Just us Girls #780

I was just blown away by the mood board/inspiration piece at Just us Girls #780 this week - take a look and you will be, too...

Vicki doesn't remember where she found this image, sadly.  But having recently remembered

those brave souls lost on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day this image

beautifully represented that to me.  Seems like the perfect time to search my stash for Poppies and I found a few that weren't that worked a treat.  I made two cards, but we'll see which one lands in their gallery.

First, I should explain that neither of the dies I've used today are actually poppies... but could so easily represent them IMHO... take these SB Anemones for instance...

When using Pimento card from Concord & 9th they sure look like Poppies to me!

Such fussy layers were cut twice - the aforementioned Pimento, and again from their Pistachio card stock.  

Do you see sky and sand?  Each was cut using one of SB's Four Petal Labels then

cut in half-ish - I used a cover die from Hero Arts to ripple the sand a bit.

 I wanted to represent those waves in the photo - this old Lil' Inker die that was sent to me by a friend in Bermuda years ago fit the bill! One of the many Betterpress-ed sentiments from my stash and my card was complete.

Sadly, this sympathy card will hit the mailbox today for someone who has lost her mum.  I know that pain and after 30 years it still hurts my heart.

Another non-poppy die is the star of card 2: 

Altenew's Sulfur Cosmos... and their Wave Panel die that HAD to live with me but has seldom been used.

Even the leaves seemed 'poppy-ish' to me - do you agree?  The layers were cut using Papaya card from The Stamp Market then 'kissed' with CP Tutti Frutti ink, the center from black and another Pistachio leaf.

This cornflower blue [also from TSM] seems more like the one in the inspiration.

It was easy to bring the beach sand using kraft cardstock cut with that old

MFT Wonky Rectangle. Sentiment from PTI's Ways to Say: With Sympathy.

Let me get this published then I'll decide which will be added to the JUGS gallery.  Until then I hope you're looking forward to something fun and crafty this weekend - thanks for spending some of your precious time with me this week!

=] Michele

Color Hues #112

Stef has a gorgeous color combo for us at Color Hues #112!  It offered me the chance to use a new-to-me set from Altenew: Oxeye Daisy.  Armed with its stencils and these inks, these colors came together beautifully - I was pleasantly surprised that I liked the blue leaves!

oopsie daisies - that's Sapphire I've placed upside down!

Backed with a partial panel of 'seersucker' and I think this a very

'summery' way to say hello to a friend!

I've embraced this blue just for you, Stef! and think it's just peachy!

=] Michele

The Paper Players - Fresh and Fruity

Claire has asked for a CAS, Fresh and Fruity card for The Paper Players #742 - I'm adding Funny to the list... who better to cause a spontaneous LOL than Julie Ebersole for Ellen Hutson... is miss her so!

Claire, I don't think it gets more CAS than this! IMHO

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #691

Hey you guys!!  It's my turn to create a sketch for Freshly Made Sketches - I sure hope you like it - I'm pretty excited as it is my very first!  

I often wondered 'which comes first?  The card or the Sketch?' 

In my own case, it was the card!  I knew if I liked the card, the sketch

could be drawn pretty easily - it is my first time, okay! lol

Ready for the card?

I had been 'savoring' this little Woodland Tales Floral die from Spellbinders' for some time- I cut the layers from the same watercolor card as my card panel and blended a bit of lilac ink on the petals, yellow for the center, and greens for the leaves.  I just love this soft lavender - don't you?  An old friend from Lil' Inkers

came to the party to provide that wonderful, debossed texture on my card panel and

I think the die-cut sentiment from Concord & 9th makes it seem fresh and new.

I know my teammates will have fun with it - after all, they always make our Sketches shine!  I just can't wait to see what YOU will create!  Are those ideas percolating that I hear?

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #103 Reminder

I'd bet if you looked at the cards you made this week, you'll find one that includes

flowers AND some form of heat or dry embossing.  No?  Well you still have plenty of time to make one or two for The Flower Challenge #103!

Here's another way to add dry embossing to make those florals POP!

See what I did there?  I used the coordinating die to this Altenew Wild Geranium to

add embossed detail around my stamped images adding dimension without the need for additional postage!  Yes, I am frugal that way! lol

I love that the die set included one for the hello!

I also love that you stopped by for a visit today - have you entered one of 

your beautifully embossed floral cards to our gallery yet?  You have plenty

of time to make one or three!  My teammates made seconds for your viewing pleasure right HERE!

=] Michele

Concord & 9th Color Club: Plumberry

Concord & 9th started their Color Club as a way to introduce their new colors to those of us who love their inks and colored cardstock.  I love getting those emails which included an invitation for all of us to play along in their first color challenge.  

Plumberry is the challenge color and just one of the new colors for 2025:

#PLUMBERRYC9COLORCHALLENGE

As much as I loved the color palettes they've suggested, I loved combining

Plumberry with a few of my favorites of all their papers using their 

Friendly Florals die set and these papers starting from the top left flower:

Plumberry

Fig

Lemongrass - flower center and panel

Artichoke - stems and leaves

Cobblestone - for banner

Pebble - shadow layer of 'smile' [from C&9th's Potpourri die set]

You'll be seeing lots of these stitch lines in the future - made 

using Concord & 9th's Kristina's Finishing Touches dies.

[it's almost as wonderful as that old MFT stitching set I've had for years!]

If you feel like I haven't been around much lately you're right - I've re-embraced my 'chef-y' side and dove headfirst into the art of pasta making.  It was briefly touched during my training at culinary school but nothing like the lessons I'm learning from watching Pasta Grannies on YouTube!  If you want to get lost for an hour or twelve watch these wonderful Italian women - the youngest I've watched so far is 87!  Pasta Grammar and Helen Rennie are two others that have taken some of the mystery out of pasta making and shaping and introduced me to many I wasn't familiar with, too.  

If you're in the neighborhood I'm happy to make you a plate of Potato Gnocchi - to die for!  

Until next time - take care, enjoy life, and thanks so much for stopping by today!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #690

It's a very fun Sketch #690 from my teamie Karren J. today!  While the possibilities are endless for that circle or any shape at all, I have a sweet PB Birthday Bundles bear that a dear friend stamped and sent to me to color - he was very happy to be the star of Karren's Sketch!

I do have a fondness for big bears... let's start with his closeup...

He must have been a very good boy to get all those presents!

I remember a bear and his little buddy BooBoo who spent a good deal

of their time swiping pic-a-nic baskets from campers - this fun

Summer Camp collection of papers from PTI just seemed perfect -

[shhh I'll be saving this one for my in-house star gazer's birthday!]

My FMS teammates may think I'm a bit early when I add my cards to the team blog post - but it allows all of the fabulous cards THEY make to be a big surprise to me on Wednesday when they go live!  Let's go - I can't wait another moment!

=] Michele