WMS Technique Challenge..

Hi all, I finally got around to claire's challenge over at Waltzingmouse Makes -  the challenge is a technique called Chalkboard. Hmm... I thunk and thunk as Winnie the Pooh would say, but my brain was resisting.

I went through a few ideas, and pulled out all of my WMS stamp sets, tried out an idea or two before chucking them in the bin. Went to bed. Got up this morning, and tried again, and here's my card, for my boy, because he is amazing!

 I went with this cute little chap, as he really suits the theme - a chalkboard, or as we used to call them when I was a little girl, a blackboard.

I white embossed the little guy from Half Pint heroes - additions, and added the sentiments from the same set - the 'my Boy' is from Half Pint Heroines and this additions set.

I stamped the little stars from Yonder Star, and clear embossed - by accident lol! I picked up the wrong bottle, but I think I prefer them clear and shiny!

Then I had a little think about how I was going to mount him. I decided to stamp a plaid background from Offbeat Backgrounds in Memento Teal Zeal and Rhubarb Stalk.

I added a few shaped buttons, stamped the images again over the embossed images and rubbed a bit of white Brilliance ink over the topper. It makes my eyes go funny! Inside I stamped the sentiment 'And I was so proud of him' with the little teddy in Teal Zeal.

So an interesting technique, but, I think I need more practice!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

SSCB #4 - Have a Care

Hi all, I have my card today for the Serendipity Stamps challenge Blog, albeit a few days late, but I made it!

This next fortnight, our theme is to 'Have a Care'.  Use one of the Have a Care images Serendipity Stamps offers free with your purchase.  Designs are to highlight a cause (examples including but not limited to Breast Cancer Awareness, Adoption, Recycle, Pet Adoption, etc).  Please note that a Serendipity Stamps image must be displayed somewhere on your design.   Don't have a stamp?  You can grab our free digital image HERE- just cut and paste into Word.

So today my card features the free image which you can nab from the challenge blog. I love the elegant swirls, and regency style font - so pretty!

 I have created my own background paper using the beautiful Spencerian Flourishes Cling Set, stamped in Memento Espresso ink onto naturals Ivory cardstock.

With the theme of recycling, I used some tan coloured satin ribbon which I kept from some new clothes - they are the little loops of ribbon manufacturers use on the inside of the shoulders of tops. I wrapped this around the background four times. 

I then cut a label in Soft suede card, and a smaller label in Naturals ivory, stamped with the  recycle sentiment. I added some clear gems, and attached to the card. I topped it off with a recycled flower and raffia bow, which I had used for a wine tag two years ago.

I hope you feel inspired to join in with our 'Have a Care' challenge this fortnight, don't forget if you don't have a Serendipity Stamps image or die cut, you can always nab the free Recycle sentiment. Or if you make a purchase from the store, you get a choice of other free images too. so what are you waiting for?!

I would like to enter this into this month's Pretty Little Ribbon shop challenge, to use Flower & Ribbon, and Creative Inspirations which is Anything goes with the option of flowers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

WMSCCC01 - 2013

Hi all, I have a card today for the first 2013 Waltzingmouse Sketch Christmas Card Challenge, or something along those lines lol!

Here's the sketch:

 I was inspired to go with Winter Blues, courtesy of this week's City Crafter Challenge:

 ..so here's my take:

To make my card I used a new Tim Holtz snowflake embossing folder, and inked one side of the folder with Tumble Glass Distress Ink. I then cut to size, and a panel of patterned paper from Papermania Happy Days collection. Then, these were mopunted onto some silver mirri card.

I added some silver pleated ribbon and some aqua bakers twine from The Ribbon reel.

I then covered some white card with some glitter film from Little Claire's. and cut with a Spellbinders fancy doily die from Venetian Motifs. This film transforms plain card into something quite beautiful, but it makes it difficult to cut with an intricate die!  It took me half an hour to extricate the the doily from the die! It was worth it though!

I then stamped the small circular label from Waltzingmouse stamps Nutcracker Sweet, and hand cut out. I then added to the glitter doily with some foam adhesive.

I then cut the small banner using a Spellbinders die, and sponged with distress ink whilst still in the die. The sentiment is from WMS 'secret' set ;-)

I then added some glossy accent dots to the centres of the embossed snowflakes, the little hearts on the label, and the patterned paper, then topped with some glamour dust for that extra sparkle. I have tried to capture the sparkle from the glittered bits, but it's dark here now, so I had to shine some lights on it.

I would also like to enter this into this month's 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown, which wants to see patterned paper, some Glitter and a decorated inside of the card too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Waltzingmouse Blog Party

 Hi all, I'm cutting it fine for the first Waltzingmouse Blog Party of 2013. I know, I've had a couple of weeks to get prepared for this, but with one pesky thing after another (Christmas hols, Flu, work etc!) I didn't have the time. I actually completed this yesterday, but the light was bad here, and then today, we had a huge snow arrival! I managed to get to work, on foot, the roads are treacherous. So many localised accidents have happened here today - when it could be avoided by our council buying a snow plough. But the usual excuses are we don't get enough snow, and they're too expensive! So the whole country grinds to a halt, and we get lots of accidents! O.K, rant over.

I managed to take a half decent pic before the light finally went. This month the theme is for 'Love'.
Hearts were going to make an appearance on this card, but I decided to use the lovely patterned border from Faux Fun.

I was inspired by the most beautiful sunrise yesterday morning - the sky was a golden peachy colour, fading into lilac and purple. It was just beautiful, and I wanted to try to re-create this sky on my card.

I stamped the lace border in Versamark onto white card and clear embossed. Then using Distress inks, sponged some Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender, and Shaded Lilac.

 

I then cut around the lace detail, and mounted onto some distressed Wisteria wonder card. Using the same card, I cut a small frame using Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles, and stamped the sentiment from Sweethearts and white embossed.

I then added spme little paper roses, and some flourishes cut using a spellbinders die. Finally I added some stickles to the flowers, and a couple of pearls.

So, now, I'm going to have a little twirl around blogland, and tomorrow I am going to have a crafting day all to myself!

I would also like to enter this into Tuesday Throwdown, which wants a Frame.

Oh, and here is a picture of a certain visitor in our front garden - made by my daughter and the neighbours, they made a snow-bear! He likes a drink, and smokes a pipe by the looks of it!

Thanks for stopping by,
Pauline

CR84FN #70

Hi all, today brings us another fresh colour challenge over at CR84FN. This fortnight we have the lovely combination of..

..Aqua, Tan and light Yellow.

I have made a thank you card, using the lovely Tea Shoppe set from Stampin' Up!, some yellow patterned paper from Papermania, and some pretty cream lace from my stash.

I added some aqua bakers twine and gems to the little sentiment label, stamped in Frayed Burlap ink, and mounted onto a kraft scalloped oval.

Do visit the rest of the CR84FN D.T for some beautiful inspiration with these sprin like colours!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #3 - Have a Heart

Morning all, today brings us the new challenge from Serendipity Stamps challenge Blog. This fortnight we would like to see you use hearts on your creations, and you must include a Serendipity Stamps die cut or image.

I have made a card using one of the lovely quotes available at the Serendipity shop 'Where there is Great love..'.

I stamped the sentiment onto some pink card, and cut with a Lea'bilities square die, and layered onto a fancy frame cut from the same Lea'bilities set. I added some glossy accents topped with glamour dust to the edges for some sparkle.

I then stamped two Victorian hearts onto some red card, and cut out, edged with glamour dust.

I then made a background panel by stamping the Spencerian Flourish onto some more pink card, and layereing onto a red card base edged with glamour dust.

The sale this week is Buy 3 Stamps and get the 4th for free!

Do stop by the rest of the fabulous D.T!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

The Play date Cafe

Happy Tuesday all, I have a sweet card today for a very good friend, using the colours from this week's Play Date Cafe.

I have used my new set from Avery Elle, Fanfare to create this sweet bow topped cake.

I stamped the art deco scroll in Memento Summer sky and Dried Marigold Distress Inks onto some white card, and mounted onto some sky blue card.

I then stamped the cake image and stand in Antique Linen Distress ink, and added the bows in summer Sky and Dried Marigold. I then stamped some extra bows in blue, and used the clear outline stamp to make them pop, cut out and attached with pop dots.

Finally for a little sparkle I added some blue gems to the little bows, and an inside panel with the art deco design in Summer Sky and Dried Marigold.

I wopuld also like to enter this into Tuesday Throwdown, as my stamps are brand new!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

CAS-ual Fridays, Just Us Girls, Less is More

Happy Monday all, I have a CAS card today for a few challenges. I recently got my hands on some  new Avery Elle stamps, Fanfare, I just love the Art Deco feel to the border pattern.

When I saw this weeks Just Us Girls sketch, I just had to break open the pack!

I have a few Thank You cards to create, and this is a quick design, and took about 10 minutes - it took longer to decide which colour to go with! I decided on the Aqua blue, my favourite! Over at Less is More, the challenge is to create a CAS design using Black & White plus a hint of one colour, and CAS-ual Fridays would like a CAS design for a Thank You card.

I stamped the fan border in Tuxedo Black, cut to size, and placed on an aqua mat.

I then stamped the sentiment from Stampin' Up! in aqua ink, and added 3 black gems for a little understated sparkle.

This is one of the quickest cards I have ever made!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

CR84FN #69 Week 2

Hi all, it's week two of the CR84FN challenge, where we would like to see the colours of Lavender, Raspberry and Neutral.

After all our lovely presents from friends and family, I have a few Thank you cards to make!

I have seen the Triple Time stamping technique used a lot around blogland, and gave it a go my self, albeit with two layers!

I need to try this again, as I didn't quite get the swirls to line up, but I'm still happy with the effect.

I used a stamp set from Stampin' Up! called Everything Eleanor.
Taking the large flourish from this set, I stamped in Sahara Sand onto some white card stock, and cut two panels. I then cut two pink mats to layer them onto.

I then stamped the flowers from this set in Shaded Lilac Distress Ink, cut out and distressed around the edges with Dusty Concorde. The little leaves were cut using Die-namics Royal Leaves sml dies, and some Stampin' Up! card.

Finally I added some raspberry waffle ribbon, a lavender Cheery Lynn die cut corner and some sparkly crystals from Prima.

Do stop by the rest of the D.T at CR84FN for some more fabulous inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

My Favourite WMSC Cards...

Hi all, I'm back again! I've had a wonderful trip down memory lane, looking at my past entries to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, and I just couldn't keep my picks to just 5, or even 10 lol! I have chosen 12 creations for this challenge, that have a special meaning to me in one way or another - the first card is the one that I won my very first Top Mouse award, and I can still remember the thrill I felt when I found out.

As for the rest, I can remember making all of them and enjoying the process, and mostly these were made for friends and family. I could have chosen many more, as Bruce Forsyth would say, they're all my favourites! It was a lovely and very interesting little journey for me, my style hasn't changed much, but I have learnt so much over the last few years through this wonderful challenge.

I hope you enjoy my picks! You can click on the pictures or the link underneath to go to my original post.

WMSC #3

WMSC #9

WMSC #38

WMSC #55

WMSC #62

WMSC #69

WMSC 72

WMSC 77

WMSC 81

WMSC 106

WMSC #112

WMSC #122

And there we have it. I would love to see what other WMS fans have in their archive, that has a special memory or meaning to them!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

A Blingtastic Farewell...

Hi all, today I have a card for the very last Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge boo-hoo! I have been away over the New Year, and recovering from the Flu, so I didn't think I would get time to join in, but I set aside some time this morning to get creative.

I just had to participate in this last challenge, as I have loved this challenge from day one! I can remember joining in on the very first challenge - I was so inspired I made two cards, and couldn't choose between them, so posted them both.  You can see my very first WMSC entry HERE, a little trip down memory lane :-)

Here's the sketch, provided by Edna Morrisedie:

 I have made a Thank you card, for Claire and the Mischief Makers for all the fabulous inspiration over the last couple of years, Saturday Mornings will not be the same!

 I have used four stamp sets for this card - Camellia, Faux Fun, Dainty Doilies Large, and Rescue Remedies Additions.

I stamped the medium sized Camellia and leaves in Sahara Sand ink onto some Kraft Bazzill, and coloured with Staedtler Ergo soft pencils. I then trimmed out and adhered to a large doily stamped in Tuxedo Black.

I then stamped the lacy border from Faux Fun in Sahara Sand onto a kraft card base, and some small Camellias in Antique Linen. I then cut a fancy label, added the sentiment, and attached some black gingham ribbon and copious gems! As it's the last WMSC, I thought I would make it blingtastic!

Looking back through my posts for my first Waltzingmouse sketch, I came across many of my old entries - Lots of people are compiling their Top 5 of the year, so I'm going to compile my Top 5 Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Entries! (or maybe more!) so watch this space. If you're a fellow Waltzingmouse fan, what are your favourite WMSC entries you have created? I would love to see!

I woulld like to enter this into Stamptacular Sunday challenge, which wants a Doily on our creations.

I'll be back later with my compilation!

Pauline xx