Happy Mickey Mouse Birthday!

5x7 inches

This is for Caleb who is turning 2 in a week.  Caleb was born very prematurely at 1 pound 9 ounces - a "micro-preemie". He spent 145 days in the NICU.  And he is now doing fabulously - he's still little - only 20 pounds.  But he has been released from all early intervention therapies.

One of his favorite characters is Mickey Mouse, and his parents are celebrating with a Mickey Mouse themed birthday party.

 

Isn't he the cutest thing? (I am prejudice).  And his personality is amazing -- always smiling and happy.  Although his mom reports that is he is becoming a "typical 2 year old" and beginning to really express his wishes, and not always in an easy manner . If you know any 2 year olds, you know what I mean!

I used the sketch from Retro Rubber  (RRCB37)

The sentiment was a combination of Happy Birthday from PTI (over a year or more old) ,  the number from a Studio G set (2008) and the "nd" from a Stampendous set Fifteen Candles (also 2008)-- embossed with black diamond embossing powder. 

I decided to make a shaker card in the shape of the Mickey Mouse head/ logo -- it was really very easy -- a big balloon die, and circle die for the ears.  I filled it with assorted sequins - So this is going into the AAA Cards Challenge

I'm also putting this into the challenge at Through the Purple Haze where you need to add a number.  They are celebrating their 100th challenge!!  Congrats to them!

The challenge this week at  Brown Sugar  is "For the Boys". (BSCB-195)  Caleb is all boy -- loves to play with things that move, turn and spin - to try to see how it works.  I predict he will work with his hands one day or perhaps be a type of engineer.  

Over at Simon Says Wednesday Challenge it is Anything Goes - try to use Stampendous Stamps 

I had a great time making this card - and I was pleased at how quickly I was able to put this together.  I am usually a very slow crafter.

The sun is shining - I'm of to enjoy a bit of it.  Hope you are having a great day.  Thanks for looking!

Hey Hot Stuff

This is for my hubby for our 37th anniversary.

I love pepperoni pizza -- would you believe I did not know what pepperoni was before I met him?  It's true!  One of our favorite date nights was to go to one of several Wine and Cheese places -- usually little homes with several little rooms that were repurposed with tables and chairs - -board games, and of course cheese platters (with pepperoni) and wine.  Nice and cozy - perfect for dates.  I do miss those places.

This stamp from Sugar Peas is perfect.
I used their sketch: Sugar Peas Sketch #45 with a few tweaks.

At Shopping Our Stash Weekly The theme is 

Something For The Big or Biggest Boy - 

I do think my hubby is the Big Boy.


At Addicted to Stamps the theme is Make Your Mark.  I colored the Pizza Chef with Copic Markers. And then popped him up with some dimensional tape.

And at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge the theme is  Anything Goes

 I made the background with a stencil from The Crafter's Workshop -- I colored the embossing paste with a bit of fired brick distress ink.  After that dried, I sponged some Antique Linen distress ink over the paper to give it a more authentic pizza parlor feel.  I added a bit of Crystal Effects to the pizza, his hat, and the wood pole.  

That's all of now.  Off to do my weekend chores.  Weekends are indeed too short.  It was fun while it lasted.  Thanks for looking - have a great day. 

Home Sweet Gnome

My co-worker and friend is moving into her new home soon.  This is for her.

The gnome and snail stamp are from My Favorite Things, I colored with Copics.  I stenciled the kraft paper on the bottom with a stone pattern.  The top white piece I stenciled with a sun stencil.  The clouds are from Paper Smooches.  The pattern paper is from ???  

I used the sketch from My Favorite Things and the colors also from My Favorite Things

And at the Clear it Out Challenge you need to use pattern paper that is over a year old.   I am embarrassed (or proud) to admit that I've had this paper since I started scrapbooking and card-making.  So it must be at least 8 years old . . .

That's about all for this card.  Snow is in the forecast for tonight into tomorrow morning -- not for much, and back to 50 or 60 degrees by Wednesday.  But I sure would love one more snow day off from work!  Keeping my fingers crossed, wearing my pj's inside out, all those school kid things!

As always, thanks so much for taking a look.

In a Galaxy Far Far Away

At Shopping our Stash Weekly the theme is "In a Galaxy Far Far Away".  I just stumbled upon this blog.  And I love the way they the challenges encourage you with some unusual topics.

To create the background, I used Color Bursts and Brusho (black).  I sprinkled some powder around and the spritzed with water.  It is a really cool technique, as no 2 backgrounds will be exactly alike.  Very pretty!

The stamps from Neat and Tangled (Time Warp and A Long Time Ago) were embossed in white.  I used a stencil (Simon Says Stamp - falling stars) to add some small gold stars.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to make your own background.

I am also putting this card into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #6 - where I finally got to use all these never been used before goodies on this card.  And where I finally got to enter one of her challenges.  Darnell has a great blog, if you've never been - try it!

Busy busy - I feel like the rabbit that keeps going, and never stops.  

So, I Gotta go - thanks for taking a peek! 

PTI Balloons

Paper Trey Ink is celebrating their 9th Anniversary -- Their's is one of the first stamp companies I fell in love with.  

For their first challenge with the new release we were asked to pick a color palette to use on our card.  

It was so hard to choose, but one I fell in love with is Lexi Daly's colors.  

I also used the sketch from Always Playing with Paper Challenge

And of course the colors from Lexi's palette.  

All the stamps and paper are from PTI.  I stamped the balloons first with white pigment ink, then stamped over them with dye inks.  There was a bit of masking to get the desired effect.  I put some Wink of Stella over the balloons (which is very pretty IRL), and some sequins and done.  

I am also putting this into 30 Day Coloring Challenge .  Now I don't get to color and play with my cards often enough.  Work takes a lot of time -- then there is the usual housework, and hubby and family time.  But  . . . I had another snow day today (one on Friday too) so it was awesome having some extra craft time.  And I even baked cookies today!  Woo Hoo!

This will also go into the Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge - for CAS 

It is still snowing a bit.  Perhaps we'll have a delayed opening tomorrow.  

I hope you are having a good day.  Thank you for looking and your comments.  

PTI Butterflies & Always Playing with Paper

Paper Trey Ink is celebrating their 9th Anniversary -- Their's is one of the first stamp companies I fell in love with.  

For their first challenge with the new release we were asked to pick a color palette to use on our card.  

It was so hard to choose, but one I fell in love with is Maile Belles' card and colors.  

  

I also used the sketch from Always Playing with Paper Challenge

And of course the colors from Maile's palette.  

All the stamps (3 different butterfly sets) and paper are from PTI.  I stamped the butterflies first with white pigment ink, then stamped over them with dye inks.  There was a bit of masking to get the desired effect.  I put some Wink of Stella over the butterflies (which is very pretty IRL), and some sequins and done.  

I had another snow day today (one on Friday too) so it was awesome having some extra craft time.  And I even baked cookies today!  Woo Hoo!

Now it is off to shovel a bit of snow.  I hope you are having a good day.  Thank you for looking and your comments.  

Skating to a Happy Birthday

My niece (#6 of 6 - no nephews) will be turning 12 in 2 weeks.  She is really into figure skating competitively.  She is on a synchro team, individual and pair skating.  Her mom and dad bring her around the northeast area to competitions.  She does very well, but most importantly she enjoys it.  

This is for her birthday.  

I got this stamp from Your Next Stamp - I think it is retired.  But fear not, they have lots of other little girl ice skater stamps (I may need to place another order - lol, but seriously!).

My niece's favorite colors are teal, pink, and purple.  So when I went to the current Your Next Stamp Challenge, imagine my joy to see the colors match what I want to do, and the sketch is perfect for this stamp set.  

Here is the sketch and color challenge:

 

The teal/aqua paper is from a Stamping Up pack, and the silver snowflakes (which are embossed and glittery) are from DCWV pack.  I colored the little girl's face and hair with Prima watercolor pencils, and the rest with Zig watercolor pens.  

I used some Aleene's glitter snow for the ear muffs, and added some Crystal effects at the bottom for the "ice". 

I am also putting this into these challenges:

Send A Smile 4 Kids - the challenge is Birthday cards - they have information about donating cards for kids -- I will need to look through my stash and send some.  

I'm also putting this into Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge - which is "Anything Goes" 

The die cut circle actually goes over the edge of the card.   I'll need to cut it to fit the card into an envelope.  But I kind of like it hanging over the edge, so I may just get a bigger padded envelope (or make my own envelope) to fit this card.  Hmmmm - decisions -- what do you think?  

I hope you are having a nice day.  We are warming up here in NY.  And no snow in the immediate forecast -- a definite plus.  

Thank you for looking!