Feeling Better?

All materials (except SU base cardstock) were given to me by talented kit maker, SCS MommaPatti, for a kit swap way back in October 2009.  Thanks, Patti!

Clearing clutter from my craft room has been a major, on-going process, but the upside is that I keep finding treasures, like bin after bin of awesome kits from long-ago swaps!  My goal is to actually start creating with these all-in-one kits which would have the bonuses of a) being frugal and b) clearing clutter.  Win, win!!

This week I was inspired by Sweet Wednesday's Sketch #7:

Considering the number of kits I have, it should only take me about three years to explore and create from them all!

If You Give a Mouse a Cupcake...

Stamps:  Stampabilities 'Birthday Cupcake', Papertrey 'Birthday Basics'.  Cardstock:  Textured white, Baja Breeze, DCWV' Glitter Sweet' DP, Papertrey white.  Ink:  Memento black, Copics.  Accessories:  Rectangle Nestabilities, Baja Breeze corduroy button, silver cording.

...he'd obviously be ecstatic!  You may have seen this image used once or twice before (or more like many times!) on my blog, but it's just so darn fun, especially with a paper pieced liner and a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter accenting the frosting:

The sketch is courtesy of the ever-talented Mercy with Tuesday Sketch Challenge #98.  I'm kind of impressed that I actually created a card without ribbon, but the DP was a perfect substitute and patterned better than any of the scads of ribbon I have in my possession!

Wishing you a cupcake kind of day!

Happy Birthday, Deb!

Stamps:  Stampabilities 'Birthday Cupcake', Papertrey 'Birthday Basics' sentiment.  Cardstock:  Black, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey 'Urban Prairie'.  Ink:  Memento black, Copics, Versamark.  Accessories:  black EP, rectangle Nestabilites, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, black brads, Tim Holz 'Tattered Florals' die, SU celery twill, WW punch.

Happy Birthday, Deb!!

Today is our dear friend Deb's birthday -- it's a special occasion for many reasons, including the number of candles on the cake.  I decided to play nice and not announce the exact number of Deb's candles on my blog post, but I'm sure someone on the hop will spill the beans!

Our fellow stamping buddy, Joanna, came up with the idea of a birthday blog hop for Deb; isn't she a great friend?  If you arriving here from Heather's (One Little Spark) blog, then you are heading in the right direction.  If you've just joined the fun, be sure to start out on Joanna's (Stitting on Pens & Needles) blog to start the party!

Initially when I planned Deb's card, I was thinking of going with a vintage theme with a possible technique because Deb is known for her expertise in these areas.  Then I asked myself 'Why compete with a master' and decided to go with the symbolic theme instead: 

1)  I chose House Mouse because I first met Deb in a House Mouse ATC swap -- her little mouse knitting with toothpicks was incredible!

2)  Basic Grey DP is a necessity because we are both huge fans of this company.

3)  The flowers are from a Tim Holz die -- Deb is amazing with Tim's techniques!

4)  Finally, I tried to go with a green color combo, but ended up a bit off track.  Green twill counts, right??

Here's the inside of the card; I thought the 'dreams come true' part was especially appropriate considering the image!

The sketch for this card was inspired by the House Mouse Monday Challenge #78; I rotated it to fit the cupcake crew.

**Next stop on the blog hop is our German pal, Imke (Crafting Creations by Imke).  After you've enjoyed all the celebrations, be sure to stop by the birthday gal's blog (Freckle-Face Printworks) to admire her artwork and wish her a very Happy Birthday!!

Christmas Card Challenge #33: Stuffed with Love!

Stamps: Stampabilties House Mouse image, Papertrey 'Signature Christmas' sentiment. Cardstock: Papertrey white, textured red, white linen, Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding'. Ink: Memento black, Riding Hood Red, Copics. Accessories: circle Nestabilities, flocking.

It seems like forever since I've been able to play in any challenges, but this week I was able to join in Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge #33 and use one of my favorite images, a House Mouse, to boot!

Sparkle's challenge this week is an inspiration photo featuring a line of stockings. I used this stocking image in Clean and Simple's Fall-To sketch #92 and applied flocking to the stocking for a touchable effect:



One more card to add to my holiday card stash!

Happy First Blogaversary, Tuesday Morning Sketches!

Stamps: Stampabilities House Mouse, Papertrey 'Green Thumb' sentiment. Cardstock: textured white, Stampin Up DP, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink. Ink: Memento black, Close to Cocoa, Copics. Accessories: oval Nestabilities, satin ribbon, Stardust glitter pen.

July is the month to celebrate a full year of Tuesday Morning Sketches! To start the festivities, Melissa is sponsoring this week's challenge. How do you play along? Choose any of the previous Tuesday Morning Sketches and link your creation HERE!

For my card, I chose the very first Tuesday Morning Sketch:

I've played along since the very beginning --- here's my House Mouse card from last year. I'd planned to use the same sketch and even a House Mouse theme, but I didn't realize until after posting the blogaversary card that I had used the same exact image; it's obviously one of my favorites!

Be sure to admire the TMS Design Team's versions of this week's sketch:

Melissa
Theresa
Gabby

Angela

Hollyanne, Jr. DT

Then link up your creations HERE so we can admire your take on the sketch!

Midnight Madness Sketch #58: Sunflower Joy

Stamps: Stampabilities 'Sunny Side Up', Papertrey 'Every Day Button Bits' sentiment. Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, DCWV 'Citrus Stack'. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilites.

Once again, it's "YOUR PICK" for Midnight Madness Sketch #58! Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.

"YOUR CHOICE"
Fancy

CAS

Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)

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CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Our MMSC57 Gold Star Award goes to...
52. Holly Miller
Our Remarkables Awards this week go to...
1. Jane Snyder
23. Patricia Rose
38. america
48. Wenche WTE
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Our MMSC57 Weekly Bonus Winner is..
34. Cat Spicer
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Our MMSC58 weekly Bonus sponsor is.....


Gurlee Girl Craft Store has expanded to include the latest Magnolia Stamps, Prima Flowers, and of course my Gurlee Girl Stamps for your crafting need. Chelsea is looking forward to adding more wonderful craft products we all love to use on our projects. She only stocks a limited number of inventories for each item, and they will not be re-stocked, so please make sure to stop by and check out the latest items available now in her store now. Chelsea is giving our MMSC58 weekly bonus winner a $20 voucher for her store. Thank you Chelsea..we love your products and images.
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Our Monthly sponsor is..
Katstamps
Check out the Grand Prize they are offering.

Now this little mouse knows how to live the summer life -- he's enjoying the garden and the sunshine at the same time:

Be sure to stop by the other Midnight Madness Design Team's blogs to admire their take on the sketch:

Brenda
Carol
Charlotte
Darsie

Denise

Gunn
Linda
Pam
Phyllis
Priscilla
Tracy

Saturday Spotlight #17: Teeny Tiny Time!

Stamps: Stampabilities 'Dream Puff'; Papertrey 'Boards and Beams' and 'Borders and Corners (Circle)'. Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Grey, Papertrey white, Basic Grey 'Sugar Rush'. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Almost Amethyst, Versafine Black. Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, white flocking, Papertrey Poppy grosgrain ribbon.

For this week's challenge.....

The Spotlight Divas would like to challenge you to go the opposite from last week's challenge and think "teeny tiny" when making your creation this week!! ;) Please feel free to interpret this as you see fit!!

What could be more teeny tiny than a baby mouse? This House Mouse stamp is one of my favorites for baby cards and that's how this card started out -- as a baby card for a soon-to-arrive baby boy. I wanted happy colors that weren't the typical baby pallette, so I went with this fun DP by Basic Grey. The sketch is inspired by Mojo Monday week #124. A bit of flocking makes the cottonball touchably soft:

After completing the card, I realized it really would work as a 'Welcome to your new home' card, too!

Be sure to check out all the teeny tiny creations by the Spotlight Divas:

Vicki (Stamped Smiles)
Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)
Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)
Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)
Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)
Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)
Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)
Jodi (Inked Inspirations)
Maria (Joyful Stamper)

Then share your mini creations by linking to this week's Saturday Spotlight challenge #17 so you can be entered in the drawing for this week's prize!

For our Spotlight sponsor this week we have...

Independent Distributor Kathe Slack from:

(click HERE to go to her Angel store.)


**One lucky challenge participant linked in Mister Linky will be drawn through random.org to receive this stamp set! **

Start downsizing your creations and join the fun at Saturday Spotlight challenge #17!

Saturday Spotlight 13: Love Without Hearts!

Stamps: Stampabilties 'Wreath Love 02'. Cardstock: Kraft, Papertrey white, Basic Grey 'Bittersweet'. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: SU scallop border punch, Papertrey chocolate satin ribbon, Basic Grey rub-on sentiment.

Are you ready for another unique challenge at Saturday Spotlight?! Here is what the Spotlight Divas are challenging YOU to try:

The Spotlight Divas would like to challenge you to make a Valentine/wedding/love style creation with NO HEARTS used on it!! So think of another way to represent "love" without using hearts!

Our Spotlight sponsor this week is...

(click HERE to go to store.)

For my challenge, I used the elegant Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #55 and combined it with my first-ever House Mouse stamp. These two little cuties started my obsession with the cute critters, but I have to admit that it is NOT an easy image to color with everything on such a miniature scale!

These two definitely qualify in the 'romantic' category, especially when combined with the sweet Basic Grey rub-on sentiment.

Be sure to check out the other Spotlight Diva's definitions of romance:

Vicki (Stamped Smiles)
Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)
Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)
Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)
Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)
Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)
Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)
Jodi (Inked Inspirations)
Maria (Joyful Stamper)

Then link up your own creations to the Saturday Spotlight #13 post for a chance to win the following:

**One lucky winner from our challenge in Mister Linky this week drawn from random.org will receive a 10 pounds gift voucher to spend in the store!!**

MWAH!

Saturday Spotlight With Hidden Potential #11: The Music of Your Soul

Stamps: Stampendous 'Two-Part Harmony 02', Stampabilities 'Composer's Dream', Penny Black 'Dance, Sing, Love', Papertrey 'Signature Christmas', It's Snow Time. Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue Printed Pattern, Papertrey white. Ink: Memento, Copics, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, Celery twill, CM circle cutter, Dazzling Diamonds, Stardust glitter pen.

Are you ready to rock? Or are you a fan of something more mellow, more alternative, more classical? This week's Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential #11 is 'The Music of Your Soul':

The Spotlight Divas would like to challenge you to create something with the music in your soul! What do we mean? What is your favorite style of music? Is it country, rock, opera, Christmas music, or the oldies? Whatever your "music style", show us what it is on your creations! eg: Use a cowboy image for "country music", etc. Perhaps you can just create a "musical masterpiece"....just get creative with it!

I'm a fan of many different styles of music (it might be easier to mention which styles I'm not a fan of), but the ultimate to me is the music of nature. I'm not quite sure what a singing mouse sounds like, but Amanda House Mouse is just too cute acompanying her blue bird buddy!

Sketch inspiration this week is Midnight Madness Sketch #31. I didn't realize until after completing the card that the challenge also included the bonus challenges of using a winter theme and creating a coordinating ornament. Lucky for me, the 'Let it Snow' theme also fits with this week's Simon Says Challenge! So, I went back to the image, stamped in snowflakes (highlighted with my trusty glitter pen) and added Dazzling Diamonds for an icy effect on the stump:

The ornament is actually a modified version of a freebie from Archiver's. It was passed through a Wizard with an embossing plate to create the swirl texture, then sprayed with Glimmer Mist. I added the center with sentiment on the same musical background used on the card:

Our sponsor for this week's Spotlight challenge is Paper Garden:

Everyone is a winner because Cathy from Paper Garden is offering all the Spotlight participants a store discount! Be sure to stop by Saturday Spotlight challenge #11 to pick up your discount code and admire all the ways that music moves the Spotlight Divas!

One lucky winner from our challenge in Mister Linky this week drawn from random.org will recieve these two fabulous images from the store:


Rock on!

Sleeping Like a Baby?

Stamps: Stampendou 'Dreampuff', Papertrey 'Limitless Labels'. Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Blue Bayou', Papertrey white, Basic Grey ' Two Scoops'. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: circle and oval Nestabilities, heart brads, flocking.

I'm stocking up on baby cards since I was rushing to make a last minute card for a new arrival last week!

Inspiration was Midnight Madness Sketch #30; the image panel reminded me of a cloud or cottonball which in turn reminded me of this cute House Mouse image. I flocked the cotton ball for a little touchable texture:


Be sure to stop by the Midnight Madness blog for the Christmas Blog Hop, full of inspiration and great prizes. You might even recognize one of the cards on MMSC Design Team member Jeni's blog: I was honored to have my 'Follow Your Heart, Edwin' card chosen by Jeni for the 'Pretty Paper Christmas Card Pick'!

Beary Sweet Mouse Baby!

**Click HERE for Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential: Hats On! post**

Stamps: Stampendous 'Beary Good Friends', Pink Cat free digi sentiment. Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Textured Barely Banana, Basic Grey 'Two Scoops', GP 110 white. Ink: Memento black, Copics. Accessories: Long rectangle Nestabilities, wide pink grosgrain ribbon.

A new baby girl in the family arrived recently, so I wanted to make a sweet holder to dress up the gift card we would be sending out. This pop-up tutorial by Jane (Whoopsie Daisy) gave me a quick and easy template and I only needed to add a set of pink monogrammed cards to complete the gift!

Have you seen the new Pink Cat digis yet? So adorable I couldn't resist purchasing a few. As I was browsing, I discovered they also offer a whole set of sentiments that coordinate with the images, but also work for this House Mouse image for FREE. Isn't that generous?

A baby footprint stamp by Stampcraft and the SU! 'Congrats' sentiment completed the inside, still leaving room for a personal note:



The layout is inspired by the Midnight Madness Sketch #29, done on a miniature scale with a ribbon added for closure.

Now it's time to spend some time organizing my craft area -- it looks like a natural disaster hit after it was dismantled to search out a missing phone line!

Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential: Hats On!!

Stamps: Stampendous 'Contented Mudpie', Papertrey 'Signature Greetings', 'Vintage Labels'. Digital image: Shirley's 2 Girls 'Cheers'. Cardtock: Textured Red, Papertrey white, Bashful Blue, Daisy D 'Paisley Sugarplum'. Accessories: Label One Nestabilities, Bazzill red gingham ribbon, glitter snowflake brads.

This week's Saturday Spotlight on Hidden Potential Challenge #9 is Hats on! As Vicki describes it: Use hats for your creation or put a hat on something, make your own, use stickers, etc. Just put hats on it!

This little 'Contented Mudpie' is one of my all-time favorite House Mouse images, as is or dressed for the season with a Santa hat I cropped from a fun image 'Cheers' by Shirley's 2 Girls. Before:

And after, with a touch of glitter for good measure:

This week's card layout is inspired by the ever-versatile Tuesday Morning sketches, Sketch challenge #21.

Be sure to check out the other Spotlight Diva creations:

Vicki (Stamped Smiles)

Chris (Twinkles Glows with Stamps)

Boni (Bonibleaux Designs)

Crystal (Crystal's Crafty Creations)

Darlene (Dar's Crafty Creations)

Dawn (My Stamping Thyme)

Debbie (Crafting Fairy)

Erin (Scrap, Stamp and Be Merry)

Maria (Joyful Stamper)

Susan (Stamping Tink)

Jodi (Inked Inspirations)

Play along for your chance to win this awesome blog candy: Don that thinking cap and show us some 'Hats'!

Circle Journal House Mouse

Stamps: Stampendous 'Morning Kick Start', Gina K sentiment. Cardstock: My Mind's Eye 'Simply Delightful', Papertrey white. Ink: Memento black, Copics, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: Long Rectangle Nestabilities, Ribbon trio Nesties, Stardust glitter pen, silk ribbon.

A very talented stamping buddy, Deb (Freckle-Face Printworks) invited a few of us stampers to join a circle journal group. She created an amazing album with pockets for us to decorate each section in our style and then include projects, ideas, or goodies to share with everyone else. I just finished my round with the journal and admiring all the other participant's artwork and contributions.

This first page's layout was inspired by Tuesday Morning Sketches #18 and the subject of my original stamping obsession, the House Mouse stamps. Add in coffee and you have another of my obsessions!

I'll post the three additional pages in separate installments. It was fun to narrow down my stamping stash to items that I felt represented me and my interests. Thanks for another great round, Circle Journal friends!!