Thursday, September 30, 2010

A Special Birthday Card & a Free WMS Digi Image on World Card Making Day!

Today I'm sharing a card I made for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge over on Split Coast several weeks ago.



Each week Cindy offers a destination for our cards should we choose to participate. Someone who needs a lift or in this case has a really special birthday coming up. This particular week we made cards for Eula who celebrated her 108th birthday on 9/14/10! She is known for her flower gardens so I made flowers the theme of my card. The dress by Lockhart Stamps has roses and daisies on it.

After her birthday - the stamper who let Cindy (Mothermark) know about Eula, sent Cindy this picture of Eula along with just some of the cards she received. (can you see mine on the top center of the bulletin board!?) This lady reads 2 books a month, knits afghans for patients, and takes classes at the assisted living place where she lives. She knows how important it is to exercise your mind! She was just thrilled with all of her cards - and was most interested in learning about blogs and blogging!

What a wonderful reason to make a card - days like these make me proud to be a card stamper!!
Fun alert!: most of you probably know that this Saturday is World Card Making Day - To celebrate - Claire over at Waltzingmouse will be offering a free digi image on that day and will be holding a competition to win a free stamp set of choice. You'll find all the details on the Waltzingmouse Blog on Saturday!

And, of course, we're still having the WMS Saturday Sketch challenge as well! Lot's of excitement going on! See you then!!


Stamps: Dress Roses & Daisies - Lockhart Stamps, Victorian Alphabet - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper: White, Simply Chartreuse - PTI, DP Basic Grey Sultry Paper Pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics - YG11, E50, E02, RV06, RV02, BG10, Rhinestones - Kaiser, Scallop edge punch - SU, Corner rounder - EK Success

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Thanks for Being There

Hello my blogging friends! My card today was made for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge over on Split Coast. It's all about flowery teapots and summer, circles, bling and punched edges... you can see the whole story here.

I used the Taylored Expressions sketch TESC129. I turned it on it's side.

The teapartiers can elect to team up with Carolyn King (Cammie) and her Heart to Heart Card Drive for Alzheimers Care Givers. This card will be going to one of the caregivers listed in the teaparty forum.

You can read about Cammie's project on her blog here. Check it out - there is a BIG prize to be won by someone who links a card they are sending to an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

My stamps are Waltzingmouse - the flowers & leaves are from Rescue Remedies and the sentiment is from Rescue Remedies Additions.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Rescue Remedies, Rescue Remedies Additions.

Paper: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy - PTi, DP Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday.

Ink: Ranger Distress - Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Crushed Olive

Accessories: Sizzlits Lot of Tags Label 1 - Su, circle nestabilities, circle punch, Rhinestones - Michaels, foam dimensionals, fence punch - Martha Stewart

Monday, September 27, 2010

Sponged Weeds

Morning Stamping Friends!
My card today was inspired by the Split Coast Featured Stamper, Sallie's (hobbydujour), fall foliage card . I remember seeing it during the inspiration challenge that she created it for and loving the look of it.
I used different stamps and colors, and used a textured Bazzill CS rather than scoring the border. I also added wrinkled ribbon instead of rhinestones.
First I inked the stamps with Versamark, then the color (Old Paper & Memento Tuxedo Black) then I clear embossed them and finally sponged over them.
My stamps are 3 different weeds from Rubbernecker
I really like how this came out and I'll be trying this technique again for sure!
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Today is my son's 33rd birthday - boy am I getting old!... either that or he's just catching up to me!! LOL!
Stamps: Rubbernecker - Weeds #497-08, #497-11, #497-14
Paper: white - PTI, black - SU, green Bazzill
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress - Old Paper, Crushed Olive, Stormy Sky, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmelade, Versamark
Accessories: hot gun, clear embossing powder, white gel pen, ink applicator Inkssentials Ranger, foam dimensionals, wrinkled seam tape - www.PrairieBirdBoutique.etsy.com

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Waltzingmouse Saturday Sketch WMSC16 - Fall Blessings

Wow - It's Saturday again dear friends - did this week go by fast for you?!? And lookie here's the great sketch Claire has for us today!

Instead of making 3 panels - I stamped one plaid panel using a stamp from Off Beat Backgrounds. My sentiment is from Peace and Plenty and I cut it using Labels Nine Nestabilities. The leaf is from Blessed by You. I stamped it in Rusty Hinge, cut it out and added Orange Peel Stickles to make it sparkle! The sentiment and leaf are both up on foam dimensionals. Then I just added some rhinestones to draw your eye around the card! Oh - and I sponged the plaid panel and sentiment with Peeled Paint.
So now you need to check out the WMS Sketch Blog and get inspired by the cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created this week!

Then make your own card using the sketch and link it on the Sketch Blog by Thursday 9/30/10 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be chosen Top Mouse next week!! Sometimes Claire offers little random winner prizes too - you never know!
We've been seeing lots of wonderful sketch cards - hope to see yours there this week - come on - inspire us!!! Did I inspire you today????
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - (plaid) Off Beat Backgrounds, (leaf) Blessed by You, (Fall Blessings) Peace and Plenty.
Paper: Kraft, Terra Cota Tile - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress - Rusty Hinge & Peeled Paint
Accessories: Labels Nine Nestabilities, orange peel stickles, Rhinestones - Kaiser, foam dimensionals, In applicator - Inkssentials Ranger

Friday, September 24, 2010

You Make the Grade

Happy Friday dear friends!! Isn't it great to have the weekend ahead of us?!
I'm so excited to finally be using my MFT Pure Innocence school girl. I have 5 different Pure Innocence stamps and this is the first one I've inked up! - what's with that??!!

I made my card today for 2 challenges - the Free 4 All Friday over at Split Coast that was to use scallops and the Shabby Tearoom challenge where we were to be inspired by this picture.


I paper pieced my little school girl's outfit and embossed the blackboard sentiment with white embossing powder. I colored the rest of the image with Copics. My flower is cut with a PTI flower die and I used a Labels 3 Nestability to cut the image. Everything is sponged with Ranger Distress Tea Dye ink.

Tomorrow Kent and I are going on a boat cruise on the Essex River with the Adult Fellowship Group at my church. It's supposed to be in the 80's and sunny so it should be a wonderful day on the water! Then we're all going to Woodman's, a locally famous seafood restaurant for supper - should I get fried clams or boiled lobster?!?!? or maybe scallops...... baked scrod....... fried shrimp.....????? There's nothing better than fresh seafood from New England! Yum!

I'll be back tomorrow with my Saturday Waltzingmouse Sketch card - hope to see you then!

Stamps: My Favorite Things - Pure Innocence - You Make the Grade.

Paper: Bazzil Irish Eyes, Ocean Tides - PTI, DP Cosmo Cricket/Girl Friday, October Afternoon/Thrift Shop-Still in the Box.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Tea Dye

Accessories: distresser, flower die - PTI, foam dimensionals, glue dots, hot gun, white embossing powder, spiral punch & scallop punch - SU, adhesive paper ribbon - K& Company, Labels 3 Nestabilities, Ink applicator - Inkssentials Ranger, brad, basic grey, Copics: B45, E19, E33, E35, E34, YR21, E51, 100, circle punch.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Three from Split Coast

Happy Thursday dear stamping friends - the weekends coming!! I have three cards from SCS challenges to share with you today.
This week's CAS (Clean and Simple) challenge was to use Fall Colors - Kraft, red, vanilla and brown (orange optional).

I colored my stamp with Stampin Up markers, stamped it and then sponged a little orange over the forest floor. I used my Nestability circles to cut the image as well as a brown and red framing. I sponged everything with Tea Dye Ink and added a brown button!

My stamp is Birch Forest from Rubbernecker Stamps the card is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4 ".

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Trees, Birch Forest 66-01
Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream - PTI, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red - SU
Ink: pumpkin pie - SU, Ranger Distress Tea Dye
Accessories: SU Markers - Ruby Red, close to cocoa, sponge, circles Nestabilities, glue dot, VIntage Button & Silk ribbon- PTI

I was honored when Betty asked me to make a card sample for her color challenge on SCS this week. The challenge colors were Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze and Wild Wasabi (SU) I didn't have Cajun Craze so I used Rusty Hinge Ranger Distress Ink for that color.

I stamped my trees on white, cut the panel with Labels Nine Nestabilities, then sponged over the trees with Baja Breeze and Wild Wasabi before taking it out of the die.

Betty always includes a dessert option with her challenge - something extra to do on your card if you want to - this week it was to use chicklets (single squares of letters making up a sentiment) or strip sentiments. I stamped Happy Thanksgiving, then cut it in half and mounted it separately.

My stamps are from the set called Teeny Trees by Waltzingmouse Stamps

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees
Paper: White, Text Style Green Boutique - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress Rusty Hinge, Baja Breeze & Wild Wasabi - SU, Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Blue dots, foam dimensionals, vintage button and silk ribbon - PTI, Nestabilities Labels Nine, ink applicator Inkssentials Ranger


And finaly, for this week's teaparty we're heading off to California - to have tea with BertLady and her two cats who recently moved there - you can read the whole story here

As soon as I saw the two kitties on Cindy's inspiration teapot - I thought of this great picture of my own two cats - Scout and Boo (named after characters in To Kill a Mockingbird) Boo is the one in back and Scout is in front (they were actually sitting like this on our diningroom table when I took this pic!!) Don't they look like they have little smiles on their faces?? They are letting BertLady's cats know they will be missed! The sentiment is from Free Spirit Sentiments by Waltzingmouse.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Free Spirit Sentiments
Paper: white, Hawaiian Shore - PTI, DP October Afternoon the thrift Shop/Still in the Box
Ink: Ranger Distress - Chipped Sapphire, Soft Sky - SU
Accessories: labels trio Spellbinders, Circle Nestabilities, photo, Martha Steward Lacey punch & bird punch, home made cloud template, sponge.

Thanks for coming by today! Hope to see you back here on Saturday for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch - AND I hope you'll play along this week!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

TE Sept Blast from the Past Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to be participating in the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop today! Participants have to use stamp sets released on or before June 2010.

I used two sets on my card today - Fresh Flowers (the window, shutters and flower box) released in April 2009 and A Year of Sweet Sentiments (you brighten my day) released in January 2009. My sketch is a loose interpretation of the one designed by Sankari Wegmen for the challenge today.

I stamped the window on a piece of white card stock cut with Labels Nine Nestabilities. The shutters and window box are cut out and adhered with foam dimensionals. I used Copics to color my window.

Now check out all the inspiration you'll find from these blog hop participants!!




Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoy the hop!
Stamps: Taylored Expressions - Fresh Flowers & A Year of Sweet Sentiments.
Paper: White, Text Style Green Boutique - PTI, Bazzill Irish Eyes, Bo Bunny Decaf Dot & Seafoam Dot.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Wrinkled seam binding - www.PrairieBirdBoutique.etsy.com , modern label punch - SU, Glazed brad - Basic Grey, Copics: BG10, B21, YG63, YG95, Y11, Labels Nine Nestabilities, fence punch - Martha Stewart

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Ransom Love

The Ways to Use It Challenge over on Split Coast this week was Ransom Style - we were to use any kind of letters in different fonts, shapes and/or sizes (like a ransom note!)

I remembered that I had a bag of chipboard letters in black and white in my 'chipboard' drawer and so I looked to see what words I might be able to make out of what I had.

I wanted to use my brandy new Bold Ornament stamp from Rubbernecker and thought LOVE might be a good word to pair with it. I just added a couple of rhinestones to the ornament to soften the bold clunky letters a bit! My card is 5" x 5" square. I think it came out kind of cool!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I always appreciate when you leave me a comment!

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Bold Ornament #507-01
Paper: white pure poppy, smokey shadow - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress Fired Brick
Accessories: chipboard letters - Li'l Davis Designs, rhinestones - Michaels, glue dots

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday Waltzingmouse Sketch - Darling of my Heart

Happy Saturday my dear stamping friends! Oh - look .... here's this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge! Isn't it a beauty!
For my sketch card today I used one of Claire's own Digital Designer Papers called Celtic Squares. I cut rectangles out of 5 of the colors (there are 8 colors in each design!) Don't these look pretty all lined up!
I cut my sentiment from Irish Blessings with a Spellbinders Labels Trio Die - don't you just love this phrase - "Darling of my heart" wow- it gives me goosebumps! You could give this to your spouse, to your child or to a very close lifelong friend.
The pretty heart lock is a Spellbinders Timeless Heritage die. I was going to try and find a heart button or punch a heart but then I 'found' this die in my rack (this is the first time I've used it!)
Boy, this card went together easy and I love how it came out! Isn't it great when a card works out the way you envisioned it?
On the inside I used stamps from Sweethearts.

So check out the WMS Sketch Blog and see the great sketch cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created this week!
Then make your own card using the sketch and link it there by Thursday 9/23/10 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be chosen Top Mouse next week!!
We're having a warm weather weekend here in New England - the last remnants of summer - but the nights are getting colder - crisp reminders that fall is on it's way!
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Irish Blessings, Sweethearts.
Paper: Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow - PTI, gold CS - unknown, Digital Designer paper - Waltzingmouse/Celtic Squares.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Milled Lavender.
Accessories: Spellbinders - Timeless Heritage (heart), Labels Trio, foam dimensionals.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friends of WMS Blog Waltz - Halloween Theme!

We're having a Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz over in the WMS forum in the Playroom today. You need to sign into the forum but it's easy to do - so go on over and check it out!

Our Blog Waltz theme this month is Halloween! whoo hoo - one of my favorite crafting times! I made two treat holders using Claire's Rubber Band Box template. This is the larger size one (there are two sizes included with the template)
The label says - Slyme & Co - Regurgitated Candy - Lightly Salted, Cold Pressed. So I felt it was totally appropriate to include this wonderful, so real looking and feeling, gummy worm as a treat inside!! I stamped my little white bag (Michaels) with the Boo stamp and filled it with Candy Corn.
Both treats tuck neatly inside my little box. I think I could get one more worm in there if I squished it! LOL!!! Don't worry - each worm is actually hermetically sealed inside a clear wrapper so you don't have to touch them to get them into the box!
Here's a second one done in a different color DP and I used the inverted scallop square Nestability to frame the sentiment - it looks a little more spooky than the regular scallop Nestibility frame I used on the green one don't you think?!
The only thing WHITE on my projects is the paper treat bag.
And here's how I dressed up the back of the boxes. Oh-oh, I think the gummy worm is on the move! Watch out!!!
Remember to look for the word clues on the DT's posts to help you guess the theme of one of the WMS October release sets! Post your answer over in the Playroom of the WMS Forum for your chance to win a WMS stamp set!
Hope to see you tomorrow for the WMS Saturday Sketch challenge??!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse: Midnight Feast, Wanda's Pantry
Paper: Rustic white - PTI, DP - My Mind's Eye/Night Light Dotted Corn, Green and Black/SU from last year.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge & Tea Dye
Accessories: Rubber Band Box Template - WMS, black round elastic cord - Dritz (JoAnn's), orange eyelets, cropadile, white mini bags - DMD Industries/Michaels, Sizzix scalloped label die, key tag punch - SU, Stapler, pinking circles, scalloped and inverted scalloped square nestabilities, wide grosgrain striped ribbon - Sharon's Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Driving By - with Christmas Greetings!

Good morning Stamping Friends! I've got two cards to share that I made for challenges over at Split Coast.

Anne Ryan runs the Queen for the Day challenges in the forums but this week she had to travel unexpectedly and so 'the girls' decided we would honor Anne herself this week. I chose to CASE her cute little thank you card

I used different stamps, different papers and colors, and made mine a 'hi' card - I stamped the sentiment right on the DP and it's not too visible on this picture - but it is clear IRL! It says "driving by saying hi!" My stamps are from the just released set called Half Pint Heroes by Waltzingmouse.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Half Pint Heroes
Paper: white, Text Style Green Boutique - PTI, black - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: copics: E51, R20, Y13, Y17, YG17, YG11, BG10, 100, foam dimensionals, ribbon - Sharon's Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

My second card was made for the Featured Stamper challenge. I didn't have to go far to be inspired by Die Cut Diva's gallery. I stopped right at the first card Merry and Bright ! I liked the colors on the kraft card.

I used different stamps and tied a ribbon instead of putting an image on the corner. My stamps are from two just released Waltzingmouse stamp sets - Musical Backgrounds and Teeny Trees. I stamped the musical background on a 3"x3" piece of cardstock, cut it into 1 1/2" squares, sponged the edges and spritzed with water, VERY lightly!

ETA: Reminders: we're having a Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz over in the WMS forum tomorrow (9/17)- check it out here!

and on Saturday (9/18) is the weekly Waltzingmouse Sketch - check that out here!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Musical Backgrounds, Teeny Trees (sentiment)
Paper: White, Kraft - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress: Spun Sugar, Vintage Photo
Accessories: wrinkled seam binding - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com/ , sponge applicator - Ranger Inkssentials

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Inspired by Votives

Happy Wednesday everyone! My cards today were made for the Inspiration Challenge over on Split Coast last Saturday.

Of course I had to look at the Halloween section of the Cost Plus World Market web store Stephanie showed us! These spooky votive candles caught my eye!

So I made two 6"x3" cards - one for each votive!All my stamps are from Waltzingmouse The stamped panels started out white and I sponged them with Ranger Inks - the only addition is the fence punched panel on the orange one. After I made these cards, Kent and I went for a walk over at Lynn Beach. It was a gorgeous sunny but cool day. Lynn is a city right next to our town that just happens to be situated on the Atlantic Ocean - so we drive through congested houses, factories and traffic and come to this lovely beach! It's pretty crowded in the heat of the summer but this time of year there are mostly 'walkers'! We parked at one end of the beach and walked down the beach for 25 minutes on this paved sidewalk.

On our way back - we walked on the hard packed sand left as the tide goes out. (I had turned to take this pic of where we were coming from that's why the ocean is still on our right!)

And looking across the beach road to the south - we can see the Boston Skyline! We're just 12 miles north of Boston (as the crow flies that is! - it takes me 40 minutes to commute in there to work on the subway - longer during rush hour!)
We probably won't have many more of these lovely evenings at the beach - fall's a comin'!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse: Midnight Feast & Halloween Party
Paper: white - PTI, Black - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress - Spiced Marmelade, Mustard Seed, Dusty Concord
Accessories: fence punch - Martha Stewart, Eclipse Tape, Scor Tape, Ink applicator Ranger

Monday, September 13, 2010

The King of the Yard

Hi my stamping friends! Phew - it's nice to take a breather after the mad rush of the Waltzingmouse release!

My card today was created for three challenges!


Teapot Tuesday this week is all about the dogs - inspired by a teapot decorated with a frolicking pup - we are to bring whatever kind of dog we have to the tea party. We also need to help provide enough sanitary facilities for all these canines - hence my row of leafy trees! My sentiment is a fun sticker by EK Success. The cute little pooch is Rag Dog by American Art Stamp/Emerson Quillin and the trees are Teeny Trees by Waltzingmouse (I told you I can't stop using this set!!).

I used Taylor's fun sketch for my card and the colors of cream and greens inspired by the Shabby Tea Room photo - to be inspired by Nature and Green!

Thanks for stopping by today! I'm back to work this week - but surprisingly it's ok!!??

Oh - and I keep forgetting to tell you all! My new little Grand Nephew arrived 10 days early - Landon Holmes Caggiano was born on 9/7/10 (due 9/17!) and since I was home on vacation - I was able to go to the hospital and wait with my sister for the arrival!

Landon's middle name (Holmes) was my father's first name (his mother's maiden name). My dad died suddenly at the age of 66 when I was just 28. Only my son (who was 3) knew grandpa but we always talked about him to our kids. So my sister and I were in tears when Katie told us Landon's full name (they had kept the name a secret until he was born). Landon is my sister's first grandchild and my first grand-nephew!
Here he is about 7 hours old!

And here's the new little family! Katie, Landon and Greg

Thanks for indulging me!!!
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees, Rag Dog - American Art Stamps/Emerson Quillin
Paper: Bazzill Green Dots, Rustic White & Dark Chocolate - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress - Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Wild Honey, Barn Door, Memento Rich Cocoa.
Accessories: Vintage buttons and satin ribbon - PTI, Nestabilities - Circles & pinking circles, Sticker - EK Success Phrase Cafe, Copics: Y26, YG63, R35, foam dimensionals.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

WMS September Release DT Blog Waltz!

Yippee! We're finally here! The long anticipated WMS September Release Day! Claire and the Design Team are celebrating with a Blog Waltz.

Please start the waltz over on Claire's blog. If you came here from Laurie's blog - you are in the right place!

For my first card today I used Nutcracker Sweet and Music Backgrounds. I stamped the tree 3 times, colored the circles and hearts with colored pencils and gamsol, then layered pieces over the initial stamping with foam dimensionals. I sponged the card edges and tree with Tea Dye ink then added some Dazzling Diamonds on the tree and the garland for holiday sparkle!
(I actually stamped the bar of music upside down - but don't tell anyone - OK??!!)

For my 2nd card I just had to use Teeny Trees again - this set is just so fun to use!! Today I just stamped the little leaves across a piece of Linen Vellum along with the sentiment and adhered the strip to my card base. Easy peasy and oh, so cute - don't you think??!

For my third card (someone stop me please!!!) I just had to use this cute little car in the Half Pint Hero's set. My card is 6" x 3" and very CAS - I stamped right on the cardstock and only added a strip of patterned paper. I used Copics to color my image.
And I couldn't end the sneaks without making at least one card using the Bountiful Basket Additions could I??? Here's another CAS card - I stamped directly on the cardstock, stamping the flowers, masking them and then stamping the basket. I dry embossed the framing with Labels 9 and colored with my Copics. I cut the sentiment with Spellbinders Tag Trio. Then I just added yellow stickles to the centers of my poinsettias.

You can see my tutorial on dry embossing a frame on my previous post hereAs always - you can win a WMS stamp set of your choice during the Waltz just by leaving comments on our blogs - you get one chance by leaving a comment on Claire's blog and another chance by leaving comments on the DT's blogs (a random winner will be chosen from one of the DT's comments!) You must leave your comments by 11:59 pm EST 9/14/10 to be eligible to win.

Next in the Waltz line is our wonderful DT coordinator Lisa

AND don't forget to take your shopping list over to the WMS store and order up these wonderful stamps before they are gone!

Merry Christmas:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nutcracker Sweet, Music Backgrounds
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress - Forest Moss, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogeny, Tea Dye
Accessories: Koh-I-Noor Colour Pencils, Gamsol, Foam dimensionals, sponge and Applicator Inkssentials/Ranger, Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds - SU
Happy Thanksgiving:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees
Paper: Simply Chartreuse, Linen Vellum - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress - Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmelade, Crushed Olive
Zoom Zoom:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heros
Paper: White, Text Style Black and White Basics - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copics - E35, E51, R32, R35, R59, R20, Y13, T2, BG10, 100, Silver Gelly Roll Pen - Sakura
Season's Greetings:
Stamps: Bountiful Basket Additions, Nutcracker Sweets (sentiment)
Paper: White - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 9, Spellbinders Tag Trio, Eclipse Tape, Foam dimensionals, Copics: BG10, E02, E13, E35, RV11, R35, R59, Y15, Yellow Stickles - Ranger.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

WMS Sneak Peeks - Day #3 - Have a Blast!

Happy Saturday dear friends! You're getting 2 for 1 here today! I'm sneak peeking a new WMS set called Half Pint Hero (that will be released tomorrow!!!) AND I'm using the Saturday WMS Sketch to do it! whoo hoo!!

So here's this week's super sketch: And here's my card: Isn't this the greatest little rocket ship?? and look at the little kid's head inside!!

I stamped the rocket on the panel - then stamped it again - cut out the body of of the rocket, punched out the window and layered it over the panel with foam dimensionals.

I stamped the sentiment "have a blast on your big day!" vertically right on the designer paper to enhance that feeling of the rocket taking off - going up, up, up!!

Finally on the inside I stamped the count down along with "Happy Birthday!"

This great kids set has 3 different 'modes of transportation', about 15 sentiments, several single words, 7 little faces and some other fun stamps.

So check out the WMS Sketch Blog and see the great sketch cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created this week! Some of them may be using new release sets!

Then make up your own card using the sketch and link it there by Thursday 9/16 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be a Top Mouse next week!!

And now - off you go to check out Claire and the DT sneak peeks linked below - I can't wait to see what new sets they are working with today!

See you tomorrow for the big release! Claire and the DT are having a Blog Waltz and you will have 2 chances to win any WMS set you'd like!!! You won't want to miss it!
Julia (me!)

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heros (to be released 9/12/10)
Paper: Green Bazzill, Seafoam Dot/Bo Bunny, ocean tides & Rustic white - PTI, DP Cosmo Cricket/Mr. Campy/Go jump in a lake
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, foam dimensionals, Copics: R20, E00, E11, YR07, YR23, YG11, BG10, T2, Creative Memories silver pen, curvy punch - EK Success

Friday, September 10, 2010

WMS Sneak Peeks - Day #2 - Tags For You

Hello dear friends! Welcome to Day #2 of the Waltzingmouse Sept Release Sneak Peeks! Didn't you just love everyone's creations yesterday?!

Today I made some tags. On my first project - I used the new Nutcracker Sweet set that has this great round stamp with the nutcraker's head and sentiment in it, the pretty garland, wreath and berries as well as the snowflake! There are also two complete nutcrackers as well as two size Christmas Trees plus many more sentiments and little trimmings!
First I did all the stamping - then I sponged around the edges with Ranger Tea Dye Ink and swiped down the center with Mustard Seed to brighten it. I layered the store bought tag to a piece of cardstock that I had punched on the bottom edge. Then I just trimmed close to all the edges around the tag. Finally, I spritzed the tag using a mini-mister filled with water and a little bit of Gold Perfect Pearls. It has a little shimmer all over IRL - hard to see in the pic. This would make a lovely gift tag.

For my second tag I used a sentiment and snowflake from Nutcracker Sweet as well as two stamps from the Music Background set. I stamped one of the music stamps randomly on the tag as well as some single notes.
Again - I sponged the edges, this time with Tumbled Glass, adhered the tag to a piece of punched card stock and spritzed with the water and Gold Perfect Pearls mix. It can blur the ink a little but I like the look! This would make a nice gift tag or bookmark don't you think?

Are you getting excited about all the new sets Claire has designed for us??! They'll be available to purchase on Sunday, Sept 12th so start writing down your wish list!

Off you go to check out Claire and the DT members linked below - let's see what new sets they are working with today! I'll be checking them out right along with you! We'll be here again tomorrow with more exciting things to show you! Can you stand it?!?!?

Julia (me!)
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker Sweets, Music Background (to be released 9/12/10)
Paper: store bought tags, Scarlet Jewell - PTI, Night of Navy - SU
Ink: Ranger Distress - Tea Dye, Forest Moss, Crushed Olive, Bundled Sage, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed, Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Copics: YG11, YG95, E50, Mini-Mister, Perfect Pearls Gold, wrinkled Seam Binding - www.PrairieBirdBoutique.etsy.com, scalloped edge punch - SU, lacey edge punch - Martha Stewart, blending tool Inkssentials Ranger.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

WMS Sneak Peek Day #1 - Give Thanks

Today begins the Waltzingmouse Design Team's Sneak peeks of five wonderful new stamp sets Claire is releasing on Sunday 9/12/10.

I have not been able to stop creating with the set I used today called Teeny Trees - I have enough projects already made from just this set to post for 7 days! (but don't worry - I won't - not all in a row anyway!! LOL!)

This set is SO versatile - it includes 13 sentiments for that many occasions and 7 styles of trees (not to mention little leaves, flowers and birds! Oh my!)

Today I made a fall theme card using one of the tree trunk stamps and one of the round 'leaves' stamps as well as one of the little leaf/petal stamps! I stamped the leaves twice - cut them out and layered them over the initial stamping for some dimension. Then I did a lot of sponging. This textured Coredinations paper is to die for. It's like embossing without having to! LOL!

So off you go to check out Claire and the rest of the DT linked below - let's see what new sets they are working with today! You're going to love what you see - I guarantee it!!!
Claire
Lisa
Julia (me!)
Mona
Carly
Jennifer
Bonnie
Lynn
Anya
Belinda
Laurie

Hope to see you back here tomorrow for more Waltzingmouse sneak peeks!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Teeny Trees (to be released 9/12/10)
Paper: Vintage cream, dark chocolate - PTI, Bazzill tan dots, Coredinations - Oxford
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Ranger Distress - Rusty Hinge
Accessories: Sponge & applicator Inkssentials Ranger, foam dimensionals, rectangle nestabilities, modern label punch - SU, Vintage Buttons & silk ribbon - PTI, glue dots.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Friends Like You

Hello stamping friends! The CAS challenge on Split Coast this week was to use this sketch for our card.

I used a Bold Floral stamp from Rubbernecker for my image that I cut down to a 3x3 square and cut that into 4 - 1 1/2" squares. Then I mounted it on a 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 piece of black and adhered it to the card using foam dimensionals. I made my felt flower with dies from PTI. Then I just added my sentiment. Clean and simple!

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the start of my Waltzingmouse Sneak Peeks!!! You're gonna love 'um!!!

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Sentiment Tea Time Set #457, Bold Florals - Daisys #168-06
Paper: White - PTI, Black - SU
Ink: Ranger Distress Stormy Sky, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: foam dimensionals, blue felt, flower dies - PTI, ceramic brad - Basic Grey, Glue dots

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Flowers & Butterflies

Happy Tuesday everyone! I'm on vacation this week - so everyday feels like Saturday to me ......... what a great feeling that is!

So Tuesday is also Teapot Tuesday over on Split Coast and this week's 'story' is all about butterflies and a school for butterfly behavior, and we're all going to Coconut Creek FL - the butterfly capital of the world for out teaparty this week - We have to bring beautifully behaved butterflies and beautiful flowers!
So I put my butterfly and flowers on this cute watering can card - that I made from Claire's free template over at the Waltzingmouse Store. Isn't this a fun shaped card?! All the stamps are by Waltzingmouse. I stamped the watering can with a background stamp from Pic-Nic Patterns to give it some texture and I also sponged the edges. The flowers are from Big Blooms Chrysanthymums

Here's what I stamped on the inside. The sentiment and frame are both from Fancy Phrases
Every week Cindy also has a destination station to go with our teaparty - she finds people who need encouragement or cheering up - and we can send them our teapot cards. So my card will be going postal to fellow stamper Jackie - who was recently diagnosed with cancer. She loves flowers and butterflies - so hopefully this will give her a little bright spot in her day! You can read all about the challenge and the destination challenge here.

I thought I'd share some pics I took at Gloucester and Rockport, MA when Kent and I went there this past Sunday! It's just about 40 minutes from where we live.

First we drove through Gloucester and took a 30 minute hike through a small part of Dogtown where there are a lot of huge boulders that the glaciers dropped here many moons ago!

A man named Roger Babson decided to have some of the stones engraved so people walking through the woods would be inspired to live morally!

There are a total of 22 engraved stones throughout the reserve - here are just 2 of them.

There's quite a strange history to these 5 square miles of woods called Dogtown. You can read about some of it here if you are interested! Kent and I are going to go back to explore some more of it another time!

Then we drove down the highway a bit to Rockport, MA. The red building is the famous Motif #1.
This giant sunflower was growing in someone's front yard along one of the main streets! I was standing up straight taking this picture - so this must be about 8 feet tall!

We ate lunch at this fun little hot dog restaurant called Top Dog - it was hardly bigger than what you can see right here - they had a few picnic tables out front and out back and a few bar table areas to sit inside - and no air conditioning! But the dogs were good!

This is the artery clogging hot dog I ordered - bacon and cheese! (but it was a turkey dog!) That's two big curly strips of bacon you see sitting on top of the cheese there......
And here's the beautiful sunset just as we were leaving. What a perfect day!
Just a reminder: My Waltzingmouse Sneak Peeks start Thursday!! Hope you'll be able to stop by!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Pic-Nic Patterns, Big Blooms Chrysanthymums, Fancy Phrases
Paper: stone, White, Orange Zest - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress Spiced Marmelade, Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone, Tea Dye
Accessories: Foam dimensionals, glue dots, rhinestones - Kaiser, Watering can template - WMS freebie, Buterfly punch - Martha Stewart, sponge and applicator Inkssentials Ranger.