Twofer Card Challenge #19 Nautical

I'll be spending time with my friend Bobby next week... she has invited me to a sleepover at her cottage, and I can't wait!!  It was all the inspiration I needed to get busy with this nautical challenge before I start packing!

The Twofer girls have each tantalized us with terrific twofers, too … say that five times [Coni!].  I have two boat-loads of fun pups to play!!

You know the drill, right?  same set, two different cards, for two different occasions.  Based on that sentiment, one would have to guess the occasion on this first one.  You'll have to trust me on this one... it's a thanks for the encouragement card - but I'm not showing the inside 'cuz it might spoil someone's surprise!!

 

I'm normally not a glitter girl, but Sandie sent me this

wonderful glittery fun foam, and I think it's brilliant
used as my ocean!

 



Twofer #2 is a BELATED birthday card … for a guy that we love, but seem to forget until my Tom's birthday comes around.  I think I'll just make it an annual thing - then send one on time as a little zinger!!  lol

Inside:

"well.  it WAS your birthday!

I get the sinking feeling I'm extra late this year!"

 

So very grateful you stopped by today... thanks boat loads!!

 

=]  Michele

 



CAS[E] this Sketch #335

Another N@ Ali Sketch this week … always fun, and oh so open to interpretation.

I received a darling card from my friend Cat Craig last week.  In it, she included a few stamped images for me to color - how could I resist?  But first, here's Cat's card... I just loved her vellum ocean...

 

My own little ocean was created using my acetate smooshing technique … a very sweet gal named Beverly asked me for instruction for this technique, sadly I could not reply to her comment - dratted 'no reply blogger' thing - don't we wish we could eliminate that issue?  So, before I show you my little Purrrmaid… this is for you, Beverly!

first, stamp a bit of your chosen Distress Oxide inks

onto a slick surface - I have a sheet of

heavy acetate on my clipboard - then spritz with water:

 

 

Shaded Lilac, and Broken China were my ink colors today.

 

 

I then use a thin piece of acetate from packaging to

lift the color, and dab randomly over my

water color cardstock … I love Tim Holtz for texture and

beautiful whiteness.  Neenah 110# works beautifully, too!

 

 

 

When complete, use as you wish … this one was turned into an ocean of color for Cat's little Purrrmaid

from Newton's Nook!!

EBE Waves dies, and EBE Mermaid's Tail

shell phone sentiment.

I performed minor surgery on that kitty's paw to allow her to hold the phone!

 

 

Thanks, Cat for helping me with Sketch #335!  Thanks to all of you for stopping by today!  I can't wait to see my team mates cards... let's go!!

 

=]  Michele

 

 

 

Inspired By #85 ... ice cream

 Ice Cream anyone? oh yes, please!!  Laurel just happened to feature a favorite flavor of mine, for Inspired By #85.
 I've gotten a bit drippy, and water color-y today … I found that DOX seedless preserves, and shaded lilac provided the perfect colors for a smooshed blueberry ice cream … tell me if you agree.

First, I dry embossed the Bristol paper, then swiped a bit of Versamark over the raised bits, and clear heat embossed it to provide for the resist.  I cut the panel with my EH Speech Bubbles dies to give it two scoops!  lol

Do you prefer a cone, or a cup?  Cup for me, please... [unless they have those delectable sugar cones, then I'm in!] my cup today has been dry embossed with a fun SU corrugated folder.  [I'd bet my teamie LeAnne could provide a link for you if you're interested.]

Okay, that's it except to top it all off with a few berries from Altenew's Peony Bouquet.

Hope you'll give us a scoop of your favorite flavor this week! 
=]  Michele

Celebrating with Freshly Made Sketches 400th - week 2

It was such a treat to play with FMS200 in 2015 … wanna see my card? 

Here's another peek at the Sketch for Week 2 of the fun celebration...

… and my 'updated' FMS200 card... this little MFT piggy wants to go to the market/gallery again!!!  

 

Naturally, I had to write an inside sentiment

for my little flying swinger...

 

 

LOve using my Dad's hammer to add a bit of

the original dry embossing!

 

Honey Bee Stamps 'Spring Fling' DP

I'm so happy to have the opportunity to party with those fabulous FMS girls!!!

=]  Michele

More Christmas... in August?

There was so much to love in the EBE August release... how can a girl stop now??  I'm going to be SO prepared for Christmas card-sending season!  lol

Here's a bit of unexpected fun, using an always-fun tool from Gina K Designs:  the Wreath Builder templates, and one of the sweet little images from Holiday Characters ... have I shared how to use a die-cut circle in her square?  This time, I simply went one step further and snipped the finished circle of pine bow wreath a bit for a more artistic look:

 

There's that darling Woodgrain background stamp again -

this time stamped with Distress Oxide tattered rose!

 

A perfect sentiment from Retro Holiday Greetings

stamped in red onto a little tag, and clear embossed to match those shiny little holly berries!

 

Could you handle another Mondo Amaryllis?

I'm continuing with my 2019 Christmas color combo...

 

 

This time I stamped onto Bristol card stock with

Catherine Pooler's icing on the cake

[dark chocolate in case you're wondering]

I Copic-colored just the center of the blooms,

and the sentiment - pretty, right?

The card base is Bazzill Pale Rose, and this gorgeous

Wplus9 Stitched Ironworks panel is

cut from Bazzill Citrus Slice

which I trimmed down using a rectangle die.

Finished off with a few Pinkfresh Essentials Jewels mix.

 

Okay - one more?

 

 

A couple more Holiday Characters - and I filled the o's with

Altenew enamel dots - so pretty in pink from the Red Cosmos set- this stocking is hung, and decorated!

 

I have a few friends that I've been exchanging holiday cards with for years, and years... are you on my list?  Are you on the Nice List?

 

=]  Michele

 

Affiliate links used when available, at no additional cost to you - thank you for your support!

Coordinating dies:

EBE Holiday Characters

EBE Mondo Amaryllis

 





August CAS Mix Up Challenge

Loll really is the technique wizard in our card-making world, right?  Watching her videos really makes me want to give them a try. 

I had saved a few paper towels from another project and, following instructions, I just couldn't get a bright enough impression and figured it was because there wasn't enough ink in the towel. 

Back to the drawing board - or clip board in this case... I have one that has a full sheet of acetate on it to which I smooshed some bright yellow Distress Oxide ink and mopped it up with said paper towel.

With all of my other attempts, I had more ink on my hands, than on the Bristol paper.  This time, I made a sandwich:

1. placed the Bristol paper on my acetate 
2. next: my color-saturated paper towel
3. spritzed it with water
4. placed the background stamp on that
5. and weighed it down with two large books.

I was immediately intrigued...

 

From there, it was just a matter of making a card from it … and voila!  For August's CAS Mix Up Challenge!  using paper towel printing, stamping, heat embossing, water coloring, and a few added splashes of color...

Of course I wasn't going to waste that first try!

 



I trust the recipient won't try to lift my fingerprints!! lol

Have a happy Tuesday!  Thanks, Loll, for encouraging me to try new things!

=]  Michele 

Wplus9 Tropic Fever and dies, 4 Bar Stitched Rectangles, and Doodle Buds.
MFT Hula Hoop - evidently no longer available?

Hello, Monday...

Another really quick post today... it is Monday/laundry day, after all!  Plus I have a few more flutterbys blooming today, too!  Have you heard the news?  By end of day, we will have had 203 successful blooms!

Okay... here's my card for Fusion.  It's about family … we know that all families aren't like the Walton's, right?  But, I'll never give up hope that, one day, mine could try again.

… here is my heart...

EBE Hands dies, PTI stripes, MFT Natural cardstock, SSS I See You stamps

I'm so glad to have you all in my life...
M

Congratulations FMS400

Hi, my friends... a quick post this morning - just had to join Freshly Made Sketches' 400th month-long celebration!!

 

Here is their Sketch for the first week:

 

 

What better way to celebrate, than a day spent

with your bestie?

 

MFT Sweet Besties - EBE Instant Photo Frames - Pinkfresh Lacey Edgers

 

I promised quick … I'm off to the FMS400 gallery!

 

=]  Michele

Ellen Hutson August Release Hop

Hi there, friends!  I promised you a Hop and it's my turn! You should have arrived here from my terrific teamie Lisa Spangler's blog post - Lisa always amazes! 

I spent the last few days teasing you with cards made from our August release - but there are so many more images than I could ever fit onto those cards!  So let me introduce you to the full sets!

Tuesday's cards included products from Bear Ware 4 - there are coordinating dies for this set which is great for all those tiny little toys, and items for Bear to dress his little friend! 

Julie's new Rustic Woodgrain background stamp creates a lot of interest, or just a touch - you decide, but it can make all the difference to a card's design, as it did for my baby pie-baking bear!

The Shipping Tags die - yes, you read that right - one die = 4 tags!

 

 Wednesday, I made cards using four more sets:

 

Happy Haunting and dies:

 

 Another stand-alone die set - Spider Webs 

Last Bite and Pumpkin to talk About are all about the words, and just plain make me giggle...
 

 

 
Thursday, I had the pleasure of introducing Mondo Amaryllis and its coordinating dies - destined to become a favorite for my Christmas cards this Season...

Holiday Characters, & dies, and Retro Holiday Greetings have certainly seen some more ink... wink.

 

THAT is a whole lot to love for the upcoming holla-days, and Holly-days!!!  Could you stand a few more cards??  You could just close now and go shop at Ellen Hutson, LLC … or skip my cards and go see what Sandy Allnock has for us... but if you stay, you won't miss my fried chicken recipe...WHAT??

 

 

 

 Okay, friends... I've kept you long enough - off you go to shop 'til you drop then HOP on over to enjoy Sandy's post... she's sure to knock our Christmas stockings off!

 

Thanks so much for hanging out with me!!  But wait just a minute there … did I forget about the prizes?  oh yes! 

 

PRIZES:  One random & lucky commenter will win $25 to the EH shop and one will win the entire August Essentials by Ellen release!!! To enter for a chance to win, make sure to leave comments at each stop along the hop! Comment before Thursday, August 15th at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be notified by email.

 
=]  Michele

Just in case you get lost or want to start over:

·         Adelina Starace

·         Ardyth Percy-Robb

·         Carissa Wiley

·         Carly Tee Minner

·         Carolyn Peeler

·         Elena Roussakis

·         Emily Midgett

·         Julie Ebersole

·         Kelly Griglione

·         Laurel Beard

·         Lisa Spangler

·         Michele Ferguson you are here

·         Sandy Allnock

·         Sharon Harnist

·         Therese Calvird