Really Red Roses

Penny Black has put forth a color challenge this week in honor of the USA's birthday: red, white, and blue for the American Flag. "Easy Peasy" as one of my blogging friends like to say because I still had out all those colors from my last posting. Another blogging friend, Heather, suggests using silicone for the tole technique and I agree it worked very nicely on the rose bouquet. Though the image doesn't show very well, I kept the kitties in their natural stamping color (Memories Midnight Blue) and only colored a slight pink tint on the ears, nose, and cheeks. The oval frame and flowers are Sizzix (still trying to justify all those purchases) and the frame is edged with pleated tissue paper. Other features: Cuttlebug embossing folder, blue sponging on the red flowers., rickrack and DCWV blue print. The really red roses are prisma markers. Be sure and stop by the Penny Black blog to see those gorgeous creations by the DT.

Now, I've really got to clean off the washer and dryer and do some real work. Ahh, do you think I'm kidding?

Happy Birthday Sarah and America

One of my dear friend's birthday is the 4th of July and for many years, we attended an event sponsored by mutual friends/associates who had a big "backyard" party that included bona fide fireworks (as in really up in the air displays). This celebration is now only memories from the past but I remind Sarah of this July 4th celebration and her birthday with this card. I used the same sketch from a recent House Mouse challenge to make easy work of this 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 card. The image is actually a Christmas stamp and I changed the snowflakes floating down on the mice into fireworks with Art Institute Glitter and now, the mice trio, with the little drummer, certainly appear to be independence singers. The perfect background came from a DCWV tablet, and the flag was composed from a sizzix die. Coloring with prisma markers. This House Mouse design is also posted here in honor of another's birthday. America -- she is on the design team for the House Mouse challenge -- please go visit her and wish her a happy birthday too! I had to delay the posting of this card because I didn't want Sarah to see it before I hand delivered it to her yesterday. And, by the way, the hand delivery was well-rewarded with a housefull of Sarah's family and friends and a goodly amount of food and birthday cake. Happy Birthday USA, Sarah, and America!

Pansy Painter

This week's House Mouse challenge is to create something using paper tole -- the DT has done the usual lovely, lovely work. This is a new technique for me and I can't wait to do more. Several of the flower petals and several leaves and one of the stems are raised through the paper tole technique. I also did the burnishing on the back of the mouse image though I didn't applique over it. The primary flower has a dollop of crystal lacquer and three seed beads in the center. The background is a cuttlebug embossing folder lightly chalked and the edges are gold cs - also cuttlebug. The circle seals and butterfly are stickers from the Dollar Tree. You will be surprised that I have no clever remarks for this one -- but my son isn't around to grimace.

Mail Call

Post update: Got my laundry done and found time for a "do-over." I think this works better as a smaller card -- what do you think? One of my blogging friends also reminded me how important mail call is for our servicemen and women she says "...mail call doesn't mean more to anyone than them." I think this would be a great "hello" to someone like that! (additional stamps by Stampendous).

Original posted card:

Another Penny Black challenge that kept me from doing my laundry today. LOL -- But as some of you may know, my studio is in the laundry room so I can occasionally load the washer (when the top of the washer and dryer aren't covered with stamp supplies and layouts). This Penny Black cat has a special message for you -- "share" (from a PSX collection .) So that is what I am doing though I am not totally convinced that this card works --maybe I need to do more laundry and less inking and thinking. The flowers are stamped twice and layered with foam mount for dimension and dotted lightly with Art Glitter (my fav). Cuttlebug embossing panel, flower stamp (Posh Impressions - All Night Media). Guess that's all I can say about this one -- except: share yourself with others by sending mail to friends and family. My Aunt Dora used to say that it was a sad day when there was no mail in the mailbox. Older folks especially look forward to those cards and letters -- despite e-mail, good old fashion "mail call" is still very important.
Here's the Penny Black sketch challenge and I encourage you to go visit here to see the awesome talents of the Design Team. Thanks for stopping by.

Here comes the Sun....

A House Mouse Challenge Sketch

"Here comes the sun..."

These little guys don't look too much like the Beatles -- but they love the song written by George Harrison in collaboration with Eric Clayton and are singing to the Sun for its shiny rays to smile down on them. Another House Mouse challenge with a great sketch provided by 2Red Bananas.

Cuttlebug swirls for blue sky, Stampabilities Sun with rays of gold cord stretched down atop our singers colored with Prisma colors. Here comes the Sun. And the sun is definitely here to stay in my part of the country -- it is 106 degrees and counting today.

To see what the DT did with this sketch



-- go here.

Aloha!

• A Penny Black challenge to use embossing along with a Penny Black image. What could be more fun? The Penny Black image -- or embossing? If you go here you will be rewarded with some beautiful renditions of this design challenge by the Penny Black Design Team. My idea here started out to just make a simple beach scene, but how could it not end up in Hawaii? I know that is where this cat would love to be though judging from his posture, I think anywhere in the world would be a delight for him. The additional foam mounted palm trees are from Sizzix (I have to justify all of those dies I have purchased over the years). A little dash of Art Glitter on the sunglasses, rose, and drink umbrella for glitter! The flowers are from a party lei I took apart and I used the string to tie on the Aloha tag. So, I guess you can say this is a "recycling project." Background "Aloha" shirt design paper by DCWV. Embossing? It's the blue swirling background by Cuttlebug. Coloring by Prisma markers and chalk. See ya later, I have gone in search of a hammock and Aloha dreams!

Drama Queen

I can sometimes become a drama queen when my dh has beaten me at Gin Rummy too many times in a row. But I've solved that problem by putting the cards to better use as you see here. This card could have an inside saying such as "don't be such a drama queen -- it is only another birthday!" Or, if the person you are making the card for is truly a "Drama Queen" (Stampabilities) -- nothing more needs to be said. This easy and quick card uses a pair of playing cards face down with a third one used in the center panel - all mounted on a glossy black 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card. I love this "off with her head" Alice in Wonderland queen image from All Night Media. She was truly the queen of drama! A deck of cards can provide a lot more entertainment in card making than in card playing -- when your dh always wins! Return here for more ways to use playing cards -- this could become 52 posts!

Bits and Pieces

Here's a fun way to "clean your studio's" flat surfaces. I always have lots of bits and pieces left over from projects and often whisk them away to a storage container for "later." A more immediate result, however, is to create a "serendipity card" such as this one. Cover a cardstock panel with carpet tape, apply slices of cardstock leftovers, torn, cut with decorative scissors and straight cuts until completely covered. Here comes the best part: before putting away the stamps from your last project use them to stamp randomly over top. Generally these will all be of a theme from your last project -- ahh, go ahead, you can look in your stamp drawers too. For yet more interest, apply Top Boss and dust with clear or "sparkling clear" embossing powder and lightly heat. Apply a focal point, affix to a blank card face, and this "bird" is ready to fly.

Blooming with Gorgeousness

The Penny Black challenge design team has again presented some truly blooming gorgeous work. Go take a look for this week's challenge: Blooming Gorgeous. This challenge invites any interpretation as long as Penny Black is represented on the creation. What could be more gorgeous than these three dancing milk cows with shiny coats of crystal lacquer all glittered up, and hoofs painted? They are blooming with gorgeousness!

These gorgeous bloomers derive from a terrific Penny Black "Moo Birthday"stamp but instead of birthday presents, they are frolicking with Stampendous flowers with jeweled centers. These happy cows are cut out and raised off the card with foam dots so they can dance on out of the Darcie background scene. I could play with Penny Black stamps until the cows come home. Thanks for stopping by.

Dear Hearts

The House Mouse Challenge of the week is to design an Anniversary or Wedding Card -- what could be more fun and gratifying? -- to celebrate both new and ongoing commitments of the heart. Check out the House Mouse design team's amazing postings here. My son's evaluation of this card is "...hmmm, a little busy." Ahh, but his girlfriend on the other hand, thought it was perfect. She is in the know that wedding anniversaries should be commemorated with lace, roses, ribbons, hearts, and flourishes! This house mouse image was holding jelly beans in his hands and one wrapped in his tail before I got a hold of him with an Exacto knife. The double hearts are Sizzix die cuts with the inner heart embossed with Cuttlebug. The Happy Anniversary is an unmounted stamp (origin unknown) and the roses are compliments of Inkadinkado. Married Dear Hearts everywhere -- Happy Anniversary!