Happy House Mouse Holidays!

I belong to a group on .Ning that posted a challenge to use a House Mouse image on a commercial Christmas card.  We could use any HM image and embellishments of our choice.  Here is the card I made.  I used a card I received this year (thanks, cousin Art) and an image called "Silent Night."

After coloring my image with Copics, I cut out two of the four mice on the stamp, singing in front of one of the snowmen.  I placed them where I think the snowman on my commercial card is looking.  These merry mice are singing sweet carols to their snowy friend, and he seems very happy with their songs.

I kept the embellishments simple--some jewels and a holly leaf on the snowman's hat, a few jeweled notes to carry their tune, and a sentiment sticker.

Hmm, I wonder if I can get away with sending it back to cousin Art next year with my artistic changes.  Do you think they'll remember that they sent it to me this year???  Maybe I better send it out to somebody else.

Do you re-gift your cards and/or presents?  I do.  I cherish the people who send me cards, but some of them are too cute to just throw away at the end of the season.  I like to re-fashion these cards for others, like the one I did today.  This one might just go out in the mail today!!

Holly Jolly House Mouse Triptych

I love trying new techniques and using new products.  Sometimes I love one so much it becomes a passion for me.  While I enjoyed making this triptych ornament, I don't think I'd do a lot more.  It was fun, but I would need more practice, especially when it comes time to hang things from inside the ornament, like my snowflakes here.  How to tie the strings together, and then where to hang the ribbon holding the snowflakes-ugh!  Too much thinking! LOL 

But it seems to have worked out okay.  I stamped and colored 3 stamped images of "Silent Night" House Mouse, Stickling here and there for some shine.  I cut them to ATC size and used a Martha Stewart punch to decorate the edges before adhering them together to form a 3D triangle.  I tied the hanger with baker's twine, and attached a snowflake to each end of organza ribbon and hung this from the inside of my ornament.  A little Stickle on the frames of each "panel" gave it a little more shine.  I want those Christmas lights to reflect off the ornaments when it is hung on the tree.  Can you see the miniature pine cone attached to the baker's twine just below the knot?

Hope you like my project. I made it for a swap in my House Mouse group on Paper Craft Planet, as well as for the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode, where this week's challenge is to make a project using Stars and/or Snowflakes (mine are hanging from the ornament).

My Heart is in My Art

Ink colors my fingers,

And glitter coats my hair.

My craft room’s like a crime scene

With Copics everywhere.

I seem to’ve lost my scissors

I should clean, but where to start?

It really doesn’t bother me

‘cause my heart is in my art.

House Mouse Goes to School

With all the cool school supplies on sale this month, it's easy to snag some great deals on items to be altered, like this mini composition book.  It measures 4.5x3.5 inches and is perfect to showcase a House Mouse image like this one.

I belong to a crafting group on PaperCraftPlanet called House Mouse & Friends, and there is a swap going on for group members.  I finished mine and wanted to post it here.  I think the image is called "Morning Song" but I could be wrong.

I colored it with Copics and fussy-cut it so that it would fit on this small canvas.  I covered the notebook with some fun music sheet patterned paper and added some upholstery ribbon to the spine.
I distressed my page with distress ink and acrylic paint.

I added some leaves so that my tree stump would be anchored to the scene.  A couple musical acrylic stickers added to the song theme I had chosen, and then i stamped the sentiment "Just a Note."

A couple pebble stickers completes my altered mini composition notebook.  I had fun with this, and if I can get to Staples, will purchase more to alter!  This one is a little bigger than theirs, but it cost a dollar for just one, and Staples offers a pack for a dollar--nuff said! LOL

Whatever you do, whether scrapbook, make cards, sew, paint or make altered art, do it with a song in your heart!!

Mom's 80th Birthday Party-palooza!

This year my mo turns 80!  Actually at the end of this week! Now some people would want a big party with lots of friends and family, balloons, decorations, presents, cake.  But at 80, sometimes it's nicer to run away from home, and that's what my mo and sisters and I are doing this weekend--running away!
But presents and surprises will abound, and I have been super busy making toppers for a number of goodie bags filled with favorite treats.  Each baggie will have 80 pieces of each item, like caramel popcorn, m&m's, pistacchios, etc.

Most of the toppers showcase HouseMouse images, but there are a couple other stamp companies used as well.  My sisters and I have probably 20 bags of goodies, all filled with 80 pieces of something, and I'll be stapling them all to the toppers in the car ride up to Port Washington this weekend.

There's a new Micro Brewery/restaurant there and we'll have the birthday dinner and then whip out the gigantic gift bag filled with these fun creations.  Oh, and cake, too! LOL

So, my lesson today, crafters, is to try something new!  You never know when inspiration will hit, and you need to be ready to grab it by the horns and ride it into the sunset!!
Have fun!!

A Few of My Favorite Things



Today I want to showcase three of my favorite cards.  I could say I'm feeling nostalgic, but there is a method to my madness.  Delicious Doodles is having a Design Team call and asks for a post of three fave projects.
The problem was I had trouble choosing just three, so one of the ways I whittled down my selection was to choose just from the cards I've made, no altered art, no decor, not gifts or layouts.  Just cards--I hope you like them!
The first uses a stamped image from Crafters' Companion on an easel card.  Making easel cards is easier than crafters who've never tried them think. But I wanted to create a twist to the "open" or stand up part of it. The reason this is one of my faves is the pure architecture of the card.  The colors coordinate, the image isn't lost in the embellishments, but mostly the lines of the card are beautiful.

Next up is a pretty stamped image from Sweet Pea.  I like this card because I used patterned papers to set my scene, and the colors are not your normal ones.  I also like that I set the image by herself, yet she is so much a part of the whole scene.
You can also tell I love to distress!  By crumpling,sanding and inking the "sandy beach", it has more dimension to it.
The whispy white bow makes a nice cloud, don't you think?

Last, I made a card using a HouseMouse image.  It's a simple card, mostly image, paper and a couple embellishments.  I chose this one for two reasons:  the first is I love chocolate! LOL
The second is that I love how the chocolates came out, using my Copic markers.  They look so yummy, and I hope that's because of my coloring!
The colors really pop on the card, and the sentiment just seems to say it all!


So, there you have it--my love of cards and coloring in a nutshell.  Wish me lucl with the DT call, and if you have time on your hands and the need to create, check out Delicious Doodles blog!

Mixed Media Mania

I have finally taken the creative plunge with mixed media, and created a couple canvas art projects.  And now I am hooked and can't get enough paint, ink, paper, matte medium and anything else I can throw onto my canvas!!  Mwahaha!  Sorry for the maniacal laugh, but I am giddy with creative juices, and can't wait to show off my newest projects.

I started with a 6x8 stretched canvas and covered it with matte medium.Then I used acrylic paints to make the background.  I added some stamped shapes and then piled on some patterned papers and paper doilies. I stamped and colored a HouseMouse image, tearing around it and adhering it onto my canvas.  I embellished the heck out of it and then used a Black pen to highlight parts of my project.
I made it for a swap on PaperCraftPlanet, but I'm having trouble thinking about giving it away, so....

I had to make another one.  This again uses a HouseMouse image, as well as paints, ink, patterned papers,stickers, sequins, feathers, beads and a metal sentiment charm.  I love this one, and now I have two that I don't really want to part with!!!  So....

I made this one for Valentine's Day, using another House Mouse image, colored with Copics.  This time I experimented with some black & white doodling, and I like the effect.  It kind of makes things pop on the canvas.  I also added wire, buttons,a metal sentiment tag, a stick pin, acrylic, paper doilies, patterned papers, ink and paints.
I guess I am narcissisic, because I love this one too.  So...

I have two more canvases to play with, and then I'll have to make a decision on which one to send off to my swap partner!  (sigh)  Life is hard, sometimes!

Playing with Your Food

Today I want to show off a card I made using a House Mouse stamped image.  When it comes to Halloween treats, to each his own, I say.  My hubby likes those nasty, I mean not-tasty-to-me, peanut butter kisses that are wrapped in orange and black paper.  I like the caramels, which he can't stand.
So these little mice are more than happy with their Halloween haul of peanuts!  And let's face it, when we have a treat in front of us, the world is right.  It is the simple pleasyres in life that make it so.
I colored my image with COpics, double-matted it and popped it onto a piece of leftover patterned paper.  I used K&Co Fall-colored borders, threading my fibers through the top border.
Inside I put a "definition" quote sticker about Autumn and a lovely stamped sentiment about friendship.  I am in a House Mouse & Friends Card Swap for September on PaperCraft Planet and this is going out ot my partner with a little treat.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Sometimes, laughter is the only medicine. So when I heard a friend was in need of some medicine, I created this extended Accordian card for her and filled it with funny quotes and colored images. I "extended" the card by attaching a regular 4.25x5.5 card on the front, so that the sentiment and message are inside and confidential.

Using images from Hambo Stamps, Squigglefly and HouseMouse, I was able to pull sentiments with images for a nice read for my friend.

I colored all aimages with Copics, my ink of choice, and stamped the rubbers with CTMH Black ink.

The setiments and funny quotes are mostly from The Quote Garden.

I love the way the card came together. This is my first accordian card, but it won't be my last! It is versatile, standing open for the receiver to glance at, allowing for more than one line or sentiment but an assortment.
I just know that as much love that went into this project is sent to my friend, and prayers for her as well. You may or may not know my friend, but you know me, at last theough this blog. Please send up a prayer for her and anyone you know who is sick. Thank you!
If you want a tutorial, let me know and I'll make one for you...