Sunday Mums!

 Okay.  Here's the deal ... my 'birth' flower is the Chrysanthemum.  NOT my favorite flower by any means.   But when Pinkfresh Studios introduced their Chrysanthemum collection recently, I just could not resist them - the colors are so pretty that I couldn't wait until November to share them with you!

A funny thing happened while waiting for my Glimmer machine to heat up... I tried 'debossing' this Heart Grid hot foil plate.  Well, I forgot the rubber mat - who would have thought it would cut right through the cardstock?  Not me - but I love the results above.  I do NOT recommend you try this at home!  I pretty much destroyed one of my acrylic plates! OY!

Other PF dies Braided Circles created the circle and these wonderful sentiments.

This time I left the debossing to the proper product - this one from Reverse Confetti.  That Altenew Label sure gets a workout in my studio! 

Last but not least I put my latest Spellbinder [Stylized Trellis] Embossing Folder Club to work with some discontinued paper from MFT - sure wish they'd bring this natural paper back.  It's a perfect match to this wonderful linen thread from my friend LeAnne!  

Doily Tag die from Neat & Tangled.

I found some pretty panels and a beautiful tag to showcase these Chrysanthemums today.  Washi tape cut with the coordinating dies are a fun way to make quick work of creating cards.  I just love the water-y colors of these mums!  Hope you do, too!

=] Michele

Doodlebugs Friday!

 

What happens when you limit your cardmaking supply to one [or two] small dies?  That's what I challenged myself to do today!  Here is where it all started...

One singular sensational Dainty Leaves from Altenew!

I can't wait to show you where it ended over at the Doodlebugs blog today!

=] Michele

You are my anchor! FMS570

Seems like it's feast or famine here at my blog, doesn't it?  I'm so happy to say I'm enjoying my time in my craft studio again!  Just in time to play along with Freshly Made Sketches #570...

Jen T's sketch had me reaching for this sweet little MFT set again ...

My night sky was cut from Night of Navy cardstock with a Star ribbon die from The Greetery, then backed with a bit of silver glitter paper for these shiny stars.  Hope this little guy catches an incoming wave soon!  These were created with that old SSS die set again... it's a keeper.

Hope you've had a great start to your week, you're over the hump, and gliding nicely into the weekend!  Thank you for stopping by!

=] Michele 

A little card to remember the kindness of friends.

As I imagine many of us have been doing, I have cleared the decks of all the Christmas supplies [don't worry they are close at hand] and in doing so found a few lovely gifts from friends - a beautiful Eucalyptus set from Marcia, and a lovely, embossed vellum doily from Stephanie!  They came together beautifully... 

Aren't these the perfect ink colors for that Eucalyptus?

The sentiment is one from Pinkfresh Studio's Fancy Script Words hot foil plates and dies.

You spoil me - I have such lovely friends - I've linked how each of them used these items in the past.   Thank you, dear ladies, for your generous hearts and beautiful inspiration!  

=] Michele

Second Helpings - Peace on Earth #32

I made Second Helpings for a challenge - there was another little birdy who told me he'd love to play along with Peace on Earth's Christmas challenge #32...

This guy comes from Altenew circa 2016 ... but I have to thank my friend Bonnie for inspiring my design today!  The branches were stamped and white heat-embossed onto vellum, then [after I added a soft blend of blue] the panel was flipped over before adding my layer-stamped, die cut Cardinal and branch.  A bit different than stamping onto the front, but it seems to work - what do you think, Bonnie?

This wonderful sentiment is one from Pinkfresh Studio - you'll be hearing more about it very soon.  Its message is something to remember, isn't it?  Especially on these dark and gloomy days of Winter!  Like this photo for instance... caught by my husband when there was the smallest break in the clouds at 10 pm last night!

My little red friend might have perched right there!

=] Michele

Altenew Winter Cardinal stamps and dies bundle - 2016 and it's still available!

CP Serenade ink

Pinkfresh Studio Detailed Leaf stamps and dies

Nikon Coolpix P900 - and a steady hand!

Double D Challenge SNOW!

If you know me at all, you'll know exactly which set I brought out to play for

Double D's Challenge Snow!

I found the best stand-in for the snow dude in the bottom right photo -

I've missed this furry fellow...

Please be kind - my 'knitted' plaid sweater seems to have a lot of dropped stitches! LOL

Another wintertime birthday card completed!

Thanks, Double D!

=] Michele

SugarPea Designs: Hey Winter stamps and dies

MFT Elegant Rectangle stax

The Stamp Market: Dotted Scallop cover die

Reverse Confetti scalloped edger

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #32

 

I'm happy to have a little crafty time today - the Peace on Earth Christmas challenge #32 had me pulling out a very old set from Papertrey Ink called Winter Woods.  That's where I found this cute little Bluejay!  I did a little second generation stamping with Catherine Pooler's Drive In ink but still felt it wasn't quite right - oh well, there's no mistaking him for any other bird in my Winter woods!

I masked him before adding the branches, then used a blade to cut out his tail so I could 

add a little dimensional foam under it.

While searching for this Bluejay, I came across another little bird - this one is a die set also from PTI. [a lovely gift from a friend] Feathered Friends 2 - can be many different birds - today I was thinking Warbler - Blackburnian female maybe?  

My friend LeAnne's Paper Players PP624 post this morning helped me find her a wonderful home.

I hope I'm not one layer over the CAS limit - yikes!

I have lots of winter birthdays on my list - hence the snowflakes -  

'Just a note' can be the start of any birthday wish in my book!

Hope you've had a bit of crafty time today, too!

=] Michele

Doodlebugs Friday!

 

Hello again, friends!  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a very special friend of mine.  I couldn't be more thankful to be celebrating her today - 

happy birthday, Coni!

Since it's a special card for a special friend I'm sharing the whole shebang today - 

but you only get a little peek of a bonus card you will find at the Doodlebug's blog!

Hope to see you there!

=] Michele

You gotta have hearrrrrrrrrt! JUGS #662

 

As often happens, when I make one card, I make two - isn't it wonderful that the second card fits perfectly for this week's JUGS challenge #662 to use a Heart!  I've got miles, and miles and miles of heart[s]...

It all started with these two love birds, and two fun dies from HoneyBee Stamps, called Fluttering Hearts.  One pierces the panel with lots of little hearts, the other cuts them out.  I used the pierced die to hot foil onto a panel of white cardstock, then used the leftover foil to cover a panel - you'll see the results shaking around in the background in this infinity shaker pouch.  I even used the cover plate to make the 'hills' heart-covered, too!

It's been quite a while since I shared my sense of humor with you all... here's the inside sentiment:

"Yes.  You've still got it - just keep on your own side of the hill, shall we?"

=] Michele

Thank you JUGS!

For the very young at heart!

 

Do you ever buy something and totally forget you had it?   look who I'm speaking to!  Ha - we've all done this more times than we'd like to admit!  

These two [MFT Old Friends] just had to come out to play today and why not have their outfits coordinate with the Color Hues #56 challenge colors?

It has been so dreary lately - sorry you'll have to trust that Madge's earrings, beads and binding are indeed red.  That gorgeous embossing plate is from HoneyBee  - isn't it something?  

=] Michele

Doodlebugs Friday!

 

Hello again, my friends!  I have a fond memory of conversation hearts as a child Here's a little peek at how I created my own paper ones over at the Doodlebugs blog - hope to see you there!

=] Michele

Playing Cards with Friends - January 2023

My playdate in December fell through, sadly - so it's with renewed vigor and enthusiasm that I'm back with my first 

Playing Cards with Friends session for 2023!

This month my very special guest is from my Instagram group of friends!  Melinda's 'IG handle' is what caught my eye first: @itsacardknocklife is so very clever, don't you agree?  And a very clever card maker she is - Melinda shares lots of techniques and story reels/tutorials on her feed... all gorgeous! 

I was thrilled when Melinda said yes to my invitation to play - here are our requirements for our cards:

Did you know today is International Thank you day? 

Make a thank you card with a water-colored bouquet - seemed like a good choice for our assignment!

My card started by stamping a Penny Black [a sweet Christmas gift from a friend who knows how much I love tulips] called Springtide onto watercolor cardstock.

 

Then I stretched the stamp to lengthen the stems so they would show properly from the bottom of my 'wrap' along with a bit of rudimentary no-line water coloring.

My wrap is one of the Nesting Slimline Labels cut from kraft card...

... you'll spot another behind it, on top of a panel of kraft card cut with

a HoneyBee Scalloped frame ... topped with a HoneyBee sentiment!

Thanks a bunch was perfect - stamped and gold heat embossed!

Melinda thank you so very much for starting this year of Playing Cards with me!

Of course, I would love it if you all stopped by Melinda's Instagram page - she's even been kind enough to add her card to her blog for those who can't.

Thanks, bunches, for stopping by today!

=] Michele

Altenew January 2023 Inspiration Challenge

 

A funny thing happened on the way to making a DT card - it fit quite well for the Altenew Inspiration Challenge - January 2023!  LOve when that happens - and since I'd made TWO versions, I still have another for my team!

They are already thinking Spring!  So, I used a brand-new-to-me Build-a-Garden: Magnificent Branch stamp from the bundle and found a cute little circle to stamp one of its sentiments on to.  It was stamped in Versafine Tuxedo Black ink and water-colored using Altenew's 36 pan set - purple wine, puff heart, bamboo, and forest glades to be exact - leaving a bit of highlight here and there.  Since this stamp covers a LOT of real estate even the back of my card is painted - you'll see it soon!

=] Michele

Doodlebugs Friday!

Happy New Year, my friends!  I'm excited to be heading into 2023 and WOW was it good to get back into my studio - I haven't made a card since before Christmas!!

Funny thing happened - my first card still has me making cookies - kind of! Ha!

Here's a little 'bite' ...

You can read all about it here at the Doodlebugs blog!

=] Michele 

Color Hues #55

 
Color Hues has three new design team members and Nancy has given us two gorgeous colors to play with for challenge #55!  Welcome Julie, Marcia, and Stef - you all bring even more talent to an already wonderful team!

I adore pink and gold - in fact, I'd hoped for a chance to bring this paper into play - a sweet gift from my cousin: thanks Tracy!

I cut this beautiful feminine Anna Griffin paper with a large postage-edge die from Wplus9 and mounted it to my 5x7" card base.  Then, using a wonderful new set of Spellbinders Essential Heart dies [more on those this Friday!] to create this pretty glassine layered heart.  The sentiment is from a Waffle Flower Crafts combo called Hello Friend!  For this card, I stamped it with clear embossing ink and heat embossed it with Ranger Princess Gold.

Just in case you're curious about that little 'wax seal' - it's not wax at all!  Just the tiniest heart from that same set cut from a matte gold paper [thanks, Hilary] and embossed with my first embossing folder from the Spellbinders' Embossing Folder of the Month! 

I am so happy to be back in my studio - it was a very long break for me!  I have to admit I was a little bit rusty!  I'll get there eventually!  

Thanks for stopping by - and happy New Year!

=] Michele