House Mouse Christmas Cards

I took a class with Doyle in November but had to leave in the middle of it. I had all the cards already prestamped and precut so I decided to finish them when Maria, Teri, and I went to Rhonda's on January 2, 2014. It was our last hurrah before going back to work! They are so, so cute and I "changed them up" to my liking. I did learn one new thing: that embossing powder that you heat from underneath so it looks like snow and gold flecks. I love that stuff!!! I will probably find a way to put it on everything! I believe I will take the JOY one and make a few more changes so that it becomes next year's card. All are colored with copics. Here they are:

First one is an easel. I used stickles on the light bulb. It's also my first use of the embossing "glittery snow":

Second card. I am stamping "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" on the bottom right. It would fit just right!

Third card. How funny is that stamp!!! You can see I am starting to go overboard on the embossing powder LOL.

Fourth card. The mice took a sprig of pine and made a tree. Poor little things ~ it looks like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree!!! Again, the further along I go the more embossing powder I use. HA! These mice are in a snowstorm...

Last, the JOY card. I colored only the candy canes then used glass accents. In person, they look so real. I don't like the shade of green or competing red/white dotted paper. However, I love the b/w stamp with just the candy canes colored in. I want to turn a version of this into our 2014 Christmas card.

What NOT to do in embroidery

OK, made another newbie classic error. Well, I think it is! Never embroider something with lines on a fabric that has lines/grid marks. If you are not an expert at placement, this is what happens LOL ~ Notice the bar above "Marta" not aligned to the stripe in the towel. Ouch. Not even bothering to add the ruffles. I will say that the quality of the towel is really nice. Glad I got it. The next one will have a "swirly" design". LOL

Deli's Bday Card

Made this when Teri, Mari, and I got together at Rhonda's Scrapbook Depot for a last hurrah. I used Deli's favorite colors. The inside says, "Happy Birthday, Doll" LOL Stamp and die from MFT. Papers from my stash.

Stephen's Monogrammed Towel

Same Split Lincoln design as JM's but a different brand of towel (Vera Wang from Kohl's). It is a bit thicker and I think I didn't raise the presser foot enough so it "smushed" the stitches. Also, on the lower part of the "S" there was a slight "shift". It was definitely the plushness of the towel/presser foot combo. It came out nice nevertheless but I really think it could have been much better. He loves blue so he'll love it.

Teri's Scarf

Everyone is wanting to get in on some scarf action! This is Teri's since she wears mostly b/w. Taking it to her tmrw at our first session of bible study.

First T-Shirt Embroidery

Woo hoo!!! Success!!!!!!! My first attempt at embroidering jersey (a t-shirt I got at Kohl's). I ironed some fusible stuff on the back for stability, which in retrospect I think was unnecessary but I read it on the boards and so I followed instructions. The font is built-in to my Spirit. The stitches are so clean and crisp! SO HAPPY with my BL!!! There really are some gorgeous fonts and designs on that machine. So elegant! Also, just one layer of tear away. No hooping - I used a baste stitch. I wanted to wear it today for our scrapbooking hoopla but didn't have time to make shirts for Maria and Teri. Those to come soon...

JM Embroidered Towel

My first towel and it was a GREAT success!!! No skipped stitches, no thread breaks. The monogram is called Split Lincoln and is from Rivermill. This towel was on sale at Kohl's for only $7.99 and now it looks like a million bucks! I used the Marlins colors for this one. Surprise, surprise. Oh, and this design is 6.5" high. It is HUGE and I now know better for next time. Maybe a max of 5" for a towel's monogram. Nevertheless, Jon Michael loved it.  :)

Baby Lock Spirit

I fought with myself for almost a year about getting a different embroidery machine ever since getting the Futura from HSN which turned out to be money wasted. UGH. Anyway, the Singer does sew well so I am keeping that one just for sewing and then I got the Spirit from Cynthia (Cynthia's Fine Fabrics) in Tamarac. It is a DREAM... and soooooooo pretty. I am in love!

Cute Halloween Witch!

Wanted  to make a quick Halloween card for Giselle. I used the trusted A Child's Year cartridge. These are the cutest images of kids in costume! Of course, I forgot to post until January 2014 but it truly was made in October 2013 LOL