Mousy Nap Time.....

Hello everyone: It's been a very mild Autumn up here in the Mid-West, yesterday we had temperatures in the low 70's!!! and it felt wonderful, we took advantage of it and finished racking the gazillions of leaves that finally fell from all the trees in our back and front yards, there are still some stubborn ones hanging on them but, for the most part, the trees are bare.
Today's card is a Mousy one, most of you guys know how much I adore the House Mouse siblings, they are always doing something cute or mischievous, sweet and funny, this image is no exception. I will link this card to a few challenges at the end of this post.

Didn't I tell you? Don't you just want to grab the knitted cap carefully, pick up their scattered little toys and take them with you?  I do, this image is so darn adorable and it's perfectly called  Snow Cap Nap  (HMCP55)

I stamped it onto a piece of Strathmore Muli Media water color paper with Stazon black ink and colored it with a few SU markers, I had to put several layers of Real Red on the cap to get the deep color I wanted, the rest of the image was super easy to do. 

The patter paper is from my stash of Holiday papers, the ribbon from my still abundant ribbon stash. 

The sentiment here is made Power Poppy's stamp set Cozy Cupfuls; only the word COZY is inked up from one of the sentiments to go together with the other sentiment from the set, I think it says it all.

********************************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment is from another beautiful Power Poppy stamp set by Marcella Hawley called Ponsettia and the warm mittens from the set Merry Littles, also from Power Poppy.

I would like to enter this card onto the following challenges.

Christmas Sweet Stamping Challenge Blog "Anything Christmas Goes"

Simon Says Stamp "Christmas Critters"

Crafty Creations Challenge #328 "Animals"

ABC Christmas Challenge "W for Wishes"

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #390 "Christmas" Anything that fits with this subject.

Thank you for stopping by, I always read all the comments you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria. 

Olive and Oak Thanks.....

Hello everyone: When I saw this image over at the Power Poppy on line store, I immediately loved it but, it was a digi and, well.....I really like it better on a set so I patiently waited for Marcella to create a Photopolymer set with it and, when my patience was finally rewarded, I pounced on this gorgeous set called Olive and Oak.  As you can see, it needs nothing to look amazing, so I kept the design of my card simple, not clean mind you, just simple. I was tempted to add something like sequences or a bow but I decided to just let this lovely image speak for itself, all I added is a piece of ribbon that I bought the other day for $1.00 that happened to have the perfect colors for this card, hope you like it.

I stamped the image onto Strathmore Multi Media water color paper with Stazon black ink and colored it with SU markers, some ink refills and the aqua painter. I added some Baked Brown Sugar splatters with the retired SU set called "Gorgeous Grunge", I'm telling you, this set is the best to add really awesome details to your cards, the sentiment is from the same set.

*****************************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment and the acorn image are from the set, the little frame from a retired Flourishes set called "Country Charm Labels".

I would like to enter this card onto the following challenges.

Kitty Bee Designs Challenge #84 "Fall Colors"

Dragon's Lair Designs November Photo Inspiration Challenge, I went with the colors.

Creative Corner Challenges Team Mel "Thank You"

Fashionable Stamping Challenges Challenge #117 "Tis the Season" Autumn or Winter.

Come and Get It Challenges "Ribbon or Twine"

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #79 "Thankful Heart"The Card Concept, I think my card falls into the "Classy and Elegant" category, at least I hope so. 

JustFfor Fun Rubber Stamps November Challenge "Give Thanks"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

A Little Reminder.....

Hello everyone: Well, half of November is gone, I can't believe it, time has just been flying by and soon, Christmas will be here, but for now, it's time for the middle of the month reminder for all of you for THE FLOWER CHALLENGE, there is still plenty of time to enter this month's challenge with a theme of OCCASIONS, whether is a Holiday or a Birthday, a Thank You or a Wedding, a New Baby or a New Home, just create a flowery card and share with us in the gallery.
Here is my card made with a stamp called "Morning Glory" that was given to me by my dear friend and card swapping buddy Lisa Poe. I love this sweet, delicate flowers.

I stamped this image onto a panel of Strathmore multi media water color paper (this has become my new favorite water color paper, it's smoother and whiter that others) with Versafine black ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder then, colored it with SU markers and the aqua painter, the inside of the flowers were highlighted with Prismacolor pencils.

The pattern paper is from Lili of the Valley, the wood grain panel was stamped with retired SU background stamp called "Hardwood", added some sequences and ribbon from my stash.

*****************************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

For the inside, I combined 3 different stamp sets to get the look I wanted. The bolder sentiment is from Power Poppy's set called Potted Primroses and the curved sentiment is from another Power Poppy set called Go Wild, I love how pliable the Photopolymer stamps are, I was able to curve this sentiment to fit it under the other one.

The beautiful Morning Glory image in the lower corner is from a retired Flourishes set called "A Year of Flowers 2".

I hope you join us in the gallery and go and see my amazing teammates cards on THE FLOWER CHALLENGE  blog and be sure to hop over their blogs for the details of their creations.

Please read the rules of our challenge, they are few and easy and don't forget to paste our banner on your post if you want to enter our challenge. Here it is for you.

Thank you for stopping by, I always read all the comments you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

From the desk of.....

Hello everyone: I have a project to share with you today that is not a card although it does have a water colored panel on it. When I saw this week's theme for the SHOPPING OUR STASH challenge, I must confess I got stumped, because the theme is called "Front and Center" which means "create a project using something already out on your desk".
I have a small box on the left and back side of my desk where I put stuff that I kind of meant to finish, some die cuts that were not used because I changed my mind, stamped images that didn't stamp correctly, etc.  On October 13th. I saw THIS TUTORIAL  at Stamp Smiles, and I thought it was really cute and easy to do so, I just grabbed some card stock and follow the directions all the way to the scoring and that's where I stopped, I got busy with other stuff, like finishing some cards for my DT challenge duties, or just for challenge participation so, I just left this project in that box and forgot about it.  But then the SHOPPING OUR STASH challenge asked to use something already on your desk and that brought back the memory of this very cute and useful Post It Note Holder so I decided to finish it, and here it is. The directions are on the link I gave you, the only thing I did different was to double up on the panel for the holder, because a single layer of the card stock was not very sturdy.

Isn't it really cool? I think it would be a really fabulous gift for teachers or co-workers. The water colored image is from a retired SU set called "Every Moment", I just love this sweet little bird perched on the Catails. I did a bit of masking to fill the sides with one of the Catail images.

I colored it with SU markers and the aqua painter, the grass was done by inking the grass only from a Unity Stamp set called "Your Wings Exist" with a Wild Wasabi SU marker, a little sponging for the sky and grass and that was it. 

Here is a picture of how it looks when you open it.

I hope you can see the double layer of card stock. One more thing.....I cut one of this panels 1/16th of an inch larger on both the short and long sides just to accommodate the folding of both panels after I glue them together.

I hope you like this project and give it a try and, for more awesome inspiration, hop over my teammates blogs to see what they did with the stuff laying around on their desks. This is a great way to utilize this bits and pieces and unfinished projects or cards to clear your working table.

I would like to enter this project onto the following challenges.

Craft Your Passion Challenges #338 "Anything Goes"

The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge #11 "Anything Goes"

Love To Scrap Challenge #89 "Fancy my Fold"

Artistic Inspiration Challenge Challenge #167 "Anything Goes"

Crafty Boots Challenges "Things with Wings"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read all the comments you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping. 

Hugs from Maria.

Music to my ears!!!!!

Hello everyone: I have a card to share made with my favorite little critters, the House Mouse siblings, this time is a Holiday card, hope you like it.  I'm linking this card to a few challenges at the end of this post.

The image is stamped onto a panel of Strathmore Multimedia water color paper with Stazon black ink and colored with SU markers and an aqua painter. The pattern paper is from Lili of the Valley and the pine branches and mistletoe from the brand new SU die set called Pretty Pines, just so beautiful.

The little jingle bells are from Memory Box, red twine from my stash.

************************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The pretty image on the top is from the retired SU set called "Bordering Blooms", the sentiment is from Power Poppy Ponsettia stamp set and the little mug from Power Poppy Merry Littles.

I would like to enter this card onto the following challenges.

House Mouse challenge #229 "Christmas"

Christmas Sweet Stamping Challenge, "Anything Christmas Goes"

Crafty Creations Challenge #228 "Animals"

The Paper Shelter Challenge 272 "Christmas is Coming"

Unicorn Challenge Blog Challenge #15 "Snow/Snowflakes"

Thank you for stopping by, I always read all the comments you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate them more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

Let Us Be Thankful.....

Hello everyone: The Holiday Season is well on it's way, Autumn is also in full swing with it's gorgeous colors and the days are clean and crisp inviting all of us to start thinking Turkeys, Pumpkin pies, warm family gatherings and delicious food but also, about being grateful for all of these Blessings, big and small and how fortunate we are about having family and friends to share them with.  This week at SHOPPING OUR STASH, our theme is "Gobble Til' You Wobble" which means we want to see cards about giving thanks, whether is a Thanksgiving card or just a simple "Thank You" card, please join us in the gallery.  Here is my card, made with this super old and really beautiful stamp from my little stash of Thanksgiving images, I didn't realize it until now, I truly do not have a lot of stamps for this time of the year, I need to remedy that!!

This image is stamped onto Strathmore Multi Media water color paper with Versafine black ink and clear heat embossed then colored with SU markers and an aqua painter.

The pattern paper is from a stash of left overs and the size was just perfect for this card, I didn't even had to measure it. The gold corner die cut was a left over from another project, the little flower is from a pack I bought from the dollar bin and it's been just sitting on my desk for a while.

********************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts and it's OLD!! The image on the corner is from a Power Poppy set called Sunny Harvest, both inked up with SU Hello Honey.

I would like to enter this card onto the following challenges.

The Paper Players Challenge by Laurie.

Sunday Stamps Challenge #139 "Autumn Splendor"

The Artistic Stamper November Creative Challenge "Autumnal"

Dragon Fly Dreams "Autumnal Colors"

Stamp Ink Paper "Grateful"

Thank you for stopping by, for more awesome inspiration, please hop over my teammates blogs to see their beautiful creations and then, join us in the gallery, we can't wait to see your cards.

Thank you for stopping by, I always read each comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.

Feeling Thankful.....

Hello everyone: This time of the year is a favorite of mine, not only because of the gorgeous colors of the Autumn but because the Holidays are almost here and that means awesome reunions with family and friends, good food, festive colors, love and appreciation for all our Blessings, big and small.
This time over at RETRO RUBBER we want you to share with us your cards with the perfect theme for this time of the year, "Be Thankful", here is my card.

This image is from Inkadinkado, in the process of looking for this stamp to give you a date I found out it's discontinued and it's only available on Ebay listed as RARE, I'm so darn lucky I've had it for a good 8 years. 

I stamped this image onto a piece of Strathmore Muli Media water color paper that I die cut with the retired SU die set called Floral Framelits, with Versafine black ink and clear heat embossed it then, colored it with SU markers and an aqua painter. The pattern papers are from a discontinued line from Lili of the Valley and the sentiment from a Flourishes set called "A Season of Thanks".

**********************************************************************

Here is a picture of the finished inside of my card.

The sentiment is from that Flourishes set also and the corner stamp from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by, for more awesome inspiration hop over my teammates blogs to see their beautiful creations.  Please read our rules before linking your cards, we have a limit of entering only 10 challenges including ours, we've seen cards entered to way to many challenges and we can't consider those beautiful cards for winning spots or top 5. Also, please let us know the age of your stamps, not so much when they were issued but we want to know how long you've had them, the name of this challenge is RETRO RUBBER meaning, we want you to use your old, old stamps, giving them the love and ink they are so deserving of having. 

Most of all, have fun with our challenge.

I would like to enter this card onto the following challenges.

The Artistic Stamper November Challenge "Autumnal"

The Paper Players

Sunday Stamps Challenge #139 "Autumn Splendor"

Great Impressions November Challenge "Anything Goes"

Dragon Fly Challenge November "Autumnal Colors"

Stamp Ink Paper "Grateful"

Thank you for stopping by, I read every single comment you so kindly leave on my posts, I want you to know I appreciate this more than words can express.

Until next time, happy stamping.

Hugs from Maria.