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! 

A card for Papertrey Ink's May 2012 Blog Hop

Hello friends,
I just made the fastest card decisions in my life today for the Papertrey Ink blog hop.  I was so busy working on my crafty project last night for the Waltzing Mouse Hop (which I still haven't finished and have probably missed the deadline on...) that I forgot about the PTI hop today!  I  LOVE the great inspiration photo!   HERE is the blog post it originated from....and here is the photo they chose for this month's inspiration:





I had tons of errands today and went to visit my Mom who has not been feeling well to check on her.  When I got home I logged on to check emails etc. and realized the PTI hop was today.  How can it already be the 25th of May?  Time is flying for me lately! I decided to try and race through a card using the photo for my design.  Here is the card I came up with...

 I did not have the exact ink color I needed to make the very light chartreuse colored hydrangea flower that was in the bowl.  Soooo I improvised by combining two ink colors that I did have and using a blending tool.  Then I overstamped the "In Bloom" largest flower with the darker ink when I was done. 

I also didn't have a harlequin or diamond shaped stamp so I used an embossing folder on the limitless layers circle below the flower and blended some black ink over the top to bring out the diamonds....however most of this effort was covered by the flower....oh well...

I struggled with how to put the sentiment on the card and ended up cutting some flag pieces and splitting the sentiment between the two.  I am still not sure that this card is balanced....that it doesn't need something else?  But due to time constraints I decided to just go with it....and call it GOOD!  I had fun whipping it together and I still have time to finish the laundry before I pick up my little one from school.  Happy hopping  everyone!

: )  Jill