Hello my friends - happy weekend-eve! I've delivered my Christmas card contribution to my friends at Bring Smiles to Seniors - though I fell far short of a very lofty goal, it was nice to know my little stack of 160 will join the 20,000 cards collected this year just in Michigan!! That surely brings ME a smile!
Now I have a few spare moments to just PLAY!! The CAS Challenges always spark my creative juices, so yesterday my thinking cap was donned, and I got busy! First up, for CAS Christmas - a sweet little Penny Black hedgy joy ... host Barb really has chosen a sweet theme for their 2021 finale: Critters!
Tom snuck in while I was adding the finishing touches - he thinks this one's for him!
Have I mentioned that he has taken on Astrophotography as a hobby? Amazing!
Of course, the sentiment is tucked inside - which I didn't share with him, either!
Looks like Mr. Hedgy is about to make someone's Christmas wish come true!
Edited to add this wonderful news:
Thank you, to the entire CAS Christmas team!
Ms. Loll has us Monoprinting again for CAS Mix Up! OH it's my favorite of all the wonderful techniques she's taught us over the life of her CAS challenges! my little 'hitchhikers' [Meadow and Willow Dragonflies -Memory Box c. 2012] had so much fun taking part in this challenge...
A wee little Hi from Pinkfresh Studios
The stencil I used is Altenew's Feathery stencil - and if I've learned anything from these CAS ladies it's NEVER waste ink... so I did a bit of creative mopping up...
more words from Pinkfresh, a gorgeous new stamp from Wplus9 Vintage Ephemera
gold heat embossed. a bit of subtle texture from SU subtle texture, of course!
Last but not least - here is that Take 2 I mentioned for Altenew's Inspiration Challenge November 2021... water color paint from Altenew - loved the colors so much I repeated them on my CAS monoprint.
Bird of Paradise and my well-loved Swirling dots coverplate.
Happy weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
=] Michele
Oh, my! Saw your dragonflies at CAS Mix Up, came here and found a whole gallery full of fabulous cards! I do want to commend you for the 160 Christmas cards you contributed for the seniors. I can't even imagine your productivity level. Thank you for such a lovely visit, Michele, and for joining us at CAS Mix Up!
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy!! The hedgie is adorable and he brings my late SIL to mind. She had quite a collection of hedgie stamps. Those dragonflies are so wonderfully wispy and I like what you've created by mopping up! Your final card, well... it's just plain awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou really are the best. All those 160 card your made for the seniors are, I'm sure, filled with heart-felt wishes. And to add to your notoriety all these beautiful entries.
ReplyDeleteAs if he didn't do enough, your mate is doing astrophotography? WOW, I'm totally impressed. I can't even focus my camera and he's taking pictures of galaxies. Now, that's a major skill. You used my favorite hedgie for this card to honor his efforts.
Love how you spread out that ink from CAS Mix Up's monoprint. Used the ideal stencil for that background and those critters just look amazing on it. Even the sentiment and cardstock strips add to the movement. So happy to see it in the gallery.
Using the leftover ink on the "note" card was perfect. The panel you created looks like printed fabric with the gold embossing and the shiny sentiment.
Finally, you've outdone yourself AGAIN. Those birds of paradise are so lovely against that gently colored embossed background. And the sentiment is perfect, of course. Brought tears to my eyes.
What a joy this visit has been.
What a gorgeous array of cards Michele!
ReplyDeleteI simply adore the dragonflies and am off to hunt for the stencil as it's made an immense background.
Have so enjoyed my visit as always! xx
Michele what an amazing achievement with your 160 cards.....well done you my friend x.
ReplyDeleteA darling of a hedgie card and a win win situation....Tom gets a super cute astronomy card (with a thoughtful sentiment) and you get the gift that hedgie is carrying!.....x.
As a technique girl I am loving card number two....fabulous result and so very unique and I love it x.
Yay to using up the ink for the beautiful just a note card and a stunner to finish with, with the beautiful bird of paradise card...perfect sentiments too Michele x.
You sure had a wonderful play day and I sure loved your amazing cards Michele x.
Oh my gosh, Michele...you have really outdone yourself with these gorgeous cards today! I love how you played with your darling little 'hedgy'! Your solid background is perfect for the moon and stars and adds to the charm of this darling CAS Christmas card! I also love your monoprinting with those fabulous dragonflies and how you used your watercolors on the last 2 cards...WOW! Your Bird of Paradise has inspired me to put this baby on my wishlist right now :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for playing along with us at CAS Christmas!
WOW! Lots of amazing eye candy in this post Michele! Starting with your beautiful, softly coloured monoprint. Gorgeous design and love the pretty dragonflies. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up.
ReplyDeleteAlways great to use the leftover ink on the stencil and you've used it well with your second card. Makes a gorgeous background for your beautiful gold embossed flowers and butterflies. LOVE the last card with the beautiful stitched embossing and the pink and yellow background. The Bird of Paradise flower are gorgeous! xx
Oh my gosh. I commented on your three cards, but missed the first one. LOVE that sweet PB hedgie. So sweet with the moon and stars in the dark sky. LOVE it! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Christmas! xx
ReplyDeleteWow, 4 of your special cards all at once and every single one is fantastic. You are right they are great colours and your little stargazing hedgy is just wonderful xx
ReplyDeleteMichele, I am sure the seniors getting your cards will be thrilled with them. You’ve made 4 fantastic cards. The sweet little hedge looks so sweet wishing on those stars that he has a happy gift to give. All of your monoprint cards are lovely with those soft colors that blend so well. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo much inky goodness. My heart is happy seeing what beauty you are creating. How wonderful for the seniors, too! That is beautiful as well. hugs!
ReplyDeleteWOW! You have been having some fun, Michele! I so wish you lived next door! Love your hedgie gazing at the night sky. Your monoprint is delightful with the buzzing dragonflies! The watery, stencil monoprint background is beautiful! I'm glad you made use of the gorgeous mop up! It would have been a shame to waste that goodness! You've made the perfect background for these Bird of Paradise flowers! I always love those coverplates and your watercolors are gorgeous! Thanks so much for always sharing with us and inspiring us at CAS Mix Up!
ReplyDeleteOMG..Four beauties, Michele...TFS your Gorgeous monoprint card with the beautiful die cut dragonflies. I LOVE your color combo. So pleased you joined us at CAS Mix Up, my friend. LOVED your adorable hedgy looking up at the stars..perfect for your star gazing DH:-) Loved how you used your excess ink over your dry embossed background and stamped floral image! Finally..Love how you added an inky background over your cover plate background for your last card. Your die cut birds of paradise are so beautifully colored. TFS ALL your gorgeous cards, my very creative friend. P.S. 160 holiday cards for a wonderful cause by the wonderful you too...Wow! Love and Hugs...Nancy
ReplyDeleteYou have been incredibly productive!!! These are all lovely but my heart goes to the hedgy.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing Michele, those dragonflies are stunning... and of course that cutie hedgehog! I can't believe it, 160 cards, you are a machine GF! I am struggling with my few in comparison lol.
ReplyDeleteThree amazing cards, Michele! I love the dragon flies, the beautiful colors on all three, and oh my -- all that texture!
ReplyDeleteSo much for 'spotty visits'...I didn't realize I had already seen and left love on your Take 2 card for the Altenew challenge :) I'm so glad you chose your Bird of Paradise, Michele...it's absolutely GORGEOUS! I'm sure the team is gobsmacked with your entries...you have surely showcased their products beautifully and you deserve to be one of the winners ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! You sure packed a LOT of AMAZING cards into one post Michele!! Your little hedgie looking up into the night sky just couldn't be any sweeter and is just perfect for our CAS Christmas Critter challenge...thanks so much for sharing that! The stencil monoprint technique is one of my all time favorites too, and you've shown it beautifully with your lovely soft colors, and those "hitch-hikers"...lovely, lovely card! Your card with the left over ink is also BEAUTIFUL and love the gold embossing on top...soooo elegant! And of course your last card with those awesome colors is just as amazing as your first...makes me wish I was heading somewhere tropical!! Although the colors are spectacular with all the sunshine here in our neck of the woods!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteYou put me to shame Michele - 160 cards for the seniors, numerous DT cards and posts AND time to produce four gorgeous cards for playtime! I'd love to know what batteries you're on!! Hope you're having a happy weekend yourself! Vicky x
ReplyDeleteYou really had a productive crafting session, Michele. That darling hedgehog fulfilling someone's wish is so cute. The other cards with the fabulous color combination are so creative. I love the little dragonflies on the monoprint and how the leftovers made such a wonderful background for your gold embossing. The bird of paradise are so bright and beautiful against the soft colors and embossing.
ReplyDelete5 Wows today! :-) Wow #1 - You sent 160 handmade cards to the Senior Center! Just making 160 cards is a big accomplishment, and you donated them to a wonderful cause. Good for you, my friend! The rest of the Wows are for your gorgeous cards.
ReplyDeleteThe little hedgy is so adorable! Love the contrast between the dark sky and his bright red Santa hat! Tom is a lucky guy!
The monoprint background and the dragonflies are fabulous! The dimension of the dragonflies gives them definition in the camouflage-like background. The mop-up background is dreamy and adds colors to the flowers and butterflies organically. Love the gorgeous and flowing background for the beautifully colored Bird of Paradise flowers! Thank you so much for the feast for the eyes!
Hideko xx
fantastic selection of cards, your little hedge gazing at the moon and stars is adorable, and love your stencil monoprint and your bird of paradise card is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteMay your kindness be rewarded tenfold! Beautiful cards but that dragonfly card has my heart today
ReplyDeleteOh that sweet critter that is stargazing has stolen my heart! Adorable card! And then the gorgeous pink trio - beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards, Michele! Always enjoy my visits to you blog so much. Big hugs, Jo x
ReplyDeleteWow Michele, that is quite the achievement of 160 cards...well done and be proud of yourself! Your little star gazer card is adorable and would fit Tom just perfectly. It is perfect in everyway. When I try to make cute cards like this, they just don't come out as cute as yours. lol Well you have made Loll and the other's proud Michele! Your stencil monoprint is gorgeous! I love your beautiful dragonflies on this card, the color combo is just beautiful. Yep, again, you have made the CAS ladies proud, mopping up that color, not wasting a drop! This card is just beautiful as well. Your last card is stunning Michele! I love the cover plate and the inky goodness, but it is that bird of paradise flowers that has me swooning. Love how you watercolored them. Gorgeous colors! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteI wish I had your energy, or maybe be my neighbor and play with me to inspire me to be more productive! Your gallery of cards are amazing, but of course I am because I saw your card in the CAS Christmas gallery and just had to leave a note to say how adorable I think he is and I love how you have him with the dark sky so the constellations can light up I suspect when you are doing astrophotography! I have that little guy, I should CAS your card! What an honor to have you in our gallery, thank you for joining us and bringing your awesomeness to us!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on Top 3! Your critter's a cutie
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