...late to the party

I'm late. I have no excuses for you, I just didn't make it on time....this is not a new phenomenon for me...however Colleen Proctor, whose Party Project you can see here, created an amazing layout for the party and our linky system seems to have let her down, so I'd invite you to pop over and see her cute, cute layout here, as she is not on the original party list, and I'd hate you to miss out.

Our theme was Birthdays and the blog post with the link list is just the one before this one, so you can scroll back easily to see everything. I will be surfing the party form the comfort of duvets and feather pillows later, right now, I'm up to my ears in tidying a craft room...

I used French Country for my card, colours inspired by this fabby ribbon, it's wired, which makes the whole plumping up the bow thing so much easier...

I stamped in Memento rich cocoa, and coloured with copics. The detail on the large order means that you can pick and choose which bits to colour, or not, it also looks fab just stamped, but I was in a footery mood.

Peeking out the sides of the broad french border panel you can just see the tips of a detailed die cut border, created with the large border die from the Lace Doily Accents Spellbinders die template 
set.

Stamped my sentiment, one word at a time onto a dinky little die cute taggy. Popped on a little red pebble - I got those from Beverly at Precious Scraps, eons ago. Beverly gave me a kick start in this old crafty venture by taking a risk and asking me to be on her DT, what it must be nearly 4 years ago! I'm forever grateful and we will be forever friends!!

Hope it tickles!

Introducing Heroines - Fairy Princess

Good morning!! Wherever you are, I hope you are dry! We had a little flooding here at WMS last night, and so since we were bailing out water and sandbagging until late, I had time to upload the pics, but no time to write up the waffle!! I'm keeping it brief, since the weather forecast for this morning is worse and I need to be on hand to operate some kind of apparatus my husband refers to as a bucket....

Anyhow, this morning, we are kicking off our July release with a tiny little set called Heroines - Fairy Princess. These new photopolymer stamps will be available, along with others, on Sunday! pop back tomorrow to see what else is new!

Just before I show you through my bits and bobs, here are the DT ladies who are also previewing today:

Anya Schrier 

 Belinda Chang Langner  

Bonnie Sharp  

Clare Buswell  

Julia Aston  

Jennifer Holmes  

Kelly Schirmer  

Laurie Schmidlin  

Lynn Mercurio  

Mona Pendleton  

Sandie Dunne  

Tosha Leyendekker  

Heroines - Fairy Princess is a small 3x4 inch set, but in the very best WMS tradition is stuffed with stamps! BOTH the fairy outfit and the princess outfit are included in this set, together with a princess head, with crown, two darling frogs and a sentiment! All together at the super price of just £3.99. These mini sets are going to be a terrific way to introduce yourself to WMS or to build your armoury without breaking the bank!

I made this little card to showcase my princess. These characters are a direct match for the girls in the recently released Half Pint Heroines set, and may be used with that set, and indeed the Half Pint Heroes set. They share the same illustration style and sentiment stylings.

I made the card with a wee castle card template that will also be available on Sunday - do you like it? I will add more details about this on Sunday, but it will be available as a traditional template, and also as SVG files. There is a card template and also a liner template. I used the liners both inside and out of my card to achieve that nice mat effect. You can just see my little frog prince stamp in the pic below together with a sentiment from Half Pint Heroes.

I used the Fairy outfit stamp together with the princess head to make my fairy for a little tag. I thought it would be fun to have some rays radiating from her wand and I scored those on my scor pal. The sentiment is also from Half Pint Heroes.

Now, I need to know if you like my gift basket! I think it is just the sweetest thing!!!. It is another template that will be available on Sunday, same thing, you will be able to get traditional versions or SVG files. I absolutely adore it and it is super simple to put together, it is also very customizable, scroll down to see what I mean!

 

Here I have used the basic Castle basket, on it's own it's a delightful way to present a  gift, or even confectionery - it would make a lovely table centrepiece for a party! I couldn't resist making another little tag, this time just using the head stamp - these would make fabby cupcake picks also.

If you wanted it to be a little more substantial you could add the next layer, the clouds - don't they look pretty behind the towers??

I'm using my basket to present a soft toy wrapped in tissue and I think this presentation would impress most little girls! - If you were to make the cloud layer out of vellum and pop in a battery operated light source, this would be a terrific decorative item for a little girl room (supervised of course).

The final layer is the sky layer - very simple, but it adds another layer of strength and I'll use that when I fill the basket with sweeties for a table centre piece, all those wee hands....

I stamped a wee little birdie from the Half Pint Heroines set onto the sky layer, just for fun!

I'm positively itching to hear what you think!! AND I'd love your thoughts on the new set sizes!! Also don't forget to scroll back one and enter our wee comp, you have until tonight!! I'll be back then to announce the winners!! OOh and if you have any questions about this post do leave a comment and I'll answer it this evening!

Hope it tickles!!

...Feb release, Day 1, second post

 Good morning all over again. You might want to scroll down to the previous post - we have all the DT links there for the gorgeous samples previewing by the ladies today. This is my second post today because the light here was not fabby and my first set of pics were awful! A very cold light here recently...roll on spring...

Today I'm showing French Country and Make your Mark - some of the ladies have also shown Chicken wire, a new background set.

On this card I used the large border from french Country. I could have used memento inks and just coloured it, BUT, I chose to do what I nearly always do - I used Tsukineko Versa Colour ink in o. 173 Neptune, followed immediately with clear embossing powder, heat set. I love how solid the Versa colour inks stamp. I get terrific results with these inks every time, they are my go-to ink. The addition of a clear embossing powder means that I can then go in with copics, water colours, whatever. This is my very fave combination of products to stamp with and you'll see it on over 70% of things I make.

I used a combination of copics and a water pen with Not quite Navy SU ink to colour the detail. The design is hand drawn, and I love the rustic feel that you get through that. I picked the yellow and blues that I particularly associate with french Provençal fabric for my pattern. I adore that combination. I love the sumptuous scrolling border and I like detail. I'm in heaven with this set!!

A simple little note shaped sentiment panel to finish it off, accented in red. The sentiment is Bonne Fête - a nice little sentiment which has a dual purpose. In France (according to my sources), it is what folks wish each other on the feast day of their Patron Saint, but it may also be used to say Happy birthday and I hear this is what is commonly said in Quebec. Just in case you are not sure, this set also has the more recognisable Bon Anniversaire.

The smaller second border is used to create the pattern at the top of the card, I liked how it made the panel look like a swatch of fabric.

Also today you will see a few folks using the Make your mark set. It is a signature set for the reverse of your cards and gifts etc and while I have shown a stamp here which proclaims WMS there are many stamps in the set that you can use on your non wms projects also. I didn't want to limit the set to wms exclusive images as I imagine that most folks make cards with product from more than just one company. The Make your mark set also features a handy little sentiment - we previewed it earlier in the week - encouraging folks to return their cards for recycling. More on that in another post, but that stamp alone is one I have wanted for a long time.

My second set of samples showcases how easy it is to prep a gift set with the French Country set with minimal stamping. The detail in that broad border means that simple one color stamping will achieve gorgeous results. I used SU inks for these 3 little soaps that I wrapped in plain card. I stamped the detailed fabric border, simply in a colour to match the card and wrapped it around the soap. Little piece of twine and a one inch circle label stamped with a co-ordinating flower bud image completed each soap. The card could not have been simpler but I loved it. Chic I  thought, even if I do say so myself!! lol.

The dainty little Sentiment here is 'Souhaits Sincères' which translates as 'Sincere Wishes' and is one of those eminently useful little phrases that is going to be good for everything from gift cards to sympathy cards.

 I'll be back tomorrow with more samples, hopefully - later tonight I will post details of the Biggie - the grand competition in which somebody will win it all, all 9 sets, plus....yep there are other things coming!!

In the meantime, hope it tickles, and don't forget to scroll down to the previous post for today's first project and the DT link list!!

...we're waltzing!

ED - Charmaine, I popped the die inside the baggie, and then ran it through the GC!

Good morning! Today I'm taking part in our monthly waltz!! it's a leisurely stroll around participating blogs and you can see who is playing along here:

Link List in forum.

Our theme this month is Birthday! and I am itching to see what everyone has made! Here's my project, hope it tickles!

I made a little tag pocket card and gussied up a repurposed confectionary tub to match, inside I can add sweets or a cupcake or some other small godies!

I used a glassine kraft pocket (Tim Holtz) to make my tag pocket, I cut off the flap and punched most of a circle into the top front and I thought it would be fun to trim out a little window with my Spellbinders scalloped rectangle die.

I stamped it with a little flourish from the new Flourishes Scallops and dots set. The card background pattern is stamped with the long border from Eat Cake.

The mini tag size cake and the sentiment also come from Eat Cake, as does the larger cake on the tub, I love having two sizes of cake, it means my main projects can always have a little matchy taggy! yum!

The tag also has some flourishes on it, and plenty of sponging! I shaped the corners om y tag with a corner punch.

Do you like my felt flower??? I was so inspired by the new Spellbinders release of their new fabby flower making dies that I dug out one of their scalloped circles, it was this one. I trimmed out a large circle and then cut a strip of the curved edge and wound it round into a flower shape, it's ok and I was happy with it for this project, but I can't wait to get my mits on the flower dies!! It'll take away the guesswork!! The felt leaves were die cut with a die from Spellbinders Foliage set.

Oh my wee tub! do you like the wee button knob? I got myself a wee hot glue gun earlier this week! How have I lived without it???? it's fab! I glued a stack of buttons together to make a little handle for the top of my tub. It's probably more decorative than functional, as the tub lid id very tight, but I thought it was cute!. I made an 'inner' for the clear plastic tub from some cardstock that I stamped with a big cake, and some flourishes. I really went to town on my big cake, I thew all the decs on it, the icing, the flowers and the cake band, ooh and the cake stand! but I did manage to keep them all the same colour! lol.

Right, gotta run and spy out what everyone else made!!

...Introducing - Eat Cake (Second Post today)

 

Yep, I know I'm meant to be showing my Big Day stamps just  like the DT gals, but I really have so much to show you that I'm going to struggle to fit it all in before Friday!!!

I just wanted to squeeze in this fun card to illustrate the Eat Cake set that will also be releasing on Friday - you don't mind, do you?

Eat Cake is another small set - 6 x 4 but it is jam packed with cakey bakey goodness! The main image is a 4 tiered cake base onto which you can stamp a variety of decorative features - the key thing here is versatility - you can go as mad or a quietly as you wish. You can bake yourself a birthday cake, wedding cake, Christening, any sort of event that could use a cake, can use a cake card!!

The first card here shows the cake 'fully dressed' if you like - I started with the basic cake base, stamped in pale pink - (memento Angel Pink). Then I added flowers (separate stamp, plum chalk ink). Next I stamped some scalloped icing (separate stamp, mid pink), then a scalloped cake ribbon band (separate stamp, plum chalk ink). Finally I stamped the cake stand in the plum chalk ink.

I went back in with a copic and added an orange dot to the centre of each flower to tie in with my mat.

I cut the image out very roughly and mounted it on a sentiment mat - the main sentiment reads 'Birthday Wishes' but the panel is also stamped with the sentiment 'can we eat the cake now' all over to make a little background pattern. I roughly drew an orange line, with a copic pen, around the mat and mounted it onto my card base - which was kraft, with an orange strip.

 

My second card is a little calmer, maybe even masculine?

Do you like the little scripted cake? let me show you how to do that - 'seasy.

First - Ink up the cake base in the colour of your choice - I used a pale shade and you can see the exact ink in the photo.

Next, ink up a background stamp - I used a script stamp from Text-It for this cake - but you could use a plaid maker stamp, a polka dot stamp, anything with a closely knit pattern on it should do.

Then touch the inked face of the texture stamp to the inked face of the cake base stamp - this is a variation on the kissing technique.

Now stamp on the cardstock with your cake base stamp - the pic below shows what it looks like while you are stamping. Love clear photopolymer....

And when you lift the stamp. With the text stamp, obviously the script is in reverse now, but I don't think that maters, it's the texture I want, I don't need to read that writing!

I thought this made a beautiful cake base, it really didn't need much decorating, but I couldn't resist adding that wee candle!!

Well? tickled?

Since this is my second post today, here are the links to the ladies again, to save you scrolling all the way back! And! don't forget to check out the Big Cheese this week! - see the sidebar!

Anya Schrier

Belinda Chang Langner

Bonnie Sharp

Claire Brennan

Jennifer Holmes

Julia Aston

Kate Whelan

Laurie Schmidlin

Lynn Mercurio

Mona Pendleton

Niki Estes

Sandie Dunne

Sarah Martina Parker

Tosha Leyendekker

...I'm waltzing, I'm waltzing....

I thought for my waltz card today I'd do a guy birthday card, and I had the idea of overstamping my sentiment, I used two of the large words from Say it Loud to make up the happy birthday. A little crazy stitching, gingham, distressing, torn edges...these are things I have come to associate with 'men' cards! lol, why is that...?

anyhow...

I'm waltzing along today with our monthly blog waltz deets here - hope to get an hour later to see who else is dancing along!! I love the relaxed pace of our waltz.... if this were any other blog hop, I'd be late! ;)

If you know how this works, the links are here and the chat is here. The theme is masculine cards!!

I used our new Gingham and Co stamps for the background and the Say it loud stamps to make up my front sentiment and for the inside. I added a little paper aeroplane from Free Spirit Boy, just to reinforce the 'man' feel!

Much sponging and use of blues and cinnamon type colours makes for quite a masculine card...I thought...

...SOAP Day 3 afternoon!

So I was a little late today on account of the fact that I lost my scalpel - yep I got more than one craft knife, but I've had this particular tool for over 20 years... it took me through Art College...sniff...
Anyhow today's SOAP sample features the Vintage Labels 18 stamps we released in March - if you are new here - here's a quick run down of what's going on:

We design and sell clear photopolymer stamps - Our monthly releases were fast and furious and our folks - you - were not having time to play with the new goodies before we were foisting new goodness upon you!! Soooo we're slowing down the pace - We're releasing the same amount of stamps, BUT we're having a new release every OTHER month - which means, we have a month in between to show you more ideas on what to do with your new toys!! April is such a month - It's a SOAP month - our Stamp of Approval Event.


Here's what were re-covering - these are the sets that released in March:

• Bitty Banners
• Vintage Banners
• Very Vintage Labels No. 18
• Back in the Saddle
• Way Out West

Here's who is parading along with me today - I know I already posted this in this mornings infopost, but just in case you missed it...lol, we have a debut VIDEO today - check Anya out!!!

• Anya Schrier 
• Belinda Chang Langner
• Bonnie Sharp 

• Claire Brennan
• Jennifer Holmes
• Julia Aston

• Laurie Schmidlin
• Lynn Mercurio
• Mona Pendleton
• Sandie Dunne
• Sarah Martina Parker

And here are the deets to my project today:

•  

I made a little simple Birthday card - I was going for shabby Chic, but I dunno - I think I'm a little clinical for that...lol, anyhow, I liked it!

 I stamped them in a pale blue - Memento Summer Sky... and trimmed them out with the co-ordinating die template. These stamps are designed to co-ordinate with the new Spellbinders Labels 18 die templates # S4 310 - see here. I have these on order for the store they are due this week and I'll be adding them soon as I get them.

Then I trimmed out the centres. The stamp is designed in such a way that there is a neat square shape that may be trimmed out easily and also a smaller circle shape that can be cut out with a classic circle die - 3rd from smallest in the Spellbinders classic circles small set. See the tape holding the die in place before I run it though my Grand Calibur.

•   
• Here's what they look like after sponging...
•  

 

Then I stamped my sentiment - from Say it with Style onto the back panel and layered the frames on top. Simple! I love the stacked look this gives!

• 
  
• I had prepared a larger than average card base - 4.25 by 6.25 inches finished size so that the ribbon and lace would sit out well at either side, a little flower and a touch of ribbon! The card base was also stamped with a texture from Text-It.
• 
  
• Hope it tickles - I'm off to visit the girls - I've only been to Anya's and Bonnie's so far and WOW already!!!

Mouse Tracks Day 3

LOL, I hope I'm not driving you nuts with too many posts today... there's just so much going on here at Waltzingmouse Stamps right now!

Today I've gathered together for you all the new release cards/projects featuring the super popular Teeny Trees! As you've seen, the possibilities with this set are endless!

by Anya

by Belinda

by Bonnie

by Carly

by Jennifer

by Julia

by Laurie

by Lisa

by Mona

I'll be back tomorrow with our final edition of September Mouse Tracks featuring Bountiful Baskets Additions. In the meantime, have a fine day!