Second helpings!

It's been an age since I've made second helpings for a challenge - but 'tis the season, and I MIGHT be warming up my appetite for Thanksgiving dinner! tee hee.

If you look really closely, you'll spot my inspiration in the center-left

of this fabulous moodboard from JUGS#754...

Of course, it was the red ribbons and white packages that drew 

me in... but look again and you'll see I found a way to

add the 'puffy jacket' of the little girl, too!

This big Bowtied die from Sizzix hadn't gotten enough of a workout this year.

This one was mounted on a very old Neat and Tangled tag.

This time, instead of 'blending' the shadows, I cut this one from two

shades of red cardstock.  I love the CAS-ness of this one on a panel of white

edged with PTI's Elegant Edgers: Snowflakes then faux stitched onto my card base.

Both sentiments are from The Ton's Easy Expressions: Holiday set.

Okay, playtime is over... that laundry is calling my name and I'm late getting it started!

=] Michele

Just us Girls #754

After all that silliness with Buddy - yes, I did watch Elf on TBS last night - it was time to get serious about the gorgeousness found in the moodboard at Just us Girls #754.  Oh boy, did I have a hard time choosing which bit to use as it ALL inspired me, Carol Mc!  Take a look:

I hadn't created any gingerbread houses yet this year - or a grand ginger-hotel.  Hope this one doesn't have anyone thinking 'the Overlook.'

My snowy hill was inspired by the whipped cream; of course, the

ginger house sitting on the edge of the cup - but I already made that card.

The grey of those leggings drove the color of my car and the lovely

red ribbons on those packages were the inspiration for decor.  It all made me happy for that Concord & 9th Over the Rooftops set.

I even managed to fit ALL of Santa's reindeer - including that 

red-nosed guy leading the pack!

Looks like there would be room for all of us crafters - who's in?

=] Michele

My other favorite Elf!

 I promise to make this quick... have you watched Elf yet this season?  I plan on a viewing every year!  And with that...

For Jen M. at Freshly Made Sketches #663

You'll appreciate that it took me most of the day to bring it to life! LOL

=] Michele

A new Poinsettia!

You will all be so proud of me...I only bought one new Poinsettia this year to add to my collection... Ms. Debby Hughes provided some beautiful inspiration for that purchase!  I'll link her card HERE.

With a bit more time on my hands these days, I will continue to make Christmas cards... maybe one or two a day?  I'd love to fulfill the number needed for the Seniors who live in my area next year.  

Here are my first two using SSS Poinsettia Swag - can you wrap your head around an orange Poinsettia?  This time I stamped the image in Gina K Skeleton Leaves Amalgam ink onto Canson cold-press watercolor paper.  

I found a beautiful Betterpress plate [SB Poinsettia Corner] in my stash that so well

matches this swag that I used it to deboss my background

panel... here's a better view of that:

The sentiment is from the SSS set and I treated myself to the coordinating dies 

and a bit of splattering fun in Debby's honor with white gouache and gold.

The gals at Four Seasons might like the color of Fall!

If orange doesn't tickle your fancy, here is a traditional red!

Stamped in SSS Fossil ink on Canson cold-press watercolor paper:

... and the inks I used to watercolor them, left off the splatters, but cut

the panel down using a stitched rectangle from PF.

I won't lie - this is a very detailed image and a Poinsettia that has the most petals I've ever seen!  But really beautiful.  Hope you think so, too!

=] Michele

Color Hues #99!

Another color challenge?  Yes, please!  This Color Hues #99 and a sweet color combo from my friend Marcia who is our hostess with the most-est this time! BONUS: my sweet friend Bonnie is the newest member of the CH team - congratulations, Bonnie!

Although the combo doesn't really sing Winter or Christmas, I had two friends

who were not ready to get put away, and they proved me wrong!  

They said 'Let's play' so play we did!

A plain old piece of pink, and a paper pad from HoneyBee, provided all the pink and aqua a girl could need for her Spellbinder friends.  A little embossing on the

pink [cut first then emboss], and glossy accents on the aqua bulbs were just enough glitz to pair with that glittery star that topped the tree bear.

Okay.  Say 'see you next year', my Festive Friends!

And I'll see YOU all soon, too!

=] Michele

Color Throwdown #820 Featured Stamper!

Imagine how thrilled I am to be playing cards with Color Throwdown this week as their Featured Artist for THIS card!

Hello again, my friends!  I am getting more and more comfortable using color on my cards and I have my friends at Color Throwdown to thank for it.  Each week we are given a new trio of colors - and some pretty incredible photos to be inspired by, too.

What's my dilemma each week?  Which set do I use!  SO many sets from my [huge] stash of products will do nicely for Color Throwdown #820:

My floral-loving eye was drawn to all those lovely Fall flowers.  So, I picked a few Copic markers and went to work using a lovely swag from Wplus9 ...

I may be a bit obsessed with my newest Bark embossing folder

from Simon Hurley for Spellbinders'   

Just look at that detail!

I skipped that original choice of sentiment for this little sentiment strip from my

stash - it left nearly all those flowers showing.

What do you think about the 'kraft' tones on the leaves?  Gosh, I do love neutrals.

Know what else I love?  This guy... Spellbinders' Small Die: October 2024

Hey!  I used TWO shades of rust, and that amber plaid with

tons of kraft card both embossed [SSS Fall Foliage] and 

die-cut [Gina Marie Designs - remember that day, Marcia?]

I sent both of my card photos to Susie at Color Throwdown - let's go see which one she picked!  While you're there, check out all the amazing cards from their talented team and why not play along?  I'll be watching for you!

Thanks a ton, CTD!

=] Michele

Love those Pretty Papers Fall: November 2024

Just a quick little post with a card made with Spellbinders' Woodland Tales 6x6 paper pack.  Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with the paper as it is thinner than I like. BUT, after playing with those stackable 3D characters from Marcia a few weeks ago, I put my thinking cap on and just had to use this guy... probably the reason I bought the pad in the first place!

There are two sheets of each design included in the pack.

One was cut to 4 1/8" by 5 1/4" - I fussy-cut out the fox from the second

and glued him to a sheet of Hammermill paper - heavy enough to give him stability, and thin enough to cut without my hand cramping - hey, it's a thing!

I mounted the hand cut fox over the top using foam squares and

was happy with the 3D effect I had hoped for!

I added some script with Delicata Silver ink which added a lovely bit

of shimmer to the paper.  A sentiment strip from my stash, and another left 

over from tomorrow's card was lifted in the same manner as the fox. 

Three pretty grey enamel dots topped it off.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to deliver this one over to 

Love those Pretty Papers: Fall 

Michele