Waltzingmouse Blog Hop

I am *super* excited to be participating in the first customer blog hop for Waltzing Mouse Stamps. Claire is such a sweet person, and I am so happy she has found success in her business. Her templates are innovative, and her stamps are a great mix of modern and vintage. I am particularly fond of her "nestie friendly" stamp sets.

To make sure you don't miss any of the amazing projects, make sure you start at the Waltzing Mouse Blog. This is also where to go to see the full list of participants if you get lost along the way.

I had hoped to have a great new card ready for this blog hop, but I had such a terrible back ache that I spent most of the day laying on my floor and was not up to sitting at my craft table.



This is a tag I made around Christmas time when I was trying to complete Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas. I didn't post this to my blog because I didn't get them all completed, but I *really* wanted to be part of Claire's blog hop, so it's now time to show this tag.

My tag is inspired by Tim's first tag (found here).

The rest of the information about the tag is below, and I would encourage you to read all the way through for a nice surprise, but if you are in a hurry, you can hop right on to the next stop JOAN!!



My tags are smaller than Tim's, and I don't have all of his products, so I have had to improvise. I used the snowman from the sewing box Christmas set in versamark, after I had painted a tag with picket fence crackle paint. then I embossed it in black ink to really make it pop.



I loved Tim's idea of making my own wire ribbon for the snowman's scarf.

I didn't have any rock candy crackle medium, so I used Crackle Accents for my tag. I squeezed lots on, then used a paint brush to spread it around.

I printed the tags out using my dymo label maker, and attached it with my mini stapler. I loved getting coloured staples at the dollar store, and being able to match them to my project.

And now, for reading to the end, I have a *special prize* to award. Because I LOVE Claire's stamps so much, I am offering to personally purchase one set (of the winner's choice) to be delivered directly to your door. In order to be entered in the draw, please leave a comment on this post that tells me your favourite colour combination. I am looking forward to reading all of your unique combinations, and will choose my favourite to make a card next week. This contest will close at noon (CST) on Wednesday, February 24.

Christmas in July

The 3 Clovers Thursday Challenge on Kerry's amazing blog last week was Christmas in July. This gave me an excuse to pull out my adorable Oven Fresh set from Claire Brennan.



I had originally planned to make a 4" square card, but when I went to score the card, out of habit, I scored it at 4.25", so the front was much shorter than the back. I made it work by using some scalloped scissors to create the edge, and putting some decorative paper on the inside to add to the design. It was a happy mistake :)



When the card is open you can see the paper on the inside, and the scallops from the front.

The gingerbread woman is stamped on brown foam for something a little different, and maybe to make it somewhat more realistic than paper.



I used Liquid Applique on the shoes, and the icing on the arms. I didn't let it dry well enough before heating, so that is why there are the little "bubbles". I don't mind it though because it looks like dabs of icing decorating the cookie :)



The frame for the image was created with my Labels 2 nestabilities die , purchased from Treehouse Stamps. I embossed the die, then leaving it in place, I sponged all around it to create a frame that remained the base colour, and is embossed.



I then carefully used my xacto knife to cut slits along the embossing for the ribbon to thread through.



The tag was stamped on shrink plastic, and the candy canes were stamped on the back of the shrink plastic, so they appear more faded. This is the first time I have used shrink plastic, and I had a really good time watching it crinkle up, then straighten out. I see much more of it in my future.

Pink, Brown and Orange? Oh, My!

I really like the bag that Lauren chose for this week's colour challenge, but I was not sure how I was going to use the colours. I *love* pink and brown together, but once you add the orange (or yellow it becomes much more difficult for me.



I knew I wanted to use my new stamps from the amazing Claire Brennan, so I pulled out Celtic Heritage and finally decided on the adorable birds.



My favourite part of these birds is that the baby bird is the PERFECT size to nest right in the wing of the mama (or papa) bird.

This is a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 square card with a chocolate chip base, and pixie pink for the centre square. I don't have any raspberry cardstock, which is what it looked like to me, so I settled on pixie pink. I also had some trouble with the orange/yellow. The closest I have is summer sun, and although not a perfect match, I think it looks pretty good together, and is fairly close to the colour in the challenge.



The card is really simple and clean, but sometimes those make the best cards. Since I was using Claire's new set, I guess I was taking inspiration from some of her amazing clean and elegant cards.

The ribbon is some cheap white ribbed ribbon from the dollar store, and was dyed by rubbing both sides across my summer sun stamp pad to match the colour of the birds.

The birds, and the sentiment were stamped in versamark, then heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.



The birds, and the punched frame are up on pop dots to add some interest to the simple card.

I hope some of you saw the amazing sneak peaks that were up yesterday, and are anxious to see what everyone else on the team has posted.



Please stop by and leave them some comments.

Lauren
Dawn
MacKenzie
Maria
Kendra
Kristin
Tracey
Pam
Jennifer
Odette
Lisa
Dana
Alicia

Christmas sketch challenge

The sketch challenge this week was a really simple one for me. I think this sketch lends itself to using patterned paper, and I have lots of that to use :)

Here is the sketch we were given,



and here is my card.



I had originally planned on continuing my week in Unity with the sketch from Lauren this week, but I *just* received my adorable Oven Fresh stamp set from the amazing Clare Brennan and I had to make something right away!

Clare is an absolutely fabulous artist, and her cards, and 3-d projects blow me away. I am so glad she has decided to start designing her own stamps.

The Gingerbread Man was stamped on chocolate chip cardstock, after I had peeled the paper in two and had a softer look to the paper.



The icing is done with Opal perfect pearls, and the buttons are Holly Stickles.

Please make sure you check out the rest of the sketch team to see their fabulous creations.



Lauren
Dawn
MacKenzie
Maria
Kendra
Kristen
Tracey
Pam
Jennifer
Odette
Lisa
Dana
Alicia