Winnie & Walter - The Gossip Column: Marble

I  am back again today ... but I couldn't let the day go by without a card for the current Gossip Column Challenge #6 - Marble! at Winnie & Walter!

 

AND since today I'm playing with alcohol inks [new] and doing a never-before-technique [marbling] and it IS National Inspire your Heart with ART day!! - how is a girl to resist entering her card in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10?



Ready for my card[s]? 

For a little better view of that gorgeous marbling: a close-up!

and if one is good, two is better, right?

Winnie & Walter have only the best words ... don't they? 

Here is another favorite of mine:  Thanks!

=]  Michele

12 Kits of Occasions!

YES!!!  January has come to an end, and we rejoice, as only the 12 Kits of Occasions do - with another gorgeous Kit!

 

Lindsey Larsen of Occasional Crafting has started our 2017 off with a beauty!  the colors, the products, the sentiments - all as sweet as can be ... thanks, my friend - it was truly a pleasure to play cards with this fabulous kit!

Now, get comfy, 'kay?  I have a few cards for you!  ;]

First up ... those cute little h.e.a.r.t. letters - stamped?  I'd like to know, Lindsey!!

 

Most of the time, a card is all about the words ... these hit the mark beautifully...

 

Lots of beauties to color in this kit - I've reserved a few for another day ... but this guy?  I couldn't resist him!

These Altenew blooms are among my favorite - so happy I've made them mine, at last!  Lindsey's were stamped in the most gorgeous salmon pink!

Lindsey you know my love of all things gray ... so many shades of gray in this Kit ... I couldn't believe my luck!

 

NEVER one to ignore the negative cut ...

 

That's it ... an even half-dozen, and plenty of left-overs for another play day!

Join me at the 12 Kits of Occasion's blog to see what each and every one of the gorgeous designers have made for us ... there is sad news [we'll miss you Joyce!], and a new member to welcome to our group!  OH and you may want to leave a comment  ... there could be a giveaway for one of the March kits!

=]  Michele

 

 

Fusion - Australia Day & Inkspirational

A quick couple of cards made using more, and more dots! 
Inkspirational, who is asking for DOTS, and using the colors from the gorgeous colors of Fusion's Australia Day challenge... here is their wonderful photo:

I took a clean and white journey... on butterfly wings... thanks, Petra!!

Next up,  Inkspirational's sweet Yvonne has chosen Polka Dots for the Designer's Choice challenge -

... if she only knew how much I loved them!!! [sneaky me put them on both cards... he hee!]

Even my little bird looks like a DOT!!!

Happy Monday!  Off to do the laundry now ... it doesn't do itself - sadly!

=]  Michele

Muse-ical Dots!

I'm playing cards with my friend Jenni Murray, who is the Muse this week - and Muse is celebrating their 200th post!!

Here is Jenni's gorgeous, fun, dotted card - she knows I cannot resist the polkas!

So!  dots, and dots, and lotsa DOTS from me ... congrats to Muse - I do miss playing cards with all the card makers who continue to charm the gallery each week!

If you've shared a moment of your weekend with me, thank you!!  I know how precious our weekends are...

=]  Michele

Supplies:
MFT Jumbo Dots; Tropical Flowers dies, and Pierced circle dies.
a snippet of red dotted paper, and the sentiment, too!
Butterfly Reflections Ink for the Doodlebug Design Matte Sprinkles [enamel dots]

Freshly Made Sketches #272

Cecile has a very interesting Freshly Made Sketch for #272 ... Thursday IS Sketch day 'round here, and there was a little girl sitting on my desk  just begging to be colored  - two birds, one stone?

A little vignette was created to represent the circles on my card ... I did move the sentiment, but couldn't bear to snip off that 'wood-flooring!'

For FMS272:

If this is a return visit, my thanks are not enough!  You do know how to make my day even better ...

=]  Michele

Supplies:
MFT - Our Story stamps, and dies; Stitched Scallop Basic Edge; Pierced Circle Die-namics
Kelly Purky - Second City DP
Copics for coloring
Cherry wood envelopes for flooring =]
White Jelly Roll pen for polkas

CAS[E] this Sketch #206

For those of you who may wonder, often Chrissy creates a sketch from a card one of the team has made - makes it great for those of us [me] who aren't that great at sketching a design.

Leigh Penner has designed Sketch #206, and I am so anxious to know if it was from a card, or did she truly draw this little darling:

Perched right on my desk, were the two stamp sets that I needed to create my card for this week... in my eyes, they were a match made in Heaven for Leigh's sketch!

 

I was attempting to channel another of my fab teamies with my water-colored background ... can you guess whoooo? 

 

I hope you'll join us this week!  Now let's go see what the others have made ... and where Leigh's brain takes us!

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:

Lawn Fawn: Winter Owl stamp set, and my all-time fave Leaves dies 

Poppystamps:  Ohh La LA for the beret - slightly altered =]

Distress Inks for water coloring

Altenew branch die from Winter Cardinal

MFT Wonky Rectangle and Chevron DP

 

 



Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

I made it a goal to participate in a few more challenges in 2017 ... Papertrey Ink is one of those.  Today they are celebrating US with a blog hop!  yes.  You read that right ... they are giving us a chance to play cards with their fantastic products - and there is a prize!  How cool is that?

Here is the gorgeous inspiration photo for the Hop:

Now.  I may have lost sight of the colors, but I had those stripes in mind, and those Zigs on my table, and before you know it, I lost mine - mind that is!!  So here goes:

For the Papertrey Ink January 2017 Blog Hop:

I thought their darling Scalloped Cover Plate added the stripes but just a touch of whimsy to the very serious, and beautiful, Botanical Blocks II ... so I hope they agree, and disregard my colors?  Yikes ... only one entry - perhaps I should have gone back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the visit!!

=]  Michele

The Card Concept #65

I must get The Card Concept inspiration photo out here right NOW:

SHABAAAAM!!!!  If this doesn't wake up those creative juices that are in hibernation, I don't know what to say!!!  Who could ever go to sleep in this room? 

Okay.  take a looky loo at the newest goodies to my stash ... and a new to me company.  Yes.  I do live under a rock at times.  I will be visiting Lil' Inker on a regular basis.

For #65:  I give my [pink orange ruffled] heart:

I'm not sure where my colors go wrong when editing my photos ... you'll have to take my word that this is truly orange, and pinks - compliments of Zigs on Neenah!  Yes.. I did say Neenah - with just enough water to make the colors bleed together!

While I had my current favorite embossing folder out, I wanted to share another new LOve ... you all know how much I adore vellum?  I may be cheating on it today:  introducing Glassine from Ellen Hutson:

we go together like ...

"... vellum and sequins - and I LOve that you totally 'get' that!!!"

 

Can we all say *sigh* ?!  Of course I had to temporarily mount that little beauty onto my vellum card!!  My friend will be able to use the card, the sequins, the hearts and create a whole new card!!

 

 

Yesterday, I had a chat with a friend in Washington.  sorry again, TK, for waking you up!  You know how it goes in this wonderful blogland of ours - one person asks a question and before you know it, we are offered more than one helping hand!  TK thanks for sharing Cat Craig's 'how to post more than one photo from a post, to a challenge'!  I'm going to give it a go ... wish me luck!!!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

Supplies:

Lil' Inker Fringe Scalloped Heart

Ellen Hutson Essentials Glassine paper and fabulous blood-orange ribbon!

PTI Stamper's Select Vellum cardstock

Pretty Pink Posh sequins

WeRMemoryKeepers Next Level embossing folder

Technique Tuesday 'hugs & Kisses' sentiment from Columbine stamp

MFT background stamps:  Cheesecloth and roses

Zigs: pink, bright yellow, and orange.

 



 Thrilled to receive this honor from Lil' Inkers!!!

 

 

 

 



Time Out #75 CASEing Sweet Kobylkin

It has been an age since I've played cards at Time Out!  Challenge #75 is a CASE challenge, and Sweet Kobylkin's card is as sweet, and gorgeous, as it's creator ...  Ksenija, I'm making your card a true CASE - I've enjoyed our new IG friendship!

Here is Ksenija's card:

In my attempt to recreate those sweet little sprigs, I may have overdone it a tiny bit - my twist is white stamping on grey for the card-base,  and a tiny red strip of paper instead of embossing!

 

Thanks for popping in today! 

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:

 

SSS Fog cardstock, and white pigment ink

Mama Elephant: Freestyle Florals

Altenew:  Beautiful Day sentiment

Copics for coloring

Glossy accents for the red berries

PTI Poppy Red cardstock for tiny strip

Memento Tuxedo Black for stamping



 



Inspired by All the Little Things #40

I truly think the photo at Inspired by All the Little Things for challenge #40 is inspiring ... what color do you think I'd be inspired to use?  hmmmm??

The ethereal feeling of the photo immediately reads VELLUM to me ... this time I white heat embossed the gorgeous Altenew dahlia,  and did a bit of white Prisma coloring!  I found the perfect sprig to represent the pretty little baby's breath ... but I'm reserving the space for a sentiment as need arises.

What a fun way to start my week ... will you join me in the gallery?

=]  Michele

Supplies: 
Altenew - Dahlia Blossoms & Beautiful Day
MFT - Cement gray cardstock
Martha Stewart - butterfly punch [thanks Lisa E. for reminding me about these beauties!]


 

Color Throwdown #426

Could I ignore a Color Throwdown that included gray?  Me thinks not!

Such a gorgeous inspiration ... here's where it took me - you can't imagine the restraint I used to leave off the skis... for ctd426:

All die cuts?  hope that isn't breaking the rules!  xx

=]  Michele

Supplies:
hello - SSS
Window - Mama Elephant
Stag head - Hampton Art
Embossing folder: The Paper Studios
Plaid paper - Holiday Plaid - PTI
Kraft paper - PTI
Gray paper - MFT
Ear jewelry - Heidi Grace

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8

Our friend Darnell, of  djkardkreations, has issued the next in her fabulous, fun NBUS challenges!!  She's celebrating a really big 5th Blog Birthaversary, and I couldn't wait to play along to celebrate her milestone!

I certainly have not used my Prisma Color pencils, or kraft, enough, so I'm excited for Challenge #8 'color on kraft!'

I've used a NBUS set of stamps and dies from Impress Cards and Crafts.  I was so lucky to have won these products - isn't that the best? - from one of their fun #impresscardsandcrafts IG challenges!  The set is called So Many Things to Love, and I think it's fabulous!



Inside:
"I couldn't begin to count them ... though YOU counting ME as your friend
is at the top of the list!"

 

The hearts were stamped, kraft on white, and clear heat embossed on kraft.  I haven't had much practice coloring with Prisma's at all, but I won't hesitate to keep trying!

 

I used the matching dies to impress the largest heart on the card front, and die cut the kraft ... I even had kraft colored foam to give that little one a bit of a lift!

 

Thanks Impress, for the wonderful prize, and thanks to Darnell for giving us all the opportunity to win her fabulous line up of prizes, too!  Just playing along is a total win for me!

 

OH! thanks to all of you who drop by for a visit ... what a way to make a girl's day!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

 

 



CAS[E] this Sketch #205

Just when I think Chrissy has tricked us into a bit of hard thinking for this week's Sketch, I had a light-bulb moment!  Here you go:

At first glance you might think four or five layers, right?  but Chrissy never said they had to be Rectangular layers!!  No. she never sets rules. 

[you may think I've been hitting the helium =]

These balloon dies, from SSS, have been in my stash for years, and years.  They still are as fresh, and cute, as day one in my eyes.  I had a bit of a 'keren-baker-moment' leaving the balloon tops intact and raised above the card base ... it will require a 5x7" envelope, but that's okay by me.

Hope it's okay with Chrissy ... let's run by CTS and see what she created with her Sketch, shall we?

=]  Michele

Other supplies:  MFT Blueprints tag builder #3
                              Clearly Besotted: Always & Forever: Poppy
                              patterned paper from stash -

Essentials by Ellen - Pin-Sights Challenge!

I have had a secret, just bursting to share!  What a way to continue to celebrate the New Year!!!

Last year, I entered a card in the Calling All Artists: Pin Sights Challenge - guess what?  In August 2016, I received an email from Laurel Beard inviting ME to Guest Design!   AMAZING, right?! 

Just look at the fabulous inspiration I was given - OH!!  YOU get to play, too, don't forget that!!

If you know me at all, you know I couldn't stop at one card - but here is my favorite of all:

For the January Essentials by Ellen: Pin-Sights Challenge:

 Essentials by Ellen:  Advent stamps and dies by Julie Ebersole

WeRMemory Keepers Next Level embossing folder

MFT rectangle dies; Ranger Silver embossing powder

Gansai Tambi Starry Colors

Coats Metallic silver thread

It might be presumptuous to think you've guessed which photo [think purse & GREY] inspired my card =]  If that's too easy, try this little trio:

I've had such fun as your Pin-Sights Challenge Guest Designer ... Thank you for the invitation!

Now it's YOUR TURN!  I'll be watching the gallery for tons of gorgeousness from you all!  Remember to use Essentials by Ellen products, the inspiration Pin-Sights board, and link back to the Pin-Sights Challenge ... every little thing you need to know can be found here in the Classroom!

Thanks for stopping by ... always makes me ...

=]  Michele

Supplies, used for the trio, from Ellen Hutson:

MFT Vertical Snowfall die
Concord & 9th JOY die
Felicity Vellum gold foil Chevron
Essentials by E.H. Advent [link above]
Essentials by Ellen Oh Frappe by Julie and dies
Ranger gold and silver embossing powders
Other products:
Coats silver, and gold thread
Spellbinder's 3D collection embossing folder 'fabric weave.'
 

CASology Week 231: Forest

We've all heard the saying:  ... can't see the forest for the trees.  It was my first thought after seeing the cue word at CASology this week.  Now.  How do I put that to paper?

It was days later, while searching for a perfect paper for another project that I stumbled across the perfect paper to represent my 'forest'...

 For CASology Week 231: Forest:

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned!  Thanks for spending a bit of your precious time with me...

=]  Michele

Supplies:  BasicGrey Barista patterned paper
           Ellen Hutson Cozy Christmas by Julie
           Neat and Tangled sentiment from Scandinavian Prints

E.T.A. and HM!  Thank you, Hannelie!

 



Mix it Up Challenge - Second helpings!

It turns out that 12 Days set wasn't at all ready to be filed away for the season ... would you mind Second Helpings for the Ellen Hutson Mix it Up Challenge? 

Combining that darling rooster again, with Avery Elle's delightful sentiments in the Bonjour! set, added plenty of smiles to my day ... OH and their Sweet Scallops dies provide the cute un-scalloped mats!

Of course you KNOW it must be pronounced "Beau COOP!!" in this instance!

Hope I gave you a smile, today, too ... it is my mission!

=]  Michele





Other products:  glossy accents, and Paper Studios embossing folder.

CAS[E] this Sketch #204

N@ Ali is the creator of our Sketch this week ... always a pleasure.  Now I'm going to post her fab Sketch here ... but, please, be sure to keep a really open mind when I post my card? 

 

I had a little set on my desk that was really crying for some attention before it got filed away ...  ready?  go...

 

Wplus9 Woodland Basics dies; Memory Box sentiment from So many things to love from Impress.

 

As our Winter is so very dark and dreary at the moment, I'm forced to re-think how I am photographing my cards ... this set up seems to get the best natural light, from a North facing side of the house.

 

Okay.  Off we go to the CTS blog ... I know you will do better than I did with N@'s sketch! 

 

=]  Michele