12 Kits of Occasions - a grand finale!

Yes.  It is the end of the year, and with our host Tracey's gorgeous Fashionista kit, we 12 Kits of Occasions gals are going out with a bang, and well dressed, to boot!

Without further ado... here is a peek at all things fabulous about Tracey's kit:

Thanks, Lindsey, for the photo!

I was able to make four really fun cards, with lots of pretty leftovers for other projects!

First up is my card from the 12 Kits of Occasions blog... there is a little surprise to share here! 

With a little ingenuity, and a penny-slider, you can have a quick costume change:

Tres jolie, oui?!

 

Next, a little mantra for the New Year!



Inside: 

Say aloud, and repeat each day - you can do anything!!

 

One day, I will see this one of a kind landmark!!!

 



Lastly, I leave you with a classic beauty, whose words describe my 12 Kits of Occasions family so well:

"True friends are families you can select" -
Audrey Hepburn
 



Thank you, Tracey, for this wonderful kit!  Cheers to you and all of my 12 Kits sisters!  I'm off to visit each of you now!

To all of my faithful friends who visit me here at I Card Everyone, thank you, and happy, healthy New Year!

=]  Michele

Want a chance to win a kit for January?  

You'll receive the same kit as the rest of the team, create, and post what you made on your blog on the last day of February.  Jeanne's the hostess and the kit theme is "Snow Day".  Due to time constraints only applicants with a US destination address please - we want you to have time to create.  The deadline to leave a comment [at the 12 Kits December post] to enter is January 10, 2018!

a SALE you don't want to miss...

Seriously!  find it here and go... NOW!  =]

2 Takes on a Trend in The Classroom

Today I'm in The Classroom at Ellen Hutson to share one of two cards based on a Color Trend ... always a challenge for me - you know I'm color-phobic, right? 

Take a peek at this inspiration:

Inspired by the sweet chop sticks, the colors, and the fun black graffiti, here is where I was taken:

I created a white panel using one of the newest Essentials by Ellen: the confetti die from Yay.  Just when the recipient least expects it?  Cue the Confetti! and out comes a bounty of colorful confetti when opened!  Oh yes, I had to use the Confetti Flinger die ... Julie shows how much fun it is here.  She is totally right about that doing it again, and again!

Let's head over to The Classroom to see Take 2!

=]  Michele

Time Out #99 and FMS#318

I know, I was just here yesterday - but here I am again!  My final entry in a few challenges for 2017...

Time Out Challenge #99 has a twist ... and Freshly Made Sketches #318 had the perfect Sketch for my Twist.  Take a peek:


I have done a little bit of shopping... taking advantage of a few sales from my favorite companies.  I have had two sets in particular on my radar... thankfully I found them both - and on sale?!

The Christmas set called Winter Aviary from Flora and Fauna, and Right at Home's fabulous sentiments from Peace, Love, Joy came together to form the cutest little celebrate-anything card:

I am actually loving the 'less than perfect' stamping on my wood-grain paper ... do you like it?

Now.  get back to work... those cookies don't bake themselves!

<=]  Michele

BTW I used the smallest die from MFT Wonky Squares to create the windows - and little slip of vellum for the window... thank you to Barb G. for the wood-grain paper, and Bobby for the wonderful plaid PP.

CAS[E] this Sketch #252

I know you're all gearing up for Christmas, and I do want to wish you all a very, VERY Merry Christmas, indeed! 

There isn't a gift from any store that could compare to the gift you give me with each visit ... thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

Here is our Sketch - by the way it is a TWO week challenge, so you have plenty of time - perhaps you'll even have time to make more than one?  However many you make, know that we adore every single entry in our gallery... with that, here is our final for 2017, Sketch #252:

I think Chrissy was wrapping Christmas gifts when she dreamed this one, right?  This is where I was taken - from me to all of  YOU ...

Until next year, be safe, be well, and thank you for your kindness!!

=]  Michele

Supplies:  from E.H: Advent and Abstract Paint Strokes; Avery Elle Beautiful Bow; Delicata Gold ink; and Wplus9 black ink.

A sad goodbye - The Curtain Call Finale

I have played cards with the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge more than thirty times since I began my blogging journey.  Their inspirational photos quickly became some of my favorites - to say I'll miss this challenge is an understatement.

Cheers to Stacey Schafer, and all of the designers who have encouraged us to try, left some of the sweetest comments, and created so many gorgeous cards to fuel our creative juices!

You will be missed, I wish I'd played along more ... here is my final card for Curtain Call - Pines  - all the sentiments are on the inside:

=]  Michele

Color Throwdown #473

If you haven't seen the Color Throwdown inspiration photo for challenge #473 yet ... here it is... take your time sighing, and ooooing, and ahhhhing over it.  I understand completely.

I even went so far as to find the link - it's a Polish baking blog!  These cookies are on my baking radar - no promises, however.

I did bake up a pretty satisfactory card... hope you agree...

It's only fair I send it over to those lovelies at The Winter Coffee Lover's Bloghop, too... I better hurry...
Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend!  Thanks for your visits this week!

=]  Michele

Hello, again! CASology #279

I do hope it's okay if I stop in again today ... there is a little challenge out there that was calling my name!

CASology Week 279: Gray spoke to my heart ...

This gorgeous 'wrap' of gray comes by way of a new ribbon on my Christmas wreath ... no words seemed necessary, but a few special thoughts for the recipient inside.

=]  Michele



CAS[E] this Sketch #251

I hope you still need a Christmas card, or two ... Donna Mikasa has gifted us with a gorgeous Sketch for #251 ...

I sent Tom to the post office with a full box of cards last week ... there were a few new friends to add to my Christmas card list this year.   I was so happy to use Donna's Sketch as my model for the last one of the season!

My very first try with this Altenew Bells and Bows set!!  sigh... I'm in love.

 

Of course one has to put a few pretty little things in that darling little bag!  Here's a tiny peek...

We had our first snow!  It's truly beginning to LOOK a bit more like Christmas!

Can't wait to see what you have wrapped up for CTS ... they are each a gift in our eyes!

=]  Michele

Inspired by All the Little Things #76

Inspired by All the Little Things #76 lends itself to the perfect party - in paper!

I had a little leftover confetti laying around from a future post ...

2018 looks like it has the potential for lots of celebrating - hope you'll be blessed with everything your hearts desire, and celebrating, too!

=]  Michele

2017 Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I was so happy to stop by Starbucks yesterday to see their 2017 pastry bags ... why?  Because it makes the cutest card!  and the 2017 Winter Coffee Lovers Bloghop is just the place for it!

Cue the Whitney...

A good schmear of glue stick on a lightweight cardstock, stick the front of the bag on, and run it through your machine in an embossing folder ... trim after it dries.  Adhere to a 5x7" kraft card base and, Bob's your Uncle! 

I added a die-cut 'you' and one of the many darling cups from Altenew's Coffee Love, a little steamy heart from E.H. Home & Hearth, just to complete the 'song.'  I even chose to leave the little pinked edge... it's all matchy-matchy with the glassine envelope I created.

Thanks, amy T., for a little after-Christmas-card play time!

=]  Michele

To Cat:  sorry [not sorry] about the ear worm xo

 

Want to see my first bag card?  You can see it here!

Time Out challenge #98

Time Out has a fabulous photo for their "Home Sweet Home" challenge #98 ...

I couldn't resist it ... twice!

You'll have to forgive me for my seriously silly sense of humor this time.  I'm not usually political, nor am I against hunting to put food on the table, but this guy?  He just wanted to be heard...

" . . . and your rifles empty!  Merry Moose-mas!"

Now, just to let you know that I was truly inspired by the photo and not having a rant ...

As I've already posted my Christmas cards, these are just going into cold storage for next year - score!

=]  Michele

Supplies: 
card 1:  The Cat's Pajamas deer; Avery Elle sentiment, and stockings,  Copic colored; a gorgeous wood-grain paper from a friend.
card 2:  Ellen Hutson stag die; and various snowflakes... and real wood paper from the same fantastic friend xoxo



CAS[E] this Sketch #250

Can you believe we are at Week 250?  Another fabulous Sketch comes to us from Leigh Penner this week ... I think you are going to love it as much as we do.

CTS #250 screams for a little water coloring, right?   And florals?  yes, please.  I've decided to use Leigh's Sketch to do a little experimental painting with Distress Oxide inks.  However, in place of florals, my 'subject' is a simple, gorgeous pine bough stamp set ... here it is three ways:

Attempt A:  stamped in Versafine gray/clear embossed, using a less-watered-down version of Distress Oxides, and an attempt at a loose water colored background, stamping into the very wet ghost-stamping, onto a wet paper, using  a smaller pine bough from the set:

my in-house critic thought the top ghost stamping looked like a creepy hand -

decided he was right...

 

Attempt B:  black/clear embossed stamping, with a more spattered background:

 



Finally, the card you came by for:  more CAS, clear embossed stamping... which gives more of a Princess Pine style needle. Because it's Christmas, a little gold wash on the cones, and a very subtle background wash:

Which do you prefer?  I'm pretty sure we'll love any subject, or floral you choose for your card!

Now, let's go see Leigh's card, shall we?  I'm sure my entire team will have treats in store... at CAS[E] this Sketch!

=]  Michele

I'll be sharing this CAS card with Loll and Bonnie at CAS Watercolor December Challenge: Anything Goes!

Seconds, and firsts!

You may know that I goofed up when I forgot to include one of the necessary colors from The Color Throwdown #471's list... black!

Here is my second attempt ... it was no trouble at all  =]

Have I mentioned that Tom bought me a Minc foiling machine for my birthday?  Here is another little somethin' I foiled - in a GOOD way!

I'll be sending this one over to The Classroom for Ellen Hutson's 12 Days of Christmas with a Feminine Twist! 

For Day 2, Julia and Keeway both made beautiful tags using Silver and Gold, each adding a bit of pastel color - I've chosen to stay clean, and white!  It continues to be difficult to photograph ... but the lettering is foiled in gold, and the stars, and one wee heart, are silver die cuts.

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend - it's been nice crafting on Sunday! 

=]  Michele

Color Throwdown #471

You may know that I've been enjoying Instagram posting lately... I'm enjoying meeting new 'friends' around the world even more!

As often happens, I find someone using products that aren't available in the States - hate when that happens - so if I love a card, I'll try to use what I have in my own stash to create it.... that's how this card happened.

For Color Throwdown #471, and @fraubluetenstempel aka Andrea Moritz who taunts me with all of her Alexandra Renke products:

A little note:  my stitching represents the 'black' as I could not bear to add another thing!

Please do visit Andrea's blog ... you won't be sorry, and you'll be truly amazed!

=]  Michele