Hello....and Happy Father's Day Weekend!

Hello Friends,
Wow!!!! It has been a LONG time since I put a blog post up!!!!  My sister's wedding was a wonderful event all the way back at the end of March!

My brother and I took the pictures for the happy couple and here is my favorite photo of the new Mr. and Mrs Paull from the outdoor shots:

 Aren't they a sweet couple!!!!!!

Here is a candid shot of Tim and his Aunt Beth before the ceremony.  We were in the hotel room hiding before the big event because the guests had begun to arrive...I forget what song they were singing now....

It was a lovely event and we all had a wonderful time!  I was busy processing photos and then some other things came up including touring and selecting a new school for Tim to go to next year.  To be honest I cannot believe it is already June!  School gets out here in Seattle on June 19th!  We cannot wait!  Summer is on its way to the Pacific Northwest!

Father's Day is this weekend and I found zero cards in my stash so this afternoon Tim and I came downstairs to our little art studio in the basement and tried to remember how to make cards!  LOL!  I made a very basic card and felt very rusty while doing so!  Tim however did a WONDERFUL job using my copics and stamps!  Here is what he made for his Grandpa Wendell, Stuart's Father, who we are off to visit this weekend:

The sweet puppy dog and sentiment are from a Sweet N Sassy Stamp set from 2012 called - you guessed it - "Gone Fishin".   Tim wanted the sentiment to look like it was caught on the hook at the end of the line.  I love the way he colored the background and made a sun and cloud as well as a fishing pond and ground.  He worked really hard on this card and I am so proud of him for finishing it!  He has some fine motor and processing skill issues which we go to therapy for each week and he has made great strides this year!  I know that his Grandpa will enjoy receiving it!


Here is the very basic card I made for my Dad using some Lil Inker dies:

 On the inside I added a wonderful sentiment from a Waltzing Mouse Stamp Set called "Man of the Hour"
The sentiment says:  "The Greatest Gift I ever had Came from God I call him DAD".   I love the sentiments in this set!!!  Sorry I did not take a photo of it!  I love the graphic feel of it!

I hope you all enjoy time with the special men in your lives this weekend! And if you, like Tim and I, are missing that special someone I hope that warm memories bring peace to your heart.  I know that we will be sending big hugs to Papa Stuart up in heaven and remembering some wonderful times that we were blessed to have shared with him!

Hugs,
Jill and Tim and our Angel Papa Stuart! :)   

Trick or Treat.....feeling Mummy anyone?

Hello all,
Here with a card for this month's CC Designs Rubber Stamps Monthly challenge #4.  
CC Designs stamps is one of my favorite companies and they have a new challenge blog that I am excited to participate it!

The theme for this challenge is "Halloween" so I decided to make a card to give my son on the morning of Halloween.  We have a tradition of making special pumpkin-shaped pancakes on Halloween morning each year and I always try to put a special card at Tim's place setting to make it look festive. And of course there just might be a special treat for him to open too!

I built a little scene for him this year using the "Mummy Trevor" stamp from CC Designs and a sentiment from their set called "Halloween Sentiments".  The sentiment is stamped on the tag from the Grunge Envelope Die set.  I made it into a little sign standing up in the pumpkin patch that my Mummy is standing in.  The bright orange moon is stamped with the new Spooky Tree Backgrounder from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. I embossed it with bronze embossing powder and I love the way it looks like the moon is glowing on the branches and making them shine!  A few bats flying through the air help to fill in the rest of this lovely pumpkin patch scene.

Thanks for taking a look at my card.  I love making cards for children at Halloween!  They take such joy from dressing up and playing make-believe for a little while and I love all of the fun stamps that are available for this time of the year! 

Happy Halloween a little early!

Hugs!

:) Jill   

   

Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh....

Hello Friends,
I have another Christmas card to share tonight.  This one combines Waltzing Mouse stamps, Papertrey Ink's one horse open sleigh die, and a spellbinders rectangle die along with some buttons and floss and some Papertrey Ink papers.

Note:  Creating the reins (sp?) for the sleigh was a happy accident...I added the button to cover up a line on the die cut that was an error during die cutting.  I was thinking it could be the horses saddle or traces.  I then got the idea to put thread through it extra long to make the reins.  I added stickles silver glitter glue for the runners and the horses  harness.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!
:) Jill

We are so THANKFUL for your hospitality....

Edited to add:  So honored that this card was chosen as one of the three Top Mouse picks for the November 17, 2012 Blog Hop!  Thanks Waltzing Mouse Stamps!

Hi everyone,
My second post for today is a card for the November 2012 Waltzing Mouse Stamps Blog Party!  The theme this month is:  GRATEFUL.  And here is the card that I came up with:

I started by embossing a rustic cream cardstock base with a Cheery Lynn Designs Embossing plate called "Old Parchment".  It is one of my favorites!  I selectively inked the beautiful tree from the set "Blessed by You" to fit it within the opening of the largest Opera Tag which I die cut from some terracotta tile cardstock.  I then added the small stamp from "Seasons of Love to create a border at the top of the opening and to frame the partial sentiment "Thankful for your".

The full sentiment is:  We are Thankful for your hospitality and draws your eye through the card from the upper left to the lower right.

Some button twine, some border stamping on the bottom of the card, and a wee border of glitter glue around the opera tag opening finishes off this card which I am giving to my parents who are hosting Thanksgiving at their house this year.  I am still working on the place cards but hope to share them on the blog if I have time before the big day.

Thanks for looking at my card!  Happy Hopping!

So much beautiful inspiration over at Waltzing Mouse today!

Love it!

:) Jill

Sleigh Bells Ring....are you listening?

Hello,
It is a very rainy and cloudy Saturday here in Seattle.  I cannot believe how dark it has been all day....but it gives us an excuse to stay inside and get cozy....especially after my son and I took a walk along the local creek to view the salmon spawning.  We made it for an hour before the rain once again dumped on our heads and we had to run for the car.

Now that I am home and all cozied up (and dried off again) I decided to make a card for this week's Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #124.

Here is the lovely sketch inspired by Karin Akesdotter:



And here is my card:

I just finished it and the glitter glue with additional Martha Stewart glitter on top still isn't dry but I wanted to get this uploaded before I started working on my Waltzing Mouse blog hop card of Gratitude.

Thanks for taking a look!

:) Jill

I love Snowmen! And Snow Angels! And Snow Babies....

Hello Friends,
Here tonight with a couple more Christmas cards.  These were made using another stamp from Serendipity Stamps that is new to their Holiday line up this year.  It is a beautiful snow angel holding a glowing star!  You can see (and purchase) the stamp:  HERE!

And here are some additional photos of my cards:

 

 

 

 

 

I hope to have time to re-take the photos during the day.  It has been cloudy the past few days here in Seattle and it is difficult to get good light for photo taking.  I used extra lighting but it just isn't the same as some good daylight.  I am posting anyway because I have a very busy weekend ahead of me and may not be in my craft room again until next week!  Happy Weekend everyone!
                                      :) Jill

A wee Christmas tree...

Hello,

Just a quick post with a card I made for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #122. Here is this week's sketch chosen by the wonderful Renee Lynch.

I just love this sketch!  I had been playing with one of my favorite Waltzing Mouse Stamp sets "Sewing Box Christmas"and came up with this card:

I hand stamped the tree and then fussy cut it out.  I just love the way it turned out. I love the home-spun feel of the sewing box stamp sets so much and I used some of  the smaller stamps - the star and heart - to create my background.  And I of course added glitter to my card as I do to almost all of my Holiday cards.

I love the new Waltzing Mouse "Opera Tags" dies and used one to back my tree.  I edged it with some brown sugar ink to bring out some of the detail in the die cut.  I used a small doily diecut to create a "rug" for my tree to sit on.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  There are so many inspiring cards from the designers over at the Waltzing Mouse Challenge Blog.  I hope you find time to join in this week's challenge!
 Happy Crafting!

: ) Jill

Supplies:

Another school card...

Edited to add post script at end of post below on 8-28-12
Hello all,
Here today with a card for Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #111.  Here is a picture of the sketch:

And here is my card:

I used a new to me set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps called "Blessed By You" to make my background and my little school house.  I just love this set and will be making lots of cards with it in the future.  The sentiments are just so lovely and the little images are so wonderful for creating backgrounds which I have been trying to do more of lately. 

 

To finish my little "scene" on the focal area I supplemented with some other school stamps that I had in my stash so I can use this as a "school" card for one of my son's many teachers. I doodled some clouds and a sun as well as the smoke from the chimnies of the school.  Not sure if I love it but it will do.  I also distressed inked my black and white gingham ribbon to help it match the card better.  I used "old paper" distress ink to add an aged look.

I used white prima chalk ink to make a "chalkboard" outline on my red die cut focal and also impressed the yellow cardstock with an alphabet impression plate to add to the school feel. A button and some twine finishes it off.

Thanks for looking at my card.  I had fun making this one and was inspired by several cards made by both Claire and her mischief makers in some of the pre-release hops that are going on right now at Waltzing Mouse Stamps Blog.  I sure like the sort of "toile" look that it creates.

Happy Crafting everyone!
: ) Jill 

 Edited to add 8/28/12
Post Script:
I was so thrilled to learn that my card was one of the top mouse cards of the week for this challenge!
It was announced at this post on the Waltzing Mouse Challenge Blog: HERE.  There were so many incredible cards for this challenge and I am so very honored that my card was chosen with Ren-Yi and Michelle's for a top mouse blog badge!  Thanks to everyone that is involved in providing these wonderful Waltzintg Mouse challenges to all of us.  And thanks to Claire for her beautiful products!  They are such a gift to my crafting life and my bliss! 

Yeah! It's Waltzingmouse Blog Party Day!

Hi Everyone,
Here with a card for today's lovely Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party!  I am so excited to play along!

The theme this month is "Birthdays" and you can find all the info and the linky party: HERE

I hope you are able to find some time to play along! 

Here is my contribution:

 I used a whole bunch of Waltzing Mouse Stamp sets on this card:
1. Vintage Banners
2. Nordic Winter
3. Jar Fillers - Jam Packed
4. Say it Loud
5. Compact Sentiments - inside sentiment - not shown in pictures

 I just love the gingham banner in Vintage Banners!  I added some of the border stamps from Nordic Winter to the top in pink and brown to dress it up.  The "hip hip Hooray" sentiment is from Vintage Banners and is stamped on a label from Jar Fillers-Jam Packed.  The "it's your big day" sentiment is from "Say it Loud". 

The pink doily is from Freckled Fawn (HERE) and I just love it!  The pink cardstock is impressed with one of my favorite designs: the old parchment impression plate from Cheery Lynn Designs.  A rolled rose and leaves die cut from felt, along with a bow made from green hemp twine and some "I am Roses" baby pink rosebuds finish off this card.

Thanks for taking a look at my Birthday card!  I sure enjoyed getting crafty this morning to make it!

I am off to spend some time with my little one in the Seattle Sunshine now....we are getting together with all of his preschool friends for a "back-to-school" party so it should be fun!  I have known all these sweet kids since they were 3 or 4 years old and now they are all 7 and 8!  Time flies so I am trying hard to treasure each moment!  Have a great day and happy blog hopping!  I can't wait to get home tonight and see what everyone has created! Bye for now...

:) Jill

Card 2 - Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge 108

Hello,
Here with another card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #108: HERE.  I liked this sketch by the talented Belinda Chang Langner so much that I was inspired to make another card with some of the stamping leftovers I had on my desk from the first one. 

Here are some pictures:

 I created the sentiment by selecting words from several different sentiments within Waltzing Mouse Stamps set: Sewing Box Hugs!  I love how it turned out!

I had stamped these Sewing Box Hugs flowers from Waltzing Mouse stamps the other day in Berry Sorbet ink.  Last night I cut them all out and colored them with copics and edged them in some Marina Mist ink from Stampin Up.  Then I added the brad and some more copic ink to create the "stamens".  It was such a cute little flower I decided to make the second card to put it on!


Thanks for taking a look at my little card. Happy Crafting!
: )  Jill

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #100 - Sending Hugs!

Hello,
It is Friday night and I finally got a card made for the 100th Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge.  It is my second time participating and I had fun picking out which stamps to use for my card.
You can find the challenge info:  HERE

And here is the sketch:

I loved all of the inspiration cards from the Mischief Makers.  I loved Lenet Mos's card and used a similar color scheme.  Here is my card:

Below is a close up of the sentiment panel.  I had fun using the various stamps to create the sentiment background.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I had fun getting inky tonight and might have another card to post tomorrow if I find some time to spend in my craft room.  Happy Crafting!
                                                                         : )   Jill
 Supplies:
Stamps:  Waltzing Mouse
Inks:  Jenni Bowlin - brown, Quick Quotes - powder puff  tahiti
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink;
Paper:  iraliamija - Etsy - digital rose paper; digital gingham background; pink text - my stash - Making Memories possibly?
Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs, MFT Stamps;
Other:  Decorative corner punch:  Fiskars; bling - Kaiser; Twine: Trendy Twine; Felt: Benzie Felt - see sidebar to etsy shop link.  pompom trim:  stash.  ribbon: ETSY - not sure what store?

A card for Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #98

Baby daffodils....

Hi,
Just a quick card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #98.  This is my second entry for a Waltzing Mouse challenge and I am enjoying them immensely.  

Here are some pictures of my card:

I used two Waltzing Mouse stamp sets:  Compact Sentiments and Oval Classic Frames.  And some flower and foilage dies from MFT Stamps.

 I love this little foilage stamp with the heart in the middle!  So sweet!

 The bling is from doodlebug design inc.  Cardstock is from Papertrey Ink and patterned papers are scraps from my stash and a 6x6 sheet of yellow flowered paper from Jillibean Soup.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I tried really hard not to use pink and still used it a little bit!  Oops!

Edited to add:  I also uploaded my card to the Thankful Thursdays Challenge #21 at my sweet new friend Rhonda's blog:  HERE .    I hope you will join in too!  Hugs!

:)  Jill