Freshly Made Sketches #760

Hello again, my friends!  It's that time of the week - a favorite day of the week - when I get to share our next design at Freshly Made Sketches!  Jen B. is our designer for #760 ...

 

I had a really good time creating my card - it's for the birds! In a good way!

I found an alternate way to capture Jen's diagonal by using these branches.

With the addition of a few leaves and berries, my little HoneyBee Chickadee

seems right at home, doesn't he?

I borrowed a wonderful sentiment set from Bobby in 2025 and they

are just perfect for all of the birds I have in my stash... 

HoneyBee's Let Nature Sing.

We are always blown away by the way you crafters interpret our Sketches.

This one will be a fun gallery I think. Be sure to check out all the brilliant

ways my fellow FMS teamies have made this sketch their own!

=] Michele

Me and my Mittens!

 I know, me again!  I just shared this card with the Altenew Fan Group on Facebook and part of me just knew that you might enjoy it, too!  

It all started because Bobby shared THIS card and I fell hard for

that Cozy Sweater embossing folder!!

After creating my panel, I knew that my old faithful mittens from EBE

would NOT work because the size was too small - but never fear!

My Altenew Nesting Arches were just right for 'knitting' one of my own and the

sizing wasn't a problem at all - so many to choose from!

 

A cuff was hand cut and given a bit of texture then mounted onto

the knitted panel - a bit of pine from HoneyBee and a gold star seemed

like the best final touch!  This is another time when I wish my mom were

still here on earth - she would have knitted me a sweater like this one, for sure!

The paper one will do!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #809

Christy has a sketch for us over at The Paper Players - I have a bit of practice with sketches! 

I have a few new dies from Memory Box in my hot little hands - you will be seeing

a LOT of birds around here for the next few weeks.  Meet Wyatt:

I replaced Christy's strip of paper with a bit of greenery [HoneyBee]

for Wyatt to perch upon.  A little sentiment and pretty paper - also

HoneyBee - and a double faux torn edge of DSP and vellum and voila!

I do love him, so!  Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #846 Stencil Week

My dear friend Bobby is the host at Just us Girls this week and I couldn't wait to make another card with my newest Altenew CYL Expressive Flora - this time in oranges and reds!  Thanks, Bobby!

Here she is:

I loved that little bit of Stickles on the flower center, don't you?

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

=] Michele

This little Quacker...

... wanted to play cards with The Paper Players #808 where Stef is looking for CAS and Autumn cards!  I think my Cute Quacker is dressed for the Autumn day we're having today... brrrr!

This fun paper is great as it is striped on one side and dots on the other!

That little Maple leaf is from a much-loved Lawn Fawn set and how convenient that

I'd tucked a leftover piece of alcohol-inked paper inside the packaging!

Thanks, Stef, for the fun challenge!

=] Michele

He QUACKS me up!

Somewhere out there in Instagram-land I came upon this Cozy Quaker from Memory Box and, almost as quickly as their Happy Bird, he waddled right into my cart!  Get ready my friends he's already becoming a favorite! 

Right out of the gate he became a 'sing that tune' card - meant for the Fall challenge at

JUGS but life got in the way and he didn't make it in time! My background is an oldie

but goodie from EBE cut from dark brown.  I popped out the negative cuts and blended

a bit of black to act as the night sky.  'SHINE ON' was made with my handy DYMO Express.

Of course, there HAD to be a Christmas version:

HoneyBee paper stamped with Watercolor Pines and CP Juniper ink.

Look closely and you'll see that I've cut his hat and scarf from DSP!

'Footprints' from Kristina Werner's Finishing Touches dies.

Tom had an unintentional week off this week [water damage from a storm this Summer to the building and inside his lab] He has stayed busy, but you know his busy became my busy yada yada.  All that to say sorry I've been pretty quiet this week!  Lots of fun stuff coming soon though - promise!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #759

I'm so glad you stopped by!  Verena is our sketch designer today at Freshly Made Sketches #759 ... 

I had one more pie baked just for her!

I just couldn't resist this pun-y sentiment - also from Carrie's 

Sweet Harvest set from Altenew!

We can't wait to see what YOU will 'bake' up for our sketch - check out all the DT cards over at Freshly Made Sketches!

=] Michele

CAS Christmas Card Challenge October 2026

Anyone that knows me also knows how much I adore Poinsettias!  I was thrilled when Colleen chose it for her CAS Christmas October 2026 challenge!

I was also pretty stoked that there was a White and Gold square on my Crafting Bingo card - one card, two birds!

Of course, that Altenew Poinsettia had to play!  They came out with a new one that includes an embossing folder, but I have resisted it - so far!

Thanks, Colleen!  

=] Michele

A grey day!

A grey day doesn't mean there's no sunshine here - just the opposite in my case!  I've embraced my love of grey and found a few challenges that would welcome it!  Let's start with Color Hues #143 where grey can be used as a neutral along with Tracey's chosen color duo:

Take note of the background as it will qualify my card for the

'Patterned Background' square on my Crafty Bingo card!

It was made using a rubber mat and Altenew's Curtain Leaves cover die - a gift from Bobby many years ago. [I found a way to make it work, my friend - thanks again!]

These fabulous branches and berries are part of the Altenew Fall Pickings layering

die set.

Up next, a card made for Therese @lostinpaper after her LIVE this week

where she created a Christmas card using a few different leafy die sets.

It all began with the embossing folder included in my CYL Expressive Flora set

from Altenew.  I swiped those gorgeous, embossed leaves with Moonrock ink.

Then adorned my arch with die cut leaves and a bright red bow from Altenew and pine boughs and eucalyptus from HoneyBee.  

The remnant I was left with - another Crafty Bingo square: Arched Border...

Altenew: Perfect Poinsettia EF and a sentiment from their Modern Poinsettia set.

You may not catch it, but I used a silver paint pen to add shine to their centers

and TH silver embossing for my sentiment.

That, my friends, was my Friday!  Have a wonderful, crafty weekend!

=] Michele

A deep dive!

I recently subscribed to Altenew's Craft Your Life series... how I would need another floral set is beyond my comprehension, but when I saw this stencil [and learned this was the only way I could make it my own, I caved.  Buckle up, my friends!  This is a long one!

Meet Expressive Flora:

After getting really comfortable and finding 'my way' I spread my wings

and decided to have a bit of fun with the background layer - #6 in the order

of stenciling quickly became #1 for me as it allowed the 'shift' in their instructions

to make perfect sense to my brain.

With a very simple [unnamed] basket weave sandwiched with that background, I achieved this:

Here's that aforementioned sandwich:

Then this:

and one more to fill another square in my Altenew Fan Club Crafting Bingo!

Thanks so much for stopping by - do you agree that I made the right decision on that purchase? lol  And there is a stamp & die set, and embossing folder yet to play with!

I'll be back...

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #758

Jen T. has nearly a 'blank canvas' for our crafting pleasure at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Sometimes I find these the most difficult but not today!  

Honestly - it was a card I was making for another challenge but couldn't help but 

keep it on hold for Jen's challenge... take a peek...

This is a SU! Sunflower 3D EF - a wonderful gift from my friend, Marcia! I water colored this one and added a simple sentiment for a 'nearly' one-layer card!

How will YOU represent Jen's simple sketch?  I can't wait to see!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #844

Carol McFarland is hosting Just us Girls #844 and I nearly didn't make a card... then I had a 'lightbulb' moment!

Even though her theme is 'move' she doesn't limit HOW to move!

My card could be 'a stretch!'

wait for it...

here you go...

It could be one of those cards that never gets used... most 

definitely a 'hand-delivery.'

I dare you to do as I did and search 'paper slinky' on YouTube - talk about a

rabbit hole!! LOL

=] Michele

Paper: HoneyBee and EBE

EBE: Clever Sausage and It's all Good sentiment set.  You must know that EBE products are no longer available... sorry.

HoneyBee: Big Time: Kindness stamps and dies

The Paper Players #807

It's a color challenge this week from Jan, and I couldn't help but paint these gorgeous apples as Granny Smith's!  Can you blame me??

I'll admit it - it is a total CASE of Jaydee's wonderful card for The Paper Players #807!  I had stamped an extra image from Carrie's Sweet Harvest set and was saving it for a day like today to turn them into green apples.  Thanks, Jaydee, for the inspiration!

I've been participating in the Altenew Fan Group's Crafting Bingo and was 

looking for a way to complete the Mixed Media square.  I'm a complete failure

when it comes to mixed media... back to the drawing board!  

But I still love my apples!  

This is the card I've entered instead ... woodgrain card, a bit of gilding, some packing material and layered blossoms on the Altenew Ornate Frame.  Which do you think is more 'mixed media?'  My CAS loving crafty heart just doesn't allow for grunge.

I'm really making progress on the October Crafting Bingo card!  I'm sure they'd love to have you join their Altenew Fan Group and the fun!

=] Michele