My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Friday, August 04, 2017

House Mouse Christmas Cookie Decorating

Wafting Gingerbread Baking Scents to all my blogging friends world-wide!

(Yikes! My arms are getting sore)

How's that for a Christmasy hello?


I am smitten by the House Mouse characters, and thoroughly enjoy coloring them in their fun antics. They make great story telling, all in a single stamp!

These little guys are enjoying a homespun, homemade Christmas tradition.
Wish my Gingerbread cookies came out looking so pretty!


I've used Anna Griffin papers with a Sue Wilson frame die. 

TIP:

The Cloud Nine Microfine Velvet Glitter has been "taped in place" behind the frame, with the sticky portion facing front. The Glitter is actually "white", but has a lot of transparency to it. 
Behind the image, I've die cut a green foam frame to match the size of the ornate frame, to "pop up" the stamped panel. Because the dimensional foam behind the frame is green, a muted version of the green is showing through the glitter, matching the leaves on my card.

(for a quick tutorial on applying double sided tape to a frame, please visit my blog post)

Colored with Copic Markers, the images has been distressed with Forest Moss Distress Ink and Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse (around the edges, in the flowers, and in the colored panel).


Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettias are die cut in red, and embossed, with more Indian Gold Embellishment Mousse. The burlap flower is also a Tim Holtz die. The leaves are from PoppyStamp's Blooming Poinsettia set. Cut in green, the leaves have been lightly smooshed with SeaSpray Green Embellishment Mousse.

Finished card - so sweet!


Thanks for joining me today, my friends!

Submitted to the following fine challenges:
  1. House Mouse and Friends #246 Christmas in July 8/7 (sep post)
  2. ABC Christmas (Aug 2) "R is for Red" 9/1
  3. Addicted to Stamps - Addicted to Holidays #253 8/8
  4. The Merry Christmas Challenge #28 "Animals" 8/8
  5. Kerst-Christmas (#8) Anything Christmas (2nd entry) 9/1
  6. The 12 Months of Christmas Challenge #32 Traditional Christmas Colors (FT) 9/1
  7. Shopping Our Stash #314 Countdown to Christmas (C13) 8/8
  8. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge (3rd entry) C15 - #11 Anything Christmas Goes 8/7 (sep post)
  9. Aud Sentiments Challenge #185 No Sentiment on Front of Card 8/7 (sep post)
  10. Give a Crafter A Cookie #74 Inspiration Photo 8/10



Stamping Hugs,


44 comments:

Marilyn said...

Fabulous Christmas card. I love those industrious mice!

*Vicki* said...

Yes, I own many of these sweet little meeces and love them to pieces! :) You have done a wonderful job with the coloring my friend!! I love how you've framed with your pretty glittery backing and oh my that burlap poinsettia has me swooning!! Really gorgeous festive card my friend!! Have a lovely weekend! HUGS :)

Lisa said...

Oh, this is so sweet, Donna!! The mice are so adorable decorating their gingerbread man!! I love the gorgeous layered and textured poinsettia!! So beautiful!! And the sparkle is fabulous!! Love this, my friend!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Lori Kobular said...

Who could possibly resist the adorable House Mouse stamps? I know I sure can't! I would love to get them all, but that won't be happening! I love your Christmas card! The papers go beautifully with your perfectly colored gingerbread cookie chefs! Love your card!!

Valerija said...

This is a superb card Donna. Love the image.
Valerija xx

Beebeebabs said...

Such a cute card and image - great job coloring as always. The mice look so real. Have a fabulous weekend!!!

SD pooja said...

How cute ,loved the mix the of textures on your card Donna !

aussie aNNie said...

LOVE this card De, amazing colouring on your beautiful House Mouse.xx
Have a lovely weekend.♥
[aNNie]

aussie aNNie said...

A fabulous project De and gorgeous colours used. Thank you so much for entering into our current challenge and good luck in the draw. Hope to see you again next challenge with your cute work…. {aNNie}Designer for House Mouse and Friends

Bunny said...

This is a really cute project. I love the colors and the die that you used. The papers are very pretty. I love this image and just NOW noticed that they are making an ornament. Your coloring on this card is very nice. Thank you for joining us at House Mouse and Friends Monday challenge. {Bunny} Designer for House Mouse and Friends

Evert time I see your post I always wonder where in FL you live. We are in Jacksonville Beach.

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Those gingerbread cards looks good enough to eat.

Hope you are having a nice weekend. Sue

brenda said...

A lovely creation as always Donna.

Sorry to be such a bad blogger still, I can but hope for better health soon and to get back to normal again - whatever normal might be !

B x

KarinsArtScrap said...

gorgeous christmas card Donna
Gr Karin

and


Thank you for playing with us at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.
Goodluck and hope we see you again.

Gr Karin DT Member




Linda Simpson said...

Oh Donna this is just fabulous! I love these cute mice and gorgeous poinsettia too. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Babs said...

Oh so adorable Donna, I am slowly starting to fall in love with these house mouse little characters , I have a couple of them,your frame is beautiful and I love your card to pieces lol.. enjoy your weekend.

Hugs Babs x

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is so cute and gorgeous De. Your colouring is amazing and I love the dies you have used. The poinsettia is beautiful.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Christine said...

Hi Donna awww these guys are having soooo much fun with this cute gingerbread man..lol awesome colouring lots of work in this master piece..

Thanks for sharing with us @ House Mouse & Friends Mon. chall this wk..come back soon.

smiles Christine mousey DT xxx

Janis Lewis said...

Cute! Thanks for sharing at The Merry Christmas Challenge.
~Owner/DT Janis

sarascloset said...

Hi Donna, Thanks for the waft! I've just gained 3 pounds from smelling those delicious cookies! How sweet this Christmas card is with those mice and that beautiful rustic poinsettia! Very clever of you to use the 'other' TH flower from the burlap. That flower petal always falls apart on me, so I'm sure if I made one from burlap it would just be a pile of threads! Gorgeous poinsettia! Great tip on the adding the glitter, but I've never seen green foam tape before! This card reminds me of one of our old traditions of making Christmas mice cookies at Christmas with the kids. They are peanut butter with mini M & M eyes, a peanut nose and Twizzler whip tails. It's a recipe out of Taste of Home.

PS Crinoline is a great product to make flowers with. I think you can get it from Hobby Lobby and Frilly and Funkie, too. I am nursing a small piece I bought a couple years ago. Sending hugs your way!

Leslie Miller said...

I'm so glad you showed a close up of your poinsettia arrangement because I love LOVE it! The layers and colors and the heart center. Brilliant to put the burlap flower layer in there. It adds so much texture and warmth to it. Love the sheen of the embellishment mousse and, yes, the greens all match up beautifully. Your coloring of this cute image is fantastic. The gold on the bell -- wow! Such a happy, darling, wonderful Christmas card!

cotnob said...

A beautiful card Donna, such a cute House-Mouse image and lovely vintage feel - a super design.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Verna Angerhofer said...

This is such a fabulous and fun card design. I just love the image and adding the poinsettia in the corner really dressed it up. At first I thought I was going to get some cookie decorating tips and so I was getting geared up for that. But seeing this awesome card is fantastic too!

Pia S said...

It's adorable! Super coloring and glitter detail and I love how that poinsettia turned out. Great idea to put in a bit of burlap there.

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

This is absolutely the prettiest Christmas card I've ever seen, Donna. I love the SW frame cut out of patterned paper and layered on top of your green glittery paper and your coloring of those adorable mice is out of this world. The red shading you did around the image really sets it off beautifully. You always add so many tiny little personal touches like the gold on the embossed poinsettia (stunning), the heart, and the burlap flower layer. They all add to the Christmas feel of the card. I really, really love this!!! It just blows my mind what beautiful cards you make.

Robyn Oliver said...

Fabulous card Donna, great warmth in your colours too

Ina G said...

Absolutely gorgeous Donna. I WANT one of those yummy smelling gingerbread men please.

crafty-stamper said...

Gorgeous Christmas card Donna love the fabulous House Mouse image and great textured poinettia-love the sparkle through the die-cut frame too
Carol x

Stampsnob. said...

They are doing a better job than I would Sweet card Donna the coloring is to die for ..Lis

AO Creations said...

Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at TMCC, good luck!!! Amy DT

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my goodness these little guys are just way too cute, terrific coloring, even of the background! Love the glitter touch you gave to it. Gorgeous layering on the flower, love the use of burlap and great detail in flower diecuts!

lauren bergold said...

what a sweet holiday card! thanks for SHOPPING YOUR (xmas in august!) STASH with us this week! :)

Planetsusie said...

Hi there Donna - thank you so much for the comments about my teddy bear card - can't believe you've never had one!! Mind you my next favourite is those HM stamps - they are all so sweet and I'm a huge fan. The expressions on their faces just set me off giggling - again!!! Love this card and those are definitely my Christmassy colours! Now I'm just soaking up those gingerbread smells!!! Hugs to you Sue Pxxx

NanaConnie said...

I absolutely adore House Mouse images and this is one of my favorites, Donna. Love how you did the 'green' sparkle behind the frame and that poinsettia is magnificent! Beautiful how you die cut each layer and then put them all together. Love the heart in the center.
I'm playing catch up with my blog visits and know you'll understand that I didn't have time to do individual comments on each post. But I did visit each one and you've been so wonderfully productive while I was gone. Also, a public Thank You for all of your efforts on behalf of 2CCC. :-D

Silvis Kreativstube said...

Hallo liebe Donna,
eine wunderschöne so niedliche Karte hast du gestaltet. Ich bin verliebt in die süßen Mäuse. Absolut perfekt gestaltet. Ganz liebe Grüße herzlichst Hugs Silvi

coldwaters2 said...

Wow what a beautiful festive card Donna those mices always bring a smile, love the colours and that flower is amazing
hugs
lorraine x

Janice said...

Such a cute image Donna, which you have made into a beautiful card, I love it!
Janice x

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Haha that such a cute card! So fun

Christina said...

Hi Donna! When I first saw this House of Mouse image on your Instagram, I couldn't help but giggle. Too funny and cute! I don't have any HOM images, but this one I must get. Oh love the colors! Sorry I'm a bit slow visiting blogs these days. You know what I've been up to :D Also yesterday hubby and I celebrated our 11th anniversary. Where did the time goes?! I hope your weekend has been lovely and the weather gorgeous. Take care Donna. Hugs.

Donna Phelan said...

I can see why you're smitten, how cute and adorable!!! Perfect colors and design. Loving that glitter panel too! The poinsettia layered flower looks AHmazing! This is so Merry Merry! :)

Donna said...

Super cute house mouses!
Thanks for counting down to Christmas with the crew from SHOPPING OUR STASH!

Sue said...

Awesome card! Love the colors and your your glittery goodness. I can smell the warm gingerbread!!! Color work is so beautiful, card just glows. Thanks for sharing with us at the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge, and congrats on it being chosen top three.

Hugs
Sue

Bobby said...

Your Copic coloring of that darling image is fabulous, Donna. Thanks for sharing your holiday card with us at Addicted to Stamps and More.

Anonymous said...

Lovely card I love HM and love your flower too! Thanks for joining in with our challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge,
hugs Samantha :0)

Granmargaret said...

Lovely card. Thank you for joining the challenge at 12 months of Christmas. Hope to see you again next time.