Blingy New Year!

Hello!

I know, we have a little more time until we reach the new year, but I have a couple of challenges I wanted to play along with, and the deadlines are looming. ;-)  I'm playing with my new stamps from Mama Elephant - Flashy Letters - Aren't they marvellous? So are those snowflake fireworks (PTI Snowflake Flurries)!

I have been inspired by a few different challenges in creating this card. Firstly was the colour scheme from Dynamic Duos.

Then the theme at CAS-ual Fridays and 10 Minute Craft Dash, who are running a joint challenge this week. I didn't make the 10 minute time limit. It turns out that adding glitter to the dots in the lettering takes a long time, and then when I decided to add a strip of glitter, all was lost, LOL!

And lastly, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge calls for us to Bling It On! In real life, my card is BLINGY. :-)

Thanks for dropping by! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #80

Hello!

I'm joining in with Dynamic Duos this week. I couldn't stay away! :-)  And what's this? They have three colours? Uh oh! They're calling it the "Triple Threat" week. I'm not sure how I feel about this... LOL!

My card uses my new Mama Elephant Party Kit stamps again. I can see this set being a new favourite. I made this card for my brother's partner. Her birthday is just around the corner, and I have actually sent the card, so I think it may just arrive on time (depending on Australia Post and Royal Mail both working properly). I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, but if she does... Happy Birthday! :-)

Stamps are Mama Elephant Party Kit and So Breezy. Dies are Mama Elephant Femme Frames. Colours are SU! Pretty in Pink, Primrose Petals, and Old Olive.

Just a quick one tonight. I'm hoping to get to bed early. Although, I'm so behind with my "end of school year" tasks that I probably should work through the night!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Thank You So Much

Hello!

It's my first week-end for a very long time where I am not on any design teams. This means that my crafting time was spent just wandering around seeking inspiration from current challenges, and working just for now, not for a week or two in advance. ;-)

This card is made for Cards for Cath at Moxie Fab World, where yesterday we received the devastating news that Cath Edvalson has posted her last post. I'm having a hard time coming to terms with the news. Cath's advice to papercrafters, her constant inspiration, and her positive and fun attitude have been mainstays of my papercrafting world. So, for all of this, I say THANK YOU SO MUCH, Cath! If I had a chicken stamp, I would have made you a chicken card. ;-)

I used SSS Flower Friend. Paper is PTI. Card is SU! Basic Black, Real Red, and Whisper White. Ink is SU! Real Red and PTI Hawaiian Shores.

The sketch I took from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

The colours I took from Dynamic Duos, because I'm having withdrawals from being on the DT. The new DT is AMAZING, so I can't be too sad about it! :-)

Edit to add: I'm also linking up to Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.

And now, I can hear my family having fun in the pool, so I think I shall go and join them!

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #76

Hello!

Well, the day has arrived, my last day on the Design Team at Dynamic Duos Challenge <sob!>. I am going to miss being on this team so, SO much. Lesley and Anne Marie are so easy work work for, and the rest of the ladies on the team are so fabulous! It's been fun and I've loved every single minute. Meeting my weekly commitments has been a huge pleasure. I've made friends that I hope to keep. I'm going to feel lost for a little while, I think. I may need to join in at the challenges (since Dynamic Duos was always one of my favourite challenges anyway!)

This week's challenge happens to fall on my hubby's birthday, so my card was made for him. His favourite colour happens to be purple, so it was wonderful that this week's colours are Perfect Plum and Wisteria Wonder. The story of how I came up with the card's design is - I found a card over on Jen Rzasa's blog that she used a sketch by Maile Belles from a Studio Calico challenge. I loved the sketch, and wanted to use it straight away, so I did. ;-)

I used PTI Sending My Love stamp. Colours are SU! Perfect Plum and Pale Plum.

I also made a second card, still CAS, but a different style.

I used PTI Pretty Peonies and Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banners. As well as Perfect Plum and Pale Plum, I used PTI Soft Stone.

The Dynamic Duos team celebrating our last week are:

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #75

Hello!

It's my second last week as a Design Team member at Dynamic Duos! While I am sad to have my six months on the team coming to an end, I'm hugely curious to see who will be on the NEW DT! If you are considering applying for a spot on the team, details are on the blog HERE. I can tell you that Lesley and Anne-Marie are fabulous to work with, and the rest of the team who I have worked with for six months have been wonderful!

Moving on to this week's card... this week's colours are Tangerine Tango and Basic Black with a Halloween option. I searched my stamps from top to bottom, but I can honestly say that I have zero pumpkins, witches, ghosts or anything Halloween related in my stash. Halloween just isn't a card-giving occasion here in Australia. Do you actually really give Halloween cards elsewhere? Or do you just make the cards because they are super cute? ;-)  I'm almost tempted to make a bunch, and give them, just because they're fun!

On my card I used one of my favourite stamp sets, Papertrey Ink Harvest Berries. The card base is PTI Fine Linen. The berries are stamped in Delicata gold.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos Challenge #74

Hello!

It's Dynamic Duos time! This week we have So Saffron and Calypso Coral. I immediately thought FLOWERS.

Here is my card.

I used Janes Doodles Pretty Peonies, and Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banners (sentiment & die). 

The team have rocked the colours this week.

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

My 11 year old daughter is doing a project at school as a part of their "acts of service". The project is to make possum pouches for orphaned possums. My daughter needed to learn how to cast on her knitting, and after we did that yesterday, we have both been knitting together today. It is a simple knitting project - garter stitch 17cm x 48cm - and perfect for learning and practising knitting. :-) What I learned is this - knitting is the perfect pastime for a mother and daughter. The quiet concentration aids quiet conversation. I'm happy! And I think she is too.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #73

Hello!

How is your week-end going? We celebrated our eldest daughter's 11th birthday today. Starting with presents in bed in the morning, to French toast for breakfast, a day filled with pampering by both parents and her sister (including her Mum, that would be ME, tidying and cleaning her tornado-hit room), Playstation with her Dad, and then a gourmet three-course meal for dinner (birthday girl's request was pumpkin soup, roast pork and vegetables, apple crumble and ice-cream). She was lucky to have her birthday on Saturday this year. Most years it is a quick morning celebration before the day starts and a rushed dinner after work, LOL! I think it was a pretty good day, considering the first request was that she would control the tv remote control AND the computer for the day.

I am here to share my card for this week's Dynamic Duos Challenge. The colours are Cajun Craze and Island Indigo. This really did prove a challenge, as I don't have either colour. I was about to run down the road to borrow colours from my friend, when I decided I would have a go at creating the colours myself. The watercoloured portion of the card is the same technique I used in this card. Onto a craft sheet I splodged a variety of colours (Distress ink Broken China, Crushed Olive, Walnut Stain, SU! Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Chocolate Chip) and a little gold , sprayed with water, and then squished my white embossed watercolour panel into it all. I was amazed how close I got to the colours I was aiming for!

The patterned paper is from My Minds Eye Merry & Bright (I think). The background stamp is Hero Arts Everything Flower. The sentiment is PTI Boutique Borders: Birthday. 

Please drop by and visit the other wonderful design team members!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #72

Hello!

What an amazingly quick week this last one was! We're back to another week of Dynamic Duos inspiration! This week we have Primrose Petals and Blushing Bride as our colours - pink, pink, pink!

So... of course... automatically... my mind turned to Christmas! Doesn't yours when faced with pink? LOL!

Stamps are PTI Snowflake Serenade. Colours are SU! Primrose Petals, Pretty in Pink, Memento London Fog.

I made two cards this week. I had made the card above when I was struck by additional inspiration while looking at the CASE Study Challenge #159 inspiration for this week. I saw the repeated circle pattern and thought of my Guidelines II stamps, and this card was born.

Stamps are Guidelines II and Botanical Silhouettes (sentiment). Colours are Primrose Petals and Pretty in Pink. The sentiment is white embossed. The tiny pearls are SU! 

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #71

Hello!

Oops! I'm a little late with this card today! Naughty Blogger forgot to post it.

Today I'm bringing you my card for this week's fabulous Dynamic Duos Challenge. The colours are Crumb Cake and Black with the option of using wet embossing.  My card is made using ALL wet embossing. The only ink used was Versamark to hold the embossing powder in place. ;-) The embossing powder is Ranger Super Fine Detail - my goodness this is awesome embossing powder! Definitely good for detail!

I used PTI Ruby Rose, Background Basics: Text Style II, Avery Elle Modern Leaves (sentiment). Card is SU! Basic Black and Crumb Cake. Embossing powder is Ranger Super Fine Detail Black.

The other ladies on the team have come up with some fabulous cards this week, too.

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Ooh, I almost forgot to show you... I have signed up for the Insider class over at Online Card Classes (starting in a few days), and so I thought I'd try decorating the inside of my card. I'm terribly inexperienced at this, and really have no idea - which is why I signed up to the class, LOL! I didn't emboss the inside, I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Thanks for coming by to visit me! I hope that you join in the fun with us this week!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #70

Hello!

Dynamic Duos Challenge #70 brings us the colours So Saffron and Pistachio Pudding - a soft and subtle combination of yellow and green. When I was making my card, I was searching for inspiration, and failed to notice the proliferation of wattle flowers all around me. You'd think my sneezing and sniffling would have given me a hint, but no, I searched high and low and completely missed this amazing opportunity to share the national flower with the blogging world. ;-)

Instead of a wattle card, I made a butterfly card.

I used Harvest Berries and Hello, Foxy stamps. Inks are SU! Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, and Memento Wet Cement.

Edit to add: I forgot to add that I actually used the CAS(E) This Sketch #45 sketch for this card! Oops! This sketch is great! So many ways to use it. :-)

The Dynamic Duos team have made some amazing cards this week.

Alison Barclay

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

And because I can't resist, here is a picture (copyright S.D. Searle) of a wattle. I love them, despite their hayfever-inducing properties. :-)

Thanks for coming by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #69

Hello!

I have a rare week-end at home this week-end. I'm loving it! I did have to do the gymnastics run (twice), I did a grocery run, and I took my dog for her Spring haircut, but other than that I've been home doing a little housework, attempting to catch up a bit after the past month of non-stop activity.

Saturday was election day here in Australia. Since voting is compulsory here, we were all out in force. I didn't realise so many people lived around here, LOL! It's highly likely we'll end up with a change of government, but I'll be deep asleep before anyone claims victory, I'm sure. I usually love watching election night commentary, but tonight I'm out of steam.

What I'm REALLY here for is that we have a fun colour combination for you this week at Dynamic Duos Challenge #69! Old Olive and Pacific Point. Something about these colours combined together really sings to me. :-)

I used Avery Elle Modern Leaves stamps. Ink is SU! Old Olive and Pacific Point, PTI Fresh Linen. Card is PTI Fresh Linen.

The Dynamic Dynamos have some amazing work again this week. Consider paying them a visit!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for dropping by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #68

Hello!

Phew! What a busy few weeks! I'm happy to report that we had an AMAZING long week-end away last week-end. I took lots of photos, and when I get a moment at home, I will sit down and put together a story (or two) on my other blog (Happy Snap Michelle). My kids took their first ski lessons, and managed to ski a few (slow) runs with us afterwards. I remembered how much I LOVE snow skiing!  This week-end we are at our nephew's wedding at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. A wonderful celebration in a beautiful location!

This week at Dynamic Duos, we get to work with Perfect Plum and another colour of our choice. I chose Primrose Petals.

I used PTI Round Repeats, Hero Arts Envelope Pattern background, and Avery Elle Modern Leaves stamps. Ink is SU! Perfect Plum and Primrose Petals. Card is SU! Perfect Plum and PTI Basic White.

While I had these colours out, I couldn't resist making another card. This time I added PTI Soft Stone to the mix. I'm loving these three colours together!

I used PTI Rosie Posie, Stylish Sentiments:Birthday stamps. Ink is SU! Perfect Plum, Primrose Petals, PTI Soft Stone, Memento Tuxedo Black. Card is PTI Soft Stone and Basic White.

My gorgeous team mates have created some fabulous cards this week again, too! I'm sure they'd love a visit!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for coming by!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #67

Hello!

Last week I was checking in from Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast where it was so sunny and warm that the kids were swimming and we all got a little sunburned. This week we've gone to the opposite extreme and as you read this, we are in the Snowy Mountains enjoying some snow play and (hopefully) a day of skiing. We've snuck away for a long week-end away! :-) We have a day in Canberra, and then two and a bit days in the Snowy Mountains. I'm predicting that I'll be exhausted and a little sore in the muscles when I return to work on Tuesday, LOL! This is the first time our littlest girl has seen snow, and our big girl doesn't remember the last time we saw snow (8 years ago). Luckily for us, the dismal snow season has turned a corner in the past couple of weeks, and they're predicting that this week-end will be the BEST snow week-end of the season - that is blue skies and fresh powder. I hope the forecasters are right. (Secretly, I wish we were going for two weeks instead of two days, shhh!)

Why I'm really here, other than to burst with excitement over my little holiday (can you tell it's been a while since we did something this exciting? LOL!) is to show you my card for this week's Dynamic Duos Challenge #67.

I used PTI Snowflake Flurries in Berry Sorbet and Melon Berry with a touch of Soft Stone and Fresh Snow.

I think this is the first time that I have used Snowflake Flurries as actually snowflakes! Such pretty snowflakes they make, too!

The team have made such pretty cards this week, really worth the visit.

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for coming by to view my card (and to listen to me ramble)!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #66

Hello!

How is your week-end going? As this post goes live, I am at the Sunshine Coast with my family. My hubby was mad enough to sign up with our brother-in-law and friends to run Tough Mudder this year. It looks like a heap of fun, but not for me, yet. It is 20km PLUS obstacles, I'd be lucky to make 10km WITHOUT obstacles at the moment, LOL!

This card is for this week's Dynamic Duos #66 which asks us to use Pool Party and Basic Black. The optional extra is embossing. I love black and pool party. I don't love trying to photograph black... apologies for the slightly grey-ish look in the photo! I used the SU! Stripes embossing folder to create texture.

Ink is Memento Tuxedo Black and SU! Pool Party. Stamps are Stylish Sentiments: Birthday, and Boutique Borders: Thanks. Dies are PTI Mat Stack #1 and Mat Stack #1 Layers.

The rest of the team have done some fabulous work, too!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #65

Hello!

It's been a quiet few weeks here on the blog. It will probably be a little quiet for a few more weeks. Work is busy, and after this week-end I am away every week-end for a month! We are heading into birthday season in our home, starting in two weeks and lasting two months. We also have a wedding to attend (which I need to make a card for!). In the middle of everything, we've decided to squeeze in a mini-holiday - a long-week-end in the Snowy Mountains, yay! It's been snowing quite a bit for the past week or so, so I am hoping the snow holds on for another two weeks. The season started dismally, and until a short while ago there was barely any natural snow. I think Australia has had the warmest winter in history this year, sigh! I hope it doesn't lead into the hottest summer in history, because our summers are quite hot enough already. ;-)

Anyway, onto the reason for my post today. It's time for new colours at Dynamic Duos! This week we have Blushing Bride and Pistachio Pudding. I immediately thought of babies when looking at these soft pastels.

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Baby and Polka Dot Parade #4 stamps and die. Colours are SU! Certainly Celery and Sweet Blush.

The rest of the team have done wonders with these colours this week. Why don't you pay them a visit?

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for coming by to see me!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #64

Hello!

It's been a little quiet around here! Mostly because I have been away for work, and in between I have been madly organising the family around all of the many activities we all do!  This week-end is one of very few quiet ones for the next few months. This is doubly good, because my eldest daughter returned from school camp yesterday (Friday) in a puddle of exhaustion.

Today I bring you my card for Dynamic Duos challenge #64. I just love yellow and pink together! When I was a young child, my aunty offered to knit me a poncho and asked me what colours I wanted it. I asked for yellow and pink. I got red and white, LOL! It was a beautiful poncho, but not quite the colours I had expected. ;-)

I used Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend stamps. Colours are SU! Daffodil Delight, PTI Hibiscus Burst, Memento London Fog and Tuxedo Black.

Thank you for visiting me, and I hope you can spare some time to visit the rest of the Dynamic Duos team before you rush off to make your own yellow and pink beauty!

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

See you again soon!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #63

Hello!

I'm here with a card for this week's Dynamic Duos colour combination of Garden Green and Pear Pizzazz. I don't think I would have ever put these two together, but you know what? They work! Given lots of green to work with, my thoughts went immediately to Christmas. I threw in a spot of grey, and voila!

I used Stampin' Up Ornament Keepsakes stamps and matching dies. The sentiment is from a box full of SU! Christmas sentiments that I can't remember the set names of. Colours are Pear Pizzazz, Garden Green, and Memento London Fog. Twine is from The Twinery.

The rest of the design team has some beautiful work to share, also.

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

Dynamic Duos #62

Hello!

This week at Dynamic Duos we are using Calypso Coral and Basic Black, with an optional Butterfly theme. Before you start trying to adjust your monitor colour, I did not have Calypso Coral in my supplies. All of my corals (I have several) are more pink than orange, so I chose the closest colour I have. I also went a bit radical and stretched my papercrafting skills - I masked, sponged, and splattered using distress inks! It was fun!

I used PTI Heart-2-Heart #10, and Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamps. Ink is Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick and Memento Tuxedo Black.

This colour scheme is showcased also by my amazing team mates. I'm sure they would appreciate a visit. :-)

Alison Barclay

Anne Marie Hile

Debbie Henderson

Hayley Kew

Janet Bagnall

Janet Zeppa

Lori Turner

Susie Wittwer

Tara Bourgoin

Tracey McNeely

Thank you for visiting me. I hope you can join us in the fun this week!

Michelle
xxx