From the Kitchen to the Craftroom!

Oh, I love sunshine just as much as the next gal but once in a while it's nice to have a rainy day that makes you want to stay indoors and get your craft on!

I spent a bit of time over my morning coffee watching Gina K. use one of my favorite 'kitchen supplies' in her studio.  You can watch it HERE.  It features waxed paper and an iron!  SO much fun!  In fact, go watch it now... I'll be here when you get back!

After dusting off my iron, I created my first panel using a bright yellow ink to blend, then used that panel to die cut that Happy Dancing bird again for Color Hues #135!  

Next, I took a second waxed panel and blended color through a stencil...

I couldn't help but use a sunflower as Gina had...

TCW Mini Joyful Sunflower using residual blue ink to color around the image.

I was blown away when she brought out the 'big guns' and used a 3d embossing folder next!  I had two from Altenew that I THOUGHT had coordinating coloring stencils.  Turns out only one of them did - it's that much-loved Ballerina Magnolia that deserves to be in the spotlight more often than I do.

I hope you're catching sight of the subtle texture/pattern that the

crumpled waxed paper gives!

Okay.  Last card panel - I used Altenew's 3D Hello Beautiful embossing

folder - turns out it doesn't work with the stencils as the images are not the

same size.  Oh well... with a few itsy-bitsy detail blending brushes from Waffle Flower Crafts, I was able to add color... it might be my favorite!

Thanks, Gina K. for the rainy-day inspiration to play! and thank YOU for

stopping by - I'd love to know if you try this technique!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #828

Denise has the most wonderful 'flower bed' full of flower petals to delight us this week!  I took advantage of her Mood Board #828 to make a card!  After watching a video from Jen McGuire over a year ago using Spellbinders' Sunflower Serenade die. You can catch that video right HERE.  

I took all the brightest colors of the blooms from Denise's mood board and armed with a sampler pack of Concord & 9th's cardstock, set about die-cutting a whole bunch - ready for the results?

I couldn't help but CASE one of Jen's cards after watching! She had the most wonderful color combo that I could never have imagined!

We've had a couple of rainy days that were perfect for time-spent in the studio - and I watched another video that MIGHT have been just as fun!  More on that soon!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #741

Narelle has just the perfect Sketch for sending postcards from the edge - of the beach, that is!  See for yourselves...

The fun Waffle Flower Crafts: Postage Collage Beach Days set just

happened to be on my desk!

It was just the right time to bring back my SB waves embossing folder, too!

We hope you are inspired to play cards with us again this week!  I'm sure my team has even more inspiration for you over at the Freshly Made Sketches #741 post!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #827

Vicki could not have chosen a more fitting word for Just Us Girls #821 Word Week: Summer!

When I think of Summer, I think of our beautiful BEACH!  What better way to celebrate it than with a few Waffle Flower Postage Collage: Beach Days stencil set?

Live sandy might be a more appropriate sentiment!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #740!

Hello my friends!  I'm up as sketch designer at Freshly Made Sketches #740 and I'm making a scene in a very fun way!  Hope you will join us!

Any old time is the right time for this darling bird... hey, didn't I use her

the last time I hosted?  She seemed just the winged thing one might spot

overhead in this rolling field of flowers - Scrapbook.com Joyful dsps!  That little cloud was found amongst my snippets and couldn't be more perfect, could it?

Now, let's 'take wing' over to the FMS#740 blogpost where my teammates

will amaze you with their creativity!

You have until Monday, June 15th at 3pm EST to play along!  See you there!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #826

 

Carol has a fun theme for Die Week at Just us Girls #826: Butterfly!

I found a butterfly die recently that hadn't been used - I know!  How is 

that possible?  It's a good time to remedy that!

Flying Butterfly from Picket Fence was cut from a panel

of black and layered over a bright purple-ish blue from Scrapbook.com's Joyful cardstock - said cardstock was edged with one of my PF Fancy Edgers.  

I added a bit of Twinkle Stickles over its body and love the effect!

A birthday sentiment and my playtime was complete!

The JUGS team have outdone themselves and their butterfly cards are outstanding!

Be sure to check them out - and play along!

Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend.

We are having some much-needed rain, and the gardens/pots are

loving it as much as I am!

=] Michele

Thanks so much, Carol!

The Paper Players #788

Joanne has a wonderful tic-tac-toe design board to play cards with this week at The Paper Players #788!  I was determined to play along! Check it out...

I had a new set to break in and that top row across fit the bill!

Circles: from SU! Lovely Arrangement dies [I doubled the fun with a shadow layer]

Flower: Altenew's Tropical Vibes Project Kit

Die cut: Betterpress sentiment, circles, and flowers!

ALL came together over an embossed panel from that same

Altenew Tropical kit!

That's it from me for today!  It's been really nice getting back in the

studio and hanging out with my fellow card makers!  Thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Thanks so much, Joanne!