Color Hues #81 and second helpings for FMS623

Stef is our host at Color Hues #81 and I had such fun playing along that I could not wait until Monday to share.

I received this darling Botani-cuts Crocus set from The Greetery for Christmas and knew in a heartbeat it was just the perfect set for a Lilac and Mint challenge!

 The shaped card base was an afterthought - but that dry-embossed oval was

found in my snippets just waiting for this card!

Now.  On the way to that card, there was another attempt - but the greens just were NOT mint-y enough for my liking.  That's okay as it turns out they are just wonderful for second helpings for Freshly Made Sketches #623!

Another oval from my snippets, a bouquet of purple Forget-me-Nots gone rogue from The Greetery, a little lacey edger from PF and all placed on a linen card base.

Both cards feature a sweet little Betterpress-ed sentiment - I always 

keep a stash on hand!

Alright I PROMISE I won't be back [typed using my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice] ... until next week!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #623

I have one more card for you this week ... one I wasn't sure I could even pull off!  I spent Valentine's Day with Marcia for some much-needed calorie-free fun [okay there were calories consumed but more on that later].  Our play included a gift from her other bestie that she graciously shared with me.  However!  It was at the end of our day and my brain was just not functioning ... low sugar?  I tossed all of the die-cut pieces in my travel box and figured I wouldn't even figure out the layers.  Today, I was able to assemble them thanks to that brilliant 'key and arrow' layering guide from Altenew.  

Thanks to Birgit for the paper, and to Marcia for sharing her new Altenew's Bellflower Layering set, a card was born!  For Freshly Made Sketches #623... here is her closeup so you can see how I incorporated Linda's diagonal detail using MFT Stitched Strip and SU linen thread...

These gorgeous colors [except the background which is Craft Consortium - Grunge] are from the BOHO Collection of paper from Scrapbook.com.  The postage dies are

oldies from Wplus9 [rectangle] and Spellbinders' Postage Edge Ovals.

A bit of white gouache splatter to mimic what I'm seeing outside my window, and my week is complete!  

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

=]  Michele

Time Out 10th Birthday Celebration!

Time Out Challenge #257 is all about celebrating their 10th birthday - congratulations to Nonni, and Stephanie who keep things rolling smoothly as Sandie and Nonni did - and to the entire T.O. Team of designers!

During these dark days of Winter, I've spent a little time reacquainting myself with water coloring ... those embossed images recently shared were not the only ones to get some attention.  

Altenew's gorgeous Pristine Peonies were stamped onto cold press watercolor paper in Antique Linen Distress ink and water colored with their 36-pan set.  I wasn't unhappy with the results and thought it would be perfect for a special birthday celebration such as this one!  Here's her closeup:

It's obvious that I need to work on the center a little more next time!

But since brown was used, I also used Betterpress Bark ink to create

my birthday sentiment...

The Time Out team has really pulled out the stops with their birthday cards - you can see them all here - but while you're there, I think you should join the celebration, don't you?

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #88 Reminder

Hello, my friends!  Just a quick reminder that there is still plenty of time

for you to join us as we 'add a heart' to our floral cards this month

at The Flower Challenge #88!

I brought this wonderful bird from Wplus9 back - sometimes we miss that she is perched alongside a gorgeous rose!  I brought my pencils out to color them today...

My card starts with this fun debossed heart panel of the palest pink, then I stamped the bird and her rose onto grey cardstock which took the pencils beautifully.  Before perching her onto my card, I did a little selective fussy cutting so I could add a little slip of vellum to complete the Altenew Ornate nesting frame.

There's one additional heart - see if you can find it!  Then we'd love to invite you to play along - second helpings are always appreciated you know!  Go see all those reminders from our team at The Flower Challenge - you are sure to be inspired!

=] Michele

Two cards for Three challenges!

Another wonderful embossing folder has been added to my ever-growing collection... I used it today for my second card for the February 2024 Altenew Inspiration Challenge.  Kelly's photo was worthy of second helpings!

Even though the colors of the challenge don't include purple, I quickly saw it in that gorgeous mural... Altenew's Pressed Flowers also included those daisies!  

Have you ever tried water coloring an embossed image?  It was easier than

I worried it would be!

I kept the background a lighter shade of grey this time.

Triple B February 2024 and Just us Girls' Word Week and Can you Handle the Pressure have provided the perfect place to share my next card... also a water-colored embossed image from Altenew called Tulip Bouquet with a sweet little 'stamp' from Concord & 9th's Snail Mail set.

I don't know about you, but I love to receive a bouquet of tulips for any occasion!

=] Michele

with the option of red!

Altenew Inspiration Challenge February 2024

It has been a while since I have played in the Altenew Inspiration Challenge - Kelly's gorgeous photo was all the inspiration I needed to play this month!  Check it out:

 

Isn't this fantastic??  Kelly found this mural during a visit to Cincinnati.

We have a local artist who has transformed some of 

the overpasses in our area.  There is also such a mural as this on 

the blank side of a local furniture store here in Norton Shores.  But

none start with this gorgeous charcoal grey.... and you know well that

is all the inspiration I needed, right?

Armed with these inks:

and the latest purchase from Altenew I got to work as soon

as I retrieved that package from the mailbox!

After stamping and stenciling these gorgeous Blooming Delights,

I gave them a quick cut so I could arrange them as I'd like over my

charcoal card base which has been dry embossed with my favorite

Altenew Geo Steps folder:

Thanks, Kelly! and thank YOU for dropping by!

=] Michele

Freshly Made Sketches #622

Jen Mitchell has the cutest Sketch #622 for us at Freshly Made Sketches and their team really made it shine in many ways.  

Here is how it came together in my studio:

This one features a piece of paper I've been hoarding for years - only the best will do for the friend who will receive this little cutie for her birthday!  My little 'arctic' fox is from the HoneyBee Heart Hugs set of dies and the 'ruffle' is an oldie from 

Pinkfresh Studios: Essentials Lacy Edgers.  I tied a slender piece of grey satin ribbon around this panel to represent the band on Jen's sketch.  A few balloons, a sentiment from CCC and my card is complete!

I hope Jen [and the birthday girl] likes it!  

=] Michele