Christmas Kickstart #91

Christmas Kickstart #91 has such a beautiful inspiration photo and color theme!  But don't take my word for it...

Isn't it lovely?  I was first drawn to those snowy branches and bright red reindeer... but then this happened... I remembered that cute little hand from the 

Concord & 9th Tree Topper die set I recently purchased!

My blues are a little more muted - or perhaps it's the gloomy day I'm having here -

but I did manage to bring three shades - two using patterned paper and one pretty glitter-y paper for the star!  

Don't you love her red nails?  After very carefully adding a bit of crimson Copic, I added a bit of Nuvo Crystal Drops to each nail for shine!

I pulled out all those 12x12 Christmas pads that my cousin gifted to me - this on has 15 more card-cousins for those seniors!  I hope to have another day just like it today!

Thanks, Jo and Faith for inspiring my card!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #96 Reminder

A gentle reminder that there is still plenty of time to stencil a few more cards for our gallery, my friends!  Come on - you know you have stencils that would love to play!

I've chosen another from my stash from Altenew: Tranquility Rose... it has a vintage look to it IMHO...

I blended a panel of Bristol card using the residual inks from my

blending brushes after stenciling my rose and leaves - it got a spritzing

of Wplus9's Pure Color Shimmer spray.  After THAT dried, I took it

for a spin through my Switch using Altenew's Dotted Swirls debossing plate.

This sweet sentiment is one from HoneyBee's Daisy Layers Bouquet set.

BTW you don't HAVE to stencil your flower/flowers!  Stenciling your background would be just fine with us!

Okay, that's enough from me - run over to The Flower Challenge and be inspired by all the lovely stenciling from my teammates, won't you?  Thanks always!

=] Michele

ONE more Point-settia!

 I knew I was forgetting something!  How could I?  My friend Amy Rohl is hosting the Color Throwdown!

Here's her really fun prompt...

I'm cutting it close... here is my card!

Yes, that's the wonderful Concord & 9th Festive Blooms again!

Off it goes to the CTD#814 gallery!

=] Michele

Poinsettia Parade!

I took full advantage of the size of the Spellbinders' Scenic Poinsettia embossing folder and with only one full sheet of kraft cardstock, I had four more Christmas cards to send!

Here is a look at that fabulous embossing - today I took advantage of the 'debossed' side...

Armed with a handful of inks and my small WF blending brushes I added color just to the florals and other areas that are debossed.  Then, like magic, I swiped my Versa Clair inks [first grey and then black] and all the gorgeous details came to life!

Then, as if that weren't enough, I over-stamped each A2 panel with an older stamp from Wplus9 in Delicata gold and silver!  Here's a closeup of that detail:

I finished all four cards using Concord & 9th's Festive Blooms sentiments.

Two with vellum banners and gold heat embossing:

and two more with kraft banners:

While I had this embossing folder out, it was time I pressed one in white - I used a combination of saltwater taffy ink and Nuvo Aqua Shimmer to add color... isn't it pretty?  

The smallest frame die from Penny Black's Classy Frames was

used to bring one of their Joy & Warmth sentiments into focus!

One more?  I couldn't help but use the FMS657 Sketch again...

This time, I replaced Karren's tag with a Honey Bee Lovely Layered: Poinsettia - but 

managed to add a tiny tag, too!  

It holds another PB sentiment from their Cuddle Up set.

All the pieces were cut from water colored card - some of you may remember

that debossed stitching from MFT - why they ever retired it is beyond me!

Okay, I've ignored that laundry long enough!  See you next time!

=] Michele

Color Hues #96

Julie B. was in my creative brain today when I came across a Betterpress-ed panel in my stash... thanks, Julie!  Your colors at Color Hues #96 were just right!

I hadn't ever blended ink onto the Betterpress paper, so I didn't know what I'd end up with as it has quite a 'soft hand' to it.  I needn't have worried...

I pressed two panels and blended the purple and orange distress inks a little differently on each - since I didn't need more Halloween cards,

I simply used one to cover my card base and popped the other on top.

That purple twine holds a little surprise on the inside:

I have my friend Marcia to thank for this bit of creepy fun - thanks my friend!

I found several googly eyes that fit the bill and a Halloween greeting

from an old 12 Kits packet!  He wouldn't hold still for long... do they ever?

My resident KIA let me know that spiders often have 4 or more eyes and even found evidence of it on the web...

Ruined my night's sleep, but I was happy to oblige - upped the creep factor, right?

Hope you had a happy crafty weekend!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #657

Karren has a fun Sketch for us this week at Freshly Made sketches #657 and I had a few Honey Bee supplies out that seem to work pretty well for it!  First, here's her Sketch:

Seems like a good place for a Quail, am I right? lol  I took liberties with her

plumage but isn't that why this craft is so much fun?

My card base was created by stacking two A2 panels of wood grain card [Altenew]

and giving them a random diagonal cut at the same time.

You'll undoubtedly see the fraternal twin soon enough.

While I had those inky finger daubers out, I gave the top white portion a little

color, too...

This little HB tag die was used to cut a leftover piece of water colored card

from this week's PB stockings.  A few Spellbinders' Holiday Blooms cattails, 

bits of pine bough and leaves from PB Stocking Stuffers, and a linen string and bow were just the ticket for toppings.  Okay, a bit of Stickles for good measure, too.

You have put up with me a lot this week and I sure appreciate it!  Have a great weekend, my friends!

=] Michele

One more from Penny Black!

I've loved sharing the bounty of Penny Black with you friends .... I have one more set and two cards using it today!  Hope you like them!

Heartsong has been on my wish-list for long enough!  I'm so happy to finally make it mine...

This first card uses both of the images in the set - the bird on the branch, and the

leafy bough, too!  I used the bough to add a little interest around the edges 

of the PB Classy Frame used to frame that sweet Bluebird!  [BTW there are

at least a dozen Bluebirds visiting our backyard these days.  I wonder if they are waiting

for Tom to treat them to those mealworms again?] This time I popped up the center

portion of frame - I rather like it!

This one is inspired by Jill's gorgeous card on the packaging - one day I MIGHT

be almost as good at water coloring these darling images!  Practice makes almost perfect!

Finally, I've used the smallest of the frames in that set - doesn't it make the 

prettiest frame for the sentiment?  Of course I had to add a little sheet music for

his song using PB Music Background cling stamp.

One of these will be shared with my friends at Triple B!

My box of cards for the seniors is nearly full - you would find SO many Penny Black cards inside!  No time like the present to add a few more!

Until next time - thanks so much for stopping by and the kindness you leave behind!

=] Michele