12 Kits of Occasions time!

Lisa Elton is our Hostess this month ... can we all say 'awwwwwwww'?   Lisa has a way with the sweetest, most feminine of all designs and products - all that included in our wonderful August 'Sweet Pea' Kit - here is your peek at the goodness:

 

I, unfortunately, am knee-deep in packing for our move at the moment.  BUT I had the nicest bit of time last Saturday to make all this ... ready, set, coffee? go!

I put on my 'Lisa hat' for this little card - did I pass?

Lisa's darling little gardener has the sweetest thoughts -

compliments of that teensy little heart from her

Precious Remembrance Sweet Pea set - yes, she IS the designer!

Okay ... who doesn't want rain boots with butterflies?

LOve these gorgeous green papers!!!

with all the lovely pinks & gold Lisa gave us ... happy sigh.

My first play with felt flowers!

 Yes TWO felt flowers!

 

Last but not least:

Just LOOK at that gorgeous vellum overlay!!!

 

Lisa I am so happy that I got an entire day to play with your wonderful kit - thank you!

 

Now it's back to packing for me ... the move is happening SOON!!!  But YOU all must run over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog for a looky-loo at ALL the gorgeous cards my teamies have made ... and Lisa has a couple of sweet prizes to give two visitors to her personal blog ... thanks for the visit today!

 

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #187

To say I was a little puzzled by Chrissy's Sketch this week is going to become very clear to you as soon as you see it.  Here you go:

Am I right?  But just think of all the fun things one could do with this ... here's where my mind went:  straight to my tummy - but look! not one calorie! 

For CTS #187:

Way too Sweet by Altenew and coordinating dies

 

Using that perfect 'waffle cone' cardstock once again, and a another piece of Creative Girl paper from Cosmo Cricket, I'm pretty happy with my yummy version of the sketch ... of course I know I'll be seeing many delish cards from my team-mates, and in the gallery, too!  See you there?  Hope so!

 

=]  Michele



CASology: Week 212: FUN!

A quick little post with a quick little mash-up between one of my new Ellen Hutson Essentials set, and a happy favorite  - they make it so easy to have FUN!

Black and white ring CAS to me ... but I love to add texture to it!  [thanks, Lisa Elton, for the little doily - perfect addition to my little gift box!]

 

Hope you're all having oodles of fun today!

 

=]  Michele



No. Thank YOU Concord & 9th

Concord & 9th presented us with the cutest die with their latest release:  Thanks Card Dies.  it's time to thank them for giving me the most fun day of crafting with it! 

All of my cards were made from a variety of double sided, 12x12" papers, and the easy to follow, fabulous instructional video by Greg.  

Ready.  Set. Go!

A classic color combo ... and who doesn't love dots, & blots, and bags & tags?

A cute little scalloped curve, and a few select words from W& W completed this one perfectly.

 Remembering to leave the tag dangling, it happily goes with the die cut when opening!

 

This size is fun, thanks to Jennifer McGuire ... did you see her video yet?

I took this one further by embossing just the card portion ... easier than you might think!

For my final card ... more fun monkeys from BasicGrey's Hey Boy!  who doesn't love a 'hoody'?

Okay ... I've kept you long enough.  But!  You really need to look at the GORGEOUS examples on the Concord & 9th shop page for the Thanks Card Dies ... seriously.  I'm going back in for the pretty today ... and my next Concord & 9th product from the haul ... see you!

Thanks for stopping by ... yo.

=]  Michele

#concordand9th

Monkey-business =]

I shared the ginormous 'haul' I've had in the past weeks on I.G. recently ... many of you shared my guilty pleasure.  Many more said they did this every week - for those ladies, I do wish I lived next door!  

Often what happens here is that they lay dormant for weeks because I'm totally overwhelmed by it all ... not this time!  I'm determined you'll see every set used a little, or a lot, in the next few days! 

Saturday I monkeyed around with the new set from Ellen Hutson, LLC designed by my very own long-distance friend, Kimberly Wiener of wienerhoneymooners fame: Sock Monkey Surprise ... OH can we all do an honorary bit of monkey clapping??!!  Congrats, sweet girl ... I had a blast with it [and Tom even put in his two cents!] 

Up first:  a 'cymbal' of my love:

Kimberly would never mind my little rearranging of limbs, or tail!  Initially he was just clapping ... until Tom came into the room and reminded me of the iconic cymbal clapping wind-up toy!  Enter two extra large bronze sequins!

 

These fun papers are from BasicGrey Hey Boy!

Everyone knows a sock monkey can play any instrument while hanging from his tail, right?

 

Next card ...

 



An addition of Julie Ebersole's clouds from Up the Happy seemed the perfect fit for this maiden voyage!

[shhh this one could be Tom's b.d. card]

 

Oh I have many plans for this darling set, Kimberly!  Congratulations, darling girl ... I know this is a dream come true ... who better than Ellen Hutson to help you make it happen?!

 

Hope everyone has a great Monday ... of to the laundry room!  [wish I had a monkey that could do laundry, windows ... and pack!]

 

=]  Michele

 

psst ... I found the perfect color combo for Mr. Socks: Copic E000, R37 and Spectrum Noir TN7... but would love a Copic brown suggestion! thanks!

 



 

A little Sunday crafting!

OH there is a taste of Autumn in the air today ... Tom hit the driving range, and I hit the craft room for a bit of play time!

Concord & 9th is celebrating their birthday, and I'm celebrating them.  LOts of SWEET stuff arrived last week, and I found the perfect home for one of them... Sandy at The Paper Players provided it, with PP309:

See if you agree:

#Concord&9th Sweet & Cool dies

I do think someone in the ice cream business should consider argyle ice creams ... something quite yummy about this one.

=]  Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #250 and a Dream

My card for Freshly Made Sketches fits quite nicely into the cue for CASology this week ... a pleasant coincidence!

Here's Cecile's wonderful Sketch:

And the Cue word: 

 

All I have left, is to show you my card!  This one honors the 36 Monarch butterflies Tom and I 'bloomed' this season - though this little one is a butterfly of a different, glitter-y color!

 

White space with embossing is one my favorites!

#MFT Blissful Butterflies, and dies; Teresa Collins' 8.5x12 embossing folder.

 

Just for fun, and to experiment a bit with my newest 

Ellen Hutson Design by Julie Ebersole:  Mondo Peony - in purple ... they're real, I googled them!

 

#ellenhutsonllc #jaebersole 

 

I have one more card, but I'm saving it for tomorrow ... there was a bit of monkey business going on in my craft-room this weekend!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

 

 

 





CAS[E] this Sketch #186

I'm seriously crushing on this week's sketch ... probably because it gave the perfect platform for the stamp set I'm currently in love with ... here's N@ Ali's sketch:

 

Pretty cool, huh?

 

That certain stamp set?  Wplus9's Happy Wishes and matching dies ... it is FULL of fun little flowers. 

 

One of my 12 Kits team-mates - Joyce Mehrberg - told me the very easiest way to die cut first, stamp second, by placing the stamp in the negative space to line it up, of course while using the fabulous MISTI.  Kudos to you, my friend!

 

For CTS #186:

 

Hero Arts Old Olive and Blush, and Rouge Altenew inks.

With just a tiny bit of added detail with a colored pencil.

OH there's that fun MFT Blueprints #18 detail again!

 

I just wanted a clean, bright home for these delicate little sweeties ... speaking of ... let's go check out the team's cards, okay? 

 

Hope to see you in the gallery with one of your own favorite sets this week!

 

=]  Michele



Altenew Inspiration Challenge - August 2016

Between the Olympics, and butterfly watch, I've had my share of 'watching!'  Time today to MAKE something!!!  One last entry for #Altenew and their fabulous Inspiration Challenge.  I couldn't wait to emboss this gorgeous image from the Floral Sprig set that arrived this week!

 

Before I leave you ... would you have time for another two?

 

There is a brilliant card maker who I admire immensely that I must give all credit to for my next card...

#Yoonsun Hur of Rejoicing Crafts

made this card:

 

 

I did my best to completely CASE it with no shame!!  I do hope she doesn't mind ... it isn't for a challenge.  Well except to myself ... I LOved making it!!!

 

I used MFT stamps for my version... I could never get such a gorgeous photo, or brilliant colors!

 



Sorry about this evening post ... I have been a busy girl today!
Thanks so much for stopping by ... it always makes me...

=]  Michele

 



Altenew August Inspiration Challenge

Please, just take a look at the stunning photo for Altenew's August Inspiration Challenge ... you'll be as taken by it as I was:

Using Peony Bouquet and matching dies, I chose one gorgeous leaf [or are they Flamingo feathers?] to create my card.

Altenew Crisp inks: Warm Greys, and Red Sunset ovals.

Sentiment from their Label Love set that continues to be a favorite.

the card base is an embossed cardstock.

 

I don't know if it will stand up to the gorgeous cards in the gallery, but one must try ... I may try, try again!

 

Thanks for the visit ... hope your skies are perfectly clear, and full of Perseids tonight...

 

=]  Michele

 



One last Mixer!

I love to end my week on a great note ... mixing Ellen Hutson, and Winnie & Walter one more time?  A very good note ... add coffee, whoa, that is a whole lot of fun!

You may not immediately see the W&W I've used, but look again and you'll see the awesome impression I achieved dry embossing with their Pattern of Rings: Creative Scenery.  A perfect little pattern that creates the perfect home for Ellen Hutson by Julie Ebersole's Oh Frappe!  Take a peek:

Altenew Dark Chocolate ink for the beans =]

 

Now.  Off to a little playtime with two of my granddaughters - Lola and Drew are in the house!!

 

Hope you have a fun weekend planned ... of course I hope it includes a little [or a lot] of craft time!

 

Thanks for hanging out with me this week ...

 

=]  Michele

 

 

Mix it Up Challenge

 

 

The Heart Desires, and W&W Rerun challenges

The Heart Desires Challenge #3 is the perfect place to grow a succulent ... I've had fun 'planting' one of my very own using a few Lola's Bouquet Cutaways, and a bit of creative stamping...

Here is the fabulous inspiration photo from THD:

It just so happens my card fits in the Rerun Challenge at Winnie & Walter ... if I have the luck of the draw, I'll be sending the Lola's Bouquet by Joni Andaya stamp set off to a lucky commenter of my own!  Fingers crossed for both of us!

Teresa Collins for the gold-foiled paper, Cosmo Cricket for the DP,

Lola's Cutaways and stamps for the 'succulent, planter, and flower.'

OH look who else came out to play!  My all-time favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder!

 

It has been a fun day ... hope you've enjoyed yours, too ... and thank you for stopping by!

 

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #185

Often times you've heard me say 'I scratched my head' over one sketch or another ... this time?  Well.  See for yourself:

I speak the truth, right?!  But, ever ready for a challenge, I persevered!!!  Take that, Leigh Penner!!!  [that said with a very big smile =] she knows I totally love her sketches!]

For Leigh and CTS #185:

Two sets of cute little MFT spectacles [I so want those polka dot ones] 

I cut a cute little heart-shaped button hole to hang them from.

SSS lines on the inside panel, and a few score lines a la Laurie Willison  

joined together with one of my personal sentiments ...

and this inside:

 

 

Clearly, we'll be looking forward to seeing how you interpret Leigh's fun sketch! 

 

Not only do we have a design-team's stack of cards to ogle, my friend Bobby Hagen is guest designing ... gotta run!!

 

=]  Michele

Calling all Artists with Concord & 9th

I have a love affair with sentiments.  When Concord & 9th released their Sophisticated Script set, I knew I'd put it to good use!  [Plus, Laurie Willison gave me such a cool spot in her video!  well.  my name anyway =]

For my final Calling All Artists entry at Ellen Hutson's Pin-Sights challenge, I had a little bit of fun combining Julie's 12 Days Companion Greetings, Totally Fabulous dies, and Concord & 9th's Bags & Tags, and Sophisticated Script ... phew ... that was a blog full!  Here's how it turned out:

 

 Copic colors: Y13 Y15 Y35 YR04 YR07 and R08

You've seen me do this ombre effect before in pinks ... so much fun to do!

 

 

That's it for me, Ellen - I sure hope I've managed to make you smile!!  I've had tons of fun playing cards with you this week!

Thanks, my friends,  for all your kindness, and the sweetest support!

=]  Michele

Calling All Artists

Ellen Hutson has an open call for a guest designer for the Pin-Sights Challenge ... I've entered one card/project, but couldn't resist another try =]  I do hope you'll join me!

Lucky me that E.H. teamed up with Winnie & Walter for the Mix it Up Challenge this month!  I have SO many fun ways to play with W&W cutaways - what 'fun' to get wildly creative with Julie's Wild Garden die cut flowers!

 

While I had those fun products out, I created another for The Mix it Up Challenge, too:

 

 



 

Adventure IS out there, my friends ... have you checked your garden?

 

 



Thanks so much for all your kindness, my friends ... your comments, and support, just make my heart happy.

=]  Michele