Friendship Seeds

Side View

Back again with my second GDT card for House Mouse and Friends.  This card consists 4 of my favorite things:  House Mouse stamp, sunflowers, gingham ribbon and my favorite paper Graphic 45 French Country collection.

I thought an easel card would be fun to do with this image called Spring Blossoms.  The stamp cuts off part of the pot so I let that be my starting point.  My color scheme came from this beautiful DP.  The sunflower accents are actually two fussy cut flowers from the DP.  The small flower is a daisy punched flower and a jewel from my stash.  The "soil" is Flower Soft.    I like to add Flower Soft  for the interesting rich texture it provides.  I used CM oval cutters and a punch for the yellow scalloped oval.  The verse is from a CTMH Friendship stamp set.

No struggling with this card.  It was fun and everything easily came into place.  I so love when that happens. Why don't you ink up one of your HM stamps and join us here for our  Flower Challenge.  While you are there, check out the inspiration the DT provided.  There's  a lot of gorgeous this week.

Just Walk On By

 

Here's sweet little Sally cuddling her bunny while she goes for a walk.  Where's she going?  Who's she looking at? What is she saying?  I'm  leaving that all up to the imagination for the time being.  I am not sure what I will be using this for, so by leaving it  blank, I can stamp something when I decide who to give the card to.

This is another rubber stamp I bought from the Sassy Cheryl store.  It is called True Friendship.  The set comes with butterflies, a birdhouse condo and a sentiment and you can get her here. I made up this card for the lace and handmade flower challenge over at Sassy Cheryls.   The flower is one of my favorites to make.  It is just dies cut with graduated sizes of Spellbinders scalloped circle dies cut from the Graphic 45 paper on the front of the card.  I misted the layers, wrinkled them up, shaped them with my fingers and let the dry.  After they dry I assemble using a hot glue gun between layers.  I then applied Frosted Lace Stickles and Copic Marker to the edges of some of the layers of petals.
                             
The layout is my take on a  MoJo Monday Sketch.   I find when I can't decide which layout to use, sketches come in very handy.  I plan on entering this in the MoJo Monday sketch this week.    When I was searching for this sketch, I found lots of interesting sketches on their blog.

I popped into quite a few blogs this week to take a look-see and I hope to be able to do some  more this week.  It is amazing how truly talented bloggers are out there.  Those of you generous and talented enough to post tutorials, I thank you.  You are so awesome to share all you have learned.  I have really had some surfing fun this past week.


Whatever you are up to this week, make a few minutes to craft something.  Those few minutes will, more than likely turn into an hour or two, but what better way to spend your "me" time?

Oh The Places You'll Go...

My sweet husband asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day and I said I wanted to watch old movies and color all day.  He cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for my Mom and me.  I listened  to music on Pandora, sang off key, colored and even fit two old movies in.  This is one of the items I colored.  I have a need for a graduation card and wanted something non-traditional.   I went shopping for Wren digi and found this one.  It reminded me of the perfect Graduation Book by Dr. Seuss, Oh The Places You'll Go.  She looks like a modern little gal off to find her way living the college life.   You can get this digi called "Joy Ride" at the Tiddly Inks Store.

I followed the Sketch from Sketch Saturday after seeing Lesley's darling creation at Grenouille Greetings.  The papers are from Authentique Paper's Blissful Collection.  Coloring medium is Copics.  The sentiment was created in MS Word.  Pearls are from my stash.  Kinda simple design, but I so struggled with the DP choices and placement.  But I am satisfied with the end result.  

Hope your Mother's Day was as restful and fun as mine!

I would also like to enter this in:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Shhh, It's A Secret

Ta Da my very first card made with the new rubber stamps from Sassy Cheryl's.  I was so excited when I received my stamps but I had a few other card commitments before I would allow my self to ink up these babies!   Well tonight was the night and may I just say, they were well worth the wait.  Cheryl's blog description said they were deeply edged and that they are.  They stamped so crisp, grabbed the ink evenly and made a sharp impression easily.  I have to admit I had a smile on my face when I first opened the box because they are packaged so darn cute too.  I just love them and so excited that my LSS, Scrapbooks By the Sea will be selling them too!

I wanted to use Graphic 45's Secret Garden in a card and this set made up a perfect combination don't you think.  I colored with my Copics and popped the flower pot and image up with some foam strips.  Added a couple of SU buttons and some yellow gems from my stash and this was it.  My DH will be amazed I was able to complete this without any ribbon.  (I tried to use my yellow gingham checked ribbon  but it was a tad too much lol).

I would like to enter this in Sassy Cheryl's Girl's Rule Challenge.

Here's a peek at the packaging.  It comes without my watermark of course.  It's cute as a button, isn't it?  You can get yours here and they are on sale until Sunday too!
                                                                           

Have a happy happy ya'll!

Linda

Feeling Mousy?

I entered my first "House Mouse Challenge" a couple of weeks ago.   I didn't have any idea that I would not only win a prize (you know how I love to win) but would be asked to be a guest designer.  I  have not served on any design teams for quite awhile due to taking care of my Mom but I loved these little guys that a "Oh My Gosh Yes" just slipped out of my mouth.  My term on the House Mouse GDT will run from May through June of this year, so I have been busy coloring up these cute little Mice.  I can't stand mice IRL, so I find it hard to explain my love affair with these little sweeties.  Maybe because IRL the little buggers run and hide and scare the devil out of me.  Well not all the way out of me, because I am still full of the devil. LOL

Enough waffling for now.  The House Mouse Challenge this week was to use a theme of blue.  It could be the color blue or the mood of blue.  I thought this fit both definitions.  If you would like to buy this stamp for yourself, click here.  I colored this with Copic markers.  The flowers were from my stash I believe they are Recollections.  The ribbon is from my stash and the sentiment was made on my computer.  Circle punches used are from Creative Memories, the diecut is a Spellbinder.  All the paper came from my LSS, Scrapbooks By The Sea.  The polka dot is Bo Bunny.  Don't you just love that blue glitter paper?  It is not only gorgeous, but thin enough to make it easy to cut and punch too.

Have any HM stamps in your stash?  Why not ink one up, color it blue and enter our challenge.  There are so fabby prizes at stake.  Hope to see you there.

Next Sunday it is Mother's Day in the US.  So Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there.  I hope you make the Day stretch into a week and you get to spend some "me" time and "craft" time.  Big Hugs, Linda

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:
Make It Monday- Always Anything Goes

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Sassy Dawn is the hostess over at Sassy Cheryl's this week and she wanted to see some more rain.  Evidently she isn't getting enough rain, but I promise the rest of the country sure is.  Good Lord, our flowers are going to be beautiful this year (or drown out Ha Ha)  It has indeed been a rainy April here in South Carolina.

I pulled out one of my favorite of Cheryl's older images to color this week.  It fits the challenge perfectly, don't you think?  It is called April Showers after all.  LOL I am not sure if it is still in the store, but you could  email Cheryl and see if she can send it to you.

I am so happy I was able to join in the challenge this week.  I missed out the last couple of weeks because life just keeps getting in my way.  I haven't even been visiting my bloggy friends lately.  I sure hope that I get to go visiting this week.  I miss going around the world on my weekly and sometimes even daily visits.  So here's a notice for you.  Put the tea kettle on,  I am on my way to catch up on what has been going on in your world.

Card Recipe:

Coloring Medium - Copics
Paper was all from my stash.  The DP is so cute, it already has holes punched it it to allow the pink card stock to show through.  It was a gift from my Inky Digit buddy, Marilyn.  It is Animal Crackers Ella DieCut Flowers by Making Memories.
Border punch is from EK Success
Oval and Scalloped Oval punches are Stampin Up
Sentiment is a Hostess Set from Stampin Up.
Ribbon and buttons are from my stash.
Silver stickers are from Elizabeth Crafts

Challenges I plan to enter:

Sassy Cheryl- April Showers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Thank You Miss Barbara

Last week our local paper-crafting community lost one of our favorite ladies.  Barbara Blout lost her battle with cancer and left a hole in many hearts.  Barbara was an avid paper crafter and spent many hours in our local shop, Scrapbooks By The Sea.  Barbara had a well-stocked craft room and left all her goodies with her crafting friends at Scrapbooks By The Sea. We filled the shop with many stamps and punches to be used in classes and crops, but the supply was so extensive, the owner, Rayann decided to have a yard sale and donate all proceeds to Barbara's favorite charity.  I will be there working the yard sale and sure would love to see you all there too.  Sooo if you are in the Myrtle Beach area this weekend, stop on by and pick up some great bargains.  Hope to see you there!

This House Mouse stamp was one of Barbara's stamps and I couldn't wait to ink it up.  I have used my Copics to color the image, Prisma pencils to color the letters on the jar.  The sky was sponged using a cloud template I bought at SBTS.  I had intended to use this embossing powder that gives the effect of drops of water (Glassy Glaze Enamel) on my flower and grass but grabbed Iridescent Ice and ended up with glitter so my flowers are all sparkly.  Now that can't be bad can it, after all it sparkles!  The sentiment is from SU set, Picnic Parade. Ribbon and paper is from my stash.  The butterfly is an Elizabeth Crafts Small Butterfly die.  I was so excited to color up this House Mouse.  They are fun and the detail makes them easy to color.

Thank you Miss Barbara, your gift will be spreading joy to many for many years!  We love you.

Challenges Entered:

House Mouse -Spring
Make It Monday - Anything Goes.

Treasured Friend

Front View

Close Up

Inside Sentiment

My Most Excellent Friend, Kimberly Hecker of Oak Pond Creations is having a Birthday Bash and I had to join in on the fun.  Kim is a friend that we had to convince to start a blog and now she is drawing and successfully selling her own digis.  The gal has so much talent in her that I am in awe.

Her digis on sale on her Etsy site are clean, crisp and easy to color. That is why I love coloring them.  She recently drew this one called Beach Crabs and I fell in love with those little eyes playing Peek-A-Boo in the bucket. Here's the link to her ETSY shop.  Grab one of her digis and enter into her Birthday Bash.  There is a fabulous prize at stake.

Recipe

Cardstock -Stampin Up

DP- Bo Bunny

Coloring Medium - Copics

Mudd Puddles - Sand and Myrtle Beach Shells

Fence- Sizzix Die

Chain - Tim Holtz

Anchor - MFS (My Favorite Stamps) Die

Brad & Twine - My Stash

Treasured Friend Sentiment - CTMH

Inside Sentiment and Palm Trees - MFS (sytamped with SU Cameo Coral 

Here it is Sunday night and the weekend is almost over. I did not accomplish all I wanted to do.  How about you?  Do anything fun this weekend?  If you are from the other side of the pond, you are lucky.  Tomorrow is April 15th and the deadline for Americans to pay their Income Taxes.  How many of you spent this final weekend working on taxes? Not me chickadee.  Finished mine two weeks ago.  I used to be one of those who made the nightly news by showing up at 11:30 at my local post office to get my taxes date stamped.  Not anymore, thanks to the lovely internet.  I just file away from the comfort on my home.  Lots less stress you know!

Whatever is ahead of you this week, I hope that laughter is the largest part of it.  Hope to have more blogging time this week.  I have been peeking at your creations on my Dashboard, but I sure do miss the interaction of commenting.  Hugs, Crafters and have a marvelous week.

Challenges I would like to enter this in:

Oak Pond Creations Birthday Bash - Use an Oak Pond Creations Digi

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

French Country Cookbook

I created this cookbook for a class I am teaching at my LSS, Scrapbooks By The Sea.  I used a 8" binder book from Bo Bunny.  The card stock is all from SBTS and the DP is from Graphic 45's French Country collection.  I know I have said this a zillion times already, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection.  All of the die cuts were cut on my Cricut using the "From My Kitchen De Ma Cuisine" cartridge.  The square embellishments were cut from the French Country paper.

I made pockets on each divider to hold recipe clippings.  The border strip on the pockets is the reverse side of the pocket DP.  I used a SU scalloped border punch to edge.  I created the recipe sheets in Microsoft Word.  I sanded all the edges and sponged on Antique Photo Distress inks to distress and age the book.  

Teaching the class on Saturday, April 27 in Myrtle Beach, anyone want to come?  Road trip or plane trip anyone?  I'll save you a seat and we can go out after for dinner.  Sound like fun?

Challenges I plan to enter this in:

Sassy Cheryl SMT

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Artistic Impressions - Anything Goes

Live, Swim and Drink

                                                                               

Besties, Sally and Bella are planning their beach vacation.  They live in the cold, snowy, town of Richmond, Virginia, USA.  It has been a blustery winter and they are excited about coming to Myrtle Beach, SC for the best vacation ever.  There they can "Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, and drink the wild air" and of course, visit their favorite Nana "ME"!

This image of Sally and Bella is called "Better Than A Thousand Words"  and it is, of course, the artwork of Cheryl Alger.  If you are planning your summer vacation and would like Sally and Bella to help, click the preceding digi name and it will take you to the Sassy Cheryl Store where you can take them home with a few clicks of the mouse.

I chose Sally and Bella for the Sketch Challenge Sassy Judy has issued for this week.  You should see all of the inspiration the talented DT has provided us this week.  Wow, these girls are really amazing.  Click here and check it out for yourself.  Here is the pic of the Sketch.  They are so easy to complete.  The most difficult part is selecting which Digi you want to work with this week.  Give it a try and join the challenge this week.  The winner get to select 2 digis from the SC Store.  I haven't won this challenge in a very very very long time so I have my fingers crossed that I will be lucky this week.  If not, there's always next week!                                                                                            

          

Coloring medium is Copic Markers and some highlighting with Prisma colored pencils.
Paper is all from my stash.
Circles are from the Spellbinder circle and lace doily.
Flowers are Recollections
Pearls - My Stash
I used Diamond Stickles on the flowers and the hairbow
The shoes and ladybug and topped with Glossy Accents
The Stamp is from My Favorite Things Beach Stamps I bought at Scrapbooks By the Sea

Happy Spring Ya'll

Linda