Our Muse: Bev!

How could you say "no" when Bev is the Muse?  Oh, Bev, I've loved getting to know you better!  Joy-full, that's you!!  

I've never used parts and portions of this darling set from Dear Lizzy...

 perfect time to use that little polaroid frame, right?

 

Here is Bev's darling inspiration:

 

Less is More

Someone wonderful and new to my world celebrated her birthday... and I missed it =[  My philosophy about that is this: it is never too late to celebrate life!!  With that said, Chrissie, I do hope you enjoyed Spain!  For Chrissie and "Less is More" #182:

Anna Griffin's - Olivia Collection DP. Sentiments from Technique Tuesday and KaiserCraft.  Die cuts from SSS.  Recollections Fine Gold EP and Linen CS from PTI.)

Thirds?

I might have checked the rules... can I have thirds... Colour Me? =/

Last one, I promise... but, I just couldn't leave out that adorable little pink clutch in the inspiration photo, could I?  In this case I used a darling little envelope die from W9... perfect heart-shaped clasp!

 

This is advice I must truly heed when it comes to buying every little thing I fall in LOVE with while following all these incredible blog hops =[  All these fabulous design teams - a few ladies in particular - you know who you are - but I love you anyway =]

Colour Me!!

"Me!! Me!!"  This Colour Me Playful challenge just caught me up in its colors... several times =]  Second helping:

 

Because I'm so in love with that Hero Arts Hounds-tooth and couldn't wait to emboss it in gold!  And who doesn't need extra hugs when their heart is broken in two?  Or die cut in two, in this case, using one of a trio from Paper Smooches.  Um.  There may be one more =/

 



Run

Hmmmm.  You almost stumped me, CASology 105!  But, no.  I may have this one figured out... now if I could just get the camera/lighting figured out =[

My take?  Sadness.  Tears.  Makeup.  Run.  Voila!

This little Eye stamp is one of many in a set from Stampin' Up circa 1996 =]  It's full of fun stamps that use images for words... you'll see more of them I'm sure.  A little bit of Peacock Feathers Distress ink for the iris; Glossy Accents and Heidi Swapp mixture for tears and running makeup.  Ali Edwards perfect word stamp.

CASE Study #201

I admit to being totally intrigued by the 201st challenge at CASE Study.  Shari Carroll's card is gorgeous... all the DT cards are gorgeous!  I really did "study" each and every one.  I've been wanting to use this beautiful NBUS Hero Arts Ranunculus stamp for some time now and decided to combine this one with the Colour Me Playful Challenge #30. 

 

I know the positive-forward is more in tune with the 201, but honestly, I think I like the negative-forward card the most... what do you think?  I'm sending one to each challenge. 

 

For Colour Me Playful

For CASE Study

Today, I'm joining a bunch of high-school friends for lunch... think we'll recognize each other? If not, we'll make even more new friends!!  

=] Michele

A Second Helping!

Well.  Now that I have the thinking all behind me, this second helping went pretty quickly!
With this one, I did use water-based Distress Inks, using my hounds-tooth background stamp from Hero Arts.  The same birthday die, and that cute little happy stamp and simple flower die from SSS.  I added a little scalloped slip of vellum at the bottom with a few drops of glossy accents... Laura Bassen-esque, oui? =]  I wish my camera skills were better here =/  Here you go TYI! Thanks for all the inspiration from the DT!!

 

 

I've forgotten to mention the Paper Smooches scalloped circle die I partial cut to shape the top of each of my tags -  would you believe me if I told you I don't have one tag die?  Go figure!

Tag you're IT!!

There was no way I could top the tag Laura Bassen made for the 2nd Challenge at Tag You're It! 

As I thought about it, though, this DP popped right into my little ol' brain!  Not water-colored, but like colors and a grid, to boot!!  A little embossed 'happy' to fill that element, a die cut word, and a little vellum love-you-sign-language - and, Bob's your Uncle!  Get the camera =]

[Don't tell anybody, but... this actually took me hours, yes hours to design AFTER I thought of the DP =/  I just can't help overthinking sometimes.  We're all guilty of it, I imagine.

CAS(e) this Sketch #85

Another fabulous sketch from N@tali makes for plenty of inspiration.  Add to that the beauties the DT made?  Ridiculous!

I loved the flower that Michelle Williams colored, the dimension that Kay Miller added, and here is what I was inspired to make for Sketch #85:

 

Hope they like it!!

 

Just received a very nice email from Bev, who kindly told me about CAS on Sunday - this is a new challenge to me!!  And how did she know that this was a sympathy card??  Thanks Bev!  Hope they like it =]



Miss Helpful

Today, I had a really nice phone visit with the fabulous Darnell Knauss... you all know her, right?  Not only is she sweet, wonderful and talented, I'm adding helpful, and generous to that long list of attributes!

Thanks, so very much, Darnell, for all the hand-holding you've given me today!!  I hope I'll be a much better blogger with all your wonderful tips & tricks =]



Many hugs enclosed =]  Michele

Pretty and Pink

Who, in their right mind, could ignore that gorgeous Pink Peony!!??  Fusion French Cupcakes gave me an opportunity to use dies from Memory Box that I adore called [appropriately] Lovely Peony Outline, and Lovely Peony Background.  Also, one of the newest background stamps from MFT called Romantic Script... have I mentioned I was recently the grand-prize winner of MFT's blog hop?  Do I need to say I had a good time spending that $75?  Sentiment is from SSS for perfect penmanship.  Plus, a little slip of vellum!

 

I've also been remiss in mentioning that gorgeous pink "Ballet Slippers" cardstock from W9!!  It is perfectly pink =]



Fusion - The Sketch!

The sketch over at Fusion French Cupcakes provided me with the perfect setting for a little daisy I'd stamped and never used.  Also... how could I go wrong with Pink & Black!!  You'll also find that embossing again, and help from Paper Smooches Scalloped circles and sentiment... Cheers!!

Pink Peony - up next!

Fusion

Who couldn't be inspired by this photo?  I wanted to dive right into it, those cupcakes look divine!  Fusion French Cupcakes provided a full afternoon of inspiration for me yesterday =]


First up?  Of course, the cupcake!  The script print on the vase brought to mind one of my favorite embossing folders.  This time I used a lovely leftover of watercolor paper which frames my little cupcake perfectly.  The cardstock is Vintage Cream, from PTI, which works perfectly with WC paper.  Paper Smooches dies  [flowers & scalloped circle] and stamps for the little "fondant" flowers, and sentiment.  That wonderful little cupcake is a Bitsy from Basic Grey called Cakes - I do hope it's still available as it has many ways of decorating the cupcake that I think you'll love, and a sentiment that reads:  "Keep calm, eat a cupcake!"  My philosophy, exactly =]

                   In culinary school, we spent many days working with fondant to create flowers

 [and fishing lures, in my case - see Tom's hat a few posts back in A Little Fishy =]

 



Next up?  The sketch!

Gone, but not forgotten.

CASology #104 might have been the first challenge I didn't participate in.  We're thinking of our lost pets this time of year.  Two of the best buddies any pet-owner could ask for and we were blessed by their presence for 17/18 years, respectively.

Calvin and Hobbes were a surprise gift for Tom before we were married.  Yet, the kids and I fell in love so immediately, we couldn't let him take them home with him!  Before their 4th birthday, they got feline diabetes.  First Cal, then Hobbes, too.  But, with insulin twice daily, they lived beautiful, nearly perfect lives.

 

This one's for you, guys:

Head in the clouds

Since Tom and I travelled West, and spent so many hours driving through many different mountain ranges, you might not be surprised by my second submission to Muse #76 =]

 

Thanks again, Therese, for the inspiration!



Muse Challenge #76

I've not been able to participate in my favorite challenges while vacationing.  I've had withdrawals, for sure.  Also, struggling to get "back in the saddle."  [Sorry, I've been Out West =]

Therese Calvird has such a beautiful inspiration card for Muse #76.  Check this out:

 

 

Beautiful wisteria! 

 

Let's just say I still had fireworks going off in my creative cortex =]

 

 

 



Case Study 200!

I've so been inspired by all the designers at Case Study, so it has been a joy to celebrate their 200th challenge!  Shari Carroll is the Muse this month, and someone I found very early on in my card-making life.  To this day, she is an inspiration to me.  Love her style! 

 

Since I too love the SSS fog CS, I chose that for my base, added a few little pink MFT Gerberas [who doesn't love pale pink and gray together?]  The sentiment is my newest purchase from SSS.  I hope it is celebration worthy!  Here you go, Chupa!  And congratulations!!

 



=] Michele

Home

Tom and I have had the best adventure the last ten days.  5450 miles - in a car!  We were totally clueless, and are happy to admit it.  This country of ours is gorgeous.  I've spent a lot of time dreaming of travelling the world never knowing what I was missing right here, right now. Though I am very happy to be home, sweet home.

I've had paper withdrawals though!  Just so happy to celebrate the 1st anniversary of a challenge called Curtain Call.  Stacey and all the DT are just a bundle of talent.  I wish them [and all of us] many more years of inspiration!  Congrats, Stacey and all of you lovely ladies at Curtain Call!

Here is my submission for the current challenge.  It is my "let's make a deal" inspired card =]

One more for the road =]

I received my daily dose of Debby Hughes this morning... always a highlight of my day.  A darling card, and as always, swoon-worthy - run to the link to see her beauty! But, this time, her card was attached to a challenge that is new to me!  Little Tangles Challenge #40 is a tag challenge this time.  I am almost always up for a new challenge... this time two! [more after this.]

I have been working on something for a day and a half.  I had been wanting to turn one of SSS balloon dies into a hot-air balloon for ages - a challenge in its own right with the silver thread!  What started out as a tag yesterday, I turned into a card today - perfect for someone special who is about to embark on a 10-day 82 hour drive =/

Ta and da:

Thank you, Little Tangles for the FREE digi "love you" which perfectly

completed that little basket!

 

Too many elements to list... if you'd like to know, I'm happy to share! [I love the cloud embossing on the vellum - Stampin' Up]

Less is More is another challenge I've been trying to submit to. Chrissie has inspired me to enter their current challenge to Recycle - who knew yesterday the journey my own tag would make?  Hope this qualifies, Chrissie =]

Had to include my very sunny yard today!!  Yay for sunshine... I'm going outside =]

More "poofy-ness"

Another card for Muse #74!  More of the poofy-sparkliness - spell check is having a hay-day right now =]

The edges of the sand were made with the scalloped die from Reverse Confetti; embossed "Beach Bum" is one of a set of four called Summer Set I found at TJ along with the Beach Bum embellies.
MFT is responsible for the Pierced Circles that I use nearly every day. 

I apologize for the lousy photography the last few days... no sun makes for pretty dull photos and I really hate what the flash does, so I resist it =[

Good advice

While jogging around the blogging world the other day, I read some good advice from Jen Wills... "use that stash of ready-made embellies already!!" I'm paraphrasing, of course =]

Well, much to my delight, Jen is the Muse for the next Muse challenge - their 74th!!!  So, Jen, I'm following your lead!!

 

Wish you could see this little guy better... he's all sparkly and poofy!  [is that a word? =] I also used a circle and some left-over waves, die-cut with MFT dies, that I colored with Hero Arts soft pool ink. 

 

Inside sentiment:  "Just wanted to say you are ageing swimmingly!"

A million things to do...

I'm supposed to be packing for a loooong trip, when I receive an email announcement of the new Cue Word from CASology.  Need I say more? =/  Can you guess the cue?

I've never made a quicker card, that perfectly conveys what I'm trying to say!! 

 

Hey Moxie Fab World!!  I'm editing this post to add this to the Wonderful Words Challenge because it is my all-time favorite way to embellish my cards!!



One big Blogging Birthday Partay!!

Today I [and a million others in Blogger-land] are celebrating someone who is adorable, funny, sweet, silly, and all-around gets honors for being so dedicated to making sweet comments on everyone's "schtuff."

I hope to get to know you better, Darnell, since I'm such a new kid on the block =]

Hippo, birdy, two ewes, Darnell... with hugs, for you:

 

Thanks, Ardyth!!

the SUN is out!

I'm heading outside!  But not before I share the card I made for the July SFYTT at Reverse Confetti!

I was recently reminded, by a few of my favorite designers i.e. Laurie Willison, and Debby Hughes, just how much I adore pale yellow and grey together.  Reverse Confetti dies and  "Together" stamps [and the SUN] really make me smile every day.

A clever bit of Office work to stack that sentiment vertically AND I actually figured out how to partial cut the scalloped edge die to allow just the small, or just the large scallops - man I love it when my brain works!

Supplies: three shades of CS from SSS; MFT flower dies; and PTI alphas.  Oh! and some new enamel dots from MME =]

Put on a happy face?

Wow.  Another cloudy/rainy day.  Okay: no watering the garden.  Yada yada yada - I NEED sunshine!!  This is the song in my heart/brain today =[



Lee Ann's sketch #23 over at Seize the Sketch inspired this layout.  SSS fog CS and two embossing folders for cloudy/rainy background; cute cloud dies , and also, since I don't have any oval dies, a scalloped circle die from Paper Smooches.

It [kind of] does turn my frown upside down.  =]