Christmas in July

Good morning!

It's a hot, sunny day here in Missouri. What better time to think about cooler days? I follow Sue Drees' blog, and she is a long time member of the House-Mouse Design Team. I've thought for a long time that I'd like to enter a challenge there, but simply haven't had the time to do so. Today is the day!

The theme for July is either Anything Goes, or Christmas in July. I don't own very many House-Mouse stamps, so I borrowed this fun stamp from my bestie, Shirley. I saw potential for Christmas colors in this sweet image!

Here's what I made:

The image was colored with Copic Markers, and the cup itself was all shined up with some Glossy Accents. The dies are unknown vendors - came to me in a grab bag blog candy that I won a few years ago. Hope you like it!

I'm entering this card in the House-Mouse challenge.

Have a blessed day, and thanks for stopping by! I have one more 'forgotten' post that is scheduled for tomorrow - hope to see you back here in the morning!

Smiles,

Patti J.

Happy Saturday!

Well, we have some snow on the ground! I'm thinkin' the drifts are maybe over a foot. The Weather Reports say that Farmington had 4-7" in actual accumulation. The sun came out today and melted quite a bit of the top layer, so now we have our fingers crossed that this won't turn to ice after dark! Hope that where you are is warm and dry!

I have a couple of cards today - the first one is for the House Mouse Challenge #61. The challenge was to create a faux grid. I created my grid using the Scor-Pal, after coloring my image. I then applied a couple of layers of clear embossing powder. Hope you like it!

The next card is for the Cuttlebug Spot challenge. The challenge for this week was to use silver and black. Here is my card for the challenge - hope you like it!

I had a tough time with the pictures today - cards look all crooked and misshapen - sorry! Couldn't fix the glare on the mouse card - sheesh! Some days are just like that, YOU know what I mean, I know you do!!! Hoping that DD will have time soon to give me some lessons with my camera!

Well, have a blessed Sunday, and if I don't see you before, I'll be back for a Magical Monday! Here is a sneak peek of my Monday project!

Patti J.

Food for thought: Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed, and permanently set!

At the Beach...

At the Beach...Brrrr...don't we wish!

Help...I've fallen and I can't get up! (lol)

Mary's challenge #60 at House Mouse, is to use the "On the Beach" Theme.

At first, I didn't think I had a thing to create with. Then BAM, it hit me!

While I was at Hobby Lobby the other day, their stamps were all 50% off,

and I bought this cutie patootie! So... here is my card!

I had some scraps in my stash - one looked like sand, and the other like ocean waves, and another scrap that had these flip flops. The 'drink' is pink - all coloring is done with my Koh-I-Noor pencils.

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I am also entering this card at Pile it On, where challenge #30 is 'Clear'. As you can see, I've put Clear Laquer on the glass, so I think this works!

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Also, the challenge at Creative Card Crew is 'Distressing'. I have distressed everything here with my Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan Ink and a sponge.

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I had dinner tonight at Los Margurita's with my BF Tami, and OMG, I ate WAY too much, and am so full! I can't believe it's been over four months since we have gotten together. Tami is one of the few things I miss about working! We worked together from 1996-2008. Love ya Tam!

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DH got to his jobsite today (4.5 hr. drive) to find a busted water main, so he's wet from the waist down, high temp there today was 20, so believe me when I tell you he is shivering HIS timbers!!!

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Well, I'm off to think about what I'm going to do on a project due the 10th!

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Hope that you are all staying warm and healthy, and are enjoying this wonderful life!

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Patti J.

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Food for thought:

A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where a train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station.....

Winter Wishes...

The challenge this week at House Mouse is brought to us by DT member, Lori. The challenge is to use the theme: "Winter Wishes".

Well, I don't know about you, but, following all of the rush of the holiday season, all I ever wish for after Christmas is a NAP!!!

Look at these little cuties - all settled in for their long winter's nap!

The perfect image to use this week!

CS is DCWV, and the DP is from a recycled paper pad from K and Company.

The pom pom is made with Sparkle Fluff!

Hope you like it!!!

We have a houseguest this week... a lady that works with DD was flying home to Witchita, Ks. for the holidays, and had no place to go with her 'pup'.

Meet Chakota - our Christmas houseguest! (She moved, and the photo is blurry...) She is SO timid - scared to death of everyone and everything. She's finally warmed up (REALLY warmed up) to me, but jumps a foot off the floor when the furnace kicks on, or the phone rings.

She's "almost" housetrained, so needless to say, I've already cleaned up one mess today. Hopefully, after she's here another day, she'll fit right in! Her 'momma' is coming home on the evening of the 26th, and I'm sure Chakota will be happy to see her!

Last, but certainly not least, here are a couple of photo's of our Nativity Scene. This is always the very first thing to go up, actually going up a week or so before any other decorations. As I gently unbox and place each piece, I quietly pray for friends, family members, military troops and their families, and many other things. I feel like this always starts our holiday season off with a feeling of peace and love.

There are also a couple of photo's of our blurry tree - just could NOT get it to photograph well. It's very pretty, nearly touches the ceiling - we actually had to bend the top down for the angel to sit on top. We've had a real tree for years and years, but last winter, we had some family crisis, and ended up needing to put up a tree quite literally at the last minute, so DH brought this one in - I thought he really did a good job of 'tree shopping'!!!

Our home is not fancy or large, but it is home, and we will probably be here until we are carried out in a pine box! We have raised the kids here, and the memories are so special to us!

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

Have a great night!

Patti J.

Food for thought: If you were paid five cents for every kind word you spoke or thought, or were charged five cents for every unkind word or thought... would you be rich or poor?

House Mouse Challenge

Hello!!!

Wowzers, talk about a challenge! House Mouse has the most incredibly cute images, and I've only done their challenge a few times. I decided that I would give it a shot today! Janneke's challenge this week is to use a HM image on a double pocket bag! Thank goodness that a tutorial was included!

Here's what I cooked up this evening... I thought about putting make-up in the bag since the image is busy getting her cheeks nice and rosy for her date with Mr. Mouse... however, most of the make-up that I could find to go in the bag is as old as I am! So... I decided what better use of this adorable bag than to hold some adorable greeting cards!

As usual... my image is colored with colored pencils and low odor mineral spirits!

Thanks for stopping by - hope you like it!

Have a great week!

Patti J.

Food for thought.....He who laughs last, thinks slowest!

Chalky Fingers...

Hello!

First, I want to wish each of my Angel friends a wonderful trip to Wichita this week. I think that most are leaving tomorrow. Hopefully, the weather will be nice, and all will have a great time at Seminar! Be careful ladies!

My card today is my first ever House Mouse card. I've never used their stamps before! They are adorable! This little guy is called Chalky Fingers, and as you can see, he's at the chalkboard. What a cutie patootie! The sentiment is from Great Impressions. I made this card for a challenge over at the House Mouse Challenge site. My H.M. coloring needs some definite work, but I will probably play again!

Hope you have all had a great day - summer school is over on Thursday here, and I'm looking forward to that (I'm pretty sure the kids are too!).

Take care!

Patti J.

~If we must disagree, let us not be disagreeable!