Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge and some Exciting news ....

.... It's my pleasure to be the host for this month's Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge.  For my month I decided to go with a colour theme and I opted for bright colours - not traditionally associated with Christmas.  In May we visited Frankenmuth and paid a visit to Bronner's - the world's largest Christmas shop.  While there we saw lots of beautiful Christmas baubles - I happened to find three baubles in the colours I picked - RASPBERRY, TANGERINE AND LIME.

I like Jonathan's photo and decided to be literal and feature Christmas baubles on my cards - I did a set!!

Stamps: WMS - Reverse Crackle BG, Yonder Star BG, Vintage Ornaments, Ornate Ornaments, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Archival - Black; Distress - Shabby Shutters, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - 2010 Heirloom Ornaments (S4-283) # 4 & 5
Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Card - Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White; SU Design Paper - Pumpkin Pie; Silks Acrylic Glaze - Key Lime; Martha Stewart Ornament Border Punch; Distress Stains - Shabby Shutters, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade; Clear embossing powder; Ribbon; Sakura Glaze Pen Black; Glitter

I had lots of fun making the baubles - each made by a different method.  Tangerine - I stamped the bauble outline onto pretty design paper.  Lime - I painted the background with acrylic glaze and stamped on the image.  Raspberry - I stamped Yonder Star background in Versamark, heat embossed with clear powder and then rubbed over with Picked Raspberry.  I added some detail to the tangerine and raspberry baubles with my black Sakura glaze pen.  I also added a touch of glitter to each bauble - can't really see it here!  I made the matching ribbons by dying some white organza ribbon.

To make the background I stamped the Reverse Crackle in Versamark, heat embossed with clear powder and then sponged on all three distress inks, given a lovely subtle background.  I cut the panels to fit the card bases and punched the ornament border along the bottom.  I used Stampin' Up! card to make the coordinating card bases.  It was only when I finished, I realised that I've actually CASEd the card I made for WMSC127 - I obviously like the design!!!  For the inside of each card I stamped a sentiment and another bauble - to coordinate with the card.  Here are some larger images of each card as well as one of the inside!

I can't wait to see what you make with these non-traditional colours!  Here are some guidelines for the challenge:

• Each card must contain some Waltzingmouse Stamps’ images but need not be exclusively WMS images.
• Once you have created your project, upload it to the 2013 WMSCCC gallery - and if you have a blog, we would love for you to post it there too!  The code for this month is WMSCCC08-13.
• Feel free to grab the WMS Christmas Card Logo for your blog sidebar and/or your blog post if you are so inclined.
• You may make as many projects as you like for each challenge. We encourage you to make batches of cards since our end goal is to have enough hand-made Christmas cards for each person on our “list”.
• You may play along when and if you want – make it suit your schedule. For example, challenge cards for January may be uploaded anytime in January or in June or even September...whenever you have them completed. There is no monthly deadline.

Now, before I go, I've got some very exciting news to share with you.  Some of you may have noticed, and indeed already started to follow, a new challenge - Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge.  When I was on holiday in the UK in July, I had the great good fortune to meet up with my blog buddy, Tara Cardwell.  We got chatting about our love of Waltzingmouse Stamps and how much we missed the weekly sketch challenge.  So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Tara emailed me to say she was setting up a new challenge and wanted me to join her on the design team.

So, starting in September we have a new challenge for all Waltzingmouse Fans - come and join us.  Do keep an eye on the blog for more news and also check out our Facebook page.

That's all for now - I've got a very busy day today - details will follow!!  See you tomorrow.

Clean, simple, non-traditional Christmas ....

... Hi - it's time for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  It's the second week of the month and that means we have a colour challenge for you - shades of blue!  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Off Beat Backgrounds, Yonder Star
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Bashful Blue; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre card; Cameo - cut shapes; Glossy Accents; SU Card - Night of Navy; Clear Embossing Powder

For the layout I followed this week's challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch - CTS23 and I got the idea for a non-seasonal stamp from the current Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC04-13 .   I was also inspired by Julia's cards for the March WMS Christmas challenge.

I think this chevron stamp is one of my all time favourites.  I stamped the Night of Navy image first and immediately inked the stamp again with Bashful Blue and stamped, giving this lovely mid-blue shade.  I cleaned the stamp and then inked again with Bashful Blue and stamped.  In order to get placement of the stripes correct, I stamped them onto a separate sheet of card and cut out the panel - very easy!  This allowed me to move the panel around before adhering to the card base.  I used my Cameo to cut out a number of the WMS cut files that Claire has made for us - so much quicker then cutting by hand!!  I stamped the holly leaf trio in Night of Navy and attached them to the card with dimensional tape.  I finished the holly with some berries, stamped in Bashful Blue and covered with Glossy Accents. 

I didn't want to put a sentiment on the front as I didn't think it would work.  So I moved my sentiment to the inside.  I cut a mat layer in Night of Navy and one in White Lustre.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark on the little dicut, heat embossed with clear powder and then inked over with Bashful Blue to reveal the sentiment.

I was having such fun with this card - and I had lots of holly leaf trios cut that I decided to make another card using the same design, but this time with traditional colours of green and red.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Festive Foliage, Off Beat Backgrounds, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Real Red; Versamark
Accessories: White Lustre card; Cameo - cut shapes; Glossy Accents; SU Card - Real Red; Clear Embossing Powder
This is one of those occasions when the second card works just that bit better than the original idea!!!  I love the blue holly, but the green and red really pop! 

Anyway, I can't wait to see your Christmas creations with our fabulous shades of blue.

That's all for now - see you soon.

WMS Christmas .....

... Good morning!!!  We're on summer time, it's 9°C (48°F), the sun keeps trying to shine - I do believe that spring is almost here :))  However, I'm still in Christmas card mode - I intend to get most of my cards made in advance and not rush around like a mad thing in November!  This month our host is Cassandra (Paper Addiction) and she has a super challenge for us to use the colours Navy and Citrus Green on our card.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweet, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade; Versamark
Accessories:  SU Card - Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade; SU DP - Night of Navy; White Lustre card, twine, clear EP and gems from stash

WMS March Challenge

I had the idea for this card last week while making the flower birthday card at my SU meet.  This really is quick and easy to make.  I made the card from Night of Navy and cut some panels in Lucky Limeade and white.  I stamped the Christmas tree in Versamark, heat embossed with clear powder and then sponged on Lucky Limeade to reveal the tree.  I cut a small piece of the design paper and adhered it to the green card, torn a strip from the bottom of the white card and then attached the white panel.  I stamped the sentiment, added a tiny blue gem to the star and finished by wrapped some lime green twine around the panels and attached it to the card with dimensional tape.

For the inside I made a couple more layers, stamped the tree (second impression to make it a little more subtle) and Christmas greeting.

I really like these colours and will make a couple more to go with this, but I might vary the layout a bit.

Why don't you join in and get a head start on your Christmas cards - full details of the monthly challenge are:

"What is this monthly challenge all about?

It's our goal to motivate and inspire you to work on your Christmas cards year round - month by month - so that you can sit back and sip your hot cocoa when December arrives, instead of burning the midnight oil trying to get those cards completed at the last minute. We hope that you will agree that "slow and steady wins the race".

On the 10th of each month, the challenge hostess for that month will announce the Waltzingmouse Stamps Christmas Card Challenge theme right here in this forum. We have a variety hostesses, who each possess their own particular creative style and it will be great fun to see what idea the hostess will have for us to spark our own creativity.

Here are a few basic guidelines for the monthly Waltzingmouse Stamps Christmas Card Challenge:

• A new challenge will be issued on the 10th of each month in the Playroom Forum.
• Each card must contain some Waltzingmouse Stamps’ images but need not be exclusively WMS images.
• Once you have created your project, upload it to the 2013 WMSCCC gallery - and if you have a blog, we would love for you to post it there too!
• Feel free to grab the WMS Christmas Card Logo for your blog sidebar and/or your blog post if you are so inclined.
• You may make as many projects as you like for each challenge. We encourage you to make batches of cards since our end goal is to have enough hand-made Christmas cards for each person on our “list”.
• You may play along when and if you want – make it suit your schedule. For example, challenge cards for January may be uploaded anytime in January or in June or even September...whenever you have them completed. There is no monthly deadline."

You do need to join the Forum, but it's really easy - go to the Waltzingmouse blog, click on the tab marked Forum and follow the instructions.

That's all for now - I've got quite a bit to do today.  I'm about to watch the Chelsea V Man United match (fingers crossed for a Chelsea win), then I need to edit the photos I took at yesterday's class (which was lots of fun) and I still have a few more Easter cards to make.  So, enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you tomorrow!

WMS February Christmas hearts ....

... Good afternoon - I'm late posting today - I've been playing in my craft room.  I've made a card for February's Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC02-13.  This month the challenge is being hosted by Lynn and she has asked that we make a Christmas card but, as it's February and Valentine's is just round the corner, include a heart or two!!  Seems a perfect combination to me.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter, Ornate Ornaments, My Heart, Seasons of Love - Tags
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Early Espresso; Distress - Fired Brick, Evergreen Bough, Antique Linen; Versamark
Dies: Hearts - Cameo die cuts by Lori Whitlock
Accessories: Design Paper - My Mind's Eye Snowed In (Free with Cardmaking & Papercraft); White Lustre card from stash

 

For the layout I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday - MOJO279.  I decided to try and use some of the designer paper I have in my stash cupboard and I'm really pleased how it turned out. 

The pad of My Mind's Eye paper was free with a UK craft magazine last year and this is the first time I've used it!  I used a sheet of the robins and sentiment as the backing paper.  The red paper actually has some very subtle snowflakes on it, but I decided to over stamp with these sweet little hearts from Nordic Winter.  The banner was cut from another sheet in the pack - I cut around the scallops and used my hole punch to cut the holes!  The hearts were die cut on my new Cameo (which I think is wonderful!).  I shaded the large heart with Evergreen Bough and over stamped (second impression) with another of the border stamps from Nordic Winter.  I kept the greeting very simple inking it first with Versamark and then Fired Brick which allowed me to clear emboss the sentiment - you can see the shine in the photo!  I finished off with a couple more die cut hearts which I covered with the red paper.  I finished the front with this sweet robin cut from another of the papers in the pack. 

For the inside I cut another sheet of paper to make the backing mat and a piece of plain white card for the greeting.  I stamped the lovely wood grain leaf heart in Antique Linen and this gorgeous sentiment in Fried Brick.  I just love the way all Claire's stamp work so well together.

I know it might seem strange making Christmas cards in February, but it really does make sense to try and get ahead.  I don't want to have to spend most of November rushing around making cards like I did last year (and the year before!).  So do try to join the fun!!

I'm off back to my craft room to make a few more cards - I might even do another Christmas Heart card!  See you tomorrow.

Waltzingmouse Christmas Challenge .....

.... Good morning.  Many of you know that for the last couple of years Lynn Mercurio has organised the Waltzingmouse Christmas Challenge each month and I've always tried to play along.  It's been a wonderful way to build up your supply of Christmas cards and not have to rush at the end of the year.

The challenge is back again this year, but there are a few changes - the main one is that there will be a different host each month.  Anya Schrier is our host for January.  Not only has she provided a sketch for us to play with this month, but she has designed the new WMSCCC logo - don't you love the plaid background?

In order to make enough cards for December - I plan to make at least three cards (same design) for each challenge and as soon as I saw Anya's sketch I knew which set of dies I'd be using!!!  Here are my cards:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Yonder Star Background, Nutcracker Sweet, Woodgrain, Compliments of the Season II
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Island Indigo, Melon Mambo; Memento - Tuxedo Black, London Fog
Dies: Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) #5; Opera Tags (WMS-DT-1)
Accessories: SU Card - Island Indigo; SU Ribbon - Melon Mambo; Promarkers - Marine, Magenta, Ice Grey 1 - 5, Satin, Blush; Cuttlebug EF - Christmas Stars, Snowflakes, Ice Crystals; White Lustre card and organza ribbon from stash

I've combined the Christmas card challenge with this week's colour challenge at Dynamic Duos - DD34 where they have the bold and sassy combination of Melon Mambo and Island Indigo.   I started by stamping the sweet Nutcracker Prince onto white card and colouring him with Promarkers - using Magenta (Melon Mambo) and Marine (Island Indigo) and shades of grey, and then fussy cutting him out!  I made the background panels by stamping Yonder Star background on the bottom of each panel in London Fog and then embossed the top of the panel - each with a different folder.  I completed the panel with some Melon Mambo grosgrain ribbon and adhered to the card with dimensional tape.  Here are photos of the individual cards - on which you can see the different embossed tops!

Using the Reverse Wonky die (matches the shape in Anya's sketch) I cut out a backing panel in Island Indigo and attached this to the card.  Next I cut out a fancy Opera Tag and while in the die, sponged on some Melon Mambo ink.  I attached the Nutcracker Prince to the tag and then added some organza ribbon and twine.  I used some dimensional tape at the top of the tag and glue at the bottom, so the tag has a bit of depth at the top.  I finished off with a simple sentiment - using the woodgrain banner and over stamping with the sentiment.  One of the things I really like about clear stamps is that they can be curved to fit!

I finished off the cards by decorating the inside.  I kept it really simple with a Melon Mambo mat and white panel onto which I stamped a simple greeting.

That's all for now - I know we've just finished Christmas, but I am so pleased that I've made a start on this year's collection.  You should have seen me last year - rushing like mad to make enough cards to send out.  That's so not happening to me this year!!!

So you want to get a head start on this year's cards - here are the general guidelines about the challenge

"Here are a few basic guidelines for the monthly Waltzingmouse Stamps Christmas Card Challenge:

• A new challenge will be issued on the 10th of each month in the Playroom Forum.
• Each card must contain some Waltzingmouse Stamps’ images but need not be exclusively WMS images.
• Once you have created your project, upload it to the 2013 WMSCCC gallery - and if you have a blog, we would love for you to post it there too!
• Feel free to grab the WMS Christmas Card Logo for your blog sidebar and/or your blog post if you are so inclined.
• You may make as many projects as you like for each challenge. We encourage you to make batches of cards since our end goal is to have enough hand-made Christmas cards for each person on our “list”.
• You may play along when and if you want – make it suit your schedule. For example, challenge cards for January may be uploaded anytime in January or in June or even September...whenever you have them completed. There is no monthly deadline."

You can click here to read Lynn's post.  Looking forward to seeing your cards.

Peppermint candy ....

.... Today I'm sharing the last of my family's Christmas cards - this is the one I made for our daughter, Kathryn.  Since moving to the States Kathryn has discovered peppermint candy in Ghirardelli Squares - and she loves it!  I've combined two challenges to make Kathryn's card:

• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC10-12 - theme is pink
• Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#3 - cue word "SWEETS"

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Candy Jar Fillers, Candy Wagon, Compact Sentiments, Compliments of the Season II

Inks: Distress - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint; Versamark; Stazon - Jet Black; Memento - London Fog

Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 20 (S5-026) #3 & 4; Opera Tags (WMS-DT#1)

Accessories: Pink Mulberry Paper; Doily; Cosmic Shimmer Spray - Golden Mint, Silver; Stampin' Up! - Fancy Brad; SU Design Paper - Melon Mambo; Papermania - Christmas Carol Silver vellum; Silver Embossing powder; SU - Glitter; Acetate

This is a vision in pink!!  For the background I used some mulberry paper - love the texture at the edges.  The doily is from my local supermarket, I sprayed it with Cosmic Shimmer in Golden Mint and Silver to give shimmer and colour.  Next I stamped the candy canes in Versamark and embossed with silver powder.  I did several sets as I wanted extra canes.  I used distress inks and my aquapen to paint the canes, adding glitter to some.  I used the medium Labels 20 die to cut dark pink and vellum layers.  I used Stazon on to stamp the jar onto the vellum (much clearer impression) and also on to the acetate.  I attached the candy canes to the label.  Next, using a sharp scalpel, I cut along the jar side outline on the label base and inserted the acetate jar.  Next I stamped the sentiment onto a small vellum label and attached it to the card. I finished off the front with a candy cane, brad and tag.

For the inside I cut a mat of holographic pink card and some white card onto which I stamped the candy wagon and Christmas sentiment.

This card completes all twelve cards for the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge.  I fell behind a bit, but caught up at the end.  Lynn - thanks so much for organising the challenge - it's been such fun.

We've had a super time with my in-laws, the time has flown by, and today we head south to Hampshire to spend a few days with my Mum and her family.  If you're travelling - take care.  See you soon.

Vintage green ....

.... this card is for a very special person - for my best friend, my soul mate, my husband - it's for Jonathan.  The last challenge in the Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC12-12  is to use the colour green.  Jonathan's favourite colour is green - so it's perfect.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Bright Season, Compliments of the Season II; Yonder Star Background
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals Lg (S5-024) #4, Mega Ovals Lg (S5-023) #4
Accessories: Stampendous - Frantage Embossing Powder Aged Hunter; Gold and green card from stash; Own embossing powder

Jonathan is the light of my life - I love him to bits!  So I thought the large hanging lantern would be the perfect image for my card.  I found some olive shimmer card in my stash (no idea where I got it) and stamped the Yonder Star background on it in Versamark.  I embossed the whole image with Frantage embossing powder in Aged Hunter - a sort of antique green with gold/black/silver flecks - it looks wonderful.  I mounted that onto some satin gold paper and the whole lot onto a cream card base.  I stamped the large lantern in Versamark onto cream card and embossed it with my own embossing powder mix - a blend of black, silver and gold - giving a gunmetal finish.  I used a scalpel to carefully cut out the "window" panels and then adhered the lantern to some acetate.  I stamped the lantern onto more cream card and used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position the candle, flame and light glow.  I used the mega oval to cut out the die and mounted it onto a scalloped gold oval.  I finished off by attaching the acetate lantern with dimensional tape and adding a small bunch of holly at the chain.

I kept the inside of the card really simple - a gold/green shimmer card for the base and cream card onto which I stamped "for you".

Christmas is a day for family traditions - our day starts with cooked breakfast and Bucks Fizz (for the adults).  After breakfast we gather in the living room and Christmas presents are handed out.  Whatever your traditions are - enjoy the day.

Follow Yonder Star ....

.....  I've CASEd Jean Martin's card and gone for a western feel with my Christmas card for Ben.  I've actually managed to combine four challenges in the card:

• Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC128 - sketch designed by Kim Duran
• Colour Q - cQc168
• Charisma Cardz Challenge - CCC50 - theme is Santa coming to town
• Waltzingmouse Christmas Card Challenge - WMSCCC11-12

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain, Midnight Feast, Way Out West, Back in the Saddle, Sheriff, Santa's Coming to Town, Yonder Star

Inks: Stampin' Up! - Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Bashful Blue; Versamark

Dies: Spellbinders - Lacy Squares (SS4-295) #2

Accessories:  WMS - Twine, Card from stash; Embossing powder

I turned the sketch through 180° as I wanted the Sheriff Star to look like it's high in the sky with the other stars - this fits the theme for November's WMSCCC of having a source of light in the card design.  I stamped the Sheriff's star in Versamark and embossed with my own blend of powder (black, gold & silver) giving a slightly gunmetal finish and then I cut it out (very easy).  I stamped the background to look like wood (love the large woodgrain stamp).  Then I stamped the blanket stamp in Real Red and Bashful Blue to make the vertical panels.  I decided that I'd put the Santa cameo in the centre of the Sheriff star.  I stamped the image in Cherry Cobbler (one of the new SU pads, so very juicy) and triple embossed with clear powder to give an enamel finish.  Once cool, I cut out the cameo and attached it to the star.  At this point I deviated from the sketch a bit to add the sentiment.  The box comes from one of the images in Back in the Saddle and the sentiment from Yonder Star, I mounted it on a small scalloped square, attached some twine and let it hang from the star.

For the inside, I cut two layers the bottom in Bashful Blue and the top in white.  I stamped the outline star in Crumb Cake (second impression so that the image is a bit more subtle) and then the fabulous sentiment in Cherry Cobbler.

Ben really likes cards with lots of layers and details - I think this fits the bill!

Today's the last chance to get to the shops and get any presents - we're off to town this morning to get a few bits.  Bye for now.