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Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #30

Happy Saturday!  I have the latest Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge to share today!  It's a fun one, with a lot of ways to interpret it, which makes it so fun to see what everyone does with it!  Here's the sketch

 And here's my take on it.

 
Stamps:  Text it, Fancy Phrases (Waltzing Mouse)
Paper:  Blush Blossom, Porcelain DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Silk ribbon, Prima rose, rhinestone flouris (Kaiser), Fancy Labels (Spellbinders), piercing tool & template, black marker

I perhaps wasn't as true to the sketch as I usually am, but when I was choosing the DP, I didn't feel I had enough of the softer colours to work in any more pieces...so I modified it!   I was a little stumped at first, but once I got going, it almost fell together!

Now the sketch is in your hands!  We have lots more inspiration on the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog, so have a peek, and then you can have a go at it!  Link it up to this post, and next week when we pick our Top Mice, you just might see your fabulous creation at the top of the blog!

Well, that's all I have today, but I'll be back tomorrow with the 100th Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge 27

 
Happy Saturday!!  I got some new Waltzing Mouse stamps and I couldn't wait to play with them!  Being a flower girl, I had to pick up Big Blooms Poinsettas...it's such a beautiful set, and I have to say I have way more ideas than I seem to have time LOL!  I knew, regardless of the sketch today, it was going into play, and luckily, it was an easy fit!

 

 
I stamped the poinsetta in Versamark on some old SU dp, and embossed it in white.  I cut it out and added pearls to the centre.  I pieced the rest of the card together as per the sketch and at this point I've spend about 15 mins on the card.  It then takes another 2 hours before I can make a decision on the little "button" embellie below the circle LOL!  I think I took out every possible embellishment before deciding on the vanilla Hodge Podge Hardware, with the red circle layered on top.  I could have used a flower, but I have this "thing" about using flowers with floral stamps.  So how come I seem to buy so many floral stamps and then buy as many flowers...that I'm reluctant to use?    Duh? 

I also got a new embossing folder.  It's a Sizzix folder, Christmas Set #6, and oh boy is it a deep impression.  In fact it almost (actually did around the edges!) tore my cardstock.  Mind you I used it on ivory, which is a lighter weight than regular cardstock, but what a crisp impression!

The rest of the Mischief Makers have some amazing creations to share, so pop over to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog for inspiration galore.  Then it's your turn! I sure look forward to seeing what you use as the "button" embellie!  I know I'll be slapping myself as I check out your projects wondering why couldn't I think of that?  You can use any stamps you like...so play along with us!  Link your project up to the Waltzing Mouse Challenge blog and you could be one of our Top Mice next week!

That's all I have today, but I'll be back tomorrow with my Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge.  I hope you'll join me!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #26

 
Happy Weekend!  I don't work this weekend and I'm so happy to have the time to be with my family.  We haven't put our tree up yet, so that's the big event planned for today!  So in keeping with the mood, I have another Christmas card to share using the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #25!

We have a circle card for Challenge #25!  I love circle cards but I rarely make them, so this was a welcome sketch.  It's easy enough to work and I quite like the way my card turned out.  I see even more influence from my fellow Mischief Makers, I just love the way they work ribbon and flowers with that edgy shabby look!  I just need a sewing machine that I can easily pull out and I'd be even closer.

 

 
I don't suppose it's really as "Christmassy" as it could have been, but I love it anyway!  I had picked up the kraft scallop circle cards in a kit with envelopes a while back (on sale!) and I was a little disappointed when I realized they weren't cards, only scalloped circles.  I hadn't touched them and then I saw this post by Julee Tilman (Poetic Artistry), where she showed how she made her circle cards, and a whole new world opened up for me! 

I started by embossing the front circle with the large snowflakes embossing folder by Sizzix.  I scored a line along the top of the back circle and ran adhesive along the top.  The designer paper is last year's Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey and I paired it with Bravo Burgundy.  I stamped the "Nice" stamp from Waltzing Mouse's Around Christmas Time set, in Bravo Burgundy on kraft and then again on white.  I punched out the word "nice" and popped it up in the centre and added wine gems to the dots along the edge.  I did a little sponging with Antique Linen distress ink on the doily and the image.  The belly border consists of a scalloped border of Bravo Burgundy and Kraft taffeta ribbon tied in a bow.  I added some tiny roses then nestled the sentiment section up to it and popped it up.

 
Here's a head on image so you can see the sentiment a little better!  I think it's just the cutest and most fun sentiment for a Christmas card to a friend!

Are you going to play with us?  I would love to see your take on the sketch!  If you need more inspiration head over to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog!  You can use whatever stamps you like, and if you have Waltzing Mouse stamps, I can't think of a better reason to ink them up.  Link your creation to Sketch 26 post on the Challenge Blog and you could be one of our Top Mice featured on the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be back tomorrow with the return of the Sweet Sunday Sketch!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #25

 
I love colour and pattern, but I also love the drama and contrast of black and white!  When I got the Waltzing Mouse set "Festive Foliage", I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it...and you know, I think it took me longer to photograph this card than it took to make it!

 
I really wanted to capture the beauty of these images and the crisp winter feeling they remind me of.  The pinecone & bough image from Festive Foliage was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black in both corners of the smaller panel and embossed with Black Sparkle embossing powder.  I borrowed the sentiment from Teeny Trees, and embossed it as well.  I wish I could capture the subtle sparkle...but it looks kind of garrish on camera.

 

The rest of the card is all dressing.  I used the polka dot border embossing folder to create the embossed border, the ribbon is black and silver satin and since the sketch called for embellishment on the lower right, I added some bling!

Are you ready to try out the sketch yourself?  You can use any stamps you like, but we always love to see what you do with your Waltzing Mouse stamps.  Upload your creation here and next week you could be featured as one of our Top Mice!

Need more inspiration?  Pop in to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog and see what the Mischief Makers have done with it!

That's it for me today!  Have a fabulous day and thanks so much for spending a bit of it with me! 

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #24

 
Happy Saturday!  It's been snowing here for a couple of days, and with daylight savings time it gets dark so early that I put off shovelling our drive...a die hard procrastinator's excuse LOL!  So right now that's what I have to look forward to tomorrow.  I really wish I lived in Texas, or Florida right now.  On the bright side we will have a white Christmas....and that's where my mind was making my Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge card...on Christmas!

It's sketch challenge 24 over at the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog, and it's a nice and easy sketch to work with.   I am always so inspired by the Mischief Makers challenge team, that I decided to add a big bow to my card.  I guess I need to find the right ribbon, because it's just not the same.

I tried to keep my card as simple as the sketch, although I got a little carried away with the bow and glitter.  See for yourself.

 
I haven't inked up Teenie Trees in a while, so I thought I would put it to the test.  I stamped the tree in Old Olive twice' on white and on a piece of Bo Bunny designer paper.  The little stars on and off the tree were inked in my glue pad, stamped and glittered with Glitter Ritz Lavender Rose glitter.  I love that stuff!  I added the sentiment and cut the designer paper section out with Labels 14 Spellbinders die.  I popped up the other tree to finish with the sentiment panel.

The card base is Purely Pomegranate and the card front is Crate Paper dp.  I randomly stamped stars in glue on the dp and glittered them, then added Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon and tied a bow.  I dangled a little star charm I've had in my stash forever and "ruffled" the ribbon with strategic glue dots!

 
Pretty simple sketch for you to try!  Swing over the the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog and gaze at the awesome designs of the Mischief Makers and our Top Mice!  That should provide enough inspiration to launch you into creating something fabulous!  Link it up by next Thursday and you could be selected as one of our top mice!

That's it for me.  I'm going to bed to dream of warm sandy beaches.  Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for dropping by!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #23

 
It's Saturday, and time for the newest Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge!  I think this is a really fun sketch, although it had me stumped until I started playing with some paper combinations...then I saw how it would work!  I hope you're up to giving it a shot.  You can play with any stamps you want, but we always enjoy seeing what you do with your Waltzing Mouse stamps!  Here's my take on it!

 

 
I am just in the mood for Christmas cards these days.  I hear some people complain about getting them done, but I've always started early and worked with challenges and usually have more than enough to get me through.  This card uses the set Bountiful Basket Additions, which is a fall and Christmas set, and  really has a lot of versatility in it, because you can put just about anything in these little baskets! 

I liked the idea of a basket of parcels and letters...I mean who wouldn't get excited about that!  I stamped the basket and masked off the top and stamped the parcels.  I coloured my basket & parcels with Copic markers and cut it out and popped it up on a Spellbinder's circle.  The paper is SEI's Christmas Mint from last year.  I used some green ric rac along the "seam" and added some photo corners for interest.  The crystal flourishes I picked up at Walmart of all places!  I let the tag "dangle" a bit, it seemed fitting, and voila...another Christmas card for my stash!

Pop on over to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog and see the amazing works of art by the other Mischief Makers...plus the fabulous Top Mice!  Then the ball's in your court!  Link up your project to the challenge post here and you might be featured as one of our Top Mice next week!

That's all I have today, but I'll be back tomorrow with my Sweet Sunday Sketch.  Have yourself a fabulous day and thanks for spending a few minutes here with me!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #22

 The weekend is here which always makes me happy!  I do have to work today, but Saturdays can be fun...it's a little more relaxed.  And with the weekend brings another Waltzing Mouse Sketch challenge, which is as good a reason to stamp as any!

I looked at this sketch all week long and let a few ideas start playing in my head before finally sitting down to give it a shot.  I think my card was definitely influenced by the amazing ladies on the Mischief Makers team with me. They are so good at vintage and shabby, that when I finally had an idea, I couldn't help but see it a bit shabby.  It's not really my style, but I tried my best to pull it off.

 

 Stamps:  Big Blooms-Chrystanthemums, Frame it (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
Paper:  Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla (SU), Road Show Dp (Fancy Pants)
Ink:  Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Kiwi Kiss (SU), Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Ribbon tags (Spellbinders), buttons (?), paper piercer & template, taffeta ribbon

I think Big Blooms is my favorite Waltzing Mouse Set.  It's a one or two-step stamp and it reminds me of how I started stamping...with coloured ink.  These days I rarely use my coloured inks so this set brings back all that fun!  I stamped the medium sized solid blooms in Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss and Ruby Red, and the leaf in Kiwi Kiss.  I cut each flower out and then I roughed them up a bit including sponging Antique Linen distress ink to soften the brightness of the vanilla.  I attached a leaf to the back of each flower and added a coordinating button to their centres and popped them up.  The sentiment is from Frame It, which is a fabulous fall to sentiment set, and cut it out with Spellbinders Ribbon tag.  I sponged the designer paper and pierced the perimeter.  One day I'll get a small sewing machine that does a decent job.  The ribbon is taffeta and I heated it with my heat tool after tying the bow to give it that shabby look.  That's about it...but it was a pretty simple sketch! 

There is more inspiration and ideas for this sketch over at the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog.  Check out what the design team has done with it, you'll just love all their fabulous creations!  Then it's your turn!

Play along with our sketch!  You don't have to have Waltzing Mouse stamps to play, but if you have them, this is a great time to get them inky.  Link your finished project up to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge Blog and you might be featured as our Top Mouse next week when we introduce Sketch #23!  I look forward to seeing your fabulous creations!

That's all for me.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend...I'll be back tomorrow with another Sweet Sunday Sketch!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #21

 
Well Friday came and went and here it is Saturday and we've got a really fun Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge for you!  This week it's a little pocket and tag combo!  I can't wait to see what you do with it!  Here's my take:

 

 

 

 I was in the mood for Christmas, and it also gave me a chance to play with one of my new Waltzing Mouse sets, Bountiful Basket Additions!  This is such a fun set, with so many options.  It really does come with the baskets, but I decided it worked beautifully as a tag topper and that's what I did!

 Stamps:  Bountiful Basket Additions (Waltzing Mouse Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft, Basic Black, Old Olive (SU), Jovial DP (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Library card & pocket (Maya Road), ruffled ribbon (May Arts), gold cord & scallop border punch (SU), gold pearls (Recollections), Copic Markers

The base is Kraft cardstock, which I love as a neutral.  The designer paper is more of Basic Grey's Jovial...love this line!  The pocket is one of Maya Road's "Library Cards", which are so fun to use for cards and scrapbook pages.  I trimmed off 1/4" from the bottom of the card, and then stamped the poinsettias on Prism Simply Smooth Ivory.  I created a mask with Eclipse tape and then stamped the image again, creating a grouping wide enough for the pocket.  The poinsettias were coloured with Copics and I added teeny gold pearls to each flower centre.  I added some scallops to the top of the pocket to add a little interest and of course more gold pearls.  The pocket was still looking a little bare so I stamped the holly sprig in Versamark across it and wrapped some ruffled ribbon around the lower part.  I stamped the sentiment on Kraft and tied it to the ribbon with gold cord.  I also attached some gold cord to the tag so it could be pulled up easily.  And finally I punched the corners and added some larger gold pearls to finish it!  I love this fun little card...and it will be perfect as a gift card holder!

I hope you are going to play with the Mischief Makers!  They have out done themselves again with creative versions of this sketch...you really have to check it all out at the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog.  Then take your turn and link it up.  You don't have to use Waltzing Mouse stamps, but it's always a good excuse to pull them out and play!

OK...so who's happy that What Not to Wear is back on?  They had three new episodes on today, and I watched them all with a sick kid...twice LOL!  I just love Stacy.  She's my polar opposite.  Tall, dark and skinny...I'm short, blonde and well...not skinny!  The show is funny and I get a few good tips from it every now and then. But if anyone ever tagged me for that show, I'd say no.  A bit too humiliating for me, plus truth be told, I'd rather spend my money on stamps than clothes! But I'm happy to see them back...Stacy and Clinton are just too cute. 

Happy Saturday friends...I'm got a teen Halloween party to host tonight, and more trick or treating fun on the big day! My kid needs to get better and I need some rest so I'm off to bed!

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #20

 
Happy Saturday!  It's Waltzing Mouse Sketch day, and we're already at sketch #20!  I just got the set Rescue Remedies, and I thought it would work perfect for this week's sketch.  I had it all pictured in my head...I saw it pink and feminine and pretty.  Well, I think it's feminine and pretty, but somewhere along the line it ended up green.  Go figure!

 

 
I love the label style images from Rescue Remedies, and their fabulous vintage look and feel.  I stamped the label in Memento Tuxedo Black and added the teensiest bit of colour with my YG93 marker on the letters and symbols.  It was cut with the Labels 4 nestability and I sponged Antique Linen distress in while the die was still in place.  The designer paper is Webster's Pages and I added a length of crocheted ribbon just behind it.  The sketch called for a tag, so I stamped "Gratis" and tied it around the label with gold cord.  I might have gone a bit overboard with the pearls, but it just seemed to keep calling for more!  Those fun little flowers just turned up in my stash when I was organizing.  I bet I've had them for 5 yrs or more.  Back then I would never  have considered putting such a bulky item on a card so I'm not sure what I had planned on using them for, but I am quite pleased to have discovered them again now! 

The Mischief Makers have been incredibly creative with this week's sketch, so I highly recommend a visit to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge Blog.  You'll see all their creations and find out who the Top Mice are this week!

That's all I have for today, but I'll be back tomorrow with a Sweet Sunday Sketch!  I hope you'll join me...it's always a pleasure that you do!

 

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #19

    
 
Happy Saturday my friends!  I've got a card for this week's Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge to share with you.  We're on sketch #19 this week and it was a fun one.

 
Another CAS design, and I tried to keep it that way, but I love to embellish!  So it's kinda-sorta CAS. Now you know I usually have a fairly literal take on sketches, and this one is no exception.  See....

 
I picked Lil' Buddies again!  It's so cute and fun to work with...plus I love the little puns in the sentiments!   I stamped my little chickies on a scrap and coloured them with Copics then popped them up over their counterparts.  I love dimension on a card, which is why a one layer card is so difficult for me.  I cut off the border of a piece of Sassafrass designer paper....which I bought just for the border anyway LOL!  I tied yellow polka dot grosgrain ribbon where I was supposed to, and then I got really rebellious and added three (naked) buttons in the upper corner.   Eeek...I know those sketch police are gonna get me someday!

That's all there was to this little number...so now you ought to hop on over to the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge blog and see what amazing inspiration the Mischief Makers have in store for you!  Then be sure to give the sketch a whirl yourself and you could find yourself featured as one of our Top Mice next week and this week there's a stamp set on the line!  Just make sure you link it up to the Sketch  #19 post before midnight next Thursday to be in the running.

Now you go and have yourself a fabulous weekend and thanks so much for dropping by...it's always a pleasure to have you!