WMSC58 - July 30. 2011 - Nutcracker Sweet

 
 This is the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 58 for the week of July 30.  I couldn't wait to start inking up the new Nutcracker Sweet set that I just received.  I usually think Christmas and go for the reds and greens, but this time I thought I would try something different.  I see so many contemporary cards with aquas, pinks, and violet that look gorgeous, but never really tried one myself.  Probably because I put off my Christmas cards until December 5th and time for fun and games is long gone -  it becomes more of a chore than a labor of love.   I'm glad I started participating in the sketch challenges - I am miles ahead on my cards.  Before I only made them when I had an event coming up.

I stamped both the pink and the purple backgrounds on this one.  It took me a little practice before I was able to line things up just right.  I use a laser level that shoots a red beam of light across my page so I don't have to draw a pencil line and then erase it (my husband recommended this tool a few years ago and I've been using one ever since).   Something you might want to think about trying - maybe there is one in your garage right now!! 

I also used a ivory pearl paper for my card base, and a gold pearl paper for the cover base.  The Square Pocket is also cut in a gold pearl paper and the Nutcracker is embossed in gold so there is alot of shimmer on this card.

The tag comes out of the top of the pocket and it is the perfect size to attach a plastic gift card.   Here is a closer look at the tag.

Products Used:
Waltzingmouse Stamps:  Nutcracker Sweet, Join Us
Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangles  Labels 18, Labels 14
Gold Embossing Powder
Ink:  Momento:  Grape Jelly, Rose Bud, Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen
Ribbon:  Hug Snug Seam Binding Lavender

OWH Water Challenge July 27 - Gone Fishin'

 When I read water challenge I began thinking pool party, beach vacation, and water balloons. Then I went to my guys and said water - and they said - you guessed it .... FISHING!   Which I guess is a good thing because I said I was going to try to focus more on hobbies for my OWH cards.  I know fishing is a big deal in my family, maybe it is in yours too.  I have lots of good memories just sitting and talking while patiently waiting for a nibble on that line. 

Scouting is also a big deal in my family - what a great experience to see a scout catch their first fish!  Speaking of scouting - I am having a busy weekend here.  Our troop is hosting a group of scouts who are on a high adventure trip riding their bikes from Illinois to Niagara Falls.  I volunteered to cook for them and will be making lots of mostacolli and sausage to get them loaded with carbs before they get back on the road.  I am so proud of our scouts who are constantly challenging themselves to stay morally straight, physically fit and mentally strong.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog - I hope you all have a great weekend!

Products Used:
Stamp:  Bass Inkadinkado
Border Punch:  EK Success
Die Cut:  Hook Quickutz
Twine:  Martha Stewart
Plaid Paper:  October Afternoon Campfire Collection
Kraft Resist Paper:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Embossing Powder:  Adirondack - Denim
Ink:  Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress - Antique Linen

OWH Sketch #79 Week of July 24, 2011 - Bison/Buffalo

The weather was nice today so I decided to move my photo studio outdoors - the light is always so much better there anyway!! I always thought I was great at taking photos until I started taking stills for my blog - talk about a whole new world. Oh well - I guess there is always something new to learn -I know it keeps my life interesting!!

I made this one for the OWH Sketch #79!  I know I'm running late this week - you have to work with the time you have right?  I was stuck at the DMV all day.   I've got to get going on that water challenge!!!   I just used a simple kraft paper and some colored paper scraps I had on hand.  I embossed the bison to give some texture and love the way the fur around his neck looks raised.  I finished it off with a button and some twine to keep it masculine.

I fell in love with this Buffalo stamp while my husband and son were on a trip to Yellowstone with a group of scouts.  I think it really captures the spirit of the west and is a symbol of our nation.   I know it's a bison - but buffalo has stuck in my  brain.

I hope you like it!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Bison - Stampin' Up! Sentiment - Just Rite
Embossing Powder: ZIng Chestnut Brown
Ink: Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Vintage Photo                                                                                                                     

WMSC #57 - July 23, 2011 - Pink Birthday Card

Welcome to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge for the week of July 23!  Hope everyone is having a great summer.   It is still hot here in the midwest - I know it could be worse right - it could be raining?  Well hey guess what.... it's RAINING!

I don't let the weather get to me so it's no matter - more time to have fun in my scrappy play land!!  I'm so glad the kiddos are back home.  I think family is what makes a house a home - so I feel complete again!

This weeks sketch challenge was exactly that for me - a challenge.  As mentioned, I'm limited in my WMS designs - I'm working on that - I ordered some of the fabulous new sets last week.  I can't wait to get my hands on them!!!   I like to use the nifty "shoulder" stamps Claire designed for cool borders.  Check out this one using the Vintage Labels 10 shoulder.....
I don't have anyone particular in mind for this card, but that is ok because to me the best part of participating in the sketch challenge is that I'm using the stamps now while I LOVE the images instead of waiting for an occassion - and I have a great card now so I am ready for a birthday I might have neglected to write on the calendar.

Products Used:

Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud, Circle Accent - Vintage Labels 5, Shoulder Accent - Vintage Labels 10

Die Cuts Spellbinders Labels 10, Circles, Classic Rectangles

Button:  Bazill

Ribbon:  Seam Binding Hug Snug Baby Pink

Patterend Paper:  My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Collection Market Street "Lovely" Shabby Chic

Ink:  Momento: Rose Bud, Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Ink Antique Linen

CR84FN Color Challenge - July 16 , 2011 Yellow, Pink, Bright Pink - CELEBRATE

I'm getting alot done with my youngling's away (please forgive me the Star Wars expression, but it's permanently embedded in my brain - Thanks YODA)!!  What a great color combination for this challenge - looks like summer for sure - maybe some cool cocktails?!  We are in the middle of a heat wave here in the midwest so I'm not tempted to stay outdoors for long periods.   I'm out long enough to please the dog and my garden - everything looks so wilted.  I hope my beautiful flowers return soon - for now I will have to settle for Mona's sweetie's photos!

I finally got my hands on some rayon seam binding so I got to make a fabulous bow.  None of the fabric stores around here carry this stuff so I had to let my fingers do the walking on line.  It comes in so many great colors it was hard to decide.  I love all the great names like Elegant Peacock Blue, Mimosa Yellow and Tobacco Brown.  It's hard to pick out colors without actually seeing the product.  I got lucky that I picked this great dark pink called Summer Rose, it is the perfect Dark Pink for this card.  I hope you like it!

Products Used:
Stamp:  Waltzingmouse Say It Loud
Paper:  October Afternoon Road Map Collection
Dies:  Spellbinders:  Beaded Ovals, Classic Ovals
Edge Punch:  EK Success
Bling: Recollections
Seam Binding:  Snug Hug Summer Rose

WMSC #56 - Week of July 16, 2011 Purple Passion

 I hope everyone is having a great summer.  I am enjoying my "alone" time this week.  My kiddo's are off doing the things they like to do.  My son is at Ransburg Scout Reservation and my daughter is at University of Notre Dame for their Vision Program.  Imagine all the trouble I can get into!  It must be how they feel when I'm off shopping!  But I have a full 5 days!

I was stunned that I was the random winner of a stamp set for last week's sketch challenge!  I made a Thank You for this week to show my appreciation.  In case you're wondering what set I asked for - it's the Nutcracker Sweet.  I want ALL the WMS but whenever I order I tend to be more practicle and think about what images I will use most often.  This set fell to the bottom of my list because I figured I could only use it at Christmas time.   This set will be a real treat because I have wanted it since the first time I logged on to WMS!

 It's funny what gets you started on a project - on this one it was the tags stamped in the plum colored ink - everything else came after that until I had my finished product I'm calling purple passion!  What do you usually start with?  A color, a fabulous paper, an embellishment?

Products Used:
WMS:  Vintage Labels 18, Join Us
Dies:  Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3, Labels 18
Paper:  My Mind's Eye 29th Street Market Carfree "Adorable" Polka Spots, Carfree "Cherish" Forever Floral
Flower:  Prima Whisper Collection, Fairy - Leaf Reflections
Flower Center on Thank You Tag:  Prima Dynasty Amethyst
Ink:   Momento Sweet Plum,  Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Antique Linen 

OWH Sketch Challenge #78 - July 17, 2011 Surfer

Maybe you are like me and summer is a time when scrapping and cardmaking are not center stage.  It is time spent with family while the kids are out of school.  This week finds me in an unusual situation - both of my younglings are away.  My son is at Ransburg Scout Camp and my daughter is at University of Notre Dame's Vision Program.  So I had to ask myself - should I clean the house - finally no one will mess everything up 5 minutes after I clean it - OR......  have a week long paper crafting extravaganza and get caught up on all those scrapbook pages?  Hmmmm....... Clean time or Me Time.....  Well, I know which way I am leaning.  I will let my conscience be my guide.   We'll see!

Here is the sketch challenge for OWH for this week. 

I recently read some statistics about our service men and women.  Although I realized that a large percentage were young, I never gave much thought to their hobbies and other interests.  

I made this one with that in mind - knowing that I'm not the only one California Dreamin' - no matter what time of year!  I stamped the images and then used Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink and gave it a sort of tie die look.  I added a few sparkles to dress it up a little.  Hope you like it!

Supplies used:

All Stamps except accent:  Stampin Up!  Accent Stamp Waltzingmouse Holiday Labels No. 14

Inks:  Momento Paris Dusk, Ranger Distress Ink Faded Jeans & Peeled Paint 

WMS July Blog Hop - Three Kings Box

Welcome to the July Waltzingmouse Blog Hop!  The theme this month is Birthday Party.  I made this cute three kings box for take home treats, but it could easily double as a box for a gift.  Sometimes the best things come in small packages!!!  I got the pattern off the Waltzingmouse web page - its a freebie.   You'll find it at the WMS store under digital products/templates.   It took a couple of trys cutting it out - but the time spent was well worth it and I know next time it will be easier! 

One tip that helped me with this pattern is to score and fold on the lines before you do the zig zag cutouts.  The pattern lines up better when assembled if each cut is exactly the same - which you will achieve if you cut them out while folded. 

I decked it out with silver accents and did some serious sanding for a distressed look.  I think this would be perfect for a party for a princess or even a queen who like likes a little bling.  Thanks for stopping by!

Products Used:

Waltzingmouse Stamps:   Vintage Banners, Vintage Labels 1, Gingham & Co.

Dies: Spellbinders Circles, Fleur De Lis Motifs

Border Punch:  EK Success

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black    Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Worn Lipstick

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge 55 - Week of July 9, 2011 I Love You

 
This is the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge for Week 55 beginning July 9, 2011.  I made my center design a distressed heart.  I stamped the love tag in the middle of the heart - making sure not to ink the frame or the "No. 9" since they would get cut off when I cut out the die.  I inked the edges and the embossed heart with Ranger Distress Ink  - Worn Lipstick.  Then I sanded the embossed parts to let the cream color of the paper show through.

For the ribbon side accents I zig zagged an organza wire ribbon and secured it to the back of the heart.  To make the window on the tag in the center I placed an oval die inside the center of the Fancy Phrases Tag  and ran it through my die cut machine.

When I started with the heart I automatically went into pink mode.  I didn't want to over do it so I threw in alot of neutral - which is unusual for me, but I am happy with the end result.  I hope you like this one - as always I thank you for your kindness and inspiration.  I hope you have a great week!

Supplies Used :                Finished Card Size is 5 x 7"
Waltzingmouse Stamps: Wanda's Pantry, Fancy Phrases
Dies:  Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two, Nexted Hearts, Fleur De Lis Squares,  Quickutz Accent
Paper:  K&Co. Studio K Meadow & Breeze
Ink:  Momento  Rosebud and Tuxedo Black, Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen, Worn Lipstick and Pumice Stone 

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #77 Merry & Bright

I had lots of fun with OWH Sketch #77.  I'm still trying to make more holiday cards for our service men and women to send home.  This is the perfect time to get to some of those Thanksgiving and Christmas cards - check out the Beat the Heat Holiday Challenge at operationwritehome.org!

I added lots of shiny foil paper in this one with a little extra sparkle of crystal brads.  Hope you like it!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Seasons of Love Tags
Dies:  Spellbinders Snowflake Wonder, Fleur De Lis Motifs, and Circles
Ink:  Momento Danube Blue and Summer Sky, Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen
Embossing Folder:  Snowflakes - Cuttlebug/ProvoCraft

OWH Christmas in July!

Thanks for stopping in and for all your support and encouragement.  I started this blog 2 months ago and I feel very blessed to be able to share what I love to do, and get support from so many of you talented ladies who realize exactly what it takes to put a card together!  It's not as easy as it looks making everything fit together as if it were intended to be that way!! This week Operation Write Home Challenge of the Week July 6, 2011 is Christmas in July!!  Looks like I'm working with lots of red this week after the CR84FN challenge:)

I started with this great flocked red and white paper and went from there adding lots and lots of layers.  I wanted to keep it extra special for Christmas so I embossed the sentiment with red embossing powder, added red glitter paper (the no flake type), and a bit of silver to the background.  I haven't mastered the photography end of blogging - I don't think all the layers show up as well as they could. My finished card size is the requested 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" and I was able to fit lots in.  

I hope you like it. Please leave a comment if you do because If I get a good response I always make more to send in. 

Products Used:

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Lace Grand Border, Scalloped Circles, Floral Doily Motifs

Stamp and Scallop Punch Stampin Up!
Scallop Border Punch EK Success

CR84FN33 Challenge Sweet Thank You

Mona says let's play so of course I'm in!   I can't resist a challenge and a little fun!

Red Pink and Neutral are the colors in the CR84FN challenge for the next 2 weeks beginning July 2.   This automatically gets me thinking Valentine's, hearts, and Christmas.  I thought I'd do something different and make a SWEET kitchen themed Thank You!  I'm missing baking cookies and sweets since it's summer and I don't want to fight the air conditioning.

I started out with some great paper from the October Afternoon Modern Homemaker Collection.   The paper reminds me of my old Betty Crocker cook book and the box my mom's old cookie press is in.  I don't usually use stickers but thought this little mixer and set of spoons were perfect.  I dressed them up a little bit by adding some red ribbon and heart.  I free cut the oven mitt and scored lines in it to give it a quilted look.   I didn't have a stamp with the sentiment and 50's look to it so I just ran my paper through my printer and used a Word Font - Vladimir Script.  I cut the sentiment out to look like a recipe card to complete the look.  I hope you like it! 

Materials Used:

Patterned Paper:  October Afternoon Modern Homemaker Collection

Font:  Word: Vladimir Script

Dies:  Spellbinders Circles, Scalloped Circles

Corner Punch EK Sccess, File Tab Punch Stampin Up!, Eyelet Trim Punch & Heart (on oven mitt) Martha Stewart

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black  Ranger/Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #54 Happy Halloween

 I hope everybody had a FANTASTIC 4th of July!  Now that the cloud of smoke from all the fireworks in the neighborhood has drifted off, it's time for me to get back to my kind of fun!!  This is the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge for the week of July 2.    I have about 15 sets of Waltzingmouse stamps, but sometimes I still feel a little limited because alot of them are the "nestie friendly" and don't feature images.   I could easily have put a few flowers on the design, but I wanted to use as many WMS as I could.

I really like when I see designers use stamp images in other ways than they were intended so I thought you might like to see how I used an image from Vintage Labels One to make my card border.  This stamp has a vintage look that easily translates to my Halloween motif, and instead of using the image as an "eyelet" hole for a tag I turned it into a border filling the "holes" with a little bling.

I cut a strip of wired ribbon, then pulled the bottom wire from both sides and twisted them together to make a frilly ring ribbon to matt my images.  I added a rhinestone flourish to show my little stamped witch spreading a touch of Halloween magic about.  I hope you like it!

 

Products used:

Waltzingmouse Stamps:  Vintage Labels One, Midnight Feast

Dies:  Spellbinders Circles, Inverted Scalloped Circles, Ribbon Tag Trio Two

Bling:  Recollections/Michaels

Ink:  Momento Tangelo, Tuxedo Black    Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink Rusty Hinge, Antique Linen