Hearts & Hugs Plaid Birthday Mouse

Supplies needed:

Project Recipe:

1. Cut cardstock and designer paper pieces to the following sizes using a Paper Trimmer:
   - card from Pool Party Cardstock at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and scored at 4-1/4"
   - 4" x 5-1/4" of blue and white diamonds design from Nests Of Winter 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper
   - 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" from Basic White Cardstock
   - 1-1/2" x 2-7/8" from Melon Mambo Cardstock
   - 2" x 4" from Pool Party Cardstock
   - 1-3/4" square from Basic White Cardstock
   - 1" x 4" from Basic White Cardstock

2. Pick out the rectangle die that cuts out a rectangle that is 3" x 4-1/4" from the Deckled Rectangles Dies. Put it on top of the 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" white rectangle on a platform on your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine. Run through the machine. Leave the die out.

3. Put the Deckled Rectangles Die on top of the Pool Party rectangle on a platform on your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine so you will cut one long edge of the Pool Party rectangle with a long edge of the die giving it a deckled edge. Run through the machine.

4. Move the die so you will cut the other long edge of the Pool Party rectangle giving it a deckled edge as well and leaving the entire Pool Party strip about 1" to 1-1/4" wide. Run through the machine.

5. Pick out the arch of hearts die from the Hearts & Hugs Dies. Put it on top of the vertical, white, deckled edge rectangle on a platform on your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine so it is centered side to side and is about 1/2" from the top. Run through the machine. Use the paper-piercing tool on the Take Your Pick to remove the pieces.

   Note: You are using the large, deckled white rectangle with the arch of hearts cut into it for this project. Save the tiny little white hearts that are cut out for another project or just recycle them.

6. Use the side of the brush tip of the Dark Melon Mambo Stampin' Blends to carefully outline the deckled edges of the white rectangle with the arch of hearts cut into it.

7. Use Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere the rectangle of Melon Mambo to the back of the white deckled rectangle cut out so the pink shows through the hearts.

8. Use Paper Snips Scissors to cut a small amount of the deckled white rectangle off the bottom.

9. Adhere the cut down, edged, and layered deckled white rectangle to the piece of vertical Nests Of Winter Designer Paper so it is centered side to side and is about 1/2" from the top.

10. Adhere the deckled edged Pool Party strip to the designer paper rectangle so it covers the cut down bottom of the deckled white rectangle and is about 1" from the bottom edge of the designer paper. The left and right edges should be even.

11. Cut a 4-1/2" piece and a 9" piece of the Black & Very Vanilla 3/8" Large Check Ribbon.

12. Lay the pieces of ribbon on some Grid Paper to protect your work surface. Use the brush tip of the Dark Melon Mambo Stampin' Blends to color both sides of both pieces of ribbon. Let dry for a minute or two.

13. Lay the shorter piece of colored ribbon across the designer paper/cardstock rectangle so it is centered over the Pool Party strip. Fold the ends of the ribbon over and secure the ribbon in place on the back with strips of Tear & Tape Adhesive.

14. Remove the protective backings from the Tear & Tape pieces and add Stampin' Seal to the back of the designer paper rectangle. Adhere the rectangle to the front of the Pool Party card.

15. Mount the mouse holding a heart image from the Hearts & Hugs Set on Block C. Ink it up with the Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad. Stamp it in the center of the white square.

16. Pick out the matching mouse die from the Hearts & Hugs Dies. Put it on top of the stamped mouse image on a platform on your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine so it is centered over the image. Run through the machine

    Tip: I find it better to cut out images before coloring them in. That way if the die slips as you are cutting you haven't wasted time and ink on the image.

17. Place the mouse cut out on some Grid Paper to protect your work surface. You need to make sure that you protect your work surface with paper as the Stampin' Blends Markers do bleed through.

18. Use the Dark and Light Melon Mambo Stampin' Blends to color in the mouse's tail, feet, nose, inside of his ear, and heart.

    Use the Light Basic Black Stampin' Blends, Dark and Light Gray Granite Stampin' Blends, and the Dark and Light Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends to color in the rest of the mouse.

    Use the Color Lifter as needed to remove excess ink.

19. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the colored mouse cut out to the front of the card so it is centered between the arch of hearts and the top of the Pool Party strip.

20. Mount the "hugs" sentiment of choice from the Hearts & Hugs Set on Block C. Ink it up with the Melon Mambo Ink Pad. Stamp it in the center of the skinny white strip leaving room to cut it out.

21. Pick out the long label with notched ends die from the Hearts & Hugs Dies. Put it on top of the stamped sentiment on a platform on your Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine so it is centered over the sentiment with the sentiment slightly closer to the right edge. Run through the machine.

22. Use Paper Snips Scissors to cut off the notched end on the left end of the sentiment cut out.

23. Adhere the sentiment strip to the front of the card as shown at a slight angle so it is roughly centered side to side under the mouse rectangle.

24. Tie a small bow in the center of the remaining, longer piece of colored ribbon. Trim the ends.

25. Use a Mini Glue Dot to adhere the ribbon bow to the front of the card at a slight angle as shown so it covers the cut left end of the sentiment strip.