House Mouse #124

     Please forgive me for showing my crazy humor.  Now that that is out of the way, let me tell you about the current challenge over at The House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge Blog.  The theme for Challenge #124 is Summer Holidays, Summertime Fun, or anything Summer.  I wanted to do something simple, without a lot of fluff.

     First I must say that it's all Toby Keith's fault (this is where I was going to insert the song link, but did not want to offend anyone) for making such a snappy tune.  Second, I can not take credit for thinking up the cup stack, as I saw it on someones blog, and lost it to acknowledge them.  It was however my idea to add a House Mouse stamp!  Summer is party time for the young and young at heart!  What is used more for party time than Red Solo Cups!

     My stamp is 119C Jumping For Joy.  The papers and card stock are all scraps.  The cup image is courtesy of Google.  Red pearls, Pop Dots, a computer generated sentiment finish things off.

     Thanks for stopping around, and I dare you not to be humming this tune, if you listen to it!

It's Friday! Woo Hoo!

     I have gotten to look forward to Friday so very much this last year.  This is for many reasons, and one of those is the Friends with Flair posting over on the Unity Blog.  I attended a stamp show locally, last weekend.  It was such a good show, and I was able to score some new play toys. So in my playing this week, I incorporated my Unity stamps.  Here are a couple that I created.

     My first card came from a Crafters Workshop 6x6 stencil I bought, along with the new Spring and Summer Disterss Inks.  I just could not waste that fun background, so I pulled out my grab bag of won Unity stamps, found an amazing sentiment and these adorable butterflies, and went to town!  All I did was add some gingham ribbon, MM flowers, and a gem brad.

     Card two came about because I finally broke down and purchased a flower making tool kit.  I have had the punches, just not all of the tools.  I found another great Unity sentiment, punched a strip with an MS punch, and stamped it in two shades of purple.  My friend came for a visit and brought her small Fanciful Flourish die for me to try out.  (thanks Carol)  Just had to add one of those!  Gems, button, and twine, along with some teeny tiny Prima flowers, and a card was born.

     For those that don't know me, I am a real paper hoarder.  This even goes for my scraps.  I had a scrap bucket with so much paper, that it might have been more than one person has for all of their personal use.  We won't even go into full sheets.  Well I sat and almost eliminated my scraps.  All of my 12x12 sheet have been cut into quads which now fit on my desk top in a shoe box. Maybe I will use them up?  That is my hope.

     Okay, so what do you say about clicking on the Unity Blog link, and going over to check out all the fantastic creations the linkers have hooked up for us?  I am never disappointed when I complete that linky list!  Have an awesome weekend.

Art Impressions Challenge #71 Easel Card or More Than One Fold

      This week, the challenge over at Art Impressions is to show a card with more than one fold.  This includes easel cards and such.  I actually needed practice on my easel cards, so that is the one I opted for. My little easel is a dinner invitation for some close friends.

Here is a list of supplies I used:

Teal and White Card stock
Art Impressions stamps:  D-2820 grapes, E-2824 delizioso, I-2821 food basket
Assorted other stamps
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Eleven
Ink:  Distress Ink Peacock Feathers, Copic Markers, Sakura Glaze Pen
Embellishments: Prima flower, Candi dot, Purple gems,

     We are back in the soup again this week.  Gonna be a hot one!  Hope all is well in your little part of the blog world!

Friends with Flair... Vintage

     Good Friday morning!  I just wanted to share a card I created with the gorgeous flower vase from the Unit KOM of June 2012, called "sweet summer love".  I think I have used this kit more than any, so far.

     I stamped the vase and clear embossed to get a gloss.  I fussy cut it and popped it over a Spellbinders Floral Oval die.  Both are on Pure Luxury Ivory card stock.  My sentiment is from the same kit.  The card base was embossed with a SU! embossing folder and then rub on gold paste was used to highlight all of the texture on the card.  I used some gold sticky beads as accents.

     My inside sentiment is wedding related.  Speaking of which, DH and I are attending one this very afternoon! Should be tons of fun!  Please stop over at the Unity Blog and check out all the links to Unity creations!  They truly have flair!

Let's Get Fruity!

      The current challenge over on the House Mouse and Friends Blog, is #123.  The hostess for this challenge is Paula, and the theme she has chosen is "Let's Get Fruity".  I was pleased to be able to use a mouse, sentiment, and charm that I won from a previous challenge/blog hop. I love them!

     I have been wanting to try making a window for my sentiment for ages, and this just worked out perfectly, design wise.  I was also pleased with how my apple came out, as I was looking at one that went into hubby's lunch and it had streaks of the colors just like this!

Here is what I used:
Stamps:  HMUR1069 Bobbing on Apples, F1212 Mice at Play
Paper & Card:  Pure Luxury, DCWV
Ink:  Versafine, Copic markers
Dies:  Spellbinders Classic Squares
Embellishments:  bakers twine from Pizzazz Aplenty, charm, dew drops

I would also like to post this card over at Simon Says Stamp, which has the same theme this week!

     I hope you enjoy the rest of your week, and I thank you for stopping around!

Art Impressions Challenge #70

     Happy Monday morning!  The heat wave has broken, and we can get on with our everyday lives now.  This week the challenge over on the Art Impressions blog, is to use a metal accent.

     My card creation starts with a white base, followed by layers of designer paper from gosh only knows where.  (so glad the makers put their name on things now)  For the metal accents, I used an embossed metal border, silver eyelets, and an apple charm that I thought fit in with the "get well" theme.  Coloring was done with Copic markers, and sponging was done with VersaMagic, pink grapefruit ink.  The sentiment was computer generated inside and out.  (inside: You'll feel better in no time!)  My Art Impression stamp is H-1235.  I call her Nurse Nasty.  LOL!  The only other additions are some peach and white bakers twine and Pop Dots.

     I was the proud winner of this challenge last week, with my gift card holder.  Thanks again AI for such fun challenges.  Very happy to see so many more entries this week!  Stop over and play along.  There are still a couple of days until the challenge closes!

Red, White, and Blue Flair

     Hope everyone had a super Fourth of July!  Since I was in the patriotic mood, I decided to make a few creations keeping with the R-W-B color scheme.  All of the cards were made with the June Kit of the Month, from Unity.  Every Friday, there is a link up over on the Unity Blog.  It is called Friends with Flair.

     The first is an invitation for a cookout.  It all started when I was playing with the diagonal stripe border that is in the kit.  I grabbed my Memento markers and went to town.  I also used the stars, grill, condiments, and sentiment from the kit.  All with scraps, and embossing folder, and a Martha Stewart corner punch!

     Card #2 is also with scraps, but I added a little stitching stamp for the borders.  Some 3D snowflakes were used to accentuate the "Cool", as were the Diamond Stickles on the ice.

     For my third card, I looked at a pile of edges that were laying on my desk for 6x6 papers I had cut recently, and decided to make a banner background, like I have been seeing on so many cards.  Let me say that I have a feeling this may be a new favorite for me.  I have a shoe box full of those little pretties, and want to use them up.  I used the sentiment and butterflies, which are also from the June kit. The big splurge on this one was using the pearly swirls and gems.

     Please take a little time to check out all of the talented artists that have linked up for you today.  There is a ton of inspiration to be had!  Thanks so stopping by, and please enjoy your weekend!

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #24

     Woot!  Woot!  It's a holiday week!  Over at Joan's Gardens, Joan has cooked up a new challenge for us.  In case you have not guessed, it includes the colors of Red, white, and blue!

Here are the requirements:
*Use the colors red, white, and blue  (yep, I did that)
*Use a tag  (circle tag with brad)
*Use stripes  (they are in my background paper)
*Make it a celebration card  ( I am celebrating the 4th)

     Okay, now that I think I have everything covered, let me get to my explanation.  I used all bits and pieces to create this card.  My firework, boy, and dog stamps are all from my unmounted stash and I have no clue who they belong to.  I want to say that the boy and dog at RBBB, and they are out of business.  My inside and outside sentiments are from Studio G.  The striped paper is an unknown.  The silver stars are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and I cut them apart.  The red bandana trim is from 7 Gypsys.  I used circle and oval Spellbinders dies.  Inks are Copic marker for coloring, and SU! and VersaMagic for sponging.

     Hope everyone is doing okay with this heat and bad weather.  Still sending prayers for the victims of the fires and flooding.  Hang in there, and I will see you soon.

Art Impressions Challenge #69

     This week the team at Art Impressions has asked us to make a gift card holder.  I don't do this very often, and I had to take a peek over at Splitcoast Stampers to get some ideas.  I hope you enjoy what I came up with.

Here is what I used:
Card stock:  Pure Luxury Black and White
Designer Paper:  Colorbok
Stamps:  Art Impressions Catching Z's Set # 4161, Stamps by Judith branch, bobber, and hook, Outside   sentiment is Clear Dollar Stamps
Inks:  Copic markers, VersaMagic, Memento
Embellishments:  Jute twine for closure, and Crystal Effects

     This will come in so handy for one of the men in my life.  Hope all of the predicted storms are not so violent. I was lucky last night, but just south of me was hit hard.  My sweet friends hubby was hit by flying debris while walking their dog before bed.  That is so not good!  Thanks for stopping by.

Another FwF Post!

     Phew, it is a hot one today!  The perfect time to check out the line up of contributors on the Unity Blog for Friends with Flair.  Gosh, there are some gorgeous projects!  Grab yourself a nice cold drink, and spent a little time browsing all the entries.

      Today I want to show you a card that I made with the June, Kit of the Month, called {Sweet Summer Love}.  I started with black and white Pure Luxury card stock, and an additional panel of Basic Grey Marrakech designer paper.  Don't you just love the hexagon stamp that is in the kit?  The postage sentiment and butterflies are awesome, also.  I stamped with Versafine black, and clear embossed each stamp.  Coloring is with Copic Markers in the following colors:  0, YG11, YG93, Y38, R24, B23, and BG15. The sentiment and butterflies are popped up on shallow dimensionals.

How do you like my color combo?  I was liking how it flowed.  This is the point where I get to say TGIF!  Hope you have a goodie, and thanks for stopping by!

House Mouse Monday Challenge and Celebration

Well now, here we are with the official start of Summer, and the temps just can't seem to make up their minds.  The newest challenge at House Mouse Monday, is #122 called "Liquid Refreshment for Hot Summer Days".    Now we all know these mice can get into the craziest places, and they sure know how to cool off!

The House Mouse Monday blog has also hit a milestone and they are celebrating 1000+ followers!  Congrats, you are all so awesome!  So, in honor of all these happenings, their are some amazing prizes up for grabs!  Please click here, and check out all the rules.

My stamp is called Sweet Treat for Two HMLA 1035
Inks:  Copic Markers, VersaMagic Pixie Dust and Key Lime for sponging
Dies:  Nestabilities Petite Oval Large
Card stock:  Pure Luxury white
Designer Papers:  KI Memeories, Juicy Summer Collection
Embellishments:  KI Memories chipboard and gems

So what do ya think?  I want some of what they are having!  Care to join me?  Thanks for stopping by!

Unity KOM Sketch Challenge for June 2012

     June is almost over and I wanted to be sure and play with the June KOM Sketch over on the Unity blog.  I decided to use the April 2012 kit to create this card.  Isn't this a great sketch?

     I used Pure Luxury card stocks, and Cosmo Cricket designer paper.  I embossed one panel with the SU! square lattice folder.  Coloring was done with Copic markers and a Sakura Stardust pen.  Gems were used for embellishments.

     I have lots of family members interviewing for new jobs, so I thought this would be a great card to share if there is a disappointment.  Not always easy these days.  Fingers and toes crossed doesn't always work.

     Sending up prayers for those in the path of fires and storms.  Have a blessed evening.