You're Lovely

Night time is here, and I completed a few more Dare to Get Dirty challenges at Splitcoaststampers.  This card is for two challenges, the ones hosted by Kittie (kittie747) and Jodi (kharmagirl).  This is one of my favorite cards of the weekend so far.  Must be something to do with the You're Lovely set by Waltzingmouse Stamps.  It was the first time that I got to ink it up, and it's one that will be soooo addicting, I am sure! 

That dress form is so much fun to paper piece!  Used Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon papers.  The rose is a handmade one, just cut a spiral into PTI cardstock, rolled it up, sprayed with glimmer mist, bent, and let dry for a few days.  Lucky for me, this one was ready to go when I needed it!  Will be sharing more cards this week.  The Dirty Dozen and DD Alumni will be posting a total of 39 challenges this week!  If you are a challenge freak like me, and haven't joined SCS yet as a Fan Club member, join tomorrow!

Dare to...Make it Monday?

I told you that I have gone plum crazy with the stamping this weekend!  Even more to come, as the girls are off to a birthday party at noon!  This card is for Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday Challenge, to color with white ink, and also Julie Lacey's Dare to Get Dirty Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

Stamped Year of the Flowers: Violets onto kraft cardstock, then colored with violet Copics.  Added PTI Fresh Snow ink to the centers with a Q-tip, and some white opal liquid pearl dots.  The sentiment is from Year of the Flowers: Lily of the Valley.  Also used A Muse Studio's Heather cardstock, with the matching satin ribbon.  I think that I went a little "plum" crazy with the violet stamping, but once I got going, I couldn't stop!

Gone Challenge Crazy!

This weekend at Splitcoaststampers, there are challenges galore!  On Friday night, it was a Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) Mini.  I only got to complete one challenge for the Rodeo theme.  It was called "The Queen's Wave" inspired by the Rodeo Queens.  You had to put something on your card that had to do with "wave".  I chose the cute little hand and heart from Papertrey Ink's "Love Lives Here" set.

You only have 45 minutes to complete your challenge project, so I kept mine pretty simple.  Used PTI's Vintage Cream and Sweet Blush cardstocks, Spring Moss buttons, twine, and lots of Stampendous Crystal Snow glitter!  It's difficult to see, but the middle panel was embossed with A Muse Studio's Polka Dot Impression plate.

It's also the start of the "Dare to Get Dirty" Challenges for Fan Club Members.  This week, current and past members of the Dirty Dozen Design Team post challenges each day.  If you complete them all, your are eligible to win prizes, yippee! I got a good head start...

For Debbie's and Jeanne's Challenges, I used the freebie "Sweetie Pouch" from Waltzingmouse Stamps, along with the gorgeous Festive Foliage set, and some A Muse Studio patterned paper tucked inside...

Completed 2 more cards last night, but didn't take pictures yet.  Hope to get to a few more today, and will post them all together.  I tell you, these challenges are like potato chips to me...I can never stop at just one, they are too much fun!  You will also get to see all of the Dirty Dozen samples for the challenges, and looking at their incredible art is a prize all of it's own!  If you are not a Fan Club Member yet at Splitcoaststampers, you can still join and get started with the challenges yourself!

Extra! Extra! Sketch

This week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog, the sketch is by...ME!  Oh, I am so excited!  I sent my idea to Claire, and she turned it into THIS lovely drawing:

Here is my card:

I wanted to give the feeling of a pretty, kitschy little summer bouquet, all wrapped up in newspaper!  I used the Sewing Box-Hugs set for the leaves and flowers.  All decorative papers are from the Modern Homemaker Collection by October Afternoon. 

Now for the secret surprise!  Start by pulling on that top leaf...

Going up!

Ta-dah!

I used sentiments from Say it Loud.  I thought they went well with my "Extra Extra" newspaper theme...like a big birthday headline!  The little tag on the front of the card has the "happy" part on it, so it reads Happy Birthday Hugs by the time you get to the finale :)

I can't even wait to see what you do with this week's sketch!  Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, August 5th, and be sure to use at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation.  That way you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected player who will win a WMS set of choice!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Sewing Box-Hugs, and Say it Loud, both by Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  Modern Homemaker Collection, October Afternoon, and Vintage Cream cardstock, Papertrey Ink

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Ladybug Red, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink

Other:  Seed Packet die and Tiny Tags die, both Papertrey Ink, Divine Twine in red, little stickers from Heidi Grace on the flowers, and 47 dimensionals (at least, hee!)

Gingergram

I finally got to make a card for Teapot Tuesday at Splitcoaststampers!  This week Cindy (aka Mothermark) posted a gingerbread teapot.  I made mine a dancing Ginger...just hoping that someone else posted a Fred Astaire Ginger to dance along with my Ginger Ginger!  So this dancing Gingergram is for all of my teapot ladies to let them now how much I have missed them!

Supplies:
Stamps:  gingerbread from Holiday Button Bits, triangles from Tranquility Trilogy, both Papertrey Ink, sentiment from Text-It, Waltzingmouse Stamps, and the Gingham Backgrounder and Ticking Stripe Backgrounder, from the former Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream and Kraft
Ink:  VersaMagic Wheat, Fresh Ink in Honey, and Tim Holtz Distress Inks ink Barn Door, Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and Walnut Stain
Other:  Pure Poppy buttons, PTI, Martha Stewart Baker's Twine in brown/white, brown rick rack, Nesties Labels 10, paper piercer

Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop

Time for another blog hop, and this month there is another lovely inspiration photo:

Oh the colors and patterns, right?  Here is my card inspired by the 3 pillows in the front:

Used flowers, leaves, and a sentiment from Daydreamer, and stripes from Faux Ribbon.  The butterflies are die cut from Papertrey Ink's Linen Vellum cardstock, sooo light and airy.  It was so difficult not to embellish this more, but decided to go with the sleek design of the room and just add a bit of twine!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Daydreamer and Faux Ribbon sets, Papertrey Ink; Open Weave Backgrounder, formerly Cornish Heritage Farms

Paper:  PTI Spring Rain, Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream, Linen Vellum

Ink:  VersaMagic Niagara Mist, Tim Holtz Distress ink in Wild Honey, PTI Aqua Mist, Fresh Ink in Pear

Other:  mini butterfly die, A Muse Studio, twine

Shining Star Sketch

Another awesome sketch at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog by the lovely and talented Julia Aston!

Here is my card:

Loved the little boxes in Julia's sketch, and I love the patterns on the Bitty Banners...sooo I just chopped off the "tails" (eek, not appropriate for a Waltzingmouse image, hee)...and left them as little squares.  The star and sentiment are from one of my fave sets, Sewing Box-Hugs.  The chevron stripes and polka-dotted background are from Off Beat Backrounds (can't put that one away!), and the flourish from the beautiful new set  Flourishes:  Scallops and Dots. 

It's so HOT here that only bright colors would do this week...and some sparkle!

Don't miss out on the chance to play with this little sketch beauty!  Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, July 29th (Already?  How can that BE?!).  Be sure to use at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation, so you are eligible to be the randomly-selected participant who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Sewing Box-Hugs, Flourishes-Scallops and Dots, Off Beat Backgrounds, and Bitty Banners, all Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI White, Hibiscus Burst, Orange Zest, and Lemon Tart
Ink:  VersaColor in Opera Pink, Fresh Ink in Chamomille, A Muse Studio ink in Orange, Stazon Jet Black
Other:  Martha Stewart coarse glitter, Sakura Stardust glitter pen, PTI buttons in Lemon Tart and Orange Zest, corner rounder punch, and hot pink and pale yellow embroidery floss

Waltzingmouse Stamps Birthday Blog Waltz

Sunny days call for sunny birthday banners!

A quick post today as the waltz has already started! 

Off to enjoy the sunshine here in Rochester today while it lasts.  We are on a run of about 2 weeks or so, no rain, all sun!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 

Stamps:  Bitty Banners, Say it Loud, Gingham & Co., all Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  PTI White and Lemon Tart

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress inks in Tumbled Glass, Antique Linen, and Dried Marigold, A Muse Studio ink in orange, and Fresh Ink in Chamomille

Other:  Divine Twine, white pearls, dimensionals

Copic 101 Sketch

This week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog, the featured sketch is by the wonderful Julia Aston!  Isn't it cool?  I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to the left so that I could fit this rose in...

Used Text-It and Dainty Doilies-Large, for the background.  I think my ink pad is getting dry because some of the doilies turned out to have a nice gradient scheme...an "oops" that worked!  The sentiment is from Say it Loud, and the rose and leaves from Roses In Bloom. 

Had to use a rose since I took that Copic Beginner class last weekend in Syracuse!  I practiced a bit with some fave images that were "colorable" when I got home.  My class was directed by Colleen Schaan, and she did a terrific job!  We all had to color a small circle in completely with 1 color, and then she went around and judged our "touch".  Apparently I am "heavy handed" (lots of ink bleeding through to the other side of the paper)!  I told her that this diagnosis goes right along with my previous ones of having a "lead foot" and "thick skull", giggle! 

My shading on this is a little bit better in person, but some appears to have disappeared after "correcting" this photo!  I also added dimension by stamping 3 roses, and then paper-piecing them back together in 3 layers like this...

Your turn to create!  Upload  your project HERE by next Friday, June 22, and be sure to include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation.  That way you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected player to win a stamp set of choice!  Good luck!

Supplies:  Say it Loud, Dainty Doilies-Large, Roses in Bloom, and Text-It, all Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream and Kraft

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers to color the rose, Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress inks on the leaves, VersaMagic Wheat and Sahara Sand, VersaColor Cardinal

Other:  red rhinestones, Diamond Stickles, dimensionals

Great big hugs

Made this card awhile ago, and never posted it!  Thought I might submit it to PC Mag for the Valentine's Day edition, but it didn't seem to "fit" with any of the calls.  Oh how I love that sweater pattern from Faux Fun!!

Supplies:
Stamps:  sweater pattern from Faux Fun, chevron stripe, polka dots, and stitched design from Off Beat Backgrounds, reversed dots from Gingham & Co., and sentiment from Say it Loud, all Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  Vintage Cream and Kraft, Papertrey Ink
Ink:  VersaMagic Wheat ink, VersaColor Sahara Sand, Memento Lady Bug Red, Stazon Timber Brown
Other:  Scalloped Heart nesties, PTI buttons, twine and red embroidery floss

Country Flowers

Fun with the Daydreamer and Garden Variety sets.!  I actually made the seed packet part a week ago, and have struggled with how to incorporate it into a card.  Then it was finally done, and I smudged the sentiment.  So out came an oval nestie to cover up the mistake.   I am having serious card layout anxiety lately!  I seem to make all these little parts to add first, and then don't know what to do with them. 

You can hardly see them, but some yellow dandelions are tucked in that country bouquet.  Added some sparkle to jazz up the hydrangea, too.  That's probably why I love this set so much, as they are my favorite flower!  Tons of background stamps on this..."oldies but goodies" and a fun new one by Impression Obsession!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Daydreamer and Garden Variety, and sentiment from Vintage Picnic, all Papertrey Ink; Linen and Aida Cloth Backgrounds, retired Stampin Up; Open Plaid Backgrounder, former Cornish Heritage Farms; Distressed Corduroy, Impression Obsession
Inks:  VersaFine Black, Bamboo VersaColor, Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass Distress inks, SU Cherry Cobbler, Memento Summer Sky, VersaMagic Thatched Straw
Other:  gingham ribbon, Button Boutique die and Seed Packet Frame die, both PTI, Stickles, cranberry button from A Muse Studio, twine, oval nestie

Pink Baby Sketch

Belinda Chang Langner has presented another lovely sketch for us to work with this week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!  So without further ado...

I was looking on Facebook today and saw the sweetest pictures of my friend Liz's new baby. 

Meet 13-day old Audrey Irene...



Awwww, have you EVER?!

So off I went to create a card for this sweet, delicate bundle of joy...

Used the Dainty Doilies-Large Set, Dainty Doilies 2 Small, and Say it Loud (the best sentiment set in the known world!) sets.  The plaid background is made with Off Beat Backgrounds.  Used Fine Linen and Sweet Blush cardstocks from Papertrey Ink.  Embossed the doilies and sentiment in white, and added Martha Stewart glitter on the biggest doily for lots of girly sparkle!.

What little lovely can you dream up with this week's sketch?  Post your creation HERE by next Friday, and be sure to use at least 1 Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your project so you can be eligible to be the randomly-drawn participant who wins a stamp set of choice!

Sweet dreams! :)

Supplies:

Stamps:  Dainty Doilies-Large set, Dainty Doilies 2 Small, Say it Loud, and Off Beat Backgrounds, all Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  Sweet Blush, Fine Linen, from Papertrey Ink

Inks:  VersaMark, A Muse Studio Blush ink, Papertrey Ink, Fresh Snow ink

Other:  White embossing powder, Latte pearls, A Muse Studio, off white pearls, Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter

Stamping Daydreams

It seems like a long time since I used some of my supplies and scraps that were out on the table to just make something!  I have had such limited stamping time, lately, and it's a bit depressing (hee)!  I ordered Daydreamer from PTI last month and was excited to try it out.  I literally was just grabbing inks that looked pretty and this is what I came up with:

The sentiment is from a Verve stamp set called "You're Amazing"....wish I squeaked it over a bit to the left, but I digress!  I do love the colors on this, though!  The papers are PTI Fine Linen and A Muse Studio Papaya.  The inks are VersaColor Raspberry and Bamboo, Fresh Ink in Mango, and Tim Holtz Distress ink in Chipped Sapphire.  Added Stickles to some of the flowers, and popped up some for dimension.  That set is soooo pretty! 

In some exciting news, I am taking the Beginner Copic Certification class tomorrow in Syracuse with Colleen Schaan!!  We were supposed to be in New Jersey this week on vacation, but that got postponed until August.  I remembered this class, and signed up about a week and a half ago since I already had the day off.  Double bonus-so does my husband so "insta-sitter"!

I can't even wait!  I feel like tomorrow is "Christmas morning" for a stamper!  Now, to remedy the fact that I only own one Copic, which is BG10.  Hopefully some art store will be open tomorrow when I am finished, so I can at least get a trio of green and maybe a trio of pinks so I can come home and color a million flowers ...outlined in BG10 of course ;) 

Glowing Sketch

Happy 4th of July weekend!  Though the big day is Monday, today is the day for a new sketch at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog...another lovely by Belinda Chang Langner!  Here it is:

Since I was in a celebratory mood, I thought of all the pretty things to be seen in the night sky this 4th of July weekend.  We are attending an annual party at my sister's house called the "Ring of Fire".  She lives on Conesus Lake here in New York. At 10:00 PM sharp on July 3, every house around the lake lights flares that are posted in the ground in front of their property, making an orange "ring" around the lake!  There are fireworks and picnics, and maybe a few of these lovelies lighting some porches...

Used a sentiment and one of the Chinese lantern images from Asian Gardens Additions.  It's a little difficult to tell, but I stamped 2 images and layered them on top of each other, adhering them only in the center.  Sponged around the edges in a darker color on both layers, and then bent up the top image for a more 3-dimensional look.  Here is a close-up shot:

The dots at the top are from Off Beat Backgrounds, and are stamped in VersaMark ink, then heat embossed with Diamond Embossing powder from A Muse Studio.  Glittered up the lantern tails with Stickles, and "hung" then with some yellow embroidery floss.

Isn't this week's sketch fun?  Now upload your creation HERE based on this sketch by next Friday, July 8th.  Be sure to use at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation, and you could be the lucky participant randomly-selected to a win a stamp set of choice.  Ohhh, and that means you could even pick one of the new releases from July 1st.  They are SO lovely, you just have to play along!

Also, don't forget to upload any Waltzingmouse Stamp creation you have made to the gallery seen HERE.  Each week when you upload a photo, you could be named the BIG CHEESE!  Here is a note about this new program: 

To encourage use of the gallery, we have developed an incentive that we are happy to roll out today. We have dedicated a special thread in the Waltzingmouse Forum (under ‘The Gallery’ topic) where we would like you to let us know when you have uploaded a project to the WMS Gallery, including a link to your project. In exchange for your participation, we will ooh and ahh over your uploads and each week will select one person to be featured on the WMS Blog – we’ll call it the Big Cheese! The person selected will receive a promotional code eligible for $10 off a purchase from the WMS Store and their project will be posted to a special Big Cheese album in the WMS Gallery. We hope that this program will encourage you to share your creations in the WMS Gallery so we can keep it as a fresh and growing place of inspiration! A new thread in the forum will be posted each week and a new Big Cheese will be chosen every Wednesday.

Now who wouldn't want that title to boast about for a week?  Have a great weekend, everyone!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Asian Gardens Additions, Off Beat Backgrounds, both from Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI black and white cardstock, A Muse Studio Papaya cardstock
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Mango, Tim Holtz Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks, A Muse Studio Orange, PTI Fresh Snow
Other:  Diamond Stickles, Diamond embossing powder from A Muse Studio, yellow embroidery floss