One cup?

Let's make it a whole pot!  I've missed you a latte!

As you can see, it is night-time in Michigan! 

Lighting is bad... I miss my window!!

Last one for you, Chaitali, because I know it would be a full-pot chat between the two of us! 
It's been a fabulous day hopping with you and your friends!
Thank you for being the hostess with the most-ess!! Hugs!

You add the cream...

... to my otherwise skim-milk life!!



For the Coffee Lover's Bloghop

This pretty much goes out to all of you incredible, talented, creative, like-minded, wonderful ladies, and gents, who share this love of paper with me!  I can't imagine my life without you now =]

Hugs... Michele

Coffee - any girl's Superhero!

I hope you've had a chance to check out all of the fun over at The Coffee Lover's Bloghop!!  What amazing coffee-inspired creations!

 

Chaitali is choosing random picks for prizes!!  Always a bonus, right?

Here is my second card - you had to know I'd have second helpings of coffee!!

 

For the bloghop, and Amy - who may be my inspiration for this:

 

 

Inside sentiment:

"After her second double-shot, where else would she be, but in the sky?

You, my friend, will always be my Superhero!"

 

 I think she looks like Amy!!

 

 

 

For the Boys & The Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

Chaitali and Amy are hosting a fabulous Hop today.  I decided I'd make a little manly card to start the week with a [wink, wink] smile =]

 

For my coffee-loving gals, and their coffee loving Chaps, The Coffee Lover's Blog Hop:

 

Inside sentiment:

"... make mine a D cup!"



CASE Study #210

When I got my email notice for the next CASE Study, I nearly cried... suspended?  Dear Chupa, please say it isn't so?  I do wish you well, and hope you'll come back very soon!

 

I hope I've done Debby justice this time, for CASE Study No. 210:

 



Though I didn't take the Christmas route... had someone in mind when I chose this gorgeous stamp set from PTI.  I did, however, manage a bit of embossing paste!

=] Michele

 

 

 



Another Sunflower for Fusion

Couldn't help but try one more with another of my favorite MFT stamps.

My second helping for Fusion's sunflower challenge:

 

And one from our garden!



Fusion and Sunflowers

I could not be more overjoyed to see the gorgeous Sunflower for Fusion's current challenge.  I tried something new this week [and between us, a much more fabulous use of toilet tissue] thanks to the fabulous Marybeth Lopez, of Marybeth's Time for Paper. =]  Please do pay her a visit where she sends you off to Danielle's blog for a lesson... give credit where credit's due!

For Fusion and Sunflowers:

 



I'm sure the sentiment is MFT; I've used the sunflower stamp dozens of times before -

and it is currently impressing more TP as I write!

One-thousand times thank you, Marybeth!



Moxie Fab World Fridays

This is what was shared in this morning's Moxie Fab World's Fab Friday post:

 

Gorgeous!

 

It immediately brought me back to a something I made several years ago... you know the drill: see something fab on Pinterest and try to make one yourself, don't even think to write down the url or anything so you can give credit to the creator!  Though the thoughts are mine alone, thanks to whomever inspired this paper artichoke:

 

 

I use the artichoke as my logo for Y.P.O.M? Catering. 

 



Reverse Confetti September Color Challenge finale!

I'm a bit bummed out this morning... Reverse Confetti announced this morning that they are ending their Color Challenge... just as I was able to get a few of their products to play along with =/
Well.... this card, for the September Color Challenge just says it all:

Tag Me die x 2; MME enamel dots;

and a little piece of fancy elastic I made hair ties with for my girls!

Well, there are hair bands in the photo!

 

 

My little smile was made using ek SUCCESS decorative punctuation punches -

and Reverse Confetti, naturally =]

Second helpings for Anita at Muse

Oh I do love it when I can conjure seconds!  As promised, I went with blue this time, Anita.  Since I couldn't find one flower in my stash that is actually blue in nature, this little guy kinda looks like a Forget-me-not!

For Anita, and Muse #86:



Wplus9 Lake blue CS; You die from Reverse Confetti tag set; Soft Pool ink-Hero Arts.

Heidi Grace enamel dots, and a little stamp set called Crumpets from BasicGrey.

 

Here is Anita's lovely-ness:

 

 

Swoon... I think I'm going to quit while I'm behind =/

 

AND since the RC die is new right-out-of-the-package, and the sentiment is perfect for our Host-ess

with the Most-ess, Darnell... I'm shooting it over, last minute to NBUS challenge!!!! Phew!



Heart's a Flutter - CASology Week

Well, yes, CASology, you do set my heart a-flutter!  For Christina's Bras with a Cause, and CASology in Week 114:

Simple Neenah white base/cover, embossed with Cuttlebug;

Wplus9 Pink CS, TT Puffy Hearts Trio, and - oh I wish you could see the flutter! -

by using an Action Wobble Spring!

Inside sentiment:

"Knowing you're feeling better every day just makes my heart all a-flutter!"

 

 

 



Bras for a Cause - No. One of Six

I received a call from my daughter-in-law, Christina, promoting "Bras for a Cause" she's actively involved in.  They are asking for items for be auctioned... so I went to work to create a set of cards, specifically with breast cancer patients, and survivors, in mind.  Here is the first, in which I've used Retro Sketches #133 as my guide.  I also used patterned paper for just this one, so I'll be adding it to the hat over at A Blog Named Hero - Papers, Please challenge:

For Christina:

PTI dies; Wplus9 Pink CS; Bo Bunny DP

Inside sentiment: 

"With prayer, I have faith that God will fill in the blanks.

Please know that my prayers are included."



Less is More - Face the music, or Dance!

These clever, clever girls... they make it so easy to use the imagination, don't they?  I'm going to get a little personal here - I love to dance!!!!  The bad news?  My husband does not!  So, as the scale changes with each passing year, I remind him that he met me on the dance floor - at 105 lbs.!! And yet, we've been together for nearly 23 years ...soooo...

For Less is More Week 190, and Tom:

With the help of an older Cuttlebug embossing folder, Ivory CS from PTI ,

Black and Ivory 6x6 pad from Canvas Corp., SU Old Olive CS and YOU die from SSS.

 

How many of you guessed the inside sentiment??!!

 

 

 

Not even close....

 

 

 

Wait for it....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anybody??

 

 

 



Muse Challenge - Anita Bowden

The inspiration card from this week's Muse #86 couldn't be more beautiful... the time and attention to detail is exceptional... check it out:

Of course, one must work with what she has, right?  So, with a little help from Clearly Besotted, and Hero Arts Pale Tomato - which I even used to colorize the vellum:

Wonderful Words die from PTI; pierced circle, MFT.

Inside sentiment: "For your sacrifices to make the world a safer place for all of us."

 

Thank you, Anita for being our Muse!  You may just see a 'second helping' on this one - maybe blue?!



Verve Diva Dare!

My first time entering a challenge at Verve!! Even though I've been drooling over their stamps for some time. I may have done a little [lot] of shopping last week! Yay?

For Verve's Diva Dare Terrific Trios I used the beautiful little Joy to the World stamp and incorporated three wreaths... see if you can find them!

Ranger silver heat embossed sentiment;

SU Old Olive CS; PTI dies.

For the inside sentiment, I will use the little gift stamp I received with my order - thank you!

"Blessings - today and always"

 

 



It "leaves" me sad...

I wanted you to see that I did try with the leaves... I so wanted to do the black ... look closely and you'll see that the stitched leaves are no longer stitched as my sewing machine [circa 1972] pooped out - really is destined for the land-fill.  The partial heat embossing was an attempt at the blurred pool of water I saw in the photo - do you see it? Maybe?  Sometimes you just have to move on, and accept that it's laundry day, not card day!!

For The Card Concept in the Style of Layered? =/

I do love the MFT background stamp though!

 

 

 

The Card Concept and Tears of a Clown

Oh.  I tried to do the leaves, until I was nearly in tears... Aha!!!  And so I present: Tears of a Clown!

For The Card Concept No. 19 in the Clean and Layered style:

Reverse Confetti dies; Technique Tuesday sentiment.

Inside sentiment: "I could just tissue, or give you a hug."

 

I tried ever so hard to make the sentiment look like a pool of tears =/

 

Photo inspiration:

 



CAS(E) this Sketch! No. 93

Just another simple little Christmas card creation using non-traditional holiday colors!

For CTS #93:

Stars left over from MFT Blueprints 18 and their gorgeous Insulation Pink CS.

First time use of one of my [many] Stamptember die buys from SSS!

A tiny bit of Stickles on the stars so they twinkle, and partial Cuttlebug embossing

so they blow about  =]

 

CTS inspiration sketch:

 

 



CASE Study No. 209 - Debby Hughes

 

Is there a more beautiful combination than kraft and white?  When given the chance to use it I could not have been happier with Chupa's choice of Debby Hughes designed cards!

 

In this case, I chose to give my take on Debby's own gorgeous take for the challenge with my version of her tag, for CASE Study #209:

 

• A twice-cut tag from PTI, embossed with two different dotted Cuttlebug folders

• Heat embossed Wplus9 Flora Fauna butterflies. 

• All topped with a bit of gorgeous Verve satin seam binding. 

  

I'll also be submitting this one to Tag You're It Challenge #6 which I've sadly been forgetting to do lately!!!  Shame on me!

=] Michele

CASology Week 113 - Grass

I'd forgotten for a few months that my go-to design paper comes from Benjamin Moore... when the fabulous Donna Mikasa bestows you with a "Queen of Paint Chips" title, one should stick with it, right?

For CASology's cue word GRASS:

A subtle bit of partial embossing and a modified/curved

sentiment from SSS Friendship Messages.

If the shoe fits?

 

It is with great pride that I can say I wear the same size

[shoe]

as I did in high school =/

For Runway Inspired #68:

SSS Brilliant Gifts die and sentiment from Friendship Messages 



This pair would have matched a little mini I had perfectly!

 

 

Edited 10-7-14 to add:

What a wonderful surprise this morning!!

 

 

Groundhog? Mole? and CASology

Whatever you call him in your neck of the woods, in our yard we call him a pain in the grass!  Poor Tom.  He does his best to be kind to nature... no pesticides, no fancy grass seed that needs extra watering, "let nature take its course" is truly his mantra... except?!  When it comes to this guy.
For CASology Week 113 - Grass:

Inside sentiment:  "I can dig it, baby... just as fast as you plant it!

                             [Hope the rest of your week is better, babe]"

 

Paper Smooches birthday buddies, minus the birthday hat =/

A long lost MS punch for the grass, cut from MFT Sour Apple CS.

 

If you're not a child of the sixties, you probably won't recognize the song lyrics... for those of you that do... good luck getting that one out of your head...I can dig it, he can dig, she can dig it... can you?  Rock on. =]



My baby's having a birthday =]

My baby girl, Stacey, is celebrating her birthday tomorrow!  Being the youngest is not always easy... I should know, I'm youngest of nine!!  I also know that I had a special place in my mother's heart, as her last child.... as does Stacey.  She's all grown with children of her own now... but she'll always be my baby girl.

For Stacey - she may have a little grown-up beverage, or three!

Happy to stamp another of my winning stamps from Precious Remembrance from their Oh So Fun set.  Hoping I was successful placing the sentiment on the straw so as you can read it =]  The vellum mason jar is set upon a background from MME Bloom DP, SSS Stone CS, and an Ivory CS from PTI.

Third Time Out's the charm? =/

 

Okay... last one [that I post] I promise!!  But Shery just sucked me into her fab kraft/black color scheme!!  It also gave me a chance to use the burlap CS from DCWV!!  This time in the true burlap color - perfect for the burlap in the inspiration photo for Time Out Home Sweet Home!!  Here is Shery's card:

 

Though mine is not a one-layered card... I couldn't resist an homage to Fall!
 

Black CS base, and leave die from PTI; DP from MME.

It really was a very inspired day to take Time Out =] 

Take two - Time Out with Anita - in my dreams!

Home Sweet Home - Time Out No. 14  this time I'm taking inspiration from Anita's card.  I've always loved the textured cardstock Anita uses.  I picked up a package from J.A.'s the other day with burlap texture by DCWV. [You'll see more soon =]  Besides the texture, I was inspired by her sentiment and twine placement.  Look at Anita's gorgeous card:





So, for Anita:

 Tag die from SSS; Kraft CS and twine and leaf die, from PTI; DP from MME.

Taking Time Out

Time Out Challenge No. 14 - Home Sweet Home:

It had me at twine!  The tags, sentiments, color and texture didn't hurt my feelings either =]

Christine's fabulous CAS interpretation grabbed my fancy in several places... here is my CAS take:

 

 



I want to thank Melissa Chipperfield for introducing me to a new-to-me line of fabulous stamps... and Dyane at Precious Remembrance for the goodies I won on their recent hop with Tombow - what a smile it gave me!  Right away, I fell for this to-go cup from their Coffee Love set and couldn't wait to use it - hope they don't mind that I made tea - I just knew the sentiment would make a perfect tag for the bag on a little twist of twine!

 

I'll have a second [maybe third] helping for you, Time Out =]



An Ode to Bev!

When called on to add my birthday greetings,

to a gal we've all learned to love with first meetings,

no way could I miss out, and I have a hunch,

that I'll be right on time for her birthday lunch!

 

I know, it's not a cake... but, truly,

what does it matter? 

If it's fresh and yummy, pasta or batter?

As I slurped the last bite, and my face is all splattered,

I'm thankful for tomatoes, as cake makes me fatter!!

 

You've supported so many with sweet comments read greedily,

Bev, we all want to say how we appreciate it - really!

If we ever are lucky to cross that Big Lake, I promise to make you

a big chocolate cake!

 

Lots of hugs, and wishes for the best birthday

a girl could ask for!!

 

Second launch

CASology's cue word "three" - I've had my concept on the brain since last week's post but... this morning's launch landed on the dark side of the moon... a few tweaks and.... take-off!

 

As you take a peek at the inside, notice I've re-used the first!

15 minutes left to the countdown!!!

 

To the MOON!

 

Ralph Kramden made these three little words famous... do you know who Ralph is? =/

 

For CASology Week 112:

Though today, more often seen as: "I love you, to the moon, and back!"

 

ric #67 Hounds-tooth

Okay.  You got me... going in for the hounds-tooth - it is irresistible, after all!

 

Besides the creamy cs, clearly, I was inspired by her fab suit, and the flowers from her camisole. . . but those crisscrossed strappy heels?!?!. . . [ahem] I could still wear those =]  For ric #67 and Veronica Beard: