Cheer Up Buttercup

Well - it's Monday once again - I hope everyone had a lovely weekend!  We had some sunshine but it was rather cool (50's) and the nights have still been COLD (30's)!   Today is the running of the Boston Marathon - and I work at a hospital right near the finish line.  I decided to take the day off, rather than be in the middle of all the crowds honoring the anniversary of last year's tragedy.

For today's card - I used some new things and some old things on my card -  

The  new thing is the fun background stamp from WPlus9 Borders and Backgrounds set - it's a strip of dots and when you stamp them repeatedly, it looks like rain falling, doesn't it?!  The old thing is the umbrella and sentiment stamps from Scattered Showers from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the dotted umbrella in Mustard Seed Distress Ink onto Harvest Gold card stock - then stamped the outline stamp over the dotted stamping, cut it out and layered it onto the panel with foam dots. I love this sentiment - it cheers me up just reading it for some reason!  I cut my panel with a stitched mat rectangle die and layered it over a piece of Washi tape adhered onto the card base.  I made my own enamel dots by baking Perler beads which I showed on this post.

I'm linking this card to two challenges:

My design was inspired by Seize the Sketch

And the Card Concept challenge is to use an umbrella - my card is Clean and Layering

Stamps:  Scattered Showers - PTI, Borders and Backgrounds - WPlus9.
Paper:  White, Harvest Gold - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Mustard Seed and Tumbled Glass, Archival Garden Gate
Accessories:  foam dots, washi tape - Michaels, enamel dots - home made from Perler Beads.

A Perfect Day for a Happy Birthday

I'm squeezing in a couple more challenge cards that I had time to make this week.  First is a card I used some of my brand new Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi stencils on.  The background is Check Mate and the tree is Layered Tree.  The sentiment is from Sentimental Art by Studio 490 Stampers Anonymous.  I stenciled on a panel of watercolor paper so there is a nice texture on it.  I used Ranger Distress Bundled Sage, Archival Leaf Green and Tree Branch.

I'm linking this card to the Keep It Simple challenge - Stencil

 

As well as Virginia's View Challenge - Stencil
and the Moxie Fab World Styling with Stencils 

For my second card I used some pretty patterned papers I just got at a friends Stampin' Up Party.   The balloons are dies from WPlus9 Whole Lotta Happy that I added twine balloon strings to!   The sentiment  Verve.

My card design is from Seize the Sketch

and I was also inspired by the Cure for the Monday Blues - the colors and mix of patterns!

Tree card
Stamps:  Stampers Anonymous Studio 490 - Sentimental Art
Paper:  White - PTI, Watercolor paper - Ranger
Ink:  Ranger Distress Bundled Sage, Archival Leaf Green and Tree Branch
Accessories:  Stencils:  Check Mate and Layered Tree - Studio 490 Wency Vecchi

Happy Birthday to You
Stamps:  Verve
Paper:  White, Aqua Mist - PTI, DP - Sweet Sorbet Stampin' Up.
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  foam dots, square Nestability, Stitched Mat Rectangle Dies - Lil' Inker Designs, Caribbean Twine- The Twinery, balloon dies - Whole Lotta Happy - WPlus9.

Grey on Gray

I have 2 cards to share today - both done in shades of grey (or gray if you prefer!).   I chose to use greys for the Cas-ual Fridays challenge.  

For my first card I used a stitched mat rectangle to cut the Soft Stone cardstock panel.  I stamped the sentiment and frame using Grey Grout and Pumice Stone inks and added some shimmery enamel dots. Greys are great for sympathy cards - so quiet, soft and comforting.

For my second card I used the Seize the Sketch for my design - and although I used all grays (and white) and it is CLEAN -  I'm not sure if it's CAS enough for the Cas-ual Friday challenge with all the layers.

I used my newly purchased Buttons Stack dies, a stitched mat circle, and chevron die along with some more of the shimmery gray enamel dots.

I love how both of these came out!

Praying for you

Stamps:  Boutique Borders Sympathy - PTI

Paper:  White, Soft Stone -PTI

Ink:  Grey Grout - Color Box (MFT), Ranger Distress Ink Pumice Stone

Accessories:  Stitched Mat Rectangle - Lil' Inker Designs, Enamel Dots - My Mind's Eye

Happy Birthday

Stamps:  Birthday Basics - PTI

Paper:  White, Soft Stone - PTI, Basic Grey - SU, textured grey - Coredinations, DP - Sn@p/Simple Stories

Ink:  Archival Onyx Black

Accessories:  enamel dots - My Mind's Eye, grey bakers twine, chevron die - MFT, foam tape, Stitched Mat Circle die - Lil'Inker Designs, button stack set die - PTI

Waltzingmouse February Release - Sneak Peek Day 3

Welcome friends to day 3 of the Waltzingmouse February Release Sneak Peeks!  Today, Claire has charged us to show how the new sets Gift Card It and Gift Card It Dies, can be used for projects other than gift cards!  Well, we all love a challenge right?!  So here are 3 cards I made using the gift card rectangle die as a panel on my creations along with some sentiments from Gift Card It.

For this card - I added washi tape, a sentiment strip, enamel dots and a key charm to the Gift Card It Die and layered it onto the card base with foam dots.  The NEW Home sentiment is from Gift Card It

I used the Paper Players Sketch for my card and I used metal (key charm) for this weeks Less is More challenge.

For my next card I die cut the gift card in black and scored it on an angle down the whole length of the panel.  I also scored a frame on the white panel.  I stamped the sentiment from Gift Card It on a sentiment strip and adhered it to a striped straw.

Close up of the scoring on the black. 

I'm  linking this card up to this weeks' Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge - For the Boys and 

the Split Coast Stampers  -Love Fest Challenge -  Let's Score sponsored by ScorPal.

And for my third and final card today, I die cut and overlapped two of the gift cards.  I stamped a portion of one of the sentiments from Gift Card It (the full sentiment says For Lovely You from Lovely Me) on the panel and stamped the little bouquet on a punched circle coloring it with Copics.  After putting the pieces together, I embossed the whole panel and then the base panel with mixed dots.

My design for this card was this weeks' Seize the Sketch

 I hope I've given you some ideas on using the Gift Card It Stamps and Dies - They're not just for Gift Cards!   Now let's go check out the rest of the Design Teams creations!!

Anya Schrier 

Jeanne Jachna 

Jen Cuthbertson 

Julia Aston - Me!

Karin Åkesdotter 

Kelly Schirmer 

Laurie Schmidlin
 Lynn Mercurio 

Renee Lynch 

Teresa Kline 

Jennifer Holmes

Claire Brennan - Owner

New Home

Stamps:  Gift Card It - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  white - PTI

Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  Gift Card It Dies - Waltzingmouse, enamel dots - My Minds' Eye, Sentiment strip die - MFT, key charm - Marks' Finest Papers, washi tape - Michaels, blue eyelet, Crop a dile, Ocean twine - The Twinery, foam dots.

Congratulations

Stamps:  Gift Card It - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  white, true black - PTI

 Ink:  Archival Jet Black

Accessories:  ScorPal, Gift Card It Die - Waltzingmouse, striped straw - Michaels, ScorTape, thick foam dots, Sentiment Strip die - MFT.

For Lovely You

Stamps:  Gift Card It - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White, Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse - PTI, Tempting Turquoise - SU, DP Sidwalks - October Afternoon

Ink:  Memento Nautical Blue and Tuxedo Black.

Accessories:  Caribbean Blend sequins - Avery Elle, Copics - YG95, B21, B05, Circle Nestability, circle punch, Gift Card It Die - Waltzingmouse, Dots embossing folder - Darice

Merry AND Bright

We ended up having about 12" of heavy wet snow here in Massachusetts yesterday -  even after shoveling and snow blowing the stuff for an hour after work - it still put me in the holiday spirit to make this card!

There's a stocking on it for the Merry Monday Challenge

My Sentiment was chosen for the CAS-ology cue card    AND  

My sketch is this week's Seize the Sketch

 I'll be back tomorrow with yet another Christmas card!

Stamps:  sentiment from Seasons of Love, stocking from Sewing Box Christmas - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  white, pure poppy - PTI, DP Sn@p Simple Stories
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Maraschino Twine - The Twinery, enamel spots - My Minds Eye, stitched mat rectangles - Lil'Inker Designs, foam dots.

A Berry Wreath for Christmas

Gosh  - every challenge I go look at is inspiring me this week!   I check them out while I'm at work and the ideas start floating around in my head - and I can't wait to get home to my craft room and start stamping!  Of course - I have to work in making supper and try to get in 20 minutes of exercise, and if there's a TV show on I want to watch - I have to work around that as well!!

And, of course, I work it all out because I LOVE TO STAMP!

I made this card using stamps from the Wreath for all Seasons set from PTI, circle Nestabilities and a stitched rectangle mat die from Lil'Inker Designs (you may have noticed I've been using these A LOT on my cards lately?!)

My colors and Christmas theme were inspired by the Merry Monday Challenge - use red, vanilla, kraft, chocolate and ribbon.

And my card design was inspired by this week's Seize the Sketch

Stamps:  Wreath for all Seasons - PTI
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Kraft - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Barn Door, Versafine Vintage Sepia
Accessories:  ribbon - May Arts, Stitched Mats Rectangle - Lil' Inker Designs, foam dots, Circle Nestabilities.

Seize the Valentine

Here's another of the Valentine's I'm madly creating for our sale at church in February (see my last two posts if you've missed them!)

For this card I used Waltzingmouse Stamps -  the two hearts are from the set My Heart and the banner stamp is from the set Woodgrain.  I die cut the white panel with a Tipped Tops die from PTI.  The two hearts are popped up on foam dots and I added 3 red rhinestones.

I used the Seize the Sketch for my design today.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Woodgrain and My Heart
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Fired Brick, Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Tipped Tops Die - PTI, foam tape, rhinestones - Michaels

Mittens and Candycanes

Am I in the Sound of Music and starting to sing "These are a few of my favorite things"? Well, no,   I'm describing the subject matter of my  cards today - both made for challenges, and although, as I stated in a past post, I'm done with this years' Christmas cards -  I have created two more - and they will go in the box for next year (unless I need one suddenly for a new card exchanger! i.e. not on my list!)

I had a lot of fun making these rather whimsical cards today.   The Merry Monday challenge this week was to use mittens or a mitten shape for your card and the Seize the Sketch challenge had a fun banner on it.

And here's my card combining the two challenges.   I bought this cute banner die from Savvy Stamps  last year on sale at the end of the season and forgot to get it out for this year until now, thanks to the challenge!  When I went to look for mittens - I found I had several stamps to choose from - who knew!  I decided to go with these stitched mittens from Waltzingmouse that I paper pieced.  The stitched flag sentiment strip is from Lil' Inker Designs and the stamped sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.

I made my second card for a new challenge I came upon while visiting blogs - it's called Sunday Stamps and this week it's a sketch challenge.

And this is the card I created using the sketch.  More stamps from Waltzingmouse and  WMS dies as well.  I colored in the stripes on the candy cane with a Red Spica pen so it's a little glittery IRL

Here's the inside - continuing the peppermint theme!

Don't forget to check out the WMS Inspiration Blog -  where the Design Team posts something every other day that is sure to thrill and inspire you!   I'll be posting the 15th of each month over there so I hope you'll take a peek!

We had our first appreciable snowfall today -  I actually had to scrape it off the car in the lot I park in where I get the subway to work.  And they are predicting really cold temps in the 20's and more snow in the next few days - 2" - 4",  so no blizzard but enough to shovel!

Mittens
Stamps:  Sewing Box Christmas - Waltzingmouse,  sentiment - My Sentiments Exactly
Paper:  White, Hawaiian Shores - PTI, DP Sn@p - Simple Stories
Ink:  Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  maraschino twine - the Twinery, Happy Holidays Banner Die - Savvy Stamps, stitched sentiment flag die - Lil' Inker Designs, glue Pen, foam dots.

Candy Jar
Stamps:  Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Merry Christmas from Alpine Christmas - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  White - PTI, Basic Grey - SU, Dp Sn@p-Simple Stories.
Ink:  Archival Jet Black, Memento Love Letter
Accessories:  Red Spica Pen, foam dots, Enamel dots - My Minds Eye, Jar Essential dies - Waltzingmouse.

Peace on Earth

Wouldn't it be lovely if we actually could achieve Peace on Earth some day -  that is the hope on my card for today.

The floral bird and sentiment are from a newly released Waltzingmouse set called Folk Art Christmas Additions.  The ornament from Opera Tags Christmas was cut with a coordinating WMS die  from the set Opera tags.  I seem to be in pink mode lately (see yesterday's post!)  The ink here is actually Victorian Velvet Distress Ink which is sort of pink/purple.  I adhered the bird over the die cut ornament with foam dots and added 3 enamel dots.

I used this weeks Seize the Sketch for my card design.

A couple of head's up notices:

Did you know there is a Waltzingmouse Inspiration Blog?   Every other day of every month one of the DT is posting projects there -  you might like to check it out?!  Anya posted yesterday -  my day to post is the 15th of each month.

I'll be posting 4 new creative package templates from Creations by AR on Dec 6th and you could win one of them!

Stamps:  Folk Art Christmas Additions, Opera Tags Christmas - Waltzingmouse
Paper: White - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Victorian Velvet, Archival Jet Black
Accessories:  Opera Tag Die - Waltzingmouse, foam dots, enamel dots - My Minds Eye.

It's Christmas

Well, no, it's NOT Christmas quite yet -  and although I hate all the hoop-la in the stores pre-season - I do love making the Christmas cards with all the beautiful stamps I have!  Today I have two to share.

First up is a card made for the Cas-ology - Cue Word Triangle challenge. 

 I stamped the Nordic style poinsettia square 3 times, cut the squares in half and repositioned them as triangles.  Stamps are from Waltzingmouse - Nordic Winter set

My second Christmas card was made for the Merry Monday Challenge

and for my design I used the Seize the Sketch challenge

I used chocolate brown and pure poppy card stock.  I embossed the red panel with a herringbone EF.  The tree and hearts are from Nordic Winter and the sentiment is from Frame It - all by Waltzingmouse.

I added a Tiny Twinkle to the top of the tree.  The ornament is a Nestability.  And the twine is Cherry Red from Timeless Twine which I just received from Amy Tsuruta!

I had the happy good fortune to meet Amy as she traveled to Boston this past weekend.  We have been blogging friends for over 6 years but have never met - living on opposite coasts.  She contacted me when she knew she was traveling to Massachusetts and since I work in Boston - it was easily arranged to meet for lunch at Jacob Wirth!  

She is just as nice as her 'blogging' personality and we had a wonderful visit - like old friends we seemed to have plenty to talk about.  Here we are at a funky little shop on Beacon Hill called Black Ink. where we went after lunch - I'm the tall one!

 It was SO nice meeting you Amy!  I really  hope Kent and I can travel out to your neck of the woods some day!

Merry Christmas Card:

Stamps:  Nordic Winter - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - PTI

Ink:  Ranger Distress Barn Door, Archival Jet Black

Accessories: foam dots, Dienamics Sentiment strip dies - MFT

It's Christmas Card:

Stamps:  Hearts and tree from Nordic Winter, It's Christmas from Frame It - Waltzingmouse

Paper:  white, pure poppy, dark chocolate - PTI

Ink:  Ranger Distress Barn Door, Archival Coffee

Accessories:  Herringbone embossing folder - Provo Craft, 2011 Heirloom ornaments - Nestabilities, Cherry Red Twine - Timeless Twine, tiny twinkles - Taylored Expressions.

Embossed Baby

Happy Saturday everyone!  Here in Massachusetts it is an absolutely gorgeous fall day -  slightly warmer than usual being in the 60's bright sunshine with the beautiful color and smell of the fall foliage!  The Red Sox had a rolling rally in Boston today on the duck tour vehicles to celebrate their great win of the World Series -  but we didn't venture in with the million or so people who did!

So moving along to my card - today I made a  baby boy card  

 I clear embossed the Waltzingmouse Zigzag backgrounder stamp on some blueberry sky card stock for the PTI  baby die cut and the panel. 

 The white panel is dry embossed with Life Style Crafts Polka Dots.  I stamped the welcome from MultiStamp Baby set by Kitchen Sink Stamps onto a Die-namics Sentiment Strip.

I'm putting this card in two challenges:

Cas-ual Fridays -  embossing

and I used this weeks Seize the Sketch for my card design (although I flipped it!)

Tonight Kent and I are going to the Melrose Symphony  - Melrose is the city next to our town and they have a wonderful symphony that we buy season tickets to and tonight is the first performance of the season.  We meet some friends there and have a wonderful evening of beautiful music.

Tomorrow after church I am running a Card Stamping Workshop at my church with two friends -  we make 3 cards and it costs $10 which we donate to the church -  we usually have around 12 people - and it's a fun few hours chatting and stamping!

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Zig Zag Background Stamp, welcome from Multi-Stamp Baby set/Kitchen Sink Stamps.
Paper:  white, blueberry sky - PTI
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark
Accessories:  baby die - Wonderful words/PTI, Die-namics Sentiment Strips - MFT, clear embossing powder, hot gun, polka dots embossing folder - Life Style Crafts, foam dots.

A Horribly Happy Halloween

I made this Halloween card for two challenges today -  I used the colors from the Split Coast Color Challenge - gumball green, smokey slate and white.   And I used the Seize the Sketch challenge for the design.

 And here is the card I created.  Who knew these colors would make a spooky Halloween card??!

I used a Nested Tombstone die from Spellbinders and the Chevron Stripes die from MFT.  I white embossed the sentiment from Midnight Feast on the tombstone and stamped the bats from Halloween Party on the white panel.  All the stamps are from Waltzingmouse.

Stamps:  Midnight Feast, Halloween Party - Waltzingmouse
Paper:  Smokey Shadow, white - PTI, Gumball Green - SU
Ink:  Smokey Shadow - PTI, Versamark
Accessories:  white embossing powder, heat gun, chevron stripes die - MFT, Nested Tombstone die - Spellbinders, foam tape.