House Mouse and Friends Blog Hop and Challenge

House Mouse and Friends is having its first blog hop/challenge, using any House Mouse, Happy Hoppers or Gruffies stamp, using this sketch for your design:

I had made a few Valentines before last night, but none matched the sketch completely, so I worked on another:

Here is what I used for the card:

Stamp:  Stampabilities Happy Hoppers (House Mouse) "Love Bunny" HMI1014.

Colored pencils:  Prismacolor, Derwent and EK Success.

Chalk:  Pebbles Pearlescent Shimmers (around bunny).

Paper, background:  K & Co. Smitten Valentine tablet of 12 x 12 papers.

Paper lace, light pink:  American Crafts paper in Baby/Miss Muffit, cut with Fiskars heart edge punch.

Paper lace, brown:  American Crafts paper in Baby/Miss Muffit, reverse if light pink dot, cut with Martha Stewart double edge doily lace trim punch.

Raspberry square:  Bazzill pearlescent in Feather Boa, embossed with Swiss Dots folder in Cuttlebug, cut with Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Sentiment:  K & Co. Smitten banners.

Pearls:  Recollections half-pearl stickers.

Miscellaneous:  Pink Gelly Roll Stardust pen on hearts above bunny's head.

You can visit the Blog Hop/Challenge by clicking on the title of this blog, or on this link:  http://www.housemouseandfriends.blogspot.com/

Card count:  7/365

Happy Retirement

One of my neighbors here at the apartment complex will be retiring Friday and I wanted to make a card for her.  I was truly at a loss as to how to begin but I tossed the idea out to the House Mouse group and someone suggested this stamp.   Once the stamp design was chosen, the rest was easy as it is a simple card without much embellishment.    Thanks for looking.

Stamp:  Happy Hopper (from Stampabilities/House Mouse),  "Relaxing Bubbles", item HMG1015.

Coloring:  Prismacolor and Derwent colored pencils.  For the tub, to make the white stand out, I used a dressmaker's tool:  General's Pastel Chalk pencil in white, #4414, bought at the local quilt shop.  Area around the bunny was highlighted with Pebbles pearlescent chalks in Shimmers.  Edges were darkened with brown Palette stamp.

Highlights:  Creative Cafe Glitter Glue in Spirit White for the bubbles (this is iridescent and works well with the colors of the mats) and Stickles Frosted Lace on the tub.

Paper:  unknown, gift from a paper crafting friend (thanks, Lisa).

Cardstock:  Bazzill solids, cut and embossed in Cuttlebug with Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Sentiment:  Computer generated, Storybook font.

Flowers:  Prima

Brads:  Recollections.

Inside verse:  Irish Blessing:

          May you always have work for your hands to do.

          May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

          May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

          May the rainbow be certain to follow the rain.

          May the hand of a friend always be near you 

          And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

This was printed on vellum and mounted on the same blue cardstock as the second mount behind the bunny.  The bottom edge was cut with the Martha Stewart heart border punch. 

Card count:  3/365

ADDENDUM:  Happy 13th birthday, Katie (one of my granddaughters in MN).

Merry Christmas

Just a quick post to say that I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day, and that your travel, if any, was safe and without incident, especially considering the weather in the mid-West.  I cooked the turkey I had planned to cook for Thanksgiving (but could not lift because I hurt my hand/wrist), made stuffing, a veggie, and had cranberry sauce and shared with a neighbor.  Now the dishes remain but they can wait until tomorrow.  I stood long enough.  Tomorrow or Sunday I will make soup, and fill the freezer!  My best friend sent me a gorgeous handbag, lovely shades of brown and turquoise in a metallic fabric - now I need a place to go to be worthy of carrying it!  A doll friend sent me a lovely outfit she had made for Bleuette, a Jester costume, and I know one of the girls will look beautiful in it. 

We just surprised this same friend, who has had a terrible time of it these past few years, with a terrible neighbor who has destroyed property, threatened, etc.  After some pointed questions on the group, we discovered what she would consider an ideal Bleuette, and one of the doll artists kindly agreed to make one for us.  About 22 people contributed financially, and some even made some doll clothes for her.  The artist, Barbi Kantor-Goldenberg, does a superb job with every doll she paints, and this lovely doll was no exception.  She also made and embroidered her dress from a vintage hanky.  The package arrived two days ago but we made Phyllis wait until today to open.  Since she is visiting out of state, we have to wait until tomorrow to hear how surprised she was.  Never in a million years would she expect what we sent her and I am glad we were able to surprise her.  The doll is a reproduction SFBJ 60 8/0, and Barbi's version is superb.   The first photo is the outfit I received from Phyllis for Christmas.  The second photo is the doll we sent her.   

Another doll friend sent me some wonderful small gifts for my Hitty dolls.  A neighbor gave me a cute ceramin apple that held tasty strawberry candies, and I bought myself (with a 50% off coupon at Michael's) a Cuttlebug so I can emboss card backgrounds as well as do some die cutting.  Now if only someone would come and do the dishes!  What a present that would be.  Merry Christmas everyone.  Hope your day was wonderful. 

Merry Christmas

Just a quick post to say that I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day, and that your travel, if any, was safe and without incident, especially considering the weather in the mid-West.  I cooked the turkey I had planned to cook for Thanksgiving (but could not lift because I hurt my hand/wrist), made stuffing, a veggie, and had cranberry sauce and shared with a neighbor.  Now the dishes remain but they can wait until tomorrow.  I stood long enough.  Tomorrow or Sunday I will make soup, and fill the freezer!  My best friend sent me a gorgeous handbag, lovely shades of brown and turquoise in a metallic fabric - now I need a place to go to be worthy of carrying it!  A doll friend sent me a lovely outfit she had made for Bleuette, a Jester costume, and I know one of the girls will look beautiful in it. 

We just surprised this same friend, who has had a terrible time of it these past few years, with a terrible neighbor who has destroyed property, threatened, etc.  After some pointed questions on the group, we discovered what she would consider an ideal Bleuette, and one of the doll artists kindly agreed to make one for us.  About 22 people contributed financially, and some even made some doll clothes for her.  The artist, Barbi Kantor-Goldenberg, does a superb job with every doll she paints, and this lovely doll was no exception.  She also made and embroidered her dress from a vintage hanky.  The package arrived two days ago but we made Phyllis wait until today to open.  Since she is visiting out of state, we have to wait until tomorrow to hear how surprised she was.  Never in a million years would she expect what we sent her and I am glad we were able to surprise her.  The doll is a reproduction SFBJ 60 8/0, and Barbi's version is superb.   The first photo is the outfit I received from Phyllis for Christmas.  The second photo is the doll we sent her.   

Another doll friend sent me some wonderful small gifts for my Hitty dolls.  A neighbor gave me a cute ceramin apple that held tasty strawberry candies, and I bought myself (with a 50% off coupon at Michael's) a Cuttlebug so I can emboss card backgrounds as well as do some die cutting.  Now if only someone would come and do the dishes!  What a present that would be.  Merry Christmas everyone.  Hope your day was wonderful.