12 Kits of Occasions - a Little More Summertime!

Marybeth is our fabulous host for July at 12 Kits of Occasions - it's no surprise that she's extending our celebration of Summertime being from the State of perpetual Summer:  California!  Here's a peek at just a bit of the goodness in her Kit:

[thanks Lindsey!]

I had no problem spending a day with this Kit!  Ready, set - go!

 "Take a slow ride - and I hope to see you again soon!"

 "With lemon-lime, puckered up kisses!"

 "just swingin' by to say hi!"

[this guy is so cute - just have to give you a closeup!]

"We've got a groovy kind of love!"

 

Marybeth, it was so much fun spending a day tripping with your fun Kit - thanks so much!

Okay, my friends... it's time to send you all off for a delightful ride through all the wonders that are waiting for you at the 12 Kits of Occasions!!!  See you there, where you'll also find all the details of Marybeth's Kit!

=]  Michele



The Cat's Pajamas July release

Hi, my friends … yes, it's finally the day to say TCP's July release is ready for your shopping baskets!  You should have arrived from the fabulous Brenda's blog - where I'm sure you were ready to hit the buy button!  Hope you have room for more - here are a few more examples of the cuteness we have for you this month!

I don't make many tags - mostly you need tags for gifts, not money he hee…  but these guys have the perfect words... and coordinating dies, guys!!! 

 

 

You'll notice I've used the darling new One Liners stamps, and dies!

I had to make another card using Oh Buoy … I've had days like this … when more than my anchor was dragging...

 

Pretty fun, right?  Ready for the pretty now?  Our new stand-alone die - Rolling Hills - is such a beauty:

sentiment courtesy of Big Blooms

Deborah Anton and I got to be a dynamic-duo today … so head on over to see the goodness she's created, then on to Nancy's blog!  IF you get lost along the way, simply go to the TCP blog to start all over again!

Thanks for stopping by today - there's so much to be grateful for in this blogging world of ours … your visits do make me...

=]  Michele

Stay Salty [er]

Between the LOADS of fun I have every Monday, I'm sneaking in with that Second Helping of Saltiness I promised using the fun Stay Salty set from Ellen Hutson, LLC!

This time, that fun little wave die was watered down … with water-coloring, that is!  I've found a few Copic markers that pair beautifully with my Catherine Pooler inks - totally Copic-friendly, and these inks water-color beautifully, too!

The sweet little Inner Mermaid had to make a splash!

 



 

and a little two-toned inking works

for the idea of a sun setting!

 

 

I've added an all-over layer of glossy accents on this sweet little bottle - wish it had photographed better, but it will be washing up in a sweet someone's mailbox soon!

I hope my playtime with this fun set will make you take a closer look at some of your own … thanks for making my Monday a fun day by your visits!

=]  Michele

Stay Salty

I've had a certain Essentials by Ellen set on my wish-list at Ellen Hutson, LLC for far too long … I couldn't resist playing the entire day with it!  Here's the one - Stay Salty:

and it has coordinating dies … and there's one die that could be the reason I finally hit the buy button - take a look:

 

Have you figured it out yet?  Yep, it's the wave!!  okay... it might be the snarky sentiments - that Julie just slays me.  every.  time. 

 

Oh, btw, I have three MORE to share soon - old mashes up with new very nicely - can you guess which one I'll choose?

 

Hope you have zero clouds, smooth waters, and stay clear of chip-snatching-sea gulls … happy weekend, everybody!

 

=]  Michele

TCP Sneak Peek!

 They say time flies … whoever 'they' are, doesn't know the half of it!  Needless to say, another month has flown! 

 

The good news is, I'm here sneaking a peek at one of the many new goodies that will be available next week from The Cat's Pajamas! 

 

I couldn't do this if you paid me …

 

 

Another cute Bun-ette from TCP in the Enjoy your own Life set.  My simple little hand-painted landscape is complete with her 'bumpy road' using another sweet little stand-alone die from TCP:  Rolling Hills!

 

You'll find all of the new products sneaking by this week at our TCP Blog.  Be sure you check them out.   Before I go … you know I have to say it... well, are you?

 

 

 Good luck winning that extra $10 off your order!

It might be hiding over at IG! @mfergu01

 

=]  Michele

 

 

CAS[E] this Sketch #282

Our newest Sketch artist/team member, Brian King, has designed this week's Sketch #282 … I'm seeing patterned paper, how about you?  Oh you know you have a little of it in your stash!

I had just the perfect little 6x6 pad from Avery Elle in my hot little hands... and an ice cream eating bunny...

 

I hope this will entice you to play cards with us this week … or have a scoop or two!

=]  Michele

Supplies:
TCP: Life is like Ice Cream
Avery Elle: The Neutral Collection of papers
MFT: Pierced Circle Die-namics

Inspired By ... #30 pool time

 

What draws your eye in this photo?

 

You might be surprised, but those little side tables are my favorite element!  Now... to pull it off! 

 

I found the perfect little background stamp in my stash... and the cutest "CRABANA" boy bearing a pineapple drink!!  lol

 

How about those gorgeous Moroccan pool tiles?  Distress Oxide Cracked Pistachio makes all of those colors when you just add water!  Wish I'd thought to fill the pool with water!

 

So how will YOU be Inspired By #30?  can't wait to see!

 

=]  Michele

 

Supplies used:

TCP Penguin Summer - white embossed, colored with Zigs

EBE Beach Lady provided the pineapple drink, and crabana boy - it does NOT get old!

SSS Moroccan Background stamp

SSS Frames, Stitched rectangles, and Tiny Tags dies

TH Watercolor cardstock

Ranger Distress Oxide Cracked Pistachio ink

 



CAS[E] this Sketch #281

CTS #281 is from N@ Ali … it's a fun one!  check it out...

 

There are a million and two ways to interpret this Sketch … I think I was thinking about something cool, instead of bling - it's HOT, people!

 

 

Quite honestly, ice cream can be a girl's best friend... can I get an Amen?

 

Let's go see how my team mates were inspired...

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:

Altenew Way Too Sweet stamps, and dies, MFT Die-namics Twice the Thanks, and Cheesecloth BG stamp



Inspired By ... beach day! #29

 

ahhhhhh… life at the beach - on hot days like those we're having lately, life's BEST in the Lake!  I think that's where my Beach Lady is! 

 

 

I'm so lucky to have all the right stamps for this challenge... but there are SO many fun ways to interpret that photo for Inspired by #29 … I spy a lemon!

 

I'll be watching for your imaginative ways...

=]  Michele

 

Supplies:

Ellen Hutson :  Beach Lady stamps, and dies.  Oyster Gray cardstock, and Stitching Lines die.

 



Ellen Hutson, LLC... my new favorites grays!

If you know me, you also know that gray is my favorite color - well... except for in my hair! 

You can imagine my delight when Ellen Hutson, LLC added two gorgeous shades of gray cardstock to the shop.  You really have to feel it to believe it!  Slate gray, and Oyster gray, have truly won my heart!

Not only do they make great card bases, because of the 100# weight, they emboss just beautifully, too. I've misted the paper with my Ranger Mini Mister prior to embossing with a few of my many embossing folders - I have more than 60! 

 

 

Alexander Renke - Snowfall embossing folder

 Houses dies 1, 2, 3, and 4

and Wish you were Here die

The card stock has just enough 'tooth' to use it for colored pencil work...

EBE S'Whale with Prismacolor pencils:

White, Ultramarine, Indigo Blue, Light Cerulean Blue, and Silver

The dark, rich Slate matches my  favorite gray ink perfectly … which also happens to be Copic friendly!

Altenew:  Cherished Memories

No matter how you cut, emboss, color, or create with these gorgeous gray card stocks, the results will make you a gray-lover, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

TCP Tuesday #348 Summer reminder!

There are some darling Summer cards in the TCP Tuesday Summer #348 challenge … you still have time to join the fun! 

Have any of you been scuba diving?  no WAY will this non-swimmer try it... but it must be really wonderful.

Mr. Bunny is much braver than I am … though I did take a dip in Lake Michigan yesterday - my first in years! 

I used a tri-fold, landscape view to my card, and the fun Bunnies at Sea set … you have to know he's mounted on a mini-wobbler, right? 

Wish you were here to make him swim - hope you have a Summer-fun card to add to our TCP Tuesday gallery! 

=]  Michele