Let's have a party!

"Let's Have A Party" is the theme for the new House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog challenge.   Get out your House Mouse stamps and create a card with a party theme.  Be sure to check out the wonderful design team's samples and also learn how to win some wonderful prizes HERE.

For my card I used the House Mouse stamp titled, Pop P-ular Fun.  The mousie on the pile of balloons is surely going to be in for a surprise! 

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Stampabilities "Pop-ular Fun"
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and the image is colored with Copic markers
Designer Paper and Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Offray dotted ribbon, machine stitching, balloon, Stampin' Up! scalloped corner and border punches, and clear Crystal Effects glaze.

I hope you can play along with this challenge and be sure to upload your card for a chance to win a super prize.  Also, the super cool folks at the office House Mouse Designs official site would love it too if you'd upload your card on the HMD gallery which you can find HERE.
Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Let the fairy in you fly

I discovered Mo Manning's digital pencil the other day and now I just can't get enough of her whimsical images.  When I saw this voluptuous fairy I just knew she had to land in my shopping basket.  This image is simply called, "Fairy 2" and you can find her HERE.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Mo's Digital Pencil
Ink: Colored with copic markers
Paper:  Cardstock is Stampin' Up! and the floral velum is The Paper Company "Sweet Pea Lattice"
Embellishments:  Machine stitching, sheer pink ribbon, Martha Stewart lavender half pearls, stickles glitter glue.

The sentiment, Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! is digitally generated. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend....and be sure to spread your wings and let the fairy in you FLY!

Cheers!
Jennifer

Celebrate Today

Are you enjoying these past few days of incredibly warm weather?  I still pinch myself and remind myself that it is March and not June or July!  And this week's warm weather inspired me to bring my clunky old bicycle up from the basement and take it outside to enjoy some fresh air, sunshine and much needed exercise.

This wonderful Mo Manning digital stamp titled Mummu's Bike could be a picture of me.  Well...my hair isn't as long as Mummu's, but otherwise, I think we could be sisters.  Mummu looks like she hasn't a care in the world and is simply celebrating the moment, i.e. Carpe Diem!

This week's challenge at Mo's Challenge Blog is "Bling it on" so I think with all of my flowers and sprigs and ribbons, my Mummu's bike card fits the challenge.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Mo's Manning Digital Stamp and Papertrey Ink (sentiment, "Celebrate today")
Ink:  Memento Bahama Blue and image colored with Copic markers
Designer Paper:  My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus
Accessories: Machine stitching, Offray Grosgrain ribbon, Martha Stewart scalloped eyelet border punch, paper flowers.

I'm on quite the bicycle kick now and have a few more bike/trike related items on my work table.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Simple things...small joys...

Last Sunday afternoon I spent a little time with our Grandgirl, Alexis.  Alexis is three years old and loves everything purple and pink.  She was eager to show me her new tricycle and what colors do you think it is?  Yep!  Her trike is purple and pink.  And what was Alexis wearing?  Yep!  Purple skirt and pink t-shirt!  When I discovered this Mo Manning digital stamp all I could envision was Alexis on her tricycle happily riding her tricycle.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Mo Manning and Papertrey Ink for the sentiment
Ink:  Memento Angel Pink and image colored with Copic Markers
Designer Paper:  Stampin' Up!
Accessories:  Martha Stewart doilie scalloped border punch, machine stitching, Brides Pearl brads, pink and purple grosgrain ribbon and stickles glitter glue.

Mo Manning also has a darling little boy riding his bike.  Just thought you might like to know.  In fact, I found a lot of "must have" stamps to play with.  :-)

I'm going to send this off to Alexis.  She enjoys getting cards from me and I surely enjoy making them for her.

Until next time,
Cheers!
Jennifer

Is it chow time yet?

Years ago, when my children were young, a darling Basset hound puppy wandered into a parking lot and gave the soulful look that only a Basset can give, and asked to be taken home.  Signs were posted over the Army post that this sweet puppy had been found and but no one answered our signs.  That is how WINNIE found her way into our hearts.  Winnie lived to be 13 years old and she was the funniest, most stubborn and yet very loving pup you'd meet.

When I saw this stamp at Squigglefly Digital Stamps I just had to get it.  Those pendelous ears and soulful expression immediately brought back memories of our Basset, Winnie.

This week at Splitcoast stampers "Who let the dogs out?"  is the ways to use it theme ( WT366) so it gave me the perfect opportunity to use this gorgeous design.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Squigglefly
Tools: Colored with copic markers
Paper: K & Company
Accessories:  Nestibilities label die, machine stitching, Offray sheer dotted ribbon, EK Success pawprint border punch and small dog bone brad.

Just in case your pup might be asking the question, "Is it Chow time yet?" and you missed my previous post about my homemade dog biscuits you can find the recipe HERE.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

House Mouse & Friends Photo Challenge #115

The new House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog challenge for this week is a Photo Inspiration challenge.  Lorraine is our Design Team hostess for the challenge and she has chosen this yummy and colorful photo of cupcakes to be the inspiration for your House Mouse, Happy Hopper or Gruffie card.

Our fabulous Sponsors this week are: House-Mouse Designs and Di's Digi Downloads. The  2 prizes will be a $25 House Mouse Designs Gift Card  and a $10 voucher to Di's Digi Downloads shop.

I chose this Gruffie stamp to use with the challenge.  Doesn't he look like he's thoroughly enjoying his cake?  I used a bit of Flower Soft on the cake to give dimension and the look of real cake crumbs.  To the candles I gave them a waxy appearance by using a tiny bit of clear glossy effects on them.  I colored the image with Copic Markers and added a touch of baby blue and soft pink stickles glitter to the streamers.

Be sure to check out all of the design team's cards for this photo challenge at House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge blog and then create your own card using the photo of the cupcakes and be sure to link it up.  If you post your card in online galleries be sure to use the keyword HMFMC115 so we can easily find your card.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

Sugar and spice and everything nice.  That's what little girls are made of.  It is time for a new House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog and the new challenge is hosted by our House Mouse team member Lori who is going to be a new Grandma very soon, so her challenge is to create something pink and girlie in celebration of her new grand daughter. 

For my pink and girlie baby card I used the House Mouse stamp titled "Baby Shoes".  I colored with copic markers and used foam tape to raise the image.  For more dimension and texture I used my Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder and some lovely pink flowers.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Stampabilities Baby Shoes # HMGR1002
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and copic markers
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!
Accessories:  Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Pink liquid pearls, Nestabilities oval and scalloped oval dies, Martha Stewart eyelet border punch, and leaves punch, paper flowers and pink and white dot grosgrain ribbon.

Be sure to hop on over to the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog to see all of the lovely samples by our fabulous design team and be inspired to join in the fun for some fabulous prizes.  And remember, if you post your card in galleries be sure to use HMFMC114 so we can easily find your work and leave you some love.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Doggie Diva

It's Oscar Day and how many Doggie Divas do you suppose we'll see walking the red carpet today?  Can't you just picture Angelina or Paris or Kim walking a pocket pooch all glitzed up just like this?

I had so much fun with this stamp which is made by Rubber Romance.  I stamped the image on watercolor paper and did a bit of watercoloring on the image and then added pears, glitter and crystals.  There is a lot of glamour and glitz on this card that may not show up in the photo.

Card recipe:
Stamps: Rubber Romance
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossing powder
Paper:  Watercolor paper, Stampin' Up! Yellow and Pink cardstock and October Afternoon designer paper.
Embellishments: EK Success paw border punch, Martha Stewart Pearls, Crystals and Stickles Diamond glitter glue.

Will you be watching the awards tonight? I sure will and I'm sure we'll see some Divas strut their stuff on the red carpet too.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

BONE Appétit

I've been baking for the Mister all week: loaves of bread, cookies, cake.  Yesterday, I decided my pups needed a homemade treat too, so I baked them these homemade dog treats: Pumpkin - Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits.  They are VERY easy to make, fast to whip up and they smell really yummy while baking.  So good, in fact, that The Mister took a taste of one and reported that they weren't bad!  He said to him it was sort of like a whole wheat hamburger bun.  *smiles*

The ingredients are simple:  canned pumpkin, peanut butter, eggs, cinnamon and whole wheat flour.

Mix the ingredients then roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut with your favorite cookie or biscuit cutter.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes.  These biscuits do not rise or spread out so you can line them up close together on the baking sheet without worry of them combining together.

Want to make some for your furry friends?  Here's my recipe.
Pumpkin - Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C)
2.) In your mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients and mix until the dough holds together in a ball and all of the flour is combined. The dough shouldn't be too sticky.
3.) Roll the dough on a floured surface 1/2 inch thick. These biscuits do not rise so you don't want to roll too thin. Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut the biscuits into shapes or cut with a butter knife into squares. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Since the biscuits do not rise you can place them close together on the baking sheet.
4.) Bake in preheated oven until hard - for about 40 minutes. Makes about 25 bones that are approximately 2 inches.

BONE Appétit

And are they good?  Well, my three Newfoundland dogs each gave them a 4 paws up rating. This is the treat they got when they came inside from playing in the snow yesterday and just so you know how hard they played, I have a little video of them to share with you:

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Make wishes come true: an Irish blessing/wish

"May your blessings outnumber
the Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
wherever you go."

If you would like to participate in the current House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge Blog challenge #113 there is still one more week to create a card using the theme May wishes come true.   I decided for my second theme challenge card to use an Irish blessing and my sentiment is my wish for this card's recipient.

I cut out extra clover and spread them around the card hoping to achieve a three dimensional look to the mouse's "Shamrocks."

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  House Mouse stamp by Stampabilities titled "O Lucky Day"
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, image colored with a combination of Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils.
Designer Paper:  K & Company Tim Coffey Mat Pad and Stampin' Up! Cardstock
Embellishments:  Lavender pears, Martha Stewart white pearl brad, Martha Stewart trellis border punch, machine stitching, sheer lavender ribbon, pop dots and foam tape, and Sakura sparkle gelly roll pen.

Be sure to check out all of the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog design team's lovely Make a Wish themed cards as well as add yours to the link.  We'd love to see it.

And on a final note about House Mouse stamps.  Did you know that you can also post your cards at the official House Mouse designs blog too?  Yes you can and they'd love to see your creations and post them in their "Hand Made Designs by Me" second of their website.  And of course you can shop there too for House Mouse stamps.  Just look for the HMD by me photo on my sidebar and click it or go directly to the site HERE.

Until next time,
Mousie cheers!
Jennifer

Make a wish

It's Monday and that means it is time for a new House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog challenge!  The new challenge theme is "Make a Wish!"  I decided it would be fun to use this House Mouse stamp titled "slow pokes."  But more about the new challenge in just a moment. 

What a fabulous turnout we've had for the first House Mouse and Friends blog hop for 2012!  The submissions have exceptionally wonderful and everyone who's visited my blog and left a comment are in the draw for this fun blog candy:

So without further delay, I used random number thingy and it drew Erin's number.  Erin, who's blog and entry is posted at her site Blu Birdie of Happiness is the winner of my blog candy.  Erin, please email me with your mailing address as soon as possible and I'll mail your candy off to you.  Congratulations!

And now for the new theme challenge: Make a wish. Use any House Mouse and Friends stamp (House Mouse, Gruffies or Happy Hopper) and create a card around the "wish" theme.

These are the details for my card:
Card Recipe:
Stamp: "Slow Pokes" from Stampabilities
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Image colored with Copic Markers and Prisma Color Pencils
Designer Papers: Martha Stewart
Embellishemnts: Nestibilities label die, Lavender crystals and Antique Glass Finish Liquid Embossing from All Night Media on the turtle's shell.

Be sure to check out the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog for the winner's announcement for the sponsored prizes for the blog hop. Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop and we'll look forward to seeing your beautiful cards using the "WISH" theme.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

Alexis' "Princess Dress"

Last week our grand-girl Alexis turned three years old.  Alexis loves the idea of princesses and tieras and flowing gowns.  I wanted to make a special dress for her birthday that she could spin and whirl around in and feel like a princess.  I think I succeeded!  Alexis wanted to put her new dress on right away and she danced and spun around and performed what she called "a Princess Dance" in her new princess dress.

The pattern is from Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops.  This particular pattern, called Annikka's Dress" came beautifully packaged and I chose to purchase it as a kit which included the pattern, instruction book, gorgeous fabrics, buttons and ribbon.

The back closure of the dress is with three little buttons on the back yolk.

Each sleeve cap, cuff and the over and underskirts are attached with finger pleating.

I'm pleased to say Alexis loved her new dress and the big, happy smile and princess dance she performed was the BEST expression of happiness I could receive.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

From plain and simple to elegant and ornate

About 14 or 15 years ago a friend of mine who had just returned from a trip to Allahabad, India surprised me by bringing me beautiful silk fabrics yardages, trims, beads and ribbons.  Oh such elegant and wonderful findings and a gift that I knew had to be made into something for a very special occasion and garment.  I carefully preserved and kept it all until I knew for certain what I wanted to make.

Skip ahead many years to this past week.  On Sunday afternoon I was playing my cello in a recital and I wanted something pretty to wear that was a bit different than what I usually perform in.  I remembered the beautiful fabric from India and set about deciding how to fashion it into something that was easy for me to play my cello (needs to be a garment with freedom to move for my bowing arm).  I didn't have enough fabric for a long dress but there was just enough for a plain shell top with long sleeves.  And this is what I came up with:

The top is very simple and plain pattern.  Actually, it is almost boxy with no real eye interest on its own plain design.  PERFECT!  I wanted the rich gold threads, shiney silk, metal baubles, buttons and beads and elegant golden ribbon to to be the center of attention.  And the beauty of such a simple pattern is that it took only an afternoon to sew together.  The careful placement of the ribbons and baubles required some slower and more precise stitching, but all in all it was a very quick to sew up.

I had plenty of ribbon trim and decided that double rows looked beautiful with a brass "bead" or bauble hanging from four points on the end of the sleeve. 

OK ladies, as we age, the neckline design is something we tend to worry about more than men have too.  I thought making a square neckline on my blouse was more flattering than a V-neck or a boat neckline so I went with this and I'm so glad I did.  And at the risk of over embellishments, I just had to add three more baubles to the neckline as well.

My recital went off quite well and it was a fun afternoon of music followed by a lovely dinner "afterparty" and I felt quite elegant in my new top. 

I have two more pieces of silk that my friend brought back.  One is a lovely purple color and the other is turquoise.  Oh what fun it will be deciding what to make with them.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

I built a small village

My friend Kirsty at Four Happy Violets invited me to join her little house ornament swap. Each participant will create a little house ornament to send to their swap partner using the wonderful tutorial and pattern created by Kim at Retro Mama blog. 

I had such a good time making my little ornament house for my swap partner that I ended up making three...and there is a good chance I'll make more.

Each house is a bit different, using little bits and bobs of left over trim, fabric scraps and felt.

After completing these three I thought of more ways to change up this little ornaments to make them a bit more unique, yet staying with the basic pattern.

The background stitching in black just outside of the door and windows which gives them depth and a sense of perspective. 

And the little house numbers...are they sweet?  Did you figure out immediately what I used?  Yep!  You guessed it.  The numbers are from the salvage edge of fabric giving the color dye match.  It's generally a piece of fabric you'd toss out but what cute house numbers they make.

These little ornaments will look sweet hanging from the Christmas tree, a door knob or even as a shelf or bowl display.

I think I'll make up some more houses just for fun.

Until next time,
Cheers!

Jennifer

House Mouse and Friends Blog Hop

I'm very excited to be a part of House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog's FIRST BLOG-HOP of 2012! 

Our wonderful Teamie, Christine, is hosting this Blog-Hop Challenge and she wants to see you creating LOVE THEMED projects with MORE than one HEART.  It's the perfect challenge and just in time for Valentine's Day.

For my sample card I used the darling Happy Hopper stamp titled A Stitch in Time and colored it with copic markers.   I added some machine blanket stitching to the edges of the BoBunny designer background paper and some soft lace from my sewing stash.  Then just added a few heart shaped punchouts, a heart shaped slide and heart ribbons.  See how fun this challenge is? 

AND...

Just because I love my blog-o-sphere visitors SO MUCH I decided to offer some blog candy of my own.  Would you like to win this stamp and some gem bling?  All  you have to do is leave me a comment with telling me what your favorite House Mouse, Happy Hopper or Gruffies stamp is along with an email address so I can contact you if I draw your name.  You have until February 12th at 11 p.m. (EST) to leave me your comment and I'll then use the random number to draw a lucky winner for my own blog candy winner.

So be sure to start the Blog Hop by going directly to House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge blog hop and see ALL of the fabulous prizes being offered by our wonderful and very generous sponsors. And then you'll want to visit each of the design team's blog.  Many of the DT members are offering prizes so be sure to visit them all.  Then, create a project for this challenge that follows the *LOVE Theme, includes more than one heart*. Remember you must use a House-Mouse, Gruffies or, Happy Hoppers image. Enter your project into this challenge by linking it with Linkitz . When posting to your blogs and galleries, please link your projects back to this blog. You may enter as many times as you'd like, as long as your projects are all NEW creations. You MUST also Become a *Follower* of our Mousie BLOG to be eligible for prizes.

If you've been hopping along on this LOVE THEME blog hop, you should have just come from Heather's Blog

From my blog you'll next want to hop on over to
Kate's Blog

So be sure to begin the blog hop at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge Blog and see all of the fabulous prizes and begin the hop.  We have some very generous and wonderful sponsors of the hop as well!  Just look!

*SPONSORS*

We are proudly being sponsored by.... 
The Official, House-Mouse Designs site

  One WINNER will get a $25.00 Electronic Gift Certificate to the official HMD store.


Joanna Sheen

Joanna Sheen will award this UM Gruffies Rubber Stamp Set to One Winner!!!

Pink Gem Designs 
 Winner will receive 3 Digi Images of winner's choice

Die Cut Dreams

 Winner will receive a fab selection of shaped cards & stands


 
http://priscillastyles-store.blogspot.com/
priscillastyles- A $10 Gift Certificate (good for Digi's only)

 Thank you Sponsors for your great generosity!

Your beloved Mousey Design team Family also have this *Love* themed PRIZE that includes Five New Stamps and 50+ Love themed Charms! So FUN!!!

WOW!  Isn't this fun?!  We all hope you'll start "Hoppin'" and join in with the fun on this blog hop challenge.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Jennifer