The Flower Challenge #55 - Pretty Pastels!

 

I had so much fun making my design team card for April's challenge - I made two!  But you'll have to wait until the 15th to see the other!  For today, take a peek at my Pretty Pastels for The Flower Challenge #55...

A new to me set from Pinkfresh Studio - Floral Notes, were stamped with

Copic-friendly Catherine Pooler ink, colored with the Copics below, and then 

re-stamped with Versa Clair nocturne ink.

After cutting with the coordinating die, I placed it on a slimline card in a wonderful pastel shade card stock - Grapesicle! a favorite of a friend of mine who just had to share!  With the cuts from the MFT line of card stock, I hope she doesn't regret it!  

My front panel was given a bit of texture with my SU subtle texture embossing folder - yes, I did have to go from both ends - you can hardly tell, that folder is so forgiving.  I also found a few pretty pastel enamel dots in my stash!  Bonus!

TFC is being sponsored by Varadashma.com with a gift code of $10 for digital stamps in her shop for the winner this month.  They have provided some of the team with digital stamps to use. 

That's it for me - our TFC team will be checking out which pastel shades 

you will choose from your favorite colors !  and we have the lovely Keia as our guest

this month - wait until you see all the gorgeousness!

See you in the #TFC55 gallery!

=]  Michele

Just another Friday Fun-day!

Hello my friends - hope your week was wonderful, and you're looking forward to Easter!   

Are you as overwhelmed as I am with all the releases lately?  I wouldn't have the budget to 'have it all!'  But I sure am loving all that I'm seeing.  Besides, I had such a lovely bunch of new goodies in March that none of them got the attention they really  deserved.  So today, I'm revisiting those from Pigment Craft Company.  Then I'll take a peek to see all the wonderful new things Ivana has in store for us in her April release!

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments [but if you're a 'no-reply' blogger, also leave an email address] - for today, I'll just share my cards!  

I've brought out my Concord & 9th inks today.  First up, my favorites, for a masculine hello...

then, a pretty feminine bit of no-line coloring with Copics ... 

the stencil, jewels and circle die are from Pinkfresh!

... how about a 'wall paper' design with dozens of tiny little blooms, and one big Hello!

the teensy tag is one from W&W - sadly no longer open.

I'm sending this one over to Color Hues #15 - they're looking for:

Lastly, so many fun things to say,  so little time!  [is it me, or do you also imagine those little blooms like Pac Man munchers!]

That's it for my Friday - hope you have a fun day today, and a wonderful weekend, too!

=]  Michele

Inspired By #168 - I carrot about Spring

 

I am so inspired by the colors of this gorgeous 'carrot shaped' bouquet - now you might think I'd turn to my Altenew carrots, but think again!

I was immediately transported to Mexico, where our

wonderful Monarchs gather for the Winter!  We would love to go there someday

to witness them in all their glory - until then, we'll keep 'growing' a few

to add to their numbers, and are awaiting their arrival in June.

Wanna see my card?  You thought I'd never shut up ask...

A very old MFT set of butterflies + Altenew's Leaf Canopy

 Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide ink , and the gorgeous C&9th Parsley paper, 

are a match made in Heaven!

And all these luscious Catherine Pooler inks - so vibrant!

It was high time I got my father in law's hammer back out -

after 4 years it's still hard to believe he's gone... miss you, dad.

This technique adds just a teensy bit of interest without

detracting your eye from the focal point.

A little white-on-parsley sentiment label, and a smattering of clear PPP sequins 

were added before the final shot.

Okay, it's high time I send you over to the Inspired By #168 to see how 

my teamies were inspired - thanks for stopping by!  and I hope we

inspire you to play, too!

=]  Michele

Here is a look at those gorgeous Monarch's on PBS - just highlight, right click,

and click 'go to webpage' ... I've watched it a gazillion times!

 

https://youtu.be/lWOySU_hAz0 

Altenew Old & New Favorites!

Every few years, I have to bring out an old favorite stamp set from Altenew called Farmers Market- it's fun, playful and I just can't stop with those carrots!  

Using old favorites in a new way?  come to find out, right now, there is a Challenge for that from the Altenew Educators who are hopping with all their own old favorites!

You can see my older cards here and here but this is my newest version, using some Altenew patterned paper, from Celebrations, that looks like I did some natural die inking... this was so much easier, and far less messy!

Inside sentiment reserved, wink!

There is that new favorite Rounded Rectangle Die again - 

definitely one of my NEW favorites!

I love that Altenew had all the right colors in their enamel dot collection.

Do YOU have an old favorite from Altenew that gets used time and time again?  Why not join in the fun?  You have until April 5th!

=]  Michele

Altenew:

Farmer's Market stamp and die combo

Celebrations patterned paper

Enamel dots

Waffle Flower's Celebrating- Challenge Week 4 - Theme Birthday

A really quick post for this afternoon - I have a certain group that wants to be HERD!!

Happy birthday to EWE!!

=]  Michele

Pinkfresh Anemone Magic washi revisited!

There are tons of new things coming from Pinkfresh Studios today - yay!  But I'm a firm believer in using what you have first, in as many ways as one can!  So I am revisiting my Anemone Magic washi!

I love all the colors, and the bit of bling on this washi tape - it's beautiful!  But I was interested in knowing what would happen to those colors if I adhered it to something other than white card stock - you're about to find out!

First up: Navy -

Mounted on navy embossed panel - I toned down the glamorous side of this washi 

by using a more modern die-cut sentiment and enamel dots.

Next on vellum:

The vellum I used was 40# weight, so it took the washi beautifully.

Okay, you had to know this was coming... grey!

Do you remember that fun grey Poinsettia I made over the Winter?  My base panel here is

the remnant!  You'll see it's missing a few well-thought out negative spaces.  The Anemone

washi was adhered to the medium grey cardstock peeking out, not the darkest of the sentiment strip.

and yes, I do have several shades of grey besides these three!!

I also wanted to use some of the smaller arches that are part of that fabulous washi - so here is another look at those, adhered to white...

And now, my friends, I go back to my regularly scheduled loads of Monday fun!  Hope you have a fabulous start to your week ... see you again soon!

=]  Michele

Navy:  Anemone Magic washi, MFT After Midnight card stock, Altenew Modern Squares 3D embossing folder, Pigment Paper Company Dashing Sentiments stamps, and dies, Gina Marie matte white enamel dots.

Washi:  Anemone Magic washi, PF Braided Circles, Pigment Paper Co. Dashing Sentiments stamps, and dies, Lake card stock from Wplus9

Grey:  MFT card stock in steel, cement, and  grout greys.  [the pierced panel was a gift from my friend Lisa - thank you!] 

White:  Washi, PF Diagonal Stitched Plaid cover plate and Braided Circles, and Essential Jewels [still unavailable - maybe in April according to their team - you can sign up to receive notification]

Inspired By #167 - Spring into color!

 

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but mine is still feeling a bit chilly for tulips - that doesn't mean they weren't blooming in my craft studio, however!  Meet my paper garden... all for Inspired By #167!

Man alive, I must be ready for Spring - there's never been so much color on my blog!

Look at these tulips closeup, then check out all the inks I used!!  

More than I've used all year! lol

I'm happy to be sharing this card with The Library Challenge #79:

There is a wonderful Dutch Tulip Festival here

in Holland, Michigan!

With bling, to boot!!

I sure hope you're looking forward to Spring - or maybe it has already SPRUNG where you live?  All the better to be INSPIRED to play along!!!

See you in the gallery!  Now let's go see what my IB teamies have planted, shall we?

=]  Michele

SSS Slimline Scallop Shaker frames - thanks again Barb E.

Altenew Exotic Tulips and dies

Pinkfresh essential jewels