Make A Big Splash

"Make a Big Splash" -- that is what I inscribed on the inside of this card for my cousin, Anne, who just turned 60 (Aunt Dot's daughter). This delightful frog is from Penny Black with his puddle enhanced with crystal lacquer. The other components are a narrow underlining of corrugated card stock, and another band punched with a frog punch. It would have been fun to put the froggie punch outs on the inside of the card, but I frogot to do that. This brings me to another use for this card -- yup! A belated, "I frogot it was your birthday." All of you being prolific card artists there is probably never a problem with frogetting to send a card. And, those receiving one of your cards surely "jump" for joy. (Thank goodness my son hasn't seen this post as you know how he feels about my corny sayings.) Well, I'll be frogging along until next time.

Aunt Dot's Flower Pot

My Aunt Dot is having a birthday. And what a birthday! She will be 90 years old this week and her children are hosting an open house in her honor this Saturday.

My family moved away from our home state while I was still in school, but one of my favorite early memories of Aunt Dot is when we visited her and were preparing to leave, she would ask us to wait while she quickly cut flowers from her garden for us to take along. I have always remembered this as a very special gesture which not only was her way of saying thanks for our visit, but was also a display of generosity and her good wishes for us to leave on a happy note.

This memory of Aunt Dot's flowers was the inspiration for this flower pot card. I created it from a standard size piece of card stock folded to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and then cut out in the shape of the pot and bouquet. I had so much fun "cutting the flowers" to create the bouquet, that this became quite a dimensional piece. Happily, though, I have traveled to attend this celebration so that I will be able to hand deliver the card and will enjoy visiting with Aunt Dot and other relatives I have not seen in over ten years.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Dot!

Say Cheez

I was chosen randomly to receive a lovely pack of papers from K L Stampin N Scrappin for participation in the House Mouse challenge #29  -- I am just so excited! There are lots of reasons to participate in these challenges -- and not just for a chance at a prize -- it is just such fun to visit blogs with challenge cards on display. The talent around the world is just amazing. Go no further than the House Mouse challenge -- this will take you on a wonderful journey in card making. This week's challenge is bags and boxes - decorate and cover and I had just emptied a round cheese box (Laughing Cow). Look who's laughing now -- it is my favorite House Mouse guy exuberant over the coming of spring. I won't bore you with the details of this project because if I were to do it again -- there's got to be an easier way! And, because it is the wee hours of the morning, I don't have any jelly beans or M&Ms to fill the box with -- which I thought would be cute. The mouse is suspended inside the box and I am anxious to see how he likes chocolate! Check back -- maybe I won't eat all of the chocolate and save a little for the mouse in the box.

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.

Hats have got my Tongue

I am so missing all my blogging friends and especially disappointed that I have recently been unable to participate in the House Mouse weekly challenge. The best reason I can offer at the moment is that I'm still crocheting hats
(and in the middle of a bathroom remodel). Here you can see one of my latest creations in hatting. As I've mentioned before, my darling granddaughter must have everything in pink. This little beret was a delight to crochet and even more delightful to see my granddaughter sporting it on her head. Cheers to all of you -- please don't give up on me?

Sharon's hat

This is what I've been busy doing lately instead of making cards. Since the beginning of this blog, I've always thought it was for card making -- but shouldn't a blog be a little bit about me too? There is a television commercial being aired lately where a woman is wearing a knit hat, sweater and is crazily knitting while talking to a friend. She says, "if I keep knitting, I don't want to eat." I guess you could say that about me because I've been dieting for a while now and find that if my hands are busy, I'm not trying to put things in my mouth. Sharon's hat is just one product of that concept. My husband is getting a little concerned though, as my current inventory of hats is over a dozen -- and I live where we don't know what winter is. Sharon's hat was my last project and was actually for Sharon and was commissioned by her sister for her 70th Birthday. Happy Birthday Sharon! (Happy dieting -- me).

I Feel So Special

I've received this awesome award. And, there are rules for acceptance: it must be passed on to five others, who shall give it to five others. You are to link to the one who gave you the award,-- in my case, thanks so very much to Carolyn who continues to encourage me by visiting my blog and leaving comments. Stop by and visit her, she is a great source of inspiration.

Another part of this award is that you need to link to the five you give the award to and let them know. Ahh, but there’s more... You have to write down five things you are addicted to...."

Only Five? O.K., here are five addictions that I'll admit to:

(1) Life

(2) Pursuit of Happiness

(3) The smell of fresh rubber

(4) Watching heating embossing powder melt to brilliance.

(5) Feeling the softness of lovely ribbons.

(5)a (just one more?) GLITTER!

I would like the following folks to take this award and for each of them to pass it on to five more!

1. Kendra

2. Dawn

2. Stacy

3. My Cardz

5. Kathy -- How could I mention glitter and not say hello to my Phoenix friend, Kathy, the Glitter Queen?