Flowery Thank You

     I've already shared a few of my post-Christmas, Thank You, cards this month and today I have two more.  This first one will most likely get used this spring or summer.  The image is a stamp from House Mouse and I think it's one of the sweetest and most versatile of all the HM stamps I own.

I used colors from the inspiration photo at Ellen Hutson.

     I colored the image with polychromos pencils and blended them with the blender included in the pencil set.  I cut the image and the frame with stitched dies from Cottage Cutz.

     I dug out some royal purple CS and used that on the front of the card base.  I cut the Thank You with a die set from Memory Box.  Memory Box has some really fantastic "Thank You" dies and this one is probably my favorite of all of them.  I like that it's not capitalized and therefore looks more casual and less formal so it works with almost any card design. 

     I wrapped the card front with  black, satin ribbon, then began layering on the sentiment and image pieces.  I left the card very CAS because it will probably have to be mailed.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with Friends
Crafty Catz
DL.ART
Polkadoodles


     My second card also uses a House Mouse rubber stamp but this time with a cute bunny rather than a mouse.  It seems to be more of a fall or harvest image with that huge bushel of apples.  It's another one that I've used many times and still love.

     This one is colored with ProMarkers, then cut with an Unbranded die.  I used another die from that same set to cut the mat.  The sentiment was cut with another of my Memory Box dies. 

     This time I kept the white card base and just added more of that same black, satin, ribbon.  I added the sentiment right on top of the ribbon, then added the image piece and mat.  Again, CAS seemed the best design and I really liked the striking contrast of the black ribbon and rich orange colors so didn't want to detract from that with more embellishment.

     Challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft
Allsorts
Aloha Friday
Artistic Stamper
Colour Crazy
Create and Inspire
Do-Al(l) Kreatives
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Thanks for stopping by and feel free to browse around while you're here.  There's a pot of coffee on the stove and cookies just out of the oven on the tray right over there.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Summer Joys

     For all of you down under in the Southern Hemisphere, including cousins of mine in Sydney, I hope your summer is warm and wonderful but not overwhelmingly hot.  I've done a card with all of you in mind for my GDT spot over at the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge with a theme of "Summer."  This is a refreshing change from the "Snow" theme of last week and I imagine those of you in the north of the US and in Canada will agree.  Are any of you tired of winter yet?

     I used another House Mouse image and kept my card very CAS, even with the double layer on the card.

     I colored the mouse, the crab, and beach ball with ProMarkers and everything else was done with watercolor/polychromos pencils.  I cut the image with a die from Spellbinders and then cut a dark brown mat for it with a Pinpoint Rectangle die from Memory Box.

     I layered those together and added them to a yellow card base, deliberately putting them at an angle to add a little visual interest.  The sentiment I printed, hand cut, and put on top of the image.  There you are - totally CAS and easy to male.  It's going in my stash of masculine cards for one of the summer birthdays celebrated by several of my family members.  :-D

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with Attitude
Crafty Friends
Digi Choosday
House that Stamps Built
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Outlawz Twisted Thursday
Penny's Paper Crafty
Send a Smile 4 Kids

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Mousie Valentines by Air Mail

     I'm playing with House Mouse images again this weekend (I do love all the HM critters!) and decided to color up this one showing how the House Mousies handle their Valentine Mail.  This is an oldie but goodie which I've used at least a dozen times in the last 4 years.  :-D