Saturday, September 14, 2024

Joy and Hope!

Happy weekend, my friends!  I spent a bit of time yesterday making Christmas cards using a few of those darling Penny Black stamps.  Hope you like them!

Sue at Just us Girls #744 is celebrating Word Week and HOPE is her chosen word ... years ago I saved a wonderful sentiment from Emily Dickinson:

Hope is the thing with feathers –

that perches in the soul –

and sings the tune without the words –

and never stops – at all.

Hope is surely included when I send those cards to the Seniors on my list - hope that they will find peace and joy during the holidays in some significant way.


You might remember this sweet bird - I've shared him in many colors.
The large snowflake behind him is from SSS and was a gift.
My glittery hope is an oldie from Wplus9 - no longer available - cut from
The Stamp Market's Diamond Glitter Paper.



Kim's big word sketch is still calling to me - several renditions later I cannot decide which one fits FMS#653 better... you'll have to stop by their blog to find out which made the Second Helpings cut.


My JOY comes from Altenew's Classic Alphabet die set.  I cut the letters
twice from bristol paper stacking them for weight before water coloring them as I did
that little caroler with distress inks.
SSS's Tall Pines embossed my card panel but I swiped the 'background' of the
folder with a few inks prior to pressing.  A hill of 'snow', a few snowflakes, and a
bit of Star Dust Stickles finished my card.  'from me to you' sentiment is
included in the PB Sing Joy set.


This little songstress from PB Sing Joy?  
Or perhaps this beautiful Betterpress-ed sentiment would do the trick?  
I popped it up over
a pressed pine panel and decorated it with a few sprigs of greenery
from that sweet little PB Merry Friends set I featured yesterday.



That's it for my Saturday - it is gorgeous today: 74F and clear blue skies!  Who could ask for a better?  See you tomorrow for a reminder from The Flower Challenge!

=] Michele

22 comments:

Lisa Elton said...

You've been a busy bee and I'm loving the results! What a handsome bird he is topping off that big snowflake and glittery hope. Thanks for sharing him with us at Just Us Girls! This sweet little caroler always makes me smile and you've put her a darling scene. Your final card is beautiful with the wonderful sentiment backed with that pretty pine. The little pops of color were a terrific finishing touch. Fabulous makes, my friend! Sunny and 84 here today - xo

Julia H said...

These cards are gorgeous!!! I found you through the Just Us Girls blog and I am thrilled I have made such a lovely discovery!

Bonnie said...

This is one of my favorite birds and had to have it the first time you showed it! I LOVE it in these colors and the beautiful snowflake makes a perfect background! Who needs a JOY die when you have these perfect letters! This little gal always tugs my heart and I can't wait to color up the ones I stamped when you were here. That pine background plate(s) is at the top of my wish list! I love it in the blue green shade with the beautiful sentiment. The greenery and berries add just the pop of contrasting perfection!

Leslie Miller said...

Ohhh, you had me at Penny Black. Each card is a beauty. I love your coloring of the bird on that beautiful and cleverly crafted background. Then up scrolls the joy card and my heart skips a beat. Such pretty colors and dies, a sweet image, sigh. Your pressed sentiment and pine panel in the lovely soft blue is gorgeous, and you've added just the perfect colorful touches with the greenery. Your cards will give smiles to the seniors.

LeAnne said...

Oh my goodness, that big beautiful snowflake is an amazing background for your gorgeous little bird! The others are just beautiful too! You have a KNACK!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Well another post of fabulousness! Love the colorful bird against the white. Thanks for sharing at JUGS!

Marcia Hill said...

That birdie with the detailed snowflake behind it is GORGEOUS Michele and I love the sparkly hope too! Your 2nd card with the adorable caroler totally makes me smile and I think she needs to come on Wednesday too!! And your last card is just as beautiful as the first two...lovely, lovely cards my friend!! Hugs. 😊

lostinpaper said...

These are all so darn pretty Michele! And that Blue in the last card... it's divine!

Jeanne said...

I'm filled with hope and joy after seeing your beautiful cards. The bird is beautiful and the details are perfect. Your little carolor is just the sweetest and watercolored wonderfully. Thank you so much for sharing, Michele! Wow!

Carol said...

Beautiful work Michele! The snowflake card for our JUGS challenge is out of this world! The JOY card is just as gorgeous and the last card is so serene with the blue and white! What a fabulour trio! Thanks for playing with us again this week!

Jacquie Southas said...

Fabulous cards, Michele! Can I say I adore the last one? Because I do - the blue ink choice is just perfect! Thanks for playing along with us at FMS this week.

Bobby said...

Love that sweet bird and what a great snowflake to perch him on, Michele. I ordered the JOY die from PB (oos everywhere else) and it's taking forever to arrive. I plan to CASE your Sing Joy card when I get home. Not feeling much in the way of card making lately.

Kim S said...

They are all lovely! The bird and snowflake is so fresh and "hopeful". The caroler is so sweet. And I love your use of the sketch. The sentiment is beautiful and I love it with the accents in the corners. Thank you for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

donna mikasa said...

Love that sweet bird against your white on white background, and that sweet caroler stole my heart--again! Your last card is such a beauty in blue--I adore that large sentiment!

Stephanie Lanzalotto said...

A beautiful array of cards, Michele. Your first is simply gorgeous, elegant and festive. Love the colors you gave the bird this time. The snowflake, the sparkle, that wonderful hope die cut. I did break down and order those little singers. I love what you did this time. Gives me JOY. Your final card is marvelous. The sentiment in blue, taking center stage among the pine boughs is just wonderful. A ton of Christmas gorgeousness.

Sue VanDeVusse said...

I love your beautiful little bird perched on the branch paired with the pretty snowflakes. Especially love the snowflake on the O. The white on white with the sparkle looks fabulous! All of your other cards are beautiful as well. Thanks for playing along with us at JUGS!

Loll said...

Beautiful cards Michele. I LOVE the HOPE card with the gorgeous snowflake and glittery sentiment. That bird is so pretty and adds a touch of colour. It's a very peaceful card. LOVE your other two Christmas cards ... that girl singing Christmas songs is so sweet, especially paired with the large JOY. And your last card is lovely with the pretty background and touches of holly to frame the wonderful, large, sentiment. xx

TK said...

Love it,
Michele, so sweet!

Jen Brum said...

This is such a beautiful collection of cards! I love each one! Love that Betterpress sentiment! So pretty! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Linda Callahan said...

Oh my what a delightful holiday line up! I admit I have a soft spot for that little gal singing her heart out!

paper bag create said...

Beautiful cards Michele! I love the JOY one especially! Thanks for sharing your creativity.

Nance said...

Sooo many wonderful cards, Michele! I do love that snowflake die, it's to "die" for! LOL I'm playing catch up again with some blogs. Prepare for comments incoming!