Playing Cards with Friends - January 2023

My playdate in December fell through, sadly - so it's with renewed vigor and enthusiasm that I'm back with my first 

Playing Cards with Friends session for 2023!

This month my very special guest is from my Instagram group of friends!  Melinda's 'IG handle' is what caught my eye first: @itsacardknocklife is so very clever, don't you agree?  And a very clever card maker she is - Melinda shares lots of techniques and story reels/tutorials on her feed... all gorgeous! 

I was thrilled when Melinda said yes to my invitation to play - here are our requirements for our cards:

Did you know today is International Thank you day? 

Make a thank you card with a water-colored bouquet - seemed like a good choice for our assignment!

My card started by stamping a Penny Black [a sweet Christmas gift from a friend who knows how much I love tulips] called Springtide onto watercolor cardstock.

 

Then I stretched the stamp to lengthen the stems so they would show properly from the bottom of my 'wrap' along with a bit of rudimentary no-line water coloring.

My wrap is one of the Nesting Slimline Labels cut from kraft card...

... you'll spot another behind it, on top of a panel of kraft card cut with

a HoneyBee Scalloped frame ... topped with a HoneyBee sentiment!

Thanks a bunch was perfect - stamped and gold heat embossed!

Melinda thank you so very much for starting this year of Playing Cards with me!

Of course, I would love it if you all stopped by Melinda's Instagram page - she's even been kind enough to add her card to her blog for those who can't.

Thanks, bunches, for stopping by today!

=] Michele

CAS Christmas June 2022 - Second helpings!

 

Whilst putting away all my supplies from the prior June 2022 CAS Christmas card I made, I stumbled across another wreath!  One that might get overlooked unless you're quite observant...

Tucked inside the package were a few more of the sentiments I wrote for this set - still seems like a good one since they're obviously hauling home a tree, so I'll include it on my card after using an Altenew sentiment die to cut it out.  The Penny Black image* was stamped and Copic colored.  A bit of fussy cutting and Bob's your Uncle.  oh.  that snowy embossing folder isn't labeled at all - sorry.

This one also has a paw-fectly cute furry friend for the gals at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge: 

Thanks to both challenges for getting me started on my 2022 stash!

=] Michele

*Penny Black: Triumphant

CAS Christmas: September 2020 Christmas tree!

Okay... let me start by saying thank you, for stopping by, and for putting up with me for a test ... no you won't be graded.

As you read this, I am about to write my very first post using the New Blogger - so far so good!  I'm sharing a card made for the September CAS Christmas Challenge - now, here comes the difficult part:  linking this text with the challenge post!  aha!  it worked!

and so did pasting their graphic!!  Yay!

I sifted through my [three] containers of Christmas sets and was thrilled to find so many Christmas tree options ... don't think that means I won't be tempted to buy more!  Today, I'm using a Penny Black cling stamp called Christmas Glow.  Here are all the supplies I needed to complete my card:  [this is where I insert a photo - fingers crossed] 

Voila!!!  it arrived perfectly!

I stamped my tree on a 5x7" piece of Tim Holtz

water color card stock, using the inks above.

Then, because I felt it needed a little something, I 

whacked off the left edge, die cut the oval, then added back the slice I'd removed - after slicing off a wee bit more.

Okay, I'm getting there... but something else was off.

aha!  It needed a nice red container, instead of the 

navy I'd originally used.  It was easy, stamped it on a scrap, then fussy cut it, and glued it over the top!

I do wish my camera could have captured the sparkle of the 

Diamond Stickles I applied to the lights ... 

Well.  it seems I have conquered my fears ... even though, now that I look at it,  I may have failed miserably on the CAS part of the challenge!  lol how many times have I done that?  

Thanks for the support I've been given by a few blogging friends who nipped that new blogger in the bud from the get-go!  one final test ... getting my card to the CAS Christmas gallery!  oh boy... here goes nothing...

=]  Michele

Inspired By #89 ... signs of fall

 

Are there signs of fall by you?  Since my neighborhood was built on [what was formerly] a blueberry farm, there are very few trees within, but many on the outskirts!  Penny Black may have imagined this little sweetie [another borrowed from Marcia] in my neighborhood - lol!  Nary an acorn to be found - which doesn't break my heart - ya know what I'm sayin'?

Laurel's IB#89 prompt triggered this little playtime... emphasis on that lone little leaf...

Of course her Converse are grey - are you surprised?

I have a low-top pair of my own!

Winnie & Walter Noelle Cutaways always set the stage perfectly, right?

There is so much to love about Autumn - you autumn play along, my friends!  Can't wait to see how you are Inspired By #89!

=]  Michele