Color Hues #95 and more Hope for JUGS #744

Let me just start by saying there WILL be 'second helpings' for Color Hues #95 - another darling PB couple just had to play, too!  But today I pulled out an Altenew set that hadn't seen any action for a while.  It's a beautiful set, but I questioned whether the simple color combination would work... I do believe it did, by using several 'hues' of each color and stamping the details in grey.  See if you agree...

More interest was added by dry embossing the background* with - are you ready for it? - an Altenew POINSETTIA background folder!  I think those leaves are a wonderful match!

A beautiful hope-filled sentiment completes my card - from ASD's Spring Garden - and makes it eligible for JUGS #744 Word Week: HOPE!

=] Michele 

* the paper used is Cerulean Blue from The Stamp Market

Stencils - day two! Stencil Fun Challenge

There might have been was a little bit of shopping before the holidays - you know how that goes, right?  I picked up another of the Altenew Build-a-Garden sets: Pristine Peonies which I can never say no to, btw.  As always, I was 'encouraged' by my friend Therese - thank you, T!

There are two images in the set - you'll be seeing the second one soon enough.  For their 'premier' I try to use all the coordinating things as they are intended: stamps, dies, stencils - you get the picture.  Using stencils again today allows me to share a card with those lovely gals at the Stencil Fun Challenge.  For January 2024 there is an optional 'add a bird' - guess who forgot her bird...

This is quite a large image but I found a way to make it fit while leaving

plenty of open space for another bit of stenciling on my background panel.

You aren't surprised it's grey - tone on tone grey!  I found the same general 

shape of the Peony in another stencil set from The Ton.

Just one of their Gentle Peonies layers was used and I used a very light touch with my favorite CP Twilight ink.

Here are the other inks used for the Peonies.

Okay, off I go to deliver this to Darlene and Diane!  There are already such wonderful cards that include that optional bird!  Are you playing?

=] Michele

Thankful for the Inspiration!

Today, I want to thank a friend for the inspiration she gives me.  What better time to do it than on Thanksgiving Eve?

TaeEun Yoo is a teammate at The Flower Challenge and is, in my eyes, an artist. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a good long visit to her blog - Rainbow in November with your second piece of pie tomorrow!  In particular the work she does for The Ton which caused a little shopping for my birthday this year!  

Another Poinsettia for my growing collection... 

In shades of deep orange-y red:

I've used barely a whisper of grey ink for that first layer of three - 

mostly along the edges.  I also added a bit of shadow in grey in the background

with a stencil from The Greetery - it was easy peasy to fussy cut!

Another in a few more shades of peach-y orange:

Using the first layer last allowed me to spritz the leftover ink to

smoosh along the edges, before adding some scripty gold ink, and

embossing it with that 'subtle texture' from SU!

Last one - in shades of salmon pink:

By now you may have noticed that I treated myself to that 

fabulous stamp once/cut once Easy Expressions - Holidays set from The Ton, too.

Thanks, TaeEun for sharing my dream of being neighbors!  It's fun to dream!

I'm thankful to all of you for stopping in today!  If you're traveling be careful, and safe!   I have another inspired card tomorrow!

=]