CAS[E] this Sketch #166

What a brilliant sketch Chrissy Larson has created this week!  I couldn't wait to put my stamp on it ... he hee.

I'm going to make this short and sweet ... I just know it is going to cause a whirlwind of wonderful cards for us to ogle!

Clearly Besotted [again with the kite set!] and a few SSS sets:

Talk Bubbles dies, and Flip Flop Season

Kaisercraft Shine Bright patterned paper collection.

 

As hard as I tried to turn that sentiment around, it just didn't want to play nice ... I'm happy, if it's happy.

 

See you in the CTS gallery!!

 

=]  Michele

12 Kits of Occasions: Spring Fling!!

Another month bites the dust ... but no where is there evidence of Spring here in my neck of the woods ... a few bulbs have popped their brave little greens, but not a bloom in sight - YET!  But now?  It's 12 Kits of Occasions time!

I promise there will be heaps of SPRING-y cards for you in our 12 Kits of Occasions blogs.  Michelle Leone is our host this month - she has thrilled me to no end with her CAS style and Spring Fling 'ingredients!'

Here are my cards ... grab a cuppa something, or a cold beverage, maybe lunch ... I may have gone overboard - again!

First up, a little card for Gretchen Michele's arrival home - soon,  is our prayer!

Before and after =]

 

thank goodness Tom left me one Cadbury Egg!

 

Next, a little birthday card for Gretchen's Mom who has so diligently been with her darling peanut every. single. day.  She has plenty to smile about, but thought one more would be good - it is her birthday after all:

 

 

Michelle gave us so many bunnies, I was beginning to think they multiplied en route!!!

 



This next one might be my favorite ... wish you were here to see the dimension I was able to achieve by 'planting' those carrots!  You may not know it, but Michelle is a carrot LOver!

You'll have to check out the supply list for this kit ... LOve this cover-plate:

 I'm saving this one for a later sentiment ...

 

Two more ... using these darling little bows that we all had a lesson on how to put it together ... thanks, Michelle!  Really wonderful video, and a super fab-u-lous kit!!!

 

I'll save this last one for my granddaughter's 'supposed to be birth day' in a few weeks:

 

 

I hope I didn't lose you along the way!  As always, thanks so very much for stopping by!

 

I'm hopping over to see all the wondrous cards I know my teamies have in store for us ... see you in the comment sections at The 12 Kits of Occasions team blogs! 

You'll find a list of all the goodies Michelle sent us at the 12 Kits Home page. 

 

=]  Michele

 

 

 



Essentials by Ellen March Pin-Sights Challenge

I'm not going to take much of your time today... I know you are all busy ironing your Easter dresses, and polishing those Patent-leather shoes ... right?  Oh those were the days!

Take a few minutes to gawk at this gorgeous March Pin-sight inspiration photo instead:

It is so beautiful, I may just print it on photo-paper and frame it!

 

See if you can find how I was inspired ...

 

Sentiment from Mondo Magnolia; gold embossed flowers from Bohemian Garden

Yes.  A little slip of vellum in homage to my petticoat that went under my Easter dress of childhood.

 

What is your favorite Easter memory?

Besides my petticoat, while we all went to Mass with Mom, my awesome Dad used to hide our eggs, and candy, providing us each a hand-drawn treasure map - umm. 

there were NINE of us!

Happy Easter!  xx

 

=]  Michele

 

 

 



Coffee, Weather, Friends, and Rainbows

There are few times that I combine challenges ... you know I like to give them each their own attention, but once in a while it just must be done!  I hope you have a favorite beverage in hand!

The Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop is coming to a close today, so sneaking one last card in ... thanks, amy T. and all the Blog designers, and players, for your inspired cards!

Last cup for the hop ... never the last to my lips!

 

Another darling image from Perfect Blend, too ... and the perfect word,

Cheers! from Winnie & Walter!

 

CASology's word is Weather - we have had it in every variety this week.  There is a saying in Michigan:  if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes!   I say: if you don't like the weather here, take a walk around the block - it will be different! ... thus my card, for Week 190:

 





These stamps came from FOUR different SSS sets!  Hopefully I've returned them to the proper place!

The papers are snippets from Kaisercraft Shine Bright, and

MFT's Wonky Squares have a supporting role.

 

For Inkspirational's Pink & Grey - now you know I had to play - grey?  My go-to color!  This one I created after playing cards with TK ... love this embossing folder, and my new Anna's Flora from Winnie & Walter!!



 

 

One more card:

 

Curtain Call's Inspiration photo called my name ... I so wanted to try to create that fabulous rainbow-colored water!

 



 

Another new love from Winnie & Walter - Eva's Favorite Flowers and some embossed 'greenery'

 

Thank you SO much if you made it to the very end of this too-long post!  Happiest weekend to you all, hope it is a bit more Spring-like for your Easter Sunday!

 

=]  Michele





Playing Cards with TK =]

There is a new little blogger in town, who has been card-making for some time, but only shared her kind, sweet comments, and encouragement all around blog-land - you all know her as TK, but now?  She is:

 

TK of  Time 4 Kards -  Yay!!

 

This week, my normally mundane, loads of [not so much] fun laundry Monday turned into a long-distance, speaker-on, crafty card fest with TK.  She had wowed me with this card:

 

 

I asked her if she'd share the details about the awesome embossing folder - you know I cannot resist them.  TK sent me the embossing folder!!  The nicest surprise, on a day I really needed one!  Well we had to 'play cards', right???!!

 

TK sent me an email ahead of our scheduled call with my supply list, so we could get right to work.  She chose another e.f. from her stash - seems there was a three-for-ten sale that day - whoop, whoop =]   I didn't have the exact blue, or green she used, but that was okay - I had plenty of distress inks to choose from. 

 

So, are you ready?   Here's my card, TK - I was inspired to:

•  keep it on the masculine side
• add some silver thread to represent your silver embossing
• and I used a different Mama Elephant set, but with the same font you used on this darling card you sent me. 

Hope you like it!!

 

Bundled Sage, and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks; 

W&W hello In a Word Cutaway; M.E. sentiments.

This card is a 5x7 as I didn't want to discard one little bit of that panel!

 

I did try another panel during our chat - with less random inking, and water - LOved it, then mucked it up by spritzing again - arrrgh - yle!!   

 

Later in the day, after it dried, I just wouldn't give up on it ... ran it through the Cuttlebug in the embossing folder, purposefully staggered just a bit out of sync with my stamping, and created an even more masculine thank you,  thank you very much!

 

MFT Thanks die; Darice Argyle embossing folder 

 

Enough about me ... I cannot wait to see what TK created on the other end of that very long phone-line!!!  [do you have in your mind the picture I've created of two girls with the old-timey tin-can phones with string yet? =]

 

Hugs, and thanks, to you, TK - you have a very sweet, and very generous heart!  I cannot wait to plan our FACETIME day of playing cards!!  xx

 

=]  Michele

 

 

CAS[E] this Sketch #165

Every once in a while I just need cool, clean, and cute ... how about you?  Here is our Sketch this week - certainly ticks all my boxes:

 

Thank you, Sam!!!

 

Here is how I've achieved my goal this week for Sketch #165:

 

PTI Vegetable Garden and a little OLD wood-mounted sentiment.

 

The bug has bitten a few of my friends, and family members, recently ... this one should make one of them smile!

 

How will the sketch inspire you all this week?  Cool?  Clean?  or Cute?  Whichever, I know they will be clever!  See you in the gallery!

 

=]  Michele



CAS Mix Up #1 and The Card Concept #51

It's a two-fer kind of day!  I wanted to color some Easter eggs for The Card Concept, and participate in a brand new challenge, too.

First up:  The Card Concept #51 Naturally Pink:

I've captured the pink using an embossing folder, and a technique I will use again tomorrow while 'playing cards' with a friend.  LOved getting out my old favorite wood-grain e.f. on kraft, and a new favorite W&W Noelle's cutaway as the vessel.  Can you find my little hidden fringe that represents the grass?

Next up, another little egg, this one for the CAS Mix Up Card Challenge:

Honestly?  I don't have an egg-shaped die - doesn't cutting the bottom off of an oval make you think it is egg-shaped?!  Works for me!  This time, a little more on the CAS side of life.

• I've stamped my sentiment
• water-colored my 'egg' inside an embossing folder
• my choice was to actually emboss it!  and adding a spritz of gold for good measure!  'cuz who wouldn't love a golden-glitzy egg?

Thank you to - Bonnie, and Loll - for giving us another fun CAS challenge!  and thanks to The Card Concept for those fabulous photo inspirations!

AND to all YOU wonderful friends for the visits this week - hope you'll stop back tomorrow!!

=]  Michele

Third Cups!

I've noticed, just this very moment, that my cards haven't been very Spring-y!  It could be because I haven't any signs of Spring yet, besides my tulips that have started to peek - that nasty four lettered word is in our weather forecast ... enough about that!

I have started to follow a very talented, sweet, and enthusiastic card-maker - really a true artist:  TaeEun of Rainbow in November.  TaeEun made this card, which was the second sign that I really needed to get my hands on some alcohol inks!  Now I didn't have exactly the products she had, but decided to give it a try just the same. 

For the Spring Coffee Lovers, my Third Cup:

Okay.  This will be my example of what NOT to do with a wonderful little water-color paper called Yupo:  it does NOT stand up to heat embossing - it would be best to use the glossy cardstock that TaeEun used.  

I've managed to salvage my little Perfect Blend cup, which I stamped with VersaMark and white heat-embossed, by cutting it out and using plenty of foam adhesive.  I've used Hazelnut alcohol ink for my coffee - he hee! - and Pool for my china cup and saucer =]  Wish you could see this ink in action, friends.  It is magical!

Thank you TaeEun for all the wonderful, inspiring, gorgeous cards on your blog!

Thanks to amy T. for giving us this time to create, and drink coffee with friends!

=]  Michele 

 

Second Cup for Coffee Lovers!

Never less than a whole pot of coffee is personally consumed daily ... so Second Cups for amy T.?  A given, and pleasure!! 

When it comes to coffee, I am open to variety ... it is my kind of spice in life!  This card portrays my feelings perfectly:

I'm in love with this Neat & Tangled Perfect Blend!

Hope they don't mind a little personal sentiment =]

 

I still lots of catching up to do, and it is Monday/laundry day 'round here ... thanks for the visit!!!

 

=]  Michele

 



Spring Coffee Lover's 1st cup! and CASology's Doodle and FMS

This is a lovely sign of Spring, indeed!!  Welcome, coffee lover's, and the 2016 Coffee Lovers Bloghop!! 

I am a bit behind, so I'm going to 'pour' my

1st cup straight away! 

Even though I truly love my coffee black, and hot, I could not resist this darling sentiment and stamp from Neat & Tangle's Perfect Blend - I LOve it May, with its darling kitty!

A snippet frames this cute puuuuurrrrrrfectly!

Stamped in SU Chocolate Chip, and Crumb Cake inks.

 

 

Before I leave you, I want to post my Doodle card for CASology's Week 189 - see if you can find my own personal touch to this little doodle clipped from an adult coloring book:

 



 

Ellen Hutson fabulous die provided a cute little stem

 

I'm not much of a doodler, but I dabble in it ... and it kinda works for Kim's Freshly Made Sketches #228, too!

 



 

Oh you know there will be Second Cups coming shortly!!  It is always a pot-full day 'round here!

 

=]  Michele

 





Surprise!!!

Today I am joining a wonderful group of ladies to celebrate one of the sweetest gals I'm so honored to call my friend, and team-mate, at 12 Kits of Occasions... Kim Heggins of Cupcakes, Cards and Kim - could there be a sweeter blogger, or blog name?   Please say you'll join us as we wish Kim the Happiest Birthday!

I made a Second Helping for one of Kim's Design teams - ColourQ -but decided the message was clearly all about a birthday ... so this one is just for you, Kim!!

 

Kim you are really very talented, and get more darling every day ... I do hope you enjoy your birthday, in some very special way!!!  xxoo

 

=]  Michele



MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge #272

Since I had a few new goodies arrive this week, I thought I'd throw my hat [or card, as it were] into the ring for Sketch 272!

So ... the circle has turned into a square, in my case ... hope it is okay!

I adore the hounds-tooth, and chevron paper packs from MFT, AND my newest to my collection of Thank you dies!  Their Fall Florals stamped in Blue Yonder dye ink, have created a pretty little frame on the Wonky Square. 

I want to bring your attention to the enamel dots I've used today.  They come from Butterfly Reflections Ink [as do some of my MFT products today] and are MATTE finished!  Yes.  You do need to check them out! 

Thanks for dropping by today ... always a pleasure to 'see' you!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #164

Hold onto your hats, folks ... there are primary colors on my card today!!!  Seriously!

N@ Ali really pushed the limits of my mind today with this sketch:

 

I pulled out some very old MFT dies, and a set of American Craft primary cardstock - also old! - a sunny little snippet, and a cute "sunshine" die from SSS to make this, for CTS#164:

 



No one could be more shocked than I ... what's more - after nearly chucking it, after a few days, I think I like it!

You have to see what my team-mates have done ... and so do I ... see you in the gallery!!!

=]  Michele

ColourQ #333

When you see the item in the ColourQ inspiration photo, you may know exactly why I played along this week:

Could it be this gorgeous LINEN dress?  YES!

 

I have only one of these colors in ink form ... but all of the papers.  Die cuts to the rescue!  I used a little die set that was a gift from my sweet friend, Lisa - thank you again, and again, girlfriend.  I've used this little SU die many times, but not for a challenge - it was a perfect choice:

 

Winnie & Walter Kisses cutaway just 'dots the i' me thinks!

 

These special little flutter-bys are my tribute to a very, very special cousin that I lost this week... 

Jeanne Claire Cotey Poirier - 99 years young - be seeing you, darling Jeanne... we'll be celebrating you big time on your 100th birthday, too!

 

=]  Michele

 

 



Inspired by all the Little Things - #6

Really?  Could there be a bigger surprise, or honor, to receive the Inspiring Standout last week?  Thank you, amy T. and for the wonderful inspiration photo - it makes my play-time so much more fun!

This week the fun continues with Jeanne Jachna  [yay] as our host, and this little number for inspiration ...

And this wonderful guest designer: Kathryn Lorenzini.

 

You'll have treat yourself to a visit to their blogs to see the amazing cards they've created, and read the fun banter about blue vs. purple - and read about Kathryn's incredible trip!!!

 

Even I had a little fun with color this week, and with wood-grain paper, and with a bird who is building a nest!

 

A pretty little old PTI Wreath set I snatched up from a 12 Kits teamies!!

Let's see I've used, Hydrangea ink, purple paper, and colored a blue bird!

That should cover all the bases!!

The little bird is from an ancient AC Dear Lizzie set.

Since I had all the elements still on my MISTI, why not make a pink version, too? 

Here I've used my wonderful new Winnie & Walter Noelle's cutaway - large panel.

 

 

How will you be Inspired by all the Little Things this week?  Will it be the photo, or Kathryn, or Jeanne?  I'll meet you in the gallery!

 

=]  Michele