12 Kits of Christmas...August

Hello everyone!
It's that time of the month again...
time for

and this month Kim was our hostess and she sent an absolutely incredible kit...
take a gander at these goodies...

photo by Kara

aren't these non-traditional colors absolutely gorgeous?
I died when I opened the package and saw pink's, green's and silver...
love them!!
Now since there's quite a few stops along the way I'm not going to keep you long and just show you what I did...

I know Kim will have all the details on her blog about the goodies..
but I wanted to just say that the last 2 cards feature digi images from Pink Petticoat...
and if you haven't checked them out you should...
adorable images!!
And as always...I have a few in reserve to CASE later!

Now...
I'm actually supposed to have a card I CASED from past months...
and I had all intentions of getting at least one done...
but here's a little secret about me...
I'm easily distracted by shining objects...
and I've been caught up in The Real Housewives of New Jersey drama.
Sorry! :(

But that just means you can go and visit this other incredibly talented girls sooner...
right?

Cathy
Marybeth
Suzanne
Joyce
Amy
Christina
Kim
Kara
Jessica
Jeanne
Sharron

And make sure to stop back by next month...
Kara's our hostess and she decided to shake things up a bit! *giggle*
Hope you have a wonderful and safe Holiday weekend...
I just found out today I get a 4 day...
YAY!! :)

Cool Nights...

Yup!
I'm dreaming of red, yellow, orange...
cool days...
and even cooler nights.
Caramel latte's...
football...
blankets and campfires.
Fall.

My favorite time of the year.

So I'm popping in really quickly with a quick card I did using the new WPlus9 Patchwork Pumpkin...
have you seen it?
Oh...
I died.
So incredibly adorable...
I love it!!
So here we go...

See...
quick, simple, easy.
LOVE that sentiment!
LOVE that pumpkin!
And that paper...
I die!
On the same day that I received this adorable set I also got a surprise package from my dear, sweet friend Suzanne who knowing my love of all things navy...
seriously...
the most perfect color in the world...
sent me some AMuse Navy polka dot...
I screamed!
Have you seen the new navy chevron...
die!!
And since I live in football country...
and the high school I attended when growing up school colors are navy and orange...
well...
they are ingrained in me...
they go together like peas and carrots...
(though you know me...I would never actually eat peas and carrots together...just the thought of them touching each other sends my stomach into a tailspin)
so I paired them together for this!

OK...
I'm off!
Laundry awaits.
I'm telling you...
I'm really thinking my tombstone is going to read..."She did laundry".
But with a family of 6...there's always at least a couple loads a day!
And for those of you on the Gulf Coast...thinking of you as Issac gets ready to hit and hope that you are safe with little to no damage when he comes in!

Details:
Stamps: WPlus9 Patchwork Pumpkin
Cardstock: PTI Orange Zest, Kraft, Rustic White
Dies: Mat Stack 3
Patterned Paper: AMuse
misc: lace, ribbon

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #112

Edited 8-25-12 6:20am
This post went live before the recent post from Claire which you can read here.  But I want to ensure you that Claire is doing everything she can and is going above and beyond in taking care of everyone.  Her customers are so dear to her and she hates to disappoint more than I think words could express so please know that if you placed an order yesterday she is taking care of you!

Hello everyone!
Long time no blog!
A very busy week...
is there actually such a thing as a very relaxing week...
and if there is...
where can I find one?
*giggle*

So...what did you think of all the amazing new sets released yesterday?
Were you as gobsmacked as I was?
Seriously...
totally and completely flabbergasted at Claire's stunning designs...
the samples by the Claire and the DT...
just the excitement of waking each morning to see what eye candy was awaiting...
and then the anticipation of 1pm finally arriving yesterday afternoon!
Hope you got everything on your wish list!
Now the hard part...
the wait!
I know Claire is working hard at getting the packages ready to ship out...
and hopefully everyone has some happy mail arriving soon!
But in the meantime you can pull out some of your favorite Waltzingmouse sets and play along with a new Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge to pass the time!
This week we have a fabulous sketch by the incredibly talented Mona Pendleton...

Now I've been on a Halloween kick lately and decided that I was going to have some fun with this one and keep with my current theme so I did this...

I turned that fabby bloom into a spidey web!

I used the gorgeous spider web die from Memory Box that my dear friend Suzanne sent to me...

and if you look close you'll see the spooky spider from Halloween Party stamped underneath to give the illusion...

I hope...

of him climbing the web.

All of this was done over a stamped background of Text It...

a seam binding bow and gem...

and then stamped the sentiment from Gracie at Halloween down in the lower corner on some Echo Park Apothecary digi paper...

some of my most favorite-in-the-whole-wide-world Halloween papers!

So ready to play along?

Skip over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and feast your eyes upon all the lovely goodies the Mischief Makers and Design Team have to inspire you and then get inky!

We can't wait to see what you create...

but just remember to use at least Waltzingmouse product and use the linky provided to link up your creation so we can come by and ogle!

One lucky participant will win the stamp set of their choice just for playing along!

Hope you have a fabulous week...

you know next weekend is a long weekend right?

I can never forget when Labor Day is approaching...

I have a little guy constantly reminding me that his birthday is coming which always falls right around...

and even on... 

Labor Day!

I think he must have tried to take it quite literally!

*giggle*

The Details:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Text It, Gracie at Halloween and Halloween Party

Cardstock: WP9 Oatmeal, PTI True Black

Misc: seam binding, gem, lace, digi papers (Echo Park Apothecary)

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #111

Good Saturday morning everyone!
Hope you had a fabulous week and have fun plans for the weekend!
Do they happen to include a little crafty time for yourself because you know what Saturday's bring...
a new Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!!
This week we have a fantastic sketch from the incredibly talented DT member Julia Aston

And since I pulled Gracie out for last week's sketch it was only fair to give Cicely at Halloween a little time in the spotlight...

I decided to color her in sepia tones this time...
and I gotta say I love the sepia as much as the greyscale...
ok...
I admit it's just fun to play around with the coloring!
*giggle*
I flipped the sketch because it just worked better for me and then started by stamping that gorgeous Harlequin pattern from Heirloom Patterns that I just can't seem to get enough of lately in brown on orange cardstock...
then I used the small houndstooth...
again from Heirloom Patterns...
to stamp a border in orange...
a small grosgrain ribbon and button...
layering Cicely on top...
a little distressing and viola!
All done!

Before you you dive in and get inky because I know this sketch is calling your name...
hop over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and check out all the amazingly fabulous projects the Mischief Makers and DT have for you...
seriously...
there are some gorgeous ones that you will not want to miss!
And link up with the linky provided for your chance to be selected Top Mouse and one lucky participant will also win the stamp set of their choice just for playing along!
Just remember to use at least one Waltzingmouse product and if you're lacking...
don't worry!
Claire has some great freebies in the store for you here!
Can't wait to see what you create!

And don't forget there's still time to link up for our Blog Party that's going on right now...
the theme is BIRTHDAY and you can grab all the details here!

Hope you have wonderful week...
I'm off to do laundry because the back keep me in a chair on a heating pad all last weekend watching a The Real Housewives of New Jersey marathon and catching up on Teresa's craziness...
I'm seriously not stretching any truths when I say "Total WHACKADOODLE"!!
But Kara has assured me that not everyone in New Jersey is whackadoodle like that...
*giggle*
And tomorrow night's episode is going to be SO good...
I have to find out about the phone call!!
I'm on pins and needles for it!!
But today will be spent trying to correct all that happened last weekend when Dinky was left to his own devices by a brother and sister who didn't stop him from doing things while mom was in pain and dad was at work!
And laundry...
the constant in my life.
And tonight will find us at the football field cheering Robert on in a game of football...
his team won their first game last week 30-0!!
I had to miss it but luckily dad remembered the video camera and I got to see him when they got in!
And since we are having a cool spell around here...
it's going to be around 60...
a perfect night for football! :)
Hope you're having great weather where you are!


The Details:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Cicely at Halloween, Heirloom Patterns
Cardstock: WP9 Oatmeal, PTI Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate
Misc: ribbon (SU), button, twine

Waltzingmouse Blog Party

YAY!!
It's the 17th...
and you know what the 17th of each month brings...

Waltzingmouse Blog Party!!
Don't worry if you're not quite "dressed" yet...
this party goes for 24 hours so plenty of time to get your party attire on!!
*giggle*
And what better theme for a party than BIRTHDAY?
You can check all the details on Claire's blog here...
but so many directions you can go with this one...
hubby...
kids...
parents...
friends...
the sky's the limit!

I'm not going to keep you long...
I know there's so much inspiration to be had with this one you need to be on your way so you can soak it all in...
so here's what I did...

I did this once before and just love the "subway art" feel to it...
so I did it again.
I used Waltzingmouse Back in the Saddle for all the sentiments...
and then stamped the Harlequin pattern from Heirloom Patterns and created a background...
matted everything...
some seam binding and a couple of fabby sprays that my sweet friend Suzanne sent to me the other day...
just a touch of "bling" on the boots...
and I was done!
Easy peasy!

And now I'm off to see all the eye candy I know I will find at the party...
but I'll be back tomorrow to introduce another fabulously inspiring sketch challenge on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!!


The Details:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Back in the Saddle, Heirloom Patterns
Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream, True Black, Sweet Blush
Ink: Memento
Misc: seam binding, button, Melissa Francis floral sprays, bling

4 of a Kind - August

It's that time of the month again...
time for another...

with Joyce, Kim and Cathy.
I was hostess this month and here's a pic of the goodies I sent out to everyone...

I know...
a lot of papers...
but I have a very good reason and that's because...
well...
I couldn't make up my mind!
I knew I wanted a "country" feel to it so gingham was definitely in...
and that I wanted red and blue...
but I just couldn't pick coordinating ones and decided to just send one of each of the papers in Lilly Bee's Double Dutch collection!
See!
Problem solved.
I threw it into their court!
*giggle*

Now the stamp set was easy...
Waltzingmouse Sewing Box Hugs.
What's not to love about these stamped, down home, "sewn" images...
they were perfect for my "Country Kit"!
And even though I'm sure the girlies managed to make a gazillion cards with the kit...
I have been busier than a one armed paper hanger the last couple of weeks...
and then a pulled muscle in my back had me sitting in a chair in the bedroom on a heating pad most of the weekend watching a The Real Housewives of New Jersey marathon...
where I managed to catch up on all of Teresa's craziness...
I mean seriously...
WHACKADOODLE!
And then!
Then I got caught up in a Million Dollar Listings Los Angeles marathon...
something I've never seen but before I knew it I was hooked and found myself imagining what I would offer for homes being shown and the conversations went something like this...
"I don't care that this house may worth 7 million...
in today's market...
I'm not going a penny over 4.6!!"
Whew!
It was a very engaging show.
Or...
it could have possibly been the muscle relaxers I happen to take that morning...
but either way...
by the time I emerged Monday to go to the grocery before the older kids started eating the younger...
the house looked as though a bomb had exploded.
Dinky had been left to his own devices.
So long story short...
because I'm still sorting through his "creativity" and trying to right wrongs...
I only managed a few cards...
and when pressed...
go CAS!
*giggle*

I've found myself needing some Thank You cards recently and have almost totally depleted my stash of them so I really wanted to make a couple to just have on hand.

OK...
before I send you over to check out what the girlies did...
need to tell you a couple of things...
one...
don't forget Waltzingmouse Blog Party tomorrow!!
The theme this month is BIRTHDAY so super easy...
and you can check all the details on Claire's blog here.
And second...
this month marks Kim and Joyce's one year blog-o-ver-sary and they are celebrating by giving some blog candy and you won't want to miss it so make sure to stop by and tell them Hi!!
Now off you go and we'll be back next month when Cathy will be our hostess!!

Joyce
Cathy
Kim

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #110

Happy Saturday everyone!
I'm so glad it's the weekend!
This was our first full week of back to school with all the kids and after 9 weeks of not having to drive into Nashville everyday...
I'm pooped!
It usually takes me a couple of weeks or so to get back into a groove so I'm behind on everything!
I had wanted to get a few things done yesterday but wound up on a heating pad where I think I pulled a muscle...
lifting Hunter doesn't help so pulled muscles are common around here...
and now my list has grown to 852 things that need to be done today...
I think about 830 of those things are loads of laundry...
because for some reason there's a law that says the kids must be clothed when entering a school.
And well...
I have to admit that hubby also enjoys clean clothes for work as well...
but I'm easy...
I'm good with just jammies!
*giggles*

So even though I'm behind...
there's no way I could miss my very favorite Saturday activity...
introducing a new fabulous sketch for Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!
This week we have an incredibly fun one from the incredibly talented Laurie Schmidlin...

And because Summer is coming to an end...

and I know new Holiday sets are right around the corner...

decided to break out one of my absolute favorite Halloween sets for this one...

maybe you remember Gracie at Halloween...

I've missed her over the past year...
and have been waiting to pull her out again!
This time I used greyscale with her...
I love this technique...
especially with this gorgeous vintage image that Claire so fabulously designed.
And the poem...
the poem is so perfect I melt every time I see it!

Used some new Authentique Halloween papers...
a little lace and seam binding...
and some black pearls to finish it off.


So are you ready to play along?
Take a hop over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and feast upon all the eye candy the Mischief Makers and DT have for you...
and then get inky!
Link your project up with the linky provided...
just remember to use at least one Waltzingmouse product...
and if you're lacking...
check out the store here for some fabulous freebies from Claire...
and one lucky participant will win the stamp set of their choice just for playing along!

Don't forget about Blog Party coming up on the 17th!
This month the theme is BIRTHDAYS!
You can get all the details on Claire's blog here!
Can't wait to see what you create!!

Hope you have a wonderful week!


The Details:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Gracie at Halloween
cardstock: WPlus9 Oatmeal, PTI True Black
Papers: Authentique
Misc: lace, seam binding, button and pearls

Cloud 9 Blog Hop

Going to make this a real quick post...
I have 381 things to do today...
mainly...
laundry! :(
This has been our first full week with all the kids back in school...
I'm exhausted!
And WAY behind on everything!!
But I couldn't miss the Cloud 9 Blog Hop could I?
Suzanne gave us a great sketch this month as the challenge...
and I personally love sketches...
so much easier for me than color or pic challenges...
so here's a peek at the sketch...

and I stayed true to this one and came up with this...

I used Fresh Picked stamps and dies...
and my favorite I-don't use-them-on-everything-because-I-only-have-4-pads-and-I-need-them-for-the-rest-of-my-life papers...
Simple Stories Summer Fresh...
which I thought went perfectly with this set...
it's Summer!

So I'm off to start on my list...
and will pop in between loads of laundry to see all the inspiration that I know will be found on the hop!
You still have time to join in...
and can catch all the details here!

The Details:
Stamps: WPlus9 Fresh Picked
Cardstock: WPlus9 Oatmeal and Kraft, PTI Pure Poppy
Inks: Memento
Papers: Simple Stories Summer Fresh
Dies: Lifestyle Crafts pinking squares, PTI double ended banner

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #109

Happy Saturday everyone!
Whew!
Am I ever glad it's Saturday too!
I've had 9 weeks of jammie days...
no schedule...
and I have loved it...
but it came to a screeching halt on Wednesday.
Most of the kids started back to school Wednesday morning...
which means I had to actually put on clothes...
brush my hair...
and have them somewhere at a certain time that is much earlier than what I have become accustomed to over the last few weeks.
To say that I'm tired is an understatement!
It takes time to get them back in the groove...
I think it takes me even longer!
So I'm sleeping in a bit this morning...
no alarm clock!
But I do have a busy day...
errands to run and places to be...
I'm going to enjoy just a bit more sleep before doing it!

And since it's Saturday...
you know what that means...
another Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge...
YAY!!!
And a fabulous one this week from talented DT member Bonnie Sharp...

I just received my package of new goodies last week...
and went immediately to the new Big Berries- Strawberry for this one...

See that big luscious berry...
it's so gorgeous in person and it is HUGE!!
And look at that fabby sentiment...
love the font...
and it's sized so perfectly!
I stamped the plaid with "everyone-needs-to own" Off Beat Backgrounds...
and I say this every time I do it but again...
I LOVE making my own plaids!!
I also used Pic-Nic Patterns for the small strip behind the berry...
and finished it off with a little eyelet lace...
country simple!

So are you ready to play along?
Take a hop over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog and feast upon all the eye candy the Mischief Makers and DT have for you...
and then get inky!
Link your project up with the linky provided...
just remember to use at least one Waltzingmouse product...
and if you're lacking...
check out the store here for some fabulous freebies from Claire...
one lucky participant will win the stamp set of their choice just for playing along!

And don't forget about Blog Party happening on the 17th!
This month the theme is BIRTHDAYS!
You can get all the details on Claire's blog here!


Hope you have a fabulous week!
Until next time!




The Details:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Big Berries-Strawberry, Off Beat Backgrounds, Pic-Nic Patterns
Cardstock: PTI Stamper's Select, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Kraft
Dies: Spellbinders Circles
Misc: eyelet lace