Monday, March 18, 2024

Second Helpings FMS #627

When Karren said we could use ANY size card for her great sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, I knew I'd have second helpings ... this time a normal A2 size but I gave Karren's sketch a little flip...


A beautiful Narcissus from Altenew over top of lots of white and texture!
Works for me!  Hope it works for them!

=] Michele

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Worth the wait!

I've been waiting and toe-tapping for quite a while for this Spellbinders' Layered Cosmos Betterpress plate and stencil set to be available again - anywhere!  So, when it arrived in my hands on Saturday, I jumped at the chance to use it for the first time with those gorgeous colors at Color Hues challenge #83: Cream and Blue!  The only way I could find to use the cream was to start with a panel of Vintage Cream cardstock from PTI, foil the image in silver, and stencil with two shades of blue.  Here's how it turned out:


Two shades of blue inks:  Distress Oxide - stormy sky and CP Stone Blue... just as I thought might happen the Stone Blue has a more 'aqua' tone to it.  But it does provide a contrast which was my intention.  I brought in just a touch of gray for shading on my leaves and foiled
a pretty sentiment using Altenew's Dainty Flower Garden press plate set.

That dratted foil tried to hide from the camera... here's another look:



Since Winter revisited today in my area, I decided a few Christmas cards were in order.  A big sale at Sizzix recently introduced a few new sets to my stash - also worth waiting a few extra weeks shipping time for!

Any surprise that one features a Poinsettia*?  You know me TOO well!


Here are my inks... and if you look closely at the stamping, you'll see that I used
a silhouette stamp or two with the Oxide inks - stamped on PHOTO glossy paper!


I have the gals at the former CAS Christmas Challenge for this baby wipe technique!


After the Poinsettia is placed over top nobody would ever know how easy these
were to make!  You know my rule - three were done in no time at all!

I do hope that by the time the first day of Spring arrives better weather will stick!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Here's hoping you had nothing but warmth and sunshine in your neighborhood!

=] Michele

Sizzix: 664212

Friday, March 15, 2024

buh, buh, buh Bird is the WORD!

I have a second card for you today ... I'll make this quick as I know you are all getting ready for the weekend!

Just us Girls #718 and Time Out #259 have teamed up for their challenges - what a dynamic duo they are!  It's Word Week at JUGS and BIRD is the word!  Time Out's theme is Birds of a Feather!  I brought out a set from way back in 2016 that continues to make me smile... hope it makes them smile, too!


Is it crazy that I miss hanging out the laundry?  There are so many
Bluebirds that 'flock' when I open the patio door - I'm sure it
would soon be covered by their 'beautiful mess!'
I think it's those walking between the buildings in my urban scene
who need to watch out below!  LOL

Thanks, JUGS and Time Out for giving me a reason to bring these fun Wplus9's Happy Birds out to play again.  Altenew's Masonry Wall embossing folder had its first spin through the machine today!  I did a little 'precision' cutting to create the windowsills from which the clothesline stretches between buildings.  My very appropriate sentiment also comes from Altenew: Crafty Friends... I even found the 'droppings' there!  A few MFT clouds were subtly stenciled in the sky and I used Altenew's Orange Blossom dies to make the trees!

Happy weekend, everyone!  Thanks for hanging out with me this week!
=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #89 Reminder

I hope by now you are all aware that it's HIP to be square - at least it is over at The Flower Challenge #89 - and you have until the 25th of the month to get those cards in our gallery!  


I found another wonderful image from Altenew for my reminder: Book Engravings - stamps, dies, and embossing folder all made it into my cart back during the
inventory reduction sale in December.


I reached for a handful of pretty aquas and greens from my Copic collection:


... then mounted the die cut pieces over top of the embossed image on my 
5" SQUARE card base!


Here's another sentiment from Spellbinders' - A Little Message.

I finished it inside: Big birthdays, deserve BIG wishes!! 

I know just the perfect person with the best sense of humor who will appreciate that one!

Okay!  If you haven't added one or more squares to our gallery yet, you have plenty of time - so what are you waiting for?  Maybe a little more inspiration will help?  You'll find everything you need over at The Flower Challenge blog!

=] Michele

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Freshly Made Sketches #627

I have a very sweet little teacup die from Waffle Flower Crafts to share today - after assembling it, I thought it was a perfect fit for Karren's Sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches #627!  Just what the weatherman ordered on a dark and rainy day!


As you can clearly see, the flowers are all one piece - I simple cut
them from white and used a damp brush and ink to carefully add color.
BTW micropore tape is great for holding it all together on the back.


ANOTHER Betterpress-ed sentiment and eyelet trim from my snippets - even the turquoise Hemstitched oval was found there!  Talk about quick and easy!

I'm enjoying every minute of this rainy day - hope you have a day to play!
=] Michele

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Double D and Four Seasons Spring 2024

Hello, my friends!  I had a little time yesterday for stamping between loads and after seeing the adorable inspiration from Darlene and Diane, Spring flowers won the day!  

I love my Altenew tulips!  I can't resist them year after year!  Today I was feeling peachy - peachy orange-y more like...


My panel of paper was a little off-sized, so I created a secret 
space for an additional sentiment by hinging one side and 
securing it to the top of my card base with double-sided tape.
The other edge was treated to more of that lovely PF edging, and EH
x-stitching.  


I lined up two of the 'eyelets', marked them with a pencil and then used my
poke-y tool to punch through just the top of my card base for some quilting thread.
I'm wondering if the recipient will know there is something behind
'door number one?' lol


My newly planted tulips are peeking out - I only hope they are as pretty as these


For my second card?  I just repeated the inks for these Altenew Narcissus...


Not quite as pretty as those Jonquils in the Four Seasons inspiration photo but
as Farmer Hoggett would say: 'that'll do pig.'


Maybe there will be more stamping today?  Ya think?  I hope your day includes a little stamping - if so, I know D & D would love to have you play along, too!

=] Michele

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Freshly Made Sketches #626

My sweet friend has gone home - I'm going to be mighty lonely tomorrow I just know it! I had a wonderful time and I hope TK did, too!  More from our play day with Marcia, soon!

Yesterday while TK was stamping, I threw together what I 'thought' would be a cute card for Freshly Made Sketches #626... man, I should have taken a photo of Cecile's wonderful Sketch!  I even forgot it was supposed to be a SQUARE!  Oh well.  Here's my card...


This card measures 4 x 7 inches and features a cute CCC set called Birthday Wishing and
a few very old die-cut balloons from SSS cut from very old MFT paper.

Though it can't be seen, I Wink-of-Stella'd the top balloon, and the ribbon on their gift.  

Sorry I didn't have time for second helpings, Cecile - I promise I'll do better next time!
=] Michele