Just another fun CAS Monday!

I only have three loads of fun to get through today but had to get my other two CAS challenge cards posted first - a girl must have her priorities, you know!

First up … CAS Watercolour: Cool Colors. 

 

 

I used their chart as my guide!  Thank you, Bonnie! 

 

 

This little MFT set, called Let's Stick Together and its dies, was just a joy to use for the first time!  Sneaking in a few of those cool colors while Distress Ink coloring was fun... finding the perfect enamel embellishment, and this sentiment die from my friend was fun, too!

 

 

Next up, for CAS Stencil challenge where Nancy has asked us to use a NEW Stencil …

 

 

I'm mad for plaid - Tim Holtz must have known that when he designed his Plaid layering set! lol  [you may have noticed the other new stencil on my first card, too!]

 



 

Could there be a sweeter home-base for this little Cacti family? 

I haven't shared the sentiment today, as it would spoil

the surprise I have planned for someone on Valentine's day!

Can you stand that the blooms on the Cacti are heart-shaped?!

 

Okay.  That washing machine does NOT load itself!  So I'm off now to get these posted before the chore begins … thanks for spending a bit of your Monday with me! xx

 

=]  Michele

Christmas Kickstart #27 - Penguin Parade

Short and sweet … but I just couldn't resist this cutie from MFT, and he SO wants to play at Christmas Kickstart #27 for the Penguin Parade!

 

Can you smell that toasty marshmallow?

No... here's a closeup...

 

The snow has stopped!  and the SUN has come out -Yay!!! I'd bet you have a penguin who'd like to play!!

=]  Michele

MFT Toasty Greetings stamps and dies 
Altenew Dotted Swirls
EBE Instant Photo Frames

One cut, two hearts for Twofer Challenge #23

I have two cards for you today … one a Valentine, one with feel-better-hugs!  BOTH full of love for those Twofer Card Challenge gals who we are all happily celebrating as it is their SECOND blog-a-versary! 

Here's the zinger - I only cut this die ONCE!  oh I can't take the credit - that all goes to *Lil' Inkers!  Have you heard the sad news?  Lil' Inkers is closing after 10 years of fabulous products!  This Fringed Scalloped Heart is available for 70% off!!One pass through my machine gives me a positive, and a positively perfect aperture to fill with fun.  Enough chit chat...

  I just love the 'ruffles' this Heart die cuts!

 

The card base was fancied up with my new RC Stitched Scallops cover plate.

The die cut SWEET  [another die from Lil' Inkers*] - and the tiny heart were both heat

embossed with layers and layers of gold embossing powder.  A smattering

of gold Gansai Tambi gold paint - I think this Hamster did it!

His shirt originally had a Christmas tree on it - it was easy to

change it to a heart because the set included it!

 

 Inside:

Sending feel-better hugs, and love -  which are almost as soothing as Chicken Soup!
BTW this hugger is on a wobbler - can you stand it?

 

My side-kicks today are from Waffle Flower Crafts, called Winter Hamsters - I must have been thinking of you, D! 
That's it for me today … we didn't get as much snow as was forecast, but the day isn't done yet!   Hope you are all snug as a bug and enjoying your weekend!
 
=]  Michele  

CAS Christmas, and CAS Mix Up January 2020

When I saw the prompt for CAS Christmas, I wondered... does the tag have to the 'star' of the card?  I'm entering my card with hope that the CAS team likes it!! =]

These trees were actually fussy-cut from a really old 12x12 piece of patterned paper!  I'd love to make a stamp set with sketchy trees like these!

I think my little EBE Retro Holiday greetings add

the perfect sentiment, for my sweet little TAG!

***

 



While I'm at it, I have a sweet little bookmark-card, with several partially die cut RC flutterbys … think CAS Mix Up would mind if there were more than one cut?

• It was easy to Stamp with the intention of partial die cutting this little guy
• Heat Embossing made the watery color stay where I wanted it
• Using the coordinating die to Partially die cut  each butterfly was easy to do!

Here are the inks I used:

 

The weathermen are calling for loads of snow in our neck of the woods - gives me plenty of reason to stay in my studio for two more CAS cards - wink, wink! 

Thanks for spending so much time with me this week - your comments make my heart so happy!
=]  Michele

CAS[E] this Sketch # 355 RETRO

It's retro week for CTS355 … do you remember this one?  I sure do!

Would you like to see my May 2016 version?  here you go:

I still kinda like it … but there are new [to me] goodies on my craft table that were calling to me!  I was so happy to see this little lovely Aviary stamp and die set in the sale section at Pinkfresh Studios after Christmas!  There's always some really wonderful deals in their Sale Section!

 



 

 a bit of masking allowed me to give my

bird an escape route!

 

 

This pattern paper, from the Indigo Hills collection, didn't have any of that greenish yellow I used to Copic Color my little tweetie bird … so how do you remedy that situation?  Add a bit of Copic coloring to the paper!  Those splats in the Sketch gave me the perfect way to do it - to music!

 



We'd love to see your cards in the CTS355 gallery - and also love it when you share the original in your post, if you did happen to play with CTS171! 

=]  Michele

Inspired By #107 ... quiet

Even though the silence can be deafening sometimes, quiet time is important... sometimes I feel my ears trying to block the noise of the world.  Here is what quiet looks like to Laurel this week at Inspired By #107:

Here is how it spoke to me …

Inside:
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

To answer your inevitable question, yes, I do have this many different sets of alphas*... think I have a problem?  maybe. lol  At any rate, what makes these wonderful is the paper I've cut them from.  Another Honey Bee called Home Essentials which is the heavier weight of cardstock, not paper.

I have a love affair with words … this sentiment is from a new sentiment set I HAD to have.  I'll link it here because you may love words as much as I.  The set does include the inside sentiment, too.

Now about that fringed stand-in for the louvered shutters in the photo?  A very old MFT die called - wait for it - mini fringe!!  [I checked - no longer available]  I cut it from various cardstock pads from Michael's.

So happy you've stopped by … now please head over to Inspired By #107 and play along?  We'd love it if you did! 

=]  Michele

*Alpha sets:
Q: EBE Classic alphas
U & I Altenew Caps Bold alphas
E: Altenew Fine Alphabet dies
T: Waffle Flower Cutaway Alpha 

Reverse Confetti - Stock your Stash Challenge

 



 

As a Fetti' Friend, I'm happy to be onboard to remind/invite you all to Stock your Stash!  Here is our theme for January.... and you have until noon CST on January 29th to play along!

I am happy to be using more of the newest paper collection - did you get your Sweet as Sugar pad?  Some older, much-loved, lovey word dies to begin my message - and the darling NEW Hearts Confetti Cuts, and So very Lovely sentiment set completed my message! 

My Stash might be well stocked with darling RC love notes for friends!  Have you finished yours?  Why not earn more than brownie points for those Valentines!?

Good luck!!  Hope to see you in the Stock your Stash gallery!

=]  Michele