8-bit Kisses, Jalapeno Wishes, and Dandelion Dreams

Hidy ho, crafty peeps!

This is the time of year when my card making goes into hyper-drive.  Multiple birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, anniversaries, and graduation find me sequestered away in my studio for days on end. Colored pencils fly across the paper and scissors move so quickly they become a fussy-cutting blur that covers my floor with paper shrapnel in a 3-foot radius around my chair.

You can count how many days I've been at this by the growing collection of mostly-empty water bottles that now litter my work desk.

My studio looks absolutely post-apocalyptic, and I have barely begun.

5 cards down... 9 or so to go.

Geeze Louise...that means I'm not even half way there.

Sigh.

Here are the latest cards in the lineup--Jonathan's birthday, Jodi's birthday, and Richard's birthday. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm kinda stuck on House Mouse images at the moment. I'm certain this phase will pass. But, for now, a lot of people on my list are getting some iteration of House Mouse...and some images are being used for multiple cards.

Jonathan's Birthday

For Jonathan's Birthday, I decided on an 8-bit game theme...Classic Nintendo. I constructed the game controller (and cord) by hand out of cardstock. It's about 1/4 inch thick. The controller base is actually a little flat box out of matching cardstock. I know the details are a bit wonky...but I cut it all out by hand, so yeah...it's wonky...but he knew EXACTLY what it was when he saw it. Phew. I kept the background simple by just using the "A2 Arrows" (Paper Studio) directly on the card base.

 

Inside details:

 
Jodi's Birthday

I have a thing for dandelions. Whenever I see their fluffy little heads, I'm compelled to pick them, close my eyes, make a wish, and blow all their seeds off. I know it's corny. Corny is a good thing. I really like dandelions. They're far-too maligned a flower. One man's weed is another's prized blossom. They're a treasure...just like Jodi. This stamp is called "Make a Wish" by House Mouse (Stampendous). The circles are made with "Loopy Circle" Nestability dies (Spellbinders). The card boasts lots of layers, patterns, and textures and just the right amount of bling...just like Jodi.

 Coloring Details:
I paper-toled (some call it decoupaged) the image in layers so that it's 3-D.
Yes, I colored it with colored pencil. Why even ask?

Richard's Birthday

As I've posted in here before, Richard is a "Pepper Belly". He puts hot pepper on EVERYTHING. I've decided he does this because his taste buds are all worn out. He doesn't necessarily like mice...but I do. This House Mouse stamp is called "Jalapeno Peppers" (Stampa Rosa). I believe it's retired. I coated the pepper, jar, and candles with crystal lacquer to make them shiny. The diecut background circles were made with "Inverted Scallop Circle" Nestability dies (Spellbinders). The green accent paper was punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch. Don't ask me the name of it. This image, too, is paper-toled (decoupaged) and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I wanted bling on this card too...but it had to be "manly bling". How'd I do?

I would like to enter the Jalapeno card in the House-Mouse & Friends contest 

# HMFMC194 - Summer fun

Thanks, as always, for coming out to Left Field!!!