Day 3 - WMS Sneak Peek

Welcome to Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse Sneak Peeks - Are you excited as I am by the new stamps so far???

Looky what we have today BANNERS!!! whoo hoo! We have big banners and little banners! Decorative banners and simple banners!

These little banners are from the new set being released March 1 called Bitty Banners. I used the frame and sentiment from Frame It to make this festive Birthday card. Banners just scream PARTY don't they??!! I love how Claire has different designs on each one.

On this card I used one of the big banners from the new set Vintage Banners. The ribbon/label is from Bitty Banners and the sentiment is from Free Spirit - Sentiments.

And - Yes!!! - The Vintage Banners stamps were designed to fit the Spellbinders Nested Pennants and Nested Lacey Pennants which will be available mid-March. These are also very easy to hand cut as I did on my cards today.

Please join us tomorrow for the Waltzingmouse Release Design Team Blog Waltz - get your list ready of what new rubbah you want - and be ready to comment - you might win a free stamp set! It will all begin March 1st at 2 pm EST!

I'm heading over to the rest of the DT's blogs to see what they've made with these sweet banner stamps - want to come with me?? Just click on their links below!

Claire

Mona

Jennifer

Bonnie

Lynn

Anya

Belinda

Sandie

Laurie
Carly
Sarah

Happy Birthday card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Bitty Banners (available 3/1), Frame It

Paper: White, Bitty Dot Basics - PTI

Ink: memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Spiced Marmelade, Barn Door, Stormy Sky, Peeled paint.

Celebrate card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Vintage Banners, Bitty Banners (available 3/1), Free Spirit- Sentiments

Paper: White, Bitty Star Basics - PTI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Imperial Purple

Accessories: Gems - Creative Charms, foam tape.

Day 2 - WMS Sneak Peek

Welcome to Day 2 of the Waltzingmouse March Release Sneak Peeks! All of the DT will be showing creations made with a lovely new labels set that coordinates with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 18 ( available in mid-March) the set is called Vintage Labels 18

For my card today I layered 2 of the labels, one stamped on Sweet Blush and one stamped on white. Since I don't have the dies yet - I cut both labels out by hand. They are easy peasy to cut as they have nice flowing lines.

I love how they look against this lovely piece of Webster's Pages patterned paper. I stamped one of the little decorative pieces included in this set above and below the sentiment and adhered a little bling on each. Finally, I added a strip of lace and tied the seam tape in a bow. The sentiment is from Asian Gardens Additions.

Please check out all of the WMS DT's blogs to see how they've used this lovely new set that will be available on March 1 over at the Waltzingmouse Shop!

Claire

Mona

Jennifer

Bonnie

Lynn

Anya

Belinda

Sandie

Laurie
Carly
Sarah

I hope you'll stop by tomorrow to see my peek at the final two stamp sets in the WMS March release - I think you're gonna love 'em!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - labels from Vintage Labels 18 (available 3/1), sentiment from Asian Garden Additions.

Paper: White, Sweet Blush - PTI, DP Webster's Pages Petite Papers

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Peeled Paint, Antique Linen

Accessories: foam tape, tiny gems - Taylored Expressions, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, lace - Marks Finest Papers.

Day 1 - WMS Sneak Peek - Round up the Posse!!

Welcome to the 1st day of the Waltzingmouse March 1 Release Sneak Peeks!

Today all of the Design Team members are previewing Claire's 2 wonderful new Western theme sets - Way Out West and Back in the Saddle. I got so excited about these 2 sets I made 3 cards to share today!

This wonderful woodgrain background stamp and the sherrif's badge are from Way Out West. The wanted poster, sentiment and cowboy on the horse are from Back in the Saddle.

That little cowboy on the wanted poster is my son, Josh, when he was just 2 1/2 (he's now 33!) He always loved wearing hats; cowboy, fireman, spaceman, policeman, any kind of hat. (and when he grew up - he enlisted in the Army!) In this picture he also has on a Darth Vader cape from that year's Halloween costume. I'll save this card for his birthday in September.

For my next card I wanted to show that you don't have to go all 'Yee Haw' cowboy to enjoy these sets. Here I just used one of the sentiments from Back In the Saddle to make a pretty thank you card. The sentiment fit nicely inside this Spellbinders tag. I sponged the tag before taking it out of the die.

The Webster's Pages patterned paper matches the tag perfectly don't you think?? I wove 2 pieces of wrinkled seam tape through the tag and tied a bow. To finish it off I added two little gems to the scrolls in the sentiment.

And my last peek is about as CAS as you can get! This fun guitar and sentiment are from Back in the Saddle. I dry embossed a rectangle Nestability for the frame, stamped the guitar on a scrap, sponged the edges and adhered it inside the frame with foam tape.

I hope you're excited about these new WMS sets - they'll be available on March 1 at the WMS Store.

And finally - here's the rest of the Design Team for you to check out their sneak peeks today!
Claire
Mona
Jennifer
Bonnie
Lynn
Anya
Belinda
Laurie

Carly

Sarah (our newest DT member, former Mischief Maker - please welcome her!)

See you tomorrow for WMS Sneak Peek Day 2!! We've got another great stamp set to show you!

Wanted poster card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Way Out West & Back in the Saddle

Paper: Rustic Cream - PTI, Basic Black - SU

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress - Brushed Corduroy & Old Paper

Accessories: photo, distresser - Ranger

Much Obliged:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Back in the Saddle

Paper: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado - PTI, DP - Webster's Pages Petite Papers

Ink: Ranger Distress - Brushed corduroy, Bundled Sage

Accessories: wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, Ribbon Tag Trio 2 - Spellbinders, Rhinestones - Kaiser, foam tape.

Happy Trails:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse -Back in the Saddle

Paper - Rustic Cream - PTI

Ink: Ranger Distress Brushed Corduroy

Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, foam tape.

Three for Rubbernecker

Here are 3 cards I made this week for challenges over on Split Coast.
I made this cute lil' cowboy card as a CASE of Featured Stamper StampGroover's Poor Dat card. I changed the image to a cowboy and used different colors. Instead of popping up some of the image I paper pieced him. Isn't he a cute little guy?!

This card was made for Saturday's Inspiration Challenge. Steph showed us a wall decal art web shop and I chose this Prairie Vegetation design. I black embossed several different floral stamps from Rubbernecker sponged the edges and added a pink butterfly in the corner. This also works for Thursdays Ways to Use It Challenge - to use silhouettes on your card.

And my third card was made for the color challenge - Betty's colors this week were Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum and Rose Red - her dessert option was to use hardware. I always find color challenges - well - a real challenge!! So I used mostly purple on my card - getting the green in with a ribbon and adding just a touch of red with the butterfly, the gems and a jeweled pin in the ribbon (does a pin count as hardware??!)

This is also for Da Mudder's Teapot Tuesday challenge - where we were to illustrate the Best of the Best or the Worst of the Worst for the A-card-a-me Awards. I'm illustrating the Best of the Best ie - a lovely fashion lady!

This card will go postal to Lauren - a young actress who has had to put her career on hold due to some health issues - we hope our best and worst cards will bring a smile to her face!

Well dear friends - we're halfway to the weekend - whoo hoo!

If I don't see you before - I hope you'll stop by on Saturday when all the Waltzingmouse DT will start sneak peeking the March 1 new release stamp sets!

Oh - and if you have a minute --check out the sympathy card I made for PSA Essentials - thanks!

Cowboy:

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Lil'Cowboy #51-12, petite Tumbleweed #51-11
Paper: white, dark chocolate - PTI DP - Cosmo Cricket Wanted
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Bundled Sage & Old Paper
Accessories: twine, circle punch, quickie Glue Pen, foam tape, gold pen, silver pen, COpics E34, E19, R20, E00

Your Day to Shine:
Stamps: Rubbernecker - Floral Silhouette set #467, Sentiments #2 - 200-04, Fall Trilogy #480
Paper: white, hibiscus burst, plum pudding - PSI, creamy caramel, basic black - SU
Ink: Versamark, Versafine onyx black, Ranger Distress Pumice stone
Accessories: butterfly punch - Martha Stewart, glue dots

Fashion Fades:

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Fashion Icon Set #455
Paper: WHite - PTI, Purple - Coredinations
Ink: Perfect Plum - SU, Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Quickie Glue Stick, butterfly punch - Martha Stewart, TIny Gems - Taylored Expressions, wrinkled seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop,pin - Dritz jeweled pin, foam tape, Designer Label punch - SU

Whootin Hi and a Sunny Sky!

Last week's Teaparty over on Split Coast was all about the owls - specifically Whooligan Harry sittin in the tree. Well - funny thing - I was walking through the woods behind my house and lo and behold!! I came upon Whooligan Harry and he WAS actually sittin in the tree!! what are the chances?!?!?!

So here he is on my card - in the winter bare tree with the stars shining in the sky. I stamped two encouraging Bible Verses inside as this card will be going postal to Marie - a quadriplegic due to MS - who can only move her head - who somehow still manages to stay in good spirits. We're hoping that each owl card that arrives will bring a smile to her face!

Stamps: Wise Owl - PTI Inside Everyday Blessings - PTI
Paper: Kraft - Gina K, White - PTI, DP Dream St. Papers LLC/Sam-whoo-hoo
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Ranger Distress - Dried Marigold, Brushed Corduroy
Accessories: Rhinestones - Kaiser, Sizzix Bare Tree & Picket Fence dies, Sizzlets Lots of Tags Labels 1 - SU

I was happy to help Peggy illustrate last week's SCS color challenge with this card. Peggy's color choices were Wild Wasabi green, So Saffron yellow and Pacific Point blue.

I framed a sunny sky scene for my card using PTI cloud dies and a Lacey circle nestie die for the sun. I sponged over the chipboard frame to give it some color and added a bow of three different colored twine to the corner for the dessert option!

This lovely birthday verse is from Rubbernecker

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Garden Phrase Set #508
Paper: White & Summer Sunrise - PTi, Green & Blue - Coredinations
Ink: So Saffron - SU, Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress - Weathered Wood
Accessories: twine -Martha Stewart, Lacey Circles Nestabilities, clouds dies - PTI, Chipboard Frame - Tattered Angels, scor tape, foam tape

A Bon Voyage Tag

Big congrats to Charlene (Willow1) for being the FS last week over at Split Coast. I had fun checking out her lovely gallery and finally decided to CASE her Time Flies tag . I am always intrigued by tags when I see them on peoples blogs but I don't often make them myself so this was a good challenge for me!

I used different stamps and a different theme from Charlene's but used a similar color scheme and did background stamping.

I used some new travel theme 'rubbah' that I just got from Rubbernecker for my tag.

I stamped the background on the tag, then I stamped the sentiment cut with a Tim Holtz die and adhered it with foam tape after sponging the edges. The wings are a Tim Holtz die also.

I stamped the passport and ticket packet, sponged the edges and adhered them to the tag.

Then I tied two different color seam tapes through the hole at the top of the tag and added my bling!

This would be fun attached to some magazines or a music CD to give to a traveling friend, don't you think?!

Stamps: Rubbernecker - Travel Background #44-08, Bon Voyage # 44-14, Airline Tickets #44-10, Petite Passport # 44-07,
Paper: Tag - Staples, Vintage Cream - PTI
Ink: Ranger Distress - Walnut stain, Old Paper, scattered straw, shabby shutters, dried marigold,
Accessories: wrinkled seam tape - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix dies Regal Crest & Heart Wings, foam tape, blending tool & non stick craft mat - Ranger

WMS Saturday Sketch - It's Time

Happy Saturday dear friends! Do you have Monday off for President's Day? I do and while I hope to spend some time with DH (!) - I also plan to get some extra stamping in for the WMS sneak peeks starting on Saturday 2/26!! Wait till you see what Claire has created for the March 1st release!

But for today - we have this fun star sketch to challenge us!

I went pretty literal with the sketch (as I usually do!) and made my card a star shape using my Nestabilities.

I used the cute little rocket guy from Half Pint Heroes and the perfect sentiment to go with him from Free Spirit Sentiments. I colored the rocket with Copics and sponged the sentiment with Mustard Seed Distress Ink by Ranger. Then I just added a little ZVA bling. This would make a fun graduation card don't you think?

Now go check out the WMS Sketch Blog and get inspired by the cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created using this week's sketch.

Then make your own card using the sketch and link it on the Sketch Blog by Thursday 2/24/11 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be chosen Top Mouse !!

Winners are announced each Saturday along with the new sketch challenge. And now every week one lucky entry will win a free WMS stamp set of choice!! whoo hoo!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Half Pint Heroes, Free Spirit Sentiments

Paper: Gold - Canford Card, white - PTI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress - Mustard Seed
Accessories: Star & Circle Nestabilities, Copics: Y13, Y38, Bo9, B37, E00, E35, R20, C1, Ro8, Gold Pen - Spica, ZVA creative adhesive pearls.

Christmas In February

Lynn has posted the February Christmas Card Challenge over on the WMS forum! This month's challenge is called "Quick Pick" to use something on your work table to make your card(s). Here are 4 cards I made for the challenge this month.

I usually clean up and put away all my stuff after I've finished a project so I have a (fairly) clean space when I sit down to work on something new. But, I did have a card front stamped with these 4 trees - that hadn't worked out the way I envisioned so it was just sitting in a basket where I put pieces of things not used.

I cut out each tree and put one on each card using foam tape. I chose patterened papers that coordinated with the colors of the trees. The papers are cut with Mega Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities.

I stamped the snowflakes with gold ink on the trees and around the sentiment. So now I have 4 more cards made!

You can read all about the monthly Christmas Card Challenges here on the WMS blog and here on the WMS forum in the Playroom. New challenges are posted on the 10th of each month!

Come join in the fun and get your Christmas cards done early this year while your at it!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - (sentiment & snowflake) Twas the Night Before Christmas, (tree) Teeny Trees.

Paper: white - PTI, DP K&Co Tim Coffee Designer Mat Pad (blue), Basic Grey Archaic Paper Pad (2 greens), Kioshi Paper Pad (brown with dots)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Ranger Distress Milled Lavender, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Chipped Sapphire, Color Box Gold

Accessories: mega deckled rectangle Nestabilites, Sizzlits lots of tags Labels 1 - SU, Foam tape.

February Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz!

Welcome to the February Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz - it all starts in the playroom of the WMS forum - you can find all the details here. We hope you'll come join us! This month the theme is using buttons!

I used one of the tree stamps in Teeny Trees to make my blossom, stamping the tree 5 times in a circle directly onto the patterned paper - then I added my buttons to the center, tying a piece of satin ribbon through the big one and adhereing bling to the smaller ones. My circle sentiment was made with stamps from Victorian Frippery. I sponged all the edges with Scattered Straw ink.

As usual - there's a contest going on during the waltz - you have to guess the theme of one of the WMS stamp sets being released March 1. Each design team member has a word clue in their posting. A random correct guess will win a WMS stamp set!

Did you own a horse when you were little??

Stamps: Waltzingmouse: Tiny Trees, Victorian Frippery

Paper: Kraft - Gina K, Simply Chartreuse - PTI, DP Basic Grey Curio Paper Pad.

Ink: Ranger Distress - Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Bundled Sage, Scattered Straw.

Accessories: Narrow silk ribbon & vintage buttons - PTI, rhinestones - Kaiser, Circle Punch - SU, blending tool & nonstick craft mat - Ranger

Flying by with a Prayer

I made this card for a combination of last week's Teapot Tuesday Challenge and the sketch challenge on Split Coast.

The teapot destination (where we can send our card if we choose to) is Sean, a 23 year old diagnosed with cancer and going through some pretty radical treatment - one of his hobbies is model airplanes that fly - so this plane is flying by with a prayer for him and will hopefully bring a smile to his face!

Hope to see you tomorrow for the friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz over in the forum! We're using buttons on our cards! You can check out all the deets here.

Stamps: Fly Away - Papertrey Ink, Sentiment - Notes of Prayer/Verve
Paper: Kraft - Gina K, Vintage Cream - PTI, DP Cosmo Cricket Lil Man Mischievous Max
Ink: Ranger Distress - Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: twine - PTI, Heart Bling - Amuse, exacto knife, Copics BG10, YG95, foam tape

A Valentine for Kent

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thought I'd share the card I made for my DH Kent this year.

I was inspired by a card I saw at CVS last week when I was picking up a little chocolate treat to give Kent with his card. As soon as I saw the card - I knew I could re-create it with my Waltzingmouse Stamps - it was like the person had used these very stamps to make it!

The store card had a little more shimmer and a red ribbon on it - but I thought I'd keep it clean for DH. I white embossed the frippery on the black panel and black embossed the rose and leaves. I cut out the leaves and rose, adhereing the leaves over the frippery and adhereing the rose over the leaves with foam tape. Then I stamped my sentiment cutting around the shapes of the letters and adhered that with foam tape. I really love how this came out and I think Kent will like it too! (especially with the giant Reeses heart I'm giving him with it!) LOL!!

Inside I stamped two sentiments from Seasons of Love Tags and Sweet Hearts.

I hope you got a pretty card today from someone in your life and that you gave some too!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Roses in Bloom, Sweet Hearts, Victorian Frippery, Seasons of Love Tags.
Paper: White- PTI, green, red, black - Coredinations
Ink: Versofine onyx black, Versamark.
Accessories: Black & white embossing powder, hot gun, foam tape.

My 2010 World Card Making Day Winning Card!

You may remember when I linked to this announcement from PaperCrafts Magazine announcing the winners of the 2010 World Card making Competition - this is my card that I won with, a very clean and simple Christmas card!


Here's a picture of the page (page 80 of the March/April 2011 PaperCrafts Magazine) See the Yuletide card just above mine? that was made by my fellow WMS DT, uber talented, stamping friend, Belinda - how fun we got posted on the same page!!

It made me tingle all over to see my card (and name!) in print!! My friends & co-workers are all now officially sick of me telling them I got published!

Stamps: Teeny Trees - Waltzingmouse

Paper: White - PTI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Ranger Distress - barn Door, Stormy Sky

Accessories: Micron 01 fine black pen, wrinkled seam tape - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com/

Waltzingmouse Saturday Sketch - Hugs

Wow - can it really be Saturday so soon?!? It seems like I was just posting last week's sketch and here's another one ready to inspire us!

And here's my take on it today!

I white embossed the large outline flower from Big Blooms - Chrysanthemums and cut it out. I stamped the big solid leaf from the set on the panel and adhere the bloom over them with foam tape. I tied the wrinkled seam tape around the panels. I sponged the purchased tag and stamped it with one of the little leaf stamps and sentiment from Teeny Trees. Then I tied the tag around the seam binding. To finish it off - I added the bling to the tag and the corner.

This card is also for the Inspiration Challenge on Split Coast today - I was inspired by these lovely flowers

Now go check out the WMS Sketch Blog and get inspired by the cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created using this week's sketch.

Then make your own card using the sketch and link it on the Sketch Blog by Thursday 2/17/11 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be chosen Top Mouse !!

Winners are announced each Saturday along with the new sketch challenge. And there just may be a WMS stamp set to be won too! Last week the prize was 'Sweet Hearts'!!!

And don't forget the Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz being held in the forum on 2/17 - We're using buttons on our creations! Check it all out here. Come join the fun!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Big Blooms - Chrysanthemums, Teeny Trees

Paper: White - PTI, pink and cranberry - Coordinations.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Angel Pink, Ranger Distress - Victorian Velvet

Accessories: Tag - Staples, hot gun, white embossing powder, wrinkled seam tape - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com , narrow silk ribbon - PTI, Rhinestones - Kaiser.

Treats For My Valentine!

If you foll0w my blog at all - then you know how much I LOVE making treat containers! Thought I'd share a few that I made for a Valentine's Sale at my church last week.

I got these pails at Target last year on sale, after season. I decorated them with some stampings and slipped a box of crayons, a pad of paper and some candies inside! The stamps are Waltzingmouse, Rubbernecker and Papertrey Ink.

Stamps: Heart - Sweet Hearts/Waltzingmouse, Happy Valentine's Day - Rubbernecker, Pail & sentiment - Tiny Treats Valentines/Papertrey Ink
Paper: White - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Fired Brick
Accessories: foam dimensionals, paper shred, pail - Target, heart punch - EK Success, circle and lacey circle nestabilities, green & red copic.

My talented stamping friend, Anya, had these cones on her blog with a link to the template. I knew as soon as I saw them I wanted to make some! I put 5 kisses in each one along with some basket shred. I just used patterned paper for the cones (instead of stamping them like Anya did) since I was mass producing!

Stamps: Rubbernecker
Paper: Scarlet Jewell, White - PTI, DP's My Mind's Eye/Irresistable, K & Co/Smitten
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Modern label punch - SU, Shiny stems - Michaels, cone template - http://www.afieldjournal.blogspot.com. , hole punch, heart punch - EK Success

I got this idea from fellow WMS DT member Joan - I decorated it all a little differently but got the bag idea from her. Of course, I just happened to have some of these bags in my stash!?! The little brown bag is open at the top so these message hearts come out and you could also slip in a gift card! I love, love, love this stitching stamp from WMS!!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Sweet Hearts, Off Beat Backgrounds (stitching)
Paper: Pure Poppy, White, Berry Sorbet - PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Lady Bug
Accessories: minibags - Michaels, heart punch - EK Success, twine - PTI

I got these pretty scalloped heart dishes last year at Michaels after season (2 for $1!). I had some paper doilies that I adhered to the inside of the dish. I filled a baggie with cherry jelly hearts, tied it with wrinkled seam tape and then trimmed off the top of the bag. I made a tag with a Spellbinders die, stamped it and added foam hearts and a ribbon to the top. Then I just slipped the bag and tag into the dish! So it's a card and gift all in one!

So there you go! hope they inspire! I suddenly feel like eating some candy for some reason !!! LOL!!!

Hope to see you tomorrow for the WMS Saturday Sketch!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Sweet Hearts
Paper: White - PTI, Riding hood red - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: red dotted ribbon, foam hearts, lacey tissue doily, heart dishes - Michaels, wrinkled seam tape - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com/ , scalloped tag - Spellbinders, baggies, candy

Embrace Your Dreams in Color!

Karen Barber was our fearless Color Challenge hostess this week over on Split Coast and boy - did she pick 'challenging' colors! Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, and the kicker - Not Quite Navy. I had a lot of trouble working the dark color into my design!

After tearing up several attempts (!) I finally got to something I ending up liking - a very CAS design using a single frond that I stamped three times in two of the challenge colors (orange and yellow) I used Scattered Straw to sponge all the edges.

I got the blue into my card with the ribbon (which also covers the dessert option even though it's not WIDE ribbon!) as well as the framing panel.

I adhered a strip of pretty lace under the beribboned sentiment.

I find color challenges to be the hardest for me - I'll take a sketch challenge any day!

Stamps: Rubbernecker: Floral Silhouettes #467
Paper: White - PTI, Blue - Coordinations
Ink: Ranger Distress - Spiced Marmelade, Mustard Seed, Chipped Sapphire, Scattered Straw.
Accessories: Lace - Mark's Finest Papers, Wrinkled Seam tape - Prairie Bird Boutique Etsy Shop, foam tape, ribbon tag trio - Spellbinders, Blending tool & non stick craft mat - Ranger

I'm the Guest DT at The Shabby Tea Room Today!

Hello, dear friends! I'm so thrilled that Karen invited me to be the Guest DT for the Shabby Tea Room inspiration challenge today!

Here's the yummy inspiration for us. So many sweet things to focus on!

and here is the card I was inspired to make

I embossed my card, layered on a paper doily and a circle of patterned paper tied with wrinkled seam tape. I cut my hearts with Nestabilities - the pink one is felt and I stamped SWEET right on it (the stamp actually says Home Sweet Home but I only inked the Sweet part!). I sponged all the edges, added the foam flowers and called it DONE!

So now please check out the challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room , see the Shabby Girls creations and link your inspired creation there!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Sewing Box Hugs

Paper: Vintage Cream, Text Style Happy Spots - PTI

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen

Accessories: Pink felt - Michaels, Flora Doodles - Petaloo, circle & heart Nestabilities, brads - Basic Grey, paper doily - Michaels, foam tape, wrinkled seam tape - http://www.prairiebirdboutique.etsy.com/ , Checkerboard embossing folder - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, glue dots

WMSC33 - Hi!

Hello Peeps! it's Saturday - Yippee! and time for another Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - can you believe there have been 33 of them already??? So - here it is!



And here's my creation based on the sketch. I'm trying to think Spring in the middle of this blustery New England winter!

I used 4 Waltzingmouse stamp sets on my card today - Text It and Pic-Nic Patterns on the background, the branch, bird, sun and leaves are from Tiny Trees and the label frame stamp is from Holiday Labels No.14 (this set fits the Labels 14 Nestabilities - whoo hoo!!)

This also is for the Inspiration Challenge over on Split Coast - we had a fun web site Uncommon Goods to browse today. I was inspired by the colors on this wonderful mother/daughter apron set.

We have two new Mischief Makers on the sketch design team posting samples today- please welcome these most talented ladies - Jen Cuthbertson and Jean Martin !!

The DEETS: go check out the WMS Sketch Blog and get inspired by the cards the Mischief Makers and other DT members have created using this week's sketch.

Then make your own card using the sketch and link it on the Sketch Blog by Thursday 2/10/11 at 11:59 pm EST - you could be chosen Top Mouse !! Winners are announced each Saturday along with the new sketch challenge. And there just may be a WMS stamp set to be won too!

Hope to see you back here on Monday - I have exciting news!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Text It, Pic-Nic Patterns, Teeny Trees, Holiday Labels No. 14

Paper: White, Scarlet Jewel - PTI

Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa, Bamboo Leaves, Rhubarb Stalk, Pear Tart, Cantalope, Danube Blue, Ranger distress - Antique Linen

Accessories: Glitter letters - Thickers, foam tape, gems - Bazill Basic Papers, Labels 14 Nestabilities.

Don't Grow Up Too Quickly!

What a great CAS sketch over at Split Coast this week - oddly enough - I made a CAS card with it!!

I just love my new Gina K 'Gifts From the Sea' Stamp set! It has such wonderful sentiments in it as well as lots of different shell and star fish stamps. I found out about this set on my good stamping friend, Vicki's blog ,where she used this sentiment on her cute crabby card!

I have several friends who love the ocean ( I mean REALLY love the ocean!), so I'm sure to get a lot of use out of this set. This card will be going postal to one of them for their birthday in May.

The sentiment says "Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach." Inside I stamped 'Happy Birthday' which is another stamp in this versatile set!

I normally would have popped this pretty shell up on foam tape - but I'm really trying to keep my cards 'flat' when I know I'm mailing them to avoid extra postage!

Thanks for coming by today - I'll be back on Saturday with my Waltzingmouse Sketch card!

Stamps: Gina K - Gifts from the Sea
Paper: White - PTI, DP Archaic Paper Pad/Basic Grey
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Pumice Stone

It's Christmas Every Month in the WMS Forum!

Waltzingmouse DT member Lynn is hosting a monthly Christmas Card Challenge over on the WMS forum! It just started so you can get right in at the start!

On the 10th of every month, Lynn will post a new challenge - January's challenge is to recycle something on your card.

I had already thrown away my Christmas cards and we no longer exchange a lot of gifts (going for the better option of just spending time with family!) so I didn't have any cute tags to reuse. I was in a quandry - what could I recycle?!?

I did, however, save one card that my boss and his wife sent me that had three lovely angels on it. The card was handmade in Bangladesh. I saved it just because the angels were so beautiful - and when I saw it on the shelf in my craft room- I thought - a ha!! I will recycle that into 3 cards!

The angels' halos and wings are a gold textured paper and their dresses feel like a soft suede - they are just lovely - I had to curve the wings a bit as they were overlapped on the card. I chose the colors for my cards based on the colors of their outfits.

I gold embossed one of the WMS music stamps onto Scarlet Jewell paper, layered it onto gold paper and adhered it to the card. I sponged all the edges of the card with Antique Linen ink, adhered the angels over the panels with Scor tape to hold them firmly - and then stamped Peace in the corner.

Here is each one individually -

I just love how these came out! (Sorry the pics aren't the best - I took these at night - I really need to get a better picture taking system!)

I never would have made these pretty cards if it wasn't for this challenge! And now I have 3 cards made for next Christmas! whoo hoo!!

So check it out and add your 'recycle' card to the forum! There are prizes to be won! You can read about it here on the WMS blog and here on the WMS forum in the Playroom. I wonder what the challenge will be for February?!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Musical Backgrounds, Nutcracker Sweet

Paper: Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewell - PTI, Gold - Marks Finest Papers

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Antique Linen

Accessories: Gold embossing Powder, hot gun, blending tool & Non stick craft mat - Ranger.

PSA Essentials on Home Shopping Network today!

Note: to see my SCS Color Challenge card please scroll down!

I have some exciting news! PSA Essential stamps are being featured on HSN (Home Shopping Network) today - around 5:20 am EST and again around 1:20 pm EST.

And they will be selling bundles of PSA stamps at a great savings - so check it out if you have a chance (and you get HSN on Cable)!

Libby asked all of the PSA Design Team to send her cards using certain PSA stamp sets that were going to be featured on the program. I don't know if my cards made the cut or not - but here are the ones I made.

Birthday card: PSA Whimsy Cupcakes & Dare to Dream sets.

Happy Mother's Day: PSA Topiary & Whimsey Cupcakes

In Sympathy: Butterflies - PSA Cupcake, Sentiment is from Waltzingmouse - Asian Garden Additions.

2nd Birthday: PSA Cupcake & Funky Numbers

Thinking of You: PSA Rosettes & Dare to Dream

The Most Shoes: PSA Frenchie (shoe) & Dare To Dream (sentiment)
Friends are Forever: PSA Rosettes & Dare To Dream.

I'm going to try and tape the show so I can see if any of my cards were featured since I'll be getting ready for work when the first segment is on and at work when the 2nd segment is on! If you see any of my cards on the program - let me know, ok???!!

Three Colors of Sympathy

Betty Wright has invited me to host some of theTuesday color challenges over on Split Coast for the next three months and today was my first time! Whoo hoo!! Boy - it's tricky choosing colors that haven't been done before!! And, of course, you want to pick colors people want to use while still being challenged!

So - for my first shot out of the gate I chose 3 neutral colors - white, basic gray, and river rock. There's also a 'dessert option' that goes with the challenge - something extra you can do on your card if you want to - I chose using a background stamp as my dessert option this week.

First, I dry embossed a square Nestability frame on the card. You can see my tutorial on how to do this here.

I stamped the background text across the River Rock panel and adhered it to a gray panel. Then I adhered the panels inside the frame. Next, I stamped the label, sentiment and scrolly and cut it with a Labels 10 Nestability. I adhered the label to the text panel using foam tape and added one little jewel to the scroll.

So what do you think of the 3 colors I chose??? Let me know if you make a card using them!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Text It, Asian Garden Additions, Very Vintage Labels No. 10
Paper: River Rock, Basic Gray - SU, White - PTI
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Accessories: Labels 10 and square Nestabilities, foam tape, gem - Michaels.