Two Challenges and a Birthday Card

I chose this image as my "favorite" House-Mouse image, probably because it's happy and peaceful and fun to color. It was hard to pick a favorite amongst all those cutie images, but this one is the one I chose for the "Favorite" challenge. I made it for a birthday card for a very dear friend, and she loves blues and yellows so I hope she likes this. I followed the sketch for Friday Sketchers challenge which I am just getting in before the cut-off, I hope. The inside of the card says "..on your Birthday". I used my new blue from SU called Marina Mist and I LOVE the color. My clouds are from MFT's Rain or Shine and I colored it with my Copics (my happy time.) Better close and get this posted. Thanks for stopping by.

Have a Heart

I'm happy to be able to join the challenge at House-Mouse. I'm hoping that my stamping time is returning but we'll see. The theme is hearts so I think I've captured the theme with this image, colored with my Copics, and my heart-stamped background. I hope you're staying warm wherever you are. It's pretty cold here in northern Florida, but at least the sun is shining today. Thanks for stopping by. I'm babysitting today but I'm hoping to do some stamping.

Will Knit for Friends

It has taken me all week to complete this project to post to the House Mouse challenge before it closes. That's the pace my life is going lately, but alas I got it done. The theme of the challenge is "friends" and I thought this image conveyed perfectly something a friend does for friends. In fact, the name of the image is "Will Knit for Friends." I used my Kaiser "Utopia Collection" DP and configured my sentiment from PTI's "Mailbox Greetings". I colored my image with Copics. I have much to do so I must move on to the next project. Thanks for stopping by.

Halloween Goodies and a Peak at My Desk

I've been busy working on something for my grandkids for Halloween and thought I'd share it with you. I found the idea for these cute little cards at Mega Stampin' Studio and decided they were just the thing to do for the kids, only I enlarged my cards to 4 x 4. I used all House-Mouse images to show up behind the bubble once the candy is gone (that won't take long I'm sure). My DP's are from Basic Grey's "Eerie". So far I've made 9 of these - I have 10 grandchildren but the youngest is only a month old so I decided he probably couldn't eat the m&m's yet - and I think I'll try to do a few more for the neighbors' kids. I'm entering this into the House-Mouse challenge since it's all about Halloween, and What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday so you can catch a glimpse of my "happy place." Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day. The weather here has been warm and mega-humid, but we're supposed to get rain followed by cooler temps - woohoo!

Autumn and 2 Challenges

I am pleased that I was able to do another House-Mouse challenge this week. We were supposed to do a card based on how the provided photo inspired us. I decided to do this little image called "Monica's Gift" instead of a cupcake, because I still think it has to do with offering something to the recipient. I also posted this to the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge so I'm doing a rare thing and actually participating in two challenges at once. I like it!, and I like that I've had some time to do it. I used my Just-Rite Autumn Blessings oval border and placed my little mouse in the middle. The DP's are from a pack I purchased last Fall at Michael's, and the buttons are punched with my Martha Stewart Button Punch. I'm trying to do challenges with a recipient in mind so this one will join my batch of Thanksgiving cards no doubt. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you're having a wonderful week and happy stamping!

House-Mouse Vintage

This week I actually did a card for the House-Mouse challenge. The challenge was to do a vintage card. I had a need for a baby card and so I incorporated the need with the challenge. The image is a Hopper Itty Bit called "Blankey." I colored my little Hopper with Copics and then sponged the die-cut circle with two shades of Distress Inks. The outer edge is a 3-1/4 Just-Rite border that I cut out with scissors. The image and border were both stamped with Memento's Rich Cocoa. The papers are Basic Grey's Capella. The sentiment is from PTI's Inside & Out Baby, cut out with a Spellbinder's Fancy Tag. The ribbon is from Flourishes and the flower is from a pack of my favorites, but I threw away the packaging and now I don't remember the details. Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week-end.

House-Mouse "Kit" Challenge

This week's challenge at House Mouse was somewhat elaborate. The DT were all furnished a kit, but we the challengees were supposed to try to duplicate as best we could the ingredients in their kits. Those ingredients were:
Colour theme - Brown and Cream
1 x spotty/patterned paper
Brown Ribbon
Silver thread
Charm
Stamped image
Sentiment
Swirl die-cut (or something similar)
embossed card (brown or cream or both)
Pearls (or diamontes)
I had to make a card for my daughter's 3rd anniversary and this HM stamp was perfect, so I decided to see if I could make the card go with the challenge. She loves brown, so I used my PTI DP for the color/spotted paper. The ribbon is also PTI. The one thing I do not have is silver thread. I also have no charms but I used my ribbon slide from Flourishes and decided that could be my charm. My background is a Divine Swirl embossing folder for my Cuttlebug and I used my Kaiser half-pearls for the pearls. Hope this counts for the challenge, but even if it doesn't, I love how it turned out anyway. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks, America, for the challenge. It's nice to be participating.

Repeat Performance on House Mouse

House Mouse was the first challenge I ever participated in, and I was so excited because I loved these little guys. I'm sorry that I've had to let my participation slip some, but I can certainly join in this week since the challenge this week is to feature your favorite entry from the whole year of challenges. Wow, HM has been running challenges for a year already - where does the time go?! I think my favorite card, and a pretty challenging one, was this Chipboard challenge. I love the image, and I love how my chipboard ended up being the sun breaking through the rain. If you have a favorite that you've posted, pick it out and re-post it for this week's challenge. It's fun to revisit some favorites from the past. Then post it on the HM blog and while you're there check the updates to this wonderful challenge. Happy Anniversary, HM, and thanks for such wonderful challenges!! Have a wonderful Friday and week-end and thanks for stopping by.

HM Happy Summer White on White Challenge

This week's HM challenge is brought to us by Carolyn (who BTW is celebrating her blogiversary with blog candy) and is the reverse of last week - remember how we couldn't color our images last week, but we could use color in any other element? Well, this week we can only color our images and have only white for the rest of the project. Arrgghh! This was tougher for me than last week's, but that's what a challenge is for, right?! I came up with this happy little Mudpie in a Citrus Bath and since he looks so cool and refreshed, it had to say something about summer. I used my Label One Nestie to cut him out and yes, it is slightly askew. I though about making the Nestie upright and suggesting that Mudpie might be a bit tipsy, but I decided that perhaps it's just lemonade and left the image upright. I used my Tiny Bubbles embossing folder for the background, a MS border punch for the bottom and colored three extra lemons for accent. The flower is punched with a MS punch and I put my new SU jumbo brad in the center. Hope you like it - I'm pleased with how it came out. Be sure to check out what the rest of the DT did for the challenge, and don't forget to stop by Carolyn's blog and check out her Blogiversary post. I hope you're having a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by.

Cute in any Color

Today's post features a House Mouse - YAY! (haven't done one in awhile) - for this week's challenge which is NOT TO COLOR THE IMAGE! Eeek!.....but this image actually lends itself to not being colored and I've already used it on the envelope of several get well cards. So, I made my card pretty much colorless, but I love it. My DP is Jenni Bowlin from Fourishes. My sentiment for the inside is from AMUSE Art Stamps and it say's "...feeling a little better?" Thanks, America, for the challenge. Not coloring a HM image is not easy, so thanks for the stretch. The DT did some great cards, as always, so be sure to check them out. Happy week-end and thanks for stopping by.

Neapolitan Challenge and a "Featured Artist"

Is it hot enough for ice cream where you are? It is here for sure! Does ice cream sound good to you? That's what comes to mind when I think Neapolitan. That is the theme of the HM challenge this week, although they're talking those colors - not necessarily ice cream. I just happened to pick up this stamp last week and I'm so glad I did. It's called "You Snooze You Lose". I colored it with Copics and used my SU Candy Cane DP's, my Curved Rectangle Nesties, and the sentiment is from SU's Crazy for Cupcakes. I've missed a few weeks of participating in the HM challenge which was my first challenge to hear of and enter, so I hate that I'm missing any.

I also wanted to post a card that my 5-year-old granddaughter did for her new baby brother (see Sunday's post.) She colored the image all by herself and I told her I was so proud that I'd post it to my blog. She helped me pick out the papers and put together the rest of the card based on the sketch from last week's Mojo Monday. She brought it to her mom last night at the hospital, and today new brother is home and doing well. Shelby, I'm proud of ya, girl! You're gonna be a stamper at a young age and Grandma LOVES that. Family members, if you follow my blog I'm thinkin' that you want to get on here and leave a comment for that young artist, if you know what I mean. Thanks for stopping by and I'll try to get by and say howdy to y'all on your blogs real soon.

HM Birthday Challenge

Well, this isn't last minute, but it is last day. This week's challenge on HM is a birthday challenge. Anything Birthday-themed. I chose to use one of the images I won from the HM challenge awhile back and I love the image. It's a smaller one so I think it could be used for a lot. I love the idea that they're popping pop-corn over the candle flames. Only a little mousie could think of that. They look like they're celebrating in grand style. I colored this with my Copic markers. The balloons are from Crafty Secrets "Birthday Kids" enhanced with SU's Crystal Effects, the DP's are from Basic Grey's "Cupcake". The ribbon and ribbon slide are SU, as are the main two pieces of CS. The corners are adorned with red Kaiser half-pearls and the sentiment is from PTI's "Year-Round Puns". Thanks for looking at my close-to-the-last-minute entry and have a wonderful Sunday. Tomorrow launches our 5th Copic Creations challenge, so please join us if you can.

Sketch and a Bubble Bath

Once again I'm posting at the last minute, but such is life lately for me. I think I need to do what this card says, but I don't have time. Sigh..... I did this for this week's sketch challenge at House Mouse and I still love sketch challenges. I used my Basic Grey "Porcelain" papers for all of the DP's and Sahara Sand for the main CS. I colored my image with Copics and tried my new Shimmerz on the bubbles. I plan to send this to a friend who hosted a huge but lovely party for mutual friends. She deserves the bubble bath, but knowing her, she doesn't have time for one either. Hope you like my cute little mousie and I'll be back tomorrow with a Memorial Day post. Have a wonderful holiday tomorrow.

House Mouse Gate-Fold Challenge

This week's challenge at HM was to make a gate fold card. While the card itself was extremely simple to make per the link to the instructions, it didn't address keeping the card closed, and as you can see I put my prong on the wrong side of the card......DUH! Now that would have worked if I had applied the adhesive to the right side (as you're facing the card) of the image, but I didn't, so I'm still pondering a way to close it without having to attach a velcro shape on there. I decided to make it a Mother's Day card as I still have people I need cards for. Since it will be used for that, there will be more added as a sentiment, but I'm not going to finish it for the recipient to see on my blog (in case they even look.) The image is one of the ones I won from the challenge that America sponsored a few weeks back. I'm so tickled that I got this one. It was fun to color and I think it's adorable. Be sure to stop by and see the other cards that the DT did. They always make the cutest cards. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week-end.

HM Multiples Challenge

This week's challenge at House Mouse was "Multiples". That meant multiple images of the same image or a combination of different stamps entirely. The DT did some amazing cards and employed clever ideas. I combined two different stamps and it made my card an unusual size. It actually fit perfectly on top of a box I ordered awhile ago from PTI so I pondered using it that way and decorating the box. But alas, being the "have to be practical" person that I tend to be, I wasn't sure what to put in the box. I'm sure I would have thought of something but probably not in time to post to the challenge. I mean I'm already close to the deadline now, right?! So, I made it a card for now. I used "Berry Please" and "Eating Blueberries" in a combo and it made me think of a mother's love which of course turned it into a Mother's Day card. Beyond a mother's love it makes me think of God's love and how He takes care of us so faithfully, even in the little things. I colored the images with my Copics and the sentiments are computer generated. Be sure to check out the cards the DT did - they really are clever. Thanks so much for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated and such an encouragement to me. Hugs and have a blessed Sunday.

HM Bags and Boxes Challenge

The HM challenge for this week, as you can tell by the title, is Bags and Boxes. I decided to make a box. I used SU's Sweet Slumber DP and I used my Nestie to cut an opening in the top and attached clear cellophane to the inside. The sides are 2" deep, so I should be able to pack several Easter goodies inside. The image I used is called Basket of Friendship, and I colored my eggs with my Spica pens. You can't tell from the picture, but they're glittery and very pretty. The rest was colored with my Copic markers. Thanks for looking. The DT did some adorable projects, so be sure to check them out when you can. Yay, it's Friday!

HM Birthday Sketch

This week's HM challenge was a sketch challenge, sponsored by the talented girls at KL Stampin 'n Scrappin'. Their own DT posted cards to the challenge along with the regular HM DT. The cards are fabulous! I mean, they're always fabulous, but this week, with all the layers to the sketch, they're really fabulous! KLSNS is also offering a prize so be sure to check it out. The sketch involved many layers so this took a lot of thought. In fact I put together all of my layers before coloring my image to make sure it all went together. My DP's are all from Basic Grey's "Cupcake", but I backed my image with SU's Yo Yo Yellow to be sure it stood out. I wanted the papers to make it look festive because these little mousies look like they're about to really celebrate. Thanks for stopping by and I'll try to get up one more post before embarking on our big adventure to the UK. Wish I could meet up with my blogging friends over there, but unless you're willing to meet me in Edinborough, I don't think that will happen on this trip. Happy Wednesday.

HM Masculine Card

This week's HM challenge was to do a masculine card, so I was so thankful that I had Muzzie in his running shoes and this sentiment that I also purchased from House-Mouse. My husband has done a good bit of running in his lifetime, and my boys all ran cross country and track, and they still like to run local events when they can. I decided to try to simulate a track event, because this is actually a card I would give to any one of them if they were to compete in a running event. I stamped Muzzie once and then part of him again. I drew my own track (I know you're thinking "DUH") and I sponged in some "grass and sky". The CS is Baja Breeze and the DP is from Basic Grey's "Offbeat." I punched out 3 stars and attached half-pearls onto them. (Do I do any cards without those half-pearls?......I don't think so.) Hope this passes for a masculine card. It's hard to combine these cute little mousies, or even the Hoppers and Gruffies, with masculine, so this was another great challenge. Thanks for looking and see you again soon.

House Mouse Mother's Day Card

Eeek, I'm "squeaking in" under the wire, but I finally did my card for the HM "Mother's Day" card challenge. I borrowed the OCC Sketch Challenge for my layout, (I intend to do another, similar card but with another image for that challenge) and I used the Urban Prairie DP's along with Baja Breeze CS for the card itself. I colored with Copic Markers and I will give this to my dear friend for Mother's Day. Thanks for stopping by, especially so late. Hope you have a wonderful Monday tomorrow.

HM Sketch Challenge

This week's HM challenge is a sketch offered by this week's featured vendor, 2 red bananas. The sketch was fun to do and you can see it at the HM Challenge blog. I used my new Basic Grey papers, "Offbeat", along with Baja Breeze and Ivory CS. The name of the stamp featuring a Gruffie this time is "Wool Sew for Friends." I colored it with my Copic markers and I paper-pieced the lamb's little scarf. The sentiment is from PTI's Quilt Sampler. The image was cut out with my circle Nestie and sponged lightly with Baja Breeze. I used my Chocolate half-pearls along the edge. Be sure you take a look at the adorable cards the DT did. This week features the newest DT members plus renditions from the girls from 2 red bananas. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely Tuesday.