One Layer Colour Splash

Hello!

I love colour challenges with one or two colours, and this week there are TWO challenges with this theme. The restriction of using a single colour (plus neutrals) gets the creative juices flowing and I just love the effect.

I used MFT Delicate Pretty Poppies and coloured with Copics.

I'm entering this into ColourQ

I'm also entering Color Throwdown

and last, but not least, I'm entering One Layer Simplicity where the theme is Friends

Thank-you for coming by to visit me!

Michelle

xxx

Fusion - Orange and Black

Hello!

Our inspiration for the new Fusion Card Challenge has lots of black and orange. While it is a Halloween inspiration photo, I've used only the colour scheme and the sketch for my card.

I used PTI Hello Foxy and Scripted stamps.

At first I didn't think I would be able to use the sketch. Layered sketches scare me. It turns out I could use it, and I love it!

I hope you're inspired to join us! I'm looking forward to seeing the gallery!

Edit to join in at ColourQ also

Michelle
xxx

Exploring Modern Beadwork

Hello!

I had a package take the slow boat to Australia recently. Most of the time the mail between US and Australia takes two to three weeks, this time it was five or six weeks. Every single day was an agony of anticipation awaiting two new stamp sets that I was extremely eager to try out! Today I sat down to play with the first of the two sets! Yay!

The stamp set used here is Modern Beadwork by Altenew. I have only just begun with this set... the possibilities are endless!

For this first card I took inspiration from this week's Colour Q Challenge - the colours as well as the picture.

Then I moved on to a Scandinavian cross stitch influence to create this next card. I need to play around with the patterns I can create, because this Scandinavian theme has some promise!

And for the last card, I moved back to American Indian theme. I created a feather. Can you see it?

Oh, I am going to have some fun with this set!

I am also joining in with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme this week is Anything Goes.

Thanks for coming to visit! :-)

Michelle
xxx

Colour Q 216 - Birthday Balloons!

Hello!

It was my brother's birthday recently. He and his lovely partner also had a new baby. My baby nephew was arriving over the time of my brother's birthday, and so in the excitement I forgot to make and send a card! Oops! It's okay. I'm now going to send my brother's card and the baby card all together, so they can have a double celebration. ;-) I'm celebrating like crazy here! My brother lives in London, England, so my new nephew is a LONG way away from me. It may be a good thing, otherwise I may just be smothering him in too much love right now. He's pretty gorgeous! I cannot wait to meet him when he comes with his parents to visit me next year. :-)

Back to the card. This is my brother's birthday card.

I used Mama Elephant Party Kit stamps. The sentiment is PTI. The dies are Mama Elephant Femme Frames. Colours are SU! Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue.

I took my colour inspiration from this week's Colour Q colours.

We've had a busy week-end here. My daughter's swim club hosted an A-Grade meet yesterday. It was a fun day! My daughter swam two PBs and made me proud, as always. Tonight we are having our pizza night instead of last night. The pizzas are cooking right now, and my house smells heavenly. I love pizza night!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

So Grateful

Hello!

Here I am at the end of a long week-end, at the end of a very hot day (36 degrees), where I have spent some quality time lazing around with my hubby and kids. :-) We swam in the pool, which was the perfect temperature to cool us off but at the same time not too cold. This afternoon I snuck to my craft desk and made a card, just so that I had actually made A card somewhere near World Cardmaking Day, LOL!

I used PTI Lovely Layers stamps. Colours are SU! Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Cool Cabana.

This card is in response to two challenges. The sketch comes from CAS(E) This Sketch

and the colours come from Colour Q

Now, I'm thinking I ought to go and start thinking about dinner for the family and getting the kids ready to return to the last term of school tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #151 and ColourQ #199

Hello!

I had a non-stop day today. Mostly housework, which is not finished due to the huge need for a big spring clean! I also took my daughter to an eisteddfod where she played her violin beautifully. She always amazes me. I was always able to play my piano beautifully in the privacy of my home but would crumble during performance. My daughter can have us wondering if we should actually take her along to her performances, and blossoms as soon as her feet hit the stage. AMAZING.

Tonight I bring you a card for CASE Study #151 where Jocelyn Olson is the muse. Jocelyn makes the most amazing cards, and I couldn't resist playing along. While I used Jocelyn's awesome layout, I changed the colours and used the colour scheme from ColourQ #199.

I used Hero Arts Zig Zag background stamp, PTI Sentiment Signs, and PTI Ruby Rose. Colours are SU! Really Rust, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, and Hero Arts Soft Cantaloupe.

Now, I must go and get some sleep. More housework tomorrow, and I'm taking my little girl to her friend's birthday party.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

ColourQ #195

Hello!

This week at work we said farewell to one of our colleagues. Cue the need for a good-bye card, one that was big enough for us all to write our thank-yous. Our colleague is going to continue studies and embark on a new career path, completely different and completely exciting! I wanted to reflect that in this card.

I used Papertrey Ink Snowflake Flurries and Hero Arts Bicycle stamps. Colours are SU! Orchid Opulence, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, and Memento Grey Flannel.

I took the colour scheme from this week's ColourQ Challenge. So pretty!

Skip this bit if you don't want to hear me moaning... I have come down with a horrible cold. My throat and chest are raw. My whole body aches. Wah! I spent the afternoon in bed. Once my kids are in bed, I'll be back in my own quick smart. Wishing my hubby was home from his work travels already. :-(

Thanks for visiting.

Michelle
xxx

Just Smile!

Hello!

I have had the most wonderful day! This morning was the usual round of gymnastics drop-off and collection, mixed in with grocery shopping, filling the car with petrol, and picking up some essentials like Winter pyjamas for my big girl who has grown out of all of her warm woolies and is finding the cold nights a bit difficult to bear (oops!). This afternoon we went visiting and had a long lunch at our friends' new home at the Gold Coast. They live in heaven, surrounded by trees, and yet only a few minutes from the beach. Heaven. We had a great afternoon of friendship and laughter. :-) The weather was nice to us, and even though it was a bit chilly, the blue skies were amazing!

So to celebrate, I used my last few minutes before bedtime to make a card, yay!

I used PTI stamps - Teach & Inspire (chevrons), Heart-2-Heart #10 (butterflies), and Framed Out #3 (sentiment). Colours are SU! Poppy Parade, Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Gumball Green. 

I used the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch #33.

I also used the colours from ColourQ Challenge #194, which are such fresh and happy colours.

Tomorrow I am planning to run away to my craft desk for a couple of hours. Wish me luck in this little plan. ;-)

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Birthday, Ardyth!

Hello!

Today is Ardyth's birthday! And I was invited to the party! If you would like to join in, you can too! The party is being hosted by my friend Darnell, who is one of the sweetest ladies in the card blogging world.

I am lucky enough to have made friends with Ardyth. We met here, in blogland. I think I was probably one of her first followers, and I still adore everything she creates. Recently she did some naughty enabling by sending me a recipe for Turtles (aka Sweet Georgia Browns). Oh, they are BAD!!! In case you want to make these super-sweet caramel chocolate pecan treats for yourself, here is the LINK.

Happy Birthday, Ardyth!!

The idea was that we were to CASE Ardyth. Well, I did, sort of. I went over to Ardth's Pinterest boards and decided on bright colours, repeated words, and super-CAS. I ended up with a mix of Ardyth and me, LOL!

I used the colour scheme from this week's ColourQ Challenge #191.

I also found, while visiting Ardyth, that she is hosting her own birthday party at One Layer Wednesday. And we are invited to make a card that we think she would like. How cool, I already made one!

Ardyth, I hope you have a fabulous day!

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink April Blog Hop

Hello!

I've been without Internet for two days now. I apologise in advance for the quality of this post, I'm mobile blogging on my iPhone and I'm certainly no expert at that! My photo was even taken and edited on the phone. I can't see so well to know what it really looks like, LOL! This screen is a little too small for my ageing eyes.

I'll also apologise up front here for not leaving comments while the Internet is down, commenting on the iPhone is not great for me. I think I might need an iPad, what do you think? ;-)

Today's card is for the Papertrey Ink blog hop. I'll come back and add the links to my post, I promise!

I have used the colours from ColourQ #186.

Thanks for visiting. I hope to be back up to full speed soon.

Michelle
xxx

Collage Colour

Hello!

Second post for the day. I just made a card for Make It Monday #110, and I didn't want to delay, just in case I miss the deadline! This week the technique is collage elements. At first glance, I didn't think I'd be able to do this technique. My brain has a hard time when too many elements get added all together. It turns out that I can reconcile lots of elements with my CAS-loving brain! Yay!

We have another overcast day here today, and using my light to take the photo has exploded the colour a bit. No amount of editing would bring it back to being quite as pretty as it is in real life (I'm very sad about this, because this card is super pretty). Just imagine that the bright coral is slightly less bright...

I used PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday, Text Style II, Strawberry Patch, Heart-2-Heart #10, Turning a New Leaf. Colours are PTI Berry Sorbet, SU! Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede. Dies are PTI H2H#10, and Filigree Border.

I used the colour scheme from ColourQ #183.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

A pocketful of candles (CQC181 and CTS20)

Hello!

Today it is hot. I'm wondering when Autumn will decide to arrive. I'm about to melt! I keep looking at those beautiful snowy Spring photos from everyone in the USA and Europe, who are wondering when the heat will arrive, and I think we should swap!

Today I bring you this card.

I used a WPlus9 die Love Notes, SU! Create a Cupcake stamps, Studio Calico brad. Colours are SU! Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I made the card in response to two challenges. ColourQ #181

and CAS(E) This Sketch #20

Last night I attended my daughter's Swim Club Presentation Night. It was the end of the competitive swim season for the kids who aren't going on to the Nationals. They were presented their trophies by the Olympic Swimmers from our club. We have ten of them, yes TEN Olympic swimmers in our one club. Our little kids are blessed to have such amazingly talented team mates swimming alongside them.  The end of the competitive season doesn't mean an end to swim training. They get the month of April off, but then it is back into the pool all the way through Winter until the comp season starts up again in Spring.

This photo is my daughter collecting her Club Night trophy from Mitch Larkin (who is one of her favourite swimmers).

Thanks for coming to visit me!

Oh, I meant to mention, if you would like to follow me on Facebook, I have set up a page for Amusing Michelle. I haven't quite figured out exactly what I'm doing there yet. I'm definitely sharing cards, but I hope to make it something a little more than that... feel free to come along for the journey while I work it all out. :-)

Michelle
xxx

One card, three challenges

Hello!

Just a quick hello today. I have snuck to my craft desk in between housework and going out for a friend's birthday. I might start running late any moment now... depending how fast I can type!! ;-)

I made this card.

I used Jane's Doodles Pretty Peonies and Mama Elephant So Breezy stamps. Colours are Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Cameo Coral, Early Espresso, Primrose Petals (I don't have Cherry Cobbler or anything like it), and PTI Fresh Snow.

I entered into three challenges.
The colour scheme comes from ColourQ #179.

The card design comes from two different inspirations. Julie Ebersole's card at CASE Study #131

and Laurie Willison's card at MUSE #7.

I love both Julie and Laurie, so I couldn't resist joining in!

Thanks for coming by to visit! I hope to be back tomorrow with more cards to share. :-)

Michelle
xxx

ColourQ #161 and Retro Sketches #35

Hello,

I whipped up a quick card this afternoon. This is it.

My card is based on Retro Sketches #35 where the sketch is based on one of Jen Wills' cards (which I loved, and which I have not done justice in any way here...)

The colours came from this week's ColourQ Challenge #161.

Now I must run and do the school pick-up!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

Happy Wedding Day!

Hello!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of some very good friends. They had the ceremony at their beautiful home in Mapleton, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, with a view right out to the ocean. They managed to obtain special dispensation from the church to have their priest perform a full catholic mass at their home. It was beautiful. This is the view from their deck, in real life the view is about 300 degrees of gorgeous countryside.

So that is the prelude to these two cards. I made two cards for my husband to choose from (these friends were his first). They used the same design, just a couple of different colour schemes. For the layout I CASEd Debby Hughes (I just love her CAS style).

One card I made using The Play Date Cafe Challenge #152

Coincidentally, the image for the colour scheme was wedding themed. :-)

Stamps and dies are PTI Pretty Peonies. Colours are SU! Basic Black and Perfect Plum. Black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black.

The other card, I made using ColourQ #157

I used PTI Pretty Peonies stamps and dies. SU! Eastern Blooms. Colours are SU! Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Black, Memento Grey Flannel, PTI Berry Sorbet. I also embossed the pink panel with PTI Linen.

Thanks for coming by to look at my cards!

Michelle
xxx

CAS happy in black

Hello!

Whew! I've had a busy week-end this week-end. I have managed to squeeze one more card out of my limited time. I really didn't want to miss the opportunity to enter these three challenges. Too often I miss out because I run out of time, despite feeling inspired!

This is my card.

I used SU! Basic Black and Crumb Cake card. Ink is Real Red and Certainly Celery. Stamps are PTI -  Happy Hexagons (sentiment) and Flower Fusion #11. Twine is Twinery Maraschino (the twine is where I get the white for the colour challenge!). Embossing Folder is Swiss Dots. And dies are PTI - Flower Fusion and Mat Stack #3.

It is really difficult (for me) to photograph black cards! The card in real life actually looks black, and that red is really Real Red, I promise!

I am entering CAS-ual Fridays #62 which asks for a black card base.

My colour combination comes from ColourQ #146 which is too yummy to resist!

And last, but not least, I am entering CASology #2. I missed the inaugural challenge because I ran out of time. I didn't want to miss the second one. My card is a HAPPY birthday card. :-)

Okay, perhaps I'll sneak one more card out of the week-end if I can get the kiddies into bed early enough tonight!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx