Everything is new at Christmas!

I for one will be so happy to get through this season of Black Friday sales - since I have so many wonderful Christmas sets that only get used once a year, I feel they are 'like new' each time I use them!  

Take this darling Warmest Wishes set from Papertrey Ink that has been around for YEARS - I could only find the dies in their shop so perhaps they have discontinued it... such a shame!

I adore it simply stamped in black - so CAS and sweet, right?

Perfect for this:

I'm quite sure I bought the set because of this wonderful Polar Bear - Tom's favorite.

Dressed in this Nordic sweater, he can stand the coldest of snowy days!

I 'free-handed' a little iceberg for him and out came the Stickles - 'tis the season!

One of these is heading over to Just us Girls for challenge #707 - their last of the year!  A bittersweet ending as Elizabeth, Lisa, and Nancy are saying goodbye - thanks for the years and years of fabulous inspiration, ladies - and thanks to Bobby for this great circle design challenge!

=] Michele 

Second Helpings for Color Hues #76 and JUGS #706

Before our Thanksgiving dinner is on the table, I have a bit of second helpings for my friends at Color Hues #76!  These Wplus9 cards just keep coming - hope you don't mind?

This go around, I have used a beautiful bird from Wplus9 with a 

Poinsettia from Altenew!

Since the challenge is to use Red and metallic gold, I stamped the background in Delicata Gold ink, and also heat-embossed my sentiment in gold.  The bird and Poinsettia were stamped with a mix of Distress Oxide inks: 

Barn Door, Candied Apple with a bit of Vintage Photo for good measure.

The next cards are just for fun...

My next bright a beautiful Altenew Cardinal has to visit 

the current Just us Girls challenge #706!

Of course, my card is inspired by that Cardinal in their lovely mood board!

I've used another Wplus9 stamp for the leafy branch, and wonderful

embossing folder from Spellbinder: Tile Reflection.

I had a real scare yesterday when I was totally knocked out by a nasty 24 bug!  I'm feeling much better today - well enough to get a 19lb turkey ready for my guests tomorrow!  PHEW!

I'm always so thankful for the kindness and support you all give me - it keeps me crafting and ready for the next challenge - speaking of, I'd better get these cards delivered!

Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours!

=] Michele

Waffle Flower Crafts - Instagram giveaway!

First order of business:  this is an Instagram giveaway, so as much as I love your comments here, you must comment and follow me @mfergu01 and @waffleflowercrafts on Instagram to be eligible for the prize!  Thank you, for your understanding - I do NOT make the rules!  lol

ALL that to say I've been invited to share a few cards made using stencils and their new-and-improved Shader Brush PLUS Sampler Pack! You have heard me say it before: these smaller brushes really get into those little nooks and crannies so perfectly!

For my first card, I used this sweet Multiple Leaves Combo that includes the stencils, stamps, and die set - it debosses AND cuts!  I started by debossing two sets of these lovely leaves onto an A2 panel of Neenah Desert Storm card stock...

Then lots of autumn-colored inks came to the party...

It was so easy to line up the one-piece cutting die...

But you know me by now - I never waste a perfectly good opportunity to

use the entire panel...

The sentiment is one of the 'ready to use' sentiment strips from 

their Label Maker sentiments sets.

It's been pretty dreary here this week - I had a mind to bring out lots of color next, using their Fall Leaves Background Stencils AND the Multiple Leaves, too!

I created a leafy 'tornado' using the WF Circle Frames dies! and topped it off with with a fun sentiment from their Rejoice Rabbit set.

Okay... One MORE!

These little guys are sure to come out to play after lights out... 

Who needs the elf on a shelf when these Winter Hamsters are around? 

This stack of Classic Books has been colored with their layering stencils, 

and then cut with the coordinating die.  

I do hope you get the chance to stop over at Instagram for a chance to win this wonderful Shader Brush PLUS Sampler pack of blending brushes - you already know how much I love them for that Collage, right?  Hope to see you at Instagram!

=] Michele

Sunday fun day with Wplus9 and card for Just us Girls #706

Laundry is going which means I have a bit of time between loads to share with you my Sunday fun using a favorite set from Wplus9 and how I put a Christmas spin on it!  

Dawn shared her 'foolproof' water coloring technique with us on her YouTube channel when she released this set.  You'll find it HERE.  It is a fun technique to try with any line-art set.  Tip:  use a good quality watercolor paper for the best movement of those wet inks!  I have my own favorite - Fabriano hot press 25% cotton which I found on Amazon.  But Dawn uses Tim Holtz watercolor paper in her video.

Ready?  let's go...

Wplus9: Just Breathe, Winter Greenery, Joyful Poinsettia, 

and Vintage Ephemera.

MFT Wonky Rectangles [embossed], PF Essential Labels

Distress Oxide inks: Hickory Smoke, Barn Door, Evergreen, and

Rustic Wilderness [and a bit of wonderful linen twine from LeAnne!]

Same supplies, and inks + Gathered Twigs

After splattering with Gansai Tambi metallic watercolor paints,

I gave my dove a little treat with the leftover on my brush.

I even uncovered my sewing machine!

Lastly, I was lucky enough to snag another 'new to me' set from the shop: Bells & Bows... here is her closeup...

Another sentiment from Right at Home: Peace, Love, Joy - stamped directly onto an Altenew Ornate die cut.

This last card is heading over to Just us Girls #706 where I found all the lovely colors for my greenery, berries, and bow from their beautiful mood board - at least in my more subtle greyed-down shades!

Hope your week has started off on the best note!

=] Michele

Color Hues #76

Good Saturday morning to you all!  I'm just popping into your weekend for a moment - promise!  I was so sad to hear Dawn Woleslagle announce the closing of Wplus9 shop recently... I have had so much admiration for her products over the years.  In fact, some of my first online purchases were made there!  But there is also good news!  She will be continuing to share all of her talent with us on her YouTube channel!  YAY!

I was happy to do a little shopping before the doors closed permanently - here are a few cards made with a few sets that I can tick off of my wish list...

Thank you, Jules for giving me the perfect reason/time to go for red and gold!

I stamped and gold heat embossed this cover stamp onto some black watercolor paper that my sweet friend Coni sent me long ago!  thanks to you in Heaven!

Then a mix of gold Gansai Tambi paints were used to color them.

An Altenew Ornate Nesting die was used to cut the sentiment that was also heat embossed in gold.

You'll have to check the Color Hues #76 gallery to see which card makes the cut - oh and while you're there you might as well add a card of your own, right?  The more the merrier!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #612

My friend Linda is the host over at Freshly Made Sketches #612 - it's a great Sketch, and I have just the 'stamps' for it!

Okay, maybe not perfect, but still fun! Right?  You be the judge...

I had to do a little bit of rearranging to make them fit, and that extra 

little kitten had to go inside the card, but he didn't mind!

Thanks, Linda for giving me another reason to play with that postage collage!! x

Happy weekend eve, everyone!

=] Michele

A TON of thanks for Tom!

Yes.  You did read that correctly - this is my 'thank you' post for Tom who may not shop, doesn't have grandiose ideas about gift giving, but sure does know when to say ...'here's my card - buy what you'd like for your birthday.'   

What did I buy?  The Ton has the most wonderful stencils and one in particular caught my eye recently when Vera Yates shared THIS gorgeous number on The Ton blog using the Gentle Peonies Layering Stencils.  Vera's colors were just gorgeous - she shares how she seldom cleans her blending brushes so the colors were often a mixture of different inks.  I used that as my 'challenge' as I DO clean my brushes quite well on a microfibre cloth.  No worries, I found I could mimic her look by just nudging the colors over into another when advantageous.

Here's what that looks like:

I then cut into two panels for two thank you cards:

This THANKS die is one of those two-part dies from SSS - ABOVE, I've simply

cut the top layer from the shadow layer and stacked them 3 times.

Below I've used just the top layer of the thanks die...

Here are the inks used for this panel:

Then a few more inks came out to play:

With equally beautiful results...

Since I'm reminded of the slipcovers I made for an old couch, I gave this one the look of fabric using that favored [retired] SU Subtle Texture EF.  A very simple yet perfect sentiment from Honey Bee and my appreciation was well shown and shared with Just us Girls #705

He's definitely a 'keeper.'  Thank you, babe!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #86 Reminder

Hello friends!  Just me with a little reminder to get those black, white & yellow florals made!  Of course, they will be shared with us over at The Flower Challenge, right? 

Here is a little drama for my reminder today...

This wonderful background stamp - Daisy Days from Unity Stamp Co. is

a prize won in the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers challenge - July 2023!

I wish you could see all the glossy goodness as I stamped it in black and clear heat embossed it - so cool IRL!  I couldn't resist coloring just one petal from the many - a little nod to 'he loves me' or perhaps 'he loves me not?'  I got the brightest yellow in my stash out to play: Distress Mustard Seed and decided this sentiment from

HoneyBee stamps: Daisy Layers Bouquet could use a bit of yellow too!

Okay, that's it for me but there is plenty more inspiration from my teamies ... of course we'll be by The Flower Challenge gallery to see if YOU have played!  You have until November 25th - time enough for two!

=] Michele

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #51

I'm going to let the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #51 speak for itself this morning...

... I was particularly drawn to that top left photo - but you'll see my love of grey just couldn't be tamped down today so I borrowed from the steely blue-grey of the park bench below it...

Studio Katia provided the fireplace 'screen' that I backed with acetate...

My sign above the fireplace was made with a piece of washi tape that I've had for years - undoubtedly found on the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby!

Two of those sweet stockings that were a freebie die set from Waffle Flower were hung with care, and a bit of Spellbinders greenery and my card elements were mounted on another successful pressing of that Honey Bee embossing plate!  It reminds me of the tin walls and ceilings of a favorite candy shop in Newburgh, NY!

I'd better get this one delivered to P.O.E. before I miss the deadline - thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Playing Cards with Friends - November 2023

Hello friends!  Only two more sessions of Playing Cards with Friends this year! Gosh does anyone else feel like the years are just flying by??

My guest for November is someone we all know and love!  Her blog name - Three Umbrellas - caught my eye right away in my first year of blogging ... it was as if we were bound to be friends!  I have had this poster framed and hanging in my home for years - in fact it has moved and lived with me in three homes ... so far!

Have you guessed?  Yes, it is Donna Mikasa who has been inspiring me as a card maker for as long as I have been making them!  She and I had the best time as teamies on the CASE this Sketch team.  We have had a few live facetime chats, and my husband and two of my granddaughters have even gotten in on the conversations on occasion - they think she's awfully sweet, too!  

Between travel with her husband and spending time with her precious grandbabies it has taken a very long time to get her to say YES!  But she did this month and I'm thrilled about it!

Okay - ready for our assignment?  November 13th is World Kindness Day!  If you have a mind to, you can read all about how it started HERE.   Among the 5 Facts pay particular attention to #3!

I've made this an 'anything goes' assignment but one to show appreciation to someone who has been particularly kind to us, or someone we know.  As I thought on that, Donna's kindness surely fits the bill!  She quite often sends cards and gifts - spoils me rotten is what she does!  I admire her for the kindness she spreads across our community, too!

My card features one such gifts sent as an 'early birthday gift!'  TOO generous my friend, but I just loved using this Tropical Vibes kit for my card today!  Ready?  Here she is:

Isn't it lovely?  This could easily be a Christmas card for someone who is

lucky enough to live on an island - hmmm why didn't I think of that earlier? lol

Here's a closeup of all that gorgeous texture from the included embossing folder...

My sentiment comes from The Stamp Market's Kindness Matters set, and here

are all the lovely inks I layered for those gorgeous tropical florals... I deepened the 'throat' of the Hibiscus with a Copic marker one shade darker than the darkest ink.

Well, Donna, I hope you love my card half as much as I love you, my sweet friend!  Thanks again for this wonderful gift, and so much for your friendship, too!  I'm on my way to see what is bound to make me go OHHHH!  and bringing all my friends with me!  You'll find Donna's post right HERE!

Thank you, my friends for stopping by.  I have ONE more card session in December!

Until then, we'll have lots of cards to share among friends!

=] Michele 

More postage and new blending brushes from Waffle Flower!

When my friends at Waffle Flower Crafts asked if I'd like to 'test drive' their newest blending brushes of course I jumped at the chance!  When I opened their Shader Brush PLUS Sampler Pack I knew just the stencil I needed to give them a proper workout:  their Postage Collage Bundle, of course!

When I'm stenciling anything, I reach for my Waffle Flower Grip Mat first, then I cut a few of the Postage Collage panels and mount the masking mat over the top which perfectly masks off the edges of the 'postage stamps.'   Here is how that looks:

The Shader brushes 0+, 1+, and 2+ are perfect for 

blending color around the edges of each 'stamp.'

I make sure to use 'Copic friendly' inks when blending, and stamping - take a peek at the darling Cookie Time set I picked up during their Moving Sale stamped in

chocolate brown ink:

Of course, EVERY member of the family wants in on the cookie making process at Christmastime, right?  Even the kitty!

A bit of simple Copic coloring, and this one is ready for Christmas card sending!

Here it again in blues using the larger Shader 3+ when I have lots of open space.  One is included in the Sampler PLUS Pack or they are sold in a pack of 5.

You'll find the price is quite reasonable, and they clean up easily on a microfiber cloth.  [Staining is inevitable but does not affect the brushes.]

Thank you, Waffle Flower!

=] Michele