Can't Believe it's Not Fall

I've always been a late bloomer - kinda like the song "Born Too Late..." My mother was expecting me in December and I waited until January and I guess that's been the theme all my life. All to say, that I am still punching out fall colored leaves when all the rest of the crafting world is making Christmas or Valentine Cards. My drawer full of mice is still on my work bench so I couldn't resist making this one before getting busy on Christmas (and my laundry). The tree scene by Darcie is colored with watercolor pencils and the opening is cut out to make a window for the mouse to be suspended in (the hand is sandwiched between the layers) The punched leaves are affixed to the inside of the opening - the border (Hawaiian Quilt block) is by RSP - Honolulu. My son's comment on this one? "Best one Yet, Mom."

Same Stuff - Different Look

This has got to be one of the happiest House Mouse characters around. He's called "Hyper Mouse" and I can see why. Here is another "take" from the Drawer Full of Mice post using the same components. I haven't asked my son about this one yet but I think I like it better and I know my husband is always good for a "that's great -- can you make about 100 of these for my best customers?!" Winter Trees background - All Night Media.

Drawer Full of Mice

Since I discovered the House Mouse and Friends challenge spot, I've pulled out the drawer (full of house mouse images -- untouched by ink). This card was "unsolicited" - meaning there was no suggestion for it as a challenge so I made this just for fun. I plan to use it for Thanksgiving greetings to family I will not share a table with next week. When I asked my son for approval, he just nodded his head. I think he was more interested in what's for dinner. He did say he loved the colors and that he couldn't "see anything wrong with it."
Particulars:
Burgundy Card face
Leaf border stamp - Greenbriar (I think this was from Dollar Tree)
Happy Harvest - Embossing Arts
House Mouse
Cuttlebug folder for copper layer
Leaf punch - Marvy

Count Your Many Blessings

Count Your Many Blessings

. . . name them one by one. I've never followed a "recipe" or card sketch for a card before so this was a new experience. I had several more layers ready to adhere to this card and after my son's critique, I simplified it. He likes it better and so do I. Sizzix did a nice job of cutting the oak leaves and the maple leaf. Cuttlebug embossed the maple leaf used as an under piece to the two oak leaves. The oak leaves are stamped with lot of little words (PSX), a little heart (Hampton Arts), and my very first stamp – a fern stamp (maker unknown but known how I got it) my DH purchased the fern stamp for me at the State Fair many years ago (oh, little did he know what he was doing….). The phrase "Count Your Many Blessings" is from Stampendous. The bottom Oak Leaf is attached but I left the top leaf to move freely for interaction. It is only connected to the card with the raffia tie at the stem. The dark green layer under the maple leaf was stamped with a leaf design (Toomuchfun). Talk about too much fun – at the time of this stamp's making, the company was based in East Lansing, Michigan – my home state. Where did I buy this stamp? Michigan? – Nahh, that would have been too easy. I found it at an art store in San Francisco during one of my working trips there. Are we having too much fun? Not yet…..and I've got lots and lots of blessings to count.

Skylar Flying High

Happy Harvest

Have I mentioned that I love Sizzix? This card has a Sizzix jelly frame embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then tapped with Memories sepia ink. Kinda looks like imitation dyed leather huh? This is a left folded card blank that was stamped with the bare tree (PSX ) before applying with foam mounts, an assembled Skylar (theneonrainbow), -- Skylar's eyes are covered with Crystal Lacquer -- stamped tag "Happy Harvest" (Embossing Arts) tied to frame with raffia strands– and Maple Leaf (Marvy) and Oak Leaf (Family Treasurers). Ahh, I miss PSX and Embossing Arts – thank goodness there are still a "few" stamp makers out there! LOL