Freshly Made Sketches #732

Our second Michelle [with an extra L] is our Freshly Made Sketches #732 artist!  It's really beautifully designed... take a peek...

 

I wanted to make a birthday card for a friend - a few balloons...

... bring a bit of fun to the celebration! Mine are from Sizzix in a sweet 

set called Festive Sky Party - a gift from a friend in Maine! 

I tied a bit of white quilting thread onto my balloon but obviously

someone let go!   This sentiment is included in a PFS set called Wildflower Slimline.

I stamped it with black ink and cut it with one of Altenew's Featured Sentiments dies.

I used one of the many embossing folder techniques around where one adds ink to the debossing flat area of the folder [mine is ages old from Darice] before running it through my die-cut machine.  

That's it from me today - but I just know you'll find tons of fabulous inspiration from

my teammates at Freshly Made Sketches!

You have until April 20th at 3pm EST to share your take on Michelle's sketch!

Can't wait to see them!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #731

Donna is our sketch artist this week - I think it might be her first, but it's so good it feels like she's a pro already!  Take a look at Freshly Made Sketches #731:

In all fairness, I made my card from Donna's 'rough sketch' so I'm not sure what the three colors might represent - maybe we'll know when we see her card?  I can't wait!

Without further ado, here is how I interpreted Donna's artwork:

Oh, I know my sentiment is not in the right spot - but there wasn't a designated

spot on her rough sketch... I put it where it seemed 'at home' on my card.

These little lavender sprigs are from Altenew and I did pick up the

coordinating die for it, too.  My sentiment is from Concord & 9th's

Picked Posie Die set and the amazing embossing was made with the

Spellbinder's Summertime Waves - a gift from our sketch artist today!

Okay - enough chit chat... I'm heading over to FMS#731 to see what Donna did with her sketch - it will be incredible as always, as will my teammate's cards!  Join me, won't you?

=] Michele

The Paper Players Challenge #779 - JUGS #817

I haven't spent much time in my studio lately but had a few items front and center on my desk... I found they were just the ticket for The Paper Players #779 Tic Tac Toe board game - specifically the top left to bottom right diagonal line!

 

Die cut - flowers - and layers!

Hope they like it!

Concord & 9th's Just Picked was cut from some Scrapbook.com bright Joyful papers

and layered up inside SSS's Scalloped Arches and Frames die sets.

I do love scallops - and using a panel of white cardstock allowed

me to use the 'leftovers' which I've added texture by way of

SU! Subtle Texture.

Another new Betterpress-ed sentiment and my rainy day was made

to feel a bit sunny!  Thanks, Paper Players!  OH!  JUGS #817 wants us to play with

dies, too?  Happy to oblige!  I hope my blooms are Spring-y enough!

=] Michele 

Color Hues #130

Nancy is our hostess for Color Hues #130 and I just love her choices...

You all know by now I'm not a big fan of blue - but I LOVE navy!  

Combined with pink?

YES, please!

I had my Spellbinders Wonderful Tulips set out and decided to give it a go through

my Betterpress system - since I can't foil!  YAY! It worked using black Versafine ink!

Then I chose C&9th's Dragonfruit pink and The Stamp Market's Navy for

the layering stencils... I love how it turned out...

After die-cutting, I ran the 'leftover' through my Betterpress with an un-inked

Spellbinders by Lisa Horton Script Text plate and topped it off with one of

Yana's Bouquet of Hugs Betterpress-ed sentiments and a few 'dewdrops.'

You may notice a little added detail for depth using just two Prismacolor pencils.

Thanks, Nancy!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #730

No April Fools trick - there really is a new sketch over at Freshly Make Sketches and Judy is our designer this week!  Here is FMS#730: 

I had a little looky-loo in my snippets bin and found a beautiful flutterby who fit so nicely in Judy's tilted squares!

A Pinkfresh butterfly was foiled at Marcia's and stenciled while we gabbed.

Two die-cut Nesting Square frames from Waffle Flower were happily tilted!

Another Pinkfresh edge die cut the peachy panel with the pretty edge

all topped off with some of those PF gems and Better-pressed sentiment from my stash!

I try to use those snippets when I can - they're just too pretty to ignore!  I know you'll find something wonderful to fill Judy's squares!  Ready for more pretty from FMS - head over HERE!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #729

Amy is our wonderful Freshly Made Sketch #729 designer, and I knew in a moment which set I would reach for [again]! Take a look at FMS#729:

And here is my card!

Does it seem familiar?  I followed my friend Channin's lead a while back and today I brought out the same inks I used HERE - such a bright combination!  Do you see the oval shape on Amy's sketch? I think this bouquet had that shape built in!

Run don't walk to the Freshly Made Sketches blog! My teammates have made really wonderful cards to inspire you, too - so please come play along!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #815

The fabulous Ms. Carol M. has chosen a fabulous image for Just us Girls: Mood Board week...

 

I had this set from Concord & 9th on my desk for something else and

saw in an instant the 'fun and funky' florals painted on those stone 'eggs'

in Carol's photo inspiration!  I hope I've done them justice - and also

remember to add my card to their gallery this time OY!

My floral pieces from the C&9th Paper Posies die set were cut from scraps.

Some were embossed with the coordinating EF.

I also used another EF from JoAnn's Parklane to add

interest to the black card base.  Lastly, a sentiment from

Pinkfresh Studio's With Sympathy set and a rounded upper corner

to mimic the rounded shape of the stones! 

I'll wish you a happy weekend a bit early as I'll be prepping for company

for dinner tomorrow evening and a card game!  

Thanks for dropping by!

=] Michele