12 Kits of Occasions - It's a Guy Thing!

It's June 30th!!  You know what that means?  it's 12 Kits of Occasions Time and It's a Guy Thing!!  Thanks for stopping by ... I have the pleasure of hosting this month's kit!  Here's a peek at the things I sent my teamies:

Thanks, Lindsey, for the wonderful photo!

 

I am in the midst of packing for a 12 day adventure that we had planned for April.  So I'm going to cut right to my cards - grab a beverage and let's get this party started!

 

First up - an homage to my darling father-in-law who we sadly lost in April ... Tom asked for his fishing hat - so glad he got it, as his own had seen better days!  For Dad, and Tom...

 



A few of you may know that Tom and I are fishermen ...

we adore the little dragonflies who hitch a ride!

a little road-trip-card for Tom =]

I even baked him a cake shaped like his hat - seriously!

You can see it here!

 

Next up - a fun card for the grandkids to give to Gramps for his birthday - his last for the forties!

 

Not one bit planned - it was a total surprise after die-cutting my letters... what a perfect kid-style, right?

 

Tom does so much for me, for us, and never does get the thanks he deserves ...

 

Of course those thanks swing both ways -

hinged letters are perfect!

 

How about a little Grad-venture?  

 

"Let the adventures begin!"

 

Don't adjust your screen!  that's a shaker, and a window -

words are on the inside - clearly, with a bit more grad-vice!

 

And lastly... let's celebrate those guys in our lives with words ...

 

 

 



 

It's been a blast making cards for my guys ... hope the team had fun ... I'm running to visit each and every one of them!

 

You'll join me, right?  12 Kits of Occasions June 2017 begins here!  Thanks for stopping in...

 

=]  Michele







CAS[E] this Sketch #228

Chrissy Larson is taking us down a road less traveled... or crafted?  You are going to LOve her Sketch this week - my mind can bear-ly stop thinking of the many ways it could be interpreted!

First up, a little silliness- because you know I cannot stop myself!!

Inside:

"... like Mel Gibson... what?  That's what Julia Roberts told us!

There's that smile I've been missing -

you'll be back on your feet in no time!"

 



That inside sentiment completes the thought BUT you must be a "Notting Hill" fan [we've watched it no less than 20 times!] to totally 'get it'... btw it's a 'get well' card if I hadn't made myself clear.

 

Okay.  Enough silliness... for CTS#228:

 

... the climb!

 

Enjoy the Sketch! 

 

OH I have to share some fun news ... Tom and I are hitting the road again - heading West ... take a guess who we'll be seeing along the way in Iowa!!?? ... no. not Mel Gibson... Chrissy!!  see you soon, my friend!

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies: Waffle Flower: Happy Day, Lil' Inker waves, and SSS Enjoy, and hill die.  All sentiments on my furry butt card are my own!

Inspired by All the Little Things #62

Amy Kolling is the Guest Designer at Inspired by All the Little Things #62 ... who needs more inspiration than that?  The photo isn't bad either.  ;] 

I was happy that Clearly Besotted recently came back onto the scene - though I haven't made any new purchases, I'm still in love with this little number - sadly no longer available - it came to mind immediately!

With some quick die cutting, and stamping I think my little kites are a pretty cute stand-in for those fabulous umbrellas!

Inks: SSS Hydrangea for purple, Distress Chipped Sapphire for blue;

Wplus9 Last Leaf, Hayride, Pumpkin Spice, and Red Gala ... well you get the picture.

 

I'll be very lucky to have any other chance to craft this week ... but one never knows ... fun can be had between loads of fun!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

Coats Extra Strong upholstery thread used for kite strings!

The Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

I have about one minute to spare ... luckily it took less than that to create this card!

I couldn't help but make another card for the girls who work so hard to put together The Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

 A super special friend sent me the sweetest gift - had to use this darling Sugar Pea The Perfect Blend set [they are a super sponsor!] to gift to another friend we'll have coffee with on our journey through Albuquerque! 

PTI What the Doodle Map set;  MFT Striped lines; and a little rhinestone geo marker!

That's it for me ... run out of time, but never coffee! 

=]  Michele

The Card Concept #76

Another card for The Card Concept ... here is that lovely inspiration photo once more:

These products were sitting on my desk:  pretty red ribbon, and a E.H. Linen card base from Ellen Hutson, gorgeous PPP die from Lisa Elton, the Dahlia Set from Altenew that I'd been meaning to use again, and the perfect words from their Fresh Freesia set... here is how they came together:

I'm thinking Clean and Layered ... how about you?

I am so sorry to bombard you all with so many cards ... we're traveling again soon, and I will have withdrawals from crafting ... thank goodness I have plans with a few crafty friends along the way!  Any others between Michigan and Utah I've missed?

Anyway, if you stopped by, thanks for paying me a visit today!

=]  Michele

Time Out Challenge #86

Time Out's Challenge #86 is giving us a chance to Celebrate with an option to make a one-layer card ... thanks to my friend Nora, I can finally play with some CAS-ual Fridays product AND create a one-layer card!  Woo hoo!

Nora sent me two panels stamped and white heat-embossed with their Peace Out set ... think she knows that I'm a flower child of the 70's?! 

Since we'll be celebrating our independence on July 4th, I've water colored with our Nation's colors: red, white, and blue... just a faint wash of white pigment ink colored the middle section over Nora's beautiful water color card stock.

Wplus9's Be Merry Sentiments provided the addition of  'to you and yours'

then, since there seems to be unrest in so many places in our world right now, I really wanted to wish Peace to the UN, too ... here are the colors of the UN flag:

PTI's Holiday Cheer set provided the love & joy

Peace, love, and crafty goodness to you my friends... thanks so much for keeping our world full of beauty, and good wishes... and thanks again to Nora for sharing her CAS-ual Friday supplies with me!

=]  Michele

Summer Coffee Lover's Bloghop

It's that time of the year ... lazy, hazy, coffee-crazed days of Summer!!!  Iced, or black & hot like I love it, we coffee lovers do have fun with the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

I have a fun card ... LOve this Stamplorations Framed Coffee Pot by Shery Russ!... oh Shery has plenty more coffee themed products I want!  Stamplorations is also one of the Super Sponsors of the Hop! 

 

For today's card, I've borrowed the orange Color Trend theme from Carissa from her In Touch post ... enough chit chat - you came for the coffee!!

 

 

I am fueled up and craf-tinated to get a few more Coffee cards made this week ... you've seen the prizes, right?

 

Cheers to you ... thanks for stopping by for a cuppa!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

TCC & FMS

Hello again!  I seldom combine challenges ... this time it was a simple decision to make.  A Clean and Simple card for The Card Concept #76 and that gorgeous curve from Karren for Freshly Made Sketches #293!

I've used that pretty Rose embossing folder from Sizzix,, cut the curve with a Die-namics edge die.   Then a Paper Smooches frame die for the red, and a simple piece of twine to add a pop of black; Altenew provided the perfect sentiment.

I have already started thinking ... you know what that can mean... 'til then, thanks for stopping by...

=]  Michele

A House is not a Home - CASology Week 254

Luther Vandross was singing in my head today, so I tuned him in on YouTube and created a card.

Here is a link to hear another favorite version 

A House is not a Home.  

 

Here is where I'll be playing cards ...

Week 254: House

 

 

 

 

Reverse Confetti Chevron dies provided the 'roof' and another RC for the heart;

PTI papers - sentiment in my own words with a Microfine EK journaling pen.

 

Hope you like it!  Thanks for dropping by...

 

=]  Michele

 

A House is not a Home

Lyrics:

 

A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sitting there.

But a chair is not a house, and a house is not a home

When there's no one there you can kiss goodnight.

 

A room is still a room, even when there's nothing there but gloom.

But a room is not a house and a house is not a home when the two of us

are far apart

and one of us has a broken heart

 

Now and then I call your name

and, suddenly, your face appears.

But it's just a crazy game

when it ends, it ends in tears.

 

I'm not meant to live alone

Turn this house into a home

When I climb the stairs and turn the key...

Oh, please, be there, still in love with me.

 

written by Burt Bacharach

 



So very honored by this win!  Thank you Melissa!!

 

 

 

CAS[E] this Sketch #227

N@ Ali is our Sketch artist this week - always a pleasure!  One day she will start posting cards again - fingers crossed! 

Yesterday, I decided it was time to put the finishing touches to a little project I started [over a year ago] for my granddaughter.  Her new room is about to be finished, and she LOVES all things in shades of purple!  I'll save it for her 10th birthday in September.

Armed with Concord & 9th's upper and lower case Sophisticated Script sets, I stamped Madeline's 'nick-name' along with a few favorites blooms, and a background from MFT:

W&W's Audrey's cutaways are as loved as Noelle's for the perfect panel!

SSS purples are looking pretty good with that gorgeous Fog grey.

 

That's it for me ... hope you are inspired by CTS #227, and we'll see you in our gallery!

 

=]  Michele

 

Altenew June 2017 Inspiration Challenge and more

I'm having such a wonderful time rediscovering Altenew's Bamboo Roses ... thought they should be pink today!  Here's the reason why:  Altenew June 2017 Inspiration Challenge:

All that creamy white deliciousness had me digging for a gorgeous leftover water color paper from my son's college art class days.  It was HUGE so I cut down the last of it into workable pieces.

If you look at that gorgeous inspiration photo again, you'll spot a few really wonderful thistle... I'm dying for Altenew to create a Thistle set ... who agrees?  I've added just a touch of that gorgeous grey-blue to my leaves in honor of them.

I'll be sending this one over to The Flower Challenge - Anything Goes, and to Shopping our Stash who are asking for pink!

Thanks for stopping by today - always makes me smile...
=]  Michele

Inspired by ATLT and INkspirational Challenges

Two fabulous photo inspirations today...

from Inspired by all the Little Things #61:

More gorgeous blue blooms from Inkspirational #137:

One design, two ways ... I'll be honest - I haven't adhered a thing YET ... taking a lesson from my friend Bobby!  I really felt like the gorgeous pink stucco needed to make an appearance ... but OH, it is just as pretty without!

We'll see if either gets a nod from the 'judges!'

Hope your week is starting out with a smile!

=]  Michele

Supplies: Bamboo Roses from #Altenew [bundle on sale now]
                  Distress Oxide Broken China, mixed with regular Distress Chipped Sapphire;
                  Distress  Oxide,  mixed with regular Distress Black Soot.
                  Mama Elephant dies
                  Flora & Fauna sentiment
                  Ellen Hutson linen cardstock

Time Out & The Flower Challenge

It's a two-for day, today!

My card goes to Time Out #85 and The Flower Challenge #9 - I think you'll see why... I just couldn't resist that hammock!

 

A few Distress Oxides, MFT Tropical Floral, and

woven kraft cardstock ... voila!

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there - hope you've taken a little time out in the hammock yourselves today!

 

=]  Michele



Ellen Hutson June 2017 Pin-Sights Challenge - getting Funky!

Is there any reason not to just sit and stare at this magnificence?

 

Now.  You HAVE to put on your imagination, and bear with me a little - okay. maybe a bunch ...

 

I've been 'dreaming' of this card since the release of Julie's Mondo Peony set of stamps and dies ... the MOST beautiful set, and I am letting it loose in the coop today :|  Julie and Ellen, I mean no disrespect for your loveliest products!

 

 

Using the largest of the fabulous leaves, I transformed them into chicken feet with the help of my VersaMarker, white heat embossing, and a few Zigs in the Pin-Sights Colors:  Strawberry, Orange + Lemon.  The sentiment comes from Spread the Sparkle, and a few alpha die cuts from a piece of diy strawberry cardstock.

 

 

 





 





She's about to fly to the June Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights gallery - chicken-toes crossed!!!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #226

The Queen of Distress Ink Blending, coloring, and design is our fabulous Sketch artist this week! 

Donna, I have tried really hard to do your fun Sketch justice ... and even tried something new: a melon-art card!   I've seen SO many darling watermelon cards on Instagram over the last few months ... just HAD TO try!

For Donna, and CTS #226:

Distress Oxide, and regular inks; Essentials by Ellen Be YOU tiful die - clear embossed three times!

My 'seeds' just happen to have fallen right into my lap - yep, from the die cut!

 

Our CTS winners circle has been just fabulous - hope the gallery is as filled with gorgeousness this week, too!  Will you be playing with Donna's fun Sketch?

 

=]  Michele

CASology: Week 253: CLOTHES

I did a little inventory of my 'wardrobe' and found just the article of clothing I needed to play cards with CASology's  challenge for Week 253:

Lucky me that I have the best person to gift this one to!

Version 2, that I fondly call the 'B cup':

 

[Get ready to sing Anita!!!]

I've used my own words for my sentiments today ... just in case you're wondering =]

Thanks for the visit today ... always a pleasure to see you!

=]  Michele