Today's card is an entry in The Perfect Sentiment's latest Challenge -- PSC67: Floral Fantasia.  The only requirements are that Flowers and a Sentiment be used on your greeting card.

As you may have noticed, I've gotten into using flowers of some sort in many of my cards, and this one is no different.  Sometimes, a card needs something else, but you just can't figure out what it is.  A flower or two generally does the job!

This House Mouse rubber stamp is great for girlfriends. He was colored with Copic Markers, and the paper was edged with Shabby Pink from the Swell set by Color Box Cat's Eyes ink.  The base paper and matt paper are from Vintage Timeless 6½" paper pad by Kaiser Craft.  The Green twine came from Scrapbook Nook in Kent, Washington -- they got in several new twine colors back in January that I couldn't resist!  

Flowers:  The base flower is a basic white flower by Color Me Crazy. I brushed it with Ice Jade ink from Misty Meadow set by Color Box Cat's Eye ink.  The top flower is a large Paper Flower from Paloma Collection Melody by Prima Flowers.  These are expensive little buggers, but make a card so cute!

Sentiment is a rub on from Friends set by Kaiser Craft.

Love my Peafowl!  My Stampin' Up demonstrator, Leilani, sent me a little note with this Peacock on it. Fell in love with it! When I talked to her about ordering it for me, she told me I already had it. So, I dug out the Peafowl rubber stamp tub, and there it was -- on the bottom!  So pleased I do have it!  Played with it a little bit and here is the end result:

The Peacock Thank You is from the Very Thankful Set by Stampin' Up! (small rubber stamp).  I used Turquoise dye-based ink by Rubber Stampede.  True Blue Stickles glitter glue was used on the ocellis (tail/train eyes).

My Peacock buddy sits on white paper with little dots of color mixed in. Under that is basic blue paper, sitting on pop dots. Base floral paper is from Pretty As a Peacock paper pad by Recollections.

The blue stickers on the 4 corners of the white paper are from an unknown manufacturer and the last of my stock.

The "Little Bits" stringy twine is from Moments in Memories by Janlynn. Quite different, wasn't sure if it would work, but it looks pretty good, don't you agree?  I wrapped the twine around the base paper three times being careful to make sure it wrapped like I wanted it to, at these angles, then adhered to the card stock.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Happy Birthday card today features Henry with Cupcake by Whiff of Joy.

Base Ribbon paper is from Hot Off the Press.

Stock Mauve paper with Henry attached on top using pop dots. Colored Henry using Copic markers.  Edged Henry circle with Aquamarine Color Box Cat's Eyes ink.

Happy Birthday rubber stamp from Hero Arts using StazOn Forest Green ink.

Flowers from Prima Artist's Aids.

Got this design from my sister Jan, so finally was able to color him and put him on a card. 

Supplies:

• Eddie in the Rain rubber stamp by Motivet Stamps
• Colored with Copic markers
• Baby Blue Stickles glitter glue on rain drops and puddles
• Adhered using pop dots
• Base paper is Clouds by DCWV
• Black stock paper edged with Victorian Fiskars paper edgers (scissors) on all 4 sides
• Get Well Soon from Stampin' Up! Sincere Salutations stamp set
• StazOn Royale Purple ink
• 3 flowers by My Moments paper Roses -- Eggshell, Lime and Coral

My entry for the RCC77 Love is in the Air challenge by Ribbon Carousel. This challenge goes all month, so you have time to get your entry in!

Base Striped paper for this card is from the Echo Park Be Mine collection pack. The darker paper with embossed rose is from The Immortal Love matstack by DCWV (6.5 X 4.5 inches size).  The hearts are from the Lace & Doilies stickers by Dazzles. I thought about coloring the hearts, but decided to leave them white. Pretty classy!  The sentiment is from the Valentine Card kit from TJ Designs by Tweety Jill. It is adhered with a pop dot. Finally, used a nice blue Happy Valentine's Day ribbon from my stash.  This all makes for a very simple, but attractive card for my husband.

Lots of birthdays are coming up, so trying to get a jump on cards. Heavy months for my family are March and August.

I love House Mouse, so this Jelly Bean Heist (#HMOR1001 from 2003) is a cutie! Many people love jelly beans as much as they love chocolate, so it will not be easy figuring out who will receive this card.

Supplies:

• House Mouse Jelly Bean Heist rubber stamp
• colored with Copic Markers
• paper edged with Peacock Feathers by Tim Holtz distressed ink
• base paper Multi Stars by Art Impressions
• Bright Pink card stock
• The last of my Blue Happy Birthday Ribbon tied behind paper but on top of card stock
• Green rose with stem punched through from to back and brought around to the front and tucked under white paper

I don't think my sister-in-law has time to cruise the internet much, so I can post her birthday card here. She loves hedgehogs. We will be going to the Sewing & Stitchery Expo together on March 1, which is her birthday. I will give her this card that morning.  Hmmm....still need to put a sentiment on this card -- or shall I just put it on the inside?

Supplies:

• Grass background paper by DCWV
• Hummingbird leftover paper
• Light green from bulk paper pack from Craft Warehouse in Yakima, Washington
• Baby Hammock (Hedgehog) by Penny Black rubber stamp
• Colored with Copic markers
• Design adhered with pop dots
• Hedgehog ribbon from Pacific Fabrics in Everett, Washington

Have a couple more cards to post tomorrow, and a few more to finish putting together, so keep an eye this week and next week.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. My husband and I had an interesting weekend.  On Saturday, we went to Country Village (Bothell, Washington) as 25 of the 45+ stores were involved in a Chocolate Tour.  You know how much I love chocolate!  We visited each of the stores involved in the special tour and had some yummy chocolate of all varieties.  There are a lot of NEW stores in the Village compared to when we last went through it a year or two ago. Our favorite -- Stampin' in the Rain -- is still there.  Changes are a'coming in her store, so if you haven't been there in awhile, be sure to stop in next time you are in the area.  The new changes will debut on March 1.

I took (with permission) photos of Stampin' in the Rain so you know what items owner Kim carries (as well as to hopefully entice you to the store).  So come along on my tour of the store....

I love using ribbon and twine on my greeting cards, and Stampin' in the Rain has a nice selection. Sometimes it is difficult to find just a nice basic ribbon -- looks like Kim has them.

Need Rubber Stamps? Kim has a bunch of them! Lots! Her rubber stamps are displayed via categories, with nice examples, shown as above. Love seeing ideas of the stamps!

There are many types of embellishments in the store -- these are just a sample.  Glitter...

Ranger Alcohol Inks...Ink...Copics...Embossing Paste...Punches...and so much more.

The brass template area for dry embossing (my favorite part of the store, besides the stamps!).

Paper...who doesn't have enough paper. Notice the red paper on the right side, second shelf. You have to touch it to believe how it feels!!....

Smooches...I'm just beginning to learn how to use them.

Yes, she even has some paper packs.  And there is so much more -- come out on or after March 1 to see the changes and new lines....


Stampin' in the Rain offers classes taught by some delightful teachers. My husband and I have both taken a few classes from Joy and other teachers over the years.


Stampin' in the Rain is located at:

Country Village / Bldg. I / The Hen House

831 237th Street SE

Bothell, WA 98021

There is another store at the Country Village that greeting card makers and scrapbookers will enjoy. Once I obtain permission from the owner to take photos, I will post on my site, so be sure to come back and check them out.

If you do any type of stitchery work, pop on over to my other website to see what else I found at Country Village! http://nwstitcheryclub.weebly.com/index.html 

On Sunday, Keith and I worked on Valentine's Day projects and greeting cards. Will post those this week.

Over time, and as my husband and I travel, I will try to remember to take my camera. When we stop in at a scrapbooking store, we will take photos (with store's permission) and post them here. So keep a look out!

House Mouse Challenge #137 Anything Goes Special Cuts

Here is my entry for the latest House Mouse challenge.  I put my Cricut to work for the Special Cuts section:

Card size 5 X 6½ inches. Love's Greetings paper from the Vintage Valentine's Papers by TJ Designs.  Circle metallic and starburst glitter papers from DCWV Hippie Chic card stock pack. House Mouse rubber stamp is Heart Breaker - Amanda #MHJR1093.  Standard white Love You ribbon from hobby/craft store (I have been buying so much ribbon the past year, I have no idea where it comes from anymore!).  The Special Cuts are from the Fancy Frames cricut cartridge. The circle is a donut style so I was able to thred my ribbon from behind the paper through the "donut" and tie in front. I used pop squares behind the House Mouse design and starburst.

The sponsors for this challenge are HM Stamps, Joanna Sheen and America. Pop on over and check out their websites -- you can purchase House Mouse items from HM Stamps and Joanna Sheen (Joanna Sheen is based in England).

Continuing on with Greeting Card Kits:

This one is by TJ Designs by TweetyJill. Sometimes her kits comes with matching rubber stamp sets (separate price), but all her kits are adorable! They are a little on the expensive side, but I can't help but pick them up.  Check out her website and see if you do not feel the same.

There is generally quite a bit to cut out from TJ Designs kits, but not that difficult.  Comes with card stock (you crease and fold), paper and trim you cut, use inking on edges if you wish, and have plenty of adhesive on hand. Notice the doilies on each -- no, did not have to cut them!

On the last two cards, the red tulle (ribbon) is tied around the entire card, so recipient has to untie the bow to read the card. So cute!