This little Quacker...

... wanted to play cards with The Paper Players #808 where Stef is looking for CAS and Autumn cards!  I think my Cute Quacker is dressed for the Autumn day we're having today... brrrr!

This fun paper is great as it is striped on one side and dots on the other!

That little Maple leaf is from a much-loved Lawn Fawn set and how convenient that

I'd tucked a leftover piece of alcohol-inked paper inside the packaging!

Thanks, Stef, for the fun challenge!

=] Michele

He QUACKS me up!

Somewhere out there in Instagram-land I came upon this Cozy Quaker from Memory Box and, almost as quickly as their Happy Bird, he waddled right into my cart!  Get ready my friends he's already becoming a favorite! 

Right out of the gate he became a 'sing that tune' card - meant for the Fall challenge at

JUGS but life got in the way and he didn't make it in time! My background is an oldie

but goodie from EBE cut from dark brown.  I popped out the negative cuts and blended

a bit of black to act as the night sky.  'SHINE ON' was made with my handy DYMO Express.

Of course, there HAD to be a Christmas version:

HoneyBee paper stamped with Watercolor Pines and CP Juniper ink.

Look closely and you'll see that I've cut his hat and scarf from DSP!

'Footprints' from Kristina Werner's Finishing Touches dies.

Tom had an unintentional week off this week [water damage from a storm this Summer to the building and inside his lab] He has stayed busy, but you know his busy became my busy yada yada.  All that to say sorry I've been pretty quiet this week!  Lots of fun stuff coming soon though - promise!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #759

I'm so glad you stopped by!  Verena is our sketch designer today at Freshly Made Sketches #759 ... 

I had one more pie baked just for her!

I just couldn't resist this pun-y sentiment - also from Carrie's 

Sweet Harvest set from Altenew!

We can't wait to see what YOU will 'bake' up for our sketch - check out all the DT cards over at Freshly Made Sketches!

=] Michele

CAS Christmas Card Challenge October 2026

Anyone that knows me also knows how much I adore Poinsettias!  I was thrilled when Colleen chose it for her CAS Christmas October 2026 challenge!

I was also pretty stoked that there was a White and Gold square on my Crafting Bingo card - one card, two birds!

Of course, that Altenew Poinsettia had to play!  They came out with a new one that includes an embossing folder, but I have resisted it - so far!

Thanks, Colleen!  

=] Michele

A grey day!

A grey day doesn't mean there's no sunshine here - just the opposite in my case!  I've embraced my love of grey and found a few challenges that would welcome it!  Let's start with Color Hues #143 where grey can be used as a neutral along with Tracey's chosen color duo:

Take note of the background as it will qualify my card for the

'Patterned Background' square on my Crafty Bingo card!

It was made using a rubber mat and Altenew's Curtain Leaves cover die - a gift from Bobby many years ago. [I found a way to make it work, my friend - thanks again!]

These fabulous branches and berries are part of the Altenew Fall Pickings layering

die set.

Up next, a card made for Therese @lostinpaper after her LIVE this week

where she created a Christmas card using a few different leafy die sets.

It all began with the embossing folder included in my CYL Expressive Flora set

from Altenew.  I swiped those gorgeous, embossed leaves with Moonrock ink.

Then adorned my arch with die cut leaves and a bright red bow from Altenew and pine boughs and eucalyptus from HoneyBee.  

The remnant I was left with - another Crafty Bingo square: Arched Border...

Altenew: Perfect Poinsettia EF and a sentiment from their Modern Poinsettia set.

You may not catch it, but I used a silver paint pen to add shine to their centers

and TH silver embossing for my sentiment.

That, my friends, was my Friday!  Have a wonderful, crafty weekend!

=] Michele

A deep dive!

I recently subscribed to Altenew's Craft Your Life series... how I would need another floral set is beyond my comprehension, but when I saw this stencil [and learned this was the only way I could make it my own, I caved.  Buckle up, my friends!  This is a long one!

Meet Expressive Flora:

After getting really comfortable and finding 'my way' I spread my wings

and decided to have a bit of fun with the background layer - #6 in the order

of stenciling quickly became #1 for me as it allowed the 'shift' in their instructions

to make perfect sense to my brain.

With a very simple [unnamed] basket weave sandwiched with that background, I achieved this:

Here's that aforementioned sandwich:

Then this:

and one more to fill another square in my Altenew Fan Club Crafting Bingo!

Thanks so much for stopping by - do you agree that I made the right decision on that purchase? lol  And there is a stamp & die set, and embossing folder yet to play with!

I'll be back...

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #758

Jen T. has nearly a 'blank canvas' for our crafting pleasure at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  Sometimes I find these the most difficult but not today!  

Honestly - it was a card I was making for another challenge but couldn't help but 

keep it on hold for Jen's challenge... take a peek...

This is a SU! Sunflower 3D EF - a wonderful gift from my friend, Marcia! I water colored this one and added a simple sentiment for a 'nearly' one-layer card!

How will YOU represent Jen's simple sketch?  I can't wait to see!

=] Michele