CAS Mix Up - October 2021 - Botanical Prints

 

Surprise!  I don't normally post on the weekend, but made an exception today because I couldn't wait to share the success I had with leaf pressing for the 

CAS Mix Up Botanical Prints challenge for October 2021!

I was having a phone-chat about this challenge from Bonnie with my friend Bobby when I remembered my gorgeous Coleus plants on my front porch!  How could they not be the perfect choice for trying out this leaf-printing technique?  I have two varieties - today I chose the bright chartreuse with purple veining... of course one loses lots of the color when pressing, so here is a few shots of my plants PRE-pressing!

I have THREE of these pots - my coleus were SO huge this year!

Here is a little perspective:

Okay enough - you came for the card[s] right?

I had so much fun I had to make three... it's amazing what you get from just putting leaves between two pieces of water color card, and running them through your die-cutting machine!  But beware!  It can be a little messy!

A very simple card - I thought just ONE of the leaves would be gorgeous 

for a custom postage stamp!  

Waffle Flower Crafts Nesting Postage dies are such a perfect set to reach for.  

You'll see a few bits of the actual leaves but I don't mind it!  As a side note:  I recently purchased my first ink from Pigment Craft Co.: Sage is the most beautiful grey-green I've found on the market - and it stamps like a dream!

Sugared Lavender from Catherine Pooler accentuated the purple of the veins quite nicely!

My first time stamping this gorgeous set from The Greetery with all the best postmarks, and messages.

My next pressings took on more of the veining as I left it overnight...

There's that lavender again, used with a fun die cut word from Pigment Craft Co. set  called Dashing Sentiments stamps and dies.  

I couldn't help but think this would make a beautiful gift set of cards... three is a good number for a set... this is a sweet little thank you 

that measures 4.5 x 3.5 inches!

I used a favorite embossing folder from SU to add just the finest detail without

 disturbing my pressing one bit!  Look!  You can still see the veining beautifully.

A sweet little vellum die cut postage stamp was a good place for the sentiment.

Now comes the hard part - which one to share with the ladies at CAS Mix Up?

You'll have to go over to their gallery to see!  And while there, how's about playing along, too?  You'll find plenty of links for instruction at their blog!

=]  Michele

Supplies:

Pigment Craft Co. ink, and sentiment dies

Waffle Flower Craft Co. Nesting Postage dies

Catherine Pooler ink:  Sugared Lavender

The Stamp Market:  Blush dye ink

Stampin' Up Subtle Texture embossing folder

The Greetery: Pretty Postmarks [with a very old 5 cents stamp from Wplus9]

Dessert Storm card stock

Fabriano Hot Press 25% Cotton watercolor paper

Altenew's Alphabet Name Game!

 "Shelly Shelly bo belly, banana fana fo felly, me my mo Melly - SHELLY!"

OH don't mind me, I got just a wee bit caught up in the Name Game song of my childhood!  But that is NOT what Altenew wanted to read/hear/see when they announced their Alphabet Name Game with their wonderful Altenew Educators!  Erum wants us to use the first initial of our names and find a technique that starts with that letter!

M stands for Mat - as used to bring focus to a photo or framed art piece?  

Perhaps this will help:

That Altenew 3D poinsettia embossing really did deserve some

extra attention - so I created my mat with one of their Rounded Rectangle dies.  Hey, why cover it up?  I instead used their Fine Alphabet dies to create a sentiment that one can see through!

Okay. Ready. set.... GO PLAY!!!

=]  Michele

Inspired By #190 - pumpkins ROCK!

I never did get into the fad of rock painting, or scavenging, but I do agree:

Pumpkins DO rock!  Especially so for Inspired By #190!

You may remember that I had a little coloring session with Tom on his birthday?  Well, this big guy that I colored has been waiting in the wings since then - hope he, and his pumpkin, inspire you to play along!  I found the most wonderful wood-like paper in my stash - did you spot that wood in the photo?

Sugar Pea bear, Pigment Craft Co. Pumpkin and stamped leaves

The view just outside my studio window is so pretty as these Winterberries change color... orange at the time of photographing, now they are a gorgeous bright red!

That's it for my show-and-tell!  I do hope you have some wonderful pumpkins to share with us this week in the Inspired By #190 gallery!  Thanks for playing!

=]  Michele

CAS Christmas October 2021: Gray and Red!

Anyone that knows me, by now will also know that my favorite color is GRAY!  or gray + any other color, will do nicely, too!  I couldn't have been more happy to see Marcia's choice for the CAS Christmas October 2021 challenge:

I have been saving/hoarding/hiding this last little bit of a favorite plaid from PTI - I'm so happy I had just enough left for my design - but don't even think I'll throw away the rest!

Looks like I've used it for this stag head before - but it brought JOY to my card today!

So often we see the spotlight on that O - but I thought those antlers made the perfect

embellishment for the Y ;)

PTI Holiday Plaid x 2, Altenew Caps Bold Alpha dies, and Rounded Rectangles - texturized with

The Stamp Market Pierced Plaid cover plate.  A retired EH Prize Stag die.

So I'm off to deliver this one to the CAS Christmas gallery!  Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

Color Hues #27 - Orange and Green!

 Orange and green?  It couldn't be a more perfect choice for Fall at Color Hues!  

I had a little play with another new layering set from Altenew:  

Fresh Bloom, and dies.

I love that its layers leave a few white highlights!

The inks I used today are from a set called Goldfish Tails!

This one had an additional layer of brown that may have disqualified it, 

but I wanted to share it just the same:

When Fall comes, I turn to these colors naturally - so naturally I had to play along!

Thanks, Color Hues!

=]  Michele

Supplies:

Altenew Fresh Bloom combo, Goldfish Tail ink set, Rounded Rectangle frames, Leafy Garden die, and Dotted Swirls cover plate.

The Flower Challenge 5th Birthday Celebration!

 

It's so exciting for me to help celebrate The Flower Challenge's 5th Birthday with my teammates this month!  I have had such fun this year making cards that must include flowers - like THAT could be a hardship??  

Congratulations to Aileen and Vivien who started it all, and have kept all of us on our toes, and enjoying it!  Congratulations to all of the past team member, those of you who have guested, or won one of our challenges over the years!  

So, are you ready to party with us??  There are lot of prizes, a very special guest designer, too: Emily Midgett who illustrates some of the most wonderful flowers!  

Okay, here's your birthday prompt - use a shape, but don't forget the flowers!

I HAD to make a birthday card, right?

This is my latest Paint-a-Flower purchase from Altenew, 

called White Swan Echinacea ... today I made them brown-eyed Susan's!

They were stamped onto cardstock in black, then clear heat embossed.  I had no problem fussy cutting them, as there is no coordinating die set.

Here are the inks I chose for my Susie's today.

My 'shape' comes from a Postage Layers die from Wplus9, cut

from SSS Kona card stock... it has the loveliest texture - wish you could still buy it!

It was easy to create a shaped card base from 80# card using the same die, but keeping the cutting edge away from the fold.

A fun sentiment, and jewels from Pinkfresh Studio, and I was done!

  

Now is the time I must send you over to The Flower Challenge team blog, not only to see all the wonderful inspiration from the team, but also to find out all about the prizes that up for grabs [I will be giving a prize!!] by playing along!!  We can't wait to see our Challenge #61 gallery fill up this month!

Thanks for stopping by - and for supporting The Flower Challenge!

=]  Michele

Partnering with Poppystamps!

My friend, Michele Henderson of The Crimson Owl, invited me to be her Partner at Poppystamps as they celebrate Halloween as we Make it Mystical!  She must know Halloween might be my favorite of all card making events!  Besides, how do I say no to someone who spells her name just like I do??  One L's unite!

The nice folks at Poppystamps sent me a few goodies to play with!  I hear there might be a new release soon - but all of these were new to me!  Ready.  set. BOO!

Poppystamps products used: Twisted Tree Oval, Surprise Skeleton, BOO outline die, Simple Thank You

Supporting cast: VERY old embossing folder, and an oval snippet from my stash

Hey, WHO doesn't need a few thank boo cards for those Halloween treats??

I have my partner to thank for those BOOs - you had to know I'd add a few of my own words to the mix ...  

Poppystamps products used: Scary Ghost, Surprise Skeleton, BOO outline die - one layer.

Supporting Cast:  stencil from who knows who?  Distress oxide inks

Add a little stenciling here, a few die cuts there, a drop or two of Stickles, and the Mystical magic just happens!

Thanks, Michele, for picking me to partner with you!  and to Poppystamps for making mystical so fun and easy!  Now let's go see what the other One L made, shall we?  The Crimson Owl awaits!  By the way... join us over at Poppystamps where you’ll find more great inspiration and ideas, see what’s new, and enter your own Mystical Make! 

=]  Michele