January 2022 Altenew Inspiration Challenge

 

How did I come to the near end of the month without playing along

at Altenew's January 2022 Inspiration Challenge?

I've remedied that today!  Hope they like it - I couldn't resist these gorgeous

colors when all I can see around me is the glare of white snow!

Our hostess, Reiko, shared this wonderful photo she took as our inspiration.  I thought of the wonderful Altenew Sunflower Daisies right away...

A sweet birthday sentiment from Fresh Freesia - one of my oldest [2015], 

most often used Altenew sets!

I love the font - this time I stamped it in Moss ink instead of my usual black.

One of the small branches of leaves was stamped randomly on my 

panel, then I embossed it using Altenew's Geo Steps.

Here are the inks used today...

Off I go to get this into their gallery before it's too late!

Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Color Hues #33 Silver and White

 

Silver and white are perfect colors for any occasion at all - here's my entry for Color Hues #33: Silver and White!

First a closeup, or two - just to shine a little light on that silver embossing...

Some silver embossing, and a little Delicata Silver stamping, too!

I better get this in their gallery - my photos took a little extra time since our days are so short!  Hey!  There are still a few days left to play along!

Thanks for dropping by!

=] Michele

Altenew Exotic tulips stamps and Apothecary label dies. 

Delicata Silvery Shimmer ink. 

Ranger fine detail silver embossing powder. 

The Stamp Market sentiment. 

Wplus9 Scripted background. 

MFT Pierced Rectangles

Where Women Create - Word of the Year

I'm sending a card over to Where Women Create on Instagram today.  But thought I'd share with you, just in case you have a word that you're particularly fond of this year.  I gave 'my word' a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that HOPE continues to be what gets me through any day!

Two Altenew sets came together to help me showcase my word:  Build-A-Flower Triumph Tulip [my newest tulip acquired in 2020] and their Caps Bold Alphabet dies.  

My message?  Hope is attainable - sometimes hidden or buried by other emotions - but worth every bit of effort to find.

Here are the inks I've used today for layering these gorgeous shades-of-turquoise tulips:

Thanks #WCWordOfTheYear 

=] Michele

CAS Christmas Card Challenge - January 2022

The team over at the CAS Christmas card challenge have gifted us with a lovely way to start our 2022 stash ... Silver and Gold!

I made my card with my friend Bonnie in mind - she has been wishing for snow, and I've been wishing all the snow in our forecast would head her way =]  

I found a fun way to send her a few flakes... 

A new little MFT die called Message in a Bottle, found its way to my stash!

The Stamp Market's sentiment, a very old EF, and silver and gold sequins for snow!

I'm so happy your wish came true this weekend, Bonnie!

=] Michele

Fusion - Coffee Chalkboard

A very quick post for a card that took ALL AFTERNOON!  Oh, goodness!  I am really rusty when it comes to fusing - especially when there is patterned paper involved!  My card is a mini-slimline which doesn't allow for much real estate for adding embellishments.  But I'm happy with the results - and I needed a belated birthday card that should [fingers crossed] bring a smile...

The papers I used today were a gift from a sweet friend - that base paper was IMHO a perfect 'chalkboard' look with florals instead of the graphic coffee-related words in the Fusion Coffee Chalkboard photo.  Add to that: my cup, a few little blooms cut from Bazzill Pale Rose, and Alpaca card stock, and a linen lined shelf for a quick fusion to their sketch.

That's it for me - hope you have a great weekend!!

=] Michele

Stamps: EH A Breve Note; and Handful by Julie

Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Mini Slimline essential bundle; Dainty Blossoms dies.  MFT Blueprints tag builder 3

Paper:  Kaisercraft PS I love you

Thanks so very much, Fusion!

The Card Concept #167 - Coffee or Cocoa?

Sometimes, admittedly not often this time of year, I know exactly the what, where, when, and how of an inspiration challenge - that was the case this morning when my friend LeAnne introduced me to The Card Concept challenge #167.  

Here is my Clean and Simple creation using Elizabeth Crafts perfect Marshmallow Snowmen...

I've checked and it seems the stamps are no longer available - sorry.

I was inspired by the colors, the berries and greenery, darling cups, and of course the marshmallows in the photo.

While looking for a suitably interesting place to pose this hot tub cup o' cocoa, I came upon some bits of already stamped greenery and berries from PTI's Spruce and Sprigs.   My newest panel die from Pinkfresh Studio - Stitched Scallop Rectangles was cut from Neenah white 110# cardstock.  I embossed the middle section the die cuts to provide a little lift and added that sweet signage. 

Oh, it was so fun to be inspired again!  Thanks, TCC!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #64 reminder

 

Popping in to remind you that there's still plenty of time to make a Monochrome floral card for The Flower Challenge!  

I had to play a little more with my Altenew Hello Beautiful* Craft a Life kit!  It includes a set of coloring stencils. I'll admit to scratching my head a little bit, but in the end, they worked their charm to color this beautiful bouquet... another love of neutrals card for me!  Altenew's Coffee Break ink collection proved to be the perfect choice for a little mocha monochrome.

This Timeworn Type embossing folder from SU is the newest addition to my every-growing collection!  This time I used MFT's Natural cardstock - another discontinued paper, sadly.  

I know I've shared this tip in the past, but happy to share it again. 

Using an embossing folder, like this oldie from Cuttlebug, to emboss a second die cut layer can add lift, without bulk - or extra postage!

There are tons of cards to inspire you over at The Flower Challenge blog - my friend Lisa is our guest designer this month, too!  So why not go on over to be inspired, and play cards with us while you're at it!

=] Michele

*Altenew's Craft a Life Hello Beautiful is a kit - items not sold separately - yet!  Sometimes they will do later, but no promises are intended.  Please understand that this is not under my control nor am I an affiliate of the Altenew company.  I'm sure you have another floral that will be just perfect!

Color Hues #32 Red & Purple

I have a dear friend who belonged to the Red Hat Ladies group while living in New York - this card, and the Color Hues challenge #32, was made for her!

Another new set from The Stamp Market: Bell Flower - I really love that sentiment!  That little braided oval from Pinkfresh Studio was made for this duo, don't you think?

My inks are Catherine Pooler:  Rockin' Red & Sangria!

[I don't mind CP messing with mint, or blue - but please don't change Sangria!]

Hope you're having a great week!  Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

CAS Mix Up and Pinkfresh Studio Challenges - keeping it loose!

It's fun to find a little inspiration to get over one's slump by playing in a few favorite Challenges.  Today two such challenges came together - CAS Mix Up and Pinkfresh Studio for a little 'loose' water coloring!

I added this pretty Cosmos Bunch stamp and coordinating dies were one of my purchases in December while sale shopping.  I did not however get the stencils - I thought I'd have remorse about that until I watched one of my friend Channin's videos and had a 'light bulb' moment!  Why not try it without the stencils, but use the blending brushes for a 'loose' water colored look?  Here's how I did it, using a clear heat embossed image...

I have a set of 'inexpensive' makeup brushes from Amazon that included this tiny little round brush - perfect to get into those tiny flowers and leaves.  Then a larger brush [from Big Lots] for the main flowers.

Then a good spritzing of clean water to get those inks flowing.

A quick dry, and press under a heavy book, and it was ready to 

die cut, and mount on my card!

I've taken this sentiment to heart - slowly, I'm coming back my friends!  

Thanks for your patience!

As for my CAS Mix Up card?  I kept it much cleaner, and simpler by white heat embossing, and loose water coloring - it's amazing how easy it is with a little ink, and a lot of water!

Thanks for stopping by - now off I go to get these into those galleries!  

=] Michele

March Flowers

The Flower Challenge #64 Monochrome

 

Welcome back to The Flower Challenge after our Christmas break!  and Happy New Year!

Does anyone else have trouble kick-starting their creative mojo after the holidays?  I was totally stumped by Monochrome until a gorgeous idea popped into my inbox from Emily Midgett on the Altenew blog.  I'll link it here so you can enjoy it, too!   Thank goodness there is so much inspiration around our community of card-makers!

I received the most wonderful thank you gift from a dear friend - I indulged in the Craft your Life: Hello Beautiful kit from Altenew.  The embossing folder included in the kit worked its charm to CASE Emily's card!  Thank you, ladies!

It's no surprise to see I've chosen grey for my monochrome card, right?  We can't wait to see your choices!  Besides all the beautiful inspiration from our DT, we have the wonderful Lisa Elton as our guest designer, too!  Come on by and play along!

=] Michele

Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Hello Beautiful!, Apothecary Labels die set, Paint-A- Flower Fashion Monger Dahlia for sentiment;  Bazzill Alpaca card stock

Playing Cards with Friends - New Year, new to you!

Happy New Year, my friends!  I hope you've enjoyed your holidays!  

I have a wonderful friend joining me to start the new year of Playing Cards with Friends!   Nancy Thomas blogs at Creative Palette, is the leader of the pack at The Cats Pajamas, designs for Purple Onion, and I have even had the pleasure of meeting her for reals - a little stop in Alabama on one of our many road trips!  

We're kicking off the New Year with something that is NEW - or never before used - to our stash! That's it!  Real simple to do - we needed simple after the holidays!

I had a few products from The Stamp Market that hadn't seen any love yet - and it was time for non-Christmas colors, too!  Ready?  here you go...

Starting a new year with gratitude is truly a great place to start!

Here's a little closeup - I kind of loved that my embossing was 'less than perfect!'

Kindness Matters, and Flower Flurry [sorry this was a clearance purchase and it's no longer available] - embossed on vellum in white.  A flurry of PF jewels, and a scalloped edge from an older W&W die, and a sweet little bow filled up that bare corner perfectly!

What a way to combine the old favorites with what's NEW in my stash!  I can't wait another minute to see what Nancy has added to her crafty stash recently!  Let's all go over, shall we?  

Thank you, Nancy, for accepting my invitation to Play Cards!  It was a really fun way to get our New Year started - and NO hangover!  

=]  Michele