Playing Cards with Friends - October 2023

What can I say about my October guest ... she is someone I've enjoyed and admired for years ... she really knows her way around words [some of my favorite things!] ... has captured the interest of an abundance of followers on Instagram both with her fabulous eye for card design and generous praise for others who create.  OH, hey!  I guess mentioning her name might be nice. 

I'm so happy to be Playing Cards with Joan Bardee!!  a.k.a Dear Paperlicious and @dearpaperlicious on Instagram!  

There's something else I love about Joan: she LOVES a pun-y joke and has a slapstick charm about her sense of humor!  You'll never guess how I have incorporated that into our assignment this month:

Did you know that October 31^st isn’t just for Halloween??

It’s also: National Knock-knock Joke Day!  

Read all about it here:

NATIONAL KNOCK KNOCK JOKE DAY - October 31, 2023 - National Today

Use Halloween colors and share a knock-knock joke, too!  

I have been known to tell a joke or two on a card - some of you may remember THIS one from 2014 or THIS one which has seen a few rewrites!  But today I brought my sweet little owls out to play again - hope you get a hoot out of my knock knock card...

PLEASE tell me you get it??  I'll give you a moment... how about now?   

Joan!!  I know you'll do better than I did!!  Thanks so much for putting up with my silliness - and for Playing Cards with me, my friend!

Thank YOU, my friends - I know I can count on you to head over to Joan's blog - she's much funnier than I!

=] Michele

Spiced Cider card from The Stamp Market

PTI Layer to Layer: Torn Edges dies - debossed with Altenew Dotted Swirls die.

Elizabeth Crafts: Give a Hoot

Words: all my own =]

Spellbinders Hemstitched Circle dies.

Just us Girls #703

Nancy is our host over at Just us Girls for their fun CAS challenge #703.  I love her added bit of fun - it's about all I had the energy for today, Nancy... thanks for keeping it CAS!

A 'duet' ... and a soloist!

This little piggy is heading to the JUGS gallery!  You should come play, too!

=] Michele

Alex Syberia Designs: Falala Friends stamps and dies

Stickles for snow

My friend, Coni.

I've lost a very dear friend and I'm not gonna lie - I'm heartbroken.  

Coni Longley and I never met, even though it was a wish we shared.  And yet we could talk for hours on the phone while laughing and crying and of course sharing everything we love about our shared love of card making, and cooking. 

I am never able to use yellow on my cards without thinking about Coni - I've mentioned her love of yellow many times here on my blog... hoping always that she was able to read my posts and feel the love.

Cancer took her voice, but never her heart or sense of humor ... thank you, Coni - I hope you can see this from Heaven... God only knows.

Please, if you knew Coni, say a prayer for her husband Steve - Coni never stopped telling what a wonderful husband she had.   He had the unbelievably hard task of sharing his sadness with Coni's friends on Facebook.  Coni and I made a pact - is it any wonder I had a missed call from her on Sunday?  

Thank you, my friends for allowing me to share my heart here.  Coni shut down her blog in May of 2022.  I'll let her own words speak for her - she did love this bloggy world and everyone in it!

Last Post

Posted: 18 May 2022 11:36 AM PDT

Hi there, folks. This is a tough post to compose and type but my wonderful, loyal subscribers deserve it. 

Due to an aggressive disease, I will be closing this blog. Please understand that this is the last thing I wanted to do but it's necessary. My energy has been sapped by this unrelenting illness.

I'm grateful to those who have sent beautiful handmade cards...they are very much appreciated.

So all I can say is, love all those who have gone on this cardmaking adventure with me. Keep sharing all your fabulous creations.

Hugs,

Coni

Fa la la fun with Marcia!

I had a really fun day with my sweet friend Marcia last week - well, it didn't start out well, but we are never going to let anything get in the way of our fun!  Especially not car issues!

Each year for the last few, Marcia has 'attended' the Pinkfresh Studio's Create and Connect class.  This year it was co-sponsored by The Stamp Market - one of my favorites.  Marcia kindly allowed me to take that set home, and I took advantage of it, believe me!  You saw the first of my cards on Monday for FMS.  Here is one more:

It is nearly impossible to see it, but the center of the O is a shaker filled 

with glorious mica flakes!  I backed the panel with an embossed one

to bring a little interest to that aperture.

I was quite taken with this PF Folk Snowflake that has coloring stencils - 

A very old embossing folder from my stash provided a pretty base for it

and I added a teensy bit of glitter using a Quicky glue pen - here's a closeup:

And another in PINK!

Besides chocolate cupcakes with browned-butter frosting, I brought along a few new sets from Colorado Craft Co. to share!  Here are the cards that I made...

I'd put money on what that pooch is wishing for!

Realistically this kitten's paw would be batting that star - ever so gently, though!

A few of those die cuts from The Stamp Market set combined beautifully with 

some leftovers I had from Waffle Flower's Folk Art set!

Mr. Snowdude found a pretty fun place for his Christmas greetings, too!

I perched another on top of a gorgeous snowflake cover panel from

Marcia's Sensational Stamp Shop!

Some glittery grey cardstock behind, and sparkling Stickles above 

finished up my final card!

Such a wonderful day - even with the car issues!  Nothing makes trouble melt away like a big ol' bowl of Marcia's delicious chili!  BONUSSSS - I even got a snuggle with her darling new grandson!  What a wonderful surprise - please thank Calla again for coming by! OH, and thank Chris again for the good advice and for taking a look under the hood!

Thank you, my wonderful friend for another great day together and for sharing your fun class supplies!  I'm on my way to see all the magic you've created!!

Of course, we'd love it if ALL of you could join us, too!  Just imagine that!  I totally can!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #609

Every Christmas I MUST make a mitten card!  Here's one using my 'letter to Santa' self-made paper and a very old set from MFT.  I've used this week's FMS#609 Sketch from Judy as a guide... with a bit of tweaking...

Hope you like it as it was a treat to make - and I giggle every time I read my letter!  

=] Michele

Just us Girls #702 and I built a Snowman - or four!

My weekend was spent elbow deep in paper and ink - sounds perfect, doesn't it?  A new little wreath arrived from Pigment Craft Co. through Scrapbook.com and I couldn't wait to put this to work for Just us Girls #702 and Ina's lovely mood board:

Here are my inks:

And my wreath - isn't it the perfect fit for the circle in this debossed panel?

I did mention building a snowman - thank goodness that only involved ink and paper!!!

You'll see that I'm not wasting one bit of that panel used to cut this next panel:

Take note that there also wasn't one mention of that four-letter word!

I love these PTI Simply Snowmen!

My Christmas cards are taking a great deal of time per card - it's now time to find a few designs that are quicker to put together for my seniors or I will never meet my personal goal!

Thanks for stopping by today!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #608

Jacquie is our host over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and I really love her sketch.  After making my card, I questioned whether or not five items were required - I hope not!  

I just love the embossing [SSS Fir Tree Branches] behind my ornaments!

 here's another look...

I spent a day with my sweet friend Marcia - she let me play with her goodies from the Pinkfresh Create class she took... more on that very soon!  

We have had the worst week weather wise - clouds and rain for days!  I promise this little stripe-y ornament is the sweetest of greens from The Stamp Market! lol

Thanks, Jacquie - and thank YOU for stopping by!

=] Michele

Color Hues #74

 I love being inspired by Hannelie again this month over at Color Hues #74!  Here are her awesome color choices...

Not exactly the first colors I reach for while creating Christmas cards, but I do have one particular friend in mind - yellow is her favorite color!  She'll be delighted to receive a yellow Poinsettia... and Hannelie didn't specify WHICH yellows, did she?  Perhaps these will do?

Okay.  Yes, I did find ANOTHER Poinsettia to add to my bountiful collection!

I really can't explain why it took so long to add this one from Altenew?

Between a great price and a wonderful gift card from a dear friend, this Dry Brush Poinsettia layering set [and that fabulous new frame] has found a new home!

Here she is in more traditional colors... along with another of those Pinkfresh Studio Large Holiday sentiments.

For whatever reason - and I did 'prep' my stamps, the inks just kept beading up!  But I think it adds to the unique style of this stamp, don't you?

Off I go to get this one posted - and added to the Color Hues gallery!  Thanks so much for dropping in!

=] Michele

A little old, a little new to FALL in love with!

Seldom do I ever get rid of a thing from my crafty stash - these wonderful products are just as fresh as they were when they were introduced by my friend over at Pigment Craft Co.  I was delighted to see her products are available over at Scrapbook.com!  Today I've paired her Modern Poinsettia with a new stencil from ASD: Pureland Fan and another Pinkfresh Studio ...

Then it dawned on me that Spellbinder used the same design as ASD for

one of their embossing folders [Fan Motif: Club November '22] ... and another card was born!

That embossing is SO close to fitting over the top of the stenciling, but not quite.

I stamped another bouquet of Poinsettias but fussy-cut just the leaves

and berries for this little bouquet with the addition of 

PCC Dashing Sentiments stamps and dies.

As I was stamping and arranging these next two cards, I saw that Just us Girls is looking for Pumpkins! I have made a few - using Pigment Craft Co.: Pumpkin Patch!

First in these beautiful greens from The Stamp Market, framed by the Delightful Brackets from PTI, and backed by the houndstooth of the Baskervilles?  Nah - it's an oldie from MFT!  Here it is one more time in shades of Turmeric and Sea Grass inks from Pigment Craft Co. and the perfect sentiment from PTI.

Which one will make it to their gallery?  You'll have to check - and while you're there, why not play too!?

I'm doing my best to whittle down the box of patterned paper in my stash.

This gorgeous new plaid is one from a prize I won from the sweet ladies at 

Double D!  You'll be seeing a lot of them!  I used PTI's Elegant Edges: Wheat Stalks to add a pretty little spot to rest that pumpkin.

Okay, last of all, I reached for those oldish pink and orange papers from PTI to bring Pigment Craft Co.'s gorgeous Falling Leaves to life - you'll grant me artistic license, right?  The new here is that wonderful sentiment from ASD in her gorgeous Spring Garden set.

Isn't that the truth?  October is Mental Health Month and I really make an effort to remind myself of the many reasons I have to smile ... you, my friends, are very close to the top of the list!  Thank you for hanging out with me again today! 

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge - October 2023

 

I'm thrilled [and a little envious] of our talented friend Hannelie who is the Guest Designer for Altenew's October 2023 Inspiration Challenge!  You'll love the story behind this sweet photo so be sure to visit that post!

Anyone who reads this blog knows full well that I have a favorite die from Altenew - okay, I know MANY of them have become favorites.  Today I'm thinking of that wonderful little frame that I have used so many times for so many cards for so many years!  HERE is just one.  

BUT there's a new 'kid' in town and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!  Today their Enchanted Mirror die is the focal point on my card and if you look at Hannelie's photo again, you'll see that sweet little flower has been reimagined ... here's a closeup:

After stamping Altenew's Cosmos in two shades of inks, I just couldn't 

leave the other out!  I'm seeing ALL of these colors in her flower - do you?

I even managed to capture the grass under the bench!

My Enchanted Mirror Die was cut from a wood plank paper, and again in dark grey for a little oomph.  And although I think it's perfect for the challenge, I could not leave you without showing all the wonderful detail in this die!  

Every year I make a card for my dear friend who has a Halloween birthday.  Here is this year's model - once again let's start with a closeup:

Have I ever mentioned how beautifully the Hero Arts copper embossing powder melts?  this sentiment from PTI is pretty tiny and the font is, too!  Isn't that a great color for the navy card - and Halloween!

My card front was dry embossed with that SU Subtle Texture folder, and I

finished it off with a little sparkly Pinkfresh gems - love those dark navy ones!

Just the right amount of spooky for a Halloween birthday, don't you think?

Okay.  I'd better share this over at the Altenew challenge and get back to my regularly scheduled Monday tricks and treats ... thanks so much for stopping by!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #85 - a party reminder!

I hope by now you've had a chance to join our 7th birthday celebration over at The Flower Challenge?  If not, please do!  I would love to see this gallery full of thanks for Aileen's brilliant plan to start it all seven years ago!  I for one can't get enough of playing with florals: stamped, die-cut, Copic colored, water colored, or left as line-art - I love them all!  Here's the party plan:

Right now, I'm working hard to get as many Christmas cards made as possible for my Seniors - so it's another holiday card today!  Hope you don't mind?

By now you might know I adore pink at Christmas!  and a shaped card is

so fun, right?  I used an older die from PTI to make it happen.

Since I had that sweet set from The Greetery I used on my first card at hand, I stamped a few pink blooms using these inks...

It was fun to arrange my bouquet on one of those Ornate Nesting dies from Altenew.

My sentiment comes by way of a new addition to Pinkfresh Studios collection of Basic Banners: Christmas!  It's one of those time-savers that stamps all the sentiments, then cuts all the banners at once.

Okay, that's it for me - there are even more cards from my teammates to see so let's go - they inspire me, too!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #607

You may need to squint just a little to see the Freshly Made Sketch #607 represented in my card design, but it's there, I promise!

 

Ready?  squint...

My only explanation is that ice cream was the first thing I imagined when I saw Amy's Sketch! lol This little cutie is decorating my cone for me.  I hope her friend is steady on his feet.  

=] Michele

Waffle Flower Crafts collab w/Altenew: Summer Swirls

Waffle Flower Crafts: Sweet Ice Cream

Winnie & Walter Audry cutaways [no longer available]

Honey Bee Stamps: Gingham Galore patterned paper