CAS(E) This Sketch 186

Hello!

For this week at CAS(E) This Sketch I had brilliant idea to use patterned paper and dies. No stamping! Everything was going well until I made one small error on one of the two cards I was creating, which then meant BOTH cards had a small error. I'm not going to tell you what it is, and hope you don't notice, haha! ;-)

This first card was my original concept.

This is the fabulous inspiration sketch. I love this. I had all sorts of awesome ideas, but sadly not enough time to make them all.

The second card was a bonus from the fact that I cut two rectangles to create my angled cut for the original card.

Here they are side-by-side, showing off that pretty paper. It's Stampin' Up! From the current catalogue, but I've forgotten its name. The "hello" die is from Papertrey Ink.

Please take some time to visit the rest of the team, they've made some amazing cards.

Thanks for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 160

Hello!

I had some fun with this week's sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch! While I fully intended to make horizontal lines, I completely fell in love with the vertical lines, so kept them this way. :-)  To make up for my diversion from the sketch, I kept the horizontal sentiment lines.

I used SU! Hardwood Background stamp and PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps. Colours are SU! Gumball Green and PTI Smokey Shadow.

Yes, Chrissy has come up with another fab sketch! This one is going to have regular use, I think.

I hope you're inspired to join in the fun with us.

Thanks for visiting.

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 133

Hello!

I've been away in Sydney for work, so I missed adding my card to CAS(E) This Sketch with the rest of the team this week. I've been looking forward to this sketch so I couldn't just skip the week! After dropping my daughter at the bus for netball at 6am this morning, I had a little quiet time all to myself. :-) This is what I came up with.

I used SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, and Delicata Gold ink. I masked the Hello with a PTI die cut. The dots and spots are from PTI Rosie Posie.

I went out to dinner a couple of times in Sydney. I checked out the GPO in Martin Place (downstairs from the Westin Hotel), which is a massive basement bar, restaurant, cafe venue. My friend and I had tapas (and sangria) from Postales Bar and wood-fired pizzas from Wood. Very, VERY, yummy!  On Thursday I headed out to The Rocks (between Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge) and after a quick drink at the Orient Hotel (just a regular pub) we headed to Phillips Foote for dinner, another pub with excellent steaks at an excellent price!

Okay, I'm off to a Copic workshop this morning where I will hopefully learn something. ;-) I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks for visiting!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 112 - hello!

Hello!

I think you are going to start getting tired of me saying that the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch is fabulous week after week, but I have to say, it's true!! My team mates create the BEST sketches under the sun and this week's sketch by Chrissy is no exception.

I had a lot of fun creating this card. First I masked off that top section and sponged distress inks on the rest of the card. Then I stamped in silver. Then die cut the card base and about four extra hellos to pop up the word. While the die-cutting and glueing is time-consuming, it is so worth it for the end result.

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps and die and Sparkle & Shine stamps. Inks are Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick and Tumbled Glass, Hero Arts silver, and SU Blackberry Bliss.

I cannot wait to see what everyone creates with this sketch. There are many, many possibilities!

See you in the gallery!

Michelle
xxx

CAS(E) This Sketch 94 - Hello!

Hello!

I may have wandered off on another tangent this week. For some reason I struggled with this sketch. This card is my fourth version. I finally decided on this sentiment because the h and the l's reflected those background lines in the sketch for me. My original cards were very graphic, and they just weren't working, so this time I used the lovely big hello and a bunch of flowers. I'm much happier!

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello, and wPlus9 Fresh Cut Containers stamps.

I really love this sketch, even though it challenged me (probably BECAUSE it challenged me). I can't wait to see how everyone else creates with this inspiration!

Thanks for coming by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

Fusion 12 - hello blossom!

If you are here to see my Case Study card, scroll on down or click HERE.

Hello!

This week's Fusion Card Challenge has the loveliest inspiration in the world. I didn't yet get to using the sketch, because I fell in love with the photo inspiration immediately and couldn't move past it! :-)

I originally wanted to use tissue paper, but the lack of tissue paper in my house meant I used patterned paper instead.

There is no stamping here, just dies. I used PTI Bloom Builder #3 dies and Wonderful Words: Hello.

Now that sketch is awesome. I really must go back and make a card using it. I have so many ideas for it! Tonight is not the night, though. This week, like the past few weeks, has been exhausting. I have too much happening at work and with the kids and with everything else that my time to myself is extremely limited. I think I could really do with a holiday. Twelve weeks, or perhaps a little more, in the Italian countryside would probably do it. Or even a week at Noosa. I'm not fussy when it comes to holidays right now. ;-)

The rest of the team have made some super cards. I'd love it if you could pop over and visit them too. And then rush right to your crafty space and whip up a card to join in the fun!

Betty JCathy Weber Dannielle RobesonDeepti  Jeanne JachnaJulia AstonKatie BrooksKelly GriglioneKimberly Wiener Lyndal HigginsLynn Mangan Michelle LuptonSindhuStephanie Severin

Thank you for dropping in!

Michelle

xxx

P.S. My chickens are over 21 weeks old and no eggs yet. I'm about to give them a stern talking to about paying for their keep...

Clean and Simple 3 - Day 5 - Iron-Off Embossing

Hello!

I'm slowly working my way through the Online Card Class Clean & Simple #3. I am so glad that the format this time has two days per set of techniques. It allows us slowpokes to keep up, sort of. I still have lots I'd love to try. But time is not on my side at the moment, so I am thrilled to at least make one card for each set of techniques! I am definitely being given plenty of inspiration, so I will be kept happily experimenting for quite some time.

This card uses masking and the iron-off embossing technique. Jennifer demonstrated the iron-off embossing technique with watercolouring. I like that, but for this card, I used sponging of distress inks, a bit of water splattering, and a little distress paint in bronze. The colours are not ones I'd usually use together, but I wanted to make a card with a bit of visual impact, so I got experimental with colour. It reminds me of a picture of space.

The beauty of the iron-off embossing technique is that it makes my card super flat again, no matter how I treat it while making it, lol! I'm definitely recruiting the iron for future card making endeavours. Lucky for me, the iron has stopped steaming and my husband (the ironer) desperately needs a new one, so I may just have a "craft iron" waiting for me to claim it... just as soon as I get to the shops to buy that new iron. ;-)

Stamp is PTI Wonderful Words: Hello. Inks are Distress Inks Walnut Stain and Broken China. I also used Versamark and clear embossing powder, but they were ironed away.

This card was inspired not only by Jennifer's work, but also by Joni's card over at CASE Study. Isn't it amazing?

Edit to add: I linked up to One Layer Simplicity also, where Just Add Water is still open.

Thanks for coming by to visit me!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study #162

Hello!

Wow! The weeks pass by so quickly! Here I am in my third week as Guest Designer at CASE Study Challenge already! Having our muse being Elena is making it so easy to play along this month, everything she creates is inspiring!

This week I went very literal in my interpretation. I saw wood and red and white gingham. I did give it my own special touch. Those of you who know me well will know that making bows is not my forte, so I am feeling inordinately proud of myself right now for making this pretty example. :-) I do have a Bow-Easy, but I still struggle, LOL!

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps and die. The impression plate is PTI woodgrain. Colours are SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Real Red, Distress Ink Walnut Stain, and a little PTI Fresh Snow. The ribbon came from the supermarket Christmas ribbon selection.

Elena's card is a beauty.

As you read this, I will be in Canberra for work. Just a couple of days away this week. Hopefully I'm not freezing. The weather has been so hot in Brisbane, that I've forgotten that it is still Spring in other parts of the country. ;-)

Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

CASE Study 152 and CAS(E) This Sketch 40

Hello!

This card has been hanging around in my head for days, and tonight I couldn't wait any longer to put it to paper (despite desperately needing some sleep)!

Card is PTI white, Berry Sorbet, SU! Poppy Parade, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Pool Party, Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum. Die is PTI Wonderful Words: Hello.

I made this card for CASE Study #152 where Jennifer McGuire is the Muse this month (eek!). Jennifer's rainbow captured my attention immediately. I just love this card of hers.

And I used the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch #40.

Now I must rush off to bed! Thank-you for visiting me!

Michelle
xxx

Fusion #7

Hello!

I've made a card for this week's Fusion Challenge. Once again I worked with only the sketch. I'd love to go back and use the inspiration photo, it's fabulous! My brain just couldn't come up with something that worked for it when I sat down to work on the challenge. Maybe I'll make another before the deadline!

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello and Heart-2-Heart #4. Colours are black and PTI Hawaiian Shores. Oh, the stripes on the hello are Mama Elephant Basic Borders.

It's a chilly evening here. I am making minestrone soup for my dinner. The kids turned up their noses at the idea of minestrone, so I'm cooking them sausages, sigh! My house smells so good with all this warm food. :-)

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Hello, Hello!

Hello!

I needed to make a card for a young man, just to say hello, and to let him know that we're thinking of him. I'm not great at "young man" cards, but I think I've done okay with this one.

I've had this kraft patterned paper for ages. When I ordered it, I didn't realise quite how dark it was, and I've struggled to use much of it. I think it works perfectly here. :-)  To make this card I used no stamps. I used PTI die Wonderful Words: Hello and PTI impression plate Woodgrain. Card base is SU! Crumb Cake.

Thanks for coming to visit me.

Michelle
xxx

Ooh, I love it when a new technique works!

Hello!

I was watching the Make It Monday #109 video and thinking to myself that I've tried this idea before and it didn't really work out... but then I thought, why not give it another go? I am so glad I did. Messy ink with nice, neat embossing over the top on a crisp white background appeals to me SO much. :-)

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello stamps, SU! Poppy Parade and Barely Banana inks sprayed with champagne mist. The sunshine is stamped in gold. Card base is SU! Poppy Parade and panel is PTI White.

Do you recognise the stamp set? LOL! If you've been visiting me on my blog for a while, you'll know that when I get a favourite stamp set, I tend to use it and use it and use it... until everyone is tired of seeing me using it. This is one of those stamps that I think I'll use forever. I just love the typeface, it's so happy!

As well as Make It Monday, I'm also entering this card into the Moxie Fab World Card Creations Ombre Challenge. I'm not great at ombre, but I managed to create an ombre effect with these inks. Amazing what happens when you start playing around with inks. ;-)

For those of you curious about how parent-teacher interviews went, they went well. My girls make me proud. The weather, after some wild rain this morning, fined up this afternoon, so I am still crossing my fingers that the heat continues at least for two more days and we get some beach time this week-end. After the Easter holidays, I'll be well and truly ready for the cooler Autumn weather to commence.

Thanks for coming to visit. I'll be back in a few days.

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop - sequins

Hello!

Today I bring you my contribution to the Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop. The theme is sequins. This created a bit of a challenge for me in itself. I don't own any sequins, yet! I scoured the house from top to bottom, checking all of my kids' art boxes, and I found a little packet of sequins hidden in one, yay! I can play along!

I used PTI Wonderful Words: Hello die, Woodgrain impression plate. SU! patterned paper in Regal Rose. Card is SU! Pretty in Pink. Sequins were scavenged from my kids' stash. ;-)



















I took my colour scheme from Dynamic Duos #45  monochromatic challenge, in pink!

These colours are so pretty! I couldn't resist! :-)

Now it is way past my bedtime. I'll link this up in the morning when the hop will be well underway.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Michelle
xxx

Hello!

Hello!

I've made a card for another three challenges today. I also made a batch of berry muffins, but that is another story, LOL!

This is my card.

I used Mama Elephant Basic Borders stamps. PTI Wonderful Words: Hello die. Cardstock is SU! Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White. Ink is Primrose Petals, and Memento Tuxedo Black.

I know that as soon as you've seen this card, you've realised it is responding to Runway Inspired Challenge #31. When I saw this outfit, first I smiled (I love that bright yellow skirt and those taxi shoes), and I knew I needed to make a card.

My layout came from (CAS)E this Sketch #18.

And I added that lovely negative die-cut sentiment in response to the Moxie Fab World Card Creations #11 Emphasise the Negative challenge.

Thanks for coming by to visit! See you again soon!

Michelle
xxx