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

Thursday, June 16, 2016

House Mouse and Butterflies Accordion Tag Card

Hi, sweet friends!
Today's project is a result of the current House Mouse Challenge + Use My STUFF!

As much as coloring brings relaxing delight, there are many stickers in my stash screaming for attention! Hence today's project.

Because the HM challenge is "butterflies" there are lots of little butterflies keeping these mice company.



All of the products on these cards are years old (and in some cases DECADES!) 
hanging head in shame...

So, out came the old, old, OLD accordion tag, the REALLY old papers, and I got down to business.
Each panel is 3.25 inches wide, and there are 6 panels in the accordion tag. Each packet contained 5 accordion tag sets. I bought these from Paper Cut at least 8 years ago, but probably longer than that. The price said $5.00 LOL

K and Company and Stampin' Up papers were used in the layers. The Martha Stewart punches worked out well with this size panel.

Here it is closed up. The ribbon holding it closed is about 15" long because it is only behind the first panel's layer, and wrapped around the closed accordion:


Love the encouraging sentiment by Washington Irving:


“There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.”

I have even put little stickers on some of the butterfly wings.

The extra large (gigantic brads) were a chore putting into place! Yikes!
They have been distressed with Sparkle N Sprinkle Silver Pearl embossing powder.
Just pick the brad up with tweezers, heat it up, and dip into the EP jar. Watch the magic happen as the EP melts without any help:

Thanks for visiting today. May you each enjoy a little special surprise in your week-end!



Products:

  • HM Stickers
  • Sparkle N Sprinkle: Silver Pearl EP391 to distress the 3 giant eyelets
  • Ink: Pearl Lavender Brilliance
  • Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug, and Constellations by Couture Creations
  • Dies: IO Mini Butterflies 255, Spellbinders Classic Oval and Scallop Oval
  • Punches: EKS Corner, MS Daisy Edge, MS Laurel Leaf
  • Lace, Ribbon, Pearls, Large Eyelets, Miscellaneous
  • Paper: KandCompany designer, SU lavender, frosted vellum
  • Stamps: Wordsworth and SU
  • Spritzes and Distress inks for some of the lace


Challenges I'm playing in:

  1. Crafting with Dragonflies Challenges - #59 Card with Dragonflies or Butterflies as the main focus 6/24 (sep post 2 wks out)
  2. House Mouse and Friends Challenge - #221 Butterflies! 6/19
  3. Crafty Girls Creations #21 Just For Fun - anything goes - 6/29
  4. Crafting with an Attitude  #16 Anything Goes 6/26
  5. One Stitch at a Time #264 Layer It Up 6/28

sweet hugs,

62 comments:

Stampsnob. said...

What a beautiful screen card of course you know how blue wins my heart . Donna I am sorry for the loss of Jerry and hope the peace is in the memories.....Lis

NanaConnie said...

I love, love, LOVE this fantastic accordion card, Donna! Such delicious little touches of ribbon and lace and delicate die cuts. Nothing is cuter than a House Mouse and all the butterflies and dragonflies just make this feel lovely and summery. Great combo of blues, periwinkles, and neutrals. You certainly do know how to design masterpieces, my friend. :-D

Olga Fink said...

Such a gorgeous creation Donna! lovely colors!
xoxo Olga

Beebeebabs said...

Absolutely beautiful thanks for sharing!!!

Desire Fourie said...

Donna this is such an inspirational House Mouse creation. Just adore the lace, ribbon, colours and accordian tag design. Beautifully designed and executed.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Becky said...

What a cute little folder. I love House Mouse mice, although I only have one stamp. They are such cute little critters, and they are well suited to your project.

Linda said...

Hi Donna, no need to hang your head in shame! You used it, and very well, too, and the fact that the products are old adds a certain rustic, vintage and very appealing edge. Beautiful!

Shona Erlenborn said...

What a lovely little masterpiece! Each panel delicately created, with gorgeous punches and dies. Love the color scheme and the beautiful sentiment. It appears you had a lot of fun with this creative project!

Unknown said...

Well this is just so stinkin' cute! LOVE the tags and the accordion fold. The images are so cute and the use of the dies, lice, pearls and ribbons is just fantastic!!!

Pamellia said...

WOW, what a project Donna!! I am loving the accordion style of this, how glorious!! Beautiful colours and although I am a huge fan of butterflies, I have to admit that the cutsie little mice images have stolen the spotlight for me!! How wonderfully darling! hugs :)

Lori Kobular said...

Donna this accordion tag card is absolutely gorgeous! I love how each tag section has a different mouse! Each one is beautiful, but when you put them all together like this it is very impressive! Someone is going to treasure this card for sure!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous booklet with the accordion tag, I love it. So many beautiful details and you would never know that some of the 'stuff' has been hanging around for a decade! What a great idea to get the older stash out to use. Take good care, Hugs, Shirleyxx

D K Crafts said...

Hi Donna. This is really beautiful. Love the colours and the detail on each tag making each one different but all working together. Lovely verse too. Donna

sarascloset said...

Donna, I'm so sorry for the loss of your brother in law, but happy he is finally at peace.

Your accordion fold tag is so pretty! The struggle with the eyelets is well worth the end result. Love that metal finish! The mice are adorable and the quote such valuable words! good for you to use some of that old stash--a girl after my own heart! Big hugs!

PS thank you for your really kind words of encouragement on my blog! You made my day! :)

KarinsArtScrap said...

wow stunning card Donna, lots of great and beautiful details.
Gr Karin


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

Gr Karin DT Member


maria's knutselplezier said...

What a sweet , beautiful card dear Donna, I just love it, it seems so delicate, with those pastel colours, it really touches me!!

Have a nice weekend
Maria

Linda Simpson said...

Fabulous Donna, love the sentiment and beautiful design.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Leslie Miller said...

Wowie! Fantastic, Donna! It's so great that the accordion base was already there for you, but I know it's still a lot of doin' to decorate every panel. I have many, many things that have been sitting around waiting for years and years like this. The paper is so cute! I've never seen House Mouse paper. It's darling! Every decorated panel is so beautiful. What a treasure this will be for the recipient. Wonderful quote of encouragement, too. I do so love a well-turned phrase. Great work and so good to see this morning!

Nancy Hill said...

Stunning and so soft gorgeous blue and lavender. Just gorgeous and can't keep my eyes off of this. The butterflies are stunning and love the little mice.

Janice said...

I love everything about this tag card Donna, your talent is absolutely endless!
Janice x

Bonnie Garby said...

What a beautiful accordion tag card! I'm so glad you invited me to stop by your blog. You do beautiful work!!

Carole J said...

Such a beautiful tag card. I love all the little details and the lace you used is fabulous.

Gloria Shirr (purpleglo) said...

Gorgeous Donna! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I would love to know how to create this adorable card. Is there a tutorial or was it a precut card kit? I couldn't figure that out. Sorry.

I posted a comment on Jerry's updates; as I just found out today. So sorry for your loss.

Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Gloria

http://purpleglocreations.blogspot.com
http://purpleglocreations.ctmh.com

Verna Angerhofer said...

Oh, wow! You certainly put lots of time and effort into that accordion tag card. And it certainly paid off as it is just gorgeous! I love all the butterflies and the lace and extras you added along the way. Each tag is fantastic!

McCrafty's Cards said...

Wow Donna, I love this so much all the gorgeous mice and trimming, its stunning!!
Kevin xx

pam said...

Beautiful created accordion tag card Donna, think I should hang my head in shame too! I also have these papers.. love the decoration.
Thinking of you and your family my dear friend..
Hugs Pam x

Jean Bullock said...

Gosh, this is beautiful! I love it. Perfect thing to do when you make a lot of pretty tags and can't decide which one to give. Give them all! Well done. I pinned as usual.

SewPaperPaint said...

This is just beautiful! I love the colors and gorgeous designs on each tag! So lovely!

KT Fit Kitty said...

Wow, Donna! This is beautiful and adorable at the same time! I love all the HM images and the gorgeous butterflies! I have not seen an accordion tag fold before - what a superb creation! I was wondering how you die-cut it but I saw that you wrote it was in a package - what an awesome find that was - again, I have not seen anything like this in my travels! Beautifully done! Hope you're feeling okay, my friend!

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Oh WOW! This is so awesome! Excellent work! Everything about it is so lovely, detailed, and adorable!

Sue said...

Hi Donna, WOW!!! That is stunning. I find a real satisfaction in using up old stash.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Jarka Ef said...

wonderful work, absolutely charming. I love it :-)

Christine said...

Hi Donna how adorable is this stunning accordion Gift tag. love all the super sweet images very creative work..

Thanks for sharing with us @ House Mouse & Friends Mon. chall this time.

smiles Christine xx

Linda Vich said...

You have worked wonders with your accumulated stash Donna! Very pretty!

Unknown said...

Simply stunning! Truly a work of art. Thanks so much for joining us at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge.

Hugs,
Snoopy ​♥

Monica said...

So detailed and so heavenly and charming. It shines with all it's beauty.

Lots of love,

Monica

Mari said...

Oh, this is amazing creation! Thanks for playing with us at Crafting with an Attitude :) xx Mari

coldwaters2 said...

Oh my what a beautiful project Donna I love these accordion tags, each one so lovingly designed, the papers are gorgeous I love all the little elements you have added, the butterflies, the lace and stickers this is quite magical a superb creation
hugs
lorraine x

Diane said...

Beautiful and stunning Donna !! A real micey wow card indeed !! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at HMAFMC and good luck sweetie !!

hugs Diane xx

Margaret said...

Cute card. Thanks for joining us at One Stitch at a Time. Maggie, DT

Sue said...

Donna, so happy that you found time to join the House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge!! And what a beautiful project with the accordian tag. Haven't even seen one of these in years. Wonderful little scenes and colors and oh so many lovely details, Donna style. Just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us!!

Hugs
Sue

Petra Swart said...

Oh, my, how creative, Donna and simply wonderful!!!! Such a lot of great detail and such lovely papers with all the little mice and sweet butterflies!!! Yeah for using some of those very old supplies so creatively, hey!!!!!
Hugz

Jessica K said...

This is GORGEOUS! Returning the love from fresh. by jess! :) New follower now! Can't wait to see all your creations!

Jess
www.freshbyjess.blogspot.ca

*Vicki* said...

Oh how cool you've made a wonderful accordion tag card!! LOVE the sweet HM images and the lace really makes it all come to life here!! It's almost like watching a scene unfold with it's beautiful blue sky background an pretty details!! Really wonderful project!! Thanks for sharing! HUGS

MaryH said...

Good for you at shopping your stash. And did you ever WOW with the accordion folds and decorating with all the little stickers. Each one is precious, and love the way you've framed the mini-designs with the punches too. What fun you must have had, sorting through stash, and deciding what works, what might not. It's a lovely look, and the cool colors are so very pretty. You've combined so many interesting objects to create a thing of beauty. Just noticed that brilliant bird in the right side bar, with the wonderful verse! Hope your week will be a good one, and Blessings & hugs coming your way. TFS

crafty-stamper said...

Great tag accordian card love the cute images,little butterflies and all the lace
Carol x

Mrs A. said...

My oh my this is absolutely adorable. So sweet with the mice and the butterflies. what a wonderful way to use up all those scraps and stickkers. Love the colour combination too. Nearly missed this due to my internet issues but glad I spotte4d it. Hugs Mrs A.

Christine said...

Hi Donna congrats on your win @ HMFMC with your super adorable Butterfly tag, much detail & creativity has gone into its making.. re the scallop card bases I use are purchased & believe are made in UK if you google scallop cards am sure there could be some US sellers.. As far as I know the CD roms are not for use on Macs..checkout this link from our best UK seller.

http://www.joannasheen.co.uk/craft-supplies/housemouse-designs/house-mouse-project-books-and-cdroms/the-housemouse-triple-cd-collection/

smiles Christine xx

ps if you contact us on our FB group page with your deets for your prize from Simon Says Stamp..

cotnob said...

This is absolutely stunning Donna, so many adorable little House-Mouse images and lots of beautiful details - a fabulous design, you are so creative.
Pauline
x

Patricia St Martin said...

Donna, You have my Sympathy in the loss of your brother in law.
You did a fantastic job with you accordion tag and to used the HM is so fun, love those little guys. I love the papers and stickers are so beautiful with your added touches makes these so beautiful, the edges and ribbon look wonderful, another stunning creation.
Hugs Pat

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my that is ever so cute and pretty at the same time, Lovely design and you have inspired me to get out my stickers again :)

Susan Hogan said...

Oldie but a goodie - isn't that what the saying is? This surely fits well. Thanks for sharing with us at Crafting with Dragonflies.

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Donna! Thank you for inviting me to visit your personal blog! I think I've seen nearly everything but I'll check to see what I've missed! Thanks for your comments on my coffee hop creations! Hope you have a nice weekend!

Helen said...

Just gorgeous - so much detail on the card and beautifully made.

Thanks for joining us at Crafting With Dragonflies.

Helen x

Granmargaret said...

Lovely work. Thank you for your comments on my blog.
Thank you for joining the challenge at Crafting with dragonflies. Hope to see you again next time.

Karthikha said...

That's so beautiful :)

Sue said...

Congrats on the win at HMFMC, so very deserving for this gorgeous creation!
Hugs
Sue

Dr Sonia S V said...

WOW what a fabulous creation...so many gorgeous gorgeous details and it must have been a labour of love
Cheers
Dr Sonia

Karen said...

Donna, this is absolutely beautiful! I have never made one of these, but you have me longing to do so. :o) The papers are heartwarming and I adore the bits of lace, pearls, and butterflies... everything is gorgeous. Stunning project from your lovely heart. :o)

Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Jeannie said...

Hi Donna! This is soooo beautiful and of course the one with the Dragonfly on it it my favorite :)

Jeannie T.
My Current Blog Challenge: Who's the Boss? (Embossing)
More Info to Join Here:
Dragonfly Journeys

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Donna just popped back to have another look at this beautiful project an to thank you so much for your lovely comments on my blog they are very much appreciated
hugs
lorraine x

Shoshi said...

This is utterly gorgeous, Donna. What a brilliant idea. There is no shame in using old stuff! We should all do more of that. I've got loads of ancient stash that I am determined to use up. Last year I tackled a paper stack I'd got when I first started, years ago, and which I never really liked, and I was able to transform it with lots of inking, and I made major inroads into that stack, making an album about my mum who died just over a year ago.

Shoshi