Gruffies and Guests...New Challenge

Here I am again..lol. These cards are design team makes for the fantastic team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this challenge is Summer..but of course you have the option of going Anything Goes. The only rule is that the card must feature either a Gruffie, a Happy Hopper or a House Mouse. All are created by the ever talented Ellen Jareckieand I just adore them, as I know many of you do too. This challenge has been sponsored by my fellow Gruffie Vicky and she will supply a lovely prize..all details of this are on the Gruffies and Guests Challenge blog.

Both of my cards are from the Gruffies and Happy Hoppers cdrom which has been created by Joanna Sheen. I have to admit to having a bit of a passion for the Happy Hoppers..lol..nothing makes me smile as much as a happy rabbit.

Well the coffee is calling..I decided to blog these cards whilst the kettle was boiling. So now I'm off for my caffeine hit and then I'll be back. I hope that you will pop over to the Gruffies blog and take a look at all the fabulous makes. And if you love the House Mouse images as much as I do..why not join in the fun and enter the challenge. So until after my caffeine hit..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....New Challenge

Today's cards are design team makes for the fabulous team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun and has the theme of Add a Number. This challenge will run for the next month and is a house mouse/gruffie/happy hopper challenge. Please read the rules before you enter your card as we have lots of people that enter but don't use a house mouse image and therefore are not eligible for the prize. And it is such a shame because I have seen some really beautiful cards that can't be accepted.

The challenge this month has been sponsored by fellow Gruffie Shaz and wow oh wow, just look at the prize to be won below. I feel quite jealous that I can't enter myself.

If you get the chance why not join us all on Facebook as well. It is great to see so many different makes and to share our love of all things House Mouse.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived to make it..bless him. I shall be back later with another design team make. The weather here is still lovely and the house is so quiet with all the little furry beasts outside..lol. I can see them out of the window..all sunning themselves on the studio roof. So until later...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....Hello Baby

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun, sponsored by Gruffie team mate Silvia. The theme for this challenge is Hello Baby..so as you can guess any make for a new baby. As always though..you do have the option of going Anything Goes..the only rule being that it must feature a House Mouse, Gruffie or Happy Hopper. Silvia has offered the wonderful prize below for the winner of the challenge.A great prize..I'm so jealous that I can't enter myself..lol

As always I would recommend popping over to the blog and taking a look at the wonderful creations made by the rest of the team. They are always a wonderful source of inspiration to me and a great group of ladies.And why not join the Gruffies and Guests facebook page. We just love seeing all your wonderful House Mouse creations.

For my make I decided to use one of my House Mouse stamps/ I loved this image of the baby mouse asleep under the flowers and thought it would make a sweet little baby card. I stamped the image using my versafine ink pad and coloured the image using my Lyra watercolour crayons. I stamped extra flowerheads and coloured them as well. I diecut the image into an oval and cut the flower heads out by hand. I layered 2 types of paper onto some pale lilac card. I edged the oval with a peeloff and added the flowerheads to the edge as well. I finally added the sentiment and a ribbon. I thought that if I made the card using lilac colouring, it could be for a girl or a boy..for those times when you don't know what is to be expected..it always a good colour way to have in hand..just in case.
So much it seems for the promised heat wave. Here I am in the mountains watching the rain fall. I;m sat here with my legs up, watching the athletics. All the cats are in and have all been shut out of the parlour. I decided that it won't hurt them for an hour and I can do some work with out the help of a cat paw..lol. I discovered that when Nosey wants my attention he will sit by me and tap me with his paw. And believe me he can be a very persistent tapper. Jeffrey is the only one in the parlour and that's just because he has bedded himself at the back of the shelves and can't be reached. I can hear him snoring though.
Well the coffee is calling and then I need to update my files with work for June and July. I've finished most of my work for May and am now thinking June and July...this year has just rushed by. I've taken some new pictures of the kittens which I will hopefully share with you next week. I hope that you all have a great weekend and I will be back next week. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....Tags, Tags, Tags

Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun, sponsored this month by Gruffie Vicky. The theme is Tags..so you can either use a tag on your card or do something similar to mine..which is a card made using 3 tag shapes. Of course, Gruffies and Guests is a House Mouse Challenge..so this means that your creation needs to use a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or of a House Mouse design. With all the wonderful artwork of Ellen Jareckie..it's not hard to find one to work with. I have to admit that I have a bit of a thing for the Happy Hoppers. I have used this wonderful image of the 3 rabbits sat on this rocking chair reading a book.I began by making the tag shape card and then added backing paper panels to each tag. I placed the image and the sentiment on the middle panel. On the outside panels, I made two matching panels..both featuring some stencilled leaves and then added some handmade flowers. I finally added some peeloffs and some ribbon to each tag.
The weather here in the mountains today is a little miserable. It's raining on and off and that means that the cats are in and out like yoyos. Apart I have to say from Milky. She has a bit of a thing for getting wet and likes nothing better than getting soaking wet and then coming in and shaking on me. As soon as she is dry..off she goes to do the same again. It's something she's done since she was young and obviously she intends to carry on..lol.
As I'm sat here I can hear the kittens causing chaos..as normal. The noise that they can create is unbelievable.I was hoping that they would all have a lie down after being fed but oh no..we're causing mayhem,
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be back with another design team make.I think that I've only got one new make in the pipeline. Because I was a little down this week, I concentrated on my makes and I think that I'm up to date until May..lol. I have to say that Milky has just started rushing around with the kittens...even more mayhem ensues..lol. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....New Challenge

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. This months challenge has been sponsored by fellow Gruffie Lesley. The theme is flowers, so you can use as many or as few flowers as you like. And of course, as always, you have the option of Anything Goes. The main rule for the challenge is that you must use a House Mouse, Gruffie or Happy Hopper design. But that's not hard...they're all beautiful. The hardest part for me is deciding which image to use...lol

I would like to take the time to thank everyone that joined in with the last challenge...A splash of Orange for Henry. It was so hard to pick my top three..there were all so beautiful. Henry would have loved them all..he loved Ellen's artwork and she was always a wonderful source of inspiration for him. The winner is always chosen by random org and that was Yvonne. And then I picked my top 3  who were Patty, Diane and Yvonne...congratulations ladies.
I hope that you will pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at all the wonderful creations that the design team that have made..and why not join in the fun. Lesley has offered a wonderful prize of a stamp and some embellishments...I wish that I could enter myself...I so enjoyed making these cards.
It's very quiet here in the mountains today...and very cold. I have my feet up (I still wish I could give them away for a couple of weeks..lol) All the cats are quiet..probably recovering from their antics during the night. We haven't had any more snow..most has gone, although we still have some on the tops of the mountains. Some of my friends have had quite a bit and are planning to have some snow fun today. I can remember Henry and I making snow angels in the early hours one morning..it was one of those special moments that stays with you. It was so bright in the moonlight reflected over the snow and the laughter we shared will always stay with me.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be down to work. I didn't manage to get as much done as I wanted to. So my aim is to finish the design team makes first and then some sewing. I'm hoping that I will get to do some sewing, although I have quite a bit of cutting to do first. We shall have to see. A lot always depends on just how much I get bothered by the tabby terrorists..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests...A Splash of Orange for Henry

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful team over at Gruffies and Guests. For me this is a very special challenge. The theme for the next month is A Splash of Orange for Henry. I was lucky enough to be able to sponsor this challenge and chose to do this in Henry's memory. As most of you know Henry passed two years ago and most of you have followed my journey on coming to terms with this and my continuing to create cards in his Memory. Henry loved the fact that I made cards, blogged and tried to share my love of all things creative with as many people as I can. I have been blessed that I have made many new friends on this journey. Why orange you may ask..well when Henry passed, at his funeral everyone wore something orange to honour his life, and even now friends buy me orange things to remember him. I can't say that things have got easier..they've just become different.Everyday is still about learning to live with my loss and the fact that he has left such a hole in my life, but I have learnt that counting my blessings every day has helped. My cats have also helped..I have to keep it all together to make sure that they are cared for...and I have to say that on days when I don't think I can smile..they make me laugh.

The rest of the team over at Gruffies and Guests have been so supportive in difficult times and have for this months challenge produced some amazing cards. I do hope that you will pop over to the blog and take a look. I can only hope that they realise just how much this challenge means to me and how much their work is appreciated.

I am offering a prize for this challenge..it will be a £10 voucher to spend at Joanna Sheen's shop. There is so much to choose from and seeing that it was Joanna that first showed me the delight of all things House Mouse..I thought that it would be appropriate.

I'm so excited today with the challenge beginning and also I'm looking forward to my friend Dotty coming over. All the animals will be getting excited...they love her and she always ends up being covered in cats..lol. At the moment all the kittens are fast asleep..but it won't last for long..lol. They caused absolute chaos during the night..all my earrings were hanging in a frame and now half have disappeared..all over the house no doubt. I was woken by the tinkling of the beads and 3 happy little kittens..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be waiting for my visitor. I hope that you all will have a wonderful weekend.So, until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests......New Challenge

Here I am with another design team make. This card is for the wonderful team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun, sponsored by Design team member Kym, who has offered a surprise prize for the challenge. As always your entry must be a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or a House Mouse design. You can choose to follow the theme or enter an anything goes entry.

The them for this month is the wonderful Bingo Board. For my card I have chosen to work diagonally, so on my card there are flowers, gems and a button. I found it great fun.

I do hope that you will pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at all the fabulous makes that the other members of the design team have made. And I hope that you will join in the fun and enter a card of your own making.
In this house, the peace hasn't lasted very long..lol. The kittens are now wide awake and no doubt will be playing until teatime. Gannet is trying his hardest to type on the computer. Fiesty and Nosey are playing in their special box and Simon has taken himself into the cupboard. Jeffrey has got himself onto my legs and is now acting as the official foot warmer.
As I write, I'm munching away on some Jelly Babies and loving it.It seems that I only have them at Christmas and I have to say that it's probably just as well. It's as if they wave at me and I have to have one..lol. As I get older I'm finding that I enjoy fruit jellies much more than chocolate..strange I know..I can't even believe it..lol.I used to be a great fan of anything chocolate but I suppose tastes change.
Well the coffee is calling again and then it will be time to get some work done. I'm just in the mood to do some colouring. Dinner will be Roast Lamb again because there is enough left. So I'm thinking roast potatoes and carrots. I've already planned that tomorrow will be homemade sweet and sour chicken. I have found that I work better with a plan in place...and it seems to save money as well.
Oh and before I forget..why not join the Gruffies and Guests facebook page.

So until the next time...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests.....Snowflakes and Sparkle

Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous team over at the Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun, using the theme of Snowflakes and Sparkle. It seems to me to be the perfect challenge for December. As always you must use a House Mouse, Gruffie or Happy Hopper design..but there are so many to choose from..it's not hard.Saying that though if you are anything like me..then you will find it hard just because I love them all..lol
We are lucky enough to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at Petal Lu. One of my favourite places to get embellishments from. I hope that you will pop over and take a look at all their goodies.

What a night and day it has been. As I write the wind is raging round these mountains. All I could hear was tiles bouncing in the night and the lights were flashing off and on..it was like trying to sleep in a disco..lol. And to make matters even stranger at one point all the lights were off in the house and then the bedroom light came on..not enough to light the room fully but glowed orange. A really golden orange. It was all very strange. I also had all the kittens arrive on the bed. It always makes me laugh...the colder that it gets..the more arrive on the quilt. Last night I has Raven, Tankie, Jeffrey and Sprout as well as the four kittens..but there is always room for more..lol It makes me smile that I have a single bed and I'm a large lady but we always manage to fit. I laughed because when I used to have a king size bed I was still on the edge and now I'm in a single..I still only have the edge..lol
Well the coffee is calling and the wind is raging. I'm going to do some stamping later..if the kittens will give me a little peace. Wherever you are..just stay safe. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests....New Challenge

Todays cards are design team makes for the fabulous team over at Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has just begun and has the theme 'Red and Green' or Anything goes. But as always please remember that your creation has to be featuring a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or House Mouse image...and you know that I love them all.

The other news Gruffie related that I have is that there is a DT call on at the moment. Why not come and join us on the team. All details are on the blog. I have seen many of your cards and know just how good they are...so why not apply.

.We are so lucky this month to have been sponsored by the great team over at Dis Digi Stamps. A great source of images.

Both of my cards are from the Gruffies and Guests cdrom brought to us by Joanna Sheen.

It's a horrible day here in the mountains today. All the cats have decided that inside is the best place to be is inside..lol. It seems today that I have more cats than I actually have..lol ..everywhere you look in the parlour there seems to be a cat. And of course..they all want to sit on me and help me blog. Nicademus likes nothing better than walking on the computer..lol..it makes for an interesting page. Jeffrey is stretched out on the couch and believe me there is no room for anyone else. I had a little shock this morning when I fed Flossie. I am intending to start weaning the kittens next week..which I might add is the right time to start...unless of course you are the dark tabby kitten. This morning as I put Flossies food into the pen..little dark tabby ran to the dish. Now this is the only kitten without a nickname as he is always asleep or feeding on Flossie. But this morning he is earning a nickname..and I think that it's going to be gannet. I have never seen in all my years of rescuing cats had a kitten head for the food without prompting. Even Flossie looked at him as much to say what on earth are you doing..lol. He really liked it though and he is now fast asleep.

Well the coffee is calling and then I will definitely be back. I had intended to blog another design team make last night ...but BT weren't playing...at all. I couldn't even get onto the internet/ And what makes me laugh is all the BT adverts saying how fast their internet is..well not here in rural Wales.So I'm heading to the caffeine and will be back soon. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests....New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous team over at the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog. A new challenge has just begun and has the theme of embossing..wet or dry. As always your entry must feature a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or House Mouse. But seeing just how cute they all are..it's not hard. The challenge will run for a month and there will be a half way reminder. I do hope that you will pop along and take a look at all the wonderful work that has been created by the other members of the team. They always manage to inspire me.

The challenge this month has been sponsored by the fabulous team over at Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I have been lucky enough to work with a number of their images and have loved every one of them. The hardest thing is deciding which one you want to work with first. Why not pop over and take a look.
For my card I began with this cute image of the little House Mouse asleep on a freesia. I added the image and the backing paper onto some golden yellow card. I also embossed and mounted some card which I had inked onto some of the same. I added ribbons on the left hand side and on the bottom of the card and created a bow in the corner. I added a greeting, which was also on the sheet that I printed out. The image and the backing paper both come from the House Mouse triple cd rom brought to us crafters by Joanna Sheen.
It's quite chilly here in the mountains today. We have had our first frosts..Autumn has arrived. I do feel a little cheated that we didn't really have a summer but there you go. The cats have at least managed to have a few days sunning themselves. Flossie is doing ok...eating for 23 I think..lol It must be getting closer...she is sleeping more and more. She is really pretty..I must take a picture of her for you. All is quiet at the moment...all cats have full tummies and are all quiet. I have to make the most of it...lol. Later on I will be feeling as if I'm sitting on a roundabout with the cats circling me. Tankie is the worst..she will go out and come back in and carry on this way for hours. She is stuck because she likes to see what is going on outside and inside at the same time..lol She is just so nosey.
Well the coffee is calling and there is some painting waiting to be done. Some days there is nothing I like better than getting messy with my paints. That reminds me that I must find my apron...I have lost count of the number of tops that I've ruined using them for painting and such like. So I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend. Until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests....Making it Fruity

Todays card is a design team make for the fabulous team over at the Gruffies and Guests. This challenge blog features only creations using a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or House Mouse images. As you all know by now, I just adore all things House Mouse related and have a very special love of the Happy Hoppers. I can't remember a time when I didn't love rabbits and the Happy Hoppers have just the right amount of cute

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For this months challenge we are lucky enough to have been sponsored by the wonderful team over at Dis Digis. They will be providing this months wonderful prize.

The theme for this months challenge is..Make it Fruity. For my card, I picked this lovely image of a happy hopper enjoying some watermelon. This image is from the Gruffies and Happy Hoppers cdrom brought to us crafters by the wonderful Joanna Sheen. As with all the house mouse images, the gruffies and happy hoppers are brought to us via the paint brush of Ellen Jareckie. I would be happy if I only had 10% of this ladies talent.
On my card, I first mounted the backing paper and the image onto some burgundy card. I created a border with the same. On the sheet that I printed out the greeting was in a watermelon slice shape, so of course I had to use it. I die cut some flowers and coloured them to match with my promarkers. I finally added a green ribbon.
It's a lovely day here in the mountains today. I have to say that the cats as a group are all sulking. My friend was picking up some extra catfood for me and was supposed to bring it last night but things happened and he's bringing it today. Consequently there was no wet food for breakfast...so they are all sulking , sat round the food tray..lol. I wouldn't mind but this is the first time in ages that I have ran out of food and they also have bowls of dry cat food downstairs..and if you saw them all you would know they are not starving..but try telling them..lol. Even the new lady Flossie is having a moan at me. Jeffrey is not well and he is also complaining on the wait for the food. He went out last night and must have got into yet another fight. He has been bitten on one of his front legs and is currently limping around. He brought his leg to me to sort out and as I was examining him he was purring..bless him. I think it will take a couple of days to go down and now he just smells of TCP....the antiseptic..I must add..lol
Well the coffee is calling and still my pile of work is sitting to be worked through. I hope that the weather is being kind to you wherever you are and that you have a great weekend. If you get the chance, don't forget to pop over to the challenge at Gruffies and Guests. The other members of the design team have created some wonderful items..well worth a look. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Gruffies and Guests....Summer Fun

Here I am back again..lol. Here is my design team make for the fabulous Gruffies and Guests. A new challenge has begun today with the theme of Summer Fun. We are lucky to have been sponsored by the wonderful team over at Crafty Individuals.

And as you can see there is a wonderful prize up for grabs. This company is so well known for the quality of it's products and I have to say that the detail that it manages to capture with it's stamps is just amazing.

For my card I chose this sweet image of the happy hoppers dressed up as little bees. Whenever I look at this image it makes me smile. These must be the only bees that I am happy to be close to..lol. Ever since I was little I have had a bit of a thing about bees and wasps. It was wasps that were really to blame but bees can make me edgy as well. What happened was that it was the first time I had tried a new apple scented shampoo and I went outside. Within less than half an hour I had been stung 10 times and went inside crying..only to be stung again. I ended up quite ill and in bed for a couple of days. So you can see why I was upset..lol. But these bees I love. I thought it fitted the theme well.. Why not pop over and join in the fun at the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog. But please remember that it has to be either a Gruffie, Happy Hopper or House Mouse image.
For my card I mounted the image onto some gold mirri and some black. The backing paper is from a different image on the Gruffies and Happy Hoppers cd. The flowers are made using a pinflair punch. I coloured a piece of paper using my promarkers and then punched them out. I used a border peeloff as a stem and then added the flowers to that and finally added a tiny pearl to the center of each. You know by now just how much I love to fiddle..lol
Well Virgo has just arrived..so I'm living in hope that I'll get a coffee..lol. All the cats are sat inside the window because it's hammering down outside. And of course it's all my fault..well according to them..lol. I hope that you all have a fabulous weekend whatever the weather is like where you are. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting,

Gruffies and Guests....Lazy Days

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog. The theme for this month is 'Lazy Days' and I thought that this image of the happy hopper lazing in the tub was perfect. The image is from the House Mouse Decoupage cdrom, and I had great fun doing the decoupage. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing for me than sat doing my decoupage while either listening to music or watching the television.Sad as it may sound but to me that is the perfect evening..lol. I mounted the image and the backing paper ( which is from the House Mouse Triple cdrom) onto some dark blue card. I also mounted the greeting onto the same. I then diecut some leaves and coloured them with my promarkers and added some sequin flowers. I do hope that you will try and join in the fun. If you pop over to the blog, you will see all the other wonderful creations that the other members of the design team have created. There are some truly beautiful cards.

We were lucky enough this month to be sponsored by the wonderful teams over at Bugaboo Digi Stamps. They have also offered some digis as the prize for this month. The range that they offer really has to be seen to be believed. I can find an image suitable for anyone over at the Bugaboo site.

Well the coffee is calling and then I have some work to do. As I'm writing this, Raven is determined to sit on my arm and trying to type round her is quite funny. She is quite a weight and will not be moved, no matter how hard I try..lol. I will be back later with another card..so you can see it's a busy day today. My friend Dotty is hopefully coming to visit..so we will e catching up on all the news...and of course finding out how little Merlin is getting on. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

Shower time

Todays card features this lovely image from the House Mouse collection. I don't mind if it's House Mouse, a Gruffie or a Happy Hopper...I love them all. There is a current challenge over at the Gruffies and guests challenge blog and this was one I made for it. The theme is Lavender and Lace and is running all this month..why not pop over and join in the fun. I had a great time looking through all the images and deciding which one to use. In my collection of cds I have the Triple House Mouse cdrom, The House Mouse Decoupage cdrom and the Gruffies and Happy Hoppers cdrom. I found this image on the triple and decided that it would fit the theme. The border that I created came along because I was remembering an Austrian blind that my friend used to have in her bathroom. It was made out of white lace and was covered in bows. It was way over the top...even for me..lol ...so I created this border as a homage to the 80's.
The sun is still shining, here in the mountains today. I did listen to the weather forecast today and it did say that we may have thunderstorms later....so we will have to wait and see. Jeffrey is outside at the moment..if the thunder comes, he will be home before you can blink. He just hates the noise. None of the other cats are bothered about thunder..only my big baby boy. He is now the biggest cat in the house and bless him..he really is the baby of the house. All the girls stick up for him..it's so funny when he's having a bit of bother and they all run to him to offer their help. It's the 3 sisters..Rave, Tankie and Milky that are the A team in this house. Rave is actually now the top cat. She has something to say on most things and appears at the strangest moments. The funniest is when you should hope to have a packet of crisps in peace...well you have no hope. Should Rave hear a packet being opened..she's there. Her favourite are cheese and onion. Her all time favourite is Wotsits. She can eat them quicker than any human, as the husband of my friend the pa can attest.
Well the coffe is calling and then I need to get myself together and get some work done. I have some housework to do at some time because I have a friend calling tomorrow afternoon. I do know that I have some glittering to do today. No doubt Reg will be sparkling later..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.