Freshly Made Sketches 221

Since I am determined to beat the deadline this week,  this post will be quick ... here is Karren's wonderful 'sentimental' sketch:

For Freshly Made Sketches #221:

Inside:  You're the classiest person I know.

 

Concord & 9th hooks up with Winnie & Walter and

Wplus9 inks very nicely!

=]  Michele

E.T.A.

What a wonderful surprise!!

Thank you, Karren!

 

Celebrating YOU 12 Kits of Occasions Day

It's 12 Kits of Occasions time again!  Yay!  Celebrating You is our theme, and Lindsey Larsen of Occasional Crafting, is our hostess again this month ... none of us are real upset about that - she really knows how to put together a fabulous kit. [I may just hire her to do mine in August!! ] Thank you, Lindsey!  Here is a peek of her darling kit:

Yes. I did get to play with ALL of this!!!

 

One of the little sweeties included in the Kit that isn't shown in this photo, is a darling little Ellie that seems to enjoy a little hot-air ballooning  [a little WOS and jelly roll sparkles on his bum, too =] :

 

Inside:

"Yes, in fact, I'd travel out of this world, too!

Love you to the moon, and back again"

 

Here are his darling cousins:

 

 

 

Lindsey included a few other critters in the mix ... one little pink heart, between friends means so much, right?:

 

 

... and a fun die cut to shake things up:

 

A very yummy way to tell someone you love them:

... or tell a friend how fantastic you think they are:

 

 

Maybe a certain someone deserves a bouquet:

 

[Last one, promise!]  Just to celebrate a very special day...

Thank you, Lindsey!  Thanks to my visitors today ... now run over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog, please, to see what my friends have created with this very wonderful kit!  We have two new members ... you will enjoy them as much as we do, I'm sure!  [Welcome Michelle, and Nancy!!]  You'll also find all the details, and supply list there!

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

=]  Michele

 

 



 







Ellen Hutson Pin Sights Challenge

I have been ogling that gorgeous January Pin Sight Challenge inspiration photo again.  I just can't get the beautiful red velvet cake off my mind.

I took matters into my own hands, and baked a cake ... sorta ... using Wish Big and a bit of one of the wonderful ribbons Ellen sends us as a gift with each order ... lovely, and appreciated.

I'm not complaining but the sunshine did make for a difficult photo shoot today!

There may be just a bit of WOS on the frosting =]

 

I'll leave you to ponder where you might be inspired in this spectacular collage ...  have a wonderful weekend!!   Thanks for your visits this week!  xxoo  Thank you, #EllenHutson for my shopping trip this week!!

 

=]  Michele

 



Paper Smooches: 4 Color January Challenge

I was feeling another Paper Smooches moment ... you can understand that, right?  Another offering to the current 4 Color Challenge - hope they don't mind if I use black and grey as two of four colors - they are my favorites.

OH did you read the news?  Rain boots will have their own die in a few days!!!  YES!  Though I didn't have trouble fussy-cutting these shiny little numbers at all:

White, black, grey, and yellow!

Paper Smooches Frame 1 & Frame 1 Duo die Kaisercraft Shine Bright paper

Inside sentiment:  "We might as well step in it in style!"

I stamped two of the rain boots from Green Thumb, from the patterned paper, and two from white cardstock, layering them to make them more sturdy.  I then smooched them with VersaMark and gave them a great shine with heat-set clear embossing powder. 

Wish you were here to check out their shine ... trust me, or go take a close-up peek on my IG page #mfergu01  I'd love a visit, however, or wherever, you find me!

=]  Michele



     papersmooches.net

 

CAS[E] this Sketch #157

N@t Ali's sketch gave me the opportunity to do an 'all die cut' card this week ... take a peek:

It was so tempting to reach for my cloud dies ... but instead I went for a few dies I haven't used nearly enough.

For CTS#157:

Inside sentiment:  …  it's wherever you plant your roots!

 

Sugar Pea Designs Home Sweet Home;  SSS Nature

KI Doilies paper

 

here is a little close-up: 

 

 

I haven't treated myself to a peek at the designer cards yet, but I do know we're having a guest that you will love as much as we do! 

 

See you in the gallery!!!  OH and thanks, so much, for your kindness with my first-ever sketch last week!

 

=]  Michele

Paper Smooches - 4 Color Challenge

I think I may be losing it ... lost, or forgotten posts.  Missed challenges.  Photos taken, but never edited!  This little card, made for my grandson's 10th birthday, was intended for the Paper Smooches 4 Color challenge.  I know, it isn't a P.S. gator - but doesn't he play so well with my wonderful new Paper Smooches frame?  At any rate, he's being sent over ... Kim, and Savannah are going to forgive me, I'm sure of it!

Pardon my terrible coloring... it was intentionally done this way - it is for a kid, who LOves to draw, and use my supplies.

Wish you could see his jelly-rolled teeth!

My four colors are: two shades of alligator green, and two shades of aqua! 

By the way ... Sam LOved it!  in fact here are his own words:

"It's awesome ... but then I pretty much think any card you make is awesome, Grammy."  LOve that kid... he's definitely in the will.

=]  Michele 

Our newest Muse!

 

Jenni Murray is our newest member of the Muse Card Club team.  She is a friend, and card-artist extraordinaire!  I LOve her style, and you will too when you see the marvelous inspiration she's given us:

Gorgeous!!!

 

 

I wanted to copy every single detail, immediately - which I may have done but will keep for myself =]   But in Muse fashion, I must make it my own, while including:

•  a matted double layer,
• flowers, and
• black sentiment strip - check!

Jenni, for you, and Muse #150:

Precious Remembrance Positive Thoughts stamp set; 

snippet of patterned paper; Platinum liquid pearls.

How will you be inspired by Jenni's card?  See you in the gallery!

=]  Michele

p.s.  For those of you that received my FMS220 post, I realized that the link had closed, and promptly deleted the post, but obviously not before it was sent into the blogosphere ... I do my best work in my dreams ... before?  Not so much.  =\  Freshly Made Sketches ... we will meet again!

CASology - Clear - Toadily!

I just couldn't resist sharing another Valentine ... it's clear that I make too many!  This is one I created in a dream - come on, you know you do this, too!  This one is off to CASology: clearly =]

As much as I love using acetate to create cards, they sure aren't photo-friendly, are they?  Here is the open card - you'll see that I've placed the Valentine message on the back of the card so it doesn't interfere with the look.

I think my furniture lends a cute backdrop for the swirling-embossed vellum.  My own sentiment toadily does the trick for these cute guys from Poppystamps, hopping off their heart-shaped lily pads - even though they're frogs =]

That's it for me!  Hope you are having a crafty day!

=]  Michele



Ellen Hutson's Pin-Sights Challenge and Tracey's Muse

The newest Pin-Sights Challenge is up at Ellen Hutson's Classroom ... what a beauty it is:

 



 

If you meander around those fantastic photos, you'll perhaps see where I found my inspiration for this card:

 

Essentials by Ellen Hutson and Julie's 12 Days Companion Greetings for the sentiment.

Bold Blossoms for the die-cut blooms

 

Any opportunity I have to play with an embossing folder?  I am definitely going to take advantage.  This beauty is from Lifestyle Crafts, and was used to emboss a slip of vellum, and a panel of patterned paper in that fabulous pale green.  Oh... you didn't notice it?  Take another peek! 

 

My second card today is for my team-mate extraordinaire, Tracey McNeely, who is up for Muse #149 ... so happy to have a moment to play along =]  Here is Tracey's darling inspiration:

 



Thanks for the darling inspiration, Tracey!  I'm also going to send this one over to the SSS Flickr challenge #37!

 

 

I've been checking in with a few of my sweet blogging friends who live in Jonah's path ... happy to hear all is well, and they are making the very best of it!  LOve that attitude!

 

Enjoy your Sunday!  Thanks for the visit!

 

=]  Michele

Time Out with Marika!

It seems that I've not taken enough Time Out, lately ... missed the last few challenges, I think.  Today, I found just the time I needed to make it happen!

Marika, of Me and Minime Crafting, is an artist, not just a card maker.  I adore her gorgeous creations, and often save her lovely videos for my morning coffee ... our way of spending time 'together!'  I was so please to see the designers at Time Out Challenge #48 CASEing Marika for their challenge.  Doubly glad to see we could give it our own twist - which is what I'm calling the big mistake on my card!

Here is Marika's beauty:

and her video can be found here.  Be sure to fill your coffee/tea cup!  =]

 

I am blending-skills-deficient, but I did put my best foot forward, and blended a pretty little card base with lavender ink.  After creating all of my pieces and parts, I promptly proceeded to glue the flowers on the base... [oh you know I used that really strong mat medium, too]... and forgot all about my lavender panel. 

 

Enough about my mistakes ... I'm so happy to play along - with my twist: die cut flowers with some Copic detailing!

 

Die-namics Hybrid Camellias and Layered Leaves- detailed w/Copic neutral grays

WeR memory keepers enamel dots; Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Crocus sentiment - cut with the smallest MFT Wonky rectangle.

 

Ta da!  I even found a spot for a touch of my little lavender panel!

 

I'll be thinking about all my friends on the East Coast ... be safe, stay inside and craft!  That goes for the rest of us, too!

 

Have a wonderful weekend ... thanks always for stopping by for a visit, and for your kindness.

 

=]  Michele [xx and thanks, Marika!]

 



Cards from the Heart Card Drive

 

I LOve making Valentines ... LOVE it!  So happy to find a wonderful place to send all those extras I make each year ... Winter Sims, thank you!

I've finished the last little card today, so I can get them all packaged, and sent out this weekend. 

Here are a few, made just for the occasion:

SSS Roses for You; Distress Inks; Delicata Gold #sss; MFT Wonky stitched rectangle - embossed.

 

Inside sentiment:

"Sending love from here to there!"

 



What better way to spread a little kindness?

Inside sentiment:

"Some of that kindness is bound to float right back to you!

especially on Valentine's Day!"

Hero Arts Acts of Kindness

#heroarts

#PTI Joy die and stamps;  Paper Studios embossing folder

 

Inside sentiment:

"And LOve! Like peanut butter, and jelly:

a nice thick layer of it is enclosed for you! 

Happy Valentine's Day!"

Hope you spread a little Love, Kindness, and Joy  around to others today ... you certainly bring so much to my life ... thanks always!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #156

Here is my story, and I'm sticking to it: 

Months ago, I was feeling that I wasn't pulling my weight at CAS[E] this Sketch, as I hadn't designed a sketch.  After discussing it with Chrissy, she suggested I send her a card I had made, and liked, and she would create a sketch based on it.  Awesome!  [yes, Chrissy is that good.]

Here is this week's sketch:

Here is my card:

 

This gorgeous paper was a gift from my sweet friend Hazel, and I've used nearly every single snippet of it ... all I did was add a little Copic color to one of the gorgeous roses, and few tiny seed pearls, a birthday wish, and voila!  

 

Thank you, Hazel ... thank you, Chrissy!  I'll get another to you very soon, promise!  xx

 

SO, how, and will, my card/sketch inspire you?  We all look forward to every card, every gallery, every week!

 

=]  Michele

Loud and Clear CASology Week 181

Clearly CASology is sending us messages, right?   It works for me! 

Concord & 9th Bags & Tags to quote my own words;

MFT Geek is Chic specs from Neenah white cs.

PTI Acetate

I've always loved your Cue's CASology! You make me think out of the box - which I clearly don't do often enough!  [if I were a gambling girl, my money would be on 'clean' or 'concise' for next week!] 

=]  Michele

E.T.A. thanks to Deidre!

 



 

Reverse Confetti's SFYTT#32

I am NOT good at layering, or combining patterned papers - sometimes I just sit a ogle all the gorgeous cards Reverse Confetti's design team members make, hoping I'll 'get it' eventually.  Look at this cool sketch:

It seems friendly, right?  Tons of cute inspiration cards over at their blog.  All is good ... until I pull out patterned papers, and find all of these COLORS that just scare me to death. 

I've given it a go, simply because I ordered their darling little Jolly Holiday set before Christmas and it wanted to play cards today with my new Stamped Note confetti cuts ... that dear little deer deserves a Valentine!  For SFYTT #32:

KI Memories Doilies paper

Thanks for the visit!

=\  Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #219 & Sweet Pea!

Happy Monday folks!  Starting this week out with Freshly Made Sketches 219 ... Cindy has given us a really classic sketch this week:

Plenty of room to play with this one, right?  I wanted to create a special thank you card for a very generous friend ... Cindy's sketch works the charm!

SSS Roses for you; Ki Doilies paper; Picked Raspberry and Dusty Concord & Shabby Shutters inks

Combining a little Distress ink water-coloring with a special PPP Sweet Pea mix sequins was a very good idea, right?  A lovely mix of colors with a very darling little sweet P. in mind, designed by Lisa Elton!  Thank you, Lisa ... what an honor to win my very own little package!  [fun plans for playing with that darling die today, too!]

=]  Michele