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

Just us Girls #844

Carol McFarland is hosting Just us Girls #844 and I nearly didn't make a card... then I had a 'lightbulb' moment!

Even though her theme is 'move' she doesn't limit HOW to move!

My card could be 'a stretch!'

wait for it...

here you go...

It could be one of those cards that never gets used... most 

definitely a 'hand-delivery.'

I dare you to do as I did and search 'paper slinky' on YouTube - talk about a

rabbit hole!! LOL

=] Michele

Paper: HoneyBee and EBE

EBE: Clever Sausage and It's all Good sentiment set.  You must know that EBE products are no longer available... sorry.

HoneyBee: Big Time: Kindness stamps and dies

The Paper Players #807

It's a color challenge this week from Jan, and I couldn't help but paint these gorgeous apples as Granny Smith's!  Can you blame me??

I'll admit it - it is a total CASE of Jaydee's wonderful card for The Paper Players #807!  I had stamped an extra image from Carrie's Sweet Harvest set and was saving it for a day like today to turn them into green apples.  Thanks, Jaydee, for the inspiration!

I've been participating in the Altenew Fan Group's Crafting Bingo and was 

looking for a way to complete the Mixed Media square.  I'm a complete failure

when it comes to mixed media... back to the drawing board!  

But I still love my apples!  

This is the card I've entered instead ... woodgrain card, a bit of gilding, some packing material and layered blossoms on the Altenew Ornate Frame.  Which do you think is more 'mixed media?'  My CAS loving crafty heart just doesn't allow for grunge.

I'm really making progress on the October Crafting Bingo card!  I'm sure they'd love to have you join their Altenew Fan Group and the fun!

=] Michele

Unity Mice & Cozy

I love it when I'm inspired by a crafty friend to shop!  TK used this adorable little Mice & Cozy set from Unity, and I couldn't get it into a cart quickly enough... however I did get a really nice sale notice from Unity which I appreciated so much.

These are red rubber stamps and came with a few sentiments, too.  I stamped them onto little squares of Canson cold-press watercolor card and water colored them using my trusty Distress re-inkers.  Ready?

SSS Fall Foliage EF and PTI twine

Honeybee Falling Leaves 3D EF and more twine!

SSS Vine Canopy and yes, twine.

I can't imagine getting tired of coloring these cuties anytime soon!  Until next time... thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #757

Jen Mitchell is our sketch designer this week at Freshly Made Sketches #757!  Oh, were the crafty wheels turning...

... but you won't believe where the wheel stopped...

Will it pass the 'smell test?'  Are you team sardine?  Mine are in mustard today! lol

The Stamp Market: Sardines and Sardine Greetings.

There are endless ideas for that cute little rectangle - hope you join us!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #806

Ann has a glorious theme for us at The Paper Players #806!  Take a looky loo at this: 

Between LeAnne, Christy, and Stef I found all the inspiration I needed

to pull out a stencil and that little set from The Greetery that gets at

least one playtime each year since it was gifted to me!

Sing along if you can hear America the Beautiful in my card today!

Purple 'mountains' and amber waves of grain make up my farmland scene.

The stencil I used is from MFT an oldie called Drifts and Hills.

The farmhouse and barn were ready-stamped from a past session -

I just blended some grey ink over to make them look silhouetted in my bright scene.

Perfect timing as I'm hearing the dryer calling my name!  Hope you've had a beautiful start to your week!

=] Michele