12 Kits of Occasions - March 2018

Here we are, the end of another month!  The best ending to any month calls for the gathering of the 12 Kits of Occasions team - now, who could ask for more?

Jessica Davis, of The Paper Parade, is our Host this month ... she's gifted us with the most wonderful collection of papers, and darling little images to Copic color, too!

Without further ado... I've chosen just a few of my favorites to mix n match... thanks, Jessica!! 

"you're quickly becoming my favorite!"

 

Jessica sent oodles of wonderful sentiments... but!

Sometimes I like to save them for an 'as needed' occasion!

 

"or is it MY good looks?  Either way, thanks, honey bunches!"

"There's no one I'd rather share my wishes with!"

 

"... shot to the heart!"

Well, my friends, that's it for me today ... hustle over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog for a looky loo at the abundance of brilliance from my teamies!  You'll find a list of supplies from this month's kit from Jessica, too!

BTW team... I'll be a bit tardy with my praises this month!  Tom and I are headed South for Hurricanes, and Beignets!

=]  Michele


Supporting cast of characters: 

MFT Wonky Rectangles, Circles, Stitched Strip, and Snowfall vertical dies.
SSS Hello Beautiful for the arrow, and embossed heart; Stitched Slopes & Hills
Lil' Inkers Woodgrain cover plate die

 

Pinkfresh Studios March Challenge

One glance, and you'll know exactly why I had to play along with Pinkfresh Studios March Challenge today!

I'm in the midst of packing, so I have to make this quick... and my card was quick, and easy to make, too - had to use this gorgeous Bright Side of Life die that I won on IG... and my tiny blossoms?  Came from the December Days set of dies - yeah, a Christmas set!!

This may be the brightest side my craft room has ever seen!

This is advice we can all benefit from, right?

I'm dedicating this one to my bloggy friend Hazel ... she and I have had some pretty serious discussions lately - I know it has helped me immensely, dear friend!  xoxo

=]  Michele

A Reminder from Uniko ...

I'm back with a reminder of the fabulous Challenge #46 from Uniko... I'm feeling really lucky to be hangin' out with those talented Uniko designers!  Here is their lovely inspiration:

Lucky is what I was to win Bev's gorgeous Gerberas... you didn't really think I wouldn't use them again, did you?

 

I've placed these lovelies in holes of different sizes... today?  All together in one!  Still looking for that buttonhole die ...

 

However, I have to look no further than my comment section to find the most wonderful supporters a card-maker could ask for ... thank you!!  And thank YOU, Uniko, for the opportunity to Guest Design with you!

 

=]  Michele

 

Supporting cast of products:

MFT Wonky Ovals

Wplus9 4-Bar Stitched Rectangles

Distress Oxide inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Worn Lipstick... reg. Distress Mustard Seed.

sentiments from friends at W&W, and TCP 

A well loved pack of Woven paper from DCWV and a new stack of blues from Michael's

CAS[E] this Sketch #265

Donna Mikasa always gives us plenty of creative license with her Sketches ... #265 is no doubt going to become a favorite:

I had a few lovely florals on my desk, but these gorgeous Tulips from Wplus8 won the day...

I had first thought I'd use these MFT holes for stitching, but just thought they looked beautiful as is!

How will you interpret Donna's Sketch?  We are always so happy to find out!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
MFT Blueprint #18 for holes; Pierced Circles Stax for The Circle!
Catherine Pooler inks: Shea Butter, Seafoam, and Spruce.

Inspired By ... #13 Spring Sunshine!

Inspired By ... Spring sunshine?  Yes, please!  and these lovely yellow linens are just as gorgeous to my eyes as any daffodil! 

 

I've had the most wonderful time inking up this wonderful Altenew Anemone in so many colors ... this one in yellow, of course, might be my favorite!  Could there be any doubt what I was Inspired By today?

 

 

This sentiment?  My wish for all of YOU today!  Hope to see you in the Inspired By #13 gallery! 

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:

Altenew Build-a-Flower Anemone stamps, and die set.

Mama Elephant:  Peek a Frame dies

PTI Bitty Big Harvest Gold patterned paper

Catherine Pooler Inks:  Shea Butter, Seafoam, and Spruce

 

 

CASology: Week 293: Cross

It has been ages since I've played at CASology - this cue was perfect for a little re-creation of another card I made recently.  This time, in celebration of the Easter season!

For CASology Week 293:

 

=]  Michele
 

Calling All Sistahs CAS#11

If it seems I'm in your inbox really often, I'm about to leave for our Spring vacay, and you KNOW I'll suffer from card-making-withdrawals!!!  So I must make cards!

This card is for a challenge that I've not played in before ... though I know you've all heard about:

... here is there fabulous inspiration for cards of encouragement this month for CAS11:

I've used the photo for my inspiration, and shades of those colors that I have in my stash ... those darling CAS-ual Fridays products that were my gift from Michele for playing cards with Nora in February just had to come out to play.

Inside:

"... I like sweet blooms, too! 

But, truly, you're so great...  

I love them less than YOU!"

I love my embossing folders ... this one added such a wonderful texture to my mustard-yellow mug - oh that mug? of course I had to enbiggen it!  Now did you notice that little flutter-by?  I save everything!  it is made from the snippets leftover when you cut the mug... can you find it?  Can you also see that I've corrected the placement of the stems?  Ha!  One cannot take life too seriously!

While I may not have time to check into my blog next week, may I say today: thanks so very much for stopping by, and always for your support!  Happy Easter, my friends!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
CASual Friday's   Hot Coffee stamp set, and Coffee Cup Fri-Dies
MFT Die-namics Stitched Strip
E.H. Altenew Poppy Fields 
Distress Oxide inks:  Peeled Paint, Candied Apple, Fossilized Amber, and Wild Honey.
Sizzix embossing folder ... sorry no name!

Muse Challenge #259

Hello again, my friends!  I found myself a wee little window of time between the loads of fun I have on Monday, to play cards with my friend Barb Ghig ... oh she doesn't even KNOW how much fun we had - in my head - since we're half a country apart!

Barb is the Guest Host at Muse this week - here is her lovely inspiration:

Here is where things got a little bit different - starting by tipping the whole card! 

• That gorgeous gray - love it so much, it had to be the star!
• My color came from patterned paper, instead of ink
• I scribbled ON my blooms - that counts, right?
• and made mine a birthday wish, rather than anniversary - it still has love enclosed!
• my enamel dots are standing in as sequins =]

 

 

Congratulations on being our Muse this week, my friend!

=]  Michele

Supplies: 
Paper - You may recognize that these papers are also used here... I'm working my way through this darling Rise & Shine amy tangerine 6x6 pad I've hoarded for TOO long.
MFT Stitched scallop edges die
Wplus9 Happy Wishes stamps, and dies
A jelly roll pen for scribbling.

Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop Challenge

I'll show exactly why I'm crafting on Sunday:
PTI's March 2018 Blog Hop!

 

I'm totally smitten by Martha's little 'nest' and have even saved the instructions for future use!  lol ... do you have a 'CASE this' file, too?

 

OH you can't know how much I wish I had PTI's gorgeous tulips... a darling little Botanical Blocks III Poppy will

have to do!  I've created a little nest using PTI's Rustic Jute Button Twine, and a few slim cuts of their Fine Linen card stock... even snuggled a few 'eggs' in for good measure!

 

The PTI Mighty Jungle cover plate gave interest to my card.

 

See how sneaky I was getting a little bit of blue

into my design?  A little water coloring with Zigs was all it took to 'paint' this little panel, which was heat embossed onto water color card stock.

 

Thanks for stopping by ... I'm off to add my card!

 

=]  Michele

Motion Crafts Blog Hop

Hello my friends!  Today I'm Hopping with a group of delightful crafting friends using some new-to-me products from Motion Crafts ... so different from anything I'd ever seen, or had the opportunity to play with! 

You should have arrived here from my wonderful friend Tracey McNeely's blog In My Creative Opinion - she had an un-BEE-lievably darling card, right?

On to my projects!  first up, a card using the original Animation Grid with a toad-ily adorable little hoppy friend:

Please view my videos in full screen ... I'm a whole lot new at videography!

 



The black Animation grid included in the set is great if your stamped images are stamped in black, or another dark color ... like my green toad had been, and this cute little Racoon, and his moving emotions:

But this CAS girl was thrilled that they also created a Grid die to cut your own custom grids.  One of the things I learned using this grid die:  use a shim, and no more than 80# card stock!  If there are 'rough edges' sand lightly with your sanding eraser, on the back side, taking care not to bend those grids.

For my last two projects, I used the Heart, and Butterfly, and Blooms from another set ... The Essentials.

 

Are you totally intrigued?  Well, how would you like to have a few of these fun products of your own?  Leave me a comment by March 30th, telling me about someone in your life who would love a card that moves!  I'll put my husband to task choosing a random comment, and I'll send you, and your friend, a Motion Crafts product!  Good luck!  [U.S. only, I hope you understand!]

 

Edited to add:  Contest is closed!  Thanks to all who took the time to leave me some love!

Congratulations to Verna Angerhofer who will be sharing her prize with a friend, and daughter!! 

 



Motion Crafts has lots of new products for Spring in the Motion Crafts shop now!  OH Luciana is also giving three prize packages - so don't forget to leave her some love! 

 

Now, off you go to see what the incredible Miriam Prantner has made ... thanks for hopping by... and thank you to Motion Crafts for inviting us to play cards!

 

=]  Michele

 

Other players:  Winnie & Walter's Audrey, and Noelle cutaways.

 

 

 



CAS[E] this Sketch #264

Chrissy is our Sketch host this week, and I may have had my way with it again... it's okay... she understands how my brain functions!  You'll LOVE her card, btw!

We can't wait to see you interpretation:

My mind saw this:

It might have been my mood ... which is almost always brightened by your visits!

Let's go see how the rest of the CTS team have visualized it!

=]  Michele

Supplies:  MFT Stitched Clouds this is a substitute, as I could not find the one I used in the MFT store;  Honey Bee/United we Flourish: Sending Smiles - for the sentiment.

Inspired By... #12 Hello Spring

 

Let's just all give a happy sigh ... isn't this gorgeous? 

 

Okay, let's think Spring, everyone, and play along with Inspired By... #12 and this beauty! ... by the way we have the wonderfully generous Technique Tuesday as our sponsor this week - you know what that means, right?  a prize, folks!!

 

Here is where my Spring thoughts took me ... a little snarky Karen Walker-snarkyness never ceases to make me smile!  Ready?  Hope you're a Will & Grace fan!  you'll have no problem hearing the unwritten honey at the end of this sentiment...  T.T. Hi There! and Sassy Birthday made it easy!

 

 

I was totally Inspired By the colors, the flowers ... what will inspire you?

 

=]  Michele

 

 





The Cat's Pajama's March Release!

It is time to Hop with my TCP gang, and we are all excited to bring a little Spring to your doorstep today!

I am leading the Hop ...  but if the birds eat the bread crumbs, there is a complete list at the TCP blog here.

I have three cards for you today, featuring two of the three latest and greatest stamp sets from The Cat's Pajamas - I featured the other great new goodies yesterday, so I hope you had a chance to stop by!

Okay, this sweet little Special Delivery mouse is delivering the cutest little bucket of blooms, isn't he?  I've done a little Prisma coloring today ... and I LOve it on this gray - do you?  It makes my CAS heart happy =]

 

There are so many tiny little detailed stamps in this set ... Nancy is next - she's created little masterpieces with it!

Next is what could be called a 'self portrait!'  Oh yes, I do require a fair bit of caffeinating in the morning, and our What the Froth set fits the bill perfectly - and LOOK!  he's wearing bunny slippers!!!

 I've trimmed our Luggage Tag for my sentiment, and added a bit of patterned paper to complete my scene.

 

 

Last card for today ... oh, please understand my sense of humor! ... my guy has more problems than a cup of coffee can fix!  and I LOVE him for the smile he brings me!!

Could that sentiment be any more perfect?!  BTW it's also time to remind you about our Coffee/Tea TCP Tuesday challenge!  We're on the lookout for the next $50 winner!

So grateful you had a bit of time to share with me today ...
all of the new products are available right now in the TCP shop ... but before you shop, please hop over to Nancy's Creative Palette ... you'll be so happy you did!

=]  Michele

The Cat's Pajamas - Sneak Peek Week!

Certainly by now you have been totally WOWED by all the gorgeousness from my TCP teamies ... can you handle one more sneak peek?

Today, I'm concentrating on the lovely dies that Alma has designed for this March Release.  AND I've come up with a clever way to use one of them... more on that in a bit.

First up:  a Trio of Butterflies, on the gorgeous Oval Scroll Duo!  I was inspired to create a card base that mimics the arch of the Oval ... then I die cut these gorgeous butterflies out of a trio of Spring-y colors, they should bring cheer to anyone who is feeling a bit under the weather...

Who among us hasn't needed a more masculine card on occasion?  I used this very handsome Spring Tag Duo to create just such a card ... you won't believe your luck when you discover this darling little bird that is included - you just have to watch for him!

Okay... last but not least!  It's time for me to remind you that we have our TCP Tuesday Challenge going on now!  I used that Spring Tag Duo's base to create this little teacup...  so easy to do with a bit of careful cutting using the die as a guide, and a sharp exacto knife!  I used our Luggage Tags, and a bit of partial cutting, to create this little tea bag tag!

   My words inside: 

"... for two is always better! 

Let's see if we can brew up a plan, soon!"

 

OH before I go... what do you say?  are you in it, to win it?  A random pick from comments on our Sneak Peek posts, or IG could win you a fabulous prize!!!

Well, my work is done ... like one can call it work!  I hope we've caused a little shopping list ... here are the four new products I've used today ... there are two others that I've had loads of fun with.   See you again soon ... like tomorrow!

 

=]  Michele