Friday, December 26, 2008

Merry Christmas

I wanted to share some pics of my family.


My husband and youngest daughter & I.

My oldest daughter and her family.

My 2nd daughter & her family.

My 3rd daughter & her family.


Me with all my kids.

All my grandkids & my youngest daughter.

Monday, December 22, 2008

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

A little heat...a little light...a whole lotta cuteness!

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #19 - Embossing
***This challenge will be running till January 5th, 2009. With the holidays - we wanted to give everyone time to join in. Especially since there is a PRIZE up for grabs!! WOOHOO!!

This week's challenge was my bright idea :) hee hee hee!! It's all about embossing - heat or dry embossing, pre-embossed papers etc. Any kind of project goes as long as it features at least one House Mouse or Friends image. For all the challenge details, prize info. and creations by the Design Team - click HERE.

I made a big tag for this project.



I decided to show a couple different types of embossing on my project.

Dry Embossing - You can see where I did dry embossing on the paper and sanded off the raised parts to expose the white paper core. I also sanded around the edges of the paper. All my dry embossing was done with stencils & a light box.

Heat Embossing a Stamped Image - The mouse prints are stamped with Brown Pigment Ink and covered with clear embossing powder - then heat set.

Heat Embossing with Embossing Pen - The snow in the corners was done by drawing with an Embossing Pen by hand - then covered with embossing glitter & heat set.



Coloring was done with Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol. I used a sponge and lightly inked around the edges - and dabbed lightly over the background around the image. I love adding touched of texture with ink & sponge! Don't you just LOVE those cute little mice!! This weeks prize is a totally cute HM stamp! See it HERE.

Recipe:
Stamps -
House-Mouse Designs Christmas Clear Set; Stampabilities Mouse Feet
Paper -
Lasting Impressions Split Pea Check, Cinnamon Solid & Fudge Dots, Image Plus White Cardstock
Ink -
A Muse Art Stamps Black Dye; Clearsnap Colorbox Pigment Chestnut Roan
Misc. - Prismacolor Pencils; Tsukineko Versamark Pen; Stampendous Winder Wonderland Embossing Powder; Clear Matte Embossing Powder; Lasting Impressions Brass Stencil L1080 & S567; Misc Ribbon, Misc Eyelets; Dimensionals; Merry Glo Round light box for dry embossing; Sanding Block; Crop-a-dile; Spounge

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.
Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE

Saturday, December 20, 2008

You're Sweet!

Crazy for Cupcakes!

I'm sure everyone is busy with all the holiday shopping, baking, traveling, visiting, etc. etc. I haven't even wrapped a single gift yet! oops!! Then I was looking at my blog and I haven't posted a project in days. Not that I haven't made anything...I just haven't posted. So here ya go :)

Have you seen the Cupcake Set from A Muse? Check it out HERE. I've made several cards with it. Am I gonna show them all to you at once? Heck no! You're gonna have to come back and keep checking to see more :) hee hee hee. I know...MY BAD! YEAYA!! LOL

I thought this one looked good for the Holiday Season with the red, green and brown.



The card base is a notecard folded inside out. I LOVE the ivory color on the inside. See that strip of dots on the top...well...I cut that off the bottom of one side...THEN I punched the scalloped border. Pretty cool don't ya think! The cupcake was stamped 3 times. I colored with Copic markers. Cut out a full cupcake (yes...cherry stem and all) and then cute out just the frosting for another layer...THEN cute out just the cherry (no stem this time) and put it on top as the 3rd layer. OH...another thing...that cherry is covered with Crystal Lacquer and so are all the little white dots.



Now....I gotta get back to my "STUFF" for the day. Have a wonderful Saturday everyone :)

Recipe:
Stamps - A Muse Artstamps Cupcake Set
Paper - A Muse Artstamps Kitchen Brown Notecard & Ivory CS; Bazzill Red CS
Ink - A Muse Artstamps Black Dye; Tsukineko Versafine Satin Red
Misc - Copic Markers; A Muse Artstamps Grosgrain Ribbon; Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch; Sakura Crystal Lacquer; Dimensionals; Mini Glue Dot

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

I Almost Forgot...

Judy has Blog Candy!!!!!

Judy over at Joy in a JAR is on the House Mouse & Friends design team...and she has Blog Candy for this weeks challenge! WAY COOL! Go check out the details on her blog HERE.

Monday, December 15, 2008

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

A Sketch and a Kind Thought
This weeks challenge is in memory of one of our HM challenge participants - Joanne. Joanne passed away suddenly December 12th. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joanne's family & friends at this sad time.
For the sketch - you can flip it, shrink it, rotate it, twist it etc but you MUST be able to see the original sketch in yourwork.

For the kind thought - the Johnson family has left a request on Joannes blog. "Joanne spread much joy through her card making. If you would like to do something in memory of her, we are sure she would like you to send a card to someone in need."

Please make your card based on the sketch and send it to someone in need. For all the challenge details and to see all the creations by the Design Team - click HERE.



Here's my card. My friend Emma stamped this image and sent it to me. Main image and sentiment layers are popped up on dimensionals. Cardbase is 5"x6"



This time I colored with Copic Markers. After the coloring was done, I took a piece of old towel and wet it with Copic Blender Solution -- then dabbed it on the image to give it a little textured look...and soften up the colors just a bit. Worked out totally slick!



Allllrighty then....since I'm super late posting my challenge.....AND.....it's WAY past my bedtime....I'll come back and finish up the recipe for my card later. (12/16 updated & done)

Recipe:
Stamps - House-Mouse Designs Happy Hopper Hoppy Birthday; SU Holiday Sampler Sentiment
Paper - Bazzill Textured Cardstock, Deja Views 2-sided paper The Sharon Ann collection Home for the Holidays
Ink - Tsukineko Versafine Black
Misc. - Copic Markers; Misc Brads & Ribbon; Dimensionals; SU Oval Punches

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.
Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Suzy has blog candy!!

Happy Haul-a-Days Giveaway

One of my blogger friends - Suzy - is giving away a haul of blog candy. Go check it out HERE. And don't bother leaving a comment to win...cause my number is gonna be drawn! LOL ;)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Merry ChrisMoose

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #201
I was in need of a "challenge fix" -- AND -- I really wanted to ink up this new rubber that came home with me a couple weeks ago. Yep...one of those days where the stamp found me! That sucker jumped in my shopping basket and wasn't about to go back on the shelf! ;) Isn't that Moose SO CUTE!!! I love the scarf! And a sentiment RIGHT THERE on the stamp! HELLO!! That's WAY COOL!

I found
this layout challenge over on splitcoaststampers.com and it looked perfect for my moose.




Glitter was sprinkled on top of wet Liquid
Applique before puffing it up with my heat gun. Sponging around main image with Colorbox Chalk Prussian Blue really makes the image pop. (check it out...I used the word POP! LOL!!) The snowflakes are stamped with Chestnut Roan Chalk ink on the background layer & I added just a dot of 2-way glue and glitter on the centers. Notice the square brads? Sometimes ya just gotta break down and use those things! hee hee hee. This was really a fun card to make.



I used Copic Markers for coloring. Speaking
of Copic markers...I taught my first Introduction to Copic Markers class today! It was SO MUCH FUN!! Here's a pic of some of the ladies as they were making one of the cards with their new Copic Coloring Skills :) I think we have 9 new Copic Addicts! ;)



Recipe:
Stamps - Stampendous Merry ChrisMoose; Snowflake (unknown)
Paper -
SU Naturals White CS; Bazzill Textured CS; Bo Bunny Decaf Dot Reversable Heavy Weight Paper
Ink -
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black; Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Prussian Blue & Chestnut Roan
Misc. -
Copic Markers E11, E25, W3, R25, R39, YG95, G99, BG10, 0; 2-way glue pen, Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter; ; Marvy Uchida Liquid Applique White; Misc Twine & Brads, Dimensionals

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Another HUGE Give Away!!

MissyB Designs Last Minute Give Away!!

Woooohoooo!!! Melissa is having another HUGE Give Away! Go check out all the details HERE before it's too late!

HO! HO! HO!
Merry Christmas!


These adorable stamps to make the tags all came from 1 set! The Santa and the Holly Leaves & Berries are cut out attached. Tags are double-sided with the back having the "to: from:" stamped on it. Super quick and easy just the way I like it:)

Shop MissyB Designs
HERE

Recipe:
Stamps -
MissyB Designs Make A Tag
Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Bazzill Black & Red CS
Ink - Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc. - Copic Markers; 2-way glue pen; Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter; 1/16" Hole Punch; Misc Rhinstone; Misc Stretch Cord; Marvy Uchida Punches

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

That's Snow Sweet!

The mice finally made it out of the snow storm! LOL Let's get on to this weeks HM Challenge! yippee!!!

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #17 - Let it Snow
This weeks theme is Snow. Burrrr!!!! Anything that is about snow. As always...you need to include at least 1 House Mouse or Friends image on your project. For all the challenge details and to see some snow covered creations by the Design Team - click HERE.


Check it out!! I used a snowflake embossing folder on the Handsome Hunter base layer and patterned paper that has snowflakes. BAMM! There's my snow :) LOL

This stamp features Monica. She sure looks like she's enjoying that piece of candy! You can't tell...but I used a clear glaze pen on the colored stripes of the candies. I also used a Clear Spica Glitter pen on the snowflakes of the patterned paper. The red layers is the other side of the patterned paper. Don't ya just LUV those double-sided papers!!
The layout for this card is from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge #204. Details HERE.

Again...I MUST MUST MUST say how AWESOME that A Muse Dye ink is! Last week's HM image was a larger wood mounted -- I said how wonderful this ink worked with it. (see here) The stamp for this card is a clear stamp -- and I got the same PERFECT results! I only inked up and stamped 1 time folks!! That's total excitement right there! Crisp image details -- dried fast -- no smearing when coloring. HTH!! The sentiment stamp is also from amuse. Perfect for this image!

Recipe:
Stamps -
House-Mouse Designs Christmas Clear Set; A Muse Art Stamps Sweet Holiday Wishes MA
Paper -
Papertrey Ink White CS; Scrapworks.com Holiday Cheer Flurry Double-Sided Designer Paper; SU Whisper White & Handsome Hunter CS
Ink -
A Muse Art Stamps Black Dy Ink
Misc. -
Cuttlebug Emboss A2 Snowflakes folder;
Prismacolor Pencils; Gamsol OMS; Copic Spica Clear Glitter Pen; Sakura Clear Glaze Pen; Misc Brads & Ribbon; Dimensionals
House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.
Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE

Monday, December 8, 2008

Stay tuned....

...for the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

Sorry for the delay...the mice are snowed in. Please check back for this weeks challenge :) It's gonna fun!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Let's have some fun!!

Time to Party!

This is the 4th VMAA! A Muse Addicts have so much fun at VMAA. Real quick..this is what happens:

The part is about 2 hours long. A challenge is posted every 30 minutes. You have 30 minutes to create the card for the challenge. It's FAST & FUN! Remember - Think Simple. Think A Muse.

The theme this year based around Holiday Movies. That is how the title of this VMAA ended up to be "It's a Wonderful Life." You all know Holiday Movies..right?! :) OK...so Michelle, Rhonda, Jennie , and Geeta each got to pick one and then make our challenge based on that.

Challenge #1 is by Michelle Clark. Based on the movie A Christmas Story. Make a holiday card for a child.
I'm gonna give myself a pat on the back for this one. It was done in 17 minutes!! Now THAT'S how to "git-er-done!"

Recipe: All supplies are from A Muse

Challenge #2 is by Geeta - based on the movie Polar Express. Make a card using Blues & White & Lots of Glitter.


Challenge #3 is by Rhonda - based on the movie Scrooged. Make a card using staples somewhere on it.

There are still 2 more challenges...but I won't get to them till tomorrow. It takes more time to take a picture and post than it did to make the card! LOL

Thursday, December 4, 2008

All I Want For Christmas Is....

...MORE TIME TO PREPARE!

ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! All I can do is laugh...cause I'm starting to realize how BEHIND I am on all my Christmas "stuff"!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.


No stamping picture to share...but I have plenty of kid pics. Here's one that makes me laugh!! Emalie is my youngest grandchild. Cute huh! LOL Dirty drool face & all! :)

Monday, December 1, 2008

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

Glitter & Glitz

Are you ready for your Monday Morning Kick Start? I am! Especially since it's all about Glitter!! I LOVE those sparkles. I actually have a hard time NOT putting glitter all over my projects. I have tons of the stuff - glitter, glitter glue, embossing glitter, glitter pens, glitter paper etc. etc. etc. :) Sooooo......are you ready to create with some of your glitter? Allllllrighty then...lets stamp!

We would love to see your work glitzed up to the max! As always...anything goes as long as you include at least 1 House Mouse or Friends image on your project. For all the challenge details and to see the Glitter & Glitz creations by the Design Team - click HERE.


This HM stamp is called Fashion Statement - and features Amanda. A perfect image for glitter & glitz! All those ornaments were colored with red pencil & then embossed with Red Tinsel Embossing Powder. I also embossed a few strips on the background paper. The tops of the ornaments are colored with a Silver Glitter Pen. Image layer is popped up on dimensionals.The last bit of glitz added is the wonderful ribbon from A Muse. That ribbon is awesome!

Speaking of A Muse...I want to share something with you. I stamped my HM image with a dye ink pad from A Muse Art Stamps. This ink is super super great!! Look at how all the details show on my stamped image! And guess what...I only stamped this ONE TIME!! Can you believe it!! It came out perfect! A Muse Dye Ink pads are fast-drying -- and -- they work GREAT with alcohol markers. Yep...that means COPIC & Prismacolor! Git-er-done!!!!! And...as you can see...it works perfect with my colored pencils & gamsol too :)



Recipe:
Stamps -
House-Mouse Designs Fashion Statement (Amanda)
Paper -
Papertrey Ink White CS; SU Double-Sided Designer Paper; SU Real Red CSInk - A Muse Art Stamps Black Dy Ink
Misc. - Prismacolor Pencils; Gamsol OMS; Stampendous Red Tinsel Embossing Powder; ZIG Embossing Pen; Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Warm Red; Sakura Glitter Pen; A Muse Art Stamps Swiss Red Sheer Ribbon; Misc Brads; Dimensionals

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog HERE
House-Mouse Designs Official Website HERE.
Tips on how you can easily color the House-Mouse Stamp Images HERE