A Christmas Playtime with Marcia!

I had the pleasure of spending a few fabulous hours with my sweet friend Marcia a few weeks ago ... for those of you who think we actually finish anything, think again!  We spend the most time gabbing, laughing, eating - all the things we love as much as crafting!  In fact, it's taken all this time to complete our cards!  But we're so happy to share them with each other today - and, of course, with all of you!

Marcia brought this gorgeous Magnolia Wreath from The Greetery to share.  I cut quite a few from different colors - three of which landed on one slimline card:

SU Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, and Old Olive card stock.  Spattered with white gouache.  My cover panel was embossed with a Sunny Studio Woodgrain folder, and the red flowers and sentiment were found amongst my snippets!  Perfect!

The next wreath was doubled - one Old Olive, one Blackberry Bliss

to represent what I think of as the 'underside' of Magnolia leaves.  A splattering of  Gansai Tambi gold, and a sweet gold bow from The Stamp Market and all

was perched upon a debossed panel [Altenew] and topped with another Pinkfresh Holiday banner. A few of their jewels finished it beautifully, I think.

One more - same papers and embossing... but with an old favorite bow and branches

from a set from Altenew by that very name: Bows and Branches!

Marcia also brought her gorgeous Colorado Craft Co. Snowflake and left it for me to play with - and play I most certainly did!  Thanks again, my friend for this sweet little topper die from The Greetery!  I won't bore you with individual photos, but here are the white on kraft:

and four more heat embossed on navy, grey, and vellum!

All of these [except one] are for Christmas 2024!  

Ready for some fun?  I was delighted to spend some time with Twig and Stump:

I think Sizzix and Tim should have a 'name this set' contest - 

Shorty and Stretch is what I always call them!  But these snow dudes are the 

'fun-est' no matter what their names!  Who wants a hug?

By now, you must be wondering if I brought anything to the party, right?  Well, I did make fresh egg rolls and egg drop soup! Ha!  One of the things Marcia and I love to do is to stencil together ... here's one of my new sets we didn't have time to play with when I visited her in November.  From Pinkfresh Studio: Lush Peonies.

I used some very Spring-y colors for this time of year... but it was fun just the same!

I used a few CP inks, die cut it and popped it up over a card base that had a debossed cover, and a snippet/frame found in my stash... a few pearls, and a fun sentiment from Honey Bee and my playtime is done!  For those of us that live where it's cold, this is such a warm reminder of seasons to come!

Thank you, Marcia, for lending me all these goodies from your stash - and always for sharing your time and friendship with me!  Now we wait for Spring - which seems so far away!  Hey, who knows?  We might have this 'no snow' reprieve for a while yet!  What are you doing for New Year's Eve?  lol

Thanks, my friends, for spending some of your time with me today - you know you're always welcome to join us, right?  Be sure to see ALL the wonderful things Marcia has made right HERE!  I'm heading there right NOW because I can't wait!

=] Michele

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 #576

A funny thing happened on the way from here:

To making my FMS#576 card here:

Yes, I do take my snippets seriously!  Nothing like a little black and white card!

Hope your week has been great! See you tomorrow!

=] Michele

Card 2:

Colorado Crafts Co.: Birthday Wishes stamps and dies.  

Colorado Crafts Co.: Christmas Presents

MFT Stitched Speech Bubbles

MFT Pierced Circles

Card 1: 

Altenew Versatile Greetings Die set

Colorado Craft Co.: Wishing Happiness

Fusion - at the Movies

 With Covid came changes - especially in the way we watched movies!  We are regular movie-goers and even buy the re-fillable 'bucket' for free popcorn!  Oh they don't make any money on us!

Today's card is my take on this fabulous photo inspiration from Fusion's at the Movies challenge...

I was in need of a 'get well' card - who doesn't love to wrap up on the couch for naps and movies when not feeling well? 

  

This image is from Colorado Craft Co. appropriately called 'get well.'

Of course, the couch could only be red!

Here's my inside sentiment:

"Let's replace that tea with a bucket of popcorn soon -

but keep the tissues - you know we'll choose a sappy rom-com!"

I got a jump start with laundry last night - yay for having playtime on Monday!

=]  Michele

Thank  you, Fusion!

Storybook Coloring with Daniel West

I attended as much of the Card-maker's Christmas Summit as I had time for.  The first session was taught by Daniel West of Del & Artie fame.  Daniel taught us how to use a storybook style of Copic coloring on a few of those darling Colorado Craft Company's Anita Jeram illustrated stamp sets.  I am the owner of a few - wink.

Here's are the two cards I made using Daniel's style - it's really about NOT blending, and perhaps exaggerating some of the shading.  He does it so much better so go looking for him, please.  @delandartie on Instagram... and blog:  Del & Artie (delandartie.com) 

I've had the worst luck.  After stamping these images, I lost the rest of the stamps for the set - oh you know I've looked everywhere.  I'm hoping some day they'll just magically appear, stuck to the bottom of some other set.  For these cards, I've borrowed some fun sentiments from another set - yes.  there are more.

We're busy blooming butterflies - so don't think I've disappeared again if I don't get to you right away!  It's a busy time on our front porch!  Stop over if you can!

=]  Michele