Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #24

Haven't played a WMS Sketch Challenge in awhile!  Here is #28!

 Used sweater pattern from Faux Fun, and the snowflake from Sewing Box: Christmas.  Tag and sentiment are from PTI's Friendship Jar series.

It's hard to tell but I used the Woodgrain Impression plate from PTI on the kraft card base to match the wooden button in the center.  It's fun having the day off...while I may not have accomplished much in the "housework" department, I have had fun stamping here and there!

Snail Mail Resolution!

It's that time to make New Year's Resolutions, and that is the theme for today's Friday Free for All Challenge at Splitcoast!  Make a card showing yours!  I really need to send the cards that I make.  It is my one and only resolution this year!  When I posted today, I noted that 2 things get in the way of the mailing...1)  Our local Post Office worker doesn't like me.  2)  I never have the right size of envelope on hand!  When Mr. Postman sees me coming, I can see him rolling his eyes.  He pokes, prods, and BENDS my cards as he decides which pile to put them in.  He asks questions like "Did you put PINS in this thing?" (I politely say "Those are called brads, sir!" with a cheery smile).  I can just see the recipient opening the card, and a shower of buttons falling out of the envelope after Mr. Postman's thorough investigation (before slapping extra postage on and declaring "This thing cannot be machine-sorted!!!")  So I vow to buy extra-large, fleece-lined envelopes this year.  Oodles of them.  I am sure they must have them at Staples! 

Made today's card using a snippet of my cherished "Thin Cherry Real Wood" paper by Creative Imaginations, a scrap of October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker" decorative paper, 2 mini pins (ha!), and the Vintage Picnic set from Papertrey Ink. 

Happy New Year, everyone!  I'll leave you with my favorite New Year's Eve pictures of all time.  I posted them last year, too...

 Claire and Olive rockin' it Dick Clark/Ryan Seacrest style last year.  Yes, only Phoebe (beagle in background) and I ever make it to see the ball drop!

Top 10

I can't believe tomorrow is the day before 1-1-11!  How many mothers-to-be are going to be telling the doctors at 11:45 PM..."BUT I CAN WAIT 15 MORE MINUTES!", heeee!  Seriously, how cool would it be to have that date as your birthdate?

But I digress.  I decided to hop on the Top 10 bandwagon.  Lots of people on the PTI forum have been posting their top 10 favorite cards or projects that they made this year, so I came to my blog and started looking back, too.  It's really hard to "judge" your own work, but here are some cards and things that I had a great time making (and some of the stamps sets that I just LOVED playing with this year)!

Earth Angel & Pic-Nic Patterns, Waltzingmouse Stamps

You're A Jewel, Pink Persimmon

Round and Round & Background Basics: Tin Types, Papertrey Ink

Year of the Flower: Violets, Background Basics: Tin Types, Papertrey Ink

Sewing Box: Hugs, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Believe, Papertrey Ink

Midnight Feast, Sweetie Pouch template, Waltzingmouse Stamps
A Little Argyle, Papertrey Ink

Baby Button Bits, Background Basics: Retro, Papertrey Ink
Ticking Stripe Backgrounder, Cornish Heritage Farms

Wreath for All Seasons, Background Basics: Botanicals, Papertrey Ink

Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, Papertrey Ink

Midnight Feast, Waltzingmouse Stamps

Little Red Wagon, Vintage Greetings, Pink Persimmon
October Afternoon paper!

So there you have it!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Industrial Acorn Hat

For Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge at Splitcoast this week!  This week's party is at a construction site, and we were told to bring our best hard hats to the party.  All of the cards from the challenge are destined to go to Joyce, a Red Hatter out in Utah who recently had some difficulties after surgery.  So I chose to deck out Posie (by Anna Wight for Whipper Snapper Designs), in her best Red Hatter wear!  This red acorn hat is of the industrial variety...ask all of the squirrels that have tried to bite it!  Nuttin' (hee!) is getting through this beanie!

Cindy Motherway hosts Teapot Tuesday every week.  We all make a card inspired by one of her crazy stories and a picture of a teapot that she chose.  She then sets up a Destination Station, and provides a name and address of somebody to send the card to...whether they are having a special birthday, are battling an illness, are serving in the military, or just plain need a "pick me up!".  ANYONE is invited to play, and you can find the Teapot Tuesday thread HERE. 

Cindy also sends out weekly emails with updates on the Destination Stations, and it is so nice to see photos of recipients with their cards, and to read their sweet thank you notes.  Come join the fun!

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

Time for another Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  The traditional hop after Christmas day is to make a project with recycled Christmas stuff...wrapping paper, boxes, tissue paper, ribbons, cards, etc...

I made the background for the card using a piece of recycled wrapping paper.  I crinkled it up and then glued it down onto cardstock and added Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Pumice Stone over the top (kind of like faux silk but with paper).  But THEN for Santa's coat, I did the Faux Silk Technique (without the stamping!).  I took a piece of red tissue and crinkled it up, then smoothed it out on cardstock.  Then I stamped the Santa from the Believe set, and paper pieced his face and the white cuffs.  Here is a close up of his coat:

This tissue paper is kind of shiny and with the wrinkles (and some added Distress ink) it gives such a handsome look for Santa!

I was all excited for some down time, and so I made this card.  To my dismay, I went to take a picture and I had left my camera at my niece's house.  That didn't stop me...a 35 minute plus round trip (with a side trip of 15 minutes to the gas station and the grocery store) and I made it to the hop!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Icy Sleek Modern House

Part 2 in a series with the Home Made stamp set and template from Papertrey Ink!  This one was much easier than the first one...and a note:  if you are using 2-sided paper, be sure to print the template on the "wrong" side of the paper (that was my mistake on House #1).

I filled these houses with a family favorite (a dozen peanut butter balls) for Eva and Claire's teachers.  The first one was quaint and went to Claire's teacher who lives in a sleepy little country village called Bristol, NY.  This one is for Eva's teacher who lives in Rochester, so we went with a sleek urban design!  Her name is Heather, so I decided to add some "heather" purple just for her! 

Peanut Butter Ball recipe (NO COOK!):

1 jar crunchy peanut butter
1 package mini chocolate chips
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 cup nonfat dry milk
6 tbsp. water
graham cracker crumbs

Mix first 5 ingredients in a bowl.  Roll into 2 inch balls, then roll balls through graham cracker crumbs.  Refrigerate for 1 hour, and you are ready to go!

Krischeery Greetings!

LOTS of special challenges going on in this card.  Today's Color Challenge at SCS is a classic that has never been featured before...red, white, and black (how could that BE)!  I also made this card for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge.  This week the teapot featured was white.  Plain white.  Not a thing on it.  Cindy said it was a blank canvas for us to use to impress her friend Leonardo, a famous art director.  So I channeled my favorite artist Warren Kimble to come up with this card for my friend Krischir...aka Kris!  She is having surgery tomorrow so Mothermark chose her house as the Destination Station for all of the cards this week! 

Kris just happened to be Featured Stamper #199!  I chose THIS card by Kris as my inspiration.  We like a lot of the same things...folk art, gingham, the Top Note Die from SU, and lots of patterns on a card.  So this snowman (by Inky Antics) is headed to you in Minnesota, Kris!  I have a feeling he'll be right at home in your current climate.  Hope you are feeling better soon!