Yer So Sweet

Here’s House Mouse Challenge #29. What a great sketch designed by one of the DT members, Emma, for the House Mouse and Friends Challenge this week. It’s not too late to join in the fun – all you need is a House Mouse, Gruffies, or Happy Hopper stamp incorporated into this design sketch. The Design Team does an awesome job with every challenge and this week is no exception.

Take a look.

My little “guy”, “Mudpie Holds Jellybeans” had never been inked up before so we had a lot of fun early this morning. Do you see him winking? However, in the morning light, I am not as happy with this card as I was at about 2a.m. My son the “night owl critic” always enjoys my struggle. He had seen earlier versions – and then when he saw the red rose, he says, “hmmm red – great contrast." So I guess that means he likes it. I enjoyed working with the sketch and will use it again. The red rose is to represent the bottom bar in the sketch to make all the elements there. The phrase was printed from my computer onto a label and circle punched. Other circles are Sizzix . I was happy to find the paper in my stash containing the circles with same color elements. Of course, I had to jazz it with pink center glitz. Thanks for looking.

Why I Blog

I am sure I would answer this question a different way every day I am asked. Today the answer is: rewards. The rewards of friendships. Here is a wonderful reward I received in the mail today from a dear far-away stamping friend who keeps track of me via my blog. If this beautiful card is not enough, enclosed inside was a delightful three page newsy letter. E-mails and everything cyber related might be nice – but nothing can surpass the excitement and joy to receive a handmade card and a "hard copy" letter. Thanks Anne V -- This is why I blogged today.

King for a Day

I have been missing the House Mouse Challenge and all the talented participants so I’ve finally mustered up some mojo to design a card for a man as requested for this week’s House Mouse Challenge. Please use this link to visit the House Mouse Challenge and take a look at the design team's beautiful, as always, cards. For this challenge, my first thought was “metal” and so I cut a panel of aluminum from a soda can, and ran it through an embossing folder. But that wasn’t good enough -- so I tapped on some ink, dusted it with embossing powder and heat set it. This created a very nice flat piece of “metal” which sat on my work table in the laundry room for several days while I was thinking.

Yesterday as I was playing Gin Rummy with my dh, the rest of the idea developed. I made a stair step card and recycled my dh’s playing cards, used the metal piece for the backdrop, and put house mouse characters frolicking about as you can see here. This design evolved through an inordinate amount of time (but I did get my laundry done in between) and this design can be replicated to make a very nice Father’s Day card, Happy Birthday, or just “have a great day” card for a man. Use Queens, hmmmm, for a “Queen for a Day” card perhaps? As for my use? I guess I’ll give it to my dh (along with a new deck of cards) as the winner of the Gin Rummy tournament at our house.
Here is what it looks like folded:

Today I Celebrate You

I seem to be in pet mode lately and my dog, Mr. Lucky, is indeed Lucky. We are becoming nap buddies and I am just about as lazy as he is. Well, that's not exactly true -- I am exhausted with a bathroom remodel which I hope to see finalized this week.

Here's a quick card I made in honor of all my pet loving friends. A very simple fun card with the brown cardstock layer corner punched and torn open in the center to allow Ziggy's dog, Fuzz, his chase for the prize bone. Not a very good scan of the inside -- there is a packet of bones (craft punch) tied with gold cord and the phrase, "Today I Celebrate You!" Both stamps are from Stampendous. As some of my blogging friends would say, "easy-peasy."

I am Inspired

Early in January of this year, I was thrilled to learn that Mary had put me on her list for this beautiful "from the heart" award created by permission from gratefulness.org. I've been a long time in acknowledging my own heartfelt thanks for being included on this award list as a blogging friend of Mary. Please go over and visit her. She has a beautiful selection of cards with great explanations and close up details of her work. There are no special rules for passing this on so my rule for this one is to say "ditto." I would like to refer you back to the original posting so that you can see the great blogging friends attached to this award. I am new to the blogging world but I am proud to say that I am a follower of some of the bloggers on Mary's list and I hope to visit more of them as time goes on. These are very talented people and I send this award back to them with my own heartfelt thanks and gratitude for their willingness to share their beautiful designs and ideas and to say "you inspire me."

Puppy Love

Who doesn't love a cute little puppy like this? This makes a great birthday card and is ever so easy with a Sizzix die (in case I haven't mentioned it, one of my favorite tools). Layered and assembled – a crystal lacquer nose, some freckles, a jeweled collar and this "puppy" is ready to go. Happy Birthday, Donna.