Those who don't party...

SHOP here!!

 

We don't mind one bit if you want to wear a party hat,

or your pajamas!!  as long as you...

Don't forget the code!

 

=]  Michele



The Library Challenge #49 Anthology

I may have mentioned I had one more card for The Library Challenge's Anthology - why not get those Valentine's started?  Here was my inspiration... 





I used a very old, much loved set from MFT, called London Mouse, to help me pull my card together.  I've added this book to my reading list - I'm totally intrigued to know what those 'three life-changing sentences' are!

My 'love note' is a tiny little thing which made hand-drawing those little figures into the vehicles even more challenging - but oh so fun!  The word note is stamped with a very old set called Sketchy Letters, from Mama Elephant - I still love them!
 Thanks for stopping by today... hope your Christmas was everything you hoped for!
=]  Michele

The Library Challenge #48 and #49

 



I started playing at The Library Challenge at the mid-point of the year … I couldn't let the year end without playing again!  As my luck would have it, there were TWO challenges still available.  I broke out both Copics, and paint brushes today!

First up #48 Rupert Annual 1965 -
 

I'm not familiar with Rupert, but I do have a bear that I love a lot, and I think [with a little stretch of his tree] he fits the bill...

SugarPea Designs - Hey, Winter!

 



I've opted to leave both of today's cards without a sentiment - there are thank you cards to mail, and plenty of Wintertime birthdays to celebrate, too!  Ready for #49?

The Library Challenge #49 is an Anthology - which means we can choose from any of the books highlighted in 2019, or 2018, too!  Here is my pick for today [there may be another!]:

Okay.  Guess who else wanted to play?  You guessed, didn't you?

SugarPea Designs:  Hey, honey!

A little haberdashery to make his hat, and also had to 'knit' a scarf... okay, he's NOT a snowman, but he is pretty chill, don't you think?  lol

Thanks for allowing me to snatch a few minutes of your precious holiday time!!

=]  Michele

Wonderful news!  my Rupert was rewarded for his trip to the tree farm

through that snow storm!!  LOL  Thank you, Marina!

 

Day of the Month Club - Christmas Kickstart

Friends, I know that you are heading toward the finish line of your holiday prep, and card sending but, I have made a card - lol!  I think it turned out pretty enough for entry to a new-to-me challenge, and a much loved one, too!

First off, I must say my card was totally inspired by a very talented card-maker in our midst:  Cornelia W. of Stempel Pass … you HAVE TO see it HERE!  I am flabbergasted, and dumb-struck by her brilliance! 

Soooo - can you believe it?  I'm using blue again!  AND that much loved Altenew Poinsettia stamp and partial cut with the coordinating die! 

Cornelia colored her Poinsettia with a product I STILL don't own - yes, I am a little behind the times!  But these Distress inks worked pretty well for water coloring in a loose-water-color way.  Here's a little close-up:

This card will be added to two galleries - Day of the Month Club - Poinsettia, who have shared the story about how the Poinsettia became the most loved bloom at Christmas... and Christmas Kickstart #26 Last Minute Madness - I better get them delivered!

Thank you, Cornelia, for the most beautiful inspiration!  xx

=]  Michele


            So very honored to win 1st place!!

CAS[E] this Sketch #352

With only a few days left before Christmas, we're happy to give you two weeks to complete your task, if you do accept our CTS#352 Challenge!  It's a beauty, from Chrissy … aren't they all?

 

I pulled out my EBE Painted Stripes, and Plaid Maker sets … of course it's a package I'm seeing in Chrissy's Sketch!!

 

The gorgeous sentiments are from Right at Home's Peace, Love, Joy set

 

It was really hard not to cross that line from Sketch to actual ribbon tying! 

 

Hope to see you in the gallery!!  and until we meet again, have a wonderful Christmas my friends!!

 

=]  Michele

Inspired By #103 ... painted pine cones

 

You may, or may not, know that I'm not a big fan of blue.

It doesn't matter, however … because I'm a big fan of our

IB103 inspiration - and even these frosty blues!

 

Here's how I was inspired - with a few pine boughs

in the bowl, in place of those cones:

 

 

Altenew came to my rescue again.  Their Holiday Bow set will never go out of style!  The blues I've used came from their Secret Garden set of inks.  My old-faithful SU texture ef, and the Hemstitched Circles from Spellbinder made a

nice vessel to contain my boughs.

 

The countdown is now ON, my friends! 

I do hope your list of wishes are filled, and wrapped!

Thanks for stopping by today … I would totally

understand if you didn't have time to play cards this week - but it would be an extra big treat if you did!

 

=]  Michele

Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags [and songs] of Christmas 2019

The first 12 days of December have been filled with everything I love about this Season … decorations hung, Christmas music on Alexa, and even a new paper house created with my husband's helping hands!  [see below]

My teamies, and a few special guests have given me
heart-eyes with their 2019 12 Tags of Christmas - today I'm sharing a few songs tags of my own!  I'm having my own challenge:  can you guess the songs they represent?  I'll have a little gift for the FIRST to guess them all!  Ready?  set... go!

 

We have a winner!!! Denise Bryant, come on down - and send me your address!!

tag 1 Deck the Halls

tag 2 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

tag 3 Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer

tag 4 Let it Snow

tag 5 Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

tag 6  Sleigh Ride

Thanks so much to all who had time to play!  and to Cat Craig who tried so hard - and made my morning yesterday!  xx
=]  Michele


Here are the products I've used today:
EBE Mondo Holly
EBE Leading Gentleman stamps and dies [hat from EBE Snow Buds]
EBE Leading Lady Photo Lady and dies
Mistletoe Kisses from MFT
MFT Christmas sELFies
Waffle Flower Winter Hamsters combo
Penny Black Christmas Glow

Thank you, for your support when using my affiliate links!

Our newest Paper House for 2019 - a Log Cabin

 Constructed with my design, and Neenah 110# cardstock

 

 

and a few stands of Birch made from straws!!

 

 

CAS[E] this Sketch #351 RETRO

Do you recall this Sketch from April 2014?  I sure do... and still think it looks like a chicken - no offense, Joni!!  lol 

It was much easier to interpret for CTS#351 in December 2019, than April!   I've used a Pinkfresh Studio wreath today...

I love the 'not quite white' of Bristol paper... a bit of texture just adds a little something more … speaking of more... let's go check out what the CTS team has created, shall we? 

Thanks for taking a break from addressing envelopes to spend with me...

=]  Michele

Pinkfresh Studio Layered Wreath, and Season's Greetings stamps for the sentiment, and dies for that pretty bow.

Inspired By #102... ladder decor

 

I've longed for an old ladder to decorate for years … wishing this one lived in my home, in fact!  If I'm wishing, I may as well include the lanterns and bells!  Until that wish comes true, I'll just have to settle for my interpretation of our

 IB102 inspiration...

 

 

Just a few weeks until Christmas … all is calm, and bright! 

Hope you have a tiny bit of extra time to play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

 

Altenew Bells & Bows stamps, and dies

MFT Peek-a-boo Wonky Windows

Christmas Kickstart #25 The Christmas Story

What more perfect challenge for this month than

The Christmas Story?  After all, it is …

 

Unity: UK-836A; EBE Stitched lines; SugarPea Wood grain Journal card

 

Thanks, Jo, for reminding us!

 

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #350

Hello my friends!  We have another fabulous Sketch from Donna... another with endless possibilities, too!  Here's where CTS#350 took me...

LOOK I even remembered the sentiment this week!!  LOL!  It features this lovely Season's Greetings set from Pinkfresh Studios - the coordinating die set not only precision cuts the wreath, it has this loveliest of bows!  I did a bit of fussy cutting around the sentiment - this set does not include a die for the sentiment, but they often do.  All elements were very simply water colored.

My card base was another embossed piece I created at Lisa's... just that wee bit of texture can add so much to a CAS card... thank you Lisa - is it another Lifestyle Crafts?  I also used the largest of the MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangle to trim it to this size.

I'm happy to be close to the finish-line with my Christmas creations.  However, I've done a bit of shopping lately - who can resist? - so be prepared for more sharing!

Speaking of sharing... let's go see that DT gallery - my teamies always share their best creations there!

=]  Michele

Inspired By #101 ... Christmas Hoops

 

I really don't think you'll have any doubt that I have been Inspired By everything about IB#101!!  Ready?  set.  GO!

 

My EBE Holiday Characters, and dies were the perfect choice for decorating my hoops, I think.  I heat embossed them using puffy embossing powder!  I made my own embroidery hoops with two circle dies, in varied sizes - 

easy peasy! 

 

I used my SU Subtle Texture EF again - this time I did the entire card, - a little extra something for a Christmas card!  You may, or may not see the subtle stamping of snowflakes on my card base.  If you look closely at the IB photo you'll see the snow there, too!  My 'ribbon' is washi tape - which I just don't use enough to use it up in my lifetime!

 

 

Poor Rudolph … those jingle bells may have made

him a bit cockeyed!  

 

Okay... we're ready for you to jump through the Christmas Hoops!  We can't wait to see you

in the IB101 Gallery!!

 

=]  Michele



Inspired By #100 ... pink Christmas!

OH I do LOVE a bit of pink at Christmas time!!  I'm seeing tons of inspiration in Laurel's photo board for IB#100 … she's such an angel to keep us all inspired so beautifully, isn't she? 

This one is just for YOU, Laurel - thank you, and happiest birthday!!!

 

If my angel looks as if she's floating?  She nearly is!

She Wobbles, but she won't fall down!

Even her halo hovers with the magic of clear acetate -

and the sentiment is heartfelt, too!

 

How will you be inspired?  Can't wait to see all the pink packages, or angels, in our IB gallery!

=]  Michele

MFT Angel and coordinating dies
Pinkfresh Studio 'Believe' sentiment from Simple Joy STILL on SALE 
The leftover embossed panel from Lisa - which I now know is from Lifestyle Crafts
Stars from a very old MFT set called Hand Lettered Holidays

Ellen Hutson LLC Gratitude Sale

Thanks, from all of us, to all of YOU

who support us tirelessly!! 

 

Check out all the items on sale, in our

special Gratitude department here!

 

Here are the details...

• save an additional 20% on the products in the GRATITUDE19 category with the code GRATITUDE19
• applies to in-stock items in the GRATITUDE19 category only and only when code is applied
• not valid on previous purchases
• cannot be combined with other offers
• we are unable to combine orders
• sale ends Monday 12/2 at 11:59pm pacific time

 Happy Thanksgiving my friends!!

[now where did I put those Thanksgiving pants?]

=] Michele



Color Throwdown #570

Before you grab a glass of milk for these adorable cookies, may I share a little card - maybe two?  These colors for ctd570 are quite possible my favorite for Christmas cards! 

First up, this little sweetie from Penny Black's Cozy Cuteness, and this fun sentiment from MFT and its coordinating die - stamped in Catherine Pooler's Polished [red] and Hot Tub [pale aqua].  My little bundled-up girl was stamped in CP Black Jack, and Copic colored.

I managed to find several little snowflake stamps in my stash, to add a dash of Winter to my vellum overlay, heat embossed in white.

Next, is the out-of-the-vault Toasty Greetings and dies … tell me this, does he not look like he's dancing?  the twist?  maybe the FLOSS?  [If you are an IG-er you can see him in action @mfergu01 =]  Sure wish I had one of those little musical chips that play music when the tab is pulled!

All the credit for this dance action goes to Channin Pelletier who had her way with dancing hamsters - do go watch her video! and while there, watch them all - you won't be sorry!

 You'll see I've added a bit of action to my card base with my Lil' Inkers Quilted Spirals cover plate.

Okay... off I go to get one of these in the Color Throwdown gallery!  Can you guess which I'll choose?

=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch #349

I'm so happy to see another 'sky's the limit' Sketch this week from Brian for CTS#349 ... take a look... and OH you have 2 WEEKS to play!!

It's a good one, right?  I have just the appropriate duo for that frame - it's that time of year!!

Here's a little close up to you can see the sentiment -

look! even Rudolph is wishing you peace!

 

Let's run by CTS#349 to see how the rest of the team has filled that frame - so looking forward to Brian's card - and YOURS!!

Thanks for stopping by - and Happy Thanksgiving to my friend here in the States! 

=]  Michele

I've edited to add him to The Christmas Kickstart Challenge #24 - Show us Your Santas!!!

MFT Christmas sELFies
Pinkfresh STudios Holiday Vibes patterned paper
Altenew 36 pan water colors

Inspired By #99 ... Christmas Welcome!

Wow!  what an entrance, right??  From all the ornaments here, one stands out to me... I'll bet your eye might have been drawn to it, too! 

My GinaMarie Design die [thanks, Bobby] provided all the pieces, parts and sentiment needed for this bauble … all but one, that is... the little hanger was fashioned from the grater die from EBE Cooking Lady set of dies - HA! 

You'll have to trust that my EBE Painted Stripes are as shiny as those in the photo as they were clear heat embossed.  The green frame, cut with a Reverse Confetti Cuts Stitched Note & Frames die, is my stand-in for the hedges.  It's amazing what a person will spot if she studies a photo long enough! 

Hope you'll play along with IB#99!!  We love it when you do... maybe your eye is drawn to that reindeer?  hmmm...

=]  Michele