Freshly Made Sketches #697

Linda is our host this week at Freshly Made Sketches #697 and I know you are going to have as much fun as I did with her wide-open sketch! 

It really sets the stage for just about any characters, doesn't it?

Here's how I was inspired... one more Christmas in July card for this team couldn't hurt, right?  It has been just the thing to light a fire under me!  Or was that the heat?

This cool cocoa-drinking dude is from that Recollections 12x12 paper pad

that my cousin Tracy gifted me last year.  I fussy cut him from one of

the many tags included, and a fun paper from the collection became my

cover.  The 'overhang' and pine needles and snowy hills represent Linda's 

Sketch borders.  I'm very happy with this card - and it was the first of six cards I made that day using this paper pad!

Thanks, Linda for the fun Sketch!  I'm on my way to see your card and I'm bringing all my friends with me!

=] Michele

Even more Christmas critters!

With plenty more of that darling Merry paper from Scrapbook.com in hand, I went in search of other Christmas critters from my stash - these Winter Hamsters from Waffle Flower Crafts fit the bill and are always loads of fun.  I do love a set whose dies cut multiple images at once, don't you?  Such a time saver especially for Christmas cards!

With easy stamping, cutting, and coloring out of the way I

brought together some very simple designs that pack plenty of cute!

I brought out the Diamond Stickles for a little Christmas glisten...

Then it was time to bring the 'gang' together for a group hug...

I wasn't going to let one little scrap of that paper go to waste - time

to build some stripe-y Christmas trees that were then simply cut

into 'triangle trees' with my paper trimmer.

You have all been so patient and kind during my Christmas in July!  There are plenty more cards to be made - and if I keep up this 4-per-daily-session, I MIGHT just make that pre-set goal!

I have another new pad of paper from Scrapbook.com to come ... here's a sneak peek!

I'm spending my last day of July with Marcia - and yes, I'll be sharing this paper with her!  and a few of those fun Snow dudes!  I can't wait!

=] Michele

Snowman Solos!

I spent a good amount of time in my studio over the weekend - I just couldn't say no to those darling Snow Dudes!  My order included two packs of Scrapbook.com's Christmas papers - I can't resist a great sale - and the quality of this paper just blew me away!  And HOW could I pass on an orange/pink/red color collection??

I am giving each of the Spellbinders' The Snow Notes their own solo appearance so I could triple my output of Christmas cards!

Ready... oh!  These sentiments are all from Waffle Flower Crafts' Wonderful Christmas combo set... all my favorite lines from the best carols!  Let the singing begin:

The snowbanks were made with EH Landscapes dies.

You'll see MFT's Wonky Stiches a few times.

Now it's time to bring the trio together again - this time, for 

The Paper Players and Jan's wonderful Sketch:

Jan, I can guarantee that I've never used this many layers or 

patterned papers on a card! But I loved it!

Thanks ever so much, Jan!

And now, back to my regularly scheduled Monday... thanks for stopping by!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #785

I'm interrupting my Christmas-card-making session to do a little stenciling for Just us Girls!

I brought out a favorite from Altenew called Blooming Delight and changed up my color combo from THIS card.  I do love orange and pinks together - and love that they've thought to leave some 'white space' with this design.

You'll no doubt spot Altenew's Geo Steps embossing in the background, but

I've snipped the very large floral piece to fit the front of my A2 card and tucked in

the snipped bits - waste not, want not!

Here are my chosen inks today:

Thanks, Bobby!

I woke to the most wonderful rain this morning and found Tom on the front porch filming his first Monarch changing to a chrysalis - you can watch it HERE!  It never gets old - it takes a bit of time, but he has sped up the video 4x!

Your kind words and visits here never get old either - or do I take them for granted!  Thanks so much, my friends!

=] Michele

New Snowdudes arrived!

There was a new die set in my mailbox yesterday - and it hardly had a chance to cool off before it was put to use!  Introducing my first playtime with Spellbinders' The Snow Notes - there was no doubt they were singing my tune!

I do love an all-die-cut card - even the sentiment - and a bit of

embossed snow!  Someone might like to know that the musical notes

come from that darling PB Sing Joy die set!

Of course, I couldn't stop at just one... here they are sporting yellow, pink, and grey which is the trio from Color Throwdown #837...

Trimmed to fit onto postage stamps they still sing loud and clear!

Stars from MFT Blueprint #18 die set, sentiment from 

The Greetery: Tear Strip Tags.  Waffle Flower Crafts Postage Collage die for

my postage stamp shapes.

Hope my Christmas cards cool you off a bit - it is miserably hot and humid here in Michigan!  The AC helps and there is rain in the forecast which should knock that humidity down a notch - fingers crossed!  

I better get these dudes posted before they melt!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #696

Hello, my friends!  It's time for another Freshly Made Sketches challenge - this time from Jen Mitchell - I really went off the grid this time... this is what happens when you have your Christmas supplies out and find one that just wants to play!  Here is Jen's fun FMS#696...

Let me explain what I mean about going off the grid:

I'm seeing Jen's back panel in the front and the front got pushed back - OY!

These Funky Trees from TH and Sizzix are so fun - and work so well

for 'masculine' Christmas cards which I make sure to add to those delivered

to my area senior centers.

The papers I used are from HoneyBee's Log Cabin collection and

my gold stars were cut using a die from one of the old MFT Blueprints sets.

A simple sentiment - also from MFT - and my card is done!

I'm having so much fun working with the wonderful FMS team -

they don't ever seem to be upset when I 'have my way' with their Sketches.

We want YOU to have your way, too - as long as we can see the Sketch, that is! LOL

Speaking of!  I can't wait to see Jen's card!

Let's go!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #747 - wheels!

all together... the wheels on the truck go round and round... wait!  well, it is Christmas in July after all, and everyone knows it takes a truck and a village of snow people to haul a load of Christmas presents! 

Thank you, LeAnne, and The Paper Players for this fun CAS challenge!

It was SO hard to attach the sentiment strip...

I know full well that there shouldn't be any extra dimension on a CAS card,

but I had a little die-cutting boo-boo to cover up!  It happens...

This little 'postage stamp' was cut from a pad of DSP and stamped

with a few of the WF Postage Collage stamps.

Thanks, LeAnne!

I had an appointment at the eye doctor this morning... let me tell you

all this white is brutal while my eyes are dilated!

I'm going to get this posted and go take a nap!

=] Michele

In the Mood!

Just us Girls' #784 has a mood board full of the prettiest colors, and images that I couldn't wait to use ... for a Christmas card!

Now you might not see a fox among these images, but perhaps that is

because he is an Artic Fox wearing his Winter colors?  Like mine is!

I know a few of my friends might see butterflies in Winter so I stuck one in!

All the elements were cut from my scraps using HoneyBee's Heart Hugs, and

Lovely Layers: Winter Greenery.  And there is their gorgeous Winter Gems A2 Cover Plate again - I have finally figured out how to get that impression right!

A simple little seasonal sentiment from MFT and a full moon and 

my playtime is complete!  

My DAY is complete if you've stopped by!  Thank you!

=] Michele

Christmas Kickstart #100

Dear Jo, 

Thank you for bringing the joy of Christmas to the card-making world throughout the year... love,

Santa 

p.s. you're definitely on my 'nice' list!

I really should be playing along with you each and every challenge, Jo!  Shame on me!  But I'm thrilled to celebrate you on your 100th Christmas Kickstart Challenge!!

Santa is swinging by to celebrate you, too!

Ride 'em reindeer-boy!

One of the items I found among the goodies given to me by my cousin, were satin foil envelope liners from Anna Griffith... I used one to cut my circle from and added a satin gold hanger.  This old Santa continues to make me smile - from MFT many moons ago!  HoneyBee's Gingham Galore Holiday paper was cut with my favorite old standby cover-die from Winnie & Walter and then it was all 'tied together' with twine.

Congratulations, Jo and elf Gail for encouraging us to think Christmas all year!

=] Michele

Color Hues #114

My sweet friend, Bonnie is our host with the most over at Color Hues #114 and she has such a wonderful color combo for July!  

While I was inspired by the Shasta Daisies growing gangbusters in my front 

garden bed, a few other sets grabbed my attention.. 

I'm going to have one heck of a time choosing between these two today.

I went straight to my stash of colored cardstock and die cut all the bits 

and pieces of each set then blended a little extra color for added punch.

Those lemon leaves reminded me of this SB Leafy embossing folder, 

so, it was an easy decision to use it for my cover panel.

BUT! since yellow roses are so beautiful, how does a girl resist?

I love that texture from the card stock I used - it reminded me of

the background of this old Regency Swirls EF from Crafters Companion.

Be still, my CAS loving heart!  I think you know which card will

be found in the Color Hues gallery - but you should go see for yourself.

AND PLAY ALONG!  There's plenty of time to make even more than two!

=] Michele

Paper Players #746 and Inkspirational #345

I have two cards for two challenges this morning!  The Paper Players has a color challenge this week - and it was very challenging to find their colors in my stash - you may have just the SU! papers for Ann's combo right at your fingertips...

... I made do with a close match:

Altenew's Layered Ornate Frame brought them all together for my floral wreath

and their Masonry Wall EF gives it a place to hang its hat!

This sentiment from The Stamp Market's Kindness Matters set

represents my feelings perfectly!

Thanks, Ann, for pushing my limits with your color combination!

AND for choosing my card as your Headliner, too!

The other day when I posted that trio of penguins, one of the sweet members of the Inkspirational team mentioned they would fit their Three of the Same challenge - thanks Julia - but I was just too lazy to go back to edit that post... it's hot and I'm really feeling it!  Besides that, I had three more little Sandy Toe kids ready for the beach...

We are well known for our gorgeous sand dunes 'round here, so I 

felt the need to doodle a big one for them to run down before they

spalooshed into the water - just as I would have done when I was a kid!

I wouldn't have the energy for it today - but I'd gladly take the 'Nestea Plunge' first thing this morning!  

Hope you're staying cool!

=] Michele