Waltzingmouse Blog Party .....

.... Hello!  Here's another in my series of scheduled posts.  It's the 17th of the month and that means it's time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party.  The theme this month is Summertime Fun.  I had the idea of making a card with the big strawberry as I just love strawberries and cream in the summer, but this is what I made instead:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - My Island, North Shore, Free Spirit Boy
Inks: Distress - Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Promarkers - Carmine, Cocktail Pink, Amber, Pumpkin, Orange

Later this summer, we are going to Mexico for our family holiday - will be so nice to have Jonathan with us!  The thought of the tropical warmth lead me to a tropical sunset and this fab North Shore image.  I created the sunset using Distress Inks (thanks to Anya for a wonderful tutorial on U-Tube).  I stamped the North Shore directly onto the card in Versafine giving a lovely crisp image.  I added the perfect sentiment from My Island and finished off the front with my favourite hibiscus flowers.  I stamped the flowers twice onto white card and coloured them with Promarkers; I cut out the centre flower and adhered it with dimensional gel.

That's all for now - all being well I've got Internet access, so I'll get a coffee and check out the cards made for the challenge.  See you soon.

Teacher Appreciation ....

....  Morning all - I was awake silly early this morning - 4.30am!!  But I didn't waste all that time, I put it to good use making a card for this month Waltzingmouse Blog Party, where the theme is Teacher Appreciation.  I've gone with a tried and trusted theme - an apple for the teacher:

Stamps: WMS - Peace & Plenty, Say It Loud, Victorian Frippery, Teeny Trees, Join Us, Free Spirit Sentiments, Say It with Style, Asian Gardens
Inks: Stazon - Jet Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Lg (S4-126) # 7
Accessories:  Silks Acrylic Paint - Olive Vine, Pretty Peridot, Key Lime, Carmen; White Lustre card

I started off by finding the centre of my card and then stamping a grid of apples in Stazon ink.  Then I painted the entire card with my new silk acrylic paints (they're fab).  It's very subtle, but I think you can just about see the ombre effect from the darkest (Olive Vine) at the bottom to the lightest (Key Lime) at the top.  The paints go in really smoothly, dry quickly and have a fabulous shimmer.  Next I painted some card red - it's such a bold colour - and over stamped with a mixture of thanks and thank you sentiments from a number of sets.  I used my die to find the best arrangement of words and then die cut the shape.  I stamped a few more apples on the left over card, cut them out, coloured the stalks and then arranged them in a pile.  Not so much an apple for the teacher, but a huge pile!!

We're off to Motor City Comic Con later this morning.  As fans of Dr Who, Star Trek (in all its forms), Star Wars, Living Dead, Warehouse 13, as well as DC and Marvel Comics etc, etc - we will be in good company.  Anyone who reads comics will know Stan Lee - he's the headline guest today!!!  There are also going to be lots of other stars attending - I might even manage to get a photo or two :)

That's all for now.  Have a super weekend and I'll be back soon.

Spring flowers for a friend ....

... Hi - back again!  It's the 17th of the month and to a Waltzingmouse Stamps fan, that can mean only one thing!  It's time for this month's Blog Party.  The theme today is Spring Flowers - and it's wonderful here, the sun's shining, the sky is blue, the birds are singing and the daffodils are in bloom.  Here's my card for this month's Waltzingmouse Blog Party:

Stamps: WMS - Afternoon Tea Sentiments
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Stampin' Up! DP - Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue; White Lustre card; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots; Promarkers - Amber, Pumpkin; SU Marker - Crumb Cake

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:

• Dynamic Duos - DD#48
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#10 - for a friend
• Waltzingmouse Blog Party - WMBP04-13 - spring flowers

 One of my all time favourite flowers is the pansy.  I love the colours they come in and the pretty faces they have.  Oh yes, they are reasonably happy to flower most of the year too!  I started by stamping the teacup onto some blue patterned paper and cutting it out.  I then stamped the pansies and leaves onto the same paper and again onto plain white card three times.  With the image stamped on blue patterned paper, I coloured the leaves with Crumb Cake and then cut it out.  I coloured all the pansies with Promarkers and added some subtle lines to the faces with the Crumb Cake marker.  I stamped the sentiment onto plain white card, ran it through my Cuttlebug to give some texture and adhered it to the mat layer of Pumpkin Pie polka dot paper.  Next I attached the cup and flowers to the card base.

This will be going to a friend in the UK in the next day or two, but I haven't finished the inside yet!

That's all for now.  I'm off out for a walk to enjoy this lovely weather and check out all the new bits of green appearing.  I'll be back later to have a look at all the projects made for the Blog Party.  Oh yes, I must finish checking out the inspiration cards from the WMS DT - the new sets are fabulous!  See you soon.

Be lucky .....

.... Hi - it's the 17th of the month and that can mean only one thing - it's time for the Watlzingmouse Blog Party.  As well as being the Blog Party - it's also St Patrick's Day - so I'd like to wish Claire and all my Irish friends a very Happy St Patrick's Day.  Of course, with it being St Patrick's day we get the theme for this month's challenge - LUCK!  I've been really quite literal with my card - one for Ben, here it is:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Free Spirit Boy, Celtic Heritage, Irish Blessings, Twas the Night Before Christmas
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy, London Fog; Versamark
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Card - Lucky Limeade; SU Design Paper - Basic Black; SU Designer Silver Basic Buttons; Clear embossing powder; Black thread; White lustre card
 
I used a couple of challenge to make this card - Colour Q - cQc180 (perfect colours for St Paddy's day) and the layout from Freshly Made Sketches - FMS77.

I covered most of the card base with a panel of Lucky Limeade card (one of my favourite colours).  Rather than add a ribbon, I stamped the Celtic border in Cottage Ivy (don't have Glorious Green).  I cut a panel of SU design paper in basic black and used the polka dot side on the card.  I cut a smaller panel of white card and stamped my most favourite WM stamp - the circles from Free Spirit - I used the second stamping to give a subtle image.  I inked up the lovely four leaf shamrock in Versamark and Cottage Ivy so that I could heat emboss the image; then I cut it out.  I made the sentiment from a couple of stamps.  The word "Be" is actually the first two letters from the Believe sentiment in Twas the Night Before Christmas.  I finished off the card with a big, bold silver button.  I didn't stamp a sentiment on the inside, just the circles again.

I'll be sending this card to Ben - he is planning to take some driving lessons in the not too distant future - so I thought a good luck card might be nice!

Oh yes, not only is today St Patrick's day - I've been in the USA a year today!!!  The time has simply flown by and I'm really loving it.  The major difference between today and this time last year is the temperature.  When Kathryn and I landed at Detroit airport last year it was 20°C (68°F) and today the temperature is -3°C (26°F) and we still have snow on the ground.  Roll on spring!!!

That's all for now - I'm off to get a cup of coffee and sit down to see the rest of the cards for the Blog Party.  Bye for now.

Doily Love - take 2 ....

... Morning!!!  It's President's day today and is a federal holiday, which means that Kathryn has a day off school.  Unfortunately, this is not the case for Jonathan; he has had to go to work.  So Kathryn and I are planning a day out together.  I got this card made last night.  It'll have to go in the post on Tuesday - but should get to the UK in time.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies Small, L'il Buddies
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Regal Rose
Dies: Die-namics -     Fishtail Flags Layers STAX
Accessories: Kaisercraft Design Paper - Secret Admirer; Kaisercraft - Secret Admirer Doilies; Stampin' Up! Design Paper - Marina Mist; Doily from local supermarket; White lustre card

I've made this card for three challenges:

• Waltzingmouse Blog Party - WMSBP02-13 where the theme is doilies
• Play Date Cafe Challenges - PDCC169
• Freshly Made Sketches - FMS73

I really like the colours in this week's Play Date challenge, but I have to admit that I've struggled a bit with them - the colours in my card are brighter tones than on the graphic, but I think they work.  This is a bit out of my comfort zone as I don't often use just design papers.  But these papers from Kaisercraft are so pretty that I had to try.  I cut a sheet to cover the front of a square card.  I got the doilies from my local supermarket last year - pretty.  For the horizontal panel I cut a piece of Marina Mist DP.  I cut the banner tag from white lustre card and stamped a simple birthday greeting in pink.  The green doily comes from the coordinating Kaisercraft set.

For the inside I decided to use another sheet of paper from the pack.  I cut it to fit the card - making sure that I kept the birdcage image in the top corner.  I stamped a couple of doilies in the opposite corner and left a space for the greeting.  It is actually a very clean and simple card!

That's all for now.   Kathryn and I are off to see Warm Bodies - an unusual twist on a romance - a zombie and human!!  It's had good reviews.  I'll report back!  See you soon.

Doily Love with a twist ....

... Good afternoon - I'm later posting this card than I planned.  But I spent this morning catching up with season 4 of Fringe; a series that both Jonathan and I really enjoy.  So I didn't actually get into my craft room until 2.00pm.   It's 17th February (half way through the month already) and that means it's time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Party and the theme is doilies.  My card has a twist - I've gone for a Christmas doily:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweet, Big Bloom Poinsettia, Dainty Doilies - Large, Dainty Doilies - Small, Compliments of the Season II, Seasons of Love Tags
Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Distress - Gathered Twigs, Festive Berries; Stampin' Up! - Always Artichoke
Dies: Spellbinders - Grand Circles (LF-114) #1
Accessories: Design Paper - Kaisercraft Christmas (free with Simply Cards & Papercraft); Papermania Ribbon; SU Card - Always Artichoke; Staedtler Aquarell Pencils; Staedtler Ergosoft Pencils; White and clear embossing powders; White lustre card

I had planned to make a birthday card with a doily, but when I saw the sketch for this week's Jingle Belles - JB:13:04 challenge I knew exactly how I wanted my card to look - and it does!!  I'm also submitting this card to this week's 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - 52CCT07-13 where we have to include hearts/love.  If you look at the tree is has several tiny hearts!!

I started with this backing paper - "Christmas Times" - I sponged some ink around the edge to distress it a little.  I layered this onto a green mat and attached it to the card base.  I used the smallest of my Grand Circle nesties to cut the backing vellum circle and then stamped the lace doily onto vellum and embossed with white powder.  I cut out the doily and coloured the reverse with Ergosoft pencils which I blended with Sandor.  I stamped the Christmas tree in Versafine ink and embossed with clear powder.  I coloured the tree with Aquarell pencils and aquabrush.  Once dry I cut out the tree and attached it to the card.  I finished the front by adding a strip of ribbon and adding a poinsettia.  I stamped the sentiment in Versafine using my new Fiskars stamp press which makes positioning stamps really easy!

For the inside of my card I cut a green and white mat.  On the white mat I stamped a doily in green - third generation impression to keep it subtle finishing with a greeting in bold red.

That's all for now - I'm off to join the Blog Party and see all the gorgeous doily cards!  See you soon.

Waltzingmouse Blog Party ....

.... Wow, where has the time gone - it's already 17th of the month.  That means it's time for the monthly Waltzingmouse Blog Party.  This post gives all the details about the party and this month the theme is LOVE.  What does love mean to you?  Family, friends, pets, religion, country - well I might be a bit obvious, but I've gone for love of family - specifically our daughter.  Here's the card I made:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - My Heart, Sheriff, Say It with Style, Half Pint Heroines
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Summer Starfruit, Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Basic Grey; Versamark
Accessories:  SU Card - Summer Starfruit; SU Ribbon - Melon Mambo; Silver embossing powder and white card from stash

I used this week's Colour Q challenge - cQc172 for my card - just love them, so bright and vibrant.  The layout is based on the current Mojo Monday - MOJO276 sketch.  I made the card from SU Summer Starfruit card.  On the white panel I stamped the lovely wood grain leaves down the side and then randomly stamped hearts and sentiments over the rest of the panel.  I attached the ribbon and then attached the panel to the card with dimensional tape.  Next I took a photo of Kathryn (taken in San Diego last summer) and sized it to fit inside the Sheriff Star.  I stamped the Sheriff Star in Versarmark and embossed with silver powder, then cut it out and adhered it with dimensional tape.  For the inside I used a mixture of My Heart and Half Pint Heroines, but kept it really simple.

Now I'm off to have a party!  Enjoy!!

It's a scrappy Blog Party .....

.... Good evening - I'm late today with my post, but that's because we went shopping this morning for new winter coats.  Ones that will be just right for winters in Michigan where temperatures can get really low; averages of between 2° to -5°C in December to 0° to -7°C in January and February.  However, there have been record lows of -30°C in January!!!!! And that's COLD.

When I got home I realised that I hadn't made anything for this month's Blog Party over at Waltzingmouse Stamps.  The theme for this month's Blog Party is GRATITUDE.  I opted to do something COMPLETELY different to my usual - I've done a scrapbook layout!!!  I used the layout from the new scrapbook challenge at My Favourite Things.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Pic Nic Patterns, North Shore, My Island, Yonder Star Background, Playful Pinwheels, Blessed by You; My Favourite Things - Document Days & Dates
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Primrose Petals; Memento - Grey Flannel; Stazon - Jet Black
Dies: Die-namics - Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX
Accessories:  SU Card - Basic Grey, Primrose Petals, Whisper White; Bo Bunn7 - Vicki B Fabuloso; SU Ribbon - Raspberry Ripple; Stickers from stash; Image from Internet

I must apologise for the quality of the photos - it's dark now and I've had to take photos under my daylight bulb - I'll try to replace them tomorrow!  Why is this layout suitable for a theme of Gratitude?  Well, I'm thankful for my family, for the time we get to spend together, for the wonderful holiday we had in California this year, for the love and support of my wonderful husband Jonathan.  The photos show Jonathan and Kathryn having a fabulous time in the sun and at play, and I had lots of fun putting together this layout.  The purple border is not part of the layout - it's simply my foam stamping pad!!

I've taken a few close up shots of the photos and the tag which comes out from behind the photo!   I stamped the panel behind the photos with Yonder Star - seemed appropriate for a California layout

That's all for now - I'm off to get dinner for us all.  I'll be back later to join in the Blog Party.  It's the last one this year and it's a super theme to finish on.  Thanks to all the team at Waltzingmouse for hosting the Blog Party and to Claire for designing such super stamps!  See you soon.

Blog Party at the Mouse's house .....

...... the 17th of each month is a special time - it's the monthly Blog Party at Waltzingmouse Stamps.  This month the theme is a colour inspiration photo

These colours just shouted HALLOWEEN to me so that's what I made.  Here's my card:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Gracie at Halloween, Christmas Cottage, Midnight Feast
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, Tangelo, Sweet Plum; Distress - Black Soot, Antique Linen, Pumice Stone
Spellbinders: Floral Ovals (S4-356) #3
Accessories:  Cuttlebug EF - Skeleton Skull; Core'dinations Paper, Glitter card and card from stash

I ran Core'dinations card with the embossing folder through my Bug and sanded off the black to show the pattern - love this folder!  I chomped the corners and mounted this layer onto black and purple glitter card - you can't really see it in the photo, but there is a border of purple glitter.  I distressed the edges of both layers before gluing them together.  I decided to feature this sweet verse on the front of the card, so stamped it on cream card, cut out the oval and then added some subtle images (2nd, 3rd and 4th impressions) of witches and stars.  Then I added just a touch of colour to the edge of the oval.  This was then mounted on the orange floral oval.  And I didn't stop there - I decided to decorate the inside too - keeping it very simple.

I didn't get to play in my craft room yesterday.  I've been learning to use a new photo software package called Lightroom (Jonathan uses it all the time) - it's really super easy and fun to use.  I edited some of the photos I took when we went to Plymouth on Sunday for the Chilli Cookout and Harley Davidson Rally.  I've uploaded the pictures to my Flikr account here or you can see them on FB!

That's all for now - I'll be back to join the party later on this evening.  See you soon.

Waltzingmouse Blog Party - Fall Blessings ....

..... It's 17th September that  means it's time for the monthly Waltzingmouse Blog Party - the theme is Autumn (or Fall as it's called here in America).  I am beginning to get used to that!  Full details of the blog party, with times and a super inspiration photo can be found here!

I've used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday - MOJO259 for the layout of my card.  As soon as I saw the sketch I know one of the stamps I'd be using.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Blessed by You, Dainty Doilies 2 Small, Faux Fun, Peace & Plenty
Inks:  Stampin' Up! - Calypso Coral, Early Espresso; Distress - Antique Linen; Memento - Rich Cocoa
Spellbinders: Nested Lacey Pennants (S5-029), Deckled Mega Rectangles Lg (S5-015) #3, Scalloped Mega Rectangles Lg (S4-143) #3, Lacey Circles (S4-293) #5
Accessories:  Memory Box - Piestra Tile Die; Promarkers - Burnt Orange, Spice, Peach, Soft Peach; SU Card - Early Espresso, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake; Card from stash

I used various Spellbinder dies to cut elements of this card.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the lacey doily on the cut circle and trimmed it to lie against the coral panel, and adhered them to the card base.  Next I cut the rectangles.  While the deckled rectangle remained in the die, I sponged on some Calypso Coral and Early Espresso and then went over both of them with some antique linen, which really blended the colours together.  I stamped the oak leaves and sentiment onto the panel and adhered it to the card.  I used the knitting stamp from Faux Fun on some coral card and then cut out the pennant with my Spellbinder die.  I stamped the oak leaf & acorn image twice and coloured them with Promarkers, then fussy cut them both! I attached them to the card with dimension tape.

It's a really beautiful day here - the sun is shining, it's pleasantly warm 23C (74F), soft blue skies with some cloud and the birds are singing like mad.  According to the weather forecast this is probably the last day of summer - tomorrow the temperature is expected to drop by 7C!!  Much cooler.

That's all for now - I've had a good morning in the craft room.  Not only have I managed to complete this card reasonably early, I've also had a good tidy up!  Now I'm off for a cup of coffee and will be back later to waltz my way round the Blog Party!!  See you soon.