Favorite House Mouse

Talk about a challenge!!  The card was not the hard part - try picking your favorite House Mouse stamp.  I finally settled on these adorable two (the truth is I love them all).

This card is a 6" x 6" square using a sketch at Cute Card Thursday.  I started with a black base and added two layers of decorative cardstock from Basic Grey.  Love the great blend of colors on these.  I used a Martha Stewart punch on the lightest layer to give it a lacy look and sponged the edge with red Distress Ink.  The second floral layer had black ink lightly sponged around the edges.

I stamped the image on the lighter colored cardstock from Basic Grey and cut it out with a circle die.  Then I used the red Distress Ink to sponge the edges.  I layered it on a dark Maroon scalloped circle, sponged lightly with black ink.  This is popdotted onto a heart.  I used the floral Basic Grey cardstock, cut out the heart using a new Nellie Snellen die I just bought at the convention.  I inked the edges with red distress ink and then embossed it with  a musical themed embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  I sponged red and black ink over the image.  I adhered the heart to the card after adding a lovely border created from punching both sides with another Martha Stewart punch.  Using the punch this way looks like a lovely strip of lace.  I cut a small scalloped rectangle (Nellie Snellen again) out of the maroon cardstock, cut in half, sponged with black ink, and adhered to the upper right corner of the card.  I added two small pink heart buttons to these.  I added two each of two different hand made flowers in the upper left hand coner.

The sentiment is also House Mouse and was stamped in black on the floral Basic Grey cardstock.  I rounded the corners and layered it onto maroon cardstock.  I added one more flower.  To add a little bling, I added black pearls to the center of the three larger flowers and added red Stickles glitter to the edges of all the flowers and the scalloped circle under the image.

This card was entered into the following challlenges:
House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #89 - Favorite House Mouse Stamp
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - SOS (someone special - I have some really wonderful friends but I couldn't just pick just one of them or I might hurt someone's feelings so I picked my sister, Karla.  Not only is she my sister but she is a very dear friend.)
Aifactory Challenges AIF#069 - Monochromatic
Crazy 4 Challenge C4C76 - Flowers

The Creative Cottage Challenge #33 - Fabulous Florals

Creative Craft World Challenge - Square Card

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #153 - Sketch

DYSU Challenge #8 - Anything Goes

Flourishes Bring Back The Beautiful - Beauty of Love

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Embossing and/or Paper Piecing

Lexi's Creations Challenge #34 - Flowers

Ooh La La Creations Challenge #34 - Pink, Pink, and More Pink

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #142 - Glitter

Stamp and Create Challenge - Love

Stamp Something Challenge - Flowers

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #23 - Bling It On

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #69 - Black and ...

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Someone Special

Allsorts Challenge #92 - Homemade Flowers

One Stop Craft Challenge #120 - Spring Flowers

Stamping Vacation:  Inspiration  Challenge

Stamping Vacation:  Special Month Challenge - Internation Friendship Month

Stamping Vacation:  Pick Three Challenge - Something Black, Border Punch, Heart

Stamping Vacation:  Get The Music In You Challenge - Love of My Life

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #71 - Friendship

Sweet Stamps Challenge #3 - Flowers

Paper Romance Challenge #39 - Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #9 - Spring-Flowers Everywhere

Oh Hoppy Day!!

I’m loving these adorable bunnies from Sparkle and Sprinkle’s new Stamp Set 426 - Easter Chicks (00-426P4) so I just had to use one for today’s card.

This card is 5” x 7” to give me additional room for my “carrot”.  I ran a piece of light orange cardstock through an embossing folder and lightly sanded the embossing to give it a polkadot look.  I layered this on a green card base, leaving a small green border around the edges.  I used a bunny border punch on both a white and green 2” x 6” piece of cardstock.  After punching one long side of each color, I cut off the access width, leaving one inch below the punched image on the green strip and 7/8” on the white strip.  Then I layered the white strip on top of the green strip, lowering it slightly offset to allow a peek of green at the top and one side of bunnies and grass, and 1/8” at the bottom of the strip.  When I use this technique of layering punched borders, I always use pieces a bit longer than I need to give me some flexibility in lining up the punched images and placing them where I want on the card.  Then I trim them down on the sides to get the size I need.  I trimmed this border to a final length of 5”.  I ran ribbon across this border and layered it on the card about 2” from the bottom.

I used “Got Carrots?” (3440-426K) for the main image.  I stamped this adorable bunny with Stazon Jet Black Ink (99704) on white cardstock.  I used watercolor pencils (99541) and a Dove Blender Pen (99535) to color the image and then used a Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die (SB100) to cut it out.  I lightly sponged orange ink around the edges and then used foam dots to pop it onto orange decorative paper cut out with a slightly larger ornament die, also sponged along the edges with orange ink.  I used the same ribbon from the border, looped it three times, and adhered it behind the top of the ornament dies.  I layered my “carrot” onto the front of my card.

For the sentiment, I used Easter Borders (3434-426G) and stamped it in orange onto white cardstock.  I cut it out and embossed it with a decorative label die and then used the embossed oval center to cut it out.  I layered this on top of a pink decorative label and layered it at the bottom center of the card.  Using a Sakura Glue Pen (99202), I added Bubble Gum Semi-transparent glitter (G1088) around the edges of the label, the flower centers on the ribbon, and the bunny paws and ears.

Look forward to seeing more bunnies and chicks from this great stamp set in the near future.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Crazy4Challenges C4C75 – use dies

Creative Inspiration Challenge Blog #53 – Distress

DYSU Challenge #8 – Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #82 – Use Punches or Dies

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #142 – Glitter

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #58 - Sketch and/or Something Cute!

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #23 – Bling It On

CES Challenge #24 - Spots and Stripes

The Creative Cottage Challenge 33 – Florals

Lexi’s Creations Challenge 34 - Flowers 
Paper Romance Challenge #39 - Anything Goes

Imagination

What a beautiful weekend.  The weather was perfect and I got to go with friends to a stamp convention.  My friend, Bev, rode with me and we met with our dear friend, Cheryl, and had a blast.  I saw lots of neat products and ideas, and had a wonderful time.  The best was when Cheryl won a free weekend at the cottage at one of our local scrapbooking stores.  This is the same kind of weekend that I talked about the beginning of January.  We were all so excited because we had such a great time.  Yipeee!!  I have a bit of a sore throat from screaming when they announced she had won.  I guess I lost control a bit, but who could blame me.

Well, I didn’t just play all weekend.  I have another card using Sparkle N Sprinkle’s new stamp set 425 Spring Swirl (OK, I did play).  This set has so many fun stamps and so many possibilities.  I love the cute little Kite (3390-425C) and I used a side-step card to give it the look of flying off in the air.  I used a white card base and cut and folded it per the directions given here in the Tips and Techniques section at Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I cut pieces of blue cardstock to fit the various sections, leaving a 1/8” border of white.  I used a slightly taller piece for the back section to provide extra heigth for the kite.  I used two decorative floral papers to layer on top of the blue cardstock, once again leaving a 1/8” border.  I stamped 3397-425E Swirl Tulip in pink and purple, using markers to color the stamp, and cut out one of each.  I glued these onto the tall, narrow section on the left side, using double sided foam tape on the purple tulip to pop it up over the stem of the pink one.  I added a sheer blue double bow to the stems.  I stamped the top tulip border of 3434-426G Easter Borders from stamp set 426 Easter Chicks in black and colored with markers.  I cut it out and glued it to the front right section.  I stamped 3396-425B Imagination in blue dye ink onto white cardstock and cut it out with a scalloped oval die.  I used foam tape to layer this on top of a blue oval and attached the bottom half to the second section on the right so the sentiment shows above the front section when the card opens and stands up.  I stamped 3390-425C Kite in blue three times on white cardstock and cut these out.  I arranged them on the three sections on the right to appear to be flying back and forth, going up into the air, just like on a windy, spring day.

Here is a side view to show you the various folds.

I made a second card with a few changes.  On this card I added another purple and pink tulip to the back, right section, cutting down the stems so that they peek just behind the sentiment on the middle section.  I also stamped the kites on pink cardstock that shows in the design.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C75 – Dies

The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog #33 – Fabulous Florals

Little Claire’s – Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #43 – Be Inspired (Color)
Stamping Vacation:  Lots of Paper Challenge - Paper That Resembles Material (The blue paper with little flowers reminds me of cute cotton dresses}
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #9 - Spring...Flowers Everywhere

You Make Life Sweet

I didn’t get to make as many Valentine cards as I wanted this year because of being sick and jumped right into spring.  I had a stamp set from Impression Obsession that I have been wanting to use and it seemed a good mix with the theme of love so I decided to add a bit of a Valentine look to this card.

I found this lovely striped cardstock at Tuesday Morning (fun place to browse around) and layered it on a light green card base.  The light pink and deeper pink hearts were cut on the Cricut.  I embossed the darker heart and sponged red ink on top of the image and around the edges.  I sponged red ink around the edges of the light pink heart and after embossing the darker heart I sponged the same ink over the image and around the edges.  These were layered onto the front of the card.  The green border at the bottom of the card is another new Martha Stewart punch.  It has the most beautiful scrolled hearts.

I used a Nellie Snellen die to cut the scalloped oval out of light pink cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment in red and sponged a little red ink around the edges.  I added some cute ribbon with the words “yummy” on it behind the sentiment and used foam tape to adhere it to the front of the card.  I stamped the cupcakes in black ink and colored them with my Tombow markers.  I cut them out and used foam tape again to add them to the card.  The sentiment and all the cupcake stamps are from Impression Obsession’s clear stamp set - MC181 Cupcakes.  What a “sweet” set!!

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge - It's A Cupcake Kind of Day
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #39 - Hearts
Craft Your Passion Challenge #45 - Use Pink
The Crafty Pad Challenge #108 - Hearts
Crazy 4 Challenge C4C74 - Hearts
Flourishes Bring Back the Beautiful Challenge - Love
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Sweet Treats
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #42 - Red, Pink, White
Stamp and Create Challenge - Love
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #98 - Lovin' from the Oven
AiFactory Challenge #068 - In The Kitchen
The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE93 - Be My Valentine 
Stamping Vacation Inspiration Challenge

Hello Spring

I had some of my “rainbow” alcohol ink background left over and decided to make this card with a simple message.  I used an embossing folder on the left over cardstock and rubbed blue ink over it to bring out the image.  I used a large label die to cut it out and ran red ink along the edges.  This is layered onto the left side of a piece of decorative cardstock, with a border punched from blue cardstock run between.  This is all layered on a card base of the same blue cardstock.

The sentiment is 3398-425A Hello Spring from Sparkle N Sprinkle's new Stamp Set 425 - Spring Swirl.  I love the mixture of two different fonts and it is the perfect size for the label die I used to cut it out.  It is stamped in red ink on the same light blue glossy cardstock I used when I created the “rainbow” background.  I sponged the same red ink around the edges of the label and attached it to the bottom right corner of the card with double stick foam to pop it up.  Then I added a narrow, shiny, red ribbon and bow along the left side to tie it all together.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Free and easy  

Little Claire's - Anything Goes

The Pixie Cottage Challenge 57 - Embossing

Phindy's Friday Challenge #42 - Spring

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #81 - Color Me Wonderful (Alcohol Ink, Distress Ink, Dye Ink)

Allsorts Challenge #90 – Sentiment
Stamping Vacation: Special Month Challenge - Bird Feeding Month

Dancing In The Puddles

Sorry for taking so long to post something.  I have been a bit under the weather.  Speaking of the weather, it certainly seems to affect my card making themes lately.  Last week we had some very rainy days and this just seemed to fit with the cards I was making using Sparkle and Sprinkle’s new Spring Swirl Set #425.  It has such pretty and fun stamps and sayings.

 

For this card I decided to create a background with the look of a rainbow.  I guess I was looking forward to the end of the rain – isn’t that when the rainbow comes out?  I used some alcohol inks on light blue glossy cardstock.  I loved how it came out.  I layered this onto a medium blue card base.  Then I stamped 3395-425B Galoshes in blue dye ink onto white cardstock and cut it out with a label die.  This is layered onto another label die cut from the same blue glossy cardstock and added to the bottom right corner of the card.  I added G1088 Bubble Gum semi –transparent glitter to the flowers on the stamped galoshes and G1058 Crystal Ice semi-transparent glitter to the stems on the galoshes and the edges of the blue label die. This glitter is soooo sparkly and adds so much to your cards.  Next I stamped 3393-425AA Swirl Snail in red on pink cardstock, cut it out, and pop dotted it below the white label.

I created a “sun” using light yellow cardstock cut with two different dies, sponging the edges with yellow ink, and layering them.  I ran some sheer yellow polka dot ribbon through the largest die and tied it into a bow, put a large yellow button in the middle, and glued it to the top left corner of the card.

I used the blue dye ink to stamp 3401-425B Hope Is sentiment on the bottom left corner of the card.  What a great saying!!  It is perfect with those cute little galoshes.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

Totally Stampalicious -  use some bling, or glitter or glitz

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Free and easy  

Little Claire's - Anything Goes

DYSU Challenge #6 - Ribbon

The Corrosive Challenge #101 - Button It Up

The Pixie Cottage Challenge 56 - Ribbon

Phindy's Friday Challenge #42 - Spring
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #81 - Color Me Wonderful (Alcohol Ink, Distress Ink, Dye Ink)

Is It Spring Yet?

Today was so cold and now it is suppose to rain again.  I am so ready for warmer weather and spring.  I guess seeing my daffodils starting to pop up encouraged this new card.

The floral image is F1093 Jonquil and the lovely scene is K1130 Daffodil Scene, both from Impression Obsession’s Gary Robertson Collection.  I stamped both images with black Stazon ink and painted them with watercolors.  The scene was cut out with a Spellbinder octogonal die and I hand cut the flower image, then layered both on maroon cardstock.  I added a yellow scalloped octagon behind the scene and adhered it to a decorative, green cardstock.  This is then layered on maroon and then a light yellow card base.  The maroon strip at the bottom of the card is punched with a new Martha Stewart deep edge border punch and then I added a yellow ribbon strip and bow.  I used pop dots to attach the flower image.  Then I used a Martha Stewart corner punch for the two little butterflies and added three tiny yellow buttons to the bottom.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge - Is It Spring Yet?
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Water (used watercolors)
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #98 - Buttons
Flutter By Wednesday #140 - Open Challenge
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #96 - Whateva
Totally Gorjuss Challenge #65 - As You Like It
CES Challenge Blog - Bold and Bright

Spring Blues

I love cards in blue.  If you have looked at my winter/Christmas cards on this blog, you probably knew that.  When Our Daily Bread Designs posted a challenge to use blue, I wanted to do a card that was completely different from those cold, wintery looks.

The verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs new Faith set.  I stamped it in blue on a cream oval, cut out with a Nestability die.  I used the die as a stencil to add a little blue to the oval, then ran some darker blue around the edges to make it stand out more.  It is layered on Spellbinder label of decorative blue cardstock.  This blue cardstock and the striped layer beneath it have a slight shimmer that gives it a rich, elegant look.  I sponged some blue ink around the edges of the label.  The image stamped in blue on the striped layer is Butterfly Corner, also from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I cut around the butterfly image to allow the label to slide under it and to also give the butterfly some dimension.  I added glitter to the butterfly and when adding the glue to the butterfly it picked up some of the ink, adding a light blue affect to the entire butterfly.  I finished the card with a blue layer on a cream card base.  The flowers are from the wedding aisle at Michaels.  These little flowers come in a variety of colors and also have a slight shimmer.  I sponged a little blue on the edges of the petals and double layered them.  The pearl flowers and flourishes are a set, also from Michaels.

Here is another picture that is hopefully a little lighter.

This card is entered in the following challenges:
Our Daily Bread Designs Blog - The Blues
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #38 - Floral
Totally Gorjuss Challenge #65 - As You Like It
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #22 - Something Girlie
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #96 - Whateva
Crazy 4 Challenge C4C72 - Vintage or Shabby Chic Element (flowers and pearls)

Love Is In The Air

I was in the mood for Valentine's but decided I didn't want to use too much bright red.  This card is more of a combination of rose and burgandy.  The card base is burgandy with a layer of of light green.  I ran the green layer through a Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the cute heart background and used a Martha Stewart border punch to create the delicate lacy heart border on each side.  The larger heart is cut out using a Spellbinder die and the smaller heart is from a Martha Stewart punch.

The sentiment and rose circular border is a JustRite stamp from the Friendship Borders and Centers set.  I stamped it in red distress ink onto a light green circle.  I colored in the flowers and leaves with Tombow markers.  It is adhered to a burgandy circle with pop dots.  The burgandy circle is layered onto a pink circle on which I stamped the circular border sentiment, also from the Friendship Borders and Centers set.  This is then layered onto a burgandy scallope circle.  All circles are cut using Spellbinder Nestabilities.

For the flower, I used paper flowers in two different shades of pink.  On top of this I attached a handmade spiral rose.  I ran a strip of lace with hearts underneath the flower and images.

This card is entered in the following challenges:
JustRite Friday Challenge 047 - Love Is In The Air
Crazy 4 Challenge C4C72 - Vintage or Shabby Chic Element (lace & flowers)
Creative Inspirations Challenge #52 - Valentine's/Love
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge FTTC103-Create a Valentine Card
Lexi's Creations Challenge #32 - Valentines
Speed The Cat's Friends Challenge #39 -Valentines
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #96 - Whateva
Totally Gorjuss Challenge - As You Like It
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #22 - Something Girlie
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Love Is In The Air
Creative Craft World Challenge - Love
Crafts and Me Challenge #23 - Red
Stamping Vacation:  Get The Music In You Challenge - Love of My Life
Stamping Vacation:  Pick 3 (Heart, Border Punch, Lace)

"Let's Party"

I am so excited because I have recently been asked to be a guest designer for Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I have always loved their stamps and glitters and have had the privilege of working in their booth several times at local conventions.  It is such an honor to be asked to play with their wonderful products and create for them.  I have previously posted several cards using their stamps but for today's card I am using two sets that were just recently introduced.  With all the cold and snow lately, I am really ready for spring.  The other day I noticed that several of my daffodils have started to peek out of the ground and felt that first sense of excitement for all that spring offers.  It is such a beautiful time of the year with all the flowers blooming.  Last year was a real thrill because we  moved in fall and were getting to discover all the different plants that had been hiding throughout the winter.  Our neighborhood was absolutely gorgeous.  With these new stamp sets, I just had to celebrate the joy of spring.

I used a yellow card base and added a layer of bright, deep pink cardstock with small flowers throughout.  I used the sentiment Nature's Way (3389-425C) from Sparkle N Sprinkles stamp set 425 - Spring Swirl.  I stamped it in deep pink onto yellow cardstock, cut out with a die.

I stamped these adorable chicks (Three Peeps 3439-42C)  from their stamp set 426 - Easter Chicks in black on a white circle.  I added some of their new Sun Dazzle sparkle flocking (S112 - see technique here) It really adds a soft, fuzzy look to these little guys with a hint of sparkle.  You can never have too much sparkle.  I layered this with pop dots onto a purple floral die that I covered with Purple Dust semi-transparent glitter (G1093).  It has such an awesome sparkle.  I added more of the Sun Dazzle sparkle flocking (S112) around the edges of the yellow cardstock base.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Animal Antics

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #38 - Floral

Creative Craft World Challenge - Cute and Cuddly
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #96 - Whateva
Totally Gorjuss Challenge #65 - As You Like It
CES Challenge #21 - Bold and Bright
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Sparkle It Up