from Waltzingmouse. Upper left: cardstock & ink from StampinUp; paper from Basic Gray; Cuttlebug dotted swiss and holly border embossing folders; icycle border punch from martha Stewart. I began the center piece by stamping the Waltzing mouse Labels4 stamp onto Craft-a-Board, stamping the sentiment inside, cutting and embossing with Spellbinders Labels Four die, dusting the edge with pale green ink then glue and finally adding the Twinklets Diamond Dust. The icicles were also coated in glue and Diamond Dust.
Center Right: Stamps from Waltzingmouse; paper by Basic Gray; Cardstock & ink by StampinUp; Spellbinders Star die; Craft-a-Board; Tsukineko Frost White All Purpose Ink; ribbon & button from stash.
Bottom Left: paper & lace from Webster's Pages; ribbon from Ellen Hutson; cardstock & ink by StampinUp; stamps by Waltzingmouse; Gold embossing powder from JudiKins; Prismacolor markers; Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

This final group were all inspired by Ellen Hutson and use paper and trims from Webster's Pages and cards with matching envelopes from Memory Box. Additional products used (clockwise from upper left): Angel Stamp unknown, sentiment from Papertrey Ink, ink from StampinUp; Joy to You stamp from Hero Arts, Bramble Wreath from Memory Box, ink & cardstock from StampinUp, Stickles Glitter Glue, Distress Ink, Spellbinders Labels Three; Peace from PSX, cardstock, ribbon & ink from StampinUp, border punch from Fiskars, Glitter by Stampendous, Spellbinders Labels Five die, Distress Ink; Doves stamp by PSX stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Prismacolor markers and a white gel pen, Stickles Glitter Glue, Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles die. Both the Angel and Dove cards also have a border drawn with a Prismacolor Metallic Gold marker.

I hope to be able to post my 12 Days of Christmas Tags starting with Day One tomorrow but I'm not making any promises. The plan is to use my Slice and the Mistletoe Design Card as well as leftover papers and trims, various glitters and Tim Holtz finishes to commemorate each day from Christmas to Epiphany. Let's see if Life cooperates.

Wishing you all a very Merry, Peaceful and Blessed Christmas.

Til next time...

Laid Back Christmas

I've taken things very slow and easy this year. I saw no point in making my hands hurt worse than they do so I eliminated many things from the schedule and really enjoyed the things I did manage to do. One of the things I really enjoyed was making my Christmas cards. I only made 2 a day and didn't stress over them. They became the highlight of my Christmas preparations - that and online shopping.
In this first group, the upper left card was made with paper from American Crafts; cardstock, ribbon, ink and ornament stamps by StampinUp; Cuttlebug border embossing folder; Label 4 stamp and sentiment by Waltzingmouse Stamps; Spellbinder's Label 4 die; gold thread.
The bottom left card uses paper from Cosmo Cricket; cardstock, stamps, ink, paper punches and label die by StampinUp; Cuttlebug embossing folder; gold thread; All Purpose Ink in Champagne Mist by Tsukineko.
The final card in this group features a frame cut from Ellen Hutson's Craft-a-Board using a Spellbinder's die which was then sponged with Champagne Mist All Purpose Ink. The deer is a stamp from All Night Media that I have had for years. Other products used were: embossing folder, cardstock, ink, and sentiment from StampinUp; paper from Basic Gray; ribbon from stash.

In this second group, starting with the card on the left, I have a very quick and easy card made using paper and a matching brad from Bo Bunny Press. The cardstock, ribbon, ink, stamp, paper punch and border punch are from StampinUp and the larger scalloped circle punch is from EKSuccess.
The card on the upper right features scoring on the Scor-Pal and a buckle from a Spellbinder's die accented with a Stardust pen. Cardstock, red & green inks, stamps and ribbon are from StampinUp; Spellbinder's large and small oval dies; Antique Linen Distress Ink.
The final card in this trio uses the Dotted Swiss embossing folder from Cuttlebug; Labels Two dies from Spellbinders; Stickles Glitter Glue; Prismacolor Markers; trees from HeroArts; Memento Rich Cocoa Ink; Green Ink, sleigh, sentiment, holly border, oval punches and cardstock from StampinUp.

Til next time...

How to Ruin a Good Sketch

For July's Stamp Club Swap I wanted to use Card Positioning Systems CPS124 No problem there, it's a great sketch. The problem was the Swap Theme -Vacation. I just wasn't feeling it. I mean, who the heck makes a card for a vacation? So after hours of struggling I came up with this. Everyone said they loved it but I think they were just being kind but at least it does remind me of Oregon.

After getting some other obligations out of the way I decided to redeem myself and come up with something worthy of that sketch. Holy Cow & Hot Tamale can I fly when I'm not constrained, especially by something I don't like! I pulled out punches and ribbon, my watercolor pencils & stamp positioner and went to town with my new Waltzingmouse stamp set. Now this is more like it! Claire of Waltzingmouse Stamps often ends her blog posts by saying "Hope it tickles." Well this definately tickles me. Hope it does you as well.

Til next time...

Paper: SU Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Soft Suade
Ink: SU So Saffron, Soft Suade, Ranger Archival Sepia
Other: Ribbon- SU Certainly Celery; Fiskars Border Punch; Staedtler Watercolor Pencils

A Waltzingmouse Anniversary

On July 17th, my youngest son and his wife celebrated their 5th Wedding Anniversary. They had both liked my new stamps from Waltzingmouse and they love the color purple so the card sort of made itself. I don't use much designer paper on my cards but I had some of Basic Gray's Wisteria line and took the plunge. This card is very simple and basic so it really doesn't need any explaining but I just thought I'd share.

Waltzing Mouse

Last week I received 2 stamp sets, Celtic Heritage and Irish Blessings, from Waltzingmouse Stamps in Ireland. Besides being very talented, I find Claire Brennan to be warm, funny and generous and just plain delightful. I finally managed to squeeze in time over the weekend to have a go at these new stamps. I had the whole card designed in my head but just couldn't decide what color to use for the main card itself so I did 2 versions. Now that I see them here, I think I like the white one better.

The decorative ends on the label were made with 2 coordinating corner punches. Punch a corner with each of the 2 punches then neatly trim away from the rest of the cardstock. Trace onto another color of cardstock and cut out slightly smaller. Stack the 2 pieces and Voila... very nice accents to coordinate with the border punch.


Cardstock -SU Bashful Blue, Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, River Rock; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Ink - Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ice Blue, Wisteria; SU Mellow Moss

Punches - Martha Stewart border; EK Success Corner punches

Other - Scor-Pal; Spellbinders Labels die, plain squares