Tuesday, May 31, 2011

HM&F image folder ,,,

Hi All :-) the sun has been shining all day and instead of spending time getting my lily white legs bronzed I shut myself in my craft room and had a play ,,,, I had the house to myself ,, DH at work and DD sitting her art exam ,,, time for me to have a play with no interruptions !! :-)

I made this little folder to hold some House Mouse stamped images.. now for those of you that have received stamped images from me ,, my apologies ,, I generally just pop them in a boring envelope :-/

I followed the fab sketch on the Sketch Saturday Challenge who are celebrating their 3rd Blogoversary !! Congratulations to them , it is one of my fave challenges and I try to join in as often as poss :-)






I used my very cute Amanda Writes stamp ,,, this has to be THE most versatile stamp ever ,, just write what the occasion is for and no one expects a mouse to write neatly so it doesn’t matter if your handwriting sucks like mine !! :-) I coloured her with copics and inked the edges with Vintage Photo distress ink. The papers are Basic Grey from the Manila paper pad. I used a Martha Stewart Mouse Halloween border punch. I used some Jillibean Soup twine and I used a button as a fastener so a piece of twine, fastened at the back could wrap around it . The mouse feet are made using a very old Penny Black stamp that I think is retired now ,,, shame ,, Sad smile





Inside View




Challenges :

Sketch Saturday ,, Sketch + Blog Hop

Creative Stamp Friends ,,,,, Gift Package

Simon Says Stamp and Show ,,, fave stamp ( any HM&F )

Sentimental Sundays ,,,, Anything But a Card

Thanks for looking :-) I really appreciate your comments so please leave me one :-) x


Papertake Weekly ,,,, Dawny’s Sketch :-)

Hi all :-) Hope all is well with you all :-)

Well another Tuesday arrives in no time and we have a new sketch challenge over on the Papertake Weekly Challenge :-)

We are sponsored by the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp so a fab $20 spree on offer for one lucky entrant !! :-)





For my card I used one of my new House Mouse stamps, this one is called Muscle Mouse, I love the weight sweeties on a cottton bud ,,, soo cute :-) I coloured the image with copics and inked the edges with an orange chalk ink. The papers are Basic Grey Sweet Threads, I love the colours in this pad ,, lovely ! The sentiment was stamped using a Lawn fawn clear Harolds Alphabet set. I added some Star Dust stickles, a few eyelets, ribbon and buttons to finish Smile



Thanks for looking :-) The DT have made some goregous cards for your inspiration so hop on over to the PTW to see them :-)

Challenges :

The Cheerful Stamp Pad ,,, for a special reason ( I am hoping for good exam results for my DS ,, need to make another one too for DD !! )

Craft Your Passion ,,, What a Guy

Cupcake Craft ,,, Orange/Yellow/Green/White ,, I have pink too is that OK ,, if not delete my entry :-)

Dream Valley ,,,,, Stamp Something

Cupcake Inspirations ,,, Inspirational photo ,, I have all of the colours

Catch the Bug ,,,, Bright Colours

Craft Your Days Away ,,, Father’s Day /Special Man

Charisma Cardz ,,,, Card for a Male

Sisterhood of Crafters ,,,, Use Buttons


Sunday, May 29, 2011

2nd attempt at the Less Is More Challenge :-)

Hi all :-) I hope you’re all having a fab weekend ,, especially you lot in the UK who are enjoying a nice long one :-)

After getting my legs slapped by Mandi I thought I should have another go at the Less Is More Challenge …. in my defence ,,, I only added a border and extra layer on my first one cos my stamp fell off the block and ruined it ,, so I HAD to cover it :-) ,,, that’s my excuse and am stickin to it ,, lol :-)





This is a small 10x10cm note card. The stamps are from Hero Arts and if I made this again I would use a smaller ‘Hi’ ,,, too late now !! I stamped the image then masked before spraying the sky with a blue copic using my airbrush. That was a waste of time because I then layered another kite over the top,,,,using a glue dot near the string and dimensional pop dots on the upper edge of the kite :-)

Thanks for all your comments ,, we have quite a nice community of Limettes eh !! Smile Thanks to Mandi and Chrissie for hosting such a fun challenge and for encouraging us all to keep in touch as much as poss :-)



oops I forgot to add this to the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ,,, Clean and Simple :-)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

My effort for the Less Is More Challenge ,,,,,


Hi all :-) Hope you’re all having a lovely BH weekend in the UK :-)

I have just made this card for the Less Is More challenge whose theme this week is a recipe sketch ,,, fab idea !! :-)

I put on my thinking cap and came up with this ,,,not overly happy with this attempt ,,,, hmmm, think I will have a hop around my fellow Limettes and see what you all came up with and maybe get a few tips, Mandi and Chrissie's cards are fab and make it look so easy !! :-)





I used some speckled cream card that I bought at the NEC ,,, it is lovely IRL and some choc chip SU card ( from Mandi)

I made a reverse mask ( I saw this on Rica's blog and it gave me the idea ) I inked the background with tea dye and vintage photo distress inks. The stamps are all from Hero Arts, the background text is a cling ,,, now does anyone else have a problem with them ?? I find they don’t cling very well and often fall off the perspex ,,, really annoying as it means you ruin the card ,,, as I did on my first attempt here ,,, Sad smile to make sure it stayed put I sprayed it with adhesive ! The flower is from a Hero Arts Clear set, stamped with Rich Cocoa Memento ink, coloured with Copics and layered. For the centre I added some flower soft sprinkled with bronze glitter. I distressed the edges and added platinum stickles for extra sparkle Smile




Thanks for looking and for leaving me a comment :-) I really appreciate them :-)


I am also entering this into the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ,,,, CAS


Friday, May 27, 2011

Totally Papercrafts and Stamp Something Challenges :-)

Before moving onto this weeks challenge I would like to welcome the lovely Victoria aka Angeldrummer to our Totally Papercrafts Design team :-) Welcome aboard me darlin :-)

Today I am combining challenges ,, It just so happens that the Stamp Something Challenge has the theme of ,,,,

SAY SOMETHING ,,,, use a sentiment

and the Totally Papercrafts Challenge is

PINK AND GIRLY

Both challenges are sponsored by the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp and the Totally Papercrafts Challenge has an extra sponsor ,, Squigglefly ,, so some fab digi images on offer there too :-)





For my card I used my new House MouseA Birdie told Me stamp, this is the stamp of the month for May :-) I coloured the image with Copics then masked the image and created a cloudy sky using a spellbinders scalloped circle nestie and my copic air brush, I used the same technique for the top half of the background papers, this is the first time I tried this technique and found it really effective and easier than using cloud masks.

The DP is from 3 Bugs in a Rug and I made the ‘sun’ using a Crealies flower die and a button from my drawer, I used some spotty ribbon and cute pram charm to finish Smile





Thanks for looking :-) the DT have made some fabulous cards so pop on over to both challenges to see them Smile

Challenges

Fab n Funky ,,,, Cute and Cuddly ,, I think the mouse is :-)

Partytime Tuesday ,,,,, Animals ( 2nd entry)

Use it Tuesday ,,, Flowers + uninked stamp


Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight ,,, Try something new, ,,copic clouds.


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Simon Says ,,,, Stars and Stripes :-)

Hi all :-) ,,,, well is just goes to show we all love a bit of sparkle and shine ,,, just not when it means going around the furniture with a bottle of Mr sheen :-) We had loads of lovely sparkly creations to see and although sparkle is notoriously diffy to photograph you all did a fabulous job :-)

This week we thought that with the 4th of July being only a few short weeks away we would have a STARS AND STRIPES theme :-)

As always we are sponsored by the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp and one lucky entrant will win a $50 spree to the store !! :-) They have some fab new goodies just arriving too so loads of choice !! :-)




For my card I used one of my fave Gruffies ,, this one is called Red Roller Racing,, I love the expression on his face ,,, Woahhhh !!! Smile I coloured him with Copics and stuck him underneath a black frame from a Lawn FawnSay Cheese’ set, this was stamped with White Stazon ink. the papers are My Minds Eye from the Fly a Kite paper pad. I made the banner using Hero Arts stamps from the Friendly Flags set and I made a Happy Birthday strip using a Martha Stewart punch. The stars and arrow are from a Tim Holtz Grungeboard Elements die cuts. I did some real and faux sewing and stamped the sentiment from the same Lawn Fawn stamp set



So for a chance to win this fab $50 spree to the wonderful Simon Says Stamp Superstore ,,, just join in !! :-)



For lots more fabulous inspiration and more chances to win fabulous prizes then please pop by the Simon Says Stamp Blog and our sister challenge the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge :-)



Thanks for looking :-) Christine ,, our lovely designer in the spotlight and the DT have made some fabulous cards for your inspiration so please hop on over to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog to see them Smile

Challenges :

Lexi’s Creations ,,, Stars and /or Stripes

Stamptacular Sunday ,,, BEARnecessities

Top Tip Tuesday ,,,At least 2 stamps ( the gruffie, the frame, sentiment, banner )

My top tip, before layering the DP onto the layering card, in this case black card, cut out the card you will need for layering the image using either a die cut/ nestie shape or a craft knife from the middle of the piece of card. This saves on the amount of card you use and the hole will be hidden by the paper Smile

Tuesday Throwdown ,,,, Stripes


ABC Christmas Challenge ,,,,, K for Kids + Kraft


Hi all ,, I have done a Scoopy and lost a week !! Where did that go ?? I thought we still had another week to go before posting this challenge !! ,, oops ,,, !!

This time the theme on the ABC Christmas Challenge is chosen by the lovely Lacey and she chose

K is for Kids card or Gift Card Holder using KRAFT card stock.

Lacey has done a fab gift holder tutorial so hop on over to see it, I am going to make one too !!

We are sponsored by 2 fab Digi companies this week ,, Digital Delights and Karens Doodles, both are offering a choice of 3 digi images :-)





For my card I just HAD to use my brand new House Mouse St Nick Mouse stamp. I coloured the image with Copics and inked the edges with Stormy Sky distress ink. I used SU Crumb Cake card, which is their Kraft,, (I asked) and Cherry Cobbler, the papers are from an Echo Park Merry Christmas pad. I paper pieced the sack using a Kraft paper bag and the presents using paper from the paper pack front ( the designs are printed really small on the cover ! ) I stamped several snowflakes using sand memento ink and punched a border using a EK Success punch, this had tiny confetti flakes so I stuck a few of those on too. The big snowflake was punched with a Martha Stewart and a Woodware punch, I added a red card candy to the center The sentiment is from Hero Arts set and I just finished with loads of Star Dust stickles Smile





Our fab GD’s Heidi and Carol and the DT have made some gorgeous cards and gift cards for your inspiration so please hop on over to the challenge blog to see them ,,, AND Lacey’s fab tut ! Smile

Challenges :

Ladybug Crafts ,,, Animals

Party Time Tuesdays ,, Animals

Christmas Inspirations , Card for Kids

Totally Gorjuss ,,,,, Water or anything wet,, snow is frozen water ! Smile

Phindy’s Place ,,,, Christmas in May

Winter Wonderland ,, Christmas + P ,,, for Paper Pieced Presents !!


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Papertake Weekly ,, Pale and Pretty Pastels

As you may know I have 7 cats and a dog ,,, we now have added a bird to our menagerie !! The smallest cat, Phoebe is a terrible hunter ,,, terrible in that she has caught several birds lately :-( She has a dingly collar on but she is just so fast !! Anyway, this morning there was a beautiful greenfinch hopping around my yard ,,,,, luckily we saw him before any of the cats !! He can't fly so I am now just going to the pet shop to buy a cage and food ,, and hopefully we can save this one until he is big enough to fly away safely. I will back later with photo's ,, at the moment he is in a cereal box,, poor thing !!
sad update ,,, the poor little thing didn't make it, I contacted the local birdlife rep yesterday and followed his advice ,, but sadly he died :-(

Anyway ,, it's now time for a new theme on the Papertake Weekly Challenge

PALE AND PRETTY PASTELS :-)

We are sponsored by Digital Delights so 3 fab digi images on offer this week :-)




For my card I followed the fab sketch on the Sketch Saturday Challenge. I used this very cute Penny Black Flowers for Mimi, coloured with Copics and inked the edges with a light turquoise pigment ink. The papers are from an Echo Park Springtime pad and layered with pale pink hammered card. The sentiment clip and flower are made using Crealies dies from Joanna Sheen . I used a Martha Stewart leaf punch and a Basic Grey button with a little ribbon bow and lots of Star Dust Stickles to finish Smile





Thanks for looking, our GD’s Ula and Meera and the DT have made some gorgeous cards for your inspiration :-)

Thanks for looking :-) I really appreciate your comments so please leave me one :-)

Challenges

Sketch Saturday ,,,,, Sketch

Penny Black Saturday ,,,, Fussy and Fancy

Cheerful Stamp Pad ,,,, Colour My World

Paper Sundaes ,,, Pop It Up

CES,,,,,, Embellish It

ECP ,,,,Pretty Pastel Colours

Crafts 4 Eternity ,,, Recipe, Flower/Ribbon/Bling

Charisma Cardz ,,,, Birthdays in Pink

PaperPlay ,,,, Sparkle Galore

Cooking it up with Katie ,, Recipe + for a child

Creative Card Crew ,,, Cute and Girly

Fab n Funky,,,, Make your own Blooms

A Spoonful of Sugar ,,,, Things with Wings



Karla's First Giveaway Candy



Karla aka Mia's Creations is new to blogland and has filled a beautifully decorated box with loads of yummy goodies to give away !! Click on her name or the piccy to go to her blog :-)

Good Luck to all :-)



Monday, May 23, 2011

CAS card for FUN :-)

Hi again :-) I have just bought some fab Unity stamps and instead of trying to get ahead with DT cards I just felt like a time out to make a fun card just for me :-) When I went to check the All Things Unity Challenge I saw that I am a featured stamper !! woo hoo !! :-) Thanks for choosing me !! The theme this week is to use a new/unused stamp ,, so I am !! :-)





I made this card following the fab sketch on the Clean & Simple Challenge, I stamped my new Sending My Love Unity stamp with memento ink and coloured with Copics. I layered the post box and added an extra handle which I attached with a brad so it can open and close Open-mouthed smile. I inked the background with Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo distress inks and I used some SU Soft Suede card some Kraft card and a little bit of Basic Grey paper.
The tag was made using a Go Kreate die that I bought at the NEC and the border punch is from SU, I added some American Tag twine and a red button, I thought it would look like a document with a wax disk ?? . I added a few dabs of Star Dust stickles here and there and Platinum stickles around the edges for bling :-)





Open-mouthed smile


Photobucket

Challenges :

All Things Unity ,,, Unused Stamp

Clean & Simple ,,, Sketch

CAS-ual Friday ,,, CAS + Bling

Thanks for looking :-) I really appreciate your comments so PLEASE leave me one :-) x x

House Mouse and Friends Monday,,, Football Crazy Challenge :-)


Hi All :-) We had some fabulous entries to our may Flowers challenge and one or 2 newcomers too , thanks to everyone who joined in :-)

This time it is Stacy’s turn to choose the theme and she chose …

FOOTBALL FRENZY

Inspired by the Super Bowl winning team, Green Bay Packers (Green and Yellow) Stacy is a huge fan and America supports the losing team so a bit of friendly teamie rivalry going on here lol :-)

We can use any stamp and include green and yellow as the main colours ,, and/or a football theme :-)

Don’t forget you MUST use a House Mouse, Happy Hopper or Gruffie image to enter :-)

We are sponsored by Di’s Digi Downloads so a fab choice of digi images for one lucky winner :-)


Teamie Sue K also has some HM blog candy on her blog if you would like to mosey on over :-) She is offering a fab HM Lemon Squeezed Jokester and sentiment stamp, When Life Hands you Lemons , ,, fabby candy !! :-)





I bought this SUPER CUTE Big Foot stamp specifically for this challenge ,,,, any excuse eh !! :-) I had a few sleeps on this before having a lightbulb moment !! I have had a mirror image stamp on my shelf since I first stared making cards ,, thanks to my lovely friend Alison who gave it to me :-) , you could also use a solid background stamp for this too ,,, same thing !!

I inked the stamp with Memento ink, then stamped it onto the mirror image stamp, and then onto the card. Then I re-inked the stamp, stamped it onto some scrap paper before stamping onto the card so that the images look similar,,,, the mirror stamp retains some ink so it doesn’t stamp as intensely ( my tip ). I then coloured the image with Copics and inked the edges with Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The papers are a download from Sassy Designs, all the paper packs are on sale at only $1,, bargain !! Smile The banner are made using a Spellbinders Banner die and the letters were made using a Do crafts die, the footballs are from a Papermania set too ,, edited , these were smothered in glossy accents :-)





Thanks for looking , our GD’s, Esme and Nancy,and the DT have made some fabulous cards for your inspiration so hop on over to the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge to see them Smile

Challenges :

Allsorts ,,,,, Birthday + Photo inspiration + 2nd Birthday blog hop,, I went with colours :-)

Craft Us Crazy ,,,, Something New and/or fave embellie ,,, new stamp

My Time To Craft ,,, Toybox Treasures ,,, Footballs

Top Tip Tuesday ,,,,, One for the Kids ( my tip is in the write up Smile)

Tuesday Throwdown ,,, Baby/Child