Food coma...

it's real!  But I'm thankful for my friends in The Group of Seven Cardmakers who quite often steer my path back to creativity!  Thanks, ladies!

I have two cards using their current technique: Textured Backgrounds using Die-cuts.  First, I had that wonderful pine branch my friend Bonnie gifted me when I visited her - it was easier to adhere them using SSS Micro Dot sheets as they are so very fine!  Any residual 'stickiness' was dealt with using my powder tool.

I found a pretty foiled sentiment made at Marcia's house long ago

in my sentiment stash - it's foiled in red... I'll show that in a moment!

The set is from The Greetery and called Opposites Attract: Holiday [2021]

There's that red foil - thanks TK for the reminder!! lol

Every single card made by the team was gorgeous, but I loved

Susan's stars and found a nested set in my stash that had not been used this year.

I'm not even sure where I found them, but they are made by Ellentina.

Those stars were making me think of wishes and so wishing I did!

This one in die-cut glittery form is SSS c. 2015!

I think I'll save this one for my granddaughter whose birthday is just

after Christmas!

Thank you to each and every member of The Group of Seven for making my gloomy, cold, and snowy day brighter!

=] Michele

CASE me a Christmas Card with Michelle Lupton

You can't imagine how happy I was to be invited by Michelle Lupton to join her for her 2024 CASE me a Christmas Card event!  Here's how it works:

I had to choose a card from her Instagram gallery to CASE - BUT here is the catch: it is my job to turn one of Michelle's all-occasion/birthday/sympathy cards into a CHRISTMAS card!  Now that all of my Christmas cards are done, it sounded like just the fun I was looking for as I prepare to snuggle in for the Winter! lol

It was quite a dilemma to choose just ONE of Michelle's cards, but here is where my heart landed - linked above to her IG account for your viewing pleasure... pack a lunch as there is SO much to love there - or you can check out her CASE of MY card right HERE on her blog!

Isn't that little gift-giver a sweetheart? 

Now to make it my own while using these design elements:

• Make it a 'dutch door' card meaning only the bottom of the front panel is intact
• Use an adorable stamp/character as the star of the card - Copic colored
• Have a lettered panel on the inside panel
• add a simple sentiment

Here is how I made the 'dutch door' on my card base by 'partial die-cutting' the front panel using a curvy slope die instead of a straight landscape cut ...

The excess was easily cut using my guillotine, and a scissor to finish the cut.

However!  That pesky tape left a mark!

Easy enough to 'partial emboss' it away with my favorite SU subtle texture!

This ADORABLE PB Sweet Sledder made her way into my stash recently -

it was the obvious pick for my card!

We all know how those Copics 'seep through' to the back of

our paper - I simply traced the portion that would be exposed

and added it to the back - easy enough!

I tweaked my 'Letter to Santa c. 1957' to print my lettered panel:

In case you're wondering - Shelly DID get that wished for, prayed for doll -

and I'm quite sure those naughty siblings were spoiled, too!

All the pieces came together, topped by something for that sweet face to look at and a hand-cut sentiment from a very old Clearly Besotted set. 

That lovely tree is one from Sizzix for Tim Holtz topped

with a glittery star from EH.

I won't lie - I'm very happy with my CASE

of Michelle's card!  Hope she likes it, too!

Thanks so much, Michelle, for inviting me to play!  I can't wait to see which

card of mine that you were inspired to CASE!

=] Michele one L

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

It's that [most wonderful] time of year!

It's not a record-breaking performance, but I've written the sentiments, signed and stuffed 195 one-of-a-kind Christmas cards for Bring Smiles to Seniors!  Yay!

2024 will be extra special as this year, I'm hand-delivering these to two assisted living centers in my very own community - if only I could be present when each one is opened! 

Now, I have plenty of time to get those holiday cards I send to family and friends ready for the post!  

A few weeks ago, I shared a new stencil from Alex Syberia but haven't shared the die set I added to my stash: Whimsy Blooms Bouquet!  Here are the first cards made using this fun set - two styled as Mistletoe:

I only wish I owned that SU! Dashing Designs embossing folder - but I know just where to

go to make a few more as needed - Thanks, Marcia!

The debossed detail on this card base is using ASD's Mermaid's Melody

cover plate on PTI Scarlet cardstock.

I'm sure you will all 'get it' when I tell you the final push to 

buy this set was that gorgeous bow.

Okay, the blooms are darling - yes, whimsical - too!

The 'dots' are another cover plate from ASD: Tiny Dots.

Speaking of Mistletoe - one more... Marcia brought me the sweetest little PB set for my birthday!  Thanks tons my sweet friend! [btw I now have the die, too!]

I found this embossed C&9th Juniper panel in my stash -

let's just say it steered my coloring today.

That PB Classy Frame has really had a workout - I love it!

I'll be back soon - until then, stay crafty my friends!

Michele

Penny Black on Saturday Challenge reminder!

Me again! lol Just a quick post to tell you that we're thrilled to see all the 'scenes' you've made for the November Penny Black on Saturday Challenge!  I have a cute reminder for you - so many PB stamps... so many scenes possible!

This time my scene shows these Copic-colored PB's Cuddle Up cuties have a Christmas card to post - looks like they've had plenty of snow, but they don't mind a bit as they are bundled up very well and sweetly! 

Supporting Products:

PB Double Frames

PB Music Background [on card base and first frame] with Delicata Silver ink

Wplus9's Vintage Ephemera [on upper frame] also in silver ink

HoneyBee: Pinstripes & Polka Dots pp

PB Cuddle Up sentiment in a Pinkfresh Studio label die

The Greetery: Drifting [snow] die

You have plenty of time to make a card or two to share - remember that scene is an optional thing!  We can't wait to see you in the Penny Black on Saturday Challenge gallery!

Thanks for stopping by - and thanks again to the PBSC team for the honor of being their November 2024 Guest Designer!

=] Michele

The Flower Challenge #97 Reminder

There's still plenty of time to get those FLORAL thank you cards made to share

with us before delivering it to your Thanksgiving hostess!  Wait.  If you're cooking, I hope someone will deliver their thanks to YOU!

I promised I'd use that 'leftover' panel of curry paper - after all, 'leftovers' are

the best part of Thanksgiving!  I softened the look with a slip of vellum:

But I just couldn't bear to cover much of it - it is a THANKS challenge!

This old SSS Sunflower outline die was just the ticket!

I finished it off with a sentiment that was gifted to me by my friend Nora - I stamped it in Versafine Tuxedo black and fussy-cut it!

Okay, friends.  I'm off to see if YOU have added your own 

thank-you card to our gallery!

BTW there's much to be thankful for in our team reminder gallery, too!

Michele

How do you bring light to a gloomy day?

The view outside my studio window is pretty gloomy - 

A little game of 'where's Waldo' with Mr. Cardinal helped bring a smile...

Did you find him?

This gives me the perfect opportunity to share that I discovered the 'culprit' with

linking my card the other day... it was the TITLE or FILE NAME of my photo!

Yep, take it from me: do not use punctuation in your file names - one lousy 

little apostrophe caused a great big headache with that Linky Tool! lol

I decided to embrace the day with an all-neutral card made with another birthday gift from a very dear friend - Concord & 9th's Autumn Inlay had been on my list

for a while... thank you for giving it a tick sweet friend!

The sentiments here are from Pigment Craft Co.'s Split Sentiments: Autumn.

a smattering of gold paint brought all the light it needed - see if you agree...

When my world gets a little too dreary, all it takes is a very white, beautifully bright CAS card to brighten my world.  Every year I make some iteration of this card, but today's is especially for Jen T. at Freshly Made Sketches #662!

A few old favorite dies from EH backed by a brand-new embossing folder

Bark from Simon Hurley for Spellbinders!  

This sentiment from The Ton allows

me to share it with Just us Girls: Word Week JOY!

Thanks for dropping by today - your kindness always shoos that gloom away!

Michele