House Mouse Monday Challenge #44 & Friday Sketchers 59

I decided to combine two challenges.... House Mouse Monday Challenge #44 and Friday Sketchers 59. I've never participated in Friday Sketchers, but I love sketches so thought it was time to give this challenge a try.

The House Mouse challenge is to use Paper Tole which is a layering technique. I've added one layer to the parts of the image that I feel would be "in front" (e.g. Itty Bit's arms, hat, cake and candles). This is a fun technique and really adds dimension to your image.

I used "It's My Party" (HMJR1059) and colored with Copics. "Birthday Wishes" (C131) is by Endless Creations. The DP is from Imaginisce's "All Kinds of Happy" collection and the CS is Bazzill. I also used the Nestabilities Small Labels die around the main image and the EK Success "Dotted Scallop" border punch along the bottom of the long strip. The jewels are from Doodlebug and the touch of glitter is from my new Spica pens.

These were both fun challenges and I hope you enjoy. Thanks for looking.

Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #30

"Shaped Card"... anything but a square or rectangle. That's the House Mouse Monday Challenge #30. So I pulled out my Nestabilities and ended up with a scalloped circle.

The House Mouse stamp is "Bird Watching", colored with Prismacolor colored pencils and blended with gamsol. The DP is "Petite Sunrise Posies" from the DCWV Posies Glitter Print pack and the CS is SU. "Thinking of You" is Endless Creations C27. Ribbon is from stash and there's a touch of Diamond Stickles.

Enjoy, and thanks for looking.
Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #29

I've haven't fallen off the face of the earth, really. I'm going to catch up on some challenges and then add a post about what's been going on.

First is House Mouse Monday Challenge #29 which is this wonderful sketch.

So, here's my take:

I used "Buzzy Friends". Hop-it and Bumble have been colored with Prismacolor colored pencils and their wings have been given a touch of The Art Institute Crystal Glitter. Paper is all from stash, as well as the brads and black pom poms. I used the standard circle and the scallop circle Nestabilities and the flowers are Prima.

Hope you enjoy. Come back later for another post.

Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #27

Finally, I've completed a challenge. Don't you hate it when life interferes with stamping?? Every evening this week seemed to present some obstacle which prevented me from spending my allotted time in the craft room.

I started working on the House Mouse Monday Challenge #27 on Tuesday but didn't get it finished until last night. The challenge this week was "All About chipboard". Well, I didn't have any so, to be able to play, I just had to go buy some and that meant a trip to Hobby Lobby. But, then, what are lunch hours for???

Anyway, here's my project using chipboard.

The stamp is "I Can Catch It" and Amanda is colored with Prismacolor colored pencils (blended with gamsol). The DP is "Sweet & Sassy Green Floral" by The Paper Studio and the CS is Bazzill. After stamping Amanda on white CS, it was cut using the square scallop Nestabilities. The pink frame was made using two square Nesties run together through the Cuttlebug. The chipboard is a glittered flower pack also by The Paper Studio. Lastly, the ribbon is from Michael's.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #24

Typical week; here it is Saturday and I haven't posted anything since Monday. The week just gets away from me. I work, come home, (sometimes have a quick nap), have dinner and try to spend time each evening in the craft room, and then it's time for bed. I'm not the fastest creator so it can take several evenings to finish up a card. And, I made the mistake of joining Facebook. I don't know what that's going to entail but everyone says be careful, it's very addicting.

It was relatively slow at the office. Still a little worried about lay-offs. We missed out on another project which means no new work, but there was an interview on Friday which went very well. One can only hope.

I went to the dentist on Monday and had a glowing report. Now if only I could remember to floss more. Sue also had a doctor's appointment and we found out that she has to have hip replacement surgery. Finally some answers, she's been walking about like a question mark for a couple of months now.

Well, I digress... this post is really about The House Mouse Monday Challenge #24 "Tall and Thin". Another great challenge as this is not a card size that I work with very often.

"It's My Party" (HMJR1059) was stamped in coal black Ancient Page and colored with Prismacolor pencils (with gamsol). "Happy Birthday" (D175) is from Endless Creations and stamped in Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue. The DP is Frances Meyer (I've had it for years) and the CS is Bazzill. Everything was edged in Encore Blue and Fluid Chalk Chestnut Roan. Lastly, I used a Martha Stewart punch, Prima flowers, Hero Arts gemstones and ribbon from Michaels.

I need a birthday card for a friend at work. I think this one will work perfectly.

Enjoy and thanks for looking.
Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Cheers, Judi

House Mouse #23 and Cuttlebug Be Inspired #17

Well I'm back... and with a new card.

Valentines and Love seem to be the theme of the week, as can be seen in both the House Mouse Monday Challenge #23 and Cuttlebug Be Inspired #17. I have combined both these challenges into the same card.

The stamp is Love Bunny and Itty Bit and Hop-It have been colored with Prismacolor colored pencils (blended with gamsol). I used circle and scallop circle Nestabilities, the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Fiskars border punch, The Paper Studio red dotted ribbon (from Hobby Lobby), "I Love You" is Stampin' Up and red Stickles glitter glue.

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and give the person you love a great big hug.

Cheers, Judi

Been Gone Too Long

Okay, I've been gone a long time. Can't believe I haven't posted since last Saturday. We've progressed from January and near zero temperatures, to February and 50 degrees. Who'd ever figure that would happen. I don't suppose it's going to last though. I'm really ready for spring.

Since it is February, it's time to add my next calendar page. We always make calendars at our annual New Year's Eve party and I thought I'd post mine each month. A little late, but does it really matter??!! I love this old SU set; these little mice are so cute.

Marla (my hairdresser and friend) came over last Saturday evening to stamp and work on cards. She's fairly new to card making but I'm trying me best to get her hooked. I'll admit it, we have a lot of "stuff" and she loved playing with it all (even though it was a bit overwhelming). I do think she bought herself a Cuttlebug. It's only a matter of time.

Besides working, the rest of last week was spent prepping for a card making session on Thursday with a group of my co-workers. This group so enjoyed the Christmas cards we made that they wanted another session. We decided to make Valentines during our lunch hour. I put together packets with all the paper they would need, but they left them to do their own stamping and adding any embellishments they might want. This is my sample card:

Several of them followed my card exactly, but I was suprised (and very pleased) by the group that ventured off on their own. They all did a really good job.... and they wanted to know when the next class would be. I don't know if I can come up with something for St. Patrick's Day, so will probably be Easter or spring.

Thus, I'm now two challenges behind and a new one posted today. I hope to be back this evening with a card for House Mouse Monday Challenge and Cuttlebug Inspiration. Figuring it will be a two-for-one.

Cheers for now,

Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #22

Paper Piercing.... that's the challenge this week for the House Mouse Monday Challenge #22. You must include some sort of paper piercing in your project. I did a little paper piercing in a class I took last summer and the one thing I remember is that you can keep your holes in a straight line by following the grid of a piece of plastic canvas mesh. So naturally, after that class, I had to buy some plastic canvas for all the paper piercing I was going to do. Yesterday, when I started this project, I had to dig it out of a drawer! Go figure...

With plastic canvas in hand, here's my take on paper piercing for HM #22. I used "Gentle Rain" and colored Muzzy with Prismacolor colored pencils. The paper came from some long ago purchase of a 6x6 paper pack, the ribbon is from Michaels, the butterfly is K&Company and, as usual, there is a touch of Stickles Diamond glitter glue.

Thanks for looking. All comments are appreciated.

Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #21

This week's House Mouse Monday Challenge #21 (http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/) is a color challenge. We are supposed to use Cameo Coral (a slight peachy pink), Old Olive (a rich olive green), and Night of Navy (navy blue in its finest!) in our project.

I struggled with this challenge. I changed out the paper several times and re-colored the image at least three times. I did finally manage to come up with a card that I really like.

The stamp I chose is "Wreath Love". The DP and flower sticker are K&Company; card stock is SU Cameo Coral and Night of Navy; Olive CS is Bazzill and ribbon from Michaels. I used Nestabilities (2 sizes), a Martha Stewart punch, and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers, Judi

House Mouse Monday Challenge #20 - ATC

Monday's House Mouse Challenge is to create an ATC. I haven't made ATCs in a while but, for my first House Mouse challenge, this sounded like fun. So I dug out my stash of stuff I had left from ATCs and went to work.

The stamp is "Monica Romances" and Monica has been colored with Prismacolor colored pencils. The beads, doily and heart charm came from Michaels and the paper is from PaperPatch. Heart punch is EK Success, "Love" is Hero Arts and, of course, there is a touch of Stickles glitter glue.

Thanks for looking.
Judi