Saturday, May 30, 2020

Birthday Garden Mice

Hello and welcome!  I hope this day finds you well, whether you're still staying home or finally getting out and about.  Rich and I do get out, but not among crowds.  No restaurants or movies.  Essential shopping only.  We keep our distance, wear masks around people, and generally accept that this new way of life will be with us for a while.  Now and then I even still get to play in my room!

Today's card started out with the pretty little not-yet-used die which I cut for the center.  It's one of those dies that really needs the card designed around it, rather than the other way around.  One thing led to another:  Found a sentiment that fit nicely, then embossed and sanded a panel to frame and highlight the die.  For color I added a Newton's Nook Garden Mice stamp (from my friend, Cat).  Since it was a birthday card I added a die cut balloon, too.




I just love this little die!  It's Jeanine's Art Garden Classics Oval JAD10004.  Maybe retired?  I saved the flowers that popped out, gave them shape by pressing into foam with the end of a paint brush (my make-do stylus), then reinserted them.  Liquid Pearls in the flower centers and on the embossed mat.

It looks as though the mouse is using the tulip like a pogo stick.  I guess that's one way to get to a garden party!





My mouse is hopping along to the following challenges:

Double D -- Begins with "M".  Getting in just under the wire with this one.  I have "M" for "mouse".
NBUS Challenge #14.  My never before used schtuff is the die cut.




Thanks for dropping in!  Stay well and be happy.



27 comments:

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What an adorable card! I love your little mouse - so cute!! The dies are so pretty. They just make the card! Hope you have a good weekend.

Christine Alexander said...

so cute, yes your little mouse looks like he's on a pogo stick :) Great birthday card Leslie.

aussie aNNie said...

Adorable card, I love the hot pink colour in the flowers and the teal green in the background...stunning.xx

Darlene said...

OMG this is awesome! Love the beauty and softness of the background embossing then the pop of color with this adorable (pogo hopping ... lol) mouse image. Your coloring is perfect and how smart to add the balloon. PERFECT and BEAUTIFUL!
Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D ‘Begins with “M”’ challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often. BIG HUGS!
Darlene
DOUBLE D Challenge Blog
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Please stop in for a visit!

Darnell said...

That is a beautiful frame die, perfect for the sediment, and I love the way you popped out the sweet flowers, stylusized them and put them back with pearly centers! Your coloring on the mouse is absolute perfection, Leslie, and adding the pink balloon makes it very festive! Glad you are keeping safe and sane and thank you for sharing at NBUS! Hugs, Darnell

Amelia Breytenbach said...

Such a crisp and beautiful card Leslie. Love the layout, embossing and the colours, so very pretty. That mouse is adorable. Thanks for sharing with us at Double "D" Challenges.
Amelia (DT Double "D" Challenges)

Margaret said...

So adorable! I love the beautiful color you used for the embossed folder and LOVE that die. Why are they always retired? LOL! Cute little image and fabulous card.

Bonnie said...

Wonderful coloring on this sweet mouse and his flower and balloon, Leslie! Love that background! A beautiful die cut and I love how you've embossed and sanded the background! The soft aqua and pink make a beautiful color combination!

Pauline said...

ACK! Oh my goodness how sweet is this card Leslie! The mouse, the balloon, the little oval frame with those tiny flowers and then your sanded down frame, just beautiful! Your colours are so soft and pretty, love the bright pink, just makes everything pop! A lovely birthday card Leslie, this makes me smile. I really like how you did the little white flowers by using your stylus, with a drop of liquid pearls. I'm still swooning over here. Love this!! Enjoy your day!

Donna Ellis said...

How delightful to add the sweet birthday balloon to your NBUS mousie and the gorgeously elegant backdrop, right down to those tee-tiny flowers. Your card is beautiful, Leslie! xx

Verna Angerhofer said...

Such a sweet image and I love the delicate design of your beautiful card.

Yogi said...

so cute. I'm staying home also even with the lessening of restrictions. I'm reading too many scary things happening in the US. Keep safe and have a great day

Conniecrafter said...

Oh that mouse is so sweet, it does kind of look like he is trying to climb the flower :) or giving it a big hug. That die is very pretty and looks like it was made just for that embossing folder. I never thought of putting the flowers back in after molding them, I always use them somewhere else or on another project, that's a great idea, now if I can remember, LOL. All came together beautifully!
We are the same here, only essentials, and stay away from crowds.

Kathy Krug said...

Well, you managed to get it all in this card.... beautiful dies and embossing, great coloring and that little bit of whimsy that I always love in your cards. So glad you joined us at DD.

Cat Craig said...

Leslie, this is GORGEOUS, your delicate layers and fabulous coloring all come together delightfully. Stay Safe and hugs.

Lynette said...

What a cute little mousie, beautiful die, and wonderful card! I always love to see what you create.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Leslie, we were on the same brain wave with our cards today, I also jump in at the Double D challenges with a mousy card, he looks so adorable indeed, great minds think alike, eh?
I love your little mouse and that gorgeous embossing folder you used to frame it, the die that frames the sentiment is so delicate and beautiful.
Hope your Sunday is going great.
Hugs.
Maria.
PS. we both made a birthday card, so awesome.

CaroleAnn said...

Loving that die-cut frame - so delicate and then you framed it with a beautifully embossed background! It all came together so nicely and then that adorable - pogo hopping (so funny) - mouse; which is colored to perfection. I just love your card designing ideas!!!! Hugs

Vicki said...

This is spectacular, Leslie! Beautiful embossing and your coloring...now words! Overall elegant and enchanting! Thanks for joining the Double D, "Begins with M" Challenge.

Birgit said...

Your card is pure delight! The embossed frame pairs perfectly with the lacy die cut frame. A true match made in heaven. And that little mouse po-going his way to the garden party is darling. I love this card so much! Thanks for linking up to the Double D "M" challenge. Best of luck to you!

Glenda said...

Gorgeous my friend and I love the colors you used! That cute little mouse just makes me smile!

crafty-stamper said...

Gorgeous cards and dies love the cute mouse and the idea of him using the tulip like a pogo stick.Helen knew all about the snail before she got it and she is the only one who handles it thankfully lol
Carol x

Ros Crawford said...

Now those kind of mice I can deal with... Not the ones my cat brings in... Beautiful card Leslie and the colouring is wonderful!

Cindy Beach said...

I just love the way you designed the card around this pretty die, it's so elegant! You always inspire me with the used of distressed embossed card stock! It adds so much, Leslie! Of course the adorable mouse-on-the-go is sweetest of all.

Darnell said...

Yay, Leslie! Popping back to congratulate you on the well-deserved Top 3 at Double D!! Hugs, Darnell

laurie said...

What a sweet card. I love that embossed background. I need to get my folders out and do more of that too!

Loll said...

Your center oval is really beautiful and I can see why you had to buy this die! I love how you've popped up the tiny flowers and added a little hit of colour with liquid pearl centers. So pretty! And your framing around this is gorgeous too. Beautiful flourish design in the prettiest of blues. Love the sanding to the highlight the raised areas. Your mouse is adorable, bright and so fun. Love the colouring. Great card Leslie! xx