Penny Black on Saturday Challenge - February 2026

My husband and I didn't even exchange Valentines this year - but don't think for a minute we didn't enjoy our dinner out!  Romance lives!

I do want to share a card I made [in the likeness of FMS725] the sentiment is fitting for a romantic card which immediately made me think of Penny Black on Saturday!  Enough small talk...

Penny Black: Love Blooms and Encircle EF

It must be close to the deadline for entry - I'd better get this one delivered!

Happy Friday, my friends!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #812 - Stencil Week

It's Stencil Week at Just us Girls and I've been itching to get inky with those gorgeous Field Florals from Pinkfresh Studios again! 

They sure look like tulips to me...

Pink and orange?  YES, please!

After stenciling with those inks, I cut them with the coordinating die and

mounted them over top of a debossed [lil' inkers - you know that sad story] cover 

panel then splattered lots of 'snow' - you know it wouldn't surprise any

Michigander to have their tulips covered with snow!

Thanks, JUGS for the timely opportunity to stencil this one again!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #725

Cecile is our designer this week for Freshly Made Sketches #725 and I know you will agree it is a beauty...

I wanted to keep it as organic as possible and found another lovely layering set from HoneyBee Stamps in my stash to do my work for me!

I found another SU! embossed panel that I cut down to size

using a PTI Torn Edges die.  That provided a great spot for my HB Plumeria!

HoneyBee's My Favorite Flower stamp and die set provided my sentiment.

I can't wait to see how your imagination plays with Cecile's Sketch this week!

=] Michele

The Paper Players #774

By now you all know how inspired I am by a sketch - Jan at The Paper Players has a lovely sketch for us this week...

I had the Fun & Flowers set from The Stamp Market still out on my desk.  It worked its charm for Jan's sketch IMHO, using some papers from the same company - would you believe this was a Halloween collection?

My newest frame from Waffle Flower Craft set the stage for my little flower.  Here's a closeup so you can see I followed LeAnne's lead on my horizontal strip of paper with that MFT stitching detail we both love so much...

Happy Tuesday, my friends!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #811

It took a New York minute for me to choose my supplies for Lisa's gorgeous mood board at Just us Girls #811!  

Get ready to swoon...

For once, I shushed that sweet tooth and focused on those Cherry Blossoms!

HoneyBee' Lovely Layers: Cherry Blossoms made it so easy...

Here are my inks used to add color to my white die cuts:

Lisa, I'd love to see your Cherry blossoms one day!

It feels really wonderful to be back in my studio for a bit this week - and

to hear from you, friends!  Thanks so much!

=] Michele

A shout out! Thanks tons JUGS!

TWO challenges, one card!

Hello again!

I haven't had much time for making cards - several 'springtime' projects going on in the Ferguson household - one that has been on tap for nearly 10 years!  SO happy to finally have shelves that pull out of a big cabinet in my kitchen.  Now, to do something about my laundry 'room' that can hardly be called that... while I wait for my new cabinet to arrive, there is time to play cards! yay!

I seldom can find a time when I make a card that fits more than one challenge - nor do I set out with a plan for that... except today, I did!  Here are the challenges I'm entering: Color Hues #127 and The Paper Players #773.

and...

 Once again, my sweet tooth got the best of me... inspired by 

that wonderful little cake, the peachy polka dotted balloon and

candles - I 'baked' my own cupcake using the colors from Color Hues!

An old Sizzix EF inked on the debossed side; Candles and sentiment from 

C&9th's Let it Shine - I added the little snips of white to mimic those

in the photo inspiration from the Paper Players;

frosting created with Pretty Pink Posh's Shoreline Borders; and 

cupcake paper made using a SU! Crimped EF!

And voila! One card - two challenges!  and I even used ribbon which I seldom do!

=] Michele

Guest Designing at Time Out #307

I was thrilled to have a win and to be invited to guest design with those wonderful gals at Time Out!  It is photo inspiration time and here is the lovely little hand-sewn bag from Kim Heggins - a former team member at Time Out with sewing skills extraordinaire!

The Challenge winner, as chosen by the Design Team, will receive the handmade bag shown on the Challenge Badge. Winner will also receive an invitation to join them as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

Of all the patterned papers I have on hand, I couldn't find one pastel as 

Kim used - but I did find some really fun dots and stripes from Honey Bee's Over the Rainbow collection of prints!  Adding some fun 'stitched' details to the

dotted purple might make you think of a fun pair of jeans - with just

the cutest little pocket to stow a daisy!  This little pocket die comes out to play 

at least once a year and was a gift from my friend Anne-Mette from Denmark many years ago.  I love that the zipper had the perfect spot for that pearl, and the

little tag holds x's and o's!  

Please head over to the Time Out Challenge blog for all the details

for challenge #307, a closeup of Kim's darling bag, and so much inspiration

from the TO team of designers!

Thanks for inviting me to play cards with you, ladies!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #724

Hello my friends!  It's that time of the week to introduce you to another of our Freshly Made Sketches!  This week, Jen B. designed Sketch #724 for our card-making pleasure...

The possibilities for those prime circles are endless! But I saw a die used

by another card maker recently and quickly brought it to my desktop

so I wouldn't forget to incorporate it into my design!

I hope you think it works!

My Anemone is from Spellbinders, and the hand die is from 

Ellen Hutson many, many years ago - sorry it's no longer available.

That debossed panel came to fruition using a SU! Gathering Leaves EF that

was inked on the raised side before running it through my Switch.

Are the ideas brewing in your creative brains?  We sure hope so

as we sure love seeing all those ideas come to fruition!

You have plenty of time - maybe even for second helpings -

until Monday, February 23rd at 3pm EST.

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #723

 

Verena has a REALLY fun Sketch for Freshly Made Sketches #723!

At first glance, I saw a stage with a spotlight... then my sweet tooth took over

and there appeared a cupcake... but while 'cooking up' that cupcake,

I thought of another item that might have just that top!

A hatbox!

I found just the right die in my stash to cut that ellipse from 

SSS's Pop-Up Card Holder!  Then it was quite simple to cut the bottom and 

box-band using the edge of the die cut.  

I know.  It might be difficult to see

it but I couldn't help but decorate it with another of those Rosa Gallicas

from Altenew that I had out the other day.  This time I clear embossed

the outline stamp and water colored it using a few Altenew watercolor pigments.

I'll keep the sentiment on the inside of this one!

Now, what do YOU see in Verena's sketch?  We can't wait to see your 

creations at FMS before February 16th at 3pm!

=] Michele

Altenew February 2026 Inspiration Challenge

My abundant collection of Altenew florals have not been shown much love since the end of The Flower Challenge last year.  Today, I was determined to remedy that and found the loveliest inspiration at Altenew's Inspiration Challenge - February 2026 with Leah Lawson...

This photo taken from Lea's time as an event photographer

was calling for Altenew's Rosa Gallica!

Along with some Eucalyptus paper from C&9th and MFT, 

here are the inks used for today's card:

Ready for the reveal?

That 'old favorite' Dotted Swirls debossing plate was used

to add texture and interest to the largest of Altenew's Ornate Nesting die

then I layered the stencil-colored Rosa Gallica and tucked

a few grey 'fillers' from HoneyBee's Lovely Layers: Greenery

and mounted them onto my grey card base.

Altenew's Featured Sentiment dies were used to cut the

simple sentiment from Hero Arts' Rose Stem Florals.

If this doesn't give you warm weather vibes, nothing will!  Stay safe and warm, my friends!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #722

 

It seems we are going back to basics with our wintertime sketches, doesn't it?  Kim's fun Freshly Made Sketches #722 is as basic as it comes - unless you would like to make it otherwise, that is!  

I reached for a Pinkfresh Studio Essentials Lacey Edgers and some bright blues and tipped Kim's Sketch for a fun Winter scene...

Penny Black's Christmas Cubs and Cuddle Up [sentiment] are the

stars of my card and another oldie but goody embossing folder from

The Paper Studios give my card panel a bit of a Valentine vibe!

Our Winter has been a good one for a 'cuddle up' and plenty of hot chocolate!  There have been 16 inches of the white stuff recorded in our area this season.  Seems like a lot, doesn't it?  But no records have been broken.

Enough of that - I cannot wait to see what Kim has made using her own sketch - let's go!!  You have until February 9th at 3pm EST to join us - I can't wait to see your stripes!

=] Michele

Sending love on Valentine's Day!

Helloooo everyone!  I haven't found my crafty energy quite yet but am feeling really well.  Winter has been fierce - a time I love to bury myself in series on Netflix and also curled up with a good book!

I recently shared this card using one of the goodies I won on IG from Waffle Flower Crafts... of course I had to have both of their Peony Collage stencil sets!  This time I drew inspiration from Galina and her gorgeous colors - you'll find hers among the photo examples shared on the WF website.  I switched the colors around but I'm sure you'll see how I was influenced.

The white scalloped panel was cut using an old Winnie & Walter favorite I will

forever keep in my stash!

I found the cutest little Altenew enamel heart that is the perfect fit!

Can you find it?

I found just the right stamps and sentiments in their Postage Collage - Love set.

I'm so happy to share a card with you today!

Thanks so much!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #721 from Jen M.

Jen Mitchell's Freshly Made Sketch #721 looks like it's made for a square card - but since I try to send or gift all my cards, I'm better suited to an A2 shape... it worked out and I'm sure Jen won't mind a bit!

This furry friend from Spellbinders Festive Friends suited 

my rendition of Jen's Sketch, too!  

I reimagined her sweater into a scarf and found a way to put Jen's circle to use by using EH's Essential Circles which allows as much of this strip of pretty print from HoneyBee's Snow Days collection to show through.

A very old MFT heart die was used to cut their Chili Pepper red cardstock

which was then embossed using a very old woodgrain EF from The Paper Studios.

This sentiment is from The Stamp Market's Kindness Matters set.

Now, let's go see what the rest of the FMS design team has made, shall we?

What will you put inside that circle - I can't wait to see!

=] Michele

Time Out #305

 

hmmm a favorite card making technique?  I have so many!  But if you counted my supply of embossing folders, it is clear to see what I reach for when I want to make my crafty heart happy: 175 with the last addition from a sweet friend!

Thanks, Time Out #305 for the perfect opportunity for its first pressing!  Here is a closeup so you can see the wonderful details of this Spellbinders Molded Frame ...

Talk about perfect simplicity - it embosses a frame, a mat, and a central, raised

panel to embellish... today I used a second favorite: Layering, die cut florals.

This one is from The Greetery: Rosemal Reflections Details dies.

I can't wait to use it again, and again, and ... you get the picture!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of your precious time with me - and for all the get well wishes - thanks a million!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #807 Stencil Week

I'm back 'in the saddle' and even though our weather is dreadful, I am 99.8% better and boy that feels great!

The moment Bobby announced it was Stencil Week at Just us Girls #807, I scurried into my studio - I have a brand spankin' new stencil set to use!!  I mentioned a prize won on IG from Waffle Flower Crafts - not only did I choose those wonderful frames, but also their new Peony Stencils... here's the first of many to come...

Galina used black in her background in her YouTube video - of course I wanted

to CASE every detail but thought a dark brown would be almost as dramatic!

Tell me what you think!

Several dies were used before I got right to the edge of the completed piece:

from the outside: PTI Skinny Ric Rac dies, then EH Essential Rectangle which

leaves the teensiest little border, and lastly one of Wplus9's Postage dies for my sentiment.  

Before putting them all together, I used my favorite SU Subtle Texture to add a fabric look.  

I just never tire of that.

These are the inks used for the Peony layers.

 So!  There it is! My first card for a challenge in 2026!  Thanks, JUGS for lighting the fire!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #720 by Jen T.

hello friends! Another Wednesday, and another great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches by Jen Timko!

OH, the possibilities are endless!  But here is how my [still not 100%] brain

took inspiration from Jen's sketch:

I got a new set of frame dies using a gift card I won on Instagram from

my generous friends at Waffle Flower Crafts!  Nesting Piercing Classic Labels paired with a wonderful print from Spellbinders' Holiday Expansion Pack, two circles and a lonely little snowflake [HoneyBee I think?] from my snippets!

I could happily live in this wonderful little village!  Unless, of course, it's

Winter all year long!! OY!

Okay, now it's your turn and we look forward to seeing your cards before

Monday January 26th at 3pm EST.

Be sure you stop by the Freshly Made Sketches blog for mountains of 

beautiful inspiration from the team!

=] Michele