Final card for the Fall Coffee Lover's Bloghop!

Coffee just brings friends together ... amy T. knows how to bring hundreds of friends together - over coffee at the Fall Coffee Lover's Bloghop!  Here is my final card - I am way over caffeinated - wait... you don't have to drink coffee as you craft?

I received a darling little stamp yesterday  from my friend Bobby who thought of me ... can you believe that? ... when she saw this sentiment stamp!  And she doesn't even drink coffee!!

For Bobby, we can find other drinks, right?

I've combined that 'hug in a mug' from Funny Bones by Riley & Co.

with a few stamped images from Create a Smile,

on A.C. DP.

 

It has been 'good to the last drop' ladies!!!  Thank you, Ms. amy T., for being the hostess with the most-est, gathering all these fabulous sponsors.  Thanks to the sponsors for joining us as we gather, and your generous hearts!

 

=] Michele

 



Tea, anyone?

There are a few card-crafters out there that don't drink coffee ... I do, but also love a cup of tea on occasion!  So, for my tea-drinking friends ... a spot for the Fall Coffee Lover's Bloghop!



I had a strip of this perfect 'rainy-day' paper left
from my entry to the MFT SuperStar contest.
Am I disappointed I didn't win?  No...
okay, I would have loved to shop - that is a fact.
How could I be one bit sad when I am so thrilled my friend
Therese was one of the winners??!!
I picked you from the beginning, my talented friend!!



Stay caffeinated, my friends!

=]  Michele

 



It's 12 Kits of Occasions Time - Welcome to My Nightmare!!!

OH am I late!!!  That's the tough part of Fall for me... it gets dark too early, and light too late!!! 

But Yes it is time for the 12 Kits of Occasions group to card-craft our little hearts out ...  Welcome to my Nightmare is the theme this month - Halloween!  My second favorite fun day! 

Just take a gander at the fun goodies that our wonderful hostess, Jessica Davis of The Paper Parade, put together for us ... fabulous kit, Jessica!  I had way too much fun making cards with your kit this month!  

I hope you've come here from 12 Kits team blog post -  oh! can you believe the darling spook-a-licious-ness there?  AHmazing! 

A bit better lighting this morning for my photos!!  Here are my cards! 

 

Emily Leiphart put this image in my head!

I look in the bag every time I eat candy corn now =]

Oh Jessica knows I cannot resist an embossed image!

 

 

An invitation?  Inside sentiment:  "B.Y.O.B - Bring your own Boos"

As sung by "Owlivia Newton John!"

 

I simply adored playing with these owl die-cuts Jessica!!!

They may have to come live at my house!  Deets, please?

 

My homage to our new teamie, Lisa Elton, who will be

filling in for Cathy for a bit -

Happy to be playing cards with you Lisa!!

 I'm thinking of you, Cathy- big hugs =]

 

Last, but not least, a card for the Fall Coffee Lover's Blog!!

 

Who could resist filling this darling Mason jar with iced coffee?

 

That's it for me!  Phew... was it too much?  It was too much fun for me - I just couldn't stop!  Thanks again, Jessica!

=] Michele

The Challenge - Theme - Birthday!!!

I am cutting right to the chase today... this inspiration photo for The Challenge - Theme: Birthday - is just too cute:

I've created a monster of my own - hee, hee... with a fun little funky chevron paper from Anna Griffith, MFT letters and quote-bubble die, M.E. oval frame, and some googly eyes from my Halloween stash!

 

It appears the entire team had a party making our cards this week ... be sure to check them out at The Challenge blog! 

 

Hey, how about partying with us?  Should be a blast!

 

=]  Michele

Seems I missed it! Edit!!

Inspiration came to me via the current Crate & Barrel catalog this week!  Perfect timing as I've been wanting to join in the fun a Addicted to CAS for some time now .. what have I been waiting for? Totally missed the deadline!!  ETA to SSS Wednesday Challenge: No designer paper!

I have been playing around with making my own design paper ... here is what I was able to make with one perfect little leaf from Julie E's Bohemian Garden, and a sentiment from her Bold Blooms stamps:

Fresh Pigment ink from Impress:  Harvest

Ranger Archival black

A one-layered card I can get excited about!  Thanks C&B for the inspiration!


=]  Michele



Refills - if at first you don't succeed ...

If you haven't visited my blog before, you may not know about my sense of humor ... forgive me, right now, before you read further ... it is about to get pun-y 'round here!

Of course I'm sure you know about the Fall Coffee Lover's Blog Hop, right?  For a week all we do is drink coffee, and play cards ... how fab is that??!!

Here is my refill for today - ready? set? smirk!

Verve supplied the cup and chai, MFT the alphas, Technique Tuesday the apologies -

I'll add a few apologies of my own =]

 

Hope you keep smiling all day!  It's easy if you look at the darlings posted already - wow - what a little caffeine doesn't do for already-wonderful crafters!!

 

=]  Michele

2015 Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!!!

It's Coffee Time!!!  Let the games begin!  Thanks, Amy and Chaitali for keeping us all perking along ... and for gathering all of your wonderful sponsors who just make it even more fun!  Bless you generous hearts!



I have two of the cutest little coffee lovin' friends out in Seattle ... and do they know the best places to go for coffee and a bit of crafty shopping - oh you know who they are!!! 

This one's for the two of you, amy and Kimberly!

A sweet little pair of bunnies from Wplus9;  two tiny little cups from Create a Smile;  Cheers from Avery Elle, Glitz DP, and three little Martha Stewart butterflies ...to carry my wishes to Seattle, after all!

I am looking forward to all of the best cards made in Blogland for your Hop!!

Have fun everyone!!!
=]  Michele

The Card Concept #40 - Forest Friends!

I have a fabulous picnic packed, and I'm heading North a bit to a favorite orchard to pick apples with my SIL Janice, this morning!!  Yay!  [hmmm I hope she's packed the wine?]

Before I go, I wanted to share a little card I made for The Card Concept ... who could resist this?

I could not!

 

I've used a few of these little confetti critters I picked up at a local craft store last Fall ... I've double them and given them a fun little tree with a window - should all trees have one?

 



One cannot make a tree without a favorite wood-grained embossing folder, right?  So simple, but kinda cute ... I think I'm smiling... yep ... it's going to be a great day!

=]  Michele

Playing Cards with Jenni!

Jenni Murray - you'd know her by Jenni's Jems - is a fabulous card-maker,  who leaves really fun comments, and has no problem stretching her card-making muscles when given a challenge - or challenging me to stretch my own!

I received an email from Jenni - after she watched my tutorial, and saw this card -  challenging me to Play Cards, but with a masculine twist!!!  Well the game is supposed to be played using another card, from a different blog!  After thinking about it, I decided I was up for the challenge, but added my own twist, with my own posse of players!

SO!  Welcome to the first  Playing Cards - The Full Deal!  Joining Jenni and me are Chriss Blagrave, and Michelle Williams, who have Played Cards with me, and are happy to play another hand!  [Barb Ghig was invited, too, but a busy schedule wouldn't allow her to play this time ... I'll deal her in again another day - fingers crossed!]

Without further ado, my card for Jenni's masculine card game!



You can see how simply I've embossed the card panel in white, and  kept color in the 'porthole' area with Navy ink/clear embossed, and a bit of Copic coloring.

SSS Stamps, Memento Nautical Navy ink, clear and white embossing powders.
  

I've had a blast pushing my own boundaries.  But before I dash over to my friend's blogs - because I can hardly contain myself another moment - I'll open the table for new players ... one rule to the game: please choose a card you are just crazy over from another blog!!  It is incredible difficult to re-launch an idea that has already sailed - pun intended!

Thanks, Jenni, for the invitation to Play Cards ... and thanks to Chriss, and Michelle, for anteing up once more!

=]  Michele

ColourQ Challenge #309

I'm coming clean about an addiction today ... besides the obvious [embossing folders]... the fact that I'm playing along with a challenge today because of bedding, should be a clue...

Holy wow. 

Oh!  I even posted a photo on Facebook after buying my first duvet cover at Ikea!!!  Yes.  I did. I'm a linen-holic! 

The colors in #309 are really among my favorites ... give me grey, lots of greys [except for in my hair!] and Orange , and I'm a happy girl!

 

Enough!  Here is my card for ColourQ #309!:

 

Julie's Wild Garden dies from E.H.  BasicGrey Barista DP;

SSS Fog, and PTI Smoky Slate, & Recollections Orange cardstock.

Wplus9 sentiment from A New Day, heat embossed in Ranger Fine Silver.

 

I was thrilled to be able to use that DP from BasicGrey today - I think it is the perfect shade of Summer Starfruit!! 

 

Have a great day, everyone ... I'm back Playing Cards tomorrow with a sweet friend in Scotland, and we'll be joined by a few other darling card players who agreed to another round - CASEing one of my own cards!!  We sure hope you'll join us!

 

=] Michele

 



CAS[E] this Sketch! #142

Leigh Penner has created so many fabulous sketches for us ... this one just screamed FALL to me:

 

 

Would you be surprised at all if I told you I may have found another embossing folder?  Yep ... her first appearance - and I say 'her' because it is a Heidi Swapp, but could totally see this card given to a guy, or girl. 

 

For CTS #142 and Leigh!

 

Thrilled that I now have my very own Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves dies!!!

A bit of PPP sequins in Marigold and Tangerine, and Tangerine Chevron ribbon.

I think the sentiment is from Reverse Confetti - just one of those I borrowed while at Tracey's.

 

It has been nearly a year since Tom and I visited my wonderful friend Tracey McNeely in Toronto.  I brought along a stack of Neenah Solar White #110 cardstock and die-cut a forest-sized stash of these leaves to bring home ... I finally found these dies in stock, along with the newest Small Leaves set, as well!  Oh happy day!

 

You may wonder 'why white?'  To me, they look like a plaster of Paris sculpture in white ... and that embossing folder certainly mimics plaster as well - what do you think?

 

Will you be 'sculpting' a masterpiece for CAS[E] this Sketch #142?  We all love a stroll through our gallery each week!

 

Thanks for stopping by today!

=] Michele

 





Time Out with a CASology Circle ... of Friends

 

I am grateful, and blessed, that my circle of friends has grown to include many from all corners of the world - this blogging world has indeed given me such a gift. 

It is a friend in Pennsylvania that I had in mind as I created my card for CASology's Week 165: Circles, and the Time Out Challenge, where we're CASEing Tracey McNeely.

Here is Tracey's sweet card to CASE:
[She must know by now that I cannot resist a slip of vellum!]

 

And here is my version of it, using a sentiment from the Mondo Magnolia set Tracey also used, and my favorite die-cut flowers from SSS Watercolor Friendly Flowers:

Inside sentiment:

"Among my circle of friends, you are the one

that I can always count on for a smile. 

I hope today to bring a smile to your face when I say ...

I'm thinking of you."

 

Brenda L., you are in my thoughts, and indeed my prayers...

 

Michele

Colour Me ... subtle!

Okay!  Here I am with a quick little post for the Colour Me! challenge ... this card was made in a pinch, in near darkness, without power ... yes, folks, without power!  Just came back on so I'm in luck!!!

Here is the lovely inspiration for CMCC#89:

 

Everyone knows by now that I haven't a feather ... so it is always an extra challenge to find a stand-in - this time?  Not a problem:

 

Technique Tuesday sentiment; Die-namics, and Lawn Fawn leaves;

favorite embossing folder - ever!!  Yes, Lindsey, they are on their way!

Copic coloring, with a little dabbing of colorless blender.

 

Hope you are all powered up, and having a great start to your week!  Thanks for stopping over!

 

=]  Michele



 



The Challenge - Inspiration Week!

It is 'inspiration' week at The Challenge - here is the gorgeous photo, which we hope will inspire you in many ways:



 

I've taken my inspiration from the adorable bicycle pillow, and all the glorious textures - the brick, basket, tile, and wooden box combined to allow me to use [yes, another] the latest of my embossing folders!!  Also a snippet of darling, glittery ribbon from American Crafts.

 

For The Challenge #43:

 

Hero Arts F5293 Bicycle - wood mounted

Dear Lizzy sparkly ribbon

SSS Fog cardstock

 

I hope you'll take a ride over to The Challenge blog to see where the DT will take you ... oh, and Anita Madden is our Guest Designer this week - Allana is our Featured Designer ... how fun is that?  Two guests - and wait! A brand new team member!!! - even more inspiration!! Welcome, Diane!!!

 

=]  Michele



CASology #164 Umbrella! Freshly Made Sketches, and Curtain Call!

Somehow I have been missing the deadline at CASology for the last few weeks ... luckily I had a few extra crafty minutes to put together a card for #164: Umbrella! It was extra fun because I used the awesome sketch from Jen Timko at Freshly Made Sketches!

For CASology #164 and FMS204:

SSS Abby Spring Showers; BasicGrey Barista DP; PTI Hawaiian Shores ink

 

 

One more for the road a little popcorn for Curtain Call's

POP, POP, POP - my mind went immediately where Monika Davis' did - right to my favorite snack of all:

 

Paper Smooches Clouds for my popcorn; a snippet for the bow-tie;

Create a Smile's Coffee First [for the mustache] and Fiskars' Cupcakes and More

provided the perfect sentiments, a bit of blending for the butter!

 

 

Thanks for spending a bit of time with me today!  Always makes me smile when I have visitors!

 

=]  Michele





Wplus9 Get Sketchy #3

The talented Ms. Joni Andaya has a darling sketch over at Wplus9's Get Sketchy for their 3rd challenge.  Take a peek:

Here is Joni's darling card:

 

 

While I certainly do wish I had those darling kittens in my arsenal of Wplus9 goodies, I do certainly have a precious set that was a gift from Kimberly Weiner - do I not have the most generous friends?  YES!

 

Here is my rendition of Joni's card, featuring a few tweeties from Happy Mail - can you hear them?  LOve those teeny weeny musical notes!

 

A simple bit of yellow cardstock echoes the yellow from my Copic coloring.

The sentiment is also from Happy Mail, stamped in SSS Smoke dye ink.

Add a snip of aqua ribbon - thanks Ellen Hutson! - added with a Tiny Attacher.

 

Hope your weekend is going well! 

 

=]  Michele



 



CAS[E] this Sketch #141

I'm am being tested again this week - and loving it!  In fact, I may just laminate this one and pin it to the wall above my desk as a guide ... N@ Ali you've given me a perfect example of where in the world one puts a sequin!! 

I present to you N@'s sketch:

 

Here is how I was inspired... for CTS #141:

 

Avery Elle's Beautiful Bow;  SSS Stitched Squares;

Teresa Collins and Martha Stewart sequins.

 

you'll see I've used two embossing powders: H.A. white, and Ranger Gold.  Here is a little close-up shot ...

 

 

My darling teamie, Donna Mikasa, asked me to do a 'tutorial' on this stamping technique, which I've used again today, minus the coloring, let's just say that it is in the works, Donna!

 

I do hope you'll have something in the works for the CTS gallery this week ... we love when that happens!

 

=] Michele

 

 

 

 







The Card Concept 39 Daisies

With a little help from Laurie Willison, I've managed to work in a little detail to my card that appears in the inspiration photo at The Card Concept #39 - Daisies:

See the little cut-out handle on that adorable aqua box?

I'll bet, if you look at bit closer, you'll find it on my - I'm calling it Clean and Layered - card!

 

 

 

Yes!  There it is, Laurie's wonderful Card Hanger Die - which I've used for gift bags - works the charm -  but never on a card!  Perfect in every way for my little daisies!

It is always a good day when I can pull out Dad's hammer for a little something extra on my white panel by way of partial embossing with Sizzix for Stampin' Up.  My daisies are compliments of Wplus9's Doodle Buds - finally!  Loved playing with these stamps, their matching dies, and even my inside sentiment - which I'm keeping to myself for a certain someone =]

Before I leave I would be totally remiss if I didn't wish the darling, lovely, sweet, and funny Happy Dancin' Bev an extra HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  Bev has been partying since 5:30 this morning ... and why not?  Keep that party going, Ms. Bev!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

=]  Michele

E.T.A.  Oh Darnell!!! Please forgive my forgetful brain!  Hope you don't mind an edited post!  I had Bev on the brain today!!!  Adding this one to NBUS Challenge #5 - new is great, whenever you use it!



Every one of the cards I've made this week had something that was NBUS and in my rush to post forgot to link!!!

But I'm adding this card, and hope that it will fly!

Thanks, D!!!  LOve your challenge!   =]