Waltzingmouse Blog Party

Happy St. Patrick's Day! What a fun way to celebrate with the Waltzingmouse Blog Party and its St. Patrick's Day/Irish/green theme . Be sure to head to Claire's blog for a list of the participants.

My hiatus from posting lasted much longer than I intended; however, today is the perfect opportunity to share a card I made for the "darling of my heart" who gave me a surname with Irish origins.

After stamping various backgrounds(PTI), I used the sentiments from Waltzingmouse Irish Blessings as well as the shamrocks from the same set to decorate the focal point and to create a border strip trimmed with pinking scissors.

Inside a beautiful blessing for my husband whose ancestors immigrated from Ireland to America in the 1750s when they changed the spelling of their last name from Murphy to Murphree to celebrate their sense of freedom..

Will you be wearin' the green today? With the lovely warm weather we've been having, we may head downtown this evening to celebrate at an outdoor event with some Celtic music.
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the party!

Thank you, Debbie Olsen

As you know, Papertrey Ink is celebrating its fifth anniversary and the PTI designers constantly amaze with their incredible talent.
When Debbie Olsen posted this card as her favorite of 2011, I remembered it well.

When she originally posted it in May, I copied it into my inspiration file along with this card she made using Garden Variety.

Inspired by Debbie's cards, I created this card.  I can tell you I am very hesitant to post my card on the same page with Debbie's. Debbie is the queen of Copics while I am a mere serf.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed making this card while remembering the gladiolus in my grandmother's garden.

 I am extremely grateful to Debbie and all the designers who inspire us by sharing their talent, creativity, and beauty with us.

Make it Monday #51

It has been quite awhile since I have made a card for PTI's Make It Monday tutorial, but when I saw the video on Monday, I thought if I had time this week, this banner was something I wanted to try. 

 Once again my shortcomings became obvious as I watched Nichole fold  the strip of cardstock into equal segments with no wonky creases and I  unintentionally folded my strip into unequal segments with very wonky creases.  Nevertheless, I think this is a fun treatment to use on a card. I mounted the sentiment strip onto white cardstock impressed with Tin Types. I added Larger than Life Die Cut flowers leaves.
I am  also linking this to fellow Peep Rhonda Hampton's Thankful Thursday. Check out her post each Thursday, make a thank -you card, link it, and then share your gratitude with someone.  I think this card will be going to the principal of the alternative high school where I am volunteering.  She has helped me find materials to use with the students I am teaching.



Supplies:
Stamps: Inside Out: Thank You, Background Basics: Botanicals, Larger Than Life (PTI)
Ink: Spring Moss (PTI); Memento Lavendar Moon, Summer Sky, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Paper: Spring Moss, Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Other: Tin Types Impression Plate, Larger Than Life dies (PTI)

WMSC 81-Congratulations!

Congratulations! It's your anniversary, it's your birthday, it's a promotion,  it's the weekend! Finding a reason to congratulate a friend is easy. Celebrate with a bottle of goodness dressed with a bright cheery tag. 

I used this sketch by Anya Schrier

and Seasonal Remedies and Fancy Phrases by Waltzingmouse Stamps.

Have a great weekend,

CR84FN 46

With the many gray days we have had, these soft spring colors of CR84FN Color Challenge were inviting me to play.

When I saw these colors, I knew I wanted to make a card using one of the sweet images from Crafty Secrets Born to Fly stamp set. When Crafty Secrets announced last month they were no longer going to be making clear stamps, I quickly ordered a few sets that had been on my wish list. Luckily, customer response has convinced them to continue producing their stamps.

I started with a Lemon Tart card base. I printed the patterned papers, using Crafty Secrets Creating with Vintage Patterns CD #1. The yellow patterned paper is edged with a Martha Stewart heart border. The pink pattern is a happy mistake.  I printed one pattern and meant to print another pattern on the back, but I put the paper in the printer the wrong way and printed the second pattern over the first. The tickets are also from Born to Fly and the flourish above the heart is from French Mail.  I stamped the image on a die cut (Quickutz Nested Doily Hearts) and colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils; I added just a touch of sparkle to her wings with a Spica Buttermilk pen. And of course, I used some Antique Linen to age the die cut.  The sentiment from PTI's Tiny Tags is stamped on a Tiny Tags die cut.

Have a wonderful week,

Waltzingmouse Blog Party

Blowing the party horn for the first Waltzingmouse Blog Party of 2012!   A fun progressive party with many inspiring destinations with this month's theme: SWEET THINGS. Check out all the stops on the party here.

 My take on the theme was to make cards expressing love because there is nothing sweeter than love, although I don't think I could live without chocolate either :)  My first card is feminine and sweet with  pink, scallops, ruffles,and a cameo.

 The pink background was stamped with WM Victorian Frippery (BTW-that background building stamp is SOOOO EASY to use), and the black and white background is was stamped with Nordic Winter (also very easy to use). On this card I also used Fancy Phrases and  Cameo Creations.
After assembling the card, I was happy with it, but the theme is SWEET THINGS, and I had the perfect raspberry gingham ruffled ribbon, so of course, I HAD to add a fluffy bow to make a sweet card even sweeter.

This second Valentine card was inspired by this CAS card by Amber D.

I used these stamps from these Waltzingmouse sets: Faux Fun Circles,  Nordic Winter, A Very Vintage Christmas,  and Fancy Phrases. I used Antique Linen Distress on the edge of the banner and popped it with dimensional tape.

Reminder: Many of  the stamps in the Christmas sets can be used for non-Christmas cards.

 Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the party,

Stamps: Victorian Frippery, Nordic Winter, Fancy Phrases, Faux Fun Circles, A Very Vintage Christmas,Cameo Creations (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Memento Rose Bud,  Tuxedo Black , Lavender Moon(Tsukineko); Antique Linen Distress Ink(Ranger);Pure Poppy, Spring Moss (PTI)
Paper: Rustic White, Raspberry Fizz, Stamper's Select White, True Black (PTI)
Other:Scalloped punch(Fiskars); circle die, scalloped circle die, banner die(Spellbinders)

WMSC 80 -A Simple Welcome

I used this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge for my inspiration for a little crafty time on Saturday.

I followed the sketch closely using patterned paper in muted colors,a clean and simple design, and one of my favorite Waltzingmouse images. This little cottage reminds me of a small print that I purchased in Ireland and sits on the desk in the study.

 

After stamping the image and sentiment, I distressed the edges and added a felt pinked edging to the top and bottom. I added a simple embellishment of  twine and a wooden button.

Remember, a charming image is lovely without coloring and many embelishments.

As always thank you for stopping by,

Supplies:
Stamps:Irish Blessings (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Paper: Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI);Lost and Found Portabello Road 6x6 Paper Pad(My Mind's Eye)
Other: Rustic Wood Button, twine, Ocean Tides felt, Pinking Shears Border die (PTI)