Broom Flying - Pass or Fail

      Did you know that witches of any sort must take and pass a test before they are allowed to fly their brooms on Halloween?  That's true and I suppose it includes Harry Potter, too, but it certainly includes these little House Mouse critters.  :-D  

     This image was colored with Ohuhu Pastels for the leaves and grass and ProMarkers for the mice, the sky, and the brooms, then cut with a QuicKutz die.  Both of the white and orange frames were also cut with QuicKutz dies from that same set.  The background dp came from a Recollections Halloween stack.  I used my bow maker to tie the sheer bow with ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I used that same ribbon to wrap around the card front.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Creative Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Double D

I Love ProMarkers

I Spy with My ...

Paper Funday

Paper Shelter

     That's it for today.  I may have another post tomorrow if I finish the card I have underway right now.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Country Mice

      I have two posts for you today and this is the first one featuring my DT card for our September challenge at FarmQuest Country Christmas.  I used one of my House Mouse stamps which has seen good use over the years.

     This time I colored it with my Sanjoki markers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I used 2 additional dies which came from a QuicKutz set to cut the two frames for it.  I love layering frames around an image because it makes them pop off the background and focus attention on the image.

     The background dp came from a Recollections stack.  I added two, tiny, round sequins and an even tinier star sequin for just a touch of sparkle.  Can you find them?  The sentiment is a sticker which was in my stash of Christmas embellishments.

     Challenges:

As You Like It

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Friday

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Hope to see you playing along with us in our challenge this month.  Be sure to check back in a bit for my second post for FarmQuest General Store.  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Laundry Day

      Today we're starting a new challenge at FarmQuest, and our theme is "Laundry or Ironing."  Remember, we always want to see an underlying theme of farm or country in addition to our chosen theme for that challenge.  I used one of my favorite ever House Mouse stamps with the adorable mice clambering over the outdoor clothes line (perhaps in a game of hide and seek?)  

     Do you remember the days when everyone hung clothes on a line?  People who lived in climes where there's lots of winter rain or snow had a problem getting clothes to dry but with the advent of indoor clothes dryers, that problem was resolved.  As dryers took over in every household, we lost the magic of the fresh smell of clothesline-dried sheets, towels, and jeans.  :-D

     I used an ice gray ink pad to stamp the image because it gives fainter lines (an illusion of  'no line'), then I colored the image with my Sanjoki markers.  I cut the image with a QuicKutz die and cut the dry-embossed (Linen EF), brown CS frame with a die one size larger.  The wood grain paper is from a Recollections stack.

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Creative Fingers

Dragonfly Dreams

Gem of a Challenge

Inkspirational

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz Friday

Polkadoodles

     Hope to see you playing along in our challenge this fortnight.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Fortune Cookie Birthday

      Here we are with the Crafty Catz new challenge which starts today.  As usual, our overall theme is "Anything Goes" but we offer you an OPTIONAL theme and for this challenge the option is "Masculine."  Those themes are always good for me because we have a ratio of about 3 to 1, boys over girls in our family and that's true for the last 3 generations!  So, today I've done another birthday card for a boy.

     We don't have a sponsor this week so I pulled out one of my favorite House Mouse stamps and stamped it in brown ink.  I colored it with ProMarkers and watercolors, then cut it with a small, rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I framed it with brown CS which had been dry embossed using my Linen EF.  The two papers I used to make the background were in the scrap basket and I thought they worked well together for a simple, masculine card.  They're from an old Recollections stack.

     The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

As You Like It (I love clean cards because they are easier to mail and most of my cards go to out-of-state family.)

Creative Fingers

I Love Markers

Outlawz Thursday

Paper Funday

Penny's P-C

Word Art Weds

     Come play in our challenge this week.  Make something masculine if you want, but remember you can always enter under the Anything Goes theme so no excuse for not entering.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Puddle Jumping

      A new challenge is starting over at FarmQuest and our theme this time is "Rain Gear."  Of course, it must always have that farm/country feel to it.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew it was time to dig out one of my House Mouse stamps.  I adore this stamp and will find any excuse to use it, including "Don't rain on my parade" days.  :-D

     This time, I used my ProMarkers to color the image, then cut it with a stitched die from Cuts.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.  The sky blue CS I used for the background was embossed with my Linen folder before attaching it to the card front, just for a touch of texture.   I grabbed one of my white, hand-sewn, signature bows from the stash, 'dyed' it with a marker, and added a sequin before gluing it to the card.

     Pretty CAS, plus nice and flat for mailing.

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

Can You Handle ...

Cutie Pie

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

I Love Markers

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Polkadoodles

Simon Says (Rainy Days and Mondays)

     That's it for FarmQuest this fortnight.  Come play with us, won't you?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Dandelion Wishes

      A new challenge starts today over at FarmQuest and our theme is "Dandelions" along with our standard 'Something Farm/Country.'  Very simple this fortnight and I'm sure you have some kind of dandelion image in your vast collection of stamps.  :-D  So why not whip up something and enter it into our challenge?

     I chose a House Mouse stamp from my rather large collection of those, and stamped it using a stone gray ink pad from Tim Holtz.  I colored it with ProMarkers and cut it with a simple rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I found a scrap of paper in the basket and used a larger die from that same set to cut a frame for the image.  The other two paper layers in the background are also pieces from the scrap basket and I'm guessing they were left over from St. Patrick's cards done sometime in the past year or two.

     I printed and cut the sentiment with the smallest QuicKutz rectangle die from the set.  Lot of layers of paper but pretty simple in design and very flat for easy mailing.

 

     Challenges:

Creative Knockouts

Cutie Pie

Dream Valley

House Mouse

Jan's Digi Stamps

Pammie's IP

Paper Funday

Passion for Markers

     Please come play along with us.  This challenge will last until May 13 so you have plenty of time.  We love being inspired by you!   

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

A Special Noel

      I have loved House Mouse stamps since I first discovered them more than a decade ago,  I know they had been around for quite a while even back then but I was slow getting to the card making game.  I especially love their Christmas images and have several which I use nearly every year.  This is one of them.

     With my recurring (and somewhat permanent) vision problems, I'm finding new ways to color images.  For this one, the stamp was a bit smaller than I needed so I stamped it, photographed it with just the uncolored stamp, then used my photo editing software to enlarge it to a size I could see easily for coloring.

     I used ProMarkers to color the image, then photographed it again in order to reduce the size to what I needed for a square card.  A time consuming, multi-step process, but it allows me to still enjoy the pleasure of coloring for my card making.

     Once the colored image was reduced, I cut it with a Gina Marie die.  I made the background for the card using dp scraps (K & Co.) and a CS scrap (DCWV) which I ran through my Linen folder.  I cut those diagonally and layered them one on the other, then added the image piece.  The metallic ribbon is wired and glittered, and I used it for both the wrap around the card front and for the hand tied bow. 

     Challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations

Digi Choosday

Dream Valley

House Mouse

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Monday

Pammie's IP

Paper Shelter

Passion for Markers

Tuesday Morning ...

     That's it for today but hopefully I'll have another post tomorrow.  If not then, perhaps on Friday.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Decoration Day

      When I was a child, my mother always talked about "Decoration Day" in the same tones one used to say "Valentines" or "Fourth of July."  I actually thought there was a national holiday called "Decoration Day."  Once I attained adulthood and she was no longer responsible for birthday celebrations for her children, I learned that "Decoration Day" meant the day she set aside to bake and decorate the birthday cakes for the celebrations.  lol

     This image from House Mouse brings back those childhood memories.  I used ProMarkers on the image, then cut it with a Tonic Studios die.  The two layers of dp scraps were also cut with dies from Tonic Studios.  The dark, sparkly background was done using DCWV card stock on the front before adding the 3 layers in the image piece and the additional 2 layers in the sentiment piece.  I added a hand-tied, gingham bow as the final touch.

     One more card for the birthday card stash which will get used for a grandchild this fall.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Happy Little Stampers

I Love ProMarkers

Outlawz Greetings

PIP

Rabisco

Simon Says Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Book Learnin'

      As my Grandpa used to say, "There's a time for book learnin' and a time for doin'."  By that, he meant hands on learning instead of studying books.  Since the start of school is right around the corner, I decided to use this delightful House Mouse stamp to celebrate going 'back to school' during the hottest month of summer but the warm, summer colors take care of that aspect.  :-D

     Colored with ProMarkers and pencils, then cut with a CUTplorations stitched die.  The papers came from DCWV's "Basics" stack (both polka dot dp), and one of their (very old) 12" x 12" scrapbooking paper stacks (the flowery dp) and all were scraps.  I inked the edges of the image and the sentiment with ProMarkers.  The sentiment was cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges: 

Aud Sentiments

Classic Design

C.R.A.F.T.

Crafts Galore Encore

Crafty Friends

Crafty Hazelnut's

Dies R Us

SheepSki Designs

There's a Stamp ...

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Happy Heart

     Hearts are happiest  when they overflow with love!  This fun little House Mouse has found a perfect way to express it.  :-D

     The image is colored with ProMarkers and polychromos pencils, then cut with a Sizzix scalloped die.  I used my 'Linen' embossing folder on the card background, and added a scrap of red, metallic CS before adding the image.

     Challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Allsorts

Art-Piaskownica

Aud Sentiments

Colorful Options

Colour Crazy

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Fingers

Paperbabe

     I'll have another post shortly.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stealing Santa's Cookies

      In my opinion, House Mouse meeses can do no wrong but when it comes to these three cookies thieves, Santa may not agree with me!  lol  Colored with ProMarkers, cut with a QuicKutz die, and framed with glitter CS (also cut with a QuicKutz die.)  The tree is made using a Dee's Distinctively die.  The snow was add to the tree with a white gel pen.

     Challenges:

Christmas ... Cuties

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble 

Dream Valley

House Mouse - (Edited to add the link here as requested by a HM DT member, even though it's in the first sentence of the post.  :-D) 

Ike's World

Outlawz Greetings

Passion for Markers

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Swinging Halloween

      I think this is my third House Mouse card this month and each one has been more fun than the last!   I did a summer theme and a Christmas theme and now something in between, Halloween.  

     This time I used ProMarkers and polychromos pencils to color the image and cut it with a QuicKutz die.  I printed the sentiment onto a scrap of white CS, trimmed that to fit as a frame around the image, and added the tiny, hand-tied bow to the corner.

     I made a card base out of gray CS, embossed the top and bottom of it with my 'Linen' EF, and added the square of Halloween dp (DCWV).  That dp is embossed and glittered for some fantastic texture.  I layered the image piece onto that and called it finished.  I tend to do simple, flat Halloween cards because the majority of them get mailed so flat is better.

     Challenges:

2 Sisters ... Blog

Art Impressions

Carlin's Card ...

Crafty Hazelnut's

Double Trouble

Friendship

House Mouse

House ... Stamps Built

I love ProMarkers

Simon Says Stamp

      Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Christmas is Just Around the Corner!

      Can you  believe tomorrow is the first day of autumn?  That means Thanksgiving (in the US & Canada) and Christmas are closing in faster than you can believe, less than 100 days now.   The House Mousies  know this and they're already decorating for the Christmas holidays.  The theme at House Mouse this fortnight is the usual "Anything Goes" (with a House Mouse image) but it has an option of "Christmas Around the Corner."

     I adore this darling House Mouse carrying his candy cane across the 'tightrope' of a light string.  You just know instinctively that he's going to hang the cane as decoration.  

     I used ProMarkers on the image and heat embossed clear EP to create the 'shine' around the tree lights.  I used one of my oldest Spellbinders dies, a simple rectangle, to cut the image.  The dp with the tree is from K & Co., and the text dp is from a very old scrapbooking stack by DCWV.  The sentiment was printed and cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Christmas Kickstart

Crafty Catz

Crafty Hazelnut's ...

Outlawz Festive Fri

Paperbabe

     OK, one more Christmas card in the stash but the stash is growing more slowly than I'd like.  I guess I'd better get on the ball here and add one or two Christmas cards each week.  So many of mine have to be mailed which means my deadline is actually earlier than most.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Chasing Skunks

      Most animals have an instinct about what's dangerous or unpleasant, even when they're too young to have actually encountered the danger.  But some youngsters have to push the envelope and learn for themselves.  That's clearly what happened to this young ginger kitten.  Fortunately, he has friends who love and care for him.  :-D

     House Mouse image colored with ProMarkers and cut with cross-stitch die from Unbranded dies.  All the papers are scraps from the basket and I know the papers with the rows of dots came from Lawn Fawn.  The sheer ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the sheer bow is one of my signature, hand-sewn bows with a pearl.  The sentiment was printed and cut with a die from Avery Elle.

I was inspired by Sketch #213 at Sweet Sketch Weds.

adjusted for an A2 card.

     Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Sentiments

Double Trouble

House Mouse

Incy Wincy

Lemon Shortbread

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

TTCRD

     That's all I have for today but I'm heading back to the craft room so who knows what I might have for tomorrow?  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Beach Lemonade

      It's very likely that the area where I live will reach 100 degrees this week and it's only the first third of May, for Heaven's sake!  We always get hot, hot, HOT! weather during our summer months, usually several days in a row of over 100 degrees and when that happens I either stay inside in the craft room air conditioning or I head out for the beach.  I guess this week is perfect for this card I made over the weekend.  These House Mouse mousies have the right idea but they really need to watch that sunburn.  :-D

Colored w ProMarkers

Cut w Die-namics stitched dies

Sentiment printed & cut with Die-namics

Scraps used for mats & frame

Sentiment printed on a scrap

     Challenges:

Crafty Creations

Get Creative

House Mouse

LeAnn's World

Let's Craft & Create

Outlawz Greetings

Paper Shelter

TTCRD

Word Art Weds

     I hope your weather is more pleasant than ours.  If it's not, stay inside and Happy Crafting.  :-D  NanaConnie

Singing in the Spring Rain

      Let's start by saying Happy Easter to all who celebrate it !

    My card today has nothing to do with Easter but it is a celebration of spring.  The image is from  House Mouse, of course - nobody who has ever used a House Mouse stamp could miss that.  :-D  

      Do you like my new hologram CS from Lawn Fawn?  It was part of my latest shopping trip over there. 

Colored w ProMarkers (my fav coloring medium)

Glitter gel ink added to raindrops

Image & frame cut w Tonic Studios dies

Frame is hologram CS from Lawn Fawn

Card base is metallic CS from stash

Sentiment cut w Avery Elle die

     Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland

Crafty Sentiments

Digi Choosday

Double Trouble (2 out of 3)

House Mouse

Lawn Fanatics (Song: Singing in the Rain)

Lemon Shortbread

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Says Stamp

TTCRD

     That's all for now but I'll have a DT post late tonight and another one a couple of hours later so be sure to check back first thing in your morning.  I don't expect you to set an alarm to get up at midnight and have a peek at my blog.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cross Stitch Love

     Nothing cuter than House Mousies and these three are totally adorable!  I tried something new on this card.  Since I was lucky enough to win one of the House Mouse challenges and wouldn't have to spend any money (thereby keeping with the "Just Stash January" commitment - see paragraph below), I ordered a set of their 3D card kits which I've never used before.  

     It takes the old fashioned fussy cutting and layering of images to get a great card with lots of layers and dimension, so very time consuming but wonderful fun!   Here's a perfect Valentine card.

     I'm following a great "challenge-yourself" idea being promoted by my blogging buddy, V.  It's called "Just Stash January" and it involves using nothing but things already in your stash throughout the entire month of January!  There are a few reasonable exceptions (all of which mean that no money has come out of your pocket) and you can read about those on her post.  Just click on the link above to find out all about it, then start counting those coins and bills you'll be 'stashing' in your pocket this month instead of crying about even more charges on the credit cards after the holiday season.  :-D  Everything on this card came from the stash! 

Bottom layer of image cut with Tutti Designs die

All other layers cut w scissors

     2 layers of cross stitch and stitching mouse

     1 additional layer of 2 other mice

     2 layers of scissors

     3 layers of embroidery threads

Sentiment cut w scissors

All layers put onto red card base

     Challenges:

Aud Sentiments

C.R.A.F.T.

Creative Inspirations

House that Stamps Built

Incy Wincy

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Scrapping4Fun

Simon Says Stamp

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Stay Warm

      In these couple of days after Christmas, our temperatures have dropped drastically; below freezing overnight and then this morning it warmed enough to rain.  Now we have cold sunshine amid the scattering clouds.  I don't want any of you Canadians or Mid-Westerners laughing at me!  Remember, I'm in California where we only have snow in the high Sierra Nevadas and when it gets below freezing, we really feel it.  I don't even own a winter coat!  lol

     This card perfectly reveals what's happening in our neck of the Christmassy woods.  The image is from House Mouse.

I pulled colors from My Favorite Things.

Colored w ProMarkers

Glitter & Liquid Pearls on snow & pompoms

Cut w Fiskars

"Linen" EF used on blue CS

Snowflakes cut w AI dies

  (they sparkle but it doesn't show very well)

Sentiment printed & fussy cut

     Challenges:

Artsy Stamper

Craftlandia

Cute Card Thurs

Digi Choosday

House Mouse

House that Stamps Built

Outlawz Greetings

Simon Say Stamp

Word Art Weds

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Generous Robin

     This is one of the funniest House Mouse stamps I own and I haven't used it in a couple of years, at least.  The whole idea of  very generous robin feeding baby mice is fun but add the factor of  "generous" baby mouse passing the food offer on to one of his brothers brings on pure laughter!

     I'm sending this to one of my grandsons who has two brothers.  I think he'll get a real kick out of it.  :-D

Colored w/ ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with Tonic Studios die
Ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon
Gingham bow, hand-tied
Rhinestones

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Outlawz Festive Fri
Paperbabe
Paperminutes
Simon Says Stamp &...
TTCRD

     The weekend is right around the corner and I'm going to be focusing on all my First of the Month DT and Coordinator obligations because, believe it or not, September is almost here.  Then, next weekend is Labor Day here in the USA and by that time, all the rush will be behind me and I can just play and craft and visit my favorite blogs (something I haven't had time to do for a couple of weeks and I apologize.)

     In the meantime, Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Life's Lemons

     I'm sure we are all familiar with the age old phrase about 'Life giving you lemons and making lemonade.'  But this fabulous little House Mouse has a slightly different idea.  Very cool!  :-D

Colored with ProMarkers & gel pens
Cut with die from Sizzix, edges inked
Sheer ribbon and hand-tied bow 'dyed' with ProMarkers
Sentiment printed & hand cut
Yellow CS bleached with Q-tip

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time...Extra
Carlin's Card Paradise
Craft-Dee BowZ
Creative Craft Cottage
Die Cut Divas
Dies R Us
Dream Valley
Friendship
House Mouse
Outlawz Greetings

     Have a great Wednesday and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie