Color Hues #69 - Teal and Orange

Sheri is our host over at the Color Hues Challenge #69 - I think her color choices are perfect for the hottest month of the Summer!  However - I just received an order from The Stamp Market [btw they have the BEST sales ever!] and even though it is a floral that makes more sense for Fall, I couldn't resist getting it inky!

These are the 'teals and oranges' I used for these layered-stamping Chrysanthemums:

I love a set that has outside and inside sentiments - and the dies to cut them!

Hope you've had a chance to play along with Sheri's Hues!  You have plenty of time to play!

Speaking of playing - I had the honor of hosting two of my favorite Color Hues friends last week!  Thanks, Nancy, for spending a day of your Michigan vacation with Marcia and me!

=] Michele

Altenew Inspiration Challenge - August 2023

 

It's August and time for another Altenew Inspiration Challenge!  Let's get up close and personal with that photo Mindy shared, shall we?  

I'm quite sure these are silk, and maybe a few felt flowers - 

what a gorgeous 'forever' bouquet, right?

I took my lead from Mindy's colors and decided my Altenew Hello Beautiful set needed to play today!  So, I stamped them in CP Bellini ink, and colored with a variety of Copics that are a pretty good match...

Then I was drawn to the color of the washed wood in the background of Mindy's photo and found a paper in my stash to replicate it.  Before debossing it, I did a little stenciling with the coordinating stencils in the set using these inks:

Now before you tell me how clever I was to leave one corner open for my sentiment - it was a total mishap in the partial-die-cutting process!  I didn't push my luck with the other corner as you can see!  BUT I did give it a bit of texture using the Altenew Dotted Starburst Debossing Cover die before adding it to my card base.

A few PF jewels and my card was complete.  I hope they like it!  and you do, too!  

I'm also sending this one over to the Double D gals since I used the coordinating stencil, it fits their Altenew Collaboration challenge!  and since I had all those Copics out, I colored another for the Simply Clean & Simple August challenge, too!  Flowers GROW outside and I love tending to them!

If you made it all the way to the end, you're a trooper!  I appreciate you!

=] Michele

Double D Challenge August 2023 - Altenew Collaboration!

If anyone asks me 'who is your favorite company?' Altenew comes to mind!  Turns out I may have a few sets to choose from for my Double D Altenew Collaboration card.  This one jumped right out of the box...

I first stamped two of the bouquets from their Craft-your-Life Project: Casual Bouquets onto 80# Neenah solar white cardstock.  Then came the stenciling using the coordinating stencils and these Altenew inks...

From there it was a matter of arranging and creating my card panel - in this case I cut it using a wonky stitched die from MFT and used those same stamps to add a little interest to the panel.  BTW Altenew always has the most beautiful inspiration in their sets!  I had to substitute the recommended reds but from there it was a breeze to stencil and cut with the coordinating dies!

There are a ton of fun sentiments in this set - do you like the way I overlapped these?  Or does it make it very hard to read?  Here's a closeup, just in case.

I want to thank Double D for the chance to win that wonderful prize from Altenew - this girl has a VERY long wish list that was only made longer by their fab DT!

=] Michele

I was honored to be in the Top 3!

FMS #597 and Peace on Earth Christmas #45

 Jacquie's Sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #597 is so fun - and her

card, and the inspiration at Peace on Earth Challenge #45 inspired me to reach for an older set from Waffle Flower Craft to make my own card - AND add to my Christmas card stash!  How fun is that?

WF The Season, and Greenery dies, PTI Love to Layer: Torn edges dies

You'll notice that Jacquie's Sketch uses vertical and horizontal stripes - I used these stamped stripes from The Stamp Market to indicate them on my card.   How about a closeup of Santa's tattoo...

I was delighted to find a tropical Santa in my stash!!  His sea-shell-boat is a pretty fun substitute for that fabulous sailboat in the Peace on Earth photo!

Thanks for dropping by!

=] Michele

ASD August 2023 Inspiration Challenge

Imagine my delight when this arrived in my inbox:

Another reason to play with all those wonderful Alex Syberia Design products??  YES, please!  

For their August 2023 Inspiration Challenge premier, ASD is asking for a shaker card - I have SO many shaker bits in my stash it's fun to put them to use.  You might remember THIS card - I had all those darling images from the Underwater Wonders set all colored up and ready to play!  I used all the colors from their beautiful prompt.  I cut a circle and blended inks to indicate a sunset, and an ocean.  Here's a closeup so you can see that the circle was then debossed with the ASD Mermaid's Melody cover plate:

A sweet duo of sentiments from ASD Sunkissed Memories and a sunny-snippet, finished my card, and it has already been tucked into an envelope!

Thanks, Alex for creating a challenge - you know how much I love to PLAY CARDS - and I may go in for a double-dip!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #83 August 2023

Hello, my friends!  It's time for another fun challenge from The Flower Challenge!  #83 has us seeing spots or stripes - and I have a very fun way for you to add a few spots to my card today - hmmm or are they splats?  Either way they seemed fitting for my little 'paint brush!'

Spellbinder: Artful Tulip cut from cardstock, and backed with a large label splattered with matching water colors from Altenew's 36 pan set; 

Colorado Craft Co. Color my World sentiment.

Polka dots are a wonderful substitute for my splats - I hope you'll be seeing dots after seeing all the fab DT inspiration over at The Flower Challenge!  We have some sad news, and happy news to share today!  See you there...

=] Michele

Grip Mat winner!

 True to my word, we have a winner!  Tom came up with a very scientific way to choose...

I typed up all the names, snipped, and folded them up -

then Tom tossed them up from above the cup...

and the winner is....

Congratulations, Jeanne!!!  [Tom was also happy because you follow him on IG!]

Thanks, everyone for playing along and leaving me such kind comments!

=] Michele