This may not look as if it belongs in the TPT challengehosted this week by MrsBoz, but believe me, it does. Gather round, and I'll tell the tail. Some few years back, my dad mentioned he thought he had a mouse in the house. Did he listen to my advice, oh no. He started leaving food out especially, to be sure if he had mice. One poor little mouse on its own, poor thing. I told him how fast they bred - oh no, he just had one mouse. So, we went down to stay for Christmas and had a pretty sleepless few nights. The kitchen didn't freak me out too much, I always clean top to bottom before I cook anything there anyway. But all night long we heard rustlings and pattering. He lives in an old farmhouse with wooden panelling on the walls, and believe me, you hear everything. I'd bang on the wall behind my bed and get a few minutes silence, and then it would start up again. In the end I dreamt about mice - that they were in my shoes and even in the bed. Next time we went down we stayed in a B&B because I said we wouldn't stay till he dealt with the mice. It wasn't till they started chewing his clothes that he decided he had to do something - after that he trapped no less than 150 before he stopped counting. So I don't want mice for Christmas, although we are not going down there - plan A was that he comes up here.
5 3/4 inch card. Penny Black image stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with H2Os. Cut with Labels 1, edges sponged with Chestnut Roan. Foliage from Kodomo Winter set stamped directly on the card base, with a spare holly leaf stamped for layering up. See-D's sentiment stamped straight on the base card. Glossy Accents on the berries and lantern glass
It was a very thought-provoking challenge, and until I had my light-bulb moment remembering that Christmas, I was having trouble translating it into a card. Thanks for hostessing this week, CarollAnn.
ps, actually I quite like mice in their place - we used to have pet mice, and I used to rescue garden mice from my cat, which was probably a bit misguided.
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009 GMT Views: 819
Favorited:2
Registered: June 15, 2004 Location: Denver, Co Posts: 14474
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 9:56 AM
Have never heard of mice on Santa's sleigh so I think you are safe.! The image is very cute though especially being the mice are outside and not at the tea party. Like the label frame.
Registered: September 7, 2006 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 33121
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 9:59 AM
Oh! Now, THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! You are so clever!! I bet many people would agree with you on this issue!! Mice in the cupboards and in the walls are no-nos!! You nailed this challenge, my friend!!! I love your cute little caroling mice, though! This is such a cute Christmas card!!! See? You can actually SEND this one, too!! LOL! Thanks so much for playing!!
------------------------------ Happy Stamping! CarrollAnn
Fan Club Member
Registered: March 12, 2008 Location: stamping or writing Posts: 9962
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 10:18 AM
I don't want mice either, but that's an adorable image. (I had mice in my very first apartment, and my boss warned me of what your dad found out. Where there is one mouse, there are lots of mice.)
TFS
Registered: April 15, 2006 Location: Branchburg, NJ Posts: 6383
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 10:33 AM
Sounds like your dad was living in the mouse's house! What a cute card and I love the moment you shared. We've had mice now and again - we even had them with a cat in the house. Hopefully this winter will be mouse-free for everyone!
------------------------------ ~lorraine
My Blog - Paper Vernissage
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Stamp Like You Mean It
Registered: March 24, 2006 Location: Posts: 38589
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 10:54 AM
Oh Sabrina! In your shoes? In your bed? In your dreams? Lol- what a story! I am laughing here, because we had the same things to deal with living in the country! What a hoot! How lovely that a story can inspire a beautiful card like this. I love your lil meeces and the warm glow of their light! TFS
------------------------------ Pat Smethers "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden." Isaiah 58:11
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105275
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 11:23 AM
We had pet mice too, and we have one permanent resident in our pantry. We have tried to catch him, but he is obviously too smart for us. When it gets warm, he goes back out the way he came. I love your little mice, and thanks for an interesting story!!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: November 5, 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON, Canada Posts: 13629
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 12:05 PM
150 mice - oh I am FREAKING out over here!!! Even if they were all as cute as the ones in your card!! Love the branches and holly leaves in the bg too!
------------------------------ ~ Laurie Proud Fan Club Member
Registered: July 1, 2007 Location: small town near montreal, quebec Posts: 26677
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 1:10 PM
Oh how we love to swin in THE NILE (denial...lol) sometimes! Love your story though, I was giggling all through it. Your dad has good nerves for one thing. I love my mice all cutsie like yours here NO live ones at all.
Goodness, Sabrina, you made such a sweet little card here. The pines and mistletoe leaf over the label. Beautiful card. TFS my friend, you have the genius of simple beauty!
Registered: December 19, 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 15571
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 1:23 PM
Darling card and I too am freaking out over that many mice! YIKES! Love the story and I must admit how sweet your mice are on the card. Don`t think I want to meet them inside my house thank you. LOL TFS!
Registered: April 20, 2005 Location: The only Eaton Rapids on the Earth, Michigan Posts: 57568
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 1:36 PM
There's a mouse in the house, dear spouse
please de-mouse!!!
Yikes! 150???? I live in the country and we always get one or two teeny weeny micies worming their fat little tummies into the cracks and crevices of the basement in the winter months. They are so cute, but they totally freak me out. It's my dear spouse's responsibility to de-mouse the house!
I must agree they look pretty adorable here on your card. I think that one guy is croonin' out a love song to the pretty little miss with the green scarf, whilst the other youngin is figurin' out a way to steal a kiss under the mistletoe! Such a cute card, Sabrina!
Hey! Do you like snowball fights? There might be one later, I hear tell.....
Registered: January 6, 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 20543
Tue, Dec 01, 2009 @ 3:22 PM
Great card and amazing tale! Love your take on this! No, mice in the walls are NOT fun!
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