A Day of Play with Marcia

 Any day is a good day for visiting my friend Marcia - we took our weatherman at his word and planned the only sunny day of last week to get together!  Man am I glad we did - [pardon my French] it all went to hell in a hand basket the day after! 

Enough about the weather - I have SO much to share today and I know Marcia will, too - so let's get into it!

First up - I'm giving you all the bird[s]!  The darling PTI Feathered Friends mini 19 to be exact... 

Here perched on a 'wire' over Marcia's new Altenew Book Cover Engravings 3D folder.

The little sentiment is another from Pinkfresh's Favorite Things to Say set.

Here's another Altenew 3D called Waffled Diamonds... aren't they amazing??

Speaking of...What's not amazing about a bird on a trapeze???

Altenew makes the Speech Bubbles sentiments and dies.

The Stamp Market's Lovely Labels dies were a steal in their retired list at Christmas time.

Then I got all crazy with color and created this next little chick - her name must be Lola! 

she could be a showgirl!!

Recognize this old Wplus9 set?  Happy Birds may have flown their coop, 

but they'll never leave my nest.  A little happy yellow Bitty Big plaid from PTI for my mat.

Next up - I got my hands on Pinkfresh Studio's mini butterflies dies and stencils - but the hot foil plate continues to elude me - Marcia to the rescue, again!!  She even introduced me to a gorgeous new-to-me Glimmer foil color.  Too bad the prismatic colors are impossible to capture well by camera!  That one on the left says it all...

Hey! the background was something new I brought to the craft table!!  

Marcia had first dibs with my Pinkfresh Folk Art Print stencils. 

I got inky with it at home.

Isn't it pretty with those butterflies??  The sentiment is one from a set

Marcia received from the first Pinkfresh Studio virtual Retreat.

I'm sending this one over to the March 2022 Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge.

It's supposed to be about frames - but I think the combination of that circle die from their Mini Slimline Bundle, and their butterflies 'frame' my sentiment perfectly!

Last but not least is this gorgeous Sketchbook Roses from The Greetery... you'll see them again soon!  But I HAD TO share this wonderful orange and grey beauty with you today... 

Pinkfresh Studios - Stitched Scalloped Rectangles, and silver baubles

Catherine Pooler: twilight, Bellini, and mandarin spice inks

The Greetery - Pretty Postmarks peeking out from under their roses

Marcia, YOU do indeed make my life more beautiful!  Thanks so much for letting me come play cards, for the yummy lunch, and all the goodies I got to bring home with me!  I think together we couldn't want for another thing - but let's face it, I can't wait to share the next addition, and the next... you get the picture!

Thanks, my friends for hanging in there with me!  See you next time!  But I can't wait another second to see how Marcia put all her creations together into card - let's go!

=] Michele

A day of play with Marcia - foiled again, and again!

My friend Marcia had a big win with a fabulous full-release giveaway recently - it caused us both to take another look at the foiling craze!  Lucky for me, I found a deep discount on the Glimmer Hot Foil machine at Hobby Lobby - then came the learning curve!  We set a date to conquer our fears - I should have known Marcia would have it DOWN by the time she arrived at my door!

Thanks, my sweet generous friend for holding my hand as I got the hang of it, and for bringing all your Pinkfresh goodies to play with!!  Here are the cards I was able to make - and believe me when I say there is a plethora of butterflies still to be used!!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the gorgeous Pinkfresh Studio Butterflies - you know how I feel about those little wonders, right?  This time, foiled in silver.

I found a beautiful place for this one to land - on the PFS

Miss Your Smile set!  I white heat embossed it on lavender card,

then using just a few of the layers from their coordinating stencil set.  All that to coordinate with the inks I added to this gorgeous Big Butterfly!

inks: Catherine Pooler [CP] Mint to Be, Sweet Sixteen, and Bellini

Pastels are usually not my bag, but I love the ethereal feel of this one!

Next up:  I cut a PFS Braided tag, then sliced it in two, top to bottom,

using one of their curved Classic Edgers... voila, a perfect

place for these Small Butterflies to hang out!  and a sweet 

sentiment for a recipient who won't even care if a bit 

if my stamping [PFS Lush Greenery sentiments] went askew!  

Don't you love them foiled in gold?  and stenciled in my favorite color combo!

CP Rouge, Party Dress, Orange Peel, and Tiki Torch

I backed my tag in a raspberry paper, added a few gold pearls, and POW!

Next card, same mix of colors, placed on the round using PFS Braided Circles dies, and a bit of stenciling on the inner circle says floral to me!

A wonderful sentiment from the Small Butterflies set - it says it all!

We were sad to say goodbye to our last little friend this week!  Our numbers

were down this year - only 125!

Then, I had just one little pink and orange butterfly left - found the perfect spot for 

her among a few Lawn Fawn leaves cut from such pretty paper

 [Woodblock Prints PTI], she was fooled into thinking they were flowers!

Pigment Craft Co.'s Hello Autumn  MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles

One Last butterfly - I started this lengthy post with a BIG butterfly, 

so I'll end with another:

This time I went a bit more dramatic with my color palette:

CP Sangria, Orange Twist, Tutti Frutti, and Limoncello!   

A stenciled sunflower for her to rest upon.

The foiling is gold, but the Sweet  part is foiled in copper!

This was my successful first go at foiling onto a cut panel [W&W] - so easy!

A little tape is all you need to remember - thanks Yana!

That was a long one, I know.  Thanks, so very much, if you made it through!!

Thanks again, Marcia - it was a blast foiling with you!  Can't wait for our longer play-days, and to see your cards! xo

=]  Michele