and Everything Nice!

When Simon sends you a discount card for your birthday, it would be not so nice not to use it, right? I have had my eye on these two snowdudes from their newest set: Wrapped in Scarves ...

I love the thought of snowmen decorating the trees!

Looks like he has his work cut out for him, doesn't it?  

[btw that embossing is SU's Gathering Leaves from a dear friend]

He will be entered in the current Just us Girls: Winter challenge #801

The second snowman from that set is having the most fun IMHO...

I turned to MFT's Jingle All the Way for my sentiment - 

ALL THE WAY seems to be his intention!

My old favorite SSS Stitched Slopes and Hills always fits the bill.

This daring devil is headed to The Paper Players for their CAS Challenge #764 where Stef is asking us for our holiday favorites - who doesn't love a snowman??

Now, back to my regularly scheduled loads of fun...

=] Michele

Jingle Belles - leftovers anyone?

Anyone that makes cards or any other paper-craft can attest to the fact that we ALL have bits and pieces that get left behind, right?  Stephanie, and Lauren are here to help us put those to work for us today over at Jingle Belles!

I was pondering what to use for a bright and merry Christmas card inspired by my friend Therese and found the answer to both of their requests!  Leftovers found in the Pigment Craft Co. packaging + a bright red panel of Poppy in the paper pack = 

Not many consider purple as a 'Christmas' color, but combine this bright Plum [TSM] with Poppy [Concord & 9th] and add a Green-Eyed Monster from MFT

along with a pretty lavender bow from SSS found already cut, and you get one 

very bright and merry Christmas card!

Take a gander at the detail from Simon Hurley's Bark EF!  The only thing I had

to cut were those 'Juniper' berries from a Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettias set of dies.

Thanks Lauren, Stef, and Therese for inspiring my playtime today in

such a fun and colorful way!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #108 - Reminder

You have a few more days to make thank you cards for friends and family before we close the door on The Flower Challenge #108! 

I found a really quick, and beautiful way to say thanks among

my Spellbinders' Betterpress supplies!

I love this wonderful Corner Sunflowers pressed in this autumn yellow - don't you?  

I find Altenew inks press beautifully, and the cleanup is a breeze!

Although, they are NOT waterproof so if one wants to color these, the original Betterpress ink is the way to go!

Let's go see the wonderful reminders from my teammates HERE.

Thank YOU, my lovely friends, for stopping by!

=] Michele

Gifts of friendship

I have a few more cards made today with some wonderful birthday gifts from friends! I've already said thank you, but what better way to show thanks than this?   

First up - someone knows how much I love Poinsettias!  This one, called Whispers of Poinsettia from Pinkfresh was totally new to me.  It starts out with a die-cut panel that has really intricate cuts and then color is added using a set of 5 layering stencils!  I love how this one turned out.  I added a second layer of the panel for 'lift' and debossed my card panel using that old favorite Altenew Dotted Swirls.

Here are my inks - OH, btw I cut it from PTI Fresh Linen paper

for this first run but I can't wait to make another using white - watch for that one soon!  I didn't want to cover a bit of this one therefore I found this

simple Peace die from Altenew to be perfect!

Next up, a wonderful Penny Black set called Love Blooms and a darling little 'hitchhiker' - I just love those winged friends!  Here's their closeup first - the gorgeous, embossed panel was pressed at Marcia's.  SU! Ferns, I think?  Of course, I glued it to my panel before taking notice of what I'd written on the back of it!

There is never a day spent fishing that one of these guys 

doesn't hitch a ride on our hats or poles!

I cut his wings from heavy vellum and gave them a kiss of Wink of Stella.

His body was cut from a bit of matte gold foil paper.

Of course, the blooms are still the star of the card, right?

Stamped with Memento Toffee Crunch on watercolor card and very simply water colored using Distress reinkers then popped within a PB frame.

You'll see just a kiss of grey in the background using a PB stencil.

Thank you, my sweet generous friends!  I received SO MANY gorgeous birthday cards this year from so many - I can't thank you enough for remembering me!

This afternoon I'll be having a facetime playtime using another fabulous embossing folder from another friend - maybe we'll even make a card with it??  We'll see!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #712

Verena has a wonderful sketch and fabulous inspiration for us at Freshly Made Sketches #712... here is her sketch - but you'll have to stop by our challenge blog to see her darling card!

As I see all the goodness for Christmas being posted by my friends, I'm reminded of a few of my 'regulars' that I didn't make an appearance this year.  

For instance - my mittens!!

Verena's sketch presented the perfect time for them...

These oldie-but-goodie dies aren't available any longer but are well loved.  From Winnie & Walter: Noel and Ellen Hutson's Pop-Up Mittens.  

I cut Verena's left side border panel from a deep navy card stock and popped my white NOEL up on dimensional foam.  The bright red mittens were cut from EH felt and I used white

yarn to embellish them and to tie a band around the panel that was debossed with Waffle Flower Crafts' Dashed Snowflake cover die.  A few

white snowflakes and my work playtime was complete! 

You have until Monday, November 17th at 3 pm EST to play along - plenty of time to make seconds if you have a mind to!  Okay - off you go to see all the inspiration one could ask for from the FMS team!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #763 Color Challenge

The Paper Players color challenge #763 is a beauty from Jan!  

Perfect for Autumn or for giving someone the bird!  Oh, not that bird - this one, from Birch Press, that was sent to me for my birthday!  Thank you, sweet friend!

This lovely SB Sun Ray embossing folder was included, too, and I found a way to show my Crane making a splash by embossing my panel of Old Olive, then trimming the panel to position the circle in the lower area.

Okay, I know the trimming doesn't exactly match up at the top, but I still like it!

It took some finagling to get all the bits and pieces cut from Jan's colors

but in the end, I love the result and hope Jan does, too! I cleared the use of

kraft before cutting these SB cattails and pond-side flora.  Another of those favored Betterpress sentiments and all that was left was to photograph it!  Kinda dreary today - sorry about that.

Thank you, Jan!

We've had an inch or two of that four-letter-word - not unusual to see the first dusting around my birthday.  Let's face it - I don't have to go out in it, and

Tom drives my AWD when it's slippery, so it isn't a big deal.  As long as it

melts before Thanksgiving when I expect company.

My bird and I would like to celebrate another special day:

Congratulations to my friends at JUGS on their 800th Challenge!!

I've been busy completing the sentiments and signing all those cards

for my Senior recipients - see you again soon!

=] Michele

Color Throwdown #844

Amy at Color Throwdown features a photo that had me laughing out loud, alright...

While I was on the road, my longtime friend Neda celebrated her birthday.  Normally, I make it a Halloween themed card - it does fall on the 31st after all.

But this turkey had me reaching for a bird of a different color!

I pulled out a few retired Ellen Hutson sets for the sentiments -

Julie Ebersole always knew how to make me smile!

I dare you to look at this old bird and NOT see a string of pearls! lol

Only the HoneyBee Lovely Layers: Quail and 

Spellbinders Four Petal dies are still available!

Thanks, for the turkey, and fun colors, Amy!

=] Michele