Tiptoe on the Runway...

It is with extreme anxiety that I step onto the runway!  I am playing along with a new challenge created by the fabulous Jennifer Rzasa.  It is called the Runway Inspired Challenge, and it's in it's second week! 

This blog has QUITE the Design Team and they are some of the best CAS card designers in the industry. This blog is modern!  It's chic!  It's everything I am not, hee!  So I watched from afar (aghast) at the first round and it looked like so much fun. So in New Year's Resolution style, I tiptoed onto the runway (in quaking stilettos).

Here is this week's awesome design inspiration by Fendi Spring 2012...

Awesome!  Here is my card:

I was inspired by the patterns and colors of the dress.  Stamped the chevron stripes from Waltzingmouse Stamps Off Beat Backgrounds in Slate and Chamomille inks.  Added yellow along the bottom to match her shoes :) 

Used Bloom Builder #3 from Papertrey Ink (layered 2 of each petal set).  It's cut from PTI's Linen Vellum, and topped with a sparkly New Leaf button to match her purse.  The sentiment is in lavender.  Heck, throwing all caution to the wind, I even cut into a brand new pack of Soft Stone cardstock that has been just sitting in my closet waiting for a challenge like this.  All the cool people are saying "Grey is the new Black," you know!

Come join in the fun yourself...you'll be so glad to get out of your comfy sweats at least once this week, right?!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Off Beat Backgrounds, You're Lovely, both Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI Soft Stone, White, and Linen Vellum
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Slate and Chamomille, VersaMagic in Purple Hydrangea
Other:  PTI Bloom Builder #3 die, New Leaf Button

Top 10 for 2011

I LOVE looking at everybody's Top 10 favorites of 2011!  I did the same on my blog last year and it really brings back fun memories.  It also is a bit of a kick start for the new year.  Kind of makes you think, must get that set out again...or try that color scheme...or use that sketch! 

Here are my Top 10 favorites looking back on my own blog this year:

ATC card for Buffalo Spring Fest

Stamps:  Button Boutique, Baby Button Bits, Bitty Background Blocks, Polka Dot Basics

Papertrey Ink

My first Mischief Maker card at Waltzingmouse Stamps!

Stamps:  Earth Angel, Pic-Nic Patterns

A slide out pocket card

Stamps:  Sewing Box-Hugs, Say It Loud

Waltzingmouse Stamps

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop card

Stamps:  Baby Button Bits, Background Basics: Diamonds, Blooming Button Bits

A color scheme by Betsy Veldman!

Stamps:  Love Lives Here and Leaf Prints by Papertrey Ink

and a text background from Penny Black

One of my first Waltzingmouse Stamps Design Team projects!

Stamps:  Cicely at Halloween, Say It Loud-Winter Holiday, Hocus Pocus

St. Patrick's Day Waltz for Waltzingmouse Stamps

Stamps:  Roses in Bloom, Pic-Nic Patterns, Teeny Trees

Verve Valentine

Stamps:  Text Objects from Verve Stamps

A Purple Christmas!

Stamps:  A Cottage Christmas, Around Christmastime

Waltzingmouse Stamps

And possibly my favorite of all, featuring my favorite stamp set of the year...

Nordic Mittens

Stamps:  Nordic Winter, Waltzingmouse Stamps

So there you have it!  I would love to know which one you like best and why.  Seriously!  It will keep me thinking for 2012!  Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!  Hope to get to some crafty challenges in blogland this weekend.  No work for me until Tuesday, yippee!!

Papertrey Ink Christmas Leftovers Hop

Time for the annual "Christmas leftovers" hop with Papertrey Ink!  The challenge was to find leftover items from the holiday, whether pieces of wrapping paper, cards, envelopes, ribbons, gift bags, etc. and make something new with them!

Even though I tend to get photo cards from most of my friends each Christmas, I still get some lovely "store-bought" cards, too...many of them are spectacularly flocked, or glittered, or embossed! 

This morning (not feeling as guilty since Christmas is over), I went at them with my scissors (yikes!)... 

I didn't know what to do with them until today.  I took out some dies, mainly the ones from the Love Lives Here:Holiday set and cut some trees, stockings, and mittens!

Poor Santa!!

His glittery white beard was too good to pass up...

I came to a sad realization yesterday.  I could spend an hour making a gift tag, but for the most part...it's going to get swept away with the wrapping paper!  Birthday tags, or ones for other special days during the year, may stand a chance.  But not the Christmas ones!  My New Year's resolution is to make simple Christmas tags for next year. On this one I used the Love Lives Here: Holiday tree (cut from Santa's beard above), Tag Sale #5, and a sentiment from Merry Little Christmas.  The patterned paper is by Jillibean Soup.

On this one, the sweet embossed holly is from a Precious Moments card that I received.  Used the same dies and stamp set, and some October Afternoon Holiday Style patterned paper.  I also had enough to cut a mitten and stocking with the same pattern!

Can't wait to see all of the recycled projects tonight!  I have been sneaking peeks throughout the day, but there were toys to be played with and fights from cranky (overwhelmed) children to break up!  Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  Thanks so much to all of you that stop by and visit every week, you brighten my world so much!  Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! 

Hugs from your Gingham Family...

Jason, Kelly, Eva & Claire :)

PTI's Make It Monday-Shaped Tags

This week for PTI's Make It Monday, Erin showed us how to make shaped folding tags with any of the PTI dies!  I chose the angel from Love Lives Here Holiday.

After cutting and stamping her, I realized...where to put the hole at the top????  I just secured a piece of twine under a little square of cardstock on the back, then glued the wings over the top.

The sentiments inside are from Rustic Branches.

Such a fun technique, Erin!  Can't wait to try it out with some other bigger dies!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Love Lives Here Holiday and Rustic Branches, Papertrey Ink

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, A Muse Studio Kraft

Ink:  Fresh Ink in Pear and Chocolate, Colorbox Chesnut ink, Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Evergreen Bough Distress inks, Other:  Martha Stewart Clear Coarse glitter, twine, PTI Love Lives Here Holiday die set, red mini gift bag from Big Lots, red Copic marker

Ginger Star Sketch!

One more sketch before a short hiatus at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog.  The Mischief Makers will be taking a break until after the new year begins.  That means that you have extra time to ponder over this fun idea from Claire:

Here is my take:

This card is inspired by one of my favorite papercrafters Anna Wight!  She is always sugar-coating the cutest primitive krafty shapes, making them look absolutely delicious!  She also used a Sizzix Primitive Star die last year that I just pined for!  This is the newest version called Stars, Primitive. There are 3 sizes on the one die. 

I got a very thin cardboard insert in a package recently.  It was a little more honey-colored than kraft cardstock and a smidge thicker, but not as thick as chipboard.  I wish I knew which package it came from because I would call the company and ask where they got it from!  As soon as I saw it, I knew I would save it for a sparkly little confection!  Covered it with Tea Dye and Brushed Corduroy Distress inks, and Martha Stewart's clear coarse glitter. 

As for my stamping, I thought the plaid banners from Bitty Banners were a fun addition, and the sentiment is from Seasons of Love-Tags!  The paper is by Jillibean Soup's "Homemade Six Bean Soup" Collection and the buttons are from A Muse Studio.

Can't wait to see if you use this sketch for a Christmas project, or save it for afterwards (hopefully to use with some of those new stamps you got from Santa???)  Upload your creation HERE by Friday, January 6th!  Be sure to include at least 1 Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your project to be eligible to be the randomly-selected participant who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

Moxie Fab Mouse!

Today Waltzingmouse Stamps has received Cath Edvalson's Moxie Fab "Stamp" of Approval at the Moxie Fab World Blog!

Visit Cath's post HERE for a chance to win. 

One randomly-selected winner will get SIX WALTZINGMOUSE STAMP SETS just by leaving her a comment! 

Here are the sets that are up for grabs...

Nordic Winter

(Seen here along with the WMS set Very Vintage Labels No. 10 which I used to make the frame.)

Santa's Coming to Town

(Seen here with October Afternoon's Holiday Style paper and the medallion from WMS "Around Christmastime" set.

Seasonal Remedies

(Seen here with more October Afternoon Holiday Style paper and the WMS "Musical Backgrounds" set!)

2011 Holiday Ornaments

   (A tag with patterned paper by Jillibean Soup's "Christmas Chowder" Collection)

and Candy Jar Christmas and Candy Jar Christmas Fillers!

So what are you waiting for?  RUN over to Cath's blog and leave a comment on her post today!!! 

Be sure to visit Waltzingmouse Stamps Owner and Creator, Claire Brennan's blog as she has some projects to share, as do some of the other DT members like me (see list in my sidebar)! 

Ohhh, it would be such a great early Christmas present if you win. 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

Doilyflake Sketch

I am in LOVE with this week's sketch by Claire at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge blog!  I can see myself going back to this sketch over and over again!  It's one of my faves of all time...

I was absolutely inspired by JJ Bolton's doilicious card that was a Top Mouse winner a few weeks ago seen HERE!  It was so special that it also claimed a prize in the Moxie Fab World Medallion Challenge!  (Actually JJ claimed an award for 2 beautiful medallion cards, first time ever on the Moxie Fab blog :)!

Here is my doily gone snowflake card...

The papers are from October Afternoon's Holiday Style Collection that just arrived last week (I pre-ordered them in October knowing that they would be a perfect fit for me!).  The sentiment is from the lovely Compliments of the Season set, all embossed in white.

Also used new Fresh Ink by Impress Rubber Stamps in the color "Blue Sage".  It was my birthday present to myself :)  Stamped 3 doilies from Dainty Doilies 2-Small and cut them out with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles Large Nestabilities.  Typically I am stingy with my use of pearls and rhinestones.  I am always afraid of running out of them!  Well let me tell you, it's fun to use almost a whole pack on one card! 

All ready to be wowed as I always am when I see what you do with this sketch!  Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, December 16th.  Be sure to include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your card to be eligible to be the randomly-selected winner who will receive a WMS stamp set of choice!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Dainty Doilies 2-Small, Compliments of the Season, both Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  Holiday Style patterned paper by October Afternoon, PTI Vintage Cream
Ink:  Fresh Ink in Blue Sage, Versamark
Other:  Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circles Large Nestabilities, Sky Blue rhinestones, ivory pearls, and white embossing powder from A Muse Studio, lots of dimensionals!

40 on the 40

Today is my big day...I am FORTY years old! 

(That is the strangest thing to type!)

I had a very special birthday party this weekend.  I went to my very first Buffalo Bills game!

Big birthdays need big venues, hee! 

It was a balmy 52 degree-ish in Orchard Park at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  That's practically summer weather in Buffalo, not a snowflake in sight.  We still bundled up just in case...

That's me, Maureen, Becky (my niece), and Terri...

My husband Jason (with his winter beard, ack!), my nephew Scott, Buck, and my nephew-in-law Aaron!

Did I mention that the Bills lost 23-17?  It's their 5th loss in a row.  They started off the season so well, but things have taken a turn for the worst.  If you live in upstate NY, it's your duty to remain loyal...

I had high hopes :)

I saw an interview with country star Faith Hill on TV a month or so ago. 

She said she was in her 40's and fierce. 

If the Buffalo Bills and I start to think that way...it's going to be quite a 2012 :)!

Cookie Sketch

Claire sure has cooked up a delicious sketch for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog this week...

So yummy indeedy!  I had sweet things on my mind...

There's always a need for a Christmas cookie tag!  I used the gingerbread man from Candy Jar Christmas Fillers and sentiment from Candy Jar Christmas.  The sweet holly paper is from Jillibean Soup's Christmas Chowder Collection.  Made a felt topper using Papertrey Ink's Holly Jolly dies.

Still have more of those little cranberry colored bags from Big Lots...3 down, 5 to go!

I really can't wait to see what everyone creates with this sketch...the Mischief Makers had me applauding from my computer chair!  Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, December 9th.  Be sure to include at least 1 Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your project to be eligible to be the randomly-selected player who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Candy Jar Christmas & Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, Jillibean Soup Christmas Chowder patterned paper

Ink:  Fresh Ink in Honey, SU Cranberry Crisp, Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink

Other:  PTI Tag Sale #4 and Holly Jolly dies, A Muse Studio Cranberry Pearls and scalloped edge die, Spellbinders Standard Circle Small Nestabilities, gingham ribbon, PTI Simply Chartreuse felt, cranberry felt from BenzieBazaar (etsy.com)

A Teeny Tree for Tenia!

I was blog hopping today and found out that one of the sweetest stampers around was honored as the Featured Stamper last week at Splitcoaststampers....Tenia Sanders-Nelson!  I just had to case one of her stylish cards and I chose this beauty! 

 I know, WOW!

I also wanted to play along with the Inspiration Challenge this week, an awesome website featuring children's bedding called Glenna Jean.  I was inspired by this bedroom set called Central Park!

See those 2 trees on the dresser in the background?  Tenia's awesome layout and card elements, along with the colors and trees from the photo led me to making this card...

I used the tree and sentiment from Teeny Trees, and the beautiful label from Very Vintage Labels No. 10 from Waltzingmouse Stamps.  The background is the Tulle Damask Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I embossed it in white on Sky cardstock by A Muse Studio.

I embossed the tree with Diamond Embossing powder, cut it out, and then added a little rolled rose at the top.  I could only dream of making a flower like Tenia's!  I made up for it by adding a big dramatic satin bow just like Tenia used on her card!

CONGRATULATIONS, TENIA!  I am so happy that you were featured this week!  Oh how I love your style and so appreciate all of the sweet comments you sprinkle all over blogland :)!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Teeny Trees and Very Vintage Labels No. 10, Waltzingmouse Stamps, and Tulle Damask Backgrounder, Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, and A Muse Studio Sky
Ink:  Versamagic, VersaColor Umber, and Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress ink
Other:  Diamond and White embossing powders, pearl, and satin ribbon all A Muse Studio, Spellbinders Labels 10 Nestabilities, PTI Vintage Cream felt, MFT Mini Rolled Rose die

A Place for the Mr. and Mrs....Sketch!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  But don't put those fancy dishes too far back on the shelf yet...it's already time to think about place settings for Christmas!  As always, Claire was thinking ahead with this week's sketch at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!

I decided to make room for 2 additional guests this year...

 

Santa and Mrs. Claus!  Santa will probably be too tired to drive back to the North Pole, and Mrs. Claus deserves a day off in the kitchen!  Jen Cuthbertson told me that if you make a place for them, they are sure to come! 

I used the Santa sentiment from Santa's Coming to Town, and the Mrs. sentiment from Candy Jar Christmas.  The gingham is from Gingham & Co.!

I might be a little obsessed with this sweet evergreen swag image from Nutcracker Sweet!  Oh and those ribbons, so sweet!  To embellish, I just dotted the little circle with Christmas Red Stickles, and wrapped twine around the cardstock above the gingham panel.

Who will you be coming to your house this Christmas?  Make some place cards and upload a photo of them HERE by next Friday, December 2.  Be sure to use at least 1 Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation to be eligible to be the randomly-selected participant who will win a WMS stamp set of choice!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Nutcracker Sweet, Santa's Coming to Town, Candy Jar Christmas, Gingham & Co., all Waltzingmouse Stamps
Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream and Kraft cardstock
Ink:  VersaColor Bamboo, Fresh Ink in Tomato Red, Tim Holtz Distress inks in Walnut Stain and Antique Linen
Other:  twine, Christmas Red Stickles