12 Kits of Occasions - Fairy Tales!

Fairy tales, do come true, it can happen to you … when you're young at heart! 

Birgit, your August Kit made me feel young at heart, indeed!  It was such a whimsical, magical play time … thanks so very much!  I do believe in Fairy Tales!

I made a few little magical cards … ready?  set.  go...

 

 

 

You cannot even imagine the restraint it took not to make that puff

come out the other end … I may just change it …

I know just the guy who'd appreciate it!

 

It's time for me to send you on your way to 12 Kits blog, where there will be many delights to behold, and a wonderful guest!

Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #287

Brian King has done it again … check out this fun Sketch #287:

I HAD to use a bit more of the monoprint stenciling I did recently … too pretty to waste even a scrap!  I also took liberties and turned it on its side … hope that's okay with you, Brian!  can you see the Sketch in this:

Thanks so much for dropping by today … hope to have you join us in the gallery!

=]  Michele

Distress Inks:  Crushed Olive, and Blueprint Sketch.  and a few of my favorite word dies from W&W In a Word: Hello, and Brushstroke Hello from E.H. [affiliate links used when available, with no extra cost to you... thank you!]

Inspired By #35 ...classy desk

 

Be still my neutral-loving heart!  Inspired By #36 has all the elements that inspire me to create a super neutral card!

 

 

Starting with that creamy, almost-white card base made from Bristol cardstock, add the dots and a bit of feathery stamping!  Did you happen to notice the shape of the pen holder, and vase?  Yep, I even managed to sneak those in.

 

Are you a neutral loving card maker, too?  We sure hope so!  and that you'll join us in the IB gallery this week!

 

=]  Michele



Rubeena's Crafting Anniversary Day Two + Giveaway

There's a crafter in our midst celebrating her 4th anniversary of creativity, and NOBODY loves a party more than Ruby!

Hi, my friends!  I'm so happy to be hopping with Ruby, and friends today  - DAY 2!    To celebrate her 4th crafting anniversary - she has gathered a few of her crafty friends, and so many fabulous sponsors, with tons of fabulous prizes... you do NOT want to skip one step of this party hop, trust me!

Speaking of, you should have arrived here from Laura Jane's
blog - if you want to go back and take another gander at her gorgeousness, do so... I'll be here when you come back!  =]

I am taking advantage of Ruby's Hop to make a birthday card for my wonderful husband … in fact, the reason I started making cards was to say the things I wanted to say to him, and others that I love!  Have you heard about Tom's babies?  We have 'bloomed' 88 Monarchs from his hand-made butterfly sanctuary on our front porch so far this season!  How could I not use butterflies on his birthday card?

Altenew:  Beautiful Lady blooms - which represent the Butterfly Weed Tom plants
for them to lay their eggs on:


[source]

Winnie & Walter:  Audrey's cutaways for the perfect butterflies

Wplus9: Birthday Wishes

Simple water coloring with: Spiced Marmalade, and Crushed Olive Distress Inks

 on water color cardstock

 



 

Happy anniversary, Rubeena!  Thank you for sharing your celebration with us all!

 

Since I am the last person on the Hop, I'll send you right back to the beginning with our hostess, Ruby … each project is worth a second look! 

 =]  Michele

GIVEAWAYS

In celebration of this anniversary, we have several amazing sponsors. Let’s thank them for their generosity! Winners will be randomly selected from comments left on all the blogs. The winners will be announced by Wednesday, September 5. Winners will have up to 2 weeks to contact Rubeena at ararerubycrafts@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Studio Katia - $50 gift card

Hello Bluebird - $50 gift card

Altenew - $50 Gift card

Pinkfresh Studio - $30 gift card

Gina K. Designs - $50 gift card

Clearly Besotted - £25 gift card

Simon Says Stamp - $25 gift card

Spellbinders Card Kit ($55 value).

Jennifer McGuire - $50 Simon Says Stamp gift card

Winnie & Walter, LLC - $40 gift card

Mama Elephant - $25 gift card

Hero Arts - $25 gift card

Nichol Spohr LLC - Custom-sewn rainbow pencil case filled with brand new Spellbinders dies

Danielle Flynn - $25 Simon Says Stamp gift card

Picket Fence Studios - four $25 gift cards

Ellen Hutson - two $25 gift cards  

Pretty Pink Posh - two $30 gift cards

The Stamp Market - July 2018 Release (estimated $100 value)

Indigojade Art Shop - $50 gift card to Art Prints & Gifts Shop

Flora & Fauna - a 4x6 stamp set

Waffle Flower - $25 gift card

Power Poppy - $50 gift card

Here is a complete list of the Hop participants!

Rubeena Ianigro

The Stamp Market Blog

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Nina-Marie Trapani

Neat & Tangled Blog

Cheiron Brandon

Tania Ahmed

Laurie Willison

Barb Engler

Janette Kausen

Carly Tee Minner

Nichol Spohr

Amy Tsuruta

Mayline Jung

Emily Midgett

Kelly Griglione

Caly Person

Stephanie Klauck

Tracy Freeman

Dana Joy

Erica A-B

Channin Pelletier

Kimberly Wiener

Marcie Sharp

Rowena Miniaci

Sharna Waksmulski

Laurel Beard

Miriam Prantner

Leanne West

Tracey McNeely

Marge Yoon

Ankita Gupta

Justine Hovey

Taheerah Atchia

Kimberly Crawford

Lisa Hetrick

Laura Jane

 

Michele Ferguson 

 

The Cat's Pajamas August Release

Hello, my friends!  Thanks for Hopping with The Cat Pack today!  You should have arrived here by way of the wonderful, talented Nancy's blog.  You can find the complete list here at the TCP blog, and if you fancy a second look? start here with Christine's delights!

The Cat's Pajamas has a fun collection of new products that are all about BIRTHDAYS!   I've had such fun using them, and creating a few birthday cards for my stash … ready.  set.  ParTAY…

There are a couple new cute cats in this release … a photo-bomber among them...

It's all about the Cake, Let's Party, Balloon Frame dies, Birthday Cake die.

 

… and one that really seems to enjoy a party... with LOTS of balloons!

 

Let's Party, It's all about the Cake, and Balloon frame dies.

 

If CAS is your thing, a fun sentiment, and die cuts make for a card that's cool, and graphic... 

 

Balloon Frame, It's all about the Cake, and FREE with purchase Birthday Set.

 

We can't have a birthday celebration without wishes, and gifts!

 

Wish Tag duo, and Balloon Frame dies

Wish Tag Duo, and Birthday set.

Here are all the newest products from this release …

       It's all about the Cake

 

 Let's Party!

 

 

I'm sending you off to Brenda's blog now … talk about something to celebrate!

Thanks for partying with me today!
=]  Michele

Ellen Hutson - spring into Fall!

There is certainly not a bit of the Fall feeling in our hot and muggy air today … but I'm ready for it!  My projects are, too!

Here are a few ideas for transitioning into Fall with the help of a few of my favorite Leading Ladies!

Let's take Baker Lady to the Apple Orchard … you do know she bakes an awesome pie, right?  For Card 1, I've used a natural, less white cardstock, and I've stamped the sentiment and images in brown - another fun way to bring Autumn into your craft room.  Copic-coloring images on that natural paper is fun, too.

Can't see the difference?  Here she is on white, stamped in black jack ink ... and isn't it sweet that she's borrowed those little  apples, and leaves from Cozy Lady?  They do play so well together!

Now, I know the difference is subtle, but to me, there is something 'warmer' about the feel of that primitive white.

Here's another … this time, I've used Cozy Lady - who LOves Autumn as much as I do, and those last few blooms in the garden!  Here I've stamped my Lady, and her blooms on white cardstock, which kind of makes them stand out a bit on the natural.

Hope you are enjoying these 'dog days' of Summer, and looking forward to Autumn crafting, too! 

Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
Card 1:
EBE Baker Lady and dies
apples from Cozy Lady
Catherine Pooler brown Ink: Icing on the Cake
EBE Plant Ladies Say
Card 2:
Catherine Pooler Ink: Black Jack
Leaves from Cozy Lady
Card 3:
EBE Cozy Lady and dies
EBE Pattern Play
EBE Plant Ladies Say

Ellen Hutson's UWF Sale!

There's a sale happening at my favorite shop that I was sure you wouldn't want to miss …

I have had so much fun with these special sets … here are a few 'oldies but goodies' from my blog!

UWF Hero Arts

 

UWF Honey Bee

 

UWF Concord & 9th - in very unusual ways! 

 

So today, I thought I'd use this sweet Sprinkled set again... strangely, for me - as a cupcake!  sprinkled stripes?  yes, please!

 

 

 

Off you go... this sale, and these sets, won't last forever! You'll find them all here! 

 

=]  Michele

TCP August Sneaky Peek!

As we near the end of Summer, I can't help but be just a tiny bit sad … good thing we have had all the fun Sneaky Peeks of the new products from The Cat's Pajamas to make us smile this week … you've seen them, right?   If not, you can start with Day One linked above!  Here's my Friday edition!

This dude has been caught with his claws in the fish tank!

 

"I know it's a BIG birthday, but I know you'll come through swimmingly!"

You may be wondering just how this crazy brain of mine works … it's a question I ask myself.  every.  day. 

I've used this fun Let's Party set, and the base die from our newest in our collection of Duo Tags:  Wish Tag Duo, to create my aquarium [just in case you didn't get that] shaker card.

Hope this leaves you 'feline' happy … more to come, and our Release Day is next week!  'til then, are you:

One never knows where that $10 coupon to the store will be hidden each day … maybe even on Instagram?  just sayin... @mfergu01

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #286

I had a bit of fun entering a challenge a few weeks ago, and tried a new-to-me technique called Mono-printing.

N@ Ali's Sketch gave me the perfect venue to practice it … in a BIG way!

Using that great big HI die from Winnie & Walter, my card came together pretty quickly - and gave me the perfect spot to plant another of these gorgeous Uniko Gerbera daisies!

I did NOT have the heart to trim that daisy... hand delivery is a great option!

Hope you have some big ideas of your own … we can't wait to see them lined up in our CTS #286 gallery!

=]  Michele

A note to 'Kathy' who left me a lovely comment a few weeks ago, but with this no-reply-blogger business, I had no way to communicate with her. Kathy, please send me your email address … alas I've not been able to find a card in my posts with a white daisy. 

Inspired By ... #34 rustic summer

As we close in on the 'dog days' of Summer, we'll be savoring cooler temps outdoors, and changing up our décor to Fall … Laurel has found a fabulous inspiration that says it all!  Check it out:

 

I didn't have one single lantern stamp in my stash … but I WAS inspired by the rusty goodness of this one, those darling dandelions, and the wood-grain of the post!

This darling tag came from a friend, a bit of distressing with grey ink helped give a bit of that metal look of the lantern - right?  My visitor from Germany provided the sweet little blooms stamp, but someone sweet sent me this gorgeous wood-grain cardstock.  Aren't our crafty friends just the best?  with the most generous hearts!

Your visits are such a gift to me each and every time!  Now … how will you be Inspired By #34? 

=]  Michele

TCP Tuesday - a birthday reminder!

Just in case you've forgotten to make a birthday card for our TCP Tuesday Challenge, here's a little nudge - and a card...

Big Little Alphas, Arrows die,  One Liners, and Liners CutUps dies

 

I totally understand forgetting birthdays... lol  There's still time to play, my friends!  $50 is a big prize to pass up - just sayin'.

=]  Michele