Freshly Made Sketches #745

 

Jen T. is our designer this week at Freshly Made Sketches #745 and she's featuring a square card!  

I don't normally make them but last week I finally got around to hanging a frame on the wall containing one of my watercolored florals - it only took me 10 years - and it inspired my card!

I cut a piece of woodgrain cardstock 4 x 4 inches and then opened the

window using an MFT Wonky Square die.  You might better tell why I added the 

slim strips around the opening when you see the actual frame...

After creating the frame, it was then the question of what to 'fill' it

with... HoneyBee to the rescue where I found just the right bloom to fit

from their Plumeria die cut background set.

After blending a bit of ink for contrast to the blooms and leaves

and mounting my sentiment, it seemed a bit bland.  I often find

inspiration from friends - Lisa, you gave me just the trick to finish

my card with one of these little postage marks!  

My postmark - and sentiments, too - comes from 

The Greetery's Pretty Postmarks set.

SO! There you go!  Now let's go see what inspired Jen's sketch, shall we?

=] Michele

The Paper Players #794 Second helpings!

Second helpings today!  Jaydee's colors at PP794 were very muted on my

first card.  Today's card is so bright you may need sunglasses!

Spellbinders' Fresh Picked Anemones were the perfect pick!

Hey, look! A new butterfly in my stash - thanks, Marcia for enabling

inspiring this purchase! from SSS: Whirl Butterflies in a bright sunny yellow!

Be back soon with FMS!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #794

 

Jaydee has a fabulous color combo for The Paper Players #794!

I did a little 'sale' shopping over at Alex Syberia Designs - I was lucky enough to get a few coordinating die sets AND to use shades of Jaydee's colors for their maiden voyage!

Muted greens, pinks and corals, with a few bright pops of yellow!

Some ASD Create Your Own Happy images stamped right on my PTI Torn Edges white panel, some blooms stamped and die cut to add a bit of dimension.  

What do you think of the Torn Edge card base?  It might be a bugger to get

into the envelope, but I sure like it!

I have to give ASD all the credit for my design as the packaging had

the most wonderful inspiration... 

Hope you've had a great start to your week!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #744

Donna is our design artist this week at Freshly Made Sketches #744!  She's brought back a favorite shape in our crafty world: the Polaroid!  I knew in a heartbeat just the image I'd add... check out her sketch...

 

Are you ready??  Did YOU think of this set, too?

Popping him up on a panel [PTI Stitched Snowflake cover plate] I brought home from a Marcia-playdate seemed like a no-brainer!

This guy might be my favorite from this old MFT set but there are 

FIVE more in the set that are just as cute!  Here's another:

Let's go see all the creations from the FMS team and our fab sketch artist, shall we? We look forward to your renditions before July 15th at 3pm! 

=] Michele

One card THREE challenges!

After a little lull in the crafty department, I knew I had to kick start my creativity again!  What better way to start than to check out a few challenges?  Lucky for me the card I made fit perfectly for TWO of my favorites!

Ina at Just us Girls #830 is asking us to use an 'old favorite' die from our stash - I found two that worked nicely together and used Julie's wonderful colors from Color Hues #136!

 

It just so happens that I need a wedding card in September - thanks Ina, and Julie!

Here is my closeup so you can see that I used glassine in my frame - it's such

a dreamy creamy color! 

 

This cover plate is Fancy Floral 1 from PFS and cut from PTI Ivory cardstock.  My card base was topped with a gorgeous matte gold foil paper. 

  

The 'frame' was actually created using two label dies - also from PFS.

Next comes this all-time favorite love die from Paper Smooches!  I just

love its MOD font, don't you? 

Hey!  The Paper Players are looking for love in all our crafty spaces!

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!  Hope it's summer-y enough!

 

Hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Home of the brave, land of the free!

Happy 4th of July - our Independence Day! 

You may remember this design from my sketch FMS#740 a few weeks back.

This was my alternate card, and I decided to share it with you today instead. And just in case you aren't able to attend any parades today, here is a little something for your listening pleasure!  A little John Phillips Sousa can make anyone feel a bit more patriotic!  

Be safe and let freedom ring!

=] Michele

CAS Mix Up Challenge July 2026

I'm very happy to be invited to guest design over at CAS Mix Up - even happier that Loll has brought her CAS challenges back!  Here is the July challenge:

I did a deep dive into Eclipse techniques, including those that Loll

has included in their post. I recently watched one of my favorite crafters

who loves tags and used one to create a gorgeous eclipse card using some

of her favorite florals from Altenew - I have a few of my own! That is how

my CAS Mix Up Eclipse card began [Thanks Michelle Short!]  armed with

these inks and Altenew's Rose Gallica stamp and stencils.

I admit that it is a bit CAS for Mixed Media - but it is a CAS challenge after all!

You'll no doubt remember this gorgeous Nesting Slimline Labels set if

you've been visiting me at all.  I used to use it quite a bit and it was nice

to bring it to the table again.  I've added a sprinkling of SB Aura AB gems -

I challenge you to find them.

Now then, why don't you join us in celebrating the return of another of

Loll's CAS challenges?  You have the entire month and all the fine details along with the team's gorgeous cards can be found at the CAS Mix Up Challenge!

Thanks, Loll for inviting me!

=] Michele