Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #66

It's Saturday!

Whoo-hoo!

And you know what Saturday's bring...

another sketch challenge with Waltzingmouse...

Yea!!

Did you catch the release earlier this week?

Did you die over the new sets?

I did!

And now I'm waiting for enough time to pass so that I can begin stalking the mailman...

I know his route.

But this week we have a fabulous sketch from the wonderfully talented blows-my-mind-with-her-creativity Claire...

And because I am so not good with shape cards I did this...

After numerous attempts at a circle card that just didn't make the cut...

literally...

it's a circle...

on a rectangle!

*giggle*

I just love Sewing Box Christmas...

makes me think of the country...

homemade...

family and friends...

and it just gives me a warm feeling inside.

And you just tell me how can you not love a stamp set that says all that?

OK...

so are you ready to play now?

Come on over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and check out all the fabby yumminess the rest of the Mischief Makers have created for you to feast your eyes on...

and play along!

We can't wait to see what you create!

The Details:

Cardstock: PTI Scarlet Jewel, Kraft, Rustic Cream, Summer Sunrise 

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Sewing Box Christmas

Inks: Momento

Dies: Spellbinders, PTI Double Ended Banner

Inks: Momento

Misc: seam binding, lace, buttons, bling

Cicely Goes CASual

Quickie post.
I know...
coming from me...
that's an oxymoron if there ever was one...
*giggle*.
But I really do have to keep it quick...
painting.
I think I will die painting...
or staining...
because I'm going to start the staircase this week...
and we won't be able to go into the family room until that's all dried and sealed...
but when it's done...
we will finally be through with this remodel...
hal-le-lu-jah!!
I know in reality it's not really been that bad...
but patience is not something I actually possess...
and this remodel has taken away almost all of my "me time"...
so...
I'm getting antsy.
And also...
when it's finished...
and I've finished rearranging almost the entire house...
I will actually have a larger "crafty " space.
I'm turning what is currently the living room into the dining room...
and what is currently my dining room/crafty space into a crafty/sitting room...
see...
there is another very valid reason for my impatience!

OK...so been very busy the last few weeks and every Friday CASual Fridays new challenge comes up on my reader and I think to myself...
"Self...you're doing this challenge!"
But me being myself...
I then get busy and I forget...
until I see the new challenge.
But this week...
I didn't forget.

In fact...
because I had already been wanting to try out my new Spellbinders Postage Stamps dies that my beautiful, wonderful, talented, love-her-more-than-bacon friend Cathy (Empty Nest Crafter) sent me for my birthday last week...
which happens to fall on one of the worst days of the year and that's why I haven't celebrated it in 10 years so she tickled me pink when I got happy mail that day...
and I thought this would be the perfect chance to break them out.
Had already been playing around with an idea that was borrowed from Claire at Waltzingmouse Stamps when she had a special release last month with Cicely and Gracie...
and you know how I love Cicely and Gracie...
you can see Claire's cards here...
and here is a much simplier  CAS version in mini...

And then...
I packaged them up...
I even have 3x3 clear envies...
I love clear envies...
have them in all sizes...
and I really love colored, clear envies...
and here they are all tied up with a ribbon and bow...

The Details:

Cardstock: PTI True Black, Terracotta Tile, Rustic Cream

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Cicely at Halloween

Dies: Spellbinders

Ink: Momento, Copics,  PTI Tea Stain

Misc: ribbon, box, twine, button

It's Time to Dance...

**2nd post.  If you're looking for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge for this week...scroll down**


You know what today is...
it's the 17th...
time for the monthly Blog Waltz at Waltzingmouse stamps...

You don't want to miss this...
so much deliciously yummy inspiration...
amazing creativity...
I love waltzing!
Now...
because I have been busier than a one arm logger this week...
but fantastic news...
the remodel is complete...
whew!
I was running out of patience...
and money...
*giggle*
But now we're just doing touch ups and finish painting the trim...
and next week I'll stain the staircase...
but hoping that my life gets some kind of semblance of a routine to it now...
and I will have much more crafty time...
yea!!
I've missed "my" time...
and have been suffering serious withdrawals.
But I had to make sure I made a little time for participating...
and since Halloween is coming...
and it's the theme for this month's Waltz...
I decided to go with what Halloween is all about...
the candy.
*giggle*
My oldest little guy is 9 and such a boy...
and I know his classmates will get a serious "woooo-hooo" factor going on with Wanda's Pantry...
and this set is designed for serious Halloween treats...

I tried to make these pictures a little "darker"...
it didn't really work so well...
sorry.
I'll work on photography skills...
promise.
But until then...
just bare with me...

I saw that Claire had used the red "print" on some of the design samples...
such a cool touch...
and I absolutely loved the idea...
so I borrowed it because there are some 9 year old little guys that will think it's the coolest thing when they see it...
and of course...
I'll be such a cool mom...
Thanks, Claire!
You're going to make me look good!
*giggle*

Now...I kept these simple and easy for a reason...
I have about 60 treats to make for the kids classes...
so I need something that I can make fairly inexpensively...
quickly...
and easily.
And I've seen these little clear envelopes used in this way on a few different blogs...
just filled with M & M's, Skittles, gumballs...
anything that will fit...
easy peasy.
Now I ordered my envelopes from clearbagsrus.com...
I love clear envelopes and they even have colored ones...
I love color...
and I've only ordered once...
but service was incredible!
I ordered on Friday...
received on Monday...
super fast.
And when you break down the cost of these clear envelopes compared to clear tubes...
extremely economical too!

So a super easy...
super quick...
economical treat idea for Halloween.
You can even give these as treats at the door...
if you don't happen to live in a neighborhood where it seems they must bus kids in just to come knocking on your door for candy.
This happened to us...
we lived on a military post and everyone warned me how many kids would knock on our door Halloween night...
so I bought tons of candy...
literally...
TONS...
and I still ran out!!
We turned out the lights and hid when I ran out of Little Debbie snacks and was about to start handing out frozen veggies.
There had to have been over 500 kids that night...
no lie!
And I really think I saw a bus drive by while I was hiding in the dark.

OK...
I'm off to see what everyone else has come up with that I can oogle over...
and why just sit there?
Come on!
Join in the fun!


The Details:
Cardstock: PTI Rustic White, Smokey Shadow, Terracotta Tile
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Wanda's Pantry
Ink: Momento
Misc: clear envelopes (clearbagsrus), M & M's

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #65

Hello everyone!
You know what today is...
SATURDAY!
Not only do you get to sleep in late...
stay in your jammies all day if you want...
not brush your hair if you don't feel like it...
and it's not as though I'm saying any of this with personal knowledge of these types of things of course...
*giggle*...
but it's also time for a new challenge over at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!
Yea!!
Now...
keeping this post quick because it's also the 17th...
and on the 17th...
I dance.
Waltz to be exact.
And you can check out my Walzingmouse Blog Waltz post here...
and why just sit there...
come join in!!

So quickly...
back to this weeks sketch challenge...
another beauty by the amazingly talented Anya Schrier...

Now...I love this sketch...
but found it challenging with all the white space...
it's just like talking for me...
I always feel the need to talk and say whatever pops into my head when it's quiet...
sometimes not such a good idea...
I don't have very good filters...
so when there's white space in a card...
I feel the need to fill it in.
So I purposely stayed "quiet" this time...
You'll have to tell me what you think...

Too quiet?
Oh well...
I least I'm quite loud 99.9% percent of the time...
*giggle*
Come on over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and see what all my wonderfully talented accomplices of Mischief have been up to...
and then join us for some fun!!
Come on...
you know you want too!




The Details:
Cardstock: PTI Plum Pudding, Kraft, True Black
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Cicely at Halloween
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Haunted (digi)
Ink: Momento
Dies: Edgers #2 PTI
Misc: seam binding, PTI button

4 of a Kind

First...

Thank You to everyone for the exciting, encouraging comments the other day with my big announcement...

I'm still bouncing off the walls...

and so excited I haven't been able to stop smiling...

enough that love-of-my-life is starting to wonder if I could possibly be up to something else...
I'm not!

*giggle*

And I have a hodge podge of things to catch up with today...

but first...

and most important...

is 4 of a Kind with Cathy (Empty Nest Crafter),
Joyce (Cards-by-the-Sea) and
Kim (Cupcakes, Cards and Kim)

Kim was in charge of kits this month...

and because I actually do try to learn from mistakes...

I remembered to take a photo of our kits...

so while these are not the greatest photos...

feast your eyes on all this deliciousness...

Kim made that fabby bag...

which I'm now hoarding.

And this was what we found inside that bag(s)...

Die cuts...

buttons galore...

let me just say it was an exciting, happy mail day that day...

and she has raised the bar on these kits!

But all this gorgeous paper...

fabulous colors...

I die!

And though I had plans of getting at least a couple of projects done with all of these goodies...

I'll touch on the reason why I didn't in a moment...

I just got this one done...

And I love this color combo that she chose for us...

Royal Velvet, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream...

gorgeous!

And Button Boutique!

You know how I feel about it!

And our goal is to use at least 4 of the goodies sent to us each month...

so I used the button card, the sentiment, patterned paper, buttons, dress form and the card front...

all I added was the card base, doily, ribbon and bling.

Believe me...I have enough supplies to still make 2-3 more cards...

and I will get to them!

I just didn't get a chance for this post because I'm still wrist deep in paint...

and literally...

wearing it!

I'm probably going to be wearing it for the next month because let me tell you if you don't already know...

oil based paint...

it doesn't like to come off!

But some quick pics from this past weekend...

do not pay attention to any painting boo-boos...

view from entrance

another entrance view

staircase view

Still lots of equipment...

no flooring..

but they are here laying flooring right now...

YEA!!
So now a couple of snaps of an almost finished floor...

They'll finish tomorrow...
and I'll spend the rest of the week doing touch ups and finish painting...

I won't start staining the staircase till next week...

and there will be a few days of no entering the room while that's going on...

but it's almost done!

I can't wait!
FINALLY!
I hope the end of next week sees me back on a schedule...
to a routine...
and more crafty time...
YEA!!
I'll post more pics when it's all completed and tidied up.

Now...

it's time for you to go and visit Kim, Cathy and Joyce to see what they've come up with using the exact same goodies!

I LOVE this monthly project of ours...
and hope we continue long past our "experiment phase"...
hint, hint girls!!

I get so excited to see our kits...
how we interpret all the supplies and goodies...
and come up with totally different projects...

so I can't wait to see what they've done too!
Off I go!

WMSSC #64 and Some News

OK...
I promised you some news today...
didn't I?
And I do have some...
and let me tell you it's been hard keeping this under wraps.
as you may have picked up on in the past...
I have a problem with keeping things to myself.
It's why I never pursued my dream of being an FBI agent...
a real life Clarice Starling...
ok...
that and the fact that I have nerves of noodles.
But I tell things...
I tell lots of things.
So just the fact that I have actually kept this secret...
well...
mark your calendars because it's an accomplishment!
Ready...

are you sure...

I cut off all my hair!!

Seriously...
I did!
And I actually did it about a month ago...
but since I remembered after cutting it why I don't keep it short...
think...
a poodle on acid...
Bozo after receiving an electric shock...
it's taken me a while to get used to it...
and a huge thank-you-I-love-you-more-than-bacon to whoever invented flat irons...
but here's proof...

And just why am I choosing to now reveal this new short "do" you ask yourself...
well...
a secret deserves a new look don't you think...
and surely you didn't think that was my big secret...
right?
I mean...
I've discussed my views on thongs and how I believe they were invented by terrorists as a form of torture and confession with you...
so do you honestly believe I think a haircut is a huge secret?
Yeah...
I told people before I did it!
My friend Suzanne (TheCardYard) and I were talking haircuts for a week before we both took the plunge!
No...
my secret is much better...
but I wanted to play a tricksey...
did I get you?
Please tell me I did...
because I'm one of those annoying people who loves to jump out and say "boo" when you least expect it and then bust a gut laughing at the way you may jump and scream...
I especially love doing it with the kiddies...
I know...
I should be ashamed of myself for finding it extremely amusing to scare them...
but I love the hugs and kisses amid giggles afterwards.
Kind'a like "laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions"...
name that movie!
And no...
I now no longer expect invitations to parties because I just confessed to this annoying habit.
So here is the reason for a new photo...
the real secret...

http://waltzingmousesketchchallenge.blogspot.com/

I'M A WALTZINGMOUSE MISCHIEF MAKER!!!


I have been bouncing off the walls for the last week with this secret...
literally...
love-of-my-life-man-that-I-married threatened to hide the Mtn Dew because he said I was too wired and he would probably have to tie me to a chair if I didn't settle down...
he didn't though.
He remembered who cooks his meals and does his laundry...
he loves me.
*giggle*
But I am so incredibly honored to be included with this incredibly talented group of ladies...
with such an incredible company...
and Claire's incredibly stunning images...
and...
can I use incredible just one more time...
*giggle*...
I'm incredibly excited!!
YEA!!
I know...
I'm cheering for myself...
I can't help it...
I'm rude...
I'm so sorry!
But I'm excited!
And this week starts this incredible (I know...I'm searching for new adjectives right now) journey...
so here is the sketch for this week...
by the amazingly (gottcha!) talented Anya Schrier...

and here is what I did...

Very CAS this week...
but as soon as I saw the sketch I knew what I wanted to use...
Waltzingmouse Festive Foliage.
Have you seen this set?
Stunning realism...
I mean we are talking absolute perfection...
they literally look as though you've stepped into the woods and plucked a branch of pine...
holly...
mistletoe...
and placed them onto a card.
Granted I embossed mine...
and I've never seen gold pine before...
if I ever do...
I'll keep that secret and cash in...
*giggle*...
but I also need to ask...
have you ever received Holiday cards after the Holiday?
You know...
like a week after?
Yeah...
those would be from me.
Every year I swear I'm mailing Christmas cards the week after Thanksgiving...
that's a laugh because I'm usually still making them on December 23rd!
So this year I'm making some special cards...
to be sent out or given to those closest to me...
and then for others on my list...
I have a long Christmas card list...
like neighbors...
teachers...
church members...
I'm keeping it simple and making cards that are easy to mass produce.
I like variety...
but I also like to be able to sit down and in an hour have 6-8 cards of a certain style ready to address and pop into the mail...
and this fits the criteria perfectly!
Flat...no embellishments to get caught into the sorting machine...
ok...there's the little gold pearl...but I think we can overlook it...
and so easy to put together!
Perfect CAS card for mass producing that looks (I hope) so elegant that people will think I spent oodles of time making it!
And guess what...
presto...
chango...
ala' macaroni...
switch the sentiment...
and you have a perfect winter birthday card!

OK...
a long post...
I know...
but I had news...
and now that I'm done...
pop over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog...
check out what my lovely accomplices of Mischief have been up to...
and play along!
Come on...
what are you waiting for...
we can't wait to see what you come up with!


The Details
Cardstock: PTI Ocean Tides, Pinefeather and Vintage Cream
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Festive Foliage, Compliments of the Season
Ink: Versamark Watermark
Dies: PTI Double Ended Banner
Misc: bling, embossing powder

WMSC#63

Boy...
it's been a while!
I know you have so many other blogs to read so didn't even notice I was gone...
but honestly...
I've missed you!
I love sitting down to chat...
and I've missed that lately.
But I've been wrist deep in paint...
lucky I haven't been ankle deep...
literally...
I'm very lucky to have not stepped in a paint can somewhere...
so I've been so busy with getting this room remodel done...
hoping it's done this week...
that I haven't even had time to stamp, cut or glue.
But I did manage to get a card done for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge though...
only because we had a 3 day weekend and no men were cutting, hammering or needing coffee yesterday...
so here is the sketch by the very talented Anya Schrier...

I thought I knew exactly what I was going to do when I got a chance...
but then I saw some scraps pieces from a card a few weeks ago that were perfect for this card...
pieces of my favorite Halloween paper...
seriously...
I love this paper!
So I changed my mind and did another Halloween card...
but we haven't left the 60's in the past 2 days...
of course it's also been raining...
and leaves are starting to fall so I've got Autumn on the mind.
Now...
I'm a Southerner born and bred...
I know it's a tricksey...
Summer is not over yet...
but the past couple of days have me wishing and hoping for an early fall.
And while at the grocery I noticed all the Halloween candies coming out...
I love Halloween candy...
candy corn...
indian corn...
and you can truly only find that at Halloween...
I love the individual sizes and packages of every kind of candy known to man...
I don't feel so guilty eating an entire bag of something if it only contains 5 pieces...
of course...
then I usually eat 2.
*giggle*
OK...
before I actually admit exactly how many I will sometimes eat...
here's my take on Anya's uber fabby sketch...

My sewing machine started messing up while doing this stitching and I was saying things that were not so nice about my machine...
good thing the kiddies were not around...
when I realized I actually liked it this way.
Kind'a like old wallpaper that is frayed and tearing in places...
I don't know...
what do you think?

OK...
you have to promise to come back this weekend...
I have some news...
but because I love tricksey's...
I'm keeping it a secret and making you come back...
I'm so mean...
*giggle*
I'm really hoping that the room is done too and I might have some pics...
though no furniture because it won't be here till next week...
but you gotta come back to see exactly what it is I'm going to reveal....
*giggle*



The Details:
Cardstock: PTI True Black, Vintage Cream 
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Wanda's Pantry
Patterned Paper: EP Apothecary digi
Dies: Spellbinders
Ink: Momento
Misc: seam binding, PTI button